Morning Glory Offshoots


Here is the latest Newsletter of Mineral Street Programs and Services, as written by our Director, Lisa Hernandez:

Mineral Street Programs and Services, Inc.
~~Cultivating healthy individuals, healthy families, for a healthy community.~~
                              Offshoots
September 2014
With the start of fall we can expect changes. It happens every year. Sometimes we are ready for it and other times we wish it was still summer. The same is true with Mineral Street Programs and Services (MSPS) and our Morning Glory Ministry (MGM). With the closing of Iglesia Trinidad, we know changes are coming. We do not know at this time what we can expect but we do know something is going to change.

There are many exciting new opportunities that await us. One includes working with another ministry in the area. But right now we cannot move too far ahead without knowing if we are going to be able to stay in our current building or for how long. Although it is tempting to wish that things would not have changed or to reminisce about the “good old days,” it is helpful to remember why we started this ministry to begin with. And so we are still moving ahead.

There once was a quiet man that would come to Morning Glory and eat his breakfast. He would work the crossword puzzles in the newspaper and would hardly say a word to anyone. Getting him to even say hello or make small talk was challenging. But we never gave up letting him know that we cared about him and God did too. Today, this same man comes bounding down the stairs to greet us. He tells stories of how he and his kids are doing. He has a smile on his face and tells us weekly how grateful he is that we are there. He is so grateful, in fact, that he tries to do his part and donates what little he has. It is the small things like the smile on his face that let us know that we have reached out made a difference to him. We know he is comfortable and able to share with us and we too are able to share with him. That is what it is about: not only meeting physical needs, but also building relationships and spreading the word of God.

There are many more stories like this and I hope to be able to tell you more with each newsletter.

So how can you help?

• First and foremost as always is to pray. Pray that we are able to make an agreement to use/purchase the building. Pray for the people of the community that they may hear and feel the love of God and may also accept Him.

• Second, come and volunteer. MGM is open every Saturday from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. As we start new programs more volunteers will be needed. We will also need help with maintaining the building, such as cutting the grass and removing snow from the sidewalks, as well as anything else that may be needed.

• Third, support us financially. Checks can be made out to MSP&S and mailed to Tri-City National Bank; 4295 West Bradley Road; Brown Deer, WI 53209; ATTN: Penny Tillman

• If you are interested in being a board member and are a contractor, realtor, or lawyer we would love your help.

May God Bless you and this Ministry,

Lisa Hernandez
Morning Glory Director/MSPS Clerk

Visit our website at: www.mineralstreet.org and see what we are about and different ways to get involved.

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I l l u m i n e d


Psalm 119:105

 

Illumined

My life is seen here, illumined for me and all.
It is here that I see ahead and most clearly see back.
It is here that the light shines all around,
From Within, and from above,
And clearly all around.
It is here that I feel the warmth of the light,
My path shown to me.
It is in this place that I am in lock-step,
No longer alone.
The light is always and yet here.

© Tom Bolton, 8 September 2014, Milwaukee

MH900401231

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Blessed in the Word


This was the second stanza of my meditation on Psalm 119, which I started in December 2011. I finished in Spring 2012 and I have periodically been drawn back to this piece over the past few years.

Psalm 119
                                              B. Blessed in the Way
Born pure, we young struggle and rot, seeking pristine purity, blessed in the Way, this  ScriptureWord.
Breathing in this book, this blessed, blessed Word,
I try, try, try to stay on the narrow path, teetering, tending my weak joints, buckling.
Braving this world, my heart beating, awash in Your Word,
Let me be right and pure today, blessed.
Blessed be your name, O Lord, I thank you, blessed to learn the law that I resist. Yes, I resist.
Beating your Word across my tongue, across my mouth,
Blessed to remember, to repeat, to recall.
Joy in the Word, Blessed!
Joy in the Word.
Beguiled in the reflection of your Word, blessed by your Way.
Bejeweled in your journal, your Word close at hand. Blessed Amen!
(c) Tom Bolton, Tippecanoe, 10 December 2011
I’m planning to repeat a stanza each Sunday for the rest of 2014.

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Peace


In morning devotion:

MH900401231

                            At Peace Now

At peace this bright July morning,
Green grass as deep green and fragrant as I can recall,
The sky clear and welcoming me,
The lake crystalline and deep azure,
I fear nothing today.
At peace this beautiful day,
Cardinals speaking calmly across my garden,
Mosquitoes away from me,
The air crisp and warm, dry on my face and neck,
I am filled with my master today,
Open,
Listening;
I am at peace now.
I look ahead and see things that take my breath away;
Gems and pearls shine in the sun,
But never impress me.
It is the master alone.
Precious metals never move me.
I have heard a voice say,
“Blessed are those who die in the Master.”
I am at peace.
The doors are open,
And the path is clear.
I am at peace now.

© Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, July 15, 2013

Contemplating Revelation

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Repeating On Word, Law and Life


This was the start of my meditation on Psalm 119, which I started in December 2011.  I finished in Spring 2012, but I have periodically been drawn back to this piece over the past few years.

ScripturePsalm 119

How blessed are those whose actions are blameless,
who obey the law of the Lord.
How blessed are those who observe his rules,
and seek him with all their heart,

       On Word, Law and Life

A. Along the Way

Aware, aware, finally aware that the righteous are blessed, those who stay close to the Lord, steeped in the Word, blessed are they.
Alive, alive, we are finally alive as we, wide-eyed disciples, search out our master, search deep into the living–that Word from the beginning.
Aware of the way,
they follow His way,
Active, acting, aware and acting on precepts proscribed and written, carefully acting and awesome aware.
Alleluia and Amen! Obedient, praying, discerning, firming–finding the way,
A student, I study, searching the Word,
Today in Law, in the Word.
Abandoned, yes, once abandoned, no more
Alone, I listen, I obey, I try to obey.
Alive, I too live; alive, I give thanks;
in my spirit, alive; keep me right, o Lord.

(c) Tom Bolton, Tippecanoe, 10 December 2011

I’m planning to repeat a stanza each Sunday for the rest of 2014.

It was a great start with the letter A, I think, with its emphasis on new awareness, and being Alive–in the Word, in relationship with Christ.  I have been blessed in this way.

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I Can’t Resist A Good Challenge!


This may be my favorite Ice Bucket Challenge.

Bill Sweeney's avatarUnshakable Hope

Ice Bucket Challenge Donations Top $100 Million in 30 Days compared to $2.8 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 29).

Mary looked at me like I was crazy when I told her that I wanted her to dump a bucket of icy water over my head.
“You might gasp and breathe in water and choke,” she warned. But after a few days of prodding she finally agreed to play her roll in the Ice Bucket Challenge. I was hoping that the ice cold water being poured over my head would cause me to jump out of my chair and run, like my Australian friend, Phil, but (SPOILER ALERT) unfortunately that didn’t happen.

Seventeen years ago, almost a year after being diagnosed with this horrible disease known as ALS, I was asked by MDA to participate in the local portion of the Labor Day…

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First Things First


Here is another great story from the Desert in Pastor Irvin Boudreaux’ blog this past week.

Irvin J. Boudreaux's avatarA Pastor's Thoughts

Abba Abraham told of a man of Scetis who was a scribe and did not eat bread. A brother came to beg him to copy a book. The old man whose spirit was engaged in contemplation, wrote, omitting some phrases and with no punctuation. The brother, taking the book and wishing to punctuate it, noticed that words were missing. So he said to the old man, ‘Abba, there are some phrases missing.’ The old man said to him, ‘Go, and practice first that which is written, then come back and I will write the rest.’

—–Sayings of the Desert

Paul August 24I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to…

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