Month: April 2007

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Bike Route for 28 April 2007

This morning, Wallace couldn’t make the Saturday ride so I went out myself.  I decided I was tired or riding in the city so I decided to ride out towards Goochland County and ride a bit in the country.

I wanted to leave at 6:30; however, I didn’t get up in time so I left at 7:30.  The trip out was hard but I don’t know why.  It didn’t seem windy.  It didn’t look like I was going uphill.  At the 1/2 way point, I had only averaged about 16mph.  On the way back, my speed increased and I ended up and averaged 17mph for the entire ride!

I passed a large group of riders headed out once I made my turn from South Anna onto Howards Mill Road.  I don’t have an idea of how fast they were going, but it was a large group (20-30).  They were decked out in road bikes, jerseys, etc….  Like always, I waved, but they ignored me.  Guys, would it kill you to atleast acknowledge other riders?  I may not have the best bike and may not look like much, but don’t judge a book by it’s cover.  As a brief aside, I have noticed the same things on my commute.  In general, the guys out riding with full kit don’t wave, don’t look, don’t do anything but pund away.  However, people with less nice bikes, commuters, etc… will wave, nod, smile, etc….

Anyway, enough on that…here is the route I rode this morning:

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Neat Article About the CIA, Tehran, and the Hostages

I came across this article today on Wired about how the CIA was able to get some hostages out of Tehran in the early 80s.

November 4, 1979,began like any other day at the US embassy in Tehran. The staff filtered in under gray skies, the marines manned their posts, and the daily crush of anti-American protestors massed outside the gate chanting, “Allahu akbar! Marg bar Amrika!”

Mark and Cora Lijek, a young couple serving in their first foreign service post, knew the slogans — “God is great! Death to America!” — and had learned to ignore the din as they went about their duties. But today, the protest sounded louder than usual. And when some of the local employees came in and said there was “a problem at the gate,” they knew this morning would be different. Militant students were soon scaling the walls of the embassy complex. Someone forced open the front gate, and the trickle of invaders became a flood. The mob quickly fanned across the 27-acre compound, waving posters of the Ayatollah Khomeini. They took the ambassador’s residence, then set upon the chancery, the citadel of the embassy where most of the staff was stationed.

At first, the Lijeks hoped the consulate building where they worked would escape notice. Because of recent renovations, the ground floor was mostly empty. Perhaps no one would suspect that 12 Americans and a few dozen Iranian employees and visa applicants were upstairs. The group included consular officer Joseph Stafford, his assistant and wife, Kathleen, and Robert Anders, a senior officer in the visa department.

They tried to keep calm, and even to continue working. But then the power went out and panic spread throughout the building. The Iranian employees, who knew the revolutionary forces’ predilection for firing squads, braced for the worst. “There’s someone on the roof,” one Iranian worker said, trembling. Another smelled smoke. People began to weep in the dark, convinced the militants would try to burn down the building. Outside, the roar of the victorious mob grew louder. There were occasional gunshots. It was time to flee.

The Americans destroyed the plates used to make visa stamps, organized an evacuation plan, and ushered everyone to the back door. “We’ll leave in groups of five or six,” the marine sergeant on duty said. “Locals first. Then the married couples. Then the rest.” The consulate building was the only structure in the compound with an exit on the street. The goal was to make it to the British embassy about six blocks away.

 

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Lottie Moon

I was doing some research on the Internet today about Lottie Moon.  I was trying to find out where in Crewe she is burried because I am planning the route for the 2007 Missions Century.  But, I digress.  I came across a PDF file that was a short history of Lottie Moon; however, it was on a site that looked as if it were dying.  I have decided to copy the file here as well as redo the article as a plain post.  The article is copyrighted by the International Mission Board; however, they don’t care if you redistribute their material as long as it doesn’t harm the cause of international missions.

Here is a link to the pdf about Lottie Moon.  I need to format the text for a post.  Once I get that done, I’ll post a follow-up here. 

