"Crossing" the Highway

My husband called me to tell me there was a man on the side of the road carrying a large cross and waving at passersby, so camera in hand, I jumped into my car in hopes of finding him there before the sun set. I had had a similar experience with another sign carrier in California, but this one was seeing space ships. I was hoping that wouldn't be the case here.

I am always curious to know why people do the things they do, especially in the realm of religion, so there I was, ALSO standing on the side of highway 68, talking to the man with the cross. It was interesting to see arms thrust out car windows and horns honking in agreement. A general acknowledgment of his efforts quickly became evident.

MISSION VALLEY

He didn't want his name mentioned because he said Jesus should get the glory. "No problem" said I, so the no-name cross bearer and I spoke a bit about his "side of the road" evangelistic mission. The conversation went something like this:

"What denomination are you?" I asked.
"Assemblies of God" he replied.
"Does your pastor approve of this?"
"Well, I carried the cross around the church."
"How long have you been doing this and why?"
"For about two years now. God told me to."

Okay...there it was...I just HAD to ask -
"God told you? How did He tell you?"

He didn't hesitate to say that God spoke to Him audibly one morning. He heard "Pick up the cross!" Although he felt people would consider him crazy, he did as the voice demanded and he's been doing it every chance he gets since. His brother, who attends church in California, told him the night before he heard the voice, that he would be carrying a cross. Well, okay.

I wanted to know what good would come of this beside just a few honks and waves. He told me that God gave him the vision that the entire Mohave Valley will eventually become a Christian community where people from all around will come to be healed and experience God's power and love - a "New Jerusalem" so to speak. He had already claimed it for Christ.

Well, I don't know about that (I ALWAYS test what I hear), but to have a whole Valley full of born again people who love one another in Jesus' name? HEY! WHAT A GREAT IDEA! He said he wished everyone could be saved. We had that in common.

What do I think of all this? Well, not too sure about the voice or the vision, I'm pretty much a "sola scriptura" gal myself, but his heart seems to be in the right place.

So if you happen to be speeding along Highway 68 and see a friendly guy holding a big wooden cross that says "Jesus is Lord," give him a honk or a wave. Anyway, he might just be reminding us to do the same. As he carries his cross, I will daily do my best to remember to pick up my own. How 'bout you? Smile.

"Crossing" the Highway

MISSION VALLEY