New Canaan Society Franklin Podcast

#101: Michael and Celeste

Chances are you know a musician who would like to meet Michael and Celeste Guido. Michael and Celeste were married in 1986 and have been walking alongside artists and entertainers ever since – encouraging and challenging them in their journeys of faith. The Guido’s passion is to see lives changed by the love of God. In a video on the PR Ministries website, musicians said Michael was “a bit of a legend,” “a mentor,” “he modeled for me how to walk a life of obedience to Jesus.” Michael and Celeste travel on the road with musicians, welcome musicians into their home, strengthen their marriages, walk alongside in financial difficulties and family tragedies, model for them how to follow Jesus. They are with musicians in prayer, in Bible study, and in worship. Michael and Celeste’s ministry is one of Pursuing Relationships (PR Ministries). They have ministered to Michael W. Smith, Toby Mac, Jars of Clay, Stryper, and other Christian groups. And have also shepherded heavy metal musicians like Brian Welch and Dave Mustaine. You want stories? Michael and Celeste will be with us this Thursday, May 16, to tell stories of God’s work in the lives of artists, musicians, and entertainers.

#100: The three with Parkinson’s

“Parkinson’s Disease is a gift,” said Michael J. Fox. “It’s a gift that keeps taking because it’s really opened me up to more compassion.” Another person with Parkinson’s explained, “Stories can connect with people in a way that facts and scientific reports can’t.” This Thursday you can hear the stories of three people with Parkinson’s, and the founder of Bridges for Parkinson’s. The three with Parkinson’s are . . .            Wes Yoder – owner of Ambassador Speakers Bureau and Literary Agency, Wes started and is director of Middle Tennessee New Canaan Society . . . and your friend.            Joel Anderson – one of the best graphic artists I know. He is probably best known around here for his Spirit of Nashville posters and best known nationally for his National Parks posters, books, calendars, and gifts.            Bob Gurich – a Christian marriage and family counselor from Spring Hill. You may know Bob because he has been a regular with us at Puckett’s. And Colleen Bridges, an amazing personal trainer who eight years ago began Rock Steady Boxing to help those with Parkinson’s maintain strength, balance, and endurance. Chances are you won’t get Parkinson’s. One percent of people over 60 get it; most are men. But you do have friends with Parkinson’s Disease. You owe it to yourself and them to hear these stories. And to hear Rich Gootee’s song about living with Parkinson’s, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDtbvzIVkEg. Rich, a Nashville singer-songwriter with Parkinson’s, works out at Rock Steady Boxing. 

#99: Andy Andrews

Andy Andrews is a gifted storyteller and author. His The Traveler’s Gift, The Noticer, and How Do You Kill 11 Million People were all NY Times bestsellers. His The Bottom of the Pool was named by Forbes as “One of the Seven Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read.”  When Andy was 19, both his parents died – his mother from cancer; his father from an auto accident. Andy was homeless and hung out in a library reading more than 200 biographies of great men and women and came to realize there are seven decisions that determine a person’s success. Andy has shared what he learned with 20 million readers of his 26 books and, according to a NY Times reporter, “has quietly become one of the most influential people in America.” Last month he delivered a course on Critical Thinking to the U.S. Naval War College. Listening to Andy were the Commanding Major Generals of the Army, Air Force, Space Force, Marines, Coast Guard and military heads of 16 U.S. allied countries.

#98: Derek Young

“Derek Young, a former executive at Dollar General and Cracker Barrel, was hands down the most popular keynoter and executive coach we used when I was working with Tennessee State government,” said Bucky Rosenbaum, one of the brothers on our Franklin NCS leadership team. “An experienced stand-up comedian and solid Christian, Derek would be comfortable talking to a room full of CEOs or to the guys at Puckett’s.”When Bucky tells you something, you can take it to the bank. This Thursday you’ll have a chance to see for yourself when Derek joins us at breakfast at Puckett’s.A native of St. Louis and a lifelong Cardinals baseball fan, Derek Young is a corporate consultant and a community advocate in Nashville by his involvement with March of Dimes, Nashville Symphony, and Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

#97: Matt Davis

Palm Sunday -- the beginning of Passion Week when we celebrate Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem – is this coming Sunday. Most of us don’t think about the fact that the roots of Passion Week go all the way back to Genesis. This Thursday Matt Davis will show us the Passion Week through Jewish eyes, linking it to the Old Testament. Matt explains, . . .  “It’s like a two-act play. The Jewish people showed up for the first act of a play and left at intermission. The Christians showed up at intermission and watched the second act of the same play. The two groups passed each other in the lobby during intermission and never saw each other again.” Matt Davis, a Messianic Jew who leads a ministry called The Jewish Road, will put it all together for us, bridging the gap between the Old Testament and the New. He promises that you’ve never heard the story told this way.

#96: Scott Lehman

If you enjoy golf, you will want to join us this Thursday to meet Scott Lehman. And if you are not a golfer, you will still be glad you came this Thursday to Puckett’s to meet Scott Lehman. Scott is founder and president of In His Grip Golf (www.inhisgripgolf.com/), a ministry that builds communities of men who enjoy golf and want to deepen their relationship with Jesus. Think of it as a group of guys just like us at NCS that meets on a golf course instead of at Puckett’s. Scott has been an avid golfer all his life. In 1997 he was a spectator for the first time at the Masters; when he got home his wife, Leslie, told him their marriage was over. The very short version is that they both dedicated their lives to Christ and have now been married 28 years.

#95: Don Miller

You probably know Don best for his book Blue Like Jazz: Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality, which was made into a movie and named one of the 20 best books of the decade. But that was twenty years ago. Since then Don has helped people understand the importance of their story and wrote another best-selling book, Building a StoryBrand; Clarify Your Message so Customers will Listen. This Thursday Don will tell us his story – from the time of self-discovery in Blue Like Jazzto realizing the importance of our stories and how great leaders invite people into a story. 

#94 Mika Edmondson

No snow this Thursday and high in the low 50s. It sounds like a perfect morning for NCS breakfast at Puckett’s.Mika Edmondson, lead pastor at Koinonia Church in Nashville -- who was scheduled to be with us on January 18 -- will join us this Thursday. Mika was founding pastor of New City Fellowship, an Orthodox Presbyterian congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was called to Nashville a few years ago.