963 Coffee Project...

That's right...another coffee mission. (I might just track down every coffee mission I can for this thing...I like coffee, I love the Lord, and it seems like an excellent combo.) Melissa found this mission on our friend Andrea's blog. Thanks, Andrea, for the head's up!

Today's focus is on the 963 Coffee Project from 963 Missions. Just like the previous mission I had in the spotlight, this mission is attempting to bring awareness to the unfair wages that are found in the coffee fields of many of the world's bean growing countries.

A few highlights from the website:

• Black Gold - a documentray focusing on coffee farmers, and how a single cup of coffee can impact so many lives.
• Coffee Trips - mission trips that take you to Guatemala to meet the farmers, help them with the plantation work, and visit local churches and markets.
• 963 Coffee - but the brew here.
• Publicity - a feature in Relevant magazine.
  

Men of the Bible: Week 1 (Adam)

So much to say about this critical figure in the history of God's creation. Man's original figure. God's most precious creation. And ultimately, God's original heartbreak.

It struck me as I was reading about Adam how relevant his story is to the present times. How impatient humanity is...how our culture demands what feels like an ever-increasing pace of life...how the attitude of "What have you done for me lately?" perfectly describes our society. Are any of you truly brave enough to ask God what He has done for your lately? I know I am not. I wonder, though, is that because I am thinking about it right now?

A few phrases from the journal I am keeping through this study (obviously relevant to the study of Adam)...

"...the exhausting struggle of Godliness vs. worldliness began." (In reference to the early appearance of the shortcomings of human nature.)

"Before...living in harmony with God's Creation...After...a struggle for survival, both physically and spiritually." (Looking at man's interaction with God's creation before and after the fall.)

"Through the act of living (Adam), we died. Through the act of dying (Christ), we live." (Reflecting on the dichotomy of life and death as it relates to living for the world as Adam did, and the consequences that it brought (our fall, Jesus' sacrifice, grace.))

Early congrats to the soon-to-be Hixons!

Headed out to Michael and Jessica's wedding in Austin. I pray the the Lord will bless them with a happy and fulfilling marriage, and they keep Jesus at the center of their journey together. Congrats kiddos! Thought this would be appropriate...

Drink Coffee Do Good

A mission for the caffeine junkie in all of us...

Christian rock band Third Day has teamed up with Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee to form the Drink Coffee Do Good mission work. The short story on this is that most coffee comes from growers and workers who are exploited to a great extent (think blood diamonds, but without the blood). This new mission is about promoting the workers in Rwanda who provide coffee beans to the industry...treating them fairly, paying them fairly, etc. Follow the links for more info.

Of particular interest to me is the coffee ministry kit...I'll have to look into this a little bit more.

For those wondering, I drink Green Mountain Coffee, a company that is "brewing a better world" by working with coffee-growing communities (similar to the above actions) and promoting the use of green energy in their facilities.

Well, I'm back...

After a rather long layoff, I am returning to the world of my blog. Apologies to anybody who has checked in on this thing only to find out that it was still Easter week!! Work has been a bit crazy of recent, and plans on the weekends have tied me down, as well. The good news is I promise to do my best and keep the updates coming. I started this thing for a reason...that reason doesn't get accomplished without the commitment from me.

A little bit about what has been going on...

My 28th birthday was last week on Memorial Day. Despite my attempts against it, I got a couple of really cool gifts that have me pumped. First, Melissa's parents got me a new Bible. I had mentioned to Melissa that I was thinking of getting one, and leave it to her to note that and remember it when it counted. Par the course for that girl! And I am grateful, because now I have a new study Bible. You can find the Amazon page for my new Bible here. It seems to have a wealth of information, including maps, timelines, numerous notes (nearly every verse seems to have a note), as well as "symbol" notes that identify a certain emphasis (Seedling - providing personal application and promoting growth; Trowel - providing archaeological insight to the verse and culture; Character - providing insight into a person or group of people as it relates to the text). It's a nice leather bound Bible, and it came with a complimentary name engraving! Thanks, Gene and Rhodonna!

Additionally, I got a Barnes and Noble gift card - which is always an excellent gift - from David and Melody. I used that to get two books: Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture and Mere Christianity. The one-year study book looks great! As noted on the webpage, it is broken up into five parts per week, with one man (or set of men) being studied each week. I am hoping that this study will really challenge me to evaluate what kind of Biblical legacy I am leaving as a man of God. I pray it will open my eyes to the kind of man God truly wants me to be, and that I will not resist Him as He continues to mold and sculpt my heart into one that truly lives for His word and love. I am looking forward to starting my one-year trip with the great Biblical men of history in just a few minutes...and along the way, I am looking forward to finally reading the iconic writing of C.S. Lewis. Thanks, David and Melody!

I don't wanna leave anybody out...so I will quickly note that I recieved a couple of Bass Pro gift cards (from Tiffany and from David and Cathy), a Small Faces record (Tyler and Ashley), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (from Michael and Jessica - excellent movie!), a Performance Bicycle gift card (Bob and Lynn), a Best Buy gift card (which turned into a Jars of Clay CD from Micah, Nancy, and McKenna), an ticket to an 11-1 Ranger's loss to the Yankees (from Brett...gee, thanks), a certificate for a frame for my college diploma (from Melissa...yeah, I've never gotten it framed), and a subscription to Texas Monthly magazine and the standard birthday funds (from my parents). A tremendous thank you to everybody that made my 28th a great event...even though the big NASCAR race got cancelled (don't worry...there was less than a 2% chance that my driver was going to win anyways!).

I'll try to update more tomorrow sometime...until then, goodnight and God bless!