Picking out the raisins

You might have heard that the world economy is not at its best at the moment. In fact, if you have turned on the TV, logged on to the Net, listened to the Radio or read a newspaper (even The Sun counts) you will be aware that times are not easy. The news of the Credit Crunch have invaded our everyday lives so much so that small talk is no longer about the weather but about the financial crisis. Even the question that you’d ask when you first meet a Swiss person has been changed from: “Do you yodel?” to “And how is the Franc holding up?” (They usually ask about the Euro – but I understand what they mean).

Fact is, the world is in a crisis. People are loosing jobs and houses and even the most basic things are getting more and more expensive. It is not a nice time.

Thing is though, that over all this, God is still in charge. He is so to speak, Master of disaster – however disastrous times may be, he is still the Master. And I’m sure that, if he can use good times, how much more will he be able to use bad times to show people that he is there, just waiting for them to come to him in times of need.

Thing is also that this is our time to stand up, to open doors and "shine our lights". I am convinced that people who would in normal circumstances not eve think about asking questions about life may now be wondering if there shouldn’t be something bigger than Wall Street, something more honest. And cool, in a time where demand is on an all time low, we have the one thing people might still be asking for!

Now with the Economy lying on the floor in defeat we can take the opportunity to look at all bad things it has done to people (by the way, have you ever stopped to think about headlines like: greedy bankers are to blame for all of this? As if the bankers where the only greedy ones! I only need to look in the mirror to see someone who’d love to spend more than she’s got – and I’m definitely not a banker).

But that wouldn’t help AT ALL, would it, really? So why don’t we look at all the good ideas the Business World came up with, and maybe use them in our favour? Most of them are no big new ideas, just basic stuff really!

- Customers won’t give you a second chance. How true –true for church people too! If people come to your place once and they don’t feel welcome they won’t come back. And I’m not even worried about the figures we like our Corps to show but about the number of seeking Souls that feel they have been looking in the wrong place. How sad would it be if your hour came and you got to spend eternity with the Lord and while you walk into Heaven you see all the poor wicked people who have been to your place of worship but you were too busy to have time for them.

- Don’t sell what you have – sell what they want! No explanation needed really. Except of course, we don't sell. We just give.

- Make them feel loved. Do you know the advert with the Top ups where this couple runs after the guy because he didn’t say Good Bye and the slogan is something like: with longer between the Top Ups, you are going to be missed. People appreciate when they are missed. It’s nice to get a Text or call asking where you’ve been if you didn’t make it to a meeting or so.

-Don’t be stereotypical or fake. Again, think of the advert of the fat banker guy with the introductory biscuits and introductory niceness? How many people come into your place of worship with ideas and prejudices – have fun proving them wrong.

I don’t know about your church (if you have one) but I, despite all the moaning about things (read: people) that annoy me because they are wrong (read: don’t do what I think they should), love my church. Despite the horrid Carpet. Because I can feel they care. They must do, or why else would some of them be at the hall on Saturdays at 8 to prepare for X-Stream Club, for Kids who wouldn’t hear of Jesus otherwise. People who get up early to pick up the elderly, people who spend their free time in the drop-in to feed the hungry. People who, however much I could make lists and lists about their shortcomings, are made in the image of God. And I hope that we can go more in this direction and less in the one that we sometimes feel more drawn to. Where we feel the need to “teach each other lessons”. Where we fight our little internal wars and forget the ones just outside the door.

So here it is: If you think that your life might be worth a little more than FTSE then maybe check out your local church. With that I don't mean the building. Or the Service. It might be a young peoples' group in your area, an open choir (I know a good one ;-)) or a drama group (we need you!) A parents and toddler group or a housegroup. There are many people out there who would love to welcome you in.

And if you are part of a local church, make sure you keep your doors open!