What's the Plan? by Shae Beery

True story.

It was November, 2006, and I was rushing through the supermarket. I had already been to the store that weekend, but in my haste to get all my ingredients together, I mistakenly left two crucial things off the list. Ugh! So with my condensed milk and bag of sugar in hand, I quickly made my way through the aisles and stepped up to the Express Lane in hopes of beating the holiday crowd home.

And that’s when it happened

As I approached the register, I was pleased to see only one customer ahead of me. He was an older gentleman who looked to be in his late 70’s. He was making polite conversation with the young check-out girl and awaiting the purchase total for his groceries. When the number lit up on the cash register screen, he slowly began to lean over and rifle through his single bag and started taking items out. He apologized to the young employee that he didn’t have enough money to cover his purchases.

As I stood there, I listened and watched him trying to decide between the “canned cranberry sauce that my Jane loves so much” and the whipped topping “I don’t really need.” It actually took me a few seconds to realize that his items couldn’t have added up to more than $10.00 and that I could easily cover his bill. The young girl at the register started up a new conversation about what he was going to make for Thanksgiving, and I was quite annoyed that she seemed to completely ignore the money I extended in an attempt to pay his bill! She held his gaze and was friendly, but her apparent CLUELESSNESS began to anger me as I considered how insensitive it was to talk about this meal that he so obviously wasn’t going to be able to prepare. “What is wrong with the youth of America?” I thought. Then it happened.

Out of nowhere, a supervisor showed up at the register. She greeted the man, complimented him on his dapper appearance, made concise chatter, and after a turn of a key and a punch of a button, picked up his groceries and walked with him out the door. “What just happened here?” I thought as I put my sugar and can of condensed milk on the checkout counter.

“Oh, that was my manager,” replied the attendant. Apparently, my thought actually came out in words. Feeling a little embarrassed, I continued. “Oh, um, did that man not have enough money? I was going to pay for him. Did he get all his groceries?” With a sincere smile, the check-out girl explained that her manager didn’t want anyone going without on Thanksgiving, so they had a plan for situations like the one I had just witnessed.

I was floored. They had an intentional plan that they executed with dignity and respect. Wow. Why didn’t they tell people about this? Didn’t they consider the marketing potential? Then I realized that “going public” would erase the dignity that this manager was trying to give her customer. I almost missed the point. Maybe I was the CLUELESS one.

This experience has stuck with me for years, and it continues to challenge me. Do I have a plan? The fact is, being intentional is work, it makes you vulnerable, and acting on it may not always deliver the expected response. Besides, opportunities that present themselves may not be pretty – or easy – or even very obvious. I know I am blessed with so much, and it would be inappropriate not to pass those blessings along, but quite honestly, I’m still struggling with my “plan.”

I’d love to know what your experience has been. Maybe we can help each other figure it out.

Shae Beery

The Sabbath Truth by John Monday

When I decided to ask my wife to marry me, I began a crash course on diamonds. I thought my proposal might stand a better chance if accompanied by the most beautiful ring I could find. Fortunately, it worked. I quickly learned that there are four C’s you need to know when buying a diamond: Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat weight.

If you’ve ever looked carefully at a diamond, you’ll notice that there are dozens of flat surfaces on the stone. In fact, there are between 50 and 60 flat surfaces on most diamonds. These surfaces are the diamond’s cuts, or facets, and the proper angling, size, and depth of the facets are what give the diamond its brilliance.

The top surface on any diamond is called the “table.” While diamonds may be impressive from many angles, they are specifically designed and cut to be viewed through the table. The goal when cutting the diamond is to have light enter through the table and then be reflected back through the table by the many facets. The better a diamond is cut, the more light will be reflected back through the table, and the more brilliant the diamond will appear.

I believe that God’s truth is much like a diamond. God’s truth is multi-faceted and may be appreciated from many angles, but when we turn ourselves to view it through the table cut we begin to see the beautiful brilliance that God intends.

If you travel in Christian circles, you’ll surely hear someone make reference to “God’s Truth,” or to “The Truth,” or in our denomination, “The Sabbath Truth.” When I hear the term invoked, I always wonder, what is “THE Sabbath Truth” that they are viewing all other Sabbath Truth through?

There are certainly many facets to Sabbath truth. There is the physical benefit we receive by unplugging and taking a rest. There is the relational benefit we receive by taking time to engage with our family, our friends, and our God. There is the spiritual benefit we receive by setting time aside to study and pray – just to name a few. But what is “The Sabbath Truth?”

It often seems that the truth that all other truth is being viewed through is correctness about the day, and there is really very little historical or biblical doubt as to the correct day. But is that the correct facet to view all other Sabbath Truth through? or have we perhaps tipped the diamond to view it through the facet that is unique to us rather than the one God intended to be primary?

While considering Sabbath, I found that the last mention of Sabbath in the Bible is in Hebrews, Chapter 4. The author makes an eloquent and logical argument that Christ is our Sabbath rest. He explains that any who enter into Christ have rest, and those that do not enter into Christ do not have Sabbath rest. The Bible then abruptly drops the topic of Sabbath, giving us the proverbial last word.

