Bitter Cup Brewing Woes
It seems to brew a perfect cup is more difficult than it looks. For the past several years we have always used the french press. Same portions nothing really measured out (3.5tbsp) just estimation. These estimations make me feel that I am missing out on the perfect cup of coffee. My wife got me a lovely probably overdue birthday gift for a coffee lover, a Chemex. This morning I decided to give it a go. I did not go far, maybe it was the amount of coffee I put into it 52 grams, following the instructions from the Elemental coffee video on youtube. A hole broke through the filter and perhaps it was the fact I poured too fast. The grind size was maybe too heavy. The filters were not right, not durable enough. Many factors come into play in just one brewing experience.
When roasting I take notes about temp, length of time, and make the necessary adjustments despite these corrections what is obvious is that each set of beans come out differently. Brewing to an exact science is what I want to do. I believe this can be fixed. Sadly the book by Tristan Stephenson Baristas Guide to Coffee is one of the few resources I have one day I hope to go with Standart or Roast Magazine but for now, in these starting stages, I must wait. "By itself, bitterness is an unpleasant sensation, but it can do a great job of focusing sweetness and taming acidity when balanced correctly. It's the structure that bitterness offers that brings order to the other elements of a coffee cup." (pg. 65). Bitterness is a word one would not associate with something that can balance in the case of coffee this is true. Bitterness there can be found sweetness, with the numerous measurements and methods are out there, the exploration is not hopeless but continuous.
In life bitterness rarely ever if ever results in something positive. Bitterness is something unseen is untamable. The only one who can uproot this root of bitterness is Jesus. He is the one who never gave Himself over to this. What is there for Jesus to be bitter about? Well, we see Him being crucified, yet He said "Father forgive them, for they know what they do." And they cast lots for his garments." (Luke 23:34) . Let that sink in. Compassion for His captors. Pleading with the Father for their souls. Who has experienced such punishment? Thousands after Jesus would experience the same fate in His name. No one would ever experience drinking down the bitter cup of our sin, only Jesus.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5).
Jesus has done so much, "borne our griefs, "carried our sorrows". I have a strong Christian friend who is going through a depression and I can not bear her grief nor carry away her sorrows, no matter how much I wish I could. Christ has, continues to do so, He uses His gifted to help as well. Jesus died for us and all we've ever done is "esteem him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted." Many on the surface level have knowledge of Jesus and His suffering on the cross yet have no idea why He came to do so. Some have called His suffering "Cosmic Child Abuse" pointing the finger back at God viewing Him as evil and sinful. Jesus as God voluntarily died in our place (see John 10:18, Romans 5:8). This passage (Isaiah 53) speaks the exact opposite of that in His death and resurrection He has "borne our griefs" and "carried our sorrows" bitterness is grievous, a bitter fruit from a poisonous root. Cosmic Child Abusers view Jesus wrongly, they don't have joy in the Son, for that had read these words and understand all that Jesus has done for them the reaction would be humility and praise not pride and bitterness.
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
"Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit," (Deuteronomy 29:18)
The root is poisonous, for all man has ever done is turn away from God to sin. Denies that he even does so. Look to the cross and see what The Saviour has done for you. Peace and healing come through Jesus and Him crucified. This is found in no other perhaps dear reader you have wandered for a long time as one in the dessert turn to Christ, your heart turned away long enough, serving sex, serving Mary Jane, the almighty dollar, fame, serving you. God wanted His peoples full affection then eventually hundreds of years later they were judged and found wanting (see Daniel 5:27). God's mercy taken away, enslaved, God's chosen people became forever dispersed. Sin is slavery. Thos which your affections are primed on do they truly satisfy? Slavery's evidence is wounding and by the wounds of Jesus on the cross He bestows healing. Healing from the grievous sin whatever it may be. God's grace is more than enough. "The glorious results won by a suffering Saviour: Mans redemption, His own eternal joy, The triumph of God's love over man's sin." (Sunday School Addresses, New Series, p 6157).
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." (John 5:24)
Strange how both these subjects connect one may not see it, bitterness tasted in coffee can help in identifying sweetness and taming acidity. Jesus drank the bitter cup for those who hear and believe. A great sweetness comes as a result no judgment, reconciled to a God at once enmity with, and we get Jesus in this life and the life forevermore in heaven. Jesus drank the Father's wrath to reconcile us to Himself, giving His children present joy and this new life would therefore be structured upon, in, and around Him forever.
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