Fete de la Musique

Music and excitement all over France last night!!

The annual Fête de la Musique takes place on June 21, giving people the chance to dance long into the night.

Towns and villages play host to musicians and artists offering everything from classical favourites to new and original music.

On the Fête de la Musique website you can track down a wide selection of different events taking place across the country.

The Fête de la Musique started in 1982 and has gone on to feature in many other countries including Germany, Ireland as well as the UK.

("A Long Day of Summer Music", This French Life)

Wouldn't this be a great idea for up and growing new Catalyst churches all over France to use their own church bands, or for us to help bring over bands from churches all over the U.S. to get into the marketplace and let people get a taste of this new kind of church in their country. To use this activity as a catalyst to introduce the church to those who think church is boring and irrelevant. So do you go to a church with a rock'in band? ... Pick a town or village and come join us!! (Especially if you can understand anything on the "Fete de la Musique" webisite... it's only in French :-)

New "Catalyst France" Website!

Please go check out our new website. I am so proud of my computer techi husband who built and designed a totally new website for Catalyst France by himself with more and better information.

Seeing him do this reminded me of a devotion my sister, Martha Fry (pastors wife of C3 church - our church), gave at one of our praise team practices. In Exodus 35:30- 36:2 it says,

"Then Moses said to the Israelites. "See the Lord has chosen Bezalel... and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs ... And he has given both him and Oholiab ... the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill and ability to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers ... The Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the Sanctuary... Then Moses summoned every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work."

This has been so exciting and apparent in how God is working in Ken and I. If you know us, I am an athlete/Social Worker personality, and my husband is a visionary leader/computer genius (okay, geek - but he's a goodlooking geek) ... notice I didn't say anything about being creative or artistic, yet God has called us to use the arts and creative technology in reaching a generation where it will take this type of ministry to reach them. It is so apparent in the things God is putting in Ken's heart to create and design that it is from God, because I have never seen my husband do these types of things. It is so exciting to know that if we are willing God can fill us with whatever it takes to do what He has called us to do.

We are also excited to share that "Catalyst France" will be incorporated by July, so we will be an official organization and be able to begin receiving support through this organization. God is moving fast and it is exciting. We have even had another person, on staff at Life Church in OKC, a church we greatly admire, email us to get more information on what we are doing & interested in going with us.

Our God is so awesome, and I am so honored to be a part of this ministry God has birthed designed and is preparing for us to do.

Pray For Baby Isaac

As many of you know, Isaac, got to go home last week, and so did his parents. I know they enjoyed sleeping in their own beds, hanging out in their living room, and showering in their own bathrooms after 101 days at Ronald McDonald House... and I'm sure it is an awesome place... but there's no place like home.

Well, today baby Isaac had to go back into the hospital. Nothing serious (at least not yet) but any infection or sickness could be potentially life threatening with a baby who is fighting so many more odds. You can read more about him on baby Isaac's blog.

So when you tuck your kids in tonight say a prayer for Isaac... and when you lay down in you own comfortable bed, pray for Jordan & Patience. I'm sure it is hard on them to have to go back to the hospital and Ronald McDonald House after being home only a week. I'm sure it makes them catch their breath when Isaac's weak little body catches something and cannot fight it off and is sent back to the hospital for further testing and treatment. But I am sure they are thanking God for that week at home, and are relying on His strength to carry them through this hopefully small valley.

Long Lunches And Kisses Affecting France Economy

I love this article that "This French Life" put out last week. If the economy in France were not so sad, this would be funny. The great thing for "Catalyst France" is that if people become miserable enough in their life (high unemployment, stuck in the same job your whole life, no opportunity for advancement) they become very open to change. Praise God for Sarkozy, he may just be paving the way for something new spiritually also.

Two hour lunches and kissing hello is as French as the Eiffel Tower, but if the new President has his way they could be under threat.

The long lunch hour is characteristic of the French culture and from Paris to the smallest village you will find hungry workers taking their well earned lunch break.

President Sarkozy is faced with unemployment of around eight percent and an economy growing at around two percent; an issue of whether France can maintain its lifestyle and be competitive.

Opinion says that France is going downhill and that if there is no change France could find itself struggling to compete in the world of productivity and Sarkozy has promised to tackle this problem. He is considering reforms to restore the value of hard work, making a 35 hour week a minimum rather than a maximum requirement, thereby allowing people to work more by making it possible for people who work overtime to be paid for it. It is a matter of changing the French mentality regarding work ethics.

It is a joke in the world of productivity that the French waste time with meetings and the tradition of the ritual morning greeting of kissing everyone on the cheek, twice. The normal holiday allocation is 48 days off plus the many national holidays. With so many holidays it makes working life extremely pressurised.

Workers in other countries may envy the holidays and benefits of French workers, but in a recent study French workers are found to be discontented and ‘the world’s biggest whiners.’ But, it is not that the French dislike work, in fact they value hard work highly.

A spokesperson from CFDT, one of France’s largest unions, feels the French worker is highly maligned and what is needed is more people to increase production and help pay the pensions of an increasingly ageing population.

Mr Sarkozy’s plans to change France’s view of working practice have struck a chord with the people who voted him into office and his popularity has surged to 65%; the highest for a president at this early stage in office since General de Gaulle.

Changes cannot be made overnight and people’s working habits will not change quickly

It just goes to show that lots of perks and always getting what you think you want does not always make you happy.

The Father's Day Gift

I know father's day is over, but I wanted to share how my son showed me the true meaning of love on father's day.

Yesterday (Monday) after spending money on a "Paris" coffee mug and a cool (and much needed) pair of shorts for my hubby, my 6 year old Levi walked in his dad's office Monday morning with a bag and handed it to him. Now let me preface this with what happened at church on Sunday. Ministry leaders at our church had handed out a few Starbucks cards to those who had helped in a number of different ways serving on Sunday. Because of this Ken joked around about wanting to help and ended up later on helping take down a tent. He didn't do it to get a card, but they gave him one anyways. Ken made a big deal about it in the car but didn't say anything else about it.

Earlier (before my son gave my husband this bag) all the kids were playing but Levi was nowhere to be found. I called up the stairs and he quietly came and stood at the top of the stairs looking like he was up to something. I asked him what he was doing, and he said, "just playing." Well, since he wasn't hurting or pestering anybody and nobody was crying or whining, I just left him alone to play quietly (a treasured phenomenon in our house)

So now to the bag my son gave to Daddy. He handed it to him and said, "Happy Father's Day." Ken opened the little cotten bag (not a gift bag) and there was a Starbucks card wrapped in tissue paper. Concerned that he might have taken it from the church, (well because kids do that sometimes... at least ours do), Ken asked him where he got it, and he said, "At Starbucks."

Ken & I both had a good laugh about it (not in front of him) because he often picks up the cool looking cards at Wal-mart or Starbucks that you have to put money on for it to be worth anything. I also cried because it was one of the most precious things I had ever witnessed, and I didn't know kids could be so creative and giving at such a young age. He gave one of his most precious possessions (this blank Starbucks card), because he thought it was worth something and kept it in a special place somewhere in his room.

He had to think through the process of wanting to give something to his Dad, go to this special"place", take it out, find tissue paper and a play bag, and without being prideful and showing off, he quietly took this to his dad by himself. I cry even now just thinking how precious that was... so why did I waste money on a coffee cup and jeans?

Paul Potts, "Britain's Got Talent" Semi-finals

I don't know about you, but I need a little inspiration this morning... so I am going to post another blog with Paul Potts. If you did not see his original performance on Britain's got talent that left the world speechless, go to this past blog.

If you do not know who Paul Potts is you will soon. He is a car phone salesman in Britain who decided to take a chance and go on a T.V. talent show to see what he could do. He gave an original performance that left the world speechless. He touched the world with a gift nobody knew he had. I'm not even sure he knew what an amazing gift he possessed. It reminds me of God when I watch this video. It reminds me that He is the God at making something phenomenal from nothing.

Common Paris Advertisement

If you want to see what we and our children will see on a regular basis in France, go to my hubby's blog.

It may be a little shocking at first, but... that's why we are going... France needs Jesus.

My 100th Blog!!

My husband just told me that I surpassed my 100th blog and I am suppose to throw a party. I love that... anything for a party! This is actually my 102nd blog. Who would have thought I could think of that much to say (okay that's enough from the peanut gallery) and that anybody would actually read it.

I also want to say, "I love my "blogging buddies!" (and you know who you are) and hope there are many more years of blogging with you. I also think we will need to have a reunion in France once we get there. We'll think of some reason to celebrate. :-) Love to you all!!

Baby Isaac's At Home!!!!

I am so excited to shout from the rooftops that Baby Isaac is home today!!! If you don't know what I am talking about go to his blog and read what miracles God has done in this little baby's life. (If you want the very short version go to our church (C3 Church) pastor's blog, mattfry.com).

It is a story that could be straight from scripture on the healing miracles God chose to do in this child's life and the strength and witness of these young parents through this whole ordeal. It has changed my spiritual life and walk with the Lord. I will never see God the same again...

And as Ken and I have walked through a new door in our lives, the things I have learned have taken me to a new level in walking by faith and trusting in a trustworthy God.

Thank you Patience and Jordan for sharing your story with us!

Dan Ohlerking & Brad Pitt

I was very surprised and honored to get a shout out from Dan Ohlerking earlier this week, who also put me on his blog list. His family started Children's Cup, a ministry I shared about a few blogs ago. He is the missions pastor at Healing Place church in Baton Rouge, La. and has been a great encouragement and adviser during all the decision making and creation of Catalyst France.

I actually just added him to my permanent blog list. (Sorry Dan, I thought you were on there since I regularly read your blog). You should check out his blog. It is a fun mixture of ministry, missions, personal life, and spiritual insight. Thanks Dan!!

Might I also add we both lived in Springfield, Mo. the same time Brad Pitt was in high school. I didn't know Dan, but I did know Brad Pitt... and that's a whole 'nother blog. :-)

Ruth Graham 1920-2007

As most of you have probably already heard Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, died today at the age of 87. The headlines on foxnews.com read:

MONTREAT, N.C. — Ruth Graham, who surrendered dreams of missionary work in Tibet to marry a suitor who became the world's most renowned evangelist, died Thursday. She was 87.

The wife of Billy Graham died at 5:05 p.m. at her home at Little Piney Cove, surrounded by her husband and all five of their children, said a statement released by family spokesman Larry Ross.

My husband and I caught part of a special about her and ... wow... Once again I could only hope to be such a Godly wife and mother. She was not perfect, and she was strong-willed (I love that part) and she was the strength behind a man that changed the world. She even helped him write his sermons... and who says women can't preach?

Once again I look at my life and wonder what the world will say about me. Will they say she loved life, she loved her family, she loved her God, she wanted everyone to know her God, and she made everyone's life around her better? ... I hope someday they can say that.

From cell phone salesman to Opera Prince

Okay all you American Idol fans, get out your kleenexes...

Remember how I talked about believing in the "little guy"...

If you want to be inspired...

If you want to believe that fairytales still happen...

If you want to believe that God gave each of us a gift and when we figure out what it is no matter how big or small it is the beauty of our creator shining through... watch this video...

My hubby had this on his blog today and when I finally had a chance to sit down and watch it... I cried... and watched it at least 20 more times and cried every time... and then I wanted to know know to reach this guy so we could bring him to France for a special production at our church and then share the gospel with him and watch him rock Europe for Christ! For those of you who want to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives... it is reach Europeans and show them how awesome God is and how awesome church and the body of Christ can be, and then watch them live out their dreams and change Europe... because Europe is dying in depression... and they don't know who they are in Christ... and they don't know that God wants to give them abundant life beyond what they can imagine.

Are You Changing The World?

It's blogs like this that make every missionary say it is all worth it. It makes every financial supporter say, "Wow, I made a difference." I makes every prayer warrior who really prayed for a ministry or missionary say, "Wow, maybe God does really hear my prayers."

This is a post from the Rehmeyers in Swaziland who work with aids orphans and vulnerable children with a ministry called Children's Cup.

You may remember reading way back about a young girl we met at Madonsa. She looked to be about 10 or 11 and was very sick. When we found out she was the same age as our oldest daughter Gabby, we were shocked. She was slowly dieing from AIDS. Maybe she was born with it, maybe contracted it somewhere through childhood. She had been out of school for years: a combination of being too weak and sick to go and a mom who couldn't make enough money selling vegetables to afford the school fees, uniform or even transport to get her there. She was one of the first kids that Children's Cup was able to help get treated for AIDS by providing emotional support and transport to the Baylor's Clinic in Mbabane. The turn around has been dramatic. She smiles now and looks so much healthier. Teresa and I decided to sponsor her anonymously this year and paid her school and uniform fees through the 'Cup teacher at Madonsa. We received a letter from both her and her mom last week. Her letter reads

"..... In the name of our father Jesus Christ I thank you for sending me to school. You gave me hope in life, without your intervention in my life I think I would have been dead. Thank you very much for taking care of me by sending me to the doctor now I can feel the difference in my life. May God bless you. Never get tired of helping other sick children."

She is in third grade. Her grades are fair (20th in the class of 57). But you know what? I really don't care how she does. She has purpose and worth. Looking at her now vs. last year makes it all worth it. It's your help above and beyond that allows us to step out and do a little extra. So the last line in her letter is really for everyone that supports us in prayer and finances: "I love you and I love God who sent you to my life. From Thobile Lukhele"

If you have never supported a missionary, I encourage you to find one today you can pray for and give financially to so they can go. If God has not called you to "go", then help change the world through supporting someone whom God has "called". I have always had a huge burden for the lost and hurting and starving around the world. I have supported many missionaries and ministries, some only at $10 a month when I had nothing. I even did it when I only made $1500 in a whole year (long story - it was a ministry thing), but God always provided above what I gave.

Read more about the ministry of Children's Cup and consider supporting one of their missionaries. If you have a heart for another part of the world, seek a missionary out in that part of the world. If you can't find one contact me gina@catalystfrance.org and I'll help you find one. If you have a heart for Europe consider Catalyst France or many others I could contact you with. Whatever you do find out what an awesome adventure it is to support a missionary in some way. When you get to heaven you never know who might come up to you and say, "Thank you for giving to that ministry. I would never have heard about Jesus if you hadn't."

