Tom praying with three young beachgoers at the start of the Venice Beach cross walk

“Cross Walking Safari”

(new life in Christ version)

Early in the morning we’ll be starting out;
You might as well be coming alone.
We’re loading up the truck with the cross inside
and heading out singing our song.

chorus

Come on Christian what you waiting for,
I’m gonna take you on a cross-walking safari.
Well, come on Christian, what you waiting for,
I’m gonna take you on a cross-walking safari.
Let’s go walking now, everybody’s learning how.
Come on a cross-walking safari with me.
Come on a safari with me.

As I often share, years ago I gave up the long board for the long cross and began chasing the Endless Easter instead of the Endless Summer. For my own personal pleasure, I have taken several Beach Boy songs and changed the words to fit my new life in Christ. “Surfing Safari” is now “Cross Walking Safari.” And, instead of praying for surf at the beaches, I now pray for revival throughout California’s massive and vastless sea of humanity. 

The Endless Summer Meets The Endless Easter

The measureless love of God, the timeless cross, the endless Easter and the vastless sea of humanity

As we entered the beach parking lot and handed the attendant $10 to park, a young adult athlete on a bike pedaled right up to our truck and asked, “Are you walking the cross on the beach today?” I nodded yes. He then turned to the attendant and said, “I’m paying their parking fee.” The attendant gave me back my $10 and took his.

“What you’re doing is awesome,” the young man stated. “And it is my pleasure to pay your fee.” Jeanette and I were amazed. This was Venice Beach, where the wild and the weird hang out and where Christians fear to tread. Yet, here was a fellow third day believer who recognized our purpose driven cross walk and wanted to be part of our beach walk and talk  in Christ.

We thanked him for his awesome help and drove into the very crowded beachfront parking lot in search of a space to park the go-ye-mobile. We found a spot quickly, and I began to unload the cross from the bed of the truck. As I unloaded the cross, our new friend in Christ passed by on his bike and shouted, “Praise the Lord!” I, of course, matched his shout of hallelujah to the Creator of this beach and ocean. Then three young boys on bikes pedaled up and watched as I set the large 60-pound, ten foot cross on the ground.

“What you doing, mister?” one of the young beachgoers asked. “I’m getting ready to walk the cross on the boardwalk and pier and pray for your city,”  I answered. All three youngsters stood there with  curious looks on their faces. “Would you like to pray with me for your city and for your parents?” They each nodded yes, and as I hoisted the cross upright I invited them to touch the cross and pray with me. These young boys bowed their heads in silence and patiently listened as I prayed for Venice Beach, the city of Los Angeles, and these three young brothers in Christ and their parents. Jeanette and I then said good-bye to our new young friends and headed for the pier.

Walking On Water By Walking On Venice Beach Pier

Tom praying for citywide and beachwide revival on Venice Beach Pier

Jesus, of course, literally walked on water. So did Peter, until he got scared and started to sink. Yet, just like in so many other California coastal cities, here I was cross-walking on… well, over… water! And just like in those other places, the large cross got peoples’ full attention, especially so when I hoisted the cross upright and began to pray loud and audible for Venice Beach as well as the five million souls living in greater Los Angeles.

We met many believers from the Los Angeles area, from other cities of California, from various states of the Union, as well as several individuals and families from other countries, including the Netherlands and France. Their reaction was always the same: “Wow!” “Unbelievable.” “Awesome.” “No Way.” “Cool.”

Everyone who spoke to us shared that they had never seen a cross walker, which was strange to me. This is southern California, home of Trinity Broadcasting Network and hundreds and hundreds of street ministries, where anything goes. The response was very positive during my cross walk on the pier. I was able to pray with many individuals and families and shook hands with hundreds of adults and youth. I also handed out special tract cards, including “Why I Walk The Cross,” “The Endless Easter,” “God’s Plus Sign:The Cross,”  and “How Much Is Your Life Worth.”

This family visiting from El Paso, Texas was just one of many families who thought our cross walk was totally awesome and unbelievable

As Jeanette and I walked to the end of the pier,  we saw the three young boys  who had prayed with us at the beach parking area with their parents, who were fishing. One of the youngsters shouted out, “Mom, that’s the man and woman who prayed for us and for Los Angeles!” pointing to Jeanette and me. The parents grinned as big as a person can grin. I could tell that we had literally blessed the socks off this mom and dad by praying with and for their boys. We waved as we passed by and shouted out, “Jesus loves you all. God bless.” They joyfully shouted out “God loves you too!”

One man in particular and who was from Ojai, California (not particularly known for its Christian mindset) was so excited to see the cross walk that he took a lot of pictures and asked if he could use me as an example of street witnessing to motivate his class on evangelism. He asked if I would contact him when Cross Walk Ojai took place, which I shared would take place before the summer is out. I agreed. Ojai (pronounced oh-hi) is a few miles inland from Ventura, our favorite city to visit when we can.

As we reached the end of the pier I hoisted the ten-foot cross upright and began to pray for great revival to break out like a giant spiritual tsunami across the land and throughout greater Los Angles and southern California. Several people came up and actually placed their hands on the cross and bowed their heads in agreement, which was something else. Cowabunga and Praise the Lord!

Cross Walking The Boardwalk

Hoisting the cross and praying for revival at Venice Beach's very busy and crowded cement boardwalk

Pier walking is one of my favorite ways to share God’s Good News in Christ Jesus. But it was time to leave the pier and enter Venice Beach’s concrete “Boardwalk.” 

Upon entering the busy and very popular boardwalk,  I hoisted God’s Plus Sign, the cross, upright and prayed for great revival and even greater spiritual awakening to occur in the lives of the thousands of souls frequenting the boardwalk today. I was amazed at how many people stopped to watch and listen and even offer a few “Amens” to my prayer. One of the things I ask God to do when I pray is for Him to annex the hearts of men, women and children and incorporate them into His kingdom, much like a city will attempt to annex an unincorporated neighborhood or community and legally bring it into the city’s sphere of influence and boundary.

Walking the boardwalk, I greeted hundreds and hundreds of men, women and children with “Jesus loves you” and/or “God bless you today” as I shook their hands and handed out special tract cards, especially “The Endless Easter.” The overwhelming majority I spoke to  responded to the cross walk in a positive way. Jeanette was taking pictures, so she lagged behind. After I had passed people by, she could hear their surprised and out-of-my-ear-shot-range comments and said that  by and large everyone said good things about the unique walk. Several times individuals thanked me for walking the cross at Venice Beach.

In a place where so many things stand out, one thing stands out taller and more powerful: the cross of Jesus!

Prayer changes things because it changes the hearts of individuals. And the large cross speaks for itself! We were in Venice Beach today to effect prayer into the lives of residents, tourists and visitors and to present the cross as God’s Plus Sign to Venice Beach. One thing’s for certain: because Jeanette and I were in Venice Beach today, the people of Venice Beach won’t be the same tomorrow! Even when life attempts to crowd out the cross of Jesus Christ from being seen by the massive sea of humanity,  the cross stands tall and shouts out, “Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life”! I can’t wait to get to Heaven one day and ask the Lord how many souls were reached for Him today in a place where there is much spiritual darkness. I am confident that Jesus will say, “The darkness didn’t overwhelm My light, but My light snuffed out the darkness, just like I promised it would.” Amen and amen.

Next stop: Muscle Beach, smack dab in the middle of Venice Beach and the place where Arnold Schwarzenegger pumped his way into Hollywood on his way to the state capital.

Tom and an on-fire for Jesus weight lifter at Muscle Beach

” People On The Beach”

(new life in Christ version)

On the beach you’ll find them there,

In the sun and salty air.

 The people on the beach

are all within reach

If you know what to do.

How I love to walk the cross

And talk with those who might be lost.

The people on the beach

are all within reach,

And I know what to do.

Refrain

People on the beach, people on the beach.

Cross on the beach, cross on the beach.

People on the beach, cross on the beach.

As a kid, surfing was my favorite water sport and, of course, the Beach Boys were my favorite group. Then came Jesus, the first water walker. When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior it was easy to give up the long board for the long cross. That’s what I did. And now, instead of praying for surf, I pray for revival. Instead of chasing The Endless Summer, I’m now on a cross-walking safari I call The Endless Easter. I still enjoy listening to Beach Boys and other surf-theme music, but I’ve also taken the liberty to change some of the lyrics to their songs to fit my new life in Christ lifestyle and cross walk ministry. Thus, “Girls On The Beach” is now  “People On The Beach.”

THE WORLD’S SINS, THE LORD’S GYM AND BENCH-PRESS THIS!

Our new friend holding the large cross and posing for pictures next to the weight pile

If you read my cross-walking story on Venice Beach, you also know that the reknown Muscle Beach is located in the heart of Venice Beach. Muscle Beach is  a crowded area of  the Venice Beach “Boardwalk,” where some well-known and not-so-well-known individuals pump it up and lift the pig iron. Muscle Beach is where Arnold Schwarzenegger pumped his way into Hollywood on his way to becoming California’s governor.

Whether it’s one of the popular indoor workout centers or an open-air facility where people come to lift weights, I always like to share what Jesus Christ, the ultimate bench-presser, did for all weightlifters as well: He took the sins of the world and literally bench-pressed and conquered our personal iniquities and transgressions so that none of us need to be helplessly stuck beneath an unliftable weight that we thought we could handle.

You’ve probably seen the popular Christian tee-shirt: Jesus Christ in push-up position beneath a heavy cross, with the words SINS OF THE WORLD etched on the heavy crossbeam. The top caption reads,  LORD’S GYM. Beneath the body of Jesus , the message admonishes,  ”Bench-press This!” The truth is, we can’t bench-press our sins. Only Jesus Christ can do this for us.

This was my message to the men and women working out at Muscle Beach.

One young man asked me if he could walk the cross. I said yes. As we walked down the boardwalk, he seemed oblivious to the large and congested crowd. “Can I have this cross?” he asked. “If I had a cross like this, I could walk all of California for the Lord.” He was serious. I smiled and told him I’d make him a cross just like mine if he truly wanted to carry the cross throughout California.  He smiled and nodded his head.

The young weightlifter stopped walking and reluctantly handed me the large cross. Nodding his head again, he said, “You’d build me a cross like this?” I said yes. I gave him my e-mail address and cell number and told him to contact me if he really wanted me to build him a cross. With a big smile on his face, he started walking back to Muscle Beach. “I love you in Christ,” he shouted out. “I’ll call you. Thank you for letting me carry the cross.” With that, he disappeared into the teeming crowd.

PUMPING IT UP FOR JESUS! THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH

Bench-press this! Muscle Beach meets Calvary's Hill

A lot of people saw this young Christian weightlifter carry the cross. They also heard our conversation. They both saw and heard his enthusiasm. Many seemed messmerized  by his words and actions and just stood there, waiting to see what I would do next. I smiled big, dropped the cross to my right shoulder, and continued walking the boardwalk, a smile on my faith.

Muscle Beach. Calvary. No comparison. The young weightlifter realized this, and was so happy and thrilled to carry a 60-pound cross for even just a few minutes. As I slowly walked the boardwalk, I couldn’t help but wonder if this young man in Christ would call me. I hoped he would, for his sake, and for the sake of his younger brothers living in Chicago. For now, my mind filled with a familiar phrase: “Bench-press this!” Thank you Jesus for taking all my sins and casting them into the deepest sea, something that I could never ever do myself. Thank you Immanuel for bench-pressing my sins as well as the sins of all humanity and taking them off my crushed chest and crushed life and giving me a brand new lease on life. Thank you Lord for saving my soul and letting me walk the cross for all to see Your marvelous and awesome plus sign to the world!” And thank you heavenly Father for letting me walk the cross and pump it up for Jesus every day!

Cross Walk California is a purpose driven cross walk. Therefore,  Muscle Beach won’t be the same tomorrow because we were here today!  Amen and amen.

Tom hoisting the cross at the end of the very popular and busy Santa Monica pier and praying for citywide revival

 “Walk The Cross“

(new life in Christ version)

(Walk the cross and you’ll be sitting on top of the world)

Don’t be afraid to try the greatest ministry around.

Everybody should try it once;

Those who don’t just have to put it down.

You walk the cross down a street, pray and praise,

And baby that’s all there is to the cross-walking craze.

(Walk the cross and you’ll be sitting on top of the world)

Not just a fad cause it’s been going on so long,

All the cross-walkers just keep going strong.

They said it wouldn’t last long…

 But they’ll eat their words with a fork and spoon,

And watch ‘em, they’ll hit the streets and all be walking soon.

And when they walk the cross they’ll be sitting on top of the world.

The Endless Easter! Sure beats The Endless Summer. And since 1973 that’s what I’ve been doing. Forsaking my plans and my schemes, my desires and my dreams, and sharing with everyone that I can that Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life! When I gave my life to Jesus, He gave me forgiveness of my sins and something very special the Bible calls eternal life, and what I call The Endless Easter. Where I once was a hope-to-die surfer and moondoggie (a night surfer) I am now a hodaddy (a nonsurfer), giving up the long board for the long cross. I still enjoy the beach and Beach Boys music. That’s why I take their songs and turn them into cross-walking safari tunes. Thus, “Catch A Wave” is now “Walk The Cross.”

The measureless love of God, the timeless Cross, the Endless Easter, and the vastless sea of humanity

A Very Crowded Beach and Pier

Santa Monica is a very popular city and beach town. All the people from Los Angeles and surrounding cities frequent this beautiful town. I couldn’t wait to bring the cross to this world-renown vacation spot and share with residents, tourists and visitors alike that the cross of Jesus Christ is God’s plus sign to the world! This Good News boy was ready to deliver the always fresh, new and up-to-date front-page headline story about the awesome resurrection of  the great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

After cross-walking Venice Beach and Muscle Beach on a pleasant Saturday afternoon, Jeanette and I loaded up the cross Sunday morning and headed out singing our song of praise to the living God. Our destination: Santa Monica beach boardwalk and pier.

The go-ye-mobile and the cross inside the beachfront parking lot

We parked the go-ye-mobile at the beachfront parking lot, prayed and then headed north on the boardwalk and toward the Santa Monica pier. Santa Monica’s boardwalk is very wide, and it didn’t seem to be busy, although it was.

Santa Monica beach is a beautiful spot to hang out, as indicated by the large number of people having fun on the shoreline or in the ocean. Later we would enjoy the beach, but for now  my mission was to pray for the residents, tourists and visitors and to share with as many people as I could that the cross of Jesus is God’s plus sign. It was now time to have church on the streets!

The walk on the boardwalk was easy and pleasant. The man in the picture asked me to pray for him, not only for his healing, but for loved ones as well. We prayed and then talked for several minutes. He was real happy to see me and thanked me for taking the time to pray with him. I told him that that’s what Church on the Streets is all about, taking the cross to where the people are and sharing God’s love  with them, including praying with everyone who had a need. I gave him a couple of special tract cards and asked him to call me if he needed additional prayer about anything else.

The cross-walker amidst the huge crowd with the pier's popular amusement venue in the near distance

Walking On Water Via The Pier

From where we parked on the beach, the pier was fairly close. Reaching this  huge recreation/fishing pier, Jeanette and I soon realized where all the people were at. They were all on the pier! As I made my way through the crowd, greeting and shaking hands with countless numbers of men, women and children, it soon became apparent that many of the people on the pier were from different countries.

