Episodes
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
#67: Scotty Smith
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Last summer my wife, Lois, heard a radio interview with Barbara Miller Juliani, who told about growing up in a Christian family, rejecting her parents’ Christianity, and joyfully reconciling with her parents and with the Lord. Lois bought the book that Barbara wrote with her father – Come Back, Barbara.
When I realized that Barbara’s father was Jack Miller – professor at Westminster Theological Seminary, founder of World Harvest Mission (now Serge), and a mentor of Scotty Smith -- I reached out to Scotty because I had heard him talk about Jack Miller in reverential tones for nearly as long as I had known Scotty.
One of Jack Miller’s sons said the story “is not just the story of a prodigal daughter, but also of a father who was acting like the elder son. Dad’s willingness to first take the beam out of his eye transformed him into the kind of dad a prodigal would want to return to.”
Jack Miller died 26 years ago and cannot be with us in person. Scotty will be Jack’s stand-in to tell us the story of a father’s pursuit of a prodigal daughter.
Monday Dec 19, 2022
#68: Jeff Allen
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Jeff Allen combines clean and hilarious humor with inspiration.
He’s performed for American troops, twice at the National Prayer Breakfast, starred in specials on Comedy Central, and been featured on Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Tours.
And although “Jeff is a class act and true gentleman,” (according to the CEO of BlueCreek Investment Partners), he’s going to be with us this Thursday, December 15. If you know anyone who is a class act and a true gentleman – unlike the rest of us -- invite them to join us.
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
#66: Allen Shamblin
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Have you heard this story before?
A real estate appraiser in Austin quits his job and moves to Nashville to pursue his career as a songwriter. He supports himself by parking cars and working in a warehouse.
Remember that your next valet parking attendant may become another Allen Shamblin. Allen has written hit songs for Randy Travis, Bonnie Raitt, Miranda Lambert, and others and is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
At one point, however, Allen was at what he thought was the end of his career. He had writer's block and the words just would not come to the page. Feeling useless and frustrated he turned to God and . . . well, you will have to wait for the rest of the story when Allen Shamblin joins us this Thursday at Puckett’s.
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
#65: Rob Touchstone
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Rob Touchstone, our speaker this Thursday, is passionate about helping students at Lipscomb (where he just founded the Center for Vocational Discovery) discover who they are and what they are living for and how their vocation fits into God’s plan for their lives.
Young people wrestle with this. Then they settle into their vocation and many of us — men especially — find our identity in our jobs. That seems to serve us well until . . . our job ends. Mostly through retirement.
So perhaps Rob’s experience helping young people discover who they are and what they are living for will be of benefit to a few older men who are once again asking, “who am I and what am I living for?” Come on Thursday when Rob tells his own story and how he found the answer in Christ Jesus.
There’s a lot more to Rob’s story than just the Center for Vocational Discovery . . . more than I can include here.
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
#64: Casey Beathard
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
Casey Beathard seemed to lead a charmed life.
His father was an NFL general manager and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Casey was a high school football star and then played in college. He moved to Nashville where he was named Songwriter of the Year in 2004 and 2008. One son is a quarterback with the Jacksonville Jaguars and another is a recording artist with Dot Records. No problems, right?
Then a third son was fatally stabbed one night outside the Dogwood Bar and Grill on Division Street in Nashville. Through it all, Casey is on fire for the Lord. His son’s tragic death has opened doors and hearts for the Lord.
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
#63: Wes and Brothers
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
This Thursday Wes and some of our leadership group are going to explore with us why our NCS breakfasts are so important and why we need to tell our own stories to each other.
I was trying to think of a way of making this sound “exciting,” when I received a story from Chip Arnold (who spoke last Spring) about Barry Scott (who spoke 2-1/2 years ago). This story is a bit long, but it’s worth reading.
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
#62: Dennis Parker
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Dennis Parker is a banjo picker with an amazing story of God’s grace.
You may remember Dennis from last April at NCS when Paul Aldrich hosted a few musicians from Music City Fathers.
Dennis won a bluegrass contest at age 7, played with Ricky Skaggs, and began drinking. “I wasn’t a good drunk,” Dennis says. “I was like a blackout drunk.” That landed him in jail five times, where a friend told him, “God loves you. You . . . are right at the place you need to be -- away from everybody, away from everything and away from all the responsibilities. Get in the Bible and let Him reveal himself to you.’” God changed Dennis.
And now Dennis is back with Kentucky Thunder, playing with Ricky Skaggs
Monday Aug 08, 2022
#61: Ken Moore
Monday Aug 08, 2022
Monday Aug 08, 2022
Franklin is the third best place to live in the United States, according to Money. When a company or town is doing something right, much of the credit goes to the head person – the CEO or the mayor.
This Thursday we’re going to meet Ken Moore who has been mayor of Franklin since 2011. During his tenure the population of Franklin has grown by 1/3, businesses have been added, and yet Franklin has retained its charm.
Ken will tell us his story – stories of being an orthopedic surgeon, stories of serving people overseas, stories of Franklin, but most importantly, stories of his relationship with Jesus Christ.
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
#60: Young Men of Tennessee
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
God does not depend only on people older than 50 to accomplish His purposes.
He is working through a lot of people younger than most of us and many of those “younger people” are following God’s leading to Middle Tennessee.
Who are these young entrepreneurs? This Thursday you will meet three who have recently moved here from southern California and who have been with us at NCS this year.
* Joshua Thomasec’s vision is to provide a safe place where young men can be mentored and learn the life skills they need to succeed at J2J Motorsports.
* Colby Gilmore is helping young families with their life strategies through Ron Blue Trust.
* Zach Norman is dedicated to supporting the mental health needs of artists and musicians through certified brain health coaching through Wave Initiative Worldwide.
Ron Henry, who works with Marketplace Chaplains – another great story – and is on our NCS leadership team, will moderate this panel with Joshua, Colby, and Zach.
Friday May 20, 2022
#58: Dan Scott
Friday May 20, 2022
Friday May 20, 2022
Dan Scott, formerly pastor of Christ Church and now in mental health practice and an Anglican bishop, talks about what pastors are not telling you about their mental health. In 2021 a Barna poll discovered that 51% of the pastors in mainline churches and 34% of the pastors in evangelical churches would like to quit.
Dan says, “I will talk about a crisis of identity in American Evangelicalism that is particularly acute for church leaders. Are we shepherds, managers, CEOs, teachers, entertainers, political organizers, what? Many American clergy remain dedicated to Christ and committed to their calling, but they can’t find relief from the intense divisions within their congregations, and from their congregants’ unwillingness to accept silence on social / political issues.”
Dan focuses on five statements:
- We have redefined church.
- We have redefined the pastor’s role.
- We are losing transcendence
- Many of us struggle with doubts about our faith.
- Few of us have a safe person with whom we can share our inner life and intimate thoughts.