I Respect Jesus' Teachings... T-Shirt (Plain Version)

Every t-shirt has a story and this one is no different.

I spent 16 months living in north-central Florida. I lived in Inverness and worked in Ocala. I am a native Michigander and have lived in Michigan for the majority of my life. While religion played a role in our lives, it wasn't something that you talked about with someone you just met.

It's the total opposite where I lived in Florida. People would ask me where I was from, and the next question would be, "Have you found a church yet?" If I said I was agnostic, then I'd be asked if I knew Jesus. I could not believe how quickly people got up in my religious business. I needed a way to deflect that would still be respectful to Jesus but would shut down any further discussion. 

And full disclaimer: I was raised Lutheran and now consider myself agnostic. I even taught Sunday school at one time. I really do think Jesus was a cool teacher with some great ideas, but I don't know about the whole Son of God part. 

So... fast forward to yesterday, 8/23/25, at the Eastside Summer Festival where I'm vending. The local Seventh-Day Adventist Church has a booth as well. It took them maybe five minutes to find me after the festival officially started.