Month: November 2020

Usually we have a mental picture of Jesus and twelve men moving about Palestine.  Then we come to Luke 10 that speaks of Jesus sending out thirty-five teams of two.  These seventy were disciples that moved with Him.  Add to that the women that cooked for them, etc. and we have a very large group.  These seventy were given power to do mighty things and when they returned they were filled with stories of healings and great miracles.  I am jealous.  Surely everyone who has ever been a pastor has been jealous to do such wonders for our God.  Their work had been so successful Jesus declared that in their work He saw Satan being cast down.  They must have been high and rightfully so. Then Jesus said something that put it all in perspective, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

For reasons that God understands we do not now go about touching the eyes of the blind and having them see.  How I do wish we could.  But as grand as we think that would be there is something more wonderful.  There is something that should bring us to “Hallelujah” and “Thank you, Jesus.”   Our names are written in the Book of Life.

Lucifer is a fallen angel.  He could restore sight to the blind but his name is not in the Book of Life.  I could only think of something grander and that would be if we sacrificed our place that others could have that privilege.  The irony of that thought is the impossibility of it.  For should we be so selfless to step aside for another, we would be so much like Jesus He would be sure our name was there.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 10, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

A lifeless visitor from space passed between our world and our moon.  We can be thankful that it missed us by 210,000 miles.  A direct hit would have been devastating.  It would not have been the first time we have been hit.  One of the more obvious hits was in New Mexico and the crater is very impressive.  Years ago we stopped for a closer look and walked to the edge.  While doing so my wife looked down and there was a very well formed arrowhead.  We could hardly believe what we saw.  How long had it been lying there?  What ancient warrior or hunter had passed that way and left his treasure on the ground to be found hundreds (?) of years later.

I’m sure all of us have wondered what we will leave behind.  What will be our legacy to our families, our communities, and our world?  Some people leave books, some leave poetry, some leave children and grandchildren, some leave students, some leave family businesses.  Whatever it may be I think we all want to be sure what we leave will be positive and make the world a better place.  When I say “all” I am thinking of the mentally healthy among us, for there are those who for reasons unexplainable want to leave destruction and pain.

This past week the world’s population topped seven billion. It is difficult to conceive that God has seven billion different tasks that need to be accomplished.  Yet that is but a small number for an infinite God who does have a positive task for everyone.  See Ephesians 2.  Most of us will not know until heaven exactly what it was, but that’s okay.  Just so when we do find out we will have the joy of having been successful.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 9, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Hosea said it.  “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.”  Hosea 8:7.   I first heard that as a small boy but of course could not then comprehend the depth.  Now I get.  I should have connected it with Nahum 1:3, “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power: he will not leave the guilty unpunished.  His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.”   How often we want to blame God for what has occurred but the real truth is we are but reaping.  God’s punishment isn’t active.  It is passive.  Ever so painfully He sits back and let’s nature take its course.

He would like to intervene every time.  His love is endless.  But should He do so mankind would never learn.  We would continue in our reckless ways believing there was always a bale out.   The results would be sin continuing on forever.  The only reason God hates sin is its results.  He is not offended that we do not obey Him.  He is hurt that we do not obey because all He ever asks is for us to stop harming ourselves and others. I cannot sit here in the evening drinking an arsenic laced drink and expect Him to negate its effects.   He will forgive me but will allow the arsenic to do its work.

And so it is that the whirlwind blows its horrors upon us.  Does this mean we are lost?  Not if we genuinely repent.  That door is open.  But why should we desire to bring suffering upon ourselves thinking at some later date we will repent?  Not only is that risky.  It’s stupid.  Hosea and Nahum were excellent meteorologists.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 8, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

She really is a good dog.  She is very protective and jealous if anyone gives me too much attention.  She is totally housebroken and very dependable.  That’s what makes her action so despicable. We have house guests, who of course, are the source of much attention and conversation.  This evening, after she had been outside to care for her needs, she obviously had enough of my talking to our company.  She walked over and about two feet away from me she squatted on the rug.  It was a despicable act of “Hey, look at me.”   She was definitely tired of sharing.  Getting attention for being a bad dog was better than not getting enough attention.

Children do similar things.  Teachers see it all the time.  Little kids often misbehave as to not be ignored.   So I got to wondering if sometimes we adults act poorly because we want God’s attention.  Actually, we always have it but sometimes we think He doesn’t care.  I know we are often angry at Him because we don’t get all the things we pray for.  When we have a very sick loved one we ask, we beg, we plead, we implore God to make them better and it doesn’t happen.  Sometimes we actually lose them and our anger spills out with contempt that God would allow something so horrible.  It is on such occasions we should be honest with Him and tell Him exactly how we feel.  He appreciates our honesty much better than should we lie to Him and tell Him how great we think He is.  As difficult as it is for us to understand, the truth is He always has our best interest at heart and does the best thing even though we just don’t get it.  We have His attention.  We really do.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 7, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The message on my computer screen said, “Configuration Update #496.”  In a moment the screen changed with the following message, “Configuration Update.  Do Not Turn Off Your Computer.”  This happens with some regularity. Somewhere out there in computer land someone, with no name that I know, is keeping the bad guys out of my computer. When they detect a weakness or an attack they surge into action and send me a shield.  I like these nameless guys.  It’s like they are living in my machine.

Psalm 68:19 says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.”  What a great verse. Someone out there, with a name, is watching us but is loading us with benefits.  In Ephesians 2 Paul tells us He saves us so He can shower us with grace. Then there is the shield thing.  Psalm 28:7 says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped.”  I also might add it seems like He is living in me.  He is.  Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.”

This is a fabulous metaphor.  When Jesus told parables He used everyday things so the people would be reminded of the lesson each time they saw the object in their daily lives.  Our computers and our contact with these nameless guys from Windows that send us updates is about as ubiquitous in our lives as anything else.   So the next time you receive a message saying, “Do not turn off your computer” remind yourself “Do not turn off your contact with Jesus.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 6, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The first time he walked past me I barely noticed.  I was deep into a biography of Teddy Roosevelt but my peripheral vision picked him up.  The second time grabbed my attention from Roosevelt to this medium sized spider.  I was sitting on our patio by a glass table with a four foot diameter.  It is ringed by a white metal band so his small black body struck a good contrast.  Five times he went round and round.  He must have thought he was going somewhere but soon he was back where he started.   He was like planet earth.  Round and round our sun we go racing along at over 67,000 miles an hour and yet ending up at the same place a year later.

Without Jesus it would all be quite futile.  Without Jesus it would be about 70 to 80 trips with as much meaning as my spider’s five trips.  Perhaps we would think we were making a difference but really what would it be other than reproducing the human species to make more trips?  A small percentage of us might be fortunate enough to live abundant lives and see our children and grandchildren do well but most of mankind has not done so well.   Over 56 million of us died during WWII.  Over 300 million died from Small Pox in the twentieth century.   In 1919  Spanish Flu killed over 50 million. To this day malaria kills 2 million a year.

If we read Ecclesiastes we learn of Solomon’s despair about life and he had every material thing a man could desire.  Lest I sound like Solomon let me lift your soul and let it soar to the truth that we are, according to Paul, sons and daughters of the Most High God and we are destined to forever grow more and more like our God.  Now that is purpose.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 5, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

We are surrounded by bald heads.  Both men and woman are shaving their domes each morning so they are shiny and reflective.  So why did I just see a television commercial pushing a hair growing product that finished by telling me I would have more confidence if I had more hair?  Where did this Samsonish idea come from other than the product pusher?   Are we supposed to be better looking if we have more hair and better looking people are more successful?  Actually the last part of that sentence is true.  If two people are interviewing for a job and have similar qualifications, according to statisticians, the better looking one will get the job.

