Author: Ian Bothwell

It was late, dark and raining when I got home from school this night.  My old dog met me at the door with her usual leaning against me and rubbing her face against mine.  After an appropriate amount of loving she went out into the dark and rain.  She doesn’t like the rain so I expected a quick return.  However, she lingered.  After five minutes I grew uneasy and waited at the door.  She has difficulty climbing even the two stairs on the porch.  Suddenly I heard a muffled bark coming from a door on the back of the house.  Running through the house I found her.  We were both anxious for her to come inside.  It will be a bad day when there will be no more bark at the door.

As I opened the door I thought of a paraphrase adaption of Jesus comment about us as sinful beings and our heavenly father.  If we as sinful beings know how to rush to answer the door for a dog, how much more will our heavenly Father rush to open heaven’s door.  One of my favorite authors has written that there is one prayer God will always answer affirmatively.  It is, “Lord, save me.”   He stands at the door looking out into the dark waiting for us.

It is interesting to note the different ways Jesus uses the analogy of a door.   In John 10:9 He said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.”  In Revelation 3 we become the door. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”   Let’s do it.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 29, 2009

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

 

I had a forty-pound bag of seed for our birdfeeder in the garage and then a gray squirrel discovered it.   Obviously the many layers of paper were not enough to keep him out so I closed it in a large plastic garbage can.  I know what you are thinking and you are right.  He chewed right through the plastic and continued to help himself to the seed.

This squirrel is like Satan, the opportunist, who squirrels his way past and through our best defenses.  Satan is probably the second best psychologist. For thousands of years he has studied human nature and knows how to press our buttons to get his desired result.  He preys upon our appetites and fears.  He feeds upon our insecurities and watches with delight as we develop prejudices and hatred toward groups that are different than we.  He watches for us to make promises to do better and specifically tempts us in those areas for he knows when we fail we will often give up trying as we resign ourselves to our inabilities.

Our defenses are no match for him.  However, there is a psychologist far superior to him.  Jesus, our Creator, knows our thoughts and weaknesses and promises to fill us with real power, the power that spoke worlds into being. With this help, which is always available upon our request, we can make Satan look exactly like the second rate power he is.  In John 14 Jesus urges us to ask for power and He promises we will receive all we need.  Never will He allow us to be forced to do wrong.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 23, 2008.

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

I have some dear friends who are continually passing on some of the most outrageous stories as if they were gospel.  I have been trying to figure out why these dear people are so easily taken in by some of the most obvious lies. I think I have figured out what is going on.  They really are dear people who would never stoop to deliberately tell a lie about someone. Truthfulness is such an ingrained part of their character it is difficult for them to think everyone isn’t like them.  The idea that some people are paid to “spin” the truth just doesn’t occur to them.   That girl telling that tale looks just like their dear daughter and they know she always tells the truth.

God wants us to be innocent.  He wants us to believe in others.   But others are not always trustworthy.  Jesus tried to warn the innocent.  He said in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”   He said in Matthew 16:6, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” He said in Mark 12:38, “Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and the chief seats in the synagogues: which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.”

There is a lot to beware of.  If anything it is easier to spread lies now than ever before because of our mass media tools.  Let’s listen to Jesus and beware before we fall into their trap and become spreaders of their lies.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 16, 2008

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

Last evening one of my grad students told us about an exercise she does with her third graders.  Each student takes a piece of paper and writes down somebody’s name.  Under that name they have to write a mean nasty name.  Then they have to scrunch up the paper into a ball and sit on it.  After a short time the children become physically uncomfortable with what they have done so they can take the paper, spread it out as nicely as they can and erase the nasty name.   What the children discover is that no matter how hard they try to make the paper look new.  It can’t be done.  The wrinkles and the erase mark are still there.   The children then talk about what this means.

It’s a good exercise and should be combined with James 3.  Words once spoken and deeds done leave permanent results.  Forgiveness is real. Forgiveness is powerful.  Forgiveness does set a course for a better future. But the reality is humans remember. Relationships betrayed are forgiven but are never again as they were when they were new.  This is why Jesus asks us to forgive 70 times 7.  He is not necessarily talking about 490 offenses as much as He is talking about the need to forgive someone 490 times for one offense because the human mind remembers.

Now comes the amazing part.  When we ask for forgiveness, God’s divine power enables Him to look at us as if we have never sinned.  This is awesome. Please note Ephesians 5:27, “He might present to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 10, 2008.

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

After food, shelter and safety, the most important human need is love.  From the moment we are born love is essential if a baby is to thrive.  The infant brain needs cuddling and gentle human touch.  God created us this way.  God is love.  (I John 4:8)  We satisfy His desire to nurture.  We are avenues for His innermost need.   It is difficult for us to imagine a perfect being with needs.  However, love needs a lovee.   Most adults need children.  If they don’t have children they have a pet or pets.  We spend huge amounts of money on in vitro procedures or adoptions that we might have the joy of parenting.  Jesus told us to call God “Our Father.”   No one knows God better than Jesus.  He is God.  See Hebrews 1.

Just as children that prosper bring happiness to their parents, so God is glorified when we do well.  Jesus told us He came to give us the abundant life.  When we avail ourselves of His offer He is pleased.  In Ephesians 2 we are told God saves us for the purpose of showering us with gifts of grace.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us we give God glory by our works. What a wonderful understanding of the nature of living a Godlike life.  We are saved by grace.  Ephesians 2.  Our works don’t save us.  But our works are very important for they bring great joy into the heart of the One, who by His great work on the cross, saves us.  Grace saves.  Works are an expression of our character growth and our love for God.  Works make God happy.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 4, 2008

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

According to Aristotle there are two primary reasons for having friends. Either we profit from them or derive pleasure from being with them. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to gain both profit and pleasure in a relationship.  Unfortunately, sometimes we find pleasure in another’s company but it costs us.  Usually that kind of friendship rarely lasts.  Pleasure in another often exists because of common interests.  Pilots love to exchange flying stories and chess players enjoy explaining complicated moves.   How can I exchange any meaningful conversation with the Maker of All Things?  He knows everything and I am woefully ignorant.

