Firstly, let me say the two items in the title are not connected, or at least not in my mind.

In the last few days I have come to this shocking conclusion....It is not a sin not to enjoy The Shack! As readers of my blog will know I was encouraged by many people to read, what had been for them, a life changing book. I dutifully did and it did nothing for me. This simple statement has produced a level of out rage greater than the shocking revelation that some Christians, myself included, read and enjoyed the Harry Potter books!  I was surprised that as I admitted to the fact the Shack wasn't the best book I had read, friends immediately challenged me "Why not?" So I would say something like

One reader asked for more insight into what had taken place at the recent conference that I attended with Bill Johnson. It is difficult to list is all here. The church perhaps held only 500 people. On the last night there were claims of at least 90 incidents of healing. So there are many testimonies that will be recorded from the three days Bill was in town! I am impressed with his humility and desire to give away what God has taught him. This is in contrast with many on the international circuit so I found his style refreshing. I am expectant that as a result there will be an increased hunger and expectation for the miraculous. 

I finished reading the book by William P Young yesterday. This publishing phenomenon has swept the USA and has now become very popular here. The story is that a little girl is murdered in a shack by a serial killer. Sometime later her father receives a letter from God inviting him to meet the father (papa) son (Jesus) and Holy Ghost (Sarayu) at The Shack. 

It has blessed millions, including my wife Lesley. One of my blog readers said it was the most healing book she had ever read. My verdict? I did not enjoy it at all. The biggest issue was I had no interest in any of the characters. Even once I had accepted the premise of God revealing himself as some Whoopi Goldberg type character, the biggest   issue, I was totally disinterested, which is why it took me so long to finish it!

Most of this week has been spent at a conference at my home church Cardiff City Temple www.citytemple.info , The teaching has been remarkable and the display of actual healing miracles has been astounding. I have loved being in the presence of God, soaking in His Holy Spirit. Bill Johnson has a remarkable gift of making the supernatural, natural. Each day Lesley and I have driven into town with anticipation and expectation. We were not disappointed. Our prayer is the enemy will not be able to rob anything that was imparted this week. 

Today, is a busy one. I start by leading devotions for Care for the Family, the organisation headed up by my friend Rob Parsons. They gather the entire staff  for this twice weekly meeting. I am anxious to ensure that the word I bring is exactly what God wants me to share with them at this point. I then travel into Highfields church for a meeting that is planning the visit of the OM ship Logos Hope to Cardiff Bay in May. Ignite will be providing the youth events. Then I am into another bunch of meetings.

For the next few days, Lesley and I are at a conference with Bill Johnson of Bethel Church, Readding, California. It is as City Temple, Cardiff and I am delighted to say sold out. We heard some pretty good teaching last night and a bunch of people got healed. So we are excited about today ....BUT... looking at the snow outside, we wonder if we will get there!