How to Identify and Overcome Idols in Your Life - Jake Doberenz on the Rooted in Christ Podcast Ep. 216

[2 Speakers Detected] [Total Utterances: 51]

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[0:00 -> 1:11] Speaker 1: We often kind of excuse or reframe our own kind of shortcomings, but we need other people to point that out. Because again, as a kid, I used to always tell people, I am the foremost expert on myself. Nobody knows Jake Dobrindt like me. And yeah, there's some— a little bit of truth to that. I— no one else can read my mind. I know some stuff that's, you know, going on in my noggin that other people don't. But in reality, because I'm so close to the source, I'm blinded by some things. We need other people. So number, number one is we got to get into community. We have to get in community that is willing to challenge us, care for us, but also challenge for us. At its best, that is what the church should be. We need to find that. community that's willing to call it out and say, that's not, that's not good, that's not right. Um, and I, I just, I think that's got to be, that's got to be step one in order to identify the whole problem in the first place. We got to get an outside opinion.

[1:11 -> 1:27] Speaker 2: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Rooted in Christ podcast. My name is Eric Stevens, the founder of Redwood Christian Ministries. Hope everyone out there is doing well today. With me on the show, a guest I'm excited about, Jake Doberenz. Brother, how are you doing today?

[1:27 -> 1:32] Speaker 1: Doing fantastic. Excited podcast today, man.

[1:32 -> 2:05] Speaker 2: I, I gotta give it up for, for PodMatch once again for bringing me another, another guest. So, um, I'm looking forward to talking to you because one of the things that, that you've— I've just a little known a little bit about, about you, um, you know, you've talked a lot about idols. Um, and idols, even in like modern idols. And I've heard you say things like, you said, you know, modern Christians have idols that we, that we worship. So I want to dive like right into that. So what's one of the idols that you believe maybe even believers are blind to today?

[2:05 -> 5:33] Speaker 1: Well, I want to back up just a smidge because I think we kind of have to define idols for a modern audience. And, and, um, The one thing that got me on this whole journey was, I mean, you crack open the Old Testament for 5 seconds and suddenly the Israelites are going after some idol. They keep doing that all the time. It's a big issue. And I don't know, I don't know about you, growing up though, I was always so floored with why would they go after an idol? What is, what is the temptation there? What in the world? does that statue offer that Yahweh, God, shows up in burning bushes and parts seas and stuff? What, what is that wooden statue, gold statue, have that Yahweh doesn't have? So I was really confused about that for a long time. And there are a myriad of reasons why an idol might be attractive. But what I've kind of settled on, maybe not quite as a definition, but just as kind of what makes an idol enticing is that an idol offers you some kind of certainty and control. You know, when, when, if you're an ancient Israelite, ancient person of any type, um, this is the, this is the god to pray to that's going to make sure you have a baby. This is the god to pray to to give you some rain for your crops. There's a transaction. It makes sense. It's comfortable. Um, and I think that's got to be one of the draws of polytheism. is everybody has a seat on the bus. Everybody has a, has a part to play. It makes sense. That guy does that, and that guy does this one, and she does this. You got one God, it's a little bit more confusing, a little bit more, um, not as direct one-to-one, uh, you know, um, you pray to God for anything, and God works in mysterious ways. Fun fact. And so we don't always get the easy answers that we want. So with that preamble, when we're talking about idols today, I'm thinking of anything that's going to offer you a little bit of that certainty and a little bit of that control. And there's a bunch we can name and list. I think one that we don't talk about enough is money. Money becomes a way where you can kind of control your situation. You can, you know, be protected just in case XYZ happens. There's you know, the, the, the dollars and cents isn't bad, but boy, that can become an idol because we put our trust in how many zeros are in our bank account and things of that nature. And our whole life becomes revolving around getting that number up because then it offers us safety and comfort and some sort of certainty. Um, and so that's, that's one big example of just how modern Christians fall into that trap. Um, and we can couch it in Christian language of, well, I got to get more money so I can give to the poor, which, if you're actually doing that, good for you, great. But, um, that can be one excuse we might, uh, use, and maybe we don't actually, you know, do that part. Uh, we just want to Christianize it, make it sound all holy and good. So you want me to explore some more? Like, yeah, tell me where to go, what you want to— dive into.

[5:33 -> 6:28] Speaker 2: I think in, to, to that regard, you know, especially taking the Old Testament, um, route that you took, I mean, I would say anything that, you know, in that case, you're talking about something they have physically like bowed down and prayed to, you know. So there's that. And I think anything that has a place in my heart that God is supposed to have, I need to look at. Am I worshiping this creation over the Creator? Am I more in love with the gifts that I'm being given than the one who gave the gifts in the first place? So I always think that it's important to ask ourselves, Lord, search my heart. Where am I really falling with certain things? But it can be any success, for example, because you talked about money. So it could be financial success. It could be comfort. It could be politics. It could be—

[6:28 -> 6:28] Speaker 1: Absolutely.

[6:28 -> 6:51] Speaker 2: Relationships. It could be approval. it could be ministry, you know, and I think that's, that's a big one, you know. I could fall in love doing the things that God is telling me to do and the things that he very well could have called me to do, but not spending that actual time in relationship with him and keeping him above those things, you know. Doing, doing the work of the Lord can become an idol too, you know.

[6:51 -> 7:16] Speaker 1: Oh, 100%. I see that all the time. It's very unfortunate, you know. Um, when this episode comes out, it's sad to say there's probably a Christian leader that has fallen recently. They've done some big sin. They've done something they definitely shouldn't have done. Um, and, and so even Christian leaders can fall into those traps and get too into the ministry and just start justifying all kinds of crazy things.

[7:17 -> 7:31] Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. So have you— I want to get the audience to know about your background too. So have you always been, been following Christ? Has this always been, um, road that you've been on. What would take us— take us back to what life was like, you know, early on for you?

[7:31 -> 9:13] Speaker 1: Yeah, I, I was always in the church. Um, I mean, it's one of those clichés, when, when the church doors were open, you know, my family and I were there kind of thing. Um, that was— I mean, that was pretty much kind of true. Um, I mean, I, I don't know, sometimes even today I feel like people like keep their babies from church, you know, well, a couple weeks and then we'll go back to church or something. I'm pretty sure I was like the next Sunday there I was as a newborn baby kind of thing. Um, so Sundays, Wednesdays, anything extra, we were involved in all of that. Um, and, and for a while, kind of my late elementary school years, my dad owned a Christian bookstore, which was then a whole nother— I'm literally like surrounded by Christian resources and things of that. Started my, you know, Bible nerd journey, of course. Um, getting access to these things and receiving all this information. Um, I went to public school. I didn't go to a Christian school, but like in every other sense, it was church. Faith was like literally my life, and all the other public school people knew about that too. Um, Jake was the Christian guy, the Bible thumper. I don't think anybody actually used the term Bible thumper, but that kind of idea. Um, That was me through and through. Get to college, get Bible degrees. I mean, uh, that was just kind of my trajectory, um, for, for, for the whole time. One way or another, I was surrounded by church and Christian thought and the Bible. I was just kind of always there, almost like I said, from the beginning.

[9:13 -> 9:22] Speaker 2: So, and let's, let's stay on that, that journey. So did you end up going to, to seminary? Let's walk us through like what your, what your journey was like.

[9:24 -> 9:49] Speaker 1: So, um, I have a gift and a curse of multiple interests and talents. Um, I do not like to be pigeonholed into kind of like one thing, you know. Um, that is something I don't like. So going to college and like having to like choose a major and things of that nature, that was just the hardest thing you could ever ask me to do.

[9:49 -> 9:49] Speaker 2: Yeah.

[9:50 -> 11:50] Speaker 1: Like, for a hot second, I was going to be a lawyer. I was going to be a Christian lawyer. Everything had the word Christian attached to it. I was going to be a Christian biologist for a second. I got voted most likely to be a politician in high school, which was— I'm not on that trajectory anymore. And so, like, there was all these different options for me, but I couldn't choose. I could not choose. But like I said, I always wanted to be the Christian version of whatever. I would see some kind of field, some kind of occupation, and be like, there needs to be more Christians in there, or, or there needs to be more, uh, faith in this area, or that needs a little bit more Jesus. And I couldn't choose. I just couldn't choose. Um, and so eventually I decided to go the Bible and ministry route and things with the idea of being a professor. Um, a Bible professor of some sort, so I could then train all the other people that would do the whatever. So the future Christian lawyer could take a class from me about how to think about scripture and theology and then go do that. Because, um, I probably wouldn't have been good in all these different careers that I wanted to do. Certainly, well, I was very, very close to biology. But wasn't a fan of chemistry, knew I had to take a couple classes in that, a little bit squeamish when it comes to blood, needles, anatomy. So that was probably not gonna happen. Um, so I chose this route as, as the, as the job where I felt like I could encourage other people in the things that I'm just not called to do, that I maybe shouldn't be doing. Um, so that was really what drew me to to the ministry, to seminary, to thinking about the Bible, all of that. It was, if I can't do it all, I guess I'll encourage other people to do it with that Christian biblical mindset.

