Month: February 2022

On occasion I have to remind myself to spend time in the Old Testament.  The New Testament gushes forth so much joy and hope it easily pulls me in with little thought of going elsewhere.  Then I remember that the only Bible Jesus had was the Old Testament.  If I want to grow more like Him I should read what He read.  When I do spend time with David, Solomon and Isaiah I soon begin to see the Sermon on the Mount.  It’s there.  There is not one idea in the Sermon on the Mount that does not have roots in the Old Testament.  The Beatitudes are one of the easiest to spot.

Jesus had the wonderful ability to draw from the old and fashion something fresh and captivating, often to our discomfort.  His pacific nature challenges us.  While He did battle with the authorities never once did He resort to violence on another person. The most hostility we can find is watching Him turn over the money changers’ tables in the sanctuary. The only thing He struck were their tables, pocketbooks and pride.

I am often puzzled by the pseudo-Christian websites that advocate for us to be sure to have our guns ready for the coming strife.  I’m not sure how one can read the Gospels and see Jesus with an AK. However, Jesus did say in the Sermon on the Mount, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 7  If we are fearful for our safety we can rely on our heavenly Father. “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense.”  Psalm 62

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 18, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Proverbs 12:22 reads, “The Lord hates lying lips, but those who speak the truth are His joy.”   Is this an always statement?  Are there ever times when the truth is not the wisest path?  When we greet someone and they say, “How are you?”  Do we have to tell them about our aches and pains, especially when we know they don’t really want to know?  Is saying, “Fine.  Thanks for asking.” all right because it is merely a way of saying, “Hello?”

Several decades ago we belonged to a church where one of the saints loved to sing solos during the worship hour.  It was beyond pretty bad.  One day her husband asked my wife if the song was good.  My wife say, “Oh, yes.”  It bothered her all week and so the next week when she saw the husband she said, “I am so sorry I lied.  It wasn’t good at all.”  She held her breath until the man said, “Neither did I.”  Phew. It doesn’t always work out that well.

In Exodus 20 the ninth commandment says, “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”  It doesn’t say anything about bearing false witness for benefit of your neighbor. We honor and praise those who smuggled Jews to safety during WWII.  False passports, etc. might not be a verbal lie but they are lies none-the-less.  Then there is the issue that truth so often is perception and not fact and thus very susceptible to one’s biases, background and education.  In court we are asked to state the “whole truth.”  But we know the “whole truth” about very little.

How thankful we should be that God looks on our hearts and knows our intent whether it be good or evil.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 17, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Don’t you just love those TV commercials that offer a $10 pan for $19.99.   And if you buy now, this $100 value can be yours plus they will send you another pan free, but you have to pay the shipping and handling, which is most likely $10.   And if you call within the next ten minutes they will include a plastic knife, a $30 value, absolutely free.  Its real value is most likely ten cents and I am making a generous estimate.  Who said the pan was valued at $100?  They did.

Whence cometh value?  A cup of water in my hometown is almost free. A cup of water in the middle of the Sahara could cost someone their life.  Some of my favorite commercials are the “Priceless” ones for Master Card.   Two tickets to the ball game, two boxes of popcorn and sodas, one autographed baseball and spending the day with your son; the last one on the list is priceless.

Proverbs 20:14 is an interesting verse that describes us buying a car. ‘“It’s no good, it’s no good!’ says the buyer — then goes off and boasts about the purchase.”  We all want to think we got a good deal.  Part of good salesmanship is making the customer think they got real value.

Isaiah 53, the suffering servant chapter, says, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.”  When we meet face to face with our Redeemer and He looks into our eyes He is satisfied.  It was worth the cross. It is an issue of value.  There is no possible price tag to be attached to us.  We are worth it.  We are priceless.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 20, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

I received an email from Popular Mechanics making Valentine’s Day gift suggestions.  Popular Mechanics!  Would they recommend a new ratchet and socket set or a new chain saw?  How about a new set of bits for her power drill?  We all know they get dull or snap.  Fortunately, I had already been to the turtle store.  My wife loves turtles.  No shells, just lots of pecans covered with caramel smothered in chocolate.  But what would she get me?  I saw a really great looking ¾ ton four wheel drive turbo boosted pickup truck.  Alas, I guess not.