Rent Out Your Gite During World Cup Rugby

Are any of you into World Cup Rugby? Have you made any preparations to join in the fun of rugby for the World Cup taking place in France later this year? The competition begins on September 9 and matches will take place from Lens in the north to Marseille in the south, and offers a chance to extend your season.

Well, if you are come visit us this fall. This French Life, a travel and living site for France, and a blog I really enjoy following, brought this up on it's latest post "Rent Out Your Gite During World Cup Rugby". It actually sounds like fun. People in France actually rent their houses out to those who are sports fans wanting to stay in a city to actively participate in the sport as a fan. I'm not sure if there are not enough hotels or if it's cheaper to do this, but it sounds like fun.

And if you do decide to come, and we are set up in our house, you can stay with us rent free :-) and maybe we'll even go watch a rugby event.

Are All Your Friends "Cool"?

My husband just put up a good post on believing in the little guy. You should check it out, because that's really who Jesus was and is, and how we should live our lives. There are alot of leaders out there who will only attach their name to someone who has "arrived" (socially, financially, in business, ect.). It is too risky for them, or so they think, to believe in someone who could possibly fail, or not make a great name for themselves. I've even seen a leader blow somebody off when they were just beginning and needed help only to seek them out and attach their name to them when they got successful.

Well, I praise God He believed in them before they were big. Sort of like Zacheus. Jesus passed by everybody and went to this wierdo who was sitting in a tree. Admit it, wouldn't you have thought he was strange. Not somebody you would have dinner with if you were important. And what about the woman who poured perfume on Jesus's feet and began washing his feet with her hair. Also not cool in public. What if some woman walked up to your pastor and did that. Don't you think she would be escorted out in a white jacket. Then there were all those nasty smelly uncivilized fishermen Jesus went and found and called them to lead the charge in reaching all mankind.

I see alot of "hobknobbing" of "cool" leaders nowadays, and a blowing off of those who they do not think are as "cool", or successful, or that they are not sure will be successful. It's sad really.

I pray I never become like that. I pray I will always love and want to meet the "uncool", or the "not so beautiful", or the strange one nobody knows how to talk to. I pray I will always believe in those who need encouragement or who need a cheerleader to attempt to go after a dream. I pray I will love the unlovely and see the potential in people even when it is covered up by a lot of "junk" or a quirky facade. I know my Lord would.

Back to the Basics... In France

I found this great blog called "Back to the Basics" on Church Marketing Sucks and thought I would share it with you:

It's time to go back to the basics.

I don't know any non-Christian who wakes up and thinks, "Gee, I should go to church today." Churches need to find ways to make people think that very thought--whether it's through billboards or outreach events or the incredible example of their members (or all three and more--my point, don't get hung up on the method). If churches aren't getting people to think that, then what are they doing?

Unfortunately, too many churches have settled for the status quo, the steady stream of Christians who do wake up thinking they should go to church, and for some churches that's good enough. Those churches are social clubs, and useless. Sadly, many Christians are that way too.

We have a dream to want to make French people think a similar thought, "What is this church I have heard & seen & read about over and over and over, I think I'll go check it out!" We have a dream to see people all over France think this thought. We have a dream of people with all sorts of talents and gifts and resources helping us out. We have a dream of many of you being a part of bringing this hope to France. If you would like more information about us and our ministry please go to our website catlystfrance.org or contact us at info@catalystfrance.org.

Comments on "The Birth of Catalyst France"

Recently someone responded to a post I had put up and my husband and I wanted to respond. It was two comments from England on "The Birth of Catalyst France". The comments said,

May 26, 2007 7:51 PM

Anonymous said...
I am all about the teachings of Christ and religion but why did you decided to do this in France ? Did they ask you to ? It seems like the French have a great sense of religion and spirituality already . I know most of them are Catholics and I go there alot and have French friends so I am just curious to your choice .

June 2, 2007 10:59 AM
Deborah said...
Yes, may God Bless you, but I question the need for planting churches in, of all places, France. But, look, if it works out for you to get to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, then I applaud you for figuring out a way to do it. Especially if you are supported by the ministry financially! Brilliant! Also, I hope the children do well with the move, but since you are quite consumed by them, and who wouldn't be at their tender ages, I'm sure it will be just fine. But, please remember, Catholics do know Jesus Christ: he is the focus of the Church. Thanks.

My husband and I wanted to respond:

June 2, 2007 6:08 PM
Ken Witcher said...

Anonymous and Deborah,While it may seem like the French have a good sense of religion and spirituality and that many of them claim to be Catholics, the reality is that only about 6-8% of the population claim to attend any kind of church on a regular basis. France also ranks highest in a recent survey of people who never or almost never attend church.

We are not coming to France to reach the Catholics. We are coming to reach those who have no church experience and no desire to attend church as they perceive it. Most churches function in a historically cultural way that young people don't connect with. We plan to start a church that speaks the language of the younger (20-30s') generation and deals with the issues they are facing.

People are looking for answers and for meaning. We know that Jesus offers those, but we have failed to communicate in ways that new generations understand.We have shared this plan with young people we met on the streets in France and they were all very excited and wanted to attend.

June 7, 2007 7:32 AM
Gina Witcher / Runnermom4 said...

Anonymous & Daborah,I would hope to get to meet you someday and share more about why we chose France and why we believe, from going there and talking to French people and seeing the statistics of depression and the amount of antidepressants they take (it is the highest in the world) there is a desperation for something spiritual.

Also after talking with many French people and sharing that we wanted to plant a relevant exciting church, where you can wear flip flops and jeans, that shares how the Bible is relevant to their internal happiness and practical everyday issues, and feels more like a youth concert than church, every single one of them said, "I would go to a church like that", and some even gave us their emails to contact them when we return.

The "Dangers" of life in the 50's, 60's, & 70's

Perry Noble had a great blog today from a friend of his called "It's a wonder I survived" on the dangers of living life 20-50 years ago. I have added and altered some of his entries in red to some ideas of life when I was a child.

People over 25 should be dead. According to today’s regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, or even maybe the early 70’s probably shouldn’t have survived.

Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint.

Our moms put us on our tummies because that's what the doctors told them to do.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets.

We rode our bikes without helmets.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags... in the front seat on the arm rest.

Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat. My sister, Martha, and I rode in the back of a pick up from Nashville to Raleigh and loved it. My uncle would have been arrested for that.

We rode on the wheel hump in the back, and on the gate of the pickup truck with our legs dangling off.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. We also played in the middle of the street.

We (teenagers and moms) travelled with no cell phones (what no cell phones!!!) at night, in run down cars, low on gas, down dirt raods in the middle of nowhere.

We hitch hiked and picked up hitch hikers.

We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt.

We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We played on playgrounds made of wood where there was cement under the monkey bars.

There are so many more things I'm sure you can remember as a child that would be unheard of now. Perry Noble has many more "dangerous things" on his blog, so go there to read more... and feel free to add to my list. I thought this was really funny and I'm sure you have some great ones also.

