‘Always’ Means Always

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

I am blessed. I live in a beautiful region of New Jersey, a place Jersian’s affectionately refer to as ‘down-the-shore’. Today, the beauty of the ocean, the grassy dunes, and scavenging gulls were all cloaked behind a chunky fog that staggered in across the tide. Yet, despite the fact I could not see God’s splendor, I knew it was there. I beheld it yesterday and I trust I will see it again very soon.

Rejoice Always

And so it is with joy. Joy, like beauty, is not an emotion. Nor does it require a focused eye to be seen; joy is hope sustained in the heart of man and there is but One source: our Father in Heaven. Joy from any other well is tainted and is not joy at all, for it has no claim perpetual. Joy in Christ’s resurrection, a proof of His grace and our salvation is a joy everlasting. It is this joy we take pleasure in and draw upon when fog endeavors to hinder our walk.

Joy is the wrapping and bow that surrounds the gift of grace and its compelling beauty is its durability; it can be used over and over again. As with God’s grace–our assured inheritance, joy is both given and received, yet the choice to use it is still ours. As you might receive a new bicycle as a gift, still the giver cannot make you hop on and peddle. In this light, to deny joy is to embrace grumbling.

An Ugly Alternative

As long as we breathe, we have choice. We can opt to complain or choose to rejoice. One is sinful and the other is mandated. Honestly, what part of, “Do all things without complaining…” (Philippians 2:14a), do we not understand? Just as a wise man will choose vision over darkness, a faithful man will choose joy.

A Joy Contagious

Joy breeds joy as it is scattered about. By sponsoring a Compassion child you are providing glimpses of hope to the hopeless—and wherever seeds of hope are planted, joy will surely grow.

Sponsor a child and I will send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog

All We Have is Jesus

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You! Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. Psalms 86:1b-7

So Much To Do

Dr. Humberto Alfaro, a professor of practical theology at the New York Theological Seminary in New York City is our teacher/pastor this week for Bible Hour in Ocean Grove and he shared with us this morning a wonderful story.

Pastor Alfaro had returned to his native El Salvador on one of his many mission trips home and was called to preach in a remote part of the country. After sharing a ride with a horde of chickens in the back of a rickety pick-up truck, he found himself on horseback for the remaining six hour journey. When he finally arrived at the out-of-the-way church, he was very sore and very tired.

After bringing the message, he was ready to find a secluded area where he could sleep, but was stunned to see the entire congregation (of perhaps 500 saints) lining up for prayer. The church’s pastor told him, “This is our time of healing…We pray for each person.”

“I wanted to sleep, ” Pastor Alfaro confessed to us, “but if this is what they do, I had to do it—sleep would have to wait.”

Pastor Alfaro continued, “So one after the other the people approached the altar for prayer; ‘I have a headache, ’ one would say. The next would announce, ‘My stomach is upset, ’ and then yet another would, ‘I have an itch.’”

“Frustrated (and in need of sleep), I turned to he pastor and whispered, ‘Don’t you have Alka-Seltzer or Tylenol for these people?’ ”

“Brother Humberto, ” he said, “All we have is Jesus.”

The discovery, as paradoxical and extraordinary as it seemed, was that their physical, economic, and emotional poverty led them to spiritual wealth. Oh that we (that I) could be that close and in that much need of my Lord and Savior.

Corrie Ten Boom likely said it best when she declared, “You may never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

I Understand Compassion Better

I have always liked to say that the ministry of Compassion International is not a relief organization, but rather a ‘belief’ organization. Sure, Compassion is able to go into an area and offer mere relief, but the end result would be children and families becoming dependant upon Compassion rather than God.

Essentially the only thing Compassion ‘gives’ are opportunities; an opportunity to learn, to be healthy, to be nourished, and to meet Jesus. The model chosen by Compassion International is biblical and by design brings people into a relationship with Jesus Christ whereby they can then be discipled in the faith. As a Compassion sponsor, you ‘give’ yourself, as you mentor a child through your letters, your love, and your prayers.

Be an Answer to a Child’s Prayer

Would you sponsor a child right now? If you do I will still send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Compassion’s own, Amber Van Schooneveld.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog

I Have a Few Minutes…Will You Pray?

