Interpretive Coffee Psychology

There’s no way around it.  I am a huge fan of coffee. When we built our home two years ago, we actually installed a coffee maker that is plumbed right into the water supply so we don't have to measure water - the machine does it all by itself. After it measures the water for me, it superheats the water and makes an incredible cup of coffee. 

It’s not what you think.  Yes, I have a cup of coffee in the morning, to get a little caffeine into the system, but, the lure of java isn’t so much a dependency, it's like spending time with a comfortable friend. Within the sealed canister in the cabinet near the futuristic coffee maker lies an emotional connection to something warm, dark, and fragrant. Coffee is one of the simple pleasures in life that I’ll never tire of and will always quietly keep me company.  It’s freshly brewed very often, and is great fuel for conversation. 

So, this morning, with coffee in hand, and Bible before me, it’s no surprise that I associate coffee with the Word of God. Is there any connection to what kind of coffee you enjoy and what kind of Bible reader you are? Let's examine the possibilities! 

Black Coffee – Likes the Word plain and straight.

You are a hard core Berean, who enjoys printing out the text without paragraph breaks, line by line.

Your Bible is clean from notes or commentaries, just the Scriptures and maybe a concordance. You hold a separate collection of Bible dictionaries and commentaries for reference and stuff your notes in 3-ring binders that cause your shelves to sag. You are an experienced Bible scholar with defined positions on all things Biblical. You approach Scripture hoping to add to your faith and already established positions. 

Coffee with Cream and Sugar -Likes additional materials in your devotional time.

You are among friends! You enjoy adding things to your devotional time, perhaps an extended prayer time, or writing your own tune to one of the Psalms. You will find one phrase in your devotions that really stands out to you and will mark it in your Bible. You will write it all over your notes in a meeting just to keep it in your mind all day. You are a free thinker who enjoys both traditional and cutting edge sermons, as long as you learn something new about your Creator. You approach Scripture hoping to learn something new about your Bible, God, and yourself.

Cappuccino – Likes the Word like a shot of espresso, indulged with frothy foam.

 

You enjoy digging into the Word with notes and commentaries readily available, inserted alongside the text.

Your Bible is a Study Bible, and it’s most likely the "best Bible you own".  You underline and make notes in the margin.  Your Bible is covered in either (faux) leather or in a canvas Bible cover. You approach Scripture with a magnifying glass and highlighter, looking intently for something to meditate on from your study time.

Latte – Likes the Word, rich and creamy, and enjoys a foamy mustache.

 

You love walking through the Word with companions of devotional thoughts or inspirational questions.

Your bookshelf is never short of a fave devotional or Bible Study series. Your Bible might be a Life Application Bible, or it’s simply paired with your favorite “Daily Bread” or stacked on top of a study book.You approach Scripture with a stack of books, and a desire for practical instruction.

Mocha – Likes the Word, like a chocolaty treat, a rich confectionery splurge.

 

You love journaling in the Word, reflecting on Christian writing, meditations or even art, music and photography. The Word comes alive in a mosaic of artistic expressions.  Your Bible might be a journaling Bible where you weave whatever prompts your heart into God’s words.  You are an artist who takes in the Word and sees it reflected in unexpected places. You approach Scripture with an imaginative spirit, painting pictures in your mind's eye of what is happening on the pages you are reading. 

If you don't like coffee, well, that's a different problem altogether! Keep on being faithful to the Word though, regardless of your love for a smooth, wonderful cup of joe. 

Forgiverence

In November, 2001 I flew home from college for Thanksgiving break, and on that flight home, I learned a spiritual lesson. I boarded the plane in Tampa, heading for New York City when we got delayed and had to circle in a holding pattern for a few minutes. This holding pattern literally lasted about 10 minutes, but what happened lasted ten years so far. As we were circling above NYC, we were able to see some of the destruction of what used to be the World Trade Center. Everyone on the plane had been laughing and smiling and talking to one another about their destinations, and how much football they were going to see on Thanksgiving day. All of a sudden the pilot announced that if we looked out the left side of the plane we could briefly see what used to be there. 

Silence fell over the plane. People held their breath and had a range of emotion rushing through their body. A feeling of patriotism coursed through our veins as we beheld in awe what had happened there merely two months prior. That was pure awe. It was reverence for that scene that silenced everyone on the plane. It was a moment that has been etched in my mind as strongly as the moment I heard about the towers falling. That moment changed a part of me. 

That was awe. All of us on that 747 experienced what the Bible tells us is how we relate to God. 

We have many reasons to stand in awe of God - He is everything we are not, and that causes us to revere Him and stand in awe - He is perfectly holy, He is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, omnitemporal. He exists everywhere at once, and holds the world in motion. He directs mankind and draws all men to Himself. He provides salvation and eternal life to anyone who asks in faith. In comparison to me, I can, tie my shoes by myself seems to be the best thing I can come up with!

However, this morning, I found another reason to stand in awe, and this one is a shocker. This one is a game changer. 

Psalm 130:3-4 says “If you, O Lord, keep a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. 

What we have here is the understanding that God does not keep a record of all our forgiven shortcomings and forgiven sins. In His omniscience, He certainly could, but there's a conscious decision not to. 

Forgiveness is at the forefront of our heavenly Father’s thinking. The power of pardon is permanent with God, and He is ready to forgive in an instant. So go to God with guilt, and leave it with Him, because He saves and forgives to the uttermost.
 

Even more, forgiven sin is even more reason to fear God. Because you have experienced His redeeming love, there is immense reverence and awe for Him because He does not rain down judgment. God’s grace leads us to have such a holy regard for Him that we fear grieving Him with continued sin. Forgiveness leads to reverence: forgiverence.

God has every right to destroy us and leave nothing but a pair of smoking shoes where we used to be, but He forgives us, not keeping a running total of those forgiven sins of the past. Think on that today, and be most grateful! Experience forgiverance today!