Roger Bothwell

I have an on-line student this summer that has not turned in any assignments.  He has not responded to my emails.  He doesn’t answer his phone and will not return my voice mail messages.  We have run out of time.  If he will only respond to me perhaps we can work out something.  Other than going to his house and waiting on his porch I don’t know what to do other than sadly decide the course is lost.

There is a poignant passage found in Luke 13.  Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives looking over Jerusalem and sadly says, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”  There are things out of God’s hands.  He has given us the power of choice.  We, not He, are in control of our destiny. God can call us.  He can email us.  He can sit on our porch but if we don’t respond He has to allow us to reap the fruit of our decisions.

If God should force any of us He would violate His own ethic and lose the battle with Satan who has claimed God is a tyrant.  He is anything but a tyrant.  While it is true we are born with the preprogrammed characteristics of our parents and grandparents, that does not mean we are forced to behave in any particular way.  While we have tendencies and biases toward certain actions we are still in control and can if need be call for divine help.  II Peter 1:4 is very assuring. We have great and precious promises that we can participate in God’s divine nature.  The power is given.  It is ours!

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 11, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The katydids have begun their summer song in Massachusetts.  Their songs blended with the wooing sounds of the tree frogs fill the evenings with magic. Local lure says our first killing frost will now be six weeks away.  That means we will have a killing frost in the middle of September.  That seems way too soon.  But wait, I looked this up and discovered some say it is nine weeks until the killing frost.  That sounds more like it.  But then again I found someone saying it is twelve weeks.  I’m confused.

It is the same consternation I feel when listening to interpreters of Bible prophecy.  It seems that almost every preacher has a unique prediction regarding what is happening in the Middle East and when Jesus will return. Each one has verses to support his\her special insight. But they aren’t saying the same thing. I am thinking they are about as accurate as our New England katydid prophecies.

In regard to Jesus’ return He said, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  Mark 13:32.  It is true that we should be aware and not have our heads in the sand.  It is also true that knowing or not knowing should not make one iota of difference in how we live each day.  Our personal goal should be to be as much like Jesus as we can and that should be the case if He was coming tomorrow or sometime in the next millennium. In Luke 19:13 Jesus said, “Occupy until I come.”  Don’t stop living. Let’s just be the kindest, most caring, most honest persons we can be.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 8, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

Last evening my sister took a Hot Pocket out of the microwave, took a big bite and swallowed.  Today her seared throat barely allows her to speak.  As I was listening to her weakened voice I remembered being a little guy wandering around my neighborhood.  (Children used to do that.)  I came across two adolescent girls holding a great looking pie. They told me how good it was and they would give me a piece. I don’t remember what it was that made me wary, but as little as I was, I told them I would only eat some if they ate some first.  They wouldn’t so I didn’t.

Careful tasting is a pretty good idea before committing to a major ingest.  It is especially important when it comes to ideas.  Before believing something we should taste its probability and reasonableness. The Psalmist said, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”  Is it probable that all the components of life should become something as wonderful as you without a designer and manufacturer?  Before abandoning faith one should taste being with Him.

Then there is the common sense of His Word.  When one ponders the inherent wisdom contained in Scripture it would be a massive stretch to think it did not add to one’s grasp of life’s meaning. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  I gain understanding from your precepts.” Psalm 119:103–4

In John 1 when two of John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus where He lived Jesus told them to “come and see.”  We could say “come and taste.”  Take it slow, savor it, ponder its value, and only accept when it satisfies.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 7, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

 

According to an Associated Press report, “Dozens of bills opposed by Gov. Paul LePage have become law because he misinterpreted the Maine Constitution and didn’t veto the measures in time, the state’s highest court said …”  And so we added another chapter to human history the results of what was either misunderstanding or procrastination.

Genesis 7:16 tells us after the animals and Noah’s family were loaded “the Lord shut them up.”  The Lord in His kindness to Noah did not give him access to opening the door so Noah didn’t have to say “No” to the latecomers.  The Lord had been very patient, 120 years patient, with the masses.  Finally, the day came when it was too late.  Just as the law said to Gov. LePage, “It’s too late” God said to the masses, “It’s too late.”

About halfway through a semester I can predict with about 75% accuracy which student will not have their term paper done on time.  There are certain personality types that are late for most things including not being on time for class each evening.  Last weekend while I was preaching three people arrived for church when I was two minutes from my conclusion.  I wanted to stop and do Porky Pig’s famous, “That’s all folks.”  I restrained myself.

God is still patient and loving.  But don’t misunderstand that to mean it is never too late.  Peter wrote, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 7, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Being a Christian doesn’t have a single definition.  There are as many different kinds of Christians as there are Christians.  Each of us brings a unique interpretation to our walk with God.  He likes it like that.  If He wanted uniformity He could have made us with limited capacity for choice.  Just as each parent treasures the uniqueness of each of their children so does God treasure what each of us brings to Him.  The end result is there are Christians who are very religious.  Their vocabulary and ways of expressing themselves are full of religious argot.  Then there are secular Christians.  “Really,” you might ask as you raise your eyebrows.  By secular I mean they do not necessarily brand themselves with a denominational title, but they walk the walk.  And what is that walk?  Jesus said, “Hereby shall men know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”  And who is the “one another”?  The story of the Good Samaritan answers that for us.

Paul said it clearly in Galatians 5:14. “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  The person who does so is a Christian by behavior and that is so much more important than being a Christian by label.  Can a person be a Christian and not even know it?  The Spirit of God strives with all men.  It is God’s insatiable love.  He can’t get enough of us.

I have a friend who is giving, kind and self-sacrificing.  When she hears of a need she is there to help.  She actually goes to church each week but much to the consternation of some she has never joined a church.  Church membership doesn’t save.  Jesus does.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 6. 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Deuteronomy 10:17 is a most interesting verse.  “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.”   Now let’s be honest.  How many times have we tried to bribe God?  “Lord, if you let me win the lottery I will give 50% to your church.”  “Lord, if you will get me out of this bad situation I will never do this again.”  “Lord, help me pass this test and I will study the next time.”  We might not be that blatant but we have all done it.  Some of us are a bit more subtle and cloak it in spirituality.  “Lord, if you will only give me a big church to pastor I will feed your flock.”  Ah, the human heart is a deceitful thing.

The problem with all this is God is just. II Thessalonians 1.  If I asked you to define justice I would most likely get a list of something like the following – fairness, equity, evenhandedness, impartiality, objectivity, neutrality, disinterestedness, righteousness, morality.  I heard the following on PBS.  The opposite of poverty is not wealth but justice.  Justice is not giving everyone equal amounts of the same thing.  Justice is giving people what they deserve. There is the problem.  How do we, with our limited knowledge, know what others deserve?  Some people deserve food stamps.  Others don’t.  But how do we decide?  Justice is not easy.

Then there is the Gospel.  We deserve death.  We receive grace.  Where is the justice in that?  The Cross of Calvary is the only answer.  “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 5, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

After going the same direction on our evening walk for about a hundred times, this evening I decided to go the opposite way.  My dog was very confused.  The resistance began at the end of the driveway and continued for almost the entire mile.  Every time we stopped for her to sniff she tried to reverse course when the sniffing ended.  She finally stopped wanting to go back when we rounded the last corner and she could finally see home ahead.

For over a half a century I have been encouraging people to repent.  “Repent” meaning to reverse course in life.  Maybe it is less difficult for a human than a dog, but I doubt it.  Actually, I believe it is more difficult for us.  To let go of isms and ologies is very difficult.  I have watched Christians struggle to undo a history of hearing sermon after sermon telling them they have to do this and that to be saved, then suddenly try to “by faith let go and let Jesus.” It is easier said than done.  Repenting of a past understanding of the Gospel is not an easy task.