I Am So Blessed!!

God continues to amaze me through the power of prayer. I think we don't see the miraculous power of God very often because we don't pray in the desperate way we do when we are praying for the life of someone.

If any of you have been following the baby Isaac or the Dax blog God is doing some amazing things in both these children's lives. Baby Isaac was at the brink of death 3 times, and Dax who is older and understands more of what is going on in his life has had some very scary times as a 3 year old, but is now stabilized and is waiting for a liver.

Whenever I think my day is bad or my situation is overwhelming or stressful... Whenever I am at the end of my rope with my kids and I am not being very Christlike... Whenever I think I am so exhausted I can't go on emotionally, mentally, and physically...
I think of these families and realize my day is really not that bad; that a messy house and uncontrollable laundry is not that big a deal; and lack of sleep, no rest, no time for myself will not kill me; even kids that run crazy, don't seem to hear anything I say, and disobey me in public is no reason to thow in the towel...

My God is an awesome God and I know he cares for me. God is in the business of caring for us all day every day. How often do we lay all our seemingly less important burdens at His feet to help us with. Do we think He's too busy with the major ones; death, starving kids in Africa, wayward children, the lost.... Scripture tells us He cares. Matt 6 says don't worry, seek God's kingdom. Psalm 37:4 says God cares about the desires of your heart. In Matthew 17 God says if you have the faith of a mustard seed you can move a mountain. In Philippians 4 it says not to be anxious about anything but through prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. Further on in that passage Paul says (while sitting in an ancient times kind of jail cell), I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation... I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

So today I am thankful for 4 healthy kids, a house that is a cleaning challenge, laundry that overtakes my life, and unruly kids. It reminds me that I am human and that I need God. He has so much to give me when I think I am at the end of my rope, and help to offer in the practical things... If He can move a mountain, I don't think my issues are too much for Him.

Thank you Father for loving me, for dying for me, for giving me 4 healthy children, clothes that I don't pay for, a nice house with air conditioning, food on my table, for giving me many times over the desires of my heart, and a million more things I don't have time to put on this blog. I am so blessed!!

Technical Difficulties

I am so excited to be posting something and reading a few of the blogs I follow. I have actually laughed quite a bit these past 3-4 days because everything that has to do with technology lately breaks when I touch it. I am actually on my husbands laptop so I can communicate with the outside world for a few minutes.

My first laptop (an old one of Ken's which he called a dinasour) got water spilled on it by one of our beautiful children... imagine that. His next laptop which he gave to me when he got a new one died a couple of months ago, and it was pretty new. I then got demoted to the desktop. You'd think we had entered the stone age having to sit at a desk and not move while on the computer. Well, I am happy to say I have now killed the desktop. But that is not all... the printer when I tried to use it the last few times didn't work, and now is permanently not working. And the last piece of equipment I always like to talk about is my phone... it gets stuck on mute, and I have to throw it on the ground where it breaks apart (where the battery comes flying out) and put it back together for it to work.

So now you see why I am not allowed to touch technical equipment in our house. My husband, the computer genius, has not been able to figure either one of the computers out yet, and he can take them apart and put them together. I told Ken today Satan just wants us to be frustrated and not to be able to communicate with people because he knows what's going down in France.

So I just laugh knowing technical issues are no surprise to God and certainly not beyond his ability to fix when needed. Communication with people also cannot be thwarted by a few computer gliches. God has all that under his control also.

So go ahead Satan take your best shot. This is not our plan it is God's and it will not be thwarted. You are going down like Goliath in France and I can hardly wait to see it!

YOU GO GOD!!!"

Travel to Europe

If any of you are hoping one day to come visit us in France, or take a trip on your own to Europe, I came across this website today, and I am going to add it to my regular links on my blog. You might have heard of Rick Steves or seen him on T.V. He has alot of great tips for traveling in Europe and places to go and see outside the mainstream tourist attractions. His website is "Europe Through The Backdoor," a place Ken and I look forward to getting alot of information from.

Anyway, just thought I would plant a seed in hopes many of you would come visit us. It is actually very cheap to fly to Europe in the "off-season" (fall, winter, and early spring). Even if you don't know us well, we welcome you... as long as you don't have an ongoing criminal record, or been let out of an institution within the last year or so. :-) If you are part of the body of Christ, you are our family and we'd love to introduce you to a culture who desperately needs Jesus. If you do not know what I am talking about when I say "body of Christ" and would like to know more, please email me.

We plan on being there for at least 5-6 years, so please pray about it and take us seriously. Who knows, maybe you'll come back to stay and work with us for a while and help us reach Europe in new, creative, and exciting ways.

Baby Isaac is going home!!!

If you have kept up with my blog at all you will know who 15 week old baby Isaac is. Well, he got to get in a stroller and take a ride outside today... and if you know any of his story you will know what an indescribable miracle this is. There is also been a date set for him to go home!!... To read more about this absolutely amazing miracle and see lots of pictures of him not laying in a bed hooked up to tons of wires click here.

The Desperate Love of a Parent

How many of us will understand the love of a heavenly father who sent his son to die in our place. I linked to a blog the other day about a very sick little boy named Dax. His mom wrote an amazing entry about another situation in the hospital that makes those of us with healthy kids who have never had any serious health situations realize what trivial things we make into huge concerns and stresses.

If you're struggling to be thankful today, go to the entry "Late Night Ramblings" (it will not let me link directly to it) and read a very inspirational entry his mother wrote.

An International Audience

Since my husband mentioned me in his blog today I have to link to his blog for a laugh.

When God links to your blog

You have to go to this blog and see the link at the end of the article where it says "planting churches in France". Can God not do anything he wants? Can God not bring anyone into your path from any where in the world to tell them about His love for them? I have no idea who writes this blog, but I had 2 hits yesterday and 10 hits already today from this site from both England and France.

Father, I pray you pour out your Blessing on this blog site today and that you would bring French people across mine and Ken's path because of this blog (This French life) that will come to know you and that would be a part of a church we plant someday.

The Reason I Want to Reach The World

A friend of mine, Sue, had this blog on her blog and it is so powerful, I wanted you to see it. It is the reason I have wanted to be a missionary my whole life. It is the reason I am willing to leave my family, raise my kids away from grandparents and cousins, walk away from the only culture I have ever known and love, enter a knew culture where I am the strange one (of course some think I am a little strange here) :-) , learn a language in a culture where they will always correct my pronunciation, know my kids will grow up not really feeling at home in any country...

It hurts to think about sometimes, but it hurts more to know I have been so blessed to have been raised in a pastors family who showed me Christ so clearly, all I ever wanted to do was to follow Him... and there are people out there who live in countries where there are no churches and if there are churches, they are not showing the people who Christ is in a way that they can understand or that give them the desire to know more .

Watch this video and ask God how you can be a part of reaching more people like this.

Please Pray For Dax

For those of you who have prayed for Baby Isaac, I would like to ask you to pray for a little 3 year old boy who desperately needs a liver transplant. His name is Dax. You can check out this blog to find out more about his situation. Make sure you scroll down to read "A journey to Dax... A Look Back". His parents adopted him knowing he had a health issue that may not let him live past 1 year old. They sound like amazing people.

