Question 1: What are you looking for? These are the first words spoken by Jesus in the Johannine gospel addressed to the disciples who begin to follow him. This question is addressed to each candidate before beginning the year-long formation for Oblates. What are your hopes, goals and desires as you embark on this adventure? How do you hope to grow in Christian discipleship? Why does this seem to be the right time for you to consider becoming an Oblate? Continue reading Initial Oblate Application Part 1
Benedictine and Wesleyan Traditions
I have begun the initial application process of becoming an Oblate of St. Benedict. One of the questions I investigated before starting this process was how the Benedictine tradition aligned with my own Wesleyan-Methodist tradition. I found several important parallels and one major difference between the two traditions. Continue reading Benedictine and Wesleyan Traditions
Dive Deep at Young Adult Retreat
I will be the guest speaker August 9-12, 2015 at the Young Adult Retreat at Cedar Springs Wesleyan Camp in Floyd, IA.
What if in your life every action, object, and moment was sacred? What if every choice brought you closer to God, other people, and understanding of yourself? What if you could immerse your life in the wide and long and high and deep love of Christ? Dive Deep.
This event is open to all young/emerging adults (single or married, college or career).
Living Stones, the beginning
Jesus commands us, as his Church, to be and make disciples. While the process of sanctification is a continual “transformation into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord” (2 Cor. 2:18), we should also have markers which tell us we are equipped for works for service, attained unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature (Eph. 4:12-13). Toward that end, Oakdale Wesleyan Church has set up 12 markers, Living Stones, as steps of discipleship, so that we “like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).
It is my hope, prayer, and work, that Living Stones become a useful tool for people to have a continual transformational relationship with God beyond just my local church. Toward that goal, and with the encouragement of others, I am currently working on a book and proposal to get this discipleship tool out to the church at large. This will likely be the key focus of this blog for several months.
To be a part of this process with me right now, you can subscribe to this blog, follow me on twitter (@pvtillman), and check out the following links:
- The Missional Discipleship Groundswell Podcast on Living Stones. This is part 1, of what should be an ongoing dialogue with Heath Mullikin (@heathmullikin) and Jeremy Summers (@jeremysummers) about Living Stones. This podcast covers the development story of Living Stones and provides a quick overview of the 12 discipleship markers.
- The Living Stones sermon series given at Oakdale Wesleyan Church. This series expounds the Living Stones markers as illustrated in the lives of the 12 sons of Israel, blessed in Genesis 49:1-28.
- The Living Stones Discipleship page at Oakdale Wesleyan Church, which gives an explanation of Living Stones.
Christian Perfection, an Analogy
I have come up with an analogy, that at least in my mind, paints a clear picture of John Wesley‘s idea of Christian perfection (also called entire sanctification). I make no claims to having read every book or article on Wesleyan doctrine, so someone may have already used this analogy in the past, but I never read it. Here it is. Continue reading Christian Perfection, an Analogy
Being Dad Part 3: The Peer Years
On Fathers Day 2014 I gave each of the dads in my church a copy of David Drury’s book Being Dad. If you have not yet received you copy, please see me. I will not give this book to your wife or children to pass along to you, as this is a gift from me to you. Although I’ve read the book already, I’m reading it again, along with any of you that have begun reading (I saw one dad reading right after church). There will be no spoilers of the book here, but I will post my reflections on the three major sections of the book: The Early Years, The Growth Years, and The Peer Years, with the hope that these posts will further encourage you to not only read the book, but to also become the best dad you can be.
The final section of the book is on the transition of relationship from son and dad to peers. I know my dad enjoys his new grandfather (papa) status with my daughter, but we also enjoy our new relationship, which he initiated. Continue reading Being Dad Part 3: The Peer Years
Being Dad Part 2: The Growth Years
On Fathers Day 2014 I gave each of the dads in my church a copy of David Drury’s book Being Dad. If you have not yet received you copy, please see me. I will not give this book to your wife or children to pass along to you, as this is a gift from me to you. Although I’ve read the book already, I’m reading it again, along with any of you that have begun reading (I saw one dad reading right after church). There will be no spoilers of the book here, but I will post my reflections on the three major sections of the book: The Early Years, The Growth Years, and The Peer Years, with the hope that these posts will further encourage you to not only read the book, but to also become the best dad you can be.
The second section of the book provided many stories of leaving a legacy through lessons. And while David and I are close in age, I found some of our experiences divergent. While both our families value education, I think each of our dads imparted that legacy from a difference social and cultural background. Continue reading Being Dad Part 2: The Growth Years
Being Dad Part 1: The Early Years
On Fathers Day 2014 I gave each of the dads in my church a copy of David Drury’s book Being Dad. If you have not yet received you copy, please see me. I will not give this book to your wife or children to pass along to you, as this is a gift from me to you. Although I’ve read the book already, I’m reading it again, along with any of you that have begun reading (I saw one dad reading right after church). There will be no spoilers of the book here, but I will post my reflections on the three major sections of the book: The Early Years, The Growth Years, and The Peer Years, with the hope that these posts will further encourage you to not only read the book, but to also become the best dad you can be.
When I ride my bike, I can’t coast all the time, and, honestly, I do like to pedal, as it makes me stronger and gets me to my destination faster. But sometimes it’s nice, or even necessary, to coast. When I’m pulling my daughter in the bike trailer, I might switch to an easier gear, but rarely get to coast. That’s being dad, intentional work. Continue reading Being Dad Part 1: The Early Years
The Sacraments as Means of Grace part 6: Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the sick is not counted as a sacrament of the gospel, meaning not ordained by Jesus. However the command and instructions are given by James the brother of Jesus in James 5:14-15.
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
Protestants should not confuse anointing of the sick with the last rites. The last rites are not a sacrament, but rather the three sacraments of anointing the sick, confession/reconciliation, and the Lord’s Table all given to a person near death. Continue reading The Sacraments as Means of Grace part 6: Anointing of the Sick
Petitions, Prayers, and Personal Refrigerators
Just before Palm Sunday, I took a 1.7 cubic feet refrigerator from my basement, where we keep it for guests, over to the church. As the church planned to offer communion every day from Palm Sunday through Easter, on a drop in bases most days, I thought having a small refrigerator up on stage to hold the elements would be handy.
My daughter often comes over to the church with me when I practice music; she enjoys dancing while I play and sing, and she noticed the refrigerator on the stage. “What’s that?” she asked. I told her it was a refrigerator, to which she she replied, “I wish I had my own refrigerator.” I thought she made a bit of an absurd wish. What does a three-year-old need with their own refrigerator? I let her know that was not something she needed. Yet like the widow of Luke 18:1-8, she persisted. Continue reading Petitions, Prayers, and Personal Refrigerators