Ask my wife. I am NOT a morning person. Oh, these days I do go to bed far earlier than I ever used to, but mornings, despite having gotten somewhat easier in recent years, still feel against my nature. Come the latter half of the week, everything in me wants to hit the snooze alarm for as long as possible.
But on Thursday mornings, I am highly motivated to push past the urge to linger in my bed, to rise up from my groggy slumber, and to get up and out the door to the Dunkin Donuts just up the street. As much as I love the coffee there, the greatest reason that I show up week after week is for the opportunity to start my morning studying the Bible with other Christians.
Some weeks it is only two of us, and other times it's a bit more. No matter how few or how many attend, there is always a sense of authentic community in Christ, as we share of our lives, our experiences, our perceptions and perspectives, and in the process, learn even more about the Word of God we hold so dear. I cannot think of a single instance when I've left not knowing more than I did when I arrived.
I'll be sharing more about the purposes of Christ & Coffee in a future post. For now, though, I will say this -- this ministry has been a huge blessing to ME. While I hope and pray that all who attend (and who are in earshot) are spiritually encouraged and equipped, I can testify that my knowledge of the Word has been sharpened, my faith has been strengthened, my joy has been increased, my love for God and for others has been exponentially expanded.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Joe
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