To say that stories don’t matter is a kind of intellectual insanity. To say that our own individual stories (and our interpretation of them) take precedence over objective reality and revealed truth is a deplorable, post-modern, bear trap of arrogant rebellion.

Stories matter for many reasons, not least of which is that the story of Jesus is news we must believe and embrace to have eternal life, forgiveness of sin and guilt.

But embracing our own story and our own version of events is also one of the most dangerous things possible. For by embracing our own way we naturally say “no,” even “Hell no,” to God.

This is a bad plan, and a bad way to live out the story of your life. Don’t be that character.

Pictured with his uncle and namesake 4 years ago.

My son, who has provided some giggles to readers of this blog, has been upgraded to a 4. Happy Birthday, son. He is a continual source of joy and thankfulness, and quite a wit. He has been quoted here many times (see here, here, and here, here, and here), but one of my favorite quotes from him is contained in the following note I wrote probably six months ago.

We frequently pray for humble hearts (maybe because I am learning more about myself and afraid/aware of what I am passing on to my kids). After tonight’s Bible study we prayed with open hands (as if ready to receive a gift) for the God of Abraham to give us humble hearts. After prayer my son, who is three, asked this penetrating question.

“Daddy, is us doing a humble heart God giving us a humble heart?”

I was thrilled. My son seems to understand the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man pretty well.

My response was, “Yes. If we have a humble heart then it’s because God is answering our prayer and giving it to us.”

So, if you think about it, pray for us. What for?

Humble hearts.

Why?

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5 (etc.)

So, it stinks to feel bad. Sickness, sadness, and pain of all kinds are a real revelation of authentic, or inauthentic, trust. It’s a challenge to our selfish worldview –our pretensions to the Throne of the Universe. We say in our hearts, “This is not fair. I am good. I deserve to be healthy. I appear unable to control this and that challenges my assumption that I am the master of my life.”

At least those are things that clamor for my (mostly subconscious) acknowledgment when I don’t feel well (which is –whine alert- not all that infrequent).

How do you deal with the insurgence of selfishness which is revealed at times like that? Are there portions of Scripture (in context) you focus on? 

I think Psalm 46 is inspiring and instructive. We had memorized that as a family for times of suffering, struggle, and pain (we need to get back to that, actually, so we don’t lose it from our memories). Romans 8 comes to mind, and some others.

What about you?

In our little, family Bible study tonight we got to the place where Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, shows up and offers Moses some advice. It’s in Exodus chapter 18.

Some of the things I observed in the passage/story/history…

Moses spoke with God. God spoke back. He was a rare man, with rare access to Yahweh in a personal way which is hard to imagine. He could inquire of God and expect a response.

Jethro comes along and sees the way Moses is governing (Moses is doing too much on his own –will wear himself out). Jethro offers some advice.

Moses does NOT say: “Listen, buddy. I speak to God, I don’t need you coming in here with your advice and telling me what you think. I moved my hand and the Red Sea parted. I struck the rock and water came out. I held up my staff and we won the battle.”

No. Moses displays a humble heart in honoring Jethro, and in listening humbly to his wise advice. He follows the advice and implements a good government.

The application part on that, like so much of the Scripture, is pretty easy. Now to obey…

Moses by Michelangelo Buonarroti

“Don’t criticize a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins.”

I don’t have moccasins, and I’m sure I got this proverb wrong. But we’ve all heard something like this many times. Why? Because it’s a really good saying and bears repeating.

The last few days have been an opportunity for me to step in and take over many of my wife’s daily tasks. She has been sick, and thankfully is getting better. But it’s been a chance for me to walk in her moccasins.

We have a fairly “traditional” family. In other words we think we’re better than everyone else. OK, not really –God help us. But Gina’s vocation is a “keeper at home,” a wife (to one guy) and mother (to three kids: 6, 3, and a baby). It’s her self-described and long-planned for “dream job.” That is, it’s what she has always wanted to do and believes she is called to do. Dream job?

Wow, this is not an easy job. I knew that, but after walking a few days in her shoes (losing the Native American footwear theme there) I can say that my appreciation for her has grown once again.

