A wise man once uttered these words “if I want your opinion I’ll give it to
you.” He must have had teenagers. But today we spend way too much time
weighing in on subjects from UFO’s to Elvis, and never let the facts make an
impact. My take on UFO’s are, if you don’t what it is, it is unidentified. And
if it is in the air, it is a flying object. As for Elvis, “thank you, thank you
very much.” He is still my Teddy Bear. But we get confused and voice opinions
over factual matters, and when in the automotive industry, the surveys could
make or break us. You may have fixed every concern a customer had, but he had
to wait to get his car, and would give you a bad review. Which matters so much
within the business that the sales of dealerships is affected by their CSI
score, customer survey index. A superior effort by a trained tech can be
obliterated by a minimum wage lot boy, just because. And as a service
advisor/manager I took my share of beatings.
Management, who didn’t have much contact with the customers unless they had
a complaint, was adament about follow up phone calls. I refused to be a CSI
score whore, begging for a good report. I always felt and was backed up by the
fact we fixed cars, and people too. But in both cases you couldn’t fix stupid,
you only hoped they didn’t spend an hour completing the survey, getting their
revenge through it. But a funny, not ha-ha thing would happen. I was given
more than my fair share of problem cars and people. And as we worked through
the problems, we built a relationship, a trust was formed, and I was able to fix
the car, and them. And build a life long customer, along with a reputation for
fixing problems, which is what the service department does. Or at least is
supposed to. We didn’t design them, we didn’t build them, and we didn’t sell
them. We just tried to remedy the previous steps and make it right. To do the
right thing. How many car sales are salvaged by a good service department needs
to be investigated. We may have sold more cars than the sales staff, just by
fixing the problem. And so a CSI score may be more indicative of opinions than
facts. And opinions are like Harleys, everyone has one. And 95% of them are
still on the road, the other 5% made it home. I rest my case. Of course that’s
my opinion...
But who rates the rating companies? Who does J. D. Power report too? I
have never seen, nor know anyone who has been asked that question. And this
inquiring mind wants to know, for I have an opinion, and some facts they need to
hear, my opinion anyway. Do they survey the questions on the form before
asking? And how about those phone calls while eating. Did I interrupt your
meal? No, I had to get up to answer the phone anyway. Do they ask you after a
funeral how you feel about death? Or after a divorce how you feel about
marriage? So why ask about a car repair after it was broken, and hopefully
fixed? Or is it like the form I signed when closing on our last house, my
signature proving my signature was my signature. Are the inmates running the
asylum, or are they all working for the government? I hear they have a 15%
approval rating, but get re elected. Is that how we vote? Our survey?
I read that car theft is going down, yet my rates go up. And if my car is
stolen it is 100% at my house. Or is it 50% since I have two cars? Maybe life
is like Yogi Berra once said, “90% mental and the other half physical.” Maybe
it is like the opposite of half slow, half fast.
Last night at our Bible study we discussed those who claim to know the time
and date of the rapture. And most thought it was funny, those who predicted and
believed it had a screw loose, and were dumb. No official polls were taken.
But none were really sure what they believed, but wanted to make sure they
weren’t left behind. Imagine if you would a survey by Mr. Power after death. I
am sure the opinions would be different from hell than they are for heaven.
Were you happy with the result? Did you get all the preacher promised? Were
you ready to go when promised? Would you recommend this trip to another? Of
course this is made up, but we do have a say, not an opinion, but to deal with
the truth and facts while still alive. To live life without a survey, to deal
with reality, and its consequences. To know Jesus and be saved, or deny him and
be lost. To brag on your church, or on Jesus. Is overall attendance more
important than the individual? Jesus would have died for each one of us if we
were the only sinner. Are you getting a Christian education or having a
Christian experience? Are the words of Jesus just red letters on a page, or are
they written on your heart? Notice God never asks for our opinion...nor does he
survey us. As if he didn’t know already.
So when Paul writes to the Corinthians in fear and trembling, not using big
words but ones they can understand, he realizes it is not about human power or
our persuasiveness, but about the holy spirit giving us words and him changing
lives. He points everything back to Jesus, just like the spirit does, and Jesus
then points everything back to his father in heaven. Not what do you think
about the pastor’s teaching, but what has the spirit revealed to you? When we
are honest, and share our testimony we have great power, but it is still the
spirit that changes lives, that saves. Only Jesus can do that, fact, not
opinion. So it does matter what you believe and in whom you believe. Maybe as
simple as the blind man he healed, “I don’t know if he is good or bad, all I
know is I was blind and now I can see.” No great theology there, no verse
memorization, no opinion. Just the facts, long before Joe Friday made the
statement trendy. Mam.
So it is not what you think that saves, but who you know. Yet many still
only will admit Jesus was a great teacher, a rabbi, a profit, neglecting he is
deity. And the only way to be saved. Only Jesus saves, leave your opinions for
the side of the road with your Harley. For Paul on the road to Damascus knew
immediately who Jesus was, and what he needed to be saved. Imagine if he was
asked to fill out a questionaire, “how was your experience on the side of the
road?” “How was his presentation?” “Did you feel welcomed?” “Any
recommendations on how we can improve our service?” How you live your life may
be the best survey of Jesus you ever take. And the survey says....
By the way Mrs. Lincoln, what did you think of the play?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com