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:7 + 10

So Much To Do

And I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me by allowing me to be a part of the Compassion International ministry and (that lately) He has provided so many opportunities to share the ministry. Yesterday it was the Beach Blaze beach Festival in Ocean Grove, NJ and this morning it was a Compassion Sunday presentation on the boardwalk (again in Ocean Grove) during a the regular morning worship

So Far…10 Children Have Been Sponsored

After morning worship, I snuck up to the Great Auditorium with my Compassion booth because Duffy Robbins was preaching there. If you are not aware, Duffy is an advocate speaker for Compassion, and although no children were sponsored this morning, I bumped into Duffy after service (go figure, huh) and he agreed to speak about Compassion at tonight’s 7:30 PM service.

God is Good!

As the Lord leads, we advocates MUST be bold and persistent! Anyway, I have a few hours before I will return the great Auditorium and I figured I fill you all in on what’s been going because I NEED YOUR PRAYERS!.

I have 30 more child packets (children waiting to be sponsored) and it is the desire of my heart, my hope, and my prayer that I run out of children (and that I have to order more packets for next Friday night’s Phil Wickham, Unspoken, and Raul Ries event and Saturday’s Bridge FM beach festival).

Will You Pray?

Please pray for tonight. Please pray the weather will hold. Please pray that Duffy will bring a powerful and impacting word from the Lord. Please pray that every child will be sponsored. Please pray for these ‘new’ sponsors that God will lift up. Please pray in any other way the Lord leads you.

And If You Are So Moved…

Would you sponsor a child right now? If you do I will still send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld—truly.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog

Hose Water Theology

Hose Water Theology

 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 3:13

The guys who had Jesus arrested and crucified about two months earlier, now had Peter and John arrested for preaching the Good News. Upon questioning them, they marveled not only at what they knew, but in their bold presentation. They quickly surmised, “They had been with Jesus,” thus implying that the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus had ’somehow’ worn-off on them.

While their theology was a tad off, the principle they were citing was right on; when we hangout with Jesus, we take on His fragrance — much like water takes on the flavor of the hose from which it passes through.

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15

 

Pass the Hose 

You have been blessed by the Father and with that blessing comes responsibility.  It is not so much a work of your hands as much as it is an opening of your hands.  Consider what you have.  Consider how you got it.  Consider giving a portion of it away.  You don’t have to, but because the love of Christ compels you, you will want to.

 

Sponsor a Compassion Child

 

COMPASSION dave

 

Visit the Original Compassion Blog

What Did You Get?

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8

Gifts

In my Bible study this week (at Ocean Grove, NJ) we have been going over the seven spiritual gifts as summarized in Romans 12. Honestly, it has not been one of my more favorite studies primarily because the presenter started the week off by declaring, “We never want to put God in a box, ” (with which I agree) but then proceeded to put God in a box with each new lesson.

Keeping an Open Mind

It is a rare bird indeed to see the words ‘open-mindedness’ and ‘Compassion dave’ in the same sentence, but be that as it may, I have pried open that door and stuck a rock in it so it would remain (at the very least) ajar. However, one particular point the lecturer continually made; ‘that we have only one gift, ’ I could not grasp, even though he made a very good argument for that being the case.

The Gift of Compassion

Of course I am referring to the ministry itself, and not any of the aforementioned spiritual gifts. I raise the issue because as an advocate and volunteer with the Compassion ministry I have discovered that (quite often) many spiritual gifts are employed and/or drawn upon, either simultaneously or back-to-back. I know they are gifts because naturally, I do not possess the ability to do any of them. I would even venture to say that all seven gifts have been used in conjunction with my (God’s) Compassion ministry at varying times throughout my term with the organization.

The Danger of One

If a believer truly believed they had but one gift, the danger exists that other spiritual gifts, whether permanent or temporary, will be neglected. Maybe, in this present moment, you only have one gift, but it would be a dishonor to the Giver to shut-down any opportunity to exercise another gift because you assumed He would not give you more than one.

Gifts Utilized When Sponsoring a Child

Obviously, if you have been moved to sponsor a Compassion child, and you are doing it with a joyful heart, you possess (at least temporarily) the gift of giving. But you are also a leader, demonstrating by your witness what it is truly like to take a stand for what is right and a stand against what is wrong.

You may also be a prophet, by the declaring of God’s word as a reason to support your giving gesture and also as a reason for others to do so. Your witness and your voice might also make you a teacher of sorts, at least as it pertains to God’s Great Commission and His Great Commandment.

Finally, and it almost goes without mention, that mercy and exhortation are evident and portrayed in the person who sponsors a child, by so doing saves a life both physically and eternally.

Exercising Your Gift(s)

Would you please sponsor a child today? The truth be told, the only thing you truly need is an open hand and a willing heart.

