Below is a picture of what this page is all about. What goes through your mind when you see a Cross displayed like this. Maybe, religious wacko?, Bible thumper who's forcing his views on me?, why can't he keep his opinons to himself?, or.....whoever lives here isn't afraid to show he's a Christian and is willing to share his beliefs. Hopefully it's the latter choice because we as Americans have the right to show our position as guaranteed under our Constitution and our freedom of speech.
This is the cross that I made that is on the street in front of my house. The information below will hopefully explain the what, why, and how, that prompted me to place it there.
I received an email some weeks ago about a little town, Frankenmuth, located in Michigan. This town had a couple of small crosses that were located on public land. A person in that town took offence, brought suit against the city and the city removed them. This same person also objected to crosses being on the City crest and requested removal of them. The townspeople objected and made their objections known by placing small white crosses on their own private property making a huge statement about their personal beliefs and their unwillingness to allow the minority to speak for the majority.
As a Christian, I thought that I've not been vocal enough about my beliefs. I'm like many Americans who go to work, come home, go to work.....you get the idea......just trying to live life and raise my family. I've seen statistics saying that 86% of Americans believe that our Founding Fathers used many of the principles in the Bible as the basis for our Constitution. The 14% who don't share those beliefs are the "vocal minority" who speak the loudest and often win their cases in court. Naturally there are some of you who are screaming at their monitor about the above stats but that's okay. You have the right to your Freedom of Speech/Screaming.....so enjoy. : )
Okay.....enough small talk.......here's what I'm doing.
I'm not really a woodworker although I love wood and sell lots of it to woodworking buddies. Some of these guys are truly artists who create amazing things. Many of them are Christians and I call them friends. But, even though creatively challenged, I found out that it's not really hard to nail a couple boards together and make a little cross. In fact, it's fun and rewarding. I'm sure that there are hundreds if not thousands of guys like me who are capable of building them. Many guys want to do something constructive, especially those who may be retired and have the desire to make a difference in their community. Bottom line, the Cross is the reminder that Jesus gave his life for us, He died, He rose again, He loves us, He wants us to become His children, He wants us to live with Him for eternity......(a really, really long time) ....and is "not willing that any should perish". "Gospel" means "good news" and if living in Heaven with Jesus for Eternity isn't good news, then please tell me what is. ; )
So far, I've made around 300 crosses and have them "living" on lawns all over my town of Redding, California. The Pastor of my church was gracious enough to let me make them available to the church folks. Nearly150 of the crosses found new "homes" that day. Since then four other churches are passing them out. Looks like a little "pebble in the water" thing is happening and the circle is expanding.
Below are a few random pics of some of my crosses. First pic is right after they were made, second on right with the "spike" in the bottom, then painting, then drying.......see, it ain't brain surgery. ; )
As a Christian, I thought that I've not been vocal enough about my beliefs. I'm like many Americans who go to work, come home, go to work.....you get the idea......just trying to live life and raise my family. I've seen statistics saying that 86% of Americans believe that our Founding Fathers used many of the principles in the Bible as the basis for our Constitution. The 14% who don't share those beliefs are the "vocal minority" who speak the loudest and often win their cases in court. Naturally there are some of you who are screaming at their monitor about the above stats but that's okay. You have the right to your Freedom of Speech/Screaming.....so enjoy. : )
Okay.....enough small talk.......here's what I'm doing.
I'm not really a woodworker although I love wood and sell lots of it to woodworking buddies. Some of these guys are truly artists who create amazing things. Many of them are Christians and I call them friends. But, even though creatively challenged, I found out that it's not really hard to nail a couple boards together and make a little cross. In fact, it's fun and rewarding. I'm sure that there are hundreds if not thousands of guys like me who are capable of building them. Many guys want to do something constructive, especially those who may be retired and have the desire to make a difference in their community. Bottom line, the Cross is the reminder that Jesus gave his life for us, He died, He rose again, He loves us, He wants us to become His children, He wants us to live with Him for eternity......(a really, really long time) ....and is "not willing that any should perish". "Gospel" means "good news" and if living in Heaven with Jesus for Eternity isn't good news, then please tell me what is. ; )
So far, I've made around 300 crosses and have them "living" on lawns all over my town of Redding, California. The Pastor of my church was gracious enough to let me make them available to the church folks. Nearly150 of the crosses found new "homes" that day. Since then four other churches are passing them out. Looks like a little "pebble in the water" thing is happening and the circle is expanding.
Below are a few random pics of some of my crosses. First pic is right after they were made, second on right with the "spike" in the bottom, then painting, then drying.......see, it ain't brain surgery. ; )
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Hey Guys, not that it's really necessary, but pics are more fun to look at than a paragraph of typing. Below is a little tutorial about how I make them.
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Start off with a 2x4....I buy the 92" ones instead of the 8 footers......a few pennies cheaper and the extra length is not missed. At our local Lowe's store, they're only 1. 99 each not to mention they give a 10% discount to Vets.....thank you Lowe's.....
