Standing with Embattled Farmers

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By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am the son of several generations of German-American farmers. My father’s father and his father’s father ploughed the black loam of northwest Ohio almost from the beginning of that state’s existence in 1803. When I read Emerson’s immortal poem about the farmers taking a stand for freedom, it reminds me of our own immigrant legacy.

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Honoring the Person AND the Place

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Was listening recently to my favorite news source about a group of Christians visiting the Holy Land. The segment was timed to coincide with Maundy Thursday on the Western Calendar, so it featured how a person’s faith can be strengthened by visiting the places where holy people dwelled and prayed to God. In other words, revival can be found by practicing the ancient art of pilgrimage, because as the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins proclaims, “The world is charged with the grandeur of God”.

It was music to my ears! Modern Christians going to holy and sacred spaces and being deepened in their faith. That is until I heard one tour guide from the piece proclaim a philosophical dialectic you will never on a Boston Pilgrim Tour: “…We need to remind ourselves that we worship the Person, not the place.” Why this false dichotomy between person and place as if getting the latter right did not ultimately matter? He also adds with a slight sneer that the places they visit are “so-called traditional” while giving real credence to the authority of archeology.

Seems like these sneers ultimately destroy the whole reason to go on pilgrimage. Why go to the actual, historical place when you can have a pilgrimage experience in some place like Disneyland (Didn’t Orlando have a place called “The Holy Land Experience“)? Why do we Christians even NEED theme parks when we have the real thing?

Book a tour with Boston Pilgrim today where we visit the actual places along with honoring actual people.

A Double Tour

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Met some friends downtown today who heard of our tours through another fine Christian organization in Plymouth, MA who likes to talk about the faith of the Separatist Pilgrims who founded our nation in the early 17th century. I am very happy that we keep giving each other pilgrim business. Today’s pilgrims opted for both my tours back to back (a first in the history of the company!) Book now while the extreme cold holds off and a walking tour is still pleasant.

In Front of the Founder’s Monument

Was downtown again yesterday with the second half of our homeschool group. Students asked lovely questions and one wondered if the name Boston came from “Town of the Bosses”. I of course taught them all about St. Botolph (and how to say his name with the emphasis on the second syllable).

Great time to tour Boston with weather a bit cooler than the rest of the country. Book your tour now!

First Tour Post Pandemic

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Hello dear fans of faith-based tours of Boston. So happy to finally see Boston again in this middle of May with a group of Orthodox Christian homeschooling families. It was strange and very exhilarating to be downtown Boston discussing our fair city’s 400 year old existence. This picture below from Granary Burial Ground demonstrates that we even threw in quite a bit of Revolutionary War material, something I very rarely do. Wish I could say there were tons of tour guides to go with the recently unmasked tourists, but alas, it was just yours truly and maybe 2-3 additional walking tours.

Here’s to hoping for a much more fruitful summer for all who come to Boston looking for guidance of all kinds both tourist and spiritual.

Opening Tour this Spring

Met some new friends downtown right after our Patriot’s Day and Marathon Monday here in Boston. One of my guests was even a runner in the Boston Marathon! Would love to meet others coming to our great city to describe the story of faith and freedom in this land of the free and home of the brave. Give me a call or text at 315-975-2758, and book your tour today!

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And We’re Back…

Just want everyone in the world to know that Boston Pilgrim Tours is back in action! Starting sometime in mid-June, our family is moving back to the great city of Boston. Which means that just in time for our 5 year anniversary on June 30, 2018, we will be  again offering faith-based tours of Boston. So sign up now for what will be our grand RE-opening in June.