that guy

Today, I will give you some observations from the gym.

You are "that guy" at the gym if you:

//walk around stark naked

//don't flush

//vomit in the shower

//tell the trainers how to do it better

//hit on people while on the stairclimber

//wear clothes you have no business wearing

//scream or grunt loudly while working out

//take the elevator upstairs to run on a treadmill

//wear your bluetooth while working out

//talk really loud because you are listening to your ipod

//hock a loogie in the sink and let it get hard

//take off your shirt and pose in the mirrors

//talk on your cell phone while on the machines

//don't wipe off the machine when you are done

//carry on a conversation while drying your "area"

//spend more time talking than working out

//watch the aerobic classes thru the window

//change the channel in the locker room (without asking) while people are in there

//pull up next to me at the urinal and rip one really loud and then you don't laugh

//come into the sauna and sit really close to me when there is plenty of room

//drive around the parking lot more than twice to get a spot close to the front, only to go in and exercise

//stand there and stare at me while I am using the machine just to let me know you want to use it next

//keep a list of things that put you on "that guy" list

My point: don't be that guy, I will notice

feel free to add your own...

Jamaica bound

My friend Becky is gonna be leaving the good ol' USA to answer the call God has on her life.

She had such a great time on our missions trip to Jamaica that she decided to devote a season of her life to those amazing kids. She inspires me. Becky, who I affectionately refer to as "silly little freak" is an amazing woman of God and her faith is HUGE!

I have the pleasure of calling her friend and I cannot wait to see what God does in her life while she pours from her big heart and soul into some very blessed children. Although the children don't live with their parents, they will now have the privilege of living with Becky.

My point: Are you doing what God called you to do? Are you allowing your fear to stop you from doing something amazing?

Her feet may be small but she is taking a HUGE step of faith.

If you would like to invest into Becky's mission, please email me gary@myC3church.com

Becky, you are an inspiration to everyone who knows you. I am honored to know you.

make sure you vote...

Its that time of year that leaves change and we start to gear up for the holiday season but it is also time to vote on certain things.

Here is an example of a someone who has a desire to be on the school board. Not sure if he will get elected or not but I am pretty sure he is generating a few conversations.

We are being bombarded with TV commercials telling us to vote yes followed by another commercial telling us to vote no on the same issue... What's a person to do.

I am a fan of doing the research and voting on what you think is the wise thing to do. Everyone can debate what is right or wrong but when you filter your decisions through the question "what is the wise thing to do"... you may come up with a different answer.

My point: we all have certain beliefs and we are entitled to agree or disagree. If you are going to vote, you should filter your vote based on the wise thing to do.

Whether you vote for this guy or not, you gotta admit it is a good marketing strategy...

regular people

We just had some people over and played some Wii bowling. It was a lot of fun not having to coordinate food, childcare or lots of other details. We just called a few people and said to come on over.

It is great to be able to just hang out and be real. Some people expect you to be a certain way just because you hold a certain position or carry a certain title. I guess I have never really been into that. Just because I am a pastor doesn't mean I don't have problems or struggle with certain things. It also doesn't mean that I don't think certain things are funny and that I can't laugh.

I guess what I am saying is that sometimes we put such high expectations on people just because they see them on TV, in a movie or in the corner office. Even though we all hold different positions and responsibilities, we are all just real people.

Don't try to be something you are not or try to impress people by being fake and phony. Be yourself and have fun being real.

My point: Everyone has things that we can change for the better but in the meantime, have a blast living and loving life. Treat people the way you want to be treated and live your life in a way that you can look back on and be proud of.

Can you tell who the "celebrity" is in this pic. This is what he would look like if he were just a "regular person"...

time flies

It seems like only yesterday...

We hear that so often. When I look at my children I can say it just about everyday. When I take the time to think that I have a child older than I am in this pic (actually she is 2x as old as I was in this pic), it really takes on a new meaning...

I was filling out paperwork to purchase a new home and it asked how long I have been in my current position at C3 and I couldn't believe our church is about 3 years old. Time flies when you are living the dream.

I want to make sure I take the time to enjoy every season of my life at this amazing church and the life of my girls. I have a different perspective as I get older. I am a lot more easy going so when I run into hyper people with hot headed tempers that take life way to serious, I just think - chill out (after I think "jerk")...

My point: enjoy your life. One day you will be looking back on your 4th grade pic wondering what everyone is doing and you get to be the one saying: Livin the dream...

How do you want your life to be 20 years from now - go make it happen

Can you find me in this picture?

sale pending

In keeping with the theme of critiquing customer service, I will again send out a roaring applause to Shannon Freed.

We had our house on the market for 6 months and had a lot of showings but no offers. We were actually frustrated enough to say no more and was going to take it off the market, but then we heard about Shannon.

She came in and told us what she realistically thought we could get and said she could probably sell it in a month or less. I gotta admit that we thought she was nuts but she was true to her word. She had it in contract within 30 days.

