The Medina Cafe 41:11 is now CUPS CAFE!! We've been working on this transition for awhile and the time has finally come!

Thank you for your prayers and support. If you've been enjoying reading all God is doing in and through our team, then we invite you to stop by www.cupscafe.org and subscribe to our RSS feed or E-mail blast our monthly newsletter.

CUPS is still part of the cafe family! We see ourselves (CUPS CAFE) as the grown up kid who leaves home and parents (Cafe 41:11) to go out in the world to start a new life on there own. Cafe 41:11 will always be our Dad and Mom. We're still family. We'll share resources and help one another out, because we're family.

Again, thank you for your support and prayers. Check Us out. Click the link:

www.cupscafe.org

Our date night got canceled (bummer). Mollie was set to go out with a friend Friday night. It was payday for Mindee (and we rarely get alone time) so we made plans to eat out and then cuddle at home. Well...Mollie's friend got sick and so date night was date night with Mollie. We still had fun. We went to Rockne's. They have my favorite burger: the Max the knife. It's no slouch when it comes to burgers.

I've discovered something about myself. I laugh (more like giggle) at great food. Its smell, appearance, taste, makes me chuckle like St. Nick on Christmas eve. My first realization of this personal quirk happened while at the cafe. Ron (a.k.a. The Hot Dog man) served me his famous Coney dog. Oh man...it was dee-lish and I laughed with every fork-full.

The Max the Knife arrived at our table and I started laughing. It was SOOO amazing! HA HA!

The three of us bowed our heads and I prayed, "Thank you Father for this food and this moment to be together as a family. We thank you for your great provision and love for us. We pray for Mollie's friend and ask that you would act so that she would begin to feel better and recover quickly. We praise you for all you're doing in our lives and give you thanks for our faith in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen."

I grab my burger and Mindee says, "How are you going to eat that thing?"

Mollie laughs as I say, "With my mouth."

And I chomped away laughing. Max the Knife oozed down my beard. It rocked!

Moments later, a woman in the booth behind us stood and walked over to us. We didn't know her and she didn't know us. She placed a small folded piece of paper on our table and looked at us asking, "I couldn't help but hear you praying. Would you pray for my family?"

"I would be honored to." I replied. And she left.

We looked at each other in amazement, and I reached for the note and unfolded it. It was a request for her adult children who are in a great spiritual struggle. The handwritten note read, "Pray for God's will, stop the devil from all the attacks. Please pray for us. Thank you."

So I prayed...after eating my burger of course. But I still prayed. I took her request before my King and asked Him to act.

I'm noticing something else as I reflect on my day-to-day life. People are asking me to pray for them...more and more. People I know and perfect strangers. They'll just walk up to me and ask me to pray. Does this happen to you? It's strange. It's a good strange. It's truly an honor to pray.

I have a request. Here is my folded, handwritten note placed on the table of your heart. Ask God to pour out spiritual and emotional blessings on me and Mindee as we grow together in our faith. Ask God to give our family wisdom so we can faithfully guide and lead people to Jesus Christ through the cafe ministry He has placed in our care.

P.S. This e-News Article is also published on the new CUPS / CAFE website. We encourage you to visit it and nose around. Click>> www.cupscafe.org

A wind driven rain splatters my windshield blurring my vision. The rhythmic squeaking of wiper blades fights the precipitation enough for me to see the dark autumn sky reflect off the blackened wet street. It's East Friendship Street. A street I've driven many times traveling to and from the cafe. Proud historical homes and aging trees enclose its concrete curbs. I enjoy driving down Friendship this time of year. Colorful leaves cover the road like a quilt spread gently across the rocker.

Jeff and I just closed the cafe, and I'm weary from a long day of ministry. I steer my 1979 Grand Prix, jamming to WMJI, when a car rushes up behind me. Its brilliant headlights shine in my rearview mirror forcing me to squint. And then...blue and red flashing lights encircle my car.

It's Medina's finest.

"Great," I say under my breath, pulling the car to the side of the street and shifting into park.

I think: This must be a prank. Am I being punked? Is Ashton Kutcher going to pop out from behind a tree? I wasn't speeding. What's going on?

The officer walks to the drivers side door introducing himself and saying, "The reason I pulled you over is because your license plate isn't illuminated."

"Oh," I reply. "It must be burned out. I'm sorry, Sir."

"And I notice," he continues. "You're not wearing your seat belt. Is there a reason why you're not buckled up?"

"Aghh," I moan in disgust. "I totally forgot. I just left work and I'm tired and I...just forgot."

"Sit tight. I'll be back in a minute." The policeman says.

My first thought? Curse at myself. But that wouldn't do any good. So I prayed. Please, Father in Heaven. Please only give me a warning. I don't have a lot of money right now to pay for a ticket of any kind. In Jesus name, Amen.

The officer returns saying, "I'm only going to give you a warning for the license plate light. Make sure you get a new bulb so it's visible."

"I will, thank you sir."

"But I have to give you a ticket for seat belt violation. It's against the law in Ohio to drive without a seat belt. Actually, it's against the law in almost every state."

He politely hands me the ticket above, informs me of what I need to do, and reminds me to buckle up before pulling away. He was a kind officer but now I have to pay a fine (money I don't have). Oh well, I guess this is just another moment where I need to practice trusting Him to provide.

I had a clean record. I was going on some ten plus years without being pulled over and ticketed (hear me whining and defending myself). That great record now blemished, blotched, marked, scarred, tainted, spotted. This stinks (more whining).

One could insert all those adjectives, and more, when examining the human heart. Our heart is blotched with sin. God tickets us for breaking His law. And the fine for our sin-stained heart is death (Romans 3:23 & 6:23). Thankfully, Jesus accepted the penalty for our ticket and paid the fine in full. The fine we deserve to pay (Romans 5:8). Those who confess this truth and believe in Jesus will be saved from God's ticket (Romans 10:9-10).

Is your ticket paid for?

How do I begin to write about a day that has been greatly blessed by the Lord? I know everyday is a blessing from God but some day's it seems He moves more than others.

Two weeks ago at the cafe things were a little slower than the week before. We got to spend more time with the guests who wandered in. Quite a few of the kids were talking about God, the word saved, baptism, and ways of the world.

A group of young ladies were talking about how they saw no point in getting married. They felt it was O.K. to just live with someone and then leave them whenever you wanted. I couldn't help myself. I had to share what God says about that. In doing so, I found out one of the girls is an agnostic (believes in a higher power) not necessarily "God."

I shared with her about the ways of the devil and how he is a liar and great deceiver. I told her about the hole in her heart that needs to be filled with Jesus Christ. I shared with her how to be saved. She wasn't interested in doing that today but a seed was planted, now we just need to water it and watch it grow, praying it not be snatched away. Mark 4:1-20 (Parable of the Sower) gives a very clear description of this. Thank you Lord.

Other volunteers were busy planting and watering seeds too. One was speaking with a woman about her faith, another was sharing the gospel with a young man who was celebrating his birthday. He was accepting of the gift of God and received Jesus into his heart. Praise the Lord!

Lots of gardening done today at the cafe. Pray with us for the harvest!

I love this place!

See you Tuesdays 3-6,

Paula Browand

Brothers dwelling together in unity is AWESOME!

Our family (brothers and sisters in Christ) have given up money and time and energy, talents and expertise and tools to replace our roof. They're generosity, lack of complaint, and sacrifice is totally pleasant like oil running down Aaron's beard. Time with these brothers this week reminds me of Psalm 133. I quoted a portion of this Psalm with a brother working at my house this week, and he began to cry just thinking of the men who've come to help. Psalm 133 reads,

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
       running down on the beard,
       running down on Aaron's beard,
       down upon the collar of his robes.

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
       For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
       even life forevermore."

And a crew of ten more are coming out Saturday with food from a sister!

Mindee, Mollie, and I have a huge family. We have brothers and sisters, dads and moms, and grandmas and grandpas. Our church family, our brothers, are a bestowed blessing from the Living God. And they love us and pray for us and...confront us. They cheer us on and weep with us. They witness our moments of unbelief and inadequacy and the times when we succeed in trusting Jesus. And they still love us. And it's not just our church family at Harvest.

This includes those serving at the cafe. They're also like precious oil. They come from various churches in Medina. And we are one...in Christ...living together by faith. This is our family. Our relationship isn't perfect but it's good. Like any family, we sometimes hurt and offend each other but we also love and forgive. And I wouldn't trade them for all the wealth in this world. I love my brothers and sisters at the cafe. They refresh me.

Thank you family.

Thank you for believing and supporting what God is doing in our lives and the ministry at the cafe. By our love for one another, and the unity of our faith in Jesus Christ, we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. Even something as crazy as serving Hope one cup at a time through a free cafe ministry. Family, don't you dare stop believing Him! Keep the eyes of your heart fixed on Jesus. I don't care if your roof is crashing down around you. Believe Him.

Like Precious Oil,

Tim

P.S. Hey Dad...they're replacing that crunched garage gutter!

"a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity" (Internet, Merriam Webster, 2009).

Nothing in life is free. A payment must be made.

I learned years ago of a distant relative named Ransom Adams. He was one of those great, greeaaa...(you get the idea). I always liked the name Ransom. I've kept it hidden in my heart with the intent of naming my son after him. (Oh son, are you out there? What must I pay to have you?)

Nothing in life is free. There is a price.

My next door neighbor started a business. The price for starting it? Tens of thousands of dollars in equipment! His entrepreneurial spirit invigorates me. He reminds me of myself in those early years of ministry.

Nothing in life is free. There is a cost.

You know what's really cool? The cost of giving something away. The cost of going without so someone can go with. That's cool. It's hard, not at all easy, but totally wonderful. Isn't that what Jesus did? He gave up His life to give life. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us..." (NIV, Galatians 1:4).

Jesus was a ransom. He paid a costly price to release people from captivity. Psalm 49:8 reads, "...the ransom for a life is costly, no payment (earthly wealth) is ever enough" (NIV). And 1 Timothy 2:6 instructs us that Jesus, "gave Himself as a ransom for all men" (NIV).

Cash money cannot free you from the heartache and daily regret and pain you live with. Jesus is the currency you need. The payment for sin is death. And He paid that amount through His death on the cross to set people free.

Nothing in life is free. But the cost freedom requires is worth it.

Operating a free cafe has a price. Payments must be made. Are you willing to go without so someone can go with?

UPCOMING EVENTS

• INFO MEETING:  Sunday October 18, 2009 from 2pm-5pm at Harvest Presbyterian Church.
• CAFE FUNDRAISER:  Saturday November 14, 2009 from 6pm-9pm.

Pepsico, the makers of Pepsi Cola and other products, changed its logo this year. The logo and can design changed but the cola remained the same. The Medina Café 41:11 is going through a similar change.

In 2007, the Medina café team signed a two year lease agreement with our current landlord. The lease was formed with the understanding that when the time came to renew it the Medina café would step out in faith to form its own non-profit organization. The Medina Leadership team and Corporate Office in Norton believed this was God’s direction for the Medina café.

In the fall of 2008, and by God’s grace, the Medina café began this process after receiving the blessing to move forward from Café Corporate. Steve Friddle, the current Chairman of the Board of Trustees in Norton, writes, "We celebrate together with all our friends connected with Cafe 41:11 Medina as you take this next step in transferring ownership of the ministry to your community. We have valued and appreciated the ministry partnership we have had over the past 4 years and look forward to many years of mutual support, encouragement and cooperation as we both strive to serve the Lord and minister to people in our respective communities. May God bless you as you follow His leading and reach Medina with the gospel of Christ."

God is greatly blessing the café with new financial support and volunteers and our service to the community is growing. In the coming months (date still to be determined), Café 41:11 in Medina will become CUPS CAFE. The name and logo will change, but the “cola” will remain the same. The things you see and hear God doing today will continue tomorrow and in the future.

