BS: Size limit on graven images?

Subject: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 11:03 AM

Lightning strikes 6 story Jesus

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 11:19 AM

Ultimate kitsch. That is very funny.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: frogprince
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 11:52 AM

I can just imagine the discussions at the church now: "We're going to get it rebuilt, fast, and show old Satan that he can't defeat us".

- Never thinking, for a moment, that if an adult bookstore had been destroyed by lightning, they would be praising God for his action, nor thinking about whether, in their avowed theology, it would make sense to attribute the ability to toss lightning around to Satan.

Perhaps all that's really unfair to say in this case; but I've seen too much of too many church groups in which that is just about exactly what could be expected.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 12:05 PM

I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I got my plastic Jesus...

Apparently, Zeus simply had enough of that guy.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 12:31 PM

Looks like God's Judgement on assholes to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Melissa
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 12:34 PM

Heywood Banks

Big Butter Jesus

Subject: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 12:50 PM

MONROE, Ohio (AP) -- A six-story-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night and burned to the ground, police said.

The "King of Kings" statue, one of southwest Ohio's most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.

The lightning strike set the statue ablaze around 11:15 p.m., Monroe police dispatchers said.

The sculpture, 62 feet tall and 40 feet wide at the base, showed Jesus from the torso up and was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signaling a touchdown. It was made of plastic foam and fiberglass over a steel frame, which is all that remained early Tuesday.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 12:55 PM

It's definitely a blow struck for good taste.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:01 PM

heh heh heh - an act of god?

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:07 PM

A storm in 2002 blew the steeple of the Baptist church in Cold Spring, KY, right across the river from Cincinnati, as well. First the steeple and now this....

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:13 PM

Sorry, I started another thread on this same subject!

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:26 PM

I post Heywood Banks tunes all the time and "Big Butter Jesus" is about my all time favorite! Melissa beat me to it this time but if you didn't click the link, go back and do so! You'll be singing it for days!

BTW, I've driven past the place a lot and Heywood has it right......Big Butter Jesus! Now if you never went to a state fair where they have a giant butter sculpture, then you're not a midwesterner!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:47 PM

It will just add to their belief in the "endtimes."

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:54 PM

They say the lord works in mysterious ways. The church I used to go
to burnt down back in the 70s.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:59 PM

I find it very interesting that the statue was struck by lightning. I believe that was both a theological and an aesthetic judgment from God Himself!

"My Son!?? In Styrofoam!??"   Ka-BOOM!!!!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 02:06 PM

It don't pay to get God ticked off!

DUCK!!! Here it comes!!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 02:18 PM

NPR story with pics

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 02:50 PM

Yeah...... I forgot to say that our local news is having a big time with it........."another Ohio cultural landmark lost."



Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Alice
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 02:54 PM

Gee whiz, that is one ugly "statue".

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 03:03 PM

I'm not quite sure that was the quite the image they should have been trying for. To me, it looks like He's saying, "Help! Help! I forgot my water-walking Birkenstocks and I'm sinking!!"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 03:51 PM

Wow! that sure beats the hell out of Jesus Corner (cluster of shops with christian theme) in Augusta Georgia.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 03:58 PM

Looks like BP is on his list too:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100615/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill_fire

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Alice
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 04:02 PM

"Help, help, I've fallen and I can't get up."

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 04:03 PM

The BBC radio report included an Insurance Company quote that it was an " Act Of God" !!!

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 04:27 PM

I've asked Joe Offer to combine this thread with the one on "Graven Images."

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 04:28 PM

You don't think God was aiming at Spaw and missed, do you?

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Micca
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 05:17 PM

Jesus lives! He's alive!
standing by I75
too big for the dashboard of my car
makes me happy wipes my frown
cos' he just scored a Touchdown
too big for the dashboard of my car

Plastic Jesus, Plastic Jesus
standing there by I75
but the statues there no more
cos' he pissed off Mighty Thor
and that god just smote him from afar

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 05:43 PM

Have you ever wondered why so many people find it easy to knock Christianity... but leave the moslems....Hindus, buddhists etc etc alone???? Have you ever wondered why it is so easy to use "Jesus Christ" or "Oh my God" as an expletive and not Buddha... or Allah??? Food for thought Folks... food for thought......

