Update from Bill

Personal Update – April 11, 2009

Thanks for the many who have prayed for me over the last few days. I'm actually doing quite well, although it was a strange week. I went to the doctor to have a hernia repaired earlier this week - an outpatient procedure. He ordered the usual pre-op blood test. It showed I was anemic. Dangerously so. In their numbering system I was at a 7, and a 5 can be fatal. In the previous surgery I had on the hernia about a year and a half ago (which re-opened several months ago) was when I was at the blood level 12, which is considered the low side of normal. If it dropped to a 6 I would be hospitalized for blood transfusions. I noticed a bit of fatigue of late in my daily schedule. What stood out the most was the fact I was close to exhaustion when working out in my exercise program. Now I understand why - I was about 2 quarts low.:-)

The Doctor's first concern was for colon cancer. My colonoscopy (Thursday) showed I was in perfect health from the stomach down. They did the other test of sending a scope down my throat to look for bleeding ulcers. They found one very small ulcer where the esophagus and stomach meet. Not a big concern, and certainly not the cause of the anemia. I had noticed unusual heart burn over the last month or so. So that finding made sense too.

Yesterday I had a CAT scan over my abdominal area. They were looking for tumors or anything that would cause the apparent loss of blood. It turned out perfect. Great health there as well. My blood test yesterday revealed my levels have gone up - Tuesday it was 7, Wednesday it was 8.2, and Friday it was 8.7. So it's improving, going in the right direction.

By the way, this all started with a call from the prophet Bob Jones last week. He was taken into a trance where he saw my life was in danger. He said he was even fearful for me during the trance, which wasn't normal. He came out of it at 4:44, which further spoke to him of the urgency. He said the enemy was trying to take me out. My approach to this kind of stuff is that the enemy always wants to take any of us out - but he can't! But I also knew I better take his warning seriously, as he has been a very trusted friend and gift of God to our church. He was VERY concerned. He felt I needed to pay special attention to natural laws. That is why I went to get the hernia fixed - to honor the word of my friend and prophet. I had put it off for quite some time. Bob also told my team to get people to pray, as the prayers of the church would be crucial in victory. We usually handle things quite privately, within our family, or staff. If it's real serious we'll take it to our church family. But Bob felt it needed to be broadcast. So before I had any say in the matter it was sent all over the world through the internet. I was surprised . . . but truly thankful.

I am living with an unusual awareness of my need to pay attention to "natural laws" and get plenty of rest and stay well hydrated. Those are also the doctor’s conditions for me to travel.

I rested this week, apart from what seems like a zillion tests with many needles . . . and will travel to speak at a conference this next week. It is with a dear friend who is mindful of my need for rest. So it will be good to monitor my strength and see how I do. If I am too fatigued I can slow down or bow out at any time. After this next run of travel is over they'll re-do some blood work and see how I'm doing.

Thanks to the many friends who have given themselves to prayer for me over these last few days. I owe you, and am very thankful.

Much love,

Bill

P.S. A funny and wonderful addition to this story is in response to my son Eric’s dream. (It’s mentioned in Bethel’s first update, also on my blog.) It had to do with Catholic nuns surrounding us in prayer. Someone took the dream to the diocese in San Francisco and showed it to the nuns. In response they dedicated TODAY as a day of prayer for me. Wow!!!