What's with the Jesus skywriting?

[MassJester]

Belief in Jesus or none, I would typically find a sky written message telling me I'm loved to be fairly non-offensive.

Of course, being a left-wing nut, I think the excercise of free expression is rarely a bad thing, even if the message offends the recipient.

The whole thing reminds me of an old bumper sticker: Jesus Saves, but Esposito Scores of the Rebound --- that caused a fuss too.

Silly really.

 

[phillybeth]

Your comparing a robber or murderer to a man sky writing "Jesus loves you" in the sky.Wow.

Nope, not even close- go back and re-read it. I am saying that we are judged by our actions- and even a small piece of our actions- like skywriting- reveals our inner selves to others. So, by knowing that a person skywrites messages of 'salvation' in the skies over tourist areas, I can tell quite a bit about his character. And what I can see I don't like.

 

[carrie s]

There may be people out there who have come to Christ partly because of the skywriting.Just because no one on here has doesnt mean that no one hasnt. The sky writing alone wouldnt of done it but it may of helped.

Maybe someone was walking along feeling alone and unloved and seeing that made them feel better.The skywriter is just trying to tell people that they are loved.

Theres other things to look at in WDW.When the skywriters not there do you spend your time looking up at the sky(not counting when theres fire works).Im guessing that you dont.So pretend hes not there and go about doing what you were doing and enjoy your day.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I think most Christians can do without your pity and your condescension. That was a pretty elitist post. Amazingly enough, more of us than you think are not criminals, mentally ill, recovering addicts, or even limited thinkers. The difference is that we believe in transformation and in the image of God to be found in each individual despite circumstances. The grace of God allows us to do that.

Not elitist at all and if you carefully read the post, I was referring to the extreme, fundamentalist types of Christians. If being a Christian makes you happy, that's wonderful. I'm referring to the types who are pushing their beliefs on others. In my experience, most of these "Christians"(I put that in quotation marks because usually their behavior towards others not of their faith is anything but) are trying to pull themselves up from poor choices in life. Not a thing wrong with that. Just don't assume that all of us need to think like you to lead a good life. Yours is not the only path in life and it's not the only road by which transformation can happen. Whether or not these "extremists" can do without my pity is irrelevant...they have it anyway.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Just as most non-Christians can do without your pity and condescension that we need to be saved or informed.

See how that works?

The thing is they DON'T see how it works. Anytime you put forth an opinion that an extremist doesn't like, the name calling begins.(anyone who knows me is aware that I'm the least "elitist" person they know ) People don't even read the posts completely before they jump down your throat. But you know, that actually just proves my point that an extremist(note that I don't specify which religion-they come in all forms) just sees what they want to see and nothing more. Just my 2 cents. I'm off to plan my next trip to WDW-even us heathens are welcome there!

 

[lovethattink]

So I shouldn't judge a robber or a murderer, since I don't know what they are doing when they are not stealing or killing? That makes no logical sense.

We are judged by our actions, Christian or not. And this man's actions tell me quite a lot about him- none of it favorable.

Ouch! What a comparison.

Bottom line...We should not judge!

Nope, not even close- go back and re-read it. I am saying that we are judged by our actions- and even a small piece of our actions- like skywriting- reveals our inner selves to others. So, by knowing that a person skywrites messages of 'salvation' in the skies over tourist areas, I can tell quite a bit about his character. And what I can see I don't like.

I think it was CarrieS that touched upon that subject with the story about the woman and the perfume. (posts # 107 and mine in post 120)

...and again this is the problem. You and this guy think a certain way, and because you do, and especially (and mostly) because it's about "spreading love for Jesus" and all, it's ok to go do something that bothers people.

Some of us don't particularly care about your religion. We don't want to learn about it and we don't want to think about things like that on vacation. If you want to go and "have a relationship with Jesus" that's fine. Go right ahead and do that in your own personal way. I'm not going to stop you or infringe on your right to do that. But for those of us that don't care or believe what you do, it is annoying to constantly have that kind of thinking pushed on us, as if our life was wrong. And that's what this guys is doing.

Just curious, I asked in a different post if any of you who are offended either emailed or called this guy to tell him his effect on you? Maybe he doesn't realize he is turning people away from Christ rather than towards Him. (Although his skywriting obviously has people thinking about Christ. Or this thread would have died.)

