Remembering Baptism

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Tom Bolton

For a few years I have been ordering packs of shower tags with Pastor Adam Hamilton’s showertagbaptism remembrance. After we study grace and Baptism with our Confirmation Students, I give them each one of these cards for their shower. This was originally part of a sermon series by Hamilton, and copies were given to each member to hang over the shower head to provide a daily reminder that you are a child of God.  These days they are typically given to students heading off to college.
The message is:

Lord, as I enter the water to bathe,

I remember my baptism.

Wash me by your grace.

Fill me with your Spirit.

Renew my soul. I pray that I might live as your child today,

and honor you in all that I do

In 2012, I got a big packet of them while I was in Leawood, and I have been sharing them with adults in adult classes too. Most significantly in 2012, I finally put one in my shower. I too find it meaningful to remember each morning that I am baptized.
This week, it has especially spoken to me.

MB900442425

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Let Anger Melt

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Society Finches

Society Finches (Photo credit: dog.happy.art)

LET ANGER MELT

 

The anger swelled and amazed me twice these days,
And I was blind.
Anger is right sometimes.
But now let it go.
Let me see each way and each one.

 

(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, 3 June 2013

 

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What Our Words Tell Us – David Brooks

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Tom Bolton

What Our Words Tell Us – David Brooks

This was a thought provoking column by New York Times columnist David Brooks.

He looks at some analysis of Google Books:   “About two years ago, the folks at Google released a database of 5.2 million books published between 1500 and 2008. You can type a search word into the database and find out how frequently different words were used at different epochs.

The database doesn’t tell you how the words were used; it just tells you how frequently they were used. Still, results can reveal interesting cultural shifts. For example, somebody typed the word “cocaine” into the search engine and found that the word was surprisingly common in the Victorian era. Then it gradually declined during the 20th century until around 1970, when usage skyrocketed.

The tips he points out for Conservatives and Liberals seem right on to me.

Readers’ Comments

“From 1800 to 2013, the word ‘family’ had a fairly stable use until it began a subtle and slow decline from the Civil War until it reached a low near the end of World War I. It suddenly grew in popularity in the mid-1960s and peaked in the mid-1990s.”

flaminia, Los Angeles, CA

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Elevated and Enlightened

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Tom Bolton

The fifth stanza of Word, Law and Life, my contemplation of the 119th Psalm, from early 2012.

E. Elevated, Enlightened

Enough! Again enough! Educated in your laws, I obey them to the end. Endless.
Enlighten me each day; fill my mind gently, and I will hold your heavenly edicts in my heart.
Encircling this earthly tabernacle on this rolling path, I am giddy now; keep me joyful, heavenly one.
Enjoying the rich, enriching edicts of your word, ground me, keep me here,
Ensnared not by these get-rich-quick schemes so frequent here.
Joy in the Word, Blessed!
Joy in your Word.
Entrust your word to me, deep in me, so that I can understand fear, and even then, love you.
Even now these harsh words of too many are drenching me, but
Evasion of word-heaps comes easily, secure in your righteous regulations.
Entering the quiet, cocoon space of your guidance, hearing your word deep in me,
Entering new life, I am right.

(c) January 2012, Tom Bolton, Milwaukee

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Urgent Ministry NEEDs

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Tom Bolton

This is from my missionary friend in Pakistan.

seedpakistan's avatarSEED Pakistan

Urgent Ministry NEEDs

We are deeply grateful to our faithful supporters who support us to bring precious Gospel to those crying and dying souls by their prayers and as a voluntary and financial support other more. We are not assured of next day or next year what will be happened. I encourage you to be part of this historic season as these incredible doors are opening to us in whole Pakistan and throughout the world and Nations. we are grateful to our heavenly father for that privilege
We need new partners in this essential ministry to finish the work before Lord Jesus the king of kings comes beck. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you about the work we are doing. we strongly invite you to join us as a partner to reach out to the people of Pakistan and throughout the world with the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is such…

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Why are so many Christians Depressed?

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Tom Bolton

I’m really pleased to re-blog this thoughtful and important essay by Bill at Unshakable Hope–one of my very favorite blogs at WordPress.

Bill Sweeney's avatarUnshakable Hope

Depression, even among Christians, seems to be rampant today; it’s as if some kind of emotional black plague has crept into the Church.

I read several blog posts and articles every day, but last week was strange; virtually every day I found myself reading posts and articles written by or about Christians battling depression. But by far the most heart-wrenching news of last week (regarding the impact of depression on Christians) wasn’t found on a blog or in a news article; it was a phone call from a close friend telling us about a friend that had committed suicide.

The young man that committed suicide was named Jordan and he was a very talented artist and musician and, more importantly, he was a Christian. (You can see one of his music videos hereand his testimony video here). From what he says in the testimony video, Jordan had battled…

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Accountable Discipleship Groups

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Statue of John Wesley at Wesley's Chapel City ...

Statue of John Wesley at Wesley’s Chapel City Road, London. (January 2006) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am nearing the conclusion of a 6-week study of Accountable Discipleship: Living in God’s Household, by Steven Manskar, with four cohorts. This is my third time reading the book, which I think is excellent. Last night we discussed Chapter 5, a very energizing endeavor. Next week, we will conclude with additional exercises and final review of the book.
We hope to develop more covenant groups in our churches.
The description at Cokesbury captures the book well: “Accountable Discipleship is the foundational resource for persons involved in Accountable Discipleship ministries. Manskar provides a biblical, theological, and historical under-girding for this work. He explores a systematic approach for undertaking and accepting the challenge of personal discipleship for life. In addition, Manskar outlines a process for developing leadership that could help transform the life of the congregation.

I am interested in hearing from others about ways they have successfully introduced Covenant Discipleship Groups to a congregation.  What worked?  What didn’t work?  Did you use pilot groups?

Additional books by Manskar that I am adding to my reading list now:

A Perfect Love: Understanding John Wesley’s “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection”

A Disciple’s Journal

 

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