Roger Bothwell

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

 

 

When my mother was 85 she asked her doctor to do a cholesterol test.  I love what he told her.   He said, “Mrs. Felty, you’re 85 years old.  You won!  Go home and eat anything you want.”  I wonder what is the magic number.  At what age can I wake up and head for the supermarket to get anything I want to eat?

I salivate when I walk down the cake mix aisle.  Not because I want to eat cake.  I want to eat one of those cans of icing.  There are so many enticing flavors.  I fantasize what it would be like to take a can of chocolate frosting, pick up a spoon, sit down for a Patriot’s football game and empty that can.  In reality I know I would end up throwing up, but it might be worth it.  I fear if I wait too long I might lose the desire.  See Ecclesiastics 12:5.

Life is an interesting journey.  We are born with incredible potential.  If one is to maximize their potential one has to take good care of oneself.  That encompasses the total realm of what we are.  We are physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual beings.  We cannot neglect or abuse any one of these areas and reach our potential.  It is so important for us to educate our children to understand that everything that is good for us should be done in moderation.  The things God declares to be sin are those things that would keep us from being all we can be.  Therefore the only things that are sinful are things that harm us and others.  God is a wonderful Father who wants the best for us.  He is so proud when we do well.

Writtem by Roger Bothwell on October 28, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Surely it did not come as a surprise to Jesus when James and John’s mother approached Him with the request for her sons to have privileged positions in Jesus’ kingdom.  Also He could not have been surprised at the anger of the other disciples when they heard about the request.  He knew human nature.  He understood the challenge of teaching people that the main principle of His new kingdom was service.  If one obtains position and power it is given that one might be of greater service.

Having been a pastor enables me to understand how difficult it is to remember the principles of humility and service when one is fawned over by one’s congregation. One is greatly tempted to believe the nice things people say to one’s face and to be thankful not to hear what they say behind one’s back.  The greatest sin of pastors is jealousy.  It is human to want to be the best, thus it is difficult to hear how wonderful another pastor is. Everyday a pastor needs to remind himself/herself why God gave him/her a congregation.

I am puzzled about heaven and eternal life.  If service is the law of God’s kingdom, what kind of service will be needed in a universe that has no sin and no rebellion?  If every being has everything they need what is there to give that would be meaningful?   Also I am puzzled while here we speak of our need to be unselfish and yet most of the time when we speak of heaven we speak of all the things WE are going to get, such as mansions, health, etc.  Surely there are amazing challenges and tasks awaiting us.  But what could they be?

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 27, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Angels don’t necessarily have to be ethereal beings with halos and large white wings.  They can come in all manner of shapes and sizes.  I saw two today.  They came in a large pickup truck.  They were wearing work clothes and ball caps and might have needed a shave.  I didn’t notice for sure but being that it was the weekend I figure they might have given their chins and cheeks a rest.  They even had a golden retriever with them who was such a good dog he could have belonged to an angel.  They backed up to my garage and unloaded a freshly cut and split load of dried maple ready for the woodstove.  After a few minutes of neatly stacking in my garage they were gone. I will remember these guy/angels on cold New England evenings when the wind is howling and my woodstove is toasting me.  Needless to say I really love angels like this.   Thanks guys.

Each of us can be an angel.  All we need to do to earn our wings is to do something very unselfish and very useful for someone.  In Hebrews 1 angels are called ministering spirits.  If we minister to others we qualify.  We can speak for God in our actions and behaviors.  We want to make sure our speech and behaviors come from the same page.  Sometimes I have heard people say very nice things but not act very nicely.  That’s not very angelic.  Consistency really counts.

We can be angels in our workplaces by easing the load of others.  We can be angels in our neighborhoods by helping to create a safe environment for the children on our streets.  Advancement to angelhood can be really rewarding.  I highly recommend it.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 27, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org