Welcome!

For 5 years I was the pastor of Trinity International Church in Strasbourg, France. I created this blog with those people in mind. In mid-November 2018 I will become the Senior Pastor of Word of Life Church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The focus of this blog will therefore shift, but I pray that people from the blogosphere will continue to find it helpful wherever they might be found.
The churches' websites includes recorded sermons for those who are interested. Click the links below to access them.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The Inspired Scripture

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)


One Day in School...

I was a religion major in a small university in the United States. Although the school was affiliated with a Christian denomination, it was steeped in humanistic philosophy. My evangelical views sometimes made me a thorn in the side of my professors.

For example, somehow during my final year I had to take a class designed for freshman: Introduction to Theology. It was the final class I needed to take before writing my senior thesis.

During one class period, I raised my hand and said, "Professor, you've been telling us that while Bible has truth in it, modern scholarship has also found that it is full of errors. I am sure that by now modern scholars have developed the definitive list of errors. It would be really helpful for us to have that list, so we would know what we should believe in the Bible and what the mistakes are."

The professor looked at me for a moment and said, "Just a minute" before running out of the room.

Joe Lencioni, shiftingpixel.com
He came back a few minutes later and handed me the list of errors found by modern scholarship!

As he resumed his lecture, I scanned the list. One whole category of "errors" was the "purported miracles" of the Bible. A donkey talking, a bush burning, and a sea parting were all listed as factually untrue. If you are an atheist or hold atheistic presuppositions then miracles must be put on the list of errors. But that isn't scholarship. Scholarship looks at the evidence to decide. The Bible is a book that describes the history of the Hebrew people. It is viewed to be accurate in its accounts of non-miraculous events. Why would it suddenly become inaccurate when describing a miracle? Granted, miracles are highly improbable, but if God did act in history wouldn't we expect an accurate historical account to include those miracles? "Modern scholarship" hadn't proven them to be false and saying they are errors was only a reflection of atheistic skepticism.

There was another category on his list. Things like references to trees clapping their hands, the sun rising, and mountains singing were also on the list of errors. Of course poetic language is involved in each of these passages. One must read and interpret literature in the way it was intended. These weren't errors, only a wrong-headed interpretation of poetic language.

There were numeric errors. For example, one account gives an exact number of people at an event and another gives an approximate number. That isn't an error, but a different standard of reporting. There were genealogical errors which have long been explained via the varying customs of genealogical recording used in different eras.

There wasn't a single item on the list that had been "discovered" by modern scholars. Almost all of the of things on his list had been noted and resolved by scholars centuries earlier. In fact, every item on his list had a plausible explanation. It only took a moment to see that the list really contained no real Biblical errors at all!

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

A Realization.

I realised then that a person's perspective on the authority of the Bible plays a huge role in how they relate to the book and to God. If a person believes that the Bible is filled with mistakes, then they become the authority. The Bible becomes a book of advice, much like any other book in the self-help section of the bookstore. They will read and decide what they like or don't like. They will take its counsel only if it feels right to them, not unlike the advice they hear on a TV talkshow.

But the Bible is not merely a product of human ingenuity. God used human authors to write a book in such a way that it is His Word. It is "inspired". That word means "God-breathed". It is as if he himself wrote it. As such, it is unlike any other book on the planet. It becomes the authority. As our statement of faith puts it, "The Old and New Testament, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice."

The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. That means that we are to place ourselves underneath the Bible to learn from it and allow it to change us. We must become biblically literate people who love and cherish the fact that God has spoken to us and given us the Bible as a light and guide for life. 

A Reflection.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lencioni/4342792720/
As I sat there with his list in my hand, I could not help but wonder about the motivation behind developing a list of errors. I thought about 2 Tim 3:16-17, a passage that teaches that the Bible is inspired by God so that we may be equipped to do the work that he called us to do. The passages says that this equipping takes place in several ways:

Scripture Teaches.

The Bible teaches us about God, about ourselves, and about life. It provides accurate information that can be studied. It was written for our instruction and through faithful application of its truth we will be encouraged and find hope (Rom. 15:4).

