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Earl Traveler Makes Coffee · Travel With A Purpose

• 0:05
  Hello, fellow Scojojourners.
• 0:07
  I'm your host, Dave Leighton, and welcome to Travel with a Purpose, a podcast designed to keep Stowjourners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired.
• 0:24
  Now everyone knows that the daily devotional at Camp B is a special time.
• 0:30
  But another very special time is Thursday evening's potluck dinners.
• 0:36
  During this time, sojourners and friends gather in the lodge to enjoy some incredible dishes, wonderful fellowship, laughter, and of course, a rousing game of hand and foot.
• 0:48
  Well, it didn't take long for Earl and Pearl to discover this special event.
• 0:53
  And of course, Earl wants to help in any way he can.
• 0:58
  He's not much of a cook, but he did learn to make coffee over his career as an Air Force master sergeant.
• 1:06
  In fact, there might be some who said his greatest skill was making coffee.
• 1:11
  Well, times have changed and technology takes great leaps forward, even in coffee making.
• 1:19
  Let's look in to see what happened when Earl volunteered to make coffee for the Thursday night potluck.
• 1:26
  When Earl Traveler volunteered to make the coffee for the Thursday night potluck at Camp Bee's Lodge, he figured he was accepting one of the easiest jobs on the property.
• 1:36
  How hard can it be?
• 1:38
  Earl said confidently.
• 1:40
  I've been making coffee longer than some of these green dots have been alive.
• 1:44
  The old coffee maker in the lodge had finally been replaced with a brand new high tech automatic machine.
• 1:53
  It was shiny, chrome plated, and covered with more buttons than the dashboard of Earl's Motor Home.
• 2:01
  A note taped to the front read Welcome to the Smart Brew 5000.
• 2:07
  Touch screen activated, voice controlled, and Wi-Fi enabled.
• 2:13
  Earl stared at it.
• 2:15
  It makes coffee and checks email.
• 2:19
  Well, the following Thursday afternoon, Earl marched into the lodge, determined to master the machine before potluck began.
• 2:28
  As Earl approached the coffee machine, the touch screen lit up.
• 2:32
  Welcome, user, it said.
• 2:35
  Earl jumped.
• 2:36
  It knows I'm here.
• 2:38
  The machine asked.
• 2:39
  Please select your beverage.
• 2:41
  Earl poked the screen.
• 2:43
  Nothing happened.
• 2:45
  He poked harder, but still nothing.
• 2:48
  Finally he jabbed it with enough force to nearly push the machine off the counter.
• 2:52
  About that time Charles Shelton walked by.
• 2:56
  Earl, it's a touch screen.
• 2:58
  You touch it gently.
• 3:00
  Don't be an agitator.
• 3:03
  Earl nodded as if he knew that all along.
• 3:07
  Well, that's exactly what I was doing.
• 3:10
  Charles smiled and continued on his way.
• 3:13
  After several attempts, Earl managed to reach the menu.
• 3:17
  The machine asked.
• 3:18
  Would you like regular, bold, French roast, Columbian, breakfast blend, dark mountain sunrise, or artesian heritage reserve?
• 3:29
  Earl blinked.
• 3:31
  Just coffee.
• 3:32
  The machine waited.
• 3:34
  Earl waited.
• 3:35
  The machine waited.
• 3:37
  Evidently it doesn't speak Southern.
• 3:41
  Eventually he selected something that sounded like coffee.
• 3:45
  The machine then asked, would you like a small, medium, large, extra large, travel mug, conference size or fellowship hall size?
• 3:56
  Earl selected fellowship hall size.
• 4:00
  The machine responded.
• 4:02
  Excellent choice.
• 4:04
  Well thank you, Earl said proudly.
• 4:06
  The machine screen then appeared.
• 4:09
  Please confirm.
• 4:11
  Earl hit confirm.
• 4:13
  Another screen appeared.
• 4:16
  Please reconfirm your confirmation.
• 4:19
  Earl sighed.
• 4:21
  Sting was designed by committee.
• 4:23
  Twenty minutes later he finally reached the brewing stage.
