Woke up at 5 AM this morning, I guess I am pumped about Easter.  Got a cup of Paul Newman's special blend coffee, very good.:) Going over sermon now.  Praying for people to be drawn to Christ today through the services at our church and evey church where Jesus is lifted up.  My wife gave me the movie Ben Hur for Easter, really neat movie.  Hope you have had the chance to see it.

I am concerned about parking this morning we have some large equipment parked on our lot which will take up precious parking space.  Just got to trust the Lord.  I will be telling the people this morning about a crisis point in my own life this morning.  I had been in church for two years when it happened.  I was singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School.

I attended a revival meeting in Lynchburg VA when I was 16 (I know that was a really long time ago).  I think the only reason I went was because I heard there were some girls there.  The evangelist brought a sermon on hell.  I can even remember the title, "A Tour of Hell".  He guided us through all of the usual places you would expect in hell, he painted a graphic picture of hell that night.  But what really struck me was his final point.  I can even remember his words, "Let me take you to one last place before we go back up, let me take you to the place where all the church members are kept."

I just about came out of the pew.  I was a church member and he had the audacity to say I was in hell?  He went on to explain in a powerful way that salvation is totally by faith in Christ and Him alone.  Being a church member doesn't guarentee a place in Heaven.  Boy was I mad! I went home and got out my Bible which I hadn't read in weeks. I was going to prove this guy wrong.  After a long time of fruitless search I began to see that maybe he was right and I wasn't a Christian.

That night in a small three room apartment in Lynchburg VA, sitting at an old kitchen table I bowed my head and cried out to God.  I can remember my exact words, "Dear God if I am not saved please save me now!"  I didn't see any lights, no visions but I was changed from that moment on and I believe each of us face these critical moments of decisions some call them defining moments.  I hope to communicate this truth today.  I pray someone else will be like me on that fateful day.  I hope they will open their hearts to Christ and be changed.

It can be overwhelming when you realize you are speaking to people who are facing a Christless eternity, but what a priviledge to lift up the name of Christ.

I can't even remember the name of the evangelist who spoke that night.  But I will never forget his message and one day when we stand at the judgement seat of Christ I will thank him personally for preaching at a little white cinderblock building in Lynchburg VA.  I will tell him "I am here because you cared enough to tell the world about Christ, thank you for giving to the Lord"

Well I have to go, hope you guys have a great Easter!  He is Alive!