Ed Bahler’s Blog…To Enhance Ministry

“Underlying Movements” are those unseen influences lurking below the surface that provoke people to act differently. This is #5 of 6.

The only Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant in my city closed recently. The healthy salad bar, thick burgers, and experience were OK, but didn’t really take you anywhere. Nothing really added purpose or joy to your journey.

When I see a Ruby Tuesday restaurant I often recall that 70’s song “Ruby Tuesday” and its thought provoking lyrics:

She just can’t be chained, to a life where nothings gained and nothings lost, at such a cost.

or,

Dying all the time, lose your dreams and you will lose your mind, ain’t life unkind.”

A bit ironic that the restaurant, bearing the songs name, provided its customers so “little to gain or lose” and nothing to “inspire ones dreams or purpose.”

Those Ruby Tuesday lyrics may tell us more than we imagined about what’s happening in our current culture. History shows that a culture’s art and music are early warning indicators of what’s happening to it. The song writer was touching on a similar insight found in Proverbs:

“Where there is no vision the people perish.” Nothing knew here really.

However, Johnson and Johnson conducted an exhaustive study of the shifting cultural trends impacting consumer decision making. They observed three growing trends. The first, “The Valuable Life Goal”, is characterized by an increased need:

1. To have an impact
   • On others
   • On the future
   • On yourself
2. To make every moment count
3. For personal responsibility
4. For thoughtful sacrifice

Multiple measures support J & J’s assessment. This thumbnail shows a significant increase in sacrifice for country, helping the poor, the environment, and my community.

There is ample evidence of this valuable life pursuit as aging boomers retire early and take on a second philanthropic career. To find significance others focus on global warming, mission trips, or careers with purpose versus compensation.

So what do you think about this pursuit of a “Valuable Life?” Solomon was quite emphatic about the vanity of life stating the conclusion to the matter was to fear God and keep His commandments. And Christ warned those who focus on their life will lose it.

Are there implications for ministry?

Does your church story provide something significant to gain or lose. Does it inspire others to dream of things hoped for in Christ so people don’t lose, or at best simply numb their mind?

And if through Christ we have the only “Truly Sustainable Valuable Life”, isn’t this a remarkable opportunity to address this “gnawing need for value” and speak powerfully into our neighbors life?