Author: Ian Bothwell

In a former issue of the New Yorker magazine there are two dogs talking to each other and the one dog says, “I actually know more commands than I respond to.”   At first I thought this was a canine version of Romans 7:15 where Paul says,  “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”   Then I realized it wasn’t.  Paul wanted to do what was right.  The difference is the dog knew but did not want to do it.

Finding one’s value system can be as simple as just saying I will do my best to keep the 10 commandments or it can be as complex as trying to figure out the rational for each of the commandments and expanding them as did Jesus that we would cover all of our human relations.   The Sermon on the Mount challenges us to go beyond the level of law to the level of principle.

When Jesus said hating my neighbor was synonymous with murdering my neighbor Jesus raised the bar way higher.  Jesus’ call to be perfect as God is perfect (Matt. 5:48) challenges us to keep reaching beyond ourselves to a standard we never thought we could reach.  How grand it would be to reach a level of life that kept all the principles of God’s word not because they are written in a book,  not because we want to please a divine power, not because we are rewarded extrinsically or intrinsically but merely because that’s the kind of person we are.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 30, 2006

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On my way home from school this evening an old Irving Berlin tune came out of my truck speaker.  I don’t think I ever really listened to the words before though I must have heard it a hundred times.  It was “I’m puttin’ all my eggs in one basket.”  It has become a favorite of jazz musicians and was even in an old Fred Astaire film.  When Fred Astaire turned 71 he stopped dancing professionally and gave the following reason.  “I don’t want to be the oldest performer in captivity. … I don’t want to look like a little old man dancing out there.”

But back to the “I’m puttin’ all my eggs in one basket.”   The words of course are about making a total commitment to someone, which got me thinking about our commitment to Jesus.   The mission school I lived at for six years in Africa had a medical dispensary.  People would come inside for their injections and pills and then stop at the mango tree outside to purchase charms from the local witch doctor.  When I asked them why they did this they would smile and tell me they were not putting all their eggs in one basket.

I would like to recommend that you join me and put all your eggs in Jesus’ basket.  It is an investment that will never fail.  It is guaranteed to provide an eternity of dividends.  Jesus urges us to “. . . provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, . . .” Luke 12:33

Written by Roger Bothwell  on August 10, 2006

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If you place two little girls in a room with only two moveable chairs the little girls will position the chairs so they can look face to face as they talk.  If you place two little boys in a room with only two moveable chairs the little boys will sit side by side not looking at each other as they talk.   The same pattern of behavior continues through adolescence and on into adulthood.  If men have a choice they are more likely to sit as if they were in a car rather than over a small dining table.

The art of good communication is a skill that involves not only the ability to articulate one’s thoughts but also includes being a good listener.  So often when someone is talking we are not listening to what they are saying but waiting for them to take a breath so we can interject our thoughts.  Listening to ourselves seems for many to be more interesting than listening to others.  What is discouraging about that is we seldom learn anything when we are talking.  After all what we are saying is what we already know.   Usually it is only via listening that we learn.

In I Kings 19 God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.  It is His favorite form of communication.  It is difficult to hear a still small voice when we are holding forth.  No wonder in Psalm 46 God told us to be still and know Him.

Listening is an art.

Written by Roger Bothwell on Sept. 24, 2006

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On my way to our college I pass a very lovely home with a circular driveway.  It has an expansive beautiful green lawn tastefully decorated with maple and pine trees.  Today I noticed two ugly signs in the yard.  One at each end of the driveway saying, “No turns.”   Apparently on occasion people use their circular driveway to turn around.  I am sure it is annoying and sometimes people might drive on the grass.

I was reminded of the high school I attended.  Whenever a student would do something the faculty did not like they made a new rule prohibiting the offending behavior.  Thus we ended up with a host of nit-picky regulations that spoiled the everyday spirit of the school.

The people with the attractive home have spoiled their lovely lawn with permanent ugly signs.  Instead of being annoyed once in a while they now have perpetual unattractiveness.  Like my high school the cure was worse than the disease.  A classic line has survived the Viet Nam war.  A military officer said, “We have to destroy this village to save it.”

A recent poll reported almost 50% of Americans think the First Amendment to the constitution grants too much freedom.  The reason for this is fear generated last September 11.  A famous American once said, “Those who would exchange freedom for security.  Deserve neither.”

Galatians 5:1  “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”  The lesson is spiritual as well as national.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 28, 2002

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One of the fastest ways to discourage children from learning is to give them too much information in too short a time span.  It’s called “information overload.”  This occurs so easily when using a search engine on the Internet.  We type in a key word about our topic and in less than a second we can have pages and pages of reference sites.

