Author: Ian Bothwell

Hopefully a lot of people bought a new car on President’s Day.  The sale prices on new cars on President’s Day look pretty good.  Most of us grew up without a President’s Day.  That didn’t happen until the mid-eighties.  Most of us had a day off school on February 22, George Washington’s birthday.  Here in Massachusetts state law directs our governor to issue a proclamation on May 29 which is John F. Kennedy’s birthday.  It’s important for us to have special days.  It reminds us of our roots and gives us a national identity and pride.

Traditions help ground us.  They give us a social and cultural anchor.  God knew how important this was to us right from the beginning.  In the heart of the Ten Commandments we read, “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”  Exodus 20.   Not once a year but once a week God wants us to be reminded of where we came from.  It gives us an anchor.  We are not here by mere chance but by very careful design.

In Hebrews 1 Paul says, “In these last days He (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”   Paul wanted us to know that it wasn’t just a god who came to die for us but it was The God – The Creator God.  He made us and He took responsibility for us.  To keep us spiritually grounded He told us in the heart of His commands to remember His day, the Lord’s Day, once a week.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 19, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

An icy wind cut into us this evening as we entered Friendly’s for ice cream.   It was almost cold enough to make us go back to the car.  Almost – not quite.  Once inside we were rewarded by a precious four-year-old little girl with brown curls surrounding her pink cheeks.  She hurriedly bounced up to her family and exclaimed, “Come and see.  I found where they keep the ice cream.”  Grabbing her daddy’s hand she led him to a glass covered refrigerator and said, “See.  There’s even cake in there.”  She was wonderful.

There are two similar events in John I.   When Andrew saw Jesus he hurried to his brother Peter.  “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah.’”   The second event followed.  “Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’  ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.”

“Come and See” is the best kind of evangelism.  Year after year we spend huge amounts of money paying for series of meetings and get limited results.   Often it seems like efforts in futility.  Why is it that we continue to repeat the same activity and continue to expect different results?  However, there is another more effective kind of evangelism.  Nothing works better than bringing a friend to share in the joy of what we have.  When we love Jesus and when we radiate excitement and exhibit a quality of life we can say, “Come and see.”   It certainly worked in John 1.  Simon Peter became a disciple along with Nathaniel.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 18, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The last words of the American Declaration of Independence are, “we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”Eighteen of the 54 signers had their homes burned and looted either by loyalists to the throne or British troops.  Two of the signers lost sons in the ensuing battles.  Rarely does one put his or her name to such a dangerous document.

One of my favorites of Jesus’ disciples is Thomas.  He has gotten a bad rap in history with all that doubting business.  Seldom do we note John 11 where Jesus announced He was going to Bethany because Lazarus had died and Thomas said to the others, “Let us go and die with him.”   Apparently it was very dangerous for Jesus that close to Jerusalem.  Thomas, brave Thomas, was willing to give all for His Lord.

If one does not have something in one’s life valuable enough for which to die one has not yet lived.   We read stories of bravery and courage and we wonder how we would respond to danger.  The older I get the easier it is to be brave for with each passing day I have less life to give.  The richness and quality of one’s life is the commitment we make to something good and pure.  How sad for those who have never discovered this secret.

And what happened to Thomas?  He did survive crucifixion weekend in Jerusalem but according to tradition he did die for His precious Lord.  As for the doubting?  All the others had seen Jesus that Sunday.  He had not.  He loved Jesus so much he couldn’t understand why he had been left out.  He wasn’t.  Jesus told Him to come and touch.  He does the same for us.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 14, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I am sitting here looking at a purple stain on my shirt sleeve.  I have absolutely no idea where it came from.  It looks like grape jelly but I haven’t been near grape jelly today.  This is very much like character stains – flaws.  Some of them we know of and there are others we don’t even know are there.  We are so much in love with ourselves we are blind to them.  If anyone should hint of their presence we are quick to rationalize and cover; not just from the people who spotted it, but mostly from ourselves.  I am fearful if we should know the old Jack Webb thing, “just the facts and nothing but the facts,” we would despair and jump off a bridge.

