Biography

Hi! My name is Duane Cook. My wife is Patsy and we have three grown children…daughter Amy, son-in-law Ian, and son Adam. We came to Fairport from Southern California in 1991. I serve in a variety of capacities at Browncroft, such as Children’s Ministry, One Voice Choir and the elder board. I am on the executive committee for Flower City Work Camp.

Reflection

A spectacular rise. Tremendous accomplishments. Accolades galore. Universal acclaim. Followed by pride and self-destructive behavior (Proverbs 16:8). No, I wasn’t thinking of Tiger Woods; I was reading about Gideon. In times of crisis it is easy to call on the Lord. We all do it. Whether it is brain cancer, financial collapse, death of a family member, or the loss of a job or business; when we are at the end of our rope, when there is no other place to turn, we finally fall to our knees. God doesn’t cause it, but He does allow it. If that is what it takes to get our attention, He will use it. Scripture is filled with examples of the cycle of sin followed by repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. It is not just the Israelites-- they are vivid examples laid out before our eyes in Scripture: When we look at ‘them’ we really see ourselves.

But how about when things are going well? Do we call on God then? Or do we allow things to drift? The Israelites were clamoring for Gideon to be their king. They were all too ready to set up the line of succession of a human king and to reject the Lord’s rule over them (verses 22-23). Gideon’s response is appropriate as he rejects their plea. If only he had stopped there! Instead he makes a simple request that sounds so small. He asks them all to give him one of their earrings. In doing so, he removes the acclaim, praise and glory from God and claims them as his own. It was now Gideon’s accomplishment that mattered. He made a gold monument (ephod) in his hometown which became a snare to him and his family and turned Israel’s worship away from the living God (verse 24-27). The monument amounted to nearly 75 pounds of gold, worth over $1.5 million dollars today. While there was peace in the land, he wasn’t preparing others to step into his shoes once he was gone. He wasn’t doing the necessary things to prepare the nation to follow the Lord ever closer. He wasn’t creating a joy in his own family for the things of God. He was resting on his laurels, enjoying the fruits of God’s success, collecting wives and children like a great king (verse 28-35). Whether times are good or bad, we need to keep our trust where it belongs. Are you dreaming of your 401(k) returning to its previous state? Are you thinking, “If I only get my job back everything will be alright?” Now, be truthful with yourself, would you still want those things, if they took you further away from God? Unlike Gideon, finish the race (Hebrews 12: 1-2).

Your fellow traveler,

Duane