les Davey de France

Christian anniversaries in 2013 Here are some encouragements and challenges from the past. The monk  Columba  sailed from Ireland, with 12 companions, and after a perilous journey landed on the island of Iona in 563. He founded a monastery there to train young men for the evangelisation of the North Picts. The Thirty-Nine Articles , defining the position of the Church of England, were sanctioned by Convocation in 1563. Historically, all clergy in the Church of England have been required to subscribe to them. Daniel Rowland  was born in 1713, and became one of the foremost leaders in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist movement in the 18th century. For much of his life he served as curate first to his brother and then to his own son at Llangeitho, Cardiganshire, and was such a compelling preacher that thousands flocked to hear him on Communion Sundays. The  Spanish Gospel Mission  was founded in 1913. An Englishman, Percy Buffard, had been a teacher of Engli...

For the Chinese this evening. For the French tomorrow morning. For the anglophones tomorrow evening. Woohoo - here we go !

The Bible Eater: A Plan for Feasting on Christ in 2013 Download here . Here's how the Bible Eater works: Old Testament: Read 2 to 3 chapters per day and take 4 days off per month. Read 1 to 3 designated one-sitting Old Testament books each quarter. New Testament: Read 1 chapter per day and take 4 days off per month. One gospel is assigned to each quarter and Romans and Hebrews are assigned twice across the year. Follow this rhythm and you will get through the entire Bible in one year. So far, this doesn't sound a whole lot different than most other plans. So now I'll unpack some of its unique features. Redemptive Historical Focus Every chapter in the Bible is important since every word in the book is from God. But some chapters are more crucial for helping us understand the overall narrative of the Bible's salvation story. For example, the story of Joseph is an important demonstration of God's faithfulness to keep his promises, but God's covenant with Abra...

Administration ! Administration ! It's a nightmare ! I have a UK driving licence with a photocard. It's not necessary now to exchange this for a French licence. This is good for us because we are not permanent workers in France, we work for a UK organisation that could recall us to the UK. However every five years you have to renew the photo on your driving licence. No problem. The photo is already on my passport. All I have to do is : A) Log on to my UK Government User-id B) Enter my passport number C) Pay £20 D) Wait for my new licence to be delivered to UFM. Easy-peasy ! However A) I can't remember my password - or at least the password I SHOULD have used is invalid B) The address on my driving licence is also invalid, even though the system printed it on my driving licence.. It might just be easier to swap it for a French licence...

So the lad is going to work for four weeks in the Evangelical Movement of Wales bookshops, principally in Bryntirion, Bridgend. Some friends have offered accommodation a couple of miles away, though it is possible that WEST may have a room available. Next thing is to buy his airline and bus ticket Bordeaux - Gatwick - Bridgend.

So we pondered. A party ? So near Christmas ? What then ? One of Gwilym's BIG ambitions in Borderaux has been to go somewhere for fish and chips. As this is NOT a cheap meal out in Bordeaux we have hummed and haed for years. So when I suggested that this could be the perfect occasion he jumped at the chance. So that's what we'll do. Probably on Friday. Meanwhile on Christmas Eve, his eighteenth birthday, our ex-neighbour invited us for a Christmas meal, this time a fondue bourguignonne - chunks of beef that you cook at the table in a sizzling pot of oil. You eat them with bread and various sauces and I don't need to tell you how delicious it was, especially when mixed with the excitement of having extremely hot oil over a spirit stove in the middle of the table ! We were responsible for dessert, which was a raspberry meringue thing from the freezer centre. It said it would feed four to five people, but we were still eating it three days later.

Christmas activities began on 16 December with the first service at Blaye - a Christmas service - which went very well. We were encouraged by new folk attending and by support from folk from Cenon. A good start. That evening was the English Service Christmas Meal and Message . We'd planned to hold this at the church but Mrs Davey's broken toe and back problem coupled with my bronchitis meant we moved it to our home. Again all went well and we squeezed in OK around the dining table lined up with the big white garden table. Sadly the message part of meal and message was not possible. Bronchitis oblige. The following Friday was the French church Fête de Noël , which this time took the form of a follow-up evening for the Kids clubs that have been running in the church. The kids prepared various activities and it was good to see a number of parents and siblings at the church. The following Sunday morning was the French church's last service before Christmas. I talked ab...