However it seems that overloading is not something new but has been around for thousands of years.  In Luke 11:46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.”

We still do this.  Often we discourage people by cluttering the way to salvation with a long list of changes they need to make before they can be saved.  We give them a list of foods they can no longer eat.  We give them a list of entertainments they should no longer enjoy.  On and on we go.   This definitely falls into the category of overload.  Especially when Jesus said in Matthew 11:30,  “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I am not saying some changes should not happen.  If one is to enjoy the abundant life certain changes do need to occur.  However it is the order that is important.  Salvation comes first and changes afterwards because the Holy Spirit moves in and remodels.  The changes are made because we are saved and not to be saved.   The order makes all the difference.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 10, 2006

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He was thirteen.  His mother told me so.  It was a public place and he apparently had not yet found his volume control.  Everyone around heard him incessantly complaining to his mother about school, his classmates, his teachers, and his friends and about the food in front of him.  It was if his royal highness was not been honored enough by all of the above.  I did not have to ask his age his mother volunteered it when she looked at me in embarrassment.   Usually adolescents are embarrassed by their parents. This time the situation was reversed.

Sometimes when one sees a family with an adolescent at the mall the adolescent is walking several feet behind the family hoping we will not notice they are with those “old” people.  Actually this is quite healthy.  The child is trying to find his or her own identity and does not yet have the maturity to be his self or her self in the presence of the authority figures in his or her life.

Sometimes we act as if we are embarrassed to acknowledge Jesus.  Fortunately for us like a good parent He understands and promises to acknowledge us. Revelation 3:5 reads as follows, “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.”  He knows that just like the thirteen year old will grow up so will we.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 10, 2006

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There are some words that are fun to use but the opportunities to use them are rare.  “Arcane” is such a word.  It is a descriptor meaning something is mysterious and understood only by a few.  There are arcane organizations.  These are akin to little boys building a house in a tree and only allowing a privileged few the knowledge of the secret password to enter their private world.

When I was a little boy the world of systematic theology was to me arcane.  As I have grown older systematic theology is not so arcane but the nature of God remains so.  I struggle with God having no beginning.  I grabble with Jesus being 100 per cent human and simultaneously being 100 per cent divine.  My mind fogs when I think of eternal life with endless mental development.  I fear the encroachment of deeper cynicism knowing how bad it has become for me in just a few decades.

Fifteen times Paul makes reference to the mystery of God, Jesus, evil and goodness.  His letter to the Ephesians contains seven.  One of them follows.

“In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.  (3:4-6)

This is wonderfully arcane!

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 2, 2002

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My son just gave me a beautiful leather bound copy of one of my favorite Bibles.  It is “The Message.” It is published by NavPress and there is an interesting guarantee printed on the page across from the table of contents.  It says, “Lifetime Guarantee – This Message Bible is manufactured to serve you for a lifetime.  If at any time the binding fails because of manufacturing defects, or if you just wear it out from use, you may return it for a free replacement.”

I think they are in trouble.  The very content of their product comes with another interestingly incredible guarantee.   In John 10 we find this promise, “My sheep recognize my voice.  I know them, and they follow me.  I give them real and eternal life.”

We are going to live forever.  Now I am sure their Bibles are well made but forever is forever and leather and paper will wear out.  This means they will have to give us new Bibles on a regular basis forever just because we bought the first one.  That is a great deal for us.  I am not sure how they will manage after a few million years.  In addition, because there is no death in heaven I think they are going to have trouble replacing the leather covers.

Like most guarantees there is a catch.  Their guarantee did say we have to send them our old Bibles if we are to get a new one.  Now just who would want to send them his or her marked up, written in old friend to get a new one?

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 10, 2006

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The word is “argot.”  It is a noun.  Christians are guilty of it and it really annoys people.  An “argot” is a specialized vocabulary or set of idioms used by a particular group or culture.

I am a member of the Education Department at my college and we are very guilty of throwing around our jargon.  It makes us feel smart when faculty from other departments have to ask us what we are talking about.  It has a snooty quality.   Christians do it to.   We have our “argot.”  We sometimes call each other brother or sister and use terms like saved, the truth, in the Lord, the Lord told me and on and on.  I think you get the idea.

The problem is it makes others feel like outsiders.  They are not part of the club because they don’t know the club language.  I saw a sign in front of a church this week that said, “We are making room for you.”   I know the intention of the message was good but there was something about it that said to me, “We are already full but will make an exception for you if you want in.”   When I read it I felt like an outsider.

I realize I am being over-sensitive and critical but I want so much for people to come because it is their place.  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, . . .”  Matthew 19:14    Argot hinders.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 31, 2002

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