Category: devotional

Just as soon as we say anything about people we are wrong.  As good as our observations have been, as careful as we have been about not exaggerating nor understating, there are exceptions to what we have said.  One of the courses I teach is child development.  I have to begin the first class of the course each semester by explaining that I will be speaking in generalities and statistical norms, because there are most always individuals outside two standard deviations on either side of the mean.

Having prefaced that I now state that the people with the finest characters I have known are those who have had major periods of suffering in their lives.  It almost seems like stress and suffering are the tuition we pay for life’s education.  At this point you might be thinking that you know a wonderful person who has had one of those almost perfect lives.  If so, that is the exception I was speaking about.

Stress and suffering not only help us appreciate those days when we do not suffer they also better enable us to empathize with others.  I have often wondered if those who have not suffered can only sympathize.  Think of the great heroes in Scripture.  The Bible is one tale of suffering after another.  Joseph being sold by his brothers, Moses in exile and then having to put up with the children of Israel, David’s betrayal by Saul and Job’s horror, are but a few.  Hebrews 11 is a list of suffering saints. We could speak of Jesus’ suffering but His character was always pure.

God’s goal for us is not that we should live a continuous life of ease but that we should become all that we can be and that often requires tuition.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 7, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org

I just finished listening to an interview with a well known jazz saxophonist.  I was intrigued by his description of “The Zone.”   “The Zone” is a state of mind when a jazz artist improvises without conscious thought of what the next note or phrase will be.  It just flows from inside into this grand moment of musical purity.  I have heard golfers speak of rounds when they were in “The Zone.”  They couldn’t hit a bad shot.  Everything was working.

One of my favorite authors wrote the following about our walk with Jesus.  “All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses.”*   It’s the “Jesus Zone.”

I was short with someone today.  I was irritated that my auto insurance agency, not a huge one, did not know who I was despite my being their customer for twenty years.  I told them I was going to call “Flo” or the “Gecko.”  I was in a zone but not the zone I want to be in.  My first impulse was neither genteel nor positive.  So, where’s the “Jesus Zone” and how do I get there?  Just because I somehow manage to write a devotional almost every day does not at all mean I am in “The Zone.”   Quite to the contrary, I, like so many of you, am struggling with the irritants of modern life.  If I am not respected I rarely give respect back.  Maybe someday.  Someday.  I’ll be sure to tell you when I find it.

*E. G. White

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 6, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

It was such a beautiful day I decided to sit on the patio and read.    Our patio also has bird feeders which we faithfully keep well stocked.  But my presence was not appreciated by the birds.  A catbird, newly back from the south, sparrows and chickadees took it upon themselves to scold me for “violating” their space.  It was difficult focusing on the text of my book because of the avian ado.  I finally gave up and came back inside.  Strange they never scold me when I am filling their feeders.

I think this story illustrates itself.  God feeds us. “Give us this day our daily bread.” But there are times we really don’t want Him bothering us.  We have lives to lead.  We want to do it ourselves.  We use the power of choice that He has given us to forge our own path.  Forget the “He leads me in paths of righteousness.”   We are so like the birds.  Keep the food coming and then go away.

Often times when I officiated at a wedding I made a perfunctory appearance at the reception and then disappeared.   I noted that my presence was stifling the party.   I have also listened to people complain when times grew difficult but never heard those same people being thankful when times were good.  Being thankful is such a mentally healthy thing to be.  When we are thankful we are aware of the good things that we have or are happening.  When we are thankful it is difficult to be pessimistic which is an illness.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Philippians 4:6

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 5, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

Patches is gone.  Patches is a beautiful Australian sheep dog who for at least eight years has been our dog Jazz’s friend.  Yesterday Patches’ family moved away.  He was always outside.  Even in the midst of winter he didn’t want to go in the house. Each day on our walk around the block Jazz stopped and exchanged sniffs.  This evening we stopped as she looked for him.  She sniffed everywhere and let out a few whiney sounds but alas no Patches.  I tried to explain to her but my Labadorish is not very good.  I was frustrated as I just couldn’t find the yelps and barks to tell her what happened.

As we continued on I wondered if God is sometimes frustrated with us as He tries to help us understand loss.  I’m thankful He does speak English, Swedish, Spanish and every possible language.  He even speaks Labadordish.   Perhaps He will help her understand Patches is gone.

As for us, God struggles to enlighten our dull minds.  He, who sees the end from the beginning, understands the grand picture and how each event in our lives goes into making us who we are.  We, who sometimes think we are so smart, are very limited.  Infinity, sin, love, and hate are only vaguely understood as we grapple with the great issues of eternity.  It is so encouraging to know that someday we will see God face to face and with our transformed minds (see I Corinthians 15) we will begin to understand the hows and whys of our short stay here.

I wonder how often Jazz will have to pass Patches’ home before she ceases to stop and sniff.  How long does it take for us to stop caring and wondering about the loss of those we care about?  I hope never.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 4, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

Hummingbirds arrived at our house today.  We did not yet have a feeder in place on the breakfast room window but the hummingbirds came to the very place at the window where the feeder had been last year.   I continue to be amazed.  They are looking good.  I should think they would be tattered and ratty looking after their journey of thousands of miles.  I wonder where they spent the winter.  They were smart to leave this year.  Did they cross the Caribbean and lounge about on a Costa Rican beach while we shoveled snow?

Humans seem to be superior animals but we don’t have all the gifts.  I could never make that trip without a jet plane.  It would be a challenge for me to find the same house and go to the same spot on the same window.  My dog with ear flaps that cover her ears can hear the mailman coming several houses away while I hear nothing.  Bees can go back to the hive and via a sophisticated dance tell the other bees where to find flowers.  I should not be so very smug about being human.

William Bryant said it so well in “To a Waterfowl.”

There is a Power whose care
Teaches thy way along that pathless coast,–
The desert and illimitable air,–
Lone wandering, but not lost.

He, who, from zone to zone,
Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight,
In the long way that I must tread alone,
Will lead my steps aright.

In Matthew 6 Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 6, 2014

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

rogerbothwell.org

I was looking out the window of St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA this noon peering across a street at Worcester’s Korean War Memorial when a car pulled up to the curb.   A sixtyish looking man got out, went around to the passenger’s door and helped an elderly lady across the walkway to the large wall inscribed with the names of Worcester’s sacrifice so many years ago.  Long she stood looking at a particular name and then leaning forward she kissed it, turned to go back to the car, fumbled in her purse as the younger man guided her back.  I almost felt guilty that by watching I had violated a sacred moment.

Often I have heard people say once in heaven we will not remember those we have lost.  How can that be?   Jesus wears the scars forever so we do not forget.  Forgetting would mean that all of this is in vain.  The nation of Israel has holocaust museums so we do not forget lest it happen again.  Well, I am told, we just wouldn’t remember specific people.  Really?   The Kingdom is about loving more not loving less. If one of my loved ones is not there I will understand why, that is what the records are for.  They are not for God.  They are for us that we should understand God’s love and justice.

If one of my loved is not with me I will still love them.  I will kiss their name inscribed in the record books.   We sometimes say time heals all wounds.  We will have all the time that makes forever. Yes, our tears will be wiped away.  My wife and I have a son buried in Iowa.  After fifty years we still love him but we do not cry when we speak of him.  Should heaven be any different?

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 1, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

Do you ever feel like someone has hacked into your brain and is stealing information?   Names of people you really do know cannot be recalled.  Yesterday I couldn’t remember my social security number.  I had to look it up.  Someone asked me for my telephone number and I inadvertently gave them one I had in California over twenty years ago.  Then there is the opposite issue.  Someone puts thoughts into my brain that I really don’t want to be there.

Paul said in Philippians, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”  So I try.  However, I can be driving down the road and suddenly realize what I am thinking doesn’t even come close to that noble standard.

It’s like someone stole the password to my thoughts and took over.  Have you ever had your computer need to be repaired and so you connected to a repair person who literally took over your computer?  You sit back and watch your mouse arrow move about your screen clicking here and clicking there and you aren’t touching your keyboard or mouse.  It’s a bit scary.

The Living Translation renders I Peter 1:13 like this.  “So think clearly and exercise self-control.”  And Psalm 19:14 says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  I have come to think of I Corinthians 15 where Paul speaks of this corruption putting on incorruption as a hard drive reformat.  The bad stuff is removed and the good stuff retained.  In the meantime grace is so important.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 28, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

At least ten times this week I have heard the expression “Take it to the next level.” It’s the current way to say, “Up your game.”  It’s a call to excellence.  It inspires us to not be satisfied with present attainments, no matter how good, and to get even better.

Paul said it in Romans 12:2.  He wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Peter said it in I Peter 1:15.  “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”

Jesus said it in the Sermon on the Mount.  “Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48.

They are telling us to “Take it to the next level.”  Life is about growth, learning new things, honing talents and “going where no man has gone before.”

Perhaps age is taking its toll and we cannot do as well some of the things we used to be able to do really well. That doesn’t mean we stop doing them.  We don’t have to think “Take it to the next level” means the next level down.   It is just the next level “different.”  A song sung from the heart is so much better than a song sung with pitch perfect tones without soul.  A twenty minute mile is so much better than a four minute mile if we smell the violets along the way.  Our passions and desires can burn just as intensely as when we were teens.  The next level is now we can control them and savoring them is all the better.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 30, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

I recently received an email from a reader complimenting me on the almost perfect grammar and punctuation in these devotionals day after day.  I was appreciative but could not take credit.  I have to acknowledge my wife’s careful proofing and two well used style manuals without which these devotionals would be embarrassing displays of ignorance on the part of someone using his native tongue.  And yet even with that backup sometimes an error slips in.

Grammar is a tricky thing because it is fluid.  As culture moves so moves language.  The proper use of something fades into obscurity and is eventually replaced by something newly made proper.  Take the “ly” on the word “newly” in the previous sentence.  It is becoming rarer for people to put the “ly” on their adverbs. “I want it so bad.” Then there is the use of “me” and “I”.  “Me and Tom are going to church.”  People claim it is difficult to know how to use this.  But if you mentally drop the other person out of the sentence it becomes easy.  You wouldn’t say, “Me am going to church.”  Then there is the period after the “I” in an above sentence.  Should it be inside the quotation marks or outside?   My wife isn’t home this evening so I have to rely on a style manual which says the quotation marks should go outside the period like “I.”  Somehow that doesn’t look right.

I am so glad salvation isn’t this difficult though I have heard sermons that make it seem so.  Jesus wants everyone to understand so He plainly made it plain.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  Now that’s easy.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 29, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

The stage was set for a wonderful moment; an empty high school parking lot, a helmeted little boy, an anxious father and a tiny bicycle with no training wheels.  With just a few running steps dad let go and a life milestone was passed.  The little boy was on his way toward manhood.  He was not my little boy.  I did not know who they were.  Yet, I found myself happy to have seen this passage.  Surely heavenly beings are equally happy when they witness our passages.  There is something contagious about the joy and wonder of accomplishment.  I am happy when my students do well.

Jesus told us, “Lo, I am with you always.”  Does that mean, unlike the little boy’s father, He never lets go?  I like the idea that He is watching and yet I find myself wanting Him to “let me.”  Surely as we learn new skills and new proficiencies He steps back and allows us to flourish.  He is the scaffolding while building us.  But there is a time for the scaffolding to be removed.  As a father I scaffolded for my sons who then scaffolded for their children.

Our heavenly Father will never be able to step back and let go in terms of our eternal salvation.  That is something we can never do ourselves.  We have not the competence.  However, there are so many other arenas of life where He must glow with joy as He sees us do it ourselves.  Forever there will be new things to learn and forever there will be opportunities for us to say “let me.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 27, 2015

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

rogerbothwell.org