Shopping at Publix

We have several friends who are transplanted Floridians. They all will talk about how wonderful the Publix grocery stores are in Florida. "Wish we had them here" or "I sure miss Publix" they'll say. So last week while in Florida for a few days, we decided to see for ourselves. Here are some things we noticed that make Publix appealing:

The stores are clean and quiet. Things look fresh and the stores are well-lit.

The color of the Publix logo is light green, like fresh new grass in the spring. Everybody loves spring.

Though the stores are not huge megastores, there's lots of variety.

They offer attractively designed informational brochures that are available as you enter the store and the display signage is easily readable. One store had a couple of well-done, handmade signs in the deli/meat department that made you feel at home, not a corporate feel at all.

Nobody asked us for our Publix customer card. Publix doesn't use them. As a customer service rep told us "if it's on sale, it's on sale". Love that concept.

They make GREAT deli sandwiches.

But maybe what makes Publix so likable are the people who work there. You get a sense that, for the most part, they really like their job. We didn't hear employees griping about the company or other customers. Nobody was discussing how long it was until they got off work. It seemed like a pleasant place to work and that made it a pleasant place to shop.

Here's The Point: The prices at Publix aren't necessarily any better than other grocery stores. They all sell basically the same items. But somehow it seemed a little different. Maybe the difference was in the employees' attitudes. Maybe their demeanor influenced ours.

Our shopping experience at Publix made me think. How is my attitude about my job? I love my job, but does anyone know that? Am I positive while on the clock as well as off of it? I'm realizing that people can make assumptions about the nature and culture and ministry of my church simply by how I discuss my job. I hope people see our church positively because they sense that from me. What about you and where you work?

Did I mention Publix has great deli sandwiches?

The Front

Why is it that people can't be more open? Why do we often put up a front? Think how many times you've known someone who moved to a new city or took a new job and this new thing was "going great" or was "wonderful". And then not long after that, they were looking for a new job or moving back because it really wasn't so great after all. Did it really turn from great to awful that quickly? Sometimes that is true but often that's not the case.

I have respect for people when they honestly say that they're "covered up" learning their new job or that it's been "a bit lonely" in their new city but that they are working to build relationships. That is much more open and honest than the false "I'm loving it" or "this is so much better than..." type of talk that many people offer out of pride or as a way to try to keep us from worrying.

It's okay to be open with people who care about you. They want the best for you. No matter what. Exchange the front.

If You Could......

If you could go back to school to get a degree in a totally different field of study (example- become a teacher); or if you could get a certification in an area of expertise (example- learning how to repair a vehicle engine); or if you could you could learn a skill or talent (example- become fluent in Spanish or learn to play piano), what would you choose to do?

For the sake of discussion, let's assume learning this new thing doesn't cost you any time or money to acquire.

Here's mine. Actually, I have two. First, I'd love to learn to shoot and edit video. Not looking to go Hollywood here or anything, I just think that, when done well, connecting images to music and the spoken word can have a huge impact. I'd also love to learn to play guitar.

What about you? I'd love to know what you'd choose and why.

A Day at Dollywood

On Saturday, my wife and I took our older son to Dollywood while little brother stayed with my parents. Our younger son doesn't get alot out of going yet and it's much easier to maneuver through the park and ride rides without pushing a stroller. It's the middle of KidsFest at Dollywood right now, and when you're with a five year old, there's alot to see and do. Here are some of my thoughts from the day:

Ever have one of those times when you think to yourself that if God would give you the last 15-20 minutes back, you'd use the time differently? I had one of those moments on Saturday after watching Skippyjon Jones, a book reenactment held in the Heartsong Theater as part of KidsFest. Not really sure what Skippyjon Jones is all about. We thought we did. But we don't. Still don't. Something about a Siamese cat who wants to be a chihuahua and, during a dream sequence, he breaks open a pinata that he thinks is a bee. No, I'm serious.

I was reminded that I don't like walking around for hours on end with wet socks and shoes.

Overheard the tram announcer as he escorted another group of guests into the park: "Make sure while you're here to stop by the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. The eagles are flightless and are here because of sickness or injury. But they don't know they can't fly. They sit up there on the hill as proud as anybody".

