April 2 - Fallen Arches

Read today’s texts first: Judges 13-16; 2 Corinthians 2

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Despite chronic failure, we can still be a leader

who finishes well.

Time for some more Bible jokes. “Who was the greatest actor in the Bible?” The answer is: “Samson - he brought the house down after his final performance.” He’s also the answer to the question, “who died from fallen arches?” All joking aside, Samson’s only real weakness was a chronic case of stupidity when it came to women.

From his first wife who cried and pried the riddle answer out of him and then married one of his groomsmen, to “Gaza-gate” where a prostitute almost cost him his life, to Delilah who had him tied up in knots, quite literally - you can’t help but wonder how he could soar so high and yet fall so hard?

It is a remarkable story, from his extraordinary birth, starting with a visit from Jesus Himself (another obvious Christophany), leading to a special upbringing as a Nazirite, until he became a mature leader with almost superhuman strength. He was a real life combination of Superman and Rambo rolled into a one-man army!  So much potential, but so many flaws. Aside from the big muscles, he was a lot like you and me.

God chose Samson and used him to deliver His people and rule them well for 20 years. God even redeemed his failures, to the point that Samson will be remembered as a leader who finished well. Those fallen arches left a legacy of selflessness, sacrifice, and heroism that have inspired all of us who’ve studied his life.

“Lord, if You can redeem Samson’s mistakes You can do the same for me. I pray for the same opportunity to be a leader who finishes well!”

April 1 - The Uncomfortable Pew

 Read today’s texts first: Judges 11,12; Psalms 50; 2 Corinthians 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Either we step outside our comfort zones willingly
or God will push us out.

While Pierre Berton may have observed church goers who were far too comfortable in their pews, following Jesus should have the opposite effect. We can see from the history of Israel, especially during the time of the judges, how quickly God’s people forgot about Him when things were going well. Invariably, when that happened, things got uncomfortable in a hurry!

It seems we have a choice: either we step outside our comfort zones willingly or God will push us out. It’s the only way we can remember to depend on Him all the time. Paul got so uncomfortable that he was afraid for his life, but he realized this happened so he would not rely on himself but on God (1:9).

It is also during times of discomfort that we learn how to be comforted by the Holy Spirit, supernaturally, despite our circumstances. And through that process, we also learn how to become a source of comfort to others: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (1:3,4).

“Lord, I am so grateful for the comforting presence of Your Holy Spirit. That comfort, Your presence, is a deposit, a guarantee of much more comfort in the life to come (1:22)!”

April Devo - Adversity Reveals Character

Six years ago, our April Buzz devotional focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. It seems so long ago now but the fear back then was very real and very memorable. We saw some errant responses to adversity (e.g. political missteps, cover-ups, hoarders, looters, scammers), but we also saw brave people step forward to help the most vulnerable. Buchanan Lodge was fortunate to have folks like that here.

We were able to continue visits through garden gates, windows, and using technology like WhatsApp and Zoom. Our care staff were so diligent and thorough that we escaped the worst of the pandemic with no outbreaks. It was a joy to see the selflessness, the sacrifice, and the genuine love that was on full display throughout that tumultuous time. James Lane Allen was right: “adversity does not build character; it reveals it!”

Einstein added this insight: “adversity introduces a man to himself.” Sometimes, adversity can introduce us to some folks who are downright inspirational. You just have to look deeper to find them. They are often hidden in the middle pages of our newspapers or squeezed into the final minutes of the nightly newscasts, but they are worth the wait. Here are some examples I noticed during those defining years:

• Front line health care workers risking their own health, working double shifts, and distancing themselves from their own families to protect others
• Retired doctors & nurses returning to work, putting themselves in harm’s way
• People honouring their sacrifice with signs in windows, chalked messages on their driveways, and the “joyful noise” of pots and pans at 7 pm every night
• Folks in hospital parking lots singing, cheering & honking their horns in support
• Neighbours, churches, community groups shopping and making meals for seniors and others who couldn’t get out of their homes
• Gas station diners offering free self-serve dinners for truckers hauling needed supplies across our country
• Politicians crossing party lines to come up with solutions
• Resourceful manufacturers modifying their equipment to make medical supplies and equipment
• Ordinary people giving generously of their money, time and talents to help others

Jesus led by example in how to walk sacrificially through extreme hardship and then emerge victorious. We can do the same if we follow Him. He once said to His disciples and to us: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world! (John 16:33). Concluding this season of self-sacrifice (known as Lent) by celebrating Good Friday and Easter is a reminder to all of us where good character comes from. Have a blessed Easter everyone!

March 31 - The Problem of Prodigals

 Read today’s texts first: Judges 9,10; Psalms 49; 1 Corinthians 16

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

We should spend quality and quantity time with our
children, but ultimately they must choose to
follow Jesus for themselves.

There’s a disturbing trend among great leaders in the Bible. Despite their successes in leading God’s people, they didn’t always have success in raising their own families. Today’s OT reading features Abimilech, who didn’t exactly make his father Gideon proud by killing all his brothers so he could be next in line for the throne. Other leaders coming up soon in our readings had similar problems: Samuel’s sons were too corrupt to follow him (1 Samuel 8:1-5), David’s sons tried to usurp his throne from him (1 Kings 1; 2 Samuel 15-18), Hezekiah’s son Manasseh undid every good thing his father had done (2 Kings 21), and so on and so on.