[11:50 -> 11:57] Speaker 2: So what sparked your passion, desire to really help Christians deal with some of the idols in their lives?

[11:57 -> 16:15] Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I don't know that I can claim to have a lot of like super crazy supernatural experiences. I mean, I I don't doubt any of that. It's just for me in my life, there hasn't been a lot of that. But pretty much the closest to like audible voice of God from the heavens I have ever heard was a couple years ago when I just heard this phrase, smashing idols. And what was brought to mind was the story of Gideon, because our boy Gideon, before he's doing the whole like Is the wool wet and the ground is dry and testing the Lord and all of that. One of the first times we meet him, one of his first kind of crazy misadventures is, um, he is tasked with destroying some idols nearby in the nighttime. And that does not make people happy. Fun fact, when he starts calling out these idols, nobody likes that. Uh, and, and so he gets this name, Jerubbaal, He's like the smasher of Baal and all these kind of things. Like, so Gideon, um, was— is what came to mind as this idol smasher. Um, and that was that phrase, like smashing idols, idol smasher, kept coming into my mind. I'm like, what is— what is this? What does that mean? Um, and you know, Eric, I've long kind of been in search of the big, uh, the big problem with the world or the problem with the faith. I explored a lot of different things. It was lack of biblical knowledge or lack of apologetics understanding or what, you know, like there's all these different things I tried to search out as that this is the key. But I think it, when it comes down to it, and I reserve the right to change my mind later because I've done that before, but like right now it sure seems like at the root of all of this is we have traded God for something else that makes a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more certain, a little bit more safe. Um, and even if, like, you know, maybe it's not completely thrown Jesus out the window, but we've, like, snuck this other idol right in next door next to Jesus and done some little tricky things like that. Um, and so this started this ministry of, hold on guys, we gotta go back to Jesus, we gotta go back to the source. Um, and, and you've probably encountered people like I have who have said things like, yeah, I like Jesus, but man, I don't like those Christians. I think that was originally a Gandhi quote. I've heard people say that to me so many times over the years because, uh, there are some Christians that don't, uh, behave Christlike. 100%. We should just be honest about that. Um, and I do think That Jesus is— I mean, it's an understatement to say he's a cool guy. Jesus can transform everything. There is something so different about the person of Christ, and I think we should be rooted in Christ, to quote the name of the show. I think that, but a lot of Christians struggle with that, and a part of that is, I think, The room is messy. There are these idols, these other things, and boxes and, and dirt and old garbage that has stacked up, and we're not seeing Jesus anymore. So it's been a mission of mine just in the last couple years, more narrowly, to say, let's unclutter some of that junk and garbage and idols. And let's go face to face with Jesus. Let's connect to the source here. Because I think the world— I know the world likes Jesus. And if Christians would act a little bit more like that, I think there's, there's going to be a revival on our hands. If we can truly connect to the source and center Jesus on everything. So that's my soapbox. That's what I've been up to these days.

[16:15 -> 16:32] Speaker 2: So what advice would you give to someone who's trying to deal with an idol in their life? Like, they've, they've realized, like, they're, they're distracted. What would you say? What would you say to that Christian who's struggling with that? And it's like, yo, this really has become a problem, but I don't know how to get unstuck.