Scripture Reproves and Corrects.

The Bible exposes our wrong thinking, attitudes and behaviors. It calls us to correct our course. It challenges us to see things from a new perspective. It calls us to obedience. It calls us to give up selfishness and live a life of love. It calls us to turn away from sin and pursue holiness.

Scripture Trains in Righteousness.

The Bible is like a coach that instructs, corrects, and challenges us so that we learn how to live righteous lives. It teaches us to how to relate to others in a godly way. It teaches us to live a life of worship. It teaches us to develop a lifestyle that reflects the life of God within us.

These four ways Scripture is designed to work in our lives brought the issue of the authority of the Bible into sharp focus. If I am of the opinion that the Bible is a flawed book, a mixture of truth and error, then I am at liberty to take what it says as advice, just like any other book on the shelf. I decide what is right and wrong for me. It leaves me at the center.

But if it is the Word of God, then I must submit to what it teaches. I must allow it to reprove and correct me! I must heed its call to holy living, I must allow it to teach me, I must respond to its commands.

Over the years, I have come to see that often it is the unwillingness to submit to God's Word that is the hidden motivation behind finding reasons to escape its authority in our lives. I've also seen that the Bible has proven itself to be trustworthy and reliable. It can be the foundation for our lives because it is backed up by the authority of God. It is His inspired word.

Those who are interested in solving "problems" in the Bible will want to look at Gleason Archer's Encyclopaedia of Bible Difficulties or Noman Geisler's Big Book of Bible Difficulties

For a greater explanation of the doctrine of Biblical Inerrancy, see the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy.

Monday, August 22, 2016

...because of evolution

Many times the reason that people will say that they are atheists is because "of evolution". Science, they argue, is reasonable. Because science has "proven" the theory of evolution, God does not exist.
How should one respond?

Three Preliminary Thoughts

Before we consider some possible responses, it is important to keep several things in mind.
First, science is a noble and good profession. Science is not opposed to Biblical Christianity. In fact, it is a part of our calling to have dominion over the earth. The research and discovery of how things work in the physical world is part of what Christians should be engaged in. Scientists sometimes resist the answer of "God" because it seems to short-circuit their efforts to determine how or why something works. "The sky is blue because God made it that way" may be true enough, but the scientist wants to discover why it is blue, what makes it blue, and what can be learned about its "blueness." 

Second, it is important to remember that the "theory of evolution" is a cosmological theory that seeks to explain the phenomena presented to us. It is not "science" in the sense that it can be replicated in laboratory. It may be a widely accepted theory, but it cannot be proven by science in the same way that scientists can prove that water boils at 100. So don't be intimidated. Atheistic evolution is more of an ideology than it is "scientific."

Third, remember the opening sentence of the Bible. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Those words are important. We want to help our friend see that a Creator better explains the world around us than whatever theory he currently holds. At this stage, you are not trying to prove the Bible to be true or whether the creation of the world happened exactly like Genesis 1. You are attempting to open him up to the possibility that a Creator God exists.

Three Possible Directions

The theory of evolution seeks to explain how the world as we know it came into existence. There are a number of ways that you can begin to talk about creation in a way that calls into question whether atheistic evolution best explains what we know about the world. These are three of the ways I approach the conversation.

The Problem of the Beginning

Evolution is a naturalistic theory. It assumes that there is no God and that what exists is matter that has combined in various way over eons of time.
But where did the matter come from? Think about it:

  1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause for it coming into being.
  2. The universe began to exist.
  3. Therefore the universe has a cause for its coming into being.
Many variations of the Big Bang Theory of origins postulate that the universe came into existence. Therefore, there had to be a cause for it coming into being.

Or consider this idea: The universe at this moment is the result of the previous moment. And that moment is the result of its previous moment and so on to...infinity. Will you ever reach the end of that series of "previous moments"? No. And if each moment is dependent on its previous moment, then where is the first moment in the series? It doesn't exist. You see, for the present moment to exist, there had to have been an original first moment. The past simply does not exist into infinity. It has to have a beginning. And that beginning means that there was a cause outside of the universe. An infinite being. God.
Atheistic evolutionary theory does not explain the world as we know it. There must be something else that explains how the universe came into existence.

