Real Conversation on Discipleship

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Dean G. Blevins

One of the real joys this past year was being part of a panel discussion sponsored by Sunday School & Discipleship Ministries International and Grace & Peace Magazine. The honor was primarily being with so many passionate and classy people discussing a mutual interest in discipleship that proved invigorating. This very real conversation on discipleship reminded me why I pursued this vocation in the first place, and I am thankful that God graciously opened doors to live it. Occasionally Larry Morris stuck me with a question, here is an example:

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John Wesley’s Prayer for Wednesday Morning

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Dean G. Blevins

Wesley’s written prayer for families for Wednesday Morning. John wrote morning and evening prayers for families, I am offering paraphrases to my Family Ministry class

Dear God, who is blessed forever, we thank and praise You for the good things of this life, and our hope for everlasting salvation in the life to come. We hope to have a vibrant sense of Your love always in our hearts. We pray this love compels us to love You, obey You, trust You, and to remain content in the way You love us, and even rejoice in the middle of the troubles that come our way in this life.

You gave Your own Son for us all. With Jesus now by Your side, will You not also freely give us the things we need? We depend on You especially for the gift of Your Holy Spirit. May we constantly feel the Spirit’s presence by the strength of our holy faith. May the Holy Spirit keep us above all of those temptations that attack us, and keep us free from the stain of worldly influences. May we hold close to You in righteousness, humility, a pure heart, and with our entire minds set upon Christ.

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Flying at 3500 feet

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Dean G. Blevins

2013-02-20_09-22-18_423I am sitting in four days of board meetings for the International Board of Education and the Global Committee for Global Education and Clergy Development.

2013-02-21_10-07-46_367At the same time Kansas City is quickly being buried under around a foot of snow that has already closed the airport.

However, there seems to be a lot of “flying” going on in the meeting. What I mean is that often we are reporting and deliberating on efforts around the 2013-02-21_08-53-28_298globe with a vantage point that seems, at times, like we are cruising at 35000 feet trying to listen intently to efforts around our church to educate and shape particularly ministers within our denomination.

To give you some idea, 2013-02-20_09-17-40_97Education Commissioner, Dr. Dan Copp, reported that the Church of the Nazarene has 53 seminaries, colleges, universities that serve 117 world regions across 6 continents with 52, 439 students. You might call that the “satellite” view of global education.

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Wesley’s Tuesday Evening Prayer for Families

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Dean G. Blevins

Wesley’s written prayer for families for Tuesday Evening. John wrote morning and evening prayers for families, I am offering paraphrases to my Family Ministry class

Everlasting Father of all strength, exclusive Lord of all creatures in heaven and earth, we acknowledge that our total existence and everything that brings comfort depends on You, the source of all goodness. We possess nothing that does not come from your free and overflowing love, our blessed Creator, and from the richness of Your grace, our blessed Redeemer. So we give You the honor and praise alongside all creatures where you have revealed how great and good You are. We also give You all our love and obedience as long as we exist, just as the ancient prayers have taught us that “it is good, right, and dutiful that we should always and everywhere give you thanks, our Lord” (BCP). We earnestly give both soul and body to You, so You can completely govern and oversee our lives according to your holy will.

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Posted in Family, Practical Theology, Spiritual Formation, Wesley | 1 Comment

Entrepreneurial Principles

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Dean G. Blevins

I attended MidAmerican Nazarene University’s Tuesday’s program for alumni and local business leaders. I was interested in the program, organized by Graydon Dawson and the MNU Fastrac for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Unfortunately the program ran long (odd for business people but not for university promotions… I know the culture too well : 0-) so I had to leave early. However, there were some interesting insights from the first two presenters that may translate into principles within ministry or other forms of Christian vocation. Some key principles I heard:

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Posted in Discipleship, Economics, Leadership, Practical Theology | 1 Comment

Just in Time

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Dean G. Blevins

2013-02-17_11-00-37_685Worshiped at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene this morning. Incredible worship and sermon by Rick Harvey on the parable of the talents (Matt 25) and our preoccupation with “stuff,” and an investment of resources for the kingdom. Rick apologized to the congregation since he feels like he is “yelling” at times, but not to me. What I “heard”  is as passion and an enthusiasm for what God is doing and and can do through this community’s stewardship. Rick provided a great connection between everyday financial wisdom and whole life stewardship. Great job Rick.

2013-02-17_11-04-33_136Yet what caught my attention was the gathering for worship. We arrived early to second service, preferred by college students. While sitting in the sanctuary 10 minutes before worship the church sanctuary seemed almost empty. Five minutes later people were just arriving and talking in the sanctuary but still a modest crowd considering the size of the sanctuary. Meanwhile while I was musing on Facebook with my cell phone (yes, boys with their toys) about our proclivity to sit in the same place in a sanctuary regardless of church. (Yes, on Facebook)

2013-02-17_11-18-50_984and then suddenly I noticed
there was a countdown on the worship screen.

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John Wesley’s Prayer for Tuesday Morning

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Dean G. Blevins

Wesley’s written prayer for families for Tuesday Morning. John wrote morning and evening prayers for families, I am offering paraphrases to my Family Ministry class.

Good morning our great and mighty King, the owner of heaven and earth. All the angels bless and praise you, the Father of all spirits. You have created all things and wisely made everything while spreading love over all of your creation. We yearn to thankfully acknowledge your gifts to us… alongside all your creatures… and particularly recognize your grace and approval, demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ, our merciful redeemer. Give us a deep sense of the same love which moved Jesus to die for us so He might become the Author of eternal life for everyone who obeys Him.

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