These illustrations of OT prodigals help me understand two things. First, as leaders, our highest priority is to lead our families in the faith. Paul said that one of the main qualifications to look for in choosing an elder is proven success in managing his own household. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? (1 Tim. 3:4,5). I remember one particular pastor’s conference when a pastor stood up and addressed his colleagues with this statement: “my church comes before my wife and my children.” Tragically, his wife had left him before next year’s conference, and a year later he was no longer a pastor. Misplaced priorities are costly. Our Abimilechs and Manassehs can undermine much of the good we spend our whole lives to accomplish.

But I have another observation that may help those of us who are trying to lead our families well and yet still have prodigals at home. Have you noticed that God, our Father, also has a lot of prodigals. Jesus picked Judas. Paul, who likely had no children of his own, struggled with his spiritual children, as we can see throughout his letter to the Corinthians. Pet theologies aside, free will is something we cannot control. We can and should spend quality and quantity time with our kids, model integrity, preach without words, fast, and pray for them, but ultimately our children must choose to follow Jesus for themselves. We cannot make that choice for them.

“Lord, the problem of prodigals will always be with us because You want us to love You of our own free will. I choose to do that today and I pray for my children and grandchildren that they would make that choice too!”

March 30 - Dying to Live

 Read today’s texts first: Judges 8; Psalms 42; 1 Corinthians 15

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
I like growing old! Being over the hill and on the way down is easier than going uphill.  It also means I’m
picking up speed towards a pretty cool final destination.

Today is my wife’s birthday. We won’t mention her age because apparently it’s a sensitive subject. I personally like this stage of life. Being over the hill and on our way down is technically easier than going uphill, so far. But if we are dreading death, the hope of a new life after this one should completely change our perspective.

At a recent family birthday party, we played “Loaded Questions.” One of the questions was, “which invention would you like to dis-invent?” My niece, Beth, answered, “the unflattering lighting in fitting rooms”, I answered “Facebook” (sorry, I prefer face-to-face), but my granddaughter, 7 at the time, had the most profound answer: “I would dis-invent deadness!” Well good news Kaitlyn - Jesus did just that!

Paul is urging the Corinthian church to defend the truth of Christ’s resurrection against those who deny it (15:12-14). His death was crucial in forgiving our past, but His resurrection life is crucial to our hope for the future. Because death is only a doorway to an eternal life without pain and suffering, then heading downhill means we are picking up speed towards a pretty cool final destination. Happy Birthday, Babe! Be encouraged with these words:

When our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die -- then at last the Scriptures will come true: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” …. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless (15:54,55,58). 

“Thank You Lord for the life I’m enjoying now, but I can’t wait for the perfect life ahead when I will see You face to face!”

March 29 - Broken Vessels of Light

 Read today’s texts first: Judges 6,7; Psalms 52; 1 Corinthians 14

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Hey fellow “Crackpots” - we don’t have to pretend
to have it all together.  His light shining through
our brokenness brings Him glory! 

I loved this song, “Broken Vessels of Light” (1986, Reba Rambo - yeah, I know I’m old!). The tune was cool, Reba was ultra-cool, but it was more than that. The lyrics spoke to me. We are broken, imperfect, clay vessels, yet God chooses to live inside us (2 Cor. 4:7). We don’t have to pretend to have it all together - His light shining through our brokenness brings Him glory.

The story of Gideon is the perfect illustration, or should I say “imperfect” illustration! Here was the youngest of the poorest family in their tribe, hiding from the Midianites. Jesus shows up (the “Angel of The Lord” in the story is likely another Christophany) and calls Gideon a “mighty man of valour.” God always sees us for what we can become in Him! Then, shocker, He asks Gideon to lead Israel against the Midianites and Gideon is sure He’s got the wrong man (6:14,15).

But the best part comes later when he hears about God’s brilliant military strategy. First, reduce your troops from 32,000 to 300. Then, when you are outnumbered 450 to one (8:10 - 135,000 to 300), go to battle carrying the following lethal weapons: a trumpet and a clay pitcher with a lit torch inside. Yeah, right! Those clay pots represented Gideon, his tiny army and the rest of the bedraggled Israelites. When they were broken and dependent on God, His light shone through and their enemies were scattered. That'll preach!

“Lord, I’ve been called a crackpot before, but I’m okay with that if people see Your light shining through those cracks.”

March 28 - Women Leaders

 Read today’s texts first: Judges 4,5; Psalms 39,41; 1 Corinthians 13

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

I don’t defend women in spiritual leadership because
of political correctness or feminist pressure.
I defend it because the Bible does!

This journal entry may tick off some people but, I’m sorry - we shouldn’t make the Bible say what we want it to. In every new school year at PLBC, some of our first-year male students questioned our female students, asking them why they were there. PLBC is committed to “training leaders to make a world of difference” – you’re a woman (they would say), and God says you can’t be a leader!

One of the passages they use to proof-text that view is coming up tomorrow, which was specific instruction to women who were interrupting a church service (1 Cor. 14:33-35). But fortunately our reading today gives us some wider context. That’s why we should study the entire Bible and always remember that God doesn’t contradict Himself!  I don’t defend women in spiritual leadership because of political correctness or feminist pressure. I defend it because the Bible does, in a day when those liberal views were not prevalent. In fact, the Bible was written in a time and place when women were generally diminished and devalued by everyone but God.

Deborah was a woman, a submissive Jewish wife even, yet she was also an anointed prophet and a God-appointed leader of Israel (4:4,5). As Judge, Deborah led Israel to victory over Jabin, King of the Canaanites, bringing peace to Israel for 40 years (5:31). Some say she was only a co-leader with Barak, but that’s not what the Bible says. Barak took orders from Deborah (4:6-9).

“Lord, what I’ve told my students I vow to you: I will never tell someone - male, female, or child - they can’t lead when You may have clearly called them to do just that!”