There’s Money In That Analogy!

 

The visual punch which an analogy delivers was again illustrated this week in the words of Bill Maher!

 

“[Bill] Maher then said that former Vice President Joe Biden wasn’t the perfect candidate, but he may be the Democrats’ best hope to beat Trump since he’s the only one polling to beat Trump in Ohio.

Maher said,  . . . .

Biden is like non-dairy creamer,
“Nobody loves it, but in a jam, it gets the job done.”¹

 

 

This post is not political but pedagogical.

It demonstrates the capacity of “analogy” to carry high voltage imagery.
An analogy can carry a lot of water!

(Sorry about the mixed metaphors)

Analogy . . . .

√  is a short-cut argument!

√  brings in the visual.

√  says it in far fewer words.

√  relates to an audience’s experiences.

√  enhances the possibility of remembering

√ provokes the listener’s mind.

√  urges an audience’s attention.

√  brings in emotion.

√  punches through any fuzziness.

 

Can a preacher use this analogy?

#1) Perhaps!  I will attempt to adapt this analogy two different ways — see below.

 

#2) Can a preacher use this analogy?  — That may not be the best question.  Rather, is the conscious identification of such analogies, which are used in daily life, as well as in political, judicial, and business communication, homiletical profitable?

The more you spot such analogies, the more your own mind will think that way. The more you recognize the use of an analogy, the more often you will develop an analogical illustration to drive a point, create an introduction or conclusion, arrive at a BigIdea, etc.

Improve Homiletically By
Looking For
&
Listening To
Analogies

 

#3)  Note: The use of a figure of speech or a metaphor is different from an analogical illustration — primarily in its length — in how to build it and you run it out.

When you come across a metaphor or a simple “17-word analogy,” remember that you can “run with it” and build it into an analogical illustration.

By doing a little research on “non-dairy creamers,” this 17-word analogy can be built into an “analogical illustration.”

 

#4) Let’s see if this analogy can be used homiletically.

√  Layout the essence of the point which the analogy is making.

The essence of the point being made by the analogy is that somethings in life are acceptable when the options are limited or non-existent.

√  Identify what “keywords and/or phrases” you want to pull down from (A) to (B).  Those words or phrases will come from either the 17-word analogy or from the developed researched analogy.

#1) Keywords or phrases from part (A) of the 17-word analogy:

♦  Nobody loves it
♦  but in a jam
♦  it gets the job done

 

#2) Keywords or phrases from part (A) of the researched analogy:

♦  a substitute
♦  variety of brand names
♦ International Delight, Flavor Charm, and Coffee Rich (yes!)
♦ a variety of flavored creamers
♦ can make regular coffee — taste like it came from an expensive coffee-house instead of your kitchen

 

√  Two Examples: Let’s give it a try.

Example (#1)
Part (A)
Probably many of us have used powdered non-dairy creamers.  Sometimes, because that was only what was available for that free coffee.  I would suggest that few really love the taste of those powdered non-dairy creamers, but we use them when there are no options.  It works!  Not our preference, but for non-black coffee drinkers, powdered creamer does the job — if we want that cup of coffee.

Part (B)
Likewise . . . .

(You do not need to use the word “likewise” as your transitional connective when you move to part (B) — but it initially sets it up in our thinking.)

or

At times, Christians want to move in directions, get onto roads, which they may not really want to get on, but the options are limited to the “non-dairy” — the “powered creamer.”  They really don’t love this-or-that option.  They find themselves in a jam — between desire and not what they really enjoy.

Proverbs says it this way — “to a hungry man, every bitter thing is sweet.”  They are willing to live with less — It gets the job done.  It has its drawbacks, but they want that “cup of coffee” — maybe that so-called “free cup of coffee.”

Some of God’s people are like using a powered creamer, they really don’t like it, but when up against the wall of not having what they want or having to settle for less — it works for now — it gets them to what they want.

 

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Example (#2)
Part (A) — using researched information

64% of American drink a cup of coffee every day.
280 million cups of coffee are consumed every day of the year.
the average cost for a cup $3.28
34% drink gourmet coffee.
66 % are women / 62 % are men.
lowest consumption ages 18-34 / 74% are over 55
75% of coffee drinks use some kind of creamer and/or sugar. ³

Before 1961 — milk or cream were the two options for most coffee drinkers.  Nestlé’s Coffee-Mate™ was the first non-dairy creamer — introduced in 1961.

Today there are a variety of brand names. Some of the brands include . . .
International Delight
Flavor Charm
Coffee Rich.

Seemingly, they use names that give the impression that you can still enjoy the non-dairy as much as the real thing  — “delight” “charm” “rich.”

And these coffee creamer substitutes come in a variety of flavors . . . . French Vanilla, Almond Joy, Irish Creme.  The various flavorings make the coffee taste even better for the majority of coffee drinkers.

