witness

Don’t Let a Bad Tip Ruin a Good Witness

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

More and more lately, I come across social media reels from non-Americans asking why we do certain things. One common question is, “Why do Americans tip their servers?”

It’s a fair question, especially since it seems we’re the only nation, or one of the few, that does it.

The answer may surprise you.

Here in the U.S., the federal government classifies servers as “tipped employees.” Depending on the state, this means restaurants can pay their servers as little as $2.13 an hour on the assumption that tips will make up the rest of their pay. Yes, really. Tips are the bulk of their income.

That young person who brings out your steak and refills your tea? They literally depend on your tip to help them pay rent.

This is where I pull out my soapbox; as a Christian, this is an issue I feel strongly about.

A Conversation I’ll Never Forget

Several years ago, a devoted Christian friend, one who was also a server at a popular local restaurant, shared something that’s stuck with me ever since.

She told me no one ever wanted to work the Wednesday night closing shift.

Why?

Because every week a large group from a local church would come in minutes before closing. They’d order big meals, linger over their food, make demands long after closing, and then leave without tipping.

Like I said, this wasn’t a one-time thing. It happened week after week.

Everyone at the restaurant knew exactly which church these people came from, and that church’s reputation took a serious hit. Even worse, their bad behavior hurt the reputation of Christians in general.

That was when my friend taught me a phrase I’ve never forgotten: “Church People”

It’s what the servers she worked with called “Christians” who showed up with entitled attitudes and left no tips. Some even “preached” to their servers about Jesus, but they didn’t act much like Him.

A Higher Standard

The world will do what the world is going to do. I get it.

But Christians are called to a higher standard.

When I hear someone who claims to follow Jesus say, “I only tip if I get exceptional service,” it makes my stomach turn. It’s a good thing God doesn’t hand out grace using that standard!

If we want others to see Jesus in us, we must walk like Him. We should be the kindest, most generous, most appreciative customers in the building.

Yes, even if the service is slow.

Even if the food isn’t great.

Even if we’re hangry.

It is possible to deal with issues in love rather than entitlement.

Because our witness isn’t just about the right religious words coming out of our mouths. It’s about how we treat people, all people.

So… Please…

If you’re going to be rude and demanding…

If you’re going to skip the tip…

Don’t tell your server you’re a Christian.

Don’t write a Bible verse on the receipt.

Don’t wear your Christian t-shirt to the restaurant.

Don’t ruin your witness over a few dollars.

Let’s do better.

Let’s not be known as “church people,” but as people who show the love of Jesus one generous tip at a time.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Tip Challenge:
The next time you eat out, leave your server an extra generous tip just because you can,
and say a prayer for them as you lay it on the table.

You are the Tabernacle

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Image from searchisaiah.org

Did you know that the Tabernacle is a type and shadow of you? Well, of the born again Christian anyway. It sounds crazy, I know, but stick with me.

First, on the off chance that you don’t know about the Tabernacle, it was built by Moses, at God’s command, so that there would be a place for God to come down and meet with His people. Its purpose, or one of its purposes, was to bring God closer to man and man closer to God. That’s putting it extremely simplistically; it’s a topic that is well worth deep study.

Now, back to us…to you. I was recently reminded that when you look inside the human body you see something distinct. There are oxygenated blood vessels that are red, unoxygenated blood vessels that are blue, and vessels carrying mixed blood that are purple; these help make up the fabric of the human body. Inside the Tabernacle, you find fabric woven of red, blue, and purple cords.

Covering the outside of the Tabernacle, you have skin (animal skins, of course). Ditto the human body. Another fascinating parallel.

Now look at John 1. John is talking about God, The Word, who is Jesus, and how Jesus became flesh, or human. In the Old Testament, God came down and settled on the Tabernacle. Here we see that God has come down to dwell with us in the Tabernacle that is Jesus Christ.

Move on to John 2:19 and you find, “‘All right,’ Jesus replied, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'” Then, in verse 21, “But when Jesus said ‘this temple,’ he meant his own body.” The temple of that day was, of course, the modern version of Moses’ tabernacle.

Which brings us to 1 Corinthians 6:19: “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,.”

Jesus’ body was the temple of the Holy Spirit. Christian, your body is also the temple of the Holy Spirit. God created this temple for many purposes, but one stands out: To bring God closer to man and man closer to God.

Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday. Let’s not take lightly the magnitude of what Jesus did for us, what we gained in His resurrection, or the purposes God has set for us to fulfill today.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Build the Wall – Leave Your Mark

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Whether or not you believe in the necessity of The Wall, you should take a moment to consider what is happening with the WeFund the Wall/We the People will Build the Wall movement.

Bottom Line: Individual Americans are rising up and declaring that, rather than wait for the government to fill the need, they will instead do their part to help make it happen. Thousands are contributing to a non-profit that plans to start building parts of The Wall very soon-without the government’s help.

This is huge. We live in a culture where we’re always waiting for someone else to step up, to reach out. It’s the government’s job to do this. It’s the Church’s job to do that. It’s the school’s job to do the other. These people are saying, “No, I don’t need to wait on them, to rely totally on them: I CAN HELP.”

Our Pastor has been ministering a lot, lately, on letting our lights shine, on being that city on a hill, on leaving our mark. In other words, on realizing that WE, the individuals that make up the church, have not only the responsibility but the power to meet needs where we find them. Our church has given us many opportunities to get into the community and meet needs, and is preparing for more, but the idea is bigger – that I, the person sitting in the pew, realize that I CAN HELP…and get myself out there and do it, being the hands and feet of Jesus in ways that make an impact on people’s lives.

Seeing what’s happening with WeFund the Wall brought Pastor’s teachings home. Yes, there are agencies and organizations out there to meet all sorts of needs, but it’s not just their job: it’s also mine. I have the responsibility and the power to make a difference in the lives I touch.

I CAN.

Celebrating Jesus!

Tammy C

It’s Little Things

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and as I was praying this morning, while I was asking God to start a revolution, to send revival, He said, “It’s little things that start a revolution. It’s little things that start a revival.”

We keep asking God to send revival, too often failing to understand that revival starts HERE, with us, and it starts small. It begins with one man deciding to spend five more minutes a day in prayer. It starts with a young woman asking of God, every morning, “Help me be a blessing to someone today.” It starts with me using the amazingly simple new witnessing tool He’s given me.

Revival, a revolution of our walk with God, may well sweep in on us like a flood, but it’s the little things – each of us doing our share of little things – that will trigger it.

Consider a dam. It holds back massive amounts of water, but if you poke enough little holes in it the water will eventually burst forth and flooding is inevitable. Let us poke those holes. Let each of us seek God for those little things He would have us do. Who knows? It may be your little thing that is exactly what is needed to put the final hole in the dam.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C