From the Cincinnati Enquirer:
Lightning struck and ignited a fire late Monday that destroyed a 62-foot-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms stretched toward the skies, according to Monroe police.
The only thing visible this morning is the charged frame of the structure.
“It burned to the ground. The whole statue is gone,” said Kim Peace, a police dispatcher.
The large “King of Kings” statue was a Butler County landmark since it was erected in 2004 outside Solid Rock Church, 904 N. Union Rd., along northbound Interstate 75 in Monroe just north of the Ohio 63 exit.
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The sculpture stretches 40 feet wide at the base. It was made of plastic form and fiberglass over a steel frame. The frame is the only thing visible this morning.
According to the evangelical church's website, there are about 4,000 members. The church was founded by former horse trader Lawrence and Darlene Bishop of Middletown.
I'm pretty much speechless about this story. Maybe something will come to me later.
Thanks to Ann.
Top image from Wiki.
"The only thing visible this morning is the charged frame of the structure."
ReplyDeleteNot to be picky, but shouldn't the descriptive word be *charred* and not charged?
God works in mysterious ways. I always thought it looked like a cheese sculpture.
God clearly don't like tacky.
ReplyDeleteSo, the thing was just paper mache after all.
ReplyDeleteI've seen better floats in the Pasadena Rose Parade.
"I don't care if it rains or freezes, long's I got my plastic Jeezus ..."
The original story had "charred frame" but if it was in fact charged that could explain why it attracted the lightening, and while it might be acceptable to God to rebuild it.
ReplyDeleteThen again, maybe God is trying to tell them something.
Now that I've fixed the picture, the post makes a little more sense. I shouldn't post too early in the morning. My head is foggy for a while after I get up.
ReplyDeleteI think Paul is right. Gawd don't like tacky.
And now that you put up the pre-storm Jeezus, my curiosity is piqued. Was it always surrounded by water?
ReplyDeleteThere's a good side-by-side before & after here.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall MadPriest or I going on about this statue a couple of years back.
Paul the BB: Amen.
Susan, apparently the water was always in front of the statue. Check out the picture at Wiki.
ReplyDeleteLisa, the picture you linked to is what I have now, after I corrected my mistake.
Having lived only a few miles from the statue my whole life, we actually called him "Big Butter Jesus." He was a little disproportionate (his hands were HUGE), and while I always felt the image was somewhat irreverent, it was disturbing to watch the videos. Auf wiedersehen, Big Butter Jesus.
ReplyDelete"Da-a-a-ad! They're making fun of me!"... ZAP.
ReplyDeleteLisa, the picture you linked to disappeared, thus the photo from Wiki. Wiki's pictures usually stay in place.
ReplyDeleteHark, welcome to my humble blog. You are the voice of experience, so "Big Butter Jesus" he is - or was. Will the powers at Rock Church rebuild?
He was a little disproportionate....
In so many ways....
Hillbilly, right.
Last night, we had a Big Butter Jesus sing-along on the porch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq01UYiMyHg
ReplyDeleteWhen we drive south on I-75, my goal was always to stay awake for Big Butter Jesus so I could text my friends "TOUCHDOWN!"
Jolene, thanks for the link to your video of the porch sing-a-long. Here's a clickable link.
ReplyDeleteA friend had posted this article on FB and asked for comments. This was mine: "Wish I had something profound to say but all I can think of is the bumper sticker that says "Jesus is coming back and he is really pissed."
ReplyDeleteThe pastor's husband said that he wanted to do something to help people not impress them. Hmmmm........maybe feed the hungry, tend the sick. A $400,000 statue could do a lot of good in food and health care."
$400,000 for that ugly monstrosity? What a waste. Surely, the money could have been better spent.
ReplyDelete