Amsterdam: Meeting Phil Graf, Carl Raschke and Hugh Halter

Here are some more details on my strategic meeting with some fellow conspirators in Amsterdam a few days ago. Let me introduce them to you.

Phil Graf (left) is the missional training for a really stiff-upper-lip mission organization (just kidding) called Christian Associates. He also knows his beers pretty well and enjoys the Trappist ales from Belguim like I do. I stayed with Phil and his family during my time in Amsterdam and the emerging church gathering earlier in the year was also in their house.

Carle Raschke is a guy I have wanted to meet for many years. He is an intellectual from Texas who has published more books than he can remember and they all seem to have controversial titles like The Next Reformation: Why Evangelicals Must Embrace Postmodernity. His latest book was sent to me a few months ago by the publisher for comment but I didnt get my thoughts to him on time. The book is GloboChrist:The Great Commission Takes a Postmodern Turn and its an excellent walk through postmodern thinking that reminded me that we really cant afford to move ahead without a serious consideration of this movement. And Carle tackles things that you have heard from me such as the rhizomic nature of the internet and church 2.0. And Carl appreciates Belgium Trappist ales although I think he would be just as happy with a Shiner Bock from Texas. Heres a PDF sample of his new book.

Hugh Halter I met ages ago in Portland, Oregon where we both used to live. He is in Denver now with Church Resource Ministries and has published an excellent book called The Tangible Kingdom. Great guy. Likes beer, but he really doesnt know what the heck he is drinking.

Comments

[grace]

Beer in wine glasses? Subversive.
No wonder hugh doesn't know what he's drinking. ;)

[andrew]

Welcome to Europe. Most good beers, and especially those from the Abbeys in Belgium, have their own glasses. Thank God for the Trappists.

[mark begemann]

but you never told us which Trappist(s) you're drinking...

[andrew]

i think mine is a westmalle

[becky]

Andrew - you are the first Baptist I've met who knows his beers. Most of the Baptist boys I meet drink grape juice.

[davedv]

I am so jealous. I would love to hang with my friends Phil and Hugh - and meet Carle. Rock on!

[lisa, far away]

I think maybe Phil and Laina have the coolest house any missionaries have ever had :-)

[hugh halter]

Okay, I'm enjoying an email a day from people around the globe razing me for not knowing about beer. Let it be known worldwide that Hugh Halter brews his own suds and even mentors a group of Adullamites to do the same. Now I will say, that the beer I was drinking was crap and it was belgium. (Did I spell that country correct) I can brew better out of a bucket in my back yard! Let the monastic tradition continue! I love ya Andrew
hugh

[andrew jones]

hugh can brew - let the taunting stop! But the Belgium brews really are the best.