Let me tell you how I buy something these days. I know what I want; I go on the Internet, I get the best price. I don't know what I want; I go to a small store that can help me. The era of personal service is back. (video)

This resonated with me because it's much of the conversation I've been having lately with folks in our city. It's a tough balance for many – they want the biggest value (price) for their dollar – but also want exceptional service.

No one expects that both can happen simultaneously because a higher level of service demands a higher price. A "meal" at a local fast food store is a great value today – but in the long term eating that way has devastating consequences on one's health and could actually end up costing more in terms of healthcare dollars and wellness.

However, I can choose to spend a few more dollars and receive excellent service, higher food quality, and in general a greater sense of health and long-term wellness, but this comes at a price.

The cashier at Krusty burger doesn't know my name, care about my preferences, or have any idea what's being served to me.  A local restaurateur does care intensely about my name, preferences, and can tell me what goes into the dish and by correlation: what goes into me!

Personally I'm right now at about a 50/50 split.  Some days I just want to run in, grab a quick meal, and hit the road.  Other times a sit-down and conversation are called for.  More and more I'm opting out of the fast-food experience for something else.  What I have heard called the "good food, fast" experience.

Enter Chipotle. (And their new experiment with Asian food coming soon!) I get to enjoy delicious food at a reasonable, albeit bit higher price than fast-food.  It's a balance between sit down and Krusty burger.  Sometimes the staff remembers me.  I must eat there too much.

This opens a conversation about the new opportunities available to new churches, new small businesses – really anyone with a good idea.  Design excellent products, services, and relationships – and deliver them with excellence and value to a local community of people.

A move away from the "cookie cutter" or "big-box" but not a complete reversion to the "old days" where sometimes excellence was not much of a priority.  A new middle ground for today.

Personal service paired with excellence. Good stuff, fast.

"the space"

Our group started meeting as a group of people that are mainly "home-based" workers (myself included) that re-create some of the desirable experiences of an office environment (friendship, conversation, free coffee, etc).

Something that I had a hunch might be true for some time has become increasingly relevant through our meetings. There is a trend away from "big-box" experience and back to more local, community based experience.

Our "co-workers" could be sitting at Panera or Starbucks for the price of just one coffee. Instead, they're opting for something a bit less commercial, but a bit more friendly.  If someone misses for a week or two – one of us will probably naturally email/facebook/text – "Hey you okay?"

From the guests we have on a regular basis, even those that don't stick, none of them say, "Well I was really looking to be ignored more!"  "I really wanted a harder time finding a parking spot!"  "Why is there so much seating available?"

It might explain some of our madness of going to two services and actually reducing the number of seats in the auditorium at the same time.  

A wise old pastor once told me – "Look at the movie theaters – they are smart enough to always have good seats that are empty.  The only people that like packed churches are on the stage."

Ouch and true.

Maybe the local news stations have it right – Live, Local, Latebreaking. Perhaps small business and churches could learn something from the dynamic changes that have impacted mass media.

Most feel a deficiency in life and so we strive and hunger for more. We pray, "Bless Me! Bless Me!"

Unfortunately the standard answer from religion to this point has been either:

1. Hate all material things
2. Or the other extreme love things, work harder, earn more – then you can buy more and eventually you'll be happy. 

These extremes are lies. 

Living the blessed life (life to the full as Jesus calls it) is more about re-framing your perspective on happiness.  Unfortunately our default mode is not to be very appreciative of the blessings currently in our life.  We worry about "what's next" rather than focus on "what's now".

Here's a dead simple exercise that will change your life for the better.  Begin tonight, don't delay.  Grab a small notebook like a Moleskine pocket notebook.  Place it by your bed so you won't forget. Then follow the 4 steps.

21 Day Blessing Exercise:

1. At Bedtime, write down 3 blessings in your life you’re grateful for.
2. Be specific – if Kids = what?, if job = why?, etc.
3. Pray a prayer of heartfelt thanksgiving for these blessings and for future blessings God has planned.
4. Repeat daily!

