A Lesson from Wal*Mart

When I started out in retail management, I worked for a Wal*Mart store in Richmond, VA. The next closest store was in Mechanicsville, about 20 miles away. The 'suits' in Bentonville decided to build a brand new Wal*Mart about 2 miles from our store. We were doing about $40 million a year in sales, and were quite distraught that a new store would be opening so close, 'stealing' all of our customers. Wal*Mart's philosophy was simple - if store A does $40 million a year in sales, we're limited to that. But if we build store B and generate $30 million in sales, and store A then does $10 million less than the previous year but still does $30 million, then Wal*Mart Corporation gets $60 million between store A and B, instead of only $40 million just from store A. They built the new store, and it affected our sales a little bit, but overall, we knew the company was doing better as a result of the new store.

At Bethany UMC, we're looking into starting a second service on Sunday mornings. Some folks are concerned that it will split the church into 2 groups who will no longer know each other, or that our 'main' worship service will lose people and we'll be smaller. But most people seem to be enthused about the idea and are hopeful that it will be a good thing for our church. They understand Wal*Mart's principle of growth, and are willing to sacrifice a bit of their familiarity for the prospect of reaching new people with the gospel. We're not growing like we think we can, so we are looking to try some new things to generate growth and reach more people.

Making an Exception

Typically, I'm pretty laid back, but I can be pretty anal retentive when it comes to certain things. One of those things involves premarital counseling for weddings. I have a marriage policy with fairly high standards, and I don't normally make exceptions to it. But I had a couple approach me back in May, in desperate need of a pastor to officiate at their wedding. They had no church affiliation, but had been planning their wedding for the past 18 months with an ordained clergy person from another denomination. Everything was in place, and 3 weeks before the wedding, this pastor told them he had to go to a conference that weekend, but he would find someone else to do their wedding. Long story short, he left them in the lurch, and they came to me through a member of my church. Normally I wouldn't perform a wedding with only 3 weeks notice and little time to connect with the couple or do adequate premarital counseling. But after hearing their story and seeing the need they had as a result of this unreliable pastor, I agreed to do the wedding if they would come to church at least for the few weeks remaining before the wedding, and come for premarital counseling with me. They did so, and I married them. Fast forward to September. This couple, AND the bride's parents, are now taking the membership class, getting involved actively in ministry, and are joining the church. On top of that, the groom got saved during this time period, as a result of seeing how God opened all of the doors necessary to help them get married in their time of need. I don't make exceptions often, and I'm not recommending that we as pastors relax our standards regarding premarital counseling, baptisms, weddings, etc. But in certain cases, there are some real opportunities to reach people and help them in a time of need, and I rejoice when things work out. Too many times, I feel people 'use' the church to get what they want, and then we never hear from them or see them again. Until the next time (baptism, funeral, etc. - you all know the drill!). This was one occasion, however, when the church met a need, and the people responded by being drawn to God. Praise God for this!

NewComers Class

We started our Fall NewComers class at Bethany this morning, and it went great! This is a 4 week class that we hold for people who are interested in joining the church. It's a great way for new people to get to know each other, and to get to know about the mission, vision, and ministries of our church. The class members really responded well to everything today, and I am looking forward to guiding them through this and welcoming them into our fellowship in October. What kind of things do all of you do for new people, and for those who are looking to join the church? I started requiring this class for people at my last church, and here at Bethany, and it has really been a good thing.

Balaam's Ass

Have you ever decided on a certain course of action, perhaps even being convinced that it was God's will, only to find that obstacle after obstacle presented itself? For every door that opens, 2 more close. I guess it is still just learning how to discern the will of God, rather than our own human will. Balaam set out on a course of action, and thanks to his ass (meaning donkey, all you members of the explicit content control board!) he was prevented from pursuing it in his own way. Three times Balaam attempted to get his ass in gear, so to speak, and three times he was thwarted in his attempt. At last his eyes were opened, and he could clearly see that God was really the one preventing him from moving forward, until Balaam approached things from God's perspective, not his own. I know there have been times in my life where I have tried very hard to move things forward, or to try something that I truly believed God was leading me to, only to find the path blocked over and over again. It takes awhile, but I finally come to the realization that either my motives aren't right, or the timing isn't right, (or it's just a hare-brained idea to begin with!) or for reasons unbeknownst to me, God isn't leading this one- I am. It is a lesson for me to make sure I realign myself with His will, not my own. Next time you think someone is being an ass, maybe you should be thankful for them! They could be keeping you out of trouble.

