CUSTOMER SERVICE

I should be focusing on writing a blog.  Instead here I sit, listening to the same message over and over, while I wait to talk to customer service.  Maybe, I better explain my experiences with customer service the last two days.

WEDNESDAY

The cable bill arrived and it was a bit higher than last month.  Seeing that a promotional had disappeared, I chatted with the website.  I got nowhere except for obtaining a number for customer service.  I understand and appreciate security, but trying to talk to a human requires pressing at least 10 numbers and giving a password that you had forgotten even existed.  Finally, a nice man, living in Arizona, confirmed the promotional had ended but he could offer me another one.  Bless his heart and he is even sending a new remote.  A new remote should greatly improve my choice of words when trying to aim the old one in the exact and only spot that would allow me to change channels.

THURSDAY

I hate running errands but today was the day and it was raining.  Remember that hubby lost his phone?  The statement from the cell phone company came and … let’s just say one of my errands was to take the statement to the local store so they could explain the extra charges.  Guess what the reply was – Give up?  “You will need to call customer service and have them look at your statement.”

I went home, heard my tummy growl, and decided calories were in order before making a call to customer service. 

Then I made the mistake of opening my email.

A number of months ago, we went to a car dealership to look at a car our grandson had seen online.  We looked at the car, talked to our daughter, gave the salesman our email, and told him we would get back to him.  Our daughter spoke with the salesman and they could not agree on a price.  I would have thought that would be the end of the story.  BUT NO!  The salesman apparently does not know how to remove an email address from his list!  I would get an email and reply with take my name off your list.  I would get an email and reply with take my name off your list.  (Go back to first sentence, of this paragraph, and reread “A number of months ago.”  Also remember I hate running errands.  Both of these came into play.)  Lo and behold, today I received another email.  I called to talk to the manager who was conveniently busy.  I asked for the second in command.  Let’s just say it did not go great, but he took my name off the email list. 

There on my desk was the cell phone statement and the customer service number was front and center.  I picked up the phone, took a deep breath, and dialed (Dialed — that shows my age.) the number.  The recording began and continued to ensure me I am a valued customer and they will be with me as quickly as possible.  Holding the phone to my ear, I began writing this blog.

Being a valued customer did not mean someone from customer service would actually be with me quickly.  Eventually, a young lady came on the line and we discussed the charges.  I agreed the one-time fee was reasonable to process from the old phone buried in a field to the new phone in hubby’s pocket.  We discussed the insurance plan.  Hubby has a flip phone that cost $59.99 and the insurance fees were $8.99 and $6.01.  Yes, two fees totaling $15.00 on a $59.99 phone and THESE WOULD BE MONTHLY!!   Yes, they would remove the fees.  Only one more item to discuss:  the charge for the phone, which the local store would not allow me to pay for when we ordered it.  The phone is $59.99 and they billed me $2.00.  That $2.00 would be deducted each month, until the phone was paid for.  OH MY GOODNESS!  THAT WOULD BE 30 MONTHS!  I want to pay for the phone!!!  That was arranged, the conversation ended, and the next valued customer was greeted with, “Thank you for waiting.”    

Customer service!

Sometimes when I write my blog, I know how it is to go.  This time I had no idea until I looked at the last customer service.  I realized the best place to receive customer service is at the church.  From the minister.

Google assured me the word Pastor, in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, means shepherd:   someone who the Lord raises up to care for the total well-being of His flock.  (If Pastor Larry disagrees with Google, I will certainly hear about it.)  The scriptures go into a bit more detail.

I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.  Jeremiah 3:15

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.  1 Peter 5:2-4

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Ephesians 4:11-13

Customer service, provided by the pastor, our shepherd, involves:

• Leading with knowledge and understanding
• Watching over us willingly and not expecting to get rich
• Eager, but humble, and an example
• Equipped so the congregation will be unified in faith and knowledge of Jesus and they will mature into the fullness of Christ

Sunday through Saturday, all hours of the day, often in the middle of the night, and holidays, the pastor, our shepherd, gives customer service by:

• Preaching the Word of God, relying on the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit
• Being an example to the church
• Teaching the Word and how to live like Christ
• Protecting the flock from “wolves” and untrue teaching
• Counseling those that are hurting and questioning, listening when someone needs to talk, and carrying our burdens
• Praying for each and every sheep in the flock

NOW THAT IS CUSTOMER SERVICE! 

(Thank you Pastor Larry!  You are a good Shepherd!)

ADDICTION

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.  “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered.  “No one is good—except God alone.  You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him.  “One thing you lack,” he said.  “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell.  He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 

Mark 10:17-22

If he was obeying all the commandments, wasn’t that good enough?  Why did he have to sell everything instead of 10% tithe?

Why?  Because the money stood between him and God.  The money, being rich, is who he was and getting rid of the money would mean he had to change.  And change is hard. 

