River Rats Across the Pond
Recently I returned from the United Kingdom, after conducting a week-long biblical tour of London. This is something my wife and I typically put together every 2 years, with an open invitation to people from around the world. Apart from all the sightseeing and adventure, during our London Christian Tour we also focus on three main areas of the Christian faith— Creation Science, Church History, and Biblical Archaeology
London’s Natural History Museum is a bastion of devotion to evolution and Charles Darwin. When entering the museum, you see Darwin directly across the grand palatial room, sitting on a massive white “throne,” overlooking all under his watchful gaze. While this museum may be filled with all sorts of tales of evolutionary tails, it also presents a great opportunity to engage the realities of creation vs. evolution and the veracity of God’s Word in the book of Genesis. During this most-recent tour, we spent a great deal of time discussing the early history and development of evolutionary theory, natural selection, dinosaurs, and much more in light of biblical teaching. Equipping ourselves with knowledge and truth helps us better understand places like this museum and others around the world like Grand Canyon National Park. While walking the grand halls of London’s museum, created by the very man who gave us the word “dinosaur,” we were able to see many of these and other specimens collected by the great Sir Richard Owen himself. Most of the fossils we saw represent a snapshot of the world as it was at the time of the Flood. This was the world that perished by global deluge, now preserved and on display for all to see. It is a sobering reminder of God’s judgment of sin, but also an awesome reminder of His mercy, grace, and love in the salvation provided Noah, his family, and the animals on board the ark.
The second focus of this week-long tour was on Church History. London is filled with an amazing array of churches, chapels, cathedrals, and abbeys. These are the real life places that helped shape many of our churches and denominations today. During the tour we discussed and saw first-hand some of the earliest missionary work into the British Isles, as well as the history and changes brought on by the Protestant Reformation and the shaping of our Christian faith by great men and women of God. One of my highlights is always the visit to Westminster Abbey, the most religiously revered and sacred site in all of England. For nearly a thousand years, this has been the place of coronation for every king and queen of England. It has also been the site of many marriages of monarchs, and their subsequent places of final rest, alongside countless authors, poets, scientists, and explorers. Despite hundreds of tourists milling about, admiring the art and architecture in Westminster Abbey, I often enjoy taking our group to a little-known side chapel devoted to prayer. As usual, we were the only ones in this hidden 13th century chamber. Together we added our voices to the echo of the stone walls, which for over 800 years have heard the prayers and supplication of the saints given to our Creator God. Quite a powerful experience to partake in.
The third focus of our tour was on the Biblical Archaeology seen at the British Museum, perhaps the best museum of its kind in the world. This aspect of our tour was namely a study on ancient civilizations in the Bible— the ways God has used these empires to shape and hone the nation of Israel. All day long we ventured from room to room and studied various civilizations, from Ur where Abraham once lived, to likely pharaohs of the Exodus, palace walls of Queen Esther, all the way to Greek temple statues once looked upon and referenced by Paul in Athens. This was my favorite day of teaching and leading our group. Having been there nearly a dozen times either in research or relating the truths of the Bible to others, the British Museum is my favorite place to spend a day (or five) in London.
Another “favorite” aspect of this tour was the group we had. Most folks on the tour this time were actually previous river trip alumni who have been through the Grand Canyon with me before. Four of them did a rim tour with me one year, a 7-day river trip with Dr. Danny Faulkner and me the next, and then the London Christian Tour this year. At the end of this tour week, one of them said, “So, where are we going next?!” I’m still amazed they haven’t gotten tired of hanging out with me.
Being involved with Canyon Ministries and doing what we do has opened doors and cultivated friendships with countless thousands of folks I’ve met over the past 5 years. This is a huge blessing to me personally. One thing I often tell people, whether at the end of a rim tour or river trip, is “You’re now part of our Canyon Ministries family.” As you read this, you are part of the family too. Whether we spend time together on the rim, river, or across the pond, we love staying in touch hearing about your stories and travels, and are always eager to see you again for our next big adventure together!
Take a few moments right now to reflect on the goodness of God in all His creation, the history of His steadfast hand over the church, and the guiding love He shows to His people throughout time. As we did in Westminster Abbey recently, let your heart and voice ring out, “How Great Thou Art!”
Nate
