Geneva - Friday 31st May

Woke up quite late to a grey overcast morning. We shall be pottering around in the car now that I have discovered how to do screen shots of the local maps onto the iPad. I want to get to Challex by the back route this time. Also I want to find a wayside auberge where we can enjoy a drink and the scenery.

It is so peaceful here in St. Julian en Genevois. The scenery outside the back window (see left) is stunning overlooking the Jura mountains. There is no pressure on us to get up early and we can take everything at our own pace. Tonight we will go to Rajpoute for an Indian meal as a tat for David and Leila.

We drove first of all to Challex and did some cleaning. Then we decided to go to Divonne les Bains. There we headed for Charly's Pub where we had a drink and a snack between us. Divonne is subject to a number of road alterations. After half an hour we left and headed back for St. Julien and got ready for our meal tonight.

We set out about 6pm to pick up Dave from the UN, but got caught in a traffic jam. We finally arrived at Rajpoute at 8pm and enjoyed a good meal together. We were downstairs this time - a bit of an awkward setting but enjoyable never the less.

Romans 1:16-17 : For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it is written, “But the one who is righteous by faith will live.”

V16: Paul has total confidence in the message of salvation imparted to him through Jesus. The power of God for salvation talks about its ability to transform not only the individual but also the community and the world itself, if only applied. Today we are sceptical about that claim but if you look closely into the teachings of Jesus and apply them, the is no doubt that they will make a profound difference to human relationships and the way we treat the world around us. Our obsession with material things will disappear and the whole world order would be transformed into one of mutual love and well-being. The priority of the Jews is probably a chronological one and the term Greek referees to anyone else. However, it is strange he never refers to Romans as well.

V17: when one seeks this salvation and experiences it fully, they discover that it's very foundation is God's righteousness. The person started to see the world through God's own eyes and that makes a profound difference, imparting not only goodness, but peace also. Paul then quotes Hab 2:4. The saved person will naturally want to remain in that peaceful relationship with God throughout their life - why would they want to leave it?