Pondering the ways of the faithful
1 carry a Bible with me every
where.
Well, I did the other day.
If you were like me and thousands
of other people on campus Wednes
day, you passed, and probably almost
tripped over, these men who look kind
of like one of your uncles, passing out
little green Good Books.
You saw Gideons.
I Usually illusive crea
tures who sneak Bibles
into motel rooms, this
was the first time I had
ever seen Christian sol
diers out in such force.
Every five steps, some
one tried to hand me a
Bible.
Youcouldn’ispilwith
out hilling a Gideon.
Although I have the hard-bound
edition at home, I fell compelled to
receive the gift these uncle-like men
offered, if only to quit getting offers.
Besides, it was free.
In this pocket paperback arc all the
books of the New Testament, with the
Psalms and Proverbs thrown in at no
additional cost.
Also included in the back is a
handy guide for salvation, complete
with a dolled line on which to sign.
The whole thing, especially the
contract with God, seemed a bit ludi
crous at the time to me, a longtime
baptized believer.
But one of the doctrines of Chris
tian ily is to preach, to spread the word
of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in
hopes of showing people how they
can enrich their lives through belief in
Jesus Christ.
While hordes of students passed
the Gideons during class breaks, many
simply look the books and immedi
ately stuffed them in their backpacks
ordisplayed them toother Bible push
ers to show they did not want another,
thanks anyway.
Some students passed the Gideons
as if they were invisible, like they
were passing a street bum asking for
spare change.
Even fewer stopped to speak to
them.
Based on my prior experience with
campus evangelists, I expected that if
I spoke to one of these men, he would
preach down to me and tell me, in a
cheesy Southern accent, that I was a
worthless sinner bound for hell if I
didn’t fall on my knees right then and
there and pray for Jay-sus to save my
soul-uh.
But the man I talked to was very
amiable and subtle. “Preaching,” in a
firc-and-brimstonc context, is too
strong a word. We “conversed” about
God.
As 1 passed the rest of the Gideons,
1 displayed my acquisition to show I
did not want another, thanks anyway.
But I returned their smiles.
MyadvcnturceontinucdloBroyhill
Fountain, where I found a different
breed of Christian, although I use the
term loosely.
On the plaza was a man waving his
Bible and a condom, preaching about
promiscuity and how we were all
worthless sinners bound for hell if we
didn’t all fall on our knees right then
and there and pray for Jay-sus to save
our souls-uh.
Confident after my conversation
with the Gideon, I tried to ask the man
what denomination he followed for
my own information.
I couldn’t gel a word in edgewise.
He ignored my politely put question,
or else he didn’t hear me over his own
shouting.
So I left, but not before I chal
lenged him to take his condom and
pull it over his head. He still ignored/
didn’t hear me.
He had plenty of other people to
ignore.
As usual when evangelists come
‘round these here parts, this one had
drawn a noticeable flock of students
to mock his message.
I didn’t gel to see the thrilling
conclusion, but mostof the lime, these
things get ugly before they go away.
Students go head-to-head with
these so-called prophets, with every
one quoting Bible passages to back up
his or her own arguments. Each side is
unwilling to budge from its own doc
trine.
Which makes me wonder why pu
ritanical Biblc-thumpcrscomc to the
University of Ncbraska-Lincoln.
The word “preach” conjures up
images of lire and brimstone to many,
including me. Many people choose
other religions or none at all.
Hitting them over the head with
Christianity won’t convert them any
more than punching someone in the
nose will make them see that fighting
doesn’t solve anything.
Trying to convert people through
* fire and brimstone will only root them
deeper into their own philosophies.
And they may punch you.
While rational discussion may not
change anyone’s opinion, it airs views
without assault, physical or verbal.
Personally, I would rather have
smiling old uncles peddle Bibles to
me every 10 feet than have some
loudmouthed, self-proclaimed man of
God order me to pray to Jay-sus or
face the eternal fahres of hcll-uh.
Or, to quote the Gideon version of
Proverbs 3:34:
“Surely He scorns the scornful, but
gives grace to the humble.”
Paul man is a senior news-editorial and
history major, and a photographer and col
umnist for the Daily Nebraskan.
-;-1_^
Pilgrimage to Ames beats politics
Strangely enough, my trip to
Ames, Iowa, last Friday to sec
the politicized supergroup U2
has pushed me from the political arena.
The sights and people I encountered
were infinitely more interesting than
the week’s political scandals, so I
hope you’ll allow me to depart from
my usual diatribe and attempt to imi
tate John Steinbeck’s “Travels With
Charley.”
I realize,ol coursc, that
I’m no “Jack”
Steinbeck but the amaz
ing pilgrimage to Ames
was enough to lift
lyone’s spirits.
Not 10 miles outside
rf Lincoln Interstate 80
|was rusled-bumpcr to
rusted-bumper with
glassy-eyed U2 fans on their way to
the promised land of Cyclone Sta
dium. Every other car (and I use the
term loosely) was sporting a “U2 or
Bust” sign or a “We’ve got turf scats”
poster.
My traveling companion, Dave,
and I fit in perfectly in our old Honda
with the engine squeak. Dave, at least
in his own mind, was unquestionably
the biggest U2 freak on the road, so
our radio fare consisted of six con
secutive playings of “Achtung Baby”
mixed with an occasional minute of
U2’s older music.
