Author: Ian Bothwell

I’ve had to move my Fitbit to my right arm because of a spider bite on my left wrist.  I have no idea when I was bitten but there is no doubt what it is.  It is classic when compared with pictures of spider bites on line.  Forgive my childish fantasies but for a moment I was hoping I was as lucky as Peter Parker and the spider was radioactive.  Maybe we never outgrow some of our childhood.  I grew up on Superman comic books.  I longed to leap over tall buildings with a single bound.  Perhaps as I aged it became more of wanting to understand.  That has become more interesting than physical feats.

I have been accused by some as living in a fantasy world when I write about our promised eternity with the Lord.  The accusation is I have a juvenile religious experience.  That’s okay.  I enjoy my hopes and aspirations.  I repeat Peter who said, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power.”   I wish I could say what follows, “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”  I’m not.  But I then rely on the following statement by Jesus Himself, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

And so my spider bite will slowly heal and will not leave me with Spiderman talents.  That’s okay because Peter Parker was smitten with horrendous existential problems.  Jesus takes care of those issues for us.  We know who we are and where we are going.  We are the sons and daughters of God and we are heading into a glorious future with Jesus as our Brother.  We will never get that from a spider bite.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 19, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

If they had been red-winged blackbirds we would have been bloodied.  Instead they were robins and we were merely royally scolded.  We had come too close to a baby just out of the nest.  I must say they put up a significant defense.  The little guy was flapping his wings but going nowhere and mom and dad were doing all they could to facilitate his flight.

Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem and wept for His people as He said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”  Little has changed.  He still longs for us to allow Him to gather us in.   He wants to come and take us home and yet, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  II Peter 3:9.

God longs for us to take flight and soar to new realms.  It is not a matter of waiting until some future time.  Just as those parent robins were urging their baby to fly God is calling us to new levels of achievement and righteousness.  Our lives are not to be humdrum but to be exciting adventures in development.  It does not matter how old we are, opportunities abound for new growth in our intellectual and spiritual facets.  He promised to send us His Holy Spirit to live within and thus continually be updating our talents and understandings.  In Hebrews 1 we are promised angels to attend this growth as they bring us care packages from His throne room.  This is a great family.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 2, 2015

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

He was one street-smart, battle-scarred yellow cat.   His half chewed off ears told tales of territorial battles won and lost.  He definitely knew his way around.  He was a veteran of life with all his missing parts to display his valor.  As I approached he stealthfully backed under a bush.  He was way too smart to challenge a four thousand pound car.  Being brave doesn’t mean stupidly taking on something that outclasses you.  Being smart is a vital component to being brave and intelligence separates the courageous from the foolish.

Psalm 1:1 is great counsel for the truly brave.  “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.”  One should only place oneself in such jeopardy for a noble cause, not just to taste and see, one should flee at first opportunity.  One cannot expect to mingle and play in mud without getting soiled.  Jesus was able to pull that off.  “This man eats with sinners.”  However, Jesus also spent entire nights in prayer fortifying Himself to do daily battle with one determined to destroy Him.

As I was thinking about that old yellow cat I found myself hoping not all our scars will be removed in heaven. It would be boring if we were all uniformly the same without reminders of victories won.  While it is true we shall all be saved by Jesus, it should also be true that we should have identifying scars of valor obtained in the cause of righteousness.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 30, 2015

PO Box 124, Saint Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

It was in the late 1940s when the circus came to town with its elephants, bears and tigers.  They took the animals off the train cars and walked them through town to a big tent.  It was all very exciting.  These were the days way before being politically correct and the circus came with a side show.  There was a fat lady, a midget, a tall skinny guy, a snake charmer and for two cents you could see the tattooed lady from far away Borneo. (She was probably from Brooklyn.) My mother would have had a fit if she had known my father had taken me inside.

It all came back to me this afternoon at Denny’s.  A scantily clad tattooed woman paraded by our table.  I didn’t even have to pay two cents.  She looked askance at me for staring.  But really isn’t that what she wanted?

Most of the time I wish to be invisible but there are times when I do want to be seen.  Those are the times I want people to see Jesus.  I’m not too wild about that when just walking down the street but if I am in the classroom or with a group of friends I do so hope my demeanor would radiate the love and kindness of the One I wish to be like.  He told us people will know who we are if we have love for one another.   While I do not have any tattoos there is one I wish I had.  No not a picture of a sailing ship or my dog.  I wish to have Jesus tattooed on my heart.  Just maybe someone will know.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 1, 2015

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

We have a super abundance of rabbits this summer.  Each evening while walking the dog we are sure to see three or four.  We probably miss seeing an equal amount because we have noticed the classic rabbit strategy for supposed safety.  They freeze.  Once they detect us they become garden statuary.   Sometimes it works because I have seen my lab walk right by some without a glance.

I have noticed a similar strategy for Christians who apparently do not want to be seen.  They freeze and blend into the environment.  No one would know they are a Christian because they are not involved when others need assistance.  They become invisible.  They go to church but never volunteer for any outreach.   Sometimes they arrive at church during the opening hymn and leave during the closing hymn.   Don’t get me wrong.  It’s great that they come.  But it would be greater if they stayed long enough to meet others and just maybe see a need that fits their spiritual gift.

Ephesians 4:11 says, “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service.”

You might read that verse and think I’m not any of those.  That might be true but it is also true that everyone can do something.  It is a matter of creativity and watching.  Maybe we need to subscribe to the local newspaper.  Usually there are all manner of ideas written about that require local need.   Perhaps we give to missions.  That’s a good idea.  But maybe our local community needs us just as much as someone in Africa.  Then again we can be a rabbit and be invisible.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 29, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

I gained twenty pounds today.  Really.  I am so depressed.  Our bathroom scale broke so we bought a new one.  When I stepped on it I found out I was twenty pounds heavier than I thought I was.  This ranks up there with one of the top twenty horrors in my life.  I didn’t even have the pleasure of twenty chocolate milkshakes to account for this calamity.  I did have one milkshake last week at Denny’s but I didn’t eat anything else.  That was my meal!  Yeah, I know better.

I guess it’s time to up my Fitbit walking goal for each day.  Perhaps I should only eat half a bowl of cereal in the morning.   Just last week I learned that the supposed truth about breakfast being the most important meal of the day isn’t so.  The research that was used to support that idea was paid for by Kellogg.  Humm?

It is difficult to let go of things we thought were true only to discover it just “ain’t” so.  I was taught in Bible class at my parochial high school that we should strive with all our might to be perfect and the part we can’t do is the part Jesus makes up for us.  Wow.   How could that ever have been taught?  Had he not read Philippians 3:8-9, “I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.”  That heresy was a great weight that needed to be lost.  Jesus is EVERYTHING

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 28, 2016

P0 Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

I think the first color movie I ever saw was the Wizard of Oz.  I have to confess I did not like it then and I still don’t.  (However, it is a wonderful tearful experience to hear Judy Garland sing “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”)  Before this it was black and white Keystone Cops.  In kindergarten in church one of the reasons I loved the Bible story pictures was they were always in color.  But I have to say what I heard about Jesus was in black and white.  If I was a good boy and obeyed all the rules I might be saved.  It was scarier than fake Halloween ghosts.  Jesus was Santa making a list and checking it twice to see if I was naughty or nice.

Then one day I learned the truth about Jesus.  He wasn’t Santa in the sky.  He was my savior and the story turned from black and white into color.  It was wonderful.  “The gift of God is eternal life.”  Now as I have many more miles behind me than in front of me something grand is happening to the story.   It is now in high definition. The colors of Jesus’ story are sharp and clear and densely pixilated.

When I think of my childhood version of Christianity I am horrified at the heresy we often teach children.  It is no wonder so many children leave the church when they are teens.  The world is in color while what we teach about Jesus is in black and white.   The Gospel story, the Good News, really is in dazzling color.  When understood that we have the assurance of eternity because of God’s love, life becomes vivid, almost flamboyant.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 20, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

A thousand years ago the forests were so thick in Europe people who wandered too far from home often never found their way back.  There were no signs, no maps.  Actually there were few roads, only paths.  Those paths had no names and the places where people lived had no names.  Often the people themselves only had one name and it wasn’t a surname.  “This is my brother Daryl and my other brother Daryl.”

This morning I needed to go to a place I had never been before.  The car I was using did not have a GPS.  But my phone talked me right to my destination.  Can you imagine the disciples saying to Jesus, “Where is heaven?”  We can hear Jesus answer, “I am the Way.”  (John 14:6)

With my phone in my shirt pocket I got very clear directions where to turn and how far to go until the next turn.  With Jesus, via the Holy Spirit, we get very clear directions regarding our lives.  “Love one another as I have loved you.”  (John 13:34)  “Forgive others.”  (Matthew 6)  “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”  (Ephesians 4:2)  “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

By the Way.  The Way to eternal life is a gift.   Items listed above are the ways to be like the One who is the Way.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 21, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Today we went to Bed Bath and Beyond shopping for a wedding present. I must confess after being involved with a hundred or more weddings through the years I am not very good at picking out good presents.  I saw what I thought was a great bathroom scale. Nope, not according to my wife.  Next I saw a nice light-weight floor sweeper.  Nope, not according to my wife.  I tried one more time when I spotted one of those “as seen on TV” tough-grade 12 inch ceramic red copper plated frying pan that defies scratches and is non stick.  It even has a stay-cool handle.  I scored.  It’s a beauty.

It reminds me of us.  Since we made Jesus the Lord of our lives we also are non-stick.  Guilt and shame just slide off because according to I John 1, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”   Please don’t miss the words “cleanse” and “all.”  Now this does not mean we can go around deliberately sinning and harming others and ourselves.   That would be stupid because sinning is poisonous.  Sin is harmful and leaves scars on our psyche.  This is where we are different from the frying pan.  It is non-scratch.  Even though Jesus forgives us the scratches remain.  But, I do have more good news.  According to Paul in I Corinthians 15 a day is coming when this mortal puts on immortality and this corruption puts on incorruption.  The scratches are removed.  Christians should be the most psychologically healthy people in the world.  We are provided with so much security and hope.

I should have started this with a spoiler alert.  The groom often reads these devotionals and now he will know what we are giving him.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 24, 2016

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

Monday’s New Yorker Cartoon features a man walking with five Fitbits on each arm.  He says to the woman walking with him, “People pay me to put steps on their Fitbits.”  Just as we cannot exercise for another we cannot diet for another.  We cannot learn for another nor sleep for another.  There were days when I wished another could and would take chemotherapy for me. However, there are some things we can do for another. We can pay another’s debts.  We can drive another’s car.  The list is infinite.

My favorite “what someone can do for another” is found in Romans 5:7-8.  “Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”

How about that!  Isn’t that the best ever?  Just as the man in the cartoon put steps on another’s Fitbit so Jesus puts righteousness on and in our characters.  That makes us better than we are.  I realize that statement borders on nonsense. But, the truth is it works.  We are in God’s eyes as perfect as Jesus is perfect the moment we accept the gift of God’s grace.  That makes us better than we are.  However, we will not be content to remain as we are.  The quest for righteousness begins.  We are justified by His grace and by His power we are sanctified as we grow into His likeness.  This is a mystery – the mystery of righteousness.  How is it that God could take someones like us and make us perfect?  I don’t know, but I will not argue about it.  It is just too wonderful.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 23, 2016

PO Box 124, St.Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org