Roger Bothwell

I sometimes worry that there will not be any good stories to read in heaven. A good story requires a really vile villain.  The badder the better.   It makes us champion the good guy hoping that he wins.  We want the bad guy to collect his due.  A good story puts the protagonist in jeopardy and makes us wonder how he or she will escape.  The last time I heard a sermon about heaven I heard there would be no bad guys in heaven and all danger would be removed.  We would always be safe.  So what will we do for good summer reading?

Since there will be universal travel available, maybe all books will be travel adventures.  But how can they be adventures if there isn’t some intrigue?  I do enjoy a good philosophy book but not all the time.  The adventures of Marco Polo or Vasco da Gama are exciting to read because of bands of robbers and storms on the sea.  What’s to read if they traveled with American Express cards?

Maybe we will read about our personal adventures prior to heaven, but that will soon grow old.  Someone once told me we would not remember anything from here and my response was “Then what is the use of this?”   The more I try to ponder the future the more dumbfounded I become.  I cannot imagine a world without death.  If things didn’t die we would have to neuter all our pets lest we be overrun with puppies.  So I am just going to trust Jesus to have it all figured out  or us.  Paul did write in I Corinthians 2:9, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 2, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

I arrived at a four way stop just a second after two other cars seemed to arrive simultaneously.   Of course I waited.  It wasn’t my turn.  The other two both decided it was their right of way.  So I had a front row seat as I watched two very nice cars smash into each other.  Both of the drivers got out of their cars and each was hot.  I left.  I realize I was a witness and should have stayed but I wasn’t about to get punched out by both of them by saying they were both wrong.

In Romans 12:10 Paul tells us to “prefer one another.”  In the paraphrase The Message it says, “Practice playing second fiddle.”  It is quite obvious the accident would not have occurred had either of them practiced Paul’s counsel.   It isn’t always an easy thing to do.  We do so like to be the first.  We like to shine.  When people talk we wait for them to take a breath so we can jump in and tell our story which, of course, is always a bigger and better story.

One can understand this behavior among those who don’t know any better but how sad it is to see it in church.   One night on the television program American Idol one of the contestants commented on how very good one of his competitors was.  One of the judges reprimanded him for not being competitive.  Needless to say Paul would have been appalled.  One of life’s great joys is to treasure the talents of one’s friends.  I have discovered along the way my life is rich because I have rich friends.  By rich I mean multitalented and very smart.  Surround yourself with good friends and help them shine.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 30, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

I watched today while a safety technician went over my car.  It was time for the annual inspection.  He jacked it up and tried to wiggle the wheels.  He blew the horn and tried to make the car move when the hand brake was on.  He had quite a list of things to do.   And of course he checked to see if I was unduly polluting the environment.  Finally I got my sticker.   As I drove away I remembered that once a year on the Day of Atonement the children of Israel had to do an inspection of their homes and their inner beings.  All pollutants had to go. You most likely noticed I qualified my polluting with the word “unduly.” That’s because my car does pollute.   However, I like to think of the carbon dioxide it produces as food for the trees so they can make oxygen for me. It makes me feel better when I just go for a ride instead of some place I have to be.

One of my really good friends used the word “damn” today.  At first I thought, “Oh dear, she polluted her speech with this foul word!”   However, sometimes a good “damn” is appropriate.  It was. In Matthew 21 Jesus cursed (damned) a fig tree. While He didn’t use that word because it is an English word, He did the equivalent in Hebrew or Aramaic.  In Matthew 23 He pronounced seven “woes” upon the religious establishment.  As I read them it does seem that He certainly wasn’t blessing them. It is fascinating that in Mark 7 Jesus had quite a discussion about what pollutes us.  It seemed the religion establishment was very concerned about what went into their mouths.   Jesus seemed much more concerned about what came out.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 3, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

I have some friends who live in Bermuda.  They tell me they enjoy coming to the States because they get Island Fever.  Bermuda is a small place; everyone knows everyone and they need more space.  Many of us non-Bermudians can appreciate their need because we sometimes suffer from Planet Fever.  When I was a small boy the world was very big.  The places pictured in National Geographic magazines were far away.  Something strange has occurred.  As I grew bigger the world grew smaller.   I remember being concerned about the exhaust coming out the back of our car.  My father assured me the world was so big that exhaust didn’t matter.  I wonder what he would say today in light of global warming?

