A Teeny-Tiny Publisher

Morning Coffee Publishing (MCP) is a bit of an accident. And really, it’s not even a “legit” publishing company – yet. It could be, but I think by definition a publishing “company” should have at least a few books in the pipeline – including a title or two that aren’t by the publisher. At present, all we have is the hope of finishing the Appointing Times series as each book costs far more than the revenue we presently generate. So at this point, MCP is still a labor of love (and what a happy labor it is)!

But hey, all “companies” start somewhere.

Regardless, here’s how it happened. I really love Yeshua (Jesus). Aimee does too, but she’s not the creator type. So one day, Aimee responded to a tongue-in-cheek question I’d been asking her for decades – in a way she normally doesn’t. The conversation usually went something like this.

“Where do you want to eat tonight,” I’d say.

“I don’t know. You pick.”

Then I’d say, “What’s next in life for us, sweet pea? What’s your dream?”

Always, she’d reply, “I don’t need to do anything, Papa. You know that. I just like living happy and carefree! Like little birdies!”

But this time her answer was different. Aimee said, “Papa, I’d like to write a book. I want to call it Snowflake Discovers the True Meaning of Hanukkah.” And goodness, was I ever surprised!

Now, there’s a little backstory to this. Basically, we both grew up loving Jesus and, of course, celebrating Christmas. But when we figured out that the Bible is one book, that God is utterly consistent, and that God’s holy-days or “appointed times” were different than what we grew up with, let’s just say the adjustment was awkward and, at times, painful.

To keep it real, I should tell you Hanukkah isn’t a Jewish or Messianic analog for Christmas. But that didn’t stop Aimee and me from trying. That’s what you do when you’re grieving – when you’re kiddos aren’t quite sure where the presents are going to come from, and when the parents aren’t sure how to recreate the winter cozies that, in retrospect, were a form of cultural idolatry.

But in time, we came to learn which practices were, and which weren’t, antithetical to God’s kingdom. Of course, Jesus-followers have to discover and process such things over time. And sometimes that’s just what it takes – time. People grieve and process differently, and at different rates. Aimee and I understand that.

But alas, our loss has turned to joy. If I’ve learned anything from Aimee, it’s that the carefree and “little” life truly are the best. And for both of us, it starts with the simplicity of day-by-day reliance on our Father in Heaven. But practically (again, keeping it real), for Aimee, it’s cuddle time on the couch and simple meals. For me, it’s the quietness of 5am with a cup of coffee and all that it represents to me – a life that’s ceased striving.

Welcome to Morning Coffee Publishing. Maybe it’ll become something. Maybe it won’t. And that’s the point.

Warmly,