Although we could not understand each other as we shook hands, the cross is a universal symbol of  faith that is understood by all people no matter what country they come from. The smiles on their faces revealed to me that they knew what I was doing. Of course many did speak English. We met people from the Netherlands, France, Germany, the Middle East, and Mexico. Conversations were long because of the many questions the people had about this particular cross walk.

People need the Lord. Tom prays for revival to break out throughout greater Los Angeles

Reaching the end of the pier, I hoisted the 10-foot cross and prayed for Santa Monica and  the greater Los Angeles area, that God would pour out the Spirit of revival and Spirit of great awakening and reveal Himself strong to the men, women and children livingthroughout this southern California coastline. I am so glad that God is not willing that anyone should perish and that all should come to the knowledge that they need Jesus!

Binding And Loosening, Casting Out And Bringing In

As I do in all cities, I rebuked the forces of darkness that were influencing Santa Monica and keeping so many in spiritual darkness. I did exactly what the Bible tells me to do. I cast down satanic strongholds in the almighty name of Jesus Christ, bound the satanic principality, powers, dominions and spiritual hosts of wickedness surrounding the city and cast them into the place where Jesus sends them, then asked God to loosen His angelic principalities, dominions, powers and spiritual hosts of righteousness to occupy the city. I asked the Lord of hosts to construct His towers of truth throughout the city and area and annex the hearts of men, women and children.

Tom walking the cross on Santa Monica pier and through a maze of humanity who need Jesus

Just like in all the other cities, as I prayed I felt the darkness shatter.

After praying hard and long, I walked the cross toward the start of the pier, feeling great in my spirit because the Lord of  light had rebuked the forces of darkness completely.

Where The Spirit of the Lord Is, There is Liberty

After walking the pier we headed for Third Street (which runs parallel with the beach) and prayed for all the people passing by on their way to the beach or some other fun spot. I was surprised at how many people honked their horns as they passed by, but I shouldn’t have been. Once the forces of darkness are rebuked and ejected from a jurisdiction, people respond much more positive to the message of salvation and to the sight of a large cross.

Santa Monica's tribute to America's fallen heroes

Santa Monica is an amazing city. After the cross-walk, Jeanette and I decided to check out the July 4 memorial to the fallen soldiers who have defended our nation and other nations against human enemies intent on destroying our way of life.

We came across this Independence Day memorial. As we walked the beach, Jeanette and I thanked God for the freedom our nation enjoys because of brave soldiers willing to give their all for our liberty. And we couldn’t help but thank God for giving His all by allowing His Son to die on the cross for our sins, that anyone who believes that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and then rose from the dead shall never die, but have eternal life.

As the day ended, we praised God for all that He had done in Santa Monica. Because we were here today in the name of Jesus Christ, Santa Monica won’t be the same tomorrow. Such is the power of evangelism in His name. Such is the love of God for all people everywhere.

Hollywood's Spiderman meets California's Cross Man

“Don’t Back Down”

(new Life in Christ version)

The skeptics think this preacher is going to wipeout.

But toting the ten foot cross you can hear him shout,

I’m not afraid, oh no, not this boy.

I grit my teeth and don’t back down.

chorus

Oooh, you better watch your talk

‘Cause I’ll show you that I won’t back down,

Won’t back down from this walk.

With the cross on his back and some tracts easy to understand,

The cross walker knows the city like the palm of his hand.

He’s not afraid, and won’t back down, won’t back down

No not this boy.

He grits his teeth and won’t back down.

As I often share, for my own personal fun I’ve taken several Beach Boys songs and changed the words to fit my cross-walking ministry and safari. Years ago I gave up the long board for the long cross and the Endless Summer for the Endless Easter. And now instead of praying for surf, I pray for revival. Safari with me to Hollywood and look what Jesus the first Water Walker is doing in and throughout Movieland, USA.

