Author: Ian Bothwell

I had banana cream pie for breakfast.  It was quite nutritious.  The banana was full of potassium and other goodies.  The crust had grains.  The pudding had dairy and carbohydrates.  I love being an adult.  I can eat whatever whenever.  One night when I was about 4 or 5 years old my dad came home with three pints of ice cream.  Ice cream came in small containers because refrigerators didn’t have freezers.  They only had a small place in the upper inside corner for ice cube trays. My mom, sisters and I each got a half a pint.  My dad got a whole pint!  I thought that was awesome.  Right there I purposed that someday I would be a man and eat a whole pint of ice cream at one sitting.

And now that I am an adult I had banana cream pie for breakfast.  Don’t get me wrong.  Being an adult isn’t a license for debauchery.  I didn’t eat the whole pie.  I was quite temperate.  Being an adult is being responsible.  It’s about not blaming others for everything.  Often one of the great faults of therapy is finding someone like mom or dad to blame for our poor choices.  Life is about choices.  Life is about making responsible choices and if they don’t go the way we hoped, we man-up and determine to do better the next time.

One of the important things to understand about the plan of salvation is that while Jesus paid the price for our sins, He did not accept the blame.  The blame is ours.  We are just amazingly blessed to have a loving God who says, “Okay.  I forgive you. I will accept the penalty.”   That’s what confession is about.  It is accepting the blame.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 9, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

She was 90 if she was a day.  She tried to stand tall and walk straight but the telltale hump was there.  The slight off balance in her stride was there. She had home colored her hair that gracefully flowed onto her shoulders.  When one uses a home kit it is all one color.  Her face had been carefully painted on.  She had penciled in eyebrows, mascara, bright red lips and overly rouged cheeks.  Her neck was a giveaway. She should have worn a scarf.  But going to Denny’s for the evening is not fine dining.

Fighting the age-battle is universal.  Well, actually no.  I should say earthly.  We do it in many ways.  We see lots of doctors, take vitamins and exercise all in a quest to stay young.  However, no matter how much we try or how many natural herbs and supplements we consume the Grim Reaper gets us all.  Vegans and carnivores all eventually push up daises.  I’m requesting my ashes be sprinkled at the base of an apple tree so I can become a pie.

Really, there is only one way to victoriously fight the age-battle.  The cure for aging is personified in Jesus Christ.  He alone is the resurrection and the life.  He alone will honor His promises to us.  If we believe we cross over from death to life.  See John 5.

So, should we not bother trying to stay young?   We should try because by doing so we add quality to the days we have here.  The old lady made me smile.  I was not laughing at her.  I was pleased that she had the dignity and self-respect to do her best. Good for her. I should be so good in my nineties.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 8, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94547

Rogerbothwell.org

Our house is full of grandchildren for the week.  I think my wife’s face is going to crack from smiling so much.  Five of six are here.  The sixth, the oldest, has joined the world of work.  Alas, the end of her childhood has come.  I can imagine God’s house filled with us, His children.  There will be so much noise and chatter as we share with each other the joys of eternal life.  I do so hope God’s face doesn’t crack from smiling so much.  He will most likely be in danger of such for His happiness at the end of sin and our final redemption will be over the top. It is something He has waited for since that sad day described in Revelation 12. “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”

We will not fill the empty places left behind.  As anyone who has ever lost a child knows, nothing fills the void.  However, another child fills a new room in our hearts.  We will fill new places that Jesus has prepared for us.  John 14.   And once again the universe will be “at one ment,” a great break down of the word “atonement.”

Heaven isn’t about streets of gold.  It is about love and family and knowing those we love are safe.  I do hope my wife’s face doesn’t break this week.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 7, 2015

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

Laura Bassett and her English soccer team were on their way to the final game of the 2015 World Cup when the ultimate nightmare became a reality.  In an attempt to clear the ball from the area near her net she inadvertently kicked the ball into her own net giving the Japanese team their ticket to the final game in Vancouver against the United States.  It is difficult to imagine her self loathing and remorse.  She has become the poster child for all of us who have time and again not only failed at something important but actually destroyed our own dreams.