Many years ago I was waiting for my car to be repaired when I heard someone say, “Call the stain man.”   About twenty minutes later I saw a man arrive with a small case.  I have always wondered what he had in there because a few minutes later he walked out with a big smile and some green pieces of paper folded in his hand.  He must have been good.  Oh, how many times in my life have I had to call my “stain man” and I have to tell you He is good – really good.

I have always loved Isaiah 1:18.  “Says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”   What is so grand about this is the promise isn’t only for the stains we know about, it is for the ones not yet known.  Only Jesus knows them and what I love best is He will remove them and never tell us about them.  We don’t need to know.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 16, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

While observing a student teacher in a third grade classroom this morning, I noticed one very spiffy young man wearing a dress shirt and tie.  He had his hair slicked down and wasn’t wearing socks with his shoes – very preppy.  I asked if he always dressed that way.  The student teacher, a very good one, smiled and said, “No, it’s Valentine’s Day.”   What a classy guy.  I wonder if there was a specific lady he was trying to impress or was he just making a statement?

Many years ago I was invited to a Presidential Prayer Breakfast with Ronald Reagan.   When I received the invitation the first thing I did was buy a new suit and new shoes.  When I arrived I noticed there wasn’t one person in a t-shirt and jeans.  Everyone was spiffed up.  When we knelt for prayer I wanted to look at the bottom of people’s shoes to see how many were wearing new ones. However, I was a good boy and only peeked to see if the President had his eyes closed.  He did.  The secret service did not.

I realize what I am about to say is very old-fashioned but I wonder how people would dress when they come to church if they really believed they were having a meeting with the King of the Universe.  Perhaps I should not be judgmental; perhaps that fellow with the t-shirt and jeans in church just might be wearing the best he has.  Jesus told a story about a man who went to a wedding feast without the proper garb.  He was tossed out.  Of course the lesson of that story was about trying to get into heaven wearing our own righteousness.  It will not work.  Only Jesus’ righteousness is sufficient to save.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 15, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org

In 1978 our older son played for the Yankees.  I don’t recall ever missing a game.  I was very proud.  His uniform is part of our family treasure trove.  When we moved to New England we proudly displayed it on the stairway wall.  Often I stop and admire it and him.  However, this afternoon as the sun was sinking behind our western mountain, I was standing out on the street and to my horror I saw the sun shining brightly through the window illuminating his Yankee shirt to all who drive by.  There it was with its big white letters on that field of blue right there in the window.  Folks, you have to understand this is Red Sox Country.  People drive around New England with nasty bumper stickers reviling the Yankees.  No wonder the neighbors rarely speak to me.  All this time I thought it was modernity with its busy demands on people’s lives.

Have you ever discovered that you have been offending others by your unintentional behavior?   As a teacher I used to respond to students’ questions with “Oh, that’s easy.”   What I meant was I can answer that for you.  My wife pointed out what I was saying was, “Its easy, stupid.  Why did you have to ask?”  Needless to say I stopped.

Sometimes I hear people tell of how they witnessed for the Lord.  They proudly tell stories of rudely correcting people who they think are not being nice.  They refuse gestures of kindness because what is offered doesn’t comply with their dietary restrictions.  It is so important for us to see ourselves and our behaviors through other’s eyes.  Often it smarts because as Jesus said a two by four is hanging out our eye when we are speaking of another’s speck of sawdust.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 14, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org

We’ve all been there.  We are approaching a traffic signal when the light turns yellow. We have less than half a second to decide a. to press hard on the brake, b. press on the accelerator to get through the intersection before we see red, c. just maintain because we are okay to make it.  The human mind is amazing.  It processes distance, speed, coming traffic, presence of a patrolman, braking power and horsepower.  It does it all in less time than it takes to say “one ten thousands.”

I wish I could make all my decisions so quickly and with such a good record of success.  But, life is full of decisions that require serious ponder time.  Who should we marry?  Where should we go to school?  How long should we stay in school?  How many degrees are too many?  What regimen of diet, rest and exercise will best serve me?  What career should I seek?  Should I take time for religion?  If so, where should I go to church and what tenets should I accept as authority?  None of these should be decided in less than a second.

At the close of Deuteronomy Moses exhorted, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, . . .”   I do hope that one doesn’t take too long to decide.  Finally, how grand it is that God chose us.  He decided to send us His son.  He once said to Jeremiah.  “Before you were born I chose you.”  What an awesome thought.  Since He doesn’t play favorites that means you and I were chosen from the beginning of eternity itself.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 13, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

It just occurred to me that Jesus’ story of the wise man who built his house upon the rock is the same story as the three little pigs.  Instead of the floods coming up it’s the big bad wolf blowing lots of hot air.  It is very much the way life is.  People, like two of the pigs, make lots of bad decisions and need to be rescued by those who made good decisions.

I sometimes hear people complaining about having to help people on welfare.  We jump to the erroneous assumption that they all have chosen that path as a way of life.  It is true some have.  But most are in their predicament because of unwise decisions or just plain old misfortune that also happens to people who make good decisions.

I know you are expecting me to say we need to help them because it’s the Christian thing to do.  It is.  However, it is also the smart thing to do.  When people get very hungry they grow desperate and desperate people can become very dangerous.  We really don’t want to live in a city with hoards of hungry people.  No matter how many wise decisions we have made in life, those who have, will become prey.  That’s not a good thing!

Our assets, our talents, our education, and our good fortune are the fruit of good decisions and God’s blessings, which He bestows on us to see how well we handle them.  Am I my brother’s keeper?  Yes.  If I recall the story correctly I believe the pig with the brick house gave shelter to the other two.  It’s also good to remember they were all pigs.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 10, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org

The Grammy Awards remind us of how important music is to us.  It can make us cry or fill us with overwhelming joy.  Surely there hasn’t been or isn’t a culture anywhere that does not have its music.  Billions of dollars are spent each year celebrating life with harmonies and tunes.  We have our particular tastes in what music is beautiful and is not.  Music fills our cars, our homes, our malls and our churches.  Almost always what we like is what we have heard in our youth.  Often when we hear something strange and new we object.  When churches began to sing the hymns of the Wesley brothers multitudes were scandalized.  Along with Fanny Crosby’s hymns, the Wesleys’ hymns dominate church hymnals and used to dominate our worship experiences.

The longest book in our Bibles is a hymn book.  The Psalms were not written to be Scripture but were the songs of worship.  Many of them were written by King David almost a thousand years before the birth of Jesus.  Three thousand years later we still thrill to their beauty.  David was a rock star in his youth.  When he played girls swooned and danced.  I Samuel 16:23 speaks of him giving private harp concerts to King Saul to soothe Saul’s wits of depression.

There will never be a time without music.  Revelation 15 speaks of the redeemed playing harps (guitars?) and singing “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.”  Some of us lament our lack of musical talent and envy those gifted ones in our midst.  But surely there will be a time when we all shall lift our musical gifts up in praise before the One who has redeemed us.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 11, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

Our storm has begun. As I sit down to write fine tiny crystals of snow are decorating the curled rhododendron outside our front windows.  The mountain across the road has disappeared behind a wall of white. Outside the back windows four doves have yet to take shelter as they hunker together under the bird feeder.  The governor has declared a curfew and there is a 500 dollar fine for driving in Massachusetts.

Fire is dancing behind the front glass of the woodstove.  Soft music fills our rooms mixed with the warm fragrance of baking brownies.  It’s a nice place to be.  Yet I miss the ferny frost patterns on the insides of the window panes. Double-paned windows have made them relics to be remembered.  It was fun to place your finger in the beautiful patterns and watch the ephemera melt away only to return when you finally withdrew your hand.

I find myself amidst all this comfort and yet unsatisfied.  While I am here with my very best friend I still miss my mother, father, sisters, sons and grandchildren. Oh to have them all here on this white winter night.  Why is it that as blessed as I am I hunger for more?  Astronomers now tell us there are over 5 billion potentially inhabitable planets in our galaxy.  Will we ever see them all and if so will we still want to see more?  We are made in God’s image.  Is He also in want of more?  Surely He longs for us to be rescued from this place of death and sorrow.  Yet is there a quality about Him that wants to make more and more and more.  He is a Creator.  Will He ever forget those not saved?  Will He always miss them?  I was just wondering on a cold snowy winter New England evening.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 9, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org