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

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

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!