My wife tells me I am bald on the back of my head.  I have to take her word for it because I have never seen it.  Since I have never seen it I’m not bothered by it and smearing the back of my head with hair growth tonic will have nothing to do with my confidence.  During one of the British royal weddings I noticed that Prince William doesn’t have all the hair he had when he was fifteen.  Yet he is very confident and rightfully so.  He is a prince.  He is the future king.

Well so are we. According to Romans and Galatians we are adopted into the royal family of the universe when we make Jesus our savior.  We become the sons and daughters of God.  We are even promised in Revelation that we will sit with God on His throne.  I am feeling really confident and it has nothing to do with the number of hairs.  Actually the fewer there are the quicker God can count them!

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 1, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

A mosquito is flying about my computer screen.  Right this moment it is sitting on the word “mosquito” in my first sentence.  Too bad it can’t read.  I think it would be amused if it could.  Its head is so tiny yet it obviously contains a brain.  When I put my finger close to it, it flees.  It most likely thinks it is about to find a warm juicy meal.  The truth is I am about to smack it and crush its life.  But wait, do I have that right?  Is that mosquito part of the circle of life and part of the food chain?   While I don’t think I need it by my computer should I not try to catch it and release it outside?  However, as I look at it I remember suffering from a horrible case of malaria caused by one of its African cousins. Should I after so many years get revenge on its family?  But isn’t that same stupid kind of thinking the cause of so many human conflicts?  A hundred years ago your grandfather killed my second cousin so now I have to even the score.  However, we never really want to even the score.  We want to return the deed with interest.  The higher the interest rate the better.

If all Jesus was to this world was to be a philosopher, (He was so much more.) and the world realized the value of “turn the other cheek” and “forgive us as we forgive,” our history books would not be filled with tales from umpteen wars.  Jesus was the prince of peace.  We just don’t pay attention.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 30, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

His name was Judas. (In John) He was one of the twelve disciples.  He was not the Judas who betrayed Jesus to the High Priest.  He actually had three names.  He also was Thaddaeus (In Mark) and also Lebbaeus. (In Matthew)  He has one line in Scripture.  It was during the last supper on Thursday night before the cross.  Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

Here comes his one line. “Judas said unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world?”

And here is Jesus’ answer. “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

We know this Judas (Thaddaeus, Lebbaeus) was a member of a political action group dedicated to the overthrow of Roman rule in Palestine.  He loved Jesus.  He knew what Jesus could do and wanted to know why Jesus didn’t use all His power to go after the Romans.  Jesus had bigger plans.  Jesus was going after Satan’s rule in all the world. And this is Jesus’ formula for victory.  Love Him.  Keep His words and the Father and Son will abide in that person and that person will manifest the glory of God to the world.  That’s us.  This is our task.  This is our time.  This is God’s plan for us.  Love Jesus and keep His words and be amazed at what God can and will do with us.  Satan trembles before such a man or woman.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 2, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I have a Milk-Bone cookie jar on my desk.  I keep it stocked with what must be the greatest tasting treats in the world because I will come into the room and find my lab sitting there staring at the jar.  She is a good girl and has never violated the “No” command.  I wish I could have said the same for me when I was small.  One of the great things about being an adult is being able to raid the cookie jar anytime I want.  As I settle in at my computer with her Milk-Bone jar within my reach I see a small stream of saliva starting to drip from the side of her beautiful face.  I should so desire to spend time in God’s Word.

The psalmist puts me to shame and at the same time thrills me with such verses as “The entrance of thy words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.”  “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.”  And “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding.”  Psalm 119

Should we want, desire, long for, crave, yearn for, pine for a deeper understanding of Scripture I wonder what our lives would become.  Ephesians 2 speaks of God’s plans for us.  Had we prepared more, studied more, learned more, what might He have been able to accomplish with us.  Each time I give my dog a treat I should eat a verse.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 1, 2011

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

Rogerbothwell.org