Keeping this in mind I have asked the question why does Jesus call us His friends?  I grew up singing “What a friend we have in Jesus.”   I know what I gain from Him.  I get freedom from guilt resulting from His forgiveness. I get to shed this mortal body that is quickly going to ruin.  I get to live forever with a ticket to unimaginable growth.  But what does He get from me? That question puzzles me for most of the reasons I give myself are purely egotistical and ultimately meaningless.  If He does not gain from my friendship then He must take pleasure in me.   But how is that?  I must confess I do not enjoy the company of those whose behavior is obnoxious.  I must be obnoxious to Him.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “For the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross.”  Surely that joy is because by His sacrifice the universe is cleansed from sin and ultimately at-one-ment, but to be my friend?  I am puzzled!

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 4, 2008

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

The Bible says Adam was 930 years old when he breathed his last breath. Considering the average person takes 17,280 breaths a day that means Adam breathed 5,865,696,000 times after God knelt in the grass and breathed into him the breath of life.  His heart beat 29,328,480,000 before it wore out. It took a long time for that perfect body to run down.  Originally it was designed to run for an infinite amount of breaths and beats, but sin finally took its toll.

Those are staggering numbers compared to our statistics.  However, they are nothing when we accept the gift promised in John 3:16.   I would not be surprised if Adam was anxious to let go.  Old age had taken its toll. Nothing could be worse than eternal life in our present state of decline. There comes a time when death is a blessing and life is a curse.   Eternal life with eternal vitality is what Jesus offers, otherwise heaven would be hell.  Ephesians 2 tells us God gives us eternal life so for the coming ages He might continually shower us with gifts.  It is difficult not to be anxious.

The longer we live on earth the more underwhelming it can be.  The longer we live with Jesus the more overwhelming it will be.   It is difficult not to tell everyone we can when something good happens to us.  It will be impossible not to sing His praises.   It is no wonder Revelation 7 describes a numberless multitude around the throne singing, “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever.”

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 8,2008

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

There seems to be a new law that orders us to use computers, video projectors and Power Point in all our presentations.   It is getting quite uncommon to see a presentation without all our modern (toys) devices.  Dare I add, more times than not things don’t work the way we want and we do a lot of fooling around with cables and buttons when we should be talking about our subject. Recently we witnessed a presenter who could not get her handheld clicker to work so she stayed by her laptop and pressed a key each time she wanted a new display.  It was intriguing to note that even though the handheld clicker didn’t work she firmly grasped it for her entire presentation.

Isn’t it interesting how we hang on to useless items?  When we stop and analyze our situations most of the things we have are very expendable.  When we lived in Africa we received a message from the American Embassy to pack one small bag and be ready to immediately evacuate our homes.   We packed a few pictures and were ready to go.   The rest was just replaceable stuff.

I wonder if we ever hang on to useless, or worse, harmful habits.  Paul once wrote, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”     That’s puts it in total perspective.   There is nothing more valuable than having Jesus live within that we might grow forever into His likeness.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 21, 2008

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

I’m sitting here looking at a container of something called “Ultra Color Safe Bleach”.  It takes out the stains and the bad stuff but leaves the intended colors behind.  This is just like what God does for us.   Each of us is a colorful character.  How dull life would be if we were all bland or sparkling white.  Isaiah 1:18 says, “Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.”   Please note it’s our sins that are as white as snow.  We aren’t.

I have actually witnessed cases through the years when a foot-dragging family member finally yielded and was baptized. The family enthusiastically started in making a “new man” in Christ.   It entailed telling him or her all the old characteristics and mannerisms had to go.  They wanted to create some perfect person that they themselves were not. 

Being the new man that Paul speaks of in Romans is about overcoming soul-destructive, selfish habits. It isn’t about transforming someone into a non-recognizable human.  Our personalities are the fruit of a lifetime of memories and experiences.   We are the sum of all the years we have logged.  God has no desire to bleach that away.  God loves our color.  God loves the things that make us us.  On resurrection morning we get a new body infused with all those memories and experiences.  We will be we forever.  The difference will be a lack of self-destructive and other-destructive characteristics because we will care more for others than for ourselves.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 21, 2008

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

The few moments of violent winds in a summer storm thrashing branches in wide arches across the lawn left a baby cardinal dashed and sprawled upon the concrete walkway.  It was the family’s second unsuccessful attempt to raise a family in what appeared to be a safe place.  Sadly I looked at what could have been a bright dashing color swooping across the yard.  Instead I saw a rather ugly, cold, partially feathered, big mouthed, blob of gray matter.  Would I have cared so much for the loss if it had been an English sparrow, whose presence sometimes seems like flying mice?  Do I only care for beautiful things and give not a second thought to the plain? Do we not fuss more over the beautiful, successful people in our midst than the ordinary?  Do the children with big blue eyes and long lashes not get more attention than the brown-eyed child whose eyes are just a bit too far apart? 

Apparently our insensitivity to the ordinary is not new.  In James 2 we read, “If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, ‘Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house.’ and either ignore the street person or say, ‘Better sit here in the back row,’ haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?”  

I guess nothing much changes. What is amazing is so often the real treasures in our midst come in plain wrappers.  We just need to pay better attention.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 27, 2008

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