Sorry I’ve not blogged for a few days, it’s always difficult in hotels!
Well guys, where to start?
As expected we had a fantastic few days in sunny Stockholm. The conference was brilliant, a real blessing. We went with John and Amanda Stamp our friends from Cliff college days. This was a real sacrifice for them, they completed on the purchase of a hotel and pub (The Bear, Alderwasly, Derbyshire – VISIT IT!) just a few days ago. Both Teresa and I have been blown away by their commitment to us and my healing. This was not a good time for them to be away and yet they came and prayed their socks off for us. We laughed like drains, ate too much and just enjoyed each other’s company. Thanks guys for being such great mates. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends.
I’ll try and tell you as much as I can about our wonderful trip…
We were stopping in the centre of Stockholm in the Nordic Sea Hotel right in the the old town. The conference we were attending was the Scandinavian Leaders Conference for ‘New Wine’. New Wine is a group that runs the Bible weeks in the UK and seeks to promote renewal in the church. There were 350 delegates from Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and us four from the UK. The theme of the three days was healing and the main speaker was Bill Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bill Johnson’s church is getting a real reputation for the amount of miracles it is seeing. The stories of healings, miracles even people raised from the dead are amazing and really lift your faith. They are seeing so many healings they have appointed a church archivist to record them all. Bill’s style is very mellow (no hint of the TV evangelist), very gracious, self effacing and he taught from the Bible really well.
The meetings took place in the most beautiful churches. The main session were held in Klara Kyrka (St Clara’s) church in the downtown area. This is the ‘second’ most important church in Sweden, a bit like St Paul’s Cathedral. It was full and to worship in such an ancient place was awesome. On Friday morning we had a wonderful time of singing in the spirit that lasted for ever, it was beautiful and God’s presence was so tangible and powerful. I took every opportunity for ministry and prayer there was.
In the evening there were big open meetings in Stor Kyran (Stockholm Cathedral). WOW. This is like holding a ministry and worship service in Westminster Abbey – can you imagine that??? Again lovely worship (mostly in English but some in Swedish), and great ministry times. I was prayed for by members of the congregation and people in Bill’s team he brought with him from Bethel and on the last night Bill himself.
The meeting last night was packed. The cathedral was full. The ministry time at the end of the service was very powerful. Now a word about my amazing Florence. At the end of the meeting she made her way to the front of the cathedral stepping over numerous people who were laid out I the aisles, totally ‘out’ in the Holy Spirit. It was a real fight to get to the platform. She went up to Bill Johnson and said ‘we’ve come all the way from England, please pray for my husband’. He told her to ensure she brought me to him at the end of the meeting. This was really brave. What’s wonderful is that Bill goes out of the way to take the focus off him and ‘equip the saints’ for ministry. He could have easily said ‘let the team pray for you’. The problem was that the meeting overran and we had to be out of the cathedral by 10.00. They announced that we were all to move to the central square in Gamlastan where the ministry would continue in the open air! This is a square surrounded by open air restaurants and bars full of people sitting out. At this point John went off to find Bill. As he came into the square John heard him say ‘I’ve got to find the guy with oesophagus cancer’. John said ‘he’s my mate. I’ll take you!’. As the clock struck ten last night Bill prayed for me in the square, Teresa kneeling on the cobbles. Amazing!
I have felt God’s presence very powerfully over the last few days, many tears (especially on Thursday night), I’ve had the shakes, felt God’s power flow through me. How can anyone say ‘there is no God?’ Are they mad?
Now a confession…. After the meeting we went back to our hotel and went into ‘Ice Bar Stockholm’. This is bizarre, a bar but made out of ice, ice walls, windows, seats and bar. They dress you up in a insulated poncho and you drink vodka (medicinal purposes only) out of glasses made of ice. Surreal really, but a real laugh.
