Christmas Time

Well, it is Christmastime in the City. As we celebrate with family and friends this week, may remember how precious the gift of the Incarnate One and his call to influence others for His glory and fame. May the celebration of His birth usher in new life in the lives of many. God bless this Christmas time.

Final Day in London

What an incredible week. I am blessed to have been apart of it. I have traced steps I have always heard and read about, and relived history by visiting the places it happened.

So what does this mean regarding leadership (the purpose of my PhD)? First, it reminds me that leadership is not a new concept and seeking leadership lessons from the past is critical for leading in the future. Second, leadership is costly as decisions made may affect generations to come. Third, leadership does not exist in a vacuum, but is a living breathing discipline requiring wisdom, flexibility, and faith.

I have enjoyed my time in the UK, but on this Independence Day am reminded of the blessing it is to live in America. I am looking forward to getting home (albeit a short respite before Brazil) and sleep in my own bed, talk to my family for under .99 per minute, and eat something that is fried. God bless the USA! Cherri-o.

P.S.- Posted are some pictures from John Wesley's Chapel, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the British Museum. Stay tuned for the Brazil '09 blog starting on July 9th. Thanks for following me this week.

The Queen is Home!

Windsor Castle. What a sight. All English and British monarchs have lived in this castle since William the Conquerer. And today one was on sight. The Queen was in residence today at Windsor. We, of course, did not see her, and was not invited up for tea, but her standard flew above the castle indicating her presence. What a grand idea. Royalty dwelling close! (see Philippians 2).

We were able to experience the changing of the guard. What a wonderful experience. The guard band actually played several traditional pieces along with the theme to "Austin Powers". Everybody enjoyed!

Went to the Trout Inn for dinner, a local haunt for C.S. Lewis when he was at Oxford. Wonderful meal celebrating my friend Mark's 30th Birthday. I actually had a pint (of lemonade that is!). Beautiful day, wonderful friends, and a gracious God. What more could you ask for?

Back to London tomorrow. Then home on Sunday.

Cambridge

Journeyed to Cambridge today to see the University of Cambridge. Seems silly that we think we are an old country when this "upstart" university is celebrating their 800 year anniversary this year. Makes 250 years seem like nothing.

On our way we stopped by the American Cemetery at Cambridge. Almost 4,000 American sailors and airmen are buried here. They primarily served in the North Atlantic Theatre during World War II, though some from the African Theatre are here also. The University of Cambridge donated the land for the cemetery in 1944. Being the my uncle, though I obviously never knew him, was killed in the European Theater (The Battle of the Bulge), this visit had a special meaning to me. It again highlighted the significant price many paid and still pay for our freedom.

Had a fine time in Cambridge. Saw the chapel at King's College. Very impressive.

I am having US withdrawls. Went to get a strawberry shake at Burger King tonight.

On to Windsor Castle tomorrow.

Here's what I learned in "Crazy Love" today. "God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through." Isaiah 58:2-14. Blessings!

A Wicked Adventure

Yesterday was an adventure to remember. After a morning of seminar, we took a tour surrounding the lives of the "Inklings", the literary group comprised of C.S. Lews, J.R.R. Tolkien, Warnie Lewis, and others. We traced their steps from pubs to colleges and saw where The Hobbit was written.

That evening four of us ventured from the safe confines of Oxford into the London nightlife to attend the theatre to see the production of "Wicked". As the Brits say, "Brilliant!". We started the adventure by getting on the wrong train (we got on the slow one and not the express), and then took a harrowing cab ride through the streets of London.

Needless to say, it was all worth it as the performance was the best I have seen. Well, off to Cambridge today. Cherri-0.

A Birthday in London

Well, it only took me 40 years, but I made it to London. What a wonderful day (sans the traffic). I had a blast celebrating my birthday with good friends in a city I have always wanted to visit. Word of the celebration of my birth must have spread, because they had bands playing at Buckingham Palace. The Queen herself was in town, and today, history was made as a military unity just returned from Afghanistan was allowed into Parliament (no, really, this is the first time in British history that such an event has occurred, and British history is considerably longer than ours).

All kidding aside, I am humbled and grateful for so many family and friends who have sent well wishes today. I love you very much.

May God be more glorified in my life in the days to come.

P.S.- The shot of Big Ben is for my girls and the nondescript building at the top is for all Bond fans (Hint: It's MI-6).

Life at Oxford

Today we were in seminar and presented teaching modules on leadership. I presented on training leaders toward missional evangelism through the implementation of Matthew Parties. Bill Hybels highlights the idea of Matthew Parties in chapter 10 of his book "Just Walk Across the Room". This assignment was theory meets practice in applying teaching theory to practical ministry. Everyone did a wonderfully creative presentation.

