Redemption's Table with Robert Barge

Conversation at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Lunch at Oscars At the Museum in Birmingham, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Carolyn Maull McKinstry Imagine being in church one autumn Sunday morning.  It is Youth Sunday.  You and your friends are anxiously awaiting the 11 AM worship time.  Four of your friends pause at the girl’s restroom on the first floo...

Conversation at First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Dr. Jay Wolf Today’s podcast guest describes himself as a "kingdom entrepreneur.”  I absolutely love that.  When Dr. Jay Wolf is not verbally sharing Jesus, he is creatively contemplating an abundance of additional ways to tell even more people about Jesus.  His is the endeavor...

Conversation and Pizza at Salvatore’s Pizza and Pastain Hoover, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Matt Coulter For 27 years, Matt Coulter has been the track announcer at Talladega Superspeedway.  Twice a year, Matt’s voice presides live over the thunder of the longest racetrack in NASCAR. That’s 26,500 miles of not only watching the wheels go round and round, but bringing the f...

Lunch and Conversation at La’Taste Vietnamese Cuisinein Prattville, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Jason McHenry Vietnamese pho soup is phenomenal.  According to the chef at LaTaste, the process to make pho takes 7 days.  Yet the soup is not complete until it literally finishes cooking in your bowl shortly after it is served and the final garnishes are added. &nbsp...

Lunch and Conversation over Chick-fil-A at Samford University Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Dr. Robert Smith, Jr. When this podcast was just a God-nudge, I began to daydream about individuals to invite to “The Table.”  The first name on the list is today’s special guest.  Dr. Robert Smith, Jr. is the professor of Christian Pre...

Lunch and Conversation at Crestline Bagel Company in Birmingham, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Kathryn Doornbos “Our mission is to redeem the streets.”   And once you've come in contact with the staff and volunteers at Redemptive Cycles, you will know for yourself – that’s just how they roll. These folks are the spokes God uses sometimes to get lives rolling again. I w...

Lunch and Conversation at Lek’s Railroad Thai in Montgomery, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Chuck Conner Today marks a first for the podcast.  We have brought back one of our former guests, Chuck Conner, for a second conversation round “the Table.”  In “A Drummer in the Distance” from May 27, we talked about Chuck’s days as drummer in my favorite Christian rock band of...

Lunch and Conversation at Uncle Mick’s Cajun Market and Cafe in Prattville, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Robyn Blessing “Absolutely ingenious!”  That’s the first thing I thought when I heard about “Life On Wheels Alabama.”  This “tricked –out” RV unit is a traveling medical clinic, offering women free $150 sonograms.  In 32 months, God has done great things...

Dinner and Conversation at Top O’ the River Restaurant in Gadsden, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Tammy DeBoer Rowe I wish I had more friends like Sue Ann DeBoer.  She imitated God.  She impacted a lot of lives.  She surprised me with grace in an unguarded moment of my life when I needed it. I am delighted to bring her life to “The Table” today. &nbs...

Conversation at 23rd Street Baptist Church and Lunch at Sweet Tea Restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama                   Featuring Special Guest:  Dr. P. Banneker Hatcherson Something about the word redemption catches my attention. So when today’s podcast guest talked about redemption at a Good Friday...

Breakfast Burritos and Conversation at Jett's Grill in Marfa, Texas Featuring Special Guest:  Mike Murphy Today’s podcast guest made some of the best calzones I have ever tasted.  When Mike Murphy opened Murphy’s Pizzeria in Fort Davis, Texas in 2001, I became an instant fan.  And Mike and I became friends.  On a recent trip to West Texas, Mike and I me...

Dessert and Conversation at Patio Dolcetto in San Marcos, Texas Featuring Special Guest:  Steph Cherry I greatly admire Steph Cherry’s walk with Jesus.  She and her husband Denbigh are raising three daughters while restoring a 100 year old home into a respite for weary souls in need of still before God.  She’s an artist and an author.  She’s the founder of  The Gospel Mom...