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 05:53 PM

Have you ever wondered why so many so-called "Christians"[sic] go out of their way to do things which make it easy for people to mock them?

Food for thought, George, food for thought.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 05:54 PM

I say: "Oh my Gods and Goddesses",
But, yeah I never hear other people doing that. In my area, when people
talk about religion, they only talk about Christianity for some reason.
Especially when anti-religion people are insulting religion, they tend
to focus mainly on Christians.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:02 PM

Perhaps they're the Devils they know?

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:03 PM

I don't believe that this is a question of religion, since I don't believe God is a Christian, Muslim, or Buddhist, but rather that he transcends all of those, and all the others.

I see this more along the lines of God, rather spectacularly, asserting his Intellectual Property Rights.

Next time, perhaps those who wish to use his design will ask permission beforehand.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: gnu
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:05 PM

mlb... "Especially when anti-religion people are insulting religion, they tend to focus mainly on Christians."

Understandable. I never had a muslim knock on my front door and ask, "Have you heard the word of Allah today?"

Say... why ain't the Jeasley Hovahs and the Baptists knocking on doors in Afghanistan? Save me some time. Overly aggresive Christians piss me off and they do many others.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: kendall
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:08 PM

It's nothing but physics. The real Jesus was never struck by lightening

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:15 PM

DonT...LOL! Excellent.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:29 PM

I think it's God's way of insuring the sale of lightning rods.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Joe_F
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:36 PM

When I was in England many years ago, I saw a tombstone in a churchyard (I forget in what town) for an 8-year-old girl who had been killed by lightning while saying her prayers. Probably early 19th century -- at any rate, long enough ago that believers felt no need to be embarrassed. The stone bore a long poem urging submission to the will of God; its last line was "Blest if He save, and more blest if He kill".

Subject: RE: BS: Don't know what to make of this...
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:36 PM

Perhaps not Kendall but the Jesus in this statue was sometimes referred to as a shortening!

The song by Heywood Banks is one of my favorites.....here we go, Big Butter Jesus. If your first thought is like Heywood's, that this thing looked just like the various butter sculptures at the state fair, then you too are hopelessly midwestern. Heywood has already written a new last verse and chorus:

VERSE:
One night Big Butter
Got struck by lightning
And it burned to the framewire
In a giant grease fire.
Some blamed it on Satan,
And boy, that would be frightening
But I thought it was Jesus' father
Who was in charge of lightning.


CHO:
Big fireball Jesus,
Flaming shot Jesus,
Charbroiled Jesus,
Opa! Jesus,
Extra crispy Jesus,
Bananas foster Jesus,
I'm put out it's not Jesus,
Charcoal-y O Lord


Another fine piece of Ohio Buckeye roadside traditions taken from us.........................

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:42 PM

For those of you who listened to Heywood Banks, here is a new last verse and last chorus he wrote today:

VERSE:
One night Big Butter
Got struck by lightning
And it burned to the framewire
In a giant grease fire.
Some blamed it on Satan,
And boy, that would be frightening
But I thought it was Jesus' father
Who was in charge of lightning.


CHO:
Big fireball Jesus,
Flaming shot Jesus,
Charbroiled Jesus,
Opa! Jesus,
Extra crispy Jesus,
Bananas foster Jesus,
I'm put out it's not Jesus,
Charcoal-y O Lord


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 08:33 PM

Melissa, thanks for the link (and Spaw, thanks for the thought)! That is one clever song. Yes, I'll be passing it along and humming it to myself.

There was a story on NPR about that also today. Seems they're scrambling to rebuild ASAP.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Wesley S
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 08:35 PM

Why not just wait three days and see if it repairs itself?

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 08:54 PM

LMAO>....Great one Wes.....Cracked me up my friend!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 09:12 PM

Spaw, I just heard a voice say "Dammit! Missed again!"

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 11:48 PM

Just saw a video of the fire....man, that plastic & foam stuff burns hot & fast! I wonder if they will try to raise a million to do it in concrete?

