On Grace

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Tom Bolton

Contemplating Bonhoeffer more and focusing on Jesus, I wrote this Tuesday.

Grace, Held Each Day

I accept this grace with eyes wide open,
Fully knowing the value, the steep price paid.
Today I am full of grace, given freely to me.
Grace at a great price—so great—I know.
With prayerful eyes, I hold unto grace,
Still, my eyes opened, seeing the Word,
Grace accepted freely with open eyes, grace valued richly.

When we miss the Word, and stay only in this world,
We lose sight of the value, the costs, the costly pearl.
The mortal enemy of our Body, this grace may be cheapened,
The call missed,
The sin justified, but sinner floundering freely,
Unaware of the sin, condemned, but not yet confessed. 
Where then is real remorse?
Where do we yet repent?
Where is repentance as we are stuck in this world,
the Word lost,
the Living Word carelessly denied?
Like some cheap, flimsy cover-up we throw over a revealing swimsuit,
We comfort ourselves in grace-not-grasped.

This grace—a system, a principle, a tenet—not personal,
It fools us.
When we miss the cost, the value is lost to us.
When grace is just an idea,
With no personal connection, we are living like all.
We have our Baptism
Without the discipline of the blessed community,
And we partake then of a supper with empty calories.
Grace is so much more.
Today, we accept grace with eyes wide open.
We thank God for this costly grace.

© Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, August 14, 2012

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On August Changes

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Tom Bolton

I have been thinking about recent changes and also thinking way back to my early adulthood this morning. I went to vote at 7:00 today, and it was disconcerting to have a primary election in August. We haven’t had that since the 1940’s in Wisconsin, I think. I was drawn to think about my voting history, which goes back to February 1973, when I was eighteen. All of this led me to contemplate seasons and changes in life. Also, as I walked to my polling place, the air reminded me of August mornings at the fair when I was young; I especially thought about my dad there at the Rock County 4-H Fair. My father usually worked during his vacations at the Rock County Fair and we celebrated his August 3 birthday many times at the fair, as he took a break to enjoy a good meal with us.

Tom Bolton August, 2012

I turned 18 in 1972 about one week after the Presidential Election. I had worked close to full-time that year on election campaigns in 1972, which almost ruined my first semester of college! But I wasn’t actually able to vote that year which was a bit disappointing to me. I was really hooked on politics at that time though, and so I ran for School Board in my home town in 1973. There was a primary election, and I was able to vote for myself in the first election I was eligible to vote. Heady stuff for a young man with a growing ego! I garnered enough votes to move on to the general election, where I was defeated in the at-large School Board race. I ran again in the spring of 1974 and I was elected that year. Since that first election, I don’t think I’ve missed voting in an election. It feels good.

I have associated lots of physical queues with voting in specific elections. And August felt weird to me!

It also caused me to contemplate the new season I am within in my life. I think I call it mature middle-age, but I may be off. I am also in a new season in my political persona. I’m still a Democrat, and still a progressive, but I see a lot more gray than I did at age 18. I saw a lot of gray at age 34 too, when I consciously left my political career, but at that time, I felt it was a deficit to not be so sure about everything—to lose some passion and certainty. These days I see gray as a pretty normal view, and a good thing. The biggest change in my political season is that I don’t want to criticize so harshly those with whom I disagree. I respect and see value in the “other side.” While I disagree strongly with Paul Ryan’s budget document, I really don’t care to hate him. There is value in the role he serves too.

I felt the usual twinge of sadness on August 3rd as I missed my father, but I didn’t think too much about my Dad’s birthday. I was busy that day! Dad would have been 101, and I do miss him. We probably argued and got mad at each other more often than about anyone in the family. But I don’t believe that either of us stayed mad much more than a day. That seems like real love to me. He had a tough life in many ways, but it seems to me that he was almost always hopeful. I also remember always that his greatest lesson to us was the example he set in loving and working with children. He served kids in a lot of ways—especially in 4H—and I recall that he always smiled when he was with children and youth. He made each youngster know that he or she mattered to him.

I also recalled that Dad voted for me in 1973 even though he knew I still had a lot to learn.

I feel like I am still learning each day. This is a good season.

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On Word, Law and Life

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Tom Bolton

I felt a bit bland presenting these new stanzas in March. But I am more inspired by them, as I re-read them today.

N. 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!

O. 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.

P. Pathways So Bright

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.

c Thomas Bolton February 2012

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Grace

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Tom Bolton

Rev. Dietrich Boenhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Many Americans have been greatly moved by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s comments on Cheap and Costly Grace.  When we think about it though, we are often intimidated by the concept of costly grace.  We are challenged far beyond our comfort.  Today  I just want to highlight some of Bonhoeffer’s writing about grace in his important work, Discipleship.

“Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like a cheapjack’s wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut-rate prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! And the essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be, if it were not cheap?
. . . In such a Church the world finds a cheap covering for its sins; no contrition is required, still less any real desire to be delivered from sin. . .
Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before. { p. 42}
. . .
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, (it is) baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” { p. 43-4}

“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake of one will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. . .
. . . Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: “my yoke is easy and my burden light.” { p. 45}

We thank God for grace.

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Prayerful

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Tom Bolton

I wrote this poem Sunday night.

 Prayerful

In the morning sunshine, with waves advancing
Near my feet, near my soul,
Soothing voice deep within my spirit,
I listen.
Listening to that still, powerful voice,
Each word touches me
Now, as I invite into me the words and the Spirit.
Calmly, I follow, and cease wrestling.
Elevate me from this place; place me where you will.

(c) Tom Bolton, August 5, 2012, Janesville, WI

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Book Referrals from Teddy Ray

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Tom Bolton

A Crash Course in Theology !
I appreciate these recommendations on Wesleyan theology from Teddy Ray today.   You can click on the link above to see Pastor Ray’s blog.

I loved some of these books, and plan to search out some of the others.

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The Vine

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Tom Bolton

I’m re-posting this blog from February because I like it. lol! I wrote this short poem on February 24 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.

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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