Thursday, March 21, 2013

grace and the cola wars






Ken Cook and I met when we worked for Coca Cola together 30 years ago. He was hired to straighten out the service department, and took them from over tow days to two hours for service call response. So they asked him to do the same for sales, where I had made my mark, and we became a mutual admiration and respect team. We both knew how to get things done, and while many offered excuses, we delighted in our victories. We would and could be creative in our approach to doing business, which left many shaking their heads and wondering how, or even why. We just went onto the next challenge. So when the company moved into the coffee market, and full line vending, they targeted us to go after key accounts that were the competition, aka Pepsi. And one was the Fairfield Resort in Pagosa Springs, a huge full service resort in Colorado. I had been stopping in for months, and gotten to know Pam, who was in charge of growing their business, and she thought like Ken and I. So when we forced Pepsi’s hand to make a bid, she was in charge of the bid process. So arranging a meeting where she, Ken, and I could meet, I arrived early and was visiting with her when Ken arrived. She shook hands with him at her desk, and he and I both noticed something, and we could hardly contain ourselves. Right on top, in full view, was the Pepsi proposal! But how to get the info with her there? Quickly I asked her if I could see the room next door she had been telling me about, while Ken would use the men’s room. So as I led her next door, it left Ken alone at her desk, and he copied all the info, we met and he was gone. Laughing all the way home at what we had done, our quick thinking, as it would turn out, would land us this key account. And the legend continued...Grace in the form of opportunity.
At Christmas time, Evan Wickham has gotten some of his fellow Christian recording artist friends together for a Christmas Together Concert. Which filled the 3000 person sanctuary, and overflowed-mention Phil or Evan and the place fills with young people, and add Pawn Shop Kings, Molly Jensen, Jadon Lavik, Tyrone Wells, and Tim Timmons, the night was magical. Just watching Dick rock out that night was a gas. But with each artist, a testimony was shared, and Tim Timmons touched my heart, no pun intended. He has had cancer for over nine years now, and should be dead. But lives a pain free life, continuing to praise god despite the cancer, and being a living testimony to God’s grace. A true miracle even the doctor’s and oncologists can’t explain, but he can in one word-grace. So when he shared that night, I had to meet him, for I am a miracle also, God’s grace providing me with a testimony no one else shares, and being the only one in medical history with it. Like others who have seen grace first hand, we know we cannot explain it fully, it must only be experienced, and only with the presence of God, and the healing arms of Jesus. So as I stood inline to meet him, average age 3-4 decades less than me wanting to see him, I must have stood out. And ours eyes met, and as we shook hands I told him I cannot get his pain, it is that personal, and can be a lonely thing. And how I cannot explain His grace, for I too should be dead. And then I shared my story, my testimony, and we stood there with ours hands clutched from our outstretched arms. I shared with him the following-how God had shown my family grace via me. I would have been thankful to die 9 months ago, but God kept me here so my wife would not be a widow, and my children would still have a father here for them. I would get to see the successes they have accomplished, and will accomplish-more testimonies. But more important they would see me being blessed by that, and for that I am glad god ahs spared me to this time. And as I shared, Tim’s face lit up, a huge smile, turned to laughter, and he began shouting, “I get it! You get it!” Bouncing for joy, as someone finally gets it to, and we both had someone to rejoice with. WE had been there! And for a few seconds we both hugged, loved, and gave glory for God’s grace, or our families. In both our trials, we saw Jesus despite the circumstances, and our families were blessed by our still being here. But someday soon, I know we will soon be in heaven, but it will be in God’s time, not based on medical symptoms, burst aortas, or cancer. A few precious moments with a stranger I had never met brought tears of joy to our eyes, Merry Christmas Tim!
I still can’t explain grace, it still must be experienced. Don’t get hung up on teachings, or studies on it. It isn’t what you know but who you know. And Tim’s family and mine know Jesus, maybe just a little different than others. We have seen the grace, yet don’t try to explain it. We just enjoy it, with a grateful heart, again no pun intended. Like the answer to all prayers, it is all about Jesus.
Ken and I would go on to further victories, and both leave Coke for better positions. But perhaps the greatest compliment came from Pepsi, for after I left Coke, they threw a party for me. They just didn’t choose to invite me. Tim and I urge you to accept the invitation to God’s grace today. A party you will never forget. A grace you must experience yourself. And like his newest album , Cast Your Cares, we both have, and will. I hope you do too. If Jesus can save us, just think what He can do for you. Any questions...let’s pray.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
timmonsmusic.com