They are all trying to make that cup of coffee taste different from a regular cup of black coffee.  Why?  Because 75% of coffee drinkers realize that in the natural, coffee is typically bitter — and most do not acquire a likely for that taste.

The article I read indicates that the artificial and flavored coffee creamer industry is aiming to make that cup of coffee — made in your kitchen at home, taste like it came from that more expensive coffee store you enjoy.

These flavored non-dairy creamers have become the desired substitute for real milk or cream, and all aimed at making a cup of coffee taste “better” — for most American coffee drinkers.

And it must work since work for many of those who use it since both powered and liquid flavored non-dairy creamers usage was up almost 14% in past years.

Part (B)
Likewise . . . .

or

At times, Christians behave like most American coffee drinkers — they like and desire “a cup of coffee” but want it to taste better than it is naturally.

They want the road they have chosen, but they want it to be sweeter than it actually is  — than it is in the natural  — without the sugar or  “creamer.”

Proverbs states that . . . . The road of the transgressor is hard!  In the natural, that road is not sweet to the taste.

How can it be made to taste better than it is in the natural?
Can we “doctor it up” with some artificial sweeteners?
Can we make it taste far different by adding “Almond Joy” or Amaretto?
Can I have my bad choices taste like the more expensive version?
Is there a substitute which will help this taste better?

Interestingly . . . .
Some of God’s people will even use that “powered non-dairy creamer” — when in a jam — when there are no other options. “Powder” — once it mixes —  works in a crunch! Maybe not one’s preference, but it does the job.

They want to move in directions, get onto roads, which they may not really want to get on, but there are no other options. They really don’t love that option, but it works for now!  It gets the job done.  It has its drawback, but they want that “cup of coffee” — that so-called “free cup of coffee.”

 

 

Improve Homiletically By
Looking For & Listening To
Analogies

 

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Other Information & Links:

1. https://www.westernjournal.com/ct/even-bill-maher-thinks-dems-far-left-beat-trump-blowing/

2. Non-dairy Creamers:

“Non-dairy creamer is a popular milk or cream substitute for those who are lactose intolerant. Non-dairy creamer can also come in powder form. Corn starch can be used to make non-dairy creamer. Some non-dairy creamers used to flavor black coffee are soy products. Many people have an allergy or intolerance to the lactose found in dairy products.”
— https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-non-dairy-creamer.htm

“Non-dairy creamer is a milk or cream substitute used primarily for flavoring coffee and tea. There are a variety of these creamers made with various products, but most of the standard or best-known brands contain the protein-rich milk derivative casein in the form of sodium caseinate. For this reason vegans and some vegetarians choose to use a soy-based creamer instead. Other ingredients in the typical non-dairy creamer include cornstarch and vegetable oils.

Nestlé’s Coffee-Mate™ was the first and is probably the best-known non-dairy creamer, hitting the market in 1961. Today there are many popular brands including Cremora™, International Delight™, Flavor Charm™, and Coffee Rich™. This material is lactose-free, which might explain initial reasons manufacturers wanted to label these products as “non-dairy,” as this would attract those consumers who are lactose intolerant, or unable to consume milk and cream.

Non-dairy creamer comes in powder form or as a refrigerated liquid. Advantages of the powder form are that it won’t cool your coffee and it has a longer shelf life. However, some find the liquid version more convenient and richer in texture and taste. Generally it is recommended that liquid creamers be consumed within 14 days of opening the product.

In addition to standard non-dairy creamer, many manufacturers offer a variety of flavored creamers. French Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut, Irish Crème and Macadamia Nut are just a few of the many choices available that can make regular coffee taste like it came from an expensive coffee-house instead of your kitchen.

A non-dairy creamer that is soy-based will not contain sodium caseinate or any other animal product or derivative. Crème de la Soy™ is one example, and Silk Original Creamer™ is another soy-based creamer. These products are safe for vegans and for those vegetarians who wish to avoid animal products.

Some people prefer to make their own non-dairy creamer using corn starch, powdered sugar and flavor extracts (such as vanilla extract). The recipe should be mixed in a little cold water before being stirred into a hot beverage.”
— https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-non-dairy-creamer.htm

“In fact, manufacturer sales of plant-based alternative creamers grew 14.2% year over year, according to data from Technomic’s latest VolumixBeverage Creamer Report, while total volume increased 13.0%. This is in contrast to the decline in total sales and nearly flat total volume growth for dairy-based creamers.

Valuable takeaways from the VolumixBeverage Creamer Report include:

Total volume of the beverage creamer category increased 3.7% over the prior year

Total sales of this category are up 1.8% year over year

The average case price of beverage creamers grew 1.4% over the prior year”

–https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/non-dairy-creamers-stir-up-manufacturer-sales-2017-03-09

 

3. A Good Research Link On Coffee:
https://www.creditdonkey.com/coffee-drinking-statistics.html

 

 

 

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