The Mormons hate it. The British serve it too weak. A killjoy on a recent mission trip was declaring it unhealthy. Offended, I told him that studies show coffee has antioxidants and boosts the sex lives of old people.

But, as any Starbucks aficionado will tell you, it's not about any of that. It's about a lifestyle. It's about people you like and good conversation. It's an antidote to the morning blahs. It's about an ambience where brainstorms and evocative stories are shared, where everyone can become a Shéhérazade. Look at the video above of the mystical process of making it high in the Andes on a World Race trip and you'll see what I mean.

Life is too sterile in America. We're so antiseptic and driven. We don't connect nearly enough with those we love. We mistake productivity for life - a good café con leche is an appropriate response to that crazy-making mentality. Coffee is a symbol of human connection - the swirl of steam coming off the cup a signal that hearts may be shared.

When I see my mentor Andrew Shearman at the airport, we'll sit down over a double shot cappuccino with a splash of vanilla in it and we'll talk about the great things that God just did wherever we happen to be in the world. We connect for a last time before hugging goodbye.

Last week at our Friday Soup Night group (that's our small group that meets to eat soup, break bread, make merry, pray, exhort, and teach, all of which underscores our covenant with one another - the church as Jesus intended), Heather Goode pulled out a small treasure, a bottle of Tia Maria that had been sitting idle on some back shelf for 15 years. The fermented coffee flavor was a revelation and the group's spirits picked up noticeably after it was served. I think the kingdom of God advanced.

All over the world today, Satan is plotting to steal, kill, and destroy. You can think what you want, but I believe one of God's main strategies for introducing human beings to one another and the life of passion and love he intended is the humble cup of coffee.