REDDING REVELATIONS

snow!!

2008-12-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

It is snowing a bit today! Gotta love it! Our home is in the foothills below mount Shasta so we get more snow than Redding. Enjoy!!

Snippets from Sermons

2008-10-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

Worry is a sign you don't know who your Dad is.

You don't typically see the world the way it is, you see it the way you are.

Anytime someone loves you more than you love yourself, you will sabotage the relationship.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking about yourself less.

You are God's most impressive creation. You were born to be amazing!

We are not sinners saved by grace. We are saints because we were saved by grace.

A lot of people are one courageous act away from a miracle.

If you want to kill giants, follow a giant killer.

If you don't live by the applause of men, you won't die by the criticism of man.

We were born to torment the devil! He gets to watch while we tear down his fortresses.

If you don't come up at the end with joy, you forgot to put Christ into the equation.

California Coas

2008-09-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

Patrick's Point State Park
Fern Canyon

Wow! We went to the California coast this weekend and it was beautiful. We saw elk, redwoods, the ocean and a beautiful place called Fern Canyon located just north of Orick, California.

Steve started school this week and is enjoying seeing friends from last year and getting great teachings from Kris Vallotton and Eric Johnson. For Patty it's pretty quiet. 1st year students start class on Sept. 16.

Summer in the Tri-Cities is Almost Over

2008-09-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

Summer has come and gone rather quickly. It seems that we just arrived and now it is time to return to Redding. Both of us will be attending school this fall. Steve will be a second year student and will be leading a small group of 7 and working in the Healing Rooms. Patty will be a first year student and will be involved in the inner healing ministries Trees of Life and SOZO.

It has been quite a year of change. Jason and Danielle and their four children have moved to South Carolina. What an adjustment! It is a great opportunity for Jason job-wise and we all believe that God has great plans for them in their sphere of influence.

Jenni has moved to Canoga Park, CA and missed experiencing the last earthquake there as she had been in the Tri-Cities visiting and was on her way home that day.

Stephanie will be holding down the home front and will have two friends living in the home with here.

We have had a great summer of visiting friends. Several people have had their knees healed during times of prayer. Praise the Lord! God is so good and he loves to lavish His love upon us.

We've heard several of you complain that we didn't update our blog all summer and will try very hard to update more frequently this school year.

Testimony Time

2008-04-06T21:38:00.001-07:00

I have two excellent testimonies for you...

1. This is "Missions Week" at school and the 700 of us are scattering to 22 different places. One team headed for Mexico came upon a car wreck. It seems a car had blown a tire and went out of control. A baby was ejected in the mess. A nurse had come upon the scene too and had stopped to render aid. Our team asked if they could pray for the injured and the nurse pointed to a very distraught mother and a lifeless baby. The baby had just died about 5 or 10 minutes before our guys got there. They went and prayed over the baby and the baby came back to life. Then they checked the baby out as well as they could and all they could find was a small scratch on its back. Very cool! The mom gave her heart to Jesus as a result. Good start to a missions trip!! Praise Him!!

2. This is from Australia where Pastor Bill is. Seems a lady came into service very upset and when prayer time came she went up for prayer. She said that she had had an abortion two weeks earlier and was feeling so guilty and so bad for what she had done. They prayed for her and then she left. The next day she started feeling sick and went to a hospital for treatment. The Doc examined her and ran some tests. He came in with his findings and reported to her that the reason she was feeling bad was because she is 4 months pregnant!!! God had restored her baby to her!! Is that extreme cool ??? Yes, God!!

3. Just for fun I recommend that you listen to Bill's Easter Sunday message. It is on ibethel.org ...Then you will understand the phrase, "I want my knife back."

I leave for my trip on April 8. We will return April 15. Wonder what wonderful things God has for us? I wonder what God has for the CFC interns??? Be expecting guys!!

Spring!! Tree in full Bloom

2008-03-11T22:40:00.000-07:00

God's Economy

2008-03-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

We signed up for new cell phones before beginning school and were supposed to get $160 in rebate money. Patty checked on-line to see the status of the rebate about 3 weeks later and it said there was no record for rebate information for our phone number. At church there is an Offering of Thanks that we read asking for God’s provision for us to be a blessing to Him and bring God’s kingdom to earth. Because of the Offering of Thanks (rebates and checks in the mail) (asking for favorable settlements) she began claiming that the rebate would happen. Two weeks later, the check came in the mail.

In mid-January a friend (fellow student) had her car break down. She called and asked us for a ride to church and we told her she could borrow a car until she got hers fixed. Her car was beyond repair and we said it was fine to keep our car until she could make arrangements to get one. We felt early on that maybe we should give her the car, but wanted to make sure that was what God wanted to have us do. Arrangements for her to get another car were not looking good (unknown to us). We decided to go ahead and give her the car. When we called she was sure we were calling to ask for the car back. Much to her shock, we told her the car was now hers.

Meanwhile, Patty has been praying about money to finish school. Her focus was on an old claim that we had filed regarding Steve’s dad, with the government back in 2000 for money that was available to children of employees who died as a result of cancer while working at the Hanford Atomic Works back in the 40's. My claim was denied about 1 ½ years ago and I had forgotten about it.

