Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • My Soul Cries Out in Worship +

    Over the past ten years, Vicki Yohe has written some of the most popular songs sung in churches. This song Read More
  • Worship Matters: A blog by Bob Kauflin +

    Worship Matters is a blog by Bob Kauflin. Good, inspired food for one's soul. http://www.worshipmatters.com/ Read More
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sunsetwater1The introduction to One Holy Fire, Let the Spirit Ignite Your Soul establishes Cruz’s desire to awaken the passion and desire of the Holy Spirit in every believer in the United States, to provide outreach to inner-city kids, and to enable the power of the Holy Spirit to be realized in their lives. Cruz communicates his passion and vision with examples of his fortitude, commitment and decades of experience as an evangelist. He explains that this book was the result of a new vision from the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel, to be part of the fire he quotes from Ezekiel 20:47-48 on the first page of part 1; “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched…Everyone will see that I the LORD have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”

Part one, The Fire, brings Cruz’s Spirit-inspired explication of specific examples from his experience in ministry. The experiences reveal the author to be a blessed mix of boldness, humility, and God-searcher. Importantly, he is dissatisfied with what the world has to offer, from timid churches to a passive acceptance of brokenness that defines us more accurately than any geo-political designation.

Cruz’s words testify to how he sees the broken as individuals loved by God, and how much he longs to bring them into the presence of His love. Descriptions of his encounters with Goths, gangs, and angels from Houston to New York City to Jerez Zacatecas, Mexico, testify to his hunger to share the love of God wherever people hurt. Cruz does not try to weave a picture of the perfect saint. He recounts the many times he failed, choosing to use imperfect human abilities of reason, sight and listening rather than the unflinchingly compassionate abilities of the Holy Spirit. The rest of the story is that always the Spirit was gracious in teaching Cruz the way of love in place of the way of man.

Part two, The Holiness, begins with Leviticus 10:3: “Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.” Central to this section is a pivotal encounter early in his ministry that changed Cruz’s focus from preaching about judgment and condemnation to preaching about God’s love for us.

Part three, The Oneness, beings with Ezekiel 11:19-26: “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” While earlier chapters provide a mixture of testimonies and rationale for his mission, the focus in part three is almost exclusively on the vision, and reads like an unfiltered message from the Father. By the end of Cruz’s book the reader will likely believe they have read the words of a present-day prophet.

Reflections to Consider

  • Warfare Spirituality

    The Trinity function as farmers of our souls, actively caring for God’s creation: an ongoing, radical reclamation of His creation. Read More
  • Corporate Spirituality

    Encouragement, Accountability, and Worship Solitude, community and ministry are three areas requiring balance and integration in the Christian walk. The Read More
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Publications

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Music

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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Praise Adonai by Paul Baloche +

    Who is like Him The Lion and the Lamb Seated on the throne Mountains bow down Every ocean roars To the Lord of hosts  Read More
  • An Interview with Paul Washer by Tim Challies +

    You probably know Paul Washer as the man who preached the infamous "Shocking Youth Message," a sermon that has tallied Read More
  • Glorious by Paul Baloche +

    Look inside the mysterySee the empty crossSee the risen SaviorVictorious and strong Read More
  • Paul's Prayers +

    How do we pray? What should we pray for? Yes, there is the Lord's prayer--Jesus teaching his disciples, and us, Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • Joy Will Find A Way: Bruce Cockburn +

    Bruce Cockburn’s song Joy Will Find A Way describes the way joy from love can transform one’s life. make me Read More
  • Shepherd's Joy by Luther Jackson Middle School Advanced Chorus +

    Read More
  • Joy to the World! by Surfjan Stevens +

    Joy to the World , the Lord is come!Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare Him room,And Heaven and nature Read More
  • The joy of the Lord is my strength by Douglas Miller +

    The joy of the LORD is my strengthThe joy of the LORD is my strengthThe joy of the LORD is Read More
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