Dear Reader,
Thanks for being a subscriber to The Three Taverns.
July 2 I was on the front porch having some thinking time when I heard a strange bird. I ignored it because we have zillions of birds around the farm. But it kept getting louder.
I realized it wasn't a bird.
I got up and looked around and out from under one of the large Hostas in our front garden walked a small skinny black kitten. Her nose was bloody and her chin was skinned up. Someone clearly dumped her out on the private road leading back to the farm. But she immediately adopted me. I gave her cream and then went and got some kitten chow.
I have named her Indy since it was right before Independence Day.
So now she stays on our front porch, has met my entire family on July 4th and didn't flinch one bit. She is fearless toward people and sleeps in my porch chair. When I'm outside now she takes over my space crawling all over anything I pick up.
Here I am early Sunday morning making final notes for my message at Sweetwater Church. Emily snuck this photo. As usual Indy is right in the middle of it.
And speaking of Sweetwater Church…
CHRIST IN CULLEOKA
We had a full house yesterday. Some old friends, lots of new ones, two baptisms, the Lord’s Supper together, a Sharemeal, a wedding shower, it was a busy day!
Culleoka, TN is a beautiful community 10 minutes south of Columbia. Emily and I have been making friends here in this place and I have been pastoring/teaching at a small church called Sweetwater Church.
In June we studied Ephesians and learning that we are SEATED WITH CHRIST and now WALKING WITH CHRIST.
We have come to Ephesians 6 and our STANDING WITH CHRIST. We will spend the month of July talking about our warfare in this world as believers:
Week 1, July 6: STAND UP: Introduction to the War.
Week 2, July 13: SUIT UP: Setting the Captives Free
Week 3, July 20: SHUT UP: The Greatest Demonic Battle
Come jump in with us and let’s walk this out together.
We meet at 11:30am on Sunday mornings. I actually love the later time because it makes for a very relaxed Sunday morning!
We meet in the Glendale United Methodist church building at 1423 Culleoka Hwy, Columbia TN.
TUESDAY TAVERN TALKS
“A safe place to be real.”
“Authentic and challenging.”
“Feels like what church is supposed to be.”
These are all statements made about Tavern Talks.
Last week someone in our group prayed, "God, thank you for this church." As I have believed, taught and walked out for many years church can be found everywhere because church is who you are and not where you go.
On Tuesdays we are going to start hearing from some guys on their second round of sharing. Round one everyone tells their story, where they came from, how their life has taken shape, what has influenced them, how God has encountered them along the way.
Round two will be guys sharing “What God is Teaching Me In My Life Now.” John Mathis did a great job sharing from his heart last week.
We are blessed each week by men giving us all a glimpse into their life and things they are overcoming.
COMING UP:
July 8- Allen Blaxton- My Story- 25 year Navy man, ground support for Blue Angels, professional drummer
July 15- Shay Rankhorn- My Story- this is the “3 creen man” who sits in the Mission as his office. Shay is a father with 8 kids, a business owner and a former church pastor. Now he pastors in the marketplace.
We look forward to every week together.
Tavern Talks is about our stories and God’s story. It’s not about perfect people with perfect stories but authentic working out this salvation in our lives.
Each Tuesday morning at 7am you will find two to three dozen men gathered to hear each other’s stories, to encourage one another, to teach scripture and pray together.
This gathering is at The Mission Cigar & Social in Spring Hill.
Looking Up! (Luke 21:28)
Tod Bell
P.S.
