Author: rtableadmin

The Old Testament Book of Job is like walking across a brutal desert with someone with a hole in their canteen.  It is a long season’s stretch across low terrain.  Job was in a season of loss and his so-called friends circled him like vultures attempting to pick apart his languishing faith.  No one expects a mountain top moment in a valley this deep.  And yet one occurs.  Job breaches out of the dust to make an Everest declaration of faith.

Welcome to the third session of a six-part series from 2021- Wrestling with God in the Season of Job.  The world was emerging from a year-long hiatus then and many felt as though they were living this story.  I am convinced many still are.  And that’s what makes Job’s story relevant for our generation.

Featuring J Lind’s song “So It Goes” (Used by Permission).

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A Conversation With Special Guest:  Bethany Garth

Every moment worth living comes gift wrapped in challenge.  Every hit and miss adventure is born out of dream.  For today’s special guest Bethany Garth and her husband Dave, the possibility of an around the world bicycle trip was first proposed on their third date.  And that’s just the beginning of this week’s Table.

Today Bethany is a mother of three and the Executive Director of First Choice Women’s Medical Center in Montgomery, Alabama.  We sat down recently to talk about the similarities between being a world traveler and leading an organization that seeks to reach abortion-minded members in our community in the name of Christ to make life their first choice.   

It is a joy to bring Bethany to the Table and to also introduce you to the music of Becca Jordan, a gifted singer-songwriter you need to know.  So air up your tires, strap on your helmet, put it in climbing gear, and join us for this week’s wonderful ride.

Featuring “Everywhere I Go” by Becca Jordan. (Used by Permission)

https://supportfirstchoice.org

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A Conversation With Singer-Songwriter:  J Lind

He’s a poet collecting seashells on the streets of Manhattan.  He’s a husband and gifted songwriter in his third year of medical school.  He’s a student and observer of subway moments and human interaction.  And sometimes those collections and recollections become lyrics, and sometimes a single day becomes an entire song.

It is a joy and an honor to bring today’s special guest J Lind to the table.  We open this episode with one of my personal favorites – “Oxford Sweater” – and we close with J’s latest release – “Generous”.  (Both songs used by permission).  And as soon as this table is wrapped, go check out more about J and his music at https://www.jlindmusic.com.

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All of us have walked through seasons where it seemed God had nothing to say to us.  This can be a little disconcerting, especially when we have well-meaning friends who presume to speak in God’s place. 

Welcome to this second of a six-part Table series from 2021- Wrestling with God in the Season of Job.  When this was originally shared, participants were encouraged to read 7 chapters from Job and search for verses that spoke to them.  I compared the mid-section of Job like looking for diamonds in a coal mine without a candle.  The diamonds are there – we just have to slow ourselves and allow our spiritual eyes to adjust from the darkness of the world to the light of God’s truth. This session covers Job 8-14.  

Featuring Esther Spark’s song “Ask the Animals” (Used by Permission).

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In the spring of 2021 as we were still in the shadows of a worldwide pandemic, I was drawn to explore the Old Testament Book of Job during a midweek worship gathering I founded several years ago.  It was an uncertain time.  Many of us were struggling with our faith.  Many of us were afraid.  Many of us were grieving great loss.  We could all identify with a man who lived in the land of Uz several centuries ago.  As his story unfolds. so does our own.  

Welcome to this six-part Table series from 2021.  This was one of the most guttural, honest, electric, no holds barred speaking events of my entire life.  And we all know someone right now who is still in this season.  There lived a man (Job 1:1) and there came a day (Job 1:13).

Featuring Ryan Proudfoot’s song “A Man Named Job” (Used by Permission).

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A Totally Spontaneous Conversation With Occasional Co-Host:  Steph Cherry

Nothing about today’s Table was planned.  It was all inspired by a surreal moment at Disney World when Winnie the Pooh was espied chasing butterflies across a grassy field.  And hardly anybody noticed.  But I did.

I returned from Disney.  A special guest had to cancel.  Steph and I were set up for a Zoom conversation anyway.  And about half way through, I decided to hit the record button.  I’m still not sure why.  I had no plans to use any of what follows.

Then we started swapping recent trip stories to Israel, the Magic Kingdom, the Smoky Mountains, and the absurdity abounded.  There was no substance abuse in the recording of this Table, but there was a drug dog.  And Petra, princesses, camels, birds, Magdala, Indiana Jones, Jesus, and pixie dust, with Ross King’s incredible new song “Like Jesus” (Used by Permission) to net it all together.

Listen as you’re “busy, busy, busy doing nothing.”  Winnie would.

https://www.rosskingmusic.com

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Happy Father’s Day – and welcome to this special Bonus Table Episode.  If you are a father of a baby soon to be born – if you are a dad of children anywhere between the ages of 8 seconds to 8 decades – if you are a single mother raising your child – if you are a grandfather, mentor, or anyone fulfilling the role of a father in a child’s life – you know who you are – this episode is for you.

This is a very personal Table.  I share 7 prayers I pray for my grown children and their families every week – Monday through Sunday – one prayer for each day.  Use these prayers however you choose.  Greater still, may they inspire you to create your own 7 prayers.

A very special thank you to singer-songwriter J Lind for permission to share his newest song – “Oxford Sweater.”  Check out these links to learn more about J’s music:

https://www.jlindmusic.com

Premiere: J Lind Reminds Us to Unplug & Live in the Moment on “Oxford Sweater”

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A Conversation With Special Guest:  Daniel Johnson

About a Husband and Father Who Lived Like Jesus:  Doug Johnson

Sometimes it seems people who love and serve Jesus uncommonly well go home to be with the Lord much too soon.  Sometimes.

This is Doug Johnson.  He lives like Jesus.  He loves the Word of God.  He loves people and while he walked among us, he wanted them to love the Word who became flesh and walked among us as well.

He was not perfect.  He was not a saint.  He was a rascal and he would be the first to tell you so.  He is my friend.   It is a humbling joy to present this special remembrance to the glory of God and to my dear, dear friends – the Doug Johnson Family.  To his wife Rebecca.  To his daughter Rachel.  To his son Daniel who joined me at the Table to share the life of a “good, good father.”

Featuring Ryan Proudfoot’s song “Whatever It Takes” (Used by Permission).

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Pause and ponder those two words.  What do they whisper to your soul?  Which direction do they sweep across your heart?  What sparks do they fan into flame?

Never underestimate the power of well-placed words.  Today’s episode introduces what could easily be described as the 72 most mind-blowing words that have ever been strung together.  The secret to the simplicity we all seek succinctly summed up in one minute, thirty-seven seconds.  72 words, 97 seconds, out of the mouth of Jesus encouraging one thing.  Simply live.  Welcome to the Table!  Beatitudes are on the menu!  We saved you a seat!

Featuring the Wayne Kerr Band song “Greatest Day Ever” (Used by Permission).

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Did you know the average child laughs over 300 times a day?  And the average adult?  Only 17 times.  Today’s episode will encourage some of us to reclaim those 283 laughs we’ve been missing.

There is wisdom in whimsy.  And there is life.   Proverbs 17:22 declares, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.”  And this is just a holy hunch, but we’re not sure you can really be listening for God’s voice and not hear His gentle chuckling.

We dare you to tune in for a few moments and not at least smile.  Whimsy is that contagious.  And this is flat-out one of the funnest episodes we’ve ever done.  So there.  Pull up a see-saw and join us.

Note:  No feathers were ruffled in the editing of today’s edition.

Featuring “Seahorses” by Singer-Songwriter Ross King.   (Used by Permission)

Also featuring excerpts from the oldest known recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor.

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