Sponsor a child today and I will send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld—truly.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog

Bring it Back to Jesus

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

Debunking the Lies

It’s safe to say that most folks don’t believe in a divinely-orchestrated, six-day Creation. So how then do we go about presenting these Old-Testament truths as facts to those who would rather believe you and I crawled out from beneath a rock billions of years ago?

Bring it Back to Jesus

I am curious. Do you see yourself spoken of in the verse that begins this post today? I do. Like the earth, God also created me. And as fashionable and thriving I thought I was, the truth be told, sin had left me without form or purpose, void of godly recognition. Darkness prevailed. But then came God’s word. Where? It’s in the water, for we see it throughout the Bible as a symbolic reference to His word, as in…

 

He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word… Ephesians 5:26

Do You See Jesus Yet?

First we need some illumination, otherwise how will we come to see!

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:3

Enlightened, it isn’t long before we discover (or uncover as it were) that the word is none other than Christ Jesus! A mere three verses into Genesis we have come full circle and we clearly see Jesus!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2

But that won’t convince my friends that evolution is lie

Are you sure? Jesus believed in Adam and that he was created by the Father, so much so Adam is included in His genealogy. If you believe in Jesus, and you believe He is not capable of lying, then it has to be true: God created Adam and Eve (and) evolution is a fabrication.

Continue reading Genesis and endeavor to see Jesus in every verse and both Testaments. Old Testament truths are more palatable when first the Good News is conveyed and accepted. If ‘these’ words are discarded, it isn’t you they are rejecting, but Christ Jesus.

Back to Jesus

What I adore about the ministry of Compassion International is that it is not about the children who are being sponsored primarily, nor is it chiefly about those who sponsor these blessed children, the ministry is and always will be about Jesus Christ, His Great Commission to the saints, and the mandates towards those experiencing any type of poverty—physical, emotional, or spiritual.

The Compassion ministry works because Jesus is first.

Sponsor a child today and I will send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld—truly.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog

James Earl Jones Lied to Us

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-4

Field of Dreams

“Field of Dreams, ” is one of my all-time favorite movies. Who can forget (especially if you just watched the film clip) those immortal words spoken by Terence Mann (James Earl Jones)…

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.

Well, it’s a lie. I like baseball and I loved this movie, but Ray (and Terry), the only constant through all the years is God—while we are often faith-less, He has been, and always will be faithful. Faithfulness is at the very core of Christ Jesus and that truth is exemplified by King David in Psalm 118:8,

It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man

…which just happens to be the exact middle of the Bible.

We have confidence in the Lord concerning you

As strange as it might seem, some children are not sponsored because the potential sponsor was not asked directly, “Would YOU (enter-your-name-here) please sponsor a child?” Well, in this format, a personalized request is somewhat difficult, so it is my prayer that you might consider this a personal invitation to save a child’s life.

Sponsor a child and I will send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog

The Fountain of Youth

But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

 

Jason Mezey is a friend and a regional event volunteer specialist with Compassion International. In a recent email to Compassion advocates, Jason provided an update in regard to Compassion’s involvement at this year’s Creation Festival (East). As I already have reported, over 1, 400 children were sponsored at the event, but Jason included this little vignette that I was not previously aware of…

“Along with the sponsorships, there were many monetary donations that came in. These are usually more side noted but I have a story about one of them that I just have to share. I thought this was a neat and powerful expression of one boy’s desire to be a part of something bigger.

One of the nights this boy came up to the table and shared with our volunteers that he just didn’t think that his parents would approve of him sponsoring at this time. He proceeded to hand over an envelope of bills and a bunch of change…he also handed over a raggedy cardboard sign that had (these) items listed:”

 

 

“The money he had raised totaled $48.25.”

Having worked behind many a Compassion table, I am pleased to say that occurrences such as these are not uncommon—praise be to God. It is also not infrequent that table-workers hear the phrase (in regards to sponsoring a child), “I’ll have to pray about it.”

Oh, I’m not knocking prayer one iota, but every so often, wouldn’t it be nice to step out in a child-like faith having the assurance God would be pleased by our so doing. There is a time to pray and a time to proceed, and isn’t it a wonderful thing that our children can usually tell the difference.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

Sponsor a child and I will send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog

Invested Interest

Invested Interest

Then he took some of the seed of the land And planted it in a fertile field; He placed it by abundant waters And set it like a willow tree. And it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature; Its branches turned toward him, But its roots were under it. So it became a vine, Brought forth branches, And put forth shoots. Ezekiel 17:5-6

Sowing Seed

Pastor Gary Simpson, senior pastor of Concord Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY is facilitating our Bible study this week and he shared this brief story this morning (paraphrasing mine)…

“Anthony Jones was a teen in our church who really wasn’t plugged into any ministry, that is until we wired our church for a new sound system. He took much joy in the helping of the laying-out of wires throughout the church.

