A Great Investment Opportunity

Yesterday we received in the mail an amazing offer from Discover Card.  They offered us 0.85% if we would open a savings account with them.  The fabulous increase in our wealth would be 85 cents a year (or a candy bar or 1/4th a gallon of gas) for each 100 dollars we put in our account.  Considering they will then lend out our 100 dollars at 19.95% makes them $19.10 profit on each 100 dollars.  Not a bad business to be in.  In downtown Boston they call that loan sharking.

If you are looking for an excellent return on an investment find an aspiring young person who needs an education.  When we enable someone to grow and enhance their life we are making an investment in our community and our nation.  We are making life better not only for them but for all of us.  The return on an enhanced life eclipses any amount of monetary return.

God invests in us.  He gives us life.  He gives us talents.  He gives us opportunities.  God is an investor.  Nothing satisfies Him more than to see us prosper and I am not talking about checking accounts.  Prosperity comes in many forms and the best prosperity is that of a happy life with a solid philosophical and spiritual foundation.  Some television preachers preach the “Prosperity Gospel.”  What that usually means is send them money and then wait for God to put it back in your bank.

The “Prosperity Gospel” is real.  But it isn’t about cash.  It’s about great relationships with people around you.  It’s about knowing with certainty that you have already begun to live forever because you have accepted the promises of Jesus.  Forget Discover Card and invest your life with Jesus.  The returns are out of this world.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 24, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Eating with Jesus

Each evening after the network news comes a half an hour of pure drivel about popular people, some whose only reason to be famous is that they are famous.  Some are actually talented and we reward them with our adoration and dollars.  The latest absurdity I have seen is Shaquille O’Neal’s willingness to follow us on Instagram for $500 or for the well-heeled, one can have breakfast with Mr. O’Neal at his home for $15,000.

Oh, but the mobs are fickle. In Mark 1 we read of the results of Jesus’ healing a leper, “Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.”  So where were the crowds on that Thursday night in Gethsemane when He was alone?   Actually the religious leadership wanted to get Him on the cross early in the day lest the crowds did riot in His favor.   They did their evil in the darkness of night.

I was wondering how much I would be willing to pay to have breakfast with one of Jesus’ disciples or Paul.  The reason I did not say Jesus is because we already have an invitation to sup with Him.  And we don’t have to go to His house.  He will come to us.  “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”   Jesus does not require a check.  “. . . will He (God) not also with Him freely give us all things? …”  Romans 8:32.  This Jesus of ours is amazing.  He really deserves our adoration.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 20, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

I was an adult before I realized what the story of the three bears was all about.  I mistakenly thought it was about a little blond girl that got lost in the woods.  It’s about compromise. It’s a good thing I didn’t understand this when I was a child because I went to church with people that thought “compromise” was a dirty word.  They taught me that once one takes a position one should dig in and recognize that any argument that refutes one’s position is a crafty ploy from Satan.  Logic should be spurned in lieu of faith, faith being a code word for stubbornness.

Then one day I read Luke 10.  “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “?‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”  This is followed by the story of the Good Samaritan.  And how do I love God?   Jesus said, “If you did it unto the least of them you did it unto me.”

It isn’t about my side and your side.  It’s about our side.  It’s about making life work because we are able to love enough to understand the other’s point of view.  I am not talking about surrendering principles, because there really is only one eternal principle.  Everything else is too hard or too soft, too cold or too hot.   Love finds the “just right” position.  When I was a pastor I loved my conservatives and my liberals because when they talked we got good things done.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 21, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Things Beyond Our Senses

I’m still trying to figure it out.  My black lab was sleeping by my chair in our front room.  Suddenly she exploded.  She was on all fours, intensely alert, hair on her back that would have made a Ridgeback proud.  Fiercely she barked and ran to the back of the house.  Wanting to know what this was about I accompanied her but without all the bluster.  I saw nothing unusual.  There was no disturbance of the fresh layer of snow.  It was as smooth as if it had just landed.   Then I saw it.  A beautiful deer was standing at the edge of our woods.  But how did she know?  It had not been in the yard nor near the house.  We had been in the front of the house with music playing.

It is obvious that she has enhanced senses of which I am totally ignorant.  I wish I had thought of a Bible text but instead I could hear Hamlet saying, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”  There are times that we are tempted to think the only things that exist are what we have seen or heard or felt.  And then there are occasions like this when I am reminded of just how limited we are.   There are times when walking with her that she has found something really great to smell.  When I tell her it is time to go she looks at me as if to say, “Let’s linger.  This is great.  What’s wrong with you?  Can’t you appreciate it?”  Actually I am glad I can’t.

I was thinking of angels.  I have never seen one. (At least that I know of.)  Yet the Bible is very clear about their reality.  See Hebrews 1:14.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 31, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Live an Extra Seven Years

If I had a pill that would guarantee one would add seven years to their life I would soon be a wealthy man.  It would be a big seller.  For most of us life is precious and we would pay a lot of money for such a pill.  But since I don’t have such a pill I will, for free, share what research says adds seven years to our lives.   Join a church and attend once a week.  Really.  That’s it.  Research shows that such persons live seven years longer than people with no faith affiliation.  And if you do volunteer work for your church you will add even more years.  Some of the factors that surely contribute to this phenomena are the security of the group which reduces stress and one is less likely to indulge in alcohol and drugs and other risky behaviors.

Now we might be tempted to think, “Yes, but how dull is that?”   It is only dull if we remain passive and come late and leave early.  But should we become active and become involved, our talents are stimulated and we soon find ourselves doing things we never thought we could do.  There resides in each of us unused gifts; gifts that would never have been discovered if we didn’t become an active part of a community.

Research reveals that this is the best way to live and to live long.  Someone once asked me if I would be disappointed if after 70 years of living the Christian life I learned it was a sham.  The obvious answer is absolutely yes.  However, upon looking back over those 7 decades I would see that it was the best way to live.  It might not be flashy but it is certainly fulfilling.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 20, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

The World Got A Pair of Glasses

I started wearing glasses when I started going to school.  They not only enabled me to clearly see the blackboard but were also an instant cure for my headaches.  It is estimated that about 64% of Americans wear glasses and 11% wear contacts.  If we add to that number the over 5 million that have had Lasik surgery, we can deduce that only a small percentage of people naturally have excellent vision.  It leaves us wondering how different history might have been if ancient kings, queens and warriors had worn glasses.

Occasionally I misplace my glasses and I bumble about the house searching for them.  I wish they were like my cell phone.  When I misplace it I merely have my wife call me and soon I hear it ringing from under the couch or some other such obscure place.  If only I could call my glasses and have them ring.

In terms of people understanding the true nature of God, the birth of Jesus was like heaven sending us glasses.  Never before had we ever had such a clear picture of His loving care, His grace and His concern for us.  Before Jesus came God was blamed for all manner of bad human behavior.  There was the idea that if one was successful in something then it had been God’s will.  The Old Testament is filled with stories of evil being blamed on God.  It must have delighted Lucifer to no end.  But Jesus opened our eyes, cleared our vision, took away the blurriness and said, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.”  Lucifer can still try and blame God for bad things but now we know better.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 19, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Hard Not to Brag

For Christmas my grandchildren gave me a spray bottle of Polo after-shave.  Instead of using it for after-shave I have it on my desk and spritz myself.  It’s nice to know I am not offensive, at least scent wise and it reminds me of my grandchildren.  There are many other ways to be offensive, as we all know.   Being that I have a propensity to want to express my opinion about things, I have had to work at listening instead of spouting.  People don’t like braggarts.   It is difficult to contain oneself and not brag about being a Christian.  Christianity is very unique from all the other religions of the world.  It is the only religion that offers salvation as a gift of God’s grace.  All other religions have complex rules and regulations and acts of penitence to gain God’s favor.  Christ’s message is we are God’s children and God loves to shower gifts of grace on His children.

There are some flavors of Christianity that have added acts of penance and many other do’s and do not’s.  Once they have done so they cease to be Christians.  They just don’t realize they become the same as pagans.  Alas, the Bible is so plain and clear.  Ephesians 2, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”   Our prayer should be for us to be able to speak of this wonder without being offensive. We will be a sweet incense to God.  “Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation an aroma redolent with life.”  II Corinthians 2 in The Message

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 18, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Top of the Food Chain

I’m sitting here watching a bunny gobble down some carrots my wife tossed out onto the snow.  He is very alert.  As he munches away he is constantly watching, ready to run for safety.  He needs to be alert.  There are hawks overhead, coyotes and weasels in the bushes.  Actually the weasels will tunnel under the snow and pop up and grab them.  I am so thankful to be at the top of the food chain.  Though we have bears in the neighborhood they run from us.  The most dangerous animals we need to fear are other people.

Many years ago when my boys were small we drove across the grasslands in Uganda to see some lions that were spending the afternoon in a tree.  Unfortunately, I backed into a hole and had to get out of the car to push.  While doing so the lions perked up a bit and watched my every move.  I wasn’t feeling very sure that I was at the top of the food chain.  I thought I heard one of them whisper, “Please pass the A-1 Sauce.”

It was a remarkable day when God said, “Let us make man in our image.”  We have a Creator who not only brought us into being but wants for us to ascend with Him to heights unimaginable to us in our present state of mind.  In Ephesians 2 we read, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”  Talk about being at the top of the food chain.  We will spend eternity being showered with gifts of intellect and power.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 17, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 12, St. Helena, CA 94574

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The Ancient of Days

Ecclesiastes 12 is becoming more and meaningful.  I can feel its cold breath on my neck.  I have been in denial.  But the latest sign could not be denied.  It was simple and yet dramatic.  I got out of the car and was halfway to the supermarket when I heard a horn.   A friendly sounding man called out, “You might want to close your car door.”  As I twirled around I saw it.  There it was standing wide open.  I had opened it, gotten out and just walked away.

I am so thankful for Isaiah 49:15.  Isaiah assures us that God will never forget us.  We need that verse because in Daniel 7 He is called The Ancient of Days.  Apparently God handles His age better than we do.   Unlike some gray bearded old guy on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel He is eternally young.  Before there was anything He was.  Abell 1835 IR1916 is His creation and is over 13 billion light-years from us.  Our telescopes are time machines showing us not what is but what was. The name Ancient of Days doesn’t even begin to describe Him.  He always was, is and always will be and He will never forget us.

When times become difficult, and they will,  He remembers you.  When you’re feeling down, and you will,  He remembers you.  When you seem to be forgetting everything, and you will,  He remembers you.  He knows what you need and in His infinite wisdom He will give you what you need.  What I needed was someone to tell me to close my car door.  Maybe it was Him.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 13, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Joe Btfsplk

If you are old enough to remember the cartoon strip Li’l  Abner you might also remember Joe Btfsplk.  Joe was a regular character in Li’l Abner and always had a dark cloud over his head.  Wherever he went the cloud was sure to be there to cause trouble.  It had no silver lining.  For almost six hours this afternoon I felt like Joe.   This afternoon we drove from Philadelphia to our home in central Massachusetts and it rained hard the entire trip.  The storm moved up the east coast at the same rate we moved up the east coast.  We managed to stay right in the heart of it the entire way fighting our way through the blinding clouds of water generated by hundreds of semis.  Needless to say it wasn’t a pleasant trip.

While crossing the George Washington Bridge at New York City I remembered a church member I had in my very first pastorate.  She was Joe Btfsplk in the flesh.  There was nothing in her life that was right.  After visiting with her I would have to go home and eat ice cream or do something to lift my spirits.  I have to give it to her she was gifted.  She could take any blessing and turn it into something bad.  I would try to point out good things to her but she always bested me with her gloom and doom.  One of her horrors was none of her children ever became Christians.  Really?  I wonder why?

It is just as easy to find the bright side to something as it is to find the dark side. Happiness is a choice.  Sharing Jesus with others is a happy choice.  If it isn’t a call to a better more abundant life then it really isn’t a choice at all.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March12, 2013

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94547

Rogerbothwell.org