Since the Gaslamp Tavern is a come-as-you-are watering hole for the local crowd and parched tourists alike, Gaslamp Tavern bartender Marshall Gillen has come up with a way to draw the home team and visitors …
August 10, 2016
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Stories by Joseph O'Brien
Gaslamp Tavern’s Heisman
The beauty of holiness, plus organ concerts
All Souls’ Episcopal Church Membership: 400 Pastor: Father Joseph Dirbas Age: 49 Born: Lavonia, MI Formation: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, NY Years Ordained: 6 San …
August 3, 2016
The Bees of Bennett Valley
Inspired by a photograph his fiancée took during a recent visit to Bennett Valley, Bankers' Hill bar manager Zack Gray developed the Bees of Bennett Valley cocktail, a cross-pollination of the lemon-honey-and-gin classic Bee’s Knees, …
July 27, 2016
The language of the hammer
Carlsbad Community Church Membership: 400 Pastor: Alvin Helms Age: 55 Born: Houston, TX Formation: Seven Bible College, Houston; Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK; Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT Years Ordained: 25 San Diego Reader: …
July 20, 2016
God got second-career guy’s attention
Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Membership: 128 Pastor: Bill Baker Age: 58 Born: Buffalo, NY Formation: Rollins College, Winter Park, FL; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Years Ordained: 8 San Diego Reader: What’s your favorite subject …
July 6, 2016
Pastor Burkey appreciates the wrestling
Membership: 1000 Pastor: Richard Burkey Age: 56 Born: Chicago Formation: Concordia College, Austin, TX; Concordia College, River Forest, IL; Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Years Ordained: 31 San Diego Reader: How long do you …
June 22, 2016
The Old Fashioned turned Hawaiian
According to Duke’s bar manager Peter Stanmeyer, the mango Old Fashioned made at this Hawaiian haven of haute cuisine has as much to do with Waikiki luaus as it does with Wisconsin supper clubs. He …
June 8, 2016
A lot of people probably see religion as an opiate
4325 Park Blvd, University Heights Membership: 25–30 Pastor: Dale Huntington Age: 33 Born: Visalia Formation: Grossmont College, El Cajon; Southern California Seminary-San Diego Christian College, San Diego Years Ordained: 5 San Diego Reader: What’s your …
June 8, 2016
Maybe we get to work alongside the Creator later on
Hope United Methodist Church Contact: 16550 Bernardo Heights Pkwy., Rancho Bernardo; 858-485-5840; hopeumc.com Membership: 870 Pastor: Brian Kent Age: 60 Born: Greeley, CO Formation: Point Loma Nazarene University, Point Loma; Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley Years …
May 25, 2016
Great coffee to foster the next churchgoing generation
Membership: 380 Pastor: Daniel L. Hagmaier Age: 55 Born: Union City, PA Formation: Florida Bible College, Hollywood, FL; Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA; Columbia Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA Years Ordained: 20 San Diego Reader: How …
May 11, 2016
You want to live in heaven? Or hell?
Membership: “less than 100” Pastor: Kurt Bergquam Age: 54 Born: Grand Forks, ND Formation: Berean Bible College, San Diego; Christian Bible College and Seminary, Blue Springs, MO Years Ordained: 25 San Diego Reader: What’s your …
April 27, 2016
People choose to turn to God or not
Southeast Community Presbyterian Church Pastor: Deb Mitchell Age: 58 Born: Fort Wayne, IN Formation: Perdue University, West Lafayette, IN; Mount St. Mary’s, Los Angeles, Bethel Seminary, San Diego Years Ordained: 4 San Diego Reader: What …
April 13, 2016
The jazz link to God
Christian Fellowship Congregational Church UCC Membership: 140 Pastor: J. Lee Hill Age: 37 Born: Chesterfield, VA Formation: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC; Emory University-Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, GA Years …
March 30, 2016
Come 3 p.m. it's Hollapeño Atcha Boy time
Andaz bar manager Shannie Lee says, “Our entire cocktail menu is inspired by our bartenders. We give the bartenders free rein.” Hollering for a margarita? The Hollapeño Atcha Boy! is the name of an up-spiced …
March 25, 2016
Nolen's Bee's Knees
If you intend to go to the Nolen Rooftop, you’ll figure out pretty quickly that the only way is up — and Nolen’s lead barman Robert Yumul is leading the way by upping the ante …
March 23, 2016
Folks get caught up in old ways of thinking
"I was called by God. I tried to say no and God didn’t take that as an answer."