We have our inspection tomorrow so if you read stuff like this and then actually care enough to say a prayer, feel free - it will be greatly appreciated. If you don't feel like praying - whatever!

My point: Some people are just "get 'er done" type people. Those are the people I like to surround myself with. Are you an excuse maker or a results driven person.

If you are ever in the market for a quality realtor you need to check her out. (I received nothing from her for posting this)...

novembeard

I was in the mall "people watching" the other day and I began noticing the different beards. It is funny to me that some people grow an awesome beard while others shouldn't even call whatever that growth is a beard.

I thought, I should get a group of guys (women can play too) to make beard growing a contest. I pitched it and we have about 5 - 7 guys that are going to participate.

We are still working out the details but we may judge on appearance and mass. Everyone shaves on Oct 31 and we grow it for all of Nov.

We will have a panel of non spouse judges score on the look of the beard. Then we shave it and weigh the hair to see who actually grew the most. So the decision is - do you trim it up to get a higher score on appearance or do you go straight up mountain man and not care about the look but get the higher score on weight... decisions decisions.

My point: growing a beard is not as fun unless there is a competition involved. This is a co-ed contest so if any of you chicks with high testosterone want in, bring it!

manners

I feel like I have been somewhat of a critique lately. I like paying attention to how people are treated at places that are supposed to be about customer service. Here is my latest venture.

Planet Coffee is a place we (C3 staff) go often. I must admit I was a little sad when Cup O Joe went out of business because of the relationships that we built there but Planet Coffee has been a very pleasant surprise.

First of all they have the "executive breakfast" - if you haven't tried it, you have to, enough said.

Today I went in and it was very busy. 2 people were working behind the counter and one was new so the other one was running crazy...

Even though she was extremely busy, she was very patient with the new co-worker and very nice to the customers in line. She was handling 3 to 4 orders at a time and making best use of the new employee. She made sure that if there was something she could do, she instructed her to do it. They worked very well together.

Then, I was very impressed that when she handed me my executive breakfast (in a 32oz cup) she went on to say "have a great day and thanks so much for stopping in". Even though she was dealing with a long line of people, a new co-worker and orders out the wazooo, she didn't forget her manners.

My point: people are why you have a job. If you are a business and treat the people like garbage, what the heck do you hope happens. Good customer service is what it's all about.

There is a great book by Ken Blanchard called "Raving Fan". I am a fan of Planet Coffee. Well done coffee team...

web fishers

Since my last blog was about HORRIBLE customer service, I figured I would balance it with one that offers AMAZING customer service.

Web Fishers is not just a great web company, the people who own it are great people.

They are the ones who do our website and web support. I will just say they are awesome. They get a feel for who you are and what you are looking for and then they work their magic.

I can't tell you enough how great it is to be able to ask a question and actually get an answer. The response time is always great, they will do whatever we need them to do but they are not afraid to offer different solutions. They are on top of any issues normally before you even have to tell them about the issues...

My point: I think it is pretty obvious that I not only recommend Web Fishers but I HIGHLY recommend them. We are always getting comments about our website. We have people come check out our church just because they like the website. You would be crazy not to give them a chance.

Please consider them for all your web needs. If you would like to contact me (gary@myC3church.com) with questions, feel free...

worst customer service ever!

This is the top view of the hanger I got from the Dry cleaning center. It is all jakked up...

The "dry cleaning center" located 1130 Hill Rd N Pickerington Oh 43147 is BY FAR the worst customer service I have ever experienced.

I took my suit to be cleaned and she told me a price and time to pick it up. I found a coupon for half off and asked for it to be applied to my order when I went to pick it up.

She gave me some lame excuse about not being able to use it on a rush order. I never asked for a rush order and asked to please use it (it would've saved me $5.00). She said no, so I asked if I could talk to the manager. She told me there was no manager and swiped my credit card charging me the full amount.

I told her that wasn't right and there are no restrictions on this coupon and it wasn't right to just swipe my card. I asked if the manager could call me because I was not happy with the way I was being treated. She gave me my suit and asked me to leave. I said I was very unhappy and if I wanted to play like she was I could stop the payment to her. That set her off...

She practically dove over the counter and grabbed my just dry cleaned suit - wrinkling the crap out of it and ripping the plastic and bending the mess out of the hanger. She ordered me to give it back and pay cash. I said are you kidding me, I already paid for it and showed her my receipt (like she could've possibly forgot). She said I couldn't get my already paid for suit unless I paid cash and threatened to call the police. I looked around to see if I was on a hidden video show because she was still trying to get my suit out of my hands.

I said, please call the police because they are gonna show up and see my receipt and make you give me my suit. She kept hold of my suit with one hand, put the phone to her ear with the other and called the police. The next words she used shocked me!

(in an oriental accent) "please come quick, irate man, yelling and screaming, very angry, gonna hit me, I am fearful..."

I started laughing and let go of the suit and backed out of the store. I said, "woman you are out of your mind, that is not true at all and that is just flat out wrong". I asked her if she realized that the police are going to come and give me my suit. She said I would never get it and stood there looking at me with her arms crossed and half a smile...

The police came and questioned us and needless to say, I got my suit. It was now very wrinkled but I got it...

My point: Don't go to the dry cleaning center in Pickerington unless you want the WORST customer service you have ever had.

What would you have done???

root beer float

Last night I got to go to Dayton to speak to the youth. It was awesome and I had a great time.

When I was finishing up the message I encouraged the students to come talk to me if they had questions about the Jesus I was telling telling them about.

I went to sit down but before I even sat down there was a young man that leaned over and gave me a really serious sad look and said "I have 2 questions". I compassionately put my hand on his shoulder and said "what's up buddy?" Here is the conversation as I recall it...

He looked at me then looked down, then locked eyes with me and said "can I still get a root beer float?"... (they made floats that night and he wanted to make sure there was some left). I said, "I am sure you can after we are done." I was looking around for the cameras thinking I was being punked.

Anyway, he reminded me that he had TWO questions. I said, go ahead: so he asked if I would talk to the leadership to see if we could do a "crazy hat" night because he had one he wanted to enter in the contest. I said, I am sure we can make that happen...

What a great night. I preach for 30 minutes and this kid wants to talk about root beer floats and crazy hats. I am just that good!!!...

My point: I could've walked out of there very disappointed and discouraged but I chose not to. I believe that I am only responsible to share the words God gave me. It is up to others to apply them. We need to apply God's word to our lives and let God deal with the hearts of those who hear is truth.

On a positive note, as I was leaving another kid asked me to sign his bible. I felt weird since I didn't write the book but I signed it "Jesus" and left... jk, I wrote my name and date and wrote something encouraging...

why me

Most of the time people say "why me" they are complaining or crying out in pain.

I have been saying those words lately but for a different reason. When I see what is going on at C3 I am humbled and wonder "why me"... Why did God allow me to be part of something this amazing?

I am not saying this to get a bunch of people to give me some "rah rah" crap - I don't need that. I am saying this because I am humbled to be part of something so amazing and seeing so many lives change.

When people ask me how it is going, I always respond with "living the dream". Even a bad day at C3 is better than a day in a job that I hate or don't feel called to do. I have been there, done that and got the coffee mug (I seriously have the company mugs) . I know that I am doing what God has called me to do, and to me that is success.

There is no way C3 would be doing what it is doing without the amazing people He has brought to be part of this team. That is such a hard thing for me to grasp.... Why me!!!

My point: I think we have all asked that question: "why me" but do you ask it out of complaining or out of humility?

God can do whatever He wants to do and doesn't need me, but I sure am glad He chose to allow me to be part of it... Greater Things are yet to come!

free lunch?

Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch!

Next week I will be enjoying a free lunch with a great friend. Brent will be purchasing a lunch of my choice because of a little accountability competition we have. Needless to say - he didn't do all he agreed to so the penalty is to buy me lunch (or is the penalty that he has to hang out with me).

As much as we hate to admit it, if we don't have deadlines or penalties, we would probably all be a little less motivated to do certain things. Brent and I have decided to hold each other accountable to certain disciplines in our lives and I absolutely love it. He is a great friend who can tell me anything because I know his heart is not to intentionally hurt me.

For now, we will continue holding each other accountable and if we need to, we will keep the rewards or penalties - depends on which perspective you are looking from...

My point: We all need that person in our lives to care enough to tell us the truth and hold us accountable. I just happen to be blessed enough to have a few.

Thanks Brent for not holding up your end of the deal but being a man of integrity that will follow through with the wager. I guess we both win. I get a free meal and you get to hang out with me. That is a win/win as far as I can tell!!!

Where should I go?

what the heck is that...

I was at a restaurant when I walked past this thing hanging on the wall. Upon further review, it was a phone. You actually had to put .35 in it to make a local call... go figure.

That old thing got me thinking (I know, that is a dangerous thing, but bear with me). The reason the pay phone existed was to accomplish a very clear purpose - to be able to talk to someone when they were not with you.

Over the years, the purpose has stayed the same but the methods have changed drastically. We can now open up our own personal phones to call, text or even email right from the palm of our hands.

I think that was a pretty clear example of some of the things we do in life. The way we used to do church many years ago doesn't mean that is the best way to do them now. The purpose has not changed and never will - to tell others about Jesus Christ. C3 chooses to say it a little different but it is still the same point. We say "leading people to LifeChange"...

We don't try to do things the way the church did them years ago. We don't even do them the way other churches are doing them today.

My point: The phone like the church has kept the same clear purpose or vision. The methods have changed to be the most effective in this day and age.

Could you imagine actually being in a position to have to use a pay phone. What would you do if you answered your phone to hear "you have a collect call..." - my kids wouldn't have a clue what that means...