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Author: dbirsch

Idle. Idol?

Idle. Idol?

Much (most even?) of the busyness of society as we know it has ground to a halt.  Shut down and on indefinite hold.  Not happening.  Idle.

Which means many of the typically taken-for-granted, do-on-a-whim resources weren’t/aren’t available.  Not to mention the recreational activities we commonly resorted to for relaxation.  Social distancing definitely distances us from our usual socialness!

I am convinced that the Lord is accomplishing an abundance of “God-things” through this pandemic.  I suspect that at least one of those “God-things” is forcing Christians to recognize the idols they have surreptitiously fostered in their hearts.

When one suddenly can’t do the “usual” he or she has usually been able to do whenever they wanted, or enjoy the activities they usually expect to enjoy, it forces one to take stock.  “What really are my priorities?”  Or perhaps more accurately, “Oh no!  THESE are really my priorities!  These are really my (gasp) … idols!”

An idol isn’t just a statue on a mantle.  More often it is the focus of our heart; the center of our secret adoration; the driving force behind our thoughts and actions.

Chances are that our idols aren’t typically front and center in our hearts where they are easily discerned.  Rather, they likely reside in the back corner of our souls, nestled in the shadows and hidden behind curtains of denial.  We are generally pretty adept at fooling ourselves.

But now a pandemic and the resulting restrictions have brought so much to a halt, yanking the curtains of denial open and shining light into the shadows.  “The idle” has revealed the idols.

So what has “the idle” revealed to me about my idol? 

How transparent should I be?  They say that confession is good for the soul, (and the Bible says it is so), but this is difficult for me to share.  It’s difficult enough for me to wrestle with privately, much less to broadcast.  But here goes:

The idol revealed to me by “the idle” is … baseball.  As in, “Yes, I know the disease is highly contagious and potentially deadly, but you can’t cancel baseball!”

I assure you I was never that callous.  But my heart grieved that my son was going to miss his first high school baseball season, and I was devastated that the Major League Baseball season was postponed and potentially cancelled.  Baseball has been one of my “go to’s” to get away.  The Lord shined some much-needed light into my soul and showed me something I needed to face.

I’m not proud of what was there, but I am thankful that I was able to address it and, with God’s help, reset my priorities into a more proper alignment.

Perhaps “the idle” has illuminated your own idol or idols.  Or maybe your secret god is not affected by the virus?  (That doesn’t mean you don’t have one or two.  You almost certainly do.)  Another sobering thought is perhaps the idol that is revealed may not be your only one.  (I suspect I have a few more lurking in my heart.)

God’s first commandment to us demands, “You shall have no other gods.”  It’s his First Commandment – not only because the Lord wants to stress that he expects to be our only God, but also because we are so inclined to establish other gods in our hearts.

So how do we deal with our idols?  Pages could be written on this.  However, I’ll attempt to keep it simple.  Let’s call the process the “4 R’s.”

We recognize both our false god/s and the real One.  Only the real One belongs in our heart!  “Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”  (Psalm 73:25-26). 

We repent.  We admit our idolatry, we turn to the Lord in sorrow over our sin, and we rejoice in our forgiveness through Jesus.  “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).  

And finally, we revise our values.  Not just because we have to, but because we want to.  Not just temporarily but, with God’s help, permanently.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ …”  (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

The true God is in actuality the only God!  He should be the only God residing in our heart as well.  Thankfully, the only true God is also an exceedingly gracious God!

Thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness.  Thank you also that through “the idle” you reveal the idol.

I would be extremely interested to hear if you had any idle/idol revelations as a result of our current situation.  Please share!

The View from the Top

The View from the Top

I’ve often thought that a Christian’s life is like a backpacking trip in the mountains.

Backpacking, of course, is where one carries everything they will need for the duration of a hike in a pack on their back.  It’s camping … minus the vehicle and most of the other conveniences.

One can backpack in all kinds of environments: forest, prairie or beaches.  We have a fair share of all of those in Washington.  But the environment that seems to especially draw the backpackers in this state is the mountains.  I believe there’s a reason for that!  (More on this in a moment.)

There’s actually a multitude of reasons a person might choose to backpack.  Perhaps it’s the desire to get away from the crowds.  Perhaps self-sufficiency.  It might be eagerness to overcome difficult challenges.  Or maybe the draw is the joy of time spent with dear family members or special friends.  Maybe backpacking scratches the adventure itch.  Maybe the pull is as simple as providing a much-needed break from normal responsibilities.