Pictures of earth from space craft have reinforced the reality of how very small and fragile we are.  A volcano in the South Pacific can affect the temperature in New England.  Flu starts in a small Chinese village and children in New York City become ill.  This weekend I was in the forest looking for a geocache and the GPS/phone in my hand started to vibrate.  It was my son in California calling.  He doesn’t seem so far away because we see him whenever we want by turning on the computer video cam.

When I read that God so loved the world that He gave us His only son it becomes very personal. We are the world.  A few years ago I was flying over New Mexico and saw a house in the middle of nowhere.  I was intrigued because I didn’t see any road to the house.   Turning back I circled to get a better look and sure enough the only way in and out was a helipad by the swimming pool.  Someone had a personal sanctuary.  They had their own space on our tiny planet.  Perhaps someday in God’s vast universe each of us will have our own planet.  Why not?  God’s place is huge.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 26, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

Climbing and descending stairs is a growing challenge for our old dog.  She stands and stares for awhile summoning the resources to make the trip. Wanting to understand the challenge I decided to ascend and descend from her point of view.  Climbing up was easy.  Going down stairs on all fours face first is a major adventure.  If you never have done it give it a try and report back to me.  I doubt if I will ever do it again.  Once is enough.  It is a whole new perspective.

Perspective is very important.  I had a person report to me that he always told things the way they are.  I had to smile because no one tells things the way they are.  We can only tell things from our perspective.   Five people will leave a room with five different stories about what happened in that room.  Each is telling the truth experienced through their senses. What I have discovered is the person who claims to tell things as they are is usually a rude person who wants to bully others with what they think is truth.   Patient politeness is often a missing gift.

We have four gospel accounts for a reason.  God wanted us to see the life of Jesus through the senses of four different people.  Somewhere in the consensus there is reality.  I am fascinated to note how much smarter I was thirty years ago.   These days I am much more leery of certainty.   How often have we seen people speak with great authority about things they neither saw nor heard because they were not there?

After saying all of this I must tell you what I do know and I say it with great authority.   Jesus loves you very much.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 28, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

They weren’t blind but they might as well have been.  Three mice looking for a winter home decided the ventilation fan in my sister’s Toyota looked like a nice dark secure refuge from the winter storms.   I think the end came quickly.  Surely they never knew what happened when she turned on the fan.  We didn’t either until the grinding noise caused us to open it and find their body parts.

How could I not think of Paul’s counsel in I Thessalonians 5.   He wrote,”For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. . . For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

A Bible story I learned when I was very little was about Joseph storing away grain during the seven years of plenty.  Most of us seem to be optimists and bask in good times not thinking they will end.  Alas, the plight of humanity is hard times will come and those who have prepared will survive.  The problem is knowing how to prepare.  Jesus assures us in John 10, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”   Now that’s a safe place.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 11, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

As a psychology teacher I am often filled with wonder at the psychological wisdom of Paul.  Paul begins most of his letters with theological issues and finishes them with practical advice on how to live a successful life here on earth.  He was not so heavenly minded that he forgot the importance of good human relationships. Romans 12 is particularly good.

1. “Offer yourself as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God.” In other words eat right, exercise, get enough sleep and fresh air, etc.
2. “Don’t conform to the world without thinking about it.”
3. “Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought.”
4. “Love sincerely, don’t fake it.”
5. “Hate what is evil.”
6. “Honor others above yourself.”
7. “Don’t lack in zeal.”  (Don’t get tired of doing good.)
8. “Be persistent in prayer.”
9. “Bless those who persecute you.”
10. “Don’t curse.”
11. “Associate with people of low position.”
12. “Don’t repay anyone evil for evil.”  (Shock them with kindness.)

