Sunday, October 17, 2010

Christians and Coffee

I want to rattle on a bit and since this is my blog, I get to do that. Our topic today is Christians and coffee. I have often pondered those that savor coffee as I savor air. Yes, both Christians and pagans alike will line up in endless lines to pay four dollars or more for a cup of coffee. I know that is not just coffee, but a mochachino or a latte’ or some other un-American name for a “legal addictive stimulant.” But, what are they really doing? They have become addicted. They are truly addicts I have seen friends try to quit and honestly there should be a patch or a useful ten-step program. They become edgy and snippy and even tyrannical.
The irony is that Christians do not like to rely on anything but Jesus Christ. That is what I believe, but for water, food and other survival needs, Christians like to believe that addictions are bad. SO WHY COFFEE? WHY CAFFEINE? Let me refer you to the following link; please check it out. *It will explain that even though coffee has some benefits; that excessive coffee consumption can be addictive, it can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and cause an irregular heartbeat. Coffee is also suspected in breast health, cancer, and osteoporosis. I mean really, when a woman becomes pregnant they tell her to stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol and cut out caffeine. That should cause a red light. I get the smoking thing, but they claim that red wine is good for your heart and other alcohol has beneficial medicinal purposes as well, (and I am in no way telling anyone to start consuming alcohol) but many Christians act like the 18th amendment is still the law of the land. So why do we just make light about our addiction to caffeine, our dependence on our corner-occupying espresso stands? It is like a legal dealer on every block, now they are sticking the things in church foyers. All we need is Christ to come in and turn the cart over in my estimation.
I don’t have the answer. Perhaps it makes believers feel a little rebellious in a way that is not yet classified as sinful.
Thank you for reading. If you don’t give up your habit at least consider the non-health cost. How much do you spend a week; twenty-five dollars? That is one-hundred a month, give or take. That is twelve-hundred a year. For the people I know, this is a conservative estimate. But even at twelve-hundred a year if you saved that money from the day of one of your children’s birth until his graduation, then you would have saved $21,600 and that does not include interest. College is expensive, but wouldn’t that money help considerably?
* http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/coffee_health_risk.htm

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Things That Are Wonderful

These are things that I think are pretty wonderful in no particular order.
-Salvation through Jesus Christ alone!
-the changing seasons
-daisies, crocuses, dahlias, etc.
-donuts
-hymns
-family
-friends
-Twix
-Double-Stuff Oreos
-starry nights
-baseball
-a well turned double-play
-American revolutionary and colonial history
-my parents
-my wife and kids
-Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
-good movies
-movie previews
-The Fourth of July, Christmas, Easter, Halloween and other holidays
-a firm, but not vise-like hand shake
-mowing lawn
-John Deere
-fresh cut grass
-fresh tilled soil
-harvesting pumpkins
-adoption
-a good discussion and/or debate
-students who think
-good English tea - cream, two sugars
-preaching & teaching
-being an elected official
-walking in England
-The Kilns
-the smell of lilacs
-completing a well-done project
-a really good fireworks display
-patriotic music
-most all music with the exception of opera, new country and hip-hop/rap
-George Washington
-Peter, Esther, Job - my top three Bible characters apart from our Lord
-a student who loves history as much as I
-coming home
-my dad being in heaven - healthy and happy

Mr. Smith's Pet-Peeves

The following are just some of my many pet-peeves. They are in no particular order.
-people who make excuses
-people who do not know how to run an effecient meeting
-micro-managers
-girls who pierce other than their ears
-soccer
-girls/guys who continually sweep their bangs from their face
-people who talk to me with their hair covering one eye
-most contemparary Christian music
-Chris Tomlin (mainly when he messes with good old hymns)
-junior high and high school students that date
-people using abbreviation and acronymns in their speech
-the salaries of professional athletes
-Americans who have never read The Constitution, but quote it all the time
-The American Civil Liberties Union
-ABORTION
-liberals
-child-centered parenting
-people who go to church for themselves rather than for God
-people who do not know how to use a four-way stop
-RAP/Hip-Hop (it is not music)
-big government
-high taxes
-liars
-two-faced people
-changing your hair color
-cats
-the price of snacks at a movie theater
-reporters who print or say things out of context
-informal weddings
-solos at weddings
-people who believe in change just for change sake
-churches that "embrace the culture"
-tipping waiters and waitresses
-people who complain and do nothing to solve the problem
-students who believe they know everything
-unjust war
-cyclists and joggers who do not know how to use the road
-people who spoil surprises
-people who buy gifts for other people on someone's birthday
-people who ask a question that has just been answered
-David Hasselhoff
-bare-midriffs
-people who do anything else while driving
-large lollipops (Dum-Dums are sufficient)
-auto repairs
-America's Next Top Model
-call-in talk radio
-the misinterpretation of "separation of church and state"
-people who do not take down their Christmas lights
-Christmas music before Thanksgiving
-tailgaters
-students missing school for vacation
-students missing school for very avoidable reasons/appointments
-students missing school for their birthdays
-the Oakland Athletics & New York Yankees
-homosexuality
-death
-a limp hand shake