[16:32 -> 18:32] Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I, I want to remind everybody that we often are blindsided by our own shortcomings. We often can't see that. Um, I, I tell the stories sometimes of when I was a wee child and, um, was watching too much TV. And my mom said once, like, um, oh, you're watching, you know, you're watching too much TV, you're addicted to this thing. And I said, no, I'm not, I'm not addicted to TV. I just like it a lot. And I always wanted to watch it instead of doing my homework, instead of doing anything else. But I'm not addicted. I, I could quit anytime, but I just don't want to. And I use an example of how we often kind of excuse or reframe our own kind of shortcomings. But we need other people to point that out, because again, as a kid, I used to always tell people, I am the foremost expert on myself. Nobody knows Jake Dobrans like me. And yeah, there's some, a little bit of truth to that. I, no one else can read my mind. I know some stuff that's, you know, going on in my noggin that other people don't. But in reality, because I'm so close to the source, I'm blinded by some things. We need other people. So number, number one is we got to get into community. We have to get in community that is willing to challenge us, care for us. But also challenge for us. At its best, that is what the church should be. We need to find that community that's willing to call it out and say, that's not— that's not good, that's not right. And I just— I think that's gotta be— that's gotta be step one in order to identify the whole problem in the first place. We gotta get an outside opinion. We got to.

[18:32 -> 18:54] Speaker 2: Why, why do you think sometimes it's so hard for, for people to let go of, of those idols where some of the things that they're just bringing them, um, they could be— excuse me, why do you think it's hard for them to let go of those idols and knowing that they could be separating them or causing separation between them and their relationship with Christ?

[18:54 -> 21:05] Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, it comes back to these terms that I've used a couple times: control, certainty, safety. We like those. I like those. Like, I'm preaching to the choir here. Like, I am— I have problems myself of I want enough money in case of the medical emergency so that I don't have to be stressed about it. You know, I want the safety and I want the certainty. And I grew up very certain about everything. I often tell people, like, I had the entire Bible and God and Jesus, everybody figured out when I was 18. Until I went to college and realized I actually didn't have everything figured out. Fun fact. But I liked it. And that was a— that was something I had to wrestle with, of I had a neat, organized A, B, and C kind of, uh, concept of the world. And then that was taken away. And that is so hard to say, I'm sorry, the way you've organized your world, the way you've organized your system has no basis in reality. It's not at all what Jesus was trying to tell you in the Gospels and things of that nature. So, um, it's hard, and that's why people go kicking and screaming, uh, because you have just told them this, this foundation you have built on that makes you feel comfortable and safe, it's not there anymore, um, or shouldn't be there. And that's gonna mean You're gonna have to build something new. That means you're gonna have to be uncomfortable. That means you are going to have to be uncertain and trust in God, which is it is really hard. I don't think we should disguise that. It is really stinking hard to just fully put your trust in God, not in the politicians that have all their promises, not in. how many zeros are in your bank account, but just fully put your trust in God and say, God, whatever happens, you're in charge here. That is so, so hard, but that is the discipleship that we're called into.

[21:05 -> 22:34] Speaker 2: I think that, you know, for myself personally, when I was running into drinking and drugs, those, those became idols in my life. The nights out became idols. In, in my life, one of the ways that, that God, you know, started to tear those things down was, was through repentance and just recognizing it. Like, not only— this is, you know, I think sometimes we always— and I, I'm cautious of this even when I tell my own story, you know, I, I look at anything that's separating me from God as a problem. It's not always drugs, lust, pride, anger. It could be the fact that I spent too much time watching television and not enough time, you know, worshiping and fellowshipping and reading my Bible with him. And that those things can turn into, into idols. You know, I talk about Ephesians 4:20-26 where the Bible's clear about putting off and putting on. You know, if I stop one activity— so if I repent because I have an idol in my life, such as drug addiction, for example, this has become an idol. This thing has a spot in my heart that God is, is supposed to have. Once I repent, step back behind the bloodline of Christ, move this thing out of my life, I need to sub in something in its place, especially for the amount of time that I just spent out partying and spent out acting, acting crazy. You know, something had to fill its place, and it couldn't have been television because that's not going to be any— anything life-giving. So I had to put on spending time praying.

[22:34 -> 22:35] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[22:35 -> 23:16] Speaker 2: You know, I had to then put on spending time going to church. I had to put on, like you said, spending time in in community with, with other believers so I can say, look, I struggle with, with this, you know. But sometimes that— and it's not sometimes— repentance means to turn away from. So I had to turn away from some of my friends who were still in that environment because it's not that I kicked them out of my life, I couldn't go where they were going. Now, some of them I did have to get rid of because, you know, hanging around drug dealers when you're trying to stop doing drugs is not a— is not— It's not a conducive environment for change. So, um, so I think repentance to your point is a key area in tearing down some of those idols.

[23:16 -> 23:25] Speaker 1: Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. I often advocate for you got to replace it with something else, something more healthy, something better, just like what you said.

