Stamp Card

Most coffee stands have stamp cards or punch cards. Each time you roll up and get a drink, you get your card stamped for each purchase. After so many, usually 10, you get a free drink. What a glorious day that is! I use my freebie when I don't have enough money to buy a drink. I would imagine alot of people do that.

What is really special is when you forget you have a freebie. The thought enters your head of having a delicious latte but alas, you have no money. A frown forms and sad music plays. Then you think, "I have a card!" The sun shines, birds sing and your all smiles again. Happy days, happy days.

The antagonizing part is from stamp 1 to stamp 10. Unless you are one of those that gets a drink every day, unlike me, it probably isn't a big deal. I get a drink on occasion. When I'm out and about and I see a stand. I only visit stands. Corporate coffee just isn't the same. Stands are personal, friendly, neighborly. Some are too friendly. It's a little un-nerving to order a coffee from a naked 19 year old. No bueno.

I digress.

It takes me awhile to fill a card. In someways, I have to work at it. Mostly because I'm tight. C'mon, at $5 a drink, that adds up. So, I need balance. To get a drink is an event. A special treat. Or, an excuse to get a stamp.

Life has it's stamp cards too. Especially if you have kids. The difference would be, you don't know when the free drink is coming. God gives you a card and holds the stamp. Sometimes, the stamps are doing a school project that you really have no idea what you are doing. Sometimes a stamp could be driving a kid here, then there, then back over here. Showing up for a school event unexpectedly. Praying with an unsaved co-worker. Inviting nieghbor kids to church. 

Stamps can also be very difficult. Standing up for Jesus at work. Enduring ridicule or jokes from classmates. Confronting a friend that has strayed only to get anger and rejection. Or when your kids think in their 3 or 5 years of adulthood, they, somehow, have gained more wisdom and knowedge than you. I'm not saying I'm smartest guy in the world or even on my street, but, I do know a thing or two about a thing or two. These occasions usually lead to arguments and/or silent treatments. Silent treatments are the worst. That's when you think, "Where is my free drink?!"

Last night I got my free drink. 

Keep doing what God wants you to do and get your stamps. When the time is right, God will give you your freebie. Birds will sing and the sun will shine. 

If you haven't got your free drink yet, maybe you aren't getting any stamps. What you done for God lately? 

Straw No Whip

The weekend was great.

Saturday, six youths and I drove to Seattle for the Rock and Worship Roadshow. While we were there we found out some others were there,too. That was cool but our little group stayed together and partied. Well, that is until Jayk found his friends from school, so he went and set with them. He later joined us for Mercy Me.

Ok, the R&WR is several bands that travel the country and all seats are $10. They wanted to keep the price as low as possible so families can go out and have a good time. These are good bands too. Mercy Me, Anthem Lights, Matt Maher, Jars of Clay, Lecrae, 1000 Foot Krutch and The Afters.

Different genres with the same theme-worship. 17,000 people celebrating our Savior with rock music. 17,000 people singing, bouncing, dancing, praising our Lord! Just a great experience. Bart Millard, lead singer of Mercy Me had an excellent message of "it doesn't stop here". We can all cheer and sing and get warm and fuzzy about the concert, but, there is tomorrow. We need to be this way all the time for our God. If not, what's the point?

Everyday is a battle to keep our relationship with Jesus open and honest. When we're with 17,000 of our brothers and sisters, it's easy. When we step out into the real world, well, are you still as excited as you were at the concert? Are you praising and worshipping, thanking God like you were in that arena?

I almost always get a 20 oz triple mocha with a straw and no whip. I don't like whip because it cools the coffee too quickly. Also, when you order whip, they don't fill your cup as much to make room the whip. So you are basically shorting yourself when you have whip. 

I use a straw for a couple reasons. It's too hot at first. As it cools, everything settles to the bottom. I use the straw to stir it up. I'm usually driving when I get my drink and I like sipping while I drive. It only takes one bad experience to develop mannerisms. One day, I got my 20 oz triple mocha with a straw no whip on my way to a job site. While on I-5, I picked up my 20 oz triple mocha with a straw no whip and as raised to my mouth to take a sip. The cup buckled and the lid came off and I was wearing my 20 oz triple mocha with a straw no whip. Needless to say, I screamed. Now, I use a straw.

Don't live on whip. You're shorting yourself the full drink. Use a straw. Keep it stirred up. Enjoy your drink. Sip it and relax. Don't be thinking, "I got this" and have the lid pop off. With out Jesus stirring your life, you may get burnt.