But one of the greatest lures … at least for me, and I believe for many … is to be able to enjoy the view from the top.  Consequently, we are pulled to the mountains.  John Muir stated, “The mountains are calling and I must go.”  I (and others!) can relate.

However, in order to enjoy the top-tier views, one must begin below, at a lower level.  That necessitates a lot of uphill trudging to get where a trekker is going.  Keep in mind that one’s load is always heaviest at the bottom!  Not to mention that the hiker is undoubtedly at a higher elevation and the air is a bit thinner than he or she is accustomed.  So a backpack in the mountains typically starts hard, and then gets harder.

Inevitably the uphill slopes begin, and the hike becomes more grueling.  Sometimes one forges up a steep hill only to scramble back down into a valley on the other side.  Which means the hiker has to regain all the elevation he or she lost (and more!) on the other side of the valley!

Of course, there are a multitude of joys along the way: immersion in wilderness; scenes normally not seen; delightful conversations with companions; encounters with wildlife; lovely vistas and relaxing campsites; even unforgettable and life-changing experiences.  These are encouraging, but they aren’t the key reason the hiker is on this journey.  There is something bigger and better, greater and more grandiose, up ahead.

So the backpacker continues to lug his or her backpack ever higher.  Along the way, multiple inconveniences and even crises are encountered: tripping on roots and rocks; mosquitoes and biting flies; the sun beating down and burning one’s skin; rainstorms; thirst; disappointing meals; sore muscles or even injuries; rude people and thieving animals; sweat, dirt, and exhaustion.  Perhaps even a wrong turn or two along the way!

But finally … after lengthy days, many miles and thousands of steps … the backpacker crests a summit, and there is that revelation!  That epiphany!  That goal that the hiker strived for all along the way.  It’s the view from the top!

Now is the time to unstrap the backpack, pull out a water bottle and a tasty snack, find a comfy seat and soak in the scenery.  Was it all that was expected?  My experience is that it’s usually better!  Was the rugged journey there worth it?  Undoubtedly!

I believe that a Christian’s life is like a backpacking trip in the mountains.  It begins rough, and generally gets rougher.  There are many joys along the way, of course, but multiple challenges too.  There are lovely views and relaxing rests at times, but frustrations are common as well.  Our path contains some comfortable walking, and even some downhill slopes.  Yet the trend is always uphill, and sometimes steeply!

But that’s OK, because our goal is the view from the top.  Every step is one step closer to the destination; every obstacle overcome brings us just a bit nearer; every blessing a precursor of what awaits. 

And finally … after lengthy days, many miles and thousands of steps … the believer in Jesus crests a summit, and there is that revelation!  That epiphany!  That goal that he or she strived for all along the way.  It’s the view from the top!  It’s the first gorgeous sight of heaven, and it’s eternal immersion in the grace and glory of God!

Will it be all that we expected?  No.  It will be better!  Will the rugged journey there be worth it?  Oh, most definitely yes!

On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines.  On this mountain he will … swallow up death forever.  The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces … In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.  This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation”  (Isaiah 25:6-9).

Fear Not?

Fear Not?

It doesn’t take a pandemic to create fear, but it most certainly fuels it. 

There seems to be an abundance of fear these days.  One might conclude that it is even more contagious than Covid-19.

Nosophobia is rampant, and thanatophobia is common as well (fear of getting sick and fear of death).  Both of those phobias contribute mightily to agoraphobia and anthropophobia (fear of leaving the house and fear of people), and definitely to enochlophobia (fear of crowds).

Ergophobia is also raising its ugly head (fear of losing a job), and even peniaphobia is making an appearance (fear of poverty) … both of which feed chronophobia (fear of the future.)  This abundance of fear leads to the ultimate fear of all – fear of uncertainty.  (Simply called “anxiety.”)

Fearmongering seems to be the trend … the media feeding out phobias and the people eating them up.  Even some Christians are nibbling on that entrée.

The astute reader will recognize that there is a technical difference between fear and phobia.  Fear is a reaction to an actual danger, while a phobia is an excessive and irrational reaction when no real danger is present.

I am not suggesting that people are reacting irrationally in this pandemic.  (Well, maybe just a little?)  There are certainly very real concerns out there.  Being prudent and careful is the correct approach.  Still, there is no reason for phobias or fear … rational or irrational … in God’s people.