It is so easy to use the word addiction and only think of drugs, alcohol, and gambling, but addiction is anything that stands between us and God and addiction comes in many forms.  We can be addicted to money, fame, our standing in the community, and drugs.  We can be addicted to shopping, the appearance of our homes and ourselves, and alcohol.  We can be addicted to anger, hate, fear, worry, and gambling.  Addiction is what we hold onto instead of holding onto God. 

No one wants to be addicted.  Often we do not realize we are addicted.  Many things sound perfectly fine:  I don’t get mad that often.  I only shop when the new styles come out.  That is not really an addiction.  I am not addicted.  I can quit when I want.  I can walk away.  I can change.

Want to know something amazing?  We can change!  We can walk away!  We can give up whatever it is that stands between us and God!

Our daughter went to Celebrate Recovery because she was supporting a young man who got himself in trouble.  Taking him, being there for him was a way to direct him in a different direction.  Did it work? Yes, but not in the way she expected. 

     https://www.celebraterecovery.com/

THE LOST PHONE

CAN I BORROW YOUR PHONE

You can take the boy out of the country (We moved to town a number of years back.), but you cannot take the country out of the boy (Come spring and fall, the call of a tractor is very strong.).  Yes, hubby likes to drive a big ole CAT tractor with a couple of pieces of equipment following along behind.  The CAT also has auto-steer and is driven by a man who will not use a computer, barely uses my old iPad, and has a flip phone.

Please change that to ‘had’ a flip phone.  It seems a friend called and, apparently, when hubby returned the phone to the pocket where said phone resides, he did not get the pocket snapped completely.  The flip phone took advantage of this and decided to investigate the soil conditions.  That was a mistake, because the CAT might have auto-steer but it does not have do-not-drive-over-a-phone.  The phone is now somewhere trying to figure out why it is so dark and quiet.

And I drove 14 miles to give Bill my phone and 14 miles back home.  And the local phone store was closed till Monday.  Gotta love small town living.

THE REPLACEMENT

Arriving at the local phone store, I was informed I was the third person reporting a lost phone.  Farming season seems to be hard on phones.  When I inquired about a flip phone, the young man informed me they were out of them.  There must be a lot of flip phone users because he said they could not keep them stocked.  A new phone was ordered and it would arrive in the mail – in three days.  Do you remember the first part when I told you hubby did not use a computer?  Guess who had the privilege of unpacking and setting the phone up?  You are right.  Me.

THIS SHOULD BE EASY

I have set up websites for two churches.  I manage three Facebook pages and write this blog.  YOU WOULD THINK SETTING UP A FLIP PHONE WOULD BE EASY!  Apparently someone in shipping has decided anticipation is a good thing and wanted to make sure the new phone was not discovered too quickly.  The phone was inside a wrapper, inside a box, inside another box.  The phone was there.  The SIM card was in the phone.  The battery was there.  Included were the warranty and a very brief how to. 

Surely there was more.  Nope!  There was no call this number or access this site to activate this phone.  Bless the internet.  AT & T site activated the phone.  Alcatel site had a manual to download.  Then it began.

Do you want English?  Do you accept the terms?  Do you want us to know where you are every minute of the day?  Do you want alerts?  Do you know it would not allow me to delete the Presidential alert?  If the President speaks, thou shalt listen.  Adding contacts was such a delight.  It is not like a flip phone has something that resembles a keyboard.  H – 2 clicks, O – 3 clicks, M – 1 click, E – 2 clicks.  And if I didn’t wait for the line under the letter to go away, I had the wrong letter.  FINALLY THE PHONE IS SET UP!!

HANDING THE PHONE OVER TO HUBBY

I bet you are eagerly awaiting the details of that process.  Sorry.  The new phone is so close to the old one he took to it like a duck to water.  Hubby is happy.  I am thrilled.

THE POINT

My connection to God is never lost.  I don’t have to worry about getting my pocket snapped.  I don’t have to wait for a store to open or to receive the replacement.  I don’t have to access the internet for instructions or to activate the SIM card.  I don’t even need a battery.

All I have to do is say, “Hey God.  Can we talk?”

WHAT IF I DON’T DO IT?

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  Jeremiah 1:4-5

Let me tell you, God made it easy on Mr. Jeremiah!  God flat out told him he was a prophet to the nations.  Jeremiah did not have to figure out what God wanted him to do.  He did not have to wake up each day and wonder, “What does God want me to do today.”  No!  He got up, had his coffee and went off to do as he was told.  God even told him, if the bad guys overcame him, he was right there with him and would rescue him.  Jeremiah talked to the people of Israel, proclaimed at the palace of the king of Judah, and wrote to all the people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile.  (I used Nebuchadnezzar because, although he was one bad dude, his name is cool to say.)

What if Jeremiah had not done as the LORD instructed?

