Author: Ian Bothwell

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

rogerbothwell.

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The Defense Chief of North Korea, Hyon Yong Chol, was executed last week with an anti-aircraft gun at a public gathering.  He is one of 70 officials to have been executed since 2011.  Hyon Yong Chol’s crime was falling asleep during a meeting when Kim Jong Un, the country’s leader, was speaking.  Oh, dear.  I am so glad our God is much more gracious than Kim Jong Un.  I could not count the number of times I have fallen asleep in church.  I have often wished men’s suits came with very high, very stiff collars so my head would not flop around when I drift off.  If a fashion designer came up with such a style I’m sure it would be a big seller for I do not think I am the only one guilty.

According to Kim Jong Un’s behavior, Jesus would have had ample excuse for executing His disciples.  We read in Matthew 26, “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter.”

How reassuring it is to know that Jesus understands.  He said, “the flesh is weak.”  He knew.   He fell into the nets in His disciple’s fishing boat and slept so soundly He did not awaken in a raging storm until His frightened disciples woke Him.  I am so glad our Jesus experienced almost the entire human experience.  He was a baby, an adolescent, and a young man.  He did miss out on this old man thing, which I must say is very different from being thirty.  But if He was successful up to His mid-thirties, and He was, He could have handled the senior citizen thing.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 19, 2015

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

This past Sunday noon found us sitting on a university quad in the sun in a sea of humanity watching 900 graduates one by one march across the stage and receive their college degrees.  For three hours we sat not knowing 899 of the graduates.  We sat, we waited and we cheered for the one we knew – our granddaughter.  It took all of 10 seconds and we were a half a football field away and all we saw was a black robe, wearing a black hat with long brown hair streaming over her shoulders.  For this we drove 800 miles.

One might ask, “Why?  Was it worth it?”  And the answer is absolutely yes.  Would we do it again?  Absolutely yes.  Love is that way.  Love is by far the most motivating power in the universe.  This is not to say that hate is not powerful.  Just read Melville’s Moby Dick and listen to Ahab spew forth his miserable venom for a prime example of that.  But love trumps hate every time.  It was love that gave birth to a baby in a filthy stable in a small Judean town.  It was love that nurtured that baby into a man who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”   It was love that poured out His life on that cross and it is love that will call you and me to live with Him forever.

It is love that will ultimately transform each of us into magnificent creatures with extraordinary minds that will comprehend infinity.  Love – it’s the best.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 18, 2015

PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org