Game On!

Have you ever felt unqualified to a task or role you were asked to fulfill? If you have you know the feeling of having knots in your stomach in the uncertainty of your abilities, the questions of inadequacy, and the feeling of impending failure. One of those moments for me was way back to my high school years in Rhame, ND during our regional basketball tournament.

As a Sophomore I played sporadically on the varsity team, but due to injuries I was called upon to start in the final tournament of the season. In our pre-game huddle our coach gave us our opening play for tip-off. I would be the one at center court to jump against their tallest player. We were undersized at each position, and they had the biggest most dominant center in our region. The full gymnasium rocked with anticipation of the game, the band amped up the energy level with, “We Will Rock You”, and “We Got the Beat”, the school teams and their fans sat displaying their school colors in various sections. The announcer introduced the teams, “The scrappy Rhame Pirates vs Yourrrrrrrrr Bowman Bulldogs!” The home-crowd Bulldogs erupted. As we came out onto center court jostling for position, I stepped into the center circle and faced my opponent for tip-off. He loomed above me like Goliath. I suddenly felt the feeling of dread and inadequacy as I stood there toe-to-toe with a big, 6ft-8in, teenager, especially when you are the shortest guy not only on the court but also in the stands. You could hear the snickers and laughter filter through the crowd.

In my study of the Judges of Israel there was on man called to save his fellow Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. As he is visited by the Angel of the Lord and given this task and role to lead, he replies,

“O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” – Judges 6:15

At the Angel of the Lord’s calling to lead, this farmer must have felt that feeling of dread from inadequacy and uncertainty. Yet, this unlikely farmer was the man to lead the Israelites into a great military victory against their oppressors and 40 years of peace while he lived. His name was Gideon.

When you are given a task or role and those thoughts and feelings of inadequacy rise within the pit of your stomach, remember if God has called you to it, He will sustain you in your weakness with a promise like the one given to Gideon.

“And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man”… “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” –Judges 6:15, 23.

As the whistle blew and the ref tossed the ball straight up into the air, my opponent with outstretch fingers tipped the ball at its apex well over 10ft. I did not even jump. Instead I watched where he was tipping the ball and I darted in that direction. As other players scrambled for it, I zipped between them (being smaller and quicker) and picked up the loose ball, passed it to my teammate streaking toward our basket, and he scored on a breakaway layup. Our bench and fans erupted in cheers as the home-crowd was stunned to silence in the first 5 seconds of the game. Suddenly my feeling of dread and inadequacy was replaced with exhilaration. Game on!

Pioneer Women of Promised Land

Imagine what life was like for women in the expansion of the American West. The role and vocation of women were primarily limited to being a pioneer woman, working in saloons or brothels, with a few who became outlaws and frontier women. Most pioneer women began their life with a journey to the unknown whether it was during the Great Plains land grab, The Oregon Trail, or later on the railroad. Life was very difficult, including hard labor, untimely death of husbands and children, and little reward of the comfort, culture and civilization found in the Eastern cities.

What would it be like to be the Great Plain settlers on dry, sweeping grassy landscapes living in one room sod houses? Can you imagine raising a family on the open plains exposed to the wind and bitter cold of the harsh winters and the draining heat and hard labor during the summer? Their sod houses made of mud, grass, and the wood from their wagon, no electricity, running water, privacy, cable TV, gas stoves, dishwashers, etc., and to cook your meals in a small pot bellied stove with dried buffalo, horse, or cow manure. “Hey Sweetheart, your tuna casserole has that wonderful grassy, buffalo manure aroma and delightful flavor…pass the salt please.” Now that should be featured in Chef Bobby Flay’s southwestern cuisine.

In my study in Judges, Chapters 4 and 5 share a glimpse into the lives of two women of the Wild West in the Promised Land, Deborah and Jael. One a prophetess, a Judge, a God appointed leader to the loosely held together nation of Israelite tribes. A lawless time filled with oppression by enemies, uncertainty of the future, fear, hard labor, and seeking to just survive. The other, Jael, a nomadic wife living on the wide expanse of the Middle East plains and wilderness, who acted with gruesome decisiveness. Both called to be pioneer women in their own way. One literally a pioneer in her tent-dwelling life, and the other a pioneer in her leadership and role as Judge to the Israelites. Both playing a critical role in God’s plan to establish the Twelve Tribes of Israel as His Holy Nation and to reveal Himself to humanity.

Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leadinga Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. – Judges 4:4-5

“Most blessed of women be Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
most blessed of tent-dwelling women. – Judges 5:24

Pioneer women are some of the toughest, persistent survivors in our American story, and we discover other women with the same pioneer spirit in the Old Testament as well. Read the story of these two pioneer women of the Wild West in the Promised Land in Judges 4 & 5.

Tests - Failure and Faith

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, clammy hands fiddled with my mechanical pencil, and my stomach churned with anxiety as I awaited my final exam in Calculus II at Cabrillo College. This was a big exam. It was my second attempt at the class, and this time around I was again on the bubble of failure. It was a required foundational course for a Computer Science degree. Not only that, but my scholarship was on the line, and if I failed this class I would lose thousands of dollars. Tests…Pressure…Failure. As soon as the professor called for all the exams I knew I failed the test and the class.

In my study in Judges, I find a description and commentary of the Israelites struggle with neighbor nations and invading armies…a “test”.