March 16, 2016
Scripture served warm
Membership: 34,000+ (entire SDSU faculty, staff and student body) Pastor: Darin Johnson Age: 49 Born: Sioux Falls, SD Formation: Iowa State University, Ames, IA; Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago; Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA Years …
March 2, 2016
Why are we here and what is the meaning of all this?
Interview with Pastor Tom Sannar of One Heart One Mind Center for Spiritual Living
February 17, 2016
Church for the religious and irreligious alike
Covenant Presbyterian Church of San Diego Membership: 150Pastor: Patrick KingAge: 34Born: ChicagoFormation: Wheaton College, Chicago; Beeson Divinity School, Birmingham, ALYears Ordained: 4 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor …
February 3, 2016
Newbreak pastor sees God surfing all the time
Membership: 2600 (on five campuses: Tierrasanta, East County, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Scripps Mesa) Pastor: Mike Quinn Age: 62 Born: Great Lakes, Illinois Formation: Point Loma Nazarene University, Point Loma; Bethel West University Seminary, San …
January 20, 2016
When Jesus was found in the Monkey Place
“Some will ask, ‘How can a loving God send people to hell?’”
January 6, 2016
Bible in one hand, newspaper in the other
Clairemont Lutheran Church Membership: 800 Pastor: Jonathan Doolittle Age: 50 Born: Columbus, OH Formation: Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH; Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, IL Years Ordained: 21 San Diego Reader: How long do you …
December 23, 2015
Two Christmas Poems
Native Scene The beasts of Jerusalem will murder him, but in the meantime the beasts of Bethlehem warm him with their breath. — Giovanni Papini Nights are still cold on the starry hillside; Dew still …
Masters' Vieux Carre goes down like soda
The classic Vieux Carre oozes with the decadence of a New Orleans cathouse even as its name invokes the baroque sophistication of the cast iron rail- and grillwork that entwines the French Quarter. Named for …
December 16, 2015
Church of God's mission: Win. Build. Send.
Something pure and holy about downtown’s streets.
December 9, 2015
Potential to scandalize scotch drinkers
For a cocktail on Humphreys’ newly revised drink menu, bar manager Austin McAdams uses as a base liquor a perfect 15-year-old scotch. But before serious scotch drinkers storm Humphreys with broadsword and targe, McAdams asks …
December 2, 2015
The only alternative for having eternal life
To say that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven is not a politically correct thing to say, but it’s certainly what the Bible says.
November 25, 2015
We’ll all be judged for our actions in this life
Q&A with Pastor-elder Craig Marshall of Grace Bible Church in Kearny Mesa.
November 11, 2015
Whisknladle arranges a meeting between margarita and negroni
For Adam Lockridge, bar director at Whisknladle, it’s turtles all the way down — at least, that’s how his guests will feel when they get their first sip of the Tortuga… Original to Whisknladle, this …
November 4, 2015
Yes, there will be Harleys in heaven
Interview with Pastor Al Hester of Evangelical Free Church of America
October 28, 2015
Off the Market is no one-and-done
Draft in Belmont Park combines the best of beery cheer with a mix of high spirits (think: boilermaker in a cocktail dress) — such as the Off the Market. “We don’t incorporate beer into all …
October 21, 2015
There’s a unique emphasis which Lutherans have on grace
Pastor Richard Schmidt of Concordia Church in Chula Vista takes our questions.
October 14, 2015
The Draconids
For Norah And especially were we led to cultivate that discipline developed in respect to divine and heavenly things as being the only one concerned with the study of things which are always what they …
October 14, 2015
Cannonball's Rum Manhattan breaks the surface with a balance of taste and texture
While the usual vodka- and gin-based poolside-fixtures are welcomed mixtures on the menu, Cannonball’s general manager Ray Means says Cannonball also serves up the brown liquors and offers seasonal variations on classic cocktails. “We could …
October 7, 2015
It’s not about the religion; it’s about the relationship
Pastor Glen Larsen of Community Church of Poway takes questions.
