Well, my “minor surgical procedure” turned out to be a bit more complicated than I (and maybe my doctor) had anticipated, but I seem to be mending and I think I’m recovering reasonably well. I suppose I’ll know more when I know more. In any case, it’s about time for another Blog post. So, here’s this attempt to be somewhat interesting and/or (at least vaguely) amusing.
As I think I have said previously in these writings, churches often seem to provide us with interesting and entertaining signs to examine as we move around the countryside. And, while they MAY (frequently do) touch on religious topics, they don’t tend to be particularly controversial and are rarely political. Still, they often contain ideas worthy of a second thought, regardless of the church’s denomination. In any case, I was looking through my files and was reminded that I had a good-sized collection of “church signs” which I had thought worthy of saving, so I figured I’d do a post based on some of them. Here goes!
I have seen a number of polite suggestions urging people to respect basic parking regulations on church property, but I think THIS is my favorite. As I, remember it (and I could well be incorrect) I discovered it on the side of on a church in Tryon, NC, many years ago, when we were there for some Girl Scout thing, I think it was. In any case, I still like it a lot and I don’t think I’ve used it in a post before. I think it does its job quite effectively, and politely. Good job, United Methodist!
As I think I have said previously in these writings, churches often seem to provide us with interesting and entertaining signs to examine as we move around the countryside. And, while they MAY (frequently do) touch on religious topics, they don’t tend to be particularly controversial and are rarely political. Still, they often contain ideas worthy of a second thought, regardless of the church’s denomination. In any case, I was looking through my files and was reminded that I had a good-sized collection of “church signs” which I had thought worthy of saving, so I figured I’d do a post based on some of them. Here goes!
I have seen a number of polite suggestions urging people to respect basic parking regulations on church property, but I think THIS is my favorite. As I, remember it (and I could well be incorrect) I discovered it on the side of on a church in Tryon, NC, many years ago, when we were there for some Girl Scout thing, I think it was. In any case, I still like it a lot and I don’t think I’ve used it in a post before. I think it does its job quite effectively, and politely. Good job, United Methodist!
On a more humorous, if somewhat more specifically religious, note, I relish THIS sign’s sense of humor.
(Sorry about that, I couldn’t resist the pun(s)!
I don’t know much about the Moravian Church, but I DO like this sentiment, especially when I’m outside on a warm, damp, buggy summer evening…. This is something I can easily understand (and sympathize with)
I don’t know much about the Moravian Church, but I DO like this sentiment, especially when I’m outside on a warm, damp, buggy summer evening…. This is something I can easily understand (and sympathize with)
Church signs often try to provide some sort of advice for those who encounter them. They often suggest how, in the minds of this, specific, church, at least, people might improve their lives, their relationship to a deity, or just (in this church’s mind) become a better person, etc. This is, of course, a perfectly reasonable thing for a church to encourage, and often takes the form of a clever statement, which can be quite pithy and to the point. For example, I’m quite fond of:
One could argue, I suppose, that this sign treads dangerously close to being a “political” statement in this day and age, but it seems to me to fit right into what I was taught when I was a youngster attending “Confirmation Classes” in preparation for my joining one of the churches in my home town. (I suppose I should confess that it was, largely, my support for the idea referred to above that led me to “move on” from supporting ANY specific, established denomination, as I never found one which seemed to me to actually support this ideal to the extent I thought it should.)
Quite a different expression of what seems to me to be a very similar idea (in my opinion) is THIS one which MAY not have been a part of a “church” sign, but (given the context in which I found it) I strongly suspect that it was.
Quite a different expression of what seems to me to be a very similar idea (in my opinion) is THIS one which MAY not have been a part of a “church” sign, but (given the context in which I found it) I strongly suspect that it was.
That DOES seem to me to be pretty good advice, although as one who has, almost constantly had cats (who seem to be much more aloof in the presentation of their affection than dogs) as pets, I’m not sure that this sign has quite the same impact for “cat people.”
I suppose that another way of expressing this, basic idea, is THIS sign, which I also really like a LOT.
I suppose that another way of expressing this, basic idea, is THIS sign, which I also really like a LOT.
That DOES seem to me to be pretty good advice, although as one who has, almost constantly had cats (who seem to be much more aloof in the presentation of their affection than dogs) as pets, I’m not sure that this sign has quite the same impact for “cat people.”
I suppose that another way of expressing this, basic idea, is THIS sign, which I also really like a LOT.
I confess to wishing that more people would consider THIS concept before trying to force their religious notions onto the body politic. As I recollect, Jesus (the spiritual leader I know the most about) did say something about paying proper respects to both “Caesar” and to God, as I remember it, although I’ll let you look up the specific reference, if you wish to do so.
Now, THIS sign may well not have been directly associated with a specific church, but, I would argue that it COULD have been. It’s pretty good advice, in any case, I would suggest.
I suppose that another way of expressing this, basic idea, is THIS sign, which I also really like a LOT.
I confess to wishing that more people would consider THIS concept before trying to force their religious notions onto the body politic. As I recollect, Jesus (the spiritual leader I know the most about) did say something about paying proper respects to both “Caesar” and to God, as I remember it, although I’ll let you look up the specific reference, if you wish to do so.
Now, THIS sign may well not have been directly associated with a specific church, but, I would argue that it COULD have been. It’s pretty good advice, in any case, I would suggest.
On the other hand, this next sign, is quite obviously from a church, although it DOES appear to be on an interior wall, so it’s probably NOT technically a “sign.” I like it, but think it’s unfortunate that it seems to suggest that God may be MUCH more attentive on church premises than elsewhere, which I do NOT think was the real intent. In any event, the concept seems appropriate, even if the use of a video camera doesn’t seem to reinforce the idea which I think (hope) they had in mind.
All things considered, I have a sense that most of these signs (and probably a good many more) might quite satisfactorily be summarized in this fairly recent Non Sequitur cartoon. (As some may have noticed, I AM quite fond of Non Sequitur, which I think is frequently worth the minute to look it up in the paper, or online.) Anyway, I DO wish that more people would take this advice. It seems perfectly reasonable, to me, and isn’t all that hard to do, if you just stop and think BEFORE leaping into the fray with some “smart” (usually caustic) comment.
In closing, allow me to include one, last sign (which I admit does NOT appear to be a true “church” one, but seems somewhat related, at least to me). I think that it was intended to comment upon the rather excessive amount of rain showing up in various places around the world, apparently including Fairfax County, VA. Now, SOME folks say this is being caused by a growing “Climate Crisis,” but others insist is “perfectly normal.” In either case, it’s a sign worth keeping in mind (and it is sort of church-related (in a couple of possible ways) …. Just think about it!
I plan to be back in a couple of weeks, if the Good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise! Maybe you’ll be back, too. I hope so.
🖖🏼 LLAP,
Dr. B
🖖🏼 LLAP,
Dr. B
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