All Saints Normanton » Sabbatical

Fifth update from Don

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:42:19 +0000

An ambition fulfilled. To stand where a true prophet of my generation stood to deliver his prophecy to a crowd of 200,000 people so moved me. It was the one thing I needed to do in a visit to the States. A man who truly spoke the voice of God. I know he is a true prophet because one of the marks of a true prophet is that what is said becomes a reality. The “I have a dream” prophecy of Revd. Dr. Martin Luther King moved me at the time – and in its completion with the election of President Obama confirms the clarity with which he heard the voice of the Lord.

I managed to find a printed copy of Martin Luther Kings speech which I bought and stood on the steps alongside where he stood. I hadn’t the boldness to actually read it aloud, but I read it to myself and every now and then looked up and saw the crowd lining the Mall as far as I could see. As I was reading I was praying that God would give me such passion and clarity in hearing His voice.

The main difference between the day in 1963 when he spoke and I did was the weather! On the day at the end of the Long March the sun was shining. When we were there it was very wet and decidedly cold. We walked the National Mall from the Senate House down to the Lincoln Memorial then to the White House unfortunately Barack wasn’t in: I’m sure he would have seen us if he had. We then walked back to the hotel by which time we were totally saturated. As soon as we hit our room we stripped off and each of us dived into the shower just to get warm. It was such a contrast to the weather in California.

We couldn’t help being struck by the cleanliness of the city and its order, but even more by its aura of power. All around the Senate building and its accompanying ministry buildings it is impossible not to be struck by the sense of power and the awareness of the significance of the decisions that impact the whole world that are made there.

The next day we decided to have our breakfast in a Christian coffee shop near the main station, but it was about 11.00 before we found it and not an “eggs over easy” in sight. It was Saturday morning and there were a large number of young people in. Most of them were sitting using there Apple Mac computers and to be honest this seems to be the kind of young adults the emerging churches seem to be attracting – not typical of young people in Normanton at the moment. We spent time in the museums that we had missed the day before which even for me were outstanding. We especially enjoyed the American Indian Museum where the restaurant had stalls of food from each part of the States and their particular Indian culture. We decided upon the mixed platter, a bit of each, don’t ask me what we had but it was good!

We visited the Arlington Memorial in the pouring rain and visited the graves of J.F. Kennedy, Bobby, and Edward Kennedy and the memorial to the unknown soldier. It was clear that the Americans do hold their servicemen in high regard by the respect they showed all around this enormous burial site. In many ways it was as moving as visiting the war graves in France – so many men and women who sacrifice their lives for the good of others reminding us of He who gave up everything for us.

So to our final day in America. We had the day to ourselves before catching our flight. It was Sunday so we walked through a park into the city centre to explore thinking it would be buzzing, but it was deserted! We came back to the hotel by bus which went through some of the less glamorous parts of the city which shows that every city has its darker side. From the Hotel to the airport we took the SuperShuttle where the driver was playing a Christian CD, so good knowing that God was and had been with us every step and every mile of the way.

We stopped off to share Ruth’s birthday in Horsham on our way back to Normanton and are now back home for couple of weeks to reflect upon our time in the US ,to do rather a lot of washing and ironing (well Dawn has anyway) and prepare for our next great adventure to Indonesia.

Fourth Update from Don

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:14:12 +0000

Those of you of my generation and the discerning of later generations will remember the great songs and aura that surrounded Route66 in the USA. Something like from “Chicago to LA more than 2000 miles all the way”. Well merely by accident rather than design we found ourselves on I-40 which is the successor to what became known as the Mother Road, but much of the old road is still in existence. And I couldn’t resist the opportunity to travel it for a few miles. We came across a real old time Diner at Amboy, Roy’s Diner. Right in the middle of nowhere. Couldn’t wait for a coffee and “eggs over easy” but the diner is in restoration and only bottle drinks available so I had a “Route 66″ Root beer and took a few snaps.

We stayed at Seligman overnight which is a sort of tongue in cheek shrine to the old 66, which passes through, with souvenir and gift shops all as an active museum utterly brilliant and just a little tacky. We stayed at the Canyon Lodge. The sort of place you walked around with a smile on your face.

