The Freedom Trail

Okay, I know these pictures are long overdue, but I wanted to share them anyway. So, without further delay - the Freedom trail in Boston:

On Sunday afternoon, we had a few hours of free time so Lacey and I decided to go on the Freedom Trail. This was something that I had wanted so badly to do last year, but was unable to. I was nearly gidding (okay, completely giddy) about getting to do it this time. In case you don't know, the Freedom Trail takes you on a walk - a long walk - thru Boston, visiting historical sites. I love history, which was why I was so excited; we didn't have a lot of time, so we couldn't do the whole thing, but I would love to go back and and do it again anyway.

The trail starts in Boston Common and the first "stop" is Massachusetts State House. Lacey and I didn't go in so I honestly can't tell you much about it, but it was a pretty building.

 

The next stop was Park Street Church, we didn't go inside it either, but as we came around the corner, I gasped (and possibly squealed) in delight. Granary Burial Ground. Where Paul Revere is buried, people!!

 

It was so weird how it was sandwiched between all these newer buildings; it felt crowded out. Cemeteries in Oklahoma are typically set apart in a field, away from city buildings. I know this cemetery was too at one time, but now it is almost ignored in the hustle and bustle of city life. It seemed almost irreverent to me, but the loud traffic noises and the annoying spring breakers became muted as I stood at the foot of Paul Revere's grave. My words fail to describe the sacredness of that moment in my life. I was in awe.

 

 

Revere's grave was toward the back of the cemetery, but once we got there and turned around, we discovered that what is now the "back" of the cemetery, actually used to be the entrance. The tombstones made a lot more sense then. :)

 

 

 

There is a special place in my heart for cemeteries. If you want to learn about life, go spend some time where dead people are buried. It always changes my perspective. It's a wonderful place to think.

"Just one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."

 

 

King's Chapel: a beautiful church with lots of history. It sports an ornate organ, uniquie white pine columns, and vintage box pews.

 

 

 

 

As Lacey and I wandered through the church, we noticed that one box seemed to have special significance. It had its own mini columns, ornate carvings, burgandy drapes, and special entrance. As we read the description, we learned that it was where the Governor of Massachusetts sat. What I read next eclipsed my moment at Paul Revere's grave: George Washington sat in this box when he visited Boston.

George Washington himself!!

I looked down at my feet and thought "I am standing where George Washington stood." I was transported back in time as I imagined him sitting there. White stockings, ruffled cravat, long coat with tails. I could almost feel the dignity, hear the hush of the crowd, and see life in 1700s America.

Yes, I was having a moment. It was a glorious moment.

I also thought to myself, I can't imagine what I would do if I walked where Jesus walked. Man, for that matter, what will I do when I see Jesus face to face?

 

In my picture above, you can also see box 33 next to the Governor's box; this was Paul Revere's box.

 

I have more pictures to post, but I am out of time right now so my adventures will have to be continued once again!

 

the interview

Interview with Stephen and Emily McAlpin

This is an interview I have been wanting to share (click link above to watch it); this young couple goes to Hope Fellowship in Boston (the church I have worked with). They found themselves in the middle of the shootout with police and the Boston bombing suspects late Thursday night/early Friday morning of that surreal week. In the interview on national television, they had the opportunity to share their story and their faith, without restraint. I continue to pray for the churches and leaders in the greater Boston area as they have an incredible opportunity to reach out to those who are hurting and searching for hope.

pray for boston

 

I had planned to post pictures from my Boston mission trip, but tonight I am grieving. This city is so close to my heart and I am aching for all those who have been affected by this tragedy. Because of the time I have spent there, the outreach I have done, and the people I have met, I feel like I have left a piece of me in Boston, and I feel like there will always be a special place in my heart for that city.

Let me tell you about the area that experienced the explosions today. It is called Back Bay, and is a wealthy neighborhood (when we went to do outreach we were told Tom Brady lives there). The explosion was near Trinity Church. It is also a few blocks from Boston Common which is where the Freedom Trail starts. That's what I was going to blog about before today happened. It is a beautiful area.

 

 

On the mission trip last year, our team spent several hours prayer walking through this very neighborhood and placing flyers for a church plant. We cried out to God for the people living in this area, asking for His Spirit to move in their hearts. When I heard where the bombs went off today, I got chills...so much of my heart had been poured out in prayer there. I felt such a burden. I still do. (These are the pictures of that area that I took while I was prayer walking.)

If you know people who are affected by this and need help, please please tell them about these churches. I know the people there and I know they will help.

People are asking why this happened. They wonder what is wrong with this world. How did things get so messed up?

I was immediately reminded of the current sermon series at my church; we are going through the book of Romans. (Listen to podcasts here.) My pastor has explained that chapter one verses 18-32 talk about idolatry and the effects of it. He said that one definition of idolatry is "the suppression of truth." We suppress the truth of Who the Almighty God is and we look for something else that we can define as truth. We take something and turn it into an Ultimate Thing. As a result, moral chaos happens. My pastor stated it this way "To reject God in unbelief is to be handed over to ourselves, which is a present form of God's wrath. God lets people have what they want." When we become idolators, God gives us over to our own self-centered ways and moral chaos ensues.

God has an ordered design for creation, but because mankind has suppressed the truth of Who God is and what His plan is for us, we do things our own way. We make our own priorities. And the ordered design of creation on our earth is thwarted. Until God returns to restore His Kingdom.

I know this passage is long, but please take time to read it and pray for our nation. Pray for the people affected by the bombings in Boston.

Romans 1:18-32
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and Divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slandereres, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

Boston 2013

It's hard to believe I let three weeks slip by without writing about my mission trip. I am still trying to catch up on everything since I got back. We were a group of 17 (mostly university students) from our church. We went to do outreach with the church plants in Boston, basically the same things we did last year (you can catch last year's adventures HERE).

It was such a blessing and encouragement to me to be a part of the work in Boston for a short time. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to go back; I wasn't sure I would be able to go a few months ago, but God worked things out so I could.

We worked with Hope Fellowship, the original church plant, and two other church plants - Mosaic Boston and Redemption Hill Church. You can get more info HERE. We handed out granola bars and packs of gum around T-stops (subway stops) to spread the word about the churches. One day alone, our group interacted with 2,000 people in the space of a couple hours!! It was so encouraging to hear how God has used mission teams like us to bring people to the churches. God truly multiplies our efforts when we take the step of faith and plant the seed. They are also in the process of starting another church plant!

We got snowed in one day; we woke up to 6 inches of snow on the ground! Those Bostonians know how to deal with that kind of weather. Some schools didn't even cancel classes! We Okies stayed inside - replacing ceiling tiles, sorting bags of clothes for the homeless ministry, cleaning chairs in the sanctuary, clearing snow from the parking lot, and rolling tons of coins for the local crisis pregnancy center fundraiser.

We also spent one evening cooking a meal for the homeless ministry that would serve people in Harvard Square, right outside the influential and prestigious Harvard University.

On this trip, God reminded me in a very real and tangible way how He is capable of using people who are weak. His strength is more than enough to overcome any obstacle or hindrance; His strength allowed me to continue when it would have been physically impossible. I am amazed at how He can use fragile, mortal human bodies to advance His Kingdom!

Coming up, I'll post pictures from some historical sites I got to see while we were in Boston. Stay tuned!