Home is where you hang your hammock

Have you seen the changes in McDonalds lately? Gone is the emphasis on playland and Happy Meals, now replaced with McCafe, Wifi, and warm, inviting colors. It’s like Starbucks, with burgers and fries. On the surface, things are very different, but what about when you get deeper in?

On Saturday morning I stopped in for a breakfast sandwich and the price on the menu was $2.19. When I got to the window, the price was higher. I asked why and the kid said: “We’ll get someone out there to fix the price.” I shrugged my shoulders and moved onto the next window. The lady at the next window handed me my sandwich and I asked her if there was a manager around. She admitted to being one, and I asked about the difference. She said “We’ll that’s because you got cheese on your sandwich” I told her “But I didn’t want cheese.” She laughed out loud and said “Oh well!”

My first thought was to tell her to try again, but I refrained, and pulled away. I opened up my sandwich, scraped off most of the cheese and ate my breakfast.

The whole experience made me wonder if most churches ever consider the customer service experience they provide to the people who pass through their doors.

Most of the companies we consume from have great customer service. 24-7 Tech support, operators standing by, 10 minute oil change, 29 minute guarantees… the list goes on… great companies offer great service. Few people willfully chooses to buy a product from a company that they know has poor customer service.

If the world has set a high bar for what people consider to be good customer service, why aren’t churches striving to exceed the standards set by the world, and wow people with how well they’re treated?

If you ask people to sign up to volunteer, find a place for them to volunteer… immediately.

If someone wants to join a small group, connect them to someone that week.

If you’re going to have a coffee shop in your church, make sure the coffee tastes good.

Lots of churches offer mediocre service, and think it honors God. If you don’t have the resources to contact potential volunteers quickly, don’t ask them to volunteer. If you can’t connect people to small group leaders within 7 days, don’t ask people to join groups until you can connect them quickly. If good tasting coffee isn’t in the budget, don’t have coffee.

God is a God of excellence. Shouldn’t everything we do be done with excellence? Sure we talk about the band being good, and the pastor being dynamic, but what about the person who responds to emails, or answers the phone? Why does it take 2 months to hear back from someone? If you don’t have the resources to answer the emails, don’t give out the address. Mediocre service is more disastrous than not offering something at all. Macy’s doesn’t sell tires, and no one gets upset about it.

People have a very high level of expectations for their customer service experience in life, and if we’re not willing to meet people where they’re at, we’re not going to get them where they need to be… a life focused on loving and serving others, not consuming.

After every interaction with your church, are people saying: “I’m lovin it?” If not, it’s time to rethink how you do things.

God has this way of meeting needs in ways we don’t expect.

I was reading in Acts 18 this morning and something popped out that I don’t think I had seen before: God met a need through a completely different method than people had anticipated.

In Acts 18 19-21 Paul took a pitstop in Ephesus and went to the local synagogue to have a good debate with the jewish people there. At the end of their debate the people asked him to stay longer and he declined. As he was leaving he told them, If it’s the will of God I’ll come back.

Fast forward to verse 24 and a guy named Apollos from Alexandria (Egypt) lands in Ephesus and heads for the synagogue. The back story is that Alexandria was home to a thriving Jewish community and was a major Jewish intellectual center at that time. All of that means that the guy who showed up next (after Paul) was a very well educated Jew and was able to teach the scripture accurately and confirm that Jesus was the Messiah.

Cool huh? The people in Ephesus asked for Paul, didn’t get him, but instead God gave them another great intellectual who debated with them, convinced them, and ultimately helped add to the Kingdom. Apollos was a gift from God that the people of Ephesus weren’t expecting, but came at just the right time. I wonder if Apollos knew what was happening? I wonder if he knew that God used him to answer the needs of the people in Ephesus? Someday I’ll ask.

I don’t know about you, but in my mind, I have solutions to most of the problems I face. Some of them are outside of my pay grade, but for the most part, I feel like I can figure things out pretty well on my own. As great as that sounds, it just doesn’t work that way. My view is so limited, and my desires are usually so small that God must look down and be a little disappointed at the size of my dreams.

Lately I’ve been asking God to do something so big in my life and in our company that I could never possibly explain it or take credit for it, and I believe that’s what He iss doing. Sales have skyrocketed this week in such a way that I could NEVER take responsibility for it. I couldn’t have made this happen if I had wanted to.

I’m glad I got an Apollos answer to my requests, and not my own solution. My own solution would have been small, self focused, and left me feeling confident that I can resolve issues. Apollos answers  come in ways I never could have imagined.

Thank you God for providing me with an Apollos sized solution, not a Justin sized solution.

I hate to admit it, but I’m not very good at flossing my teeth. I have several rolls of floss around the house, and I even keep one in my car too, but I’m not very good at remembering to floss. My last trip to the Dentist netted me 4 new fillings in a mouth that already has too many. I’ve paid a lot of money for my teeth over the years. You’d think that would be an adequate reminder that I need to floss. Unfortunately it’s not.

