A table, a Bible, and the people who keep showing up.

The wood came from an old house that was being torn down nearby. It was crafted and installed by Ken Pendley. It sits on top of a pool table that was too big for the room, and hasn't come off since it was installed more than 15 years ago.

Fifteen or so guys meet every week to read, hear, and discuss a chapter of the Bible. We represent many different denominations, but I call it "anti-denominational" — we're not here to proselytize. Come from where you come from, and go back where you come from.

We read one chapter a week and work through an entire book of the Bible at a time. This study has been going for over 15 years.

We all see things a little differently, but we all believe Jesus was who He said He was — God as man, born of a virgin, crucified, raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and seated at the right hand of God the Father. Beyond that, none of us claims to be 100% correct.

After the larger study, two to four of us stay for a longer, more focused conversation — discussing the latest study and addressing questions and comments sent in. The guys on the podcast rotate to include any member of the Bible study who wants to be part of it.

Seventeen years ago, I lost a son — he was 23 years old. We had always been believers, but after he passed I spent a season angry with God.

My brother-in-law, who's now my pastor, started a Bible study at a restaurant. I went and mostly cried. The restaurant setup didn't work out and the study ended, so I decided to start one at my house on Friday mornings. Four people came for two or three years.

Then I got mad again and quit for a full year — a full year — until God kept asking me, "Why? You're here anyway. What's so hard?" When we started back up, it began to grow, and God has made it what it is today. Only He knows where it's going. It's built some amazing relationships around His Word for a lot of guys.