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Melissa
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 11:56 PM

I wanted to see the frame and found this..short video of fire and some photos of the remains:

skeleton

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 12:14 AM

I've gotten a lot of mileage out of that YouTube link. Every time I hear it (every time I check the link to send it again) I hear more awful puns. Amazing how many butter terms there are. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 12:30 AM

Ya' know............To get some appreciation of the "Christians" and other rubes, hilljacks, and shitkickers, that live in this state, you need to read this article in the Dayton Daily News

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Melissa
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 12:34 AM

If the King of Kings statue is 62' tall
and the Statue of Liberty is 150' tall, does that mean their heads are about the same size?

I don't have a particularly guilty conscience, but I think it would have creeped me out to drive past that fella. No buttery sculpture should be bigger than King Kong!

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 02:37 AM

Have you ever wondered why so many people find it easy to knock Christianity..

Well I poke fun because I were one.

signed

Recovering Baptist

What really gets me about Christianity is how some/ many followers cherry pick the Bible to back up their particular / peculiar dogma and utterly ignore the love and tolerance the character of Jesus conveyed to all men/women.

Too much historical and current abuse of people and environment rides on the back of Christian doctrine.

Besides, that statue was horrendous. Nothing beautiful about it. No redeeming quality. So Good riddance.

I don't doubt there are formerly and currently practising Hindus, Moslems, etc. who have a sense of humour about the practioners of their respective faiths, if not about the attendant deity. How would we know as we are not in that culture.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Bert
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 04:07 AM

I can't believe that there are people who think that Jesus looked like that.

Jesus came from the Middle East. If he were to arrive in America today he would get told "Go home Rag head (or towel head, or camel herder or even Sand N*gger)"

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Wesley S
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 07:43 AM

An old friend of mine from Dallas morphed into a "rapper" known as "MC 900 Foot Jesus"


Truth Is Out Of Style

If I Only Had A Brain

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 08:15 AM

From catspaw's news article:
"I think it's a sign of the end of the world," said Paul Wright, 21, of Oxford. "If lightning is going to strike God, then there's no hope."
How sad.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:02 AM

Signs of the end of the world

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:32 AM

Dang! I either missed it or I'm too early.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: frogprince
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:45 AM

"I got stoned, and I missed it..."

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:56 AM

"♫Till the end of the world rolls round
I'll keep on loving you
As long as the sun comes up and comes down
And the big blue sky comes down to the ground
As long as the world goes around and round
I'll keep on loving you.♫"

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 03:30 PM

It's always a bit of a snort how, when the predicted date for Doomsday, Armageddon, the Rapture, or any of a whole menu of End-of-the-World predictions passes (both religious and secular), the predictors and believers may be a bit disappointed (like anticipating a television show that gets pre-empted at the last minute), but they are completely unembarrassed and undismayed. They just pull up their socks, skippy-toe a bit further along in the calendar, and set a new date.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 04:09 PM

Actually Don it all ended on February 11, 1945. We all missed it, that's all.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 04:32 PM

They just pull up their socks, skippy-toe a bit further along in the calendar, and set a new date.

Not always- some are smarter than that. William Miller gave up after 2 consecutive unsuccessful tries.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 04:37 PM

Hey it worked for the apostle Paul. Oh wait. He died still thinking it was any day now.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 05:26 PM

I'm looking forward to December 21, 2012 (12/21/12) when the world is supposed to come to an end several different ways. Nostradamus uttered some incoherent mumblings a few hundred years back (even his mother didn't know what he was talking about), the Mayan calendar runs out on that date (when my calendars run out, I just hang up a new one), and if you very carefully select the right Biblical verses and combine that with random pages in the I Ching, you come up with the predictions that

The geographic poles will change places, causing the earth to flip 180 degrees, resulting in tidal waves, earthquakes, volcanoes, and things too fierce to mention. Not just the magnetic poles, which do that every few thousand years or so, and no one notices except magnetic compasses and migratory birds. What could cause something like that, is a mystery.

A planet-sized comet, asteroid, cream pie will hit the earth. That could probably do it, I guess.

An ionized asteroid will pass close to the earth and set the atmosphere on fire (can someone explain the physics involved to me?).

The earth will pass through the galactic equator and this will cause all manner of mayhem (possibly have something to do with the earth flipping end over end). This is going to be a good trick for a couple of reasons:   A) astronomers are not in agreement as to just where the galactic equator is, but the majority of opinion is that it's about 110 light years "south" of our present position;   B) the solar system is moving more or less parallel to this arbitrary line at a speed of about 9 miles per second, so if we're going to cross that line in 12/21/12, we'd better get a move on!