I pray, Lord, that you will bless this precious family with healing and/or a liver transplant for little Dax. We have seen you bring Baby Isaac back from the brink of death. We know there were probably thousands praying for him. But it is not the numbers that you listen to, it is the heart of one righteous person. I pray Lord that I would be righteous enough that you would hear my prayer for this total stranger (Dax). I love children; especially special needs children. I would love to fill my home with them, but since you have not called me to that right now in my life, I pray for those who have. Have mercy on this family and bring health and a long life to this little boy so he can bring you glory and a life that can serve and tell the world about you.

Knowing God's Love in the midst of the storms

My heart has been so full lately... full of heartache when I see the world around me... full of passion to reach them... full of God's love and God's view of wanting to reach them... full of passion for Gods word... and full of God's love for me...

My husband and I have felt bombarded with "situations" (some might call attacks from the enemy), but we know they are here to grow us. We know we have a calling on our lives, and we know we will never fulfill this calling unless we are willing to grow through all these challenges. I have been amazed at how my husband has been walking in the Spirit and handling all these "situations" with grace and God's love for others.

I on the other hand I have struggled greatly with the challenge of motherhood. I have wanted to walk away because of what I have seen in myself, and what my children have seen. I have been exhausted from lack of sleep, flustered by lack of schedule, overwhelmed by still attempting to clean my house to get it on the market, and pushed to my limit from 4 small kids who, I think, have taken a vow to challenge their mother all day every day all at the same time. My human nature has come to this strange conclusion that if I yell loud enough and look scary enough, they will listen... and they do after they get done crying. You just can't be told what to do out of a book. It all sounds great, but when it's coming at you "times 4", not including cleaning a messy house, laundry, meals, cleanup, diaper changes, helping with potty, and the never ending calling of "mommy!!!", it just sort of pushes you over the edge. (Boy it stresses me out just typing it).

But I know it is all for a reason. It is put here to grow me... and as God typically does, He does not give us anything new until we have gotten victory over this challenge... So watch out Satan! I want to go to France! People are dying and going to hell, and we want to get there! I am not a quitter or a loser! I have already won this one in Christ!... I just haven't reached the finish line yet!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Phil. 4:13 (Isn't it ironic that this was what the speaker, Robby Robison, spoke about at our church this weekend).

I THANK YOU LORD THAT YOU ARE OUR VICTOR, MIGHTY WARRIOR, OUR COMPASS THROUGH THE STORMS... I LOVE YOU LORD!!

The Birth of Catalyst France

I stole this blog from my husband just because it is sharing what is going on in our lives and I don't have to rewrite the story.

Three years ago Gina and I joined a mission organization and began to prepare to plant a church in Paris, France. Over the past year or so, however, God has begun to move in our hearts to do more that just plant a church. We began to talk about planting a church that would be a catalyst in France for a larger church movement.

This month Gina and I made the decision to step down from our missions organization and become more closely aligned with like-minded church partners. This led to the formation of Catalyst France (It's our new website still in progress).

Our vision is to see France impacted with the gospel through the multiplication of high-impact churches where French people have an opportunity to hear the gospel clearly communicated in a culturally relevant way, see it lived out in the lives of transformed believers, and to experience lasting life-change through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

While change always comes with its share of uncertainty, God has given a tremendous peace about this decision. Monday we emailed this news out to our prayer team. Since that time we have already had new people come to us asking how they can support our ministry and one couple who said that they are seriously praying about joining us in Paris.

We're really excited about what God is doing. We are still working out the administrative details of Catalyst France, but we hope to have everything setup for tax-deductible contributions in the next week or so.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can be involved in planting a church in Paris or would like to give financially to this ministry please contact us at info@catalystfrance.org.

Motherhood - a job to be accepted with fear and trembling

This is blog a friend wrote on Mother's day that I needed to go back and read today. Being a mom, wife, and homemaker has been especially challenging this week (well, every week is challenging, but this one just more so). Did you ever just want to quit, send your kids back, and move out on your own... Well, thanks to Erika I was brought back a little to reality.

Motherhood is one of the hardest, most confusing, most joyous, and amazing jobs and experiences I have ever been blessed to struggle through.

There are so many books, magazines, websites, and offers of advice you can ever ask for but there is nothing and I mean nothing greater than prayer.

I love my children. I am amazed at my children. I am blessed by my children and I am taught by my children.

When I look at their faces I see myself, David, our parents...I wonder if that is how God sees me? Does He look at me and see Himself? Does He see a characteristic and remember when He created that in me? Is He watching on this mother's day and remembering when He placed this day in my life while I was still being made in my mother's womb?

My prayer for all the mom's out there...is that you know how much you are loved and appreciated!

What Will Your Funeral Look Like?

There are not many people who have ever lived who can say they have closed down an airport or closed down public schools for their funeral. Dr. Falwell truly laid his life down for Christ, and he has reaped an amazing harvest and is being honored in an amazing way. It feels as if heaven also is standing up to honor this man.

According to Tadd Grandstaff's blog, the funeral is set for tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Nancy Regan, George & Barbara Bush, and George W. & Laura Bush are just a few of those that will be attending the service. (You can also link to a live feed of the service from his blog).

The service will be held at Thomas Road Baptist Church with live feeds to the Vines Center (LU's basketball arena) and Williams Stadium (LU’s football stadium) and they are planning for all three locations to be at max capacity with standing room only.

They will also be shutting down the Lynchburg Airport because of the influx of private planes & jets. They are closing all public schools and most private schools by noon tomorrow. They will also be closing the Lynchburg Mall to use their parking lot to shuttle people to the campus. It's really hard to imagine, but a town is basically shutting down for this funeral.

The one thing I began thinking of was that Jerry Falwell was just a man, and he used his gifts and talents to the utmost for Christ. He walked by faith, did the hard things, and was rejected and ridiculed by those who didn't believe the way he did. But it was for those that he did what he did. He loved the lost like few I've known. I have known of Jerry Falwell for a long time, and then got to meet him when I coached track at Liberty, and while my brother-in-law (Matt Fry) was the youth pastor at Thomas Road. But because of how the world has responded to this man's life it has made me take a closer look at mine and ask, "What will my funeral be like?"

Dream Big Dreams!

Aaaaaaaaah! Perry Noble... a man after my own heart. I have copied a little of his post yesterday on dreams.

What is it that you want? OK…put THAT thought OUT of your mind…

What is it that God wants you to want? Is there a dream or desire in your life that is so huge that you can’t seem to shake it…but you also can’t seem to believe that it would ever happen?

God rocked my world this morning when I read I Chronicles 11:4-5, WOW!!! Basically David had became the king of Israel…but after becoming king he STILL had ambitions and dreams. (In other words–pastors, church leaders–our point of “arrival” is no where on this planet…as long as we are alive we need to pursue God sized dreams!)

SO…in this passage he goes after his dream–Jerusalem. (Yep, I definitely think God wanted him to pursue this!) The first thing he was told was, “You will never be able to do this.”

