Author: Ian Bothwell

I recently heard someone referred to as the World’s Greatest Preacher.  As crass as this may sound that is as relative as pronouncing a flavor of ice cream or a particular brand of pizza as the world’s greatest. Different people like different foods.  I chose food for the analogy because preaching really is a matter of taste – mental taste.  Preaching is a very stylized form of communication laden with theological and cultural biases.  A few years ago I preached to a large group of mostly Caucasians.  It was well received; therefore, a few weeks later when I was invited to speak to a large group of African-Americans, I decided to use the same sermon.  It was an awesome mistake.  I began looking for the backdoor as I came to realize very few were listening to me. If I ever had their attention I certainly had not kept it; thus the importance of the blessing of Pentecost and the gift of tongues.

The gift of tongues can be speaking in a foreign language, but most likely it happens more often than we think when we preach to a group filled with children, teens, young adults and seniors.  Each has a different need and each is listening for something meaningful and relevant to them.  One of the best compliments a preacher can have is when a small child meets you after church and says, “That was really good.”  You can take that one to the bank.  Older people will tell you it was good because they don’t know what else to say and be polite.

The most challenging command Jesus ever gave comes at the end of Matthew.  It is the Gospel commission. It needs not one preacher but a host because there isn’t one world’s greatest preacher.

 

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 16, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

I’m loving being a senior citizen.  I checked a videotape out of our city library and was told it was due on Friday.  However, I happen to know that senior citizens don’t have to pay library fines.  They don’t think we can remember to bring stuff back.  So I’ll take it back whenever.  I get my drink free at Taco Bell.  That’s a real bargain.  Last night while stacking chairs our conference president came over and offered to help me pick up a chair.  Hey, he’s no spring chicken either.  Then yesterday when I entered a barber shop the barber said to me, “What can I do for you?”   “What?” I thought, “This is a barbershop.  Why would I come in here?  Do I need a lobotomy?”  Last week, a teen passed me on the sidewalk and said, “Hi, Pops.”  Yeah, I like this stage of life.  I think I will revert to my childhood and start stating my age in fractions.  “I am 69 and three quarters.”  I told someone today I was 70 just for the fun of seeing their expression. They were shocked because I really look 80.

Even though I totally believe heaven is waiting for me I am in no hurry to check out of here.  There is too much fun going on.  I don’t want to miss what’s coming next. Just look at all the electronic gadgets we get to play with.  Next year I’m getting a robot to be my valet.

Jesus wants us to experience the abundant life.  He told us that is why He came.  He is interested in our future but He is also interested in our todays.  See John 10:10.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 15, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

I have this teacher friend who kept calling me today.  When I answered he didn’t.  Instead of hearing his “Hello” I heard him teaching algebra.  I would hang up and a few minutes later he would call again.  This happened several times.  It seems he had his cell phone in his pocket and unconsciously he kept tapping it.  I was the receiver.  This must have been payback because a year or so ago when I was in with my doctor I unawares called him.  He wasn’t home and his answering machine then recorded my conversation with my doctor.  It gives us pause to think of the possible consequences of such an event.  However, if we only say nice things about others there is nothing to be concerned about.  Record away.

Recently I heard someone say we should pretend Jesus is in the room and then our conversation would always be nurturing and kind.   But wait a moment.  Jesus via the Holy Spirit is always with us.  We don’t have to pretend. See John 14.  I am uncomfortable with the idea that we always have to be monitoring ourselves.  That gets to be old very fast and we just give up.  Wouldn’t it be so much better if we were the kind of person who naturally said and did the kind thing?  No pretending.  No monitoring.  Just be natural and know we will say the right thing because we really care about others.  Actually that might be asking a bit much.  Even Jesus got angry at times and said some very harsh things.  See Matthew 23.  Wouldn’t we love to have a recording of that!   I guess Solomon was right when he said there is a time for everything.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 14, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

When Peter Tchaikovsky died in 1893 he never could have imagined he would someday sell everything from expensive horseless carriages to inexpensive toiletries at Kmart.  Perhaps it’s because the music of his Nutcracker Ballet has become so associated with Christmas, or because it receives no copyright royalties, or just because it is so beautiful that merchants use it so often as background in their commercials.  If Tchaikovsky could have received a nickel for every product he has sold he would be wealthier than Bill Gates.  Then again we must not forget whose birthday is being used to stimulate the economy by getting us to shop.

