They have it in hotels. They have it in law firms. They have it in office buildings. They have it in high-end health clubs.

Concierge service.

Now you can get it in your car. "OnStar" is a new service that is basically a global satellite positioning system that tells you where you are and how to get where you're going. But that's not all. It's also an automotive fairy godmother that can grant you all kinds of wishes -- although it remains to be seen if it can produce, on demand, a tall, skim, decaf latte with extra foam and a shot of vanilla!

You simply press a button on the console attached to your rear-view mirror. Then you hear a voice saying, "What can I do for you?" -- and calling you by name! It's true: OnStar says, "What can I do for you, Henry?"

It's like a concierge from the clouds, somebody up in heaven watching out for you.

Newspaper columnist Tony Kornheiser tested the OnStar system by asking, "Can you pinpoint where I am?" Then he added quickly, "Don't be a wise guy and say, 'In your CAR.'"

"I'm showing you in Washington, D.C.," said the heavenly voice. "Let me zoom in ... I see you on ... 15th Street Northwest."

Wow. Right on the money. Kornheiser realized he should have asked, "Where do you see me in FIVE YEARS?" (Tony Kornheiser, "If you need a new way to pamper yourself, here's one for the road." Los Angeles Times, November 1, 2000, E5)

If you've ever asked, "Where's a good CONCIERGE when you need one?" -- you now have an answer. OnStar will make hotel and restaurant reservations for you while you're driving, and will arrange for tickets to plays, concerts and sporting events.

So how does this compare with the treatment Jesus says God will give his children? In our text from the Gospel of John, Jesus says, "If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it" (14:14). Sounds like we have a heavenly bellhop ready and willing to wait on us hand and foot. But is this what Jesus had in mind? Do we worship a Concierge God?

In some ways, we do. "I will do whatever you ask in my name," pledges Jesus, "so that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (v. 13). Jesus promises to answer our prayers so that the Father will be glorified through him.

Glory. That's not so odd. The bottom-line purpose of great customer service is that it brings glory -- fame, more customers -- to the parent company. The more a company does for its clients, the greater we think that business is.

"We do everything, except dating services, that's legal and kind," claims Sara Blewett of Concierge at Large: "Pet walking, lawn care, waiting for the cable technician, standing in line at the DMV." One man requested a kilted bagpiper to serenade his date at sunset on the Santa Monica Pier in California. Not a problem for Sara Blewett. The piper showed, played "Amazing Grace," and Concierge at Large made a convert. (Marc Boisclair, "Your wish is their command." Spirit, December 2000, 32)

That's pretty cool. Just this past Monday, my family and I were on vacation in California, and my kids were eating cotton candy on the Santa Monica Pier. I'm sure glad they didn't know that concierge service was available!

The point is this: When our prayers are answered, God is glorified. Answered prayer is simply God-business, absolutely fabulous, divine customer service.

Like Sara Blewett, God will consider any request within the realm of the law -- within the realm of HIS law. God works through Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide us into all the truth (John 16:13), to turn our pain into joy (16:20), to give us peace and courage (16:33), to protect us from evil (17:15), to unite us as one (17:11) and to fill us with love (17:26). God doesn't get our dirt-crusted cars washed for us, like the Boston-based concierge called Circles, but he does answer our prayers in accordance with his will. What a gift ... what a blessing ... what a service!

But here's an important question: Is the Lord interested only in catering to our personal needs, giving us the spiritual equivalent of massage therapy, dry-cleaning delivery, and mobile dentistry? Not at all. "Very truly, I tell you," says Jesus to his followers, "the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these" (14:12). He acts as a cosmic concierge to us, so that WE will act as concierge Christians ... act as concierge Christians to others.

Think about it. If we love Jesus, we keep his commandments, and the number one rule is to love one another, just as he has loved us (13:34). Jesus plays the role of servant for us so that we will know how to play it for others -- passing on to them the truth, joy, peace, courage, protection, unity and love we have received. The Lord serves us so that we will serve others in his name.

All this is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit, whose coming we celebrate on this Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is the Father-sent Advocate who will teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus has said to us (14:26). The Spirit comes like the rush of a violent wind, fills Christ's followers and gives the grace to speak about God's glorious deeds of power. The people of Jerusalem may not have known what they were getting at Pentecost, but they ended up snagging the most valuable gift of all: The good news that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).

Our Concierge God is not interested in offering auto care, vacation planning and other on- site employee goodies. He's not concerned about providing conveniences and creating a happier secular workforce. Instead, God answers prayer so that we can know his peace, keep his commandments, and cater to the legitimate needs of other people through the ministry of the church.

Sure, we're served, but served to be of service. And since Pentecost 2000 years ago, that is precisely what the church has been doing. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to be linked up to a network of power, linked up so that we can hook up, hook up with those who need God's love.

Concierge Christians tutor struggling schoolchildren in low-income neighborhoods, support women with problem pregnancies, rebuild houses after natural disasters, and provide medical equipment for Third World hospitals.

Concierge Christians offer worship that is awe-inspiring, Communion that is soul-feeding, and music that is spirit-lifting -- like that of the Ghanaian Singing Band today. They offer activities that are community-building, education that is soul-feeding, youth events that are character-shaping, counseling that is heart-healing, and small group discussions that are filled with hope and encouragement and support.

Concierge Christians suggest a different path for those who are dissatisfied with 80-hour work weeks, endless assignments and impossibly high performance and productivity standards -- a path that challenges people to seek greater balance in their schedules, and to focus on the making of a life along with the making of a living.

Concierge Christians remind themselves and others that this world's darkness is eliminated only by the light of Christ. The light that shines in our gloom is not a form of human illumination -- it is, instead, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "But we have this treasure in clay jars," insists the apostle Paul, "so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). When we carry this life-giving light with us, we find that we can endure almost any affliction, perplexity, persecution or assault.

"Peace I leave with you," says Jesus to his followers in the church, "my peace I give to you .... do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid" (14:27). We receive the peace of Christ so that we can share the peace of Christ.

That's a service that only Jesus can provide. He's our one true light, our One Star -- not our OnStar. To him be the glory, now and forever. Amen.