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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 - #28

I said I'd be back after the holidays with more of these true church stories!   I always deliver what I promise, so here we are.

My hometown is Baltimore, Maryland -- home of the best seafood ever, topped with plenty of Old Bay.  I grew up literally right on the Chesapeake Bay and enjoyed Maryland steamed crabs all my life growing up.    I'm a seafood lover to the max and thankfully I married one so it's something we enjoy together.  Back when Larry and I were pastoring in Maryland we would often treat our guests to some seafood, particularly traveling evangelists who were with us for a time of ministry.  If they were with us any length of time we'd set aside a special day/evening to enjoy steamed crabs, corn on the cob, fresh sliced tomatoes...especially  in the summertime...oh my!  This is a little bit of heaven on earth.  Well...

One time we were having a week of revival services with an evangelist and his wife from South Africa.  They were not familiar with Maryland seafood or any of our customs and terms and I really should have thought twice about how I approached this conversation, but I just didn't.

On the first day this couple was with us we took them out to a nice Italian restaurant after service Sunday morning and we were planning on having steamed crabs the next day.  As we were sitting in the Italian restaurant getting to know each other a bit, and commenting on the good taste of the Italian food before us, I turned to the evangelist's wife and with a totally serious look on my face said, "So...have you ever had crabs?"

She looked ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED.

I had no idea why.  I was just sitting there taking another bite of garlic bread waiting for her answer.

Her eyes got as big as saucers and she turned to me completely appalled and angrily snapped, "No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I couldn't figure out what I said to upset her so but suddenly it dawned on me she thought I just asked her if she had a venereal disease.

I'm serious!  Yeah, that's what I usually do the first day when I meet someone...ask them if they have an STD, followed by asking them if they've ever smoked pot, are totally sure about the paternity of their kids, as well as disclosing their current debt to income ratio.  Sheesh. 

I quickly tried to recover from this.  I resisted the urge to laugh..I could tell she was totally flipped out about this.  Oh my stars.  I mean the color literally drained from her face and she couldn't even look at me after she answered. I said..."Perhaps you don't know what I'm referring to.  Let me explain.  Here in Maryland we eat steamed blue crabs with Old Bay Seasoning.."

With that she relaxed and her demeanor softened again and said, "oh...really?"  and I said, "Yeah, for real -- we'd love to share some with you guys tomorrow...you'll love it."

From that point on whenever I talked to any new friends about crabs I would ask them if they would like to share some steamed blue crabs with us.
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Comments

Anonymous said…
ROTFL!! Great way to begin the week!
6:58 AM
Rhonda said…
Only you, Deanna!!!
8:41 AM
Anonymous said…
Oh. My. Goodness. That really ministered to my soul this morning ;o).
9:28 AM
Dr. Deanna DossShrodes said…
Thanks ladies! Glad I brightened your day and gave you a chuckle. :)
6:55 PM
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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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