Ordinary People

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

While pondering the theme for this week's article, God actually placed it on my heart at our church service last Sunday morning. We have been talking about how God is able to accomplish many things and that day's message was on how God uses ordinary people.

I know we tend to look at the people mentioned in the Bible as special or "a cut above." In fact there is a children's bible that actually calls them Superheroes. Probably this is why we often feel we can never measure up and do God's work. Amazingly enough though all of the "heroes" of the Bible were flawed in one way or another. Lets look at some examples:

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An Amazing Young Man

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Last May I wrote an article about Michelle Tolentino and whether Compassion's model works. Last weekend I attended our regional retreat for the Northeast Compassion Advocates and had the opportunity to hear another testimony. We were fortunate to have in attendance Miguel Figueroa Casina who is currently in a Masters program at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I wish I could record here his entire testimony (covered over two days) but will try to do it justice in the following:

Miguel is a former sponsored child from Bolivia. He entered the program when he was eight years old but was actually on a wait-list until he turned twelve. His earliest memories of the project he attended were going to a breakfast program with his siblings and cousins.

His family of eight lived in a dwelling that measured 12' x 12' with two beds. They did not have running water. He remarked "I was the running water ~ I had to run two miles each day to get fresh water." He remembers sweeping the dirt floor to keep the dust down.

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Not Just Another Sunday

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

The core event of Compassion’s volunteer advocate ministry is an event called Compassion Sunday. Each year over 1000 churches participate in this event to further the cause of releasing children from poverty. For many years, outside of concerts, this was the primary means to introduce potential sponsors to available children. These special church services are hosted by both sponsors and advocates alike. These services can range from being the focus of an entire service involving the entire church to something as simple as a table in a special location. It really does not matter how complex or simple~the message is the same:

Please make a difference and help release a child from poverty.

Most of us advocates are willing to go anywhere or to present in any method in order to further the ministry. Last Sunday I attended a Compassion Sunday in Elkton, MD. One of my advocates was having her event and had asked me to speak.

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Going Through The Motions

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

This has been on my heart for the past few days so I thought I would attempt to verbalize it here. Matthew West has an awesome song titled "The Motions." If you have not heard it I encourage you to do so before reading further.

I want to take some of those lyrics and apply them to our walk with God.

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What Are Your Values?

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Growing up I was always taught that it would be my values that defined my character. That is, what truly mattered to me, what I held close to my heart would be those things that people remembered me for. 

Back then I think I scoffed at that notion and often chose the quick and easy path. I did what I could to succeed with the easiest amount of effort.  I know I cut corners and did what I needed to in order to be successful. Interestingly enough I grew up through the late seventies to nineties when the economy was booming and the norm was to do "whatever it took".  As a society we wanted the best of everything and held those things loosely.

It has been said that we live in a world that knows
the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

Sadly we would almost rather grab that quick extra value meal as it cheap and easy then to sit down and take the time to prepare something healthy and nutritious. Looking back I think that would be almost the way to describe my values. Why take the time to make a difference? What we had today could be gone tomorrow or at least replaced by something bigger and better.  Grabbing the quick and easy rather than getting something better…….

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