Not a LATTE.. not a MOCHA GRANDE

I do admit I visit the local coffee shops now and then for a Latte.  I don’t believe if my dad were still alive would approve of this. 

First of all, paying $5 for a large latte (steamed milk and espresso) would be simply WRONG WRONG WRONG!!  Then to stand in line to order a coffee with a flavor.. is also WRONG. 

According to my dad, coffee drinker wanna-bes may add sugar to their coffee but true coffee drinkers either drink it black or with the 'approved' dairy companion of the day.. half&half. 

Also my dad would not purchase something called a scone.  If you want something sweet you buy a package of pastries from the IGA Grocery with a shelf life of 4 years.  AND.. the only coffee drink resembling 'A Mocha' in my parents home was if my dad accidentally poured his Folgers coffee into a 'child's' cup of cocoa.

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​Coffee was a major element in fellowship for my family and church as I was growing up.  Pastor Wayne Larson (no relation) and his wife Ruth led the our church in Cable Wisconsin for about 7 years, and they had the ‘gift of coffee’.  They would call up my folks and say them to “put a pot of coffee on.. cuz we are coming over.”

There were a few important truths I learned about this coffee
1.  Coffee is synonymous with fellowship, 
2. There was never TOO MUCH coffee, and
3. Tea is NOT coffee

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Now fast forward 35 years and you don’t have to drink your coffee black or with cream and/or sugar.. you can get you Latte Grande skinny ( half expresso, and half steamed skim milk)..  You can order a Turtle Sundae Mocha.. maybe a White Chocolate Raspberry Cooler.. the possibilities are endless..

BUT ..though I like my Latte I want to return to the time honored tradition of CHURCH COFFEE… and a few toons to capture the significance of this beverage of choice for today’s church. 

Never to be confused with the Holy Sacraments… but still I observe church coffee is revered.  Brewed in a traditional aluminum drum with love and care.. symbolic of friendship but often tastes often like something less. ​

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Now that I think about it.. let me share my COFFEE CONSPIRACY THEORY. I wonder if coffee was introduced to churches as a way to keep the congregation awake during a dry sermon in a stuffy church.

But according to Newton's Law .. To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction... and with coffee came the Coffee Conflicted Christian.

With regards to this traditional aluminum drum brewing 'machine', cleaning this drum is of paramount importance.  Coffee drum cleaning like changing the oil in your car is too often neglected resulting in a brew that only the hearty church goer can appreciate/tolerate.  THEN those times when the coffee has a taste like hot dishwater it may be because when the drum was finally cleaned… THE DISH RAG WAS LEFT IN THE DRUM!!.. 

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​There, now try and keep that thought out of your mind the next time you pour yourself a cup of hot caffinated fellowship in your church foyer.

In conclusion, I must admit that many churches today offer good coffee, but if my dad were still alive.. he would prefer his cup to come from the traditional aluminum drum.  Then again.. he is in Heaven.. and I believe they  do COFFEE RIGHT (Folgers with half & half thank you very much)
 

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​Let me leave you with a few moments from the Bible where I believe a little hot coffee was in order.

• I would like 7 Triple Espressos, 2 Lattes, a White Chocolate Mocha, and 2 small de-cafs to go please (12 spies)
• Before we leave, let’s stop over at what’s her name.. for a quick cup of joe. (Rahab)
• Sometimes it took more than a strong cup of coffee to GET UP IN THE MORNING. (Lazarus)
• After a good well prepared meal.. a nice cup of black coffee with a slice of Devils Food Cake  would be lovely. (Coffee in Heaven)
• Coffee with a snack that is both SWEET & CRUNCHY (John the Baptist)​

and.. to round out today’s coffee toonage let me share a coffee paraphrase of the Revelation 3:16 passage where the Lord is speaking about a church being lukewarm.  Neither hot or cold.. and how distasteful LUKEWARM COFFEE is.

Have a great day.. full of God’s caffeinated blessings.  Smile lots.. and enjoy life .. and always..

​BREW UNTO OTHERS as you would have them BREW UNTO YOU!.

Jeff (caffeinated) Larson

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