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
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Stories by Joseph O'Brien
The only alternative for having eternal life
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
Crafted Cocktails brings that taste home
"Why should San Diego’s bartenders have all the fun?” Felicia Vieira found the answer to this question and put it in a bottle. Since opening last year, Vieira’s San Diego–based Crafted Cocktails has been bringing …
April 15, 2015
Earth, the purgatorial planet
Membership: 80 Pastor: Brian Grandon Age: 53 Born: Tacoma, WA Formation: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA; Unity Institute and Seminary, Kansas City, MO Years Ordained: 1 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite topic on …
April 15, 2015
After we die, we’re going to be part of that dream
No longer assume that everyone goes to church, synagogue, mosque, or temple.
April 1, 2015
Story in a glass at Aero Club
Opened in 1947 as a flyboy-and-gal joint by aviatrix Maryann Prophet, the Aero Club has made its mark for serving whiskey flights like they mean it. “The thing about being a whiskey bartender is that …
March 18, 2015
Jesus crashed into my darkness in a radical way
Membership: 2500 Pastor: Mike Reed Age: 49 Born: Fort Sill, OK Formation: Southern California College (now Vanguard University), Costa Mesa. Years Ordained: 28 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? …
March 18, 2015
My spirit will live in the presence of God
Looking forward to no more sin, racism, sexism, murder, or deception.
March 4, 2015
Wine boom meets whiskey craze
If there’s going to be a bar in town that serves a wine-and-whiskey cocktail — and make it work — why not Asian-fusion eatery Roppongi Restaurant and Sushi Bar? It makes sense, coming from the …
February 25, 2015
The cross is everything
After a week of being beaten up by the world, listen to Pastor Henderson.
February 18, 2015
Kiss-friendly tipple
It ain’t pink or red, doesn’t include anything remotely chocolate, and it doesn’t come with a rose garnish, but for Valentine’s Day you’d hardly do better than suggest a drink that brings out a bit …
February 11, 2015
We have a Father-Mother God
Membership: 200 Pastor: Blair Tabor Age: 63 Born: Minneapolis, MN Formation: University of California-San Diego; Unity Village, Kansas City, MO Years Ordained: 34 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Pastor …
February 3, 2015
We are encouraged and enlightened
Membership: 500 Pastor: Jim Henkell Age: 42 Born: Chicago Formation: Concordia University, Irvine; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO Years Ordained: 17 SDR: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Pastor Jim Henkell: We tend …
January 21, 2015
The Lord really spoke to us
Membership: 200 Pastor: Carolyn Nichols Age: 81 Born: San Bernardino Formation: University of La Verne, La Verne; Claremont Graduate University, Claremont; the King’s Seminary, Van Nuys Years Ordained: 22 San Diego Reader: What is your …
January 7, 2015
Humanity is not all written off
Pastor Terry Brooks preached his first sermon at age eight.
December 24, 2014
The Bible is clear
Membership: 1500 Pastor: Al Valdez Age: 40 Born: Hollywood, CA Formation: Latin American Bible Institute, La Puente, CA; Facultad Teologia, Montebello, CA; Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA Years Ordained: 15 San Diego Reader: What is …
December 10, 2014
Our vision is to glorify God
Far Easterners with folky beliefs, or brain-washed by Communists, find counsel at Chinese Bible Church.
November 26, 2014
Citrus savory showcase of balance
Yes, summer is over, but in San Diego, the season makes subtle adjustments to her wardrobe, calls herself “Indian,” and parties on…. To that end, Mister A’s Southern Dove could serve as official drink of …
November 26, 2014
The most American drink on the menu
"A disaster in a glass.” So says Kanai Williams, the Salty Dog’s front man behind the bar, about this Imperial Beach joint’s premiere chockablock chug-a-lug — the Rum Runner. “And that’s probably the only reason …
November 19, 2014
Many people don’t understand the truth about God
Membership: 1100 Pastor: Luis Mendez Age: 55 Born: Tijuana, Mexico Formation: San Diego State University; San Diego Church of Christ Missionary Years Ordained: 15 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to …
November 12, 2014
Equal parts sun and shade
Mixers and historians of the dram are both debating: does the Mojito derive its name from the spiced Cuban citrus seasoning known in those parts as mojo, or from the Spanish word mojadito (“a little …
October 29, 2014
He succumbed to the study of theology
Membership: 125 Pastor: Mark Menacher Age: 53 Born: Detroit Formation: Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI; Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH; University of Goettingen, (West) Germany; Theological Seminary, Leipzig, (East) Germany; (PhD) University of Manchester, …
October 29, 2014
Not saying that secularism is evil, but...
The world misses something important when we turn away from our spiritual journeys.
October 15, 2014
I experienced the calling myself
Membership: 280 Pastor: Robert Davis Age: 50 Born: Dunellen, New Jersey Formation: Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA; Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indiana University-Indianapolis; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 13 San Diego Reader: What …
October 1, 2014
It’s all a matter of relationship
Membership: 185 Pastor: J.D. McQueen Age: 31 Born: Peoria, Ill. Formation: Eureka College, Eureka, IL; Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Nashotah, WI Years Ordained: 6 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to …
September 17, 2014
God among prostitutes, drug addicts, and gang lords
Membership: 160 Pastor: Tim Captain Age: 27 Born: Logansport, IN Formation: Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, OH Years Ordained: 5 years San Diego Reader: What is your favorite topic on which to preach? Pastor Tim Captain: …
September 3, 2014
Serious Manhattan
Every so often in life, paperback utility ought to give over to leather-bound editions; the joy of a Swisher Sweet to the experience of a Romeo y Julieta; the usual Manhattan cocktail to nothing less …
August 27, 2014
How to get the church back into the world?
Membership: 120 Pastor: Brent Ross Age: 40 Born: Albuquerque, NM Formation: Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN; Garrett Evangelical Seminary, Evanston, IL Years Ordained: 5 San Diego Reader: What’s your favorite subject on which to preach? …
August 20, 2014