• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Alpine Chapel

Seek Jesus, Point to Jesus, and Walk with Jesus

  • Home
  • About
    • FAQ’s
    • Our Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Our Trustees
    • Contact Us
    • How To Get Involved…
    • Church By-Laws
    • Lead Pastor Search
  • Ministries
    • The Well Coffee House
    • Children’s Ministry
    • T.A.C. Youth
    • WOMEN’S MINISTRY
      • 2023 Women’s Conference Registration
    • Men’s Ministry
    • Bible Studies And Small Groups
    • Missions
    • Benevolence
  • Resources
    • Something Missing?
    • Weddings
    • RightNow Media
    • T.A.C. WORSHIP SONGS
    • Servant Interest Form
  • Sermons
    • Latest Sermon
    • Sermon Archive
  • Give
  • Lead Pastor Search
  • Updates & Calendar
    • Calendar
  • Sermons
    • Latest Sermon
    • Sermon Archive
  • Give

Forgiveness

Love keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:5

One of the most difficult things that I deal with as a follower of Jesus Christ is the memory of past offenses. I can be living my life, not a care in the world, and out of nowhere a person’s name or face will come to mind and I am overwhelmed with the memory of their disloyalty, ignorance, or outright cruelty towards me.

Even the momentary perception of an offense can derail our whole day. One occasion that stands out to me and helped me learn how to withstand these moments and not be overcome with resentment, actually involves my offense against someone else.

I once had someone accuse me of saying that their property being flooded was an expression of God’s judgment against them. Months earlier, they had started attending our church, and they had come in to discuss an idea they had to enhance our community service. In the course of our conversation, they told me about their basement flooding during a recent storm that had swept through their town.

Months later, while working a community event sponsored by the church, they informed me that they were writing a book and I was in it. I replied, “Cool.”, and went about my business. Later, a mutual acquaintance informed me that this man thought I was looking down on him. He was holding a grudge against me for an offense that I did not commit. I had offended him and had no idea I had offended him.

People who know me know that I don’t tend to think of weather events as specific acts of God’s personal or communal judgment. So I know that I never said that God was judging him or anything implying that God was judging him. Yet, this person perceived that I thought their basement flooding was an expression of God’s judgment against them. 

His perception of my offense was motivating a specific response to me. From his perspective, I had offended him. There was no convincing him otherwise. So to him, my offense was real.  He had allowed it to become a part of the story of his life.

This whole episode taught me that the power I give to the words and actions of others to affect my outlook on life has less to do with them and more to do with me. A loving person is too busy loving God and honoring God’s love for others to hold grudges. In fact, when someone offends them, personally or accidentally, they use the opportunity to exercise God’s grace in relationship with other people. Because the experience of personal insult or injury does not have the power within itself to stop them from following God wholeheartedly and forgiving those who offend them. When Jesus was dying on the cross he cried out, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.“

The power to stand with God or give in to self interest lies within our own power to cultivate. “Will I exchange the privilege of glorifying God with my whole life for the self serving opportunity to exalt myself?”  “Will I spend my God given time and energy to honor God, or to honor myself?” Ironically, seeking honor for ourselves and our families is an empty pursuit, while seeking the honor of God fulfills our lives and the lives of our friends and families.

When I do not hold what you do against me I am saying that you do not have power over me. In essence I deny you the power to hurt, overwhelm, or define my life and value in a way that dishonors the depth and value of God’s love for me. Only God has the power, wisdom, and authority to properly define my life. Every time I encounter someone who treats me with disrespect or dishonor, I have the opportunity to exercise my reliance upon God rather than reliance upon myself. In this way, God’s love becomes a more integrated and defining aspect of my character. This helps me become a more free, forgiving, and faithful person.

Written by Pastor Isam Itson III

Primary Sidebar

Thru-the-Bible Messages

  • Romans (2)
  • Psalms (1)
  • Matthew (1)
  • Luke (4)
  • John (7)
  • James (10)
  • Hebrews (1)
  • Genesis (1)
  • Galatians (1)
  • Ephesians (3)
  • Colossians (1)
  • Acts (2)
  • 2 Chronicles (1)
  • 1 Kings (1)

Topical Messages

  • Heartbeat Series – Core Values of T.A.C. (12)
  • Guest Speaker (12)
  • Pastor Isam Itson (11)
  • Pastor Skye Messer (10)
  • Pastor Conor Craft (4)
  • SPECIAL SERIES (4)
  • TAC Elder (2)

Upcoming Events

Sep
25
Mon
7:00 am Coffee House Open
Coffee House Open
Sep 25 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Coffee House Open
https://thewelltelluride.com/
6:00 pm Young Life
Young Life
Sep 25 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Young Life
Telluride, Colorado Young Life is an evangelical Christian organization based in Colorado Springs, Colorado which focuses on young people in middle school (ages 11-14), high school, and college. As Young Life describes themselves, “Our Mission​ is[...]
Sep
26
Tue
11:00 am Men’s Bible Study – B.O.B.
Men’s Bible Study – B.O.B.
Sep 26 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Men's Bible Study - B.O.B. @ Telluride | Colorado | United States
B.O.B. = Band Of Brothers All men are invited to this one-hour Bible Study and discussion time, at the church. We call this the BAND OF BROTHERS, as men can gather in the basement of[...]
2:00 pm Wyld Life
Wyld Life
Sep 26 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
WYLD LIFE (the middle school part of Young Life) is an evangelical Christian organization based in Colorado Springs, Colorado which focuses on young people in middle school (ages 11-14), high school, and college. As they describes themselves, “Our[...]
6:00 pm Selah Night
Selah Night
Sep 26 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Selah Night
Every 4th Tuesday of the month – Selah Night – 6:00-7:00pm [the HOUR of POWER/prayer & praise]  Selah is a word used 74 times in the Bible—seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times in[...]
Sep
27
Wed
7:00 am Coffee House Open
Coffee House Open
Sep 27 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Coffee House Open
https://thewelltelluride.com/
11:00 am Women’s Bible Study – S.A.L.T.
Women’s Bible Study – S.A.L.T.
Sep 27 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Women's Bible Study - S.A.L.T.
S.A.L.T. is the name of our women’s ministry here at The Alpine Chapel. S.A.L.T. stands for: Sisters / Friends Authentically Loving Jesus and Telluride   All women are welcome to join as we study God’s[...]
Sep
28
Thu
all-day Thursdays Church is Closed
Thursdays Church is Closed
Sep 28 all-day
Thursdays Church is Closed
Each of our staff pastors have two days off. The one day they all share ‘off’ is Thursday. Their schedules are as follows: Pastor Conor – Days off are Thursdays and Fridays [Mondays in the Coffee[...]
Sep
29
Fri
7:00 am Coffee House Open
Coffee House Open
Sep 29 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Coffee House Open
https://thewelltelluride.com/
Oct
1
Sun
9:00 am Sunday Morning Church Service
Sunday Morning Church Service
Oct 1 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Sunday Morning Church Service
Sundays are AWESOME at The Alpine Chapel!   Children’s ministry is available for our 9am service. Children ages Kindergarten thru 4th grade are dismissed after our singing of worship to head to our awesome children’s area[...]
11:00 am T.A.C. Youth Group
T.A.C. Youth Group
Oct 1 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
T.A.C. Youth Group
For more information please click HERE.
Oct
2
Mon
7:00 am Coffee House Open
Coffee House Open
Oct 2 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Coffee House Open
https://thewelltelluride.com/
6:00 pm Young Life
Young Life
Oct 2 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Young Life
Telluride, Colorado Young Life is an evangelical Christian organization based in Colorado Springs, Colorado which focuses on young people in middle school (ages 11-14), high school, and college. As Young Life describes themselves, “Our Mission​ is[...]
Oct
3
Tue
11:00 am Men’s Bible Study – B.O.B.
Men’s Bible Study – B.O.B.
Oct 3 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Men's Bible Study - B.O.B. @ Telluride | Colorado | United States
B.O.B. = Band Of Brothers All men are invited to this one-hour Bible Study and discussion time, at the church. We call this the BAND OF BROTHERS, as men can gather in the basement of[...]
2:00 pm Wyld Life
Wyld Life
Oct 3 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
WYLD LIFE (the middle school part of Young Life) is an evangelical Christian organization based in Colorado Springs, Colorado which focuses on young people in middle school (ages 11-14), high school, and college. As they describes themselves, “Our[...]
6:00 pm Young Adults Bible Study Gathering
Young Adults Bible Study Gathering
Oct 3 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Young Adults Bible Study Gathering
Our Young Adults include singles and young marrieds and meet on Tuesday evenings in the basement of the church. This time together includes some Bible study, some food, some fun, and some time to simply[...]
Oct
4
Wed
7:00 am Coffee House Open
Coffee House Open
Oct 4 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Coffee House Open
https://thewelltelluride.com/
11:00 am Women’s Bible Study – S.A.L.T.
Women’s Bible Study – S.A.L.T.
Oct 4 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Women's Bible Study - S.A.L.T.
S.A.L.T. is the name of our women’s ministry here at The Alpine Chapel. S.A.L.T. stands for: Sisters / Friends Authentically Loving Jesus and Telluride   All women are welcome to join as we study God’s[...]
6:00 pm MOPS – Mothers of Pre-Schoolers
MOPS – Mothers of Pre-Schoolers
Oct 4 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
 

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

© 2023 The Alpine Chapel · Design by Web Design KC Logo