The meaning of guest service changes as the guest changes.

The meaning of guest service changes as the guest changes.

When I was in the retail industry, we would often discuss about how so many restaurants fail because they keep marketing to and servicing the customers through campaigns and efforts that were successful 5-10 years ago. We knew we did not want to run our business with that mentality. So each year, we would evaluate what initiatives were attracting foot traffic and those that didn't make sense anymore. Then we would immediately cease the poor performing initiatives and drive all of our efforts towards those that were driving sales.

Now that I am in the position of helping to manage operations at Grace, I see that this thought process makes complete sense as we evaluate how we are attracting our guests (those we are trying to reach through our ministry). Over the past few years, we have had to make some drastic changes because our guests have changed. Simple as that. A prime example is the use of technology and the art of communicating with technology.

Any church that constantly evaluates guest attracting processes and responds to the changing needs and desires of their evolving guest base will successfully provide relevant services allowing for optimum attraction and spiritual growth.

What changes has your church had to make?

99 Balloons

A friend sent this to me...

I found it interesting in relation to my last blog on being thankful in all circumstances despite pain and heartache

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

Thanks for What?

As Thanksgiving nears, what is it you are really thankful for?

This passage gave me a good reminder this morning,
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 (New International Version)
15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.

Paul is referring to us not necessarily being thankful for each circumstance, but more for being thankful in the circumstance. Are you joyful and thankful despite no matter what your circumstance is?

We tend to forget some of the blessings we should be thankful for or we spend time focusing on what we don't have ( or what is wrong with possessions and relationships in our lives)

What should you be thankful for that you find it difficult to be thankful for?

Hard to Believe

Christmas is just around the corner. Glad we have most of our shopping completed.

• Really appreciative of the team I have to create an amazingly decorated environment at the church. I have no gifts there, but I can string lights...
• After much time in prayer and discussion with Kelly, we have decided to push the pause button on selling the house.. We both felt really unsettled about it.
• Eli turns 5 in a little more than a week and Owen turns 3 in a month. It is really hard to believe. Kelly will be 31 in 2 months. This is really my birthday stretch for those in my family.
• Prices are being increased in the cafe this weekend. Should be a smooth transition. Will be beginning a clearance and Christmas sale in the bookstore the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
• Switch cubicles this week with Danielle. It is opposite of mine, so everything is in the same yet different spot. I go to reach for a drawer that used to be on the right and it is on the left. Getting adjusted just fine though.
• Love Derek's last 2 blogs. I could just sit at his feet and learn all day long. He takes information you already know and helps you really dive into deeper meanings of it.
• Dave cracks me up. His child-like appreciation for the snow has helped my children learn to love it!

Proud to be an American

Well, no matter who you voted for, you have to be proud to be an American.

For every person in this country to have the right to vote for who they want is amazing. I can't begin to understand the pride that Barrack Obama is feeling....or others for him. He is now President of this great country and anyone who becomes that needs a great amount of respect. I hope he follows his promises of bringing the country together.

He will get my prayers and additional hopes for a better nation. As most anyone is saying, it really is historic. As an American, you have to love that.

Every candidate matters to God.
Every nameless person pegged and targeted by the "key" issues matters to God.
Every person labeled conservative or liberal matters to God.
Every voter. Every American. Every inhabitant of the planet matters to God.

There is an election today??

A few posts that intrigued me....
VOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTE

Click here for one

Click here for two

Click here for three

What an amazing day! No matter what the people will speak tonight and the majority will get their way.

VOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTE