Blythe Scott has a passion to help mobilize and equip the Church to join Him in the “renewal of all things,” to further redemption, and to advocate for the vulnerable through politics and policy. Over the years, this passion has become focused on the intersection of faith and politics, and Blythe has spent much of her professional and personal life working in this arena. Her passion led her to co-found Denver City Forum in the spring of 2017, which helps Christians engage well with one another and with non-Christians on topics of politics, policy and culture in today’s world.
IF YOU HAVE EVER FELT MISUNDERSTOOD IN YOUR DREAM, THIS WAS THE EPISODE FOR YOU.
In this episode, Blythe talks about Denver City Forum and its mission in the city of Denver. She also shares what it feels like to be misunderstood in her dream, how she’s dealt with that disappointment and offers suggestions, in case it happens with you and your dream. You will also learn the value of not overthinking your dream (which can stand in the way of getting started) and gain a helpful tip about a morning ritual to help curb your thinking so you can be more fruitful and Christ-centered in your day.
In addition to City Forum, Blythe is a consultant for the faith-based education reform non-profit, The Expectations Project (TEP). Prior to TEP, Blythe was a Fellow at The Clapham Group, the Outreach Director for her church in Washington, DC (The District Church), and helped found DC127, a foster care non-profit focused on equipping, mobilizing, and uniting churches around foster care and adoption. Her passions also include reading, talking all things Narnia, all animals, trail running and exploring (or “runsploring”) her beautiful home state of Colorado and, most importantly, spending time with her amazing husband and baby girl (adopted in September of 2017)!
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CONNECT WITH BLYTHE & DENVER CITY FORUM:
Email || Website || Twitter || Instagram || Facebook
MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
Denver City Forum - next event - Jun 27th
Traversing The Mental Health Gap: Crisis, Stigma, and Beyond
6:30-8:30 pm at Breckenridge Brewery
2920 Brewery Lane, Littleton, CO 80120. Get tickets on EventBrite.
Follow Denver City Forum on Facebook for updates about coming events
5280 Fellowship
Denver Institute for Faith & Work blog, events, meet-up groups, Fellowship program and other resources to help develop and grow believers in their vision, work and calling.
The Expectations Project
The District Church, Washington, DC
DC127, advocating for children in foster care in D.C
BOOKS:
The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth by Christopher L. Heuretz
In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership by Henry Nouwen
OTHER RESOURCES BLYTHE RECOMMENDS:
Resources from Q Ideas and Catalyst Leader
The Gift of Being Yourself by David Benner
Andy Crouch’s writings
Writings and example of Gary Haugen, Bethany Hanke Hoang, and IJM’s Justice Institute
Upside Down podcast
Church Politics podcast
Truth’s Table podcast
Pass the Mic podcast
SCRIPTURE:
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 22 Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”
23 And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In that day your livestock will graze in large pastures, 24 and the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. 25 And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.
27 Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar,
burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke;
his lips are full of fury,
and his tongue is like a devouring fire;
28 his breath is like an overflowing stream
that reaches up to the neck;
to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction,
and to place on the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads astray.
29 You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel. 30 And the Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones. 31 The Assyrians will be terror-stricken at the voice of the Lord, when he strikes with his rod. 32 And every stroke of the appointed staff that the Lord lays on them will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres. Battling with brandished arm, he will fight with them. 33 For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.
~ Isaiah 30:18-33
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
~ Romans 12:2
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
Blythe’s God-shaped dream [3:29]
On the brokenness in our culture and world [4:14]
The unique opportunity we, as Christians, have living in a democracy [4:29]
Furthering the Kingdom by furthering Christ’s purposes [5:05]
Why we need to know how to talk about the issues that divide our country [5:55]
The impact of the 5280 Fellowship on Blythe’s dream [6:30]
Knowing exactly what she is supposed to do right now [7:42]
Finding a co-founder and creating Denver City Forum [8:45]
The vision for Denver City Forum to provide a Christ-like civil space to discuss hard issues [9:21]
Providing a place where people can talk face-to-face as humans made in the image of God [10:13]
How a Denver City Forum event works [10:34]
New York Times columnist, David Brooks’, quote: “We live in an age of exile…” [13:16]
Topics covered in past City Forums [13:48]
Providing a safe space for believers and non-believers to see more of Christ by how we interact [14:43]
The struggle of being misunderstood in your dream [16:59]
Trusting that this is God’s vision and dream; He will make it as successful as He wants [18:35]
Walk through the door when God opens it [19:19]
How overthinking your dream might keep it from happening [21:25]
On feeling inadequate and pursuing the dream anyway [22:00]
How your long-term dreams and visions can keep you from what God has for you today [25:51]
It’s God dream and we are blessed to partner with Him in it [26:31]
How fear can paralyze you [27:00]
Feeling like it’s all on you and Blythe’s daily prayer for help with this struggle [29:15]
How discipline and a routine can be helpful in the struggles [30:25]
Do what God’s put in your path today [31:23]
The importance of close friends, fellowship and accountability [31:35]
Blythe’s favorite verses of scripture right now [32:11]
Advice on how to know what you should do next [35:56]
Every dream has its season and sometimes we’re called to something else [36:55]
About not holding your dream too tightly [38:14]
Moving on doesn’t mean it’s a personal failure [40:02]
God’s heart isn’t to make our lives difficult [40:43]
If the door is slightly open, push it and see where it leads [41:01]
Blythe’s favorite resources [42:30]
God doesn’t need me for this dream, but He chooses to use me and that’s humbling and a blessing [46:09]
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