The Crowd gathers

6:20 - The stadium is beginning to fill with people. Welcome to the 9th annual Orange County Harvest Crusade! It is opening night, and we are excited to see what the Lord will do here tonight!

6:55 - This newly remodeled stadium, now called "Edison International Field," formerly called "Anaheim Stadium," is beautiful with water fountains shooting off in the outfield!!

Sing Praises to the Lord!

7:25 - Tommy Walker and the Harvest Crusade Band are on stage now, singing "No Greater Love." Tommy leads the band and singers in "He's Turned My Mourning into Dancing." The platform guests have joined the band at their places on the stage. The audience is on their feet, clapping along as they join in singing! Tommy now encourages the crowd to sing along to "I'm not Ashamed of the Gospel!" They remain standing and singing as the lyrics are displayed on the Jumbo-Tron screen. Tommy leads the crowd in closing worship song, "Shout to the Lord!"

7:45 - Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa welcomes the crowd to the 1998 Harvest Crusade! He introduces Pastor Chuck Swindoll to give the opening prayer for this event tonight. Pastor Chuck Smith welcomes Dennis Agajanian to share in music. Dennis opens with "One Day at a Time." Dennis finishes with "Truth is Truth."

8:00 - Bob Shank, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Harvest Crusades, prays for the offering tonight. Tommy Walker leads the group in singing "Better is One Day" as the offering is taken.

8:10 - Pastor Chuch Smith introduces Big Tent Revival. They open with "Don't Let Me Down." They follow with their big hit, "What Would Jesus Do?" Steve Wiggins, lead singer of the band, encourages the crowd to stand to their feet and sing along with him! He also encourages the crowd to sing the background part to closing song, "The Best Thing in Life."

8:30 - Crystal Lewis sings, preparing the audience for tonight's message to be given by Pastor Greg Laurie. She closes with "Lord, I Believe in You."

The gospel is preached

8:40 - Pastor Greg approaches the podium to begin tonight's message. The title is "Knocking on Heaven's Door." He shares that tomorrow and Saturday nights, will both be "Harvest Jams." This is the first time ever that we have attempted to do two "Haravest Jams." He shares that tonight our crusade is being translated into Spanish, Korean, Arabic, Japanese and Vietnamese. He also shares that for the first time ever, the crusade is being is being translated for the internest in Spanish and Japanese!

Pastor Greg shares from Genesis 11:1-9. He shares that man is basically a religious creature: He has always sought to reach beyond himself to something higher, something that will soothe his guilt ridden conscience, something that will bring answers, yet allow him to still be "Captain" of his ship, "Master of his destiny." Hence, religion came about. Man wants God, but he wants Him on his own terms. He says that peole imagine themselves as sitting in a fine restaurant and ordering off of the menu of religious beliefs. You might say, "Let's see, oh there are so many choices, I'll a small order of Christianity." It doesn't work that way. God has provided a way to know Him. It's not a "make up the rules as you go" situation.

He shares that whenever God is eliminated, it is only of matter of of time until something or someone takes His place. This is exactly what is happening in our country right now with this moral crisis. Our President has come out and admitted to blatant immorality and has lied about it. Yet poll after poll shows that Americans don't really care as long as the "economy" is good. It is this very attitude that has led to a "Moral meltdoown" that has affected every aspect of our culture. Just as in this Bible story, we keep trying to build are own "Towers of Success."

He says that maybe outwardly all things seem fine, but inwardly you are hurting. Maybe the "bottom has dropped out" in life for you. The "Tower of Babel" is man's attempt to reach God, but the Gospel is the story of God seeking out man. Religion originates on earth. The Gospel originated in Heaven. Religion is man-made. The Gospel is the gift of God. The Bible says "today is the day of salvation." Those of you who want that void inside of you filled, may make that choice tonight.

Pastor Greg prays now for people to make a decision right now for Jesus Christ. Many hundreds of people are coming down to the outfield now, here at Edison International Field in Anaheim, CA. You can also make a decision right where you are to receive Christ's forgiveness at this time. If you have made this decision, please let us know and we would love to send to you the same "New Believer's New Testament" that will be handed out to the new believers here who have come down on the field. Tommy Walker and group sings "He Knows My Name" as people continue to stream onto the field. Pastor Greg address the crowd and asks "What is holding you back?" This applies to you, too. If you have never made a decision to receive Christ, we urge you to do so right now.

As Pastor Greg was making one last appeal, and Tommy and group were still singing, the audio power has gone out here! Everone in sthe stands continues to sing "He Knows My Name!" acapella. The crowd who have come forward have closed in tightly to hear Pastor Greg lead them in prayer. At the close of their prayer, fireworks have gone off here at Edison International Field! What a beautiful sight! If you have made that decision please let us know by pressing the "Feedback" button on your computer. God Bless You and thank you for joining us on the internet! Please come back tomorrow night and join us for the "Harvest Jam!"

The work of the Holy Spirit