{"id":13518,"date":"2017-06-21T14:48:34","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T21:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/off-the-beaten-path\/"},"modified":"2017-06-21T14:48:34","modified_gmt":"2017-06-21T21:48:34","slug":"off-the-beaten-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/off-the-beaten-path\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Beaten Path"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u201c2016 London-Oxford Advance\u201d was my first \u201cface-to-face\u201d experience as a new student in the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Global Perspectives program at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Throughout this twelve-day experience, my head was filled with new thoughts and ideas as we were introduced to many great leaders and thinkers.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, beyond the words and the teaching, was the environment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Great Britain has such a rich history in Western civilization and the development of Christianity. <\/span>\u00a0I have found that God often\u00a0teaches me things in between\u00a0<\/strong>the\u00a0items on my schedule. \u00a0<\/span>Here are some photos and thoughts from my wanderings.<\/span><\/p>\n

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TRANSPORTATION.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Paddington Station. September 19, 2017<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As I stepped off my train after an overnight flight from Dallas to Heathrow, I was reminded how much transportation is linked to culture.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In Taiwan, the majority of people ride scooters, and very few adults even know how to drive a car.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In the Philippines, Jeepneys trek through urban concrete jungles and literal jungles while passengers hang all over the vehicle, holding on for dear life.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In Guangzhou, China trains and subways are also the norm, but the people are crammed in so tightly that the experience is totally different than what I found in London.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are all different than my experience in Fort Worth, Texas.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In my city, public transportation is primarily for the under-resourced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In Texas, pickup trucks and SUV\u2019s are dominant.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As I think about this, I reflect on how isolated people in my city are from \u201cstrangers.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In Fort Worth, is it is possible to go about our daily living without having a conversation with someone whom we have never met?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In my world, taking the bus is looked down upon, yet after traveling in London via public transportation, I pause and reflect on the negatives of living our lives traveling in \u201csteel cages\u201d (a derogatory term that motorcyclists use to describe automobiles).<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>HISTORY.<\/span> Kensington Palace. September 20, 2016<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As I was walking in the park near our hotel in London, I stumbled across Kensington Palace.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A royal residence since 1689, many of Britain\u2019s kings and queens have lived here beginning with King William III and Queen Mary II.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As I walked past it, I remembered watching the 2009 film The Young Victoria where the future queen was locked up in this residence as a virtual prisoner.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>At the height of Queen Victoria\u2019s reign, over one-quarter of the world\u2019s population was under her rule.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In my lifetime, it was the home of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her two sons after her divorce.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I walked through this manor, I reflected on the many rulers who walked along the same hallways.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I was struck by the great amount of history that seems to be around every corner of this city.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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PRAYER. <\/span>St. Margaret\u2019s Church, Lothbury. September 23, 2016<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We listened to brilliant men talk about ministry in England at St. Margaret\u2019s church.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I was impressed by their desire to creatively reach out to people in changing times.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Yet, it is this photo that is an indelible memory for me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In the midst of the process of listening, learning, and assimilating new ideas, we stopped to pray.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As men and women of different ages and diverse backgrounds laid hands on Rev. Jeremy Crossley, the rector of St. Margaret\u2019s, I was reminded that we are all one family.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As a part of the body of Christ, this experience was more than academic. <\/span><\/p>\n

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WORSHIP.<\/span> Hillsong Church, Dominion Theater . September 25, 2016<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

While I have several photographs of the Hillsong Worship Service in London, it is this photo taken after the service that stands out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There was a buzz as people left.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As I stood on the balcony level and looked down, I saw European, African, Asian, Latino, and Middle Eastern men and women talking, laughing, and connecting. Instead of a barrier, diverse ethnicity was an asset.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Like the many colors on an artist\u2019s palette, it was a beautiful sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>JESUS AND THE BUDDHAS.<\/span> Chinatown. \u00a0September 25, 2016<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As I walked through London\u2019s Chinatown, an area that exhibits dozens of local eateries, shops, and massage studios, I was struck by these pictures in a local shop window.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>These were lenticular photos that create a three-dimensional effect.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What impressed me was that Jesus was here next to a laughing Chinese Buddha, and three glowing Theravada style Buddhas.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Above them was a picture of Tara, the female Buddha.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It reminded to me that, for all the Christian witness in London, many Asians see Jesus as just another Buddha.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It is heartbreaking as I think about the ramifications of this.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It is simply not enough to tell someone ABOUT Jesus.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>For Buddhists and Hindus, Jesus is just another god that can be assimilated into their worldview.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>This photograph reminds me that evangelism across worldviews is rarely quick and easy.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It takes time and perseverance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>MOMENTO MORI.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Christ Church, Oxford. September 25, 2016<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Upon arrival in Oxford, we attended the Evensong service in the Christ Church Cathedral.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was a moving experience that was even more surreal by the haunting voices of the boy\u2019s choir echoing through the hall.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>After the service was over, I wandered around this magnificent structure.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In the midst of stain glass windows, statues, and antique furnishings, I came across this odd wall hanging.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was a Memento Mori. \u201cMemento Mori\u201d is a Latin expression that means \u201cremember that you will die.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In the middle ages, it was a popular concept.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>No matter who you were, no matter what you have accomplished, you are still mortal.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As I reflected on the many kings, queens, and powerful people who have worshiped in this room, I stopped to wonder how many of them paused as they gazed upon this winged skull?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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SERENDIPITY.<\/span> Keble College Chapel, Oxford. September 28, 2016<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As I was winding up my week in Oxford, I did not want to leave without seeing the painting, \u201cLight of the World,\u201d at Keble College.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>This famous painting of Jesus knocking on a door (without a doorknob) was one that I have seen reproductions throughout my life.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I expected the painting to be magnificent, and it was.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, it was not that famous painting that made such an impression on me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As I entered the Byzantine styled chapel, I was surrounded by the most magnificent mosaics that I have ever seen.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Every panel in the church was utilized to portray a Bible story.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Noah and the Ark, Moses lifting the snake in the wilderness, the birth of Christ, and many more stories were illustrated here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I have never seen anything like it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>With stained glass above, and immaculate furnishings below, I was awestruck.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

For me, in this serendipitous experience, I felt God\u2019s abundant provision.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I ventured out by myself, walking across streets and through alleys in search of one small piece of art.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>When I finally arrived, I saw so much more beauty that I expected. More than that, these were not pictures of nameless church leaders, these were depictions of stories in scripture that I knew and loved. It was a wonderful surprise.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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FRIENDSHIP.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Christ Church Dining Hall. September 28, 2016<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As I wrapped up my time of learning and wandering, I went away with so much more than typed notes from lectures and photographs from sightseeing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I left with a new group of friends.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>When I first boarded the plane, I barely know Jim, Lynda, Jennifer, Geoff, Katy, Chip, Mary, Kristin, and Christal.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>By the end of this trip, I truly had grown to love and respect my cohort.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Being the seventh cohort in the Leadership in Global Perspectives program, we adopted the name \u201cThe Sevens.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>For me personally, getting to know these men and women was the highlight of the trip.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I am excited to see where the Lord takes us in the years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The \u201c2016 London-Oxford Advance\u201d was my first \u201cface-to-face\u201d experience as a new student in the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Global Perspectives program at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.\u00a0 Throughout this twelve-day experience, my head was filled with new thoughts and ideas as we were introduced to many great leaders and thinkers.\u00a0 Yet, beyond the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13518"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13518\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}