Tag Archives: rude

SIT UP STRAIGHT, PLEASE!

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WEEKEND THOUGHTS: A little departure from the normal comments on Scripture:

Jana and I recently flew on Swiss Air and, while the crew were very friendly, their in-flight magazine was not so warm.  The final article in the magazine was entitled, in all capital letters, bold text and complete with exclamation point, “SIT UP STRAIGHT, PLEASE!”

The title and the emphatic all caps and exclamation point piqued my attention. As I glanced at the first paragraph, I couldn’t believe it.  The article was scolding passengers like little children.  What a difference between Swiss culture and US culture!  Let me share some actual quotes and see if it is just me or if you agree this is a little weird.

“When the crew welcomes you aboard, make a point of greeting them back: they are, after all, your bosses for the next couple of hours.”

“Sit down carefully and switch off your mobile phone.  Only a total slave to their existence needs to chat away with friends till the very last moment.”

“Sit up straight! Aircraft seats are just not built for lounging in.”
NOTE: Yes, the exclamation point is in the original text.

“Listen attentively to the crew’s safety presentation without yawning like some mileage billionaire. Buckle up before being asked to.”

“Stay in the same mode until you’ve reached cruising altitude.  You may now doze if you wish. Or read. Or working a little is OK.  But, remember where you are.”

The last sentence of the article, again complete with exclamation point, “Have a good flight!”

Achtung! Yes, sir! I will have a good flight as ordered.  Are you sure I can get permission to do a little work now sir, if I am careful to remember where I am and if I sit up straight the entire time? I only hope my flying on your airline today did not in some way inconvenience you.  If it did, please beat me with my cell phone.

Wow!  Can you imagine how such an article would be received in the US?  Am I just nuts or is this over the top?

Rude Jesus

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Luke 8:19-21 – Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”  He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
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What kind of son would not even help his family get through the crowd to be able to talk to Him? Sounds pretty rude and inconsiderate, doesn’t it. But this didn’t come as a surprise to the original readers. They knew something that Luke doesn’t record here. We have to go to Mark for the surprising explanation.

Mary and the brothers of Jesus thought he was crazy!  They had come to take him by force and get him out of the public eye. He was an embarrassment to them. Later Mary and at least some of his brothers became believers (the book of James and the book of Jude were both written by his brothers.)

If you have unbelieving family that think you are crazy, be encouraged. Those that saw Jesus grow up, saw His life and saw His miracles thought He was crazy, too. But eventually God was able to change their hearts and they became believers. Keep living faithfully for the Lord, love them, bless them, pray for them and let God work on their hearts.
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Mark 3:20-21
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

John 7:5
For even his own brothers did not believe in him.