Category: devotional

With great joy this afternoon I looked out my office window and watched a father helping his five (?) year-old little boy learn to ride a bicycle.  With his helmet securely in place he mounted up ready to go.  Sitting up straight the little guy started across the parking lot with dad right behind holding on to the back of the seat.  Not once in the fifteen minutes or so, before the little guy was on his own, did I see the father knock him down. The father never yelled at him.   He never aimed him at the curb.  Quite to the contrary, dad was ever so close behind to grab him as he was falling.

Jesus once said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”   Matthew 7:11.

If I had seen the father deliberately tip over the bicycle I’m sure I would have immediately called social services.   This child did not need to be in the care of such a father.  So why is it so often we attribute horrible things to our heavenly Father?  Probably not a week goes by that I do not hear someone in a back-handed kind of way blame God for some tragic event.  We live in a world where bad things happen to everyone.   We have a twenty-year-old student who just discovered she has leukemia.  Do we really think this is God’s will?  Surely a billion things a day happen on earth that are not God’s will.   This world can be a rough place.  What we do have is a Father who cares and hurts with us when we crash and fall.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 27, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

I have a nice small notepad filled with passwords to a multitude of websites.  We have been counseled not to use the same password for all places because if someone discovers it, then they have access to everything. The problem here is old age.  If I do not open a site for six months or more I don’t have a clue which password will work.  So I have a notepad.  Now if someone gets the notepad then they have access to everything.  This is crazy.  We live in an encoded world.  I even have a security device that every sixty seconds changes the password for one particular site.

I am so grateful I don’t need an ever-changing password to have access to God.  However, I do know there are people out there who want us to believe there is one and only password nd they have it.  If we will join their club or group they will share it with us.  God only hears their prayers and the rest of us are praying in vain.   Two of them knocked on my door and I invited them in. When I offered to pray with them they literally fled the room.  They could not pray with such a sinner as me.  Wow.

I have always loved Samuel Coleridge’s line, “”He prayeth best who loveth best all things both great and small; for the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.”  He hears the faintest prayer of the weakest soul.  He longs to hear from us and how grand–there is no secret code.  There is no password.  Just call out.  He’s listening.

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 30, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

It looked like an ordinary white, letter envelope, you know, the junk mail type that is so abundant in our mail boxes.  However, when I opened it I realized that it was like no other letter I’ve ever received.  Inside was a paper prayer rug and it promised power!  Not only power, but blessings-spiritual, physical and financial blessings of all types.  There were the personal testimonials from those that had followed the formula. Most were about getting money, new cars and houses.  There were a couple that mentioned healing and one said a loved one had been saved.  Of course there was a catch.  I had to follow the formula or I would break the flow of power.  It outlined a very detailed set of instructions to follow.  If I was unable to follow the instructions I had to return the enclosed prayer rug within twenty-four hours of receiving it.

While it is good to ask God for blessings or healing or power, we don’t need a formula or special prayer rug to gain His attention.  Jesus said, “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.” (Matthew 6 – The Message Paraphrase)

The best thing we can do is to lay out our petitions before God.  Ask Him for what He knows is best for us.  Whatever He gives us will be more than enough and exactly what we need.   No formula needed.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 3, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

First of all let me make it very clear.  I do not believe in something being jinxed.  There is no such thing.  But sometimes something occurs that makes one blink.  During the New England vs. Baltimore football game the commentators said something about the Patriots not fumbling the football for hundreds of plays and how outstanding this was.  The very next instant the Patriot’s quarterback had the ball stripped and a Raven fell on it for a Baltimore touchdown.

We live in a world filled with coincidences, which sometimes cause us to jump to unprovable conclusions.  People will tell us something is true because they saw it happen.  Their truth is based on a single happening.  For science to establish a truth something has to be consistently repeatable.  If it does not happen just one time when all the variables are consistent, it is not true.

Speaking of coincidences, it was no coincidence that Jesus’ birth and place of birth coincided with the Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel and Micah 5.  It was no coincidence that Jesus’ sacrifice matches Isaiah 53.  It was no coincidence that Jesus’ life and ministry fulfilled over forty very specific Old Testament prophecies.

Peter and John both wrote that they were eyewitnesses to H’sis divinity and power.  They touched Him with their hands.  This is not based on a one person’s testimony.  In I Corinthians 15 we are told over 500 people witnessed Jesus after His resurrection.  It is true. We still have to base our experience with Christ on faith.  While God could remove all bases for doubt He has chosen to invite us to walk with Him by faith; a faith that will be rewarded beyond our dreams.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 3, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

About noon I woke up with a new left hip.  The last thing the doctor said was this will be easy.  It was.  What he did not tell me was that I was going to wake up hungry.  When I asked for something to eat all I could get was a cup of cherry Jell-O.  I knew my wife had a bagel in her pocket since we stopped on the way to the hospital at 5 AM and got some.  Would you believe she would not give me one?  I begged for just one bite. She told me if she gave me one I would beg for another. I told her to give me one bite and then go home.  That way I couldn’t beg for another. She wouldn’t give in.  I told her if she loved me she would give me a piece of a bagel.  She said she loved me and, therefore, would not give me any.

The entire exchange reminded me of some past experiences I have had with God.  I have begged Him for things He never gave me.  I remembered Jesus’ parable of the widow who begged the judge who finally gave in just to get her to be quiet.  I never was able to wear God down.  He has way too much patience.  I was the one who resigned from the battle.  Fortunately, when Jesus says, “Ask and you shall receive” He means we will receive what is best for us and not exactly what we asked for.  It really boils down to love.  Real love does what is best and not what is wanted.  Our wants are not always the best.

One thing I did get this week that I did not ask for was I am taller. The doctor measured my legs and decided I would be better off if he made my left leg a centimeter longer.  I hope you can recognize me.  I have to say the weather is different up here.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 18, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

Something truly wonderful happened at the U.S. Open Golf Tournament at Bethpage Black.   The winner was Lucas Glover and he was ranked 71st in the world of golf.  Don’t you love it when someone nobody expects to win achieves their dream?  Each day each of us has the opportunity to score big and win our dream.  That is assuming we have personal dreams. It is very important, no matter how old we are, to be  reaching for a new goal.  Each day we can stretch ourselves beyond our present or past achievements.  Our biggest competitor in life should be the person we see in the mirror.

Commencement addresses are usually very formulaic.  The graduates are young and it is easy to tell them the usual “Go out there and grab your share of life and success.”  But how often would we make a similar speech at an AARP convention?  Instead, when there, we would talk about government polices that affect drug prices and how to get our share of the assistance pie.  Real success in life comes from personal achievement.  Learning a new skill, a new language, a new field of knowledge is so rewarding.  While it is true we might not have the physical skills or the mental agility we had a few decades past, it is also true there are still multitudes of things to accomplish.

There are volunteer opportunities in our communities and our churches.  Most colleges offer free courses to seniors.  Last semester I had a very interesting man in his 70’s take my human development course.  His contribution was invaluable.   And the biggest goal of all is with God’s help being a better person this week than we were last week.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 24, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

Just before the President spoke to the nation I went to the kitchen for a piece of peanut butter and jelly bread.  I’m not sure what it was but as I was about to spread the peanut butter something distracted me.  Whatever it was it led to something else and soon I was back in my chair watching the President. About ninety minutes later I remembered my peanut butter bread.   I was amazed at what I found.  When I put that piece of bread on the counter it was fresh, now it was already stale around the edges.  I never would have guessed something could grow stale so quickly.  Ninety minutes isn’t very long.

I remembered a story of a famous pianist who said if he missed practicing just one day he could tell the difference on the second day.  If I miss my special time with Jesus just one day, I can tell the difference.   Probably those around me can also tell but are too kind to mention that I am more surly, more impatient and more critical than usual.  The word is “stale”. Just like that piece of bread, so very quickly we lose our freshness, our sensitivity and our concern for others.  No, we don’t lose it completely. It is just not as keen as when we spend time with the One who said, “Men will know you are mine if you love one another.”

One of our greatest challenges is to stay fresh and relevant.  In the classroom I have to know the daily concerns of my students.  I need to see in their eyes their concerns.  I know the greatest lessons I teach are not out of the books we use but how I treat them.  We must not grow stale.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 29, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

The world is as full as ever with hedonistic rulers and dictators who live lavish lives of luxury while their people wallow in squalid poverty.   The leader of North Korea, despite his stroke, recently tried to add two new yachts to his fleet.  Last year thousands of his people died of malnutrition and starvation.  We put John Deere tractors on ships heading to third world nations only to have a miracle happen and brand new luxury automobiles arrive at the intended ports.  I actually had a young man in Uganda tell me he wanted to be a politician so he could exploit people.  By mentioning this I do not mean to infer it doesn’t happen here.

What I do want to point out is Jesus’ birth in a filthy stable, His early life in a humble home, His lack of material goods and His incredible act of becoming a created being destined for the most inhuman sacrifice humans knew how to deliver.  The contrast between our Jesus and a good share of the leaders of earth is so astounding it takes away our breath.

There are twelve verses of Scripture we really need to read and reread just in case we might forget them.  When we are finished reading Isaiah 53 we need to immediately follow it with Colossians 1:15 – 17.  Then finish with a dose of Philippians 2.  “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men.”   There never was another like Him.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 28, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

Neptune is hiding behind Jupiter this week.  Actually, it is peeking out on the upper left hand side of Jupiter but you can’t see it.  Jupiter is just too bright.  Almost everything but the moon is blanked out by Jupiter’s reflected light.  It reminds me of one of my friends who is a talented and gifted person.  Unfortunately, he is out-dazzled by another who always has had the limelight.  My friend is and has constantly been in second place. In a different time and a different place he would have been the one to dazzle.What fascinates me about him is he, at least to my knowledge, has never complained.  He seems content to shine in his part of the Lord’s vineyard. He never seems jealous.  He always speaks extremely well of his more dazzling friend.  Being content with one’s place is a gift.  So many people I know are hungry to be number one.  I laugh when I see the fans of a winning sports team running around shouting they are number one when they aren’t even on the team.

In Corinthians Paul assures us that each of us is important in God’s plan. We all can’t be the head.  The body needs feet and toes.   However, if you are the dazzling one in your circle there is a special verse just for you. It is Romans 12:10.  In the King James it reads, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one.”   It is wonderfully paraphrased in The Message like this, “Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.”   If your friend is talking about his three-inch surgical scar and you have a ten-inch scar, keep quiet.  Let him have his moment.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 15, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

Do you ever wish you knew somebody famous so you could name-drop?  When others do it, it would be so satisfying to drop a name of someone more important than the one they used.  The best I can ever do is to say I had breakfast with Ronald Reagan.  It sounds so cool when I say it like that.  But the truth is there were two hundred other people in the room and I never even got to shake his hand.  Once I was about four feet away from Pope Paul VI.  But that really doesn’t count because he never even looked at me as he walked by in St. Peter’s Cathedral.   It was Epiphany Day.

So I sit quietly when others speak of their important connections.  But wait.  I do have one!  And it tops them all.  Jesus is my friend.  Yes that’s right. Ever since I have been a little boy I have sung the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”   I realize the title uses the word “we”. However, sometimes I sing it with an “I” instead of a “we”.  It makes it so much more meaningful.   This will also work for you.  The next time you’re in church and they sing this song change the pronoun.

Talk about name-dropping.  This is the ultimate.  What adds to this is Jesus drops our name!  Yes He does.   In Hebrews 2 He calls us his friends and family.  He goes so much further than calling us friends.  We are His family and co-heirs in the wonder that He is.  See Romans 8 and Galatians 4. In Revelation 3 He even tells us someday we will sit with Him on His throne.  When we understand this wonder it sort of makes human name-dropping seem silly.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 16, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org