Friends,
I’m reading a book right now called “The Externally Focused Quest” by Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw. They focus on how the Church ought to manifest itself as FOR the community, not only IN the community. You’ve heard me say this before – if Bethlehem and “the table” closed it’s doors would anyone in our community care? I pray so.
Let us continue to explore how “the table” can manifest itself as a movement of people who are immensely concerned and involved in our surrounding community!
If you would like to keep the creative conversation going with me, read the book, and let’s chat!
I’ve recently been betrayed by someone I thought was a friend. It’s been painful, sad, and I’ve been angry.
It’s led me to wonder how Jesus, being God, could have been in relationship with Judas for three years knowing that Judas would betray Him? Only God could do that…
Read John 18. Here we see the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. Both are awful sins. The difference is Peter recognizes that Jesus can restore and forgive his denial. Judas thinks his betrayal has eternally seperated him from Jesus – he hopelessly takes his life.
Have you ever betrayed or denied Jesus? We all have. Therefore, repent, cling to the forgiveness won by Jesus through the cross and the empty tomb, and turn from your sin and seek to live a life of righteousness.
If someone has recently betrayed you, remember how Jesus has forgiven your betrayal. Forgive your brother or sister.
May God bless you as you show His love and forgiveness to your neighbor.
Grief is a tricky thing. It ebbs and it flows, but it never really goes. Death really stinks. I wish we didn’t have to deal with it, but we do. So how do we help our loved ones deal with the loss of a parent, spouse, or child?
As a pastor here is my list of the three strategies that help me minister to the grieving.
1) Just be there! Don’t think you have to say much of anything. It means so much to sit (and maybe even cry) with those who are grieving. LISTEN and don’t be afraid of silence.
2) When the time is right ask if you can share Scripture. The Psalms are wonderful. Psalm 23, 40, 54, 55, and 121 are a few of my favorites. Romans 8 is wonderful. I Corinthians 15 gives tells us quite vividly that a better Day will come when Jesus returns to raise the dead to eternal life with our awesome God. Scripture is powerful – use it!
3) Pray for your friend who is grieving. You can pray privately, but also pray in the company of your friend. Speak to God honestly about the pain and grief that is present, but then extol how God is faithful to His promise to never leave us nor forsake us. Not even death can seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now I can’t guarantee that if you implement these three strategies that our loved ones will get over their grief. Grief is tricky and it may never fully go away. We miss those whom we’ve lost to death. What I can guarantee is that EVEN IN THE MIDST OF GRIEF your loved one will hear about the hope and peace that only comes through faith in our crucified and risen Lord and Savior, Jesus!
Blessings to you as you care for the grieving.
IN CHRIST,
Pastor Tim Ahlman
I was looking for a good daily devotional to be sent to my Blackberry everyday (yes, I have a Blackberry to help me stay connected – don’t judge 
). Anyway, Adam Winterhof recommended a good one from Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Go to: http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp to sign up to receive it on the electronic device of your choice.
IN CHRIST,
Pastor Tim
What is it about music that fills me so? I can’t imagine my life without music. When I’m sick and voiceless and can’t sing – my life is so lifeless, my joy is diminished. King David evidently loved music too. He writes in Psalm 101:1, “I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.” I could not imagine being unable to give praise to God through song!
Music is a major part of our ministry at “the table.” My prayer is that you are able to come to “the table” and unabashadely lift up praises to God in song! I look forward to praising God with you through song this Thursday!
I don’t know about you, but this may be my favorite week of the entire year! Celebrating the Lord’s Supper and the forgiveness of sins found therein, remembering in vivid detail the passion of our Lord, and rejoicing in the hope that is mine because Jesus IS RISEN!
I’m looking out my office window at a beautiful Colorado spring day. I feel so blessed that I get to tell others that the same God who gave us such a beautiful day would give of Himself during those 7 days.
What a week! What a Holy week!
I’m enjoying this time of year! Though I can’t golf, I can see God’s blessings in the snow falling to the ground, the hug of my three-year old, and joy that nothing in this world can take away! Christ has come – we have much to be thankful for!
May you bask in the fact that God became man for you in Jesus Christ!
Merry Christmas!
IN CHRIST,
Pastor Tim
This past Thanksgiving, we served 94 people at the table and we had lots and lots of help from fellow congregants and friends of the table! Check out the photos below!
– Brian
Friends,
Our eschaton (the last days) sermon series has been complicated. We’ve tackled many important Christian concepts in a limited amount of time. To help eliminate confusion I am attaching my sermon notes from two weeks ago. This is a great way for us to continue to dialogue about what is confusing.
IN CHRIST,
Pastor Tim
Click here to view the sermon slides on hermenuetics
It’d been a while since we’d gotten photos of the table. Since this was our first outdoor BBQ/service, it seemed like a good time to share some photos of what the table is all about.
