Month: May 2025

One of the great wonders of the human mind is the ability to create the world it wants.  We see the things that support our worldview and are blind to the things that do not.  If we see the world as a hostile place our mind will focus on slights and will spin things into a negative.  Paranoia comes on a sliding scale from one to ten.  Some of us are so anxious for this age to come to an end and for the second coming of Jesus to occur we see “Signs of the Times” everywhere.  They are usually negative because that fits an end time worldview.  See Matthew 24.

Then there are those who do not believe the world is any worse off now than it has ever been.  The wars and earthquakes and threats of violence fit into a pattern of history that has been with us for thousands of years.  Increased numbers are merely the product of better reporting in an age of instant worldwide news coverage.  For these people the world has always been a dangerous place, so live with it.

There is a third kind of person who, while not being a total Pollyanna, sees the blessings they have and are grateful.  While they recognize bad things do happen, those bad things are far outnumbered by good things.  They minimalize bad things and refuse to let them set the tone for their life. They long for the second coming but are happy to make the best of what is.

There is such a wealth of incidents, good and bad, our minds are intriguingly capable of defining, with an overwhelming amount of evidence, the history and present we desire.  The most difficult educational framework to design for schools is social studies.  Just whose viewpoint will be emphasized in the limited number of pages a history book can contain?

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 27, 2010

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I was sitting in a Burger King this evening when an employee started yelling, “No, no. Please no.”   My imagination immediately created the worst possible scenario.  I was ready to run for an exit or hide under a table as I imagined someone had entered with a gun.   What a relief to know it wasn’t what I thought.  A bus had pulled up to the door and offloaded forty-six teenage girls who then lined up at the order counter.  The financial boon for Burger King meant a whole lot of work for the three employees behind the counter who were contending with a never-ending line of cars at the drive-up window.

So I wondered why it was that my mind had first gone to something bad. Could it be that we have developed a culture of fear because of all the bad news we continually hear on our radios and televisions?   Twenty-four hour news channels have a voracious appetite for content.  In order to stay fresh they garner all the bad stories that occur all over the world and frighten us into thinking our neighborhoods are filled with all the gruesomeness they can dish up.   Organizations with a need for government or charitable funding hype their cause and exaggerate so they can maintain their existence.  The end result is we have come to believe the worst.

I would like to state that while it is true some places in the world are racked by war, famine and genocide, that is not the norm.  The norm is so much better.  I don’t want to be a Pollyanna but if we really believe we are under the shadow of the Almighty we can truly say to each other, “Fear not.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 15, 2010

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When we moved into our home in Massachusetts we discovered the former owner left behind a wonderful old leather-bound set of Encyclopedia Britannica published in 1910.  I learned it was a classic edition.  While doing some research this evening I wondered what scholars thought about my topic exactly one hundred years ago.  So I pulled down Volume XIII – Harmony to Hurstmonceaux.  While doing so I remembered as a child we had a set of World Book Encyclopedia, not quite in the same league as Britannica, but respectable for a child.  I used to wonder what it was like to be so famous one got an article about oneself in such books.  This evening I turned page after page of such names without recognizing one name.  I realize my education is limited but really I should know some names.

Who or what was Hurstmonceaux?  Why should I care?  Does anyone in the 21st century care?  Probably the people who live there care.  It is a village in England.  In 1818 Percy Shelley wrote the famous poem, Ozymandias about an old statue in the desert.

“And on the pedestal these words appear:

`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:

Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,

The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Greatness and fame are a fleeting thing in this world.  So tonight I think of my childhood curiosity about fame and realize the only place I want my name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life mentioned in the book of Revelation.  There is Someone in charge of that book who will never forget us.  Let the ages pass and we will not only live in His memory but be alive forever in His kingdom.  How grand!

