Mountains And Valleys

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)
 
It is interesting how whenever we have a mountaintop experience it is followed by a valley. Just as in nature mountains are often separated by valleys so seem to be our experiences. I find myself right now repeating a situation that happened to me in 2005. I was blessed to travel to the Dominican Republic in October of that year. It was indeed a mountaintop experience. God was fully in control from start to finish. Two separate teams were to go back to back to serve there. Due to some unforeseen circumstance the two teams were combined into one team/one trip. We had team built as two individual teams throughout the summer.

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Child Survival Program

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Did you know that every day over 26,000 children under the age of five die from mainly preventable causes? This is a staggering figure. We are talking about causes that we take for granted. Things such as hygiene, dehydration, and malnutrition are things that we think nothing about. However in Third World countries these things are often fatal to children. Children get diarrhea and die from dehydration because they don't have access to fresh water or the parents do not understand what to do.

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"Every Child You Encounter Is A Divine Appointment"

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment."
Wess Stafford, President, Compassion International

For those of you that do not know Dr. Wess Stafford is the CEO of Compassion International. I have not met the man but consider him one of my heroes. I look forward to meeting and hearing him speak in person when I attend the National Advocates Conference in Colorado next week. He is a humble man that is more comfortable sitting on the floor with some sponsored children rather than in a boardroom. His quote above I believe should be burned on our hearts.

Obviously as an Area Coordinator for Compassion I look at every child packet as an opportunity to change two lives. The first is obviously the child's. Sponsorship will give them a chance that they might not have had before. However a sponsor's life will also be changed as they begin to build that relationship. Those that know my testimony know how true this is. Sponsorship changes everyone involved. What more of a divine appointment could there be from God?

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Leaving A Legacy

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Yesterday at Fork Christian Church we launched a new building campaign . We are starting an eight-week study in conjunction with this on the book of Nehemiah. Joe, our pastor, started the sermon by speaking of what we hope to leave as a legacy when we leave this world. All of us have a desire within us to be something or to do something for which we will be remembered. This is part of what God has placed in us. Rick Warren wrote a book about this called The Purpose Driven Life. All of us have a special calling and unless we tap into this we will really never feel complete. Joe mentioned that all great "calls" have birthed from a Holy Discontent. As Christians we often see something that ignites the fire within us.

Compassion International was started by Reverend Everett Swanson in 1952 as a result of one of these moments. Broken by the sight of Korean war orphans he knew that there was something more that he could do. He returned to the states and encouraged others to help fund orphanages and to make a difference. From that moment  on  Compassion was born. Now an international organization operating in 26 countries the fire has been fanned and grown.

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We Interrupt This Post For An Important Announcement.....

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Allow me to wander from my usual musings in order to provide a brief commercial message for a coffee shop in Constant Friendship. This may seem a little strange but allow me some leeway on this one. Those that know me know my one major vice is a good White Chocolate Mocha. I really do not like coffee but I do have one of these pretty much on a daily basis. Back in the early 2000's a shop appeared in Constant Friendship called Huckleberry's. It was my place of choice and began my addiction. After awhile it went out of business and a new Huckleberry's appeared. This version lasted for much longer and then closed down this past January. I was planning on doing a night of Compassion there with music and a possible presentation. However, it just never happened. In July of this year, a new coffee shop opened and I want to encourage you all to give it a shot..... (no pun intended). Let me explain why....

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