Dear Friends and Saints:

Forty years ago today I was born again. What a day! What a glorious Lord who saves us and sets us free from sin and bondage!

I was suddenly adopted into the wonderful family of God, and had brothers and sisters all around me 24/7 to encourage and instruct me in the ways of the Lord. It was such an amazing time in my life, and I am eternally grateful for His grace and mercy.

My travels back in those days brought me to The Lord's Land in Mendocino, California. It was there that I was wonderfully saved, along with hundreds and thousands of other young people searching for truth. We found truth, but far more than that, we learned that The Truth is a person, Jesus Christ! You can see a beautiful presentation of story of The Lord's Land at this link.

"Lord, what fullness you've brought my way! My wife, my children, my friends and family in You. So many rich experiences, so much love, so much of everything!

"How marvellous are Your works, oh Lord. And how great it is to understand Your ways, to know that as life's end points to sorrow and loss in the world's eyes, in You it brings joy and riches forever! To know that our only real and lasting treasures are friends and loved ones who are found in You brings rest to the soul. What would be loss is gain, what really dies is pain. In You we live and move and have our being. The rest is passing fancy."  (quote taken from a reflection I wrote here.)

So glad to share with you in God's plans,

Dick & Gladys

Dear Friends and Prayers:

Three weeks have slipped away since our last update when these ripening apples in our garden meant fall was almost upon us.  Now the tinge of colors on the trees in the valley is more obvious and the telltale fragrance of autumn is in the air. Tonight we look forward to sharing one of Gladys' wonderful apple pies with our house guests Mike and Penny.

We haven't been out of the local area, but some good things are happening here. Among them was the installation of a new pastor in Mt. Zion Baptist Church in nearby Cardigan, where we visit frequently and have lots of friends. Rob and Andrea Filgate moved here from British Colombia in Canada to accept the position which has been vacant for nearly two years.

Andrea's father came to Wales several years ago with two young men for a revival conference in Scotland who had gotten in touch with us to see if we could host them while they visited a few revival sites here. I arranged for Gareth, Andrea's father, to stay with our friend Steve who was pastor at Mt. Zion at the time, and the rest is history. It is always a joy for us help build connections among God's people - "mending the nets!"

A couple of mornings ago at the chapel the Lord thrilled me with a glorious insight that I trust will encourage and inspire you as well. I was reading through Daniel and in chapter 7:13-14 he tells us, "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."
The Message version translates this as, "...arriving in a whirl of clouds!"

The Lord showed me what took place barely seconds before this event, which Daniel witnessed in heaven in his "night vision":
"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up - behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11

How's that for glorious? As the disciples watched Jesus disappear into the clouds, Daniel watched Him appear before the Father in heaven and receive the fruit of His supreme sacrifice! WOW! WOW!

When Jesus returns physically it will be totally amazing, and that is one of the greatest understatements on earth! But meanwhile, throughout history, He has shown glimpses of His glory to thousands upon millions of people. In times of revival, I believe it is these manifestations of His glory and presence that lead to conviction, repentance and salvation.

So as we pray, let's remember this all-important element of seeing the glory and majesty of The Lord Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords. In the same way Moses asked God in Exodus 33:18, "Please, show me Your glory," let us be bold to ask the Lord to reveal His glory to ourselves, our churches and the people of our nations. This world desperately needs the supernatural intervention of our awesome and loving God.

Lord, make us gateways of Your presence into this world of ours!

Together with you in joyful service to the King of Glory,

Dick & Gladys