Roger Bothwell

One of the funeral homes in our little city has the following sign by the street where its driveway begins.  “A Journey Funeral Home.  Not a thruway.”  Right they are.  It’s not a thruway it’s a dead end.  The guest of honor never leaves alive.  But wait.  Is that always true?  Jesus spoke of death as a sleep.  See John 11.   In I Thessalonians Paul spoke of a great trumpet blast at a day of resurrection when the sleepers will awaken and all the promises Jesus made will come true.

I’m thinking I should have my wife put a sign on my cement sarcophagus with one of the following messages, “Just passing through” or maybe “Shhh, sleeping.”  “He loved naps.”  “If you thought he looked good today just wait until the next time you see him.”  “And now for the main event.”  I’m thinking I should video tape my own funeral sermon.  That way I can make sure the stories that are told about me are made up by me.

We are on a great journey.  The destination is unknown, even for those who trust Jesus.  Scripture says, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard the wonders that await us.”  In Ephesians 2 Paul tells us God will spend eternity showering us with gifts of grace because it makes Him happy.  It is His pleasure.  This is not for the timid nor the cowardly.  It is for the brave who seek to learn, to explore, to grow, to contribute, to serve and to love.  When couples marry they embark on an unknown journey.  When we unite ourselves with Jesus the journey that follows is totally out of this world.  Death is but a thruway.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 11, 2014

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What I ate for breakfast this morning traveled much more than I ever have.  My orange juice came from Brazil.  My banana came from Central America.  My shredded wheat came from Canada.  The sugar I put on my shredded wheat came from the Dominican Republic and my mandarin oranges came from China.  I think my milk was local and came from here in Massachusetts. As each week passes, our little planet gets even smaller.  Our technology and transportation have made people in India our neighbors.

When my wife and I were teaching in Uganda we relied on flimsy blue air mail letters to communicate with our family in the States.  Once each eighteen months we made an appointment to go to Kampala to have an operator place a three minute telephone call for us to our families.  Today teachers in Uganda daily use Skype or Facetime, not to just talk, but to see their loved ones in the States.

When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Gospel Commission to take the Gospel to the world they had no idea how far they had to go.  When I was a little boy there was a world map in our church with countries marked that had a Christian population.  I remember a large number of countries that were not marked.  I doubt if there are any nations left without Christians.  So what is Jesus waiting for?   Why does He not return?   We don’t know.   He will come in His time.  He will come when His infinite wisdom says it is time.  In the meantime our task is to allow Him to work out His life in us that we are ready to be with Him whenever.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 14, 2012

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A Slap on the Back of the Head

There are some people that really need a slap on the back of the head.  This evening I saw three adults who really should be at the head of the line with all of us lined up to do the deed.  First of all it was dark.  Second, it was a really very busy intersection with rapidly moving cars.  Third, they were crossing the street against the light.  Fourth, they were pushing two baby strollers. Fifth, they were just strolling.

As I drove away literally seething at what I had seen I unfortunately remembered a few really dumb things I have done.  Perhaps I should get a slap on the back of the head before those folk.  I doubt if I am really out of place here to think that perhaps you too can remember deserving a good slap.  Even if it is just a matter of taking all our blessings for granted and not remembering to be thankful.

A lifetime ago I was a pastor in Calhoun, Ga.  One morning the word got out that I was ill.  Before the day was out I had three separate house visits from three separate physicians.  We had called none of them.  Today my primary care physician told my wife he prays everyday that I will be well.  Last week my specialist told me he loved Ian and me.  If ever once you hear me complain about my lot in life I want you to come to my house and slap me on the back of the head.

I think of people who don’t positively respond to the wondrous gift of eternal life; especially those who have heard it over and over.  I wish the only result of that would be a slap on the back of the head.

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 21, 2012

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We saw a lovely wall of roses this afternoon.   Yet as we drew near enough to see individual roses it became apparent that each rose by itself wasn’t that good looking.  Each had been beaten by the weather and chewed on by whatever eats roses.  They looked better from afar when they were part of an array of thousands of roses.   How like people.  Most of us look better from afar.  When we get well acquainted with people we soon see their physical, personality and character flaws.

