Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Paris, France and the Dream in our Hearts


PARIS - Right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy became president of France on Wednesday, officially taking over from his conservative predecessor Jacques Chirac. After a private lunch Sarkozy will ride in a motorcade up the Avenue des Champs Elysees, escorted by the mounted Republican Guard, and lay a floral tribute at the tomb of the unknown soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe (Read entire story on MSN).

If you have ever been to Paris, this has to be one of those moments in time you would never forget. Riding up the Avenue des Champs Elysees (something you can see from all over Paris) and then laying flowers beneath the Arc de Triomphe (one of the most famous monuments in Paris).

The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly the Place de l'Étoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. It is the linchpin of the historic axis (L'Axe historique) leading from the courtyard of the Louvre Palace, a sequence of monuments and grand thoroughfares on a route leading out of Paris.

It attracts many tourists. It was commissioned in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz by Emperor Napoleon I at the peak of his fortunes. Laying the foundations alone took two years, and in 1810 when Napoleon entered Paris from the west with his bride Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria, he had a wooden mock-up of the completed arch constructed.

The monument stands over 51 meters (165 feet) in height and is 45 meters wide. It is the second largest triumphal arch in existence [1] Its design was inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus; The Arc de Triomphe is so colossal that in the Paris victory parade marking the end of hostilities in World War I, an early daredevil flew his biplane through it, and was caught in a newsreel.[2]

Just writing about this makes my stomach begin to churn and puts a lump in my throat. Is there anything you ever wanted to bad that it hurt not to have it yet. My heart and my husband's heart yearn so much for the people of France and Europe. We really do believe we have experienced something here in the states that can be applied in France and all over Europe. It is the new creative church movement that has inspired so many new church planters to try all sorts of new and innovative things.

Churches like the one we go to (C3 church) and others like New Spring church in S.C., Mosaic L.A., and Granger Community Church in In. have an amazing way of getting the unchurched in the door. We believe the organization of ARC has an amazing way of training up and providing for new church planters. We believe organizations like Catalyst
and the many other conferences put on by these creative church planters (Exponential Conference, Origins, Buzz Conference, etc.) train, encourage, motivate, and simply light a fire under this movement for Christ.

We want to do this in France. Not because there is anything in ourselves that we think is special or talented, but just because God has put this burden and dream in our hearts that is so clear it sometimes hurts not being in France yet, and we are just willing vessels clueless enough to think God can do this through us and those He chooses to join us.

3 comments:

Jean Ohlerking said...

Arc de Triomphe has special memories for me.

One time while visiting Paris, we sat at the Arc de Triomphe and just watched people and traffic. There were plenty of pigeons there too...one dropped his doo-doo in my hair...

Paris is known for being the city of romance and love. But actually the spiritual feeling there is very cold.

We know you have a big job to do there and you can count on our prayers for you. These folks need Hope. Hope's name is Jesus.

The Atkinson 6 said...

I am praying for you and Ken. I am praying for your dream. God has big plans for your family and I would say He is just better preparing you for the journey ahead!

Please don't get discouraged. He does in His own time! You wouldn't want to go until He has fully prepared you, Ken, and the kids.

I know it's hard, but He put this dream in you and Ken's heart for a reason.

Remember many are praying for you!

Paul & Angela Jenkins said...

Okay you got me to sign in and stop being anonymous. I'm so thankful that you have a heart for Paris. When I was there (and was a YOUNG christian) I was overwhelmed at the sin and attitude of the people around me. It just broke my heart to see all of it. With you guys going over there God can use you to break the bondage that keeps the city captive.