[23:26 -> 24:12] Speaker 2: Yeah. I also think too, there comes a rationale that we have to realize that every— just because something is good, it doesn't mean it's good for us or doesn't mean that it is in the plan that God has for us. So that idea of being fully surrendered to him, where if I'm surrendering to this idol, I have misplaced worship. My worship is now on this, whatever that item is. It's not where it should be placed in Christ. So I need to step back and say, in this case, okay, if I'm surrendered to this idol, once that is released, I need to be fully surrendered to God to say, Lord, what do you have for me? What direction are you taking my life in? Because I've been blood bought, blood purchased.

[24:12 -> 24:12] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[24:12 -> 24:37] Speaker 2: You have a plan. Yes, you have good things planned, but what are those good things to you? Because your idea of good and my idea of good might not line up. So I need to be on the same page with you, because in my idea of good, I'm not gonna have any more strife, any more valley season, any more problems. But to your point from earlier, that peace and comfort is now turned into, or could potentially turn into, another idol.

[24:37 -> 24:41] Speaker 1: Sure. Yeah, sure. Always temptation.

[24:42 -> 24:50] Speaker 2: Yeah. So you touched on this a little bit earlier too, so I know, um, because I know you mentioned community, but what other spiritual disciplines can help guard our hearts against idolatry?

[24:50 -> 25:36] Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. So I mean, I just always mention community because, um, that's That, that isn't— it is, it's a discipline, but that's like the structure around it. Of course, we need to then do some more kind of individual kinds of things. The, the replace— the repentance and replacement that you talked about. Um, you know, it's weird to say something like, uh, just trust in God, because like, what, what does that mean? That was always my issue as a pretty intellectually inclined kid. you know, what does it mean to— I, I had an issue with feelings, let's just say. I've grown up, I'm married now, I maybe have a little bit more of that figured out.

[25:36 -> 25:36] Speaker 2: Yeah.

[25:36 -> 26:06] Speaker 1: Um, but, you know, just to say, what does it mean to, to feel in love with God or to trust in God? What does that, what does that actually mean? And when it comes down to it, is, as the church has done for millennia, is had these more bodily practices that help make tangible what is intangible, like trusting in God. So rhythms and disciplines, I think, are very powerful. I never want those to become an idol, however.

[26:06 -> 26:07] Speaker 2: Right.

[26:07 -> 29:35] Speaker 1: Because reading your Bible every day can become an idol. You know, if I am reading my Bible for an hour and ignoring, you know, the house on fire next door, like, okay, wait, I think we got some of the priorities out of whack here. Like, we're We have to actually live what we're consuming. But nonetheless, still a fan of rhythms and practices like prayer and reading and things. Set time aside. I, I often think of how crazy and radical the idea of Sabbath is, and we can argue and debate exactly how to translate the ancient Jewish practice of Sabbath to modern Christians. But if you just think about what's God doing, what God is doing is interrupting the flow and say, I'm sorry, we're not going to work today. You know, that we're not going to make money today. We're not going to prep today. All these things that can become idols and identities. We're going to focus on God and family and community. We're going to focus on these other kinds of things. So what Sabbath does— Sabbath is an interruption. Sabbath is a day to stop doing all the things. And, and so I do think Christians should understand that, that, uh, reasoning behind Sabbath and apply that to things in our lives. If your temptation is to work 80-hour weeks or something, um, to get all the money and to get the bonuses at work and the promotions and things, then yeah, literally have an interruption time. Have a, it's 5 o'clock, I'm not working anymore. Or, you know, I'm throwing my phone out the window so I can be present with my family. Like, whatever it is, interrupt the things that might become idols. For some of us, that means turn off the news, you know, remove your phone from certain situations, have a day off, things of that nature. Um, whatever your idol is, interrupt that, stop that, and that creates a new kind of rhythm, a rhythm where you don't have to rely on that, where you can be fully present in the moment. So I, I think that's a good— I mean, I, I wish I knew like every single person's idol in the audience today so I could say, well, here's a practice for you, here's one for you, here's— but I think there's some principles in there that we can all kind of apply. Build a rhythm, and a part of that rhythm, have an interruption that breaks the control of that idol. And over time, I think what happens is we start to understand what it is to trust God, to love God, those kind of intangible things I talked about. Um, because I mean, some of us with our spouses maybe have love at first sight, but a lot of times it takes some dating and things like that to, to get to know somebody and realize, oh, I do trust this person, I'm committed to this person, I'm gonna make that commitment. I think it's very similar to God. We need to To, to have time to spend time with God, to build these rhythms and practices over time, you can't help but trust.

