Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell Our Pantry Spider We have a pantry spider in the upper back corner and despite my wife's strong dislike for spiders, we leave him alone. From the leftovers in his web it is obvious he is keeping our pantry bug free. I hope he lives to a ripe old age. I just hope his tribe doesn't increase in my pantry. There are many advantages in life for tolerating things we don't especially like. Conservatives think liberals are immoral creatures doomed for eternity. Liberals think conservatives are small-minded people afraid of change. While there might be some truth in both views, practicality is best served by having both around. The contending views tend to keep society healthy by keeping us from straying too far in one direction. We must remember liberals led Rome down the destructive road of decadence and conservatives crucified Jesus. The changes He wanted to bring into Hebrew society frightened them. The strength of a nation and a church is the freedom to speak one's ideas without fear of retribution. Freedom is a precious idea and even more precious practice. The next time someone in your Bible study group says something with which you vehemently disagree, pause for a moment before you bite off his or her head. Be thankful someone feels free enough in your presence to say what he or she believes. She is not the spider she seems to be. "Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with." Romans 14:1 The Message I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is roger.bothwell@verizon.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives