This is where Lewis sat...

Today, we took a day trip to Oxford.  This small English town is home to the every-complicated system of colleges known as Oxford University.  While that is exciting in itself (and even more exciting since parts of Harry Potter were filmed there), my focus of the day was on one of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis.

Clive Staples Lewis  lived and taught in Oxford during his middle years.  Even though he is best known for Chronicles of Narnia, he is extremely influential and my favorite author for his contribution to Christian literature.    I am currently reading his book, The Screwtape Letters, which is a completely unique look on spiritual warfare from a demon's perspective.   When I finish this book, I plan to read his most popular Christian work, Mere Christianity, which I hear will blow my mind.  Lewis was an avid atheist, but after his conversion to Christianity (I believe in his twenties) his insight to doctrine and theology is astounding and challenging to his readers.   Needless to say, Lewis is a huge personality in writings on Christian faith and in literature in general.
Today was such a joy for me.  I walked the streets where Lewis walked.  As soon as our tour departed, I bolted to the local pub, The Eagle and Child, which is where CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and their group of friends known as "The Inklings" went often to relax and talk about their faith and books they were working on at the time.

By chance, I got seated in the same room that the Inklings frequented, known as "The Rabbit Room."  Above the fireplace are the signatures of all the Inklings and several photos of Lewis and his colleagues.

As I sat there taking in the atmosphere, snapping a few pictures, and working on a delicious plate of fish and chips, I began to be in awe at God's plan for C.S. Lewis.  God took an atheist and turned him into someone great. Not only by the worldly standards of fame from his books, Lewis was outstanding because of his faith in Christ.
It is really easy to see how perfect God's plan is in someone like C.S. Lewis who achieved great success because of his faith.  But just because Lewis was a great author does not mean that God works in any different way in our lives.  Just as God had an amazing plan for Lewis's life, he has the plan for each of us.   That plan may not be writing tons of books or speaking in front of thousands of people or anyone else even knowing our names, but God's plan is just as perfect.  So do not worry about tomorrow, God has an amazing plan for you that will happen as long as you keep growing in your relationship with Him and keep your thoughts on what really matters.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

Romans 8:28-29

"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying "What shall we eat?" or "what shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Matthew 6:31-34

Welcome to Hogwarts

After waiting 11 years for my Hogwarts letter.....not getting it and finishing high school and starting college...finally receiving it!

...coming all the way to London to get through Platform 9 and 3/4...

...I have finally arrived at Hogwarts!

Okay....true Harry Potter fans will know that this isn't the "real" Great Hall from the movie.  That was a set.  However, this is the dining hall that they based the design on!    This is the dining hall at Christ Church in Oxford which is part of Oxford University.  I got to see a few places that they actually filmed the movies (where Harry learned to play Quidditch and some of the staircases).  They filmed several scenes at the many colleges of Oxford, and I hope to make it back there before the semester is over to see  other locations!

Christians should not be like actors.

I'm a huge theatre nerd. I enjoy everything about it. From knowing what's happening onstage to knowing what is going on behind the curtain. It all interests me. So after I see a production, I love to go to the stage door and meet the cast and see what they are like and maybe even get an autograph and picture.
I talked my group into doing this after we saw Wicked and Les Mis.
We had just seen Wicked and were in awe of the talent and just sheer awesomeness of the people on that stage. We were extremely pumped to meet them, so we rushed to the stage door. Now if we were seeing this on Broadway, there would be a huge crowd fighting to get an autograph of the stars. However, we noticed we were pretty much the only ones hanging around outside the door of Wicked.
All of a sudden, the stage door opened and the performers started coming out.  Most of them walked by so fast we could not even tell who they were...they weren't being rude, they just did not expect that we wanted their autograph. Just minutes ago, they were onstage in lots of make-up receiving thunderous applause, but as soon as they walked out of the theater, they were like every one else. We could have been on the tube with a huge West End star and have never known it.
Obviously, these performers are something special. They have been given talents and gifts reap the benefits of those when in the theater. However, as soon as the curtain falls, they blend in with the world.
How many Christians do you know who are like that?  I know I am guilty of it.
Christians have been set-apart and have been given a special gift. Sure, we cherish that and display that gift while we are in church or in a Christian environment like Mississippi College.  But what about when we get into the world?  What about when we go to Wal-Mart? Or to our jobs? Or when with people who isn't exactly our favorite company?

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

Romans 12:2-3

Do we still allow that gift to shine, or do we hide it and blend into the world?  In your walk with Christ, can the people you encounter tell that you have something special or do you seem like any other grumpy person just ready to get the day over with?

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

We live in the world and we should embrace that.  If we lived in a safe, Christian bubble, we could not achieve our purpose of showing God's glory and reaching people who do not know Jesus. But, we should not act like the people who love the world. We have the greatest gift of all. That gift, our salvation, should be evident in every part of our life at all times so that others see it and will see God's glory!

Oh it's a Jolly Holiday in London.