The Problem of How and Why

The scientific study of the Mona Lisa would yield many fascinating insights.
The adherence of the various paints to the wood could be analysed. The wood itself could be looked at to determine, place of origin and shrinkage. The makeup of the pigments could
be researched with their elements carefully catalogued. The layers of paints could be dissected. All of this would be good and interesting. In the case of necessary restoration it would be incredibly valuable knowledge.

But none of this would really answer the question of how the object came into existence. Nor would it explain why it exists. The existence of the Mona Lisa can only be explained by the existence of a painter. 

In the same way, the universe around us can be studied. We can delve into the depths of cellular structure and analyse the amazing informational code found in DNA. We can gaze into the stars and count a multitude of galaxies. But none of this answers the questions "how" and "why". The existence of the incredible universe demands a creator, a painter if you will, to explain the how and the why of its order and beauty.

The Problem of Moral Values

In a naturalistic system, all that exists is matter that has combined in a variety of ways. Somehow some of this matter began to "live" and interact with its environment. Random mutations developed and some mutations thrived while others were less efficient and died off. The process of natural selection determined that the best adaptations survived. This has led to a wide variety of plant and animal life.

The problem is that, when all is said and done, all that exists is matter in a variety of forms. There is no rational explanation for the value of life. If all that exists is matter, what makes your friend more valuable than a rock? Why is punching your friend in the face wrong, but kicking a rock down the street is acceptable? Remember, all that exists is matter!

Some would argue that punching a person is "wrong" because social customs exist which help the human race survive. They are an evolutionary adaptation. But this doesn't explain why we intuitively consider living beings as more valuable than inert matter.
In fact, it would easily be argued that if the evolutionary process depends on the adaptation and the survival of those most fit, then murder and war are simply means of eliminating the weaker among us and speeding the evolutionary process! This we know intuitively is wrong thinking. But atheistic evolution cannot explain why.

True moral values must come from a being outside of the system. The existence of these moral absolutes are evidence that there is a something (a Creator) outside of the naturalistic system.

A Final Thought

When I am talking to someone who claims to be an atheist because of evolution, my goal is not to convince them that evolution itself is wrong. Instead, my purpose is to try to open their mind to the possibility that a Creator is a better explanation for the world around us. I want them to consider that perhaps the evidence around them points to theism rather than atheism. For the atheist, that is where the journey begins. As they begin the journey toward God, my prayer is that they will discover God Himself. And when they do, they will suddenly realise that that the creation is a declaration of his glory and that He is seen most clearly in the person of Jesus.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Train Yourself For Godliness

Train yourself for godliness;
for while bodily training has some value
godliness is of value in every way,
as it holds promise for the present life
and the life to come
- Paul to Timothy in the mid 60s AD
1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)

This week some friends and I drank coffee at Café Brant as we studied this passage. It seemed to be appropriate to talk about the athletic metaphor during the Olympics. I found myself wondering how many people consider training themselves toward godliness. As a runner, I have certain goals that I want to achieve. Based on those goals, I have a schedule of how many kilometres I will run and at what effort, what cross-training I will do, and what days will be "recovery"days. That is my plan. Implementing it is the training.

We understand what athletic training is, but how does one "train oneself for godliness"? As I read Paul's first letter to Timothy, I realised that he gives Timothy some great insights into "godliness training".

Knowledge of Biblical Doctrine

One of Paul's major concerns in his letters to Timothy is the reality of false teachers that find their way into churches and mislead people. Paul had instructed Timothy to stay in Ephesus and prevent these false teachers from spreading their ideas (1 Tim 1:3). He tells Timothy to be trained in the words of the faith and good doctrine (1 Tim 4:6). He is to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, exhortation and teaching (1 Tim 4:13). He is to teach sound doctrine and be on guard against those who do not (1 Tim 6:2-6). He will later urge him to do his best "to present himself to God as one approved, who rightly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15) and reminds him that the Bible is breathed out by God and will equip him for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).

