I’m running my first half-marathon of 2020 on Saturday. I’ve followed a twelve-week training plan to prepare for the race. And I’ve done enough of these races to know that my mileage needs to decrease this week. There’s not much … Continue reading
I’m not a scholar. Not in Greek. Not in anything, really. But I’ve been learning a lot throughout the last year, as I’ve painstakingly worked through a personal translation, or paraphrase, of the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. Finally, … Continue reading
I value humility. So I generally try to stay away from pride (haughty chest-pounding). But I admit that I’m feeling a healthy element of pride (satisfaction with personal accomplishment) this week. I’ve just managed to complete two significant, year-long quests. … Continue reading
“It’s Sinterklaas weather.” It’s a reference to a December 5th holiday in the Netherlands. But the first time I remember hearing this phrase was actually in the month of August, in Amsterdam. It was a joke. But any cool, wet, … Continue reading
My Dutch language skills have been diminishing gradually since 2012, when our family moved back to Ohio after a decade in Amsterdam. I recently subscribed to a Dutch podcast, however, as a way to counteract that erosion. I expected that … Continue reading
“Blitz” is the German word for lightning. The German armed forces pioneered a military strategy they called “Blitzkrieg” — or “Lightning War” — in the late-1930s and early 1940s, and a variation of this strategy was employed in their highly-successful … Continue reading
It’s Graduation Day at Kent State University! This year is extra-special because we have a graduate in our household (thus, our version of the Dutch “backpack on the flagpole” tradition). As of this week, Marci has earned another degree: her … Continue reading
I’m a slow reader, by nature. I like to absorb every word and thought, as much as possible. I appreciate the ways things are written: the language, the pacing, the artistic imagery. I prefer to be thorough, when I read … Continue reading
ἢ τίς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἄνθρωπος, “The… who / what / which… is from you… man…” All right: look for the nominative, the verb, the prepositions, and shift the word order around accordingly. “Which of you men…” I’ve been taking … Continue reading
Our family loves the Olympics (we even created themed snacks to mark the occasion!). They’re such an interesting study in cultural dynamics. For example, this year’s Opening Ceremonies, in particular, reminded me of a strange quirk of international protocol: Naming … Continue reading