August 2010
Hi There,
If three of the regulars hadn't been away and another keen Christian taken ill at the last minute then the July Cafe Church would have been the highest number gathered together in our sixteen month history.
It will come as no suprise to those who know the spiritual situation in France to hear that an English Christian couple who are actively looking to move to France were prevented from attending Cafe Church because of a last minute illness. The old enemy can certainly attack - but he can never defeat or prevent the purposes of God.
One of our regular men, who himself was attacked by cancer earlier this year, told his story of how good medical care and real supportive prayer had dealt fully with his illness. But most of all, he stressed that throughout the whole experience, he just felt more and more loved by God. He learnt to trust in a new way and found that God's love brought him a deep inner calm.
So we sang about "Standing on every promise of God's word" we recalled God's "Amazing Grace" and above all we sought to give praise to our God by starting and ending with "Jesus, is the name we honour .......majestic name above all names!
I spoke about just how UNIQUE Jesus was and is, in his birth and life and teaching and ministry and death and resurrection. Sometimes those who have been Christians for a long time have forgotten that Jesus is special!
The ashes of Guatama (The Buddha) are buried beneath seven great monuments at the foot of the Himalayas.
Mohammed of the muslims is buried in Mecca, pilgimages visit his grave.
You can also take a trip to Jerusalem and see the possible place where Jesus was buried, but you will find that His tomb is empty! The fact which got the early Christians so excited was the message of Resurrection.
And the Bible speaks of our being "raised with Him" and one day "joining Him". What a choir will be assembled! What music will be sung! The sound will reach out throughout the Universe and the melody of God's love will return the Universe to its original purpose.
In the meantime, we'll keep praising Him at Cafe Church in France.
May God give you a great day today.
Derek and Pam
Friday, 30 July 2010
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Is this just co-incidence?
Good Morning,
It's Tuesday April 20th and tomorrow we drive back to France for the very first Cafe Church Bergerac to be held at the new Sunday time of 5pm.
We are taking some English cake to have with the cup of tea and pray that there will be more than just the two of us present to enjoy it. Well, maybe lots of people who don't like fruit cake!
We are making the changes because we feel that it could open the door to even more effective ministry. During the summer period the Sunday afternoon slot of 5pm to 7pm is often used for music concerts. Many of these are held in village churches throughout the area. These are always well attended by English speaking residents and holiday makers and so we are putting our event into that same time slot.
The music we offer, of course, is praise to the Lord, but there are some folk who whilst not quite knowing what they really do want are searching for something real.
But with any change, there is always a real "fear" about getting it right. Will we be the only two in attendance?
Two of the new couples who have just started to attend Cafe Church have both received bad news. Both husbands have been diagnosed with cancer.
Paul Edwards has already been through surgery and the Specialist is certain that the cancer has been caught at an early stage and removed. Please pray for Paul and Ann as they recover from the physical and emotional shock of it all.
The latest news I have from Dave Hankins is that the Specialist will be recommending a course of treatment this week. Please pray for Dave and Maggi for the miracle combination of medical and diving intervention.
Maybe attending Cafe Church Bergerac should carry a health warning? It is certainly a wake up call to Believers, reminding us of our need for God's gracious covering and protection.
The enemy "prowls around", but praise God, "the One who is within us is greater than the one who is in the world." John 4:4
May you know God's blessings,
Derek
It's Tuesday April 20th and tomorrow we drive back to France for the very first Cafe Church Bergerac to be held at the new Sunday time of 5pm.
We are taking some English cake to have with the cup of tea and pray that there will be more than just the two of us present to enjoy it. Well, maybe lots of people who don't like fruit cake!
We are making the changes because we feel that it could open the door to even more effective ministry. During the summer period the Sunday afternoon slot of 5pm to 7pm is often used for music concerts. Many of these are held in village churches throughout the area. These are always well attended by English speaking residents and holiday makers and so we are putting our event into that same time slot.
The music we offer, of course, is praise to the Lord, but there are some folk who whilst not quite knowing what they really do want are searching for something real.
But with any change, there is always a real "fear" about getting it right. Will we be the only two in attendance?
Two of the new couples who have just started to attend Cafe Church have both received bad news. Both husbands have been diagnosed with cancer.
Paul Edwards has already been through surgery and the Specialist is certain that the cancer has been caught at an early stage and removed. Please pray for Paul and Ann as they recover from the physical and emotional shock of it all.
The latest news I have from Dave Hankins is that the Specialist will be recommending a course of treatment this week. Please pray for Dave and Maggi for the miracle combination of medical and diving intervention.
Maybe attending Cafe Church Bergerac should carry a health warning? It is certainly a wake up call to Believers, reminding us of our need for God's gracious covering and protection.