21 Days from now you'll more fully understand what it means to live the truly "Blessed Life"! 

The song was, "Jehovah Jireh, My Provider" and it repeated that line over and over and…

Strangely enough I have witnessed this principle at work so much these past two weeks that all I could think about was this song as I arose this morning.  The song that I haven't heard in years was ringing in my ears as my alarm clock blasted the 'wah-wah-wah-wah' to rise and shine.

The context comes from Genesis 22:14, "So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

When I remember the origin of the word here in Genesis the surrounding story is when Abraham was tested in his faithfulness and asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Abraham calmly said, "God himself will provide," as Isaac wondered what animal would be the sacrifice (not realizing it was in fact himself at that point).

God did provide, Isaac was spared, Abraham's faith was illustrated and foreshadowing of an only son to be sacrificed (also linked to the lamb) was penned to echo the coming sacrifice Christ would make.

And therefore bookending the "Lord will Provide" loop from Genesis to the Gospels.

What would it look like for you to put your trust in God to get you through this rough spot? To fully trust that God is willing and able to provide for your spiritual, financial, and relational needs?

- – - – -

And now for something silly…

I grew up begging my parents to take me to Wal-Mart. I loved it. Toys, electronics, books…oh my!

For a rural dwelling kid like me that lived over 30 minutes away from this kind of civilization (and it was just a regular one not the super variety!) a trip to Wal-Mart was like taking a ride on Willy Wonka's Wondrous Boat Ride.

The numerous documentaries, blogs, and negative biases toward Wal-Mart then has been a mystery to me.  Why the hate for such a well run, profitable – yet affordable place to shop?

Let's think about the pros:

1. They provide durable goods & food at rock bottom price points – thereby feeding and clothing nearly every socio-economic demographic category that you could think of.
2. They give tons of people an equal opportunity to earn a wage – that due to age, experience, or education would otherwise not be able to get a job.
3. They are prolific – whenever I want to evaluate a city I ask – "How close is Wal-Mart?"  On vacation in a strange area there's no more welcome sight than a Wal-Mart store.

Hopefully we all realize that Wal-Mart is not a high-end electronics store, gourmet grocery, or fashionable botique. Wal-Mart is for the basics. 

Wal-Mart has extensive blueprints in place that allow employees to operate within a defined set of templates that they've been well trained to do (i.e. eMyth) to successfully operate a multi-billion dollar business that just reported a 27% increase in Quarter 4 of 2010 (that's over $6 billion in Q4).

And that's the point – Wal-Mart leaves plenty of room for employee advancement and free market competition.  It's called moving on.  Once you hit your peak level of performance, take that experience and move to the next station.  Wal-Mart is not the end of the journey – but it serves its role as basic training and basic goods with simplicity.

The idea is to always be looking for your Next Step.  Maybe it's time in your life to step off the psychedelic boat ride!

Have you considered taking action or are you stuck on the basics?

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" 
-Ecclesiastes 3:1 

1. Write it down – otherwise you'll forget or ignore it.
2. Check it off – you wrote it down remember? so it must be important – do it!
3. Move on – checked it off? great – NEXT!

Look, those two guys in the big silver bird that you trust to take you up 40,000 feet at around 600 mph – they use checklists.  I think it might be time to get out a notebook, make some cute little boxes, and start checking them off!

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil."

-Ephesians 5:15-16

Solomon

I can definitely feel Solomon's pain as he writes that his work, his effort, his thoughts all came to nothing – like chasing after the wind.

Too often Solomon's work here has been dismissed as a depressed man that should be avoided.  Instead I think Solomon's writing hits at the heart of something we all think at one time or another: what is life all about?  Through the pain and tears – where is the solace?  Through my work and writing and everything I put my energy and life into – what yields results?

2010 has been a rough year – I've seen two kids in their 20s die – one in an auto accident and one by his own hand.  I love both of them and their families.  My heart breaks that I have no words to comfort, no solution to offer. No way to give meaning to something so meaningless.

