Peter’s Wife

According to I Corinthians 9:5 Peter’s wife traveled with him on his missionary travels.  It raises lots of questions such as where was she when Herod put Peter in prison as mentioned in Acts 12.  Was she by chance at the home of John Mark’s mother Mary when the angel led Peter out of the prison and Peter went to Mary’s house?  The more we read these stories the more details we wish we had.  According to Eusebius, the Christian Roman historian, after Nero had arrested Peter and his wife, Nero had Peter’s wife crucified with Peter watching.  Eusebius supposedly got this from the church father Titus Flavius Clement.

There is a hymn with the words, “Feed me til I want no more.”   Is that possible?  I am a glutton to know more.  It is true there are moments when my brain seems full and I need a respite of inflow but just like physical food tomorrow I am ready for more.  The wonder of the human brain is its infinite capacity.  There is never a time when in order to remember something new we have to forget something old to make room for the new.  We can just keep on adding.  I do notice that retrieval seems to take longer.  Is that because the internal search engine has more to sort through to get the right data or is it merely the result of plaque buildup in the arteries?

Curiosity is one of our gifts.  We want to know or is it we have to know?  Either way Jesus has promised us an eternity of scholarship.  If you hated school don’t panic.  This will be the best school with the best teachers you could ever imagine. You will love school.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 14, 2014

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

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I Don’t Want to Be a Judge

I have a student who did not know about the 2009 jetliner miracle on the Hudson.  He claims he never heard the name “Captain Sullenberger.”  He is not a recent arrival to America.  He was born and raised here.  I think that is why he seems to know all there is to know about the Kardashians.  At least once a class period he mentions them.  He most likely goes home and says, “Would you believe my teacher knows nothing about Kanye West?”  We are two pilgrims traveling on the same road and yet never seeing the same things along the way.

I think about him and think there must be some great and pithy lesson here.  But I am not sure I am wise enough to discern what it is.  I think about the fact that he and I wear different colored glasses and thus filter out what does not interest us.  But that is obvious.  We all do that.  My wife and I come home from church and when we talk about the sermon sometimes it is as if we had listened to two different preachers.  Often the preacher will say something that triggers my mind and as I ponder it I suddenly realize I have just missed the last ten minutes.

No wonder Jesus calls on us not to judge others.  I don’t know enough about you to judge you.  I don’t know what you know or don’t know.  Yet I want you to measure up to my standard when truthfully your level might be far more advanced.  I’m just too uninformed to know that.

Revelation 20:4 says, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.”  I pray none of them are you or me – especially me.

 

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 23, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The Overzealous Baseball Fan

In a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals a fan rushed onto the field and attacked the umpire.  While it is true that we sometimes say, “Kill the ump” we are never serious!  It is all part of the baseball ambiance.  The ump is the law on the field and obviously the fan did not like the law, at least the way the ump called it.

Does that remind you of those who don’t like God’s law?  While it is true the law is neither the means nor the method of salvation its principles are forever the standard of righteousness in God’s kingdom.  When we accept the grace of Jesus the law is written in our hearts and educates us in the manner of living a Christ like life.  No longer do I want to kill or steal.  No longer do I want to tell bad stories about my neighbor or take God’s name in vain.  I want to be like the one who died for me and He did not do those things.

According to Jesus it all boils down to two basic principles:  love God with all my heart and love my neighbor.  The way I love God is to love my neighbor so it really come downs to one principle.  Philosophers argue about the existence of absolutes.  There are no absolutes.  That is plural.  There is only one absolute.  If we could understand we would never want to “kill the ump” for we would know “the ump” is the key to the abundant life for everyone.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 22, 2003

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

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A Journey for the Brave

One of the funeral homes in our little city has the following sign by the street where its driveway begins.  “Funeral Home.  Not a thruway.”  Right they are.  It’s not a thruway it’s a dead end.  The guest of honor never leaves alive.  But wait.  Is that always true?  Jesus spoke of death as a sleep.  See John 11.   In I Thessalonians Paul spoke of a great trumpet blast at a day of resurrection when the sleepers will awaken and all the promises Jesus made will come true.

