WALKING AND TRAVELING BY FAITH, NOT SIGHT

State and State Capital #41. The Last Frontier.

On July 26 as my flight landed at Juneau International Airport from Seattle and via Los Angeles around 10:15 P.M., I had plenty on my mind. My number one concern was, How and where was I going to construct the large cross for the 5-day cross walk?

The cross would be just like the one I had made in Honolulu, Hawaii back in May, a replica of the 10-foot, 60-pound cross that Jeanette and I have brought to thirty-nine of our nation’s contiguous states so far. Just like in Hawaii, I couldn’t bring the large cross on my flight. But unlike Hawaii, I didn’t have a place to construct the Alaska cross. In Hawaii, I stayed at the large YWAM (Youth With A Mission) compound). Here, I was staying at a downtown Juneau hotel.

Taking a taxi to my hotel room, I unpacked before calling it a night. God’s plan for me of how and where building the cross would take place began to unfold in my mind as I drifted into a very pleasant sleep. The last thing I thought of before falling asleep is a phrase that encourages me every time I read or think of it: FAITH DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. IT MAKES MIRACLES.

THE FULL PANOPLY OF GOD AND MUCH FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: A SOUL-DIER OF THE CROSS

To be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might, we must put on and take up the full panoply of God—and eat much fruit of the Spirit.

I awoke at 5:oo to an early and beautiful light fog and misty-rain Juneau  morning. It was already light. After showering, I ate the breakfast food my life-wife, Jeanette, had packed for me, read my Bible, and spiritually put on and took up the 7-part panoply (armor and armaments) of God as detailed in Ephesians 6 and then spiritually ate much fruit of the Spirit (the nine fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5). Anytime and every time I walk the cross, I first put on and take up the full panoply of God and eat much fruit of the Spirit to prepare myself for the upcoming battle for souls in the diverse and large fields of souls.

Jesus Himself shared in John 15 the four degrees of fruit-bearing: no fruit, fruit, more fruit and much fruit. The full panoply of God is extremely powerful but unless I had an abundance of agape-love pouring out of my Spirit, I have noticed that I sometimes come across as an uncaring, insensitive and brash believer rather than  a caring, compassionate and sensitive street evangelist. I ALWAYS FEEL THE DIFFERENCE EACH TIME I FIRST ARMOR UP AND EAT MUCH FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.

THE DIVINE PLAN OF GOD: LET’S DO THIS!!

Brought these with me. All I needed now was the wood and a place to make the large cross.

As always, God gave me His plan. To a degree, it didn’t make any sense at all. But then again…faith doesn’t make sense; it makes miracles! But I knew where I was going this morning. After contacting a a taxi service, I waited downstairs and outside my hotel. With the cross wheel assembly and cross-making hardware in hand, I took in the street scene as I waited for the cab.

As I waited, I noticed a young man a few few feet away who also seemed to be waiting for someone. I waved and greeted him. “Beautiful morning in Juneau.” He smiled and nodded in agreement. Clean cut and about thirty-years-old, he seemed hesitant to take up a conversation. So I gave him the thumbs-up signal and waited for my cab to arrive, all the while noticing that he just stood there, occasionally looking at me and then turning away.

My cab arrived, so I waved at the young man once more, then hopped into the taxi. After sharing with the driver my destination, for some reason I looked around toward where the young man was standing. NOBODY THERE!! That is odd, I thought, as the cab entered the street and began the seven-mile journey to Home Depot.

MORE ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN LATER!!!!

YOU WANT TO BUILD A TEN FOOT CROSS INSIDE OUR STORE?!

I knew there was a reason Home Depot is my favorite hardware store to buy home, garage & garden supplies

With the cross wheel assembly in hand, as well as other hardware needed to construct the large cross. I walked up to the Commercial counter and shared, “I’m from Bakersfield, California. I am a cross walker, toting a ten-foot cross all over America. I pray at every state and state capital. I’m here this week to pray for Alaska and Juneau. But first I must build the cross. Can I buy the wood here and construct the cross in your store?”

The lady looked at me, took the two-sided tract I handed her, which shows the state of Alaska and shares what the cross walk is, looked at the tract, then looked back at me. “Sure. But you will have to wait til the workers in charge of setting you up unload some wood from pallets outside.”

