Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Philemon 1-20
Psalm 1
Luke 14: 25-33
For the last month or so, I have spent a lot of time putting together a business plan for my department at work. Each year at this time, we are tasked to look ahead to the coming year and put together a written plan to achieve the goals set forth by the corporate office in Milwaukee and here at our facility in St. Cloud.
The overall goal of our foundry is to provide quality castings to our customers in a safe, efficient manner. If we plan effectively and work to plan, we will make money and stay in business. If we don't, bad things happen. Loss of profit, loss of customers, loss of jobs. So each year we get together as a management group, set goals and put together plans for success.
Each department head then takes this big picture plan and breaks it down into departmental goals and puts together a plan to get it done. This plan is very specific in naming the objective, listing the tasks need to meet the objective and then assigning these tasks to individuals with target dates for completion.
I have three supervisors who report to me. I have asked each one of them to put together a plan to run their individual shifts in a way that meets the goals I have set for the department and corporate has set for the facility. My supervisors will then in turn set goals for each employee on their shift. This planning process is long and takes a lot of work to put it together. But once it's done, we will have a blueprint for success.
The plan is designed to break these large goals into bite-sized pieces that a person can handle and digest. By design, the goals are clear, measurable and attainable. We know what the costs and responsibilities are up front and understand what’s needed to make it happen. And everyone in the plant has a part in it. Working together as a team, in support of each other, this large set of goals will be accomplished and we all win. Sure we adjust and tweak as we go to make it better, but never really stray too far from the plan. And it works, it works well. The important part is the planning. Knowing the benefits of success and the consequences of failure and planning accordingly.
In todays reading from Luke, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem surrounded by a large crowd of people, some of whom wanting to be His disciples. So, like a good planner, Jesus gives them a short list of some of the requirements for success from his business plan. Hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters.
Talk about tough action items! How would you like to be handed those goals? My crew would walk off the job if I told them that. What was Jesus trying to do? Well, in the context of the times, He was telling them what the actual cost of following Him would be. Family was most important to these people, to bring shame to ones family was a terrible, horrifying thing. To be a disciple, one had to be willing to do just that. Hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters. To be willing to place their lives and family connections at risk.
Being a follower of Christ was not easy. It split families apart and it got people killed. They needed to know that the commitment to follow Him came with a huge price tag. " None of you can be my disciples if you do not give up all your possessions".
There are places in our world today where this is no different. Being a Christian can get you killed. Talking about Jesus in the workplace can get you fired. Being a follower of Christ can put you at odds with family and friends. Being a follower of Christ still is not easy. How do we do it? How do we succeed?
Well my brothers and sisters, we need a plan. A Spiritual Business plan. We already have a good start here. God is our corporate leader and His goals are clear and concise, measurable and attainable. His plan is our salvation. We know the benefits of success and the consequences of failure. The "A" items in the are few but all encompassing.
1. LOVE GOD
2. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Persons responsible: US
Due Date: TODAY
So where are we in regards to God's plan? Are we on schedule?
We as your ministry leadership team have been meeting this weekend, working on our spiritual plans. We have identified some new key players and discerned some new ministries. Roger as Priest Sacrementalist, Rosemary as Administrator, Doris as Priest Sacrememtalist, Zippy as Preacher, me as pastoral care. We are now fourteen strong. Each with an objective and a list of tasks to do. We are continuing with our training and will soon be ready to present our blueprint for success to you.
We are pretty much on track. We will be coming to meet with each one of you in the coming months. To share our vision, to lay out our plans, to listen to your hopes and dreams and concerns. After all, you are also members of this team. Without your help, your prayers, your input, we cannot make this happen. Share your throughts with us. We'l listen and together we can make this happen.
I will be presenting my department business plan to the president of the corporation and his executive staff next week at work. We've done a good job preparing and I’m pretty sure it will fly.
Together, over the course of the next year or so, we-all of us- members of the priesthood of all believers, will finalize our spiritual business plan and present it to God for final approval. I think God will approve and support us. In fact, I'm counting on it.