• 4:27
  The machine began making noises that sounded like a jet engine preparing to take off.
• 4:32
  It had whistles and beats and grinding and hissing and flashing blue lights, and a flashing green light.
• 4:40
  Then a voice announced Brewing in Progress.
• 4:44
  About that time Joel walked into the lodge.
• 4:48
  Earl, everything okay?
• 4:50
  I think so, Earl replied.
• 4:53
  If smoke starts coming out, unplug it.
• 4:56
  Several sojourners began drifting into the lodge to help set up for the potluck.
• 5:02
  They watched the machine perform what appeared to be a complicated scientific experiment.
• 5:07
  And then Rob Carr looked at the screen.
• 5:10
  Earl, why does it say you're brewing twenty four gallons?
• 5:15
  Earl froze.
• 5:16
  Twenty four gallons?
• 5:18
  The machine happily replied.
• 5:21
  Estimated completion time one hour and twelve minutes.
• 5:25
  The room erupted in laughter.
• 5:27
  Apparently, Earl had accidentally selected Sojourner workshop capacity.
• 5:33
  With help from several amused volunteers, the program was canceled and restarted.
• 5:40
  This time the machine successfully produced a reasonable amount of coffee.
• 5:45
  Everyone cheered.
• 5:46
  Feeling victorious, Earl decided to test another button.
• 5:52
  That proved to be a mistake.
• 5:54
  Suddenly the machine announced language changed to Swedish.
• 5:59
  The screen became completely unreadable.
• 6:02
  Nobody knew how to change it back.
• 6:06
  For fifteen minutes a group of experienced sojourners stood around the machine offering expert opinions about buttons they had never seen before.
• 6:15
  Finally, Sally Crossley found the settings menu and restored English.
• 6:21
  The room applauded.
• 6:22
  As potluck guests began arriving, the coffee was finally ready.
• 6:28
  People filled their cups and smiled.
• 6:30
  It's good coffee, someone said.
• 6:33
  Excellent coffee, another agreed.
• 6:35
  Earl folded his arms proudly.
• 6:38
  Of course it is.
• 6:39
  Earl looked at Helm.
• 6:41
  You realize six people helped you make it.
• 6:43
  Earl nodded.
• 6:44
  That's called leadership.
• 6:47
  The potluck was a great success.
• 6:50
  At the end of the evening, Charles thanked everyone who had helped, and a special thanks to Earl for handling the coffee, he said.
• 6:58
  Earl stood and gave a small bow.
• 7:00
  You're welcome.
• 7:02
  Earl shook her head.
• 7:03
  Just promise me one thing.
• 7:05
  What's that?
• 7:06
  Next Thursday, let somebody else make the coffee.
• 7:10
  Earl grinned.
• 7:11
  Agreed.
• 7:12
  I've already volunteered to operate the new smart thermostat.
• 7:17
  The entire room groaned.
• 7:20
  Well, Earl learned that enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, but wisdom reminds us to understand a task before jumping in with both feet.
• 7:30
  The Smart Brew five thousand looked like a simple coffee maker, yet it required more knowledge than Earl expected.
• 7:38
  Thankfully, the help of friends turned a potential disaster into a success.
• 7:43
  Before taking on a responsibility, it's wise to count the cost, learn what is required, and seek help when needed.
• 7:51
  By the way, that reminds me a bit about what Jesus said in Luke 14, 28.
• 7:57
  He said, For which of you desiring to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it.
• 8:06
  Well, I know our Lord didn't have coffee making in mind when he said this, but the principle of preparation is still a good idea.
• 8:14
  Whether serving it can't be, helping with a service project, volunteering to make coffee for a potluck.
• 8:20
  We honor God when we prepare carefully, understand what is involved, and recognize when we need assistance.
• 8:28
  Planning ahead can save us from brewing twenty four gallons of coffee when all we needed was one pot.
• 8:34
  Well, thanks for listening to this podcast.
• 8:37
  I invite you to subscribe and share it with others.
• 8:39
  I'm your host, Dave Leighton, and remember we glorify God as together we travel with a purpose.
• 8:46
  Happy sojourning.