Patty said that she felt we were due the money and started praying that God would somehow get them to reopen the case. WELL, they did! Out of no-where we get a letter stating that we have been granted a special case and that they were going to send us money! This last Saturday I got a call from the case worker in the Department of Labor saying that all was in order and we would be getting a letter. I got the letter yesterday asking if I wanted a electronic transfer or a check. I asked for a transfer and mailed it off today. They said that I will get money within two weeks!! God is good!! It was enough money to get me through school for another year. We are talking TAX FREE - not bad!

Prior to receiving this money, Patty had to work through a few details about God’s economy. Pastor Kris frequently asks the congregation if anyone needs money, and she always said she didn’t because we have everything we need. Well she began to realize that we can always use money for God’s purposes and began to believing that she did NEED money after all.

My Spot on the Highway of Life

2008-02-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Road of Life!
When you are young the road spreads out before you. After schooling and college the road narrows from many choices to just a few: what job, what town, wife, kid(s)? And slowly you choose or let life just carry you along and let circumstances and “what-ever” guide you. That was how the road of life looked to me. I was just plodding along my way, It seemed very familiar and well-marked. Then The Lord asked me to attend this crazy school in California...

This school is different. Instead of narrowing your choices they have stretched and widened my horizon until I can see a vast number of roads, some well traveled, some not, and they call out to me!! Which way should I go? Skills are nice but not required in the Kingdom. Knowledge is good, wisdom better but my relationship with the Father is Key! Physical strength doesn’t mean much compared to a mustard seed. Tools and gifts are free for the blessing of others. The Lord is even giving students: gold, jewels and greenbacks for the work of the gospel. So what’s left?? What’s your will Lord?? I instantly hear back, ”What would you like to do?” I feel His love and care for me and my family. What wouldn’t I do for my Lord and friend?
I do have dreams and I know that He is the dream-giver! Let’s keep our options open and see what all is out there for Patty and I to do!!

Celebrate the Birth of Christ

2007-12-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

Christmas, a time to celebrate the birth of Christ and all that we receive because of He came.

Because Jesus came as a babe and lived as a human and died for us we do not have to struggle with our "old man".

Our struggle is not with our old man. It died when you accepted Jesus. God didn't "fix us", He killed us. The enemy wants to convince us the problem is us. But we wrestle against spirits, not flesh and blood.

"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Eph. 6:10-12 (NLT)

Evil spirits have NO power over us. Satan tries to convince us that we are the problem. He wants to dis-empower us keeping us from knowing our identity (in Christ).

In Nehemiah Chapters 2-6 Saballat attacked their

Person hood....."What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves?
Motives....."What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the King?"
Relationship with God.....Tried to make him sin and then intimidate and discredit him.
Ability to accomplish their mission....."Do they think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap - and charred ones at that?"
Quality of their ability....."That stone wall would collapse even if a fox walked along the top of it!

Don't let Satan rob you of your person hood, motives, relationship with God or the quality of your ability to accomplish what God has planned for you.

Galatians 4:4 -"When the right time came, God sent His son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir."

WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD!! Being a child of God means we don't have to doubt our person hood. We don't need to accept the lies Satan gives us, trying to rob us and steal our joy, peace and righteousness that was bought for us! Give thanks to God that He gave us His identity through Jesus' sacrifice!

Christmas (cow) Party

2007-12-03T22:07:00.001-08:00

Everyone has their own holiday traditions. Ours is getting together with friends and exchanging inexpensive gifts in a random fashion commonly called a "White Elephant" gift exchange. We draw numbers to see who goes first, second etc. and then the person choosing can open a wrapped gift or take one that is already opened from a previous player. If your gift has been taken you can unwrap another gift or steal another and on it goes until the last gift is opened. Gifts can be funny or serious.A few years ago someone brought a small cow pin and everyone thought it was the funnest gift ever. Now every year we try to add more "cow themed" gifts to the mix until our party has become known as a "Christmas party with a cow gift exchange." It is a lot of fun and we look forward to it every year. Here are a couple of pictures showing how some of the cow theme was played out this year!

Patty and I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. Along with the fun lets take time to remember the reason for the season! Our Lord and Savior Jesus was born this day to save us all! That is great news! Spread it around!!

It's Not What You Know, But Who You Know

2007-11-09T10:26:00.001-08:00

I've always thought that who you know was more important that what you know when you are looking for a job. I did not realize that the way I have been living my life as a Christian has been with this same attitude.

I approached Bible reading with the thought that if I learned enough, I would become closer to God. I felt that if I spent enough time in prayer and quiet time with the Lord that I would know Him better. Certainly these things are true. If we read the Word and spend time with God in prayer and quiet times, we will become closer to Him. But, I have been missing the whole point of having a relationship with Him. I was trying to 'know' God by doing.

Relationship: A state of connectedness between people (especially an emotional connection) . Spending time with someone is essential to establish a relationship. However connecting on an emotional level is a MUST.

