Rita Analogy
It finally came to me. The perfect analogy for Houston's near miss by Hurricane Rita.
Imagine that you are driving down the freeway at 70 mph in the left hand "fast" lane. Suddenly you notice a car coming up very fast on your right. The car swerves abruptly into the car traveling in front of you and both cars erupt into flames on the side of the road. You just barely manage to quickly swerve your car away from the wreck and avoid being involved in it yourself.
For several days after that you feel limp and exhausted. You're very grateful for your deliverance from disaster, but somehow dogged with a nagging sense of doom--even though you know that it's irrational. You go about your regular routine, but you don't feel quite right. You're still wary. That's how I feel--and I know I'm not alone.
Also, although most churches opened on some basis yesterday, Lakewood Church (the Oasis of Love) remained closed all day. They have a huge staff and a huge congregation--you would think they would open for at least one simple service of thanksgiving for their people. I'm just saying....
Imagine that you are driving down the freeway at 70 mph in the left hand "fast" lane. Suddenly you notice a car coming up very fast on your right. The car swerves abruptly into the car traveling in front of you and both cars erupt into flames on the side of the road. You just barely manage to quickly swerve your car away from the wreck and avoid being involved in it yourself.
For several days after that you feel limp and exhausted. You're very grateful for your deliverance from disaster, but somehow dogged with a nagging sense of doom--even though you know that it's irrational. You go about your regular routine, but you don't feel quite right. You're still wary. That's how I feel--and I know I'm not alone.
Religion and Rita
Pastors at both Second Baptist Church (HUGE congregation) and Windsor Village Methodist (very large, very influential African-American congregation) both concluded in their sermons Sunday that Rita veered away from Houston and to the Louisiana border because God wanted to send a message about the gambling casinos that are clustered just across the Texas state line. See full story here.
As we say down here, that old dog won't hunt. Assuming for the sake of argument that God sends natural diasters to punish sin, if God wanted to wipe out gambling why would he pick on casinos and leave the Texas state lottery alone? Is He only against casino games? (And mind you, I am personally opposed to gambling and state lotteries.)
As we say down here, that old dog won't hunt. Assuming for the sake of argument that God sends natural diasters to punish sin, if God wanted to wipe out gambling why would he pick on casinos and leave the Texas state lottery alone? Is He only against casino games? (And mind you, I am personally opposed to gambling and state lotteries.)
Also, although most churches opened on some basis yesterday, Lakewood Church (the Oasis of Love) remained closed all day. They have a huge staff and a huge congregation--you would think they would open for at least one simple service of thanksgiving for their people. I'm just saying....
8 comments:
...and I'm just snickering. Unbelievable.
I knew you'd appreciate that one, Songbird.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the outrageous remarks that come after a disaster such as Katrina or Rita or 9/11 or whatever by some supposedly well-educated and Spirit-filled people. Every time this happens I wait to see who will be the first to claim God is punishing those "sinners" who normally are the ones on the other side of the person's agenda.
I am opposed to gambling as well. I am opposed to a lot of stuff I saw going on in New Orleans. But don't tell me that God is going to pick and choose those to punish when there are many others all over the world just like them.
I agree with you on this. I also appreciate your sharing of how it feels to come through the storm. My prayers are with you as you get your life back to normal. Have fun and eat another piece of cake.
In the love of Christ,
greg
My guess is these two would consider themselves biblical literalists, and yet when it comes to my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways... mmm, not so much.
Not to mention never again will I bring judgment in a flood or however that goes.
You mean:
"God gave Noah the rainbow sign
No more water--the FIRE next time!"
Yikes.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but if God were trying to punish people over the casinos, I wonder why the people most harmed were not the people who owned them . . ..
It's nice to see someone use the expression "that old dog won't hunt". I live way too far north to pull it off (though I'm south of the Mason Dixon line).
Vegas must be doomed for sure, huh?
ROFL
are these pastors / church leaders /whatevers ... for real?
sigh
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