One cannot avoid the conclusion that dedicated study of the Bible and its theology is an essential part of training in godliness. In fact, Paul tells him that there is a lot riding on his dedication to sound doctrine. He says that by persisting in sound doctrine he will "save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim 4:16). That's right, Paul sees salvation (both for Timothy and his listeners) as dependent on Timothy's dedication to learning and teaching sound doctrine.

So if part of the objective is the knowledge of Biblical doctrine, what is your plan to sharpen your knowledge? Are you more familiar with the Bible now than a year ago? Do you have a better understanding of concepts like sin, grace, or glory? Do you have a better appreciation for the cross? Is the depth of your knowledge of God and the revelation of himself in the Bible growing...or is it simply a collection of refrigerator magnets?

Put a plan in motion. Here are some possibilities:
  • "Master" a book of the Bible between now and Christmas. This site gives some great ideas about how to study a book in depth.
  • Research a biblical word. Use a concordance and look up every instance of the word and then write out a brief summary. "Love", "Holiness", "Sin", "Thanksgiving" are all excellent places to start. This site can help you do that.
  • Research a topic. Use a topical reference book to look up all the verses relating to a topic. Do the work of writing out a summary of what you think the Bible says about the topic. Then read a book on the topic. Remember, do your own study first! Sometimes you will gain additional insights from the book, but occasionally you will find that the popular book doesn't really teach what the Bible says.


Get Rid of Sin

Paul also reminds Timothy of the importance of living a life of purity before God (1 Tim 1:19; 6:11). In fact, he says that a goal of his ministry should be to produce the type of love that only springs from "a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith" (1 Tim 1:5). 

Much of his letter is an exposé of what is going on inside the hearts of those who are teaching false doctrine. They lack integrity and have consciences that have been seared (scarred and no longer sensitive) because they have abandoned a pure-heart relationship with God (1 Tim 1:5; 4:1-2). They are full of pride and greed. They love controversy and arguments rather than sound doctrine and unity. They believe that their "godliness" will be rewarded financially (1 Tim 6:3-10). 

Many people have a lackadaisical attitude toward sin in their lives. As long as they don't to a "bad" sin, they feel reasonably holy. Of course, their definition of "bad" doesn't match God's and their relationship with God suffers. They go through the motions of the Christian life without the intimacy that comes from having a pure conscience before God.

So how do we train ourselves in this? Here are two ideas.
  • Read Colossians 3:5-10 and Galatians 5:19-21. Slow down and ask the Lord to reveal any areas of sin in your life. Then repent before God. Ask forgiveness of those you have wounded and do what you can to repair any relationships that are damaged.
  • Read Psalm 51. As you do, are there any areas of sin that come to mind? What does the Lord impress on your heart as you read this psalm? Repent and receive forgiveness from God.
As you do one of these, avoid generalizations. We sinned specifically: we repent specifically. Here's what I mean. Sometimes people just say, "Sorry God, I'm a sinner" without stopping to think about individual sins because they don't want to acknowledge the actual wrongs that they committed. Perhaps they will confess that they have an anger problem, but they don't want to acknowledge the fact that they hurt individual people at specific times and places. They avoid confronting the depth of their sin. As a result they know little of the grace and forgiveness of God. 


Obedience

One of the great dangers of modern life is that we have a tendency to become spectators rather than participants. I went to a basketball game and saw an awkward halftime show. They had pulled a couple of fans out of the crowd for a simple shooting contest. As the contest began, it became obvious that these fans had no skill at all. They had a hard time even hitting the backboard. They had watched basketball and were even fans of the local team. Perhaps they even thought that they "knew" basketball, but they had never practiced. 

We live in an age with multiple versions of the Bible at our fingertips and podcasts galore. We have books and television programs. We can know many things about the faith, but if we don't put them into practice we are deceived (James 1:22). Like those poor basketball fans, we may think we know a lot about Jesus, when in reality we know little about actually following him.