In reality I woke up last night at 1:00 A.M. to discover she wasn’t in bed.  Had I been snoring and chased her to another room?  Apparently not because soon I heard her coming up the stairs.  She muttered something about forgetting something she needed for work.   It wasn’t until morning when I smelled the then baking apple pie.  She actually waited for me to fall asleep and went downstairs and peeled the apples and made the crust and got it all ready for the oven.  I had a great breakfast.  I got my fruit and grains with a touch of cinnamon.  It was better than a pickup truck that I don’t need.

Love inspires us to do amazing things.  One of my all time favorite verses is in Ephesians 2.  Paul wrote, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace.”  God wants to save us so in ages and ages He can continue to shower us with gifts of love.  Now that is just plain exciting.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 15, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Since I have been accused of never speaking about cats and therefore being biased against cats, I felt the need to speak in defense of the feline creatures in our midst.  After all there has never been a Broadway musical entitled “Dogs” and “Cats” is the second ever longest running musical.  Cats are amazing creatures with the incredible ability to redesign our furniture.  They are generous animals who allow us to live in their homes.  They save us huge amounts of money by keeping the bird population down and away from our bird feeders.  They had starring roles in the historic Salem Witch trials; something for which a dog never had an opportunity to audition. God made dogs and cats on the same day of Creation and the King of the Jungle rules on the Serengeti Plain.  The dogs on the plain wisely stay away from those splendidly maned creatures.  In Africa cats rule!

I, personally, have been kept from visiting friends because their Siamese cat defended the porch and front door with all the fierceness of any guard dog.  If I were a poet I would surely write an “Ode to Cats.”  They are worthy creatures.  My city wouldn’t even force me to buy a yearly license if I had a cat.  My expensive dog costs me seven dollars a year.

There isn’t any verse in Scripture more frightening than I Peter 5:8.  “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  Many sermons have been built upon this text. So I want my dear friends to note that I am not in the least biased against cats. They are wonderful snuggly bundles of purring fur.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 14, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The President delivers the State of the Union Address.  Our Governor delivers the State of the State address.  Our Mayor delivers the State of the City address.  I was wondering if God delivers a State of the Universe address.  Perhaps, and if so, we should get to hear it someday.  It will most likely finish with the classic lines, “The state of the universe is strong.”

What if we, each year, were required to write a State of My Being address?  What would we include?  Surely we would write about our physical health, our social situation, our economics, our intellectual health and our spiritual situation.  We are complex beings and it would be most difficult to yearly update all of the above in a thousand words or less.  Taking inventory, which is what this is about, is healthy.  It forces us to evaluate just how we are doing and what we might change to enhance our state of being.  Sometimes we grow complacent and think things are so great we need not change anything.  However, thoughtful change is good.  Sometimes chance is thrust upon us and we have to react but most of the time we can be in control and hopefully we can guide ourselves to an even better state next year.

The truth is, because of the ageing process, change is happening whether we want it or not.  We can’t stay the same.  We need to be preparing for the coming years.  We need to be preparing for eternity.  Fortunately Jesus has plans for us and if we allow Him via His Spirit to reside in us, we can move in a direction that will not only make us strong but fulfill our wildest dreams.   See Ephesians 3:20.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 13, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org

Sociologists observe that we have four zones of personal space.  We have public distance which is greater than 12 feet.  That’s for the students who sit in the back of the class. We have social distance of four to twelve feet.  That is for formal situations. Next we have personal distance of 18 inches to 4 feet.  That is for normal conversations.  When we want to tell a secret we lean in closer, moving into intimate space which is less than 18 inches.

In John 15 Jesus and His disciples were making their way to the Garden of Gethsemane. A horror awaited them in the darkness of evil.  But, on their way Jesus paused by a stone wall and picked up a grape vine and said, “I am the vine and you are the branches.”  He went on to say in verse 5, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; . .”  Please note the intimacy.  He longs for a deep relationship with us.  He wants us so close that He resides in us.  And if we allow it we will bear much fruit.

