Which is Best?
Anyone who knows me would say I'm a bit of a coffee snob. It isn't so much that I know a lot about coffee, rather that I know what kind of coffee I like and don't like. I grew up with the smell of coffee in the morning. My father drank a whole pot or more every day. He drank it black. I loved the smell of coffee brewing, but as a kid I never could see what Dad thought was so great. As a young adult I tried it again experimenting with sugar and cream combinations, but always found that black was the only way to tolerate it.
When I was 36 years old I took a trip to England where my guide introduced me to cappuccino. I was stunned to find a flavor I had never experienced before. I was hooked. It was rich and flavorful, sort of nutty & sweet at the same time. There was no sugar in it, just foamed milk and espresso. It is rare that I find a coffee shop that can do a proper cappuccino, but when I do they become my favorite place to go.
Since that time I've watched while coffee has become this craze which has taken on this life of it's own. There are now so many ways to make a coffee drink that it is mocked by comedians in their routines with made up names. People identify with this poking fun at how they order their coffee because it really does sound ridiculous at times. I personally order my cappuccino dry, simply because in America very few places actually get the right balance between foam and milk. The difference between a latte and a cappuccino is the amount of foam. The more milk the drink has the less like coffee it tastes.
The first time a non-coffee drinker picks up a paper cup with a cappuccino in it they look perplexed because it feels like the cup is half empty. This is how I know that a coffee bistro got it right! I remember getting upset with a Starbucks barista once who handed me a latte'. I said, "can you make this over again? I ordered a cappuccino." She wanted to argue with me. She actually made it three times before she got it right. She had to call in reinforcements. It was shortly after this that the Starbucks headquarters decided to have a day of training. Apparently they had been getting complaints that their baristas were not making drinks as ordered. I was told by my favorite shop that my drink would be one of those that they would be working on because I was not the only one who had complained. Because they selected my drink I was given a gift card to make sure I came back to give them another chance. Needless to say the training only changed the results for about a month.
One of the interesting things about coffee is that many people have discovered cold or iced coffee. Some are so delicious that you barely notice there is coffee in the drink. It is like having desert any time of day. Rich creamy, sweet and decadent are these cold drinks. They contain so many calories that you have had your fill of a day's worth of calories in just one drink. They are also very addicting. I stay away from those any more, because of their high sugar content. On hot days it is tempting to opt for an ice cold sweet treat.
The only coffee I can't tolerate is lukewarm coffee. Bleh. When it sits in the cup and you go to take a drink it has lost heat but it isn't iced and filled with sugar. I usually end up either adding more hot coffee to it, or dumping it. There is nothing worse than lukewarm. I was thinking about this when I was enjoying my morning cup o' joe. I Imagine Jesus sipping coffee with me as we watched the sunrise. I wondered what kind of coffee Jesus would drink. It was clear to me that he would prefer hot coffee if he had a preference. I know it seems presumptuous, however I think it is biblical.
Revelation 3:14-16 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Stay with me here. Yes, I realize he is talking about a Church that is neither on fire for the gospel or completely abandoning the gospel, but notice how he uses the analogy of spiting them out because they are lukewarm. In the next verses he describes their apathy and then reminds them of their spiritual condition and encourages them to "buy from me gold refined in the fire," The refining process is hot. It burns off the things of this world and creates a lasting inheritance. We aren't refined by ice. In fact ice puts us in a state of suspended animation. Heat is generated through movement and activity.
I love this entire bit of scripture. It has become more real to me in these last few months. I watch as Christians only want to just keep a steady way forward in these troubled times. They don't want to get involved or take a stand. Are we the church of Laodicea? It sure would seem so. Christians have become unwilling to give up their comforts to stand in the gap and be heard, and as a result we find ourselves a nation without a moral compass. I Imagine Jesus shaking his head as we are faced daily with the disintegration of our Republic and so many "Christians" sit in silence and voluntarily give up the rights HE gave to them, so they can "just survive".
We aren't called to just survive. We are called to be light in this dark world. God didn't give us armor so we could sit on the sidelines and cheer on the angels. That is the kind of thinking I've seen lately in people who I thought were Christian warriors. I've said it before, this spiritual battle is being manifest in the physical world. The evil is being exposed. Sooner or later we ALL must face that evil and make a decision. Do we stand in the gap with our sword drawn ready for battle? We must! I think of Corrie ten Boom and her family during the Nazi occupation of her country. They risked their lives to stand in the gap for their neighbors. I believe we are reaching that point today.
Lately when I Imagine Jesus I see a warrior with a flashing sword of lightning. The world is increasingly evil and his return is imminent. We are called to be watchful, and put on the whole armor. This is our time to take a stand. We all have a different role to play. I write, I share with others the truth as much as possible. I'm not a public speaker, but I feel compelled by these verses to speak up. If I am called to stand in the gap for someone else, I pray daily that God would give me the faith to do so without fear. We are the children of the LIVING God. He has already won this war, but it doesn't mean we don't have a responsibility to act. Jesus didn't send his disciples into the world to be quiet. They changed the world with their message. The world is changing again. The battle is here. The heavenly chariots are ablaze.
So just like my coffee, make mine HOT! The refining process is happening. God doesn't make mistakes. We were put here to live and show others how to live in faith not fear. God's got complete control. He's got this!
Revelation 3:14-22 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Psalm 16:8 "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
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