for real?

So there's this billboard that i pass when I drive in to work.

I caught my eye (I guess that means it was effective, right?)

And it made me curious. Not to buy a product, or visit a store, but just trying to figure out what the heck it meant. What was it supposed to stand for.



It's not a great picture, here let me zoom in a bit.



Still not the best, sorry.

It says "They murdered 50 million babies... Now they can't figure out marriage! Where are the real Christians? 1-877-YRU-REAL"

And I'm wondering, is it that obvious?
Or is it really good sarcasm?
Who are these 50 million babies they speak of?
The medical journal The Lancet puts the civilian Iraqi death toll at 655,000 since the invasion or Iraq. But that's not nearly 50 million. (yes, I'm being intentionally obtuse)

And who is this "they" that can't figure out marriage. I mean since marriage was written into laws, there-by taking it from just a religious ceremony and instead turning it in to a legal status with licensing and official documents and everything, it seems like a lot of effort has been put into "figuring it out". I mean sure, we had some problems... remember back when two consenting adults of different races couldn't legally marry? But we ironed that out. (By the way, what about that phrase, "legally marry". How many times do you hear "they're legally married" versus "they're biblically married"?)

And sure, maybe we've got a bit more to iron out, but I've got faith that the next generation is going to put it right, and soon any two consenting adults (unrelated of course) will be able to legally marry each other.

And where are the real christians? Well. From the firs ttime I saw that it reminded me of a da on State Street.

We were walking along, the sun was shining, the dapple shadows played across the sidewalk and all that usual crap. We had Babcock hall ice cream on the mind, so we weren't dilly-dallying.

Up ahead there was a bit of a ruccous. A man in a suit and tie on a street corner with a sandwich board yelling "we are all sinners! we are all damned to hell!" at everyone that went by. Most people avoided him, the unlucky few who wandered too close were handed a little blue pamphlet that probably told them that by going to this guys church, they'd be able to avoid hell.

We crossed the street and walked under tha shade of the awnings.

We passed a restaurant almost directly across from annoying-yelling-your-a-sinner guy, and there were two priests eating lunch. Slumped down in their chairs, and obviously trying hard not to be noticed. I might be projecting, but I'm pretty sure that one of them was even purposely keeping his chin as far down as he could to hide his collar.

What we didn't see were the volunteers two blocks off state street at the homeless shelter making sandwiches.
We didn't see the bus quietly pulling away from the church sending a group of people down to New Orleans to lend any help they could.

So whenthe sign asks me, "where are the real Christians" I think i might know. They aren't wearing sandwich boards or yelling at passers-by. They aren't hanging vile signs from over passes or telling you who god hates. They are working quietly to try to make the lives of other people better. But you might miss them, mostly because they don't think it's important to point out that they are christians. No buttons, no signs, no shouting. They kinda think that if their actions don't show it, that any words pleading it would be worthless. I wonder where they got that idea....

Maybe the people with the billboard are genuinely curious, maybe they really can't find them.

So finally, today, I took a picture, and googled that phone number.

I found a website.

But here's the thing.
Now I really don't know if it's a well played joke or not.

They are called the Remnant, or something. Here's there page.

Check out the Pastors names
Pastor Kevin and wife Toni Sinnen
Pastor Chet and wife Karen Schmear

Seriously?
Pastor Sinnens and Pastor Schmears?
That seems a little suspicious.

And the Pastors email address
4sinnenless@asapnet.net

Come on... that's gotta be a joke, right?

But as I read further... it sorta seems like maybe they are serious.

But those pictures...

And quotes like this
"We are expected to obey God's Biblical guidelines for proper Christian behavior, hair, and dress.
See GOD CARES ABOUT YOUR HAIR, and WHO WEARS THE PANTS Bible studies below."


I don't know if I'm amused, sickened, or frightened.

I know! I'll take it as an opportunity to try inserting a poll in m blog for the first time ever!