Category: devotional

We had a beautiful and yet unusual sunset this evening.  The colorful display was in the eastern sky while the western sky was clear.  Should someone have been visiting and not have known the compass points for our location, they could easily have been sure that east was west.

Often we make judgments and snap decisions based upon very limited input.  John might be the nicest man in the world but have just one really rotten day. That is the only day we will ever see him.  Ever after we “know” that John is a rude, short-tempered man.  We know it because we saw it with our own eyes.  The truth is 364 days a year John is a very kind man.  We think we “know” something because we experienced it.  To “know” something.  To really “know” something most often requires lots of experience and lots of study.  We would not want someone who visited New York City to think that is what America is.  The research sample is just too small.  So much of what we “know” really isn’t so.

Because we have read the four Gospels we think we know Jesus. However, they are very limited.  The authors selected incidents to develop a theme.  Matthew designed his work to prove that Jesus was the Messiah.  Luke, a doctor, concentrated on the healing miracles. John told us about Jesus’ Judean ministry and John finishes by telling us the world could not hold the books that could be written about what Jesus did. To really know Jesus will take a lifetime, the kind of lifetime He offers us which is eternity. There will always be something new to learn about Him.  Each new insight will be more wonderful than yesterday’s insight.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 25, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The harvest of leaves has begun.  A wonderfully melancholy fragrance rises with the dust from the raked leaves.  One can almost hear Andy Williams singing about red and gold leaves drifting by his window. Sweetness drifts in the autumn air as afternoon shadows grow long across the garden chrysanthemums.  Decorative cabbage lines walkways and pumpkins are arranged in threes on porches. Sweet corn melts in our mouths.  Apple tree branches are propped up to keep them from snapping under the weight of their bounty.  Harvests are important.  They are the fruit of a year’s labor.  They fill our cupboards, bins and root cellars with the reward of faithful work.

Matthew 27 mentions an amazing harvest. “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”  Jesus will not have to wait for a harvest.  It will be there for Him when He rises on Sunday morning.  Revelation 7 speaks of a group of the redeemed that surround the throne.  Many scholars believe they are the first fruit of Jesus’ gift to us. In I Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 we read of the great harvest of all the redeemed.  It is the harvest of our parents, grandparents and our children that passed too soon.  It is our harvest.

We harvest the crop of leaves from our yards.  We harvest the crops from our farms. They are wonderful.  But there is no harvest greater than the harvested crop of the redeemed that will live with our Jesus forever and ever.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 4, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

We live directly under a flight lane for planes coming from the west heading into Boston’s Logan Airport.  Fortunately we are 50 miles out so even though they have begun their descent they are still high enough not to create a disturbing sound.  In the evenings there is a steady stream about five minutes apart bringing in the day’s travelers.  The lights of the planes often make interesting patterns in the sky when mixed with the lights from Venus and other planets.

When learning to fly many years ago, I learned how to contact flight traffic control and have them guide me along my way and safely into busy airports.  If by chance you have flown into clouds and have no visuals available they will follow you on their radar and continually give you headings and altitudes that will guide you back to clear skies.  If there are no clear skies ahead they will guide you to a runway.  It all works perfectly well if you trust them.  It is a wonderful feeling to drop out of the clouds and see the big painted numbers at the end of the runway right in front of you.

Many times I remembered Psalm 3, “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.”  Often life can grow very cloudy for us and we have no idea what to do, when to do it, and where we are heading.  But we have a divine Father who knows everything that awaits us if we will allow Him to direct us.  Trust and obey is the secret.  A safe landing is guaranteed.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 2, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

There was no school bus in sight but the elementary school students at their morning bus stop were all lined up in a perfectly straight one-behind-the-other queue; except for one little girl.  She was the boss. She had them all under her control and they were ready whenever the bus would appear.  I shudder to think what wrath would fall on a child that got out of line.  I do hope that someday the man who marries her knows what he is getting.

The world needs leaders.  We couldn’t run much of anything without good leaders.   Note the adjective “good.”  There is a certain personality type that drives persons to take control. Many do so for the good of others.  Unfortunately many do so for self-glorification.  Those are a scary lot.  Once people taste power it is very difficult to accept another position that does not offer a continuation of power.

Power is a blessing when used unselfishly and for the good of others.  Gandhi is an amazing example of such a person.  While never becoming a Christian he was a great admirer of Jesus and said he would have been a Christian if it were not for Christians.   Our greatest need for power is the power to control not others but ourselves; to master our personal desires and wants. The problem for most of us is the failure to recognize what they are.  We don’t know our character needs. There is the special need for opening ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit.  It is frightening to ask God to reveal to us our needs. We often times are shocked when He tells us.  But thankfully with the revelation comes the solution and the power.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 2, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The sound of a buzzing mosquito just now passed my ear.  It is on my list of things I would rather not hear along with a fly buzzing my face at two A.M. They share the list with the squalling of tires on the highway behind me, my barber saying, “I’m sorry,” my doctor telling me he is going to do a bone marrow test, the pounding of hammers at 6 AM on weekends, the dental hygienist saying, “Oh, I think the doctor needs to look at this,” the gagging sound of my dog in the living room and the sputtering of the engine and then silence in a small airplane, the ringing of the phone at three AM. They are all sounds that fill me with unpleasant and often frightening memories.

Lest, you think I am a complainer I have a list of things I like hearing.  I love the sound of a crying baby if limited to less than five minutes, the sound of my dog barking at the door to come inside, the siren of a police car pulling someone else over, the sound of our mailman’s truck, the sound of an ice cream truck, the continued purring of a small plane’s engine, my dental hygienist saying, “Good job,” and a congregation loudly and passionately singing a familiar hymn.

Actually the list of good sounds can be almost infinite because there are so many good things to hear.  And how could I not have on my list the sound of Jesus’ voice saying, “Come ye blessed of my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”  Matthew 25   That has to be the best thing anyone will ever hear.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 1, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I had a roommate in college who was madly in love.  The object of his passion could not care less about him.  She was quite lovely and had no problem filling her social calendar.  Alas, he was not on it.  Each time he asked her out she was already busy.  He told me he prayed every night and every morning that God would change her mind and she would find him desirable. This went on for most of the semester.  Finally I asked him how long he was going to keep up his prayers for her affection.  “I will keep at it for as long as it takes,” he responded.  “It’s Biblical you know.  Do you remember the parable of the unjust judge?  God will eventually tire of my asking and give her to me.”

I don’t think that was Jesus’ meaning in Luke 18.  Instead of God being like the unjust judge, He is just the opposite.  Jesus finished the parable by saying of God, “I tell you that He will see to it that justice is done for them soon.” My poor heartsick roommate didn’t read the entire passage and had a very impaired view of God.  While the unjust judge delayed his help our Heavenly Father acts for us “soon.” I can tell you my roommate’s prayers were answered, but not the way he asked.  By the end of the second semester he found a different young lady who was delightful and eventually became his wife.  God knows best.  Ask and trust.  We don’t have to pester and beg.

Jesus said, “Though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 30, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

My dog is sitting here giving me the “poor me” look.  She knows there are treats in my desk and should she somehow convince me that she is pathetically neglected I might give her one or two or three.  Her head is down but she is staring out the top of her eyes.  This must be the way dogs pray.  Her real problem is I know how much she has already had today and anymore would be excessive.

That is my situation with God.  I ask for things.  I give Him the “poor me” attitude but my problem is He knows what I have already had today and anything more would be excessive.

For two hours this evening I talked to twenty grad students and could not get them to talk back.  They sat quietly and listened.  If I asked a very specific question I could get a short answer.  But no one was volunteering.  No one was contributing. That was a tough class.  “Poor me.”

Today my car would start but not keep running.  “Poor me.”  However, I do have a smart neighbor who came over and helped fix it.  So I better knock off with the “poor me.”  And I did have 20 attentive students.  And I did almost overeat.  (That happens every day if I am not careful.)  And I do have a wife who takes really good care of me. And I do have a Savior who forgives my sins and gives me an eternity of good things.  I can forgive my dog.  She doesn’t know any better.  But I certainly do; so, no more “poor me.”  Instead a prayer of thanksgiving is in order.  “My cup runneth over.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 26, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I received a bill today from Popular Mechanics magazine.  Apparently when I subscribed last year I committed myself to a lifetime relationship.  They did not ask me to resubscribe. They automatically billed me for the coming year.  I must have been distracted when I vowed “til death do us part.”  I would be upset if it weren’t for the fact it is only $1.20 an issue mailed to my front door. That really is a bargain.

Vows are an interesting part of the human experience.  The first vow I ever made was a temperance vow.  When I was about ten someone made a presentation that ended with my vowing never to use alcohol or tobacco.  Does God hold me to that vow sixty years later knowing how young and impressionable I was?   So far so good.  John the Baptist took a lifetime Nazarite vow that included never cutting his hair.  So did Samson and look what happened when his hair was cut.

It’s all about promise keeping and how good we are at carrying through on our promises.  If we are going to raise a generation of youth with an understanding of the importance of promises, we as parents need to be sure we always keep our word. Whether we desire it or not we are being watched.  We are role models for future generations. When a small child says, “But Daddy, you promised.”  Dad better think long and hard before not following through on that commitment.

Sometimes we are caught unaware and before we realize the full consequences of dishonoring our word we break a promise.  Hopefully the humans around us are as gracious as God. How grand it is to have a forgiving God who understands our humanness.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 27, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I am sitting here looking at an advertisement for a $7,000 watch whose makers brag that it is accurate to one fifth of a second.  Now, let me see.  Should I purchase this one or the one advertised on another page that is designed to intrigue?  It is intriguing why it should cost $5,000.  Do I or do I not need to know time to the fifth of a second?  I can’t think that fast.  As for intriguing, well, my wife tells me I already am.  I think I shall pass and continue to rely on my faithful $19 Timex.

Recently I heard a preacher quote Revelation 10:6 saying “time shall be no more.”  His point being that if we have all eternity to live then keeping track of time would be pointless.  I wanted to ask him about meeting someone somewhere.  If we are to see each other surely it will not be merely random encounters.  We must be able to know when and where.  Alas.  There is so much we do not know.  What time system would we use?  Surely not something tied to the rotation and orbit of Earth.  If we think so we are really conceited.

Sometimes we use the expression, “I am running out of time” indicating we are pressed to accomplish something necessary. I have students who are constantly running out of time.  However, it is truly exciting to think about eternity and the life Jesus promises.  Light years and relativity will surely take on a whole new meaning and I am anxious to understand.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 27, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

If you don’t watch or enjoy football you probably have not noticed (nor care) that the 2012 season was marred by some of the worst-ever calls by the referees.  Because of contract negotiations with the regular referees, replacement referees have been on the field.  The year’s records need to require an asterisk indicating an abnormality.  Accurate, fair and unbiased judgment is essential not only in sports but in all manner of life activities.  Putting or not putting someone in jail, firing or retaining an employee, disciplining the offending child and not the sibling, purchasing for the right price the right car are just a few things requiring good judgment.

Unequivocally the most important judgment of all time for all of us pertains to eternity.  Will we or will we not live forever?  What is fascinating about this is historically people have usually thought of this in terms of earning God’s favor building a record of good deeds. If we can do enough good things, they can outweigh our misdeeds. For the honest of heart this can be a most discouraging concept. Those who speak the truth to themselves know it just can’t be done.

Now comes the good part.  The judgment call is ours.  That’s right.  We get to choose whether or not we live forever.  God woos. We choose.  God longs for us.  God desires us.  And so it is that He opened the door via Jesus.  Jesus even calls Himself “The Door.”  John 10:9.   We need never fret over God’s good judgment.  He will always do the right thing because He knows and sees everything.  Therefore, we are judged to be unworthy.  Then Jesus steps up and says, “I paid the price for (put your name here).”  And the Father says, “Wonderful. (Put your name here) is coming to our house.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 26, 2012

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

Rogerbothwell.org