[29:35 -> 29:43] Speaker 2: So what would you say are some of the warning signs that something has gone from being good and healthy to becoming an idol?

[29:43 -> 31:25] Speaker 1: Yeah, I, I think when your blood starts to boil, especially at the sign of something might be taken away. Um, you know, back to my TV analogy, when my mom says, I think you're too addicted to TV, I started being, no, no, no, no, I'm getting all defensive. I'm not. I could stop watching TV. I just don't want to. That's what I said. I just don't want to. I could. I just don't want to. Um, it's things like that. Okay, wait a second. This is a signal here. If I start saying, actually, yeah, your favorite politician has some problems here, and you start getting really defensive about that. If I start saying, hey, you're ignoring this command of God when you're doing, you know, yeah, maybe you're providing for your family in your job, a good thing, but you're ignoring all these other things. And you should be— no, no, I'm not. I'm, you know, that defensiveness often can be a sure good sign. Maybe not, maybe not perfect, because we can also be defensive about actually good things that we're doing that other people don't always understand. That's another caveat with that community around you. Our community can be blindsided too, and can maybe not understand the call of God in certain situations. Sure, sure, sure. But yeah, when your blood starts to boil and you start to raise your voice and get a little frustrated at just the thought of somebody taking something away. or the thought of whatever I trusted in might be imperfect and wrong, um, yeah, we got a problem.

[31:25 -> 31:26] Speaker 2: Yeah.

[31:26 -> 32:41] Speaker 1: We got a problem when that starts to be our reaction. At least that's a sign. Um, and again, if, if idols are all about certainty, there's gonna be some uncertainty in the reality zone, uh, when we are rooted in Christ. God doesn't tell us, oh, here's all the plan, here's everything you need to know, uh, you know, it lays it all out like that. I wish, I totally wish, but that's not how it works. Um, and so there's going to be some uncertainty, it's going to be a little scary, and so we're going to start to— we're going to fight back a little bit when we are pulled into the uncertainty. But the things that you might be most certain about besides like the unconditional love of Christ, or certain things like that, that I think we should have full support and certainty in. Anything else going on in the world, the things that you think are infallible, the things that you think are perfect, or I need that— probably you don't actually need that. Um, probably that isn't as healthy for you as you thought, if that is your reaction. So. I think the reaction is a good warning sign.

[32:41 -> 34:11] Speaker 2: 100%. Because whenever I talk to people about, especially when, you know, it comes to like weed or something, for example, I'm like, you know, and the reaction tells me everything I need to know. I can quit when I want to. Then why don't you? Well, I'm not addicted. Right. And then I'm like, I'm sitting here and I'm like, I told him, I said, you know, when I first stopped, I had insomnia for almost 30 straight days. Like, you can't tell me there's no addictive property. You can't tell me it's not a drug. If it was, you know, I mean, but it don't even have to be that. Sugar, sugar can be an addiction as well. Oh, for sure. But I will also say before we get to the final segment, the Let 'Em Know segment, you know, fasting has really made a huge difference for me in tearing down some of those idols as well. Because you are literally putting your flesh into submission to say, You are not in control here. You are not in charge here. And in those moments of, of hunger, or in those moments of craving, or whatever though the case might be, spending that time focusing on God and then waiting just to hear. And it may not happen right away. It may happen. It's gonna happen in his time. But just sitting there communing and talking to him, asking him questions, seeking his face. You know, I've seen a lot of freedom and breakthrough from, from fasting. And I think the Bible is clear that some things are only done through prayer and fasting. So, um, yeah, that's another one to anyone listening who's looking a way to just take care of some of the idols in their life.

[34:11 -> 34:35] Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, historically the church has gone through this period of Lent, uh, you know, not always popular with some of the Protestants, um, But there was a rhythm in the church calendar of give up this something for at least 40 days, see how you feel. Um, and so even if it's just for a time, give up something, see how you feel, and that'll let you know a lot for sure.

[34:35 -> 34:58] Speaker 2: Jake, I have enjoyed this. Thank you so much for being on here today. This is the final segment of the podcast. This is the Let Them Know segment. Um, this is where you can share anything that you like with the audience. So I'm gonna throw something out your way just for them to plug some of the stuff that you're doing, your podcast, anything else you want to share along those lines. Let them know.

