Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

He is the light

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Alexander Jawfox on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from John 8.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

Jesus’s words made me think about sources of light.

In the bible, your source of light would be the sun or from a flame, like a candle or torch.

In addition to those, my house is filled with LED lightbulbs on tables, inside appliances, hanging from ceilings, and in nightlights. The nighttime world is lit by street lights, headlights, phone lights, and motion-sensor lights.

It’s hardly every really dark.

So what different does Jesus’s light make in a not-so-dark world?

Well, darkness isn’t always about the absence of light, is it? I can be “in the dark” when I don’t have enough information about something. Books and movies may be “dark” when they involve evil or sinister topics. Dark humor uses death or pain to get a laugh. When a lot of bad things happen, we might find ourselves in a “dark place.”

Light has a lot of metaphors, too. We might say, “Enlighten me,” when someone alludes to some information we don’t have. To “shed some light” is to explain what’s going on. “Light at the end of the tunnel” expresses optimism.

All of that adds a lot of meaning to Jesus’s simple statement, “I am the light of the world.” He brings understanding, wisdom, and hope. Darkness cannot rule because it always gives way to the dawn and a new day. He invades the darkness of the grave with restored life and light.

And when there are shadows? They are created by the light. Difficult moments are from his hand to strengthen us and cultivate a mature faith.

Jesus is the light in so many ways!

Posted in neighbor, neighborhood, noticing

Do not disturb

Posted on by William Douthwaite

This is another chapter in the bizarre happenings at my neighbor’s house. In our last episode, he had removed all the glass from the solar landscape lights around his front yard.

The other morning, the front door looked different. I couldn’t really tell what was across the front door and what was written on a piece of paper. I hesitated to walk up to the front door at 6 am. What if there’s a camera behind the doorbell or watching the front of the house?

But that evening, my curiosity got the best of me. I couldn’t see any lights on in the house. What did I have to lose? The big dog and I walked up to the door to find two handwritten warnings: “Do not disturb.”

Interesting. From what I’ve seen, this is the last house in the neighborhood I’d like to disturb. On the other hand, I’ve gotten tired of door-to-door tree services, alarm companies, pest control companies, and well- meaning religious groups knocking on my door. I’ve just haven’t gotten around to putting a stylish “No soliciting” sign by the doorbell.

What’s going on in that home? Something illegal? Something sinister? I don’t know. But I’ll bet this isn’t the last post I’ll write about this house!

Posted in Life, security

Tied with a tie

Posted on by William Douthwaite

So if you’re going to take you bicycle along with you, get a good rack. This Bell trailer-hitch rack looks awesome.

Next, be sure to fasten it securely to the rack. Bungee cords are great. This cyclist used them effectively with one unconventional adaptation: a neck tie.

I had never seen that adaptation, so I snapped a quick picture before the light turned green and we were on our way.

I like imagining the driver in a very nice suit and open neck shirt, without the formality of a neatly tied tie around the bike rack.

Or a student heading back to the campus of the University of Florida, grabbing one of dad’s ties for the bike. Dad has lots of them hanging in the closet. He won’t miss one.

Maybe the tie already had a spot on it. They’re expensive to clean, so why not just use it for the bike?

When I had a couple of bikes on the back of a car, I used the fabric-covered chain with combination lock. Too much stuff disappears from cars when you’re inside the convenience store for some coffee and a snack.

Posted in neighbor, neighborhood

The glass is all gone

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I’ve written about this fun neighbor before. In previous episodes, he tore all the sod out of his front yard, letting a field of weeds replace the grass. He then installed a string of thirty-two solar lights across the length of his property. He even drilled holes in the driveway and set the light spikes through the concrete.

Well, early this morning, the big dog and I noticed that this guy had taken all the glass panels out of every solar light spike. The lights worked, but all the glass was gone from every one! Just when I think it can’t get any weirder, it gets weirder.

I’m starting to think I should say something to someone, but I have no idea who. Keep in mind that this person lives across the street from someone who has a Ghostbuster vehicle parked in their driveway.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

More than a snack

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Gaining Visuals on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from John 6.

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).

Jesus goes on to explain, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (6:51)

Of course, “The Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (6:52)

The sixth chapter of John isn’t the easiest to figure out. Volumes have been written about interpreting and applying Jesus’s words. I’m still working it out in my own mind.

The image of eating and drinking is a metaphor for taking something into your innermost being. Other forms of this metaphor sound like

  • Drink the Kool-aid
  • Hook, line, and sinker
  • All in
  • Swept up
  • Buy-in
  • On board
  • Jump on the bandwagon

In other words, fully absorbing everything Christ is and does. Manna in the desert? That was about Jesus. Psalm 23’s “A table in the presence of my enemies?” Yep, about Jesus. A land flowing with milk and honey? Ultimately it’s Jesus. Elisha’s abundance of bread for a hundred people (2 Kings 4:42-44). Another image of Jesus.

Food sustains physical life. Jesus nourishes our spiritual lives. Without him you’ll starve. We’re dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1). With him, we have eternal life (John 6:51). With him we’re full – of life.

