Barcelona, May 24-25

We are in Barcelona, Spain this week. I am teaching a "Spiritual Formation" class for European Nazarene College. The class is being webcast to students in Madrid, Saracosa, and Manchester, England. There is about 25 students total attending the course.

On our first day of sightseeing in Barcelona we visited the Sagrada Familia church. It is a Goltic church designed by Antonia Guede during the turn of the century. Guede designed several building in the Barcelona area including Casa Mila "La Pedrera" and Casa Batilo. He also built a couple of house in the Guell Park where he lived. We visited the park on Tuesday.

On Monday we saw the following sites: Sagrada Familia; Casa Mila “La Pedrera”; Casa Batilo; Cathedral of Barcelona; Les Rambles; Catalunya Square; Hard Rock Café for dinner; Bethlehem Church; Royal Square; St. Monica Art Centre; Arch of Triumph.


On Tuesday we visited the Guell Park which includes two house designed by Guell and his house, which is now a Musuem. We visited the park and the museum. We also took a tram up the mountain to visit Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart, a neo-golthic basilica built on top of mount Tibadido.

Rome, May 19-21

We spent several days in Rome visiting Basilicas and Catholic churches. We also had the priviledge of seeing Pope Benedict on Wednesday. He was giving a short papal addresss and greeting.


On Tuesday we visited the Vatican (St. Peter’s Basilica); Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel; St. Angelo Museum; Pantheon; and St. Maria Minerva Basilica.



On Wedneday we saw the Pope at the Vatican and visited the following sites: Piazza de Popolo; St. Maria Miracle (closed); S. Triniti del Monti; S. Maria Concezione (bones); S. Maria d. Vittoria; Santa Susanna Cistercian Nuns ; S. Bernardo; Basilica S. Maria de Angelo; Piazza de Republica; Fountain de Trevi; and Basilica S. Maria Maggiore.




On Thursday we visited Cheisa del Gasa; Circo Massimo; Basilica St. Giovanni in Laterano (St. John); and Basilica St. Paulo (outside the walls).

Ancient Rome, Monday, May 18

We spent six days in Rome touring the ancient ruins, bascilas, the Vatican, Vatican Musuem, and attended a papal service. We stayed in Villa owned by the Church of the Nazarene in the Northeastern side of Rome.

We rested on Sunday afternoon after arriving late on Sunday morning (1:00 a.m.). We were very tired after traveling to Epworth on Saturday and we could not buy a bus ticket on Sunday, so we decided to make it a day of rest.

On Monday we toured ancient Rome (Colassae, Palatino, and Forum). We decided to go with a guided tour, something we usually don't do, but given the massive amounts of people we felt it would give us the best experience. We also visited St. John's Lantern Basilica (Giovanni), St. Mary D. Angelo Basilica, and the Pizza De Republica. Here are some highlights of our first day in Rome.

Manchester, England (May 11-15)

I taught "Introduction to Christian & Religious Education" with Professor Chris Cope at Nazarene Theological College in Manchester, England. During our time there we explored the city of Manchester, Chester, and Epworth. I am including a picture of the cathedral in Chester, a picture of me at Wesley's primary preaching point in Epworth, Samuel Wesley's grave, Epworth Rectory (home of the Wesley's), and a picture of John Wesley and me (See I am taller than John:).














On Friday we traveled to Chester and visited the Chester Cathedral and the wall around this historical city.

On Saturday we drove about an hour and half to Epworth to visit the home of Susanna and Samuel Wesley (Driving in England is an experience in itself, especially when you get lost:) The Epworth Rectory is the home where John and Charles Wesley were reared and the place where the rectory burned and John was "plucked from the fire." Some say the fire was started by members of the community because of Samuel's inability to pay his debts. Susanna believed that because John was spared God had something special for him. Some say that the Wesleyan movement began in Susanna's kitchen where she meet with her children for prayer and devotions.

We also visited the Church at Epworth where Samuel served as rector for nearly four decades. Outside the church is the grave of Samuel Wesley where John preached when he was not allowed to preach in the Church of England. He stood on his fathers grave and preached to the masses. We also visited the Red Lion where John stayed when visiting Epworth after leaving for College.

London, England (10-11 May)

We arrived in London on May 10th which began our three week trip to the United Kingdom and Europe. We did sightseeing in London on Saturday and Sunday. We visited Big Ben and the House of Parliment, Westminister Abbey, the Tower of London bridge, Buckingham Palace, Monument, and St. Paul's Church.

Book Chapters Completed

I completed my final chapter and Introduction to the book I am co-authoring with Dean Blevins. The project expanded into two books instead of one. We will be talking to the publisher next week about the details of the project. Dean is doing a final edit of both books and then we will send it to the editors.

Since finishing all my writing projects I am spending this week and next week taking care of some home projects. Sherri and I leave for Europe on Friday, May 8. I will be teaching at Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, England; Vacation in Rome, Italy; and then teaching at Barcelona, Spain. I am looking forward to finishing my sabbatical in Europe.

Sofia, Bulgara

During my last day in Bulgaria I was in Sofia, Bulgaria. Cassie Lara and Joe Heath gave me a tour of the city. Cassie is one of my former students at NNU and Joe is from the church I served in Pennsylvania (small world)!

We visited several Eastern Orthodox Churches and a Russian Orthodox Church. The highlight of the day was attending the mid-night Easter Service on Saturday night at the patron church in Sofia. This Eastern Orthodox Church was built only about 200 years ago. The service included bringing in "holy flame" from Jerusalem. The priest brought the flame into the service, blessed it, and then lite the candles of the people. We lite our candle and carried it to our house. The story is if you can do that your home and family will be blessed for the year. During the service there were several secret service men in the audience. Later in the service the President of Bulgaria attended the service.

My time in Sofia was a great way to end my trip in Bulgaria. We finished the evening by eating spaghetti at 2:00 a.m. (Cassie made Joe and I dinner).