Triple Half Caf No Foam Frenzy

It’s time for me to “blow the whistle” on a few folks at Canyon Ridge. We have “coffee snobs” in our midst. People who actually prefer the kind of java that make your eyes water. While holding a pinky in the air, they sip and say words like: full-bodied, robust, rich, bold... blah... blah... blah... save it for the back room at Starbucks.

I love coffee, and maybe some folks can appreciate a “superior blend,” but most people just want COFFEE! In fact, lots of people drink it for the flavored creamers alone (you know who you are). Or, others drink it for (and this will come as a jolt to your system) the caffeine. No savoring the perfect blend, some folks are trying to get their “morning jitter” on!

I have “evidence” to prove most people avoid overpriced joe. Put on a pot of coffee and check out what Consumer Reports says:

Starbucks Wars
Hoping that consumers are fed up with asking Starbucks for “double-caramel skim half-caf macchiato” before they’ve even had their jolt of joe, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, and McDonald’s have been boosting their coffee cachet.
McDonald’s Premium issues the slightly icky invitation to “wake up and smell your life” with a “richer, bolder” coffee; BK Joe suggests that you “wake up with the King”; Dunkin’ Donuts touts its usual coffee, but with more flavors and attitude...
We compared the rivals with Starbucks, all in basic black--no flavors, milk, or sugar--and you know what? McDonald’s beat the rest. Our trained tasters, who visited two locations from each company, spill the beans below (prices are an average of what we paid for the closest thing to a medium cup).
McDonald's, $1.35, was decent and moderately strong. Although it lacked the subtle top notes needed to make it rise and shine, it had no flaws.
Burger King, $1.40, looked like coffee but tasted more like hot water. It was a little sour, with an unusual hint of chocolate.
Dunkin' Donuts, $1.65, was weak, watery, and pricier than Starbucks. It was inoffensive, but it had no oomph. (If you brew with Dunkin’ beans at home, you can make it stronger.)
Starbucks, $1.55, was strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open.
Consumer Report's take. Try McDonald’s, which was cheapest and best, or make your own coffee--just call it something special. The other three were all only OK, but for different reasons(consumerreports.org).

Churches are like coffee.

With so many “varieties” of Christianity, the average person doesn’t even know where to begin. Sometimes, as a church snob, I don’t make it any easier for a person to just get a taste of CHRIST. At the core, Christianity is all about loving God, and loving people. Nothing sophisticated about that.

Just live it. Nothing “extra” or special is required. Here’s the bottom line, if someone needs help -- help them. People need a taste of God’s love first... just be ready to follow it up with an explanation of why Jesus is crucial to finding God.