SO, my friend Angie called me right after Thanksgiving, I think it was, and asked if my family would like to accompany her family to the Dry Gulch Christmas Train. I thought about it for a while, and finally said yes. I had reservations about going, because it is run by a particular church that doesn't exactly worship our Lord in a way I see as reverent. (I detest going to fun things and then "Come get saved in front of everyone" forced down my throat.) BUT- I had visited the Dry Gulch grounds before and I thought it was a cute little place. So SURE- we'll go with you, Angie!
The day of The Christmas Train comes and it is absolutely frigidly freezing. I'm not kidding. And it was windy. The tickets were not transferable or refundable. So, we layered our clothing and grabbed blankets and headed out. I do believe the car thermometer said it was 9 degrees at some points during the drive. I was NOT looking forward to this. We started walking and tears literally came to my eyes as I was walking. Tears from cold and wind. We found Santa's house and sought refuge there. That's where we got some cute little pics of Quin and Isaiah.
Oh- and these....
Hot Mommas!
Here is my overall review of The Christmas Train. It was NOT what I expected. The train ride was neat, but it did not have Christmas lights at all. It took you through the story of Christ's life. NO Christmas lights. The only Christmas lights in the whole thing were the pretty clear lights that outlined all the buildings there on the grounds. IF you do go- eat in Pryor before you get there. They say food is available there, and it is "fast-food pricing". Well, let me tell you, I have never taken a family of 3 to Mickey D's and spent $24. Angie's family is a family of 4 and they spent $46! So- eat before you get there. Also, try to go earlier in the month before it gets too cold. It would have been better had the kids been able to play on the play toys, and more enjoyable to walk around. Oh- and I was right....after the train ride you're ushered into a theater and you watch a video....and the founder of Dry Gulch asks you to say "A little prayer" with him. I just looked at Angie and afterwards said "I told you so!"
OH- and a picture to give you all a good laugh-
Doesn't she look like Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation during his sled ride??? TEE HEE
4 comments:
That picture is hilarious! Chevy Chase in that sled scene is exactly what I thought of!
I must agree with you about the whole public "come to Jesus" thing. I took the kids to a Christmas parade sponsored by a large evangelical church here. All along the parade route they handed out candy canes and glow sticks and personally asked everyone if they had been saved. I must have been asked at least 20 times. It got annoying after awhile.
I have to disagree. We are called as followers of Jesus Christ to reach out to a lost and dying world. Certainly not all are receptive, and some are outwardly hostile, but regardless of their reaction His followers ARE called to go out into the world and witness. What are they really doing to hurt anyone? I'm quite certain people were not forced to enter the theatre at the end of the train ride if they did not desire. As far as being asked if "you're saved" numerous times; if the answer to that question were YES, just how annoying could it possibly be to have the distinct pleasure and joy to proclaim that fact over and over again?
The reason the world is in the state it's in today is because large numbers of Christians, collectively, have seen fit to keep the gospel message confined to the inner walls of their church buildings. God forgive us for our lack of conviction and commitment to the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ while millions perish into an eternity without Him.
I know what you're saying Kerri. Perhaps you misunderstood me? What MY major complaint about the whole thing is, in my past experiences, people seem to think that you're not saved unless they physically see with their own eyes, you go to the front of a building and say a prayer to accept Christ as your Savior. What business is it of theirs to pass judgment like that? Yes, it is our calling and responsibility to make sure we share the Gospel with others and to "let our light so shine", but if you are too pushy about it, people are turned off. That would be the last thing I would want to do to someone. As for people asking if I've been saved, I believe it is my PERSONAL walk with my Savior. And, like I said, ALL of my experiences in the past have been people saying "Well- I didn't see you go up front." Which, leads me back to...it is our personal walk with our Savior. I have found, if you're living a Christ-like life, people ask you about it and then you're able to share His message. I have found that people are much more receptive and open to His message and want to learn more when it is approached that way.
I won't belabor this point indefinitely, and I know we will probably never agree on this subject, but becoming saved has very little (in fact almost nothing) to do with "walking an aisle" "saying a little prayer" or really anything that has to do with a public display. When these groups or individuals approach people in public settings they very much realize that their part in the evangelism process is as a "seed planter". There ARE some over zealous followers that DO come on too strong, but I still applaud their efforts and their passion(I must say that God has been able to use MY feeble attempts to His glory if I've reached out with a contrite and compassionate heart). I know of several people that attribute their coming into a saving relationship with Christ as a direct,or indirect,result of such an encounter. Any Christian that "puts pressure" on anyone to "get him/her" to make a decision regarding salvation on the spot is missing the mark. Christ's gift of mercy, grace, and redemption is a free gift and is also a free choice. God forces Himself on no one. Salvation cannot come until the Holy Spirit has caused conviction in the heart of the lost one. If you don't believe you're a sinner in need of the Savior then you cannot be saved. Many people believe themselves to be "good people" (and that's usually true) but just being a "good" person and living a "good" life is NOT a sign that someone is saved. Certainly we are to let our lives reflect His Light within us to the world, but that alone is not enough. Very, very few are just going to "notice" that our lives are "different" and actually ask us about how they can have what we have. Our walk with Christ should bleed over into every area of our lives. When someone is ingrained in our lives, we can't but help to talk openly to others about them. If I ever offend someone over talking about Jesus, or asking them if they know Him as Savior, it's because I truly care about them. It's His love for them; I'm just the conduit.
Again, I don't expect you to jump over onto "my bandwagon", but I DO hope you see that we have a responsibility to not only TELL but also take opportunities to ASK. God's love and message are pro-active.
Romans 10:14
But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in Him; and before they can believe in Him, they must hear about Him; and for them to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them.
PS. I want you to truly know that I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH and I treasure the fact that you are a part of my life. I am TRULY blessed!
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