Great post! :) ...it really made me search my heart. :)
Alyssa C. | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 3:49 am | #

Dear Alex and Brett,
Now that you mention it, what do you think of the Starbuck's logo even as seen on your website?
It looks rather "goddesslike" and even suggestive to me.
Appreciate your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Anna's Mom
Victoria Lofgren | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 6:45 am | #

Well said. I have been thinking along these very lines of late. A man of God once told me that anything that does not help, hinders. That means that anything that does not build you up, all the fluff you take in, is not just useless, it's taking up valuable time and brain space that should be used for the Kingdom. I don't claim to have achieved such a high standard, but it's something to think about.
A fellow soldier | 08.01.06 - 7:15 am | #

God has been deling with me concerning the very same things.
Michelle | 08.01.06 - 7:45 am | #

Great encouragement that we all need help remembering once in awhile.

"We don't do it in order to be saved, we do it because we are saved. That's what obedience means for Christians."

Exactly right; we do it because we are saved!

Thanks for this great post.
Seth D. Willard | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 9:10 am | #

Very thought provoking and convicting at the same time! Thanks for the excellent post!

By the way, how do you guys manage to post from the future? In case you didn’t realize it says you posted this on August 12, 2006. :) Lets not make the summer go by faster then it is, okay?
Lorianne | 08.01.06 - 11:13 am | #

Mrs. Lofgren: I've never thought of the Starbucks logo as inappropriate, but that might just be because I'm so used to it. Does anyone else have any thoughts?

Lorianne: Thanks for pointing out the incorrect date. I had this "post idea" saved as a draft under a future date and forgot to change it back. You're right, the summer is going quickly all by itself.
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 1:50 pm | #

Hey Alex!
Wonderful post! While I was in Oregon, the pastor of the church that I attend there had a excellent sermon on what you were talking about. In his opening statements he used the comercial of "Whats in your wallet" (Capital One)
He said we should really be asking "Whats in our heart." He went on to ask us what do we spend most of our time with, kinda like what you are asking. He used the example of Proverbs 7 and how the man was so easily swayed by the harlet...comparing it to what makes us easily vere off the road that God has marked out for us. It was a wonderful sermon...a very convicting one at that! Hope you are doing well!
God bless!
Lauren
Lauren | 08.01.06 - 3:12 pm | #

Hey,

Great post. I must say though, the only probelm I have is that, do you mind supporting a place like Starbucks who supports everything we are against, as Christians? I was there, I guess around Christmastime with my brother, and I got a cup that had a very blatant homosexual statement on it that really offended me, so I stopped going there. Even though they aren't writing it on the cup anymore they still support bad things. I would be interested in your opinion.

in Him,
Abby
abby berg | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 3:29 pm | #

I have never before thoughtfully considered Starbucks' logo or support of homosexuality before. I'm glad that Abby and Mrs. Lofgren commented because it has caused me to consider what I'd be supporting, even indirectly, by getting my next frappe at Starbucks. It's something I'll have to pray about. Thank you, Abby and Mrs. Lofgren!
However, I think the Starbucks issue can detract from the original intent of the post, which was a good one: That we should leave behind anything that hinders us from pursuing Christ. (Ouch.) I've read that verse before, but I didn't allow it to sink in. Thanks for the convicting reminder, Alex.
Hannah | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 4:09 pm | #

Ummm! I thought the Starbucks logo was the Queen of Coffee, I never thought it as a goddess of Coffee. I suppose we can make anything out of anything. Did that make sense?
Erin | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 10:25 pm | #

Wow, I didn't know any of this about Starbucks. I suppose I should do a little research on the subject. But I don't know if I agree with a boycott. You see my dad always says...Money talks! Hey, if we Christians pour money into a place like Starbucks, maybe they will do what we want instead of catering to the pagans. Just a thought.
Erin | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 10:31 pm | #

Abby: You bring up a valid point about the homosexual quote that Starbucks included in their "The Way I See It" cup series. Here are some of my thoughts on the issue:

First, understand that I present these "thoughts" with humility. I welcome input and correction from my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Second, I'd like to look at several passages of Scripture I've read lately that I think apply to this discussion:

In John 17:14-15, Jesus talks about how we as Christians are to relate to the world.

"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

And the Apostle Paul echoes Christ's words in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, saying:

"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world."

With those passages in mind, I think that, as Christians, we need to exercise wisdom in our choice of when to boycott companies or products. The truth is that we live in a fallen world made up of sinful human beings. If we're not careful we could start trying to take ourselves out of the world, which is the opposite of our calling.

