Debbie and I have wrapped up an amazing five weeks in Redding, CA where we spent lots of time reading, reflecting, praying, resting and immersing ourselves in the life of Bethel Church.

First of all, I hope by the time you read this everyone has their power restored! What an amazing season in Connecticut to have half the state shut down twice in the span of a couple months. We have tried to monitor progress from across the country and have been amazed by the the devastation caused by that freakish storm. I can't say I am sorry we missed it all. In fact, it was amazing to experience four full uninterrupted weeks of sunshine.

By way of tallying up how I have invested my time while away: I have read several books and scholarly articles on a theme I felt the Lord has given me to explore in the next coming season. This theme has to do with how a righteous God administers justice and governs a world filled with nations, societies and individuals who are in rebellion against his goodness and his ways. This is a theme that has been growing in its importance to me over the past several years and increasingly so as we see global stresses and tensions increase.

Debbie and I also had the privilege of attending two amazing conferences while at Bethel. At both of these events and the many other services we attended at the church made major deposits in our minds, hearts and spirits. Mostly we have been stretched--big time--at all the Lord is doing in and through his people during these amazing days. The testimonies we have heard from leaders and ministers from across the globe are very encouraging to say the least. I look forward to sharing some of these with you when we return. More importantly, I hope to increase the body of testimony that is building from our Wellspring family of how the Lord is changing and shaping lives through us.

However, I cannot give the above tease without sharing one amazing testimony we heard our final night at Bethel Church. This was a "regular" Sunday night revival service, with the addition of having several folks baptized. One of those being baptized was an African-American single mom who had recently come back to the Lord and was making her way into the life of the fellowship. She lives in an apartment complex and had been consistently harassed by one bitter woman who was making life miserable for her. The neighbor had called her names and called the authorities on her several times. Not pleasant.

But "Linda," the renewed believer, had been taking training classes at Bethel in how to walk in the power and love of revival. One night the Lord spoke to her in a dream, "lupus, 34." Apartment 34 is where her unkind neighbor lived. Linda sensed the Lord calling her to minister to her neighbor. "No way, Lord. I'm not talking to that racist woman!" The next night the same message from God came again. Then a third night in a row. Linda yielded to the Lords's prompting and wnet to knock on the door of apartment #34 the next day. "What do you want?" came the 'greeting.' "Does 'lupus' mean anything to you?" Linda asked.

At this point the angry countenance behind the door melted and the woman began to sob. "I have just been diagnosed with lupus!" Now Linda knew the Lord had indeed been speaking to her. "May I pray for you?" she asked. The next day Linda got a call from Melissa at the doctor's office. "The doctor said he must have been mistaken--there is no lupus in my body!" But these tow new friends knew what was up! God had healed a body and built a bridge that transcended fear, hate and division.

Now Linda leads Bible studies in Melissa's apartment. She leads outreaches to the teen-age girls in the complex. She was asked one day by "Drunk Harry"--"Are you the woman who prays for people?" "I guess so," replied Linda. "Well, would you pray for me?" he asked. "What do you want prayer for?" Harry looked incredulous, "Can't you tell--I'm drunk all the time." Linda prayed for Harry and he received a powerful touch from God. He has not had a drink for the last month.

Revival has begun in the apartment complex!

So, with these stories and more. With lots of rest and refreshment. With loads of encouragement poured into our hearts we are on our return trip to Connecticut. We are with our daughter Kate in San Luis Obispo for a few days. Then we head east, stopping to see the Nortons in Nashville and our parents in southern Ohio. We plan to be home for Thanksgiving and look forward to seeing all of you that weekend.

Thanks again for the privilege to invest this time in renewal and for all of your prayers and support.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick