The Beer Ministry
Joe, Ben and myself were sitting around the table on Joe's back deck. We had opened a Growler of #9 that we had purchased at the Magic Hat Brewery in Burlington, Vermont.
SIDENOTE: A "Growler" is a half gallon, glass jug. The only application for it that we saw while in Vermont (which is also the only state I've ever seen it in...not that I've been to that many) was for beer. Say you're at a restaurant called "The Shed" in Stowe that brews its own phenomenal Porter. Or maybe you're at a brewery where the #9 is the best you've ever had (you can actually SMELL the Apricot) and you want to ensure having some back in Connecticut because driving to Vermont for a glass (or free sample) would take five to six hours. This is all hypothetical of course. You can purchase a Growler or two to take with you. :END SIDENOTE
We were discussing our weeks when Ben proposed an idea.
Why don't we meet (just us guys) once a week to open up to each other about what's been going on with our lives. Our troubles, our encouragements, our trials, our curiousities. And why not talk about it all over a beer? I don't know that women will ever fully understand this, but sharing a beer with your buddies is a great way to connect with one another; to be intimate as fellow warriors.
We hang out already but just to horse around and have fun being guys. But this is different. This involves more genuine and uplifting conversation. We have to really listen. It requires confidentiality, trust and love between brothers in Christ. This means growth and closeness in our friendships and as men fighting the good fight.
We instantly adopted it.
There were questions that came afterward.
Do we want to keep it just us or can anyone come?
We considered the options and decided that rather than let it get cliquey or exclusive, we would keep it open to anyone (provided they're a male). That lets us not only share the love of Christ and minister to men outside of our trio, but we are ministered to as well. We learn and grow beyond what we already know.
What about men who are against drinking entirely?
Well they don't have to. They are more than welcome to participate or abstain as they see fit. But we will not put it away because of a single objection. We believe it to be an integral part of the group in that it promotes "man-time". You are with fellow men who will love you only as men can. Feel free to be yourself, uninhibited by the pretexts and judgments of the fickle, hypocritical world. Have a beer or don't. But either way, just be you.
And this is not to say that we will always have beer, because we won't. At least we haven't. We've met once on purpose and have had a few accidental meetings as well. Meaning we were together and just started talking about concerns we have, trials (previous and ongoing), praises and the like. We prayed and talked about what we had been reading from the Bible. There have been a couple times when we haven't had beer. So like I said; it won't be all the time.
Then there was the question of what to call it. What name do we give this weekly band of ours? The first one out stuck.
The Beer Ministry.
You may look at that and think, "You can't combine those! You can't join alcohol and a ministry group! No way! What're you, out of your mind?!?" And you wouldn't be alone. There are other Christians out there who will immediately shun the idea. But that's okay. There's always resistence from somewhere. They don't have to like it.
We're not looking for approval from everyone. We're just looking for a place to be us. A place where we can comfortably share ourselves without the pretenses that sometimes exist in church groups. You can fail here. You can get angry. You can have a bad day and wonder where God was. You can be you and we'll love you for it. We'll help you through listening, encouraging and most of all, prayer. We're all warriors.
We'll fight the battle with you.
Romans 12:9-21...
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary:
"'If your enemy is hungry, feed him:
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
"In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'
"Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
SIDENOTE: A "Growler" is a half gallon, glass jug. The only application for it that we saw while in Vermont (which is also the only state I've ever seen it in...not that I've been to that many) was for beer. Say you're at a restaurant called "The Shed" in Stowe that brews its own phenomenal Porter. Or maybe you're at a brewery where the #9 is the best you've ever had (you can actually SMELL the Apricot) and you want to ensure having some back in Connecticut because driving to Vermont for a glass (or free sample) would take five to six hours. This is all hypothetical of course. You can purchase a Growler or two to take with you. :END SIDENOTE
We were discussing our weeks when Ben proposed an idea.
Why don't we meet (just us guys) once a week to open up to each other about what's been going on with our lives. Our troubles, our encouragements, our trials, our curiousities. And why not talk about it all over a beer? I don't know that women will ever fully understand this, but sharing a beer with your buddies is a great way to connect with one another; to be intimate as fellow warriors.
We hang out already but just to horse around and have fun being guys. But this is different. This involves more genuine and uplifting conversation. We have to really listen. It requires confidentiality, trust and love between brothers in Christ. This means growth and closeness in our friendships and as men fighting the good fight.
We instantly adopted it.
There were questions that came afterward.
Do we want to keep it just us or can anyone come?
We considered the options and decided that rather than let it get cliquey or exclusive, we would keep it open to anyone (provided they're a male). That lets us not only share the love of Christ and minister to men outside of our trio, but we are ministered to as well. We learn and grow beyond what we already know.
What about men who are against drinking entirely?
Well they don't have to. They are more than welcome to participate or abstain as they see fit. But we will not put it away because of a single objection. We believe it to be an integral part of the group in that it promotes "man-time". You are with fellow men who will love you only as men can. Feel free to be yourself, uninhibited by the pretexts and judgments of the fickle, hypocritical world. Have a beer or don't. But either way, just be you.
And this is not to say that we will always have beer, because we won't. At least we haven't. We've met once on purpose and have had a few accidental meetings as well. Meaning we were together and just started talking about concerns we have, trials (previous and ongoing), praises and the like. We prayed and talked about what we had been reading from the Bible. There have been a couple times when we haven't had beer. So like I said; it won't be all the time.
Then there was the question of what to call it. What name do we give this weekly band of ours? The first one out stuck.
The Beer Ministry.
You may look at that and think, "You can't combine those! You can't join alcohol and a ministry group! No way! What're you, out of your mind?!?" And you wouldn't be alone. There are other Christians out there who will immediately shun the idea. But that's okay. There's always resistence from somewhere. They don't have to like it.
We're not looking for approval from everyone. We're just looking for a place to be us. A place where we can comfortably share ourselves without the pretenses that sometimes exist in church groups. You can fail here. You can get angry. You can have a bad day and wonder where God was. You can be you and we'll love you for it. We'll help you through listening, encouraging and most of all, prayer. We're all warriors.
We'll fight the battle with you.
Romans 12:9-21...
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary:
"'If your enemy is hungry, feed him:
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
"In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'
"Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
posted by Still Daddy at 4:09 PM
1 Comments:
Thanks for the exhortation Adam.. you have a way of "cutting to the chase." I was one of those who said, "You can't call it that," but thanks for making me see the other side of the story. You are right.. and I know God will bless your time together as you serve Him. The thing that really matters is honoring Him. I love you Son!
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