So the LORD burned with anger against Israel. He said, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands, 21 I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. 22 I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the LORD as their ancestors did.” – Judges 2:20-22 (NLT)

Tests are uncomfortable at any level: in the classroom, in friendships, in marriage, in the work place, and in life. One of the definitions of a test is “an often difficult situation or event that will provide information about somebody or something” – Encarta Dictionary. In any relationship there are those “test” moments that will reveal the level of commitment, faithfulness, and love. In life we walk through “test” thickets with thorns and briars, which will either strengthen our faith or leave us painfully discouraged. In God’s judgment upon the Israelites in their disobedience, he allowed the negative consequences, the “test”, of neighboring nations to reveal their faithfulness to the Lord.

Being full of faith means we can see beyond the “tests”, trials, obstacles, and difficult events, know that God is sovereign over all, and uses them to shape, strengthen, and train us for future battles. As we trust in God through “tests” we lean on Him more, experience His presence on a deeper level, and witness His loving hand provide, protect and lead us through difficult days.

As the story of the Judges unfold, God in his longsuffering and mercy raised up deliverers, Judges, to help them in their test. At times the Israelites passed with flying colors in faithfulness to the Lord, and at other times they failed miserably, but God was always faithful. After my semester failing Calculus II, I felt despondent. I was unsure of my ability to complete my degree, how I would continue to pay for college, and what new direction for a course of study I was to pursue. Even in my failure, after a long spring and summer, God gave me a new direction, a way to continue to pay for college, and the confidence to complete my degree and beyond. Without going through that “test”, and failing, I may have never pursued education and ministry and would not be where God has me today. That Calculus II final exam revealed something about me, a lack of Calculus skills, but also an ability to persevere. It also affirmed that God is always faithful and I have a greater faith today because of that Calculus II test 25 years ago.

The Wild West

What iconic images do you have of the Old American West? Do you picture John Wayne in his red plaid shirt atop his steed with the New Mexico landscape behind him, or Clint Eastwood chewing on his half eaten cigar ready to draw in the dusty streets of a western town? Maybe it is the image of the settlers traveling along the Oregon Trail, the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, miners in Colorado and California, cowboys on the open range, or skirmishes with Native Americans. This period of American history from 1820 – 1900, and westward expansion has been the American adventure glamorized in dime novels (Wild Bill Hickok), radio dramas (The Lone Ranger), TV series (The Wild Wild West, Little House on the Prairie), movies (insert your favorite), as well as art, history, musicals, theater, dance and of course the foundation for country music. However, as we know that underneath the romantic ideal of the Old American West, it was often a difficult, lawless, and unforgiving life.

As I study the book of Judges, I can’t help but draw comparisons of the Old American West to this period of Israelite expansion in the Promised Land. The Israelites had just won a mighty victory at Jericho and established a base camp in Canaan, and now it was time for the 12 Tribes to inhabit the land as God had commanded. However with the death of Joshua, it left the Israelites without a central, unifying leader and shortly thereafter they became a collection of weak tribes that did not fulfill the conquest of their specific areas. It was a period of vulnerability, lawlessness, war, disobedience to God and attacks by border nations. It was the Wild West of the Promised Land. The statement:

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” – Joshua 21:25

…summarizes the disorganization, turmoil, and lawlessness that took place in this time. God, however, in His provision called individuals who led the Israelites to military victory and renewal in worship as a people. They were called Judges, the lawmen (and lawwoman) of the Wild West in the Promised Land.

As I read through the events and colorful people found in Judges, I am mindful that this period of Israelite history has some important spiritual treasures for us to discover. A revelation of God’s character, plan and purpose, as well as, truths we can apply to our 21st Century lives. Read Judges…Saddle up and let’s head out west.

Free as the Breeze

Darkness, misery, stench, abandonment, pain…a few descriptive words that Peter must have felt as he awaited King Herod’s orders for execution. An ancient Roman prison cell may be one of the foulest places in history to await a tortuous death, and that is exactly where Peter, the leading voice of the budding Jerusalem church, finds himself. The story unfolds in Acts 12:

All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.
6 Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!
7–9 Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: “Hurry!” The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, “Get dressed. Put on your shoes.” Peter did it. Then, “Grab your coat and let’s get out of here.” Peter followed him, but didn’t believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming.
10–11 Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. – Acts 12:5-11 (Message)

“free as the breeze” - Peter was so perplexed by the miraculous events taking place that he thought he was dreaming, but as he breathed in the cool evening air, standing in the middle of the quiet street, his mind cleared in the realization of his freedom. He may have traveled speechless in awe and praise to God as he walked to Mary’s home where his church family was earnestly praying for him throughout the night.

Freedom! Peter was set free from the chains that bound him, the evil intent of King Herod and the Jerusalem mob, the dark prison, the guards set to stand watch over him, and the iron gates of the city. As we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day, the day when those courageous colonist gathered and signed the Declaration of Independence from the most wealthy and powerful nation on earth in 1776, it is a day to celebrate freedom. From that declaration, followed an inevitable war with England, victory, the creation of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights with the enduring main theme of “freedom” weaved throughout.

As Christians I think we all have our Declaration of Independence Day – the day we said “yes” to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, declaring freedom from the bondage of sin, the darkness of the world’s lies and ignorance, and the inevitable condemnation by Satan. Jesus is the “light” that pierces through the darkness, He calls us, wakes us up to the truth, frees us from our shackles, commands us to obedience “get dressed, put on your shoes, grab your coat”, and leads us to open air freedom…free as the breeze.

This 4th of July, as the sun slips past the horizon and the fireworks light up the night sky, I will rejoice in our nation’s freedoms, but I will also give a prayer of praise and thanks to my Savior for rescuing me.