The enemy "prowls around", but praise God, "the One who is within us is greater than the one who is in the world." John 4:4
May you know God's blessings,
Derek
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Friends and Family
Good Morning again.
I think that I've told you before that "blogging" is all new to me. I've just had an email where the words were written in txt spk. I got the meaning on npb after thinking about it for a while!
Well, guess my interest/amazement/concern when I found that this blog had two "followers"? What could that mean and why were they following me?
It turned out that I knew both of them. At least, I know a little about both of them, although we have never met each other. One lives in the USA and the other on the South coast of England and as yet we haven't met face to face.
Maybe we will never meet face to face until we get to heaven. All of us are Christian Believers and so I know that we will meet one day. It is Jesus who made the promise that He was preparing a place for us. Well actually, He said that it was already prepared. God doesn't hang about - He has known, always known, all about us and in His scheme our earthly time scale doesn't interfere with the plans which He has already finalised.
So I learnt a lesson today. The lesson that I just need to keep on following.
One more piece of information which has just come my way.
At the start of 2000, over five hundred churches of different denominations in France embarked on a week of prayer for their nation. The project was repeated on a larger scale in 2001 with Christians from many nations spending forty days leading up to Easter in Prayer, some of them including days of fasting as well.
I don't know if anyone who reads this will be one of the people who prayed back then. But I do want them to know that we are here, as an answer to their prayers.
Never allow the old enemy to tell you that prayer doesn't get anywhere, or change anything.
So keep on following and keep on praying.
May God bless you this week.
Derek
I think that I've told you before that "blogging" is all new to me. I've just had an email where the words were written in txt spk. I got the meaning on npb after thinking about it for a while!
Well, guess my interest/amazement/concern when I found that this blog had two "followers"? What could that mean and why were they following me?
It turned out that I knew both of them. At least, I know a little about both of them, although we have never met each other. One lives in the USA and the other on the South coast of England and as yet we haven't met face to face.
Maybe we will never meet face to face until we get to heaven. All of us are Christian Believers and so I know that we will meet one day. It is Jesus who made the promise that He was preparing a place for us. Well actually, He said that it was already prepared. God doesn't hang about - He has known, always known, all about us and in His scheme our earthly time scale doesn't interfere with the plans which He has already finalised.
So I learnt a lesson today. The lesson that I just need to keep on following.
One more piece of information which has just come my way.
At the start of 2000, over five hundred churches of different denominations in France embarked on a week of prayer for their nation. The project was repeated on a larger scale in 2001 with Christians from many nations spending forty days leading up to Easter in Prayer, some of them including days of fasting as well.
I don't know if anyone who reads this will be one of the people who prayed back then. But I do want them to know that we are here, as an answer to their prayers.
Never allow the old enemy to tell you that prayer doesn't get anywhere, or change anything.
So keep on following and keep on praying.
May God bless you this week.
Derek
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Being wanted
Good Morning,
It's Thursday February 24th and I thought that I ought to be bringing you up to date with things.
If you have read our Diary page you will know that this Sunday is the next edition of Cafe Church Bergerac. We continue for another month holding our event after the French language service at L'Eglise Evangelique in Bergerac. We share a glass of wine together as the French Christians leave and the English ones arrive, which is nice.
One of the "scary" things about our meetings is that we never know how many will turn up. I have often wondered what Pam and I would do if we were the only ones there! I guess that we would just pray and thank God for one another.
This week we have heard from at least a dozen people and so we won't be on our own. We also had an e-mail this week from a new couple who are living in the area and hope that they will be able to come as well. It is always exciting making new friends and meeting more people who share our faith in Jesus Christ.
Then I have another encouragement to report. As an ordained Baptist Minister my name appears in the Annual Handbook of The Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland. So I decided to write to them and ask them to include details of Cafe Church Bergerac.
I received a letter from the Ministerial Recognition Committee which said:
"The Committee met last week and were interested to hear of the ministry you are undertaking in the Dordogne area with other English speakers.
The Committee agreed that this could be included as a retiremnet entry in the BU Directory and on the database.
I am sure you are looking forward to returning to the warmer climate of France. May we take this opportunity to wish you well."
You know what? It made me feel "loved" and "wanted" and "a part of something much bigger".
Then I realised, that God had "sent" the letter, to remind me and to share with you, the fact that we are "loved" and "wanted" and that we are "a part of something very much bigger". We are a part of the eternal Kingdom of God!
Blessings,
Derek
It's Thursday February 24th and I thought that I ought to be bringing you up to date with things.
If you have read our Diary page you will know that this Sunday is the next edition of Cafe Church Bergerac. We continue for another month holding our event after the French language service at L'Eglise Evangelique in Bergerac. We share a glass of wine together as the French Christians leave and the English ones arrive, which is nice.
One of the "scary" things about our meetings is that we never know how many will turn up. I have often wondered what Pam and I would do if we were the only ones there! I guess that we would just pray and thank God for one another.
This week we have heard from at least a dozen people and so we won't be on our own. We also had an e-mail this week from a new couple who are living in the area and hope that they will be able to come as well. It is always exciting making new friends and meeting more people who share our faith in Jesus Christ.
Then I have another encouragement to report. As an ordained Baptist Minister my name appears in the Annual Handbook of The Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland. So I decided to write to them and ask them to include details of Cafe Church Bergerac.
I received a letter from the Ministerial Recognition Committee which said:
"The Committee met last week and were interested to hear of the ministry you are undertaking in the Dordogne area with other English speakers.
The Committee agreed that this could be included as a retiremnet entry in the BU Directory and on the database.
I am sure you are looking forward to returning to the warmer climate of France. May we take this opportunity to wish you well."
You know what? It made me feel "loved" and "wanted" and "a part of something much bigger".
Then I realised, that God had "sent" the letter, to remind me and to share with you, the fact that we are "loved" and "wanted" and that we are "a part of something very much bigger". We are a part of the eternal Kingdom of God!
Blessings,
Derek
Friday, 12 February 2010
Being a design genius
Good Morning,
It is Friday February 12th 2010 and a piece of international history is in the making.
I am writing my first ever Blog!
Now at my age and seriously "computer challenged" that isn't bad at all.
I am, of course, hoping that someone will actually read this and let me know their opinions about old men "dreaming dreams" and thinking that they can tell the world about Jesus.
But my real reason for writing today, is to say that I am still learning. "You learn something new every day" is an old saying. Well yesterday I learnt something about the way in which God gives His Spiritual Gifts to people. He gives as He chooses, but the gifts are always to be used to bless others and also to bring honour and glory to His Great Name.
Now I have always fancied myself as a bit of a designer. Ever since passing "O level" Art at Grammar school I have enjoyed design. I actually passed my exams designing a cover for a box of chocolates. Maybe that's why I still like chocolate!
So I recently designed a new Flyer to be used to advertise our 2010 programme of Cafe Church events. I am hoping to get the Flyer into Bergerac Airport with other holiday literature so that people will find out about us and come along.
But as we now have a Website designer - a great Christian called Dave - I decided to run my design past him so that he could tweak it.
He revolutionised it!
You will hopefully see a copy soon.
It made me realise that a "Gift" which I thought that I had, is in fact, just a slightly better than everage natural ability.
When you see a real Gift in action you make way, so that the very best can be done for the Lord. I am happy to learn that lesson. Now I need to ask the Lord to tell me again what special Gift or Gifts He has given to me and then to use them to bless His people and to share the Good News of Jesus.
Join me in asking the Lord to show you His gifts to you. They and we are all needed for the work of His Kingdom..
Enjoy your day,
Blessings,
Derek
It is Friday February 12th 2010 and a piece of international history is in the making.
I am writing my first ever Blog!
Now at my age and seriously "computer challenged" that isn't bad at all.
I am, of course, hoping that someone will actually read this and let me know their opinions about old men "dreaming dreams" and thinking that they can tell the world about Jesus.
But my real reason for writing today, is to say that I am still learning. "You learn something new every day" is an old saying. Well yesterday I learnt something about the way in which God gives His Spiritual Gifts to people. He gives as He chooses, but the gifts are always to be used to bless others and also to bring honour and glory to His Great Name.
Now I have always fancied myself as a bit of a designer. Ever since passing "O level" Art at Grammar school I have enjoyed design. I actually passed my exams designing a cover for a box of chocolates. Maybe that's why I still like chocolate!
So I recently designed a new Flyer to be used to advertise our 2010 programme of Cafe Church events. I am hoping to get the Flyer into Bergerac Airport with other holiday literature so that people will find out about us and come along.
But as we now have a Website designer - a great Christian called Dave - I decided to run my design past him so that he could tweak it.
He revolutionised it!
You will hopefully see a copy soon.
It made me realise that a "Gift" which I thought that I had, is in fact, just a slightly better than everage natural ability.
When you see a real Gift in action you make way, so that the very best can be done for the Lord. I am happy to learn that lesson. Now I need to ask the Lord to tell me again what special Gift or Gifts He has given to me and then to use them to bless His people and to share the Good News of Jesus.
Join me in asking the Lord to show you His gifts to you. They and we are all needed for the work of His Kingdom..
Enjoy your day,
Blessings,
Derek
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Welcome!
Welcome to the brand new on-line post for Christians in Dordogne. Here you'll find all the latest news, events and programme guide for Cafe Church and more!
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