The Coffee Shop has Taken over the Golf Course

Who knew what all could happen at a coffee shop?

Is it weird that two totally unrelated events came to my attention, having basically nothing to do with coffee, took place at a coffee shop?

The first I just sorta blew off, but for some reason it stuck in my head revving up the importance of the second.

A friend met a group at a coffee shop. They talked, chatted, conducted business, shared ideas, and went forth armed to take care of whatever they talked about. After the meeting, my friend stayed and wrote some of her story.

While she was there, another group formed around tables across from her. This was a class on serving beer. My friend joked she now knew the rules and customs for serving beer.

Okay.

Not too interesting other than the coffee shop served as a meeting place for a group of writers, a place for a writer to work, and a place to learn the proper way to serve beer.

THEN

A guest speaker spoke at my church. He is a missionary who oversees, answers questions, meets needs, coordinates the missionaries in all of Asia for his mission. He lives in Australia but spends time in places like Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, etc.

Two places that he spoke about caught my attention. First, and a bit off topic but worth sharing, was the work in Cambodia. There is a city where Cambodian descendants who had grown up in America, committed crimes, and were deported now live. These men were accustomed to the American life style since they basically lived their lives there.

Missionaries formed a church in this city to help these men move forward with their lives. To learn their Cambodian culture and learn there is a God who loves them. This I found to be a unique idea.

The second place he talked about that caught my attention was a coffee shop in Japan. A few missionaries opened a coffee shop. While workers took orders, a few sat at a table and held a Bible study. At a nearby table, a woman sat drinking her coffee. She could hear the men. After a short time she asked if she could join them. She was welcomed and after the study she asked if they had a church she could go to.

The church was new, barely a room with only a few people. I have a feeling it won't be small long.

Once again, missionaries had an idea that met the needs/wants of the people in the area where they served.

All kinds of meetings use to be held at golf courses...today, the coffee shop offers a cozy place to sit, chat, and talk and share...and even get to know the God who loves. This is an idea we could do. Coffee shops are a nice place to meet. And consider this...there are people close to your table who can hear you. So...use the moment!!

Do you go to coffee shops? Take a friend, have a conversation about God, and see who listens around you.

This post has been brought to you by the one-word: Easy-Way-To-Share

Suzanne Woods Fisher - Overcoming the Fear of Failure

We've all had something fail. Maybe a school assignment, baking a cake, changing a car tire. Well that was my shortlist confession. There really is a mile long list that you don't want to hear. Talk about a quick drive to the blues. Even one negative comment in a barrel full of praises can take us down. Sigh. Why oh why do we remember the one negative one and forget the positives. You are not alone. We all do this. But there is a way of escape. Today, Suzanne Woods Fisher is going to share her story. The Fear of Failure “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you. Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13, niv). Years ago, before I received my first book contract, an editor returned a manuscript to me with the comment that the writing wasn’t up to her publishing house’s “caliber.” Ouch! That was a tough remark to swal...

A Memory Device For You

Photo Courtesy Recently I added a memory game to my week's activities. It all started when I listened to one of those fabulous sermons in church and actually took notes. Later in the week, I recalled liking the sermon and searched for the notes, but lamented when I couldn't find the piece of paper. I quizzed myself: What was the general topic? I racked my brain…good grief this was Thursday and a thousand other things had happened when I asked the question. After a cup of tea, visualizing where I sat in the sanctuary, and using every other means possible to remember the general topic I finally answered the question. The process to recall the rest of the good things said was an epic fail. Although I have since started using a notebook I have created a memory game. On Monday, at any point during the day, I try to say the following without the use of my notes: General topic of the sermon Main book of the Bible used Application p...

Laughter and Singing at the Homeless Shelter

It was a night to remember. A night to tell friends about. So I am... Fifty men, women, and teens rode in busses on icy expressways into the inner city. They poured out of the bus at a homeless shelter unsure where to go, what to do, or what to say. One led the pack through the main doors, pass security checkpoints, and on through winding hallways to a large room. At night, this room is filled, wall to wall, with cots, blankets, and at this time of year, cold homeless men, women, and children. On this evening before the night, hundreds of chairs formed straight rows and faced a platform. The fifty set up sound and instrument equipment. Singers cozied in the limited platform space. Instrumentalists tuned their instruments. A few residents poked their heads in the door. Intrigued, they came in and watched the first measures of several songs start, stop, start again. Microphone levels adjusted. The singers laughed. Chattered. The group stepped off to the side and...

The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Search This Blog