Nathan E. Lewis

I am deeply moved by the number of people who regularly ask me about the coffee scene in the Portland metro. Undeniably, the best coffee in town is Jim and Patty’s coffee shop on NE Fremont St. in the Beaumont district. Jim and Patty are the founders of Coffee People. They sold out when Jim decided to go to seminary. They have now returned and are roasting small batches of the beverage that best compliments the ambrosia of Mount Olympus. On the west side, the best coffee in Washington County is at Bella Espresso in the Streets of Tanasbourne. The owner started roasting his own coffee in Canon Beach and made his way into Hillsboro a few years ago. Continue reading »

Two weeks ago, while I was waiting for a friend at Ava Coffee Shop in Beaverton, I made eye contact with the boyish smile of Zephyr Moore, Salmon Boy. His fist clutched a broken, plastic license plate frame he had just removed from the bumper of a stranger’s car. Zephyr immediately and cheerily started to tell me how I could stop global warming by ripping off all labels from my clothes. He pointed to his Nikes, in good shape but minus the fabric swooshes. He handed me a thin, light leaflet (4×6) printed on both sides. It reads:
“A body is propelled faster, safer, farther after removing functionless mass (Physics) of advertising labels and covers. How much fuel-air is burned to propel useless car dealer ad covers on daily commutes? If all 132,000 cares on 16.09 km of three-lane freeway packed metal covers, 0.454 kg (a pound), the fuel burned to accelerate only covers is 83.3 liters daily! or 30,400 1/year. Continue reading »

Jesus said, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but you do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Every once in awhile I become painfully aware of the log in my own eye. It is old growth. It’s roots go deep, strangling my rods and cones. Not only am I thus blind to my own faults but I am unable to see what God is doing around me as clearly as I ought. Jesus also said, “If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out.” If I am going to restore my sight, that’s about the only solution available. For me to unroot my old growth, I will have to destroy my eye. And so, I am hoping for divine intervention. I am looking to Jesus to heal my sight. “I can see clearly now my log is gone…” I should probalby leave such singing to Weird Al.