Rainey Days

Time sure flies when you are leaving in one day for a three week trip to another continent! I have a million things to do, and the list just keeps getting longer. But I wanted to take a few minutes to write my blog update for the week. I like to keep you au courant (in-the-know). By the way, do you like the integration of French words in my blog? This week was la Convention Nationale , which is the General Council of the French Assemblies of God. It was held at a Christian campground in the center of France, and we had our meetings in their tabernacle building. There were about 400 pastors there, representing churches all over France, for two days of services, meetings, and most importantly, meals! The French love their meals, and even in a camp cafeteria, the meals were very cultural. I really enjoyed the meal times, because I sat with different pastors and got to know new people at each meal. I think some of them felt sorry for me being alone, not knowing anyone, so they really help...

Faithful readers of my blog/newsletter may recall that this weekend was the first ever Muslim Evangelism training seminar ( une formation ) that the French AG has done in France. Saturday was the first of four seminars that we will be doing over the next year in the Aquitaine region. We advertised the seminars through the local AG churches and had people send in a registration card for the series of seminars. Having people sign up for a year-long program is very French. While it does help us with our planning to have an estimate of how many will attend, the inscription mostly lends seriousness to the seminar—people know they are making a commitment to be a part of this program. We had nine people who came to the seminar. I know that seems like nothing at all, but I was thrilled. Those nine people represent five churches, a couple of hours from one another: two of the nine are young pastors, just starting out in ministry, but determined to reach Muslims in their area. One was a young...

Okay, this week I had planned a very poetic description of French markets, since I enjoy going to my local outdoor market on Saturdays, but the muse had already left me by the time I returned on Saturday morning, so you will have to wait until I am thus inspired again. Instead, I want to propose a something for discussion (a sneaky way to make you all post comments, ha ha). Here is my subject: corporate prayer. We can even enlarge it to corporate praise and worship, if you like. Who is it for? Is it for God or is it to edify the Church who is gathered in praise? Or perhaps both? The reason I ask is that I struggle with praying in French. As I tell my friends here often, when I speak French, it’s with my head, but when I pray, that comes from my heart. I don’t want to get halfway through a sentence and realize I don’t know how to finish it in French, or that I don’t know the word I am searching for. I don’t want other people correcting my grammar in their minds, either. I just ...