Weird Things Seen on a Road Trip to Southern Illinois, and other Quick Takes

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A billboard for a casino says: “JUNGLE FEVER: Our new slots are ferocious!” Am I the only one who finds this questionable judgment on the part of the marketing department? I’m not exactly sure what this message is supposed to mean, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t come out in the consumer’s favor.

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I couldn’t quite believe I saw this one: standing by the side of the interstate stands a man and his son, both clad in bright yellow reflective gear, carrying big honking backpacks as if they’re hitchhiking across America…and they have a goat on a leash. Yes, I said a goat.

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Call this one marital disunity: we are brainstorming titles for each individual “weird quick take” to pass the time in the car, and my husband tells me I’m a h**l of a writer, but I have no wit.

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Seen on the side of a church: Jesus Completely Saves. As opposed to partially saves.

This sign has caused me to shake my head for years, so on a whim I looked up that phrase on Ye Almightye Google, and lo and behold that is one translation of Hebrews 7:25.  Which made me wonder why I’ve never heard the phrase before. So I looked it up in the New American Bible, and it turns out the Bible I’ve used my whole life translates that superlative in a different way:

Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

I like this translation much better. “Completely saves” makes no theological sense. If the body and the soul are one, you’re either saved or you’re not saved. It’s not like half your soul is saved and the other half condemned, or your head goes to Heaven and your arm goes to Hell. The completeness is implicit in the word “saved.”

I know I have a seminarian stopping in occasionally. Hopefully if I’m off base, he’ll jump in and set me straight. 🙂

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A photo tour of last weekend’s trip to see Grandma & Grandpa:

 

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I posted on our family’s conservation efforts this week. And because I’m so interested to know if other families are conscious of and deliberate about these issues, I’m linking it in hopes you’ll come over and weigh in!