Dry Gulch USA Christmas Train - Gripe

[zstyles]

Bump...anyone else go and have an opinion..

[southerngirl]

Zstyles, thank you for posting about your experience.  What you wrote is not what we had in mind to take our three year old to.  I suppose I should have known better, seeing the organization it was affiliated with (known for overzealousness and scare tactics), but the focus is on the "Christmas Train" in their advertisements.

I'm wondering if they will get a big turnout this year since it has been closed, but after people attend they won't want to go again.  From what I understand, it is about sold out.  We will not be using the tickets we bought.

[dbacks fan]

Is this the same people that did or do the Halloween program that they claim will "Scare The Hell Out Of You"?

[Kashmir]

Do they hand out scary tracts that say:

"Bobby went trick or treating with his friends.  The next night he died and went directly to Hell!"

--or--

"Susie wanted to be cool and have sex.  Too bad she got pregnant and AIDS and died.  And went to Hell too."  

[xx(]

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by Kashmir

Do they hand out scary tracts that say:

"Bobby went trick or treating with his friends.  The next night he died and went directly to Hell!"

--or--

"Susie wanted to be cool and have sex.  Too bad she got pregnant and AIDS and died.  And went to Hell too."  

[xx(]

That sounds right, all the dangers of drugs, sex, and alchohol.

[tulsa_fan]

I talked to my SIL who goes to church there . . she said she took her 3 year old neice and she didn't pay any attention to the film, but I explained that wouldn't be the case with my 3 year old (who doesn't miss a THING) and older children.  Anway, she was disappointed it was getting a bad wrap, but seemed understanding of the issue.  Anyway, she said the tickets are sold out.  She also said the movie is optional, so if you have them, I'd still go.

On the other hand, if you have tickets and don't want to go, I might be interested if you want to PM me Southerngirl.

Anyway, hopefully they will drop the scare tactics next year.  I don't really remember that being a way Jesus used to communicate His message, so I don't why these churches are going that route.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

Is this the same people that did or do the Halloween program that they claim will "Scare The Hell Out Of You"?

That's GUTS.

[zstyles]

quote:Originally posted by tulsa_fan

Anway, she was disappointed it was getting a bad wrap, but seemed understanding of the issue.  Anyway, she said the tickets are sold out.  She also said the movie is optional, so if you have them, I'd still go.

But she must be drinking the koolaid from the people that were "surveyed" and said it was appropriate for all ages, the movie is optional but they pretty much herd you into the big room and it starts within 1 min..so if your gonna exit..make like a bandit! Oh well I am sure it will be even worse next year..the train isn't all that..the town as I said is fun...but I personally have to say the train is "over rated"

[In2neon]

Hi,
I go to COTM and visited Christmas Train on the first public night...
It was excellent and food was quite reasonable...
I did not feel gouged or pressured by any of it...
The stores are reasonable and the people polite and you do not feel like a tourist, with wolves panting for you to pull out your wallet...
There were no scare tactics and no Koolaid...
The movie (short) was simply Willie sitting by a fire at the camp sharing his heart ....
He indeed spoke of his negative childhood briefly and offered hope to anyone facing similar circumstances...
I suppose you could skip the movie if you wanted to..
I don't recall armed guards leering at me and asking for my papers....
I cannot confirm this, but have heard he edited out that part...
If indeed he did. it was because (IMO) he was being sensitive to others ....
I do not know Willie personally but beleive he is sincere about helping kids and providing children with a good experience he never had as a kid growing up...
My Son goes to youth (called "180") at the Church, and has had a very positive and cool  experience ...
The kids from birth to adult are treated with respect and love and it shows in their attitude....
It is sad many people call themselves Christian, in which there is only one source for this belief, and that is the Christian Bible...
Period.
Yet the minute someone publically talks about their belief in Jesus, they either get offended or go away mad, muttering about religion being private etc, etc...
To be a Christian you must first beleive in the only source of Christianity which is the Christian Bible, right?
The Bible does say to go into all the world and preach the Gospel (good news) to every creature...doesn't it?
If you say are Christian, and do not accept this, then are you not violating your own foundational beliefs ?
Santa is there in full force even though he is not part of the Christian Christmas but he is definitely a part of our culture and reflects the giving spirit of this holiday...

I know this is not a religious forum but since the subject ties directly into the discussed subject with many barbs and jabs (some humorous) I feel free to rant a bit....

