My maternal grandmother always enjoyed telling the story of my birth:

“Your mother stopped at a drug store, purchased a bottle of castor oil, poured it into frosted glass of iced-cold root beer and chugged it down. I put my sea-sick, wobbling daughter into the car and drove from Aurora as fast as I could to the University of Colorado Medical Center where she had been working as a respiratory therapist. I dropped her off at the Emergency Department and said, ‘I’m going to go park my car. If this baby is born before I get back, and it’s a boy,” he is to be named James Bradley Bowden.”

No sooner had she parked the car and entered the main hospital when she heard the words over the public address system, “Mrs. Yates, James Bradley Bowden has arrived.”

My “Granny” wanted me to have this name because she thought it sounded distinguished. Her vision for me was to have a corner office in a sky-rise office building over-looking the city with big bold letters on my door reading J.B.

It’s funny when I look back. I did become a businessperson; albeit one who would be doing God’s business (Luke 2:49).

I adored my mother. I loved the aroma that surrounded her…a mixture of lavender and cinnamon. She wore bright red lipstick and had the most beautiful blonde hair and green eyes. She lavished me with attention and affection. She told me every day how much she loved me. In turn, I told her the same. During my 1st-grade year, she walked to the school on sunny days to pick me up. She always met me with outstretched arms, a glistening smile, and sparkling eyes. She loved the balloons of primary colors I made for her. She delighted in them. She scooped  me up and kissed me all over my face. For as far back as I can remember I always greeted her by saying, “Hi, Beautiful! She always replied, “Hi, Handsome)!

I remember my mother’s wisdom, guidance, and assurance. I have searched the files of my heart and mind. I cannot remember a single time when my “Maggie” was ever mean toward me or hurtful to me.

I always thought she was so elegant and pretty. She was married to 3 different men, none of  whom who were deserving of her love. All 3 men hurt her, neglected her, and abandoned her. Not one of them ever deterred her strength and determination to maintain her dignity and provide for her children. My mother always made a way. I may have lived in a shack for a few years in rural West Virginia, but I never went hungry. I never knew such a holy, sacred, place for the mothering God of love to express itself. We worked together at a Shoney’s Restaurant. I was a cook; she, a waitress. Each night we would drive the winding country roads back to the shack and count her tips. The next morning we went to shop for the essentials!
God alone knows how much I loved this woman. She has been gathered to her people. I will be with her again.

Here’s to all the single moms!

Love,

Rev. Dr. Jim Bowden

Please read the following Bible verses:

2 Corinthians 11:25

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

1 Timothy 1:19

Some rejected the message of the Gospel and have suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

Do you know the hymn, “Stand by Me?” My favorite stanza goes like this:

“When the world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea, Thou who rulest wind and water stand by me.”

If you are experiencing way too much pain and drama in your life and are feeling overwhelmed, please read from the Book of Acts 27:27 – 28:5. Talk about the raging storms of life! The Apostle Paul weathered many storms: controversy, dissension, discord, and many others. Though he was loved by some, he was despised by others. But one of the most serious natural storms of life he experienced happened via a shipwreck. Please read the story referenced above. You won’t believe what he and others went through to proclaim the gospel of peace and love for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Consider this passage from 2 Corinthians chapter 11:

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”

I have endured some rough storms in my life, but never anything like this. So many in our world encounter serious storms: Loss of a loved one, loss of a job, declining health, fractured relationships, and families that have become broken and lost.

Because Paul endured so many “real” shipwrecks throughout his Apostolic career, he often used the metaphor “shipwreck” to describe a person who once embraced the faith, but then when the storms of life came along, they soon abandoned all hope and went shipwreck with their faith.

Please know that during the week of June 17-21, we are going to form young hearts and minds to believe in the One who has believed in them since the day of their birth. God loves our children immensely. We at Trinity UMC love them, too!! We are going to equip them with biblical knowledge and insights about life so that when the storms come they will know who to turn to – Jesus, our Savior!

Love,

Rev. Jim

“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24-25.

Trinity’s own Drs. Joel and Lamar Muro recently shared this captivating picture of their beautiful daughter, Eliana. The more I studied this action shot, the more qualities of the Christian life became apparent: knowledge, discipline, determination, competition, and her own God-given athletic skill. Knowing Eliana as I do, I know that she (and her younger brother, Maxwell) are knowledgeable in many areas. The image makes clear that Eliana has complete knowledge of her chosen sport. More importantly, She and her brother have been given knowledge and wisdom from above (Proverbs 4:7). Eliana and her brother are very fortunate to have parents who are nurturing them in the faith community. The image reflects the many hours she spends in disciplining herself in mind and body.

While at Trinity she (along with our other children) learns how to become a disciple (student) of Jesus by learning the spiritual disciplines. God has given her not a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). She has strong determination because her parents and her church have taught her that she can do all things through Christ who gives her strength (Philippians 4:13). Eliana is also aware that as a Christian, she (along with all children, youth, and adults) compete against the evil powers of this world. An athlete is not crowned unless [she] competes according to the rules.– (2 Timothy 2:5). Finally, this picture of Eliana in action displays in a powerfully visually way her skillful athleticism.

Trinity United Methodist Church values children. We place a high premium on all of our kids. I am very grateful to God that we have so many parents in our church who take interest in, and are deeply involved in, the lives of their children. Carefully studying this picture of Eliana compels me to ask the same questions about my own spiritual life: Do I have a deep knowledge of the scriptures? Am I rooted and grounded in God’s living Word? Am I a disciplined follower of Jesus? Am I determined to love as Christ loved, to give as he gave, and to forgive as he has forgiven me? Do I reject the evil powers of this world and resist injustice in whatever way it presents itself?

Okay, about my own athleticism…I think we all know the answer to that question! The good news is that God gives to each of us spiritual gifts as God chooses (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

We are called to teach our children; however, let us never miss out on any opportunity to let them teach us!