 

That’s only a dozen.  I could add another dozen just from that chapter.  All of the above are a recipe for a good life.  I am going to estimate that 80% of our problems would go away if we lived by the above counsel.  Paul must have received these from the Lord because he was not a wonder of human relations.  He got himself stoned, thrown into prison, secreted out of a city at night, laughed at in Athens and finally was executed. He fought with Peter and John Mark. Paul really was a do as I say and not as I do kind of person because he said in verse 16, “Live in harmony with everyone.”

I just love these guys.  They were real.  They were not plastic saints.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 10, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

 

On Sundays my wife and I along with two friends go dinering.  Each week we go for breakfast to a different diner in our area.  It is great fun.  This past week we went to one of those old narrow steel buildings with old style jukebox players on the booth table.   I don’t think any of the musical offerings was newer than 1965.  Two plays for a quarter.  I think they were cheaper in the 50’s and 60’s. When the waitress came to take our order my friend’s wife asked her, “How large are the pancakes?”   The waitress’s response was wonderful.  She said, “It all depends how much room is on the grill.”

My friend looked at me and said, “There’s your devotional.  God’s love for us is as large as the space on His grill, which happens to be the universe.” My brain instantly hit on Ephesians 3, we “may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Most likely every young couple tries to tell their lover that their love is bigger than the other person’s.

“I love you a ton.”

“No, I love you ten tons.”

“Well, I love you a zillion tons.”

After you run out of numbers God’s love still wins.   He proved it on Calvary.  None of us can beat nor match that.   When God gave us Jesus He made Himself poor because He gave us the best He had. It all depends on how much room is on the grill!  Just imagine.

Oh, by the way.  The eggs over easy were perfect.

 

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 20, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Most of us are disappointed the first time we hear a recording of our voice. We thought our voice was deeper, more impressive and dignified.  The playback allows us to hear what other people hear when they listen to us. The reason for the discrepancy are the bones in our head.  They pick up vibrations from our vocal cords and add to what comes out our mouth and back into our ears.  Those bone vibrations add a richness other people don’t hear.  Don’t you envy people with incredible voices?  I used to have a friend who had a magnificent voice and when he spoke in public a rich English accent added to the mesmerizing effect.  We used to laugh together in private because the English accent disappeared when it was just the two of us.

When God spoke to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai the people heard thunder.  I don’t think our ear drums are equipped to handle that kind of voice.  Several times in the Bible God sent angels to deliver messages.  We must be better equipped for angel voices.  The big problem with angels is they are scary. Please note most of the time angels would begin by saying, “Don’t be afraid.”   Most of the time God whispers to us in a still small voice.  We can handle that.

Romans 1:20 is a fascinating verse.  Paul believed God speaks to us via his handiwork.  By the things He made we can learn about His invisible characteristics. And Hebrews 1 says in times past God spoke to us by many different ways but now He speaks to us through the life of Jesus.   If we want to know what God is like and want to hear Him we should study the Gospels.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 25, 2009

Spring of Life Ministry St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org

 

Most of my friends who have been adopted wish, upon adulthood, to find their biological parents.  There is something that completes us when we find our roots.  I know a man who wishes he had been adopted.  His biological roots, his parents, did not provide much of a childhood.  He wished he had had better.  Our relationships with our parents can be very complicated.  They start off being our gods and end up being our children.  It is a mystical journey.

It must have been the product of much thought when God decided to represent Himself to us as our Father.   He knew that came loaded with horrendous stacks of baggage.  Your father and my father were very different.  To tell us to call Him Father meant each of us would have a unique experience with Him.  Basically speaking, your God and my God are different even though we think He is the same.  When I am puzzled by people’s reactions to a sermon, I have to remind myself everyone who listened arrived at church via a very different road.

In Romans and Galatians Paul speaks of our being adopted by God into His family.  I wish I could speak with Paul about the reverse side of that coin. When we respond to God’s call it is us who are adopting Him.  We are adults. We see this all powerful needy God desperately wanting to be part of our  family.   He wants to be included in our lives.  He wants to attend our birthdays and go for walks with us.  He is hurt when we fail to recognize His need.   Am I overly anthropomorphizing the God who is a spirit? Probably so, but who’s to say?

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 3, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org