“across all channels of American society and culture, there is such a fracturing of values... there is little trust in a number of public institutions... what we’ve done is provide a safe harbor for people to go. I think the brand equity of the name Starbucks has supplied a level of trust and confidence, not only in the product, in the trademark, but in the experience of what Starbucks is about. At a time where there are very few things that people have faith in” Starbucks Founder Howard Schultz

“the most enduring competitive advantage we have is that we are able to give our customers a better experience at the store level... than any competitor we have out there” Starbucks CEO Orin Smith

Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his people, the Israelites, and saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit he saw an Egyptian beating one of the Hebrew slaves. After looking around to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand.

The next day, as Moses was out visiting his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “What are you doing, hitting your neighbor like that?” Moses said to the one in the wrong. “Who do you think you are?” the man replied. “Who appointed you to be our price and judge? Do you plan to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?”

Moses was badly frightened because he realized that everyone knew what he had done. And sure enough, when Pharaoh heard about it, he gave orders to have Moses arrested and killed. Exodus 2:11-15

One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement.

Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.

Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. Exodus 3:1-4

“Do not come any closer,” God told him. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” Exodus 3:5

Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land” Exodus 3:7-8a

What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life has gone. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17