I’m thinking I should have my wife put a sign on my cement sarcophagus with one of the following messages, “Just passing through” or maybe “Shhh, sleeping.”  “He loved naps.”  “If you thought he looked good today just wait until the next time you see him.”  “And now for the main event.”  I’m thinking I should video tape my own funeral sermon.  That way I can make sure the stories that are told about me are made up by me.

We are on a great journey.  The destination is unknown, even for those who trust Jesus.  Scripture says, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard the wonders that await us.”  In Ephesians 2 Paul tells us God will spend eternity showering us with gifts of grace because it makes Him happy.  It is His pleasure.  This is not for the timid nor the cowardly.  It is for the brave who seek to learn, to explore, to grow, to contribute, to serve and to love.  When couples marry they embark on an unknown journey.  When we unite ourselves with Jesus the journey that follows is totally out of this world.  Death is but a thruway.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 11, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Monopoly and Candyland

Tucked away in many closets and cupboards are stacks of old table games: Monopoly, Careers, Candyland, Memory, Mastermind and others.  The sight of them often brings memories of eager little ones begging for someone to play with them.  Ah, the fine art of playing games with children.  It is called, “How to let them win without their knowing you are letting them win.”  Those same little ones years later have most likely learned the fine art of, “How to let the old guy win without his knowing they are letting him win!”

We all like to win and a favorite verse of Scripture is about winning.  In Romans 8:37 we read, “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”  Jesus makes sure we are winners.  The passage goes on to say that there is nothing in heaven or on earth that can separate us from God’s love. Talk about winning!  It is so grand; Paul says we are more than winners.  What we get is so wonderful it is beyond our concept of what it means to win.

In Philippians 3:14 Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Since Paul tells us in Ephesians 2 that we have eternal life as a gift, eternal life cannot be what we are trying to win.  We already have the gift.  Read the verse more carefully.  The prize we are to win is our high calling to be like Jesus Himself.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 5, 2002

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

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Knowing Where to Go

There is a place called Means Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert in Southern California.  Each February off-road racers gather to ply their skills at driving over huge rocks without breaking their cars.  An issue at the race is cell phone service. It is very erratic.  However, someone discovered a particular bush in the middle of Dry Lake where service is excellent for several carriers.  Throughout the day cars congregate around the bush.  One can talk to their families afar if they know where to go.

That is pretty much like most things in life.  You need to know where to go.  If you want a good education you need to pick the school that specializes in your dream.  If you want good ice cream you need to find the store that sells your favorite.  If you want to marry a compatible spouse go where your kind of people congregate.  If you want to live forever go find Jesus.   If you want to know about His life go to the Gospels.  If you want to know what Jesus’ life means for the entire universe go to the writings of Paul.

If you need understanding go to Jesus.  He is the Light of the world.  If you are thirsty for meaning in your life go to Jesus.  He said, “If any man thirst let him come unto me.”  If you need rest from guilt go to Jesus.  He said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”  Successfully navigating life is knowing where to go.  Our task, our mission is to be good navigators.  We can’t save anyone.  We can’t resolve the broken issues in their lives.  But we can point the way.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 6, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The Video Is Recording

It happens occasionally and recently was one of those days.  Someone in a race cheated by taking a shortcut.  The King of the Hammers is an off-road race in the Mojave Desert and the first place winner in his class of cars took a detour that avoided the worst rocks.  How could he have possibly thought he could get away with it?  There were video cameras at the spot he missed and he never showed up at that place.  Many years ago at the New York City Marathon a runner took the subway for a few miles of the race.  This is worse than the tortoise and the hare.  All the hare did was to take a nap.  He never cheated.  He just had too much confidence.

The last verse of Ecclesiastes is a scary text.  It reads, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”  The video is recording.  It reminds one of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.  He’s making a list and checking it twice to see who’s been naughty or nice.  He sees you when you’re sleeping.  He knows when you’re awake. So you better watch out. You better be nice.”

