Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[Telegraph]

A senior bishop has backed the move, which is part of a Church of England initiative to put a Christian emphasis on the annual celebration of fatherhood. Concerns over the lack of men attending services year-round has led clergy to offer a range of incentives today, including free beer, bacon rolls and chocolate bars.

Read more here.

[From me]

Maybe they could attract people by living by and preaching from the Bible? Can you imagine if a father went home drunk from church and killed someone while driving or beat up their children? If it takes gimmicks like this to get people to church then we are in trouble.

What do you think?

[Helenair.com]

For all Christians who have done time on hard wooden pews in scratchy suits and ties, who have searched through musty hymnals and used church programs as fans while listening to sermons on the horrors of hell — relief has come.

At The Well, shorts and flip-flop sandals are accepted attire, barstools provide ample seating and hymnals are not required. A cold beer can provide relief from the heat — fire, brimstone and otherwise.

It doesn’t look like church, but that’s because The Well is a church for people who don’t believe in church.

“Don’t read this the wrong way,” said Minister Ryan Tucker before the start of Sunday’s Theology on Tap gathering at the Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company.

“There’s nothing wrong with church. I just sensed that there was more room at the table for people who aren’t into the conventional, traditional church.

Tucker and fellow minister Jon Hall started The Well last summer, and a core group of followers began meeting at the Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company taproom earlier this month. The church’s name is a nod to the water well where the people of a village would gather to discuss events of the day. Local bars and taverns have come to be known as watering holes for the same reason. They are also gathering places.

[Prime Buzz]

Alcoholic drinks have been forbidden on Belmont University’s campus since at least 1951. The small Christian school in Nashville has decided to make an exception to the rule when it hosts a presidential debate Tuesday.

A private school with a self-described “strong commitment to providing a Christian community of learning and service,” Belmont is allowing alcohol to be served at a hospitality tent for the news media — one of several substantial changes the college made to land the big event.

Universities that vied to host the debates had to be willing to pay $1.35 million to cover production expenses, then millions more to erect facilities, spruce up campus grounds and shuffle sports events. Some also canceled or rescheduled classes to enhance security and debate setup.

The payback: instant international attention. The debates also help with a university’s mission by offering opportunities for students and the community to learn more about politics and election issues. School leaders say the sacrifices and concessions are worth it.

Read more here.

[From me]

First, why does that “media” need alcohol before they cover a debate?  Does that mean they need to be drunk to hear politicians?  Second, what kind of message does this send to students at this school? Students aren’t allowed to have alcohol on campus but to get national exposure they give in?  I guess it is a wrong as long as you don’t get national publicity.

What do you think?

[Post Star]

In case you were wondering, a motorized cooler on wheels is a motor vehicle under state law. A Whitehall man learned that on Memorial Day, when he was charged with driving while intoxicated after police pulled him over for swerving and driving on the sidewalk on a four-wheeled, motorized cooler known as a “Cruzin Cooler.”

Leslie J. “Bomber” Marr, 57, could face felony DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle charges because of prior arrests and convictions in drinking-and-driving cases, said Whitehall Police Chief Richard LaChapelle. The electricity-powered Cruzin Cooler that Marr was riding contained 14 beers, the chief said.

LaChapelle said Whitehall Police Patrolman Andrew Mija stopped Marr at about 7:45 p.m. after the officer saw Marr swerving and preparing to cross William Street on the motorized cooler. The machine has handlebars, and its operator sits on a seat atop the cooler, LaChapelle said.

“We were told it can do up to 12 mph,” the chief said.

Marr had apparently just left the nearby American Legion Post 83, but it was unclear where he was going, LaChapelle said. He was not headed toward his Lafayette Street home, and he refused to take a breath test, the chief said.

The Cruzin Cooler was seized by police, the chief said.

“They tell us he’s been riding around town on that cooler for years,” Kortright said. “You can’t cruise around on your cooler if you’re intoxicated.”

Read more here.

[From me]

I wonder if it is seized like drug dealers vehicles.  The only thing that would complete this story is if there was an Auburn sticker on the side!

What do you think?

[Seattle PI]

Alabama has all sorts of tourist trails – there’s one for civil rights, another for birds and yet another for old churches. The newest one was introduced Tuesday to promote the state’s wineries, but Baptists aren’t joining in the toast.

A trade association and a tourism group came up with the Alabama Wine Trail to lure visitors to the state’s eight wineries, which produce everything from fruity muscadine and peach wines to more traditional varieties such as merlot and chardonnay.

Tom Vizzini hopes the trail will increase traffic at his Vizzini Farms Winery, which produces as many as 3,000 cases a year. He located it on the outskirts of Birmingham after running up against church opposition in a more rural area.

“We put our wines up against any of them from California,” said Vizzini, whose grandfather was a vintner in Sicily.

But some say the wine can stay on the West Coast.

A Baptist leader in neighboring Chilton County said his group opposed plans for a winery there and doesn’t like the idea of luring tourists to his home turf or anywhere else in Alabama to imbibe.

“We are on record as being opposed to any kind of alcohol-related industry,” said the Rev. Robert Griffin, moderator of the Chilton Baptist Association and pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Clanton. “I would support visiting old, historic churches, but as far as visiting wineries…”

Read about it here.

[From me]

I don’t drink alcohol. All of the alcohol I’ve ever had can be put in a small shot glass. Most of it was at an Episcopal communion. I’ve never tasted beer because it smells bad and looks like –you know! My grandfather on my dad’s side of the family was an alcoholic so I never had a desire to drink. Plus seeing all of the University of Alabama frat parties while growing up turned me off to drinking.