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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Language Lapse

Learning and speaking a non-English language is far from easy. I studied German for four years and French for five, but I have forgotten much of what I learned, especially the oral part. It is a little easier for me to read German and French than it is to speak in those languages. The other day, I had an opportunity in the morning to practice German, and in the afternoon I had an opportunity to practice French. A woman who grew up in Germany drew blood from me for an A1C test. She said my German was good, but she was being overly kind. In the afternoon I met new neighbors who recently moved to Colorado Springs from Quebec. The husband, a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force works at NORAD. We had a brief exchange in French.

Hats off to missionaries who immerse themselves in a foreign culture and learn the official language so nationals can hear the gospel in their native tongue!

I wonder if we will all learn a new language in Heaven. Kenneth Wuest, my Greek teacher at Moody Bible Institute, voiced the opinion that koine Greek will be the language of Heaven. As a Scottish-born lad, I ha’ ma doots. But whatever the language, we will all join in exclaiming, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev. 5:12).

Feel free to say “Amen” in the language of your choice.

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