There's Still The Issue Of The Cross

The other day while driving through Brooksville, Florida for my company I came to an intersection and off to the side of the road was a large cross. Upon further inspection, I noticed a man kneeling down, with the cross resting sideways on his shoulder. I honked my horn in both support and appreciation of this stranger who was silently reminding us that there's still the issue of the cross. I thought on that for awhile as I continued down the road on my way to my next stop. There is still the issue of the cross, it stands in stark contrast to this worlds system. With everything that goes on in the world, there is still the issue of the cross. And whether we take note of it or not, we've got to answer for it. I've debated with Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Atheists, Muslims, Non-Believers and yes, even some Christians. And I've always pointed them back to the cross. You see no matter where you stand on politics, global warming, the rights of individuals, or a host of other issues that occupy our time, we'll only answer for one thing, and that is what did we do about the Cross? God isn't interested in anything else we've done, He's going to point at the Cross and ask us what we did with it. I can hardly stand to read the news anymore what with the influx of evil that seems to be getting worse with each passing day, yet I do read it, if for no other reason than to see where we're at on God's timetable. And when I look at Brittney Spears, and Marilyn Manson, and Rosie O'Donnell, to name just a few, I realize that the conscience of our nation has been seared. We need a move of God, we need an outpouring of the Spirit badly, and to those people I'd say, There's still the issue of the Cross! And that my friends is the reality of it!

One More Time Lord

I've been asking the Lord for something for a few years now, and it has become more intense and purposeful the past few days. I've been asking for Him to pour out His Spirit in such an awesome display of power and fire that our churches look like war zones when He is through! I'm not talking about the cute little 'revival' services we have have that last a few days, or the 'one night stands' we get once in awhile when we've invited a special speaker to come. I'm talking about that which rivals the first outpouring in the book Acts. One that causes a city to stop in its tracks and for people to gaze at the spectacle for hours at a time. I'm talking about that which causes even the toughest of men to fall to their knees and cry like babies for God to heal their hard hearts. I'm talking about that which causes godless men and women to become Godly, rebellious youth to submit to His Lordship, complacent Christians to catch on fire, sinning saints to repent of their sins, and dry pastors to swim in the river of His presence! Yes I've been asking God to do what my generation hasn't seen happen, and that is to just 'show up' one service. I mean really show up, I've been in services where He passed by, been in services where He appeared to wave His hand over the building, you know those kind of services, demons get cast out, people get saved, some get delivered. But have you experienced a service where He walks in? I mean really passes through the congregation? If the pastor is left standing at the mike still talking, if the musicians are left with their instruments still playing, if the singers are still singing, if people are still standing at the altar or sitting in the pew watching, then no, we haven't experienced Him actually walking into the building and standing in our midst. We haven't yet experienced what happens when God in all His mighty, wonderful, awesome Glory steps into the room. It's easy to dance when the King is standing outside the door, but when He walks in, the music stops, the dancing stops, and all we can do is lay at His feet in complete awe and wonder at His presence. In the Old Testament it's Isaiah saying "And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." And in the New Testament we see it in John, "As soon then as He had said unto them, I Am, they went backward, and fell to the ground." Yes, I want to see Him show up like that, so my prayer is, one more time Lord, one more time. And that my friends is the reality of it!