I believe that Hebrews is clear and intentional in its message, and I am convinced that those who believe in Christ have Sabbath rest. Christ is the primary cut, the table top of the diamond, The Sabbath Truth. I’m compelled to view all Sabbath truth through faith in Christ. I’ve no doubt that there are some flaws in the way I view God’s truth, but as long as I can keep looking through the right prism, from the right angle – through Christ – I can begin to see the brilliance of God’s beauty and find Sabbath unity with all who find their rest in Christ.

John Monday

Yes . . . and . . . by Andy McDonald

Last weekend about 25 people from our church attended an Improvisational Training Workshop at SAK Comedy Lab. One of the great principles of improv that we were taught was the "Yes . . . and. . ." To keep the flow of improvisation going and not "block" progress, one of the most insightful processes is to use "Yes . . . and . . ." Instead of arguing or disagreeing or creating unnecessary grinding of gears, you simply are taught to go with the flow. Even if you have no intention of going where they are taking you, you still start with "Yes!" It is very affirming to hear that "yes." Maybe what makes the process work well is that it is not "Yes . . . but . . ." rather "Yes . . . and . . ." This affirms the story or conversation or idea that is given, then adds a new thought or directs to it without opposition.

As I was in the training, I wondered how many arguments and minor wars with our children could have been avoided with "Yes . . . and . . ." Imagine telling a teenager to go clean their room, and they explain that they have plans and will do it later. No war! “YES, you have great plans for a fun evening, AND it will feel so good to come home to a clean room rather than a messy one!” or “YES, I'm sure you’re going to have a great time, AND you'll want to hurry with your room so you won't be late!”

Sometimes I almost interfere in the parenting processes I observe in public places. Just this week I was in a drug store, and there was this obnoxious mother yelling at her kids to stop harmless behaviors. Of course, they were ignoring her, and so she just yelled more often and louder. The ridiculousness is that the kids weren't doing anything wrong. How great it would be for her, maybe in her mind, to play "Yes . . . and . . ." The kids wouldn't even need to know. She sees one of her children sit down on the floor while they wait for her to shop. She could freak out about germs; she might yell. Alternately, maybe even just in her mind she might say, "YES, it's fine to sit on the floor, AND as soon as we get home you'll want to wash your hands.”

It just seems that, in so much of life (even in areas we might think inappropriate), if we started with "Yes," we could direct the flow of thought and choice. Then by the "and,” healthy strides would be taken forward instead of getting mired down in an argument – often from our selfish ignorance.

So, in conversation with our children, in school with the teacher, talking to the repair person, hearing the diagnosis from the doctor, or directives from our employer, I say we start with a rousing “YES . . .” quickly followed by "AND . . .” We may find this non-resistant conversational tool opening doors to new possibilities and wonderful collaborations of which we never dreamed. What do you say? Oh, Yes . . . and . . .

Andy McDonald

Holy Ground

Through the years, numerous people have asked why we use the “sanctuary” for so many different activities. We’ve used it for Vacation Bible School, banquets, graduations, movies, parties, and numerous other events. Why? Because it’s a great room!

In the Old Testament, the sanctuary (i.e., Temple, holy place, etc.) was the place where God resided, where his people went to meet him (Psalm 122:1).

In the New Testament, the sanctuary (i.e., Church) is defined as the people of God, individually and corporately. The New Testament tells us that God does not live in temples built by human hands (Acts 17:24), but that individuals who come to Jesus are joined with other believers and become a “spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). How is this possible?

The separation caused by the fall meant that man could not come back into the presence of God without death. This was why an angel was placed at the gate of the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword (Gen. 3:24). This separation was seen even further in the Old Testament with the Tabernacle and the sacrificial system. Priests could only enter into God’s presence by the blood of a lamb (Heb. 9:22). The point: to enter into the presence of God required death; there was no other way.

Yet when Jesus, the perfect lamb (1 Pet. 1:18-19), died for our sins—the separation between God and man was done away with. Why? Because only the blood of one who was perfect could free us from our sins and make it possible for us to enter into God’s presence (Rev. 1:5, Heb. 9:11-28). What’s the result? The result is that we don’t go to a place to be with God anymore; he resides in people individually and corporately.

How does this affect how we do life? It means ordinary things become ways we can live our lives before God. Whether it’s eating or drinking (1 Cor. 10:31) or whatever we do—God wants to be able to accept our lives as an act of worship (Romans 12:1-2). This frees us to use whatever means necessary to reach people and develop relationships with humanity (1 Cor. 9:22).

The beauty of it all is that God has always been using ordinary things like idols (Dan. 2), stars (Matt. 2:7), and culture (Acts 17:16-32) to communicate with humanity. If God is like this wherever He is; we are like this wherever we are. The result: life is restored, and things once used for the glory of man become used for the glory of God (even Superbowl parties).

So why use our worship center for so many things? Because it’s a great place to bring glory to Jesus.

Andy McDonald, Jeff Cinquemani & David Achata