I am a content creator and storyteller based in Florida, where I work for OneHope. I love digital and content marketing, writing, and the occasional doodle.
Often, churches and church people get a reputation for being resistant to change. “Worship Wars” continue as those who love traditional hymns duke it out with lovers of contemporary styles of worship. Changing an old chair in the lobby can be controversial if it was dedicated in memory of a dearly departed saint during the Eisenhower Administration. Adding a little fresh paint and new carpet to a classroom can cause consternation along with a little weeping and gnashing of teeth.
My wife and I saw a sign like this as we drove by a country church. Since she is in children’s ministry, it caught our eye. While we were glad the church was making an effort to attract kids, we agreed a new playground just wouldn’t cut it.
As I drive down Indiana and Ohio highways, I see acres of corn and soybeans. All the farmers are doing their best to get the most productivity out of their fields. They all strive to be the most productive and deliver a consistent product for the same price. It works for commodities. Corn, soybeans, pork, beef, crude oil, steel are all commodities that require consistent quality, sent to market in the most efficient way. There isn’t much negotiation on price. The only way to make more money is to take advantage of economies of scale.
At one time, you could put your ad in the phone book yellow pages and not think about it for a year. It just worked for you. A newspaper ad could last just as long. Then radio came along and you could blast the same message multiple times a day. Television made it even easier, but at least there were only three channels… until there was cable… and then the Internet.
The marathon is over. I completed the goal, which was to finish. The weather was cool until about two hours into the race. The sun began affecting all of us. For a time, I wondered if I was going to make it. My hamstring started bothering me around mile seventeen. Around mile twenty-three, I had to stop and a nice security guard helped me stretch it out. After that, I walked most of the way until I was within sight of the finish line.
There are a few lessons I’ve learned from this race: