Because I love Him and You (April 2014)

[The following was copied from the April 2014 issue of The King's Business. If you are not receiving an issue and would like to please contact the church office or email us.] 

 

FROM MY HEART

 

A few years ago, British Rail had a real fall-off in business. Looking for marketing answers, they went searching for a new ad agency - one that could deliver an ad campaign that would bring their customers back. When the British Rail executives went to the offices of a prominent ad agency to discuss their needs, they were met by a very rude receptionist, who insisted that they wait. Finally an unkept person led them to a conference room - a dirty, scruffy room cluttered with plates of stale food. The executives were once again left to wait. A few agency people drifted in and out of the room, basically ignoring the executives who grew impatient by the minute. When the execs tried top ask what was going on, the agency people brushed them off and went about their work.

 

Eventually, the execs had enough. As they angrily started to get up, completely disgusted with the way they’d been treated, one of the agency people finally showed up. “Gentlemen,” he said, “your treatment here at our agency is not typical of how we treat our clients - in fact, we’ve gone out of our way to stage this meeting for you. We’ve behaved this way to point out to you what it’s like to be a customer of British Rail. You’re real problem isn’t your advertising, it’s your people. We suggest you let us address your employee attitude problem before we attempt to change your advertising.”

 

The British Rail executives were shocked - but the agency got the account! The agency had the remarkable conviction to point out the problem because it knew exactly what needed to change.

 

Easter is about CHANGE! When we couldn’t get to Heaven the “I’ll be good enough through my works” way; God provided His way. When we flounder in life by having to do it our way, God reminds us what happens when we trust Him and do it His way. Easter shows us the power of change.

 

As the church and as Christians sometimes we only have one time to make a first impression. And sometimes to reach the generation coming behind us we have to change some things. We need to understand that the message never changes. But sometimes we need to understand that methods should be changing all the time. After 58 years on this planet, I’ve come to realize that the only constant in life IS change. Tom Feltenstein, founder of Neighborhood Marketing Institute who has consulted with more than 500 businesses said, “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance a lot less.”

 

The church day by day is becoming more irrelevant to the culture, our culture, our sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters. Becoming a disciple of Christ is all about change, and Jesus and the cross is all about being relevant.

 

What can we change, what can our church change, to reach the upcoming generation for Christ? The worn out definition of insanity is still true and relevant. Insanity is doing the SAME thing OVER AND OVER and expecting DIFFERENT results. Evangelist Louie Giglio when asked about some loud contemporary Christian music, “Do you like that stuff?” He replied, “No, not really, but I sure so like the kids that listen to that stuff.” God not only liked us, He loved us. And while we were yet sinners died for us. Now that’s change! Happy Easter. See you Sunday.

 

Because I love Him and you,

 

Pastor Al