Believing that Jesus voluntarily surrendered his omniscience when He became a man, then neither could He have known how many toys, autos, clothes and computers He would someday sell via His made-up birthday.  There is so much irony in all this thing we call Christmas.  It is a delightful time.  The music is great.  (Pretty much.  I’m not so sure of the Chipmunks singing “Jingle Bells.”)  Most people are a bit nicer.  (Worried about that “list.”)  And perhaps, just maybe, some people give a bit more thought to the real reason.  I am of the opinion that anything that draws people’s thoughts to the gift at Bethlehem has some merit.

Therefore, during the day as I drive about I will enjoy hearing about partridges in pear trees and drummer boys.  But my real thoughts, my solemn thoughts will be about the vulnerability of Jesus as one of us and His victory over sin.   As happy as pretty lights and decorated trees make me, the real joy that brings tears to my eyes will always be about what happened in a filthy animal stall in Bethlehem.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 13, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Because of an international cancer conference this past weekend the news yesterday was filled with stories about the exciting new T-Cell technology.  Last evening ABC and CBS news broadcasts spoke of it and yesterday the New York Times ran an article that actually mentioned me.  How exciting.  But don’t go looking for my name.  It wasn’t there.  While speaking of the ten adults who are part of the leukemia t-cell study they reported on the health of the first nine and then said, “and one was treated too recently to evaluate.”  That’s me – number 10.  My granddaughter wrote from college that she had seen it and she wrote “a.k.a. my grandpa!”  She was right.  After being treated with the T-Cell technology in Philadelphia we are now waiting for the magic cells to complete their work of assassinating the bad cells. So I have had my moment in the sun and nobody knew my name.

But that’s okay because the people who count do know my name.  The researchers and technicians, (They emailed today.)   My family knows my name, one of which is “grandpa.”  My wife knows my name.  Jesus knows my name.  He knows a lot more than that.  He knows things about me I don’t know.  And it isn’t just me.  You also are known, very intimately.  “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Luke 12.  Not only does He know our names He is quite capable not to mix us up with others who have the same name we have.  He even has a special brand new name to give us.  “They will be citizens in the city of my God.  I will write on them my new name.” Revelation 3

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 12, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org

The holiday music is well underway.  My car radio continues to fill my ears with Nat King Cole, Burl Ives and Jimmy Durante.  Those guys will never go away.  One of the well-known songs has a really great line.  “Be good for goodness sake.”  It is a bit ironic that it contradicts the song.  The song wants us to be good because Santa is checking his list. Twice!  So we better be good so we get our toys.   But I want to come back to being good for goodness sake.

How many of us are good or not bad because we think an angel in heaven is making a list?  I’m not sure that is a very mature motive.  If that is why we are good I don’t think we are really very good.  Goodness should be done for goodness sake.  The reward is in the act because it is the right thing to do.  Things are good because they produce good fruit. They are not good because of some arbitrary check-sheet. Wise people will be good because they have figured out that is the smart way to live.  Doing good produces an abundant life like apples appear on an apple tree.

If there were no heaven or no hell, wisdom dictates to us what is the good thing to do.  The life that God prescribes for us is the fruit of His wisdom.  Telling us to keep the commandments is God sharing His wisdom. Telling us not to do certain things is His way of trying to get us to stop “playing in the middle of the interstate highway.”  If you do it you will get run over!   Unfortunately it is true that sometimes doing good will get you run over.  It got Jesus on a cross. But that was not because He wasn’t wise.  It was because the people around Him weren’t.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 10, 2009

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

Rogerbothwell.org

Rowdy children are great fun when they belong to someone else.  Such it was this weekend.  We were walking behind a couple with a preadolescent boy who was giving them a bad time.  I have to admit I was enjoying the show.  Finally the man turned to us and said, “He’s not mine!”   Maybe that was one of the reasons the boy was acting up.  He wasn’t loved enough for the man to take responsibility for him.

That is one of the most wonderful parts of the Gospel.  No matter how bad we are God never quits caring about us.  When Adam and Eve shattered God’s plan for Earth it would have been so easy for God to just wash His hands of them and say, “They aren’t mine.”  But they were His.  Never once did He contemplate proclaiming them to be on their own.

