Skip to main content

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 inve
Post a Comment

So that explains it...


Have you heard of the book God Uses Cracked Pots, by Pasty Clairmont? I love Pasty...I think she's a really neat lady. Well, she's right...God uses cracked pots and cracked people in more ways than one.

Yes I know, some people probably think I'm mentally cracked at times (they're probably right in some instances) but this time I'm truly physically cracked. The dull headache I've had for weeks now makes sense.

I have a way of pushing pain aside, taking two Excedrin and pushing through my day and my work, ignoring pain. It catches up with me at times. I can't count how many times I've been admonished by one of my friends, "God wants you to listen to your body..." I have a horrible way of turning a deaf ear to it.

Sometimes it starts screaming at me for attention. The other night as the close of work came, my head was hurting terribly in what started as a dull ache around my jaw and neck and I went to bed early and said to myself, "you know, I'm overdue for my dentist appointment...maybe that's it..." So I called Lia from the dentist office the next morning and scheduled an appointment. I said, "I'm not sure what a toothache feels like, but I think maybe I have one..."

Today was the first she could get me in. So far it hasn't exactly been "Fun Friday" at least the first half of it. I went to the dentist this morning and sat there an hour waiting to get in and then when I got in, sat there in the chair for the next hour listening to the dentist and his assistant them tell me everything that was wrong and why they can't fix it today.

  • One of my fillings started to come out.

  • The same tooth is now cracked.

  • The gum around it is very swollen.

  • It is also very infected.

  • They can't work on it today - must take antibiotics to take some of the infection away, then they will clean it out, put a crown on it and give me a cleaning.

  • How in the world didn't I realize this, they wonder? Um, well, I guess I did realize something was not quite right, I just didn't think it was anything that crucial.

So there...that explains this dull ache in my head that I've had for weeks and the fact that I've gone through a couple of bottles of Excedrin.

The dentist said, "you need painkillers for this..." So he gave me some Vicodin to help with the pain until he can go in and crown the tooth. They were surprised I put up with it and didn't come in sooner but it's this darn habit I have of minimizing whatever I feel at times and just continuing on with my schedule. I have been so good for five years now at keeping all my appointments like clock work for regular doctor checkups, mammos, paps, AND dentist appts. Five years ago I really changed in putting my health appointments as a priority and I've kept up with it, except for my last 6 month dental. As I said the other day, it's so important that we take care of ourselves and don't ask anyone's permission.

The truth is, I did keep all of my other my regular doctor visits for the year. But in the midst of dealing with Dustin's MRSA, Larry's shoulder OP, and all of my getting ready for Africa with shots and medications, I let my 6th month dentist appointment checkup slip. One little slip up. That was all. One little slip up. And now I'm paying for it big time. Ughhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That'll preach. You know, one little slip up is all it takes to get ourselves in a great big jam. We can't compromise on even one little thing because it can lead to something so painful and regrettable.

Not only does this HURT, but it's going to set me back a few hundred dollars that could have gone for...a lot of other stuff. Oh well, you live and learn.

Let me encourage you today my friends...please learn from MY mistakes. Please do not put off your checkups, even one can really make a difference. My dentist could have caught this before it cracked all the way and it never would have even had to get infected were I not so caught up in my schedule of other things and skipped my appt.

Excuse me while I go get my Vicodin and try to feel better so that Larry and I can go on our Fun Friday date tonight. We're going on a double date with Drs. Patrick and Rosemay to a new place. Fun! (Um, I don't think I'm going to let her know I let the appt. with the dentist slip...I'll really get a scolding. She really doesn't have to know does she, especially since I did keep my regular check up appointment with her like a good little patient...)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Some people will never understand this...

And that's okay. Just let us be as we lavish love upon the fur-kids of the world. It doesn't mean we don't care about people. We do care. In fact most of the people I know who are great pet lovers are also the greatest philanthropists. If you're not a dog lover, you might not understand the overwhelming intensity that many of us felt about Tank's reunion this past week. You might think we've lost our marbles. That's okay, we think you've lost your heart. ;)  Before I go on with this post, let me say that we were delighted that CBS 10 posted the video and article about Tank and his Celebration Church reunion yesterday. Click here to watch it. (But then come back!) If you haven't realized it, there is a revolution in America about dogs. Dogs have always been loved and known as the most loyal companions ~ "man's best friend". But things have gone way beyond this. Dogs aren't just dogs or friends anymore. They are family me
3 comments
Read more

Fifty Shades of No Way

This weekend, the Fifty Shades of Grey movie will be released and millions of women are expected to flock to the theat er s.  I will not be one of those women.   As a leader of women , some have asked me about this movie. The following is my thoughtful response. Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world. The book series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, and been translated into 52 languages. It set the record as the fastest-selling paperback of all time.   Is Fifty Shades of Grey just a harmless book or movie? Although n o one seems to be debating this fact, let’s first establish that it’s pornography.  And not just porn, but a genre that is even more dangerous for women. The book glorifies a female character that is controlled and abused by her partner.   Who is excited about this book and mov ie? Hmmmm….you might be surprised. Many women and girls in our churches have read it. Sadly, I am even aware of
Post a Comment
Read more

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are not
29 comments
Read more