Author: Ian Bothwell

Many years ago I stood on a sand bank on a small island in the South Japanese Sea and watched a typhoon literally smash a large concrete dock and several fishing boats into small pieces.  It was to say the least amazing.  People sometimes describe this as an act of God.  Others will argue that even if God did not cause it He certainly could have stopped it or diverted it to an unpopulated area.  There is no doubt this is most disconcerting.  Lucifer will be thrilled because he can cause such pain and heartache.  Our loving God’s heart will be crushed.  So, why does God not stop it?

For thousands of years God has been on trial.  Lucifer, the source of conflict and natural disasters, has tried to disgrace God in a great struggle between good and evil.   This battle is watched by the entire universe.  Should God always intervene, heavenly beings would never see the full effects of the evil administration of Lucifer.  Lucifer’s joy received by the pain he can cause God’s children fills him with such pleasure and this is demonstrated to all who are watching.  God’s future, our future depends upon a proper understanding of just who is the real cause.   Lucifer will lose.  God will win.  The day will come when Earth will once again be as planned in Genesis 1, when God can again say, “That is very good.”  We are assured of this in the last two chapters of the Bible.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 8, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

When my older son was six weeks old he went with us to a small city in western Uganda where we held a series of evangelistic meetings that were a part of our ministerial training for young pastors.  We put up a small tent that seated about 200 and hoped it would fill.  The first evening over 600 people arrived all wanting to see baby Jesus.  We were forced to hold him up and explain this was our baby and not baby Jesus who was born 2000 years ago.  One lady on the front row wanted to hold him.  Naively I handed him to her.  What followed was unbelievable.  Another lady wanted him and then another and soon he disappeared into the middle of the 600.  Obviously we were eventually able to safely retrieve him.

I have often thought of this through the years realizing what occurred is our calling.  It is the great Gospel Commission found at the close of Matthew.   By actions and demeanor we are called to bring baby Jesus, man Jesus, crucified Jesus and resurrected Jesus to those about us.  We might not be preachers on a church payroll.  This happens when we are a part of a community, by being kind and unselfish and knowing when to not say hurtful things.  The most effectual witnessing is being as much like Jesus as we can be.  This is our calling.  We don’t have to go to a far off land.  Real mission starts inside our homes and spreads outward from that center.   If we are open to His indwelling power, He will do what is needed.  Sometimes we are amazed at what happens.  Sometimes we don’t know anything happened.  But it did.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 7, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

The Mystery of Ephesians 3

In Ephesians 3 Paul reveals to us a mystery he says was hidden to his ancestors.  Verse 6 reads, “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.”  God has no favorites.  Everyone may participate in the plan of redemption. This doesn’t mean God withheld His love from other groups.  In the Old Testament we have the story of Balaam, who was not an Israelite, but still a prophet of God; confused yes, but Jehovah’s man.  Human ego wants so badly to be special we automatically black list those who are different than we.  Up until the cross there was no special revelation regarding this.  Now there was.  Grace was and is available to everyone.

In Revelation 7 John tells us the mass of redeemed standing before God’s throne are too many to count.  Every gender, every nationality, every race, every age group are there.  You name it God saves it.   In Romans 1 Paul tells us God holds people to account through the revelation of nature.  Even if they have never heard the name of Jesus the opportunity for salvation is there.  In Acts we read that no other name other than Jesus can save.  Those who never heard His name are saved by Him per their reaction to the things He created.  He will tell them His name once they are in heaven.

Paul is telling us something wonderful about God’s nature. God is in the business of saving people.  He will weep over every human lost.   The mystery of God’s nature has been revealed.  Your group and my group have no exclusive ticket

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 6, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

An elderly man shuffled into Denny’s this evening using a walker but he was not humped over like most people with walkers.   His dark skin was accented by curled white hair around his forehead.  He wore a black suit with a black shirt buttoned at the neck.  He was wearing an engraved golden name tag where we put name tags when we attend meetings so people will know our names.  His tag said, “Jesus Christ.”  There was a second pin on his label.  It was a small rainbow. While sitting down he caught my eye and gave me a pearly white smile. He must eat there often because the waitress approached his table and called him “Pastor.”  I am kicking myself because I never went to his table to speak to him.  He was alone.  Now I know what Jesus looks like.

