(Verse 1) Sun peekin' up, rooster's "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" Time to wake up, and let those daydreams zoom through! Of ridin' a pony, made of cotton candy clouds, And chasin' rainbows, with super-loud howls! (Chorus) Dreams, dreams, they wiggle and jiggle, Like a bowl of jelly, a silly giggle! Some just pipe dreams, like bubbles in the air, But God's d…

Send us a text Welcome back buckaroos! It's so good to be back round the campfire with y'all! I hope you're excited for tonight's story, it's a real dream come true! So grab your cocoa and s’mores, I’m gonna tell you about our cowboy, Jacob, that was on the run from his brother.Autor: Sarah

James Orr was living the life of a young, high-flying lawyer when, after a few drinks at a New Year's Eve party, he asked for signs that God existed. The signs came; among other things, he narrowly avoided a fatal skiing accident. Now he is a passionate Christian and a conservative culture warrior who helped defeat an attempt to impose the tyranny …

(Verse 1) Old Granny Sarah got some shocking news At ninety-nine she was tying baby shoes Laughing louder than a hog’s wild squeals Her story got the whispers turnin' wheels (Verse 2) Coffee at the parlor they all lean in close Talkin' ‘bout Sarah and her wild new boast Isaac’s on the way they hear Abraham shout Gonna be the oldest mom around no do…

(Verse 1) Becca the cowgirl, with her pony so fleet, Saw an ol' geezer’s F-350, stuck in the street! "Five hundred horses, thirsty and sad!" "My big tank's empty, it's really too bad!" "Sixty-five gallons, gone in a flash!" Becca said, "I'll help you, with God's loving dash!" (Chorus) Bucket by bucket, Becca wouldn't quit! She filled that big tank,…

(Verse 1) Desert wind blew, two boys were born, Esau cried loud, like a big storm. Jacob held his heel, tight as a knot, Their story began, right on the spot! (verse 2) "Oh Brother, stew smells yummy, how about a bite?" "sure! I'll trade you a bowl for your birthright" "Go ahead and take it, I'm afraid I won't make it! [Chorus] Oh brother, oh broth…

(Verse 1) Ice cream melted, drippin' down my hand, Dog ate my homework, don't understand! Fell off my skateboard, scraped my knee, I try and try, but bad luck follows me! (Verse 2) Lost my favorite hat, the one with the feather, Stepped in a puddle, in this awful weather. Missed the ice cream truck, by a hair, It's just not fair, I wanna pull my ha…

(Verse 1) God was chillin' in heaven, with lots to do, But said, "I'm gonna build a homestead, A whoop-dee-doo!" He snapped His fingers, with a mighty "Kaboom!" The Earth appeared, with a "Whizz!" and a "Zoom!" (Chorus) The First Homestead, a rootin' tootin' place, With mountains and rivers, and lots of outer space. He made the sun and the moon and…

(Verse 1) The first cowboy, with a grin and a lasso, The first cowgirl, ridin' a rhino. Livin' in the garden, the first homestead, you know, Where the grass was green, and the fun would grow! (Chorus) No fences to mend, no cattle to herd, Just laughter and sunshine, and singin' like a bird. The first cowboy and cowgirl, the first buckaroo pair, Liv…

(Verse 1) Adam and Eve, they broke the rules, Snuck out of Eden, actin' like fools. No more mangoes, or naps in the shade, Now they're outlaws, on a wild escapade! (Chorus) Eden's outlaws, on the run, Hid in the bushes, 'fore the settin' sun. Wearin' fig leaves, lookin' quite silly, Blamin' the snake, for their tummy ache. But God's not done, with …

(Verse 1) Dusty boots and a hammer in his hand Noah was a farmer, best in the land Folks 'round town thought he'd lost his mind Said he was buildin' somethin' one of a kind (Chorus) Noah's floatin' barn, a sight to behold Made of gopher wood, so the story's told Every creature great and small, two by two they came Ridin' out the flood in Noah's flo…

(Verse 1) Abram and Lot, they had it all Land and cattle, standin' tall But their herds grew bigger, their tents spread wide 'Til the land couldn't hold 'em, side by side (Chorus) It was a cow-town showdown, moo-ey mess galore Grass gettin' scarce, tempers got sore! But Abram was no clown, he knew just what to do Trusted in the Lord, and said, "Lot…

[Verse] Round the campfire sparks fly high Old cowboy tales touch the sky Wrinkles deep wisdom's face Gives Bible stories to this place [Verse 2] Kids all gather eyes aglow Listen close to tales they know Moses split the mighty sea David's sling brought down the beast [Chorus] Holy smoke and flames so bright Old tales told in firelight Cowboy's voi…

(Verse 1) Way back yonder, in a dusty land Folks got together, had a mighty plan "Let's build a tower," they said with glee, "Tall as the sky, for all to see!" (Chorus) Lost in the lingo, words all jumbled, Couldn't understand, it was humbled. "Howdy" turned to "ohlah!" What a fumble! Lost in the lingo, what a rumble! (Verse 2) Bricks they stacked,…

Send us a text Howdy, buckaroos! Gather 'round, pull them blankets tight. It's dark, real dark, and I gotta be sure it's really you sittin' there, 'cause this here tale's got more cases of mistaken identity than a blindfolded bronco in a rodeo. It's a story 'bout two brothers, a stolen birthright, and a whole heap of family drama. Now, let me see y…

Send us a text Howdy, buckaroos! Gather 'round, snuggle up in your blankets, grab some cocoa, cuz I’ve good one for you tonight! Remember our cowboy, Abraham and his wife Sarah? Last campfire, we talked about the 3 cowboys that visited them and told Sarah she’d be havin’ a baby. Well that lil buckaroo grew up into a fine young man and it was about …

Send us a text Howdy, buckaroos! Welcome back to another night 'round the campfire. Last time, we talked about Abram and Lot, and how Abram chose peace over a bigger piece of the pie, or in his case, a bigger piece of land. Now, before we dive into tonight's tale, I've got a surprise for y'all, and a special guest!…

Send us a text Howdy, buckaroos! Gather 'round the fire, tonight's story is a cow-town showdown, but it ain't about gunslingers or cattle rustlers. It's about two fellas, Abram and Lot, and a lesson about what happens when we let greed get the better of us.Autor: Sarah

Send us a text Howdy, young buckaroos! Gather 'round the fire, closer now, and listen to Preacher tell a tale, a story from the Good Book. This one's about a time long ago, way back when folks got a hankerin' to build somethin' mighty grand.Autor: Sarah

The film Conclave has picked up a host of awards across all the major ceremonies so far, including at the Screen Actors Guild, the Golden Globes, and winning Best Picture at the BAFTAs. Adapted from the novel by Robert Harris, it also has eight nominations at the upcoming 2025 Academy Awards. Full of intrigue, the film has viewers wondering how tru…

Ken Coleman chats with Steve Reiter. Welcome to another episode of the Holy Smokes podcast, where we explore the intersection of faith, friendship, fine tobacco, and drink. In this episode, host Steve Reiter sits down with Ken Coleman at Papa P's in Franklin, Tennessee, surrounded by a lively group of the Holy Smokes community. Ken shares insights …

Send us a text Well, howdy little buckaroos and cowgirls! Gather 'round the fire, 'cause ol' Preacher's got a story for ya tonight. A story 'bout a fella named Noah, and a flood that was wetter than a hound dog in a rainstorm.Autor: Sarah

The subject of Ukraine shattered the unity of Eastern Orthodoxy long before Russia’s full-scale invasion began. In 2018 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church declared independence from Moscow with the approval of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. In response, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow broke off all relations with Constantinople, creating arguabl…

Send us a text Howdy, buckaroos! Gather 'round close tonight, 'cause this here tale ain't for the faint of heart. It's a story about jealousy, anger, and the consequences of makin' wrong choices. Remember our outlaws, Adam and Eve? Well, they had themselves a couple of young'uns, Cain and Abel.Autor: Sarah

Send us a text Howdy, buckaroos! Gather 'round the campfire, snuggle up in your blankets, and get ready for a tale that'll tickle your ears and warm your hearts. Tonight, I'm gonna tell you about the first homestead, the grandest ranch you ever could imagine.Autor: Sarah

Send us a text Howdy, partners! Welcome back to Holy Smoke. Last time, we heard about how the Big Bossman built the first homestead, the most beautiful land you ever did see. Now, let's mosey on over to Eden Ranch, where the first cowboy and cowgirl were livin' it up.Autor: Sarah

Send us a text Well, buckaroos and buckarettes, gather 'round close. Tonight's tale ain't a happy one. It's about how the first cowboy and cowgirl, Adam and Eve, got themselves into a heap of trouble, and became Eden's outlaws.Autor: Sarah

In his new book Why We Believe: Finding Meaning in Uncertain Times, Prof Alister McGrath rejects the notion that belief is a relic of the past and takes aim at the ‘new atheists’ who attack religion without even knowing what it is. Prof McGrath, emeritus Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University, has had a unique journey…

Tim Bisagno chats with Steve Reiter. Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Holy Smokes podcast. In this week's installment, host Steve Reiter sits down with Tim Bisagno, a passionate advocate for creative evangelism and founder of MissionX Mission. Tim shares his fascinating journey of growing up as a pastor's kid in a burgeoning church envir…

There has been a Christian community in Syria since the first century AD. But it is shrinking fast and faces terrifying new threats as the country’s government, following the overthrow of President Assad, forges alliances with hardline Muslims including foreign jihadists – Uighurs from China, Uzbeks from Central Asia, Chechens from Russia, Afghans …

Scott Partridge chats with Steve Reiter. Welcome back to another episode of Holy Smokes! In this episode, our host, Steve Reiter, sits down with Scott Partridge, the owner of Papa P's Smoke Shop and Lounge in Franklin, Tennessee. Scott shares his incredible journey from a rural upbringing in Upstate New York to the heart of the music industry in Na…

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, director of the US-based Conscience Project and a friend of Holy Smoke, joins Damian to talk about what the incoming second Trump administration could mean for religious freedoms in America. Andrea argues that the Biden administration waged an unprecedented assault on such freedoms during his term. What could happen over the…

Welcome to one of the most heated exchanges of views in the history of the Holy Smoke podcast. In this episode, Damian Thompson talks to the distinguished Islamic scholar Dr Musharraf Hussain about the controversy surrounding the Muslim background of some of the accused in the crimes of Britain's 'grooming gangs'. Damian draws an analogy between th…

Welcome to another episode of Holy Smokes. Today, we are pleased to feature a talk by the founder of Holy Smokes, Kay Hiramine, also known as the "Godfather" or "Pope of the Smoke." This episode captures a recent Holy Smokes gathering organized by local lead Chris Ford in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kay shares how Holy Smokes began as a simple gath…

On this episode of the Holy Smokes podcast, host Steve Reiter sits down with Max Hatfield at his home, in Colorado. Max shares his unique life story, from his early years in Bakersfield, California, to his extensive work as a missionary. He talks about his journey into the world of cigars, how he became a Christian during the Jesus Revolution, and …

In this end-of-year episode of Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson discusses the abuse scandals that have forced the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to resign his post, his predecessor Lord Carey to resign his ministry as a priest, and now threaten the survival of the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cotterill. These developments are an unpreced…

Which 20th-century Scrooge had the following to say about the celebration of Christmas? ‘It gives on the whole much more pain than pleasure… Anyone can force you to give him a present by sending you a quite unprovoked present of his own. It's almost blackmail… Can it really be my duty to buy and receive masses of junk every winter just to help the …

Thousands of Brits will be attending Christmas and carol services throughout December. Yet festive attendance masks the reality that church congregations just aren’t holding up. The most optimistic of estimates suggest that regular church attendance has almost halved in the UK since 2009. This is just one of the factors that has led the historian a…

In this episode of "Holy Smokes," host Steve Reiter interviews Jim Lavelle, delving into his diverse career journey from the mortgage industry through financial services to tech and finally establishing a pizzeria in Colorado Springs recognized among the top Neapolitan spots in the U.S. Jim opens up about overcoming significant financial hurdles du…

As we approach the end of a uniquely painful year for the Royal Family, the King's trusted biographer, Robert Hardman, joins Damian Thompson to discuss the Monarch’s faith. As Robert recently revealed in his updated biography of Charles III, the cancer-stricken King has been drawing solace from a Christian faith that has become increasingly explici…

MPs are set to vote on the legalisation of assisted dying this week, the first such vote in almost a decade. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and follows a campaign by broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen and others. The biggest change since the last vote in 2015 is the make-up of parliament, with many …

In this episode of Holy Smokes, host Steve Reiter talks with guest Harley Tessman, exploring Tessman's transformative journey through military service, mental health battles, and his current life on the road. Tessman shares his profound spiritual experiences and faith struggles during his deployments, punctuated by near-death encounters and the war…

Host Steve engage in a conversation with guest Devin Christensen, exploring his journey from farm life to a vibrant spiritual path. Devin recalls his introduction to cigars and his appreciation for the Holy Smokes community, his spiritual transformation through deliverance and repentance, and the significant impact of dreams and divine guidance on …

After mounting pressure, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned. His resignation comes days after a damning report into the child abuser John Smyth who was associated with the Church of England. Welby was apparently made aware of the allegations in 2013, yet Smyth died in 2018 before facing any justice. Since the report was publishe…

Since the election of an overwhelmingly secular Labour government, people who describe themselves as humanists have a spring in their step: for example, there's a prospect that humanist weddings will be legally recognised in England and Wales (they already are in Scotland). But what exactly is a humanist? Definitions vary and there's a heated debat…

In this week’s Spectator, William Finlater reveals that some of the Church of Scotland’s most precious architectural heritage is being flogged off quickly, cheaply and discreetly. Most western denominations are being forced to close churches, but the fire sale of hundreds of Scottish churches is unprecedented in British history. In this episode of …

This month Pope Francis announced that he’s creating 21 cardinals, and once again his list includes unexpected names that will baffle commentators who assume that he’s determined to stack the next conclave with liberals. For example, Australia now finally has a cardinal – but he’s a 44-year-old bishop from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic diaspora rath…

The US presidential election looks as if it’s coming down to the wire in a handful of battleground states. Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump has established a clear lead, and that raises the question of whether, even in today’s increasingly secular America, evangelical Christians could give former president Trump a crucial advantage in the rus…

Matt Heard chats with Steve Reiter. Welcome back to Holy Smokes, the podcast where we discuss faith, friendship, fine tobacco, and drink. I'm your host, Steve Reiter, and in this episode, we have a special guest joining us, Matt Heard. Matt emphasizes the importance of engaging in biblical community and shares personal stories highlighting communio…

In the winter of 1951 shots from a Colt revolver rang out in St Paul’s Cathedral in an experiment designed to solve the mystery of how architecture shapes sound. In this episode of Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson talks to Dr Fiona Smyth, author of a new book on the subject, and choral musician Philip Fryer, about the perfect acoustic – an increasingly …