Indeed, because my wife and I were here today, Hollywood won’t be the same tomorrow.

Arriving at Hollywood on an overcast yet warm early morning, we parked the “go-ye-mobile” on a side street and then walked to Hollywood Boulevard. Hoisting the ten foot cross upright, we prayed for Hollywood, that God would send forth His Spirit of revival and turn the hearts of the people to Himself, and asked the Lord of Hosts for favor with all the people we would talk to.

If You Don’t Like The Way I’m Driving, Get Off The Sidewalk!

Tom the parking enforcer meets Tom the cross man

The first person to greet us was a traffic enforcement officer named Tom. As he approached I thought he was going to inform us that it was against the law in Hollywood to walk a cross on the sidewalk. Instead, he grinned from ear to ear and shouted, “Praise the Lord!”  Tom the traffic enforcer gave Tom the cross walker a big hug and hugged Jeanette as well. His words: “I’ve never seen a cross walker before. What a sight for sore eyes. You’ve come to pray for Hollywood. Wow!” Needless to say, we had a long and happy conversation about Jesus Christ and His love for all people, including Hollywood residents and tourists, before we headed out to our destination.

Hollywood Boulevard was teeming with the normal and not-so-normal masses. The sidewalks were filled with elbow to elbow residents, tourists and visitors. As Tom cross-walked Hollywood Boulevard, like the Red Sea parting, people gave way without fussing or complaining. Tom  talked to and shook the hands of hundreds of people, many of whom wanted to talk about Jesus and the reason for the cross walk. Tom also handed out special cards for the occasion entitled “The Endless Easter,” which  is all about following the Son and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ every day.

Hollywood’s Spiderman Meets California’s Cross Man

Throughout this very busy street,  not-so-famous and want-to-be actors wear well-known movie character outfits and charge money to have their pictures taken with tourists. Tom talked to Zorro, Sponge Bob Squarepants, Kiss, and many other  costumed men and women. Spiderman was just one of several characters who wanted to talk about Jesus Christ in their lives. It was refreshing to realize that there were Christians living in Hollywood. Spiderman seemed to forget that he was there to make money as he and Tom talked about the Lord for several minutes.

May The True Force Be With You

Soul Wars not Star Wars

Approaching two Imperial Stormtroopers, Tom shouted out, “May the true Force be with you!” Reaching for Tom’s hand, one of the Star Wars characters declared, “I’m a believer, too!” Tom spoke with these two young men for several minutes as well. Jeanette shared that it is during this time that  the Marilyn Monroe character reached for her own camera and began taking pictures of Tom. The two stormtroopers thought it was very cool that Tom was walking the cross down Hollywood Boulevard. When Tom asked, “Hollywood Cool?”, in unison the two young men shouted, “No, we mean Jesus Cool!”

Jesus Christ Super Star and Strolling Down The Walk of Fame

Imagine there's a Heaven. It's easy if you try

As we walked down the Walk of Fame and looked at the names inscribed on each star, Tom couldn’t help but wonder how many of the men and women had ever accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. From the Beatles and Elvis Presley, to Bob Dylan and Michael Jackson, familiar names adorned their own personal star. But how many of these personalities had ever lived for Jesus Christ or shared that there is truly only one Superstar amongst them all?

This Purpose Driven Cross Walk

Walking the cross on Hollywood Blvd.

Tom and Jeanette met people from across the nation and around the globe. Many Christians stopped and talked with Tom and to find out more about the cross walk.  The purpose of Cross Walk Hollywood was to present the cross of Jesus Christ as God’s plus sign to Movieland, USA. There isn’t one thing negative about the cross of Jesus. One sinner plus the cross of Jesus equals one forgiven sinner. One drug addict plus the cross of Jesus equals one set free individual. One disenchanted actor plus the cross of Jesus equals real life in Christ. One man and one woman plus the cross of Jesus Christ equals a sanctified marriage. One young pregnant girl plus the cross of Jesus Christ equals two lives safe and secure! That’s the message Tom brought to Hollywood, California. And the residents’, tourists’ and visitors’ overall response to this positive message  was, “Jesus Cool!” Amen and amen.