While Jesus does not walk with a walker He is old – old as eternity.   Surely Jesus will flash us a pearly white smile upon our first face to face meeting.  Jesus can look like all men.  He lives inside us and He opens the drapes and we shine like a light on a hill. (See Eph. 2:22)  Love, care and concern radiate from our very core brightening the lives of those who see us.  It’s not that we are wonderful but He is wonderful and we are the container.  This old man is not the first person that has revealed Jesus’ appearance to me.  I have met others along life’s way.  They are special people who know how to give when it is needed and how to aid us along the way when we need it.  It takes wisdom to do that and that wisdom is promised to us in Ephesians 3:9.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 5, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

 

One of our schools had an electronic recycle fundraiser today.  So I went around the house gathering unused devices.  I was amazed at the assembled pile of obsolete equipment.  As I looked at them I remembered how excited we were when each was obtained.  And now a decade or so later they are pretty much useless.  They just use up space and gather dust.  So off they go to the recycle truck.  Lest we become too discouraged about our throwaway culture I need to observe that fifty years ago cars were considered high mileage and worn out if you were fortunate enough to get 75,000 miles.  Now many of us drive our cars way over a 100,000.  I am pressing 200,000 on our car and it runs fine.  I spoke with someone just yesterday whose car is over 300,000 miles.

The question that arises is do people grow obsolete?   We live in a culture that idolizes youth and makes it very difficult for someone in their fifties to find new employment. Are nursing homes shelving for the elderly while we wait for them to die?   One thing that does give us comfort is in God’s eyes we are never obsolete.  Instead of replacing us with a newer model it is God’s plan to continue to upgrade us.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 3 that we “may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  Please note “all the fullness.”  God’s “more than we can imagine” which appears in verse 20 is “all the fullness.”  Our heavenly Father holds nothing from us and gives as we are able to handle it.  His goal is to give us all there is – not 90% but 100%.  We are never obsolete.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 4, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

If we were making a top ten list of the best things Jesus ever said Luke 19:5 has to be included.   We read, “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.'”  Isn’t that great?  Basically speaking, Zacchaeus in the eyes of the community, was a despicable man.  He had been disfellowshipped, or excommunicated, from the local synagogue.  Everyone, even Zacchaeus, thought he was going to hell. Then Jesus came.

There are many stories of human misery in the Gospels that instantly change when Jesus came.  There were lepers, the blind, the deaf, the lame, families with dead loved ones and then Jesus came.  What an amazing difference there is between Jesus and the founder of another huge religious group who came with an army and swords.

Mrs. Zacchaeus had no time to prepare.  It was a come as is.  Many years ago the governor of Massachusetts came to visit our across the street neighbor. It was great fun watching all the preparations.  Painters painted, a yard service mowed and trimmed, caterers brought in a feast.

Jesus will come as is.  Just open the door.  Don’t worry about the refuse of everyday living.  Just open the door.

I’ very sure Zacchaeus never again worried about going to hell.  Now that Jesus had come to his house he knew he was going to Jesus’ house.  That’s the way it works. One invitation elicits a return invitation. You come to see me and I get to come and see you.  If you listen you will hear Jesus say to you, “I must stay at your house today.”  How grand!

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 9. 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

While thinking about a top ten list of the things Jesus said, I would like to add yet another.  To the woman apprehended in the world’s oldest profession Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more.” Please note, He did not place her on probation.  She did not have to prove herself with six months of good behavior. He understood her.  He knew her past.  He knew her situation.  Best of all He knew her future – a place in His kingdom.  It just doesn’t get any better than this.

This occurred in the midst of a prove-yourself religion.  The culture was all about righteous behavior measured by a strict set of rules.  Jesus isn’t saying that obedience isn’t important.  Of course it is. Obedience keeps us from harming ourselves and others about us. But what it doesn’t do is earn us a place in His kingdom.  The purpose of the law is to protect us from ourselves.  Obedience to the law keeps us alive until we are old enough to understand why God, our protective Father, gave us the law.  That is why Paul says the law is a school master.  Eventually we graduate and live safely and sanely.  The law is written on our hearts. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”  Galatians 3

Did the woman leave Jesus and continue on as usual?  We should never believe that.  To all her customers she must have said, “Out of business.”  That’s just like us.  Once we have Jesus we are out of the sin business.

