Starbucks founder Howard Schultz made this comment recently to a shareholder: “You can sell your shares of Starbucks and buy shares in another company. Thank you very much.”

Why would ole Howard make this comment?

Because the shareholder doesn’t share the same liberal values as Mr. Schultz. According to the Washington Post:

…the shareholder in question was Thomas Strobhar, the founder of the Corporate Morality Action Center, which states that its mission is to challenge corporations on issues like gay marriage, abortion and pornography. Last year Starbucks’ endorsed a Washington state bill to legalize same-sex marriage, which prompted the National Organization for Marriage to organize a boycott of the coffee behemoth. So in last week’s meeting, Strobhar criticized Starbuck’s endorsement for hurting sales and profits in the first quarter of 2012.

Whenever possible, I prefer Peet’s coffee. It’s fresher,  more flavorful, and so much more caffeinated. Sadly, there are not as many of these franchises around, so I’m stuck with Starbucks. This is a bummer, because Alfred Peet taught Starbucks how to roast their coffee.

But I digress…

Because of Schultz’ overwhelming support for gay marriage and a host of other liberal causes, instead of boycotting Starbucks, I will hand out as many Gospel tracts as possible to the customers who frequent that establishment as well as have conversations about Jesus being the only way inside and outside the coffee house. This is more effective than arguing politics because one can only change when God changes the heart.

I put this commitment into practice recently. I handed a Gospel tract to the lady below, Paula, who has two Masters Degrees in Biblical Hebrew and a Ph.D in something else. I also got the sense that she lived an alternative lifestyle that the Starbucks’ founder would support.

After sharing the plan of salvation with her, she said that she agreed with my message, not my method.

Anyone surprised by that?

Read “The God of Starbucks” here.

Read “The Shepherd of Brokeback Mountain” here.