A World of Opportunity

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Tom Bolton

English: A section of the Oak Leaf Trail in Mc...

A World of Opportunity

This is a link to a wonderful book, produced by the Wisconsin Conference of Global Ministries.

The Wisconsin Conference Mission Giving booklet was created as a tool for local church pastors, mission and outreach committees, and treasurers! It is intended as use for inspiration to guide you as you determine the agencies, individuals, and organizations you wish to support. It is a really comprehensive guide to the ministries supported by the Wisconsin Conference.   It is amazing how much is here.

I have used the hard-copy with our Mission Committee at First Church in West Allis, but I wanted to remember the on-line link too. I should just remember: www.wisconsinumc.org

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Abba, Thank You Today

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Tom Bolton

I’m re-blogging this piece that I had forgotten.

Tom Bolton's avatarHopeful

I was contemplating prayer and two classes I have attended recently on prayer.

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…

View original post 93 more words

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Human Trafficking Seminars

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Calvary Presbyterian Church, Milwaukee, Wi

Here is a listing of discussions on Human Trafficking in Milwaukee throughout the months of June and July:
CYD_Human Trafficking Flyer

If you click on the link, you can print out and share the flyer.

Most of the speakers will be presenting their material at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 2300 N. MLK Drive, Milwaukee, WI at 5:30 pm.  One, I Lived to Tell My Story: American Actress Brook Bello Shares Her Story by Actress Brook Bello will be July 26, 2013, 2:00pm, at Mercy Memorial Church, 2477 North 36th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53210.

This series is sponsored by Career Youth Development, Inc.  The organization notes on the flyer:  “Human trafficking is a growing problem across the nation, in Wisconsin, and especially in Milwaukee.   According to the U.S. Department of Justice, as many as 300,000 American girls and young women are trapped or involved in this vicious industry.  The business of human sex trafficking is organized and violent. It is the second fastest growing criminal industry in the United States — just behind drug trafficking. It’s difficult to imagine that our own sisters, students, daughters and loved ones could be at risk of being targeted for the industry right under our noses—but they are….This is everyday life for thousands of young girls trapped in today’s new slave trade, human sex trafficking.”

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The Light

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Tom Bolton

I live in brightest light and that light

Cleanses my skin and warms me like no other place.

From the beginning, that place was here, and yet

I had to find it—even though it was here to see.

There is no darkness here—none at all—

And that encourages me and affirms my confidence.

Yet I still recall when the darkness seemed

a place to hide.

It was a lie in that darkness.

I lied there too often. I sought the darkness.

Too often I was confused about whom I was,

Where I was,

Whose I was.

In the light, life is rich and lush.

Here I feel the warmth, and I grow.

The sun soothes my skin and warms my heart.

And here I am alive, and filled with joy.

And it is here that I look forward to eternal life.

In the light, we love and we care.

We listen.

We boost each other up.

In the light, I see you, and here, you see me and hear me calmly.

I turn from the need to hide.

In the light, the corners are open and

Inviting.

Here I find joy.

The sun soothes me and warms me.

And here I am alive, and filled with joy.

And I look forward, here, to eternal life.

In the light, we love each other.

It is vital, and we are best

In brightest light.

© Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, May 30, 2012

Contemplating 1 John 1: 5-10

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Ray Buckley on Importance of Our Names

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Ray Buckley Led an Inspiring Bible Study on the Importance of Our Names at Wisconsin Ray BuckleyAnnual Conference.

On Saturday, June 8th, Ray Buckley, a renowned author and speaker on Native American spirituality, presented an inspiring Bible Study on the importance of the names we are given and live by.  He presented many topics about discipleship.  I particularly am inspired as he talks about his older brother.

I studied Mr. Buckley’s book, Dances with Words, in a Lay Servant Class last year, and I greatly loved that book. I was delighted when I learned that Mr. Buckley would be at our annual conference. He addressed all the laity Friday night and led Bible Study on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

As noted in the Conference news, on Saturday, he spoke on the significance of the names children are given at birth within the Native American culture. As he explained, you cannot know someone without knowing their name, whether they have eaten, and how well they have slept. He explained how the Native American culture “pulls all of their people into relationships.” For example, he said, there is no word for child, brother or sister…it is “my child, my brother, my sister.” He also said that we shouldn’t live by the names of derision that others give us. We need to be positive about who we are and live out our sacred names. Click here to watch the full video from the morning.

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Living the Life

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Tom Bolton

In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “It is becoming clearer dietrich-bonhoefferevery day that the most urgent problem besetting our church is this: How can we live the Christian life in the modern world?”

We are still working on this. When we proclaim Christianity without living it, we are engaging in a useless activity.   For me, there is a constant yearning:  How do I live as Christ?

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Thrilled that We Are Sent

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Tom Bolton

I will be at Wisconsin Annual Conference of the UMC for the next four days.  I’m glad to be there.  But I will really feel a gap as I miss our Second Saturday Servants mission on Saturday.  Just as I was in January, I’m really excited about missions.  I wrote these words in January:

I am excited about Missions at First United Methodist Church, where I am a member and disciple of Jesus. Last Saturday, we had an awesome visit with folks at God’s Kidz in the Hood, and we made some sandwiches for Larry Under the Bridge. Our friend Karen Jesse MB900436065is in India on a mission trip. She is working with the kids on English as a second language. Last week, she was able to experience a new year celebration, Pong. She inspires us.

Things are positive at the Divine Intervention for the Homeless cold weather intervention, where I help out as a volunteer.

We look forward to Packing Rice as part our Second Saturday Servants program at First Church in February. We will pack rice for hungry kids in Tanzania at Simple Hope at Bethesda Community Church in Watertown, Wisconsin, and one of our Bell Choirs will be playing too. We are doing this with our Youth Group, which makes it special for me. For each of us, a registration fee of $25.00 covers the cost of rice and shipping it to Tanzania. We always learn new things with Simple Hope too. And the Bell choir will be special. This will be great! Simple Hope , founded in 2010, is a Christian non-profit organization, working ecumenically with all faiths to provide hope to compromised communities in rural Tanzania, East Africa. The direct mission of Simple Hope is to save and empower lives through faith, nutritious food, clean water, education, microcredit programs and other identified long term sustainable projects.

Lots of missions going on. These are a few that capture my attention now. I’m fired up today!

I remember again the words of Jesus in John’s Gospel (Chapter 20):

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

We are sent!

MH900436073

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