The phrase “no Coke, only Pepsi” was made famous by John Belushi and his
fellow SNL comedy mates back in the seventies. But it was true in some places,
as so many associated Coke with soft drinks, just like Kleenex for tissue.
Working for Coca Cola, in sales my job was new business, and I was quite good at
it. We would identify a Pepsi account we wanted, then go after it. Some would
be low volume, but their street presence with Coca Cola signage would irritate
them, we called it the “cheese ‘em off factor.” Some were old time Pepsi
strongholds, and I would wear them down, with help from other Coke employees who
would start to frequent them at lunch. Finally breaking down, as “you guys are
in here all the time, I’ll switch.” Many a Coke drinker who had to settle for
Pepsi was now satisfied. In some cases where the restaurant owner owned his own
equipment, but was favorable to Pepsi, we would ask for just one fountain head
on it, for Coke, so when a customer asked for a Coke, they could get it, and
slowly edge out P Cola. The plan was to eliminate “Is Pepsi OK?” from our
territories vernacular, and we were quite good at it. So good that when I left
Coke, Pepsi threw a party since I was gone. But my crowning blow, the feather
in my Coke cap if you would, was having the only Pizza Hut in America that
served Coca Cola. Pizza Hut, owned by Pepsi Cola, of course had a lock on the
business, until I started eating at the store in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Befriending the owner, I would mention “too bad you don’t serve Coke, I’m tired
of iced tea.” He even went as far as checking with his franchise rep, who only
belittled him for asking, but we found a way around it. He owned the machine,
and was required to sell Pepsi products. No exclusive products mentioned, just
he must sell Pepsi. I even offered to loan him a unit for Coca Cola, but he did
me one better. “I own the unit, put a Coke head on one of the flavors.” Which
we did, which made him unpopular within Pizza Huts, even more so with Pepsi, but
he was legal and selling Coca Cola to anyone who asked for one. He never had to
say “no Coke, only Pepsi” again, and we outsold P Cola many times over. The
ultimate “cheese ‘em off factor,” every time some exec form Coca Cola USA came
through, they wanted to meet me, the guy who sold Coke in a Pizza Hut. They
never considered our battle plan, looking for a complete conquest, we were happy
to get in the door, knowing we would never leave. Smart as a serpent, yet
gentle as a lamb in business, Biblical principals work in the secular world
too. Which is where Jesus spent most of his time.
For the 40 years I have been saved, I have seen Christian only phone books,
too many businesses with Christian fish in the window, and others who will only
do business with Christians. As if being saved makes you a better plumber or
mechanic? They believe they are doing the right thing, not becoming part of the
world, yet neglecting to notice we still live in it. And we are to be out
sharing the gospel, showing love and ministering to all we meet, including the
unsaved. What good are we if we only preach to the choir? If we only hang with
other Christians, or neglect to notice those who aren’t? Maybe we are snobbish,
and don’t sow the love of Christ. Yet we neglect to follow the leading of
Jesus, who ate with sinners, hung out with criminals, showed love and compassion
to prostitutes, thieves, bikers, junkies, and even politicians. The low lifes
he came to save. Even commenting once, “it is the sick who need a doctor.”
Sick souls and sick bodies, and minds. Maybe the little steps we used to win
Coke accounts makes sense in the Christian world too.
But one afternoon outside of Ogden, Utah God showed me why we need to be
out in the world, just not of it. A sudden rain storm hit hard, and it took
over 2 miles to find any shelter. I got mad as the storm pelted me, with no
shelter in sight, attending a Christian rally, in the midst of Mormon country.
“Why God would you send us into enemy territory? We’re Christians, aren’t we
supposed to be special? Set apart? ” His answer, as always, was simple yet
deep. “Can you think of a better place to put a hospital than where the people
are sick and dying?” I was so consumed with self and forgot to be an example as
we go. We need to get out in the world, to show the love of Christ, but not be
part of it. My friend Dick hangs out with some hard core bikers, who respect
him. He sits in bars with them drinking water, sometimes hard stuff as they
call it, 7-Up, and has made himself available to them. Ministering and showing
love rather than preaching and causing dissent, he is the light in a dark area
God has called him to minister to. Lots of little steps to salvation on our
parts, sometimes we forget the simplest, showing love to the unsaved. Remember,
we were all lost once, and someone took a chance and shared Jesus with us. How
quick we forget....or can be influenced by bad doctrine.
You may be the only Bible, the only gospel many see. Be the one in love
they remember, not the jerk who preached, argued, or didn’t minster to them.
Don’t you just love being cut off by an SUV covered with Jesus stickers? Sadly
that is how Christians are seen to many. Yet if I could change the minds of
Pepsi drinkers, imagine what the holy spirit can do with you evangelizing Jesus
by just being out there, and showing love. One trip to help the homeless once a
year makes no difference to them, although so many who do their yearly duty heap
praise on themselves. It is getting to know them, building relationships, and
loving them that shares the gospel best. I have seen too many so-called interns
interfere, who should have never been sent out and are sent home, because they
don’t get it. “Shut up and listen,” is the best advice I give. First listen
for what the spirit is saying, then do it. The old saying “they will care how
much you know when you show how much you care is still true today. Remember the
spirit is gentle and kind, is your gospel you share the same?
Although Pepsi hated me, and was glad to see me go, they respected me. Do
you respect those who God has chosen to put in your path today? Or are you so
busy reciting the Four Spiritual Laws that you forget the law of love, for which
there is no law against? How many have come to Christ while having an
appliance fixed, a car repaired, or stopping to help someone on the side of the
road, because they were shown love, and words were few? Being ministered to,
meeting a need in the name of Jesus, their actions and attitudes speaking
volumes. Inviting someone to church is not evangelism, being out among the
unsaved like Jesus was, and showing love and compassion is. Take your education
to the next level, application, and show what you learned in church. Don’t
bother bragging about how great your church is, or what a great Christian you
are, show me! Show them. Good advice from an old serpent, whose heart was
changed by a gentle lamb. And someone who decided to share the gospel with an
unsaved heathen on the beach one night. Not in a church, out in the world,
where we live. Doctors of love, and with many needing a doctor now. How many
Lazaruses have you stepped over on the way to church? Remember, the best place
for a hospital is where the sick are, the best place to show the love of Jesus
Christ is out where the darkness lies. Be that light...you just may be the Coca
Cola they asked for, don’t make them settle for Pepsi.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com