That led to his being becoming apart of the sound ministry in the church, which then led to his finding a job running the sound for the Dance Theatre of Harlem, which led to his getting a job running sound with a Broadway show.”

It just reminded me that everyone has a place in this world and sometimes the Lord just wants to use us to help someone find that little niche where a seed can take root. If someone had not taken a moment or two with Anthony in order to get him plugged-into something, he might have very well wandered away from the body of Christ.

But let me clarify. Our role is not necessarily to ‘position’ everyone in the church, but rather to invest ‘time’ with people and then rely on God to direct our/their path. The person who plugged Anthony in knew where to plug him ‘after’ investing his time with him.

Spending vs. Investing

You may have noticed that I did not use the term, ‘spending time’, but rather, ‘investing time’. The difference is subtle, but significant—when we invest, there is an expectation of a return, regardless if it is money, time, or talent. You might say that the Lord has invested His entire life in us. It’s only right that we do the same for others, whether they are inside or outside of the church.

So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ’Do business till I come’…Then came the first, saying, ’Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ’Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ Luke 19:13 + 16-17

God’s Business

It might sound a little crude, but we are in the ‘God Business’. What’s that? Well generally speaking, it is whatever the Boss tells us it is, but specifically, we can boil it down to two things: the Great Commission and the Great Commandment (if you’re not familiar for those, look it up—it will make for a wonderful Bible study).

I am pleased to tell you that sponsoring a Compassion child falls well within the realm of those Biblical directives. If they didn’t, I would not be a sponsor myself, nor would I have become an advocate volunteer with the ministry.

My Job

My job (for lack of a better term), is to connect you (the Christian) with a child living in poverty somewhere around the world so that, like Anthony Jones, he or she might find their place in this world.

Your Job

Your job (for lack of a better term), is to talk the Boss and determine if sponsoring a Compassion child is what He wants you to do today. Until He gives the OK, everything I wrote is just a suggestion that coincidently lines-up with His mandates.

Sponsor a child and I will send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog

Some Lead, Some Follow, Some Play Catcher

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Game Day

Does your church have a men’s softball league? Ours does and I am the catcher. If you know anything about men’s church softball, then you know that behind the plate is where they stick the old, fat, out-a-shape guys who still feel compelled to show up for the games. However, let it be known, that I chose to be behind the plate. Do you know why? Pride. That’s right, I didn’t want the coach telling me (and the world), “Dave, you’re old, and fat, and out-a-shape, so here’s a mask to protect your ugly face, ” so I chose a self-imposed exile.

Anyway, we had a game on Monday evening and I broke my foot. Well, I didn’t break my foot, but I thought I broke my foot. I later discovered (at the emergency room) that I am suffering from a bone spur on my heel ~and~ a thing called plantar fasciitis, which is Latin for, “Feels like you broke your foot, but you’re just old, fat, and out-a-shape.”

Why Me God?

Yes, I did ask God that question, but not in a lamenting kind-of-way, but more in a ‘I-think-You-are-trying-to-get-my-attention-God-and-I’m-listening-now, ’ kinda way.

“Are you telling me to slow-down God?”

No, that couldn’t be…I’m a lazy snail as it is.

“Do You not wanting me playing softball?”

Couldn’t be that either…I don’t believe God wants me to cease the little exercise I am getting.

Then I figured it out—right after the orderly person took my pre-emergency-room-release blood pressure. It was off the wall (especially that stink’n bottom number). I told the on-duty doctor that I ‘stopped’ taking my blood pressure medication because I lost some weight. He gave me the ‘look’ that only seasoned-physicians know how to give that said, “You’re an idiot.”

Long story short, I am back on my meds and for the time being, I am believing the Lord ‘allowed’ my injury to occur in order that I would wind up before a responsible person who would shame me into taking the very thing that might keep me from dying prematurely. For now, it (the God-thing) is the only thing that makes sense and strangely enough, the only way to prove it, is to NOT take my medicine and see if I die next week.

What Does That Have to do With Sponsoring a Compassion Child?

Nothing.

But I end each one of these blogs with an appeal for these kids who have no voice in our world (or theirs for that matter). In one sense, I am able to make a connection to my story—that they need a cure for what ails them: physical and spiritual poverty, and that God would like to administer a healing via us, His body, the Church.

For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts… Psalm 95:7-8a

Sponsor a child today and I will send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog