Ten-times-out-of-ten I go to Rugged Elegance Select Establishment, Peet's Coffee & Tea in the a.m., after taking the girls to school and then working out. However this morning, I happened to be at KGO-TV where Emmy Award-winning tv and radio reporter and Consumer Confidential author, Michael Finney was giving a personal tour of ABC's studio to a group of San Francisco 2nd Graders. Michael's wife, Brenda was gracious enough to provide coffee and Noah's bagels for the chaperones. The coffee she served was from Starbucks.

Until today, die-hard Peets fans like me called Starbucks, "The Evil Empire." However, this morning I must change my tune.

The coffeemaker, which calls itself the premier purveyor of the finest java in the world, may have cornered the coffee market in nearly every major city -- save perhaps Israel.

Yes, they've now got airport stores, music bars, urban coffee shops, and drive-through-windows.

What they also now have is soul.

And I'm not just talking about the fabulous Hear Music CDs you can buy at Starbucks. (I think I have every one.)

Or the Starbucks store located in Seoul, Korea.

I'm talking about God-inspired messages printed on coffee cups.

Of course, these are in addition to quotes already being printed from new age authors, rap artists, jazz geniuses and other inspirational types.

As I finished my cup of Kenyan coffee at KGO, I couldn't help but look for the message on my cup, after learning that the company is printing sixty-three quotes from writers, scientists, musicians, athletes, politicians and cultural icons, including scriptural messages by one of America's preeminent Christian thought-leaders, Reverend Rick Warren.

I was hoping to discover a reflection from Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Warren is also the author of wildly successful, New York Times best-selling book called The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?, which twelve of us from San Francisco's City Church studied last spring.

However, like the Bazooka Gum wrappers I'd look forward to reading as a kid, my adult "siren song" indulgence from Starbucks would not be by Warren, at least not today.

However, on Tuesday, October 18th 2005, Starbucks spokeswoman Sanja Gould did confirm that Reverend Warren's inspirational quotes would be printed on their cups of java and other drinks in the future.

The mermaid cup I got today had a message written on it by James Brown, the Emmy-winning sports broadcaster and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday.

Quote #58

Brown's Quote #58 of sixty-three said:

I have faith. Faith in our wondrous capacity for hope and good, love and trust, healing and forgiveness. Faith in the blessing of our infinite ability to wonder, question, pray, feel, think, and learn. I have faith. Faith in the infinite possibilities of the human spirit.

On July 30th 2005, Silver Oak, the #1 Collector wine in America, will release their 2001 vintage Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a blend from several vineyards, is the most highly anticipated Silver Oak release since the classic 1997 bottling.

Winemaker Daniel Baron describes this wine as a vibrant, rich wine with dark, ruby color and an expressive nose of cassis, black cherry, dark chocolate, soy sauce, ginger and sandalwood. It is fruit driven and full-bodied on the palate with a panoply of fruits and spices echoed in its extremely long, complex finish. It will continue to improve until 2023, given proper cellaring.

Porthos Wine Ventures, the fine wines, personalized recommendations, and nationwide shipping distributor based in San Rafael California, is offering an exclusive pre-release opportunity. Porthos will send wine lovers from the Rugged Elegance community up to 12 bottles of this rare wine before it is released at the winery. Those who purchase an entire case of this fine wine will get free shipping throughout the U.S.