Calvinus Biere Incentive

The Anaheim CRC Council was stunned last night by a creative move by one of their members. Since we are so poor at getting guests to complete the “yellow” visitor cards, it was suggested that a reward be give to the Council member who collects the most completed “yellow” cards from our Sunday morning guests. The contest would run until the end of the May and the winner will be awarded their prize at the beginning of June as new Council membes are installed.
Since July 10, 2009 is the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth, the winner will receive the much coveted drink made famous by the distinguished reformer – a bottle of Calvinus Biere*. Of course, the discussion of the contest was quickly aborted after one of the Council member shouted, “Forget the contest, just give me the beer.”

* In Blondae Cupitas
One fine summer’s night in 1553, as he walked towards the summit of Mount Saleve, where he used to observe the moon and the stars, Jean-Baptiste Cern, the learned botanist and astronomer from Geneva, accidentally slipped into a crevasse. To his amazement, the walls sparkled in the darkness. ‘Gold!’ he cried. News of the discovery spread to Geneva and triggered an immediate gold rush. Mines and quarries appeared. Puzzled by the deserted city, Calvin summoned a mineralogist from the Academy of Lyon. Alas, this scientist discovered that in fact the mineral was just common pyrite – fool’s gold – and that Saleve’s only treasure was its good building rock. Calvin, incensed by the greed and covetousness of the people of Geneva, delivered thundering sermons attacking them. He exiled the ignorant scientist and promulgated his highly controversial anti-science laws, which plunged Geneva into scientific obscurantism. In memory of Calvin, and also of persecuted scientists and disfigured Mount Saleve, the Papinot Brothers, have brewed a beer with glints of gold. A traditional unfiltered lager, containing spring water, barley, hops, and yeast, all organically produced.

A memorable dream!

I normally can't remember my dreams but this one, early this morning, was different.

I was running past the house where Hank and Joan Lambooy used to live and Barb Andreas emerged from the house and called out to me. It irritated me because I had things to do but I did stop to chat with her. Then Jerry came out and joined the discussion briefly and then I continued my run. On the way home, running on a street in an industrial area, 3 guys approached me and forced me to stop – they were wielding a pistol. They told me that I was going to buy 7 T-shirts they had for sale whether I wanted to or not, at $7 a piece. I took a look at their merchandise and saw the all the shirts were the same design but at least they came in a variety of colors. So I selected 7 different colored T-shirts and thought I was free to go. But no, now I had to join them in one of the buildings and invest in their company (for some reason I had about $2000 in cash in my pocket).

I took a look at their product line, which wasn’t too bad, but was based on old technology which I had seen many years ago and had been developed by Bob Kliest, former president of Pertec. So I wasn’t impressed with their business plans and left. As I got outside, I couldn’t find my car, a black Honda CRX, and considered going back inside to ask the guys what they did with my car. While considering my options, I saw a lady and her daughter looking at the building and learned that they also had been approached about investing. I told them the guys were using illegal tactics and someone should get the police involved. After all, they had forced me to buy T-shirts at gunpoint and now also stolen my car. The lady told me the car was in the side parking lot, which I verified. At this point I decided to go back in to understand the technology better. After another review, I still decided it was not a company for me and as I left, I saw Tom De Vries (Valley classmate) in the building, also checking out the product line. I told him the product was based on old technology and these guys did not have the right to use it. With that I left and went home – in my little black Honda CRX.

Where do these things come from?
-I like running, I always have things to do, I’ve recently taken to wearing colored T-shirts under my shirt, I like to have enough money in my pocket so that I can take advantage of opportunities, technology is fascinating, I respect Bob Kliest, I always thought my little black Honda CRX was cool.

What does it mean? Probably nothing!

Memoirs

Fred Wind came to the Route 66 group at church and talked about writing your memoirs. Why would someone do that? For the grandchildren, of course! And maybe even for yourself. He gave us a lot of good pointers and then invited anyone interested to drop in on the monthly meeting of the Memoirists at Bethany CRC. They meet most every 4th Monday of the month.

Today is the 4th Monday of March 2009, so I accepted Fred's invitation. At the beginning of the meeting they circulate a sheet of paper and all those that have something ready to read, sign up. Those that just want to listen are free to do so. What a variety! It ranged from travelling the Atlantic as an immigrant, to living on the the farm with no indoor plumbing, to three brain surgeries in two weeks. Everyone has a story and some people just need a bit of encouragement to share their unique experiences.

It just confirms what we all know but at times forget - there's nothing as interesting as people. And if you take the time to listen to a person talking about what they think is interesting, it's hard not to like them - at least the first time they tell you that story.

Maybe I'll start a memoir group at Anaheim CRC.

Taizé Prayer Service

Friday, on the way home from the Pancake House in Anaheim, I noticed a large banner on the First Presbyterian church - they are now having Taizé services on some Sunday evenings, including tonight, at 7 pm. I attended a Taizé service in Pasadena many years ago and the meditative ambience and format of the service fascinated me.

(From Wikipedia: "The Taizé Community was founded by Roger Louis Schütz-Marsauche (later known simply as Frère Roger or Brother Roger), born on May 12, 1915 in the village of Provence, Switzerland". )

Since I'm just back from Switzerland, I knew that this service was for me. I went there this evening and thought, "They really are quiet during these prayer services" because I couldn't find anyone. Then I looked more closely at the banner. It turns out that the Taize services are on Wednesday evening (the same night we have our Men's Group).

Stretcher Bearers

The title of this blog post comes from a lecture Bryan and I heard in Geneva on March 12. The topic was on the role of church members during the current economic crisis. The speaker was James Featherby, a British lawyer whose law firm represents some of the major British banks that have imploded. His view is that society needs to return to values, preferably Christian values, as the criteria for success and discard the chasing after short term goals. Since this will be a long-term effort, he suggested that there is an analogy to activities on the battlefield of the 1st world war - stretcher bearers are needed to carry the wounded from the field. This is one role that church members can play.

In Jesus' telling the parable of the good Samaritan, he was telling us that our neighbor may be the person who has been injured by the current financial meltdown. We are "stretcher bearers" when we help them get back on their feet. And it could take significant time and effort but this is what we are called to do.

Kristen and kids are entertaining us

My last night in Switzerland, I took this picture of Quinn and Troy.

Kristen, Lindsey (and friend Katie), Lauren, William, and Lilly (aka little dragon) arrived Sunday afternoon. The kids have this week off and Kristen had some work to do with her advisor at Azusa Pacific so a trip to So. California was the right thing to do. The gang went to the Brea mall on Monday and today it's Disneyland. They left for Mickey's realm at 8 am and as of now, 11:00 pm they're not yet home.

Sleeping arrangements are working out OK -

Kristen and Lilly in the large guest bedroom, Lindsey and Katie in the center guest room, and Lauren and Will downstairs in the TV room.

As you can imagine, I love the fun-filled days with the Rietkerks. And once in a while miss my peaceful days in Switzerland.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

This is my last full day in Switzerland. I have a flight out of Geneva at 10:15am tomorrow. The current plan is for me to catch a train from Nyon directly to the airport because of the car show in Geneva which is still in process and has been tying up the A1 on a regular basis. We'll say our goodbyes in Nyon.

This has been another wonderful trip - sledding, visiting other Swiss towns, relaxing at home and especially being with family. Tonight, being our last evening together, was a bit somber but there is also the anticipation of seeing each other again in the near future. And now all have gone to bed as will I after I complete my few lines here.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow" - a line from the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare; Juliet is saying good night to Romeo.