20 Thursday Oct 2011
Posted in FLAME
Monday
All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name
Lord, Reign In Me
Mighty to Save
Tuesday
You’re Worthy of My Praise
Awesome Is The Lord Most High
Everlasting God
Glorious Day
Wednesday
Forever
Your Great Light
Here I Am to Worship
Wednesday Communion
Come, Now Is The Time to Worship
Your Grace Is Enough
The Wonderful Cross
Communion
Revelation Song
Thursday
Blessed Be Your Name
Sing To The King
How Great Is Our God
How Great Thou Art
Friday
Not To Us
Beautiful One
Days of Elijah
15 Saturday Oct 2011
Posted in FLAME
By the time you are reading this, I will be heading off to Richmond, VA to fly to Denver, CO to lead worship at FLAME. For those of you unfamiliar with FLAME here is a short synopses.
FLAME stands for the Fellowship of Leaders Acquiring Ministerial Preparation. FLAME is an intensive weeklong conference of classes for those students 28 years of age and older (certain students under 28 can be admitted with approval of their DBMD) working towards transfer of ordination, ordination, lay ministry, commissioned ministry, or special worker. A typical week is divided into two sections so that a student could complete two courses in one week, or if need be, only one. It is a great opportunity to complete two classes towards ordination as well as meet other students in ministry from around the U.S. and Canada. We bring in knowledgeable professors in their field of study and combine valuable class time with worship, fellowship, and fun.
The three main goals of FLAME are:
- To encourage a renewal in the spiritual life of the students, to encourage them in their life and ministry, and to remind them of God’s calling in their life. This is accomplished through praise and worship times, testimonies, prayer times, and a special service held for the students during the week.
- To establish networks and lasting friendships those non-traditional students will use and treasure through their years of ministry. This is accomplished by having students from all across North America attend the classes and by encouraging friendship and fellowship throughout FLAME.
- To impart some of the best possible practical ministry training from some of the finest teachers available to the Wesleyan Church. FLAME has established lists of teachers who have been highly rated by our students for their ability to be current, cutting edge, and able to connect with students on their level.
18 Thursday Nov 2010
This is a paper that I wrote for one of my FLAME classes — Spiritual Formation. We were to read the book “Heroes of the Holy Life” by Wesley Duewel and then write a reflection paper on one of the heroes mention in the book. I wrote mine on Frances Havergal, who wrote “Take My Life and Let It Be” and other hymns of the faith.
Frances Havergal’s story was the one story that inspired me in the book. I think it was that she was precocious mentally and spiritual. She was hungry and open to the Word of God and spiritual things even at a young age. Not only that, but she was smart and willing to learn about God from a young age. Frances’ heart was so open to spiritual aspects that at the age of six she knew the Holy Spirit was convicting her. She was wise enough to take refuge in prayer and the Word of God. When she could not find the answers by herself, she went to her minister for answers. After she worked through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, she became a great witness for God. She did that verywhere she went and used her gifts of poetry writing for God throughout her life.
The thing that really impressed me was her spiritual discipline in memorizing the scripture. By the age of twenty two, she had memorized the all of the Gospels, Epistles, Revelation, Psalms, and Isaiah. Later, she memorized the Minor Prophets. She also used her gift of poetry when she was anointed by God, which gave us the great gospel songs “Take My Life and Let It Be” and “Like a River Glorious”. Her passion for the lost was shown in the story of Frances at school. She was the only Christian in the school and endured persecution. Despite that, she witness and prayed to her fellow students. Some Christians would be overwhelmed by the odds. Frances knew that prayers and the Holy Spirit could overcome the odds.
I would like have the relationship with God that Frances had even at her death. Those who were with her at the time of her death described her last moments “like she saw the Lord and surely, nothing less heavenly could have reflected such a glorious radiance upon her face. For ten minutes we watched that almost visible meeting with her king and her countenance was so glad, as if she were already talking to Him.”
08 Monday Nov 2010
Posted in FLAME
It’s Day One of FLAME at Table Rock Wesleyan Camp in Pickens, SC. It’s so nice outside — the fellowship has been warm as well. We had a good morning of worship in chapel. We did:
Looking forward to the rest of the week.
03 Thursday Jun 2010
Posted in FLAME, Running Update
Anticipation
I really miss running when it is cool out. While I like running in shorts and a t-shirt, even the early mornings are becoming warm. I much prefer running when it is about 50 and grey. That is when I do my best times. Today’s run wasn’t bad though. I did complete 6 miles 
It took me about an hour and 18 minutes which is about a 12:45 mile. I did not make my goal of getting to seven before the missions trip. Those thoughts and dreams will have to be part of the post missions trip routine.
The reason I titled this update “Anticipation” is because as I neared the park, I knew that the shade was coming — finally the hot sun would not be beating down on me. The sun wears me out. I was so glad to see the park and enter the shade of the trees.
In addition to that, I am anticipating my missions trip. We are in the final countdown. Less than 36 hours remain until we board the plane for Phoenix. I will send updates (when I have cell service available) to Facebook and possibly to this blog. There will be posts next we, but they have been pre-scheduled. For the next week, I will have relatively little technology (computer, internet, etc.) But I will have my digital camera and video camera and my cell and I plan on sharing those things when I return.
Pressing On!
14 Wednesday Apr 2010
Posted in FLAME
If you’ve been around this blog for any length of time, you will notice we mention quite a bit about FLAME. FLAME stands for Fellowship of Leaders Acquiring Ministerial Education. It is one of the ordination tracks in The Wesleyan Church. The preferred track is to attend a Wesleyan college (We have 5) and then seminary. Which, by the way, we now have our own Wesleyan Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. It’s a great deal, especially for Wesleyan pastors.
Sometimes, though the Lord calls men and women out of careers and into the ministry. There is still the option to get ordained by taking correspondence courses, but that feels like being such a lone ranger. That is where FLAME comes in. While FLAME is all about education of ministers, it is so much more than that.
There are three guiding principles that have been part of FLAME from the very beginning:
In my opinion and in the opinion of many others, FLAME does this very well. It is what has brought me back to FLAME ten times (to date) as an alumni and serve. It is my opportunity to invest into the lives of present/future ministers in the Wesleyan Church. I loved my academic time at FLAME. We do have the best professors and they are genuinely interested in their students. They spend time and are available to answer questions.
Then there is the spiritual renewal that happens at FLAME. Not only have I had the opportunity to lead worship, but I have had the opportunity to just play in the band several times. It is amazing that the talent that God has brought into this program. We have some talented musicians in the FLAME family. But back at that first FLAME that I attended, none of that existed. There was no worship band — there wasn’t even a single worship leader and yet when I left there, I was encouraged in my spirit. I was renewed in my call and my spiritual life had received a major boost. This is what happens — I can’t explain it, but it happens. I haven’t been to one FLAME yet as a student or alumni that I didn’t come home encouraged about the ministry God had called me.
Then there’s point number two and really is the purpose of today’s post. Earlier this month, I had a chance to go back and lead worship (that was a great experience!) On Sunday afternoon, Wayne was doing a series of video interviews and asked me, why I continue to come back. Why invest in FLAME? It is because of the networking that happens there. It is the lifelong friends that I have met there. People who invest in you and encourage you when you might be at your lowest point. They are even there for you when you call them right out of the blue. I can name several who have been a great source of encouragement for me and Pam; Wayne, David, Mary Lou, Joe, Shasta, Phil, and Mark. They always ask, “How are you doing?” They genuinely care about you. We have a network of friends who are praying for us as we pray for their ministries. In today’s technological it is made even easier. There are phones and cellphones, Skype, Facebook, Instant Messaging, and so on. Many of us in FLAME connect on a regular basis through Facebook — encouraging one another.
For me, FLAME — more importantly, it’s people — made a huge difference at a particularly low point in my ministry. Things were not at all well. I remember getting on the phone and literally pouring my heart out to one of my FLAME friends. I received an empathetic ear, who offered me words of encouragement — words of hope that God was not done with me yet. I received prayer for the situation — which was serious. During this time, I emailed some of my friends I listed above and they committed to pray for us and our situation. Because of God’s help and some wonderful supportive friends, we were able to carry through that dark time. That’s why I invest back into FLAME. That’s why I go back, to encourage others who may be going through a tough time — who may be questioning their call to ministry — who just need a sympathetic ear. What a blessing….
11 Sunday Apr 2010
Here is more info on the FLAME Gives Back missions trip that I will be taking in June.
Update: Sorry, I didn’t realize the page has been password protected. It is now open to see.
The fund raising is going well and at this time I am close to 50% funded. Praise the Lord!
07 Wednesday Apr 2010
Posted in Compassionate Ministries, FLAME, Missions
[The following is a support letter for a missions trip I will be taking this summer.]
For the last several years, I have been involved in the FLAME program. FLAME is an ordination program within the Wesleyan Church designed for non-traditional students. I graduated from the FLAME program and have had the opportunity to go back at least ten times to serve tables and to lead worship. Because of my involvement in FLAME, I have been made aware of a missions opportunity and I would like you to prayerfully consider your involvement.
In June, Wayne Richards, the director of FLAME will be leading a FLAME Gives Back missions trip to Keams Canyon, AZ. One of our FLAME students is a Native American pastor on the reservation. Darwin and Ann Tsosie gave up a comfortable lifestyle to minister in the harsh realities of the Navajo Reservation. Those who have been to Darwin’s home and church describe it as “third world conditions, in the United States.” Darwin is the pastor of Red Rocks Wesleyan Church.
We will be going to repair the parsonage and church, teach Vacation Bible School, paint, fix vehicles, and do electrical work. The cost for the trip is $300 which covers food and project supplies; plus airfare to get to Phoenix, AZ and back. In checking the airfares, they are running about $400 for a round trip ticket, plus the cost of additional baggage. I will be taking my guitar to help lead the singing for Vacation Bible School.
I would like you to prayerfully consider assisting me in this project. The team needs two things:
If you would like more information on this trip, I encourage you to email me at dargot25[at]gmail[dot]com. You can also get more information about the trip at www.wesleyan.org/em/flame. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this missions opportunity with you. May God richly bless you.
11 Thursday Mar 2010
We had a special treat today, Dr. Steve DeNeff was our speaker in chapel today. I had never heard him before, but now understand why his is one of the premier communicators in The Wesleyan Church. He spoke about coming back from failure. Wow!
Our worship set looked like this:
Let Everything that Has Breath
Glorious One
Agnus Dei
Take My Life
31 Monday Aug 2009
One of several “highlight” reels from FLAME — with the music of Atlantic backing it up.