A person could be radically exposed to the virus; someone could be surrounded by the sick and breathe in the bug repeatedly … and they will only become ill if God allows it!  That’s a fact. 

The doctors will tell you that the disease is highly contagious … and I don’t doubt it.  But the Lord isn’t locked into doctors’ dictates.  God our Father will do what he knows is best for his children.  He always does.

Now I am not advocating a fatalistic or cavalier approach to the current situation.  Nor am I promoting carelessness or recklessness.  The Bible makes is clear that we are not to test the Lord.  Rather, I am simply stating that the Lord is bigger than any virus, or layoff, or shortage, or financial challenge.  Or any other difficulty, for that matter! 

We are God’s people, and our God is our Protector and Provider.  He is our Fortress and Shield.  His power encircles us; nothing reaches us unless he allows it.  And if he does allow it, then it’s to bless us in some wonderful way.  That’s his promise!  (Romans 8:28).  Consequently, we have no reason to fear.

The words the Lord spoke to Joshua as he took over for Moses and prepared to lead the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan apply to each of us as well in the midst of the challenges we currently face.   “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). 

Really, when the Lord our God is with us wherever we go, what in the world (literally!) do we have to fear?  To state it more strongly, when the Lord is always with us, we have absolutely no cause to be afflicted by phobias or beset by fear.  Rather, courage is the way we face our days.

So it seems that Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous words are very apropos to Spring, 2020.  “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  (That’s phobophobia, by the way: fear of fear.) 

Fine words from F.D.R.  But I prefer the words of Jesus.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”  (John 14:27).

Fear not?  Yes, that’s right.  Fear not!  The Lord is carrying us.

God’s Got This!

God’s Got This!

“We got this” seems to be a rallying cry during this pandemic.  It’s a good-enough slogan, I guess.  It’s pithy, personal, and persuasive.

I certainly don’t want to downplay any of the wonderful things that the motto might be bringing about; the teamwork, sacrifice and service to others that it may be encouraging.  People need something to rally around in a pandemic. 

However, it must be said: “We got this” is patently false.  The truth of the matter is that we humans got no control over nothin’!  At least nothing significant.  If ever there was a time that our utter helplessness over circumstances was abundantly clear, it is now.

Yet that is always the fallback plan for most people.  The hope against all hopes. The blind confidence.  (The desperate conviction?)  Science … or medicine … or government … or companies … or SOMEBODY! … will inevitably figure out the solutions and we’ll be fine.

And as for God … well, for many he is a non-factor.  Either God’s existence isn’t acknowledged, or if it is, he is marginalized.  People conclude, especially when difficulties arise, that if there even is a god, he’s either lost control or lost interest.

This concept that God’s impact is negligible and we humans control our own fate leaves one rather empty.  Frankly, it’s depressing and terrifying.  Or at least it should be for anyone with even a lick of sense!  However, if someone insists that God won’t or can’t help us, then there is only one other alternative for hope; we humans must trust in ourselves to figure things out.  And we better get it right!

But can we?  Will we?  What if we mess up and make things worse?  There’s a trainload of pressure packed into a godless worldview – especially when the world is in the middle of a pandemic!

In 1952, Ray Bradbury wrote a short story titled “A Sound of Thunder,” set in the year 2055.  In the story a company took folks back in time.  However, they had stringent rules on how the trips were conducted.  Clients must not deviate from those rules to ensure that the future would remain unaffected.  But on one trip a client forgot the rules, and he crushed a butterfly while in the distant past.  When they returned to 2055, things were different.  And all because one butterfly in the past perished, thereby altering the future.

This concept reappears repeatedly in literature and movies.  Humans messed with the past, (or the present), which messed up the future!  Of course, there’s no consideration of God in these scenarios; everything is dependent upon people.

It’s a common premise, but a faulty one.  We humans do not control our destiny.  And rescuing the world is way more than any person or number of people (or even nation!) could presume to do.  As is providing for the world and guiding the events in the world.  People can’t even control the events in their own lives for one day!  Taking it to a larger spectrum is inconceivable.

