You may have heard about the five monkeys in a cage. Experimenters hung a banana on a string at the top of a ladder. It wasn’t long, of course, before all the monkeys were climbing the ladder to get the banana. But as soon as the forbidden fruit was touched, all the monkeys in the cage were sprayed with cold water. Again, it wasn’t long before the monkeys learned to leave the banana alone. If one animal got courageous and attempted to retrieve the banana, the other monkeys in the cage would force them to stop. At this point the spraying of the animals in the cage ceased, never to be used again.
Now, however, the researchers replaced one of the monkeys. Whenever the new monkey tried to get the banana, the other monkeys in the cage would immediately prevent this animal from proceeding. One by one each original monkey was replaced. One by one, each new animal learned that the banana was off limits, even though none of them had ever been sprayed or in any way stopped by the researchers.
So, why didn’t the monkeys get the banana that was now so available? “Well, that just isn’t what we do around here!” Someone has suggested that the seven deadly words for the church is “That’s not the way we do things.” Sometimes we humans also have a very narrow view of reality. We think that present reality is the only way things can be. Or, at least, is the way things should be. The book of Proverbs in the bible tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
I’m not endorsing his candidacy, but it seems to me that Barack Obama has hit a nerve in our country. People are hungry for a leader with vision. Voters are responding to his call for change. The American people want to believe that tomorrow can be better than today. We all want to believe that there is someone out there who can lead us to the promised land of peace and prosperity with justice.
I happen to believe that God is more likely to lead us to that place than any politician. And that God calls the church to be the major transforming force in society to accomplish this dream. That means you and me. Scary, isn’t it. But what an exciting challenge! Are you willing to be used by God to change the world?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Thinking and Living Outside The Box
There’s a wonderful old story about a farmer who owed a lot of money to the village moneylender that he was unable to repay. The “banker,” who fancied the farmer’s beautiful daughter, made an offer to the indebted property owner.
The moneylender would forgive the man’s debt in exchange for the daughter’s hand in marriage. The farmer and the young lady were both appalled by the proposal. The moneylender then suggested that they allow providence to settle the matter. He proposed that he put two small stones in a bag, one white and one black. If the daughter picked the white stone the debt would be forgiven. If she picked the black stone the moneylender would get the property and the daughter would agree to marry him.
The daughter was a very wise young lady. She did not trust the man and was convinced he was trying to trick her father. She watched suspiciously as the moneylender picked up two stones. Carefully scrutinizing his movement she observed that the man picked up two black pebbles.
Now, it seemed that the daughter had three choices: She could refuse to make a choice. She could expose the moneylender as a cheat. Or, she could pick one of the stones and sacrifice herself for the sake of her father. None of these choices would have pleasant results, but there seemed to be no good alternative.
The wise young lady, however, quickly came up with another plan. She reached into the bag pulling out a stone. But, before anyone had a chance to see its color she dropped the pebble onto the stone strewn ground.
“Oh, how clumsy of me,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I supposed we will have to see what stone is left in the bag. If a black stone is left then I must have picked the white one.”
We are reminded by this magnificent story that even the most difficult problems do have solutions. Sometimes, however, we have to think outside the box. That’s what we have been trying to do for some time at Biloxi First UMC. The problems faced by the 21st century church are increasingly difficult. Most thoughtful Christian leaders are convinced that the church will not survive this century with “business as usual.”
I’m persuaded that Christ is calling us to live lives of radical discipleship. The world will sit up and take note when we live out our faith in a way that makes a real difference. The church is often seen by others as a fraud because we don’t practice what we preach. Too often the world has been right.
Let’s pray that God will help us think and live outside the box, but in a way that will be pleasing to Him! And in a way that others see as significant and in which they want to participate.
Got any ideas?
Dr. Gary
The moneylender would forgive the man’s debt in exchange for the daughter’s hand in marriage. The farmer and the young lady were both appalled by the proposal. The moneylender then suggested that they allow providence to settle the matter. He proposed that he put two small stones in a bag, one white and one black. If the daughter picked the white stone the debt would be forgiven. If she picked the black stone the moneylender would get the property and the daughter would agree to marry him.
The daughter was a very wise young lady. She did not trust the man and was convinced he was trying to trick her father. She watched suspiciously as the moneylender picked up two stones. Carefully scrutinizing his movement she observed that the man picked up two black pebbles.
Now, it seemed that the daughter had three choices: She could refuse to make a choice. She could expose the moneylender as a cheat. Or, she could pick one of the stones and sacrifice herself for the sake of her father. None of these choices would have pleasant results, but there seemed to be no good alternative.
