This place is beautiful.  Except for the fact that the rental company shorted us sheets and towels we are having a wonderful time.  Mike Landrum is my former associate pastor at our previous church.  He is a gifted communicator and a great friend.  He is challenging us to get uncomfortable. Matt Oakley was our intern last year and he is doing a great job leading our worship.  

We are going up to the top of the the Smokey Mt. National Park and then hang out in Gatlinburg.  

Friday morning my son Jacob and I left Charlotte at about 8 AM headed to my beautiful home state of Alabama.  We were headed to Decatur, AL to pick up a Honda Scooter from my good friend Dr. Rob Jackson who is the pastor of Central Baptist.  

Our adventure got started as we got mooned by the giant peach in Gaffney, SC.

Then we made one of our many stops at Starbucks to keep my mind fueled.

Then we stopped at the Georgia welcome center on I-85 S and they were giving away freebies.  We got free lunch, gift certificates, coffee, computer bags, etc…  I do miss Georgia.

We made our way through Atlanta seeing old places we used to go like the Mall of Georgia, Downtown, Philips arena, Turner Field, Georgia Dome, Varsity, Guitar Center and Six Flags.

We drove by Talladega Motor Speedway which was funny because the big race is in Charlotte today.  I love Birmingham and north Alabama.  The scenery is beautiful. Birmingham holds a special place since it is where I met Cassandra.  

When we arrived in Decatur, Rob took us by Central Baptist’s new building.  God is doing amazing things through Rob’s leadership.  They are relocating to a Central place between Decatur and Hartselle, AL.  They bought and existing Savings and Loan office that is huge.  It sits on 29 acres and the amount they paid for this was what the land would have cost alone.  God gave them the building.  It will allow them to grow to 3000 in SS and worship.  WOW!  Rob is a great friend and I’m forever indebted to him and Tonya for making sure Cass and I got together.

Jacob and I loaded up the scooter and left Decatur about 4 PM EST.  We arrived in Birmingham and drove around were I used to work near the former Eastwood Mall (that was torn down and has a new shopping center).  My old employment, Longs Electronics is long gone.  We got back on the road and stopped once again at Starbucks in Oxford, AL.  They gave me free coffee!  

Then we drove around I-285 N and saw our old stomping grounds.  We miss Atlanta.  We stopped again in Commerce, GA so I could get more Starbucks so I wouldn’t fall asleep.  We gassed up in SC.  Their gas is .20 cheaper than Alabama, Georgia and NC.    At midnight we drove back by the peach and I was mooned again.

We arrived home safely about 1:10 AM and I slept late.  We got up and tried out the new scooter.  It has more power than you would think.  Later we met three couples from our church in Mobile for supper at Smokey Bones. They are here for the Coca-Cola 600.  It was great to see them.  Man am I tired!

Below are some pictures of Nashville. The bottom one was a sacred area (Baptist Vatican) that I was in.

I had a great time here in Franklin/Nashville area. I will have to take a few days to process everything I heard and learned. The People’s Church is truly impacting their community and the world. While I was with Rick White another pastor called asking for advice and just like he did with me Rick told the pastor to e-mail him in bullet points what is going on in his church and in his life. Rick is an amazing man. He truly has a passion for people. I don’t know if I have ever been around a more personable person than Rick. I am truly grateful for our time together. I can never repay him or The People’s Church but I hope to one day pass on whatever wisdom God has given me to others. This is what cooperation and being missional is about to me.

At lunch I was honored to share a meal with Rick and Ken Davis. You may know Ken from his radio spots called Lighten Up. Ken has known me since I was a baby. He and my dad worked together in YFC/Campus Life years ago. He told funny stories about my dad pulling pranks on him and I had fun making him feel old. Anyway, Ken is a funny guy who has a tremendous ministry. He fills in for Rick at the People’s Church when Rick can’t be there. What a blessed day I had.

I learned about lot about leadership, people skills and just a church that is being the hands and feet of Jesus. I can’t take and copy what is going on in Franklin because our church is in a different type of community. But I will forever be grateful to Rick White and the People’s Church for a great time.

I read an article last September about a pastor named Rick White in Church Executive Magazine last September. As I read the article I knew that I had to talk with Rick. I looked up his church’s website and wrote Rick an email. Rick emailed me back and gave me his cell phone number and told me to call him. We talked for a half hour or more and he encouraged me to continue on the path I was leading.

We have emailed back and forth ever since. Rick was going to be in Charlotte a few months ago but he had to help another pastor who was in the news through some difficult times. One thing I’ve learned already about Rick is he has a heart for God, his family, unbelievers, his church and pastors. He apologized for not being able to get up with me but said he wanted me to fly to Nashville, TN and spend 2 days with him. I told him I could drive but he insisted that I fly and he would take care of the expenses. I really don’t know how I could repay him and The People’s Church. They not only paid for my flight but they rented me a nice vehicle, took me to Outback, and put me up in an unbelievable hotel. I don’t know what to say. I truly don’t deserve this kindness.

When I got to Franklin I pulled into The People’s Church parking lot. I was greeted by a friendly receptionist who directed me to Rick’s office. Rick’s administrative assistant Venita Graves-Cagle is a gracious host. Rick invited me into his office and then immediately into their Worship Planning session. There were about 7-8 staff members who participate in this meeting. Following that meeting I went back to Rick’s office. He has a study off his office and Rick is a huge golf player. Not only that but Rick is Bama fan and a graduate of my alma mater Samford University.

Rick and his Executive Pastor Dick Wells talked with me for an hour or more. That was a very powerful meeting but the lessons I learned I will keep to myself. Following that meeting I went with the staff to the worship center for their prayer time. They pray for each other then break into groups and pray for members of the church who are in need. Rick invited me to pray with a volunteer staff member Diane Cobb. Diane reminds me of my wife Cassandra in she is very perceptive. The prayer she prayed was spine chilling.

Then Rick took me to Outback Steakhouse and I enjoyed hearing His story. I capitalized His because I mean God’s story for The People’s Church. When Rick came to The People’s Church it was 1st Baptist Franklin. It was a growing church but as Rick says most of their growth was transfer growth. There were many denominational big wigs who were members. Rick attended a Willowcreek Conference and was moved by a church that was actually transforming a community. He came home and realized that God wanted him to transition his church. It has been hard. The People’s Church is a member of the SBC but they are not politically active. Rick himself goes on at least 3 mission trips a year. The church has 7 partnerships with countries around the world. When the tsunami hit they immediately sent $100K then took up another $100K a few weeks later. They have sent over 30 groups to New Orleans. They are impacting their community. I wish you could have heard one of the prayer requests that I heard today from Sunday’s service.

Rick made an interesting observation. He said The People’s Church attenders and members have every kind of struggle you can imagine and that is what happens when you are being the hands and feet of Jesus. Some people don’t know how to respond to that. But think about it–in a hospital you will see hurting people. To me that is what a church should be. It should be a place where people can be healed spiritually. This church is truly missional. For this reason I am naming The People’s Church as Pharisee Busters.

I am looking forward to learning a whole lot more on Wednesday and then I fly back home late Wednesday.

I arrived safely about 1:00 today in a rainstorm.  I hate flying in the rain.  My mind is mush right now.  I will post about the church that I’m meeting with later.  I was given permission. They have it going.  I’m grateful for this opportunity.