This is no license for bad behavior on our part that is unless we are preadolescent.  We can’t just walk around abusing His grace and care.  In Galatians 5 Paul talks about walking in freedom and warns us not to use that freedom to abuse ourselves and others.  So much of being a Christian is being a grownup.  When we are no longer preadolescent we should understand responsibility and respect.  We respect others and we respect ourselves. We don’t do harmful things.  We want to be like our Jesus and since He does not harm neither will we.  It’s not about obeying a set of laws.  It’s all about understanding the principles of the laws and being a respectful grownup with the confidence that our heavenly Father will never turn to the universe and say, “They aren’t mine.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 6, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

We went to dinner this evening with two of the most wonderful people in the world.  Honest, caring people.  We have known them for eighteen years and the only thing wrong with the relationship is we don’t share enough time with them.  They are the parents of four sons.  One of those sons gave me the opportunity to solemnize his wedding.  It was a grand occasion. Smart fellow – he married a teacher.  What more can I say about that?  One of the saddest days of my life was when I spoke at one of their son’s funeral.  I still feel the pain as I write.  There is nothing more meaningful than to have friends and be with them at the high moments of life and during the lowest.  Friends are for laughing and crying; thankfully more laughing.

Isn’t it grand to have friends?  However, there is a sweet sorrow as the years pass.  We watch each other wrinkle and gray.  We know if it wasn’t for Jesus those friends will be gone someday.  But, we can be so thankful in knowing that in Jesus friendships will never end.  We will have dinner again and again as the millenniums roll by and how sweet it will be. There will be no graying or wrinkling.  If anything we will keep looking better and better.

Jesus is our Friend.  He said so and He never lies. He wants to have dinner with us. In eternity there is time for everything and that means each of us can have Jesus Himself home for dinner. Oh the stories we will tell.  He will get to fill in details of things we did; details we had no clue about.  Eternal friendships – that is what eternity is all about.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 9, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

We received a Christmas box from some very special friends.  Now I have a dilemma.  Do I or do I not have the self-discipline to wait until Christmas before opening it?  There it sits on the kitchen counter taunting me.  Each time I pass by it whispers, “Hey, I’m here.  I have goodies inside.  Come on.  You don’t have to tell your friends you opened it.  They live in Florida.  They won’t know.”   My wife doesn’t help.  She opines that there might be something perishable in that box and to delay wouldn’t be a good idea.   However, there is something to be said for waiting.  This could be an exercise in character development.   But then again at my age do I really need to build any more character?   Perhaps I could excuse myself by asserting at my age the end could come at any moment and if I wait I might never know the contents.  Then there is the issue of thanks.  If I open it now I can express my thanks to my friends prior to the time when they will be inundated with thanks from others.   I don’t want my thanks to be lost in the volume.

One of the wonders Jesus wanted us to understand is that His gift to us does not have to wait until some future time.  He wants us to experience the joy and benefits now.  Note John 5:24.  “He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  Eternity begins the moment we accept His gracious offer made possible by His sacrifice.  The gift is now.  The fruit of the gift is forever.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 8, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

When I was small the people in my church used to ask each other, “How long have you been in the Truth.”  It was understood that to be a member meant you knew what the Bible taught, what life was about, what God expected of us and what we had to do to please God.  One day two young men knocked on our door and as I sat and listened to their fervency it was as if I was looking in a mirror.  Members from another group knocked on my door and once again as I took their pamphlet I was looking in a mirror.  While we were living in Uganda a pope visited for the purpose of solemnizing a place where both Anglican and Catholic Ugandans were burned alive in lieu of renouncing their faith.  Each group, including mine, has a worldview they (we) believe is consistent with Scripture.  And yet each group is distinctively unique.

There is a certain kind of spiritual and intellectual arrogance in thinking our worldview is “The Truth.”  One of the great lessons of Balaam is that God has His people in many places.  The Children of Israel did not have a monopoly on God’s concern and revelation.  Jesus once said, “Herein will men know you are my disciples that you love one another.”  Strange that not one hint of doctrine appears in that command. (Or was it an observation?) Perhaps the important issue is not one’s worldview as much as one’s loyalty, faithfulness and commitment to their worldview.  Jesus also told us to put our hand to the plow and not look back.  Is not His appeal to us to commit with all our hearts and all of our talents?  Surely in His house there are many mansions.  John 14.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 7, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org