The wise young lady, however, quickly came up with another plan. She reached into the bag pulling out a stone. But, before anyone had a chance to see its color she dropped the pebble onto the stone strewn ground.
“Oh, how clumsy of me,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I supposed we will have to see what stone is left in the bag. If a black stone is left then I must have picked the white one.”
We are reminded by this magnificent story that even the most difficult problems do have solutions. Sometimes, however, we have to think outside the box. That’s what we have been trying to do for some time at Biloxi First UMC. The problems faced by the 21st century church are increasingly difficult. Most thoughtful Christian leaders are convinced that the church will not survive this century with “business as usual.”
I’m persuaded that Christ is calling us to live lives of radical discipleship. The world will sit up and take note when we live out our faith in a way that makes a real difference. The church is often seen by others as a fraud because we don’t practice what we preach. Too often the world has been right.
Let’s pray that God will help us think and live outside the box, but in a way that will be pleasing to Him! And in a way that others see as significant and in which they want to participate.
Got any ideas?
Dr. Gary
Friday, February 1, 2008
Adding Our Personal Signature
Barbara Glanz is a motivational speaker, author, and business consultant. She tells a wonderful story about speaking to 3,000 employees of a supermarket chain on the subject of customer loyalty and regenerating the spirit in the marketplace. In this speech she suggested employees add their “personal signature” to their work. This means doing something that differentiates one’s work from that of other people who do the same job.
For Example, she shared how a United Airlines pilot writes notes to several passengers during each flight, thanking them for their business. She told about a graphic artist that encloses a piece of sugarless gum in everything he sends his customers. A Northwest Airlines baggage attendant writes thank-you notes to customers whose luggage tags fall off in the airport.
About three weeks after this event she got a call from one of the employees. Johnny, who has Down’s syndrome, was a bagger in one of the company’s grocery stores. “Barbara,” he said, “I liked what you said!” He went on to explain how he had learned to use the computer so he could print out little “thought for the day” cards that he put in each bag of groceries he packed. Johnny always added his personal signature on the back of each card.
About a month later Barbara got a call from the manager of Johnny’s store. He began, “Barbara, you won’t believe what happened today.” He had gone out onto the floor where he had seen a long line where Johnny was bagging. “Get more lanes open,” he had yelled. But the people insisted they wanted to be in Johnny’s line.
One woman told him that she used to shop only once each week but now came in every time she passed by in order to get her “thought for the day.” That will certainly do wonders for a store’s profit.
Barbara got another call from the store manager three months later explaining how she and Johnny had revolutionized his store. Many other employees had caught the spirit and found ways to add their personal signature to their work.
I wonder what would happen if all the members of Biloxi First UMC worked on our personal signature—at home, work, school, at the church. How would I do that as the pastor? What if every teacher, every musician, every usher added our personal signature? How might visitors respond to a church like that? What difference might we make in our community? What difference might we make in the lives of others?
So, come on gang. What do you say?
For Example, she shared how a United Airlines pilot writes notes to several passengers during each flight, thanking them for their business. She told about a graphic artist that encloses a piece of sugarless gum in everything he sends his customers. A Northwest Airlines baggage attendant writes thank-you notes to customers whose luggage tags fall off in the airport.
About three weeks after this event she got a call from one of the employees. Johnny, who has Down’s syndrome, was a bagger in one of the company’s grocery stores. “Barbara,” he said, “I liked what you said!” He went on to explain how he had learned to use the computer so he could print out little “thought for the day” cards that he put in each bag of groceries he packed. Johnny always added his personal signature on the back of each card.
About a month later Barbara got a call from the manager of Johnny’s store. He began, “Barbara, you won’t believe what happened today.” He had gone out onto the floor where he had seen a long line where Johnny was bagging. “Get more lanes open,” he had yelled. But the people insisted they wanted to be in Johnny’s line.
One woman told him that she used to shop only once each week but now came in every time she passed by in order to get her “thought for the day.” That will certainly do wonders for a store’s profit.
Barbara got another call from the store manager three months later explaining how she and Johnny had revolutionized his store. Many other employees had caught the spirit and found ways to add their personal signature to their work.
I wonder what would happen if all the members of Biloxi First UMC worked on our personal signature—at home, work, school, at the church. How would I do that as the pastor? What if every teacher, every musician, every usher added our personal signature? How might visitors respond to a church like that? What difference might we make in our community? What difference might we make in the lives of others?
So, come on gang. What do you say?
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