Often I have heard people speak about Satan tempting them.  I would like to take the stance that all Satan has to do to defeat us is to be patient.  It is merely a matter of time until we score one for the enemy.  We don’t need anything other than our own human nature.

Paul, who was so ardent to be Christ-like, wrote in Romans 7, “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;  but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am!”

Dear Laura, welcome to the human race.  The only difference between you and the rest of us is the world was watching when you became one of us.  We know you will mentally play and replay that fateful moment over and over for years to come.  But please forgive yourself; one of the hardest things to do.  If anyone doesn’t understand that only means they are afraid of the truth about themselves.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 6, 2015

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Surely people are the most interesting thing God has created.  We come in an infinite array of shapes, colors, weights, ages and intelligences. This afternoon I watched a wisp of an elderly lady dine.  Her dyed hair did not disguise her life experience.  What amazed me were her three trips back to a soup bar, her three large bread sticks, a full sized cheese burger and fries and two large colas.  I’m sure I weigh twice what she does and I could never have handled all that food.

People watching is so much more interesting than bird watching or any other kind of watching.  Stars are predictable but people can be most surprising.  Someone asked me what I thought we would do for eternity and my response was people watching, angel watching, alien watching, etc.  There will be so many beings to interview.

I’m sure for the disciples Jesus watching was filled with surprises.  When they expected Him to chase away children instead He invited them to come to Him.  When they expected Him to shun lepers instead He touched them.  When they thought He would snub the woman at the well, she was the first person to whom He revealed His true identity.  When they thought He would foster the favor of the religious establishment instead He indicted them for hypocrisy.   Jesus watching will also be incredible for us because according to Hebrews , “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”   That is definitely worth watching.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 3, 2015

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

While Paul didn’t know anything about our 4th of July, one of his letters should be the official 4th of July document.  The theme of Galatians is independence – freedom from righteousness by works.   After his personal greetings to the church in Galatia he wastes no words getting to his reason for writing.  “ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all.  . . . If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”

After Paul moved from Galatia others came with the following.  “Yes, we are saved by grace, but . . .” Everything that follows that “but” is heresy.  “But, you have to be circumcised.”  Circumcision was the particular item but the issue was more profound because we can substitute any work for the word circumcise.  “We have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. . . . if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.”  Chapter 2.   “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. . . The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Chapter 5

Does that mean we are free to do anything stupid and evil?  Of course not.  “Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. The entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”   Chapter 5

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 4, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I watched Family Feud this evening and I am tired of people “high-fiving” each other.  During one of the commercial breaks in three of the eight commercials people were “high-fiving.”  It was cute 24 years ago when Kevin was left “Home Alone.”  But enough is enough.  Is it just me or do you also get tired of things that are run into the ground by excessive repetition?  Do you remember the “Where’s the Beef” little old lady?  I am so glad that finally died out.  I weary of preachers asking for amens.  I figure if what was said was worthy of an amen, he will get one.  But please don’t ask me to amen you.  I might think what you said was trite.

Wow.  I just read that last paragraph and I sound like a grumpy old man.  I wonder how old you have to be before one is allowed to be grumpy.  People sometimes say old people are grumpy because they don’t feel good.  But I feel good.  I enjoyed my walk this evening and loved the rumbling of thunder overhead.  I just want to be grumpy because I enjoy it.  Can you imagine what those people were like in the Book of Genesis who lived for 600 plus years?  Talk about grumpy!

