Do you know the meaning of baptized?

In ancient Greece, a metalsmith "baptized" hot iron by dipping it into water. This act tempered the metal, strengthening it and helping set the specific shape the smith had chosen for the iron to take. In some respects, that's what baptism does for those who believe in God. It tempers them. It helps strengthen how closely they identify with God and their new form of life in a public yet personal way.

Baptize really means "to immerse". We can be immersed in study, in conversation, in thought. Are we immersed in the life of Christ???

Where Have You Buried Your Treasure?

"Gone with the Wind" is a critically acclaimed classic American movie released in 1939 which received 8 Academy Awards.  What is it that is gone...gone with the wind?  What is gone with the wind in our lives?  We spend so many days going after that which we believe will satisfy as Solomon did in 

Ecclesiastes 2:10: 

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired, I refused my heart no pleasure." 

Often times we come to the same conclusion as Solomon goes on to exclaim,

"Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind: nothing was gained under the sun."  

In a blink of an eye the works of our hands can be destroyed up by a single gust of wind. Our treasure could be gone, gone with the wind.  Storms can and do destroy homes over night as we witnessed on nightly news coverage of Hurricane Sandy.  Entire fortunes destroyed in literally seconds. And so scripture exhorts us not to collect our stuff here on earth but to store up our treasure in Heaven!

Matthew 6:19-21

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Yesterday may be gone, today is almost over but no one will be able to take away that which is eternal.  For today choose that which can never be taken, shaken or blown away by the mighty gust of the wind.

Wisdom from a Fortune Cookie

A fortune cookie I found said this, "No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he only had good intentions." 

While sitting in Atlanta with a ministry director, who serves a large homeless population in the city center, he shared with me how frustrating it is when suburban churches show up in his neighborhood to do their "good works."  Their van rolls in, they jump out with sack lunches, socks, gloves, and then they jump back in and drive out before the sun goes down.  They have great intentions but fall short of the Good Samaritan Standard.

For many in the urban core, they resent it when outsiders show up to "help the poor people," then leave as quickly as they appeared.  When we come bearing gifts, giving them away with no effort required on the recipient's part, we help to perpetuate an entitlement mentality.  We are really no different than any other government handout.

Those recipients learn quickly what days you show up, what you are bringing, and what kind of games they need to play in order to get their stuff - fill this out, show this documentation, hear a sermon, whatever?  But does this lead to real transformation?  Don't get me wrong, you can make a great difference in some people's lives.  There will be some who accept Christ, get off drugs, or have a real life change.  But when the smoke clears, the neighborhood remains in bondage, people blinded by the darkness.

So before you load up that van and head to "that part of town," think about this:

• Who is already living in that area doing ministry?  Go visit them and see the work they are doing.  Are they building authentic relationships with the people?  Does the neighborhood like them?  How are they empowering those they live around?
• Ask them what they need and what you can do to assist them in their efforts.  They will know what the neighborhood could use and how you can be a blessing to them.
• How can you walk side-by-side with this ministry?  Can your folks team up with theirs to make a greater impact?  So when you do leave town, they will still be present to follow-up with those you ministered to.

I encourage you to think beyond good intentions.  Pray and ask God to anoint you to do good works that will lead to making disciples and not making dependents.  Need some help with this?  Give us a call and let's talk.

By Tyler Champagne CFCI Short-term Missionary

  

The journey that brought me to Bolivia still seems surreal. I know that the Lord called me to go there.

Christ For The City International (CFCI) was the avenue through which the Lord sent me. I could not be more thankful for CFCI and the life-saving opportunity they blessed me with.

The amount of blessing the Lord brought into my life cannot be explained in just words. I have never been closer to Him.

I truly believed that by going to Bolivia, I would make a significant difference in people’s lives by serving them. Not only was I able to accomplish this by working in a children’s hospital, but my faith expanded significantly.

Through the wonderful people of CFCI and my amazing church in Cochabamba, God placed a joy in my heart that I will share with all here at home.

I encourage everyone reading this to get involved with mission work even if you think it’s a far-fetched or unrealistic idea. The amount of spiritual growth and discipleship that the Lord will bring into your life is simply amazing. For this, I am blessed!