Providence (providing and protecting) is God’s job!  And thankfully he’s really good at it!  As David wrote, “You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!”  (Psalm 36:6-7)

Our Lord is always watching … not only the entire world, but even us!  Every day – all day!  And all night too!  (Psalm 121).  God always has a loving plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  He controls all things, bringing both good times and hard (Isaiah 45:6-7), but always for the blessing of his people (Romans 8:28).  We humans can never hope to fully understand God’s decisions (Isaiah 55:8-9), but we know he is always acting in love (Zephaniah 3:17).  After all, he gave us Jesus, our Savior; he will also provide for all our other needs (Romans 8:32).  Yes, even in a pandemic!

The Lord summarizes our situation beautifully in Isaiah: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you (46:4).  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (41:10).

Wow!  That’s some awesome stuff!  Comforting, encouraging and uplifting!  Our God who gave us life will guide us lovingly through life.

So back to the slogan.  “We got this?”  Not so much. 

God’s got this?  Much better!  Yes, he does.  Totally, completely and undoubtedly.  Hear it.  Hold it.  Know it.  Treasure it.  God most definitely has got this, so we’re in very good hands.

Even Me?

Even Me?

We humans have the capacity of character to demonstrate extraordinary things.  And especially Christians!  Things like courage, kindness, commitment, compassion,  dedication, selflessness,  love. and so much more!

We can even forgive others who have wounded us deeply … whether physically, emotionally, or both.  The Gospel can heal our heart and time can ease our pain to the point where we can perhaps pardon even those who have hurt us most and move on with our life.

It’s extraordinary character indeed, and a wonderful gift of God, to be able to mentally maneuver beyond the wrong someone has done to us and settle in a better place!

But many of us, (even Christians, who should know better and do better!), often have one drastic flaw in our makeup.  We might be able to forgive horrible wrongs others have done to us, but often enough can’t bring ourselves to forgive the wrongs we ourselves have done.

We forget to forgive ourselves.  Probably more accurately stated; we refuse to forgive ourselves.  The mistakes we have made are inexcusable … at least in our own minds.  We consider them deplorable, indefensible, unmentionable and unpardonable.

We know Jesus has secured God’s forgiveness for us.  (At least we as Christians should know this, because that’s the recurring theme throughout God’s Word!)  The Scriptures tell us, “… everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).  This is clear Christian doctrine – the heart of the Gospel and the heartbeat of our faith!

Yet all too often we struggle to forgive ourselves.  And if we struggle to forgive ourselves, the next logical step is to struggle to recognize God has forgiven us too.

To which I ask … how did we get bigger than God?  When did we take over the “allocating forgiveness business?”  Are we somehow and suddenly the king or queen of grace?  The answers are: no, we didn’t … no, we haven’t … and no, we aren’t!  Forgiveness is God’s territory.  Always has been; always will be.

When God writes to us, “Dear children, your sins have been forgiven on account of Jesus’ name” (1 John 2:12), he is writing as the ultimate authority on forgiveness, and he was referring to you and me and all who look in faith to Jesus as their Savior.  That’s full forgiveness, fully provided by God and fully effective!  Signed, sealed and delivered by Jesus … according to the Lord himself.

I’m convinced that our gracious God supplied us with so many vivid illustrations of his forgiveness in his Word because he knew that our “drastic flaw” would be forgiving ourselves.  Guilt would linger in us and harass our hearts; shame would discourage us and foster despair in our souls.  So the Lord was determined to provide us with concrete metaphors of his forgiveness that would be cemented in our psyche.

How does God describe our forgiveness in the Scriptures?  God calls it “forgiving our debts” (Matthew 6:12), “blotting out our transgressions, and remembering them no more” (Isaiah 43:25), “hurling all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19), and “removing our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).  Not to mention the oft-repeated pictures of redemption (bought back), justification (declared not guilty), and sanctification (made pure). 

Sinner, take these lovely pictures to heart, cherish them and pull them out repeatedly to gaze at their beauty yet again!  In Jesus, you are forgiven!

The simple point is this:  God has worked our forgiveness; it is accomplished!  God has spoken our forgiveness; it is fulfilled!  It is what our God and Savior has done and said that matters, and not our point of view.  We might try to conclude that we are forever tainted.  Thanks be to God; he says we are eternally clean!

It is time for us to stop crucifying ourselves; Jesus was crucified for us.  That is more than enough – even for you and me!

What to Write? Powerful Words!

What to Write? Powerful Words!

How did I get here?  I don’t mean how did I arrive in this world or how did I end up in Tacoma, Washington.  (I know the answers to those questions!  The Lord brought me here.)