The last time around at the Dentist’s office, my Dentist, David, talked to me about flossing and how important it is. He admitted that he has a hard time remembering too, but it’s still important. As part of our appointment, he talked about good flossing habits with me, and he told me something very strange, that I never thought I’d hear from a dentist:

If you go a while without flossing, and you start doing it again, your gums are going to bleed. It’s going to hurt, and it will be uncomfortable for a while, but keep flossing, get through it, and eventually the pain will go away.

I was a little surprised to hear my dentist admit that “we know people don’t floss, but you need to start back up, and it’s going to hurt, but work through it.”

It’s nice having a dentist who lives in the real word, and is aware of my failures, and the path to get back onto success.

I was thinking about it today, and my relationship with God isn’t a whole lot different than flossing. I know I need to do it every day, and I’ve had a season where it hasn’t gone so well, and now that I’m getting back to it, I’m experiencing some bleeding and pain.

I’m still in the midst of this two-week trial of spending the first hour of my day with God and there have been some bumps and bruises along the way. At first, I wasn’t adjusting my bed time, so by the third day, I felt sleep deprived, then, I was sleeping in and didn’t get to spend as much time with God as I wanted. Now, I’m starting to feel more connected to God, which means I’m feeling even more spiritual attacks than normal.

Like flossing, there is some pain as this starts back up again. There are also some triumphs, some answered prayers, and a renewed sense of hearing from God again. I can’t believe I went so long without having this good of a connection with God. Where did the last few years go?

Do you need to start “flossing” again too?

On Sunday night at small group we talked a little bit about spiritual disciplines. We talked about fasting and some people mentioned that they couldn’t go without food. They get grumpy and bad things happen. Some other people mentioned that they desperately need their sleep, so getting up early to spend time with God would be very difficult, so they do it in the evening. I understand where both groups of people are coming from. I have a hard time focusing when I’m hungry, and if I don’t get 8 hours of sleep I have a hard time being useful throughout the day.

This morning I was thinking more about this and God dropped a thought into my head that’s still expanding:

If God can accomplish more with 90% of my income than I can with 100%, then why couldn’t God accomplish more with 23 hours in my day than I could accomplish with the full 24?

To put this in context, Becky and I faithfully give 10% of our gross income to God. We don’t do it because we feel like we ‘have’ to, we do it because we ‘want’ to. Seeking first God’s kingdom with our finances has led to us having all of our needs met.

Why not apply the same principle to our time? Why not give God the very first, and very best hour of our day, and then rely on Him to do more with the remaining 23 than we could do on our own? For those who aren’t morning people (like me) it’s a bit intimidating to think of getting up earlier than necessary. It’s also intimidating to try and shut down my mind for the first hour of the day and not think about work,  meals for the day, Becky or anything else, and just quiet myself before God and listen to Him. In spite of how intimidating those thoughts are, I think there may be something to this that is worth exploring.

I want to try this for the next 2 weeks and see how the remaining 23 hours of my day goes. Right now, my days are full of 3 minute tasks that I can’t seem to accomplish, distractions, phone calls, long car rides and a litany of other things that overwhelm me on a daily basis.

I know these things won’t magically go away, but I’m really hoping that I’ll have the mental discipline to deal with them better and that I’ll have the clarity of mind to find solutions to the problems I face on a daily basis.

We’ll find out soon.

I’m getting married in 3 days. I’ve known about it for 6 months, but I’ve neglected to write anything till today. Becky has battled anxiety throughout our relationship and this week I finally understand what it’s like. I woke up yesterday feeling incredible anxiety. Not over whether or not I should marry her (I made that decision LONG ago) but over this whole wedding thing, and getting everything done, and work caught up, and being at a place where I feel comfortable leaving for a week and a half. Weddings are far too complex, and far too stressful. I’ve planning the ceremony, and the worship band, and a lot of the reception details, and the invitation, and rsvp’s, and the photographer… and it’s a lot of stuff! I couldn’t imagine her having to do all those things that I’ve taken on. It’s too much for one person to handle.

I’d like to write more often and share all the details about how God has provided for us, and the ways he has moved in and through us over the last 6 months. For now, I need to get back to designing, and sending out jobs. I have a lot of work to do.

My cousin owns a construction company and specializes in commercial construction. On a regular basis his clients tell him to donate old desks and furniture to charity because they don’t need it anymore. When that happens, he gives us or family members the opportunity to swap our furniture for the stuff that’s getting traded in. It’s cool getting desks and stuff from him. It has been a total God send.

Yesterday he came by and said “I have two desks to swap out” and my dad looked for two pieces of furniture and said “here take these” without ever really stopping to think about it. About 3 minutes after they left I realized I REALLY wanted one of the desks they took, and a desk they gave us is super nice, but functionally worthless to us. I told my dad that I wanted the desk back and he was like “too late, it’s gone. It’s water under the bridge now.” I was FURIOUS about it and it consumed me the rest of my work day and all evening and this morning too.

While driving to work, Becky called and I was venting my frustration and she prayed and I was so mad I couldn’t even pray with her. I just told God how furious I was and told him to figure it out. No more than 30 seconds later I rounded the final corner where I could see my office and my cousins truck and trailer AND desks were waiting for us in front of our office.

His worker got out and said “we went to three places and no one will take the desks, so we’re going to throw them away unless you want them.” I almost jumped for joy! I said to him “this is such an answer to prayer, you have no idea!” Right at that moment all of my anger and frustration melted away.

I was SO upset about losing that desk and I couldn’t fathom any situation where God would replace it as quickly and cheaply as we first got the desk. It was ruining my day in the WORST way.

God provided for me in a way I couldn’t have imagined. He proved just how faithful he is to us, and he proved how blessed we are and how much he is looking out for us.

I’m also so lucky that Becky was there to listen to me be upset and be angry, and SHE said we needed to pray, and she prayed for me on the phone that God would melt it away and keep it from ruining my day. She’s an amazing woman.

Today started out as a horribly bad day, and has turned into a wonderfully good day.

God is SO faithful. He gave me my desk back and more importantly, he gave me a woman who could handle my frustrations and pray for me in the midst of them.

I feel blessed.

I was talking to my aunt today about how much I miss Rebecca and how we’re going another month without talking and it’s making me really depressed. We started referencing Abraham and Isaac and how God asked Abraham to take Isaac up on Mount Moriah and sacrifice him. I asked her “I wonder how long Abraham waited before going to the mountain?” then I asked “I wonder if he asked God again “Are you sure?” She pulled up the passage and sent it to me over Instant Messenger. It was humbling.

Not only did Abraham not get his child till he was 100, when God called to him, he said “Here I am” listened to God’s instruction, and left the NEXT MORNING for Moriah. They traveled the first and second day, and on the third day he started up the mountain with Isaac and together they carried the wood, the fire and the knife. Part way up Isaac says “dad I see wood and fire, but no lamb….” Abraham replies “God will supply the lamb” and they carried on.

They get to the spot, Abraham ties up Isaac, pulls out his knife and is about to sacrifice him when the angel says “Abraham Abraham!” and of course he replies “Here I am” and the angel tells him not to harm the boy, and that he (the angel) now knows that Abraham fears God because he wouldn’t even withhold his only son from him.

A few things stick out to me in this story:
1) Abraham knew the voice of God and responded immediately

2) Abraham did what he was told to do, and he did it immediately. (Not gonna say he didn’t question it, but if he did, his questioning didn’t prevent him from obedience. I’ll ask him someday)

3) Abraham led his son well by modeling the example of obedience, and the belief that God is truly good and gives us everything we need.

4) God allowed Abraham to keep that which he was willing to give back to Him.

Here’s how it relates to me:
1) I know when God speaks to me, I have a clear sense of God’s guidance in my life. God gives me good questions to ask, and speaks through the answers to those questions.

2) The last 5 weeks have been so difficult. Becky and I have spoken a LOT, and we worked through the issues we needed to resolve, and we both grew a lot in those 5 weeks. Now after seeing her again, and having an AMAZING time with her and sensing “something’s not right” we’re back to not talking for a month or so (hopefully less!) Its been 3 days and I want to talk to her so bad it’s crazy. God called us not to communicate right now, and I need to obey it. This is really hard for me.

3) I hope and pray Becky and I get to keep our relationship. In the meantime, I need to model good leadership so that if (hopefully when) the time comes, I won’t be disqualified from leading us in a marriage because I didn’t model leadership throughout our entire relationship. Can she really trust me to provide for her if I’m not willing to let God provide for me?

4) I have had the hardest time letting go of this. I have held on very tightly because I love her SO much. I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving her, and I couldn’t imagine having any other woman. If God says “give it to me” and I say “no” that means I’m putting Rebecca over God, and that’s not good. God will never give me a gift that takes me away from Him. If I want God’s greatest blessing (which I believe is Rebecca), then I have to give him that which is closest to my heart.

If I disobey God in this moment I’ll never get her back. Obedience is the only chance I have to regain my amazing relationship with her.

Such a simple passage of scripture, but it’s so pregnant with meaning and application. I should have read this long ago. It probably would have saved a lot of heartache.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Don’t assume that you know it all.

Today is my 3 year anniversary with the family business. It doesn’t seem like 3 years, but the numbers don’t lie. Most people don’t last being self employed, but by the grace of God I’ve made it this far. To be honest, it hasn’t been all that stressful. Yeah yeah, I’ve had my moments, but when I look back. Its been a really good three years. I’m graduating from college in about 183 days. The business is growing so fast I can’t keep up with it. I have my eyes on “someone special” and God hasn’t stopped working in my life and transforming me into the man I was made to be.

As I look back I’m very content with what God has done in the last 3 years. I’m really looking forward to the next 3 years. I foresee marriage, continued growth in the business, and continued growth with God too. God and I are going to change eternity over the next 3 years. I know it.

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. ~ God

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you’re perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”