Month: October 2022

Mark Twain said, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”  If you haven’t seen it yet go to You Tube and search for bulldog vs. bears.  There you will see Jules, a twenty pound bulldog, chase two large bears out of its California yard.

When I was a little guy someone really frightened me with I Peter 5:8 which says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  I thought it would be hopeless to do battle with him.  I knew he was a fallen angel but now he was described as a roaring lion.  What could I do when he showed up?

We need to be careful when we talk to little people.  It was years before I discovered Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” and verse 37, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

While it would be foolish to be cocky in this battle for our souls, “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”  (I Corinthians 10:12)  it is not necessary to be afraid.  “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”  2 Kings 6:16

So let God be our bulldog.  Satan is no match for us when God is on our side.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 6, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

I’m sitting here looking at a bonsai elm tree.  I realize bonsaiing is an ancient art that produces some beautiful plants, but I could not help myself from feeling sorry for this tiny elm tree.  It was supposed to be 50 feet tall and make shade for weary travelers.  But here it was stunted and gnarled.  It reminded me of bonsaied Christians who never grew into the giants God planned for them.

The world is full of bonsaied Christians who have never experienced the joy of salvation because they are so focused on self-perfection at the expense of understanding while they are growing they are covered by Christ’s perfection. They have never been taught or worse have been taught the opposite.  They don’t know that salvation is a gift that begins the moment they give their hearts to Jesus.  The perfection that is necessary for salvation is and always will belong to Jesus.  They never understand God is a good parent.  Good parents don’t expect their 18 month old child to drive a car.  God knows what we can and cannot do and He has no expectations of us to be something far beyond our developmental stage.  I am an old man who has been a friend of Jesus for seven decades.  His expectations for me are so much more than for a twenty year old.  But sometimes when I morally act like a twenty year old He is disappointed with me but certainly doesn’t throw me out of His family.

Certain churches and specific pastors unknowingly bonsai their members.   Fortunately we are not saved by knowledge and so millions of bonsaied Christians will someday understand. They will be freed to grow into everything God wants for them.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 8, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

We’ve a bumper crop of acorns this year.  I can’t recall an autumn with more.  As my dog and I were walking this afternoon I never gave it a thought as we traversed the terrain under a wonderful shady oak.  And then it happened.  Right on top of my not-protected-by-hair head – kerplunk!   I was acorned.  It must be the reason we call October Fall.

Acorns are the promise of another generation of oaks.  They are heralds of hope as well as a present banquet for our squirrels.  One of my favorite authors wrote about acorns.  She said, “As surely as the oak is in the acorn so surely is the gift of God in the promise.”  When we hold acorns in our hands we hold giant oak trees.  When we read “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” we can start planning on what furniture we want where.  John 14.

Just in case I was beginning to forget I got hit on the head this afternoon by a promise.  I can start planning my heavenly library.  It’s real.  It’s mine.  My name is engraved on the bottom right hand corner of all the book covers.  They are mine.  I have the bump on the top of my head to prove it.

What’s your acorn?  What’s your promise?  Could it be John 3:16, I Thessalonians 4 or I Corinthians 15?   Actually the Bible contains a bumper crop of promises.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 9, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

The caller ID said, “Private Caller.”   The female voice was strange but it said, “Hi Grandpa.”   “Hi,” I responded wondering who this was.  I have four granddaughters.  “Grandpa,” she said, “I was in a car accident and have been arrested for drunk driving.”  Well, that instantly eliminated two of them.  Only two are old enough to drive.  But, the voice was not familiar.  Next she said, “I’m in jail and need you to come for me.”  “Where are you,” I asked.  “In Plymouth, MA,” came the answer.  That eliminated the two who can drive.   They live in Pennsylvania and California.  “I think you have the wrong grandpa,” I said.  Instantly the phone went dead.

I do hope she found her real grandpa.  Instantly I thought of the first commandment.  “Thou shall have no other gods before me.”   It’s not that our heavenly Father is an egotist.  He just wants to make sure we call on the right grand Father.  How disappointing to call the wrong one who can’t help you because not only is he the wrong one he doesn’t even exist.

It was so wonderful when Jesus told us to call God our Father.  The concept of the fatherhood of God shows up only about two times in the Old Testament but almost a hundred times in the New Testament. He is so generous.  When we allow He adopts us into His family and instantly we become co-heirs with Jesus, who isn’t the least bit jealous.  Jesus is thrilled to share His inheritance with us.  It is the most amazing family and we are so blessed.  See Romans 8 and Galatians 4.

Not only is He our Father.  He is a grand Father and the right one.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 8, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

My neighbors across the street have a very nice granite pillar for their mailbox and sure enough there is moss growing only on the north side of the pillar.  It makes one want to confirm the old survival rule about moss growing only on the north side of trees.  Of course that is only in the northern hemisphere in the southern hemisphere moss grows on the south side of trees.  Well, maybe that is true in both hemispheres.  Moss will grow on any side of a tree depending upon where sunlight strikes it.  Sunlight retards the growth of moss and all things being equal the farther away you are from the equator the truer is the old axiom.

One of the things I try to teach my students is to be very careful with the words all and every. Depending upon conditions and circumstances there usually are exceptions to almost everything.  Usually moss only grows on the north side of trees.  Usually Christians are nice people.  Actually that should always be true.  No matter whatever someone calls themselves if they are not a nice person they really are not a Christian.  They are just pretending to be.  And that could be pretending even to oneself.

In Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, . .”  Isn’t it bizarre that people often get that concept reversed?  This isn’t saying we should not be firm, especially with our children, but it does rule out being nasty.  So here is an axiom that is just the reverse of trees.  Righteousness only grows on the sunny side of a Christian.  That is with Jesus being the light shining on that person.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 7, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I had a friend who treated the Bible as if it were the ultimate puzzle book filled with anagrams, numerology, mystic secrets and cryptic messages formed from taking letters out of context and forming words in English.  I never could get him to understand that his cryptic messages only worked in English and not Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of Scripture.  He also maintained the King James Version was the only legitimate version.  Again I couldn’t get him to understand that not everyone in the world spoke English. Spanish and French people needed to have and use their translations.

It is true there are some chapters in Daniel and Revelation that seem very mysterious but they are able to be understood in the light of history. They are not to be treated as Sunday Morning New York Times Crossword Puzzles.  The intent of God giving us His word is explained to us by Paul.  He wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”  We wonder what Paul meant by “Scripture.”  It would have been the height of arrogance for him to have assumed his letters would be regarded equally with the works of Moses, etc.  Today we do regard them to be equal.

The Bible was given to us that we might find salvation.  It is there to aid us through the cares of this world into an assured understanding of just how good God is and what He was and is willing to do to make sure we are saved.  If you enjoy puzzles, go buy a book of puzzles.  If you want to live forever, experience the excitement of a living Jesus in the pages of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 26, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

I settled down for a comfortable evening of reading book reports from my Human Development course.  I believe I was reading my fifth paper when I came across the following sentence. “ Inherent in the epistolary format of the book is the idea that language itself can be salvific.”  Really?  I noted that the paper was written by an immigrant freshman student from Guinea whose official language had been French.  It took but a few moments to find that sentence and almost the entire paper by typing the “wonderful” sentence in Google.

I often wonder if God is ever amused at our feeble, ignorant attempts to deceive.  Actually amused is not the right word to use.  I should use the word disappointed because I was disappointed in my student.  Now came judgment time.  I hate this part of teaching. The ball was in my court.  What should I do?  The college policy is clear about this.  I even have this sentence in my syllabus from the student handbook. “. . . consequences range from no credit for the assignment to failure for the course and possible expulsion from the college.”