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 2, 2010

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We’ve all ordered pizza over the phone.  It wasn’t something new or unique when I called Papa John’s this evening.  Twenty minutes later I was walking in the door ready to do battle.  The price they quoted me on the phone was quite a bit more than the sign on the door that said, “Any Large Pizza – $10.”   But wait; they didn’t have my order.  It was then that I realized I hadn’t called Papa John’s.  I had called Papa Gino’s.  How I wish I had called Papa John’s.  Their pizza was so much cheaper.

Now back into the truck and on my way to Papa Gino’s, Frank Sinatra started to sing, “My Embraceable You”, which of course contained the line, “Come to papa, come to papa do.”  My grandchildren call me “papa” as they also call their other grandfather “papa.”   I even heard a sermon where the preacher said Jesus referred to His father as “papa.”   There are just too many papas around.

Or are there?  Is that even possible?  If God loves me as much as I love my sons and their children then I’m okay.  I’m in a very safe place.  I couldn’t help not thinking of Romans 8 where Paul says, we “received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”  The word “Abba” is well translated as “papa.”   This personal fatherhood of God is a very New Testament idea.  Jesus wanted us to know what God is really like.  There really can’t be too many papas.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 20, 2010

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It just seemed like a good ice cream day.  I realize that 30 degrees, a gray sky and a fresh layer of snow don’t seem like a good ice cream day, but the truth is any day is a good ice cream day.  So I talked my wife into stopping at Friendly’s.  I ordered a double thick malted milk shake.  It was awesome.

It came in a clear glass filled to the brim along with a full metal mixing can waiting to refill the glass.  But to my horror when I tipped the can to pour into the glass it all came out in a giant rush.  It was way too much for the glass and my precious ice cream cascaded down the sides of the glass and all over the table.   I sat there wishing I could lick off the table. But alas it was gone.   It was too much too fast.

I truly believe God is very careful when He dispenses blessings to us.  We are limited in what we can receive and properly use.  Too much too fast could easily end up in a disaster.  While it is difficult to believe winning the lottery has destroyed families.  It was too much too fast with limited ability to cope.

In Malachi 3 God speaks of opening heaven and pouring out blessings upon His people.  “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

Despite the promise of more than we can receive and not having enough room I still believe He is wise and judicious in His care.

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 19, 2010.

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I watched a carpenter finish off a project by putting trim around the base of the floor.  He was adding something.  But I thought getting a trim, as in a haircut, was taking something away.  Upon reflection I remembered each December we trim a tree.  There we go adding something. I used to sail with a friend who trimmed his sails.  He neither added nor subtracted but adjusted.  When I fly an airplane I trim the moveable surfaces to take pressure off the yoke and fly level without help from me. I then remember getting thoroughly trounced at tennis and my opponent told me he trimmed me.  A negotiator trims, finds a neutral position between two opposing parties.  I need to keep this devotional limited to three hundred words and so I trimmed it down from three hundred and eighteen words.

It is a wonder anyone ever learns English.  God trims me.  He trims away my sins. He trims me with good works. I hope.  He never trounces me.  He just watches me trim myself, self-destruct.   He trims, fine tunes, me to ease me through life’s journey with as little pressure as possible.  God never trims by taking a neutral position about me with Satan.  God is very much on my side.

Because I want the very best for you but do not know your specific need; therefore, I am going to pray a prefect prayer and ask that God will trim you today.  He will take away or add or adjust anything you need.  May He trim away your sins and trim you with glorious character growth.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 11, 2010

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Some of us remember the confession of a famous baseball player admitting that he used performance enhancing drugs in the 90s.  Good for him.  He came clean.  But he spoiled it by also adding he was sure they had nothing to do with his power hitting that broke records.  Excuse me.   I put high performance gas in my car but it has nothing to do with its smooth operation?  This is like Eve saying to God, “Yes, Lord, I did eat the fruit. But it had nothing to do with my knowledge of good and evil.  I would have gained that knowledge anyway via my naturally intelligent mind.”

