Author: Ian Bothwell

Just before the President spoke to the nation I went to the kitchen for a piece of peanut butter and jelly bread.  I’m not sure what it was but as I was about to spread the peanut butter something distracted me.  Whatever it was it led to something else and soon I was back in my chair watching the President. About ninety minutes later I remembered my peanut butter bread.   I was amazed at what I found.  When I put that piece of bread on the counter it was fresh, now it was already stale around the edges.  I never would have guessed something could grow stale so quickly.  Ninety minutes isn’t very long.

I remembered a story of a famous pianist who said if he missed practicing just one day he could tell the difference on the second day.  If I miss my special time with Jesus just one day, I can tell the difference.   Probably those around me can also tell but are too kind to mention that I am more surly, more impatient and more critical than usual.  The word is “stale”. Just like that piece of bread, so very quickly we lose our freshness, our sensitivity and our concern for others.  No, we don’t lose it completely. It is just not as keen as when we spend time with the One who said, “Men will know you are mine if you love one another.”

One of our greatest challenges is to stay fresh and relevant.  In the classroom I have to know the daily concerns of my students.  I need to see in their eyes their concerns.  I know the greatest lessons I teach are not out of the books we use but how I treat them.  We must not grow stale.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 29, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

 

The world is as full as ever with hedonistic rulers and dictators who live lavish lives of luxury while their people wallow in squalid poverty.   The leader of North Korea, despite his stroke, recently tried to add two new yachts to his fleet.  Last year thousands of his people died of malnutrition and starvation.  We put John Deere tractors on ships heading to third world nations only to have a miracle happen and brand new luxury automobiles arrive at the intended ports.  I actually had a young man in Uganda tell me he wanted to be a politician so he could exploit people.  By mentioning this I do not mean to infer it doesn’t happen here.

What I do want to point out is Jesus’ birth in a filthy stable, His early life in a humble home, His lack of material goods and His incredible act of becoming a created being destined for the most inhuman sacrifice humans knew how to deliver.  The contrast between our Jesus and a good share of the leaders of earth is so astounding it takes away our breath.

There are twelve verses of Scripture we really need to read and reread just in case we might forget them.  When we are finished reading Isaiah 53 we need to immediately follow it with Colossians 1:15 – 17.  Then finish with a dose of Philippians 2.  “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men.”   There never was another like Him.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 28, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

Neptune is hiding behind Jupiter this week.  Actually, it is peeking out on the upper left hand side of Jupiter but you can’t see it.  Jupiter is just too bright.  Almost everything but the moon is blanked out by Jupiter’s reflected light.  It reminds me of one of my friends who is a talented and gifted person.  Unfortunately, he is out-dazzled by another who always has had the limelight.  My friend is and has constantly been in second place. In a different time and a different place he would have been the one to dazzle.What fascinates me about him is he, at least to my knowledge, has never complained.  He seems content to shine in his part of the Lord’s vineyard. He never seems jealous.  He always speaks extremely well of his more dazzling friend.  Being content with one’s place is a gift.  So many people I know are hungry to be number one.  I laugh when I see the fans of a winning sports team running around shouting they are number one when they aren’t even on the team.

In Corinthians Paul assures us that each of us is important in God’s plan. We all can’t be the head.  The body needs feet and toes.   However, if you are the dazzling one in your circle there is a special verse just for you. It is Romans 12:10.  In the King James it reads, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one.”   It is wonderfully paraphrased in The Message like this, “Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.”   If your friend is talking about his three-inch surgical scar and you have a ten-inch scar, keep quiet.  Let him have his moment.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 15, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

Do you ever wish you knew somebody famous so you could name-drop?  When others do it, it would be so satisfying to drop a name of someone more important than the one they used.  The best I can ever do is to say I had breakfast with Ronald Reagan.  It sounds so cool when I say it like that.  But the truth is there were two hundred other people in the room and I never even got to shake his hand.  Once I was about four feet away from Pope Paul VI.  But that really doesn’t count because he never even looked at me as he walked by in St. Peter’s Cathedral.   It was Epiphany Day.

