From the Austin American-Statesman’s Eileen E. Flynn :
Last year, Austin resident Jim Butt followed what he said was God’s call to spend $100,000 of his savings on a Christian music festival. He also believed that God would bring about 40,000 people to Auditorium Shores to hear praise and worship bands for what would become a Christian South by Southwest.
But the Power of the Cross Festival didn’t draw the numbers Butt had predicted ” he estimated that a few thousand people attended. Nearly broke but driven by faith and a desire to bring divine healing and Christian unity to Austin, Butt is trying again today. And this year, he said, God is moving people throughout Austin and the country to offer money, donations and services to make the second Power of the Cross Festival a success.
“We hope to present a side of true Christianity that most people have never seen before and to reach out to the people that most people don’t reach out to,” Butt said. “Religion blocks the door in many cases to people experiencing what really is the kingdom of heaven on earth and that is Jesus Christ. … The best of Christianity will be on display at this festival, and it’s not going to be about religion.”
The lone sign on the main stage will say “Jesus Loves You.”
Maria Long, a Christian rock musician in Hot Springs, Ark., was surprised when she stumbled upon the festival’s Web site.
“I’ve got tons of friends in Austin who aren’t super close to God,” she said. “I didn’t think there would be a Christian festival in Austin. It seems like a big music scene, but it doesn’t seem like a big Christian music scene at all.”
as of 4:50 local time, it’s raining at Auditorium Shores. Hard.
It is a good thing that it was raining the day of the Cross Festival because it may have prevented people from being led astray by this false prophet, Jim Butt.
The man is a raving lunatic, who has been ostracized by the Austin Christian community for his unconventional views of Christianity.
Butt, by his own admission, is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. However, Butt has replaced one addiction with another, equally destructive addiction.
Butt, you see, is under the delusion that he is the “Apostle of Austin,” a title bestowed upon him by another false prophet “minister” in the area. Butt will tell you that he and others like him are “restoring the true church” and other such garbage. Butt should call himself the “Apostle of Deception” because he is a true deceiver.
The truth is, Butt, and others like him, are leading others down the path of destruction by presenting a false gospel and a false Jesus. Butt is attempting to establish himself as a full time ministry for self glorification and as a business. Fortunately, neither of the Cross Festivals has been a success and it is doubtful after this year’s performance that Butt will be able to attract any artists or helpers for yet another Cross Festival. Let us hope that is the case as there are more than enough deceivers out there.