How interesting that I naturally responded according to how I was raised.  My parents always gave me a second chance.  Not a third!  A second.  Considering there was a paragraph or so in the paper actually written by the student, I gave her a D and a severe warning.  And how does God deal with me?  He is extremely gracious.  He does forgive but He also lets me reap the natural consequences of my sins.  Is the college policy “natural consequences” or discretionary consequences?  I opted for discretionary.  My wish is for God to also be discretionary with me.

Written by Roger Bothwell on Oct. 6, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

It was heartbreaking to watch.  The ice cream man, who drives too fast, was being chased by a little girl with her money in hand.  Finally her little legs stopped running as she wistfully watched the truck round the corner. It was too late. But the story doesn’t end there. Her daddy came out, put her in his car and off they went pursuing the ice cream man.  Yeah, for all the caring dads in this world.

For thousands of years humans have chased after life.  The dream of eternity aches inside our chests.   For centuries our heavenly Father watched as man struggled to understand this thing we call death.  We are captive to a system of aging that imprisons both the animal and vegetable kingdoms.  The oak tree grows old and finally surrenders to time as it ceases to hold up its gnarled branchy arms.  Finally, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,  to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

No longer do we stand with money in hand watching the truck go round the corner. Our Heavenly Dad has come to the rescue.  It is not too late.  The Way is paved and clear. It was no accident that the early church called itself, “The Way.”  Eternity waits for an unconscious decaying body, but rejoices to receive a vibrant human being transformed into the very image of the One who knows “The Way.” Yeah, for all the Dads in this universe.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 1, 2015

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

My wife loves accounting.  Being that her father was an auditor it makes sense that she loves balancing books.  She approaches an out of balance checkbook with the zeal of a puzzle master.  I think that is why she allows me to write checks.  She knows when the bank statement comes there will be a problem.  Oh such fun!  The more mistakes I made the better. My being error prone is one of my endearing characteristics.

Jesus also loves error prone creatures.  In Romans 5 Paul wrote, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, . .”  It is so joyful to give things to people.  It must make Jesus very happy to give us all the grace we need.  Paul anticipated our then saying, “Well, if it makes God happy to pour out grace.  Let’s sin some more, thus giving Him an opportunity for more happiness.” That is why Paul starts out Romans 6 the way he did.  “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!”  This is because there is something that makes God even happier than forgiving us.  It is not having to forgive us.

Seeing us grow.  Seeing us overcome weaknesses.  Seeing us become more like Jesus each day brings God ecstatic joy.  When He made Adam, who was not error prone, God said, “That is very good.”  Seeing you and I gradually become stronger induces God to repeat, “That is very good.”   Won’t it be grand to hear God say to us someday, “Good job”?

I wonder if someday when the bank statement comes and my wife discovers no errors if she will look at me and say, “Good job.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 3, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Something truly eerie was happening at our house.  Our garage door would open and close at its own will and not open and close when we wanted it to do so.  In the middle of the night it would open and yet when I would come home from school it would not open for me.  I finally exhausted all possible explanations within my set of handy-man skills.  I swallowed my pride and called a repair man.  It is so nice to have someone come who knows what is happening.  Quite quickly he discovered two wires making connections when they were not supposed to be doing so.  Any temperature changes which made the wires fluctuant ever so slightly was all that was needed for them to touch or untouch.

There are two lessons inherent in this.  Number one is the importance of making the proper connections in life.  Making the right connection can open doors and create opportunities for us.  Making friends, being connected, with Jesus is very smart.  He can open all manner of doors for us.  He will make sure we end up where we should be.  He can also close doors for us,  ones we want to pass through but He knows better. Proper connections are super important.

The second lesson is having the person who knows what they are doing come to your house.  Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock.”  Well, I can’t think of anyone more knowledgeable about absolutely everything than Jesus.  When we need something fixed in our lives He’s the repairman to call.  He makes house calls.  But I must say His fees are expensive.   He asks for a full commitment from us to trust Him with our lives and our eternal future.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 2, 2014

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

Rogerbothwell.org