They have a lot of aliases like Scooter, Steel Pony, and Murdercycle. I even heard someone refer to the 1800cc Goldwing as a Couch-on-two-Wheels. I don’t ride one of those but I do cruise on a fuel injected, shaft driven, liquid cooled 1600cc Kawasaki Vulcan with Cobra short dragster pipes. You may not know this about me but I bleed V twin. It’s a recreation that I can’t get enough of. When I ride, I feel the pleasure of God and smell afterwards like 93 octane. I love it.

The chrome on these pipes look wet when polished. And the sound? They gargle and pop at an idle and with a twist of the throttle they ring and blast. They sound like someone took a trumpet, tuba, and saxophone and made them one instrument. I describe my Iron Horse as: the trumpet of God going down the street when Jesus returns. And I described them that way to a community service worker last week.

A few days later, that same worker says, “Hey Tim, I heard this motorcycle drive by my house and it was so loud that I immediately thought: there goes the trumpet of God!”

I thought it was so cool how God used a relationship, a conversation, and a motorcycle to plant a seed in the mind of this person to make him think about the trumpets of God. A few days go by and Tammy, one of our volunteers, shared with this same community service worker in more detail about this God who loves us and who will return someday (perfect for Easter, huh?).

Well, that conversation really pricked his heart and he opened up to me yesterday during our shift and said that he felt something change in his life while talking to Tammy and that he has talked to God everyday since then. God is awesome! He is in the business of changing hearts like yours and mine and those around us, and He often uses relationships and trumpet blasts and motorcycles and conversations and serving the needs of others to bring life into dead hearts.

More good news…

Paul, a Saturday volunteer, shared more about God and who He is with a teen guest who we’ve been serving for months now. Pray for our volunteers as they serve and witness through action and in truth.

And thank you for your support of Cups. Your prayers stirred hearts to give. God provided enough money for Cups to pay the rent and other bills.

I’m highlighting the latest news about Cups with bulleted points in this update because so much is happening. Enjoy!

• A teen guest shared with us last week how God is working in his heart and how he is working on trusting in Christ. He decided to get serious about his relationship with God. (YAY!)
• There are two community service workers helping at Cups. Please keep them in your prayers.
• The café was able to stay open till 9pm last Friday night. Two Connection Church members, who volunteer at Cups, served half a dozen guests ranging between the ages of 15-24.
• We needed 13 gallon trash bags. The café was totally out. I prayed and prayed and then last week got a call from Buehler’s on Rt 18. The service manager said some miscellaneous damaged items were available for pick up if we wanted them. I drove out there to pick up the donation and it was a large box full of 13 gallon trash bags. There must have been 10-15 boxes of trash bags in this one box. I’m talking the 30 and 45 count boxes of trash bags. Thanks Dad! I love you J! Keep praying and trusting in Him to provide.
• I shared the Gospel with two 22year olds last week and gave one a Bible. They are searching and asking good questions. Please pray for them in their spiritual journey and for me. They are both also looking for jobs.
• Today is Nacho Night at Cups!
• Cups has a new brownie baker to add to our list of generous men and women who donate food and supplies on a regular basis. If you bake or donate or give in any way, THANK YOU for giving!
• The Cups Café Shelter Squad will hold its first meeting this Sunday, March 27^th at 2pm.
• Lynn opened a Bible last week and shared some encouraging verses with a woman at Cups.
• Cups Café received news regarding our annual Medina County Fair Week fundraiser and it sounds like our responsibilities could increase! Please pray for this wonderful opportunity. More details to come.
• Need tax help? Contact Available Tax Services 330-241-5191 or email joseph.oloyede@availabletaxservices.com
• Our volunteer schedule coordinator extraordinaire (aka Angy Kreuder) is doing a great job of making sure the volunteer schedule is full so the café can remain open throughout the week. Keep praying for her as she calls volunteers and serves in this way.
• Cups Café is hosting a video game drive. We’re collecting gently used video games for the Medina County District Library. More details to come.
• I’ve been blessed with a part time job at the Medina Rec Center (16 hours/week). It definitely helps pay the bills. Thank you for praying and supporting this ministry. Please continue because we need it and spread the word. We’re always searching for more monthly support for Cups Café and the Van Arsdale family. Make checks payable: Cups Café.