I know there are things God would never ask me to do.  God would never expect me to be in the choir.  I love music but --- and that is a very big ‘but’ – I cannot carry a tune in the proverbial bucket.  God would not ask me to work in the Garden of Eden.  I do not have plants in my house for a very simple reason:  They die!  I cannot tell a flower from a vegetable or a weed.  Yes, you are thinking, “God would give you those skills.”  That is the point.  God did not give me those skills!  Plain and simple – singing and gardening are not talents incorporated into my DNA.

You will not find me on World of Dance, the National Spelling Bee, or Jeopardy.  Those skills are also absent from my DNA.  The lack of a spelling gene means I am terrible at crossword puzzles, but I am amazing at jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles.  God did incorporate a very active imagination, a quirky way of thinking, and the desire to learn.  He also gave me a heart for children and the love of travel.

My DNA was created by God.

For I am God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do.  Ephesians 2:10 (made personal)

Even the Old Testament knew I would need instructions.

He has shown me, a mere mortal, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of me?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God.  Micah 6:8 (made personal)

There are many things God does expect of me.  Things I am asked to do.  But what happens if I don’t do them?  Who suffers?

The quick answer is I suffer.  And, that is true.  When I do not do as God expects, my insides are nervous.  I want to hide.  The Bible --- reaching for the Bible is like putting my hand over a fire.  You would think, at this age, I would just do what I know I should.  There is a verse about that, but sometimes God wants me to …. Oh, he wants me to… My goodness… He wants me to do it HIS way.  And he is right.  When I do it HIS way, I might not like it and I might wonder why he is asking this of me, but I am blessed by the outcome.

There are many things God does expect of me.  Things I am asked to do.  But what happens if I don’t do them?  Who suffers?  The quick answer is I suffer, but this question has another answer:  Others suffer.

If I do not do good works which give God the glory, others will not see.  Others will not find the way.  Others will suffer.

If I do not act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God, others will not see.  Others will not find the way.  Others will suffer.

God wants each of us to obey.  Obey because we love God and want to honor and worship him with our actions.  We need to do this so others will see.  So others will find the way.

Jesus gave the Great Commission:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:17-20

What happens if we don’t go?  Don’t make disciples?  Don’t Baptize?  Don’t teach?

We suffer because we are not doing God’s will, but there is another answer to that question.

What happens?

Others suffer.  And they suffer into eternity.

ARE YOU A SAMARITAN?

 

A priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan… Sounds like the beginning of a joke.  Instead it is how Jesus answered the man who asked, “And who is my neighbor?”

 

In reply Jesus said:  “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

 

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

Luke 10:20-35

 

 

WOULD YOU LEAVE SOMEONE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD?

 

 

I bet you answered, “No.  I WOULD HELP!  I am a good person like the Samaritan.”

 

Really?  Did you answer honestly?  You would help everyone?  Or would you hesitate just a bit…

 

With what is going on today (For future readers, the COVID-19 virus impact on our lives.), would you wonder if they had the virus?  Would you hesitate because you might catch it?

 

Maybe you would look around, wondering if the robbers were hiding and ready to beat you up.  Plus, you have heard about the scams where someone is laying in the road, acting injured, so you will stop to help.  Then they rob you.  Maybe this is not a real injury. 

 

Not having a donkey, would you worry about getting blood or other body fluids in your car? 

 

Really?  Did you answer honestly?  You would help everyone?  Or would you get someone else to help…

 

With cell phones, you can always call the police and let them deal with it.  They are trained.  Besides, if you help and something goes wrong, you could be sued. 

 

Today, you could not check an ill/hurt person into a hotel and say, “I’ll be back to pay the bill.”  But, would you be willing to plop down your credit card at a redi-med to cover the expenses of a stranger?

 

Really?  Did you answer honestly?  You would help everyone?  Everyone….

 

A biker, a girl with five colors in her hair, an atheist, a murderer, a homeless person, ..

 

 

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

 

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

 

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

Luke 10:36-37

 

 

A SAMARITAN HAS MERCY

 

Have mercy…Mercy:  a compassionate treatment of those in distress

 

But to have mercy you have to be able to feel.  You have to see the pain.  You have to see the emotions.  You have to see the circumstances.  And when you finally see, you have to feel.

 

The priest saw the pain.  He did not feel.

 

The Levite saw the circumstances.  He did not feel.

 

They saw the blood.  They saw the man stripped.  They saw a man almost dead.  They did not feel.

 

The Samaritan saw the very same things.  BUT, he felt the man’s pain and his humility at being naked.  He had mercy on him.

 

AM I A SAMARITAN?     DO I FEEL?     DO I SHOW MERCY?

 

Would I hear someone cry out for help and look the other way?

 

Would I listen to someone tell of their grief and not offer compassion?

 

Would I see the fear, in someone’s eyes, and not help them through that fear?

 

Would I…Would I help my neighbor

 

or

 

would I pass by on the other side of the road?