Archive for November, 2009

Minarets in Switzerland

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Switzerland voted yesterday not to allow the construction of any more minarets on its territory. Here are my observations:

The polls before the vote showed that only 37% of the voters were for the ban. Someone had to be lying, for 57.5% ended up voting yes.

The media had declared that the initiative would be beaten. Were they ever surprised! Seconds after unveiling the results, they suddenly understood why everyone had voted the way they did. They had become experts again.

Unfounded fear was one reason given for the population voting against the construction of minarets. The experts said there was no reason to be frightened by the growth of Islam. Then one of them suggested that the political leaders who were for the initiative “hire bodyguards” for protection in case of reprisals. No reason to be frightened, yet they need bodyguards? Sounds like someone tipped his hand.

There are but 4 minarets in Switzerland and all are mute. There are thousands of bell towers and some of them ring, and ring loud, at 6 AM.

I do not want to live close to either if they disturb the peace. Yet taking away expressions of worship does no one any good.  Those who expressed negative opinions about the minarets were called bigots. Others of the same opinion just shut up, ending any possible dialogue, and taking away the possibility to convince. So Switzerland has awakened with a hangover, and it doesn’t look like it’s going away.

Posted in Religion, Switzerland | 1 Comment »

Race review

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

I survived. 

First, 26 miles is a long way to run, walk or crawl.

Second, the first 13 miles are much easier than the second 13.

Third, no matter how long it takes, getting to the finish feels very, very good.

It was a hilly course (the publicity said it was "mostly flat") but the weather was perfect, the little villages welcoming, and the runners encouraging. We were sad that a 24 hour bug kept Wife from running. I think she would have beat my 4 hour 8 minute finish.

I have still to "run" a marathon. My Beaujolais experience included some walking. But with legs like iron and cramps that wouldn’t quit, walking took me, though quite slowly, in the right direction.

Thanks for dropping by. And keep heading for the finish line.

Posted in Running | 2 Comments »

This little race

Friday, November 20th, 2009

My kids told me that, yes, it is true. The guy who ran from Marathon to tell the king his troops had won the battle died after delivering his message.

Tomorrow, wife and I are attempting the same feat, but at a different place and, we hope, with a different result. It’s called the Beaujolais Marathon. We’ll run from Fleurie to Villefranche-sur-Soane through some of the beautiful wine country of France. Refreshments and tasting are provided every 5 kilometers.

26 miles and a bit more is what 1000 of us will be tackling. The weather should be very nice with a small wind in our faces. I will let you know on Monday if we were victorious or not.

I know, you’re dying to find out…

Posted in Running | 4 Comments »

Grad pic

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009


The grad’s in uniform.

Posted in Education, Family | 5 Comments »

Son 1’s big day

Monday, November 16th, 2009

It has been a busy fall for Son 1. He is doing his mandatory military service, the "boot camp" part, and that will last till next March. That’s what he gets for having two nationalities. He is making the best of it.

He spent a month working for a Christian from the Geneva church who has a painting business. Every morning, Son 1 was up before 6 AM to make a little extra money, probably for a trip somewhere.

Last Friday was his graduation ceremony where he received his BS in Forensic Science. It was a reunion time for him and the other 25 students who survived the three year program (220 started…)

We are proud of him. He did great. And he’s looking forward to the start of his Masters program in 2010. 

Posted in Family | 2 Comments »

The fall of the wall

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Yes, as you have heard, 20 years ago today the guards opened the passage ways and allowed free access to West Berlin to those who were under communist rule.

My cousin was in Berlin that day with a group of Pepperdine Heidelberg students. The timing was right. They danced on the wall and got their picture in the paper.

She brought us back a bit of stone, concrete knocked off the wall. A whisper of graffiti on it. Genuine, 100%, Berlin cement.

In 1989, Wife’s dad’s ministry to Ukraine, Slavic World for Christ, received over 4000 letters, 3000 asking for Bibles. 5 years before, he received about 150 letters a year. Almost none from Ukraine.

3 months later he’d find himself in Kiev. He’d meet with family and folks he hadn’t seen in 47 years. Brothers and sisters who were now grandparents.

Walls fall. Sometimes it leads to freedom. Other times not so much. But I thought all day Sunday about freedom, and the words of Paul:

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Posted in Evangelism, Ukraine | 3 Comments »

Resolved…

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Resolved…

I will write more.

At least more than once a month.

But, hey, it was a hectic month.

Posted in Blogging | 4 Comments »