Written by Roger Bothwell September 10, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

In the early 70’s Chevrolet defined America as “baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and (of course) Chevrolet.”  At that time one of my friends and his family became naturalized American citizens.  It was a time of great joy.  To celebrate we gave them a baseball, a can of Vegelinks (they were vegetarians), an apple pie and a Chevrolet. The Chevrolet was a model that cost us $4.95.  It was all we could afford.  Their joy came to mind as I read Ephesians 2:19.  “You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”

So what things could we mention to aid us in defining our new citizenship?  Someone mentioned a crown.  Honestly, I’m not interested in a crown neither streets of gold nor a mansion.   Paul does mention in  2Timothy 4:8 a crown of righteousness.  That’s okay.  Actually that’s more than okay.  That is terrific.   As for golden streets, forget it.  I would rather have beautiful green grass streets.   Citizenship in God’s Kingdom need not be about material stuff.  From the plethora of yard sales I see each weekend I opine that people grow tired of their things.

A few verses later in chapter 3:20 Paul wrote, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”  That is not hinting that we should not bother to wonder and speculate.  Our imaginations are one of our gifts.  Our imaginations are the seedbed of dreams and aspirations.  I would love to hear from you regarding this.  If you were defining God’s Kingdom what would you mention in place of “baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet”?

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 1, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I paused to watch some construction.  It reminded me of a childhood summer when several new homes were being built in my neighborhood.  I haunted the masons, carpenters, plumbers and electricians.  They didn’t seem to mind for often they included me in the soft drinks purchased for the mid-morning break.  As a result of such time spent I learned several new vocabulary words for which my mother was shocked and punished me for using.  While I have never again used them I still know them and I am fearful when I become old I might lose my sense of propriety and once again use them.

At the close of Ephesians 2 Paul speaks of God building a “holy temple”.  Christ is the cornerstone and the apostles are the foundation.  He closes with “In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”   It would not be becoming to lose my propriety and thus bring disrepute on the Spirit that dwells in me.  If I did, would God move out and would I cease to be a “holy temple”?   I am comforted by the Old Testament story of Samuel selecting a replacement for Saul.   I Samuel 16:7 says, “The LORD does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Jesus knows our flesh is weak.  He knows what we want to be. He knows that our humanity often does and says things we would not do if we were in control of our cognitive functions. Just in case someday you hear me saying something awful and you later you see me in heaven, just remember that Jesus was more interested in my heart than my mouth.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 31, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Brian Williams, the news anchor for NBC each evening at 6:30, often invites guests to speak to a particular story.  When they are finished Mr. Williams concludes by saying, “As always.”  Since my awareness level has been raised I am hearing it quite often in many arenas.  But what does “As always” mean?   I looked it up and all I could find was “forever” or “no change.”   So if you are my friend and I say to you, “As always” that must mean you will be my forever friend.   However, if I don’t like you and say to you, “As always” that must mean I will never like you.  Ouch. “As always” is a major commitment.  When we get married we only vow until death do us part.

God can make and does make that commitment to us.  John 3:16 is the ultimate “As always” promise.  God so loved – always.   Shall not perish – always.  Have everlasting (always) life.   Hebrews 13:8 puts it this way, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Jesus told His disciples that if we see Him we also see the Father.  In the Old Testament God often comes across as being harsh.  In the New Testament He is like Jesus – very forgiving.  He didn’t change.  As the centuries rolled by people got to know Him better.  The Old Testament is the story of Jehovah contending with the plethora of gods that surrounded Israel.  Sometimes some of the attributes of those pagan gods were transferred to Jehovah.  But finally Jesus came.  That was revolutionary.  Jesus was like dark glasses being taken from human eyes and there was Jehovah and Jesus – the same.  It was awesome.  He is “As always.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 30, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org