The cafe is in an exciting stage of redevelopment and transition. We ask that you pray for us and be patient as we work with you through these changes. A question I'm asked frequently is: Why Cups Cafe? For many reasons. One is because Jesus said, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (NIV, Matthew 10:42).

The cafe currently serves cups of soup, cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cups of cold water, kool-aid, iced tea and milk, and small servings (cups) of Hope. Our new vision statement will be: Serving Hope one cup at a time. The Hope we serve is Jesus and we serve this Hope one "cup" (one heart) at a time. The volunteers and team members not only serve Jesus Christ through our work, we serve Jesus Christ to our guests.

We're hosting an informational meeting open to anyone wanting to learn more about the cafe and these changes.

Do you have a lot of questions?

Do you want to know the ins and outs of the ministry?

Have you wondered how the cafe is structured, why the name change, who is involved, and/or where the money goes?

Then we hope you'll attend this meeting and bring your friends and invite your church family to come to this meeting!!

Date: Sunday October 18, 2009

Time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Location: Harvest Presbyterian Church 1095 E. Reagan Pkwy. Medina, Ohio 44256 (Google it)

Contact: Tim Van Arsdale 330.304.5449 or tim@cafe4111.org

Details: Free to all, Free Coffee & Tea & Goodies, Come with an open heart and be ready for a packet of info to snack on

1999

2009

A twenty-something cafe guest was arrested for theft and sent to prison. This is an unchurched person who struggled in the past to trust in God. Our volunteers have prayed with, and for, this person and helped out in so many ways. One Christian even spent time in Bible study with our now incarcerated friend.

We knew this sentence was coming; We weren't caught off guard. And so we worked to encourage this guest and be a supportive friend in the face of this difficult situation. Yesterday, a letter arrived in the cafe mailbox. It was from our friend. Part of the letter reads:

Dear Tim,

I was sentenced to six months in prison. I sure have learned a lot so far. I have gotten in touch with God so much more in the short time I have been here. Even though I may have been suffering the first couple weeks in here, it has made my spirit in God grow so much. So I think that this is a time that He may be using as a time of growth. He is also showing me that I should grow in Him everyday, no matter how, I have to make time for it.

My process of being born again is continuing. I have also learned that we should praise God for filling us with the Holy Spirit. So I hope you have been doing well and have been successful in your path with God. Write me whenever you can and just give me some idea of anything you think may help me get through these six months. Because I am trying to find more moral support. But I am using God our Lord, our Savior, to help me and will continue worshiping and praising Him.

Hope to see you soon.

The work of Cafe 41:11 continues and, by God's grace, we are seeing the young people of Medina touched by His love and mercy. Please be faithful in giving and spreading the word to your friends and family about all God is doing through the team at Cafe 41:11. Your support puts real arms and legs behind His transforming power. And we sincerely thank you.

• Please pray for this young person.
• Pray also for the volunteers and for Janis and me.
• Ask God to give us all "some idea of anything that may help" these young people place their hope in Jesus Christ.

My daily complaining and whining regarding decisions about what to eat, what to wear, where to go, what to watch on TV, enhancing my credit score or purchasing power, putting someone else's needs above my own, or whether my cell phone, car, and computer are working properly seems even more insignificant after receiving a letter like this one. I'm not suggesting that you and I not care about these decisions, but we surely shouldn't worry about them or allow them to distract us from the most important "thing" we should be seeking (Luke 12:22-34).

Then why do we?

The writer of Hebrews reminds us, "Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering" (NIV, Hebrews 13:3).

Man...oh man...how guilty most of us are of not loving each other as brothers, or entertaining strangers, or remembering those in prison as if we were their cell mates.

God have mercy.

Kids swarm the cafe. They line the coffee bar sweating all over the counter and panting for something cold to drink. Library bags relax comfortably on the cafe's cozy red chairs. A teenage boy and girl sit face to face at a chess table in a furious battle of wit. And a group of middle school youth pile on the wooden bench near our over-sized table. The cafe is packed. It's packed with kids. Some new kids. And some regulars. And it is fun!

