Dear Readers,
Thank you for being a free subscriber to The Three Taverns.
The name of this newsletter comes from Acts 28:15 where Paul went on his journey to Rome in chains to stand before Caesar and declare his faith in another King, one who rules the universe. This would be a direct conflict with the greatest power in the world.
While he was in the Three Taverns town, some believers came to meet him there, having heard he was on his way to Rome. They made the approximately 30 mile journey to encourage him and let him know he was not alone.
We need each other. We need people who are there, present, in good times and bad. Taverns are places where that happens, where “everybody knows your name,” where you can share a laugh or a cry, a debate or agreement, a fight or peace.
2024 was a big year for our family. We had three new grandchildren in 2024, Isaac Bell, Elyas Nugent and Emmy Jo Smith. That brings our total to 17 grandchildren! Everyone is pictured here on Thanksgiving, including Emmy Jo who was only one week old at the time.
I also started this newsletter The Three Taverns in March, continued teaching in a house Bible study with several close friends we nicknamed the Outliers group, and started our Tuesday morning Tavern Talks meeting at The Mission Cigar and Social in April.
I also started a new business AT COST METALS helping people secure their savings by exchanging fiat currency, basically fraud money, into silver and gold for the cheapest prices on the planet. Silver and gold have been real money for over 5,000 years. Abraham was considered wealthy because he had silver and gold (Genesis 13:2). Israel was said to have taken the wealth of Egypt when they took their silver and gold as they left slavery into the exodus years. (Exodus 12:35-36). Any currency decoupled from silver and gold in history has a short shelf-life. We have served dozens of people to help them get started, shoring their lives up against the inevitable fall of the dollar system.
2025 is looking important to me. It feels like a major shift, a monumental moment of decision for our nation. There is a growing spiritual curiosity among people looking for solid ground in the midst of turbulent days. Rather than introduce them to a system or a religion or a group we get to introduce them to the UNLIMITED Person Who is alive and always present.
We as believers are also having to reckon with how to live among those who have called us anti-vaxxers, anti-science, election deniers, grandma haters, racists, misogynists, white-supremacists, Hitler-loving Nazis, insurrections, deplorables, garbage, trans-phobic. The nation overwhelmingly slapped down those who believe these things about America in the last voting cycle, but it has not stopped the hatred. It is just seething under the surface waiting for its moment.
Forgiving is important; not compromising or apologizing is also important. The enemies of righteousness do not want apologies they want subjugation. We do not live in a political world. We live in a Biblical world. Our life is determined by our worldview. If we see an UNLIMITED God guiding history with His unseen hand (Eph. 1:9-11), that this is HIS story and we fit into it, and that He has made provision for our rebellion and sin by presenting His own blood to purchase His people from inevitable destruction and judgment required for rebellion (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25-26)) , then we will live accordingly. And now that we can have peace with God, a restored friendship with our Creator and Father, then we can live in freedom and what Peter called “inexpressible joy.” (I Peter 1:8)
So we head into 2025 with a sober excitement, a readiness to step up to what God is asking of us. We head into 2025 with a profound gratitude that we get to walk this life adventure with you. We are so thankful for you!
I don’t want to live from memory. I don’t want to live anxious about the future. I want to live from inspiration, hearing the Spirit and doing His will. Then we will leave an eternal stamp on these few short years we are given under the sun.
TUESDAY TAVERN TALKS
New Year’s Eve morning we are definitely meeting together!
7am, The Mission Cigar and Social, we will reflect and look forward.
If you have never joined us at Tavern Talks, now would be a great time to start. Coming up in “Tavern Talks” in 2025 is more open, honest stories, sharing, prayer, encouragement, strength for the journey we are all taking as we stand up with Jesus in this world.
January 7 Michael Houlihan will tell his story
January 14, Adam L’Herault will tell his story
January 21, Tommy Thompson will tell his story
Going forward we will continue to enjoy cigars together, opening the scriptures, sharing stories, laughs, and the occasional alien probe joke. (You’d have to be there to know!)
Bring your coffee, your Bible, Febreze if you go to the office after, an open mind and open heart. You can purchase a cigar as well to enjoy your first cigar of the day.
We are really grateful to Mark, Monte and Willie for opening up The Mission early each Tuesday and participating in Tavern Talks!
Looking Up!
Tod Bell
Chief Tavern Host