Practice: Efesios 2:8-9

In Spanish, Ephesians 2:8-9 is "Efesios dos, del ocho al nueve." This is what is looks like in the NVI (and I also recorded my best attempt to say it in Spanish):

"Porque por gracia ustedes han sido salvados mediante la fe; esto no procede de ustedes, sino que es el regalo de Dios, no por obras, para que nadie se jacte."

I added at the end an alternate phrase, "[o] para que nadie se gloríe," which means, "[or] so that nobody can glory." Thanks to Rita from New Human Life, I am able to say it much better than I used to.

Here's the NIV in English: Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."

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Evangelism in Spanish

I was just beginning to learn Spanish when this was recorded on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008.

The first conversation was about trying to be good to get to heaven. In between I was talking with brother Herman Lee.

After that, I met a man in his sixties who spoke Spanish. I was just beginning to learn then and struggled with some things as it will be plain to see in the recording. :) There was a woman with him who helped me out. She was a blessed surprise.

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Efesios Uno en Español

Today, I read Ephesians 1:1-11 in Spanish (Efesios capitulo uno del uno al once).

I also began looking more into the helpful information inside my Mirriam-Webster's Spanish-English dictionary. It contains some real helpful information that I'm just discovering, such as the section on Spanish Grammar in the beginning. All this is new to me, so it is pretty neat when I begin to understand things that used to be a mystery.

Here is a section I translated from Efesios uno en la NVI versión (I translated it literal word-for-word, so the English looks a little strange, but it helps me):

1 Pablo, apóstol de Cristo Jesús por la voluntad de Dios,
[Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,]

a los santos y fieles en Cristo Jesús que están en Éfeso:
[to those saints and faithful in Christ Jesus that are in Ephesus:]

2 Que Dios nuestro Padre y el Señor Jesucristo les concedan gracia y paz.
[From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ they grant grace and peace]

3 Alabado sea Dios, Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que nos ha bendicido en las regiones celestiales con toda bendición espiritual en Cristo.
[Praise be to God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that us has blessed in those regions heavenly with all blessings spiritual in Christ.]

4 Dios nos escogió en él antes de la creación del mundo, para que seamos santos y sin mancha delante de él. En amor
[God us chose in him before from the creation of the world, for that we would be holy and without blemish before him. In love]

5 nos predestinó para ser adoptados como hijos suyos por medio de Jesucristo, según el buen propósito de su voluntad,
[us predestined for to be adopted like children of his through Jesus Christ, according to the good purpose of his will,]

6 para alabanza de su gloriosa gracia, que nos concedió en su Amado.
[for praise of his glorious grace, that us was granted in his Beloved.]

7 En él tenemos la redención mediante su sangre, el perdón de nuestros pecados, conforme a las riquezas de la gracia
[In him we have the redemption through his blood, the pardon of our sins, according to those riches of the grace]

8 que Dios nos dio en abundancia con toda sabiduría y entendimiento.
[that God us gave in abundance with all wisdom and understanding.]

Learning to Speak in Tongues Blog

I started this blog because I often meet people from countries and languages located around the world. Sometimes they know very little English and so our communication is limited. I have often asked people how to greet someone in another tongue, like Dinka: "Ye ka da;" "How are you?"

Because of these experiences, I started praying and asking God to give me the ability to speak in tongues for the purpose of evangelism (I'm not talking about unintelligible sounds, but rather foreign languages). I've got to admit that this request seems impossible to me, since I've never taken any language classes other than English (and they weren't teaching me how to speak it).

Mostly I'm trying to learn Spanish, which is fun but hard. I learn differently than others, so this is my attempt in my own way. Therefore, I will occasionally post some of what I'm learning, and those who want to learn with me, or who want to help me learn can comment. Any help or interest is appreciated.

I also tend to forget things, so this is another good way to keep it on file :)

Soli Deo Gloria.