Rather, how did I get HERE … writing a blog on a website I hackled together?  I can only presume the answer is the same; the Lord, through unexpected and unprecedented circumstances, brought me here.  It’s certainly nothing I was ever inclined to explore.  Yet here I am.

OK, Lord.  Now what?  (I’m serious, Lord!  Now what?!)  Like … how do I go about this?  And what should I write about in my inaugural post?

Well, I considered writing about how I hope that I don’t make a fool of myself with this hair-brained (but God-guided?) venture.  While this is an actual concern, it’s a personal one; it’s a dear topic to me but not a particularly interesting one to anyone else.

I could write about the theme of this blog – heading to heaven, and how I hope this site is a rich resource of encouragement to many and to me until “we get where we are going.”  Though I know we’ll address that, both directly and indirectly, in this post and others, that topic didn’t feel right either.

Well, what if I write about words?  I’m sure many bloggers have begun their posting careers by focusing on words.  Write words about words.  That’s logical and practical.  Beneficial even.  Promote your words by promoting the power of words in general.

We can all attest to the power of words.  They are seeds that, once planted, almost always sprout into something … sometimes weeds and sometimes flowers.  Hatred.  Love.  Anger.  Peace.  Sorrow.  Joy.  Comfort or upset.  Contentment or discontent.  Discouragement or encouragement.  All can be fostered by words.

Many is the occasion that words have pulled tears from our eyes … sometimes tears of acute pain; other times of sublime joy.  Some words have crashed violently through our ears, stormed around our minds, and dove past the lump in our throats to settle into a roiling ball of anxiety in our guts.  Others have glided into our hearing, fluttered pleasantly about in our consciousness and brought a lasting smile to our lips.

We’ve all felt the power of words firsthand as we process things we hear or read.  We’ve also seen their power as others process the words we have spoken and the seeds we have sown.

The Bible book of James (chapter 3) offers some fascinating illustrations of our tongues and the words they speak and the power they wield.  It was the case in James’ day; it’s the case still today.  Organizations are being formed and entire ad campaigns are being waged to try to increase awareness on the power of words.

So what’s my point?  Read this blog because it’s got lots of great words?  Powerful and potentially life-changing words?  No, that is NOT my point.  (Though I do hope you come back and read and comment often!)

My point is that God imbued words … regular, people-spoken and people-written words … with power.  Impressive power even.  But our words are nothing compared to God’s Words!  Friend, if you want truly power-packed words, look to God’s Word!

The words of God radiate power.  Radiate not in the sense that one can see their power, but radiate in that they blossom and expand and surround and envelope and enliven.  The power in the Scriptures is unseen but unbridled.  Often unsought but always experienced.  Seemingly innocuous but ever-effective.

In the book of Hebrews, God himself describes his words in this way:

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  (Hebrews 4:12)

Living words!  Active words!  Words that pierce hearts and revive souls; words that revise perceptions and adjust attitudes.  Ultra, super-duper, incomparably powerful, life-changing, destiny-altering words.  That’s how God fashioned his Word – to be power-filled.  In reality, God’s Word is living, active and powerful because God himself lives in it and moves through it!

As a pastor, I’ve been privileged to regularly see that power on display.  God’s Word impacts!  I’ve seen sinners grappling with the realization of how far they have drifted from God, hearing God’s plea to return and repenting.  Hardened men weeping as they realized that Jesus covered even their sins and they are truly forgiven.  Long-time unbelievers transitioning to believers.  Believers transitioning to greater service to the Lord.  Mourners finding peace in their grief.  Bed-bound Christians filled with joy amidst their pain as they recognize they are almost home.  Finally, every single conversion … each of us! … is a miracle of the living, active and powerful Word of God.

In short, the very best encouragement I can give you (and me!) for these days “before we get where we’re going” is to tap our weary and weak selves into true, top-tier power.  Read God’s Word.  Hear God’s Word.  Sing God’s Word.  Reflect on God’s Word.  Do it daily!  Be immersed in God’s Word, and revel in the power that is present – both in the Scriptures and in the power the Holy Spirit bring us through the Scriptures.

So not only do we want to “mind” the words we say.  We especially want to pay avid attention to the words that God says.  That, dear reader, is where the real power lies!

I’m eager to hear how the power of God’s Word has impacted you or your family at various times.  Or do you have a Bible passage that is especially meaningful (empowering) to you?  Please share!