Lunch and Conversation at Newk’s Eatery, Montgomery, Alabama                     Featuring Special Guest:  Dewayne Rembert                      I first heard today’s podcast guest speak at a special event earlier this year.  It wasn’t so much what he said that caught my atte...

Lunch and Conversation at Reata Restaurant in Alpine, Texas                     Featuring Special Guest:  Andrew Daniels                        Whenever I meet a couple like Andrew and Rachael Daniels, I am reminded and encouraged once again that God is very much at work all arou...

Dinner and Conversation at Palmer’s Restaurant Bar & Courtyard in San Marcos, Texas Featuring Special Guest:  Christy Guenther You can’t sit down with today’s podcast guest without being totally blown away by her passion for the children and people of Haiti.  When Christy Guenther first stepped on a plane bound for Haiti in 2010, it was with great reluctance.  24...

Lunch and Conversation at City Market BBQ in Luling, Texas Featuring Special Guest:  Denbigh Cherry This is one of those dream podcast episodes for me.  Eating brisket and sausage at the #1 BBQ joint in Texas with one of my best friends on the planet.  We welcome Denbigh Cherry to “the Table.”  He and his wife Stephanie model what authentic, creative Jesus-following looks like....

Dinner and Conversation at Wintzell’s Oyster House in Montgomery, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Hank Teuton I learned of today’s podcast guest - Hank Teuton (rhymes with crouton) – from a comment of a total stranger.  It is amazing where God will lead when we pause and pay attention.  When Hank and I sat down to some good southern seafood at Wintzell’s Oyster Hous...

Lunch and Conversation at John’s City Diner in Birmingham, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Bob Moon I have known today’s podcast guest for four decades.  We attended Samford University at the same time. We both served as Ministers of Youth in different churches, different states.  We have followed Jesus together in a lot of different places – at Youth Camps, Di...

Lunch and Conversation in my office Featuring Special Guest:  Norman Askew At the end of every “Table” conversation, I click off the recorder and ask my guests, “Who are three of the most redemptive people you know?” When I met with Pastor Arthur L. Price, Jr. a few weeks ago and asked him that question, Norman Askew was one of his three choices.  Norman serves as the Pris...

Lunch and Conversation at Crestline Bagel Company in Birmingham, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Scott Rackstraw For the past 18 months I drive into downtown Birmingham twice a week to serve as a chaplain at Brother Bryan Mission.  At the corner of 3rd Avenue N. and 14th Street I started noticing positive messages on the sign at Jim Edwards’ Chevrolet.  Right in the...

Ice Cream and Conversation at Big Spoon Creamery in Birmingham, Alabama Featuring Special Guest:  Ryan O'Hara I am a gushing enthusiast.  When I discover something I like, you can expect to hear about it. Three months ago I walked into an ice cream place that transcended my taste buds to a whole new level.  Big Spring Creamery in Homewood, Alabama crafts the best ice cream I ha...

Iced Coffee and Conversation at a Lively Starbucks Coffeehouse.                     Featuring Special Guest:  Abigail Douglas I first heard Abigail at an open mic night at a local barbecue joint.  I was wowed by a musical depth and maturity beyond her age.  She has been writing songs daily since age 11 and learned to play t...

Lunch and Conversation at the Dinner Table                     Featuring Special Guests:  Tom and Betty Chestnut He is 97; she is a young 93.  They have been husband and wife for 73 years.   He is a WWII veteran who saw combat.  She became a published author with her first book at age 85.  Their liv...

Lunch and Conversation at Lek’s Railroad Thai in Montgomery, Alabama                     Featuring Special Guest:  Chuck Conner My favorite Christian rock band is Geoff Moore & the Distance.  They were at the top of the charts from the late 80’s ‘til the late 90’s.  Their music was pure rock and roll with soul challengi...

Coffee and Conversation at 16thStreet Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama                     Featuring Special Guest:  Rev. Arthur L. Price, Jr. I love this church.  I love its heartbeat.  This is hallowed ground where evil once struck; yet the love of Jesus Christ continues to resound triumphantly in the lives and minis...