Don’t get me wrong, I like U2
fairly well. My tastes probably run
more to the country side of things, but
I wasn’t about to turn down a chance
to sec the most popular band in the
world.
Four and a half hours and five pit
stops later, Dave (insert Charley) and
1 arrived in Ames. The traffic had
grown increasingly heavy as we went
through Omaha and Dcs Moines, and
the masses were clearly becoming
restless. Along with 40,000 other
people, we arrived a full two hours
early and were immediately accosted
by a scalper selling tuft scats. Dave.
always ihc businessman, asked ihc
price and was quoted at S50 each.
We quickly pulled our tickets out
of the glove box and showed them to
the scalper, smug with the thought
that we had paid no more than the 535
face value. The scalper laughed and
pointed out that we had the worst seals
in the stadium. Within seconds Dave
and I forgot about our puny bank
accounts and traded our tickets and
$25 for the glorious turf scats.
When we finally arrived at our
destination, we proudly surveyed the
area around us and the stage, which
was a mere 150 feet away. We anx
iously chatted with the group of people
around us, many of whom happened
to be from Lincoln.
Two women in particular, Gina
and Ingrid, told a story that could fill
volumes.
Their car had broken down twice
on the way to Ames and they had been
forced to hitch a ride to the concert
with two separate cars. Since we were
from Lincoln, they asked if they could
ride home with us after the concert.
We hesitantly assented, knowing that
we wanted to stop at the new casino in
Onawa, Iowa, on the way home.
The sounds of the second of the
two bands that opened for U2, Primus,
had been droning on throughout the
conversation. A group of fans held up
a “Primus Sucks” banner nearby, and
I agreed.
After what seemed like hours, the
main attraction finally came on stage.
Dave and about 30,000 other ccmfi
ably crazy U2 zombies nearly passed
out.
I have to admit the show was excit
ing itnd worth every penny, but much
of the fun was watching the U2 fans
scream, “Oh my God! I love this
song!” during the opening notes of
every single song. (Even the
drummer’s rotten attempt to sing an
Irish drinking song was hailed as fabu
lous.) —— ^
- * ‘— -*,,,
I also will admit I joined arms with
the people next to me and sang Elvis’
“Falling in Love With You” with the
band as they left the stage.
When the show ended, Dave and 1
were so full of adrenaline we had no
thoughts of driving directly to Lin
coln. The new casino was calling our
name and we optimistically projected
that we’d easily win back the price of
our tickets at the Blackjack table.
Didn’t {heads say something about
everyone going home a winner from
Onawa?
Gina and Ingrid initially objected
between mouthfuls of my bag of pret
zels, but ultimately acquiesced in the
face of their alternative.
Luckily, they turned out to be nice
people, although three wrong turns
and three hours later they probably
weren’t so thrilled with Dave and me. *
Gina and Ingrid had left their driver’s
licenses in the broken-down car and
had no way to get into the casino.
Dave and I, always the gracious
hosts, suggested we would be just a
moment and offered them the front
and back scats to sleep until we’d won
our fill. An hour later, Dave had lost
a mere $20 and I had won the princely
sum of S25. When we came back
to the car Gina and Ingrid were sound
asleep. 1 don’t blame them, I guess,
because it was 5:30 a.m.
They seemed genuinely happy that
the idiots they had asked for a ride
home only had gambled for an hour.
In fact.Ginaor Ingrid, I don’lrcmcm
ber which, offered to drive the entire
way home. I opened my eyes in front
of Abel Hall two hours later and high
lived Dave.
The night had been memorable, I
had won $25 and one of my favorite
quotes crossed my mind. As Nikita
Khrushchev once said to the New
York Times, “Life is short, live it up/*
Bruning is a second-year law student and
a Dally Nebraskan columnist.
Forms are now available for University of Xebraska
Lincoln students who wish to EXCLUDE their name
and/or address information from the 1992-93 Student
Directory. This form is for EXCLUSION OF LNFORMA
TION ONLY, no changes can be made. The exclusion
forms must be completed in person in the Office of
Public Relations, 208 Administration, Building before
Friday, September 18, 1992. Proof of registration or
identity is required for completion.
AIR FORCE ROTC UNITS
FILLED TO CAPACITY
J NOT?
Don't believe everything you hear. The Air Force
continues to seek outstanding students to fill fu
ture officer requirements. See yourself becoming
a leader, graduating from college as an Air Force
officer with fully developed qualities of character
and managerial ability. Notice, too, the opportuni
ties. Like eligibility for scholarship programs that
can pay tuition, textbooks, fees. . .even $100 in tax
free income each month.
Visualize a crisp uniform that reflects pride in your
self and your ability to accept challenge. Get the
picture? Now make a call?
4
AIM HIGH - AIR FORCE
'viBfifri!
at HARDEE’S I
All college students who purchase any large sandwich, fry ■
and lg. drink on a Sunday receive a second sandwich |
of less or equal value for a penny! -
College I.D. required
{offer not good in combination with any other offers) j
[590
j wHamburger
690
Cheeseburger
Yfadeei !
■"■■ —i
To Dentistry & Dental Hygiene
For Prospective Dental Students
Saturday, September 19,1992
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Program with Tours
of the Facilities
Join Us for Lunch
To Register or
For More Information
Call 472-1363 or 472-1364
University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Dentistry
f"""'