Idol Topic Week 2, Mt. Rushmore

[adoptedwriter]

If you drive about 45 minutes north of my city you will see an iconic landmark of sorts. It's the Solid Rock Church, and it was founded in 1978 in Lebanon, OH, originally, but the mighty Middletown "North Campus" is probably the most well-known branch. It's a massive and sprawling piece of real estate between Cincinnati and Dayton, OH which gives tribute to the Lord, the King of Kings, the Big J.C., Savior, the Almighty, Buddy Christ, Jesús or whatever name you recognize The Boss on the Cross as.

 

In front of the structure is a man-made pond where there used to be a colossal statue of a massive Messiah rising from the water. He was fondly known to passers-by as "Quicksand Jesus" and also "Touch Down Jesus". 

 

In June of 2010, the area suffered from intense storm damage due to wind and lightning. Jesus caught fire and burned. Here are some of our beloved local TV news reporters explaining the demise of this iconic image: 
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CHcR7_c630 

 

Local citizens viewed this freak accident of nature as both tragic and ironic. Many saw it as a sign of doom because if the Big Guy in the Sky couldn't survive a lightning strike, well, what does that say about our future as a society?  Some folks thought the stature was an eyesore along the interstate and gave the Solid Rock Church, who was responsible for building it, a reputation for being opulent and only wanting attention. 

 

Fear not. This faith-filled mega church quickly came up with a plan B as in Bible. Now, travelers motoring north or south in Middletown, OH can view an updated representation of the risen-again Redeemer in all His glory.

 

He is now known widely and fondly as "Hug Me Jesus" and or "Big Butter Jesus" or my personal favorite, "Five Dollar Footlong Jesus".  The icon measures 52 feet tall and  weighs 3000 pounds. Another new and improved feature: He is now Fire-Proof Jesus!

 

This video clip at the 1/2 way point  shows the new scripture, um I mean sculpture:
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezpcddHchIM

Comments

[furzicle.livejournal.com]

Your writing is refreshing! Thanks.

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks! I meant to tell you I enjoyed your entry last week very much. I am rarely using LJ, especially from a desktop, so I do not leave many comments there anymore. (security/ family issues) I was unable to comment at DW.

[furzicle.livejournal.com]

I tried to edit my comment but couldn't do it. Hence, comment #2! I just looked at the Youtube, which gave added insight. It crossed my mind that the faithful who happened to see the Jesus monument englulfed in flames must have had a moment of panicky realization as they zoomed past at 70 mpg. "OMG, is it the Rapture?!"

[furzicle.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I can't stop thinking about all the worthy bad jokes that this event must have sparked (see, I did one there!). Self-immolation comes to mind. Sorry, I'll go try to write my entry now.

[dmousey]

This little thread of commentary made me giggle like a girl!

[tjoel2]

"Five Dollar Footlong Jesus"

Okay, that one cracked me up!

[favoritebean_writes]

Oh wow. This kind of reminds me of the time that lightning struck and destroyed part of a church I lived near. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Basilica_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_(Denver)

I guess the second lightning strike happened on a rather auspicious day.

The second statue in your piece looks better. It kind of reminds me of Buddy Jesus, actually.

[bleodswean]

It's a shame that the image insertion doesn't seem to work over here. :( I want to see this!

[adoptedwriter]

Can you copy n paste the link?

[alycewilson]

That's what I did.

If you want your links to be clickable, here's the HTML code. Remove the extra spaces.

< a href="http://www.website.com" >Link text< /a >

It's a bit of a pain to type, but it becomes second nature after a while.

[tonithegreat]

Count me as another commenter that’s bummed html doesn’t seem to work the same over here at DW! I loved your humor on this post. Good stuff.

[alycewilson]

The most jaw-dropping part for me was in the first news report on the fire, when they estimated the statue cost half a million (or was it billion) dollars to build! Couldn't they have spread the word by doing a lot of good in the community with that money? I wouldn't be surprised if this statue gets itself smited, too.

[adoptedwriter]

Lots of ppl around here agree w your thought.

[alycewilson]

I'm not surprised. From the fact that the newscaster called it the somewhat pejorative nickname "Touchdown Jesus," I could tell there wasn't much actual respect or love for the statue amongst the locals.

[fausts_dream]

Lakewood Church (The Joel Osteen mega mall/campus/place of worship) is located in the building where I used to watch Iron Maiden concerts and Houston Rockets basketball. I don't know if it used to be a better place, but I think it was genuinely a happier place.

[thephantomq]

FIVE DOLLAR FOOTLONG JESUS

I may have choked a little on my food, hah.

[rayaso]

Touchdown Jesus was destroyed? How sad. I'm glad it was replaced with . . . something. It would have been nice if "Big Butter Jesus" were made out of butter, like the Last Supper "sculpture" at the Iowa State Fair (along with the Butter Cow and Butter Elvis).

[establishingaplace]

I remember hearing about the first statue going up in flames! Not surprised they replaced it.

A few years ago I was visiting a friend in Memphis. His house is down the street from a megachurch with three ENORMOUS crosses outside. He calls it 'Six Flags over Jesus.' lol

[nayanawrites]

Ohhhh the lightening !!! It has always made me wonder if there is a science to how lightening picks up what to strike ....

Loved the humour ... well done :)

[dmousey]

Oh you made me laugh!! I could visualize it very well!. Thank you for bringing some levity into a very trying week! ✌😊

[reidharriscooper]

I'm glad based on the comments I'm not the only one who wants this second statue to also be destroyed somehow.

That said, you reflecting on it and telling of something I wouldn't know about and just gets my ire up but also flames my ire is strangely a good thing.

[jenwithapen]

The Boss on the Cross! -laughing- I have NEVER heard this, but it's kinda brilliant.

I really liked your take on this topic, hon! The writing is not only friendly, it's conversational, and it just draws your audience in.

Loved. =D

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Ha! This made me chuckle and that's a good sign ;) Can totally relate to the loss of public revenue in this as such incidents are very common in my country where statues are more important than the potholes on the road.
Loved you take! Well done!

[sorchawench]

If your representation of faith has a tendency to burn down, I can see that becoming a hindrance to keeping the faithful unafraid. Fire-Proof Jesus for the win!

[halfshellvenus]

Hahaha-- five-dollar footlong Jesus!

I looked up the original, and it was... so wrong. And yes, it looked like he was sinking.

The follow-on is also strange, and looks like a discount-job compared to the first. Though less desperate-looking, and at least not flammable?

I'll admit, the Redeemer over Rio also strikes me as being very strange. I think Jesus and ostentatious ideally should not go together, though it's not uncommon. :O

[bewize]

Boss on the Cross is a new one on me!

We had a church in my hometown with "eggbeater Jesus" painted on the front. LOL!

[adoptedwriter]

I just Googled "egg beater Jesus" Huntsville, AL? Hilarious! LOLOL

[bsgsix]

Oh my gosh, I LOVE this. Boss on the Cross made me laugh out loud. This is a great take on the prompt!

[flipflop_diva]

lol Notre Dame has a Touchdown Jesus. My brother-in-law likes to pray to him every Saturday during football season xD

Five Dollar Footlong Jesus is the best though! Legit laughing over here!

[tatdatcm]

Every home town has their monument, doesn't it? The nicknames of the new statue are pretty inventive and funny.

[murielle]

Did not see this coming at all! Very well written, and a very different take on the prompt. :-)

And you have the dubious honour of being my last entry to read/comment this week. Dashing off to Vote! See you next week.