From The Backwoods Pew

The Lord’s Logger

Let’s talk about loggers. Are they hardworking? Absolutely! Must they be creative? Without a doubt, every tract, every change in the weather, every shift Antill in mill needs, demand that the logger be able and ready to adapt. The mentality needed to be a successful logger has not changed for hundreds of years. Hit the woods early, work until dark, go home and work on the ax/saw/machines/trucks until it is time to hit the woods again. It often seems like an endless cycle, but a logger sees each day as a new challenge. The daily challenge is to get the trees cut and loaded on the truck. Next, he must get the truck to the highway and then to the mill. Everything seems to go against their wishes each step along the way. The overnight rain that pleases the farmer causes a few more gray hairs on the head of the logger. Wet woods, soggy roads, truck issues, and mill closures always come just when the operation is humming along. With so much that can go wrong, and so much that seems to go wrong, why does anyone stay in this trade?

Why would anyone want to cut down a tree in the first place? Perhaps we should look to the Scriptures for that one. Yep, logging is a time-honored trade, found in the pages of Holy Writ. Surprised? Shocked? Let me explain. Go to any society in the world, particularly if you went to them for the first time, (i.e. as an explorer) and you would find they all have a religious system. Why is this true? Romans 1:19-20 explains that we were all created with the knowledge of God, an understanding that He exists, and of His expectations. But something happened to our vision of God. It became polluted. We chaffed at the idea of being accountable to an allknowing God, and decided to change the rules. Verses 21-23 explain that we decided to worship the created instead of the Creator.

Here is where the trees came into play. Folks began to call trees by names, and bow down to them and talk to them. And if someone had a good day trading at the market, when he passed an oak tree, he would say a prayer to it in thanks. Sound crazy? No, it sounds sad.

In Old Testament times these “god trees” were usually found in small clumps called “groves.” These groves were the family church so-tospeak. The nation of Israel had ignored God for a long time and had begun worshipping idols. God allowed an enemy to come in and abuse them. But God had a plan to bring them relief, so he called on a fellow named Gideon, and a logger was born. It began under an oak tree, where according to Judges 6 an angel of the Lord spoke to Gideon and called upon him to lead the people of Israel back to God. In true logger fashion, Gideon was at first a little skeptical of the calling. He pointed out to the Lord that he was poor (verse 15), which is the first requirement for being a logger. A logger will always end up poor, so it is best to start out that way, or so every logger tells every forester as they sign a cutting contract. But the real logging issue comes when Gideon is given the task of logging a grove (verse 25). Yes, he is told to go and cut down the images his father was worshipping, and make a fire out of the wood (verses 26 and 27). Gideon takes a young bull (that’s his skidder) and goes to cutting.

Perhaps Gideon’s daddy summed it up best. When the local folks were in an uproar over the “logging” of their gods, he responded with a rather astute observation in verse 31b: “…if he (the tree) is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!”

Time to get personal, that is why you are reading this. Have any idols in your life? Is there something that towers over you, demanding your worship? Like it or not, you and I are beings who were created to worship, and that is what we will do. We will find something to serve, make no mistake about it. Sex, money, work, status, and fame are always on the top ten lists of modern idols. Leisure activities such as fishing, hunting, and sports are right up there also. We create our own “gods,” for the same reason, and so did the Israelites. We do not want to be accountable to a righteous God.

It would be great if we could say “groves” are only found in pagan countries; and that good ole churchattending folks are off the hook, but that is not the case. Many a churchgoer has no concept of the God who created this universe we live in. They have cut and pasted their own version of a god, one that will wink at their little sins and not show disapproval of their vices. All they have is a “tree,” something incapable of thought or communication. A tree is cold and unresponsive to your needs. It cannot give you comfort when you stand at the grave of a friend, nor can it encourage you when you receive that call in the middle of the night. No, a tree can do nothing. Gideon’s father had it right. A god incapable of action is no god, and in his case, it was a stump. Is it time to do a little logging in your life? The process will take hard work, dawn to dusk. Keep your saw sharp. Anything that stands between you and God has got to come down. Remember that every day on the logging job has its trials. Your resolve will falter, pressures will mount, and mud will be everywhere; but loggers are tough. Instead of going out on the town, stay at home with the family. Instead of reaching for a “cold one,” make a milk-shake with the kids. Turn off the TV and read about Gideon. Find out who this Creator is and about the wonderful life He has for you; and stop hugging the trees!!

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. —Psalm 25:5

Excerpted from Bibles, Beavers, and Big Timber

Brad Antill, author; find it at www.onatreeforestry.com