On to the Grand Canyon. No words can describe, no picture portray the scale, the impact and the drama of the place. We had a meal at a Navajo Indian trading post. It’s a good job Dawn and I had been warned to share and not to have one each!

The next morning we were up bright and early because we had booked the first Helicopter trip of the day. Never having been in a chopper before neither Dawn nor I knew quite what to expect. Especially when Tanner our pilot limped up clearly having a prosthetic leg or a the very least seriously injured. We need not have feared the ride was superb and smooth, but the moment of popping over the rim of the canyon will stay with us for ever. Dawn had the seat next to the pilot. I was put in the back with a window seat (I suspect I was in the back because of my weight which has shown signs of increase over the last few weeks!). We were over the canyon for about 40 minutes; what a truly awesome and inspirational journey.

The next day we decided to take things a bit easier so we went to Bright Angel Trail and proceeded to walk down! We happily greeted all the people we passed on the way down and felt a little slighted when those on the way up could only manage a grunt. The trail itself goes from the top of South Rim down to the river at the bottom a distance of about 3 miles except the path is over 9.5 miles long as it zigzags down and drops 4,380 ft or 8/10 of a mile down! It is recommended that it is not attempted to go down and up in a day. Needless to say we didn’t but we did about 2 and a half miles down. I think some of the cheery people on the way down might have got few grunts from us on our way up. We were a little stiff later in the week. It was fascinating to get a different perspective of the canyon and it was always tempting to go further. We met one young man who had come down from the North Rim camped overnight and had come up the south Rim the next day. I did ask him if he had to go back to get his car. Another group had been 6 days rafting through the rapids in the Collarado and were now having to walk the 9miles or so up to get out.

Time came reluctantly for us to move on. We had a rather featureless drive to Las Vegas via the Hoover Dam. One drive up the Strip and back and it was goodbye to our faithful Chrysler after about 4000miles, at least 3500 of those with the hood down. The next morning early we flew out of Vegas leaving bright sunlight with the promise of another hot day to be met with the weather report from the pilot to say it was cold and wet in Washington. And it was and is!

Third update from Don

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:13:07 +0000

We had a really spiritual weekend attending three churches on Sunday, meeting two people and visiting two churches on Monday.

The three churches were so different and yet the same. The style of delivery was just totally different . We went to church with our friend in the morning to an evangelical church which had a congregation of about 2,000 people in two services in the morning. We did sense the move of the Spirit in the worship though again there was nothing new in the songs we sang, either English or Australian. A good word was preached and everything was very respectable and ordered.

The second church was in the evening at 5.00pm in a downtown part of Hollywood and just a small group of about 50 people meeting in a hall under the name Kairos . There was no accompaniment for the singing though this was an experiment as there were huge speakers suspended from the ceiling which made me think things were probably very different normally. After the main service 5 people were prayed for as they began ministry as equippers much like our own ministry coordinators. This concluded with the sharing in a very formal way communion.

We then shot off quickly and went to a church meeting in a theatre in downtown LA part of the Mosaic chain of churches. the worship here was loud, vibrant, young and modern. Probably 2000 packed into the theatre in a dark clubby kind of atmosphere. The message was a clear call to faith for unbelievers.

Though the outward manifestation of worship was very different the content was very similar in that there was a time of singing, followed by notices and a sermon for at least 30 minutes. This seemed to be the accepted pattern outside the liturgical churches.

Early on the Monday morning we set off to meet with Eddie Gibbs who though born in England trained in the UK and in the USA and ministered in the UK before being called to be a bishop in Latin America. Finally returning to USA as a lecturer at Fuller Seminary. He retired a couple of years ago. Having written a number of books on Emerging church he is an authority on the subject. He is quite pessimistic about the state of the church especially the Episcopal church. Though he is concerned about the move in the USA to a post-Christendom atmosphere much like in the UK.

We met with J.R. Woodward who leads the Kairos group of three churches which there are in LA. The church we had attended the previous day. He believes small (less than 150) is beautiful as relationship between members is for him most important. They simply plant another church when they have outgrown that figure. There seemed to be no restraint on where or when anyone plants a church, very different from our own situation.

We briefly visited the Crystal Cathedral and Saddleback churches. Both of which were amazing simply for the scale of the operation at both sites. the former being a more traditional form of church which started life in the ’60′s as a drive-in-church in a drive-in-movie show ground. The latter developed by Rick Warren who prayed for President Obama and wrote the “Purpose driven …..” books.

After this we spent a few days chillin’ in San Diego, what a beautiful city. Spending extra time at the coast meant we didn’t make it to Bryce Canyon (our original plan) but we are now near to Grand Canyon which we will reach tomorrow.

Second update from Don

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:44:15 +0000

You may recall that when I concluded my last epistle I told you we were looking forward to going to Bethel Church Prayer meeting in Redding? Well we duly arrived ready for prayer! Arrived and told it was not for visitors even though it was on their services website! No offer of coffee or walk round was offered so we left there feeling rejected and certainly not the welcome we had expected nor I believe people receive when they come to All saints.

Anyway we set off towards the coast down the Trinity highway which was built by Chinese immigrant workers through staggeringly beautiful countryside. Not as dramatic as previous days, but the beauty just goes on and on. By midday I was ready for my Espresso and asked a flagman at some roadworks who told us to go to Willow Creek (no not that Willow Creek) just a village with a petrol station and a coffee shop. Perfect.

You know how they say you should never judge a book by its cover well I fancied staying at a town called Eureka (I’ve found it) but when we got there it was a very dark place the sort of I’d like to loose it again kind of place. We went for a walk along what was called the board-walk where there seemed an inordinate number of people with mental handicap, and homeless. It was the kind of place where the motel supplied a free Limo to take you into town and pick you up so you didn’t have to walk. The receptionist said that the people gathered there because of the excellent care offered by the community for the most disadvantaged of the state. Caused me to ponder about our outreach into the needy of our community. To add to this it was cloudy and cold. We even had our fleeces on in the car!

Next morning we were glad to get up and leave Eureka in search of the Mighty Redwoods in the Avenue of the Giants. Some of these trees were more than 2000 years old. Older than the Christian church let alone our church building. It was just awesome to see these mighty trees reaching so high up to the light as if in worship of the creator.

Now heading south on the Pacific highway 1 I get my first sight of the mighty Pacific Ocean and what a sight it was with sun glistening off the top of the rollers as they make their way break upon the shore. We stay in a B&B in Mendicino a beautiful village perched in the top of the cliffs. When we arrive there is a shroud of mist over the water. We ate at an “English pub” full of life and vitality. Why do Americans speak so loudly when they have drunk decent beer? I had Shepherd pie and it was great washed down with a drinkable IPA beer. Next morning the mist had cleared and it was a clear morning and we didn’t want to leave our little cliff top retreat, but we had to move.

WE passed through many seaside villages one called Manchester, though we did not seem to be travelling close to the Ocean we got the occasional glimpse. At one of these I had to stop just to put my feet in the water. Passing thought perhaps if I were to have a “bucket list” (things to do before I go to glory) it would be to dip my toes in every ocean in the planet.

Next stop San Francisco. We had lodging a Christian retreat house for three nights and though we explored the city cannot say I was greatly struck particularly in comparison to God’s amazing glory of creation.

We did one of our church visits to Menlo Park Presbyterian church where we met the Worship leader Leanne Benton. She was so helpful and encouraging talking abut the struggles that they have to address when effecting change. She did let slip that when they decided to plant a church they had an appeal and raised $12million! but can’t get anyone to do anything! Condalisa Rice is one of their 8.00am congregation and have 80 people on paid staff. Just like Normanton; not.

Further down the coast to Santa Cruz where we popped in for a coffee at Vintage Faith church where they had redecorated there room which was not dissimilar from our parish rooms but made it into a lovely welcoming shop who prided themselves in serving the best coffee in town. I left believing that here was a church which had a very laid back attitude to achieving excellence in all ways. We unfortunately were unable to spend time with any church leaders because they were all away.