[34:58 -> 36:57] Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love it. Love it. Um, Eric, thanks so much for having me today. Um, loved being on the show and having these kind of conversations. Always exciting. Um, well, I have similar kinds of conversations to this if this piqued your interest on my Substack newsletter, which is called Smashing Idols. Again, those— that word that was almost like a divinely spoken kind of command to me. So the newsletter Smashing Idols, each Friday we, we talk about something and kind of try to reframe some things. I do some of my nerdy theology, but you might have noticed I always try to tell some stories and tie it in with things that help us understand some stuff too. So I try to do that. And then my own podcast, Christianity Without Compromise. We get deep and into the weeds and for sure make people uncomfortable as we talk about topics like greed and politics and abortion. You name it, we've probably covered it. And we say, where have we gone wrong here? Um, either where have the— where is the church straight up sinned, or where have we just accidentally overemphasized something we just shouldn't emphasize that much? And we say, let's get back to Jesus. Um, so we have some phenomenal conversations on the Christianity Without Compromise podcast. So that's the main things that I, that I do, that I, that I'm up to. Um, big fan of all things podcast like yourself. Uh, my day job is doing some podcast producing and, and things of that nature. So want to just say I know how hard you work, Eric, and all that you're doing and, uh, putting it out. And you told me some of your, your stats and things, uh, before the call, and I was really impressed and love seeing, um, what you're creating and just the messages of hope that you're bringing out to people. I mean, that's, that's what it's all about— transformation. So thanks. Thanks for having me though.

[36:57 -> 37:08] Speaker 2: Thank you. No, man, I appreciate it. Glory to God for, for that, man. So Wouldn't be able to do it without him. I've done enough of my own strength and I watched it all burn up, so we're gonna try his way.

[37:08 -> 37:11] Speaker 1: Oh yeah, so relatable. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[37:11 -> 37:13] Speaker 2: You want to pray us out before we get out of here?

[37:13 -> 37:59] Speaker 1: Yeah, let's pray, let's pray. Heavenly Father, we are so thankful, um, for just the opportunity to have these conversations that, um, people can be blessed and challenged and can rethink some things based on a couple of guys just talking, uh, through the power of technology here. We are thankful for that. We pray that we always remember that the journey isn't done. We all have idols in our lives and that we can begin to smash it. We pray for the strength inside of us and for a community around us that can help us smash those idols. So Lord, thank you again. We praise your lovely holy name, Jesus' name. Amen.

[37:59 -> 39:54] Speaker 2: And Father, I just want to pray for anyone who's, who's listening, whose heart that you've been tugging on right now, Father, who, who wants to give their life to you, Lord. Lord, I pray for that person right now who is just repenting of, of their sins or asking forgiveness for things where in areas they've fallen short, that they are saying That they know that you are the Son of God, that they know that you were born, you died, you were crucified, and you rose again to reunite us with our, with our, our Heavenly Father. But I pray, however they're praying that prayer, Lord, I pray that they are just giving their lives to you, asking you to lord over their lives, not for control, but for freedom, but for breakthrough, but for generational curses being broken. But for forgiveness. So I just thank you right now in, in Jesus' name that that person who's listening who feels like they are just so far away, they feel like they are just so stuck, Lord, for that person who may be listening who just has made mistakes, Lord, whether they've— or they, they feel they can't come back from it, whether they had an affair, where they had an abortion, whether they just— or they just gave up in an area where you didn't think that— or they just didn't think they could keep going, Lord. I pray that they know there's forgiveness, and I pray that they do keep going. Lord, for that person who's thinking about— who's listening, who's thinking about taking their life, Father, I pray that they don't, and they just continue to press in and press hard after you, Father. So I just thank you in advance that you have not taken your hand off of those folks, Lord, and I pray that they now know that there's faith, there's hope, and there's second chances. And that you're not finished with him yet. So I thank you for this, the, the platform you've blessed us both with, not for our honor and glory, but for yours. We just pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

[39:54 -> 39:57] Speaker 1: Amen.

[39:57 -> 40:06] Speaker 2: If you have been enjoying our content, please like, follow, share, and subscribe to the Rooted in Christ Podcast. We are on all major podcast platforms. Jake, thank you so much.

[40:07 -> 40:08] Speaker 1: Absolutely, yeah.