[The Lord] scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. Psalm 147:16b

I awoke this morning in Worcester to a hoarfrost. It was so beautiful that I had to try to photograph it!




All these photos were taken along the driveway or from the back door of where I am staying. If you double click on the images, they will be enlarged -- at least that is what happens on my computer! I urge you to enlarge this image.




Amazing!




Pure beauty!




And ...look at the tree in the neighbor's garden! Is that a palm? Ever heard of micro climates? I do believe that the English have perfected the use of micro climates!

Crisp Morning in Cambridge...

Because my favorite B&B in Cambridge is closed for Christmas week, I was forced to stay in a hotel. It was within walking distance of the library so even though the temperatures were about freezing, there was no wind and it was a lovely morning to walk to the library. The River Cam was so beautiful this morning! Do you see one of the many bridges over the Cam?




Then I walked past King's College. Its foundation stone was laid in 1446.




The day was spectacular! The beauty of the walks along the River Cam in the cold crisp air made one wonder why she was spending time in an old library, Shell!




Last night I noticed this very unusual clock as I walked home. When I went to sort my photos, I realized that there was writing on the step just below the clock...




... so this morning, I took a good photo of the writing. Kyle, can you translate this please?

Walking back from The Wren Library...

Today was another AWESOME day at The Wren! As I was leaving the library, I snapped this photo of silly people punting on the Cam in very cold weather! If you can not see them punting, double click on the photo and it should greatly enlarge on your computer and you will see the punts or "boats."

I cannot begin to tell you all that I am learning about the book and what I have been given permission to do! Please use your imagination. Of course, I may not photograph it or remove it from the library, however, I am allowed to examine it the way I began to examine it several weeks ago. Enough said!




Christmas lights are still up in Cambridge and quite beautiful!




This photo is for Aaron and David - Dr. Who anyone? Also, it is to show Kyle, Rhia, Iain and Teagan what people in England used before cell phones!




Now, in case you need a Robe Maker or Tailor, there is one in Cambridge...



...that has been in business since 1689! Yes, they were in business when Sir Isaac Newton walked the streets of this place!

The train to Cambridge ...

After church in Cheltenham this morning, David and Barbara dropped me off at the train station and I took the train to Cambridge. This was my view all afternoon. Do you see "Cambridge" on the electronic sign on the train?




The train to Cambridge passed a wind mill farm which I had not noticed on the last trip - perhaps because I was sitting on the other side of the train. I am looking forward to more time in the library tomorrow.





We passed through the black dirt level area of the Fens. I was told that this used to be a very wild and lawless area of the country hundreds of years ago. Today it looks like good farm land being used.

The Walk to Tesco...

The house were I am staying is about 20 years old (or so the taxi driver told me!) It is located in quite a new development or estate as they call it in the UK. About a mile away, as the crow flies, is Tesco. Now, I admit have had a terrible time with Tesco Direct in recent weeks and if they do not make things right, I intend to tell the world what has happened. But, the folks at the local Tesco store seem quite nice. Tesco is like Acme or Giant or Sainsbury's. It is primarily a grocery store with lots of other odds and ends (pots, pans, a pharmacy, socks!) Today I wanted to get some milk (for when I return on Tuesday night late from Cambridge) and a couple of other items so this afternoon, I walked to Tesco.

Now, if Marks had been closer, I would have gone there - John!




On the way back, I noticed these bicycle signs.




The bicycle sign reminded me of Mary's warning when I was in London - WATCH OUT FOR BICYCLES AS THEY ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN CARS! THEY ARE A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES AND CARE ABOUT NO ONE!

So - this Saturday night, I leave you with one thought ...

LOOK BOTH WAYS WHEN YOU COME TO A CYCLE WAY - now is not that a profound Saturday evening thought? I guess I am getting tired! :-)

Boxing Day: Reflecting on Dec. 18 in London

Today is Boxing Day in England. There is a dispute about how the day got its name but it was traditionally the day on which people from the upper classes gave gifts to those from lower classes who worked in their homes. It is very much a fmaily holiday here in England and many are very upset that shops are beginning to open on Boxing Day and they believe that the day should be kept for family events.




Last Thursday, Tom and Bonnie and I explored London a bit. We went to Borough Market and saw this cheese shop. When I showed the photo to John, he noted that he knew the men in the shop - of course! What would one expect of a cheese expert!




THE JUDGE AND THE CLINK! --- We walked a bit from the market and I took this photo of MY BROTHER, THE JUDGE, IN FRONT OF THE CLINK! The Clink was a notorious prison in Southwark which functioned from the 12th century and was used at one time by the Bishop of Winchester for his prostitutes!




ON A MORE EDIFYING NOTE -- we also saw Park Street! Does the name ring a bell? Spurgeon's first London church was on Park Street. Later he went to the Metropolitan Tabernacle which is about a mile away from this location.




As we wandered around, Tom suggested that Iain would really enjoy this photo of the Golden Hinde.

This is a full scale replica of the ship that was an English galleon best known for its global circumnavigation between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake. She was originally known as the Pelican, but was later renamed by Drake mid-voyage in 1577, as he prepared to enter the Strait of Magellan, calling it the Golden Hind to compliment his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose armorial crest (family coat of arms) was a golden 'hind' (the heraldic term for a female deer). Hatton was one of the principal sponsors of Drake's world voyage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Hind




Iain, Do you like these photos?

BORN KING...

Last week when we (Tom, Bonnie and I) were in London, I took some photos of the lights of the city at Christmas. Of course there is always a church steeple beautifully lit to remind one of the reason for celebrating Christmas.




Then there are the street lights on the commercial streets with the shops and department stores.