The skywriter has a plane,he can fly it and he knows how to sky write.He wants to use what he was given to serve God,to tell people that Jesus loves them.I really hope I see him when Im there in the summer.

He probably knows that writing "Jesus loves you "wont make someone suddenly become a Christain,but he knows it will get people talking about Jesus.He knows that some non Christains will be curious and go to his web site and he knows it will get them talking to Christains about it.Well,it worked.How many of you went to his web site,and this is the second thread on this message board talking about it.You may not like what hes doing but he got your attention.

And Jesus really does love you and wants you to turn to him.If you want to call me a nut job for saying that,go ahead,Im in good company.

I was thinking along these same lines. Thanks for posting that! You said that much better than I could have.


Lorelai---great analogy!

If you look at most(not all) Born-Agains, they tend to be recovering drug addicts, former criminals or mentally ill(and came from homes/families where mental illness wasn't treated, it was hidden out of shame).

I attend a megachurch of over 5000 members. I obviously don't know everyone, but of the couple hundred I do know, only 3 of them meet your criteria. So I think saying most is a bit harsh!

The exact same thing can be said for people who are Christian. My guess is that the vast majority of people who are religious practice the same religion as their parents. My husband has a smart-Aleck answer to those who say to him: "Oh! You're Jewish!" It's "Only on my mother and father's side.". The other point I have to make is what makes you think that non-Christians have not investigated Christianity? I, for one, am a former Christian.
I'll give you the "conversation starter" but not the "teachable moment". Unless it's to teach my DD that there are some crazy people out there who will want to convert her to their religion ASAP. I "give thanks" when the shy writer and his droning airplane (YES! You can hear it too!) finally flies away.

I have studied many religions of the world (I know I'm not gramatically correct here), Bahai, Islam, Hindu, Buddism, Christianity, Jewish, 7th day Adventis, Latter Day Saints, and more. My parents raised me UM and after finding my own niche in life, I've ended up choosing a church with pentacostal beliefs.

I enjoy listening to other people's belief systems with them and sharing my own. I know that no matter what someone says or does I will stand firm in my beliefs. I am glad that the friends I have accept me as is and I do the same with them. I'm all for the agreeing to disagree!

My beliefs are personal and I would never push them on anyone.
However I do find it interesting in this country that another terrorist attack, major hurricane, or other life altering situation and his message will be politically correct.

Yes, it is amazing how after a disaster people are searching for something deeper until things go back to "normal".

 

[carrie s]

Not elitist at all and if you carefully read the post, I was referring to the extreme, fundamentalist types of Christians. If being a Christian makes you happy, that's wonderful. I'm referring to the types who are pushing their beliefs on others. In my experience, most of these "Christians"(I put that in parentheses because usually their behavior towards others not of their faith is anything but) are trying to pull themselves up from poor choices in life. Not a thing wrong with that. Just don't assume that all of us need to think like you to lead a good life. Yours is not the only path in life and it's not the only road by which transformation can happen. Whether or not these "extremists" can do without my pity is irrelevant...they have it anyway.

Thats not true.Its usually people who love Jesus so much that they want to tell everyone about Him.Some people are more pushy then other but usually those are people who are pushy about everything in their lives, not just their faith.

 

[Tiffer]

We are going down next month and I hope I get to see the skywriting....Maybe while I am pool hopping and drinking out of my refillable mug from last year.....

While you're wearing crocs, pushing a stroller into everyone's heels your kids are wearing Helly's and zooming around, and your Mom is in an EVC running into people and you push your kids to the front of the curb at a parade at the last minute???

 

[fakereadhed]

He must have been at it again!

Thank you for my new desktop wallpaper!

 

[aztecgoods]

Still another possible explanation. It could possibly be WoodyWoodPecker, or some other "trouble maker" that realizes his deeply controversial message of Jesus Love you will irritate the peeps on here that started and agreed with the thread. Because he likes to irritate the easily irritated. Haaaaa haaaaaaaa haaaaaaa haaa haaa haaa haaaa (woody wood pecker laugh)

 

[Tiffer]

I can't believe a thread about this guy is on the Dis, we see him all the time, doesn't bother me at all. He isn't very good at it though, usually by the time he's finished a word, the beginning is already fading.

