Dying Well According to John Wesley

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Tom Bolton

I had forgotten that I posted this link one year ago today. Once again, I really like the post by Chris Johnson.

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Statue of John Wesley outside Wesley Church in... Statue of John Wesley outside Wesley Church in Melbourne, Australia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Signature of John Wesley, founder of ...

Dying Well According to John Wesley

I was inspired by this article by Chris Johnson earlier this week.

He says, “Most importantly, Wesley knew the secret to dying well was living well.  Keeping our end in view reminds us that life is a precious gift from God and should not be squandered on penultimate pursuits.  Wesley admonished his followers,”

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Hunger

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Tom Bolton

I Hunger

Away from the paths I usually walk,
I hunger.
My mind clear, grains green all around me,
I open my heart, my mind, my soul today.
Fill me up.

(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, 21 August 2012

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Match Day for Milwaukee Rescue Mission

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Tom Bolton

Thursday (March 13) is match day at Milwaukee Rescue Mission, and it is an especially good day to make a donation to the Rescue Mission:
http://matchdaymke.razoo.com/story/Milwaukee-Rescue-Mission

You can enter it now and it will post on March 13.

Thank you to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, which launched Match Day in 2012 to raise awareness about families struggling for basics like food and shelter, and to raise support for the organizations that serve so many of our neighbors in need. Over the past two years, more than 8,000 individuals in our community rallied behind these organizations and more than $4.6 million was raised to strengthen their capacity to serve.

Thank you for generously giving to help Milwaukee’s hurting and homeless on Thursday!

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http://vimeo.com/4482583  Good video here!

When homeless men or women with children are ready to rebuild their lives, they often need short- and long-term assistance, counseling, help in overcoming substance abuse, job training, and much more. Without comprehensive solutions to the troubles they face, they may quickly find themselves back on the streets, without hope. MRM serves this community through three areas:

•Safe Harbor, the Mission’s refuge for homeless, hurting men.
•Joy House, a place of safety and support for homeless mothers with children.
•CrossTrainers Academy, a K-5th grade Christian school for at-risk children in the city of Milwaukee.

In 2013, the Mission helped nearly 5,000 individuals. Here are some of the outcomes that were made possible thanks to donors in this community:

*291,187meals served to hungry men, women and children

*116,634 nights of safe lodging provided

*161 graduations from long-term programs in Safe Harbor and Joy House

*981 professions of faith from men, women and children

*8,902 volunteers dedicated 19,456 hours to help our guests and residents

*19,654 hours of academic education completed by men and women

*25,861 hours of Job Training completed by men and women

*35,486 articles of clothing distributed to men, women and children

* Men in Safe Harbor repaid $10,690 in debts, including child support, back taxes, utilties and more in 2013 alone and have repaid $334,556 since 1997.

March 13 will be a good day to contribute!

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today

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Tom Bolton

           These Days

Freedom, discovered in new ways once doubted, with
relationships restored,
life love-filled and joyful.

(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, October 12, 2012

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Transfiguring

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Tom Bolton

Reflecting on Matt 7: 1-13 and Luke 9: 28-36

      Passing Through the Cloud

I too hiked up that mountain, following the master,
and I stayed just outside of that thick cloud for too long.
I listened and I was assured.
The father told me to listen.
[Some days it is hard to just listen.
I can’t listen;
words come out of my own mouth too fast.] tranf3
Eight years I journeyed from the first words,
and I rejoiced at the mountain.
Here I am Lord; speak only to me.
In the dazzling white, I came to listen.
Moses and Elijah guide me some ways,
But Jesus speaks when I am awake.
Some days I am so afraid in the cloud.
Still, let me enter the cloud each day.
I stay silent and listen.
Let me be prepared. Teach me lord.
I would still be prepared to tell the story!
Here on this Holy ground, I learn,
I listen.
For these moments alone with Jesus, I yearn
to hear him clearly.
On holy ground, I prepare to listen,
I prepare as a disciple.
Some days, I remember to keep silent,
to listen,
preparing to speak his lessons.
On the mountain paths, I become
aware,
gazing on mountain laurel, pink and white,
and on blue-green mosses.
I squint my eyes, and I listen.
I listen.
Today we, disciples, listen,
and we prepare for new Easters,
On that mountain, I listen, prepare.

(c) Tom Bolton, February 2, 2013, West Allis

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In Christ

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Tom Bolton

I wrote this early one Sunday morning in 2012 after morning devotions. I had been reading much from my Bonhoeffer library, and I believe I had been reading the 107th Psalm on Sunday too. I think I was influenced by my general contemplation on silence as well; it has been on my mind recently. I see too the influence of my celebration of the new ministry of one of my friends from Divine Intervention.

    Today in Christ

Today I am in Christ,
Not only in Grace,
Not only in Faith.
Today I give thanks to God because he is good,
and my faith is filled with mercy and love,
and I am with Christ today.
I am in and of Christ. I rejoice!
We use this grace divine, and in one accord,
join ourselves to Christ, our Lord.
Through Jesus’ power, today we live and die in the body.

Having wandered so many years and so many days,
Am I now rescued from my troubles?
Troubles are still there, but
Seen from Christ’s eyes,
These troubles seem here and not in our Lives.
He changes deserts into lakes in our times.
He changes the ignorant into teachers and physicians.
He changes alcoholics into bright-eyed missionaries.
He changes the Lost into the New-Found.
He changes me into the Body.

Today I am in Sabbath, and I am quiet.
I listen.
Let me, when I am too wise to know it,
When I am too smart to pay attention,
Let me, when I am wise in the Word,
Let me understand and share the Lord’s blessings.

(c) Tom Bolton, July 22, 2012, Milwaukee

lightrising

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Community

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Tom Bolton

         In This Beloved Community

In this village, conversation is new and can-do;
As Jesus healed, preached, healed, we do what we are called to do.
Beloved, as God loves us, not often so lovable,
We seek new communities, our miracles now doable.
The time is fulfilled, and we know the kingdom of God is near;
We repent and believe good news still, but hold back some, in fear.
As Jesus traveled along his lakes to preach and heal,
We set out–welcoming, forgiving, joyful–genuine, real.
We seek here to be tempered;
An anvil of prayer and fasting, hammered.
Here we nurture others and self in the midst of difference,
But it is clearly in action that we become aware and sense,
Here to be tempered and lasting
On anvil of prayer and fasting!
It is in our community of good news,
Where we, continually connected, removed our shoes,
and welcomed, we accept to have our feet cleaned;
Humbled, we serve and are served, here gleaned.
In this fountain of fast-falling information,
We–vulnerable, open, in mission, trusting–find transformation.
Yeast in the new loaf, we are here–here to rise.
Unlike Herod’s or the yeast of the Pharisees,
We carry new bread, and new wineskins, here,
In action, and with more in mission, open, we hear.

(C) Tom Bolton, March 27, 2012

I wrote this while studying the Gospel of Mark early this morning. I had fresh memories of a meeting with Bishop Lee and a crowd from the Metro District percolating in my mind too. We had discussed a few elements of Peter Block’s 2008 book, Community, The Structure of Belonging, along the way.

Of course, Dr. Martin Luther King had a vivid vision of the beloved community deep in his speeches.

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