So I sit quietly when others speak of their important connections.  But wait.  I do have one!  And it tops them all.  Jesus is my friend.  Yes that’s right. Ever since I have been a little boy I have sung the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”   I realize the title uses the word “we”. However, sometimes I sing it with an “I” instead of a “we”.  It makes it so much more meaningful.   This will also work for you.  The next time you’re in church and they sing this song change the pronoun.

Talk about name-dropping.  This is the ultimate.  What adds to this is Jesus drops our name!  Yes He does.   In Hebrews 2 He calls us his friends and family.  He goes so much further than calling us friends.  We are His family and co-heirs in the wonder that He is.  See Romans 8 and Galatians 4. In Revelation 3 He even tells us someday we will sit with Him on His throne.  When we understand this wonder it sort of makes human name-dropping seem silly.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 16, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

I don’t think I ever said to another kid, “My father can beat up your father,” even though I surely thought he could.  I thought of this because of Romans 8.  Paul wrote, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  I think that pretty much means “My Father can beat up your father.”

The history of God in the Old Testament was the Hebrew God (our God) doing battle with the gods of surrounding pagan nations. In story after story Abraham’s God was in competition with Dagon, Baal or some other national deity.  Elijah’s standoff on top of Mount Carmel was classic.  Elijah taunted Baal’s priests.  He really rubbed it in by pouring water over the altar prior to the burst of lightning.  You have to hand it to Elijah.  The man had faith.  Things really got very bloody before the day was over.  There was no doubt in Elijah’s mind.  His God could beat up anybody’s god.

Today’s religious battles are very different.  Christians, Jews and Muslims claim to worship the same God.  God must be very disappointed with us.  He is supreme.  But we are not.  He watches as we all claim to be His favorites.   As adults we don’t argue about whose father can beat up whose.  Instead we argue that we are His special ones.  We usually base this on the proposition that we are righter than the others.  We have more truth.  We have more insight.

The last time I took inventory of my love for my two sons and six grandchildren I once again reaffirmed that each is so unique I love each of them uniquely.   Not one is favored over the other.  Each has a room in my heart.  Didn’t Jesus say something about “in my Father’s house are many rooms?”

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 24, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

On our way home from school this evening my wife and I decided to stop at a local ice cream parlor.  It was a beautiful spring day and it seemed like a great way to start the evening.  Without looking at the prices I ordered a double thick double chocolate malt.  I am so glad the girl didn’t bring me the check until after I had thoroughly enjoyed it.  It really was amazingly delicious.  It was also amazingly expensive.  After putting my eyeballs back in their sockets after looking at the bill I knew I never would have ordered it had I known.  I think sometimes I forget this isn’t 1950 when such a treat would have been thirty-five cents with maybe an extra penny for the malt.  I’ll know better the next time.

Maybe this has also happened to you.  You bought something before counting the cost.  Jesus even talks about a man building a tower without first considering the expense.  See Luke 14:28.   It is a mistake God would never make.  When He first planned to redeem us with the sacrifice of His only one-of-a-kind Son, He counted the cost.  And for reasons I will never ever understand He thought we were worth it.  One of my favorite authors once wrote, “God made Himself poor when He gave us Jesus.”  It is an awesome thought.  God’s richness isn’t all the stuff He can speak into existence.  His richness is Jesus.

As Jesus was dragged from the high priest’s court to the court of Pilate and Herod and back to Pilate with brutal inhuman beatings occurring along the way, the universe watched in stunned silence.  Every intelligent eye watched for either Jesus or the Father to say, “Enough.”   He never did for God so loved the world.  God so loved you.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 14, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

I thought my windshield was clean.  There were no squashed bugs or bird droppings on it but when a low sun came blaring in I was blind.   An almost invisible film on the inside flared light all over the place.  I was afraid to put on my brakes lest the car behind me had the same experience and would not see my brake lights.  Fortunately the road was curving and a second later the angle of the sun changed and I was all right again.

In I Corinthians 13 Paul tells us we see through a glass darkly.   We think we understand.  We think we see.  We think there isn’t anything getting in our way.  But we are so limited we don’t know we are limited.  I have students who think they know but they don’t.  Their background and experience is so limited they don’t know what they don’t know.  Thus they think they know.  I thought I could see through that windshield.  I didn’t know the almost invisible film was there.

In Mark 9 a frantic father most anxious for his son’s well-being said to Jesus, “Help my unbelief.”   My prayer needs to be, “Help, my ignorance.” There is so much I don’t see.  I have no understanding of the Trinity.  I don’t understand what resurrection morning means after our bodies have totally decayed.  I don’t understand how one man’s righteousness can wipe away the horror of our sins.  I do not begin to grasp the immensity of God’s universe and His care for us.  How can God be everywhere at once and yet be on His throne?  My list of “I don’t knows” can go on and on.

I am quite reduced to faith.  Faith is the evidence of things not seen.  I see very little.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 12, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

I loved Sunday afternoons when I was a boy.  Sunday afternoons were my alone time with my dad.  We had a truck and a dog and we had favorite places in the mountains.  When the weather was bad we went to the movies.  I loved westerns.  Randolph Scott was one of my favorite cowboys.  But every once in a while my dad, for reasons I could not understand, took me to a musical.  I hated them.  I clearly remember going to see An American in Paris and could hardly wait for it to be over.  I was nine.  This afternoon about fifty-seven years later I sat down and once again watched An American in Paris.  Now I understand that my dad had good taste.  The music was great.

Isn’t it fascinating how we become like our parents as the years go by?  I go to the mirror and see my dad.  I see his hands sticking out the sleeves of my shirt.  He was a teacher and I have ended up being a teacher.  Now if I can just do the same thing with my heavenly Father.  I realize my current resemblance isn’t even close but He can fix that on resurrection morning.  It is more a matter of attitudes and desires that interest me.  In Isaiah 58:8 He tells us that our thoughts are not His.  Well, of course, He is God.  He knows everything.  He understands all the secrets of the universe.  He was here before there was a here.  However, we can take great joy in Peter’s promise in his second letter that we can begin, right now, participating in God’s nature.  It’s just a matter of time and time is something we will have in abundance.  Little by little we will become more and more like Him.  How grand!

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 2, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

It was a “mystical” day in central Massachusetts.  Especially in the afternoon, dark gray clouds lay low and swirled across the mountains moving in and out of the heavily hued groves of oaks, birches and maples.  It made one turn on one’s windshield wipers at their slowest speed.  The mist played peek-a-boo with one  town’s church steeples.  Geraniums not yet bitten by frost gathered droplets of water prisming surroundings and begging to have their pictures taken.  Too warm for a coat and too cool for none, the day called for a sweater.  Somewhere on top of the clouds the sun shone brightly but you would never have known, living on the ground.  I love “worsted” days near Worcester, Mass.  It’s the right place to be.  It’s the right time to be. It’s the end of October in New England.

If Jesus had met Nicodemus tonight in our city park, surely He would have said, “You know well enough how the mist moves this way and that. You see it swirling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the mist of God, the Spirit of God.”   Today was a good day to be born again.  It was a day to thank God for the chance to start fresh.  In Colossians 2:13-14 Paul wrote, “Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s Cross.” *

Actually, everyday and any day is a good day for that.  But somehow today seemed like a better day.

*The Message by Eugene Peterson

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 28, 2009

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

rogerbothwell.org

 

I misspoke this weekend while preaching.   I said, “The Bible says God loves each of us as much as He loves Jesus.”  Immediately my brain said to me, “Hey, there is no such verse.”  However, instead of stopping to correct myself I went on because in that instant of time my brain told me that while it is not actually so expressed in Scripture, recently I read it and I believe it.  I mentioned it to one of my friends and he instantly told me that I had read it in The Shack, a publication that will become a Christian classic.

I believe it is true because I am a father.  When Jesus told us to call God “Our Father” He changed everything in regards to our understanding of the true nature of God.   Actually we do not love our children equally because love cannot be measured.  However, we do love each of our children uniquely as each child is unique.  We don’t love one child more or less than the other.  We love each one differently than the other.   Each draws from us exactly what they need as we are willing to give all we have to each.  We would not die for one and not the other.  Each would receive the ultimate from us.  As we brought each into the world, we would give all to each to keep each as safe as possible in this world.

By giving us Jesus on the cross God by His actions has demonstrated that each of His children will receive all that is necessary, even at the sacrifice of the very One of which He says, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; . . .”  Hebrews 1

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 5, 2009

Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org