Jesus spoke of this before he instituted the Lord’s Supper. John wrote about it much later. Is that what Jesus was talking about? Plenty of theologians have written about this, and they don’t all agree.

Having said that, I certainly think Jesus should be more than a snack you read for when you’re worried, sad, or struggling. He ought to be at the bottom of your food pyramid. His word ought to be a the most substantial part of your daily consumption of news and entertainment

Posted in neighborhood

The mailbox didn’t have a chance

Posted on by William Douthwaite

How fast do you think this person was driving?

The first thing that caught my eye was the uprooted mailbox post. It was completely lifted up out of the ground. I thought, “Who would do that?”

Then I saw the car or truck parts along the tire track in the lawn. Someone took the curve too fast, swerved onto the grass, and took out that mailbox.

But where was the mailbox? I spotted it up by the house, about twenty yards away. Wow, they must have been moving!

I know the guy who used to live in this house. Used to means I don’t know what happened to him. I used to see him all the time, riding his bike around the neighborhood. He either died or is living in a care facility. A company cares for the lawn each week. But no sign of him.

If someone put their mind to it, they wouldn’t have much trouble finding the offending vehicle that picked up a few dents and dings and left a few trim parts behind.

We’ll see if anyone notices or cleans up the yard in the next few days. It’s on an isolated section of a road I often walk on in the morning, easily overlooked. I’ll also keep an eye out for the rest of the truck or car.

It could have been worse. Some folks build bricks around their mailbox posts for these kinds of moments.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

How can I help?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo from Gospelimages

These “through the bible” thoughts are from Luke 18.

As Jesus approaches Jericho, a blind beggar cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38)

Jesus stops and asks the man, “What do you want me to do for you?” (18:41) In other words, “How can I help you ?”

I believe that’s an interesting moment. And it’s also a very good question. What does mercy look like in that context?

Beggars beg for money. Spare change. A couple of bucks. Anything helps, right?

But this is three years into Jesus’s public ministry. The talk on the street is that Jesus of Nazareth can teach, can heal, and might be the Christ. As the man cries out, “Jesus, Son of David,” he acknowledges Jesus’s claim to the throne. There’s a new king in town, someone who can make things happen.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

A blank check? Three wishes from a genie? A “What do you want for Christmas?” moment on Santa’s lap? Or a moment of complete faith and trust?

“Lord, let me recover my sight.”

That’s a big ask. Huge. Had the man prayed for that in the past? Perhaps. But it’s one thing to ask the unseen all-powerful God for a miracle. It’s another to ask it of a man named Jesus.

Do your prayers consist of huge favors or small requests? Are you bold enough to pray for the miraculous? Or do you only petition for what you think God will give?

Jesus said, “Ask…seek…knock” (Luke 11:9). We might as well go big. To do so not only acknowledges our need but also God’s ability to provide. It’s an expression of faith and trust in a Father who is able to do more than we ask or imagine. Who knows? You might get a miracle. You might get something better.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What are you doing here?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Luke 24.

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

We do it all the time:

  • Turn the key one more time, even though the starter won’t even click because the car battery is dead.
  • We search around through containers of fuzzy leftover food in the refrigerator, hoping to find something edible.
  • Birds build a nest in a flower pot near my front door. I went out to see the eggs every day, until the day when there weren’t any. I don’t think they hatched. I think a lizard ate them. But I still peeked in every day or so, just to make sure I didn’t miss new ones.
  • When I need some help shopping in a big box store, I futilely scan every aisle to find someone in a blue or orange vest. Not a single soul to be found.
  • I show up at someone’s house for a visit. I called ahead to set up a time. Upon arrival, no one answers the doorbell and then a knock. I peer in the windows around the door. No lights are on. No one is home. They forgot.
  • Why do many return to cemeteries after the burial of a loved one? To complete unfinished conversations? To have the last word? To keep memories alive?

Just like the women who showed up at to tomb at early dawn on the first day of the week, we go to places of death. The angels who appeared are surprised to see the women. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Don’t you remember what he told you? Don’t you remember how the prediction of his crucifixion was followed by the promise of resurrection? What are you doing here?

We can’t help it. Death is the end of the story for leftovers, batteries, and human life. Until Jesus rewrites the ending. Until we encounter an empty tomb. Until we remember what he said.

Where will you look for life today?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Looking down, looking up

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Luke 18.

 “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable…” (Luke 18:9)

I hate this parable. It’s addressed to me, or people like me, who look down on others. It is so easy to look down on someone else.

Why? Because I seek out those who aren’t as good as me, who have more problems than me, who need a lot more help than me, and whose lives are messier than mine. All that makes me look great. Until I look at the holiness, the righteousness, and the justice of God Suddenly, my opinion of myself means nothing. His evaluation means everything.

We all look down on someone. Someone younger, smaller, or less experienced than us. Someone less talented, less experienced, and less skilled. Don’t we love to elevate ourselves?

That works great, until someone else better comes along. They put us in their place. They look down on our talent, experience, skill, and ideas.

iI’s so much better to look up. Look up to what God had done. Remember what he has done for you,