No look of shock. No up and down glance at me to see if I was sane. Just a simple, “Of course.” I sat down in a chair. The lady smiled, and said, “That’s really neat you are going to pray for our state and our capital.” We talked a bit in between her helping other contractors. Several of the contactors one at a time also spoke to me, sharing how great it was that I was going to pray for Alaska.

WE CAN HELP YOU, TOO!

Deb was such a big help and inspiration as the cross was being built. I was greatly impressed by her faith in Jesus and how she matter-of-factly took this project as a divine assignment from God.

Just like that I was in the large WOOD MOULDING CUTTING area of Home Depot constructing the large cross. Two employees especially helped construct the large cross. Deb and Jesús kept bringing me tools, water and even pitching in and helping hand-cut the two lap joints in the wood to form the cross.

Little by little, the cross took shape. Customers approached with puzzled looks on their face, until I explained. Then, it was sheer joy and appreciation that I was going to be praying for their state and beautiful capital city. About twenty customers came up and started conversations with me as I built the cross. Other Home Depot employees came by too, some out of curiosity, others just to offer words of encouragement and appreciation.

Jesús put the wheel assembly together and sanded the cross, as well as smiling all the while he was working on the cross.

Imagine going into your local Home Depot and seeing a man and a couple of employees constructing a very large cross. What would be your thoughts? Would you think it rather odd? Would your Home Depot hardware store even allow such a thing to happen?

Well…all I know is that faith doesn’t make sense. It makes miracles! And here at Juneau’s Home Depot, a 71-year-old street evangelist wearing a jacket with CHURCH ON THE STREETS emblazoned in huge letters across the back and with the help of two employees was constructing a very special cross for a very special five-day cross-walking mission throughout Alaska’s state capital. YOU COULD REALLY FEEL THE DIVINE AND HEAVY PRESENCE OF  THE LORD OF THE HARVEST!

Finally, the cross was finished! Just like in Hawaii, I didn’t have time to stain the cross because it would take a couple of days to dry thoroughly. But it was beautiful, and you could really feel the Shekinah glory of God fill the area and the building as I lifted it to my shoulder and walked toward the Commercial section to pay for the wood.

HE SAID HE WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET SOMEONE AT HOME DEPOT!!!

“How in the world could this be happening?” I heard my mind ask.

As I walked the cross throughout the hardware store, I was keenly aware of the presence of God Almighty. After paying for the wood with the cross nestled against the counter and then lifting it to my shoulder, a hushed silence fell upon the area as I walked toward the exit. “You walking the cross all the way to your motel?” Jesús asked as I headed outside. “If I have to,” I answered. I was tired from the late morning and early afternoon’s construction of the cross. Seven miles would be a long way to lug the 60-pound cross.

BUT, OF COURSE, I WAS WILLING TO CROSS WALK THE SEVEN MILES. I smiled at all the Home Depot employees, said good-bye and walked toward the exit.

At the very moment I walked outside, a taxi cab pulled up! “What??!!” I heard my mind ask. How in the world could this be happening?” I quickly walked to the driver’s side of the cab. “Can you take me to my downtown hotel?” I asked. The lady taxi driver looked at me with the large cross on my shoulder, then smiled really, really big, and said, “Of course!”

I couldn’t believe it!

WAIT, DIDN’T I TALK TO YOU EARLIER THIS MORNING?

This has happened before, in different ways and circumstances. throughout my 46 years in the ministry. Still, it took me by surprise, and I wasn’t prepared for this!

“Let me take care of this customer first, and then I’ll open the back so you can put your cross inside.” I noticed a male passenger. But then I took a much closer look. Walking to the side door, I opened it.

“Didn’t I see you downtown this morning next to the Alaskan Hotel?” I asked him. “Yes.” All I could mutter was, “OK.”

He remained in the taxi while the driver and I gingerly loaded the large cross inside the back. At that point the man opened the door and got out. I kept looking at him, Yes, this one was the man I spoke to early this morning. “Glad you came to Home Depot,” I said. “God is good!” He looked at me, then smiled. “He loves His children.” With that he walked away.

Jumping into the passenger side, I said “I am sure I saw him early this morning by my hotel.” I looked back to see him again. HE WASN’T THERE.

I shook my head. The man didn’t have time to walk into the store.

“That’s very strange,” I commented to the lady driver. “Wonder why he came to Home Depot the very exact time I was leaving?” She looked at me and shrugged. “He said he was supposed to meet someone here.”

(More about this in Part Two of the Alaska cross walk).