When we pursue God’s dreams–the first thing to happen is ALWAYS the naysayers who somehow find us and begin to tell us about all of the things that we cannot do!!! I know we had them at NewSpring when we first began…we were told our church would not work, that we would never be able to move into the Fine Arts Center at Anderson University, that we would never build a building, that I would never succeed as a pastor because I do not have a seminary degree…and the list could go on and on.BUT…I would not let go of the dream!!! It wasn’t something I could let go…it was a passion that God had placed inside of me. I see that in David in this text–even though he was told by a group of people that his dream could not take place–it didn’t stop him.

In verse five we see the dream accomplished…it worked. When we pursue God given dreams and inspirations with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength…GREAT THINGS HAPPEN... AND–he didn’t form a committee to study the problem! NO…he had a vision from God–and he pursued it.

If God TRULY places a dream and a passion inside of you–pursue it!!!

Well, you get the idea. (Link here to read his entire post (yes, it's quite a bit longer than this).
I really thought this way when I was in college and spoke often to teenage audiences about these kinds of things when I was competing in college and in my 20's. "Dream big dreams," I would say. The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" Ps. 37:4 It never occurred to me that one could use this type of thinking in building "The Churh."

It's so awesome to see pastors and visionary leaders reaching the lost with this same passion, and speaking about "dreaming big" all the time. It reminds us little guys that God wants to use us to do the same types of things if we would just step out in faith and dream big dreams like these crazy visionary pastors and our heroes in scripture.

Terry Woychowski - Executive with General Motors

I love what Terry Woychowski, an executive with General Motors -- responsible for more than 8000 engineers, said at the Daybreak conference. I copied these notes from TimSteven's blog of Granger Church who took a group from his church to his conference.

He talked in this session about change. Terry drove onto the stage in a 2007 Chevy Silverado carrying the actual 2007 Motor Trend Truck of the Year trophy. Some notable quotes from his session:

• One year ago we reported a $10 billion loss in one quarter.
• We had to change or die. GM did not have the universal right to exist. We had to change or we would cease to exist.
• We had to change our processes, our systems, even some of our people. I had to let 1200 engineers go who worked for me.
• This past year was the most difficult year in my life by far. Change is hard. And massive change is massively hard.
• Change is inevitable. The question is whether you will change for better…or change for worse.
• There are roadblocks between your community and God. Your job is not to move the community to God. It is, rather, to remove the roadblocks that keep them from making their way to God.
• To change…we often need to “feel” the need deeply to be sufficiently motivated to voluntarily change.

Terry pointed to the Motor Trend trophy and said that he worked three long years to win that award. But, some day it will burn or rust or be buried. But what you do, in church work, that really matters. That will last.

My God Is So Awesome!!

I wanted to write some inspirational blog today, but I didn't want my picture of the Arch de Triomphe to be moved down where I don't see it first thing when I go to my blog... and I love that blog. It was from my heart. Do you ever have those. I also like the link to my husbands blog that I refer to on the last blog. And, since mine is like a small essay on the Arch, I will just keep this short so everyone can finish reading it or go back and remember what it was they read.

I also have to say comfirmation of our new step of faith (stepping down from our missions organization & creating "Catalyst France") has been overwhelming. People have actually come up to us or emailed us and said, "we would like to support your ministry in France, where do I send the money." I want to burst out crying (for joy) every time that happens. It overwhelms me that God really does care about our dreams and does not call us to do something He does not provide for.

I LOVE MY LORD!!

"Impacting Culture in Paris"

My Hubby has a very complimentary blog to what I just posted on France. It's worth taking a look at.

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.<sup>[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</sup> 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.

Jerry Falwell - An amazing icon for Christ

I am sad to report what most people have already heard, but the icon Jerry Falwell died this morning at 10:45 am. He was found unresponsive in his office. Not matter what you thought of him, he was a man that had a vision and followed that vision with passion for most of his entire adult life.

He has been responsible for millions turning from their own way of living to following Christ. Our pastor, Matt Fry (my brother-in-law) went to liberty and God called him into ministry there. He helped in the youth group at Thomas Road while in school, was a youth minister for years, went back to Liberty as the Senior Youth Pastor and now has one of the top 100 fastest growing churches in America according to Outreach Magazine (C3church).

I attended seminary there for a year while coaching track and I loved Liberty University. My husband Ken Witcher (then boyfriend) was a youth intern at Thomas Road Baptist Church underMatt Fry. Liberty has a large University feel with a consevative Christian environment. It even has a Division I athletic program. The worship at chapel was done with drums and a band and was always dynamic. The students had purpose and a drive you don't find on typical university campuses. It was just a fun place to be... a far example from what most people saw Jerry Falwell as.

He was also an exremely personable person. What you saw on T.V. was not what you saw on campus. He loved to have fun with the students and gave many students a second chance after failing out or getting kicked out. He was also an amazing family man never missing a birthday of any of his kids and attempted that with his grandkids.

So, no matter what you thought of him, he was a man who was passionate about the lost and gave his life to following Christ and making a difference. I could only hope to end my life and say I have influenced as many people as he did for the Kingdom of God.

Read also what others have said about Dr. Falwell:
Tadd Granstaff - a friend and fellow church planter of Pine Ridge Church in Burlington, NC, who attended Liberty.
Tim Stevens - Pastor of Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana.

Martha Fry on "Faithfulness"

I forgot to mention that my sister, Martha Fry, pastors wife of C3 church, spoke on Mother's Day. She is a great speaker, and if you can figure out how to download a sermon (unlike myself - I have to get my husband to do it) She did an awesome job and it is worth your time to listen to.

Great job Martha! I was very convicted there at the end when you talked about at the end of your life seeing Jesus face to face, can He say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

I began thinking if I saw Him today, could He say that? Having 4 small kids and all your typical household duties, I am at the end of my rope much of the time and have to confess my children do not see Jesus in me as much as I would like. In fact I'm quite ashamed at how often they don't.

Please Father, may the power of Your Spirit work in me, so that not only my children may see Jesus, but that everyone I meet will see Jesus through me.

The LG HDTV Refrigerator - The Bomb!

I was surfing the blogesphere this morning and Tim Stevens of Granger Church mentioned this refrigerator. Well, before I even saw his blog, we (Ken & I & all our kids) just happened to be in Best Buy this weekend and saw this piece of art. I thougth to myself, "What a great Mother's Day idea."

Now to someone like myself who is a news junkie who doesn't like to cook (well I use to like to cook until I had kids) I thought, "What a brilliant idea!" I might even prepare meals ahead of time if we had this refridgerator. Of course this might be like offering alcohol to an alcoholic... I may never get anything done... which is the reason we don't have cable anymore. I guess this refrigerator with fuzzy T.V. wouldn't have the some effect.

Of course now that I read the display I see that it only gets the latest weather updates using a cellular network, but also features a recipe bank (preloaded with 100 recipes) and organizational tools such as a calendar and to-do list. In addition, the screen can be used as a digital photo frame. Maybe this T.V. is my dream T.V. I certainly need recipes on hand that I don't have to look up, and a calandar with a to do list in front of my face might certainly help. Of course, now I look at the cost...