Paul's letter to Timothy is filled with instructions. There are things that Timothy is to put into practice. "Train" is a verb. It is something that must be done, implemented and practiced. At times learning the skills of godliness seems difficult, but as we train, it becomes easier and more natural. We begin to see the fruits of obedience and begin to add to our knowledge of how to follow God. Here are a couple of practical first steps:
  • Look for what the Lord is calling you to do as you read the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you particular action steps to take. For example, perhaps you have been reading in Psalms about giving thanks to the Lord. You could take an notebook and write down each evening five things that you are thankful to God for that you experienced that day.
  • Join a life group that you can be open with about what is happening in your life. Share what God is working on in your life. Is he calling you to love a difficult person? Is he dealing with an anger issue? Is he convicting you about the things you have been watching? Having a small group of people that meets regularly and encourages you toward obedience can be a powerful tool in the hands of God.
Growth in Christ is a natural result of walking closely with him. He is like a coach that develops his players and calls them to gain strength and skill. As a good coach, his instructions are geared specifically to the strengths, weaknesses and calling of each player. Each player then implements the plan and grows in their abilities as a result. What is your coach telling you to do to train yourself in godliness?


Thursday, August 11, 2016

Important First Sentences


"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." - A Tale of Two Cities
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." - Pride and Prejudice
"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The first sentences of books are important. They orient us. They make us want to know more. They are the beginning of our understanding what the author means to tell us. Writers spend hours pondering the opening lines because they know how important they are.
Perhaps the greatest example of this is the Bible. Its opening sentence is, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Few sentences are more important. It helps us understand ourselves and our world.
Wisdom begins with grasping the fact that there is a God.
Unfortunately, many people have been educated in a worldview that excludes the idea of God. They have been told that modern science has "proven" that God does not exist. When you try to share the gospel with them they will cut you off with a wave of the hand saying, "I am an atheist."
Sharing the gospel with someone like that can feel hopeless.
Where do we begin when they reject the very first sentence of the Bible?

Some things to remember

First of all, do not be intimidated. Remember: you know God! While they may have many fine sounding arguments and secular education tends to be antagonistic to faith, you have truth on your side. God does exist. You have encountered him. You have met the risen Saviour. Think of it this way: would you be intimidated by someone who "didn't believe in the Alps" if you had been there? Of course not. Remember: You know God. As frustrating as it may be to explain what you know to someone who claims not to believe, the truth is that God exists. Let that be the foundation that you stand on.
Second, for anyone to come to faith in Christ takes a miracle. Moving from unbelief to accepting the gospel is impossible without the work of the Holy Spirit. It isn't your words or fine-sounding arguments that will open the person's eyes. The Holy Spirit will take what you say and use it in the person's life. So your words do not have to be perfect. You don't have answer every objection. You cannot argue someone into the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit needs to do the work.

A Simple Starting Point

Sometimes I will begin by saying something like this, "That's really interesting. You know, I've met a lot people who claim to be atheists but then I found out they were really are something else. Can I ask you a question?"
They always say yes.
Then I pull out a piece of paper (a napkin will do just fine) and put it in front of me. "Let's say that this piece of paper represents all that there is to know. That's a lot of stuff."
The knowledge Michel has does not include God.
Then I draw a line across the paper. "You're a smart person, but I am sure you will agree that you don't know everything. So let's say that this part of the paper represents everything that you do know." I write their name on that side of the paper.
Then I draw a small circle on the other half of the paper and label it 'God'.
"Isn't it possible that God exists, but is outside of your current range of knowledge?"
Everyone I have ever asked has agreed.
"Since you say that is possible, I think it would be more accurate to call your position that of skeptic, agnostic or doubter." They nod their head in agreement.

Why is this approach important? 

Those that call themselves atheists are closed to the idea of God. They are firmly holding to an intellectual position and have all of their defences up. Often they are exuding a kind of arrogance that won't allow meaningful conversation. They will rebuff any argument you make or testimony you give regarding the existence of God.
Spiritually their position is that of a person in a stormy ocean desperately clinging onto a small rocky island. Left on that island they will die. There is a rescue boat nearby, but in their fear they won't venture into the sea. They will never be rescued. Something needs to be done.
Pushing them off the island back into the water is only way to get them to the safety of the ship. You need to set them adrift. The way to do that is to get them to admit to the possibility that God exists. Peeling off their self-label of "atheist" and replacing it with "agnostic" or "skeptic" is a small but critical first step. It pushes them back into the water so it is possible to find the rescue ship.
Second, it opens the door to the idea that you (or some other Christian) might know something that they don't know. This is important because it moves them from a position of defence to inquiry. And often from arrogance to humility. It can help them listen to philosophical arguments for the existence of God. It can help them be willing to explore what the Bible says. It can cause them to listen to your experience of knowing God.
The Lord can use this to set them searching for what to them is now "the unknown God."

