What Is Your Z?
By Glenn Thomas Carson, Ph.D.

Imagine this headline....

(ATLANTA, GA)
COCA COLA TO DO IT ALL

Coca Cola, Inc. today announced that it will expand its operations to cover all consumer needs. In addition to its beverage operations, Coca Cola will now build cars, provide financial services, build homes, supply plumbing and electric services, and begin a pharmaceutical division. Future projects and divisions are to be announced in the next week.

Company CEO Fred Fizz said that while Coca Cola still believes in making the best soft drink in the world, "we realize that Coke isn't enough. We are called to be all things to all people. After all, if Coca Cola doesn't provide oil changes, who will?"

Here's the question: Do you believe that God has called you to do everything? A true ecumenist would say, "You know, we're going to let that group take care of W; our neighbors are doing a great job of X; and look at how that church is conquering Y.  We can let them take care of those ministries, because God is calling us to do Z."

What is your Z?  It is probably not all the things you are doing now.  It is the ONE thing God is calling you to be, and do, in the 21st century.  Will you have the courage to say No to 100 things, so that you can say Yes to the one mission that will count, and contribute, and change the world?

The Reverend Dr. Glenn Thomas Carson is President of Disciples of Christ Historical Society, a general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)