April 10, 2024 – The Coffee Shop Devotions: The Flat White – or do I have to call it the “Dimensionally Challenged Caucasian?”

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.” John 1:29-39

One of the more obscure drinks I have found at my local coffee shop is called “Flat White”. I am not so sure I can call it that in my devotions and risk being called a racist, but we are boldly going where many are afraid to go. The “Flat White” is, as the website told me, made of “Bold ristretto shots of espresso mixed with the perfect amount of steamed whole milk to create a not too strong, not too creamy, just right flavor.” Wow…sounds like a commercial, right? Anyway, the “Ristretto” espresso it is talking about is a short shot of espresso coffee made with the normal amount of ground coffee but extracted with about half the amount of water. It is somewhat similar to the traditional cappuccino or the latte although smaller in volume, therefore having a higher proportion of coffee to milk, and milk that is more velvety in consistency – allowing the espresso to dominate the flavor. As such, the ristretto espresso shot has a much bolder flavor – one that I believe takes some time to develop a taste.

Once you make the coffee shop a regular stop in your journey through life, you soon find out there are drinks that are eerily similar to one another, and yet they are different. The café latte and the flat white are two such drinks. I have had both, and they do taste very similar. But to me, one does surpass the other because of the blend of the milk and the coffee.

John the Baptist came into the world, and many thought that he might be the Messiah. John clearly said that he had come in the name of G-d, but he was simply paving the way for the One they were hoping for. We could say they were similar (they were even cousins according to our birth narratives) but they have different roles to play in the kingdom of G-d. In the text included above, we see where even the disciples of John leave to become disciples of Jesus. And that would have been ok with John, for he knew he was similar – but distinctly different.

We all have a role to play in the kingdom of G-d – but our roles will not all be the same. Each one of us has our own gifts, and we should find our own unique way to share and use those gifts. Oh we may look eerily similar, but deep inside, we have a uniqueness of gifts that makes us wholly one – and wholly loved by G-d.

Pastor Dave

April 9, 2024 – The Coffee Shop Devotions: Cappuccino – The Nectar of the gods

“…Like heat in drought, You subdue the uproar of aliens; Like heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the ruthless is silenced. The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine. And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.…” Isaiah 25:5-7

“Dark, rich espresso lies in wait under a smoothed and stretched layer of thick foam…” – this is how one coffee shop describes the Cappuccino. It is an Italian coffee drink that is traditionally prepared with espresso, hot milk and steamed milk foam. The Cappuccino is typically smaller in volume than a caffè latte, with a thicker layer of foam on top. The name comes from the Capuchin friars, referring to the color of their habits, and in this context referring to the color of the beverage when milk is added in small portion to dark, brewed coffee, mostly espresso. The physical appearance of a modern cappuccino with espresso créma and steamed milk is a result of a long evolution of the drink. I call the Cappuccino the nectar of the gods, with a small “G” god as a way to poke fun at how some people view coffee beverages in their lives. Yes, this pastor loves his coffee, but he usually sticks to traditional espresso and hot water – with a lot of half-and-half. But in all of creation, with the number of things we humans have discovered, it is amazing to me how something like coffee would have first been discovered – and then how popular it has become.

There are several accounts of the discovery of coffee. My favorite but most likely apocryphal is the account of a 9th-century Ethiopian goat-herder named Kaldi, who, noticing the energizing effects when his flock nibbled on the bright red berries of a certain bush, chewed on the fruit himself. His exhilaration prompted him to bring the berries to a monk in a nearby monastery. But the monk disapproved of their use and threw them into the fire, from which an enticing aroma billowed, causing other monks to come and investigate. The roasted beans were quickly raked from the embers, ground up, and dissolved in hot water, yielding the world’s first cup of coffee. Since this story is not known to have appeared in writing before 1671, 800 years after it supposedly happened, it is not believed to be more than a fun story. What I do believe is, like a lot of discoveries, it was a series of accidents and coincidences that began the journey of this rich, enticing beverage.

Just like the story of coffee, the story of the Heavenly Banquet that all believers await one day, has at its roots the promise from G-d brought to us from the reports of the prophets. And, we need not discover it – it is promised by G-d. What we need to realize is that G-d searches each one of us out to discover our fears and concerns – and reminds us that everything is in G-d’s hands.

So, rest and sip your warm, rich, coffee beverage – there is nothing we need to do to get G-d’s attention or do so G-d discovers us. G-d has it all under control. All we need to discover is the depth of Grace G-d has for each one of us. That my friends, is one Venti cup of Cappuccino love.

Pastor Dave