Where to next?

From here the conversation can go a million different directions. Sometimes we can share one of the philosophical arguments for the existence of God. More often it will be more natural to share a brief testimony from our experience of knowing God. Your testimony is evidence that you know or have experienced something that your friend has not yet experienced. They have already agreed they do not know everything.
Occasionally the conversation will drift away toward more mundane topics, but that is okay. We have accomplished much by moving the person away from atheism and towards a search for God. The Holy Spirit will use that. So pray that the Lord will reveal open the eyes of your friend.


Thursday, August 4, 2016

Expectations

I tapped my MasterCard lightly on the table. It was my first dinner in a French restaurant. The atmosphere was charming and the food was exceptional. Our waiter seemed to anticipate our every need. It had been a perfect evening, but now I was fuming. Our after-dinner coffee was long finished and I wanted to leave, but I did not have the bill. I had seen the waiter glance at our table several times, but he never approached. I resorted to taking out my credit card and tapping on the table. Still nothing. Finally I caught him as he walked by and asked for the bill. He quickly brought it and we were on our way, but my impression of the restaurant had been ruined.

It was only later that I learned that when you eat out in France you are expected to linger and enjoy the evening out. It would be the height of rudeness for them to bring the bill to the table without being asked. It would imply that they want you to leave. What I thought was poor service was just the opposite...in France.

Expectations

Often the turmoil that we encounter, both internal and external, is the result of unmet expectations. We expect people to behave in a certain way and when they don't we make assumptions about why. Our culture teaches us that there are "right" and "polite" ways of doing things. When people fail to follow these "rules" we are prone to be hurt, confused, or angry. We label people as rude, selfish, or worse. Or we assume that we somehow deserve the mistreatment and spiral into depression. Things can get ugly quickly.

It isn't just living in another country that expectations play a role. They are fertile ground for problems on the job, in marriage, in friendships and in churches. Unmet expectations can affect marriages, friendships, and careers. They can cause problems in churches.

Dealing with expectations begins with humility. Paul wrote, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves" (Phil. 2:3 ESV). Humility is a key aspect of the Christian life. Because we are sinners saved by grace, we can have room for other people and their ways of doing things. We become less demanding that others bend to our will and meet our expectations. Having been pardoned for falling short of God's standard, we extend forgiveness to others.

Be a learner. A humble person is willing to learn from others. The fact that there are different ways of approaching problems than we are accustomed to can be annoying. If we are humble, we may discover that a different way is better than our way.
Give the benefit of the doubt. Misunderstandings are much more common than ill-intentions.
Be gracious. We have all had bad days. Days when Murphy's Law (if it can go wrong, it will go wrong) is in full operation. It could be that the person you are dealing with is having one of those days. They probably weren't intentionally cutting you off in traffic, they just realised that they were in the wrong lane and panicked. A little compassion goes a long way.
Clarify. Problems can often be avoided if we take time to clarify expectations at the beginning. This is doubly true when dealing with cultural differences, but it is often helpful to clarify what we are anticipating so that simple misunderstandings can be avoided. For example, a lot of time is spent during premarital counselling talking about what each person anticipates married life to be like. The goal is to have an clear and reasonable expectation of life together.

A Final Observation

I recently returned to the United States on vacation and had the opportunity to go out to eat. After three years of asking for the bill here in France, I was startled when the waiter gave it to me after I had taken a few bites of my meal. I caught myself thinking, "How rude! Do they want me to leave?" Then I remembered I was back in the States and laughed.

Then I indulged in something you shouldn't expect in France: free refills.