Month: August 2024

Do you know anyone who makes quilts?  Quilters are people who create masterpieces.  They pour enormous amounts of time into their art.  All those tiny stitches require great patience and the designs require an artistic eye and a very creative mind.

Just as a master quilter utilizes a vast array from shabby to elegant pieces of cloth so God takes the varied experiences of our lives and quilts each of us into an amazingly beautiful and unique person.  Some of us are extroverts and some introverts.  God is amazing.  While He quilts us into His image, He still allows each of us to choose what kind of person we want to be. Unlike human art, which is solely the fruit of the artist’s labors, God’s art has tremendous input into itself.

It would be boring if all quilts looked alike so God would surely be bored if we were all the same.  Since creation there have been approximately 80 billion people on this old planet.  That means there have been 80 billion different quilts.  God supplies the basics.  He gives us a body and a mind and then sets us free to create the final product.  What we do with those basics is up to us.

Written by Roger Bothwell on Sept. 8, 2002

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With this week’s passing of summer our local Dairy Queen’s scrolling sign informed us they were closing soon.  Not wanting to miss one last ’09 visit we stopped.  I asked the girl when they were closing.  “Any moment now,” she said, “when the mix runs out.”  We helped.

I now have a new answer for those who ask when I am going to retire, “When the mix runs out.”  I am counting on the mix not running out.  Jesus promised, “Lo, I am with you always.” If that’s the case, how can the mix run out?”   Paul closes Ephesians 3 with a wonderful prayer.  He prayed, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Isn’t that grand?  We can be and will be filled with all of God’s fullness.

We are granted the riches of glory.  We are strengthened with might.  We are grounded in love and know that love passes all knowledge.  I cannot even begin to imagine running out.  The supply is steady.  There is no shortage as long as we long for and make ourselves available to our Father God.

Written by Roger Bothwell on Sept 21, 2009

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Freedom to vote for our leader is by far one of the greatest rights of mankind.  While not all of us will be pleased because the one we voted for did not win, the fact is we had the freedom to speak our will.  Hopefully we can rally around our new leader and forget all the ridiculous half lies that were told by BOTH sides.  What a privilege it is to live in a land where everything is right to do unless our collective wisdom passes a law against it.  That is just the opposite of the way it is in most of the countries of the world.  In most places you are not allowed to do something unless there is a law that says you can.  That is an enormous difference and is a wonder of our constitution.

God’s government is also based on total freedom.  God grants us the rights to do anything we want that does not harm another or ourselves.  If it is good for us God wants us to have the freedom to do or not to do.  All He asks is that we have the common sense to do good things in balance. Sleeping is good but you can over do it.  Exercise is good but you can over do it.  Breathing is good but you can over do it.  You can even go to church too much.  God’s government is based on love.  When we truly understand love we will only want to do what is beneficial for others and ourselves.  It really is that simple.

In Galatians Paul speaks of the law being written on the heart.  That means I no longer need a law telling me not to steal.  I don’t want to steal from those I love and as I become more like Jesus I will grow to love everyone. It works the same for all the commandments.   The person who loves is free to do what he or she wants to do.

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 4, 2008

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I am sitting here watching a baseball game.  A runner just tried to score from second on a base hit.  He didn’t make it.  The catcher held his ground and the runner was out.  Now came the interesting part.  The Home Plate umpire vigorously with the usual exaggerated arm thrust loudly yelled, “You’re out!”

For just a moment I saw Lucifer walking up to us with a record of our sins, thrusting his arm and yelling, “You’re out. With a list like this I can convict anyone.”  And the truth is we have nothing to say. We cannot deny his list.  He does not have to lie about us, even though he would.  All he needs to do is tell the unvarnished truth.

Ah do not despair.  Here is the really interesting part.  All we need do is claim 1 John 1:9 and his list becomes inconsequential.  “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.”  As far as Jesus is concerned Satan’s list is fiction because there is a new truth.  The new truth is found in the Lamb’s Book of Life where all our sins have been blotted out.

So let Lucifer shout “you’re out” until he is blue in the face.  The truth is we are safe, safe forever more in the hands of our Jesus who will never let us go.

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”  John 10:28-9

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 24, 2008

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If I could ignore the roller coaster economy that is being described with the term 1929, if I could pretend my country is not at war in two nations, if I could fantasize that my country was loved around the world, if I could not hear blatant lies being passed off as accurate political information, if I could believe all the students at my little college were sexually chaste and eager to learn, if I could believe other nations are pursuing the acquisition of nuclear power for peaceful purposes, I could be euphorically happy about these glorious sunny autumn days filled with unbelievable colors and Eden-like temperatures.  Really.  I could not describe for you what a perfect weekend we just had in New England.

There is such an array of events, great or horrible, to think about. Worrying will not make the bad things go away because they are so much bigger than my power to correct, so it only makes sense to think about the things I can control.   I can control where I am.  I can control what I see. I can control what I choose to think about.   And so I shall.   This is my life and I can make it what I will.

I do not want to sound like Pollyanna but the truth is all of us have just so many minutes a day and we need to take control of them.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace and longs for us to be islands of serenity in the midst of this crazy world.   This is the ultimate witness   We have Jesus.   He says to us, “Peace be still.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 14, 2008

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It was a muggy day.  It was one of those days when everything felt just a bit wet.  I found myself longing for winter when the air is crisp and dry.  But I remembered on those days when the air bit the end of my nose I longed for summer.  When I was 14 I wanted to be 16.  I have two more weeks of summer school and I was wishing it were over. I realized I was wishing my life away.  I must learn to relish today.  Today my heart beats.  Today I see roadside gardens.  Today I see giant clouds rumble as with splendor they send millions of volts of electricity back and forth.  Today the maple trees brush my face as I pass.