I agree. Although I haven't seen it personally, I have read most of this thread. Some people make excellent points. As a Christian, would I be offended if someone wrote Priase Allah in the sky? I don't know, probably not offended, maybe scared thinking a terrorist attack was imminent. Maybe ignorant, but that is the world in which we live.

I am not bothered by it and wouldn't be no matter what it said, I think only vulgarity or obscenity would offend me.

I don't consider it graffiti as it is gone in seconds.

I guess I just look at it as free scpeech and I live in the USA and that is one of the things I LOVE about this country.

I just don't get why others aren't doing this for advertising purposes?

 

[luvthemouse71]

Thats not true.Its usually people who love Jesus so much that they want to tell everyone about Him.Some people are more pushy then other but usually those are people who are pushy about everything in their lives, not just their faith.

Sigh....How many times can I say that you are more than welcome to believe what you like? Did you even read the post? There are people of all religions who are intolerant. Yes, there are plenty of people who live their faith daily without harassing others. Then there are those who shove their faith in your face, ask you if you're "saved" etc. This behavior, to many people, is obnoxious. You have every right to talk about Jesus all you want just as I have every right to believe as I wish and to tune you out if you are too pushy/agressive. Where is the problem here? I'm not calling for the guy to be shot down out of the sky, just stating that I think he's wasting his time because there's a good number of people who are going to see what he's doing, and write him off as a religious freak. Do I still think he has every right to be up there? Yes. I'm done with this thread now because it's not fun to try to debate/ discuss an issue when people obviously don't read the posts completely.

 

[Whosemom]

A point to ponder:

I am a math teacher. If I'm hanging out, or stuck in line at WDW, with a school kid/teen, I will at some point ask, "what did you learn in math this week?" Or, "What math class are you taking next year?" I may extoll the virtues of a stringent mathematics education, how it is the key that unlocks many doors. The kids are always glad to share, usually end up telling me about other school stuff as well. I mean what I'm saying, our society uses math skills as a seive in higher education. Parents who hate math groan. But I put the bug in the ear of as many kids as I can, as often as I can. Because I think that little seed might germinate, at least into, "I really need to pass high school math." Most people say, "yea! A GOOD SINCERE TEACHER WHO CARES"

If I think that your spiritual choices can lead you to a wonderfully fulfilled life that benefits others as well, or into something incredibly unthinkably awful, shouldn't I be as passionate about planting those little seeds as well? Not cramming it down your throat, but letting you know where I stand now and then. Way less in-your-face than I am about math - then I am a NUT CASE probably a recovering heroin addict, and more than likely from an abusive home life. LOL. Its important to me, I get to mention it!

So, you don't agree with the sky writer. Go, "Huh! Whatever!" Shake your head once and enjoy your day.

 

[disnygrl30]

The skywriter has a plane,he can fly it and he knows how to sky write.He wants to use what he was given to serve God,to tell people that Jesus loves them.I really hope I see him when Im there in the summer.

He probably knows that writing "Jesus loves you "wont make someone suddenly become a Christain,but he knows it will get people talking about Jesus.He knows that some non Christains will be curious and go to his web site and he knows it will get them talking to Christains about it.Well,it worked.How many of you went to his web site,and this is the second thread on this message board talking about it.You may not like what hes doing but he got your attention.

And Jesus really does love you and wants you to turn to him.If you want to call me a nut job for saying that,go ahead,Im in good company.

I said I wasn't going to get involved in this "discussion", but after seeing this I just had to. CarrieS you have hit the nail on the head. I don't consider this "stuffing Jesus in your face". Just because a particular person doesn't like it, maybe someone else is having a bad day, a bad week or a bad life. They look up in the sky and see "Jesus loves You", that could make someone start to wonder about Christianity, or any other religion for that matter. It could make them question is there a god/higher power that does care about me and love me.

I applaud the man/woman that is doing this. I think it is wonderful. Hey it has worked so far. Look at the amount of attention "JESUS" is getting today, and yesterday and however long this man has been "writing in the sky".

People, lets remember something just because we don't agree with the way someone acts, someone's lifestyle, someone's habits, doesn't mean that we have to judge them for it. Hey, I don't like smoking, but when I walk out of a store and there are 25 people standing right in front of the door smoking I don't complain about it. I just walk by. Can't we just all get along.

 

[briar_rose_59]

While you're wearing crocs, pushing a stroller into everyone's heels your kids are wearing Helly's and zooming around, and your Mom is in an EVC running into people and you push your kids to the front of the curb at a parade at the last minute???

Hey, what's wrong w/ crocs? LOL Gosh I love those things!

 

[aztecgoods]

A point to ponder:

I am a math teacher. If I'm hanging out, or stuck in line at WDW, with a school kid/teen, I will at some point ask, "what did you learn in math this week?" Or, "What math class are you taking next year?" I may extoll the virtues of a stringent mathematics education, how it is the key that unlocks many doors. The kids are always glad to share, usually end up telling me about other school stuff as well. I mean what I'm saying, our society uses math skills as a seive in higher education. Parents who hate math groan. But I put the bug in the ear of as many kids as I can, as often as I can. Because I think that little seed might germinate, at least into, "I really need to pass high school math." Most people say, "yea! A GOOD SINCERE TEACHER WHO CARES"

If I think that your spiritual choices can lead you to a wonderfully fulfilled life that benefits others as well, or into something incredibly unthinkably awful, shouldn't I be as passionate about planting those little seeds as well? Not cramming it down your throat, but letting you know where I stand now and then. Way less in-your-face than I am about math - then I am a NUT CASE probably a recovering heroin addict, and more than likely from an abusive home life. LOL. Its important to me, I get to mention it!

So, you don't agree with the sky writer. Go, "Huh! Whatever!" Shake your head once and enjoy your day.

You're just a numbers freak. Its a fact that most people who are fascinated with math and science may tend to become rocket scientists where they will use their fanatical beliefs in numbers and equations to manufacture such things as rockets or missiles that will have nuclear war heads on them for mass destruction purposes.

I"M JUST KIDDING!!!!

 

[orljustin]

If I think that your spiritual choices can lead you to a wonderfully fulfilled life that benefits others as well, or into something incredibly unthinkably awful, shouldn't I be as passionate about planting those little seeds as well?

No. Because if you haven't figured it out yet, religion is a subject that a lot of people have strong feelings about, and they don't particularly care to hear yours. You feel that Jesus loves you. I see what you believe as some imaginary fiction. That's just my view, and when you come to tell me about it, I just find it amusing, and somewhat annoying that you feel the need to include me in the whole thing. But as I said, that's just me (and some others). You want to believe in it, that's fine. Just don't come telling me about it, or spray painting it on the sky where we all have to look at it.

You don't see people argueing about how many sides a triangle has, or whether a square is better than a circle. So keep talking about math.

 

[BurkeTribe]

pushing a stroller into everyone's

I'll admit I do this once or twice a day at the parks... accidentally. That's what happens when someone in the lead of a pack of moving people decides to abruptly stop in the middle of the path and look at his/her map, arrrrr


As for the skyadvertising, I reiterate post #156

 

[aztecgoods]

No. Because if you haven't figured it out yet, religion is a subject that a lot of people have strong feelings about, and they don't particularly care to hear yours. You feel that Jesus loves you. I see what you believe as some imaginary fiction. That's just my view, and when you come to tell me about it, I just find it amusing, and somewhat annoying that you feel the need to include me in the whole thing. But as I said, that's just me (and some others). You want to believe in it, that's fine. Just don't come telling me about it, or spray painting it on the sky where we all have to look at it.

You don't see people argueing about how many sides a triangle has, or whether a square is better than a circle. So keep talking about math.

Yeah but just as there are peeps out there like you that don't want to hear any of it, there also are peeps out there that are desperately searching for answers or a meaning in their life, in which case they may be very interested in it. Just because you're not currently in the market for a new TV and don't want to hear any "sales" pitches, doesn't mean the next person feels like you do, in which case they may welcome it.

 

[Tiffer]

I'll admit I do this once or twice a day at the parks... accidentally. That's what happens when someone in the lead of a pack of moving people decides to abruptly stop in the middle of the path and look at his/her map, arrrrr


As for the skyadvertising, I reiterate post #156

Oh, I was just kidding b/c someone else posted something about refillable mugs and pool hopping as a joke.

Those see to be the hot and repetitive topics on the boards here.

I have done it by accident too. When it is crowded, sometimes it is unavoidable. I have also had it done to me. I try to be cautious, as I am sure you do.

My DD lives in her crocs as well