Confessions with qualifications rarely work.  On judgment day confessions with qualifications will not be accepted.  When Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox the surrender was unconditional.  When the Japanese surrendered on the USS Missouri to close WWII the surrender was unconditional.   Our confessions to our heavenly Father have to be a full confession with no reservations regarding circumstances.  When one stops and thinks about it, it would be insulting to God for us to try and explain.  He was there.  He saw it.  He also understood our hearts and the hearts of everyone involved. What possible explanation could we give that He would not already understand?

The best thing we can do it to throw ourselves before Him as contrite sinners who need His mercy.  Now that I have said that I need also say, once done, we as sons and daughters of the living God can come boldly before the throne of grace with full rights of inheritance in the Kingdom.   Please See Galatians 4, Romans 8 and Hebrews 4:16.  The more I understand about this the more exciting it gets.

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 13, 2010

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More than once Ronald Reagan said in relationship to our relationship with the USSR, “Trust, but verify.”  After repeating it at the signing INF Treaty Mikhail Gorbachev responded, “You repeat that at every meeting.”  President Reagan said, “I like it.”   Me too.

I especially like it in our relationship with God.  Over and over God expects us to trust Him but He does not expect us to do so without some personal verification.  Hebrews 11 says, “Faith is the substance of things unseen.”   Please note even though unseen there is substance.   When Jesus called Peter, James, John and Andrew to follow Him, He had just filled their nets with fish.  He was saying I know you have family responsibilities. Follow me and those obligations will be met.   Earlier He said to them, “Come and see.”

God does not expect blind faith.  God gave us minds to use and He expects us to verify.  He does not want us to follow just anyone or anything because we have some unverified trust.  God backs up His word with evidence.  However, He always leaves that last little bit that is sometimes called “a leap of faith.”  While I love the song, Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so, I also realize that is for children.  Paul says, “Now that I am a man I think like a man.”    Men, big people, are tasked to give a reason for our faith.  Peter wrote, “Always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you.”

We are not the blind following the blind.  We trust but being the big people that we are we verify.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 19, 2010

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I’m sure we all remember Mark 9:36 where Jesus takes a small child up into His arms.  What a story that child had to tell the rest of his or her life. Well, this morning I watched something just as good.  I was in a Kindergarten supervising a student teacher.  It was circle time and the children were all gathered on a rug while the student teacher read to them and taught them their lesson.  Repeatedly the children had to be moved back. And just as soon as they were the student teacher’s magnetic charm automatically drew the children closer and closer.  It was impossible for the children to resist the loving attitude and appeal.  They all wanted to sit on her lap.  If I had a small child, I would want him in that room.

There is no argument to be made against the principle that love attracts.  We cannot help ourselves.  We are drawn to it like children to a candy counter.  There is no question that most of the people that flocked to see Jesus were miracle gawkers. These were the same ones who quickly turned on Him.  However, the ones drawn by His love were the ones who stayed faithful. Just as soon as John got over the initial fright and confusion of the arrest in the garden, he got himself into the trial chamber and stayed as close to Jesus as possible all the way to the cross.

The very first song I ever learned was “Jesus Loves Me.”  Many decades later I am still moved by the power of its simplicity.  I know of very few debates over Jesus’ human/divine nature or the power of sin that have ever been as magnetic as that little song.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 9, 2010

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With very little speech occurring I sat at the kitchen counter this evening and watched my wife prepare our light supper.  One of life’s great pleasures is watching someone you love.  If being apart from a loved one and not being able to see them is one of life’s trials then being with a loved one and seeing them is one of life’s greatest blessings.

I do so enjoy being with my grandchildren.  While the noise they make could be cacophony to someone else, it is to me finer than the fruit of any composer.  Some of the best weekends I have ever experienced are not ones filled with activity, but instead ones filled with loved ones presence.

Matthew 9:36 is an enjoyable verse, “When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”  Jesus enjoyed watching people.  In Matthew 25 we read, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  Verse after verse we hear Jesus say, “Come.”

When we do that not only can He watch us but we can watch him.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 3. 2010

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