What Bethel is Like

I've been in Redding, California for 25 days and in BSSM (Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry) for about 11 days. It's about time I share my experiences. Put on yo seatbelts, homies! It's about to GET REAL.

I'll start out by saying that the atmosphere here in Bethel is charged with evangelism, healing and manifestations of God. I can't even begin to describe how real it is here. It's not at all something that's to strive for. This community knows God's love for them--and because they understand that they're loved, it is so easy for them to love others. Genuinely. Unashamedly. With great risk. Let me share an example, shall I?

I went to Starbucks the other day with my roommate and cousin Jessica (this is her 2nd year of BSSM so she knows what's up!), and we planned on chilling with coffee and books like normal hipsters would do, right?

But then a homeless woman walks into the store (something I'm not used to at all!), and she asks me for some quarters to buy coffee. I wasn't carrying cash with me, but once Jessica realized what was happening (she was inside her book), she didn't hesitate--not even a second--to show this woman that she was loved. I mean, genuinely loved. Jessica had her sit with us for about two hours, holding her hand and asking for her story and listening intently. Even though this woman refused to give us her name, Jessica continued to love on her anyway. Later she told me, "I didn't know her name but God did--and He was calling her by that name." ...Que heart explosions.

I almost started crying, watching her! Because this unfolded before me like it was ordinary to reach out to the homeless and to not be scared of rejection or what other people in the store thought. It was overwhelming.

Now getting back to BSSM! We have about 1,250 students in our class and the teachers have let us know that we are a class hungry for God. So it should be no surprise when the Holy Spirit starts moving all the time, right? Nope. I'm surprised all the time. I've grown up in a Holy Spirit church but I've never seen anything like this before. Time for another example!

Last Thursday we were allowed 15 minutes of a break session to catch some air, get coffee, go to the bathroom...So I went about and caught my break. When I came back into the building (which is huge, by the way, and always packed to the brim), there were people laughing together literally in a heaping pile in the lobby. Oh...I see, Jesus. They're laughing because of you! That's something I would see at my home church. Totally. But when I walked through the doors that lead to the main sanctuary (more like a giant auditorium), I immediately felt God heavily resting on the place and people were laughing, crying, shaking, falling over everywhere. All 1,250 students experiencing the presence of God--so much so that the last two hours of sessions were cancelled just so we could let the Holy Spirit move. I know that some people have lots of thoughts about the manifestations of God and whether people are being legit--but it's not about other people. It's about God. It's all about God, guys. And when you get to a point in your spiritual walk with Him that you are glad for those that are manifesting even when you're not--then you've done it right.

I have come to the point, after some struggle of comparison the first two weeks here, that I am okay with not manifesting like so many other people--because there's nothing wrong with me or my heart towards God and there's nothing wrong with anybody else. It's simply my season to watch and to listen to God--Whom, by the way, speaks clearer when I'm not laughing or crying or rolling around the floor like a roly poly!

Another thing that's radically changed in my spiritual walk is that God is so very real, and he's become so present to me. I know when he's sitting with me in the livingroom, or what he's doing with me during times of worship. He's so there, and it doesn't take rocket science and 8 hours of prayer every day to see that. It's so easy to talk to him--seriously! No matter how long it's been since you've pursued him, he's still there with you, eagerly waiting to speak with you. He's not crying in a corner, upset at not hearing from you. He's waiting eagerly for you.

One more example of this--being so newly aware of his presence--is the other night when I watched Narnia for about the 5th or 6th time. I'm not a fan of watching movies on my own, so I asked Jesus to come and watch it with me. I had so many heart-throbbing revelations of God's love for me and His people while I watched this movie that I cried almost through the entire thing. So weird. I would have never done that if I hadn't been so acutely aware of God's presence.

So, this is what's been happening at BSSM (even though I've only been here for less than a month!), and what I've been experiencing. You can ask me anything about this place and what I've been experiencing, and I will gladly share it with you!

