Beer – Southern Reformed Smoker

Fencing the Hammer

Introduction It should be known that the Pharisees in the days of Christ were known for “fencing” the written law of God, or creating the “oral” law. The idea being if we don’t want to come close to breaking the law of God new very specific laws must be created around the written law. ThenContinue reading “Fencing the Hammer”

I Need to Listen to Sam More

It was a dark and clear night. Caleb and revived the fire to a proper blaze, and we all sat back with our double scotches satisfied from the feast we had just consumed. And once again Sam, in his slow, teacherly way pointed out what a rare thing it is that we have with ourContinue reading “I Need to Listen to Sam More”

Edified by Wasted Time

I had an interesting dinner the other night. My guest was a ruling elder at one of the largest (if not the largest) Presbyterian churches in our fair city. Over our second scotch and after a lengthy discussion of the original series Star Trek movies, he suddenly shifted the topic. He brought up everything weContinue reading “Edified by Wasted Time”

Theology is too Hard

Introduction “Is it possible to be astonished and, at the same time, not surprised?” – Josiah Bartlett, Here Today (The West Wing) I find that to be an apt way to react to most evangelicals profession of faith and simultaneously complete and total lack of interest in theology. Sure some have a few pop theologyContinue reading “Theology is too Hard”

Temperance and Lewis

“But the whole point is that he is abstaining, for a good reason, from something which he does not condemn and which he likes to see other people enjoying. One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he can not give up things himself with out wanting every one elseContinue reading “Temperance and Lewis”

Would You have a Drink with It?

“One of the tests that should regularly be applied to the results of any thinking process, however plausible, is: Would I like to sit down and have a vermouth with this thing I have just talked myself into? On that scale, ballerinas, oysters, free speech, and romantic love come off just fine. Computers, the ModernContinue reading “Would You have a Drink with It?”

My Spot

I do most of my writing at Hammer and Ale, which is a wonderful taproom that I love dearly. I try to arrive as early as work lets me off so that I can settle in at “my table.” It’s in the corner has the best view, is an appropriate height for my small frame,Continue reading “My Spot”