Now is a good time.  Soon tomorrow will be now.  It should be so good as the now I have now.   Tomorrows have their promises but they take away now. Annie can sing of the sun coming out tomorrow but tomorrow is one less day to spend with loved ones.  In this world everything we love goes away. Tomorrow my grandchildren will be one day closer to having such full lives I will become irrelevant.  I like today.  I like being relevant.

Revelation speaks of a place where tomorrows become meaningless.  Heaven will be an endless now filled with things we cannot lose.   Paul closes Ephesians 3 with, “Unto him be glory by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.”  Then tomorrow will not be one less day to be with loved ones.  Tomorrow will be a now and the next a now and the next a now.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 24, 2008

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Just recently I was talking with a very nice person who expressed his regrets that life was so full he did not have time for daily devotions.  He just could not squeeze in fifteen minutes a day. About ten minutes later in the conversation he told me hold much he likes the way Netflix makes a whole series available at once so he can binge watch without having to wait a week for the next episode.  Need I say how much I needed to bite my tongue?  I had an instant discourse on priorities wanting to explode.  I bit my tongue.

People pretty much find time for what they enjoy doing.  When I was courting I searched for every available moment I could find to be with my girl.  Being in her presence filled me with joy.  If we could find such happiness being in God’s presence we would surely find time each day to get to know Him better.  What we would discover is a loving, caring, nurturing Father whose desire is to spend time with you.

One of my favorite hymns goes like this, “I come to the garden alone . . .  He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing, and the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing. And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”

Try it.  I promise you it is so much better than anything Netflix can ever offer.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 6, 2017

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It was a perfect 80 degree August afternoon in the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant. (Actually it was central Wisconsin and it isn’t a valley.) I was cycling the compass  perfect country roads. And was enthralled at the flying skill of a crop duster just ahead.  Pausing to watch I was vicariously swooping and diving over the fields wishing I were the pilot.  With each pass he grew closer and closer and then it happened.  He roared only a few feet over my head while spewing out his clouds of poison.  Instantly my mouth, my eyes, and my nose burned as I fell gasping to the ground frantic for pure air.  Fortunately I had a water bottle to quickly flush my face.

Later that evening, while thinking about what occurred and my foolishness for lingering in the path of the plane, I remembered Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.”  I stopped riding, I stood by the fields and watched and I waited.

The verse so well portrays our behavior.  Few if any fool just jumps into a situation precarious to the well-being of their soul.  Instead we dwell on things and so subtly allow ourselves to be drawn in. Sometimes we are so changed we are not aware of the new person we have become.  Others about see but they are self-blind and use a lot of self-justification.  In such situations we need help.  Just as an addict needs to go to rehab, they cannot do it alone, we need the divine help freely offered by Jesus Himself, who said, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 4, 2017

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I was enjoying people-watching as I sat in a hospital lobby waiting for my wife to appear outside the door with our car.  The revolving door to the outside was quite large and handled lots of people coming and going.  I particularly watched a cane carrying elderly lady slowly approach the door.  For a just a moment she paused and then stepped in.  Around she went – once, twice and finally on her third revolution I realized she had lost her bearings and couldn’t get out.  Quickly I went to her and aided her outside.

She was so typical of millions of people living their lives and going nowhere.  Each day is the same as they go round and round with little direction or goals in life other than getting their next paycheck.   I found myself being so grateful to have Jesus in my life. In John 14:6 Jesus declared Himself to be The Way.  The question is the way where.  Jesus continued on “to the Father.”   Now that is a destination everyone should want.  To be with the Father is to have a life filled with grace, forgiveness, joy and eternal happiness.  This is the life for which we were created.

The little old lady lost in the revolving door was so grateful for guidance and I must confess I felt so very good by being able to assist.  I do so want to encourage you to take inventory of where you are going. If you find yourself merely going in circles go to Jesus and let Him guide you into eternity and while doing so find another to take with you.  It’s more than time to get out of the revolving door and live the fullest life possible.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 2, 2017

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She looked like a car commercial.  The top was down on her convertible as she raced down the highway with her long blond hair blowing in the wind.  Her hair was a flurry of activity as it twirled and flowed. I’m sure she must have been taken with the spectacle that she was.  I wondered if she had ever done this before and if so, had she not learned the price that was awaiting her.  I am, of course, talking about her need to comb her hair when she was finished driving.  The snarls, tangles and matted twists had to be a nightmare.

For every action there is a reaction.  That is what sin is all about.  God tells us not to do certain things, not to deprive us of happiness, but to increase our happiness. In His wisdom He knows consequences, short term and long.  Whenever I see someone smoking I think about the short term ten dollar a pack price and the long term health destruction.

Because God is gracious and forgiving some people think they can count on His grace.  They can.  But grace does not wipe away the earthly consequences of our misdeeds; even when they are done in ignorance.

The mention of God’s wrath appears often in Scripture. It could leave us with the impression He is just waiting to zap us.  That is far from the truth.  There is active wrath and passive wrath.  Active wrath is the zapping kind.  Passive wrath is God allowing us to reap the natural consequences of our actions.  When we yield to temptation God hurts as any good parent hurts for his or her child.  We want the best for our families.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 15, 2017

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