While in High School circa '58 - 61' Several of my classmates were of a rather, shall we say
focused gospel students, organizing lunch time prayers and such. Very nice kids, but verry
insistant on coming to the monthy revivals. That was quite a scene, there is am air of surrealism
when FourSquare gets together for a coming to Jesus - it becomes a psychological feeding frenzy.
Wife's Brother was of a deep religious nature, truly a good man, did a Jusus Radio Music Show
for in the name of the Church every wekend. Pretty good really. nice convincing voice and
all the belivable sweetnesss to Jesus in the world. Rest his soul, a good man.
Friends in California were heavy Pentecostal, 'Rollin' for Jesus' people - good as can be, talked in tounges
and new all the code words. Tap that forhead and watch them crumble spirt took them to their knees.
I attended services with them many times, it was like going to the 'Believers Circus' - old fassion Tent Revivals
are always a spectacular event - there is a Emotional High, a real intense Halaluia atmosphere.
Neighbors in Orlando, came in from Columbia, Missionaries - of the Magazine Subscription type, you
could get both a WatchTower and Awake free with every visit. Jehovas Witness gatheringhouse
for their mission of walking door to door selling thier love to Jahova. They had been emergency evacuated from Columbia, as their contact with the locals had become a little too CIA centric for a God Group. They were targeted by South American Insurgents, and the State Department got them out safely. The whole time they lived there through all the meetings at their house and the witnesses
going forth to tell their story - they never once had anyone who came to our house, they don't bother
their direct neighbors, and the deciples leave the closest houses alone - they don't bug their neighbors.
March of '89 I came home from the Gaternationals to find the street blocked off and my house inaccessable -
they as was I, had our homes surrounded by Firetrucks, no damage to mine, but their house was toast.
The girl's during Daddys absence helped Mom start a fire in the fireplace - with gasoline, when the fireplace lit of like a 200 MM Howitzer, the can of gas caught fire - so the threw it out the back door
onto the covered and enclosed patio. 'Nuff said, they burned down pretty bad, amazing damage.
The family of 8 and their entarage of 6 'Latin Visitors' were out of there.
Now all those experiences that I shared with these friends were good for them, and I felt inspired as well,but I never tried to influence their opinions, pushed my thoughts and feeling on them, and I respect their form of worship and devotion to their dieties, which I hope brings them peace.
But I deserve the same respect that I give them - I don't tell them how to live, where to live, and who
to live with. They are free to do as they like with their lives - but they have no right to even think about
telling me what I can see, say, or do - I expect a right to my privacy, and do not appreciate their forcing
their narrowminded views of the world on me.
I work with some daily, I respect their point of view - they know it, and they respect mine.
Well, what do you think ? Familiar with Evangelicals ?
Threat or Menace ?
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