BTW, each 2x4 makes four crosses.....about $.50 each for the wood.
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Pic 1 below, after cutting the 8 foot piece in two at the 46" mark.
PIc 2, cutting 15" off the 46" piece for the horizontal arm.
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Start off with a 2x4....I buy the 92" ones instead of the 8 footers......a few pennies cheaper and the extra length is not missed. At our local Lowe's store, they're only 1. 99 each not to mention they give a 10% discount to Vets.....thank you Lowe's.....
BTW, each 2x4 makes four crosses.....about $.50 each for the wood.
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Pic 1 below, after cutting the 8 foot piece in two at the 46" mark.
PIc 2, cutting 15" off the 46" piece for the horizontal arm.
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PIc 3, ripping both 15" and 31" pieces.
Pic 4, sanding the rough corners off all four sides of all ends. Btw, for you Shopsmith fans, I could cut' 'em on the table saw but I prefer the bandsaw...removes less kerf and I just like it better that way. For you guys with only a table saw......no biggie......go for it.
PIc 3, ripping both 15" and 31" pieces.
Pic 4, sanding the rough corners off all four sides of all ends. Btw, for you Shopsmith fans, I could cut' 'em on the table saw but I prefer the bandsaw...removes less kerf and I just like it better that way. For you guys with only a table saw......no biggie......go for it.
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PIc 5 is cutting the spike that goes in the bottom end of the cross. I buy the soft rolled steel in 20' lengths and cut them into about 9" long pieces. Twenty feet costs less than $4.00. These will go in the bored holes in the bottom of the upright piece. I cut 'em off with a grinding disc on my Shopsmith....a 90" angle grinder works well too with the right cutting wheel....or a torch....or a.......
Pic 6 is the vertical and horizontal pieces set on the jig for measuring and marking where your dado cuts will be. The jig isn't hard to make, hopefully the pic will give you a place to start.
PIc 5 is cutting the spike that goes in the bottom end of the cross. I buy the soft rolled steel in 20' lengths and cut them into about 9" long pieces. Twenty feet costs less than $4.00. These will go in the bored holes in the bottom of the upright piece. I cut 'em off with a grinding disc on my Shopsmith....a 90" angle grinder works well too with the right cutting wheel....or a torch....or a.......
Pic 6 is the vertical and horizontal pieces set on the jig for measuring and marking where your dado cuts will be. The jig isn't hard to make, hopefully the pic will give you a place to start.
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Pic 7 below, cutting the dadoes which are one half the depth of each cross member. Placement of the horizontal piece should be about 7" down from the top of the cross.
Pic 8, cleanng out the dado cuts. Since I took these pics, I now have a dado attachment...two passes and the dado is cut. Wonderful.
Pic 7 below, cutting the dadoes which are one half the depth of each cross member. Placement of the horizontal piece should be about 7" down from the top of the cross.
Pic 8, cleanng out the dado cuts. Since I took these pics, I now have a dado attachment...two passes and the dado is cut. Wonderful.
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Pic 9 below, drilling the "spike" hole. I usually make these about 3 to 4" deep.
Pic 10, fitting both pieces together.
Pic 9 below, drilling the "spike" hole. I usually make these about 3 to 4" deep.
Pic 10, fitting both pieces together.
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Pic 11 below, Screw them together using a couple of dry wall screws, I use 1 5/8" only because I can't seem to find 1 1/2".....not sure why they're not in the store but 1 1/2 would be better. I put the 1 5/8 in on a slant so they don't go all the way through and stick out on the other side.
Pic 12, pound in the spike and paint 'em. I use a good quality exterior paint......Behr ultra white......contains primer and paint so one time over is all it takes.
Pic 11 below, Screw them together using a couple of dry wall screws, I use 1 5/8" only because I can't seem to find 1 1/2".....not sure why they're not in the store but 1 1/2 would be better. I put the 1 5/8 in on a slant so they don't go all the way through and stick out on the other side.
Pic 12, pound in the spike and paint 'em. I use a good quality exterior paint......Behr ultra white......contains primer and paint so one time over is all it takes.
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I guess that's about it folks. Hope I gave you a little food for thought and that you'll catch the vision. Earth time is short, Eternity is long, we've all got friends who have a big choice to make. Maybe these little crosses will make 'em start to ask important questions.
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I'd love to hear from you if you're building a cross or two...or a hundred, even better. If you heard about the White Cross Project on KVIP, our local Christian radio station, please let me know. I will inform KVIP that they have listeners in whatever state you're in.....whether in Oregon, Nevada, California or Arizona. It's always more fun to know others of like mind are working together.
Below are a couple pics of some White Crosses waiting for new owners at the KVIP offices. They're free, you just need to stop by and pick one up. You can listen to KVIP here if you haven't found them yet: http://kvip.org/about-kvip/listen-to-kvip/ A really great station.
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