Jesus Christ Truck Stop

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Driving through Amarillo, Texas on my way to New Mexico, I saw a huge billboard that said; "Jesus Christ is Lord, Not a Swear Word." I Thought it was just one of the many religious billboards you see along the highways in Texas, until I got close enough to see that it was actually the name of a truck stop! I didn't get to stop, because it was late at night, but I made sure to stop there on the way home.

The Jesus Christ is Lord Travel Center is like an ordinary truck stop, except that they actually have church services and bible study meetings there, in addition to the usual truck stop services like fuel, food, and showers. I thought it interesting how they blended religion with commerce, as in this photograph, with the large signs advertising Krispy Krunch Chicken alongside the proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord, not a Swear Word.

8-17-11

 

[christian.rudman]

Welcome to Texas, brother. Bet you were not aware that church is really a place of commerce, only the items traded there are a bit different than Wal-Mart. A big trend I've noticed is bookstores and coffee shops actually in the foyers of places of worship, with the branded church merchandise right next to the ten commandments. It seems funny this is developing, especially when Jesus made such a big stink about money in the church by overturning trader's tables in the tabernacle.

As you can probably guess from the name, I was brought up in the church and it's been an eye-opener growing up and stepping outside of religious backwoods Texas into civilization. I wasn't even aware there were alternatives until I was 17. Thank god I made it out...

Austin is really the only place this isn't as prevalent, being that it's a stew of sinners, heathens, and scientists. 😛

Great image BTW, love the clouds.

 

[jsrockit]

Beautiful!

 

[robklurfield]

Another great image of what a strange and diverse place in which we live. And, what's missing from the parking lot of this establishment is the truck that it's namesake drives. But, not to worry, I caught it on a road trip of my own ....

Of course, as always, a great photograph from you here. Great fluffy clouds.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3932617643_fe7589462a_m.jpg

 

[gb hill]

Nice one Chris!

 

[oftheherd]

Nice photo. My first thought was that there was way too much sky. But the more I looked at it and considered the theme of the sign, it fits. And the sky is beautiful.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Another great image of what a strange and diverse place in which we live. And, what's missing from the parking lot of this establishment is the truck that it's namesake drives. But, not to worry, I caught it on a road trip of my own ....

Of course, as always, a great photograph from you here. Great fluffy clouds.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3932617643_fe7589462a_m.jpg

I love the mobile chapel! I've never seen one of those. I heard on the news yesterday that city officials in Detroit fined a businessman there who was operating a mobile strip club in a bus without a permit! I guess that's the opposite of the mobile church, lol.

I have a bunch of other photos of this truck stop. There are several trucks parked behind it with big stickers on the doors that say "Jesus Christ is Lord, not a swear word."

 

[leica M2 fan]

Chris, find your pictures of the disappearing west fascinating. You really should make a book or two of these I, for one, would buy it.

 

[robert blu]

Chris, find your pictures of the disappearing west fascinating. You really should make a book or two of these I, for one, would buy it.

+1
robert

 

[paulfish4570]

this is my favorite color shot from the series. i love the use of His name, and hope the owners and staff truly are His servants. 🙂

 

[ampguy]

Faith based coffee shops are springing up around the pac nw. However, I find many faith based people preferring the heathen coffee shops. One thing that some faith based coffee shops do is to trade off the expensive torani sauces with hersheys. Whether they're giving the extra quarter or so per drink to the Lord, or pocketing it for gambling, is unknown. But what is known, is the sauce is not as good ...

 

[sojournerphoto]

Welcome to Texas, brother. Bet you were not aware that church is really a place of commerce, only the items traded there are a bit different than Wal-Mart. A big trend I've noticed is bookstores and coffee shops actually in the foyers of places of worship, with the branded church merchandise right next to the ten commandments. It seems funny this is developing, especially when Jesus made such a big stink about money in the church by overturning trader's tables in the tabernacle.

As you can probably guess from the name, I was brought up in the church and it's been an eye-opener growing up and stepping outside of religious backwoods Texas into civilization. I wasn't even aware there were alternatives until I was 17. Thank god I made it out...

Austin is really the only place this isn't as prevalent, being that it's a stew of sinners, heathens, and scientists. 😛

Great image BTW, love the clouds.

Probably worth saying that commerce isn't universally a part of the church around the world. There are alternatives even 'within the faith' - even to the point of getting out. As you say, Jesus doesn't appear very happy with trading in the house of God.

Chris, another great picture. I'll buy a copy of the book.

Mike

 

[Keith]

I enjoy the photos Chris takes that depict the strange relationship the US has with Christianity ... quite unique IMO.

"Do you want fries with that blessing my son?"

 

[roboflick]

nice one!
Nik

 

[TXForester]

It's typical Texas. Salvation, diesel and a new antenna for the CB in one stop.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

It's typical Texas. Salvation, diesel and a new antenna for the CB in one stop.

What's funny in Texas is that there are GIGANTIC adult video XXX porno stores all along the highway. These places are HUGE, the size of a Kroger or a Kmart. I actually saw one several yrs ago in another part of Texas that was next to a Kmart, and the porno store was BIGGER. No wonder they need all that religion there, everyone's sinning like mad!

 

[sreed2006]

Everything is big in Texas, Chris.

 

[TXForester]

I've never seen them that large, but there used to be a couple big ones I'd drive by in Dallas.

Maybe needs some churches next door.

 

[ampguy]

logistical issues

logistical issues

the problem with a combo church/porn shop is that many churches don't recommend commerce on the day of visiting (the Sabbath), except for tithes.

Otherwise, it might be a good thing for the two entities to coexist a bit more.

In a town near us, a well liked preacher came out to greet an unmarked car. Some words were exchanged, and apparently, a cop in what was an unmarked police car, shot the preacher. Both were armed, of course. Turns out the cop's side business was owning a porn shop.

I've never seen them that large, but there used to be a couple big ones I'd drive by in Dallas.

Maybe needs some churches next door.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

the problem with a combo church/porn shop is that many churches don't recommend commerce on the day of visiting (the Sabbath), except for tithes.

Otherwise, it might be a good thing for the two entities to coexist a bit more.

In a town near us, a well liked preacher came out to greet an unmarked car. Some words were exchanged, and apparently, a cop in what was an unmarked police car, shot the preacher. Both were armed, of course. Turns out the cop's side business was owning a porn shop.

At least it wasn't the preacher's side business, LOL

I wonder what the good reverend needed with a gun, though? We had a preacher a few yrs ago arrested on weapons charges after police searched his house and found a sawed-off shotgun!