Let me try to say this kindly. Some people make interesting "fashion" choices when they plan for their day at Dollywood.

Change

Change is constant. That fact is unchanging. But sometimes the changes in the world around us are more noticeable, seemingly more numerous or as if they are happening at a faster rate.

Health concerns. Career changes. Births. Unexpected deaths. Job relocations. Upcoming weddings. More babies on the way. So much change seems to be swirling about right now. It's enough to throw you off balance. Sometimes, there is so much change, it's easy to get distracted, to become anxious.

In times like these, I'm reminded of Philippians 4:6,7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus".

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

Today, our country celebrates its 233rd birthday. While not without periods of unrest and injustice, they are 233 years of relative peace. Years of democracy. Years of free and peaceful elections. Years of freedom of religion. Years of freedom of speech. 233 years of freedom.

In the midst of such freedoms, those same freedoms are easily, and often, overlooked. I hope you'll join me today and take some time to reflect on the costs that have been paid to secure our freedoms.

Thank you to my friends (and the millions and millions of others) who have served our country, whether in conflict or peacetime, and who have given so much to secure the freedoms we enjoy.

Fun on Friday- Random Thoughts

Saw an ad recently that detailed a promotion from Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express that if you stay 8 nights in one of their hotels you will receive two tickets to a Major League Baseball game. Wouldn't it be alot cheaper just to buy a couple of game tickets?

Not that gasoline is cheap this summer, but this time last year, gas prices were significantly higher. People everywhere were talking about hybrid vehicles and battery-powered vehicle options. Not so much right now. And while I'm sure auto engineers continue to work on more energy and environment friendly methods, it's amazing how our focus changes based on market conditions (or gasoline prices).

Glad to have low-cost air carriers (Allegiant and Air Tran) in Knoxville.

Was visiting a church member at UT Hospital this afternoon. As I was leaving her room on the 8th floor, I saw an oversized, extra-wide wheelchair at the end of the hallway. On the back of the blue vinyl seat, spray painted in white stenciled letters, was the word "BEAST". That seemed odd to me and fairly inappropriate that the hospital staff would give a nickname to a wheelchair for plus-sized patients. As I got closer to the chair, I realized the chair said "8EAST" not "BEAST".

One night this week during dinner, our 5 year old asked, "How can we use a fork and eat if we can't see our mouth?" Never really thought about that before.

Advance Conference- Ed Stetzer

Ed Stetzer, the President of Lifeway Research, spoke on "Keys to Understanding the Church and Kingdom". Here are some notes from his sermon taken from Matthew 16:13-20:

1. We Must Recognize the Centrality of Christ- v. 13-16
The Bible mentions details because details matter.
Too many churches are trusting in their stuff and not their Savior.
Make every message about Jesus, not just change. Don't preach anything that could be preached if Jesus never died.
Make Jesus the hero. Who is teaching or preaching should not affect attendance.
Make the cross more important than your church.

2. Peter's Confession is the Foundation of the Gospel- v. 17, 18
Peter's declaration of the person of Christ leads to Jesus' proclamation of Christ's plan.
The gates cannot hold back the power of the Gospel. It's not that the church cannot resist Hades advance but that the gates of Hades cannot resist the power of the Gospel, the power of the cross and the church. Gates are defensive not offensive.

3. The Church is God's Tool of Kingdom Mission- v. 19, 20
A kingdom-focused church matters (Eph. 3:7).

Advance Conference- Bryan Chapell

Bryan Chapell is the President of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. He spoke on the topic of "Communicating the Gospel Through Preaching". Here are some notes from his session:

If Christ's teaching becomes secondary, something has taken its place.

We often let culture determine what grace means. Grace is the fuel of holiness.

All scripture can be classified into four categories:
1. Predicting the coming of Christ
2. Preparing the coming of Christ
3. Reflecting the coming of Christ
4. Results of the coming of Christ

Every passage should prompt us to ask "how does this show the grace of God through Jesus Christ?". Excavate grace from all the scripture.

Ask two questions of any text:
1. What does the text tell me about God?
2. What does the text tell me about me?