But, the REAL REASON TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS is to remember that we are celebrating the INCARNATION. Perhaps it is because I am celebrating alone in England this year (by choice as my life has been very hectic the past few weeks and will be again for the next three weeks), or perhaps it is the result of a sermon I heard about 2 weeks ago -- but, I have been reflecting upon two phrases this season.

The first is that Christ was BORN KING! He was not as Prince Charles who was born a prince and will one day be king but CHRIST IS GOD AND HE WAS WITH THE FATHER AT CREATION AND WAS "BORN KING." CHRIST WAS ALWAYS KING AND WILL ALWAYS BE KING AND HE WAS BORN KING. The WISE men came to Herod seeking one who was BORN KING. What a remarkable truth to meditate upon.

The second phrase is one taken from a carol I heard being sung on TV. I have sung the very phrase myself countless times, BEGOTTEN NOT CREATED. Christ was BORN KING and BEGOTTEN NOT CREATED. Do I really appreciate what these words mean? Do I really appreciate God's grace and love? Here was ONE who resigned Himself to becoming a baby to grow and suffer and be tempted in all points like I am -- yet without sin -- and all for the purpose of making atonement for me. When William Tyndale translated the Bible into English in the early 16th century, he looked for a word to explain how we become at one with the Father. When he could not find the word, he invented a word, AT-ONE-MENT, atonement! Christ was BORN KING, "begotten not created," so that I could have atonement! May I never forget to meditate upon this truth.

Merry Christmas to you as you meditate upon these things!

A visit with Imogen!

Last Friday, Dec. 19, after Tom left, Bonnie and I went over to see Imogen and her mother while we were still in London.




Imogen likes to pose for the camera!




She is exceptionally bright and I have seen her grow and develop since I saw her last about a month ago! We had such fun together!




I had taken Color Wonder and she was enjoying the activity with her mother. Imogen knows her colors, shapes, numbers (in English, French and Spanish) and countless other things and she is only about 22 months old. Her pronunciation is very clear and she is just precious! Bonnie and I had such fun with this precious little one!

Tyndale Society Carol Service - Dec. 17, 2008

Last Wednesday, Tom, Bonnie and I attended the Tyndale Society's Carol Service at The Guild Church of St Mary Abchurch in London.




The church is quite near St. Mary Woolnoth, John Newton's last church.




The service was lovely consisting of those present singing carols, readings from Tyndale's translation of the Christmas story (Tom and Bonnie each read a portion) and a choir singing a number of carols. The acoustics were fantastic so all singing was quite beautiful!

The original church to stand on this site, built in the 12th century, may have been named 'up church' because it was upstream from its then-owner the Priory of St Mary Overie, now Southwark Cathedral.

The present building dates from 1681 - 86, and is a restored Wren church, one of the 51 churches built in London by the prolific architect after the Great Fire of 1666.

The simple Dutch-influenced red-brick exterior of the building conceals the magnificence of the interior. Wren's marvellous shallow dome, painted by William Snow, gives the building an unusually spacious feel.

Beneath the dome is some splendid 17th century woodwork, including the the carved limewood reredos created by Grinling Gibbons. This superb altar screen is the only example in the City to be definitely attributed to the 17th century master carver.


From - http://www.touruk.co.uk/london_churches/stmaryabchurch_church1.htm

Christmas Shopping, Worcester 2008

Today I went into Worcester to run a few errands and to get a couple of items I could not get yesterday. I took this photo in Crown Gate. Crown Gate (now a shopping area) was one of the old walled-city gates. Other gates included Foregate (where one of the train stations is today,) Friars Gate and Lich Gate (demolished in 1965.) One of the car parks ("parking garages" for those reading this in the USA) today is located on City Walls Road.

"The boundary of the city was formerly determined by a wall which commenced near Edgar’s Tower, at the Castle gate, passed at the back of St. Peter’s to a gate which was called Sidbury Gate, and thence to Friars’ Gate, which stood near the present city prison ; it curved inwards on the north-east of the present corn-market, round the hop-market, to a bridge built in 1313, and fortified with a strong tower, which stood near it. It then followed the course of the river to the Priory gate, and thence to the Castle mound. This work may still be traced in some places. There were six gates (besides the tower on the bridge) the last was taken down in 1787."

From - http://www.oldtowns.co.uk/Worcestershire/worcester.htm

John Newton and St. Mary Woolnoth

Last week, December 17, 2008, Tom and Bonnie and I went to London and stopped in front of St. Mary Woolnoth. This is the church were John Newton (Amazing Grace) became Rector after he left Olney in 1780. This was a most important church as it was the parish church of the Lord Mayor of London.





John Newton was Rector here until his death in 1807.




Tom and Bonnie stood outside, while I snapped this photo.




Looking down the street from the church steps, this is the view.

HAY-ON-WAY, Town of Books

Today we went to HAY-ON-WYE, a little town whose northern and eastern boundaries border England with Wales. The first second-hand book shop was opened in 1961 by Richard Booth and he pursued his dream "to create the largest second-hand and antiquarian book-selling centre in the world."




There are over 30 book shops in this little town!





You have heard of JOE THE PLUMBER? Well, Hay has PHIL THE FRUIT!




As we walked back to the car Park, I snapped this photo of Tom and Bonnie and their purchases. Of course, I did not purchase any used books! NOT!





The scenery is spectacular - even from the car park, where I took this photo!

Mistletoe growing!

Tom, Bonnie and I went with David and Barbara to Cheltenham to church. Again, the sermon was EXCELLENT. We went in 2 cars and Tom had an easier time driving on the motorway today as the skies were clear.




However, on the way home, we noticed that some areas were flooded.




More flooding than we realized...




Do you see the blob of brush in the tree tops? That is mistletoe growing!




Yes, that is really how it grows!