This is not to say that boycotts are never justified. However, in the case of Starbucks, I don't think I would say that it is. I know several pastors who make Starbucks a type of office. They know the employees and the people who frequent the store. They share the gospel and use it as a place for the church to intersect and impact the culture. I think that's awesome.

Finally, in case you didn't see it, here's another quotation that Starbucks included on their cups a while back... It's by Rick Warren, but regardless of what you think of him and his ministry, the quote is piercing truth:

The Way I See It #92

"You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your real purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance and our destiny."

Rick Warren
Author of The Purpose Driven Life
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 12:17 am | #

Fix the link to 100gotjunk.com.
Nathan Straub | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 9:32 am | #

The Starbucks logo is supposed to be a siren. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Sta...s#Name_and_logo
Deborah | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 9:38 am | #

Excellent point, Alex.

If Christian consumers looked at all the business practices/beliefs of all the corporations and places we did business with and compared them to Starbucks in particular, we would probably find they hold similar beliefs. We would all be raising all of our own food (not a bad idea anyway), growing our own trees for paper products, and building our own computers, etc., etc.

Regarding the main point of your post: our family has been de-cluttering our lives, as well as our minds, of junk. The gospel should be seen clearly and uncluttered in our lives, as well as our words. Thanks, guys, for your ongoing inspiration to challenge our thinking.
Kathleen | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 9:45 am | #

Mrs. Felmey: Exactly. Of course, I am all for Christians reducing their dependency on the world, I just want to make sure we aren't crippling our witness by removing ourselves from the major cultural meeting places of our day.
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 10:09 am | #

I agree with Mr. Harris. We need to pick our battles wisely.
Erin | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 10:39 am | #

Thanks, Erin. Feel free to call me Alex. =)
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 11:11 am | #

Wow, this was really good! I'm really into writing (as you know) and last week I felt like God was telling me to give that up for a month to spend time with Him. Like I was letting my writing define me, not who I am in Christ. This was a real encouragement, thanks for posting it!
God bless,
Amber C.
Elanor | 08.02.06 - 2:00 pm | #

Sorry to be so formal Alex, but my parents have taught me to address young men properly until they (my parents) have give permission to be addressed young men otherwise. My mom said it was fine to address you and your brother by your first name.
Blessings,
Erin
Erin | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 4:35 pm | #

Wow! I can't seem to talk I mean type today! Sorry for all the mistakes in my last comment.
Erin
Erin | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 4:36 pm | #

Dear Alex and Brett,

Thanks so much for adding me to your blogroll! I am honored. I noticed (on mybloglog) that I already received a visitor today through you!
May God continue to richly bless your work.

Yours in Him,
Claire (Lily Maiden)
Claire | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 4:38 pm | #

Wow.... That's all I can say. ;-)

Very convicting,guys. Well done.

P.S. Oh yeah, and thanks for adding me to your blogroll too!! I am thrilled that you guys think my writing "good enough", if you know what I mean. (The glory goes to God, of course. ;-) )
Veronika | Homepage | 08.02.06 - 8:26 pm | #

Thanks for posting this!
Natalie | Homepage | 08.03.06 - 11:32 am | #

It's so true...this may sound unusual, but I quit chewing gum to grow closer to God. I know, I sound psycho. But the truth is, I was addicted. And I don't want to be addicted to anything but God. And I sincerely felt like quitting chewing gum benefited my relationship with God. It's all an individual thing- it's all between you and God.
Brit | 08.03.06 - 12:56 pm | #

Wow what a great lesson. I came across your site via abrahamsjourney.com (being a fan of natural health, I've been following his story), and as a fellow christian I very much appreciate your insightful and uplifting message. As a good friend of mine says, we must always make an IMPACT (I Must Personally Advance Christ Today)... and getting rid of distractions sure helps. Keep teaching the Word (in season and out of season)! :)
Laurin | Homepage | 08.03.06 - 1:16 pm | #

Claire and Veronika: You're more than welcome. We appreciate the work you both are doing to advance the kingdom of God. More importantly, we appreciate your dedication to increase in Christ-like character and competence.

Brit: That's not "psycho" at all. Actually, I'm glad you shared that practical example. Sometimes we can forget that being a Christian effects everything, big and small. Often it's the seemingly smaller things, like chewing gum, that can become addicting and/or distracting.
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 08.03.06 - 1:39 pm | #