September 30, 2015
From eternal death to eternal life
We who live in America — our blessings get in the way.
September 16, 2015
Nestor United Methodist is a nurturing center
Membership: 150 (attendance: 100) Pastor: Luis Garcia Age: 53 Born: Monterrey, Mexico Formation: State University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 14 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on …
September 2, 2015
Caribbean drink, Hawaiian twist
Over at the Lazy Dog, it’s “Hasta la vista!” to the lime and “Aloha” to the pineapple, now that accidents of circumstance have brought two popular spheres of influence – the lime and the pineapple …
August 26, 2015
The Brethren share the unconditional love of God
Membership: 53 Pastor: Sara Haldeman-Scarr Age: 59 Born: Bird-in-Hand, PA Formation: Millersville University, Millersville, PA; Bethany Theological Seminary, Oak Brook (now Richmond), Ill. Years Ordained: 28 San Diego Reader: What’s your favorite subject on which …
August 19, 2015
The world seems terminally ill
Membership: 100 (Attendance: 190) Denomination: American Baptist Pastor: Adam Stadtmiller Age: 45 Born: San Diego Formation: Point Loma Nazarene College, Point Loma; Azusa Pacific University, Azusa Years Ordained: 20 San Diego Reader: What’s your favorite …
August 5, 2015
A drink that is not a pick-me-up so much as a wind-me-down
Like New Yorker Tony Bennett singing his heart out for San Francisco, Counterpoint bartender Ryan Andrews has made the East Coast cocktail known as the Quick Fix his own — and in the process a …
July 29, 2015
A pimp stands between a prostitute and Jesus
Membership: 250 Pastor: Stephen Phelan Age: 40 Born: Montgomery, AL Formation: University of Virginia & University of Virginia Law School, Charlottesville, VA; Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, FL. Years Ordained: 10 SDR: Why did you become …
July 22, 2015
Bleu Bohème's Basil Martini: So fresh, so green
Spring sprang a few months ago, but over at Kensington’s Bleu Bohème, things are still looking — and tasting — pretty fresh and green. “It’s a really fresh, delicious, and easy-drinking martini,” bartender Sarah Proctor …
July 8, 2015
God is out to save everyone he can
Membership: 600 Pastor: Eddie Dopp Age: 63 Born: Seattle, WA Formation: Loma Linda University, Loma Linda; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 25 SDR: What’s your main concern as a member of the clergy? PD: …
July 8, 2015
Listen to the nudge of the Holy Spirit
Membership: 1800 Attendance: 1200–1300 Pastor: Bruce Humphrey Age: 63 Born: Moscow, ID Formation: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Boston Campus) Roxbury, MA; San Francisco Seminary, San Anselmo, CA; Trinity Theological School, Newburgh, …
June 24, 2015
A church needs to be at least as friendly as a bar
Membership: 300 Pastor: John Ettore Age: 52 Born: Columbus, Ohio Formation: Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Assembly of God Faith Bible Institute, Chula Vista Years Ordained: 24 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject …
June 10, 2015
Our number-one mission is to win other folks to Christ
Membership: 300 Pastor: Philip Clark Age: 61 Born: Covington, KY Formation: Great Plains Baptist College, Sioux Falls, SD Years Ordained: 39 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor Philip …
May 27, 2015
Kind of like a health shake
With a bumper crop of booze, veggies and crustaceans behind it, the Duck Dive’s Jamaican Me Crazy Bloody Mary is exactly that — a genuine cocktail. According to its creator, Duck Dive general manager and …
May 13, 2015
God just loves us. He can’t help himself
Membership: 35 Pastor: Mike Alcorn Age: 72 Born: Schenectady, NY Formation: San Diego Mesa College, San Diego; Frederick K.C. Price School of Ministry (Crenshaw Christian Center/Ever Increasing Faith Ministries), Los Angeles Years Ordained: 30 San …
May 13, 2015
The call to preach is the call to prepare
Pastor: David Cajiuat (pronounced ka-hee-watt) Age: 48 Born: Baguio, Philippines Formation: Ambassador Baptist College, Shelby, NC Years Ordained: 12 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor David Cajiuat: Jesus. …
April 29, 2015