Some years ago we invited someone to our home for dinner.  Afterwards I was told he said regarding me, “He’s not the person I thought he was.”   The brief time spent with me took off the shine he thought was there.  Actually, I am sure it was even worse than he thought.  Alas, familiarity often does breed contempt.  The lesson is if you want to keep admiring someone, keep them at arm’s length.  Don’t get too close.  Televisions are like that.  If you get too close you see the pixels instead of a smooth picture. I just got up and went and checked to see if that is also the case with high-definition television and it is still true.

There is only one person in history we can thoroughly check and not find flaws, that is Jesus.  The worst thing his enemies could say was “This man eats with sinners.”  He touched lepers.  He befriended Roman soldiers and harlots.  If “birds of a feather” was always true we could write Him off.   But wait just a minute Jesus wants also to be friends with you and me.  Forget the soldiers and harlots.  Being with us would be bad enough.  Somehow He doesn’t mind.  He loves us as we are.  How grand.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 18, 2012

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While waiting for my wife to select the perfect potatoes from the mound of potatoes in the grocery store my eye caught a beautiful sliced in half watermelon.  There it was lusciously red and juicily smiling at me from under its clear plastic wrap.  I was tempted until I saw the $7.99 price.  Obviously the grocer also thought it was tempting.  But really now sixteen dollars for a watermelon!

I tried once to tell one of my grad classes about being a boy and going to the Giant Supermarket where there were a hundred or so watermelons stacked inside the door.  There was a large knife on the pile and before you purchased one you could plug it and taste it.  If it didn’t suit your palate it was tossed aside.  They were ninety-eight cents apiece.  I could tell from their expressions they did not believe me.  How could anything so outrageous really have been?

The Gospel is like that.  It is an outrageous story.  The universe is filled with a billion galaxies.  Why would a Creator of such wonder come here to save us?  It sounds so provincial.  Surely it is the product of our ego-centricity.  We begin the story with our being made in the Creator’s image.  Really?  The story begins focused on our conceit and it gets far more worse when we get to the cross.  Just who in the universe do we think we are?  In Romans and Galatians Paul tries to tell us we are the adopted sons of that Creator, princes and princesses destined to, according to John, sit with Him in His very own throne.

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 23, 2012

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We are far removed from the contested battles over what letters should be included in the New Testament canon.  We open our Bibles and give little thought that the book of James was contested not just for centuries but for over a millennium.  It was not until Council of Trent in 1545 to 1563 that the issue was settled for the western church.  Martin Luther (1483 -1546) would have been very happy to exclude this “epistle of straw.”  Luther objected because he did not feel it was strong enough in presenting Jesus as our Savior.  James presents the law as a “law of freedom” in contrast to Paul calling it a “law of slavery, wrath and death.”  See James 1:25, 2:12 and Romans 4:15, 7:10.

It is fascinating to think of both James and Paul being correct.  If one is seeking God’s favor the law falls far short because we fall far short.  When Paul was Saul, he was a law keeper’s law keeper and found no joy only condemnation at his personal failures to measure up. When he became Paul, he discovered the gift of grace and the happiness of knowing eternal life was not to be earned but accepted.

However, for those of us who live in a nation of “freedom under the law” we understand an umbrella of law provides us with the freedom to live reasonably safely from those who do not have the law “written on their hearts.”  If everyone were like Paul filled with the Holy Spirit we would not need black and white cars with blue lights. Paul understood grace.  James understood that even with the Holy Spirit in us we often need the guidance of written law for our behavior.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 26, 2012

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We were talking about the National Spelling Bee and uncommon words so I thought “dystopia” is a word we should know.  We all know “utopia” an imaginary place where everything is perfect.  “Dystopia” is just the opposite.  It is an imaginary place where everything is dysfunctional like Lucifer’s kingdom.

I was tempted to say that this world is dystopia.  If I focus on the world and local news things don’t look very good.  If I listen to the politicians trying to get our votes, things seem horrible. And of course each one is the solution if we believe what they say. But there is another side to our world. There are flowers, warblers, vistas and a whole array of truly beautiful things to capture our attention. This is my Father’s world.

