Author: Ian Bothwell

My wife put in an unusually long day working away from home.  Arriving home from an eleven hour day she asked, “Are you upset with me for being gone so long?”  Uh Oh.  If I said, “No,” I risked communicating that I was fine with her absence.  Not a good thing!  If I said, “Yes,” I would have been asserting my residual chauvinistic bias inherited from cavemen.  I would have been interfering with her autonomy as a woman of the twenty-first century.  There was no way I was going to win this one.  Where was Solomon when I needed him?

Negotiating one’s way through life is fraught with relational pitfalls. Harmony is often maintained by compromise and artful responses.  I had nothing.  Instantly I thought of James 1:5. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  So in a millisecond I asked.  We don’t have to explain the details of our dilemmas to God when we pray.  He’s been watching.  He already knows.  “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”  Isaiah 65:24.  It is refreshing to know we are not alone when catastrophe looms.  In the last verse of Matthew 24 Jesus promised, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Without pause the following flowed from my lips. “The dog and I really missed you.  We miss you no matter how long you are gone.”  Phew.  Armageddon was diverted.  However, I do wonder. Was that a smug look on her face as she went upstairs?

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 12, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

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Today NASA added a record 1284 new planets to the existing list of planets outside our solar system bringing the total now to 3200.   Nine of the new planets seem to be in a favorable zone for life.  It brings new meaning to Hebrews 1:2 which says, “In these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”  And Hebrews 11:3, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.”

The expression “word of God” doesn’t mean God said some magic phrase like “Hocus Pocus.”  The word “word” means creation came out of the body of His wisdom.  God is a scientist and not a magician.  He creates worlds because He knows how, not because He discovered some magic combination of words.  Jesus is the Word of God.  See John 1.  Jesus is all of God’s character expressed in a marvelous God/human being.   This is so far beyond our comprehension.

As we find these new planets we are, of course, only opening page one of a million page book filled with God’s maps.  Can you imagine missing out on all the places to go and see.  I feel like a promotion for Dr. Seuss’ book, Oh the Places You Will Go.  It is a great title for us.  We can add to it, Oh the Things You Will See.  We are on the cusp of great adventures.  Willy Wonka sang it so well.  “Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination.”   Imagination that becomes reality for all those who put their trust in Jesus.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 11, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Many years ago my family and I were flying across country in a Piper Arrow.  As we entered the southwest we spent the afternoon weaving our way around storm cells.  As we neared Phoenix we skirted about a storm and hurriedly landed for fuel hoping to be back in the air before it arrived over Phoenix.  We were all fueled and taxied to the number one position for takeoff when we got the following message, “Piper Arrow you are cleared for takeoff.  However, the 747 behind you has chosen to wait because of wind shears on all four quadrants.  What would you like to do?”   Obviously we chose to wait.

Notice the choice was ours.  The air traffic controller gave us clearance and then offered some very pertinent information.  God does much the same.  He gives us free control over our lives.   He also offers pertinent information hoping we will be wise enough to heed His counsel.  As we sat at the end of the runway the storm moved over us and the winds gave us a good shaking even as we sat on the ground.  I was so glad we were not in the air.

Sometimes even when we are trying to do what God asks of us we get battered about.  We think it is bad but had we not heeded God’s advice it would have been so very much worse.  Just as a good pilot trusts the air traffic controller so does a good child of God trust Him.  The air traffic controller does not want an accident to happen and neither does God.   “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 10, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

One our neighbors was approached by another neighbor who proceeded to chastise her for having loose items in her city-provided garbage container.  (Our city wants all garbage to be bagged.)  With amazement she asked, “How do you know that?”  He responded, “I came over and looked.”  If you think that’s strange, come and visit me and I will tell you some even stranger stuff about the guy.

As I listened I thought of how often we dig around in other people’s pasts to find some juicy bit of garbage.  We use it to spice up our conversations.  It seems to be our nature to enjoy that better than saying, “That Harold is a really great guy.”  It is no wonder Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15 we will be changed.  If not, heaven will be a boring place because there won’t be any garbage to tell about each other.  No, I haven’t lost track of the fact that I just invited you over to tell you things I can’t write about.  I’m just as guilty as you are.  And you are.   Don’t pretend not to be.

In James 3 we read about how dangerous our tongues seem to be.   The chapter finishes with. “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”  So the lesson is obvious. Let’s cease looking into other’s garbage.  I’m sure you are like me in wanting to reap that harvest of righteousness.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 6, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

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You cannot watch the 6:30 evening network news without being bombarded with drug commercials.  I am fascinated with all the acronyms for newly invented disorders.  “If you have a severe case of ISN please be sure to ask your physician for a prescription of IJ19.”  “Don’t take IJ19 if you are allergic to IJ19.”  Duh!  Why would anyone take anything if one is allergic to it?  I remember being in the hospital with a morphine pump and reacting so seriously to just one press of the red button they immediately took the red button away from me.  Did they really think I was stupid enough to press it again?

However, people don’t seem to be overly bright regarding sins.  Sin is anything that is not good for us.  That’s why God calls them sins. Yet, we seem to keep going back to them over and over.  Perhaps the issue is that often the allergic reaction is delayed and the results don’t manifest themselves until it is too late.  God regards us as being more intelligent than the nurses regarded me.  He doesn’t take away the red button.  He counts on us exercising our free will to take care of ourselves.  In other words, God respects us and doesn’t treat us like children.  Now if only we would act more responsibly.