Hello friends!
We just completed our first full week in London! What a busy and unbelievable week it has been!
Over the past week, London has begun to really feel like home.  I've gotten the hang of the tube, I pretty much know where most things are, and I get mad at the dumb tourists...yes, I'm a local.
Among the many things we have done like hearing Mozart's Requiem, touring Cabinet War Rooms, and seeing Changing of the Guard, we finally had to start classes on Monday.  While we all forgot that we are here to go to class, we can already tell that the classes are going to be life-changing. My favorite classes are probably going to be theatre and British Literature.
I have also rediscovered my love of theatre which has been almost dormant since being in college.  After seeing four jaw-dropping productions (well...3 jaw-dropping...1 sleep-inducing), it's almost impossible not to want to get on that stage and join them.   I've really been reminded that God has given me a passion for it, and when God gives you a passion for something, he uses it.  It may be that I use theatre somehow in my career, or I may just be getting involved with a community theatre, but whatever it is, I know God has called me to use my passion for it, and He's reminded me of that this week.
Today, we are attending worship at a church called All Souls.  I'm going to spend most of the afternoon doing homework for next week, and then I'm going to head to a poetry reading tonight.  Also, the group that is going to Rome is starting to plan our trip tonight!
This has been a huge week for me.  I haven't had a life-changing moment, but God has shown me small little "spiritual epiphanies" that I can tell are going to drive this semester in a great way.
Here are a few of the week highlights:

God Save the Queen

Good morning from London! 

It is currently 8:10am on Sunday (2:10 back at MC), and I am sitting in the super quiet lobby of the Celtic Hotel with the smell of a fresh breakfast floating down the hallway.
These past three days since we left the Jackson airport have been non-stop. Overall, London is more than I could have ever expected.  It is such a large city, but spread out and not as fast paced as big cities in America. It already feels like home.
We left America around 5:45 Eastern Time Wednesday night.  On the ten hour flight, I sat by a sweet British lady who was a former judge in London.  She gave me so many tips on what to do, and why I shouldn't ever go to Paris.   So needless to say, I slept none on the plane.
We arrived at Gatwick airport in London around 7am Thursday morning to meet Dr. Parks and Dr. Price, and we immediately jumped in to experiencing London.
We checked in to our hotel, then hit the streets to go buy our cell phones and get a good idea of our surroundings.   We also met one of our professors, Mr. Rumblelow (this man has huge eyebrows..I mean HUGE) who took us around the main part of the city.  That night, a lot of the group went to bed, but even though I was exhausted, I set out on the tube to explore.  I can sleep when I get back to America.  That night, I got mistaken as a local and asked directions. Luckily, I knew where they wanted to go, so I used my best British accent, and they believed me!

The next day, which was Friday morning, after a huge breakfast at the Celtic, we had something called a Tube Rallye.  Dr. Parks has come up with a type of scavenger hunt with over 50 questions to send us out in groups.  My group came in last, but we had fun and really got a grasp of the city.

That night, we attended a production o f Guys and Dolls at "Upstairs at the Gatehouse" theatre. It was an amazing, small production.  It honestly reminded me of the BTAPC theatre where I grew up.   Though the theatre only sat around 160 people, this was just as good as any show on Broadway or the West End.   It really wet my appetite for the theatre we going to start seeing next week as part of our theatre class!
Saturday, we hopped on a coach around 8:00am and left London for a bit for a day trip.  Our first stop was Stonehenge.  It was extremely cool, but our group got the biggest kick out of the swarm of sheep right beside it.

We then headed to the countryside of Avebury where we had lunch and I had my first experience of clotted cream, which changed my life.  We then headed to Bath where Jane Austen spent a little time.   It is unbelievable seeing buildings that were built hundreds of years before America was even dreamed of.
So yes, it has been an insane three days. We are going to St. Paul's Cathedral for church this morning, as well as walking around the city for a while.  We also start classes tomorrow.  I really should check out the grocery store and get some shampoo eventually...my little bottle is soon to run out.
After being here only three days, my goal is to not come back to the States with a British accent.  It's going to be pretty hard not to do.
Yes, I miss the MC Bubble a lot and definitely miss the people I love more than anything, but I have fallen in love with London.  This is going to be an amazing three months.

Looking through old photos is dangerous.

I started looking through old photos a minute ago and wound up as far back as high school.  I found pictures of all the musicals and plays I was in during the four years of high school.  There were very few nights in those four years that I wasn't in Gilbertown, Alabama rehearsing a show at the Ballet and Theatre Arts Performing Companies. In fact, it was my favorite part of my high school time. That little theater was my second home, the people there were like my family.  I often forget how much I miss performing and big it is apart of who I am.  I really hope to get back into it one day.

Hello, My name is Mr. Worry.

I am a a perfectionist.  I'm a planner. I'm a worrier. I like things to go smoothly and go according to the plan.  If anything veers off from my original plan, my stress levels goes up rather quickly.  The fact that I still have no clue what I want to be "when I grow up" is constantly on my mind.  I want to be married someday, so finding a wife is usually at the back of my thoughts. I want to make so many plans about my future, but I have no clue what the future is even going to look like.
None of these are good.  None of these things accomplishes anything or makes me a better person.  So why do it?  Why do I always have to have a plan for everything?  As much as I hate cheesy Christian cliches, there's some truth in the saying "Let Go and Let God."

"By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Hebrews 11:9

 If we try to plan out our lives perfectly, and then freak out when something changes, where's the faith in that?  Abraham had no clue what God was going to do in his life, yet by faith, he still went.  He didn't even know where he was going!

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? "

Matthew 6:25-27

I think Jesus sums it up pretty well here. Well, actually, he sums it up perfectly.  

As long as we are constantly seeking his guidance, God is going to take care of us and He's going to lead us where we need to go.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 6:33