Tom praying for revival at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave.

Just like what was mentioned earlier, “Because we were here today, Hollywood won’t be the same tomorrow!” And yes, eventually Tom will be back to Movieland, USA as he returns from his cross walking safari throughout California. Cowabunga and praise the Lord!

Tom praying for Ventura at Surfer's Knoll

On Mother’s Day weekend, 2009 and after a successful cross-walking  safari in Santa Barbara, Jeanette and I drove 25 miles south to Ventura and  parked at the city’s beautiful Ventura Harbor. Directly across from the Harbor is Surfer’s Knoll, a favorite surfing spot for local surfers. We had spent a long time in Santa Barbara and it was fast approaching dusk.

Hoisting up the long cross at the Surfer’s Knoll sign, we prayed for the city of Ventura, that the God of revival would pour out His Spirit upon the city’s 97,000 residents and catch them in the prayer dragnet  we were building with our prayer of faith.

The sight of the long cross hoisted upright at the entrance to Surfer’s Knoll drew a lot of attention from those passing by and from those who were on the beach.

Oh The Wondrous Cross: God’s Plus Sign To Ventura

When I survey the wonderful cross

One couple from Chicago and on assignment from a major  insurance company to help the Jesusita Fire victims shared that they were Christians and wondered what we were doing. They had never seen a cross-walker. As Jeanette and I spoke with them, their spirits fired up and came alive. Their excitement was noticeable by all. These two believers were surprised that there were Christians living in California!

We explained the purpose of the cross-walk and had a long and joyful conversation with these two believers from the Windy City.

Cars filled with people passed by and honked or waved, and I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of the ocean scene at dusk even though the horizon was filled with smoke from the Santa Barbara fire. After we finished talking with our new friends from the East, I hoisted the cross upright next to the sand dunes and facing the ocean and the setting sun and prayed.

The Cross, Marriage and Proposition Eight

Darkness came quick so we walked back to the Harbor and  was about to load up the cross on the “go-ye-mobile” when an excited voice caught my attention. “I thought that was a cross!” a man’s voice declared. He quickly introduced himself after shaking my hand.

 Bob brought up the subject.  Both he and his wife are  very pro traditional marriage and for Proposition Eight. Of course Jeanette and I are too. With California  Supreme Court justices about to render a verdict on the validity of Proposition Eight, Bob wanted to pray that the constitutional admendment would stand. So we prayed.

A phone call came from the two high school couples and Bob had to pick them up and take them to another destination. We said our good-byes and  I secured the long cross in the truck bed and against its cab. Jeanette and I then bought a couple of ice cream cones from one of the Harbor’s numerous stores and walked the entire waterfront, talking about the cross-walk and enjoying the presence of the Lord and each other after a  very long day.

Bob the limousine man meets Tom the cross man

Although we did not cross-walk the downtown area and pray at the government buildings this day, we’ll be back to do so very soon. Ventura happens to be one of our favorite places to visit. We know the city like the palm of our hands. The people have always been friendly. Just like the people of Bakersfield, they need the Lord. And that is our prayer, that widespread revival takes place, not only at Surfer’s Knoll and Surfer’s Point, but throughout the entire city.  We also know that, because we hoisted the cross and prayed this day, Ventura won’t be the same tomorrow!

Tom sharing the message of Christ's cross with tourists, visitors and residents on Santa Barbara's popular State Street

“I Get Around”
(new life in Christ version)

Round, round, get around, I get around.
I get around, all over town.
I’m a cross-walking fool,
but for the Lord it’s cool.

chorus

I always take my cross
’cause it’s never been beat.
And I’ve never missed yet with the people I meet.
I get around,
all over town.
I’m a cross-walking fool,
but for the Lord it’s cool.