God is so amazing.  He is so anxious to have us with Him for eternity He actually forgives us for our reckless behaviors and will on resurrection morning give us a brand new body and brain.  However, we will still have free choice and God is counting on us being smart enough to never again “press the red button.”  See          I Corinthians 15:51–54.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 5, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

We have all received invitations to events where the inviter wishes for us to RSVP.  They want us to respond.  But what do those letters actually mean?   It is a French expression.  “Répondez s’il vous plaît.”  I never knew that until right now when I Googled it.  Telling you that reveals my lack of social education.   I’m sorry I am not more couth.

I bring this up because I was reading II Peter 1 and came across the following, “Make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”   God has sent us an invitation to attend the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.   See Revelation 19:6-9.  It is fascinating that He wants us to confirm or RSVP.  We are tempted to think He already knows how many place settings to have ready.  He can tell the heavenly caterers how much food to prepare.  Why does He need an RSVP?   Once again it’s for us.  Everything He ever asks of us is for us.  By sending Him an RSVP we commit ourselves to attend.

A rich young man approached Jesus and said, “What must I do to be saved?”   Jesus’ answer was basically, “Please send my Father an RSVP.”  Yes, I know Jesus told Him to sell his goods and give it to the poor.  Jesus was saying, “Clear your calendar.”   Get rid of everything and anything that would conflict with the invitation.  God’s invitation is the best invitation we will ever receive.  Clear your calendar.  Cancel anything that would interfere.  That will be your RSVP.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 4, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

The art of preaching is the art of motivation. One can move a crowd with fear, another can do it with pride, another can motivate with love.  If you have attended church much in your life you will have heard all three.  Perhaps some of the best motivators are football coaches during halftime or corner men between rounds getting their man back into the ring.  Two of the best motivation speeches ever have to be found in the film Brave Heart and in Shakespeare’s Henry V.   In both situations men are about to go onto a killing field.  Henry V says to his men, “This story shall the good man teach his son . . . We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother. . . . And gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”

In I Peter 1:12 we read that angels longed to understand the secrets of the Gospel that have been shared with us.  For eternity we, the redeemed, shall be princes and princesses of the Most High and beings from the far stretches of the universe will know that we, sinful as we were, weak as we were, were the apple of God’s eye.  We few, we happy few, recipients of the blood of the King of the Universe will forever be special.  Angels will not hold their positions cheap but they will know that we were blessed to be from earth.  Only we will be privileged to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.   Revelation 15:3.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 23, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

If you are looking for a great verse to start off your week, look no further.  I have a verse for you.  It is Philippians 1:18-19.  Paul is praying for us and he said,  “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

If you ever wonder how you are going to make ends meet, rejoice.  You have an extravagantly rich Father who has promised that you will participate fully in the family will.  The great part is you get your inheritance without Him having to die.  He can enjoy watching you prosper as He lavishes every blessing upon you.  Notice also in Philippians 1, “In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”

Don’t skip over the words “lavish”, “pleasure” and “adoption to sonship.”  Also note “freely given.”  It is no wonder the first four books of the New Testament are called Gospels.  Good News really isn’t strong enough.  We need more powerful words to describe what is in store for us.  Oh, there’s another good word Paul mentions.  We receive “great power.”   Say yes to Jesus.  Accept the gift and welcome to the family.  There is plenty for all.   There are no losers.  Everyone is a winner!

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 2, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

I used to think that Salvador Dali’s drooping, melting clocks were just the machinations of a deranged mind.  Time was a static, sequential, consistent linear flow of events with attached numbers.  Time could be plotted out by stories followed by more stories of human events.  Now I am not so sure Dali was as deranged as I had first imagined.  Last week I watched my granddaughter graduate from college and for a moment I saw a tiny little girl just able to walk dancing up and down with glee when my wife, her grandma came into the breakfast room.  That momentary vision was as real as the noon sun beating down on the commencement service.

I enjoy going to bed at night because each night is a wonderful journey into the past.  I go for rides with my father.  I hear my son’s childhood voices.  I sit with my sisters around a small kitchen table eating my mother’s cornpone.  My wife wonders why I take so many naps.  The secret is I take free trips randomly selected from 70 years of a very rich life.  Time travel is but a nap away.

Time melts into a confection sweet.  The clock droops with history written by those who want to tell a story by cherry picking events consistent with their beliefs. Recently I had to smile at someone ranting about history being rewritten, as if the first account was accurate.  If I should talk with my sisters who were with me those first years I am sure their recollections would be different, filtered through what they want to remember.

So what will this thing promised by Jesus called eternal life be like?   Finding out will be an endless adventure.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 26, 2015

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Yesterday I saw the most beautiful field of dandelions.  There must have been ten thousand yellow smiles spread beyond and around a New England stone wall.   Some, like us, had turned gray and some, like us, had been blown bald.   Dandelions are so under appreciated.  Considering them to be weeds we quickly extract them from our yards lest we nap and awaken to find they have taken over.

Dandelions remind us of Jesus’ comments in the Sermon on the Mount. “See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”  Matthew 6.

So they are like us.  Or is it we that are like them?  We are not here long.  Hopefully we add beauty to the world while we are here.  Unlike them we have a chance of being again and that second time lasts a really long time.  It lasts forever.  I was going to say time shall be no more.  But how then would we meet each other?  Time is important for making appointments.  If I want to see you I have to know when as well as where.

Jesus’ point is the important focus.  We are loved and cared for.  We need not worry about tomorrow.  Our Father knows our needs and has a zillion ways to provide for us.  It’s great belonging to a rich family and we belong to the richest family of all.  Am I bragging?  You bet I am!

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 20, 2015

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

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