As I reflect on Solomon's last thought above I wonder if the only thing to be gained has nothing to do with our sun.  Perhaps his wisdom shines through his depression and he gives us the answer embedded in his word picture.

Nothing we gain under the sun be it wealth, adrenaline, knowledge, great buildings, mighty political movements – none of it gives meaning.  None of it leaves you fulfilled with a sense of purpose. 

God spoke something profound to the prophet Jeremiah recorded in Chapter 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  NIV

Maybe the meaning we seek isn't so far away. Maybe the bringer of hope and future has delivered our purpose in the plans He has for us.  In this confusing, brash, loud world our Creator says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10

Theologian Jurgen Moltmann once wrote: "God weeps with us so that we may someday laugh with him."  

As a thirsty man longs for an oasis, my ears ache to hear that laughter.

"Those potholes are so huge – why doesn't someone fill them?"

"I'll never get these books read."

"I don't care for this music…. it's too loud/soft/fast/slow."

—–

The litany of complaints never ends.  It is a self-fulfilling prophecy that what you complain about with words but refuse to take action on will never be resolved.

Instead you stew, you vent, you get red-faced. And in the end you look like a clown: your face is discolored, your actions are animated (looks like you're juggling), and you might even shoot steam out of your ears.

Paul once wrote on the subject to the Christians in Philippi, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." -Philippians 2:14-16 NIV

I have learned that merely complaining never fixes anything.  I used to be a big complainer – to waitstaff, to 800-number customer service reps, to my friends, to family, etc.

I learned that in all those wasted breaths I accomplished nothing – it was as Shakespeare wrote, "sound and fury, Signifying nothing."

Instead of complaining, I choose to make a difference.  So where I see injustice – I seek justice.  When I am confused I pray for clarity.  When I am lost I seek guidance.  When I see that something needs to get done – I do it.

Funny thing is – when you become a person of action – you feel healthier because you're doing something about the situation.  Others however, get jealous very quickly and say, "What's so special about him?"

The answer is – nothing special.  Except for being fed up with being the clown. You can do this – it's easy.  Instead of problems focus on solutions.

May you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life!

"We have a 'strategic' plan.  It's called doing things."  
-Herb Kelleher, founder of Southwest Airlines

Do you get things done?  Really get them done – or just talk about it?  It's a lot easier to talk about lost people than to talk to them.

Perhaps this is the week that you'll say – enough is enough – 2011 is going to be about doing what is necessary.  Be the person that will take action!

Southwest has figured this simple and basic principle out that, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”  -James 2:17

How about instead of a 'strategic' plan for this week you follow a simple outline:

1. Each night before you hit the hay, write down a list of things that need to be done the following day. (maybe even use a cool free web 2.0 tool like tadalist – my favorite!)
2. The next day wakeup earlier than normal, review/correct your list, and DO WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN DOWN!

There's all the coaching you need for 2011 – DO THINGS!

Phil embodied to me the calling of a pastor and the desire to pursue God in all things.  As I drove home at around 2:45 am this morning from the hospital it was Phil I remembered teaching me about the life of a pastor.  He told me to never be surprised when in the middle of the night I’d be called upon to offer comfort, hope, and peace to a family in crisis.

I was reminded of Matthew 18:19-20 as our small group huddled in prayer in the ER, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” NIV

Phil exemplified a simple life of prayer and care as a pastor.  It was evident in his prayers and his leadership that he was not an angry man but rather a determined person seeking to walk in the presence of God as he did his best to shine the light of Christ into the dark times of our lives.

Perhaps the most telling thing Phil taught me was by an action where he didn’t say a word.  When my grandfather died while I was a teenager at youth camp, Phil drove 6 hours roundtrip to stand in the back of the crowded room in a little Nazarene church.  I didn’t see Phil to talk to him that day…his presence spoke volumes.

-Pastor Clark