The Cross @ Jummonville

The Cross @ Jummonville

This weekend, despite having bronchitis I had the privilege to preach four times in three days in beautiful Hopwood, Pennsylvania at the Jumonville Christian Conference Center. It has been said: “How we act in our lowest point shows our true character.” I also love the Scripture: “When I am weak – then I am strong.” We know our strength comes from Christ.

It was a five hour trip for me from Maryland up the mountains in Pennsylvania on Friday en route to speaking to a wonderful Singles Group with the United Methodist Church. They came as far as PA and NJ and we had a blast. While driving there, I had just spoke in four states the week before and was already getting flu symptoms. Two years ago my bronchitis turned into “walking pnemonia” and it is never fun when you are running on empty. Friday night, I had the pleasure to speak about 8 PM and I preached a message from Isaiah entitled: “Are you Waiting on the Lord or is the Lord Waiting on you?”

At 2 AM (Saturday morning) I woke up in a pool of water. I wet the bed – but not in the way you may be thinking. I was so sick, with the flu and fever that when the fever broke I was literally sleeping (or should say) SWIMMING in sweat. I had to take the towels assigned for me to dry off from the shower and wipe down my entire body. The sheets were soaked and the bed was so wet, I had to literally flip the mattress over just to sleep because the bed was as if someone threw five gallon buckets of water on my mattress.

At 9:30 AM, I had the privilege to preach on the lad who loaned his lunch to the Lord entitled: “Giving God ALL you Got.” It was an appropriate message for me knowing I was running low on energy. But as always – the Lord showed up. That night I preached again about “Singing God’s Praises in the midst of Life’s storms.” I was feeling better and you could feel God’s Presence in our midst. Sunday evening was the highlight for me and after travelling across half the Country to get there (I preached twice in Texas the weekend before) we were led to the mountain top.

Perched on top of the mountain is the cross in this picture. It is 60 feet tall and sits on the tallest part of the retreat overlooking the camp and city below. Breath taking doesnt describe it in detail. Only God could make that view. I was asked to preach at 7 PM last night on top of the mountain. It was a humbling feeling. This year, alone I have been blessed to preach over 200 times in nearly 20 states and share God’s Word. He has blessed me to preach in various venues, different denominations and shaken more hands than probably any non- candidate for public office. However, by God’s grace at this moment I was no longer in the valley but on the mountain top.

Chairs were set up in front of me forming a mini sancutary. To my right was the “million dollar” mountain view of the community below. To my left was a keyboard that the group erected as we sang praise and worship and behind me as I began to preach was the centerpiece of Christianity – The Cross. Hollywood couldn’t have picked a better setting and if they could probably wouldn’t because it wasn’t “politically correct.” My sickness on Friday was not as intense and now I was more energized than fatigued. God gave me a word with no notes. I preached on Hebrews 12:1-3 and my message consisted of three points: “The Cross, The Cost & The Christ.”

The reason, we are in a crisis today in Christianity is because many are preaching a Christ-less Christianity, a cross-less Christianity, a cost-less Christianity and we are failing to remind folks that Christ is coming again! “The Cost” I talked about His Sacrifice on our behalf and what it will cost us to live for the Lord in a fallen world. The Cross, I talked about our Substitute. Jesus taught us how to live but we taught Him how to die. In closing, I talked about Christ and how half the world knows Him as a stranger and the rest know Him as Savior.

What a JOY to preach and promote the Cross while on the mountain. The key is to preach and promote Christ and His cross even in our valleys. The world needs hope not hype and we need not be ashamed of Calvary’s cruel cross. My hiking friends have shared with me that the mountain top is exhiliarating and exciting and the view is second to none. However, all the growth is down in the valley. As we closed we sang that classic hymn: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” and I love that line: “The CROSS BEFORE ME – the world behind me.” How fitting that we were mindful that we must follow the Lord and not the world.

Pray for me this weekend, as I catch a plane this Saturday, September 12 (Lord willing) to fly to Greenville, SC and preach a three service, two day revival in Townville, South Carolina at Double Springs Baptist Church. It may not be on the mountain but you can bet I will be preaching Christ crucified, Christ’s Cross and Christ is coming again! Truly, it is because of the cross that we can come to Christ. Thank you Jesus and thank you Jumonville!