Just for my own personal fun, I’ve taken several Beach Boys tunes and changed the words to fit my cross-walking ministry. Years ago I gave up the long board for the long cross and quit chasing the Endless Summer for the Endless Easter. Instead of praying for surf, I now pray for revival.  Of course, Jesus Christ was the original water walker. It is this first Water Walker whom I now follow and love with all my heart, soul, body and spirit. Nothing compares to following the Son! And nothing comes close to the love and warmth of the Son. Cowabunga and Hallelujah!

It was my wife’s suggestion that we celebrate Mother’s Day 2009 by taking the long cross to Santa Barbara and Ventura and cross-walking the streets and beaches of these two southern California coastal cities. Cross Walk Santa Barbara is a ministry of Cross Walk California.

Invasion of the Purpose Driven Cross Walker

"Look at that guy carrying a large cross!" was this young' response to the cross walk

Arriving at downtown Santa Barbara on an early Saturday afternoon, we parked  next to the gigantic and stately County Courthouse and walked a couple of blocks to the city’s main party street. State Street is a seemingly endless boulevard teeming with tourists, visitors and residents. Besides the  beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara, State Street is where both the in-crowd and the out-crowd hang out.

Walking east I spoke to countless numbers of people about Jesus Christ and why I was carrying a 10-foot, 60-pond cross. It seems no one had ever seen a cross walker before, although the response was quite receptive and positive. One young woman walked by, and with a smile on her face asked, “Still celebrating Easter?”, to which I replied “The Endless Easter!” The woman and her friends grinned from ear to ear and gave the thumbs up sign as they walked by.

How Much Is Your Life Worth?

As Jeanette took pictures, I talked with individual after individual about the Lord Jesus Christ. Many of the people shared that they, too, were believers. I carry an assortment of special two-sided tracts that I hand out. For this special cross-walk, I decided to hand out “How Much Is Your Life Worth?” The front side asks that question in large letters and also has a picture of a dollar bill. The dollar bill is badly frayed, chewed up,  and has pieces missing. The other side explains that if  a person takes a torn up and badly frayed bill to any bank, it can be exchanged for a brand new, crispy one. It goes on to explain that, just like that badly frayed and sorely-damaged dollar bill, all an individual has to do is take his or her tattered, torn, chewed up and shattered life to the bank of Heaven and ask God to exchange  that old and dilapidated life for a brand new one.

Because We Were Here Today, Santa Barbara Will Not Be The Same Tomorrow

Individuals throughout California cities respond positively to this particular two-sided tract. The tourists, visitors and residents of Santa Barbara were not exceptions to this rule. As we walked down State Street, which is the very heartbeat of Santa Barbara, I was pleasantly surprised at the overall response of the people to the cross-walk.

Tom praying at Santa Barbara City Hall

Hoisting the cross upright at City Hall, we prayed for Santa Barbara’s civic and government leaders and that citywide revival would break out among the city’s 97,000 residents.  The Jesusita Fire was raging out of control in the mountains above Santa Barbara.

Walking to the large County Administrative Building, I hoisted the cross upright and prayed for the County Supervisors and all the California firefighters fighting to put out this large and dangerous fire.

Jeanette and I then walked  to the huge Santa Barbara County Courthouse. I hoisted the cross upright and we prayed for the entire county, that all of Santa Barbara County residents get “caught” in the county-wide prayer dragnet we erected over the entire land through our prayer and praise to the God of revival. We asked the great Fisherman from Galilee to catch men, women and children in this prayer dragnet.

As we walked back to out truck and this particular cross-walk came to a successful and invigorating end, my first thought was: “Because we were here today, Santa Barbara will not be the same tomorrow.” We really didn’t  want to end the cross-walk, but our next destination on this cross-walking safari was just as important.

Ventura, here comes the cross-walker from Bakersfield, California!