Oh well, it was a nice idea. Maybe in my next life.

Oh, the Joys of Motherhood!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! to all those overworked, exhausted, unappreciated, but blessed mothers.

I woke up this morning with the opportunity to, well... be a mother. As I lay there in bed hoping this would be an opportunity to read in a quiet room while my husband made breakfast and thinking what it would be like to get to enjoy a delicious breakfast I had nothing to do with... in bed...

...A crying (okay screaming) almost 2 year old let me know my peace and quiet was short lived. I went into the kitchen to help my husband with the omelet he was trying not to burn for me, while trying to appease our youngetst children. I Helped my daugher find some pants. Continued helping my husband by cutting up pancakes as he cooked them for the kids. Changed a stinky diaper. Cleaned up the table and filled the dishwasher while my husband helped the kids get their Mother's day card done and wrap a present. Broke up a fight somewhere in there I'm sure, and finally sat down in my fuzzy slippers to drink some tea. (We did go to church last night if anyone is wondering why I'm sitting around and casually drinking tea on a Sunday morning) :-)

Oh the joys of motherhood...

I will say I am getting to enjoy my new CD of the soundtrack from "When Harry Met Sally"... How did the kids know I would like that? I am so impressed.

How Big Are Your Dreams?

I once again am going to quote some of what Perry Noble wrote on a past blog where I felt like he was writing my story. His words are in italics and I will be adding my comments in red.

I cannot explain what the Lord is doing in my life right now. Scripture is more alive to me than it has ever been…and the closer I get to Him the more I am realizing how small my dreams are. So…I am asking Him to fill me with His dreams…and here is what is coming to my mind.

I I don’t want a good marriage–I want a GREAT one! God is doing something in our marriage (mine and Ken's) that we really never expected. Taking this new step of faith together has united us in a way we have never experience. We have become each others best friend, and I cannot remember the last time we had a argument... now that is a miracle.

I don’t want to raise a child...I want to make a disciple. God is growing me so much in what my kids see on a day to day basis. Do they see an exhausted, frustrated, angry mother, or do they see Jesus?

I don’t want to pastor a church…I want to be a part of a MOVEMENT! This is why Ken and I have taken this step of faith. We feel God wants to start a new church movement in France very much like the new church movement we have seen here in the states that is impacting millions for Christ and He wants to involve us.

I don’t want to talk to God more…I want to listen to Him!!! I spend WAY too much time talking to God, telling Him what I want Him to do. I want to listen…to hear His voice. I want His voice to be as real to me as anything. I know that if I am going to be successful as a husband [wife], father [mother] and leader [follower] that I need HIS direction. I want to spend more time in Scripture, seeking the mind of Christ. I say it all the time–but no one EVER screws up when they follow Christ!!!

God is stretching me right now…REALLY stretching me. I [Ken & I] have had thoughts and ideas during the past two weeks that I [we] have NEVER had before. I am so excited about my walk with Him, my family, and the direction of this church [our ministry]. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Click here to read Perry's whole entry.

Discipleship - Our job or God's job?

I love what Perry Noble says about discipleship:

We have a different view of discipleship here at NewSpring Church. It bothers me that Christians will trust God’s Holy Spirit to draw someone to Him…but once that happens we often feel like we need to take over…and, like it or not, there are some really screwed up Christians because they have been taught to listen to man and not to Jesus.
I have seen the “process” of people becoming more like Christ merely reduced to a “to do list” in churches, and while this has managed to produce some fruit…I have seen it, unfortunately, develop way more legalists and self serving Christians? So…where is the balance? How do we “disciple” people at NewSpring? After all, Jesus did encourage us to “make disciples” in Matthew 28:18-20.

Click here to read more...

Successful Knee Surgery!

If you have been reading my hubby's blog, you will have read that he had knee surgery yesterday (like being a single mom of 4 for 2 weeks wasn't enough) :-)

Well praise the Lord!! they were able to do the least invasive procedure and get rid of alot of scar tissue from 3 previous surgeries 17 years ago. There was a possiblity that he was going to have to have a new ACL replacement, which meant many weeks on his butt and another human to take care of 24/7, but God had mercy on me.

Well, lucky him, all the bandages come off in two days, and he can probably start helping me clean the house next week. Now I won't make him carry anything heavy, but he certainly could fold clothes and do toilets.

France Has A New President!

I don't know if many of you have heard, but France has a new president! MSN said:

Sarkozy, a U.S.-friendly conservative and an immigrant’s son, defeated Socialist Segolene Royal by 53 percent to 47 percent with about 85 percent voter turnout Sunday.

French president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy plans to waste no time making France a friendlier place for business — and a less inviting place for criminals and would-be immigrants

The win gave Sarkozy a strong mandate for his vision of France’s future: He wants to free up labor markets, calls France’s 35-hour work week absurd and plans tougher measures on crime and immigration.

The article on the MSN page is very interesting, and looks as if Sarkozy may be a welcome change. Many say change will be hard for a country steeped in tradition, and usually things get worse before they get better. What an awesome time to enter a country and offer a security that will never change. Pray for France during this time and for those of us who will be ministering during, what could be, a historical time in French history.

Mosaic Origins Conference

If you read my last blog" Big Dreams" it is so exciting to see how God might be in the beginning stages of bringing that about. My husband, Ken, went to the Mosaic Origins Conference this past week and saw God moving in amazing ways. The people God has put in Ken's life and who he is beginning relationships with just blows us away; many of them who have amazing talents and are professional artists, also have hearts for the lost and have a desire to use these talents in Paris. God has definitely confirmed over and over the direction He is leading us and His blessing on our blind step of faith. My hubby, Ken, has written a little about his trip, the people he met, and the amazing things God did in him through this conference.

"Dream Big"

I love this blog posted by Tim Stevens at Granger Community Church called "Dream Big". The question was asked the staff and 400 members of their church and they answered the question, "What is Granger Community Church?" Their answers helped create their vision statement.

He then encouraged any church leader:
If you are leading a church, dream big! You'll have plenty of people tell you your dream is ridiculous, but it is the dreams of leaders that can change families, churches and entire communities. So, dream big!

So I used their vision statement to create what I envision our "Dream for France" will become: (This is just my own crazy thoughts after being enspired by his blog)

It is the dream of a biblically functioning community in Paris, where Christ-followers are continually taking steps in their walk with Jesus. It is a place where all are quickly connected in meaningful and life-changing relationship with others; where care and comfort happens in the context of shared life together; where a plethora of opportunities are available to help seekers and believers take their next step toward Christ.

It is the dream of an organization able to support a regional ministry and training site for ministers and pastors to learn how to reach their country in radical relevant ways and for them to be sent out to train others.

It is the dream of traveling all over France to train and teach believers how to reach their country for Christ and ultimately their continent for Christ.

It is the dream of hundreds of thousands gathering each weekend all over France to explore Christianity and take their first steps toward Christ, and then growing together in spiritual maturity through worship, study and fellowship – loving, laughing, and learning together, understanding God’s plan and living life to its’ greatest potential.