Oh, Jesus. You're the bestest-erest friend EVER. You make for a fine life!

Cliff Jumping for Noobies

I was well aware that one of the things I'd experience in Redding, California was cliff jumping. You know, finding some obscure location and jumping off three stories of slimy rock wall into the abyss of a raging waterfall and it's tundra-tempered waters. Of course.

I don't know why this is a thing for Californians (or in any place with waterfalls for that matter). It's as if cliff jumping is a sport: How many dangerous shapes can you make with your body before impact? That's what that is. Crazy people.

But for some reason, my brother and I decided to throw caution to the wind and do it. The water was a crisp -578'F (just kidding. Maybe 60'F.) and we were aching for adventure. I guess. So, let me start from the beginning.

This was our second day in Redding, CA--freshly moved from West Texas (where waterfalls don't exist). Taran and I were invited to this grand quest by our cousin, and we knew we'd be going with several "experienced" people we didn't even know, But they were from Bethel, so what's the harm, right? Haha...ha.

We traveled east into the mountains for about half an hour until we came to this really obscure lot by the highway. Following our trusted group of Christian strangers, we delved into a tunnel of trees and spiked vines and mud below our feet. We hurled over rocks and balanced over the fallen beams of trees across the creak. Where were we possibly going? I had no idea.

Until the waterfall came into sight. A beautiful, magnificent, raging water monster waiting to ensnare our company in it's frost-bitten fangs of DOOM.

Of course the manliest men went up first to show off their mad experience and anti-gravitational skills. My brother Taran followed thereafter, and upon seeing him climb the most impossible-looking cliff I've ever seen, I found my own courage.

"I SHALL GO," I exclaimed, having already adjusted my now-blue toes in the waters. "If you come with me," I quickly added, for my brother was my only source of courage left.

And so it was that I followed Taran up two logs stuck between the cliff in a perfect ladder-like position, and began my ascent on the cliff face. Now I'm being perfectly honest here: the cliff was slimy because water constantly flowed down it--and it was jagged like the face of death. It was not in the least bit pleasant. Taran had to pull me up to the top with his sheer strength because I couldn't find holding without plummeting into the arms of Jesus.

But alas! I made it to the top and shuffled my way to the jumping point of the cliff next to the waterfall. Other people watched and affirmed to me how great of a decision it was. I looked down and my knees buckled. I literally hadn't felt that much fear in my entire life, so I turned to the wise Bethel Schoolers and asked, "Does someone know a quick scripture that could encourage me right now?"

"Yeah," said one guy sitting on a rock. "And Jesus wept. Now jump!"

...Bless that boy's soul for his ill-placed comic relief.

I counted to three and jumped with my brother at my side.

My friends, I had never felt such a raw form of gravity before in my life. I mean raw as in--not from turning in a car or tripping on my shoe laces. It was simply from falling 35 feet. I made not a noise. I clenched my nose. My stomach flew into my pounding chest. I crashed into the freezing waters at such an alarming speed that my awkward I-Have-No-Idea-What-I'm-Doing position (which was a horrible position. I suggest asking someone how to jump before you actually...jump) as I fell actually spanked me right on my bum.

I remember seeing the light as the water beneath me slowed my descent, and I swam up vigorously.

When I broke the water and released my breath, the initial shock of having my bum spanked by 3 stories of gravity and 60'F water made me hyperventilate briefly. I think I was crying and laughing at the same time. My poor little bum...

Moral of the story is: Ask how to jump. Not for a scripture.

And Jesus wept? C'mon, guy.

So yeah. The experience is now my initiation into bible school with three huge bruises on my left leg to remind me how funny and horrifying my experience was :D I encourage everyone to get out and do something you've never done before, no matter the risk (except, you know...death), so that you can add those memories to you (because I will never forget this one)!

And that makes for a fine life! And a bruised bum!