Onward to Monterey for two nights. What an absolutely stunning place. We went on a boat Whale watching and were treated to the sight of a number of Blue Whales on migration. We had seen the biggest trees, the lowest valley, some of the highest mountains and now the biggest animal on earth. We stayed in a B&B called Jabberwock where everything followed the theme Alice in Wonderland.

Dawn drove down the coast through the Big Sur where the mountains meet the ocean. We stopped for a coffee high above the ocean and along a road clinging precariously against the mountains and over bridges.

After a night in a motel we continued down the pacific coast soaking in the sight of the sea sparkling in bright sunlight. Then taking a 14mile detour to a beach that words are unable to describe so perfect in every way. I could no longer resist it so on went the swimming gear and body boarding in the waves was fantastic. Though the surf wasn’t high it looked pretty big when I was in the water without a board. The power of the breaking surf rattled around me and drove me on to the shore. Just a mere tickle in the ever recycling waves beating upon the coast line.

Tonight we are at our friends near LA catching up on stuff; like washing(!) emails etc. before going to church tomorrow and then visits on Monday.

So we have completed the full circle now further south and then East. You might think that with so much to see we might become blasé about seeing so many incredible sights, but God constantly amazes us with His creative ability.

An update from Don

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:03:26 +0000

Here three weeks in already and so much has happened its hard to relay all of what we have done.

In my first week it was very much about winding down doing stuff around home and chillin’. Dawn was at work for some of the days so I found things to do on my own. The next week it was all about getting ready for our great adventure. We had a day with Lucy then went to Ruth’s to see her before heading off to the airport. We had a terrific flight courtesy of BA and an on time arrival in Lois Angeles. Picked up our hire car (upgraded to a convertible) and set off to out friends in the suburbs. After a night with him our great trek around California was about to begin.

Our first objective was Death Valley through the southern deserts of the state. I cannot communicate nor can photo’s convey the awesome ferocity of the desert and the violence of the valley. We stood on an outcrop of land which stood vertically 1 mile above the valley floor in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees F. Looking down into a couldren of dried salt lake. I was reminded of the temptation of Jesus when he stood on a high place and all he could see was the depravity of man when the devil thought he was offering him the world.

Our second day took us to Yosemite park. Nothing can prepare you for the scale of the creation as portrayed in the mountains that you travel through and in whose arms you are drawn into the valley. We stood on Glacier Point looking down on the green trees that covered the floor of the valley and seemed to flow down the tributary valleys towards the main one. We passed by mountain lakes with water so crystal clear that in the air they glistened with a shimmer of light in the ever present sun. In a day we had moved from 250ft below sea level and a temperature of 106deg to an altitude of 9,500 ft and a temperature of 60deg!

Having had two days at Yosemite we moved on to Lake Tahoe. We used an agency to arrange our accommodation for the night. Little did we know at that time that it was a Casino! As the sun broke over the hills on the far side of the like it was impossible not to draw the comparison between the beauty of the creation of God and the obscenity that man had made out of steel and glass in order to extract money from willing customers at the “slots”; needless to say we resisted temptation.

Today we have been through Lasson Park an area of profound volcanic activity where there are still hot springs gurgling up from he centre of the earth and mountains pushed high into the skyline by the very forces of nature that our God put onto it. How great and mighty is He. I am not one of great artistic ability yet I have to say that I cannot imagine how anyone could not have been so moved having been on a journey such as we have done in the last 5 days that something must deeply stirring within.

We are spending the night in Redding and going to a pray meeting in the morning a the church of Bill Johnson who we saw speak at last years New Wine conference. Should be interesting! Then its a 3 hour run off to the Pacific coast. This is the part I have been so looking forward to yet I cannot imagine it can measure up to what we have already seen.

We have travelled in excess of 1000 miles already yet each turn in the road brings new excitement and expectation.

Unfortunately our bus trip from San Francisco has been cancelled because of lack of participants but we shall do our best to make whatever contacts we can make.

Be assure you are always in our pray and both Dawn and I have known the intimacy of the Lord through the wonder of His creation. and we hope we remain in yours.