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Lithuania: “Lifting Up the Cross”

Thousands of crosses cover this hill in the nation of Lithuania. My emotions turn to tears as I think of the defiance of those who put them there as a witness in the face of oppressive atheistic communism.

On my crosswalk around the world I have often been by the sea as boats go out with their net and unload it into the sea in a great semi-circle and then they bring the ropes to the shore and the entire village is out pulling in the net. I’ve even joined in this drawing in the net thinking of Jesus and the fisherman as recorded in the Gospels. Often it takes an exhausting long time of pulling but then you see the fish jumping and the people excited as they pull the net to shore. Then they start getting out the fish from the net. Everyone is smiling. There is joy!

Jesus said the following worlds about the cross and His purpose in dying on the cross:

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all people unto Me” John 12:32

Jesus was speaking about the cross. The words used here for ‘draw’ also means ‘to drag’ like pulling in a fishing net.

We lift up the Cross and Jesus and He draws and drags people unto Himself.

Thousands of crosses cover the hill called the ‘Hill of Crosses’ in the nation of Lithuania. My emotions turn to tears as I think of the defiance of those who put them there as a witness in the face of oppressive atheistic communism. Three times the Soviets bulldozed down the hill of crosses. The crosses were burned or turned into scrap metal and the area covered with waste and sewage. Yet the people returned to put up even more crosses! My wife and I also lifted up our cross on that hill and then walked on as ten’s of thousands of people came by to welcome the cross. They lined the roads of Lithuania and in the capital of Vilnius when we arrived carrying the cross on our journey around the world.

In the face of opposition or welcome, how will you lift up the cross and
the message of the cross…Jesus, this week?

Jesus did die for our sins on the cross and He has given ‘us’ the mission of carrying that message of salvation and hope to the world. Each of us needs to do our part. He has chosen each of us to be His witness.

I have carried a 12 foot cross around the world, lifting it up in every nation and major inhabited island group on earth. I have seen the power of the cross and how it draws people to Jesus. We can lift it up in word or in deed or both. Like the people pulling in the net God has put your hand on the rope and He wants us to draw in the harvest.

I have set out on a mission to send “The Cross” DVD of the movie to each country I’ve carried the cross in. The DVD also has a 9 part, one hour ‘How to Share Jesus’ video teaching plus a 16 page Study Guide. All of this plus songs and my preaching from the Sunset Strip in the 60’s is included. So the DVD is an evangelism outreach for people to be saved as the cross is lifted up. It is an inspiration for followers of Jesus, a blessing for churches and home groups and a training course to help people share Jesus in a natural and effective way anywhere in the world.

Our ministry has send the cross movie into many countries now. God willing we will take the cross and this teaching back to the world by DVD! You can help. Here’s how. Order or get “The Cross” move and send it to someone you know that is outside of the U.S.A. Mail them the copy. Then e mail me that you sent ‘The Cross’ to a person in a nation (Please give me the name of the nation, or if you like give me their address and I’ll also make contact) so I can check it off our list. This way ‘You’ can be a part of lifting up the cross in every nation! I don’t know that any movie except perhaps the “Jesus Film” that has been confirmed to have been played in every nation and island group in the world. The movie will play in all TV systems in the different nations. For a list of the 315 countries and island groups go to “Crosswalk Stories” Top Left

I hope to hear from you and about the nation you have sent the movie to. God bless you and remember to lift up the cross somewhere in some way this week and share the message of the cross which is Jesus and how to know Him.

To read the story of the crosswalk in Lithuania please go to “Crosswalk Stories” Top Left

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt,

Luke 18:1

Weeks ago I started with the letter A and will go to Z focusing on a nation or island group, and what I learned in that place. If you are looking for perfection then just read the Words of Jesus in the New Testament of the Bible. I’m only a pilgrim that has and is still on a journey with Jesus. He is constantly working on me like a potter does the clay. Welcome to the potter’s house!