hospitality

I've been thinking a lot about what this looks like in the past few days, and I can tell you one thing: some people can't help but exude it, but sadly, many don't. I want to strive to be hospitable in all parts of my life and to all sorts of people -- to friends, to strangers, to anyone needing to "be seen" (in the words of Danny Meyer).

once a pastry chef, always a pastry chef?

Don't get me wrong. I am super grateful for the opportunity to learn the FOH-side management and everything that comes with it, but I also can't deny the fact that I dearly miss making pastries in a kitchen...

Just bee yourself

Working at a place like H, there's a very certain.... "look", "style", and "feel" they are going for in their service and food. For example, we're never allowed to say "specials" or "drinks". Rather, they are "noteworthy additions to our menu" and "beverages." We count how many sugar packets go into our sugar domes, and we don't offer coin change with the bill. When picking up the telephone (with never more than two rings), you smile while you answer, and it's always "please hold." Never "hold on a second."

With so many guidlines and what seems like memorizing a script of thoughtfully-concocted phrases we all use, (which comes naturally for the staff, since a majority of them are professional actors/performers), it's been a little tough for me to "come into character", if you will. I find myself having to repeat these phrases to myself over and over in order to ingrain them into my second nature.

At the end of the day, though, I feel that it's not the robotic acts or words that will "wow" the guest. Rather, it's a real connection, and I think I need to remind myself to just...be myself. As much as I DO need to act professionally and treat the guests in a H-way, I still need to let Nancy come through and let the innate hospitality that I know is within me guide my conversations with the guests. With that comfort comes confidence, and with confidence comes influence.

So yes. "Just beeeee yourself."

Come, Lord Jesus

When we decide to intentionally engage unreached people groups with the gospel, we can expect to be met with the might of hell. Divisions within us, distractions around us, deceptions tempting us, disease and death threatening us. Satan doesn’t want the end to come. The question is, do we? Are we willing to pay the price? Are we willing to reexamine everything we’re doing in our churches, all of our budgets and ask how can we make disciples here in a way that is intentionally engaging and making disciples there? Are we willing to pay the price? 


You say, “Well, aren’t there other Christians who can do this better than us? Local Christians who can do this in those places around the world? Why don’t we just support them financially and let the locals do it?” That’s the point! There are no locals! There are no local Christians. There is no local church; that’s what it means to be unreached. God’s design is not for us just to send our money while we sit back, watch TV, get fat, and let them lose their lives. No. We pay the price, and brothers and sisters, we receive the reward. See it, the reward: the end will come. 


Privilege and Responsibility of the Missionary Problem

of ALL nations

Brothers and sisters, this is our command, and it is clear. We have not been given a general command just to make disciples among as many people as possible, as natural as that might sound to us. Our God has said to us, “Make disciples among every single people group.” Our Commanding Officer has said, “I mean to rescue a people from every tribe, tongue, language, nation for king Jesus.” Therefore, obedience to the Great Commission necessarily involves commitment of resources to get the gospel to unreached people groups.

This is not an option for us biblically. God has told us from the very beginning that this is how he has always defined mission. All the way back to the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12, and all the way forward to the heavenly chorus in Revelation 7:9-10 where a people, not just as many people as possible, but a specific people comprised of every tongue, tribe and nation will gather around the throne of Christ and sing “Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb who sits on the throne.” Revelation 5:9 says, “And they sang a new song, saying,‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” Our King deserves the praise of more than just 5,000 people groups. Our king deserves the praise of all 11,750 people groups on the planet. 


-- David Platt