Joel Stiff's Adventure

So, I’m picking up some take out.

I called the order in. The restaurant cooks and prepares the food to go. When I pay, the machine spits out a receipt with a place to add a tip to the total. I have to either tip or draw a line through the space and write the original total at the bottom before signing. What to do?

This is a somewhat recent phenomenon that I encounter pretty regularly these days. Now if I am sitting in the restaurant and a server is bringing me food and beverage, I am all for tipping. Especially since their wages are reduced in lieu of the anticipated tip. As far as I know, the cooks and cashiers that prepare my take out receive a typical wage that is higher than a server would receive. On top of that, who gets this tip? Is it given to the cashier? Do the cooks receive it? Do they split it? Does the restaurant get it by default? I have no idea where this tip goes.

I drew a line through it. The cashier looks at me like I did something wrong. On occasion I have tipped. usually it is usually at the Chinese place where the young husband and wife operate. She always gives us extra food and fortune cookies. In other words, she earns it.

Since when did everyone start getting a tip?

Maybe I should have a jar on the pulpit.

I wrote yesterday about the kindness of the people in the Twin Cities.

While there, we were also able to eat at Chick Fil A. If you’ve ever eaten there, you know well that they, likewise, are incredibly nice to their customers. The saying you hear time and again is, “It’s my pleasure.” So with the Minneapolis nice added together with the Chick Fil A nice, my head was about to explode in a gooey aftermath of cotton candy and lollipops.

I have been looking forward to, for some time, the appearance of Chick Fil A in Michigan. Their product is available at a local college, but it pales in comparison to the real brick and mortar experience. I have discussed the possibility with managers of Ohio locations and have been told of the stringent guidelines the company uses to determine the location of stores.

This makes me fearful that Flint may never see the restaurant’s arrival. You see, many among us have a mentality that we are the gift to the companies that choose to set up shop here. I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard someone say that the people of our city built General Motors. I have to admit, they also helped run them out of town.

When an employee looks at the opportunity given them with ingratitude and entitlement, they will soon lose the opportunity. In some cases, when a community develops an attitude of us against you, the opportunity may never come.

If Chick Fil A came to Flint, I imagine the employees would be saying to the customers, “The pleasure was all yours.”

For our daughter’s sixteenth birthday, our family went to the Twin Cities for a few days.

Nicole was excited to see the Mall of America and hit a British restaurant at Nicolette Mall. We also saw the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden with its infamous Cherry and Spoon Bridge. We caught a Twins game at Target Field and of all teams they played the Tigers. Tigers won with It was a fabulous week with some crazy and unexpected surprises.

Twenty-one years ago, Shannon and I spent our honeymoon bouncing around the same area. One thing was evident then that still was this time around. The people of the Minneapolis / St. Paul area are absolutely delightful. They are kind, polite, conversational, inquisitive and helpful. We are clearly out of towners, but everyone was patient to give us directions or instructions as needed. Perfect strangers helping us whenever and however needed.

Of course, the area is beautiful, but not perfect. They have their fair share of traffic and road construction. Winters there are far colder with more snowfall than we see in the mid-Michigan area. but none of those things taints their attitudes or spirits.

Even though their circumstances aren’t perfect, they rise above them and exhibit grace and kindness.

Can I do that?

Once a year, our church gathers together for a midnight prayer meeting.

We pray as a church family from 11 PM until 1 AM. The entire building and property is unlocked and lit up. People wander the classrooms, spend time on the busses and explore the property praying. At the beginning of the night, I hand out a prayer list about four pages long, we take any last requests and then disburse to pray. We have a table of snacks and drinks set up in one room where folks can go to recharge if they get sleepy. It’s a great time.

Last night, we did this again. It was amazing. It’s one of those things that you have to be a part of to fully appreciate. My usual activity is to wander all over the property outdoors with the occasional jaunt inside when the cool air gets me chilled. It allows me to see some wonderful things on my journey.

As I wandered, this is what I saw:

– a group of teenage boys in a group outside taking turns praying

– a man walking around the bus he drives and captains

– my daughter kneeling at the altar with her youth pastor’s wife praying out loud

– a man sitting in our new nursery praying for the children

– a lady who is a recovering alcoholic/addict sitting in the back of the auditorium praying

– my wife looking at the pulpit I preach from each week praying

– my parents praying in our auditorium

– people roaming everywhere asking God’s blessings on our church

At 12:55, we reconvened as a group and shared some testimonies. Our teens decided that they will be holding a weekly prayer meeting before their Wednesday night youth meeting. It was a fantastic night.

