How to Sell a Watermelon for $80…

The answer is: cut it up!

Seriously, many have realized that people are willing to pay quite a premium for convenience. Do the math sometime on what small “convenience-size containers” of watermelons sell for in supermarkets. Oftentimes, you could buy an whole entire watermelon for slightly more than they charge for a tray of cut-up pieces. The same is true for relish trays with cut celery, carrots and cauliflower.

The same is true for items that have been processed to some degree or another. I remember a salesman for a major cereal company telling me of his recent sales call to a major supermarket chain. The salesmen said when he told the buyer that the price was going up on several of his boxed cereal brands as a result of increased cost and decreased margins, the buyer looked him in the eyes and responded, “Don’t try to tell me that you aren’t making money on something that you buy by the barge load and sell by the ounce. You buy wheat by the river barge load and after a little processing you sell it by the ounce in brightly colored boxes.”

On the other hand, who is willing to buy a barge load of wheat and make their own cereal. I try to keep this in mind when I’m trying to talk to men about God’s Word.

Recently, we finished our 6-week FATC 2024 Book Study on John Eldredge’s book, Beautiful Outlaw. It was on October 8, the day I was released from the hospital for what the neurologist called a “minor stroke”. I was so happy and blessed to make the final night of the study that was attended weekly by about 25-30 guys. I wanted so much to wrap up the study and hopefully encourage guys to keep up the momentum in their walk with God. That night Denny Garner was also blessing the group with a low country shrimp boil—and I surely didn’t want to miss that fellowship. Remember, it isn’t just about the fly fishing (or the book).

Not only was Denny’s shrimp boil delicious, but over half the guys there indicated that they intended to follow my suggestion of reading the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Several guys also expressed an interest in getting in another book or Bible study. And two guys indicated that they planned to replicate our Beautiful Outlaw book study with neighbors or family.

Those are impactful numbers that indicate that sometimes less is more. That bigger isn’t always better. That people prefer convenience and even a degree of processing. Many men have intended at some point in their lives to read the Bible, but most never get started or start at the beginning (Genesis), but never get past Leviticus or Deuteronomy.

You may also want to start by reading a great book that highlights and expands on parts of the Bible—the way that Beautiful Outlaw looks at Jesus words and actions to point to Jesus personality. In our case this sparked an interest to dig deeper to try to get to know the real Jesus.

During our study, many men found that their perception of Jesus had been clouded by the stereotypes and religious fog that persists today in many of our churches.

I enthusiastically suggest to start by reading the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. That too will spark your interest to read more. Frankly, to know Jesus is to love him.

After reading the Gospels, I predict you will have developed an appetite to dig deeper into God’s Word, which you will soon discover is all part of God’s story. At that point, go online to find some reading plans to allow you to read some of the Old Testament and New Testament on a schedule of bite-sized, conveniently-packaged portions. 

Maybe you’ve read the Bible and would like to encourage your family and friends to get to know Christ and God’s Word. Many people don’t realize that the answers to life’s questions, including of course, creation, and salvation and how to find peace and significance are readily available to those who have access to the Bible — which is basically everyone in this country.

Henry Ford once said, “One of the greatest discoveries a person makes is to find they can do what they were afraid to do.” So if you have been afraid to tackle the whole Bible, why not try a conveniently-packaged portion. What have you got to lose? After all — direction, <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>not intention</span>, determines destination! So, it’s ok to start with baby steps — as long as they are in the right direction.

By the way, if you are interested in a small group Bible study that may include some of your FATC friends, just let me know. As my grandkids say. “I Noah guy!”