I guess the media doesn't go to church.

I realize that pastors can be very influential in the lives of their parishioners. If I ever doubted that, the great sadness I experienced from people when I announced that I was leaving my first congregation proved me otherwise.

You know, there are a few things that Rev. Jeremiah Wright said that definitely horrify me, and there are a few that make me think, "that man has cojones," and there are probably more I haven't heard which would cause a whole other reaction.

But it makes me laugh that so much media coverage is being given to the issue of whether Wright has had undue influence on Barack Obama, almost as if Obama might have been brainwashed while listening to a sermon.

Because let's just say that the LAST thing most pastors worry about is their parishioners paying too much attention. Almost every pastor I know has spent at least a few minutes decrying how no one listens to them. But should any of your parishioners run for president - oh, no! They might actually have listened to you! And not known how to have minds of their own! And disagree! At least occasionally!

But that speech today, Mr. Obama - that was a work of art. Well done. I suspect that if you had been a preacher, you might have ruined some minds in your time.