The rest of the day was spent experiencing the Oxford community. I went shopping and got the girls some surprises and then went with some friends to walk the 150 acres of the grounds of Christ Church College. We found ourselves immersed in Britain as we strolled along the Thames, watched some rowing (crew), and watched a cricket match.

Thinking that we were strolling the lane that so many notables had in the past was incredible.

Tomorrow we are off to to London and Westminster and the Churchill museum.

Thought after reading Crazy Love today. We are saved by God's grace through faith and not by what we do. It is because of Christ that we are no longer in our former state and are able to do anything for God at all. Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus for giving us new life and calling us to be more like Him.

Baptist History Day

Today was our Baptist History Emphasis, seeing that we are affiliated with a Baptist University, and that Britain is steeped in Baptist History.

We worshipped this Morning at the Bunyan Meeting Church in Bedford where John Bunyan pastored. Bunyan is most well know for his classic work The Pilgrim's Progress published in 1678. He was a well know dissenter to the Church of England and wrote this classic work while in prison for 12 years. The Pilgrim's Progress is the most published book of all time next to the Bible.

We then journeyed to Olney where John Sutcliff's church (Olney Baptist Church) is located. It is here that William Carey, Father of the Modern Missions Movement and Founder of the Baptist Missionary Society, was ordained.

We then took a side trip from our Baptist Heritage Tour to visit The Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Olney. This is the Anglican Parish where John Newton, composer of the Hymn Amazing Grace, was curate.

Our final stop was in Moulton where Carey Baptist Church is located. This was one of the churches William Carey pastored early in his ministry. His original cobbler shop and cottage are the only surviving buildings from 1785.

What a trip through history. A few thoughts....

What an amazing heritage we have as believers and Baptists. I have often taken my Baptist heritage for granted.

How far we have come from the passion and vision contained in those such as Bunyan and Carey.

I attended one church today that seemed comfortable to be who they were. And in ten to fifteen years, we questioned who they would be based on the age of the congregation and the lack of evangelistic zeal perceived.

We then met a pastor called Ian Field. He shared his passion to reach new generations with the gospel and to see many come to know Christ. My heart was stirred and encouraged by the resemblance I heard in him to those historical figures we are studying.

May we as believers and Baptists (if you are one) reexamine and reclaim the vision and passion to share the gospel with the uttermost parts of the earth.

"Expect great things from God...Attempt great things for God." (William Carey, May 31, 1792)

Pictures from our Walking Tour of Oxford

Oxfordshire

A 9 1/2 hour flight followed by an 1 1/2 drive and we are at Regent's Park College in Oxford. The simple, yet stately surroundings foster an air of learning, culture, and history from centuries past. I sit now in my single room with modest furnishings and reflect, albeit wearily, on the trip so far. We passed the "Eagle and Child Pub" which is a block's walk from Regent's Park. This famous pub was the regular meeting place of The Inklings, whose best known members were C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. We also made a surprise stop at St. Martin Church in Bladon where Winston Churchill and his family are buried. I have included pictures. Just what you would think a small English country parish would look like.

The song "This is Home", the closing song from the movie "Prince Caspian", came to mind as I sensed a feeling of being home today, just as Pastor Sam said I would. Well, off to take a walking tour, dinner, and, hopefully, bed. No AC, by the way, but the temps are in the 60's (and partly cloudy today).

On to England

Today I will be traveling with 16 others to study leadership at Oxford, England. I look forward to the wealth of history and knowledge that will be gained on such a trip. Please pray for safety in travel and a rich, wonderful experience.

The Church

What is the purpose of the Church? I have been taking morning walks over the past week for the purpose of time with God and to try to get back into shape (25 miles this past week). This morning I walked and listened to Francis Chan who is Pastor of CornerStone Church in Simi Valley, California. (BTW, pick up his new book "Crazy Love". It will mess up and bless your life!) He spoke on the purpose of the church. What a wonderful and diverse Body we are apart of as believers. We all have our quirks, failures, history, and desires. We come together under the headship of Christ and strive to accomplish His will as one. Sometimes this is easy, but mostly it is a hard, pruning process. Ultimately, though, the church is not about us! It is about Christ. It is about His history, desires, and plan. It is about us submitting ourselves to His Lordship individually and corporately for the purposes of His plans in our lives individually and corporately. Our response should simply be worship and obedience. This was a great reminder to me this morning as we strive everyday to do what our Pastor always says, "Preach the Word and Love the People".

Father's Day

Father's Day is one of those days God uses in your life to help you evaluate big things such as life, death, family, impact, and future. Yesterday was such a day for me. Thinking through how much I am blessed with such a wonderful wife and beautiful daughters coupled with my 40th birthday a week from tomorrow brings life into greater focus.

My heart leaps when my 10 year old tells me she loves me with all of her love. It soars at the thought that God's love is so much grander.

My prayer is that I will not take the life I have been given for granted but to truly ask God to "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12) "