Christians in Dordogne - Programme and News

A report from France by Peter Shire

Cafe Church in February looked at the theme of friends and friendship.

The Dictionary says that a friend is,
“A person known well to another and regarded with liking, affection, and loyalty.”
Some friendships are fleeting and some are lasting. True friendships are glued together with bonds of loyalty and commitment. They remain intact, despite changing external circumstances. We looked at how do we decide who is a friend or not.
There are different types of friendships, the ones you say hi to, the ones you are very happy to be in their company and chat and the very few friends that you share your inner most thoughts and feelings with.

Proverbs 17:17says: “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”

What kind of friend are you? There is a vast difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty (see 1 Corinthians 13:7) - being available to help in times of distress or personal struggle.
Too many people are fair-weather friends. They stick around when the friendship helps them and leave when they’re not getting anything out of the relationship. Think of your friends and assess your loyalty to them. Be the kind of true friend the Bible encourages.

We also looked at those with no friends. Instead of wishing you could find a true friend, seek to become one. There are people who need your friendship. Ask God to reveal them to you, and then take on the challenge of being a true friend.

We closed by thinking about our very true friend in Jesus Christ. The first thing we must always do is to remember that God is our constant friend and will never leave us.
In John 15:15 Jesus says:
“I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in his servants.
Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”

A very warm thank you to all those that were present and who helped in various ways to make the time together enjoyable.

For our special prayers:
Graham and Ann and also Peter as they prepare to move into their respective, newly rented, houses. Peter’s 90 year old mother, who will need to move into residential care in the UK.
Louise and her family, Louise used to play the keyboard at Cafe Church for us.
Planning and publicity for the Graham Kendrick concert on Friday June 3rd in Bergerac

To all our friends wherever they are and whatever they are doing, that they may feel and know that God is with them.

NEXT CAFE CHURCH SUNDAY MARCH 27th from 5pm

Blessings,

Pam and Derek Cook