How much more difficult must it be for someone coming from a non-Christian background to repent of ingrained biases and habits that were forged in childhood. It is so easy for someone like me to stand up and say “repent” and then go home and not think about the burden I have just cast upon some sin-weary soul.

Just as my dog struggled to walk the opposite direction, we must understand and be patient with people who have set upon a new course in life.  The challenge of being like Jesus is not easy.  Words are easy.  Repenting can be very tough.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 4, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

According to Leviticus 16 before the high priest could officiate on the Day of Atonement he had to change into the simple white linen garment of a common priest.  The symbolism was prophetic regarding the nature of Jesus’ coming to earth.  Jesus came, not as a king or ruler but, as a common man. In Philippians 2 Paul wrote, “Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

According to the book of Hebrews Jesus became our high priest after His ascension.  He is a unique priest.  He was our sacrifice.  Now He is our priest. There is no one and never has been any being in the universe that by personal experience so understands us. Notice how Paul says, “He made Himself nothing.”  Someday when we have the opportunity to see a replay of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem (You can be sure every detail is carefully preserved in Heaven’s libraries.) we will be shocked at the gruesome details of that wretched stable.  We are told Lucifer was taken aback and thought a mistake had been surely made.  How could the glorious King of the Universe so degrade Himself?

The next time we think someone isn’t giving us the respect we think we should have, let us remember Philippians 2 where Paul admonishes us to “let this mind be in you.”  He was speaking of Jesus’ mind.  Jesus “was treated as we deserve that we might be treated as He deserves.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 3, 2915

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

There was a time before our time before the time of earth itself when all was well in God’s universe.  Yet He knew it would not always be so.  He knew how it would be spoiled and who would spoil it. God could have used that knowledge and chosen not to create the great angel Lucifer. Should He have done so He would have been forever a fraud.  Freedom of choice and self-determination is the foundation of love.  Angels would never have known that God’s government of love only existed because He used His foreknowledge to not create anyone who would choose to rebel.  God’s universe of peace and love would have been based on a lie.  Freedom would have been non-existent and thus love would be polluted.  God’s character would be flawed even if He were the only one to know.

Romans 16:25 is a fascinating verse.  It reads, “Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past.”   The mystery was sin would happen and God had a plan; the details of which were horrific.  It all involved Jesus stepping from His throne, becoming one of His created and submitting to a time of torture and death.

We think we are anxious for God to bring this to an end.  He is much more anxious than we.  But with extraordinary patience He endures our heartaches and pains and sufferings to make sure every issue, every question, every accusation, every doubt is clarified.  This sin thing must be settled for eternity.  It must never happen again because God only has one Son to give.  He gave.  He didn’t loan.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 31, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

When I put my credit card in the gas pump, the pump told me to see the cashier.  When I went inside and swiped my card it was declined.  Instantly I could feel the lady looking at me as if I was some kind of deadbeat who hadn’t paid his credit card bill.  “Try another one,” she said.  Try not use.  “Try” meant if I had any others they probably wouldn’t work either.  “Use” wouldn’t have had the same condemning implication.  You can imagine my relief when the other one did work.  I wanted to say to her.  “See.  I’m not a crook trying to use someone else’s card.”  Getting back in the car I had my wife call the company.  What was wrong?  We had used it about 30 minutes before.  Did someone at that place use the number and max it out?  The credit card company claimed they didn’t know what had happened and it would be fine today.  It was.

So why was I so concerned about what this stranger lady behind the counter thought of me?  I did not know her.  I would never see her again.  I had reacted like a thirteen-year-old whose main concern is what will others think of me.  Actually most of us never outgrow that concern. So often we dress and behave not so much for what we want but for what we think others expect.  There is this horrible inner compulsion to be liked, even by strangers. How ironic it is that often we are nicer to people we don’t know than to family who we see every day. Maybe it’s because we figure they already know the truth about us.  We are ….. people.   (Fill in the blank – nice, mean, loving, hateful, kind, selfish)  The kind of people we are is our choice.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 31, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org