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What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
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True Church Stories - #27

It was an extremely hot summer day back when we first started pastoring our church in Maryland, and I told my husband I was going upstairs to our room to take a shower.  The family room was also upstairs in this particular house we lived in. that was a split level house.  I said, "Larry, I don't want to get dressed right away after I shower.  It's so hot and I just want to cool off, so please take the kids outside, let them play and after a while when I get dressed I will come downstairs and let you guys know."  He had no problem with doing this and in fact we had a huge yard outside - the boys were playing on the swings and he was just out there being Super Dad.  Until...

While I was in the shower our Sunday School Superintendent, Susan Morgan, called and asked him if she could stop by because she had a flyer to show him about the upcoming kids outreach she was working on and she wanted to go over a few things.  He said, "sure I'm just outside with the boys - come on over."  So she did, and she brought their son David who was just eight years old at the time.

Larry became engrossed in what he and Susan were talking about outside in the yard.  He forgot all about me upstairs in the shower.  By this time I was upstairs walking around totally naked, unbeknowst that anything else was going on outside.  David said, "Pastor Larry, would it be alright if I watch TV?"  Not thinking about me being upstairs, my husband said, "sure!"  The Morgans were good friends who we always encouraged to make themselves at home and little David knew his way around the house and did just that.  (You know what's coming next!)

While I was walking around naked in my bedroom (and yes, I'm talking about strip naked here...not a stitch of clothing on) I heard the TV in the family room that was just adjacent to our room.   I personally like peace and quiet and was wanting to have some more.  Talking to myself out loud I exclaimed, "who in the world left this TV on?" and I stomped out into the family room totally naked, only to be faced with David right in front of me!  YIKES!!!

I screamed.
He screamed.
I ran back into my room.
He ran outside.
He never said anything he was so horrified, he just ran out and stood by his Mom.
Meanwhile I threw some clothes on, ran outside and lit into my husband.  "Larry Shrodes!  You knew I was upstairs naked!  Why did you sent a child up there?"

David looked at the ground and said, "I didn't see anything, Pastor Deanna...really, I didn't see anything."

Well we both knew that wasn't true but the poor dear had to convince himself of that just to cope.  Can you imagine seeing your pastor's wife naked?  That's pretty bizarre.

Susan reassurred me that he'd be fine and get beyond this and he did.  He's a wonderful young man in his twenties now, married and doing well and shows no signs of permanent emotional scarring from this debacle.  :)

Meanwhile I try to be more careful when I walk around the house naked.
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What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
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