My father always said that our church was an "emotional" church and I agreed with that. I 'knew' in my head that an emotional connection was essential in my relationship with the Lord, but it had not clicked in my heart. I thought that if I 'did' enough that emotions would follow.

In truth, spending time on an emotional level first increases my knowledge of who HE is. Not doing anything except desiring to know him first and foremost.

In an earlier blog on Romance, I put the definition: an intense emotional attachment or involvement between people; love. God desires a romantic relationship. Intense and emotional connection. He is a jealous God wanting ALL of our affection.

God has provided everything we need to become emotionally connected. After His ascension into heaven he sent the Holy Spirit. I am coming to learn more of the person hood of the Spirit. I have relegated Him to a lesser position than Jesus or God the Father, when He is an equal. He also wants to commune with us on the emotional and personal level to enable us to connect to the Father. In Galatians 4:6 it says that we are sons of God and He has given us the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying "Abba! Father!".

Who do we know? The Most High, Holy God. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I give praise to God for His gift of Jesus Christ to cover our sins and the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us here on earth, so that we may be partakers of bringing heaven to earth. It's all because of Who we know.

Passionate Worship

2007-10-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

Last Friday evening there was a special speaker/worship leader, Georgian Banov. He led an intense time of worship and praise. Here is a short video clip. If it seems to have trouble playing (you probably have a slow internet connection) just pause it and wait a few minutes for it to load.

Steve says that this is what worship time is like at the school!

God's Healing Touch

2007-09-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

During worship at Steve's class today the Holy Spirit came and touched one of the students with physical healing. His name is Benny. He had a back injury that required him to wear a back brace. He felt that the Lord told him to take it off and that he did not need it any more. He felt fine after taking it off! Give praise to the Lord.

Another testimony was from a student that had been in a car accident and broke his neck, jaw and three ribs. He had been in a halo for four months. He decided to come to the school at the last minute and was accepted. He was praying with his friends and he felt his neck pop. At first he was worried because in the past that was not good. This time he had no pain in his neck!

The King of Romance

2007-09-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Romance: an intense emotional attachment or involvement between people; love.

This is God's love for us. He is intensely and emotionally involved with us. The King of the Universe, the maker of all things. What an amazing thing, God's love for us.

During a speaker's testimony at church, he shared how the Lord came to him in a vision and whispered in his ear, "Tell me something romantic."

At first I really struggled with this. In today's society romance is so frequently tied to sexual thoughts. I'm having to take some time to consider, what do I say to the King of Romance. He is waiting and desiring to hear from us.

How can we reciprocate the intense love He has for us? What would you say to the King of Romance? Something to consider.....

Sacrifice?

2007-09-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

We are staying with Jeremy and Amy, a wonderful couple living near Shasta Dam. We are still finding spaces and places for all of our stuff. It is not easy to downsize from a 4 bedroom house that we have lived in for 20+ years to a 10 x 11 room, but we are determined and our host family has been very helpful.
Patty and I have been able to take in some of the local sites. The Sundial bridge is quite an amazing piece of art+engineering. We recommend it. Today we went to Burney Falls. The falls are up in the mountains. Lots of trees! Very pretty! We took the trail down to the base of the falls and enjoyed the cool air that the falls provide.

Here is a picture of local wild life. We found this guy sunning himself so we made it a photo-op! Unfortunately another
hiker came along and startled him...poof! Snake gone! Patty and I were wondering if we did the same thing to our financial future...POOF! GONE! Two middle aged people quiting our jobs and moving a few hundred miles away to attend a school which is run by a church that is non-accredited, does not use professional teachers and has a constantly shifting curriculum!! Na, it's all good! We haven't given up very much at all! Missionaries in the old days would sell everything and use their last bit of money to ship themselves overseas with no way back! Now that is commitment! In many parts of the world, just converting to Christianity would mean you were disowned by your family and in danger of losing your life! Think about Jesus. He gave everything up He had in heaven to come down to earth! He put on human skin, humbled Himself to the point of limiting Himself to what a mortal man could do! Then He suffered unspeakable pain and shame to save the very people who turned against Him! Now THAT is sacrifice! That is selling it all for the cause! This small inconvenience we are going through is not very big or noble compared with what Jesus did for us!!

And We Are Off

2007-09-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

We are leaving Monday morning, Sept. 10 and driving to Redding. There is much anticipation as we will get to meet our host family: Amy, Jeremy and their two children.

I, Patty, will continue to work for Hallmark and begin at 7 am on Tuesday. The Hallmark job has been such a blessing for me and my desire is to personally lead at least one person to the Lord through this job.

I, Steve, and really looking forward to school and what the Lord is going to to through me, and to me.

Continued thanks to all who have blessed us in so many ways as we have prepared to embark upon this journey that we have felt called to do.

A New Beginning

2007-08-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

I am about to embark on a new beginning. Steve and I are leaving for Redding on September 10 where Steve is going to attend Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. I am going to immerse myself in Bethel church. More to come.....I'm in the learning process of blogging.......