I blame the free kool-aid, ice cream, popsicles, and air conditioning. The cafe volunteers fault the friendly and welcoming hospitality we offer. Maybe it's a bit of both.

"What'dve Y'all been up to?" I ask. (Y'all spits from my lips now and again. It comes naturally from being born in San Antonio.)

"We're headed out to play basketball?" replies one young man.

The kids carry on. Tease one another. And argue over whether they have enough people to play. They chug kool-aid and sweet tea and beg for more Ramen noodle soup.

Then, as fast as they came, they're gone. But they'll be back.

So I sit down to read, leaving the work to my community service helpers. A woman I've never met walks through the door carrying a Bundt Cake. It was a delicious surprise!

"Is that for us?" I say excitedly.

"Yes!" she replies setting it gently on the bar.

After a quick exchange of thank you's and you're welcomes, she leaves. I sit up, place my book on the shelf, and walk over to smell her donation. I lift the cake to inspect it and hiding beneath it is a $20 bill.

I think to myself as I drop the donation in the box: WOW, What a sweet surprise! Thank you Father for this woman and her provision.

Please know that all the volunteers are doing what they can to serve and reach the young people of Medina. We may not always see them experience the life-changing power of knowing Jesus. But we are serving. We are sharing. We are praying. We're giving away bibles, and feeding the hungry, and quenching the thirst of those thirsty, and doing all of this in His name and for His glory.

Thank you for giving. You are just as much a part of our work as those on the front lines. And you get to share in the reward awaiting those who remain faithful until the end.

Someone once wrote, "Whatever you do (WHATEVER), work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (NIV, Colossians 3:23-24).

"You look familiar," the young man says. "Did you once live in a white house with a staircase going up the side?"

"Yes," I answer inquisitively with raised brows.

Then he says, "I used to come to your house."

"Really?" I ask.

"I was a Jehovah's Witness, and I would come and talk to you."

"REALLY!" I reply, "I hope you remember me for good reasons and not bad reasons."

"It was good," the young man reassures me. "I came to talk with you three times."

"Wow," I remark. "I don't remember. I mean...you kinda' look familiar."

"Yeah, I was just a kid then."

I sip my coffee and then ask, "What happened after the third visit?"

"You asked me not to come back."

"Oh." I reply. And then ask him, "You said you were a Jehovah's Witness. What happened? Was there something untrue about there belief-system that made you stop practicing?"

"No, not really. I mean I couldn't take the hypocrisy. The leaders would say we had to live one way but they would live a different way. That...and...they basically made me choose between my girlfriend and the church. So I was disfellowshipped. No one there will talk to me anymore. They won't even shake my hand. If I see them, I'll say hi but they won't initiate a hello."

I can tell that he's open to discuss more so I say, "If you are no longer a Jehovah's Witness, would you consider yourself an atheist or do you believe in God."

"No," he answers. "I believe in God."

"Is this your first time at the cafe?"

 "Yeah," he replies.

"Well, I want you to know that you are welcome here."

"Thanks," he says.

We didn't speak much after this...just a little chit chat. But I believe a relationship was ignited. The young man hung out a bit longer watching his buddy finish a chess game. And I believe he'll be back to hang out. I'll see him again.

While sitting at the cafe watching him and his friends, I was reminded of Paul's words, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (NIV, Colossians 4:5-6).

I must've been practicing this verse when I first met him roughly ten years ago. I shudder to think of how his response to seeing me again at the cafe today would've been, if I had not welcomed him into my home. Even if it was for only three visits.

He is now back in my life, and God may be giving me a new opportunity to not only tell him about the love of God found in Jesus Christ...but maybe to live it before him. This means that I need to be ready to own my hypocrisy and the hypocrisy of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for me. I need to be honest and authentic before this young man. I need to exhibit a life of repentance and faith before him so that He can see Jesus.