Before I understood how forgiving God is I was very fearful because of that verse in Ecclesiastes. But now I understand.  God is watching us always so He can catch us doing something good.  He doesn’t want to miss that magic moment when we stop trying to earn salvation and instead surrender and accept the gift of His grace.  He doesn’t have to watch to catch us doing bad.  We do plenty of that.  He is watching to catch us doing something good.  How grand.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 7, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Joy in Heaven

If you want a visual of Luke 15:7 where Jesus talks about rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents, just watch one program of American Idol when the person auditioning wins the opportunity to go to the next level.   While the winner is excited, it is their families that go crazy.  Mothers scream, fathers cry and brothers and sisters jump up and down and immerse the winner with hugs.  For me it is the best part of the program.

In Revelation John talks about tears in heaven being wiped away.  I think he was talking about tears of pain and loss.  I don’t think he was talking about tears of joy. So it is that Jesus tells us when we accept His offered gift of eternal life and love, our heavenly family goes crazy with joy.   I am sure when our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life our heavenly Father wipes away His tears.

Also on American Idol families are flabbergasted when their loved one doesn’t move on.  They can’t believe that the judges lacked insight to see how great their loved one is.  Love is blind.  So is God’s love for us blind?   I want to say, “Yes.”  But I know better.  God knows the truth about everything.  Actually that makes His love for us all the more amazing.  He isn’t blind to our faults and He still rejoices when we confirm our ticket.  Now that is grand.

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 31, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

The Work of Others

In the midst of yet another winter storm, eighty miles away from where the Pilgrims landed in 1620, I sit behind double-paned windows nourished and warm.  That first winter here was so harsh for the Pilgrims half of them perished before spring.   I know my comfort is not the product of what I have done.  I drive on roads others have built.  I am warm because others bring fuel.  I turn on a tap for water because others plumbed our city.  I had strawberries today because others brought them here. Without others I would be like those first Pilgrims and not see spring.

None of us are self-made even if we are ignorant enough to think we are.   So why is it that so many of us think we can be saved because of our goodness?  It doesn’t make sense, especially when we understand our need for what others have done to enable our daily survival.   How much more do we need the work of others, or should I say another, if we are to survive eternity.   Paul, a man of incredible discipline, dedicated to a life of perfection, realized he just couldn’t do it.  In Romans 7 he describes his painful failure.  He wrote, “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.”  He finally calls himself a “wretched man.”

However, Paul knew where to find help.  He wrote, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  We live daily because of the works of others.  We will live forever because of the work of an Other.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 14, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

When Time Becomes Meaningless

It’s Patriots Day in Massachusetts.  It’s a day more noted for the Boston Marathon than the farmers at Concord Bridge.  Over a half million people will watch either from roadsides or their televisions as 26,000 plus runners will challenge themselves to complete a lifelong goal.  For most it will be the pride of finishing but for others it will be life changing.  Young people from the Kenya highlands will run not to just finish but to win.  Since 1988 20 of the 25 first-place men have been from Kenya.  Winning transforms their lives and the lives of their families as they return home as heroes.

The fulfillment of a lifelong dream is a heady experience.  One does not know if one should celebrate or mourn.  After the ecstasy of accomplishment comes the thought, “What do I do with the rest of my life?”  The brevity of life rarely allows us time to start over with a new dream.  There are a few fortunate individuals who wear many crowns but for most it is a singular experience.  This is what makes God’s gift to us so remarkable. There will be ample time to achieve over and over again; not in the same field but in multiple fields.

I once knew someone who was convinced the moment they are in heaven they will be instantly gifted in any desired area.  How horribly boring that would be!  Challenges to grow are the spice of life.  To learn, to practice, to err, to finally do is what eternity is all about.  If not, it would be one boring hell.  I have so many friends who intrigue me because of their gifts.  I can only imagine how much more accomplished they will be when time becomes meaningless

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 15, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org