After years of legal battles with its future neighbors, America’s latest giant freeway cross has soared heavenward, along I-10 north of Kerrville, Texas.
“The Empty Cross™” differs from previous Christian titans in several respects. It’s the pet project of Kerrville resident Max Greiner Jr., who sees it as the first of many identical crosses that he hopes to erect worldwide. Unlike previous giant crosses, this one is a hollow outline, made of steel, that weighs 70 tons and stands exactly 70 feet 7 inches tall. These numbers are significant to Greiner, who also says that God picked the hilltop location (which he says is halfway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, resembles the Holy Land, and is on the same latitude as Israel).
Residents of a neighboring subdivision were unswayed by these arguments, and fought successfully to have Greiner and his “Coming King Foundation” build a wall between them and the towering tribute.
Greiner plans to surround The Empty Cross™ with a 23-acre cross-shaped garden filled with his Christian sculptures — but first he has must overcome another obstacle. A proposed high voltage transmission tower will reportedly occupy the same hillside and dwarf the cross!
Greiner has vowed to fight it, saying that power lines would block the view. We’d be more concerned about the proximity of high voltage wires to a 70 ton piece of steel — but we’ve learned that builders of giant devotionals sometimes don’t think about calamitous consequences until it’s too late.
I-10 exit 508. Turn north onto Hwy 16/Fredericksburg Rd, then quickly turn left (west) onto Benson Drive. Drive past the car dealership, paralleling the north side of the freeway, then turn right and drive up to the parking area for the cross.
There is more power in the Cross than in power lines, but you have to know how to use both of them. I am a Christian and an electrician. If I had to chose one or the other in my back yard it would be the cross.
do you really think you’re going to “save” or convert someone with your tacky over sized cross? save your money and donate it to charities or third world countries. God doesn’t care about your 70’7″ high cross on the same latitude as Israel. he would want you to help others.
Jacob you have no idea about the power to convert or “save” someone, God works in many ways to call people. Many different “tacky over sized” symbols have been an inspiration to lost and lonely people. I only pray that Jesus will someday direct your life. Mr. Griener, thank you for listening to God’s directions and erecting the cross a symbol of hope to many.
“The Empty Cross™” differs from previous Christian titans in several respects. It’s the pet project of Kerrville resident Max Greiner Jr., who sees it as the first of many identical crosses that he hopes to erect worldwide. Unlike previous giant crosses, this one is a hollow outline, made of steel, that weighs 70 tons and stands exactly 70 feet 7 inches tall. These numbers are significant to Greiner, who also says that God picked the hilltop location (which he says is halfway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, resembles the Holy Land, and is on the same latitude as Israel).
August 17th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
There is more power in the Cross than in power lines, but you have to know how to use both of them. I am a Christian and an electrician. If I had to chose one or the other in my back yard it would be the cross.
October 5th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
do you really think you’re going to “save” or convert someone with your tacky over sized cross? save your money and donate it to charities or third world countries. God doesn’t care about your 70’7″ high cross on the same latitude as Israel. he would want you to help others.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Jacob you have no idea about the power to convert or “save” someone, God works in many ways to call people. Many different “tacky over sized” symbols have been an inspiration to lost and lonely people. I only pray that Jesus will someday direct your life. Mr. Griener, thank you for listening to God’s directions and erecting the cross a symbol of hope to many.
November 13th, 2010 at 2:44 am
Which came first – The Cross, or the power lines? enough said.