Just A Few Questions

This is the title and lyrics of a song by Clay Walker (yes, country music!).

How in this world can we put a man on the moon,

And still have a need for a place like St Jude's?

And why is one man born,In a place where all they know is war?

An' a guy like me, Has always been free.

An' how can two people who built a lovin' home,

Try for years an' never have a child of their own?

When somewhere out there tonight,

There's a baby no-one's holdin' tight:

In need of love. To me, that don't add up.

But I wasn't there the day you filled up the oceans.

I didn't get to see you hang the stars in the sky.

So I don't mean to second guess you,

Or criticise what I don't understand.

These are just a few questions I have.

An' why did my cousin have to die in that crash?

A good kid, only seventeen, I still wonder 'bout that.

It seems unfair to me,

Some get the chance to chase their dreams,

An' some don't.But what do I know?

Why do I feel like you hear these prayers of mine.

When so many oughta be ahead of me in line?

When you look down on me,

Can you see the good through all the bad?

These are just a few questions I have.

I share some of these questions myself, but the biggest ones definitely involve children. Why is child abuse so prevalent? How can God possibly allow child pornography to even exist? Why do children get cancer, or get abducted, mistreated, molested, etc.? I know of a couple right now who are on the verge of divorce. The wife has prayed so much for things to improve, but they've only gotten worse. Where is God in this? Is it not in His will for us to have healthy marriages, and not to divorce? Why then, do so many prayers appear to go unanswered? I'll post some theological questions later that I wrestle with, in addition to these every day life issues. These are just a few questions I have.

Salvation for Young and Old - what about in between?

I had the opportunity this past week to share the gospel and pray with 2 individuals, both of whom prayed to receive Christ. I rejoice in this, and look forward to seeing how life will change, at least for one of them. The title of this post mentions young and old, because that's what these 2 individuals are. One is a 15 year old girl, and the other is an older man on his deathbed. The young girl is facing a very difficult and traumatic time in her life. She has just been diagnosed with cancer, has been cutting herself and using drugs, has alienated many of the people close to her, and her parents are going through a divorce. She called me out of the blue to talk to me about her life (she is from one of my former churches), and I encouraged her to talk to her mother about the drugs and the cutting, and I encouraged her to talk to God and her pastor about some of the other things going on in her life. She didn't know how to talk to God (or her mother, for that matter!), and I tried to give her some guidance on both counts. I firmly believe in the transforming power of the gospel, but I'm not one to hear a tragic story such as hers and simply respond by tellling her to get saved and everything will be ok. I listened, and tried to help her with some of the issues she was facing, and she later asked me how to get saved and asked me to pray with her. Now I hope that God will help her get her life turned around somehow, and shine some light into her darkened world. I feel good that she has connected with God, but I feel horrible for her that all of her problems are still there. She did talk to her mom, and her mom flipped out on her (from a teenager's perspective, anyway). So, I don't know what type of hope to offer her other than a listening ear and continued prayer. I called her current pastor and talked to him about her situation, and he is aware of it and is doing what he can to help. It's just exceedingly complicated on many different levels. At any rate, my post is about her desire to pray and talk to God. The other instance was an older man who is very near death. He also asked me to come and pray with him. He wanted to pray for peace and assurance, knowing that his final days are fast approaching. In my ministry, I have found that youth are very open to God, and that older people (especially in situations of bad health, impending surgeries, etc.) are very open to God. I think the reasons are obvious. But people from age 25-65 are not typically as open as youth and older folks (and that's a pretty big age range!) What are the connection points that we can make with people who are pretty much self-supporting and able to make it on their own two feet? I do have a lot of committed, faithful, middle-aged people in my church. But most of them made those commitments in their youth. Anyone have any positive experiences with leading middle aged folks to God?

Quotable Quotes, Part 3 - My All Time Favorite!

"Jeff, I agree." -Keith McIlwain