On Word, Law and Life: Pathways

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Tom Bolton

English: Scroll of the Psalms

Pathways so bright, your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light for my
Path–so well-lit and safer than others.
Promising freely, I took an oath, and I will keep it!
Righteous regulations show me your way–
even when I fall from righteousness.
Oh grace in your word!
Pathways from suffering,
I seize your new life, Holy One, as you
promised me this life of grace.
Pleased to present all praise to you, God-of-grace,
Proud to learn your words, I am joyful in your word.
Perilously, I live life here,
but I am safe in your word for the long-haul, the long journey.
Peril and evil seem to be everywhere, but
principled life keeps me free to find joy.
Penned words, and listening to the word, fill my heart,
and I am blessed to recall: Joy in the word!
Pleased to obey and to be free in obedience,
planning my eternal life, I find joy. I am blessed.

© Tom Bolton, 02/25/2012

John Wesley said in his notes on Psalm 119, ” The general scope and design of this psalm is, to magnify the law and make it honourable: to shew the excellency and usefulness of divine Revelation, and recommend it to us, by the psalmist’s own example, who speaks by experience of the benefits of it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays for the continuance of God’s grace, to direct and quicken him in his way.” My poetic examination of the Psalm has fallen a little flat in the final weeks. Wesley had observed that “the word of God is here called by the names of law, statutes, precepts or commandments, judgments, ordinances, righteousness, testimonies, way and word.” He thought that the Psalmist had used the Hebrew alphabet technique to avoid tediousness and to help us fix the directions in our mind.  This week I struggle to keep it fresh, and my plans for X have fallen back to W; for me the X is presently twice W, but I may yet change this one.   This has been an immersion experience for me, but perhaps I should have come up sooner.

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Abba Prayer

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Tom Bolton

I wrote this poem in October 2012 as I was studying and experiencing prayer.  I know I posted it to by blog before, but folks seem to connect to it.  It resonates with me, so I’m repeating it with my Sunday morning devotions.Young Father Holding His Young Son (4-6)

      Abba, Thank You Today

Abba, Abba, how I missed you,
Even as you were by me all the time.
In your presence, you are so large, so great,
so much like when I was a very young one.
Your Name shines everywhere, every day.
You fill me up each day.
You pick me up each day.
You embrace me each day as I accept your presence.
How great is your presence here today each time we invite you in,
Each time we open our eyes to see,
Each time we listen and hear you.
Sometimes your words are so hard for me to hear,
So hard to understand,
The Greek so formal, the Aramaic so new yet intimate.
I listen today in new ways.
You bring me daily bread, protein and bulk to
feed me all day and night.
Untie, for sure, the knots of failure, knots I tie.
I fumble to untie the knots that I have tied
around me and around so many,
the strands so complex, so hard to see now.
Yet I see so much in your glow.
I am warmed and joyful.
From you, new blessings flow.
Blessings grow.
Blessings, I know.
Amen.
I grow.
Shine within me.
You wipe out the darkness.
Glow, too, for these neighbors today.
Your Word is the light.
Your Word is my joy.

(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, 26 October 2012

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Faces of Hope

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Tom Bolton

There are important lessons here.

Words from Chris Megison:  “In the wake of the “end homelessness” movement and the push by national advocates and even HUD to move away from transitional housing and replace with housing first, rapid rehousing and harm reduction designs, I found this video to be a compelling “pause” button in their crusade. These five courageous individuals beat homelessness through a transitional housing model and now all live in their own apartments with their once homeless kids. ……. Not all transitional housing is bad. Lets calm the rhetoric down some folks and have some discernment.”

I’m thinking through this approach.

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Sweet Words

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Tom Bolton

                  LongestNight5 

                  Oh How Sweet This Word To Me

Oh, yes, I love what you teach me,
outwardly and inwardly in my thoughts and soul all day,
when my mind is open daily (sometimes not).
Outwardly you make me seem wiser than I was,
than I am, because your commandments are
on my face, on my tongue.
Obvious at times, I may be wiser than I should be,
Obtaining new wisdom when your words fill my thoughts;
Obedient to the words you drive into me, I
obtain wisdom beyond my years–and in spite of my years.
Oh how bright is your path, not the gloomy evil path, but
Ordered and bright, your path is the one I obey.
Obedient to your word, joyful in the word. Blessed!
You have taught me well these days.
Oh how sweet your word to me–
oh how sweet this treat!
On to understanding, I plod after your word–
Oh how bright this path that drives away from lies.

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Never but Eternal

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Never to Forget

Never-ending words have been written in
heaven and deep in the foundation of earth;
Nothing less than eternal is this word,
written deep in my heart, etched on my soul.
Neatly in place is this word, your grace and faithfulness abound.
Nothing has toppled, even when we toppled it,
because all that matters is to be in service to our Lord.
Nevermore unhappy, but alive in the word,
I live in joy, and do not die this day in my
old, miserable way.
Never forget! Let me not forget what I once ran from–
precepts, guidance, directions to stay free–
Now free, I wrap my arms (and mind) around my new life.
Noted: toys and tools I thought I’d have
forever are ruined and long-gone,
But your word lives. My life is electric.
Not the wicked!
Not here to stop my walk down the lighted path.
Know that God doesn’t forget who he is:
His faith is everyday–he doesn’t skip any day.
Now let me count your faithful gifts to me today–
Joyful in the Word! Blessed!

(c) Tom Bolton. February 2013, Milwaukee

MH900401231

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Willfull

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Reading Acts 4.

                               Willfully Surrendered

English: folio 11 recto of the codex with the ...

English: folio 11 recto of the codex with the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And when they prayed,
in those early days, in that often-blessed city,
the place shook, and they knew it.
They were bold as they spoke.
Whether beneath a roof of thatch and green, as in Gospel,
or in open air,
or in some fortified Church,
evil fled, prayer was powerful.
In seeking God’s will, prayer engaged all–
everyone of them.
Not blessings, nor gifts sought, nor we-built-up,
but His will earnestly asked,
they moved to surrender.
Let us act on your word too.
Joy in the Word!
Let quiet, peace, fill us anew.

(c) Tom Bolton, 23 September 2013, in the Third ward

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My Soul Aches

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Back in 2011 and early 2012, I studied and wrote about Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible and a song that is all about reading the Bible. It is a Psalm that has not always been popular in the Church; it seems too legalistic for many Christians. But for me,
as with the whole Bible, as we read it, God speaks to us about many topics as we need to hear them, about our relationships as we need to grow. I’ve been re-posting individual stanzas this summer, and will continue that weekly or so. In late November, I plan to re-post the whole piece again for Thanksgiving.

M.  My Soul Aches to be Refreshed

My soul seemed weak for so long as I waited
for you–or did you wait for me?
My eyes were straining, bulging and blood-shot from looking
far and deep; I ask you again: How do I obey?
May I not be hung out to dry, not 
bursting as I am hung out in the heat of the day.
Move me from this brittle reality, these
tough times I built up in my life.
Make me joyful in your word, blessed!
Joyfully blessed!
Joyful in God’s word!
Much persecuted, I complain anew, but help me!
May I still not abandon your guiding wisdom.
Make my life new, God-of-Mercy,
Make me fresh and new,
May I obey.
May I still obey your commandments,
even when I complicate them beyond the simple.
Merciful God, make my life new today.

(C) Thomas Bolton, February 2012, Divine Intervention

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