In Jeremiah 51:46, speaking of rumours in troubled times, there are three words in Hebrew translated in the ESV by "ruler against ruler".
One French version translates it with three similar words, but another has something like "the coup d'état of one dictator who replaces another". So in Monkolé it has been translated as:
"Ilu gbugbã gɔ á na ku dedei nɔ ku lele ilaalu iyi í wa si bomma ku gba agbɛɛ,
nɔ inɛ mmu gɔ mɔ ku na ku dede ku gba agbɛi nŋu mɔ" which means something like "One strong man comes forward and pushes out the king who was on the throne to take his place, and someone else again comes forward to take his place".
Is it necessary to go into this much detail? Does it matter if we do? Does it matter if we don't? Does this really sound like a rumour? Just one of the discussions the team will need to have when I get back to Benin!
mercredi 18 mai 2016
lundi 16 mai 2016
30 years young
Our church, the Eglise Evangélique de Villers-lès-Nancy, celebrated thirty years of existence this last weekend. There were various events to mark the occasion.
On Saturday afternoon we had a meeting to thank God for His faithfulness and to look forward to the future, with a sermon by the founder of the church, David Brown. This was followed by a sort of summer fayre not only for the church children, but for local children. We had well over a hundred children attend, which was brilliant. There were various games, allowing them to "earn" stickers, and these stickers bought them either candyfloss, goes on the bouncy castle, face painting or prizes (they could choose, but each prize was worth a certain number of points).
Later there was a apératif with two local mayors, with short speeches. And then we ended the evening eating Alsatian "flammenkueche" and a huge birthday cake made by one of the members of our church.
On Sunday we had a service with the president of France Mission preaching, followed by a bring-and-share lunch.
Having been here for the 20th anniversary of the church, Marc and I were really happy to be here to celebrate the 30th! This church has been family to us for many years, and it still feels like family despite all the people who have left and new people who have arrived. And it is lovely to see our sons and daughter have found their place here too.
On Saturday afternoon we had a meeting to thank God for His faithfulness and to look forward to the future, with a sermon by the founder of the church, David Brown. This was followed by a sort of summer fayre not only for the church children, but for local children. We had well over a hundred children attend, which was brilliant. There were various games, allowing them to "earn" stickers, and these stickers bought them either candyfloss, goes on the bouncy castle, face painting or prizes (they could choose, but each prize was worth a certain number of points).
Later there was a apératif with two local mayors, with short speeches. And then we ended the evening eating Alsatian "flammenkueche" and a huge birthday cake made by one of the members of our church.
On Sunday we had a service with the president of France Mission preaching, followed by a bring-and-share lunch.
Having been here for the 20th anniversary of the church, Marc and I were really happy to be here to celebrate the 30th! This church has been family to us for many years, and it still feels like family despite all the people who have left and new people who have arrived. And it is lovely to see our sons and daughter have found their place here too.