I used to think “much fruit” meant bringing thousands of people to Jesus. Now I better understand.  He was speaking of being like Him; bearing the fruits of the Spirit.  In Galatians 5 Paul lists them for us. They are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  If we manifest such a life we are having a “much fruit” experience.  It might be a bit overwhelming to think we could live like this.  However, in Matthew 19:26 Jesus said, “All things are possible with God.”   He is an intimate God.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 12, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I administered a quiz today that consisted of 25 matching terms with definitions. As I collected them I noted that some students left blank spaces.  I would not collect the quiz until they filled them in.  “But,” one of them said, “I don’t know the answer.”  To which I responded, “If you leave it blank you cannot get it right.  If you try, even if it is a guess, you have a chance. Remote as it is, it is still a chance.”

During the sixteen hundreds Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher, put forth a proposition that has become known as Pascal’s Wager.  He wrote if we live as if God existed and He does not, we have lost nothing. But if we live as if He did not exist and He does, then we have lost everything.  Therefore, any rational person should live as if God is.

One might be tempted to think this is a very flimsy motive for believing in God. And they are right.  However, God is very crafty.  He will take us on the slightest of opportunity for He knows that once He has us He can transform us into a more lofty mind-frame.  God is in the business of saving people and He will do so with the flimsiest of motive on our part.  This is because He doesn’t look at what we are but He looks at what He knows we will become.  And we will be spectacular.  So take a chance.  If we gain, we gain everything.  If we lose, we still have gained.  The Christian life is the best life there is.  Even if that’s all there is.  All we lost was a lot of heartache and pain, because, that’s all this world ever has to offer.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 11, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

During the intermission of a high school play this afternoon my wife purchased cookies the students were selling to raise funds.  As she walked away she unknowingly dropped a plastic baggie containing two cookies.  Just then a really little guy probably less than three years old found them.  The expression on his face said, “I just found a zillion dollars.”  Can you imagine the joy?  Two peanut butter cookies!  His father called to my wife and disregarding our protests and great despair had the little guy return them.  I felt like the most selfish monster ever – an ogre. The father assured us that he had cookies for those little hands to cherish.

I love doing nice things for people and the father took us out of the process.  He reminded me of how important it is to allow people to do good things for us.  I’m glad he had cookies for the little guy but I felt cheated from the joy of giving.   Things as simple as opening a door for someone or picking up the check when you go out to eat with others add value to our being.  I remind myself of this when I object to another offering to do something nice for us.  A wonderful man and his wife brought us a truckload of firewood this fall.  I could have protested under the guise of being able to cut my own wood.  However, the truth is it was a marvelous gift that has very much enhanced our evenings on these very cold New England evenings.

I realize that John 3:16 makes God happy.  He never begrudges us Jesus.  He lights us with joy when we allow Him to save us.  By accepting His grace we make His day.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 10, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Over 2600 dogs are competing in this year’s Westminster Dog Show.  We love our dogs.  They afford us unquestioning devotion, protection and companionship.  They are therapeutic for the ill and of aid to all manner of occupations.  Several years ago we had Russian visitors and when they went to the supermarket they were astounded upon seeing an entire aisle dedicated to dog food.  When I read the nutrition contents on the dog food bag I wonder if she eats better than I do.

Dogs don’t fare well when mentioned in Scripture.  Even the last book of the Bible reads, “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”  That isn’t an honor roll in which one would like to be included.  Considering shepherds are mentioned and dogs are used to care for sheep one would think there would be one nice comment on dogs.  But then again shepherds were near the bottom of society.

I doubt very much that God has such a poor attitude toward dogs as did people in Biblical times.  He did create them for us.   They were on Noah’s ark.   Our stewardship of God’s creatures is an important measure of our characters and I am sure heaven notes our care or lack of for our canine friends. I have often been asked if we will have our dogs in heaven.  While there is nothing in inspired writings to aid us with an answer and while I do not believe Jesus died for dogs.  I do think heaven is to be heaven and if our specially loved dogs would make it a better place for us then we will see them again.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 12, 2013

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

Rogerbothwell.org