Local News

I know this is all over the Internet, and hardly really news anywhere, but it is "in our neighborhood," and just too ironically rich to pass it up.

Last night, our Cincinnati area was pounded by some pretty wild storms.  We had torrential rain and absolutely amazing lightning and thunder.  There were tornado warnings all over the area throughout the late afternoon and well into the night. 

At about 11:15 PM, lightning struck what has become a local landmark, and often the source of wry humor...  What the Solid Rock Church called the God is Great statue, is more often referred to (in these parts) as Tickle Me Jesus, or Touchdown Jesus, or even Big Butter Jesus (spreading the word, don't you know?).  I can't help imagining the emergency call -- "9-1-1, what's your emergency?"  "JESUS CHRIST!  He's burning!"

And then there is the ironic bit of all of this.  The Solid Rock church and Tickle Me Jesus were located, right off a major interstate highway, and only just a stone's throw away from The lightning spared the Greater Cincinnati Islamic Center just a few miles down I-75, as well as another nearby landmark:

"I can't believe Jesus was struck," said [a church member], who noted the giant Hustler Hollywood sign for the adult store across the street was untouched. "It's the last thing I expected to happen."

Take from all of that what you will...  I guess we won't be taking morningstar out to high five Jesus...

swan