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
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.
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
The purpose of World Homeless Day (on 10/10 each year) is to draw attention to homeless persons’ needs locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness. It is a vehicle for connecting resources and communities. Over 100 million families may be homeless world-wide today.
Wes Magruder posted a thoughtful piece on Ramadan and fasting. He starts out:
“One thing I’ve learned about Ramadan is that it’s not just about abstaining from food and drink. That is only the tip of the iceberg.When I sat down with Yaseen before Ramadan started, he explained to me that it is also a fast of the eyes, mouth, and ears.
What does this mean?
One thing I’ve learned about Ramadan is that it’s not just about abstaining from food and drink. That is only the tip of the iceberg.
When I sat down with Yaseen before Ramadan started, he explained to me that it is also a fast of the eyes, mouth, and ears.
What does this mean?
It means that one takes special care not to see, say, or hear things that are not pleasing to God.
I am reminded of the Sunday School song that I learned as a child: “Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little eyes what you see, for the Lord above is looking down in love, be careful little eyes what you see.” Subsequent verses include “Be careful little ears what you hear,” “Be careful little hands what you do,” and “Be careful little feet where you go.” I never cared for the song…
View original post 963 more words
In this Community, Forgetting
There may come a day, when I, too, will
Forget the places I have been this day, and where now Igo.
May I recall deep in me the place of my eternity.
Some days I may forget where I am and how I came here,
and I may forget when sons were here today.
May I recall deep within me the blessed Christ-body.
When cold darkness falls in my yard,
and frost meanders across my kitchen pane,
and cardinals are hidden from my evening meal time,
I may wrestle with decisions to eat, or did eat,
and I may wrestle with smiles or grimaces.
Let God bless me with joy and hope.
I am simple.
Today, as I walk through this day only, old friends are
gone already. Ones who once were mine are gone.
Gentle God, strong Christ-body, bless these folk too.
Show us again joy and hope;
Fill this day with brightest stories of days lived
in this community.
(c) Tom Bolton, July 27, 2012, Kenosha, WI
In Our Community
What structure is it that we build and inhabit
In this Beloved Community?
We are here, joined in the Holy Spirit,
Still in some tension,
For we are from diverse homes.
We love, and we form this body of Christ,
But as the tension between a muscle pair,
so We strengthen our parts when we
Exercise in disciplined forms.
We speak and we listen.
We focus on our movements,
Less on the brick-built Structure,
and fiercely on our faith.
In unity, we are never uniform.
Many evenings, greased in BenGay, we allow
Our aches to heal in harmony.
We ask blessings on this Beloved Community.
(c) Tom Bolton, July 27, 2012, Kenosha, WI
Hopeful 