on The Way

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Reading Colossians 2

We, on the Way

We have been placed on this way.
Can we walk anywhere else, having been here?
We have embraced this new way of living,
not entering only a spiritual, mystical place,
but embracing new life, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Today we have been blessed unexpectedly,
and Monday I was blessed.
The burdens weighed upon me this week,
as loved ones suffered and left this world in constant pain.
The burdens weighed upon me a week ago,
as my work pressed upon me, and uncertainty awoke me.
I thought to leave this path.
I thought to misbehave.
I thought selfish thought.
I thought I might leave this way.
Where would I go?
Is there some other place that illumines me?
Where would I find life?
On this way, I find my eternity.
My mansion is made.
Light my way, Lord.

(c) Tom Bolton, 4 September 2013, on Water Street

English: the first of the Epistles to the Colo...

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Friday Call for Help

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Tom Bolton

I am thinking that I may make this a regular feature on Fridays: I’ll ask my readers for ideas and suggestions on a topic I am working on.

I’m looking for a crafty, but simple, mission project that may productively occupy time for staff and guests at an overnight program for homeless men and women from December 1 through March 31 each year.  This won’t be a required activity, but my sense is that many of our guests will welcome this from time to time.

When I was meeting with the Whitewater young Optimists they shared a project that they do regularly for team-building and just accomplishing something good.  The make non-sew fleece tied blankets

Milwaukee Police Department

for children that have been displaced from their homes by fire or other disaster, or domestic disturbance.  The materials are provided by a county agency, and I think the blankets are distributed by the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department.

I am looking for similar project for our group of staff, hosts, and guests to work on during cold winter evenings.  I believe the experience of mission is uplifting, and I believe in connecting groups.

Does anyone know of a group that uses these blankets in Milwaukee?  I especially would like to find an organization that has the materials but needs the labor.  Does the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department or Milwaukee Police Department have a need for these blankets?  Or do you know of any other projects that we might work on instead of just watching TV and eating at night?  I am open to most ideas, but here are my criteria:

* Provide meaningful service or meet a need of the community;

* If a craft, it should be simple enough that I can learn it, since I will need to teach it;

* Not be too expensive to make;

* Allow for the completion of some segments in an evening;

* Provide opportunities for 10 to 20 workers at a time.

If you have ideas or new suggestions, please share with me here or email your ideas to me.

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For Peace in Syria

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Tom Bolton

On Sunday, Roman Catholic Pope Francis spoke strong words of condemnation for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, expressing clearly his personal sorrow and the inevitable judgment of both God and history upon such actions. Francis also shared words of caution for those who would seek to use violence to achieve peace saying:

“War brings on war! Violence brings on violence!”

syria-vigil-web

Bishop Grant Hagiya presented a strong United Methodist letter in support of peace.

The Bishop concluded: “So let me encourage you to heed Pope Francis’ invitation to spend Saturday, September 7th in fasting and to pray for peace in Syria. For some, this may be most practically done in private or with your loved ones. For others, you may wish to invite your community to pray and fast together in some manner – leaving your sanctuary open or hosting an evening vigil. Wherever there is an opportunity, I would challenge you to reach out to other faith communities to join together in that most generous spirit of interfaith ecumenism. What a blessing it would be for our sanctuaries to be used by our communities for prayers such as these!

Despite its long history in our Christian tradition, I expect that fasting may be something relatively unfamiliar to some and beyond the ability of others for any numbers of health reasons. Please participate as you can, knowing that God understands and does not expect us to endanger our health.

I have asked our staff to gather a few resources to support your efforts of prayer and fasting for Syria. These should be available for you sometime on Wednesday. Please take advantage of these if they are useful but don’t let us stop you from seeking out and sharing your own practices as well.*

UMCOR is supporting Syrian Refugees. The number of refugees is incredible–perhaps the greatest challenge for refugee workers since the Rwandan Refugee efforts.

