It has been years, but not enough years since I ate at a Denny’s. There is
something about being Grand Slammed when I am hungry that puts me off. Now I
know many of you may like Denny’s, maybe even eat there under penalty of
possible food, but I just don’t like the place. Not a food snob, but when
riding with others who get excited when seeing a Denny’s, I choose to ride on.
Even if for hours, but there have been times I succumbed, and even lived to tell
about it. The most recent was being invited to breakfast with a man and his
toddler son, who ordered off the $2 menu, thinking he was getting a deal, and
ended up with a $20 cold breakfast, not being eaten because his kid should have
been left home, until he is 21. I looked at the same menu, and by ordering a
meal, not off the $2 menu, would get more for less, but somehow we feel the need
to pay less, even if we get less, and is something we don’t want. Maybe the
illusion of many plates represent more food, sorry Denny, I pass, and please,
don’t ever invite me to Denny’s.
Years ago with Coca Cola they started the self serve fountain business. My
customers at first were enraged, remember the days of asking for a Coke with no
ice, instead of getting a cup of ice with some Coke? But something happened,
people started using more ice themselves, the business could charge more and
offer free refills, watch how many actually go back for more, and all were
happy. Maybe we just don’t know what we want, I know I still don’t want
Denny’s.
One of the reasons I avoid eating at rallies and fairs, is the overpricing
of the food. Somehow I feel ripped off, and don’t want to participate, same as
at ball games. $5 hot dogs, $3 small sodas, and $8 slices of the infield
disguised as pizza, you spend more to eat than for the ticket. But one NFL
owner, Arthur Blank of the Falcons, changed all that last year. Slashing many
prices by 50%, and setting up dispensers for free refills on soft drinks, a
funny thing happened, business grew 88%! Sales of merchandise grew as well, and
you could actually afford to eat stadium food. With fan first menu pricing, the
sales per fan rose 2.32 times, or 232%! More food, more profit, and happier
fans. They even included the tax, rounding off all prices to the dollar, making
it easier to make change. They also found that tail gate parties moved inside,
and business boomed two hours before the game. By not subbing the concessions
out to private concessionaires, they manage it from within. No need to raise
the price for a hot dog on low attendance, and they do it for the fans, as Mr.
Blank says, “in appreciation.” Basic business math is sell more per visit, or
increase the customers count who visit. Here they did both, just by offering a
fair deal, and the profits came. And no, I still won’t eat at Denny’s....
There was a time when I did church visits, and learned a lot about the
gospel. For one thing, so much promotion was used, many times the gospel was
left out. In between youth groups selling items for camp, I think of it as
pimping the kids, or various bake sales for missions, and programs needed to
keep the interest of the attendees, somehow Jesus was forgotten. It was the
programs and processes that took over, and I saw many disenchanted with the
events. All they wanted was a little Jesus....and got a $2 menu. For as the
church board would survey how the events went over, mainly bragging on how good
we were to give, the sermons and teaching were then influenced by the events.
Which is normal and predictable. But think of it like this, you know at
stadiums you get raped by the prices, at Denny’s you get mugged by the quality,
why should I go and get beat up spiritually? Feel good messages that leave me
feeling good, but have no real spiritual basis, no challenges of our walk, and
no encouragement in Christ, the event is lukewarm, and you leave hungry. Not
for more, but because you haven’t been fed. There is a difference.
So what do you get out of Jesus? What are you looking for? If you are
looking for that feel good, everything is OK message, you may not find it in
him. Jesus is reality, and the lukewarm, the repackaging for an audience
approval makes him sick. He throws up, read Revelation 3, his messages to the
church. Is that the kind of religion we want? But yet many times get. How we
forget that it is the spirit that draws us to him, and that unless he builds the
church, we labor in vain. Yet as the world invades, and in some cases invited
in, we become more involved in social issues, political agendas, and what we
think is good for us. We fall for the Denny’s menu at church, and although
have had a meal, sometimes wonder what we just ate. Does a value menu have any
place in a church values? Do we avoid talking of sin, neglecting repentance?
Are we just one Happy Meal away from hell and don’t know it? The gospel is free
so we can afford it, easy so we can get it. Tax included. The people flocked
to Jesus not because of pricing, but of his message. The spirit drawing many
who left filled, and wanted more. Beware of phony sales prices, come ons to get
you in, if it aint’ Jesus it is something else. God doesn’t need your money, he
wants you. In appreciation, God offers Jesus to an unappreciative world, no
fancy sayings, no collector cups, or decals for your SUV. He gives you the food
you need, the food you desire, but haven’t tasted of before. So don’t invite me
to Denny’s, or to a church that is set up on values like that. I need all the
Jesus I can get. No matter how much, he will provide. Value pricing only works
if it is a real value, you will never find a better deal than Jesus. Anything
else is an illusion.....and you don’t pay more for a Super Sized meal. Our
salvation is based on Jesus, not the programs. His completed work on the
cross. Beware of anything else, no matter the price, you just paid too
much.
Or of course you could worship like Burger King, have it your way. But you
will miss out on the Whopper of blessings in Christ. In appreciation, Mr. Blank
expressed, how appreciative are you in Christ? Long before value pricing, Jesus
showed the true value in appreciating his fan base. He addressed the biggest
pain point, sin. And you know the rest....now do you ever wonder how Costco
makes money on $1.50 hot dogs? Still enjoying your $15 pop corn....don’t invite
me to the movies either!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com