She is an amazing woman. She has a very challenging job. That she handles it with such cheerfulness and grace (mostly…hey she is human –this is not a primer on Moralism –it’s tough) only serves to make it look easier. But she has a tough job. A good job –but not anything like easy. She is an excellent wife and mother.

I could go on and on about little particulars but I’ll just reduce my thoughts here for the sake of brevity. Here are some somewhat random expressions of things that are swimming in my mind (mostly geared towards men).

-Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way. Nothing helps us understand like stepping in and stepping up.

-Contentment is a great gift, and any help in encouraging/fostering contentment is major.

-The King and Creator of the universe grabbed a towel and washed his follower’s feet. Kingdom leadership is defined by loving, humble, sacrificial service.

-Acknowledge that your wife’s job is a challenge. Recognize that she is NEVER off the clock, and that if she’s ever going to be then YOU need to make that happen.  

-If your wife is not a nag (even with a tough job) then give thanks to God and praise her. Living with a nag is like always walking around on a floor of steaming, stinking crap.

-When you do another person’s job you see all the little things they do all the time that don’t ever get noticed (and if they are quiet, humble, and faithful they may not mention them). Try to notice them out loud. We all need encouragement.

-There’s no promotion from Mom/Wife. It is the top job. So if Mom/Wife gets a positive performance review (in this life), it’s probably going to be you who does it. Do it.

-I have not been, am not, and certainly will not soon be the ideal man in such things. But I do pray and plan to keep moving forward and asking God for a humble heart on this and all things.

-The Gospel provides the only clear avenue for not trusting in our own goodness (exalting ourselves) or getting destroyed by a defeated self-loathing. We stand in Christ, or we fall.

-Men are usually something like a tyrant or an emasculated weakling in our sinful, selfish natures. Men do lead their homes –often (in these times) by their absence/passivity. Lead well in humility and presence.

-We need to pray for humble hearts. Nothing is impossible with God.

1. You can pull your Father’s beard and he will cry.
2. Your Daddy will sometimes be too interested in the big game to listen to you.
3. Daddy is often interested in his own glory. Sadly, he’s very imperfect and so it’s evil that he wants that.
4. Your Daddy doesn’t always know what you’re thinking and feeling.
5. Your Daddy is balding, has a bad back, two bad shoulders, one bad attitude, all kinds of allergies. He’s frequently tired, stressed, and often thinks he isn’t up to the task.

Like almost everything, we can make some horrific inferences about God based on how dumb we are. Can you think of more?

1. Ignorance ought to yield to greater knowledge (especially omniscience).
2. Loving parents must do things their kids can’t possibly understand, even painful things (like discipline).
3. Loving discipline of true children (adopted or natural) should be corrective, restorative.
4. There’s no ache like a loving parent’s ache (in love and pain).
5. It’s a challenge to communicate with children who refuse to see anything but their own, selfish perspective.

Parenting is so helpful for understanding God’s perspective a little better. Can you add some more helpful inferences?

Note: This is not a picture of discipline, but of sheer goofiness (though I was pretending to throw them in a fountain).

I have the privilege of being a guest poster over at I Saw Lightning Fall, the blog of writer Loren Eaton. I’ve never met Loren in real life, but on the internet he sure seems like one of the good ones and has always been very encouraging to me.

Loren has a cool, thoughtful blog and for some reason he asked for me to be a part of his guest post pulpit supply while he is away.

Read my riveting guest post there here. It’s called “Being Precisely You.”

A follow-up to yesterday’s incomplete, but accurate (biblically, anyway –for what that’s worth), summation of the state of mankind.

We are thankless, discontented, rebellious, greedy, selfish, and natural enemies of God as children of Adam.

The only thing that can change that state is a miracle –the miracle of regeneration.

This is from God, toward us who humbly trust in Jesus. It is unimaginable mercy which begins in believers a transformation where a new creature emerges and the old standard (the natural) is slowly, continually overwhelmed by the magic of New Life. Read about it here.

It’s no less a miracle than water to wine,

it’s superior yes, but of the same kind.

One thing is one thing, and then it’s another,

was just an enemy –now, just, a brother.

Do you know what toy a baby most wants to play with?

The one just out of his reach.

So too, are we. Groping infants all, the discontent in our hearts extending in greedy feelers to the world.

See similar post here: “The corners of our eyes are a paradise of lies.”