Roger Bothwell

They were both wearing wedding rings so I am going to believe they were married to each other.   What cast just a hint of suspicion was the way they acted.  They were sitting at a restaurant table talking to each other and laughing.  That’s not normal.  Normal married people at a restaurant don’t talk to each other.  Usually each is too busy texting someone else.  There was something else abnormal about this couple.  She was all dolled up with makeup and jewelry with freshly quaffed dyed hair.  Oh, there was one more thing.  I think they were both ninety. You could tell by the way he looked at her that he thought she was beautiful.  And you could tell by the expression on her face that she knew he thought she was beautiful.  You just have to love a woman who never gives up; no matter how old.  Maybe she keeps trying because she knows he loves her efforts.

Song of Solomon is quite a book.  It has entertained a lot of boys sitting through dull sermons.  Some people have tried to justify its presence in Scripture as a metaphor of Christ and His bride, His church.  I really don’t think so but I could be very wrong.  I am wrong about much.  However, it is true that God does think we are beautiful.  Love is blind; even for God.  Most likely it is because He knows what we will be.  We are bundles of potentiality.  In Revelation we are portrayed as the bride for Christ and have you ever seen a bride that isn’t beautiful? It isn’t about the shape of a nose or cheekbones.  It is the glow of happiness.  That’s what I saw in the elderly lady in the restaurant.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 22, 2014

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While channel surfing this morning I came across an old Hopalong Cassidy film.  I had forgotten how wonderfully unrealistic they were.  Hoppy always shoots the gun out the bad guy’s hand without wounding it.  The bad guy’s bullets never hit anything the bad guy is aiming at.  The bad guy can hit Hoppy on the head with the handle of his six-shooter only to have Hoppy wake up in a few minutes with no wound, no concussion and no headache.  Hoppy’s hat never falls off and his pure white horse is faster than any of the bad guys’ horses.  Hoppy is played by an actor name William Boyd and I did notice as I read the credits that the movie was a William Boyd production.  Yes, he was in charge of all the details.

This world is God’s production.  But it was hi-jacked.  God is no longer in charge of all the details.  The hi-jacker has filled God’s creation with pain, dishonor and death.  A billion things a day happen here that are not God’s will. The bad guys do shoot good people.  The bad guys are sometimes faster than the good guys.  When the Creator Himself came to save us He did not wake up from a smash on the head.  He died.  However, lest we be disheartened, just like a Hopalong Cassidy film our Hero will ultimately win.  He rose from His grave and all who love and believe Him will join Him in His victory.  Instead of a hat He wears a crown.  And, yes, our Champion rides a white horse.  “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.”  Revelation 19:11

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 5, 2014

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I have always thought the American flag is beautiful.  I love the color combinations of red, white and blue.  I love the stripes and stars.  I wonder if everyone thinks their country’s flag is beautiful.  I have seen many flags that I think are (I want to use the word “ugly” but I will restrain myself.) unpleasant to the eye.  I wonder about this because I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  One’s flag is pregnant with meaning.  It is about home and family.  It is about safety and the place that nurtures you.  We bring to a flag deep emotions and pride.  Can all those factors make any combination of colors beautiful when placed on a flag?

I always thought my mother was beautiful.  Was that because she was beautiful or because she was my mother?  I really don’t know.  I cannot answer.  Sometimes we see a husband and wife where one is very attractive and the other very plain.  We wonder how the plain one managed to catch the good looking one.  Sometimes we are fortunate enough to get to know them and then we understand.  When we first met them we only looked at the surface.  Later we came to see extraordinary beauty from both of them.  They belonged together.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.”  It’s all in the message.  Which means I must be looking good because I am sharing with you the most fabulous good news of all time.  Jesus loves you dearly and offers you the free gift of forgiveness, redemption and eternity.

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 1, 2014

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Yesterday along with friends we stopped for a picnic.  As we walked to the outdoor table we notice a very pretty Irish Setter kind of dog lying by a car.  At first I thought he was chained but soon a man came and asked how long the dog had been there.  We didn’t know.  The man then said, “I was so scared.  I thought he was lost.”  They had gone for a walk and when the dog lost sight of his master he went back to the car to wait.  Smart dog.

I think sometimes we humans underestimate the intelligence of the rest of God’s creatures.  They most likely know much more than we think they know.  The dog by the car didn’t seem distressed.  It calmly watched us set out our picnic.  It knew where it was and knew his master would be back.  It was merely a matter of time.

It should be like that with us.  The world is falling apart and we are waiting for our master’s return.  I hope we are doing it calmly.  Worry and stress truly eat away at the quality of our lives.  Jesus gave us so many promises of His care and that He would return.   He said, “I go to prepare a place for you and if I do that I will come again so you can be with me.”  He will not disappoint.  He will do as He says.  So let’s calmly wait and watch what unfolds around us.

There are so many things we can learn from our animals. They love us but sometimes I must confess my dog wants so much to be the alpha female in the house she can be a pest.  I love it.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 29, 2009

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One of the funeral homes in our little city has the following sign by the street where its driveway begins.  “A Journey Funeral Home.  Not a thruway.”  Right they are.  It’s not a thruway it’s a dead end.  The guest of honor never leaves alive.  But wait.  Is that always true?  Jesus spoke of death as a sleep.  See John 11.   In I Thessalonians Paul spoke of a great trumpet blast at a day of resurrection when the sleepers will awaken and all the promises Jesus made will come true.

I’m thinking I should have my wife put a sign on my cement sarcophagus with one of the following messages, “Just passing through” or maybe “Shhh, sleeping.”  “He loved naps.”  “If you thought he looked good today just wait until the next time you see him.”  “And now for the main event.”  I’m thinking I should video tape my own funeral sermon.  That way I can make sure the stories that are told about me are made up by me.

We are on a great journey.  The destination is unknown, even for those who trust Jesus.  Scripture says, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard the wonders that await us.”  In Ephesians 2 Paul tells us God will spend eternity showering us with gifts of grace because it makes Him happy.  It is His pleasure.  This is not for the timid nor the cowardly.  It is for the brave who seek to learn, to explore, to grow, to contribute, to serve and to love.  When couples marry they embark on an unknown journey.  When we unite ourselves with Jesus the journey that follows is totally out of this world.  Death is but a thruway.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 11, 2014

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What I ate for breakfast this morning traveled much more than I ever have.  My orange juice came from Brazil.  My banana came from Central America.  My shredded wheat came from Canada.  The sugar I put on my shredded wheat came from the Dominican Republic and my mandarin oranges came from China.  I think my milk was local and came from here in Massachusetts. As each week passes, our little planet gets even smaller.  Our technology and transportation have made people in India our neighbors.

When my wife and I were teaching in Uganda we relied on flimsy blue air mail letters to communicate with our family in the States.  Once each eighteen months we made an appointment to go to Kampala to have an operator place a three minute telephone call for us to our families.  Today teachers in Uganda daily use Skype or Facetime, not to just talk, but to see their loved ones in the States.

When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Gospel Commission to take the Gospel to the world they had no idea how far they had to go.  When I was a little boy there was a world map in our church with countries marked that had a Christian population.  I remember a large number of countries that were not marked.  I doubt if there are any nations left without Christians.  So what is Jesus waiting for?   Why does He not return?   We don’t know.   He will come in His time.  He will come when His infinite wisdom says it is time.  In the meantime our task is to allow Him to work out His life in us that we are ready to be with Him whenever.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 14, 2012

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A Slap on the Back of the Head

There are some people that really need a slap on the back of the head.  This evening I saw three adults who really should be at the head of the line with all of us lined up to do the deed.  First of all it was dark.  Second, it was a really very busy intersection with rapidly moving cars.  Third, they were crossing the street against the light.  Fourth, they were pushing two baby strollers. Fifth, they were just strolling.

As I drove away literally seething at what I had seen I unfortunately remembered a few really dumb things I have done.  Perhaps I should get a slap on the back of the head before those folk.  I doubt if I am really out of place here to think that perhaps you too can remember deserving a good slap.  Even if it is just a matter of taking all our blessings for granted and not remembering to be thankful.

A lifetime ago I was a pastor in Calhoun, Ga.  One morning the word got out that I was ill.  Before the day was out I had three separate house visits from three separate physicians.  We had called none of them.  Today my primary care physician told my wife he prays everyday that I will be well.  Last week my specialist told me he loved Ian and me.  If ever once you hear me complain about my lot in life I want you to come to my house and slap me on the back of the head.

I think of people who don’t positively respond to the wondrous gift of eternal life; especially those who have heard it over and over.  I wish the only result of that would be a slap on the back of the head.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 21, 2012

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We saw a lovely wall of roses this afternoon.   Yet as we drew near enough to see individual roses it became apparent that each rose by itself wasn’t that good looking.  Each had been beaten by the weather and chewed on by whatever eats roses.  They looked better from afar when they were part of an array of thousands of roses.   How like people.  Most of us look better from afar.  When we get well acquainted with people we soon see their physical, personality and character flaws.

Some years ago we invited someone to our home for dinner.  Afterwards I was told he said regarding me, “He’s not the person I thought he was.”   The brief time spent with me took off the shine he thought was there.  Actually, I am sure it was even worse than he thought.  Alas, familiarity often does breed contempt.  The lesson is if you want to keep admiring someone, keep them at arm’s length.  Don’t get too close.  Televisions are like that.  If you get too close you see the pixels instead of a smooth picture. I just got up and went and checked to see if that is also the case with high-definition television and it is still true.

There is only one person in history we can thoroughly check and not find flaws, that is Jesus.  The worst thing his enemies could say was “This man eats with sinners.”  He touched lepers.  He befriended Roman soldiers and harlots.  If “birds of a feather” was always true we could write Him off.   But wait just a minute Jesus wants also to be friends with you and me.  Forget the soldiers and harlots.  Being with us would be bad enough.  Somehow He doesn’t mind.  He loves us as we are.  How grand.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 18, 2012

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While waiting for my wife to select the perfect potatoes from the mound of potatoes in the grocery store my eye caught a beautiful sliced in half watermelon.  There it was lusciously red and juicily smiling at me from under its clear plastic wrap.  I was tempted until I saw the $7.99 price.  Obviously the grocer also thought it was tempting.  But really now sixteen dollars for a watermelon!

I tried once to tell one of my grad classes about being a boy and going to the Giant Supermarket where there were a hundred or so watermelons stacked inside the door.  There was a large knife on the pile and before you purchased one you could plug it and taste it.  If it didn’t suit your palate it was tossed aside.  They were ninety-eight cents apiece.  I could tell from their expressions they did not believe me.  How could anything so outrageous really have been?

The Gospel is like that.  It is an outrageous story.  The universe is filled with a billion galaxies.  Why would a Creator of such wonder come here to save us?  It sounds so provincial.  Surely it is the product of our ego-centricity.  We begin the story with our being made in the Creator’s image.  Really?  The story begins focused on our conceit and it gets far more worse when we get to the cross.  Just who in the universe do we think we are?  In Romans and Galatians Paul tries to tell us we are the adopted sons of that Creator, princes and princesses destined to, according to John, sit with Him in His very own throne.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 23, 2012

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We are far removed from the contested battles over what letters should be included in the New Testament canon.  We open our Bibles and give little thought that the book of James was contested not just for centuries but for over a millennium.  It was not until Council of Trent in 1545 to 1563 that the issue was settled for the western church.  Martin Luther (1483 -1546) would have been very happy to exclude this “epistle of straw.”  Luther objected because he did not feel it was strong enough in presenting Jesus as our Savior.  James presents the law as a “law of freedom” in contrast to Paul calling it a “law of slavery, wrath and death.”  See James 1:25, 2:12 and Romans 4:15, 7:10.

It is fascinating to think of both James and Paul being correct.  If one is seeking God’s favor the law falls far short because we fall far short.  When Paul was Saul, he was a law keeper’s law keeper and found no joy only condemnation at his personal failures to measure up. When he became Paul, he discovered the gift of grace and the happiness of knowing eternal life was not to be earned but accepted.

However, for those of us who live in a nation of “freedom under the law” we understand an umbrella of law provides us with the freedom to live reasonably safely from those who do not have the law “written on their hearts.”  If everyone were like Paul filled with the Holy Spirit we would not need black and white cars with blue lights. Paul understood grace.  James understood that even with the Holy Spirit in us we often need the guidance of written law for our behavior.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 26, 2012

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