Cocktails with Beers

Matt and Merry conclude their two part series on the role of women and men in American Evangelical Christianity.   Last week, we covered the women, and this week we turn toward the men.   We read Kristin Kobes Du Mez's book called Jesus and John Wayne.   In it, she talks about how the secular ideas of what it means to be a man have been largely adopted by American Evangelical Christianity.   What...

What is the role of women in our society today?  Some think that women should be just as free as men to choose to do what gives meaning to their lives.  Others think women are subordinate to men, that women belong in the home being mothers and submissive wives.  Then, there are those who are called "complementarians," who believe in divinely assigned family and societal roles for both men and wome...

Matt and Merry chat about the good things that happened this year, and we wonder how your year went.  What are three positive things you experienced this year.  That can be tougher than you think, especially two years into our current pandemic.  We also look forward to what 2022 has to offer.  

Matt and Merry try three cookie flavored and Christmas themed brews.  We try Guiness' Gingerbread Stout, Southern Tier's Frosted Sugar Cookie, and Lexington's Bourbon Barrel Peppermint Porter.  Along the way, we discover that everything tastes good when accompanied by a big plate of cookies.     

Matt and Merry taste Southern Tier's 2xmas Double Ale and Great Lakes Brewing's Christmas Ale.  This should be interesting considering that Matt has an aversion to ginger ever since he had that run in with pickled ginger at a restaurant.  He'll tell the story, and we'll figure out if either of these two beers are worth precious room in you stomach this Christmas. 

Matt and Merry chat about the 2021 Christmas movie called Dear Christmas.  A woman who has a podcast about love and relationships has never found true love herself.  But this year, when she goes home for the holidays it finds her.  She keeps bumping into an old classmate, Chris Massy, aka Mr. Christmas.  And what did we think of this movie?  We'll tell you all about it.  Along the way, we chat abo...

Matt and Merry try some seasonal beer favorites.  This week, we try Victory's Merry Monkey and Troeg's Mad Elf.  Both are Belgian style ales brewed with all things Christmassy.  

Matt and Merry chat about the new made-for-tv Christmas movie "The Santa Stakeout."   We got a winner on this one.   Joey Pantoliano didn't disappoint, and neither did the rest of the crew.   In short, we loved it, and we're gonna tell you why.   Along the way, we tell you how the Festival of Trains went, something called Santa Con, and the most famous actor to have appeared in a made-for-tv movie...

Matt and Merry review a popular Christmas movie from last year called A California Christmas.  We are flabbergasted as to how this movie is so popular.  It even has a sequel!  Even the mouse in our house stopped watching 30 minutes in, and he loves cheesy things.  The only thing we can think of is that the protagonist is a soap opera star who removes his shirt often, and the love interest wears da...

Matt and Merry chat about one of a 2021 made-for-tv cheesy movie release called Love Hard.  A woman unlucky in love tries to find love on a dating app.  None of the dates goes very well.  Then, she falls head over heals for a guy named Tag.  But when she meets him, he hilariously looks nothing like his picture.  Predictably, they end up falling in love in the end.  Along the way, we also chat abou...

Matt and Merry talk about the Infancy Gospel of Jesus.  This book was written as early as the 2nd century CE, and claims to be stories from Jesus' childhood from his own brother.  You might think that Jesus was a little angel, but he was kind of a brat.  We share some of these stories, and try to figure out why people wrote and published them.  Along the way, we chat about a flavored coffee creati...

Matt and Merry talk about a lost gospel discovered in the 20th century, the Gospel of Mary.  They chat about who Mary was, why the book was written, and the ancient debates it reveals among the early Christian communities.  Along the way, they talk about the joys of home ownership when things start to break, and about getting ready for Christmas.    

Matt and Merry start a new series where we look at books that didn't make it into the Bible.  This week, we chat about the Gospel of Thomas.  Along the way, we chat about beef, bonfires, cigars, and the resurgence of Abba. 

Matt and Merry talk about the recent exodus from conservative evangelical churches.   Why do people leave, and where do they go?   Along the way, we chat about running across the Chesapeake Bay, trick or treating, and our awesome family costume theme.   

Matt and Merry reflect on the story of Jesus healing a blind man.   What did it mean back then when the blind received sight, and what does that mean for us today?  Along the way we chat about what happens when pumpkins stay outside too long, our halloween costumes, and a strange new take on Joshua's battle for Jericho. 

Do we live in a world that provides abundantly for everyone, or in a world where resources are scarce?  Matt and Merry examine humanity's "default position," a mindset of scarcity.  This leads to unnecessary conflicts, divisions, and self-imposed suffering.  We chat about how developing a mindset of abundance may not only improve our own quality of life, but also of those around us.  We then lean...

Matt and Merry chat about a strange saying by Jesus about how we can get eternal life.   Sell everything?!   Along the way we talk about the confusing world of social media, classes on Zoom, and meeting a few people from Palestine.   

Star Wars a parable?   If Jesus was here today, would he have used the popular movie series to communicate deeper truths?   Matt and Merry think so.   We chat talk about how we can use popular stories of today the way Jesus used popular stories in his day.   Along the way, we chat about pumpkin patches, hay rides, and winning money at a casino.   

Matt and Merry chat about quarter auctions, sick days, and what a modern retelling of the story of the Good Samaritan might look like.   

Did Jesus have a wife?   Years ago, a professor at Harvard claimed to have found an ancient book that claimed he did.   Matt and Merry chat about the strange story of this discovery.   Along the way, they chat about one of their first dates, doppelgängers, and #toddlerlife. 

What do you picture when you think of two people being reconciled?   This week, Matt and Merry talk about what reconciliation is, what it looks like, and how people who can't stand being around each other may still be reconciled.   Along the way, they talk about carpeted grocery stores, flowriding, and why they never exchange anniversary gifts.   

Matt and Merry continue their series about the complicated relationship between two brother, Jacob and Esau.   This week, they are locked in a feud, and Esau has vowed to kill his brother the next time he sees him.   So, Jacob runs away to his Uncle Laban's house, and he stays there for 14 years.   While there, he finds the love of his life, and becomes immensely wealthy.   But now, he is ready to...

Matt and Merry begin 3 part series about Esau and Jacob from the book of Genesis.   Esau is set to inherit his father's wealth and position in the family.   But Jacob has ambition, and he wants to be top dog.   What happens when these two brothers clash over who will succeed their father?   Along the way, they chat about Chinese vegetables, co-op farms, and the uncanny ability of Merry's family to...

Beware the lone and solitary voice behind a pulpit.   The Good News of God is heard most in community—in conversation, in discussion, in debate, in interaction—that is where the voice of God echoes loudly.   Matt and Merry chat about what is was like when Jesus preached, and how it may have been very different than what we see in churches today.   Along the way, they talk about petting zoos, giraf...

Matt and Merry chat about how to plan an unplanned vacation, the ever changing sleeping habits of toddlers, the impossibility of ever gettin good at golf, and the cool thing coming up on the podcast in the next few months.