When the US of A stood by its friend Israel in 1973 after it was attacked
by Syria and Egypt, OPEC decided to punish us by raising the price of oil.
Sending us into a tailspin, as always cheap gas, now was not as cheap.
Pricewise it went from 26.9 to 35.9 where I lived, costing me about 50 cents
more to fill up my R90S, but a big jump percentage wise. 25% of my Sears driven
income, but still inexpensive, when you could find it, when you could obey the
rules each station enacted, and changing the way and how America drove. Big
family cars that used to get 10-12 mpg, were now referred to as Behemoths, and
the ugly and undesirable Japanese cars of a few years ago were in vogue.
Bragging on how many miles per gallon was stylish, and the Big Three automakers
were in a hurry to do something amid lost sales. And the move was on to smaller
cars, and how to handle the Japanese invasion.....
Henry Ford II, or Hank the Deuce as he was referred to, once said “small
cars equal small profits,” as they could make more money selling a Lincoln than
the selling price of a Pinto. After an initial sales dip, the bounced back, but
now it was all about Pintos and Vegas instead of Impalas and LTD’s. With
Chrysler having nothing to offer, and AMC cars becoming popular as they sold
mostly compacts anyway. Which in sales meetings brought up two kinds of sales,
conquests and defectors. Conquests were the sales they took from other brands,
defectors were the ones you lost to other brands. But a third was hurting
profits within the Big Three, a different type of conquest sale. Whereas a
family might have purchased an Impala wagon which had a big profit in it, now
they were downsizing to a Chevelle, or even a Vega. Sales numbers would vary,
but overall profits took a hit. And like Alfred P. Sloan once said, “ GM is not
in the business of making cars, we are in the business of making money.”
Conquests were now coming from within corporate borders, and not from other
brands. The good side was at least a GM family stayed GM, but no new Ford
families were joining in. Datsun and Toyota were stealing conquests from
everyone, and suddenly they were a major player. One to be dealt with, as they
had very little competition for defects, and a whole new market was born. Or
hatched. Same amount of cars being sold, just spread over more brands and
lesser sales per brand. And it had only just begun....a far cry from The
Carpenters hit song....
I was invited to a so called bible study by Gerald’s nurse. I went based
on the fact she was pretty, Gerald’s nurse, and of course a Bible study. What I
found was much different, as I had the only Bible among these space cadets, and
their take on spirituality was much different than Christianity. The only truth
in then was they were all lost, all searching, and many had been in churches,
but never knew Jesus, or had been made to feel uncomfortable when they asked
questions. They were searching, and much like the sound of one hand clapping,
they were alone and lost. But growing as they were getting others who were
defecting from the church of their parents, and becoming part of a conquest by a
cult. Somehow the numbers are always mentioned in growing churches, as if more
attendance made them more successful, or brought them closer to God. They
talked of Jesus in a very friendly non-offensive way, not wanting to insult
anyone, really not wanting them to think, and many got hurt and confused and
still are seeking God. Nothing knew under the sun...but in the Son, what a
difference...
Over my Christian walk I have met people who used to be Catholics,
Baptists, Lutherans, and other main stream denominations, being saved and
leaving the old church and looking for a new one. These defectives, of which I
am one, sought the holy spirit and by passed on religious rhetoric for freedom.
But as one church grew, another shrank, and even today the number attending
church regularly is down, despite having a different take on Jesus in every
strip mall. Each with its own set of rules, with many stating they would never
do it the old way, but really knowing no other way. Their hearts are as empty
as the tomb of Jesus, but with no knowledge of why the tomb was empty. Or who
had been in it.
A hallmark of Christianity is it is available to all, not just to one
social or economical group. No party affiliation, no dress codes, just sinners,
and we all qualify. Only Jesus invites all, can your church say the same?
Would he be given the same place in your service as the largest donor? What
would he put in your collection plate? How would he react to your messages?
Remember the disciples were with him for three years, yet if not for the words
of the angel that he is risen and not here, would have thought they were at the
wrong tomb? The angel’s telling words, “just as he told you...” What has Jesus
told you makes a difference in how you live. Where and how you fellowship, and
if you are truly saved. With one example to consider. I once attended a church
of over 7000, who bragged one Easter that over 1100 had come forward and were
saved. But yet the next Sunday’s service was the same, where did all those new
Christians go? Or were they there and the old saints gone somewhere else?
Based on numbers I have to wonder, but based on Jesus, we can know. He sees the
heart, and salvation is more than extra attendance and Easter Lillies....it is
personal and knowing Jesus Christ. A true conquest is being saved, and being a
true defector is leaving the world and following him. Or are you still church
hopping until you find one that suits your agenda...In a game of numbers, Jesus
would have died for you if you were the only sinner who needed to be saved. Now
do you get it?
Tough times tell us a lot about ourselves. One minute you are driving a
GTO and bragging on horsepower, the next a Toyota and bragging on your gas
mileage. Today so many are defecting to hybrids, and even Prius sales are down,
but to Tesla. No new converts, just changing brands. Don’t fall into the
church growth trap, brag on Jesus. A lesson today from a pastor I knew was
bragging on how humble his church was. Any bets he drives a hybrid....and
aren’t you glad your God is hitting on all eight cylinders? If you are what you
ride, I am a Triumph. Is your church in one accord, or so big Jesus couldn’t
find a seat? With love from one defect to another. In Jesus, the way it should
be.
Or you can take the loser cruiser, I mean the bus....both will get you
there....who drives your life does make a difference after all. Ironically
Henry Ford’s last ride was in a Packard, he must have asked the an who owns
one...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com