I shouldn’t be grumpy.  Jesus loves me.  He also loves you.  Jesus has forgiven all my malicious and stupid sins.   He will also forgive yours.  Jesus has promised me an eternity of endless intellectual growth.   He also promises that to you.   I have a great wife, two terrific sons and six grandchildren who are smarter than yours.  So shame on me for being grumpy.  I don’t think there will be grumps in heaven so I better knock it off.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 3, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Today I heard someone say, “God loves you and there ain’t anything you can do about it.”  I wish I had said that.  But I like it so much I am going to repeat it.  “God loves you and there ain’t anything you can do about it.”  Peter with curses publicly renounced Jesus.  Jesus kept on loving him.  Judas sold Jesus to the priests and begged Jesus to free Himself.   Jesus kept on loving him.

Often Jesus isn’t thrilled about our decisions and behavior.  He actually might hate what we do.  But He keeps on loving us.  It’s His nature.  When something is ingrained in us we can’t help ourselves; at least the way we think.   We can help our actions. Actions are the fruit of decisions.  But we often cannot help our thoughts.  Thoughts only become sinful when we dwell on them and fantasize how to perpetrate them.  Because He lives in us God knows those thoughts.  Check out the last verse of Ecclesiastes. It talks about our hidden things. Lest that verse frighten and discourage us, we also need to check out John 5:24.  Accept Jesus and we will not be condemned. The moment we allow Him into our lives we cross over from death to life because, amazingly so, He keeps on loving us.

“I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God . . .” Romans 8

So what is your great sin?  It doesn’t matter.  He will forgive you because Jesus keeps on loving you and there ain’t anything you can do about it.  See I John 1:9.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 2, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Every good salesman knows if he takes a client golfing he, the salesman, must be sure to miss those crucial putts and not win.  A pool table came with our house and occasionally we have guests who want to try it out.  I make sure to miss those side pocket shots. My guests are important.  There is an abundance of archeological evidence that the people of Ephesus were avid game players.  Knowing that Paul lived in Ephesus for quite some time leads me to think that someone with such an acute mind was a pretty good game player.  And being that Paul had something to promote I doubt if he won very often.

Sometimes we are led to believe “witnessing for the Lord” is passing out pamphlets or confronting people.  However, the most effective witnessing is much more subtle.  Effective witnessing is valuing others and their feelings.  People like to be affirmed and know that we are genuinely interested in them.  So often when talking to someone we are waiting for them to take a breath so we can jump in and tell our stories.  When we tell our stories we don’t learn anything.  We already know the ending.  We learn when we listen.  If they are telling about their six-inch surgical scar we don’t have to tell them about our twelve-inch scar.  Let them shine.  When we listen we communicate care and people leave our presence happy.  They just might want to know more about our Jesus if we are nice people.

Recently I heard someone bragging about being with a group of people that were eating hamburgers.  The braggart proudly stated that he refused.  Therefore, he said, he had witnessed.  Witnessed what?

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 1, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The Book of Revelation speaks of a remnant people saved by Jesus out of a great last day conflict.  The word “remnant” is defined as scraps, fragments, leftovers.  When I was younger I never left anything on my plate.  My mother taught me to eat everything.  Now that she is not here to watch me and that my appetite is not like that of a growing boy, I often leave quite a bit on my plate.  Instead of pushups I do pushaways.  My leftovers become the remnant and are tossed in a dumpster.  And so it is interesting that God describes His people as remnant.  They aren’t much to look at.  They aren’t particularly desirable; that is to anyone but Him.  He wants them even if they have already been dumped.  The best way to describe this is God is a dumpster diver.  He digs around in the scrap heap of humanity and comes up with an interesting group He calls His children.

The Gospel is a wonderful story of rescue and redemption.  Because our scope is so limited we sometimes fall into error thinking we are really something special.  And I guess we are.  However, our specialness has nothing to do with our merit.  It has everything to do with a loving Heavenly Father, who according to Hebrews, “saves to the uttermost.”  The Gospel is an intriguing story not only of our being pulled from the dumpster and washed up, but of our becoming temples.  We become His dwelling place.  This is better than PBS’s Antique Road Show, where people drag stuff out of their attics and have it appraised for major money. We are dragged from the dumpster and become princes and princesses of the universe.  Rags to riches is what the Good News is all about.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 20, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org