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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"What If God Went Undercover?"
September 22, 2010
What would happen if God went undercover and showed up at your
house today? I usually don't watch reality television shows. I can't name
any of the survivors. I don't know who is dancing with the stars. I don't
even pretend to think I can dance. I heard some guy from Connecticut was
one of the biggest losers but I didn't know they were talking about a
television show.
I am not interested in swapping out my wife, (Lori wouldn't let me even if
I was.) I am probably not smarter that any fifth grader who can get on
television and I don't like the idea of getting fired, even if it's by Donald
Trump. Reality shows are just not for me.
So that's why I can't believe I sat down and watched a whole episode of
a show called "Undercover Boss." That's when the question of what would
happen if God showed up at my doorstep came to me. I was channel
surfing and an image Joe DePinto flashed on the screen. He is the CEO of
the 7 -11 convenience store chain. As the camera focuses on him he tells us
that he is going undercover to learn what's really happening in his stores
across the country.
They show a clip of Joe trying to stop a coffee pot from flowing over. He
makes a mess. I almost fell off my seat when he got hollered at by the store
manager. Now that's "Must see TV." We'd all like to put the boss in their
place, wouldn't we? But that wasn't what the show was about.
For the next forty five minutes Joe finds out first hand just how hard his
employees have to work. He listens to their stories. Their struggles touch
his heart. In the end Joe comes away feeling their pain and decides to do
something about it.
I had tears in my eyes as the show came to an end. Joe Depinto takes
what he learns from his experience working with his employees and makes
the changes that are needed to improve their lives. That's the Christian story
isn't it?
God, the CEO of the universe, steps into history and experiences what it
is like to live with human frailty. Every Christmas we retell the story. He
feels temptation and pain, hunger and sorrow. Then he does something
about it. At Easter we celebrate that redeeming love.
Don't believe it? Open up the Bible. Jesus meets some incredible people
and listens to their stories. Feeling their pain and wanting to do something,
Jesus does an amazing thing. He offers himself, he gives away his rights,
uses his position to open the gates of heaven so that the rest of us might see
our dreams come true.
Reality TV? It's better than that. It is real life. It's God doing his thing.
Your boss may never step foot into your workplace but God does it every
day. He comes with a word of encouragement and reminds you how
precious you are. He may speak through a friend, a customer or even a
supervisor. But don't be surprised to learn later on that it was God incognito
just reminding you that he will be there for you. Praise God, he's even better
than an undercover boss.
God bless! See you in Church. Cal
September 22, 2010
What would happen if God went undercover and showed up at your
house today? I usually don't watch reality television shows. I can't name
any of the survivors. I don't know who is dancing with the stars. I don't
even pretend to think I can dance. I heard some guy from Connecticut was
one of the biggest losers but I didn't know they were talking about a
television show.
I am not interested in swapping out my wife, (Lori wouldn't let me even if
I was.) I am probably not smarter that any fifth grader who can get on
television and I don't like the idea of getting fired, even if it's by Donald
Trump. Reality shows are just not for me.
So that's why I can't believe I sat down and watched a whole episode of
a show called "Undercover Boss." That's when the question of what would
happen if God showed up at my doorstep came to me. I was channel
surfing and an image Joe DePinto flashed on the screen. He is the CEO of
the 7 -11 convenience store chain. As the camera focuses on him he tells us
that he is going undercover to learn what's really happening in his stores
across the country.
They show a clip of Joe trying to stop a coffee pot from flowing over. He
makes a mess. I almost fell off my seat when he got hollered at by the store
manager. Now that's "Must see TV." We'd all like to put the boss in their
place, wouldn't we? But that wasn't what the show was about.
For the next forty five minutes Joe finds out first hand just how hard his
employees have to work. He listens to their stories. Their struggles touch
his heart. In the end Joe comes away feeling their pain and decides to do
something about it.
I had tears in my eyes as the show came to an end. Joe Depinto takes
what he learns from his experience working with his employees and makes
the changes that are needed to improve their lives. That's the Christian story
isn't it?
God, the CEO of the universe, steps into history and experiences what it
is like to live with human frailty. Every Christmas we retell the story. He
feels temptation and pain, hunger and sorrow. Then he does something
about it. At Easter we celebrate that redeeming love.
Don't believe it? Open up the Bible. Jesus meets some incredible people
and listens to their stories. Feeling their pain and wanting to do something,
Jesus does an amazing thing. He offers himself, he gives away his rights,
uses his position to open the gates of heaven so that the rest of us might see
our dreams come true.
Reality TV? It's better than that. It is real life. It's God doing his thing.
Your boss may never step foot into your workplace but God does it every
day. He comes with a word of encouragement and reminds you how
precious you are. He may speak through a friend, a customer or even a
supervisor. But don't be surprised to learn later on that it was God incognito
just reminding you that he will be there for you. Praise God, he's even better
than an undercover boss.
God bless! See you in Church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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