This morning we really enjoyed an open top bus tour around the city before leaving for the airport a 2.00 this afternoon. We enjoyed listening to a great Pentecostal choir who were performing in the city centre near where we were quaffing coffee and cakes. They were brill, a great witness.
We got back home at about 7.00 o’clock this evening. Tomorrow is mad, church in the morning and then off to London for Gladiators. We are watching the recording of an episode of the new series – mad eh? Our friends Dave, Suzy, Ben & Katy Goodson are coming with us. I’ll report back tomorrow.
Health wise I’m feeling really well. Swallowing is good, and I’m off the chemo until round #5 on Wednesday. The schedule for my radiotherapy has come through; 32 sessions stating on May 12th . Great fun!
As the cancer has so few symptoms I don’t know if I’ve received a healing or not but I do know that God has really met with us and we had a great time with our friends. A real tonic. Thank you Lord, thank you John & Amanda.
God bless troops, thanks for checking in.
Luv Dave
Well guys, where to start?
As expected we had a fantastic few days in sunny Stockholm. The conference was brilliant, a real blessing. We went with John and Amanda Stamp our friends from Cliff college days. This was a real sacrifice for them, they completed on the purchase of a hotel and pub (The Bear, Alderwasly, Derbyshire – VISIT IT!) just a few days ago. Both Teresa and I have been blown away by their commitment to us and my healing. This was not a good time for them to be away and yet they came and prayed their socks off for us. We laughed like drains, ate too much and just enjoyed each other’s company. Thanks guys for being such great mates. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends.
I’ll try and tell you as much as I can about our wonderful trip…
We were stopping in the centre of Stockholm in the Nordic Sea Hotel right in the the old town. The conference we were attending was the Scandinavian Leaders Conference for ‘New Wine’. New Wine is a group that runs the Bible weeks in the UK and seeks to promote renewal in the church. There were 350 delegates from Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and us four from the UK. The theme of the three days was healing and the main speaker was Bill Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bill Johnson’s church is getting a real reputation for the amount of miracles it is seeing. The stories of healings, miracles even people raised from the dead are amazing and really lift your faith. They are seeing so many healings they have appointed a church archivist to record them all. Bill’s style is very mellow (no hint of the TV evangelist), very gracious, self effacing and he taught from the Bible really well.
The meetings took place in the most beautiful churches. The main session were held in Klara Kyrka (St Clara’s) church in the downtown area. This is the ‘second’ most important church in Sweden, a bit like St Paul’s Cathedral. It was full and to worship in such an ancient place was awesome. On Friday morning we had a wonderful time of singing in the spirit that lasted for ever, it was beautiful and God’s presence was so tangible and powerful. I took every opportunity for ministry and prayer there was.
In the evening there were big open meetings in Stor Kyran (Stockholm Cathedral). WOW. This is like holding a ministry and worship service in Westminster Abbey – can you imagine that??? Again lovely worship (mostly in English but some in Swedish), and great ministry times. I was prayed for by members of the congregation and people in Bill’s team he brought with him from Bethel and on the last night Bill himself.
The meeting last night was packed. The cathedral was full. The ministry time at the end of the service was very powerful. Now a word about my amazing Florence. At the end of the meeting she made her way to the front of the cathedral stepping over numerous people who were laid out I the aisles, totally ‘out’ in the Holy Spirit. It was a real fight to get to the platform. She went up to Bill Johnson and said ‘we’ve come all the way from England, please pray for my husband’. He told her to ensure she brought me to him at the end of the meeting. This was really brave. What’s wonderful is that Bill goes out of the way to take the focus off him and ‘equip the saints’ for ministry. He could have easily said ‘let the team pray for you’. The problem was that the meeting overran and we had to be out of the cathedral by 10.00. They announced that we were all to move to the central square in Gamlastan where the ministry would continue in the open air! This is a square surrounded by open air restaurants and bars full of people sitting out. At this point John went off to find Bill. As he came into the square John heard him say ‘I’ve got to find the guy with oesophagus cancer’. John said ‘he’s my mate. I’ll take you!’. As the clock struck ten last night Bill prayed for me in the square, Teresa kneeling on the cobbles. Amazing!
I have felt God’s presence very powerfully over the last few days, many tears (especially on Thursday night), I’ve had the shakes, felt God’s power flow through me. How can anyone say ‘there is no God?’ Are they mad?
Now a confession…. After the meeting we went back to our hotel and went into ‘Ice Bar Stockholm’. This is bizarre, a bar but made out of ice, ice walls, windows, seats and bar. They dress you up in a insulated poncho and you drink vodka (medicinal purposes only) out of glasses made of ice. Surreal really, but a real laugh.
This morning we really enjoyed an open top bus tour around the city before leaving for the airport a 2.00 this afternoon. We enjoyed listening to a great Pentecostal choir who were performing in the city centre near where we were quaffing coffee and cakes. They were brill, a great witness.
We got back home at about 7.00 o’clock this evening. Tomorrow is mad, church in the morning and then off to London for Gladiators. We are watching the recording of an episode of the new series – mad eh? Our friends Dave, Suzy, Ben & Katy Goodson are coming with us. I’ll report back tomorrow.
Health wise I’m feeling really well. Swallowing is good, and I’m off the chemo until round #5 on Wednesday. The schedule for my radiotherapy has come through; 32 sessions stating on May 12th . Great fun!
As the cancer has so few symptoms I don’t know if I’ve received a healing or not but I do know that God has really met with us and we had a great time with our friends. A real tonic. Thank you Lord, thank you John & Amanda.
God bless troops, thanks for checking in.
Luv Dave
4 comments:
Wow, Dovid, sounds like God really did His stuff.
You know you are loved, you know you are being carried, you know you are held in the hands of The Creator, it doesn't get much better than that.
Prayers here reached a crescendo this weekend, surprised you didn't hear us! Too busy laughing loudly, and slurping vodka!
Hope you enjoy Gladiators, don't forget the lycra, just in case!
I feel the yearning is reaching fever pitch, but also feel that something "awesome" has occurred.
NO TRACE.
Bless Florence and her dedication, I can just imagine her, armed with her Grandmothers hat pin, fighting to get to the front of all those folk.What a gal.
You continue to inspire. Keep smiling, that is my favourite "thought picture" of you.
Every blessing,
Sianaroonie. xxxxxxxxx
Thanks for ringing last night. It was great to hear first hand how the trip had gone, especially since I wasn't there to hear your testimony in church today(Poor poorly Mu) Claim that healing boy. Just 'cos the symptoms haven't changed doesn't mean something amazing hasn't happened. We know God can do it. Hope you all had a great time at Gladiators. See you Tuesday if I'm out of my sick bed. Don't forget to post last weeks preach if you can make the time
Love you all loads Mu & Ken
Hi Dad,so glad that all went well in sweden and you guys had a great time. Wow Go is so amazing when you can feel so tangibly in that way, you're right it makes me wonder hpw poeple can say that there is no God! We've had a few moments like that over here at college over the last few weeks. Phil and Jen (dad and step mum in law to be)went home today, they were here for Anzac day weekend and we did some great chatting about things etc, Jams and I have sonme serious decision making to do but all will work out. Give us a call when you're free this week, sorry its been a bit like i always have to leave when you call! Love you so so so much pops, missing you loads, went into a british sweetie shop in the city on staurdayand made me miss home even more! Well enjoy Gladiators. :) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi David, so glad you enjoyed sweden, i have been myself and really loved it. I am one of those people who doesnt follow a religion and has never really believed in God, but i am really starting ti change my mind... I am even thinking of visiting a chuch with my beautiful children and taking it from there. I have seen what God has done for you and T in these difficult times and i am overwhelmed. Im sure i'll see you soon boss, Hannah x
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