Author: William Douthwaite

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Sick to his stomach

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Image by Darko Djurin from Pixabay

My eyes are spent with weeping;
    my stomach churns;
my bile is poured out to the ground
    because of the destruction of the daughter of my people,
because infants and babies faint
    in the streets of the city. (Lamentations 2:11)

The destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of the people is gut-wrenching. The whole scene makes Jeremiah sick to his stomach.

His words made me wonder, “Have I ever seen anything that made me want to throw up?”

Some people lose it when they see blood or a hypodermic needle. Neither bothers me. Pictures of an especially violent car crash might make me a little queasy, but not too bad. I used to find vomit or poop disgusting, but after raising kids, helping care for grandkids, and cleaning up after puppies, I got used to it. I might lose it watching an autopsy, but I’ll probably never find out.

I’ve never seen the violence Jeremiah witnessed. Perhaps I’ve never seen the suffering his family and friends endured. Devastation has never hit my home and my community as it did his.

Or, I’ve become desensitized to violence, destruction, abuse, and killing. Jeremiah didn’t see any of that on television or in movies. He experienced it first hand, and it was like a punch to the gut.

It bothers me that I’ve been desensitized. Can I get that back, or is that just the way I’m going to react to the world around me now?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Alone

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jamison Riley on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Lamentations 1.

“How lonely sits the city
    that was full of people!” (Lamentations 1:1)

Left behind after most of the people have been taken into exile, Jeremiah sees a deserted Jerusalem.

It must have looked like a once vibrant shopping mall that sits empty as people shop online or on the streets of trendy town centers. It was as deserted as my evacuated county when wildfires raced towards our homes. It was as empty as a closed Wally World when Clark Griswold and his family arrive in “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” Or like the church when everyone stayed home because of Covid-19.

When someone dies, family and friends gather to mourn, comfort, and support their loved ones. When they leave, and you’re alone, the house feels especially empty. It’s so quiet. Your voice echoes. You’re never felt so alone.

Jeremiah knew it would happen. In distress he groans, “You have brought the day you announced” (1:21). But he didn’t know his stomach would church and heart would be faint as he witnessed the faithful justice of the holy God.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I don’t want to do that

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Jeremiah 42 and 43.

Most of the nation has been taken into exile. The remnant who’s left wants Jeremiah to ask God, “Now what should we do?” They promise, “We will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you” (Jeremiah 42:6).

Jeremiah passes along this message from the Lord: “Don’t run away to Egypt. Stay here. I’ll take care everything” (42:10-12).

That’s not the answer they wanted to hear. “You’re lying!” they said, and “did not obey the voice of the Lord” (43:7). They all ran away to Egypt, dragging Jeremiah with them.

How often has someone asked you, “What do you think I should do?” Or, “What can I do to help?” After your thoughtful and loving response, they reply, “I don’t want to do that.” You’ve been that someone, haven’t you? Yeah, me, too. We don’t really want advice. We just want someone to affirm what we wanted to do all along.

It’s just like the man who asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16) He had obey all the commandments, and wanted to make sure he had left nothing undone. When Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Jesus, he walked away sadly because he had a lot of possessions. Jesus’s instructions were the last thing he wanted to do.

The fact that Jesus’s instructions are often the last thing I want to do reveals a lot about my heart. I need his grace a lot more than I like to admit.

Posted in lessons

A new perspective on partiality

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I was teaching a middle/high school class on a recent Sunday. We looked at the first part of James 2 and talked about the “sin of partiality.” I know that doesn’t seem like much of a sin, but in the early church it was a big deal.

In the adult world, partiality is huge. We place a lot of value on appearance, achievement, belief systems, political parties, wealth, race, and sexual orientation.

The students all said none of that really mattered to them. They’ve grown up in a much different world. I told them they are better adjusted than most of the grown-ups I know.

Finally, I said, “What about furries?” Everyone reacted with comments like, “No way,” “I’m not getting near them,” “Forget it.”

It took a while, but I hit a nerve, at least with this group. A furry is someone who dresses up and acts like an animal at home and in school. I never went to school with someone who had a tail coming out the back of their pants, paw-like mittens, and animal nose and ears. No one ever dressed like the cast of Cats. But you’ll find them in the schools, and they aren’t popular outside of their own private circle. It’s not just a costume, but part of their daily wardrobe.

It’s not that students are more tolerant. They just look down on different people for different reasons. We all do it. We all fall short in that area. We all have a lot to learn about other people.

Posted in encouragement, faith

Preaching to a busy intersection

Posted on by William Douthwaite

It’s a little hard to see from these pictures, but I believe this guy was preaching at a busy intersection in my community. I believe the book balanced on the pedals of his bike is a bible, that he had just been holding in the air.

This is an intersection with a McDonalds, gas station, supermarket, and bank on the four corners. It’s busy and noisy, and the preacher didn’t have a P.A., so I doubt that anyone could hear him other than that one person stopped there with the window open. Since we all have AC, few windows are open. There are no signs about repentance or contributions, so it’s just him, his voice, and the word competing with busy afternoon traffic.

