So tonight, a new pub/restaurant that’s opening up just across the street had an open house and invited the neighborhood to come have free food and drinks before their grand opening tomorrow. So we walked the two minutes into town to check it out. And besides the free food that kept coming out of the kitchen, they offered free stuff from the bar. And they had the beer in the picture on draft.
I remembered how in his book Exiles, Michael Frost tells the story of how Arthur Guinness developed Guinness Beer. And in the book he says, “It’s the beer we’ll drink in heaven.” So since it was free…I tried it.
After all, if we’re drinking this beer in heaven, I figure I’d better get used to it.
I tried to like it. I really did. I told myself I was a manly man for drinking half a glass of it.
But when I drank it, I didn’t think of heaven. All I could think of was the other place.
So in heaven, I guess I’ll be drinking at the kiddie table. I hope they have Coca- Cola.
Wayward Son
Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo.
I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.
View all posts by Wayward Son →
My only problem with beer is that every one that I have ever tried tasted just like beer.
Beer? Coca Cola?
That's not very biblical you know…
We'll be drinking wine, the kind Jesus likes to make.
Too bad I prefer coffee.
The kiddie table often gets to eat first. And no one is surprised if it's a mess when you are finished.
I'm with you. And I like Coke too!
Lol! I'm not a big fan of Guinness either, but my husband loves it (good Irish boy that he is). I think I'll be drinking Pyramid Heffewiesen! 😀
Aaroneous,
Think of a triple shot of beer–that's kind of what it tasted like. 🙂
Rainer,
ooohhh, YEEEEAAAAHHH. 🙂
Al,
See you at the kiddie, table, then. 🙂
Sarah,
If I liked beer in general, I'm sure I'd love Guinness too. Kind-of-Irish boy that I am. 🙂
i like Guinness actually … in small doses. there are many other beers that i prefer but you really have to get used to a dark lager if you're going to drink beer. give it another try … if you want to enjoy your time in heaven.
Now you know what they mean by the term, "acquired taste."
I am not a fan of Guinness.. a bit too stout for my tastes.. but I do enjoy an amberish ale. I do agree with Rainer though.. a heavenly Cabernet may be flowing in the new Jerusalem 🙂
I like Guinness, although it's not the beer I would grab to quench my thirst on a hot day. It's more of a brew to drink with friends sitting around a table in a pub – like we will do in heaven. 🙂
Definitely a challenging beer.
A late friend with an Irish heritage got me to drink a few "Beamishes" – a very similar beer.
Taken SLOWLY with a bowl of "chips" – lets say fries for some of you – I learnt to quite like it. But it took a while!
I was fascinated by the story of the invention of Guinness – designed as a beer you drink slowly so that you don't drink too much. As you say it's inventor saw it as God given in this sense.
Of course Jesus is rather embarrassing in his enjoyment of alcohol – and in his excellent wine making skills.
Richard of South Australia
I like the idea, although I might reverse it. Guiness is like heaven on earth.
Hilarious post!
I've tried to like Guinness too. It looks so good! But I just can't get past the taste.
?? In Tulsa would you have felt this free to drink (or try) a "beer" in public? Just wondering.
shallowfrozenwater,
Apparently that's what Guinness is for–small doses. What's so captivating about the story is that Arthur Guinness was an Irish Christian grieved over the drunkenness around him, so he created a beer so filling it was almost impossible to consume enough of it to get drunk. 🙂 Pretty cool, huh?
Paul,
What on earth would you want to acquire that taste for? 🙂 JK
KB,
That heavenly Cabernet thing sounds pretty good, actually. 🙂
Co-heir,
If there is Guinness in heaven, I would drink some just to join you at the pub. Except I might just take a sip, and then go back to Coca-cola. 🙂
Richard,
"Of course Jesus is rather embarrassing in his enjoyment of alcohol – and in his excellent wine making skills." You got that right. 🙂 I have been intrigued with the story of Arthur Guinness ever since I heard it.
Steve,
To each his own. You and Michael Frost would get along swimmingly. 🙂 Thanks for the visit!!
Angela,
Were you ever tempted to try baker's chocolate (unsweet) when you were a kid, because it looked so good? Yeah, that's Guinness. Liquid baker's chocolate. 😀
Anon,
Do I detect a hint of reprimand? In case this is an honest question, four answers actually come to mind:
1. Early in my journey–no. Later in my journey–yes.
2. If I were a beer drinker (which I actually am not)…the only honest way to do it would be publicly. So yes.
3. I Corinthians 8.
4. I say this hesitantly, since I realize this might actually be someone close to me…but for future reference, I'm not too keen on people from past seasons choosing to chide me "anonymously." If that wasn't your intent, forgive me–and I have given you the benefit of the doubt here. But in the future, if you have a question like this, it would be best to use your name. I almost declined this comment for this very reason.
No, reprimand!!! Living here in Tulsa the religious area, I have found a lot of christans are closet beer/wine drinkers. I for one have came out of that bondage. One evening my husband and I was at a resturant having a glass of wine (bottle) and some old church buddies came in and boy did we get looks. Their children were with them and I felt so BADDDD. I did not want to hurt them. So now I am torn!! Because I do love a margarita now and then. So I go late in hopes no one shows up. So I was just wondering how you handle a "gray" area in tulsa. Sorry, if I offended you by my question. I will continue to be anoymous for reasons I care not to share. But it this upset you I will not comment again. I am not someone from your past that would chide.
Anon,
Thanks for the clarification, and please continue commenting. (As I said, I gave the benefit of the doubt.) As you yourself have experienced, there are those who raise their eyebrows over insignificant things…and there are also those who for reasons of their own lie in wait to take a shot from the shadows. The way your question was worded could have been taken either way–as someone who understood, or someone who was suggesting that my behavior in Denver is different from how it would be in Tulsa. 🙂 Hope that makes sense. Thanks for following up.
To actually address your question…granted, it is a grey area, simply because we don't want to make a brother stumble, but neither do we want to fear their judgment. I suppose it depends on the situation, and how much weight you carry. I know ministers who enjoy the occasional glass of wine, seeing nothing immoral about it–but simply cannot indulge because they are working with former alcoholics who would definitely stumble over it. On the other hand–and forgive me if this sounds severe, my Tulsa wounds are fresh–I have no tolerance for judgmental religious hypocrites who would judge you or me for having one drink, but would walk out of that restaurant and gossip to everyone about it, without thinking twice about their own sin.
All that to say, IMHO…be sensitive to the need. Don't indulge if a brother would be truly hurt, but don't waste your energy sneaking around to avoid hypocrites. Don't know if that helps or not…but thanks again for chiming in.
I was kinda hoping the kiddie table had Pepsi!
~~rob
And when I grow up I wanna try the Jesus' New Earth vintage… Heard he's been saving the best for last.
so since I was free … I tried it!!! LOL – love the motivation … since it was free!!! Sugar free coke at the kiddie table?