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by In2neon

Hi,
I go to COTM and visited Christmas Train on the first public night...
It was excellent and food was quite reasonable...
I did not feel gouged or pressured by any of it...
The stores are reasonable and the people polite and you do not feel like a tourist, with wolves panting for you to pull out your wallet...
There were no scare tactics and no Koolaid...
The movie (short) was simply Willie sitting by a fire at the camp sharing his heart ....
He indeed spoke of his negative childhood briefly and offered hope to anyone facing similar circumstances...
I suppose you could skip the movie if you wanted to..
I don't recall armed guards leering at me and asking for my papers....
I cannot confirm this, but have heard he edited out that part...
If indeed he did. it was because (IMO) he was being sensitive to others ....
I do not know Willie personally but beleive he is sincere about helping kids and providing children with a good experience he never had as a kid growing up...
My Son goes to youth (called "180") at the Church, and has had a very positive and cool  experience ...
The kids from birth to adult are treated with respect and love and it shows in their attitude....
It is sad many people call themselves Christian, in which there is only one source for this belief, and that is the Christian Bible...
Period.
Yet the minute someone publically talks about their belief in Jesus, they either get offended or go away mad, muttering about religion being private etc, etc...
To be a Christian you must first beleive in the only source of Christianity which is the Christian Bible, right?
The Bible does say to go into all the world and preach the Gospel (good news) to every creature...doesn't it?
If you say are Christian, and do not accept this, then are you not violating your own foundational beliefs ?
Santa is there in full force even though he is not part of the Christian Christmas but he is definitely a part of our culture and reflects the giving spirit of this holiday...

I know this is not a religious forum but since the subject ties directly into the discussed subject with many barbs and jabs (some humorous) I feel free to rant a bit....

Thank you for responding to a legitimate complaint (Film contains subject that may be considered too graphic for minors) and turning into "I'm a Christian, why are you mad at me"

Were you trying to sound like an idiot or just a martyr?

[zstyles]

[/quote]

Thank you for responding to a legitimate complaint (Film contains subject that may be considered too graphic for minors) and turning into "I'm a Christian, why are you mad at me"

Were you trying to sound like an idiot or just a martyr?
[/quote]

Exactly what I was thinking..

To the 2nd up newbie poser who thinks I was bashing...Chill dude..I thought the place was great too..the film is what ERKED me and we won't be going back again, I also spoke with a co-worker who was talking about the same thing today at work..they went last week and he thought the film was quite graphic and un-necessary for his 6 year old.

[In2neon]

quote:Originally posted by zstyles

Bump...anyone else go and have an opinion..

So a week goes by without any more bashing and you bump the post asking for opinions and when I give mine I am called an idiot by 2 people...
Sounds like I just didn't give you the response you were looking for...
You just wanted more bashing....

I liked the experience as a whole and am not in complete disagreement about little children hearing that part and maybe it should be tweaked....
But it more sounds like you are offended by the overal concept of Christianity and the Bible's message of spreading the word once you have heard it....
I did not write the book but it does command ALL Christians to do certain things and one of those things is to evangelize....

[tim huntzinger]

Went to Rhema last night, and I was surprised at the lack of soliciation or what not.  No roving prayer warriors, no exploding heads of John the Baptist, no snuff movies of the Lord, no huge displays of sinners sifting through the hands of an angry God into hellfire.  No splattering blood of martyered saints or Messiahs in graphic reenactments.  I thought it was a Charismanic gig, what is the matter with these people?  And the Victory 'Christmas' show?  I HEAR: NO ARMEGEDDON! No death or gore or hellfire! What is wrong with those phoney 'charismatics'? Do they not know they are all bloodthirsty whackos?

Ha ha ha! Suck it you haters! In any case, sounds like some feedback about the objections to Whacky Willie's movie should be sent up the chain.  Neon, will you make contact with your Cell Leader to relay these concerns or will you take this as evidence of persecution?

[zstyles]

quote:Originally posted by In2neon

quote:Originally posted by zstyles

Bump...anyone else go and have an opinion..

So a week goes by without any more bashing and you bump the post asking for opinions and when I give mine I am called an idiot by 2 people...
Sounds like I just didn't give you the response you were looking for...
You just wanted more bashing....

I liked the experience as a whole and am not in complete disagreement about little children hearing that part and maybe it should be tweaked....
But it more sounds like you are offended by the overal concept of Christianity and the Bible's message of spreading the word once you have heard it....
I did not write the book but it does command ALL Christians to do certain things and one of those things is to evangelize....

Great! Now you proved your an even bigger moron! Thanks for the follow up! Sorry that I won't get into a flaming war with you! Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[In2neon]

Great! Now you proved your an even bigger moron! Thanks for the follow up! Sorry that I won't get into a flaming war with you! Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
[/quote]

That's it
I thought this part of the forum was titled "discussion"....
Sounds like if you don't agree wholeheartedly with the poster of the thread you are unwelcome to "discuss" here....
MERRY CHRISTMAS