Christ and Culture

For quite a while I have been planning on writing about tipping etiquette. For those who do not know, while my wife is finishing nursing school and we are seeking the will of God in regard to a future ministry position (or more schooling), I am doing substitute teaching and working for Domino's Pizza, delivering warm pies to all the little children. So, obviously, tipping is an issue I constantly consider. Never more is this subject more near and dear to my heart than when I either get a great tip or none whatsoever. And while the former happens irregularly, it is sad to say that the latter is a nightly event. I realize that many of your are "tipping-etiquette challenged," so here are some basic rules regarding tipping the pizza guy (or girl -- referred to from now on simply as PG).

1. If you order a pizza and expect it to be delivered, tipping should be a given. Don't even consider not doing so.
2. If you wonder why you should tip the PG, then drive to the store, pick up a pizza and see how warm it is when you get home. Additionally, you should check on your mileage and see how much gas you used. And then there's always the "time factor," "the chilling cold weather factor," and the "general inconvenience factor." In the end, PGs deserve a tip for putting up with all the crap that goes along with the job.
3. If the pizza company has a delivery charge (like Domino's), don't get angry and stiff the PG because of it. Just see #4 below.
4. If you don't want to tip the PG after considering #2 (or pay the delivery charge), then get off your happy butt and go pick the pizza up yourself.
5. If you order any pizza, you should tip at least $2.00 (though 15-20% is customary in the restaurant business). But if you have an order over $30.00, you should give more, even if it is below the customary amount.
6. If you have any Christian symbols prevalent in your home (or on your car), you should definitely tip well. Non-Christian PGs notice those things and will make reference to it later.
7. If you live in a house that is obviously worth over $200,000, then don't be a cheapo like you live in the hood. Get in your Lexus and come get the pizza yourself.
8. If you give a cheap tip (under $3), don't act like you just did the PG a favor. It makes you look even more cheap and it is extremely annoying. Remember, we are serving you, not the other way around.
9. If the PG brings you a free pizza, give him or her a great tip. If the PG has to bring you a missing pizza or a remake (or even some extra sauce that was forgotten), at least give him or her a dollar. After all, gas is still over $2.00/gallon.
10. And finally, when in doubt, always go with the tried and true principle WWJT -- "What Would Jesus Tip." And unless you can heal my neck and back pain, don't be a Peter (Acts 3:6).

Well, that should help you through the holiday season and well beyond. Some of you who are extremely hard headed should print this out and stick it on your frig underneath the pizza magnet with the coupons attached. Now my customers, go and sin no more!

I have recently seen several websites that have articles or blogs up that, in essence, have taken advantage of someone's death in order to push their own religious/political/social agenda. I am sick of it. Didn't these guys' parents teach them anything about reverence and respect. Many will remember articles on the internet regarding Kyle Lake's and Adrian Rogers' deaths. Also we all heard Chuck Schumer's ridiculous rant on the Supreme Court using Rosa Parks' death to push his viewpoint. Now we can add Addie Davis to the mix. Bruce Prescott, a blogger that I have tangled with quite a few times in the past and who recently turned off his comments on his blog because he no longer wanted to defend his absolutely asinine positions and statements, has used this poor woman's death to once again try to kick not only Southern Baptists for their position on women in ministry, but Adrian Rogers (another person whose death he is exploiting), for his role in bringing the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 to fruition.

Read his words below. They really do reflect poor taste and inappropriate behavior in blogging.

Addie Davis, the first Southern Baptist woman to be ordained as a pastor, recently died. Associated Baptist Press and Ethics Daily have printed stories about her. Adrian Rogers, first president in the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC -- a movement that creedally [sic] prohibited Southern Baptists from ordaining women to serve as pastors, preceeded [sic] her in death by a short time. Now that the two of them have met their maker, I am confident that they both clearly see what their Lord meant when he said, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first."

Since Bruce took down his comments, let me challenge you to email him, as well as Ethics Daily (which you can do by clicking on their "Byte Back" tab), who advertises his blog on their site, and let them know how exploitative and unChristlike this is. As bloggers we have a responsibility to hold one another accountable for such despicable behavior.

And for the future, if you are thinking of using someone's death to make a point, just don't. Realize that the families of their loved ones deserve more respect.