WHO CARES ABOUT THE FREAKING RED CUPS!?!?!

I am definitely over seeing articles about why Christians are so upset about Starbucks cups not saying "Merry Christmas!"

Well, apparently a lot of people because it's blowing up my news feeds.

Last time I read the gospels, I didn't see Jesus say anything about being right or getting your way all the time. In fact, I read about going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, being blessed for being persecuted and being blessed for being poor in spirt.... you know, stuff like that.

I thought the greatest commandments were to love the Lord your God and love your neighbor. I must have missed the one about posting articles and making videos complaining about the design choices of a major corporation.

It's funny how people are so quick to complain about Starbucks not saying, "Merry Christmas." But then also complain when someone, somewhere tells them they can't say something in a certain situation. I remember a story Jesus told about not trying to remove a speck in someones eye with a log in yours...maybe we should try listening to that one for a change.

Is this honestly what we want following Jesus to be associated - complaining about the "Christmas-ness" of red cups?

I sure hope not. I want following Jesus to be about loving others every chance I get. That means anyone, from my normal baristas - Garret, Megan and Brittany to the CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, if I ever get the chance to meet him. Also, Schultzy if you are reading this - PLEASE OPEN A STARBUCKS IN MANNHEIM, PA. My wife Brooke and I can keep it in business by ourselves.

We've become so convinced that being loud and right is more inportant than being humble and Christ-like. We are so easily angered about things of this world when we are told to be slow to anger. We are constantly complaining when we are told to consider suffering joy. What is happening to the followers of Jesus? We have this insane ability to just miss the point of being like Jesus sometimes.

Quite frankly, I love the red cups! To me they say Christmas without even having to literally say it. And THAT is excellent design. They are beautiful, simple and honestly, I wish I drank hot drinks so I could have one (I only really drink iced coffee). Kudos to the design team for thinking simply and boldly. I love them!

Instead of complaining about the cups not saying "Christmas", why don't you act like Christ in a Starbucks. Why don't you get to know the people making your coffee or the person in line with you. Why not buy the person behind you their drink? Or if you go to a Target Starbucks, like we do, put all the carts back in order while you wait. That will probably make a few employees feel loved! There are so many ways to be like Jesus everyday and a cup saying or not saying something has nothing to do with that. Also, I don't think we are going to win a single heart to Jesus by complaining about Christmas not being on a cup. If anything we might push people away from the loving arms of Jesus with our cold, hard, complaining coffee-less hands. We want to close the gap from a person to Jesus, not lengthen it. Remember the last time you were around someone who was always complaining? Did you want to spend more time or less tim with them?

As a Jesus follower, I want to be about more than the things of this world. I want to be about bringing a new world, heaven, to earth. I want to do my best to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to love God with my whole heart, soul and mind and to love my neighbors. I can do that with a cup that says or doesn't say anything. And I think you can too.