A black hole will pass through the solar system and slurp everything into it.

A gamma-ray burster will implode and hose us all down deadly gamma rays.

And most dreadful prediction of all:   Ersel Hickey will come out of retirement and make a comeback!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 05:32 PM

I think if God is going to take out ugly religious "art" he should have started with Thomas Kinkade.

Subject: Flaming touchdown Jesus needs a song
From: Barbara
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:22 PM

Hi gang, I've been reading about this on the web today -- here's one of MANY articles and stories: http://www.katu.com/news/weird/96387234.html
and it just seems to me to cry out for a song.

Basically, a bolt in a thunderstorm hit the hand of a 62' tall fiberglass and wood statue of Jesus with his arms upraised, and the fireball set it on fire. Locally called "the Touchdown Jesus", the statue was burned to a crisp as well as a good part of the Solid Rock church behind it. Debris filled the surrounding pond and killed the fish. It was insured and they plan to rebuild. Monroe OH June 14 2010.

Possible hooks:
God reached down from Heaven to touch his Son's hand
But He forgot to turn the voltage down...

God as art critic. Who knew?

Dunno about the loaves, but man, we got a fish fry here.

And of course there are lots of potential morals. Apparently the statue did have lightning protection, but guess what? Not enough.

Any takers?

Subject: RE: Flaming touchdown Jesus needs a song
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:38 PM

Two other threads on this one Barb and one of my favorite local comedians who writes songs (Heywood Banks) had already written a song about the thing which was also known as Big Butter Jesus a long time back. He updated it yesterday and that too is in THIS THREAD ......


Spaw

Subject: RE: Flaming touchdown Jesus needs a song
From: Barbara
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:42 PM

Sorry Spaw. I looked, I did. But hey, I shoulda just used the search engine instead of the old eyeballs. I date myself that way.
Dang. Maybe the elves can delete or combine this.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Flaming touchdown Jesus needs a song
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:49 PM

No problem Barb.....But in the meantime, enjoy Heywood doing:

Big Butter Jesus

OR

Trauma to the Groin

and a Heywood classic

YEAH......TOAST


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 07:51 AM

... December 21, 2012 (12/21/12) when the world is supposed to come to an end...

BRING IT ON !!

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: Barbara
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 08:33 PM

Yah, I sure liked the Big Butter Jesus, but are we limited to one song?
And I liked what Heywood said in his monologue about the statue, something like "...you're cruising calmly down the interstate, and suddenly there is this huge statue with its arms upraised. Your reaction and the naming of it in one: Jesus!"
What about something like:
I always thought I'd fry, but I didn't know I'd have JC for company?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: LadyJean
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 12:54 AM

I'm a Christian. I go to church on Sundays. If I knock on your door, I'm probably collecting for those less fortunate. I'm not one to proselytize.

And by the way, that statue was just plain silly.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: mousethief
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 02:19 AM

He's arising from the waters like the Lady of the Lake in the King Arthur legends. If he were holding aloft a sword he could proclaim someone the King of All America. If that is a basis for a system of government.

Subject: RE: BS: Size limit on graven images?
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 11:49 AM

Just to put a Coda on this...........

Monday, July 12, 2010 11:19 PM

DAYTON DAILY NEWS

MONROE, Ohio— Church officials looking to replace a giant statue of Jesus that was destroyed by lightning want a new structure that is less flammable.
Tentative plans call for the new statute to be made out of limestone, instead of the combustible wood and plastic foam-frame that supported the old structure outside the Solid Rock Church, about 20 miles north of Cincinnati.

The new monument also will depict Jesus' full body, instead of just a bust. The statue's feet will be on top of water, and Jesus' hands will be outstretched, similar to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, which overlooks Rio de Janeiro.

"We're excited about the new look," co-pastor Darlene Bishop said.

A lightning strike on June 14 sparked a fire that burned the six-story fiberglass statue nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because the arms were raised similarly to a referee's signal of a touchdown. The statue overlooked I-75 and was one of southwestern Ohio's most familiar landmarks.


The reurn of Big Butter Jesus.....in full form and fireproof! Gawd, I love the midwest!!!


Spaw