Where two or more are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

I had an interesting conversation yesterday about the tenets of fundamentalism.

When asked if I was still a fundamentalist, I replied in the affirmative. My friend stated that he didn’t think I was. He was not being critical, just observational.

From my understanding, back when the term was being used, it specifically dealt with the theological positions which one held.

As the twentieth century progressed, the term began to be applied to positions and preferences based more on tradition than truth. As long as your church is exactly like my church then you are fundamental, but if you differ in some areas, then you are not. Interesting to note is that it wasn’t the leaders in my particular circles of fundamentalism that were tightening the boundaries. It was more the second and even third generation of their followers that did. I can even cite specifics where the leaders violated the boundaries of the later generations. The difficulty lies in the fact that the leaders are given a pass for having keen discernment, whereas if I were to do the same, I have erred.

For instance, I pastor in a very blue collar town. We still go out and make specific visits as well as door to door canvassing. When I do this, I choose to dress more casually as opposed to a shirt and tie. I have found that if I knock on a random door in our area in a shirt and tie, I am viewed as a Jehovah’s Witness / Mormon, a police representative or someone there to serve papers. My reception is far better by losing the tie. If a missionary does this, he is brilliant for discerning the culture of his field. If I do it, I am a liberal who has dropped his standards.

Jesus spoke regarding the Pharisees having made the commands of God of none effect due to their tradition.

In some cases, the truth of the Bible is minimized because of a greater focus on tradition.

There is a great deal of methodology we engage in that is not supported nor condemned by the scripture. But when we start making the methodology part of the criteria for being fundamental, we have turned away from its initial meaning.

If what I believe helps you understand that we hold the same fundamental position, wonderful. But if how I go about ministry, when kept within the confines of scripture, leads you to rule me out, then I happily and most gladly remain independent.

You may have heard this one:

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, “Stop! Don’t do it!” “Why shouldn’t I?” he said. I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!” He said, “Like what?” I said, “Well, are you religious or atheist?” He said, “Religious.” I said, “Me too! Are your Christian or Buddhist?” He said, “Christian.” I said, “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, Me too! Are your Episcopalian or Baptist? He said, “Baptist!” I said, “Wow! Me too! Are your Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord? He said, Baptist Church of God!” I said, “Me too! Are your Original Baptist Church of God or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?” He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God!” I said, “Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?” He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!” I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off.

Luke 9:46 – 50 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

Philippians 1:15 – 18 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Pride is an impediment to the work of God.

I don’t like them.

If you have to trick me to get me to click on your article, I probably don’t need to read it.

This morning, the snow flew fast and hard. The problem is that it’s April 22nd.

Truthfully, it’s not a problem at all. It’s actually quite beautiful. A spring snowfall doesn’t bother me in the least because I know it isn’t going to last. Sure, it’s a little cooler and a little windy, but it isn’t going to stick around. As soon as it hits the ground, it will be gone.

Troubles come like a springtime snowfall. They are unexpected and somewhat unpleasant. But if you can keep your head about you, they won’t be here long.

I am a firm believer that we ought to be good to those who are good to us.

We are told by Jesus that we are to love our enemies and we should. We work hard to get the attention of people we want to know and sometimes this is important. We seek to be noticed in the workplace or by our superiors and this is fine. We seek the attention of that individual we would like to date or befriend, nothing wrong here.

The trouble comes when we do it at the expense of those we love.

This is the teenager that hangs the picture of the athlete, but treats mom and dad poorly.

When someone is good to you, be good to them. Stick by family and friends. Do not be so concerned with self that you discard those who have befriended you when they no longer suit your needs.

Be there. Be there to listen. Be there in person. Be there with help.

Even if they screwed up. Even if they brought it on themselves. Be there.

Be loyal.

We commit to employers, mortgage companies, gym memberships, softball teams, retirement plans and car leases.

What is our commitment to the people in our lives like?

God?

Do we have greater commitment to strangers than we do those who are best to us?