Am I Crazy?

[Daxx]

My SIL just called me. She and her kids, as well as their pastor and his wife and kids are going to this beach. This beach is v. nice and is home to expensive doublewides that are permanent fixtures. The owners pay a lot to purchase these permanent doublewidesand it's a v. nice place to visit. The beach is gorgeous and there's an area that you can walk up to w/a variety of foods, there's a pool, mini golf and a waterslide park (those cost extra $). There are activities for all the kids who are there and it's a super nice place. It's just like a resort. Anyway, you can own a place, rent a place or just go to use the beach even if you don't have a doublewide there. This place charges quite a bit to get in just to use the beach. If I remember correctly, the cost is $30 for a car and driver and each additional passenger is $20). I told SIL that it was quite a bit for a trip to the beach when there's another beautiful beach nearby that's free. She said "Oh, this is pretty cheap, too! It'll only cost you $7 to get in!" I said "How do you figure?" and she says "We all drive up in the church van!" and I said "Well, it's still $20 a passenger, so it'd still cost me $40 for DS and me." and she says "No, it won't! We split the fee b/c we get out of the van right before the gates and sneak in. Pastor Bob drives the empty van into the beach and pays the $20, so we split that fee -- it'll only cost us $7 each. Then we meet him on the beach!" From what she said, there's a way to walk in w/o anyone seeing you.

Am I crazy to think that it's wrong for the pastor of a church to condone this?! SIL said the pastor says that God made the beaches for everyone to enjoy and to charge for them is wrong. I countered with "Someone has to pay for the maintenence of the place! There's a perfectly good, free beach about 1/4 mile down the road." They say it's not good enough b/c there isn't a place to eat w/in walking distance.

I refrained from going b/c I don't want to drive up w/a bunch of people. I want the convenience of having my own car. Anyway, I really can't see paying that much money to use a beach when there's a perfectly good one down the way.

Am I nuts for not going? Are they nuts for cheating the place?

 

[Allison]

You aren't the ones that is nuts.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm sorry, but the visual of that is absolutely hysterical.

I think I'd take a raincheck, too.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

First of all, it's crazy to charge that much to get into a beach! That would be $90 for a family of four! Insane!!!!!

Second, that is really wrong of the preacher! If you don't want to pay, don't go! That is cheating, lying, and completely dishonest. What sort of example is that setting, driving the church van no less! A church name/logo plastered across the van, and other people see people piling out of the van to sneak onto the beach.

 

[Daxx]

First of all, it's crazy to charge that much to get into a beach! That would be $90 for a family of four! Insane!!!!!

Yeah -- they do that to keep beach traffic to a minimum! Most families aren't going to spend $90 a day for the beach and it keeps it more "exclusive" for those who have doublewides there!

 

[CEDmom]

Sorry, but I don't think I want to attend a church where the pastor thinks cheating and stealing are ok . If he's not happy with the cost there are honest ways to make his feelings know and petition for change.

 

[RitaZ.]

We split the fee b/c we get out of the van right before the gates and sneak in. Pastor Bob drives the empty van into the beach and pays the $20, so we split that fee -- it'll only cost us $7 each. Then we meet him on the beach!" From what she said, there's a way to walk in w/o anyone seeing you.

SIL said the pastor says that God made the beaches for everyone to enjoy and to charge for them is wrong.

Well, if the pastor condones it, then it must be ok. Funny how he gets in "legally", but encourages his parishioners to break the rules. Just wrong!

There is no way I would do that. If a person doesn't want to spend the money or can't afford the fee to gain entrance to the beach, then the answer (to me) is obvious. You don't go.

 

[Beth76]

OMG! What if they caught? And they're in the church van? I'm sorry this thing has karma written all over it.

 

[Turtle]

Good for you for not going. That wouldn't be setting a very good example for your son.

 

[darlak]

Not only would I not do it, I would seriously question the morals of my pastor if he wanted to do it.

 

[Sherri]

I'm still trying to visualize an upscale beach with doublewides.

 

[Daxx]

I'm still trying to visualize an upscale beach with doublewides.

Here's an example of one of the places:

People totally build onto them and landscape, so some of them are rather stunning! These are set in a "woodsy" atmosphere and it's a short walk to the beach. I'll see if I can find a shot from the shore looking up at the area.

 

[Sherri]

here's an example of one of the places:

People totally build onto them and landscape, so some of them are rather stunning! These are set in a "woodsy" atmosphere and it's a short walk to the beach. I'll see if I can find a shot from the shore looking up at the area.

It does look peaceful and pretty, so thats probably why its so exclusive and expensive. I guess it discourages most people from going their by charging those high fees. I wouldn't sneak in because its wrong, but also what lesson would you be teaching the children of the group, if you don't agree with the price then find a way to steal? Pastor Bob seems like a real peice of work.

 

[Daxx]

here's an example of one of the places as you'd see it from the beach:

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would only go if I brought my own car. That is expensive but I might go for a once a year thing if it is as fun as you say it is.

The cheating thing is just icky-oooo... Another example of the rules should not apply to ME.

Also since he cheats like that, I would now wonder if he is cheating his congregation....I can see him taking money from the collection plate & not reporting it.
Afterall...he is the pastor.

 

[talulabelle]

Wow. That is an interesting philosophy the preacher has. That could apply to lots of things. God put fruits and vegetables on the earth for us all to eat and enjoy too, but I still get charged for them. That preacher would probably feel just fine about stealing his food i guess. What a loser. I wouldn't step foot in that theifs church! So they all cheat and steal like that right in front of their kids? No wonder the world is the way it is....

Has that preacher got to the part in the Bible about how how we are to follow man made laws, as long as we are not going against the God made ones?

 

[talulabelle]

I'm still trying to visualize an upscale beach with doublewides.

Thats exactly what I was thinking! I had never seen the words doublewide and very nice in the same sentence before!

 

[MELSMICE]

Daxx - I'm from Lancaster, NY & I believe I know the beach you're referring to. We have quite a few friends that own places up there & we rented every year for over 10 summers.

It is a beautiful beach, but not worth the $20 per person. When we go there for the day our friends leave us passes for entry.

Originally Posted by Sherri
I'm still trying to visualize an upscale beach with doublewides.

It is hard to visualize, but believe me, some of them are beautiful, with add-a-rooms, decks, etc. Think more summer home than double wide trailer. A few families we know live in them all summer.

BTW - I think I know where your pastor is referring to that you can just "sneak in", however, I don't condone what he is doing at all. If they decide to go to that beach they should pay. If they don't want to pay, go to another beach.

 

[salal]

Where the heck is this place???

I just got back from the most beautiful & FREE beach in Northwest Florida-the whole coast is free!!! I can nOT imagine paying that much for the beach!!

 

[Stacerita]

That is hysterical. Pastor who doesn't want to pay and get in somewhere free, in the church van no less, so he says God made the beach so its ok.