Random Thoughts from Sabbatical - Note 9 from john (8/7)
Submitted by john on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 14:48.
I often wonder who reads these thoughts and want you to know these have meant more to me than you could know. They have helped me stay connected to The Summit in a small way. So, for the five of you who actually read these – thanks. I thought you might like to know a little more about where I am at the end of this sabbatical. Instead of a long boring written bio about this place, I thought I would share some random thoughts that have amused and bemused my strange and different mind. In this way, you might get a little peak into where I am and who I am.
- For those of you who are wondering – “where in the world is John”? Well, here is a link to the place I am at so you can get a closer look if you care. [http://www.cefeurope.com/kz/index.htm] The place where I am staying is called Kilchzimmer which means “church rooms” in German. Kilchzimmer is the European Headquarters for Child Evangelism Fellowship. (By the way their US Headquarters are in Warrenton, Mo and our very own Marshall Pennell is the Executive Vice President. It is because of his kindness that I am in this wonderful place.) This place stands where a monastery built in the 1500’s once stood. Not much of the original building is still here (and for that I’m glad) but I can tell you there are some trees right here that have been around that long. The trees, the hills, and the mountains are mind boggling beautiful.
- Out might window is the grandeur and beauty of God in case you have not got that point yet. Matter of fact as I type this both my windows are open (it is 65 degrees) and I'm staring at Mt. Baulchenflue at 3700 ft. Kilchzimmer sits on a hill at around 2500 ft. Everywhere you go from the front door of this place is up or down in extremely steep grades. I am in the mountains and I love it. I feel like I have been on a forever stair master since I have been here. Needless to say everything is a “hike”.
- (WARNING: What I am about to say here may offend you – if so lighten up.)
Have you ever been to your grandmother’s home and she has those cute wind chimes that sound so cool out on the porch the first day you get there. The second day they are still amusing but you realize you can hear them at night. The third day you want to find a 12 gauge shot gun and blow them off the porch because that is all your ears can hear at night – ALL NIGHT! Well, there are cows EVERYWHERE in this part of Switzerland. It is great pasture land (so I am told.) They have a quaint tradition here of putting real cow bells on their cows. I’m talking real cow bells like Garth called for in Wayne’s World and that every 70’s rock band used. It allows the ranchers/farmers to know where their cows are at all times. When, you first get here and hear it – “it is cool”. The second day they are still amusing but “you realize you can hear them at night.” The next day “I wanted to find a 12 gauge” and shoot them off their neck. Oh man – it is all you can hear everywhere!
- Speaking of cows – I read this the other day on line. Be amused – seriously laugh!
Scientists in Argentina say methane holds in 23 times more heat than carbon dioxide, and is a neglected culprit in global warming. To try to quantify how much the country's 55 million head of cattle contribute to the problem, the researchers have mounted fart collection tanks on the backs of cows to measure the gas they emit (no, really!). Early results from the Argentine National Institute of Agricultural Technology and the Argentine National Council of Scientific and Technical Investigations show that the average cow blows out 800 to 1,000 liters of the flammable gas per day, and that feeding them clover and alfalfa instead of grain reduces emissions by about 25 percent. (London Telegraph Newspaper)
Now – if this is true, Switzerland is the leading contributor to global warming. There are a ton of cows in this place and after hiking through much of the area around here day after day I promise you they are not for want at producing the stuff that produces methane. In case you think I’m making this up. Go to this link and they have a picture of these Scientists in Argentina with one of these fart collection tanks mounted on a cow! Seriously – you have to laugh! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNLOPnpk5wU
- I have always loved the mountains and man does this place satisfy that place in my heart. I have hiked to four peaks in this area and will get to a few more before I go. What stuns me is the guys and girls on mountain bikes who are on the same trails I walk and sometimes jog a little. They are highly esteemed in my book and also highly crazy. I saw one the other day walking down his bike with half the skin off his left shin gone. That will leave a mark!
- I have a new found distaste and disdain for horse flies. They are everywhere and man those suckers hurt when they bite you.
- Switzerland has not been involved in any kind of armed conflict as a nation in over 300+ plus years. And, from what I hear around here from the locals they have not been invaded in longer than that. Yet all over the mountain ridges where I am staying there are old WWI and WWII bunkers and fortifications built in case of attack. Based on the terrain I know why no one has invaded this country. It would be a nightmare to try and attack, much less navigate an army through. In my hiking I came across a bunker atop a 3500 ft mountain that has a great vantage point for defense. It is abandoned now and just offers great views for hikers. On top of this bunker, there is a steel turret made for machine guns and the steel is marked by many large caliber bullet pocks. I attached a picture of this bunker and the view from atop this mountain. Spectacular. Who shot this up and why? This wasn’t the work of a handgun or simple rifle. Big daddy gun did this. One of the locals told me the Swiss army got bored one day and had live drills on their own emplacements and shot them up. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm!
- There are more bees here than I like. There are beautiful wild flowers growing everywhere and over 40 of them are protected by the Swiss Government as “endangered” (hmmm). Every time I step on one in the pastures or land as I walk I giggle. Now I don’t do it on purpose – I’m telling you they are everywhere and some are tiny. And, with that many flowers comes one of my least favorite of God’s creatures – bees. I have seen no less than 6 different types of bees. (I’m sure they are protected as “endangered” too.) There are the normal size bees there that are brown and yellow. There are the black and yellow classic bumble bees. There are these large nuclear looking black furry bees which really scare me and then there are these little bitty tiny bees which I don’t know whether to be scared of or ignore because they are the size of tiny flies. I do have new found understanding for the phrase “busy as a bee”. All the “gatherer bees” do is fly from little flower to flower ALL DAY! Man what a job. All of you who love insects and animals of all kinds will be happy to know I have only killed one bee in my time here and that one was in my room. He had to go!
- Final random thought. I went into the little town of Langebruck which is the closest town to the place I’m staying. There is one store, one cool alpine sled ride called Solar Bob (which is fun), and one church. The church is pastored by a lesbian who lives with her lover. It is called Christ’s Church I believe. Now understand – I have no hate for homosexuals. My sister is homosexual and while I disagree with her lifestyle, God has been teaching me how to love her as He does. However, it breaks my heart to know there is one church in this town and it is led by this misguided blinded woman who speaks for God. August 1st was Swiss National Day and it is soemthing like our 4th of July. I was here for the celebration and it was good fun. I learned something that day. The Swiss flag is a simple white cross on a solid blood red background. It was chosen as the flag because the three men who united the country back in the 1300’s wanted the white cross and blood red background to be a reminder to all of the gospel - that the blood of Jesus through the cross is what makes all men and women clean (white) before God. Switzerland has a great past in following Christ. The Reformation of the church which changed the history of the Christian church saw Switzerland as the home to Calvin, Swengli, and other great church fathers who helped remind the church of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. 700 years later Switzerland is one of the most unchurched countries in Europe. Switzerland has become a place that worships creation according to one local. There is much new age and spiritualism all over this country. Right up the road is one of the biggest centers of Metaphysical and New Age Healing. I look around and see the beauty of creation in this place and I’m stunned by our Creator. Yet today, many here look around at the beauty and worship the creation. Stunning ...
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