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Our Growing Girl

I just have to brag on our “big” girl.  She has one of those activity mat/gym things.  It has padded floor mat with two attached arches that criss-cross over her, and it came with some little link things and some toys to hang from them.  One of the toys is a little plush lion that plays a few little songs when you pull down on it.  She’s laying on her mat now, having a fine old time playing her favorite game “kick the lion” and today she started kicking hard enough to make her lion play music…and not just once, but repeatedly.  Yeah gross motor skills!!  And she’s laughing and cooing the whole time 🙂  I’m sure she knows exactly what she’s doing, but even if she doesn’t, it’s still the cutest thing ever…at least until the next cute thing!!!

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Costly Words or Do We Consider Our Ways?

I have Persecution Blog‘s rss feed on my google homepage so I can see new items when they are posted (well, based on how fast google updates the widget that is).  Yesterday, I saw this post entitles A Time of Costly Words and wondered what it was about.  So, I opened the article in a new Firefox tab and started reading:

In Albania, the first self-declared atheist state in the world, a young Christian by the name of Valerii Nasaruk was arrested for boldly tattooing a cross on his hand. He wanted everyone to know from the first handshake that he stuck to his faith in God. Valerii was frustrated, however, by not being allowed to verbally tell others about God’s love.

Wow!  That is convicting.  The government has a law restricting this brother’s free speech so he thinks up a way to get around it.  As we can see, the government didn’t like that so they arrested him.  At the trial he was found gulty, but the judge appealed to his mom:

At the trial, the judge told Valerii’s mother, “Tell your son to change his ways so he can go free.”     

WOW!  What would happen here if that happened?  How many parents would tell their child to renounce their faith?  But God was with his mother who stood firm: 

She thought for a while before responding through tearful eyes, “Valerii, my advice to you is to stand firm and not deny Christ, even if it means your death.”

Stacy then goes on to ask:

God loves us, and he has great plans for our lives. The problem is, everyone else has plans for us, too. Do this. Do that. Try this. Try that. Words of advice are cheap and plentiful. The time comes, however, when words are costly. Any time another believer encourages us to carry on with God’s call on our lives despite the consequences, we know we have heard from a godly person. Anything to the contrary, even well intentioned, is bad advice. To whom do you listen for spiritual guidance? Recall and record the last bit of spiritual advice you received from a trusted friend. How well have you followed through?

How true.  Everyone is trying to pull us one way or the other.  We need must be ever vigilant to stand on the truth.  Even advice from “christians” can be wrong.  So, to answer Stacy’s question I listen to those believers who are more mature in their faith.  If I have a question, I choose one of them and ask.  I expect their answer to be firmly rooted in the Bible.  I then take what they say and “bounce” test it against what the Bible has to say.  Then I pray about it.  I ask those same people to pray with me.  Only then do I make up my mind.

As an asside, I would like to ask all of you to join me in one request:  I pray that if I am ever put in this situation with Lydia, I would do the right thing:  encourage her to keep on keeping on and striving for the faith. 

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Book Signing

If you are in the St. Louis area this weekend, why not stop by a book signing:

Join us at Framations on Saturday, April 28: 11 am – 4 pm and have the opportunity to meet author Kathy Meyer and artist/illustrator Catherine Mahoney. Their first children’s book together, Daisy and Digger, is a story about two puppies who learn about sharing and forgiveness. The illustrations were created by Catherine from a series of watercolor paintings. The book is brimming with full page watercolor paintings.  The paintings were inspired by people and places in Missouri, particularly Hermann where the author and illustrator both reside.
 
 The book is currently available for sale at Framations for $15.
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Come for the book signing, and stay for the ArtWalk!

It is a free event along Main Street in St. Charles this weekend Friday 5-10, Saturday 10-8, and Sunday 12-5. More than 80 artists work will be displayed in 19 locations along the street. For a full list of artists and a schedule of free live entertainment, visit http://www.saintcharlesriverfrontarts.com/. If you have questions, call Framations at 636.724.8313.  Detailed maps for the ArtWalk, listing the venues and entertainment schedule will be available at all of the locations, including Framations.

Sarah Merideth
Framations Custom Framing and Art Gallery
218 North Main Street
St Charles, MO 63301
636-724-8313 Phone
636-724-8310 Fax
www.framations.com
samerideth@sbcglobal.net

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Bike Route 26 April 2007

Sorry about not posting yesterday.  I was really busy at work and needed the time to get some real work done.  But starting back up today….here is this morning’s route: