EXCUSE ME, SIR
Conversations happen....so be ready.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for being a free subscriber to The Three Taverns.
We live in a frantic world. Speed is the name of the game. Fewer people than ever have the mental energy or desire to converse in a meaningful way. Making new friends often feels like a chore.
I have lived in the Nashville Tennessee area all my life. It has been the common way of life here to greet people when you walk by, or to say “Hello, how are you?” in the produce section of the grocery store.
But that alarms people who have moved here from, say, New York or Detroit, where carefully avoiding eye-contact is a way of life. That’s not because New Yorkers can’t be friendly, but it is a survival tactic. “Too many people! Sensory overload! Gotta get past the crowds to get on with the things I have to get done!”
I have spoken with people who have moved to the Nashville area from the New Yorks or Detroits of the world. They said being greeted with “How are you?” in the produce section was the biggest surprise they had when they moved here. They were shocked- but also knew this was something they liked and wanted to get used to doing themselves.
That’s why I have gravitated toward tavern atmospheres in my life. People are looking for connection. I used to speak every Monday in a business lunch in the heart of downtown Nashville. Anywhere from 50 to 200 people would come in the middle of their business day to fellowship, network, eat a hearty meal for $5 and hear an inspiring Bible message about life as a believer in the marketplace.
After this meeting I would spend time further time with people who came — whether in their offices or walking the sidewalks for follow-up conversations — then I would drive over to a restaurant called The Flying Saucer. It was a big place with a huge selection of beers on tap, and they would allow me to smoke a cigar and work on my laptop.
But nearly every day while there I would have long conversations with people who happened to wander in or who worked there. I made many friends there. Often I would have 5-10 people sitting around and we would just talk life, love, dreams, family, and faith. I mention that one last because it always seemed to lead to that topic once a person felt comfortable. I was able to lead several people to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior while there, too.
Perhaps this is why Paul stopped in a town called The Three Taverns on his way to stand trial in Rome for preaching that there is another King beside Caesar. (see Acts 28:15) People came around him to encourage him as he was on this fateful journey.
That’s why I named this Substack “The Three Taverns.” We all need encouragement on our journeys.
Please subscribe or share using the buttons below. Let’s get more people to join us in “The Three Taverns”!
“EXCUSE ME, SIR.”
A young man I did not know and had just met for the first time, leaned over and asked me, "I couldn't help but overhear you say the words 'true gospel.' What is the true gospel?"
I literally get asked questions like this two or three times a week. This particular time it happened in a cigar lounge. But it has happened in coffee shops, restaurants, hotel lobbies, planes, trains and automobiles!
I believe there is a hungry generation out there who have tried everything else, from drug culture to political activism to sexual experimentation to gender confusion to re-interpreting history to create racial division to personal health to personal wealth to TikTok trends, you name it. And it has all come up empty.
There are some amazing thinkers who have been looking and commenting on the direction of our world who are turning to Jesus Christ because everything else is SHIFTING SAND and they realize it is coming up empty.
Russell Brand is one of my favorite cultural commenters who always challenges the status quo. He has more and more been vocalizing a growing faith in Christ. He was recently baptized into Christ and comments on what he is learning as he walks with Jesus.
Tucker Carlson has been boldly claiming Jesus. Jordan Peterson has said openly that he believes Christ is the only way to the Father. My friend Shawn Ryan sent a video of me baptizing him in a lake to his millions of followers. Megan Kelly recently interviewed Shawn. She said she was on a faith journey and was asking herself, "What's with the middle-men? Why can't I just relate with God directly?" to which Shawn told her, "The middleman thing is a lie. There are no middle-men. It's all about your relationship with God and Jesus Christ."
Recently a 40-ish year-old man was baptized on a Saturday. Prior to this decision he had started coming regularly to a local cigar shop, that I also frequent, and hanging with a bunch of the guys there. Soon enough he was ready to commit his life to Christ! One day recently I asked him, "What led you to that point of commitment to Jesus and baptism?" He said, "I had met all my goals, sold the company, made the money, bought the car I had wanted since I was 8 years old, and still it felt empty. I kept listening to all the conversations in here about God and knew that is what I was really after."
That, folks, is one of the major open doors in our walk with God. Don't think that because someone looks and sounds put together or confident in their lifestyle that they aren't actually empty and looking for answers.
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly ...And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:16a-17)
"Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive [literally: "seasoned with salt"] so that you will have the right response for everyone." (Colossians 4:5-6)
The great discovery of life is to find this: "And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth." (John 17:3)
There is no substitute; following Him does not mean merely adding new activities to our life such as "church attendance" or "morning devotions", but that He is Someone who IS our very life. And this is what people are really looking for!
CACTUS MOSER AT “TAVERN TALKS”
If you are in the Mid-TN area, then you might enjoy Tuesday mornings at 7am joining us for “Tavern Talks.” We have been studying what scripture has to say about living life in Christ in this world, and we have been hearing compelling stories from others about how God has intercepted their lives in amazing ways.
This week Cactus Moser is telling some of this story. Cactus is one of my closest friends for over two decades. He and I have spent many hours around a cigar on his porch or in a tavern talking about life, or running around leading worship meetings, hosting family gatherings, and studying scripture in a meeting we have once a week. I have officiated two of his kids’ weddings, too, which was a huge privilege.
He is an incredibly talented musician who led Highway 101 for many years, has played drums on countless recordings professionally, is a music producer, father, husband to Wynonna Judd and a voice of freedom for Jesus in a complicated world.
Cactus lost his leg and crushed his hand in a motorcycle accident only two months into his marriage to Wynonna. His rescue from that accident on that day was miraculous, but his recovery and rebuilding his physical abilities to continue playing drums and carry on with a busy life are just as miraculous. Come hear him talk about persevering faith this next Tuesday morning.
Bring your Bible, a friend, purchase a cigar (not required, we have non-cigar smokers who join us too!), your Febreze if you have to go to the office after, and be ready to participate with honesty, humor, open conversation, challenging looks at truth, all in an accepting atmosphere.
Coming Up in “Tavern Talks”
June 11: Daniel Willis, Spring Hill police officer
June 18: Tod Bell, a Bible study
Looking Up (Luke 21:28),
Tod Bell
Chief Tavern Host
P.S. Practice discernment in everything!
