As kids we anxiously awaited the Sears Christmas Catalog. All
the new toys of our dreams, our Wish List delivered to our door, all we needed
to do was tap into our parent’s wallet and the dreams came true. As a young
adult working at Sears my attitude to the catalogs changed when they came in by
the truckload for customers to pick up, and I unloaded tons of them! Creating a
much different wish list. But the Sears catalog was a part of Americana, it was
a chance for those who didn’t live in cities to purchase the things only city
folks had available to them. It brought the store to our door, and then with
the population growth, Sears and others built stores in the suburbs, and soon we
could go into the store, see the merchandise live, buy it and take it home that
day. And then the Internet arrived, taking us back to the days of catalogs,
only online, no heavy lifting required, and soon many, myself included were
buying things sight unseen, online, and waiting for UPS to arrive with our
goods. In just 120 years we had come full circle from mail order to store
shopping to ail order....so when the news reported Staples was closing 200
stores, because of slow sales, the by line was because 50% of their business
came from online buying. And at first it upset me, until I thought about how
much I buy online, or shop for online. Hush my mouth, I was one of the 50% who
bought online!
Before moving to So Cal we lived in New Mexico and Colorado, in
small towns, where catalogs brought the newest motorcycle goodies to our door.
Unlike here, where the stores are stocked with the newest and latest, we had
Dennis Kirk, Competition Accessories, and Chaparral to fill our desires. And
you can only imagine our first visit to Chaparral in San Berdoo-it was Christmas
all over again, a toy store for big boys, all under one roof. With low prices
to match, why shop online when I could be there in an hour? But many can’t,
don’t, or won’t-so still live by the Internet. But go into the local store to
try on a new jacket, check out the new colors, then buy online. Which has
prompted many stores to match Internet pricing, great, I prefer to support mu
local store, but when I can get the same thing for much less, with no tax,
online is tough to beat. And I fear many retailers will soon be going the way
of Staples, because we rather buy online.
Even car buying is like that now, with truecar.com and Costco,
AAA, and credit unions having worked out deals for you. No longer needing to
dicker, punch in what you want, the price comes back, a dealer is notified,
confirms the price, financing, and can even have it delivered to your home. All
with the only screen you are in front of is a computer screen, not a
windscreen. But it may still be hard to test drive without a personal visit.
So we have become a society of Wii users, substituting virtual reality for the
real thing, never getting the full experience of hearing a 5.0 Mustang under
full throttle, of smelling new leather interiors, or taking a real test drive.
A survey will tell you who liked it, and you buy. All from the safety of your
own computer-unless you are hacked. But that is another story. How impersonal,
only the hacking makes it personal. And it all goes back to the Sears catalog,
circa 1874.
And so we can plan, dream, shop, and review online-never even
having to encounter another person, unless we have a problem, at which time you
are referred to another screen. Still no personal touch, only the UPS or FedEx
driver, the messenger making personal. And beating up he messenger is no new
concept. For years when sharing the gospel, many have suffered for only
bringing the story of Jesus. Being attacked for telling a dying world about a
living savior. Seems it is easy to shoot the messenger if you don’t like the
message than go to the source. In which case the church takes the beating,
rather than facing God. Been there, done that, have the wounds. So why do so
many blame the messenger rather than the sender? Is it the message that saves,
or the messenger? Or has life become so impersonal we only read the subject
line, and not the text? Do we ever have more than a Facebook relationship, with
a photo that has been Photoshopped, or borrowed? I once had a friend who used
to keep the pictures of the attractive girls who came with new wallets, telling
his nerdy friends she was an old girlfriend, worked until he met his
counterpart-who dated the same wallet photo! So let me ask, where are you with
Jesus? Do you just know the message, or do you know who sent it? Are you an
online believer, or is it personal? Or have you rejected the message, because
you don’t like the messenger? Is your whole relationship with God based on
church, a bad time with another Christian, or believing what someone promised
you about God, not knowing the truth and being led astray? Have you bought
online or in person?
Internet bible studies and commentaries can be a blessing, but should never
become a substitute for gathering with others, going to church we call it. And
since we are the church, we need to welcome others, encourage others, and become
the gospel in real life that we tell them about. Sadly you can take anything
out of context and find a reason for your sin, but when confronted by a living,
loving God, you must face the facts. Jesus is more than pictures in a book, or
even words on a page. A good Yelp review will not make it personal, and
shopping for God like we do bike parts is not the way. Low price ain’t it.
Quick delivery, overnight is not the promise. And catchy phrases only get you
in more trouble, some day you will have to face the truth, why not meet Him
today? Get to know Him and write your own review? Why dream when you can be
riding, and why wonder when you can know? John 1 tells us in the beginning was
the word, Jesus. Good place to start, then read on. Find a real exciting life
in Christ that defies reviews, and a return policy, salvation, that no other
religion or offer can match. No small print, big letter Bibles are available,
and you can see the truth for yourself, before you buy. But make it personal,
take religion out of a catalog, and take it into your heart through Jesus. Why
settle for online when you can have the real thing? His offer doesn’t expire at
midnight, but why wait, tomorrow may be too late. He is patient, you are
delaying. The toy catalog of life awaits you, open it up and enjoy real life,
in person. All others buy online. One picture may be worth 1000 words, Jesus
is the word. If He isn’t in your cart, add Him, if there, time to check out.
Make the decision today. That knock on the door may be the delivery man, Jesus,
just waiting to deliver your gift of salvation. Jesus saves-and at today’s
prices that’s a bargain!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com