Category: devotional

I’m sure you are as happy as I that the current political campaign is over. “Oh, what a relief it is.”  This afternoon our present Massachusetts governor and our governor elect had a joint press conference.  Being that they are of different parties some members of the press pressed them with questions like, “During the campaign some harsh words were spoken.  What…”  Our present governor immediately and continually cut them off with the following response.  “The campaign is over.”  He must have repeated it a half dozen times until the press got the message.  “The campaign is over.”

That is a class act that should be emulated by all of us.  We have all had conflicts with others.  But there comes a time to stop.  There comes a time to say, “It’s over” and get on with a productive relationship.  Why do we so often hang on to slights or worse and let those things make us miserable for years that follow?  When we stop and think about it, if we really think about it, it is stupid because we are then making our own lives miserable. It isn’t the other.  It is us.  We are doing it to ourselves.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.…”  Your life will be better.  The other’s life will be better.  Everyone wins.  Jesus knows us so well.  Christianity is about the quality of life, now and forever.  Don’t forget the now part.  “The campaign is over.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 6, 2014

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

Rogerbothwwell.org

By far the winner of the most popular costume for the little girls that came to our home trick-or-treating was Elsa, the fantasy female protagonist in Disney’s Frozen.  I should have counted but I am sure it was near 50%.   Two little girls even sang for me “Let It Go”, the award-winning theme song from the film.

As they went back up the sidewalk to the street I thought of Romans 13:14 where Paul admonishes us to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, . . .” Just as those little girls were being changed by dressing like Elsa and singing her song, so we are transformed by mentally clothing ourselves like Jesus.   It really isn’t just role-playing.   It is a role that little by little becomes reality.  We become unselfish by doing unselfish things.  We become kind by doing the thoughtful deed.  We become generous by giving more than is expected.  We become nice by not saying the nasty thing and instead figuring out a way to be positive.  Granted it might be difficult at first but like most things the more we do something the more our body and mind adapt.  And then one day something marvelous happens.   It becomes automatic.  It becomes our first response.  We are changed.  I’m not saying it is easy.  Quite to the contrary just like learning to play the piano like a concert performer takes years of daily practice so it is a lifelong task to become like Jesus.

Playacting isn’t just playacting.  Playacting is serious character transformation.  It is the noblest challenge upon which one can embark.  And the best part of all as Peter says in his second letter we can participate, now, in the divinity of Jesus.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 5, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The pumpkins that last week were selling for seven to ten dollars apiece are now on sale for one dollar.  If I wait another week maybe they will pay me to take them away. Of course I have to consider the fact that I don’t want one because their use is over.  Who wants to carve a face in a pumpkin in November?  I could get my wife to make a pie but we can only eat a limited number of pumpkin pies.

I never wanted to write a book because I could never bear the indignity of seeing one on a “Take a Book for a Dollar” table or worse a pile of them.

I have met people with such little self-esteem they feel totally worthless to anyone.  One of my students who is 22 years old spent 20 of those years in a Nepalese refugee camp.  He told me he never felt he had any value until he came to America.  Now he is in college and dreams are forming.  Suddenly he has a future.  He comes to class totally prepared and sits on the front row.  He asks me to repeat things because he doesn’t want to miss anything.  It is exciting for me to see him start believing in himself.

If by any chance you might be tempted to think you have minimal value allow me to remind you that the Creator of the universe knows every hair upon your head.  He has a place for you in His kingdom.  He died to guarantee that place for you and according to Romans 8 and Galatians 4 you are an adopted daughter or son with equal shares in Jesus’ inheritance.   That’s value.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 4, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

It’s debate time in America.  Political parties are verbally battling for control of our lives.  We the people have to listen and decide who we can trust to tell us the truth.  Who is really doing this for us and not for their own ego satisfaction?

There is an interesting passage in Revelation 12:7 and 8.  It says, “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.”  Obviously this was a war of words and not physical combat.   Who could war against omnipotence?

This was a war for the hearts and minds of the universe. God, the omnipotent one, tolerated dissent because He knows His dream government is one where love and free will are the fundamentals.  If at any time before all the issues (accusations against Him) were openly understood by all His created beings His dream could never be.  Lucifer was allowed access to Earth and unfortunately we failed.  But God in His great love and for the sake of all the universe sent Jesus into the fray in the weakened form of humanity.