Here are some of the references on fasting:

Resources on Fasting

An Embarrassment of Riches, a short intro to Fasting

A John Wesley Sermon on Fasting

Lent: A Time to Fast and Pray – UM Interpreter

What does The United Methodist Church say about fasting? – umc.org

Regional Media Center Resource | Celebration of Discipline | Mudhouse Sabbath

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Youthful Images

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Tom Bolton

I am re-blogging this poem from February 2013.  The poem was percolating in my mind for over a week, but the parts about the song in my youth just didn’t translate well in 2013.  Sometimes, repentance is hardest when we are too focused on the sin and not on restoration.

Jesus

                      Free Me From Shame

Can it be that there is no glory without the cross
and no growth without suffering?
Shall we conform to the image of the suffering servant?
How can we bear the image of his glory
after first bearing the image of our own shame?
Not the image of the suffering servant,
we do bear the image and memory of evil.
Today my memory drifts back to a song of my youth,
recalling words about Jesus and Joseph,
not a praise song, not a hymn,
but blasphemy of my prideful youth.
Today I seek to share his suffering, to
learn from the master,
to attain resurrection from the dead.
How did I get here,
I, a sinner so sad?
I remember pride and remarks, and cool,
and the shame engulfs me now.
Let me now be a disciple of the master,
learning now as a servant.
I seek now next things.
Draw me from my own selfishness.
Draw me to a holy enclave where I may
be free with boldness in faith.
Let me enter the garden to be close by my
Savior.

(c) Tom Bolton, 19 February 2013, Milwaukee

English: Sunrise at North Point Park, Milwauke...

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Fruitful Vines in the Spirit

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Tom Bolton

English: Grapes on the vine A fruitful vine gr...

I’m re-posting this blog from February 2012 because I like it. lol! I wrote this short poem after prayer. I was deep in prayer that day, and came away thinking about fruits of the spirit. What hit me that February Friday night was that I am on a vine, and it is a healthy vine, I see, and the vine is succulent, filled with life-sustaining water.

Jesus

On the Vine

Tonight, I’m thinking about life on the vine.
I’m on the vine, a vibrant branch, these days.
I feel the vital fluids stream through the branches,
Love flowing rich and refreshing me.
I do feel fruitful, I do feel strong,
Living in love, living in Jesus’ love.
And I am filled with joy.
And my love is completed in joy.
I open myself to the presence of Jesus, and
I am fruitful these days.
It once was hard to open myself up, and to
Invite Jesus into me. Scary?
No. I’m on a fruitful vine here.

The peace is alive, and it passes through us;
The pruning was by a kind farmer, we see.
Oh, how great a vine we share tonight.

(C) Thomas Bolton February 25, 2012

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Not Intermittent

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Let mutual love continue

The King James Bible 1611 ed. ends the Epistle...

Let mutual love continue,
loving as brothers and sisters,
hospitable to strangers and brothers and sisters,
loving lovable, unloved, and maddening ones.
I will not fear those I love nor those I don’t love.
I will focus where the light is.
I remember those who are prisoners,
and recall my prisons,
my father’s prisons, my mother’s prisons.
I celebrate freedom.
Love continues.

(C) Tom Bolton, 1 September 2013, Milwaukee

On Hebrews 13: 1

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Prayers for the 15th Week after Pentecost (September 1-7, 2013)

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Candlemas (russian icon)

I was visiting a Moravian blogger this morning: http://dailyprayersformoravians.wordpress.com/

I always am filled up with the Moravian Daily Prayers. Here is the start today:

The watchword for the week:
Let mutual love continue. Hebrews 13:1

May the love of the Lord our God be upon us.
Christ, inspire the work of our hands;
May the mercy of the Lord our God be upon us.
Christ, strengthen the work of our hands.
May the grace of the Lord our God be upon us.
Christ, empower the work of our hands.

Psalm 112

Praise be to God! Happy are those who fear God,
who greatly delight in God’s commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in God.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
The wicked see it and are angry;
they gnash their teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

Thanks for publishing your blog Pastor Chris!

I especially like your commentary on the watchwords:
“Our watchword for the week is quite short, just 4 words, but its implications are eternal. It’s final word is “continue”. We are not encouraged to love for a season, to love within perimeters, or to love those who are deserving. Simply put we are to let love to continue forever. Think about as you pray through this week.”

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