I’ve heard street corner preachers before. They had a microphone and a portable amp, lots of signs about repentance, and of course, a container for contributions. Many stopped to watch the spectacle, but I seriously doubt that anyone was converted.

I think the best evangelism happens when we get to know someone, care about someone, and make them curious about your life and faith. Once they start asking questions, you’ve got a wonderful opportunity to talk about the Lord.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Broken

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Brandon Stoll on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Jeremiah 19.

“Go, and buy a potter’s earthenware flask…break the flask…and say, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: So will I break this people and this city” (Jeremiah 19:1,10,11).

In contrast to clay being formed by a potter, Jeremiah’s subsequent object lesson is breaking a bottle made of hardened clay, an image of the disaster God will bring on his people, “Because they have stiffened their neck, refusing to hear my words” (19:15).

The first thing that pops in my mind is the scene in Rocky IV, Ivan Drago, the Soviet champion says to Rocky, “I must break you.” Other images include breaking a wild horse, breaking in a new pair of running shoes, breaking up a task into manageable parts, breaking up hard soil for a garden, or breaking a bad habit.

God’s people are no longer moldable, having forsaken God to pursue idol worship with child sacrifice. They’ve closed their ears to God’s repeated warnings and calls to repentance. Mercy isn’t working. It’s going to take enemy invasion and destruction to get their attention. It’s like a house that’s beyond repair. “We’re going to have to tear it down and start over.”

It must have been tough for Jeremiah to proclaim this “no more Mr. Nice Guy” message. Well, actually, it was, because in the next chapter, the priest beats Jeremiah and puts him in the stocks. Jeremiah complains to God about the violent response to the message. He hates this job.

It’s ironic that Jeremiah has been sent to preach to people who refuse to listen. Seems like a waste of time. Yet it sets up an, “I told you so” future moment, as God’s justice and righteousness prevails.

Ultimately, Christ’s body will be broken for so many, like me, who just don’t listen, who find so many other things to worship, and are impossibly stubborn. Just like God’s people always have been.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

A work in progress

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Earl Wilcox on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Jeremiah 18.

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:6)

This is a classic object lesson from the prophet. Every time I read about the potter and the clay, that is, God and his people, he gives me new insights.

This time around it occurred to me that when the shape of the clay isn’t what the potter wanted, he doesn’t toss it out. He mushes it down and starts over. He keeps working with the clay, reshaping it again and again, until it becomes what he intended.

Since I’m far from perfect, on any given day, I can assume that God is still working on me. Today’s appointments, routine chores, chance encounters, disappointments, unexpected blessings, songs on the radio, dog walks, meals prepared, and naps taken are all part of daily formation.

Jeremiah reminds me to ask, “What did I learn today? Who taught me something new? How was I challenged?” It’s all part of the process.

Posted in Life, Through the Bible Devotions

Inside out

Posted on by William Douthwaite

As I’m waiting my turn at the ATM, I notice the gentleman ahead of me has his t-shirt on inside out. So naturally I wondered, “What’s going on here?”

He got up early this morning and dressed in the dark, not seeing that his shirt was inside out. Sometimes in a hurry, I’ll fold my t-shirts inside out. I can turn them right side out later. (Unless I forget or I’m not paying attention or it’s dark?)

There is something offensive on the front of his shirt. Rather than choosing another shirt, he just wore it with the image on the inside for a trip to the bank.

Perhaps he was at a restaurant and got some food on the front of his shirt. He’ll change his shirt when he gets home. But for now, inside out will do.

“I’ll bet I could wear my t-shirt inside out and no one would notice.” There’s only one way to find out.

In any event, noticing something like this prompts me to pay more attention when I’m getting dressed in the morning!

Posted in optimism

It’s going to be a good day

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“I’ve decided it’s going to be a good day.”

I jotted those words my journal, a quote from Loewhaley I can’t find that post, but those words got me thinking.

Can I decide what kind of day it’s going to be? Can I decide in advance that I am going to be grateful? Is contentment an attitude I can choose? Can I deliberately frame my day with joy? Do I have any control over the kind of day I am going to have? Can I declare that I am blessed, and that today is going to be a good day?

My answer to all of the above is, “Yes!”

I can easily list out ten things for which I’m grateful. Gratitude feeds contentment. In any situation I can discover joy. If I decide it’s going to be a good day, no one can take that from me. I can determine how I will respond to the people, situations, and events going on around me. I define how I will react to the news, surprises, disappointments, success, insults, and compliments.

I believe we forget how much control we have over our reactions, emotions, and attitude. If you blame others for your feelings, you’ve allowed them to influence you. You’ve surrendered something to them.

How many people have forgotten that they have control over their feelings and attitude? Plenty.

If I set out on my morning walk intent on noticing the colors of the dawn, I will see a beautiful pallet of hues that leave me breathless. When I set out to make a list of things I am thankful for, I soon need an extra page. And if I determine that I am going to have a good day, no disappointment can steal that from me.

So shy not start with that assumption? Why not be an optimist, looking forward to the great experiences, interesting people, and fascinating stories to come?