thoughts on Jerry Bridges' 'The Blessing of Humility'

            Once you think you've got it, you’ve lost it. Of course that refers to humility. AS difficult a concept as it may be to grasp, the Lord Jesus calls us to be humble, to adopt that posture of humility. Many of Paul's letters also address the issue, and never in scripture are we called to be prideful or vain, except when Paul says it's alright to boast in Christ.  So what do we do with this concept of humility. How do we apply it in our lives? How do we become less so that Jesus can become more?

            May I make a suggestion?

            Go get a copy of The Blessing of Humility by Jerry Bridges: Walk within Your Calling (Nav Press, 2016).

            For years Jerry Bridges has inspired the Christian community with books like The Pursuit of Holiness, Trusting God, The Discipline of Grace, and one of my favorites:  Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate.  And now, his writing life has come to an end, but not before he finished The Blessing of Humility.

            This is a wonderful study of the Beatitudes (found in Matthew 5).  The introduction opens with these words:  "the character trait of humility is the second-most frequently taught trait in the New Testaments, second only to love".  Bridges adds that "all other character traits, in one way or another, are built upon love and humility." And so it's fitting that this very humble man, he practiced a life of love and humility chose to write about humility as the last book he would have the chance to write.

            Obviously the Beatitudes, the "bless-ed be's, are about much more than just humility, but Bridges shows how each group of people about whom Jesus was speaking were also called to humility. I enjoy reading and studying the Beatitudes, and have never seen them so eloquently yet simply explained.  As he starts though, he reminds his readers of 2 things. First, as Christians we are all called to the traits described in the beatitudes, and second, that this side of Paradise we're not going to get it perfect.

Each chapter can be read in a few minutes, or savored for hours. And in the various chapters, we find the answers to the question: Who are the  (poor in spirit), (those who mourn), (the meek) etc.  One of my favorites is the chapter on those who mourn. Bridges points out that this is an area where he feels inadequate. And as he explains that the mourners are those who are grieving over their own sin, I too felt the strings of inadequacy. Humility requires an awareness of our own sin, and the desire and ability to do something about it, to mourn deeply over how we have offended God by our sinfulness.

Each chapter contains AHA moments, the personal anecdotes leave no room for doubt that Bridges knows about which he writes, and the scriptural references show once again how the best way to interpret scripture is by using scripture. God's Word does not contradict itself.

At the end of the book is a chapter-by-chapter 'discussion guide' which I found useful for going even deeper into the thoughts and ideas presented in this book.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

5/5

Conjuring 2 giveaway

As Fallon said last night on the late show, Conjuring 2 opens this weekend. This is a film that depicts evil. And evil is real, but unlike much of what comes out of Hollywood, this is a film that depicts evil as evil. The advance info that I've seen indicates that this is a scary movie, but there are some opportunities to talk to friends about evil. Some questions that you might want to ask yourself or your family and friends include things like:

 Do you believe in good and evil? In the spiritual realm? In the human realm?

If you do believe in evil, what do you believe is the source of it?

If you do believe in evil, how do you think it can be defeated?

What do you think about the trend in entertainment to make heroes out of characters that have traditionally been villainous?

            To help get the conversation started the producers have offered me the opportunity to host a            giveaway on the blog.  If you're within the Ogden-Clearfield area be the first to comment for a            Tee-Shirt, cup and journal.

Conjuring 2 in theaters Friday

With THE CONJURING 2 in theaters this Friday, it’s only natural to think about scary movies. For some of us, the thoughts are about avoiding them at all costs, but for others there’s excitement at thinking about getting a good scare from our theater seats.

But what about our kids? Especially at younger ages, they can be truly disturbed if they happen to see something onscreen that frightens them. It may not even be a well-made supernatural horror film like THE CONJURING 2 – certainly not for pre-teens – but could be something they see in one of their favorite cartoons that raises fears.

What can you do as a parent when this happens to your son or daughter? Here are a few tips from the experts at Focus on the Family:

·         The first thing you need to do is sit down with your child and give them the chance to discuss the film openly. Ask them what they saw, what they thought about it, and how it made them feel. Whatever you do, don't make light of their fears or dismiss their feelings as silly or immature.

·         Once their emotions have been aired, assure your son or daughter that this was only a story, just like the imaginary tales they may have seen in picture story books. Bad things weren’t happening to real people – they were actors playing a pretend game, like they and their friends do.

·         Reassure your child that you, as their parent, are dedicated to protecting them. Let them know that it is one of your most important jobs – ensuring they feel safe and are safe. Reinforce that message with plenty of hugs.

·         If you are a Christian family, you can explain that God has promised to be with them at all times, even in the midst of danger. Open up the Bible and show them the passages where God promises never to leave us or forsake us (Genesis 28:15; Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5). Pray with them about the scary movie and their fears, and encourage them to pray on their own when they become frightened at night. If it seems appropriate, you can also practice some coping techniques with them, like deep breathing relaxation exercises or visualizing a happy place.

·         One last thought: it is definitely not a good idea for you to sleep in your child's room or to let them sleep in your bed. That will only reinforce the behavior you're trying to eliminate, encouraging them to act helpless and dependent. So whatever happens, make it clear that you will not be sleeping with them. Instead, find some other way to make them feel secure, like turning on a nightlight for a while or letting them take a special stuffed animal to bed.

Come to think of it, if you go see THE CONJURING 2 and you’re still a little scared even after the credits roll, feel free to take your favorite stuffed animal to bed with you, too.