And there is the dilemma.  Is this my Father’s world or is this Dystopia?  It seems that it can be either depending upon our focus.  This is a world filled with suicide bombers and missile-laden drones firing out of the sky like lightning.  The world is filled with good people who daily sacrifice for the benefit of others.  The world is filled with sadistic psychotics. It would be easy to go on listing examples of the dichotomy in which we live.  That would be useless because we know both are here.  Whatever we look for we will find.  There is a plethora of either.  Jesus knew very much of what He spoke when He said, “Seek and you will find.”  The quality of our lives is the fruit of our choices.  If one wishes to live in a dystopia, it’s here.  If one wishes to live in our Father’s world. It too is here.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 5, 2012

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Yesterday was idyllic.  In the ides of the afternoon we found ourselves sitting by a city pond watching swans, geese and one particularly loudmouthed white duck.  Across the pond was a gazebo occupied by a couple much more fascinated with each other than where they were. Behind us was a sign, “Please do not feed the geese.”  In front of us was an eighty-year-old lady feeding the geese.  I was fascinated by her blatant action.  She must have reasoned, “What can they do to me if I am caught?”  The answer would be very little.  Authorities are not going to put her in jail.  They could fine her but she could refuse to pay it.  They are not going to put her in stocks which could have occurred here in Massachusetts three hundred years ago.

Basically she was immune. Which raises the question, “Why do we obey laws?”  Is it merely because we fear we will be punished or could it be possible that we are more noble than that?   Might we be responsible enough to inquire as to why the law?  What are the reasons for not feeding the geese?  There are many.  The consequences of feeding the geese have health, civic and environmental results.  Is it possible that as humans we might see the larger cause beyond our own immediate gratification, punishment or lack of?

In the 18th Century Immanuel Kant proposed that he could not morally act in any way that would not be permissible for all to act.  True morality is the foundation for universal behavior.  Thus the old lady was a great offender because catastrophe would ensue if everyone came and fed the geese. Her action was selfish and destructive.  Alas, great-granny was/is a sinner.

Written by Roger Bothwell on September 17, 2012

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Charles Spurgeon, the great 19th century English preacher, once used the following wonderful story.  It seems a particularly loud-mouthed know-it-all boarded a ship.  After a few days at sea with the obnoxious one telling everyone, even the captain, what to do, a severe storm arose.  The captain was very busy trying to keep everyone safe when the unbearable man started getting in the captain’s way.  The captain took him to the front of the deck, handed him the end of a rope and instructed him to hold very tightly and to talk to no one.   After the storm subsided and all were safe the man stepped forward expecting to be hailed a hero for saving the ship.  As he insisted on recognition for his great feat, he forced the captain to speak.  The captain then revealed the other end of the rope the man clutched was not attached to anything.

Spurgeon’s point was all who think they will earn heaven by their wondrous feats and righteous lives will someday discover they were only holding a rope connected to nothing.  If we long for salvation there is only one way.  We have to trust our Captain.  Jesus and only Jesus will be able to take us safely to the other side.  Paul put it so well in Ephesians 2. “Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.”  The Message Paraphrase.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 16, 2012

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Long I stood in the pet store trying to find the chameleon.  I felt pretty stupid considering it was in a glass enclosure that wasn’t overly large.  Finally I saw it, but only after it moved.   As I examined how well it blended in I remembered the first time I ever saw one.  When I was a little boy someone brought one to church.  I remember being told how evil it would be if we blended into our culture and people couldn’t tell we were Christians.  They quoted Romans 12:2 and made a real impression on me.

Years later when I was a teen all I wanted to do was to blend in.  It is a common characteristic of early teens.  They have so many changes happening to them physically and mentally they don’t want to look or act weird.  Even as we age, to be reasonably fashionable is not something to shun.  To be modestly dressed in the manner of the day is not wrong.  One of the best advertisements for a product is to be appealing and we would not make Christianity very appealing if we were a gazing stock noted for our bizarre clothing. The Amish people are a wonderful people noted for their honesty, but we certainly don’t see people flocking to join them.

The best way to not blend in and to be different from others is to be the kindest, most caring, and most unselfish person in our circle.  How grand it would be if we were noted for never being a gossip and being the one person in the crowd who always had something nice to say about others.  That is a nice kind of weird.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 16, 2011

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