The Holy Land Experience - Is it amusing?

The Holy Land Experience in Orlando was originally developed as a teaching tool to show people what the Holy Land was like for those who were unable to afford the trip to Israel.  I always wanted to go.  Zola Levitt even conducted tours there a couple of times a year before he "graduated to be with THE LORD." 

It has since been sold to a large "Christian" business and I no longer have any desire to go see it.  It is a glorified theme park.  It is advertised boldly as the nation's best "amusement' park.  But they have ordained ministers and churches and theaters and baptisms and The Lord's Supper and it's all so "spiritual" and entertaining, amusing and exciting.  Really?

No, I am not against people having fun and even enjoying the BIBLE, but the problem I have with this (and I may be on my own) is that we have grown to expect our Church to entertain us in Worship, in Sunday School, in Vacation Bible School and we embrace the world to the point that there is little difference between the Christian church house and the world we are to be separated from.  We are supposed to be sanctified, "set apart" not blended in.  We are supposed to attract people with our CHRIST likeness not our worldliness.

There was a song about 30 years ago and the only line I can remember is "Would Jesus wear a rolex?"  Wonder what JESUS would do with the HLE and their T-shirt and book sales and souvenirs?  Would HE praise them for their ingenuity or would HE braid a whip and run them all out.  I don't know.  I just know that for me it's nauseous.

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Ray Stevens
(http://youtu.be/76ohvqwsNkk)
"Would Jesus Wear A Rolex" Lyrics

Woke up this mornin', turned on the t.v. set.
there in livin' color, was somethin' I can't forget.
This man was preachin' at me, yeah, layin' on the charm
askin' me for twenty, with ten-thousand on his arm.
He wore designer clothes, and a big smile on his face
sellin' me salvation while they sang Amazin' Grace.
Askin' me for money, when he had all the signs of wealth.
I almost wrote a check out, yeah, then I asked myself

(chorus)

Would He wear a pinky ring, would He drive a fancy car?
Would His wife wear furs and diamonds, would His dressin' room have a star?
If He came back tomorrow, well there's somethin' I'd like to know
Could ya tell me, Would Jesus wear a Rolex on His television show.

Would Jesus be political if He came back to earth?
Have His second home in Palm Springs, yeah, a try to hide His worth?
Take money, from those poor folks, when He comes back again,
and admit He's talked to all them preachers who say they been a talkin' to Him?

(chorus)

Just ask ya' self, Would He wear a pinky ring,
Would He drive a fancy car?
Would His wife wear furs and diamonds, would His dressing room have a star?
If He came back tomorrow, well there's somethin' I'd like to know:
Could ya tell me, would Jesus wear a Rolex,
Would jesus wear a Rolex
Would Jesus wear a Rolex
On His television show-ooh-ooh?

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Shalom!  Pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem!

Are we ALL equal ALL the time? No.

Be careful what you give your children to read. Read the books before they do and if you work in a school and would not have certain books in your home, then don't put those books on a required reading list. Don't use them for "reading time with the tots" at the public library either.

What do children's books teach children about men? If the father is portrayed as well-meaning bumbling fool in every book, it is actually teaching your child at a very early age that men are bumbling fools. If the parents are always portrayed as being on the same level as the children, it is teaching disrespect for authority. If we are all "equal" then there is no need to respect authority.

Let's face it. No one is a bumbling fool ALL the time. Just as we should not ALL be treated equally ALL the time. Before you start, unsaddle that high horse, take a deep breath and settle down.

We've all seen the commercials where the momma bear needs to make sure junior bear's butt isn't littered with TP and poppa bear uses too much and has some sort of inordinate fixation to the TP.  It is ALWAYS momma bear that controls the situations and ALWAYS brings order. Poppa bear is the nincompoop that spends too much time in the bathroom playing with the TP. 

A five year old is not EQUAL to Mom or Dad and when the accomplishment charts are put up on the fridge, Mom and Dad's name should not be there. This is a teaching tool for children. Your spouse is not a child. Although you both may act like children from time to time, you are NOT children and should not be treat each other as such. A certain amount of respect should be given to the position of an adult (i.e., Mom or Dad, Grandma or Grandpa). What if, what if, what if. There is always "what if."

Figure it out folks.

I mean, does Mom really have time to examine everyone's butt for TP scraps?  Or does Mom have time to give a star to Dad every time he ties his own shoes?  What about that bathroom time?  Isn't there some time that we can have just a little bit of privacy?  Who really cares how you clean your butt, unless their nose is in the wrong place?

It's just like the Office of President. You may not care for the one in the chair, but he is where he is and is deserving of respect due to his position of power. Scripture tells us that GOD raises up leaders and takes them down. He gives us what we deserve, not necessarily what we want.

Shalom!  Pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem!

#2014NoMoreExcuses  #ALLthingsarepossible