Satan had accused God of being a tyrant who demanded obedience and death.  God needed to show that the only thing He wants for His children is the abundant life.  Death is the ultimate NATURAL fruit of disobedience.  For thousands of years Lucifer toted his lies about what God wanted.  The universe listened to the debate.  God was not winning until Calvary.  On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross and Lucifer lost.  His lies were exposed.  His character was exposed.  Our heavenly Father won and with that win comes our victory over death.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 29, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

The gas station was only a football field away as two slightly built girls were pushing their car toward a fill-up.  The problem was it was uphill and they were straining with all their might and not getting anywhere. It was hopeless.  They were so close and yet so far. Finally I watched two other cars pull over and two muscular young men got out, waved the girls aside and pushed the car to the pumps.

In Hebrews 10 we read about the priests sacrificing animals day in and day out and never making any progress with Israel’s sin problem.  It was hopeless.  Then Jesus came.  He was the ultimate sacrifice that opened the way for all of us to not only enter the court yard and the Holy Place but He gave us direct access into the Most Holy Place.  Without Jesus’ help we are never going to make it.

Now according to Hebrews 10 we can celebrate success in arriving to be with our Father.  He is not only approachable, He is inviting.  He wants us to come with all the eagerness of parents wanting their children and grandchildren to come home for the holidays. If our grandchildren come this Thanksgiving or Christmas you can only imagine the preparation that will take place.  Leaves will be raked.  Windows will be washed.  Carpets will be scrubbed.  The tasks will be endless until the glorious day they arrive.  It is the same in heaven.

We can push and strain until our blood vessels pop and we will make no more progress toward being with our heavenly Father than those two young girls made toward the filling station.  It was only with help they made it.  It is only with the help of Jesus that we can make it.  He is the best – count on it.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 3, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I spent the afternoon blowing leaves.  I highly recommend it if you are into watching patches of reds and yellows swirling about decorating your life.  I felt like I was Jackson Pollock splashing about getting ready for an exhibition. Truly nothing he ever did comes close to what I was doing.  My art was living for there was a breeze coming out of the north.  Obviously I was bright enough to blow the leaves southward.  Even still there were moments of futility if one’s purpose was to clear the yard.  But I had the reward of just watching them blow.  Everything we do in life doesn’t have to be practical.  Sometimes the reward is beauty. And that is enough.

I watched my dog sitting with her face to the wind staring at our mountain.  What was she thinking?  Was she merely enjoying the pleasure of the wind in her face or did she also see the beauty on the mountain?   Are we the only creatures to enjoy aesthetics?  I think she is beautiful.  What does she think of me?

The enjoyment of beauty is a wonderful gift from God.  Philosophers for millennia have sought to define it.  How is it that something beautiful to one is not so to another?  It is obvious that we see with our brains and not with our eyes.  Surely anyone who has ever been rescued from death thinks his or her rescuer is beautiful.  Thus Jesus, who rescued us from an eternity of death, is by far the most beautiful being in the Universe.  We will never tire of thinking of new ways to praise Him and new names we can call Him.

“How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him that brings glad tidings.” Isaiah 52:7

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 30, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

I had a great plate of spaghetti this afternoon.  One could tell by looking at me that I enjoyed it because I had tomato sauce on my shirt, on my jacket (a nice jacket) and on my khakis.  Honestly, this is getting pathetic.  I used to look at old men who were wearing their lunch and felt sorry for them.  Am I there?  Has it come to this?  I have never eaten lobster but I have seen people eating it and wearing a bib.  When my boys were little they had bibs with a turned-up catcher on the bottom.  Should I put one on my Christmas list?

It’s not the first time I have made a mess.  Actually I have found life to be messy.  As a pastor I have sat through, talked through and prayed through many messes with hurting people.  We start off life with dreams for that perfect life.  Rarely does anyone have that happily-ever-after ride off into the sunset.  Sometimes just when things are going so well tragedy of some sort strikes.  It’s life.  It’s living in a non-perfect world.

The success of life is how one handles the messes.  Do we surrender?  Do we give up our dreams or do we stay in the saddle and reinvent ourselves and make new goals tailored to fit new realities?  One thing we can count on is we never have to face nor clean up the messes by ourselves.  I love the last few verses of Matthew where Jesus says, “Lo, I am with you always.  Even to the end of the world.”  And the Book of Revelation closes with promises of a new life, a new earth, and a place where the messes are no more.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 30, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Only one student out of sixty this morning knew which teams were playing in the seventh and final game of the World Series.  You can be sure if the Red Sox were playing not only would they have known, they would have been ramped up.   If it doesn’t involve us we don’t care.  I’m sure you have noticed when the news reports an airplane crash somewhere in the world they will tell us how many Americans were on board.  Forget about the Guineans or anyone else. Thousands of people are dying of Ebola in West Africa but we get an almost daily account of the fever of the one and only American being treated in New York City.

We are very self-centered beings.  So often we hear someone say after a disaster, “Wow that could have been me.”   As difficult as it might seem to understand, everything isn’t about US.   About now some of you who read these devotionals might say, “Well, most of these devotionals are about something that happened to YOU.”   You’re right.  I am just as self-centered as you.

Over and over I hear people say, “Jesus died just for you.”   A good thing to do when preaching is to personalize it.  However, Jesus died for everyone.  I know if only you or I would have accepted Him, He would have still done it.  But that isn’t my point right now. I’m talking about the fact that each of us is the center of the universe.  Or so we think.

Every once in awhile I try to do something for someone without their knowing who did it.  It’s a great thing to do because I don’t get the glory for it.   But then again I do glow in the knowledge that I did it.  I am so wonderful!

Written by Roger Bothwel on October 30, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Are you ever struck with an overwhelming sense that you don’t know much about life?  I received a paper from one of my psych students who wrote about being on a patrol in Afghanistan and coming under fire.  One of the four men he was with was killed.  He said he did not cry until he got back to base but then he wept uncontrollably.  He described it as a strange mixture of sorrow for the man lost, relief and thanksgiving that he was safe and unharmed, and guilt for still being alive.  We are complex beings.  Rarely is something simple.

I don’t understand Revelation 21:3 & 4 which describes heaven.  It reads, “I heard a loud voice from the throne. It said, ‘Now God makes his home with people. He will live with them. They will be his people. And God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or sadness. There will be no more crying or pain. Things are no longer the way they used to be.’”

We cry for many reasons. Could it be this passage is speaking only about crying in the context of pain?  Will we not cry for happiness?  Will we not be emotionally overwhelmed by God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice?  When I am happy it overflows out of my eyes. What of crying for our loved ones who are not saved?  Will we no longer care because, “Well, we made it”?  If anything I think our love will be deepened as we become more like our Savior. I do not want to lose the deepest part of my humanity.  There is so much I don’t understand.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 28, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

I was in the hallway talking to one of my students this morning when I heard, “Get out the way, Sonny.”  Thinking someone was joking I turned to see an old guy, a really old guy, giving me the evil eye as he shuffled on by.  This guy was so old he wouldn’t have needed the American History textbook he was carrying.  He could just go in the classroom and talk about the time he ate dinner with President Lincoln.  I don’t think I have been called, “Sonny” for the last six decades. Life is all about one’s perspective.

I wonder what it is about some old people who feel their advanced years give them the right to be rude.  I hope when I get old I will remember to be kind.  Someone told me he thought the old guy was being kind to call me “Sonny.”  I do have to say it did give me a psychological lift for the day.  But I could tell by the look in his eye he wasn’t interested in boosting my moral.

Age really is relative.  When we were in fourth grade kids in sixth grade were really big and important.  But, the promises of Jesus concerning eternal life make age irrelevant.  Really, what is the difference between someone 40,000 years old as opposed to someone 50,000 years old?   We could be best friends considering how close we are in age.  It just won’t matter.

So go ahead and call me “Sonny.”  I don’t mind.  Just do it with a twinkle in your eye and smile.  You can make my day.  Actually you will probably make my week.  I know I’ll be thinking about that old curmudgeon all this week.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 28, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org