Studying the World from Arkansas

We are in northwest Arkansas in the city of Fayetteville from January 19 through 27 to attend a course called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. It is a survey of the church and its mission activity from four perspectives: biblical, historical, cultural and strategic.

The course is sponsored by the U. S. Center for World Mission of Pasadena, CA, but the Perspectives office is right here in Fayetteville.

You can learn about this course at the web site: www.perspectives.org.

We are staying and meeting at Mount Sequoyah (yes, that’s how they spell it), a conference and retreat center of the United Methodist Church. Because of my involvement in Roxbury Holiness Camp and Retreat Center, I am interested in the stated purpose of such ministries. The mission statement here is: “a Christian ministry of hospitality, a holy gathering place for revitalization, revelation, and restoration for transforming the world.” How do you like that for a comprehensive statement with a worldwide view?!

The center is located on a semi-wooded hill overlooking the city of Fayetteville. At night the lights in the valley below are a lovely sight.

Thirty-two people are attending this course.

We have lectures every morning and afternoon. Then in the evenings we read dozens of articles in a massive reader and fill out homework assignments.

The presenters are from a broad range of backgrounds and missions organizations. All of them are good, and some of them are especially dynamic. God is teaching us all kinds of things, all growing out of the biblical truth that Jesus has given the church the assignment to take the gospel to every people group on earth.

Two of the class members are friends of ours whom we have known for many years, which was a delight. We are also making many new friends; several of these connections are relevant to the work we are doing.

My friends the birds are here, too. This is a bird sanctuary. Every day we meet up with bluebirds, nuthatches, chickadees and juncos.

London in December – Part 2

We attended two worship services and a music celebration during these few days in London.

London in December – Part 1

We were back in London from December 11-15 for missions work and a few afternoons off to check out the city at Christmas time.

The Lowest Place on Earth

As we rode in the West Bank towards the Allenby Bridge for the crossing back into Jordan, we got a brief glimpse of the northern end of the Dead Sea. The Sea is 1,385 feet below sea level.

Hank told us that recent dry weather has caused the Sea to shrink, so it now consists of three smaller lakes, with dry ground between them.

Who knew?

Israel – Part 5

I found great delight in exploring the Old City of Jerusalem, on foot because most of the Old City is made of narrow streets, some of them with many steps, where no motor vehicle can go.

Israel – Part 4

On Monday, December 7, Hank took us to Bethlehem, which is even closer to Jerusalem than I realized – 2.5 miles, to be specific.

Bethlehem is surrounded by a huge barrier wall, built by the Israeli government, ostensibly to keep terrorists out of Israel. (Bethlehem is part of the Palestine territories, not part of Israel.)

Problem is that the wall also discriminates against the people living in Bethlehem, many of whom are Arab Christians, our brothers and sisters. You can enter or leave Bethlehem only through guarded checkpoints.

Fast Forward to London

This is Wednesday, December 16. We have just spent five days in London with our team and attending a few events. Today we fly home.

Here in London we have seen some impressive Christmas lights, such as the store known as the House of Fraser, on Oxford Street.

Because of my ongoing work duties I have not been able to post blogs for my activities from December 7 through 15. If possible, after I get home, I will enter blogs to cover the highlights of those days.

Israel – Part 3

On Sunday, December 6, we went to the service at the Jerusalem Baptist Church on Narkis Street.

Israel – Part 2

Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, December 5.

JoLene and I took a morning walk to a park called Jerusalem Garden. Among other things the Garden has a windmill! One of three in Jerusalem, it is a reminder by Holland that “We were here, too.”

On one street is this unusual sight.

No, it is not a car covered to protect it from the elements. It is an art piece! It fooled Hank for three months before he figured it out.

We looked up a Bird Observation Site, just a block away from Knesset, the parliament building. We sat in the simple wooden blind…

… and saw several species, including an iridescent, dark turquoise-colored Palestine sunbird.

We explored a high-class hotel and saw this mural.

We wanted to explore the Old City on foot, so we entered at the Jaffa Gate, which is a 20-minute walk from the apartment where we are staying. The Gate is really a gateway; where the cars enter, there is no gate to open or close.

As you see, British Bear showed up again.

And here are a few scenes inside the Old City.

Most coffee shops in the Old City are small and have a common-looking decor. The large well-lit restaurant above is the exception. We stopped here one day for pomegranate juice and coffee.

Israel – Part 1

On December 4 we traveled by land from Jordan to Israel. Our friend Hank and his family met us on the Israel side, to take us to Jerusalem.