It is the dream of a people who never shrink back from communicating the truth of God’s Word using relevant and innovative means; where “cutting-edge” is normal and change is readily accepted; where artists are pursued, affirmed, cultivated, loved, and released to use their gift in the church.

It is the dream of a church that makes an indisputable impact on our region, where people of all races and religions will wonder aloud what God is up to.

A New Direction and A New Love

I feel I need to blog again, but it is hard to top the "pajama burgler", but I will try to go on.

Ken got home today!!! Can I just say, "I LOVE MY HUSBAND!" Now before you stick your finger in your mouth and do the gag reflex, or sit in envy because your marriage is struggling, our marriage has not always been this way. We have spent the last 9 years slowing growing from a nightmare marriage to what I feel has become the honeymoon period (we sort of missed that the first time around). Now if we had given up at any moment (which we thought of a million times) we would be missing out on what God is bringing us into; uniting us together for His Glory and Kingdom and showing us His plan to bring about dreams we've had in our hearts for years.

Ken has been gone almost two weeks, but when you and your spouse are on the same page with God and what He has called you to do, seemingly tough things end up not being tough at all. I was a single mom to 4 kids ages 1-6 (the 6 yr old being homeschooled) for almost two weeks, and I actually had alot of fun. We planned alot of outings, visited friends, watched movies, climbed through windows in our pajamas,... but what really made Ken's being gone so easy was hearing the awesome things God was doing in my husband through the people he was meeting from around the world. It made being his wife and the mother of his children exciting and fulfilling.

God is doing some amazing things in our lives right now. I haven't shared much, because God has been in process for the past few months, but Ken and I feel God has been moving in our hearts to take a step of faith and step down from our missions organization and go independently with a church or group of likeminded churches. The only reason being that we feel our vision is more like that of the church planters we have been meeting. We have been connecting with church planting groups and amazingly creative church planters and brainstorming with them and learning from them these past 3 years and we have found our niche. We believe God has been "filling our toolbox" (what my husband always says) with the ways He wants to reach the French, and connecting us with the people (other successful and creative church planters) we really need over us as we embark on this endeavor.

There were also some changes beginning to happen in our organization that were going to affect us, and we felt this was the time and God was saying, "Go... take this step of faith and see what I will do.

Even when we first began to think along these lines, God's peace overwhelmed us. And ever since we finalized our decision and obeyed what we felt God was telling us to do, God began making connections that we could not ever have imagined. It was almost as if He was just waiting for us to follow Him blindly by faith, and then He began pouring out His blessings almost immediately. Our connection with churches and church planters has doubled, and God has connected us with so many professional new artists from an array of different backgrounds (dance, design, modeling, fashion industry, fine arts, theatre, etc.) from all over the U.S. and world, and many who have done their work on the professional stage in France and want to go back, or ones that just want to go with us.

God has already been preparing a team, and a church or possibly churches that will be our sending agents. God has not shown us the whole plan yet, so we will let you know as soon as He opens those doors. Our support will be coming through another avenue starting in June, and we will let people know that also this month. We feel our time table is the same. We hope to be in France by the fall, but we know God's timing has always been the same, and when we get to France He will have prepared the hearts of thousands of French people who are searching and will find Him in the movement God has put on our hearts; to help French people plant relevant dynamic exciting churches for this young generation.

Pajama Burgler

My husband posted this on his blog yesterday, and I thought I needed to add an explanation.

I received this email from my wife late last night.

Honey,If you are still up, I just wanted to let you know we need a new screen. It would also be good to put a spare key outside in case we get locked out… and could you leave your phone on so in case somebody broke in our house and tried to hurt us at least I could get in touch with you.

Me

I can just picture her tearing off the screen and climbing in the window in her pajamas at mid-night. This really happened.

Okay, he left out the part about how I went outside to get a book out of the car, and when I came back to go in, the door was locked. We have a couple of those doors where you can lock it from the inside, yet still open the door from the inside, but not the outside. I prayed, "Lord you are not doing this to me!! (I wondered if He was laughing thinking, "Sweetheart, I did not do this to you, but it is fun to watch). I prayed, "Lord please do not make me call the police from a neighbors house in my pajamas at midnight... and I would rather not sleep in the car."

Speaking of cars, I dug in all the cars for any set of keys because we sometimes leave a set in them because we have gone somewhere together, or, we just left them laying on the floor or in a drawer... I found none. The kids even have a set the like to play with that I know were in the car the past couple of days... no such luck.

So my next idea was to look for an unlocked window on the porch (we have a wrap around porch, so there were 3 opportunities... they were all locked. So I went to the front door and rang the doorbell incessently for about 5 minutes realizing that that was not going to wake anybody up on the second floor (remember my oldest child is 6). The only response I got was the cat staring at me through the window from the stairs and then looking up the stairs almost as if he understood my delima and thought, "would someone please come help this crazy woman."

I then went around and checked windows again just to make sure there were none unlocked, and then ring the doorbell again. I did this over and over a few times in desperation while I prayed, "Help me Lord!!" I then decided to check some other windows on the back... praise the Lord for a full moon, it made it easy to see the window latches on the back windows in the dark. I finally came across a window to my husbands office where one of the latches looked half locked and the other one unlocked. This window was my only chance before I climbed up on the roof. Praise the Lord also it was in front of the airconditioning vent and easy to reach.

I poked some holes in the screen where the latches to the screen were and tried to get the screen out without bending it. When I realized that was not going to happen, and I was not even going to be able to bend the screen, I thought, "buying a new screen is less embarrassing than going to my neighbors...", so I stuck a few fingers in those little holes and ripped the screen all the way to the bottom. I pushed on the window for a minute... and the lock, that was not quite half latched, finally popped up and I was in. I couldn't believe it! I almost cried.

"Thank you Lord that I did not have to face my neighbors and the police in my yellow monkey pajamas tonight."

Baby Isaac Update

Well, just wanted to update you on Baby Isaac. You can go read it for yourself on his blog and see cute pictures, or you can read it here:

Well, today has been a day of clarification. The morning began with Isaac in optimal conditions for extubation - vitals, nutrition, vent settings, the works. We were thrilled to see our sweet boy's face when they removed the tape & pulled out the ET tube. To see his whole face without tape or tubes...what a blessing! We must have kissed those sweet cheeks a hundred times!

Isaac sailed through the first half hour, sating in the high 80's & holding a steady, comfortable heartrate. However, he was unable to cough on his own &, with the build-up of secretions in his lungs, began to tire quickly. In spite of suctioning & albuterol treatments, Isaac simply had to work too hard to breathe & grew too fatigued to clear his lungs on his own. So after nearly two hours, our sweet boy was reintubated & allowed to rest once more.

We are so proud of how well Isaac did, especially considering that he's been intubated for 9 weeks & his many issues (diaphragm, vocal chord, pharynx). He's certainly a fighter, never giving up even when its hard. Now we know for certain that a trach is the best & necessary option in moving Isaac towards recovery. He will head back to the OR on Thursday morning for the tracheostomy. Though this route is different than we had expected, we're happy to move forward in getting Isaac well enough for home. God remains faithful & even when His answer differs from our hopes, we still trust Him, knowing that He heard us & has greater plans in store. We now look ahead to surgery #5.