Evendays

I am getting better. Not that I was ill or anything, but I really am getting better. At some things, that is.

I’m still in need of daily, sometimes hourly, doses of grace.

I do get amnesia and forget way too often all that I’ve been given.

My voice dries up when I don’t praise, pray or confess.

And I am often blind to his work in those around me. 

But I am getting better. At times I get a glimpse of how much I need God. A view of his passion for my family. Just a peek of his glory.

(And no, my fingers have not been paralysed the last few days. I’ve just been travelling. But thanks for asking.)

January is the official “sales” time in Lausanne. Used to be that only in this month and July could sales take place. The rest of the year, you just paid the “controlled” price, pretty much the same in every store.

I kind of liked the old system, in the sense that you didn’t have to shop around and you never felt “ripped off” because the item was cheaper in another store. Of course, we would only buy our clothes, house, kitchen and sports’ stuff in January or July when the bargains were incredible.

Shops no longer sell under the same restrictions (though there are laws that control prices), but the January sales still continue. We just bought a Columbia ski jacket for Daughter for 49 CHF (regular price: 329 CHF).

In France and England, the governments set the date of sales’ openings and people cue up for long periods to buy that special item at half price. (Think Mr. Bean sketch at Harrod’s, London.)

“Soldes” is the French word for “sale”. But since we are in a global market, huge banners hang in store-front windows declaring “SALE”, in English.

Friends, look up “sale” in a French dictionary. It actually means "filthy".

January 24 is the date of our canton’s independence from the Bernese (that is, the kind folks from the Canton of Bern). Unfortunately, it’s still a work day.

Today, Son 2 and daughter (along with 221 others) made the solemn promise to uphold the constitution of Switzerland and of the Canton of Vaud. They now have dual nationality and love both of their countries.

This morning, I woke up married for half my life. (Wife must wait another 11 months till she reaches that blessed date.)

Good reasons to celebrate… So we will have some friends over, eat some fondue and enjoy the blessings that God has given to us on this day. And who knows what good things tomorrow will bring?

The word “hospitality” in our New Testament comes from the Greek PHILOXENIA. I know. I looked it up. I really did.

It’s evident that words evolve over time. This word at one time meant “affection for the foreigner, for the stranger”. Yet it is consistently translated “hospitality”, a word defined in most our churches as “having the gang over”.

There seems to be a move by modern translators to enlarge our vision of hospitality. The NRSV translates Romans 12.13:

Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. (Emphasis mine.)

Peterson, in The Message, translates 1 Peter 4.9:

Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully.

What do you think? Have we so limited our hospitality as to eliminate the welcome of the “foreigner” into our homes? The visiting teacher, or the Swiss preacher’s family, we’ll welcome them (for a few days). But what about the real, homeless foreigner? Do we offer him (or her) a roof over their heads?

For some people, the opportunity comes around every day. For me, it happens about twice a year. And when it does, I tremble.

It’s when you tell the story of Jesus and they hear of his death for the first time. And then they read about his resurrection.

No other Jesus-event seems as foreign, as strange or bizarre, as does the resurrection. Many people can handle a virgin birth. A miracle man? It’s a stretch of the imagination, but doable. But a murdered man who comes back to life, tells his friends to touch him and asks them for a bite of fish… This is indeed foreign territory.

When Paul brought it up in Athens, the Greeks slapped their thighs and wandered off. But others… They ponder. They wonder. They ask themselves if perhaps, just maybe, it might be true.

And we watch expectantly. And we pray.

Check out Biblos for Theobloggers for ch. 10 of Yancey’s book. And please, share your thoughts.

..

About 35 Pepperdine students arrived in Lausanne all through Wednesday evening. Thursday night there was a reception and Wife was able to meet many of the young women and men who will spend a semester “studying” in Lausanne. We hope to be of some spiritual help and will be spending as much time as possible with them. Mary, a good friend and ex-neighbor is directing the first year. Carolyn Hunter is the visiting faculty member. She and Wife became good friends in 2006 during Carolyn’s three-month stay preparing the terrain for the newest city in Pepperdine’s International program. There are already campuses in London, Heidelberg, Florence and Buenos Aires. I heard next year for Lausanne is already filled up.

Many of the students are skiers, so the big question was: Where’s the snow? Temps are way up since last week’s storm. We are averaging 10 degrees above normal. The snowline is now around 6,000 feet. Although it’s not unusual to get a warm day from time to time, so long and so warm IS unusual.

Four days of study, three days a week for traveling, some individual sporting activity for PE credit… Makes me wish I were a student again. Oh, forgot: student loans…

Thanks for the kind remarks on the last post!

–

I love being in a Bible class and asking the question: What’s faith? For, in most of these classes, you’ll get the response (and it’s a good one):

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

I’ve recently run across two other definitions that hit close to home. The first deals with Abraham’s faith. The central faith issue for this patriarch was trusting God with his future, be it when he left Ur and Haran for Canaan, or when God told him (again) that Sarah would give him a blessed son, or when God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac (Abraham’s future). The old man’s faith was at its best when he confided all his tomorrows into God’s hands.

A second definition, less formal than Hebrews 11:1, but more approachable, is 1 Peter 1:8:

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

He describes to a T our desired faith, doesn’t he? We love him though we do not see him now…

But one day… 

Aujourd’hui est le 8 janvier, as they say here in Lausanne. It’s the 22nd anniversary of our arrival in Lausanne. 22 years…

22 years before I was born, World War II hadn’t yet started. 22 years from now… Who knows?

But 22 years ago today, Wife and I got off a plane with 6 duffle bags and heavy suitcases, ready for anything. (Well, nearly anything.)

And we’ll put the next 22 in his hands too. I promise.

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.

Saturday’s headline in the local paper informs us that only 37 people died on roads in our canton (Vaud) during the year 2006. In 2001, 69 were killed, then 62, 61, 56 and 45 in the following years..

Actually, the paper said that “37 too many” were killed in accidents. But the police are happy with the way the numbers are diminishing.

Alcohol blood limit is now 0.5 per million. There are radars up all over the place, slowing us all down. Car inspections are stricter than years past, and cars are better made. Plus they show on TV those car wreck commercials about people not being around to celebrate birthdays because someone was driving crazy, or drunk, or while telephoning (don’t get me started).

As a preacher, I can’t help but wonder how many of those 37 died without knowing the Lord… And how much grief their deaths brought to their families. It makes me want to share more, and be attentive to those who are around me.

Anyway, please drive carefully, dear friends.