The morning before I write my posts, I run and pray. Most mornings, I initially have no idea what I want to write about. So I pray and ask the LORD to help me. I’m so thankful to say, He’s consistently led me to at least one or two topics that I could write about. And this week, the LORD reminded me of my previous job – Patent Examiner.
USPTO
I worked for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) what seems like forever ago, but more specifically, 20 years ago. I must have been around 5… or something. Ahem. In any event, my job was to read over patents and see if they truly had an invention that was patentable. It had to be something novel, and the claims could not infringe on known “art” or what would have been obvious. In other words, no one could claim a blue I-phone is novel, since that’s an obvious and not a novel improvement or change to what has already been invented.
Just to clarify, “art” in this sense is any kind of invention. I remember when I first started working at the USPTO thinking to myself, “THAT’S where that saying, “State of the art” came from!”
Since I studied engineering in college, it was a good fit. You had to be able to understand what the invention was, as well as understand what the specific claims that were being made were. The claims couldn’t be too broad, since that would not be fair to the general public. If it wasn’t novel, no one should have to give the inventor royalties in order to use the invention. However, the claims couldn’t be inappropriately narrow, since the inventor needed to be able to protect their ideas and invention(s).
The point
At this point, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Why is she writing about all of this?” Well, the other day I was having a discussion with someone about what my denomination is and essentially what my convictions are. Obviously, this would affect the books that are chosen to be in the MHM bookstore. As I was re-thinking about an appropriate answer to this question (normally, I just say that I’m a non-denominational Evangelical Christian), the LORD reminded me of my time at the USPTO.
Here at MHM, the goal is to be as inclusive as possible, while also being exclusive based on the Word of God. Not the word of Michelle. At this point in time, we need to come together on the values we have in common rather on the 3rd and 4th level doctrinal issues that we may differ on. Obviously, we all have convictions that we feel strongly about, but if it’s not a top level doctrinal issue, it’s not something I would want to split hairs on in this context.
Good, beautiful, and true
That being said, the books that are included at MHM all celebrate or stand on what is good, beautiful, and true. We have books that are written from people of lots of different denominations and convictions. There are even titles written by those who don’t embrace Christ as their LORD and Savior. However, each title is sharing something that is good, beautiful and true. We know that not only all truth is God’s truth, but so is goodness and beauty. Just as in the book of Esther, He may not be explicitly spoken to or about, but we can clearly know when He is at work and when His goodness, beauty, and truth is shared.
So rather than a Patent Examiner, my job is now a Book Examiner. What I want to do is include as many books as possible, while also limiting the books that I know fly in the face of the foundational values and truths of the Bible. I’m also not interested in the Word of God progressing. God’s Word is timeless. We must conserve what it says, not try to bend the meaning of it to fit into our current cultural context. Truth is not relative. Rather, it is eternal.
Charlie
I’m still thinking a lot about Charlie Kirk. I think we all will be for a long, long time. This is not to idolize the man. He was flawed like every one of us. However, he was willing to reach across the various denominational aisles and link arms with those who had similar foundational convictions. He worked alongside many different people. In the political arena, that is going to look different than in this particular area of books, however, the sentiment is much the same.
We have enemies all around us. Considering our convictions would almost certainly line up with Charlie Kirk’s, those who maligned Charlie would also dance on our graves if we were killed as well. There will be very few people who we align with perfectly on absolutely everything. And that’s OK. We need to be cognizant of that fact, and let the love and grace of Christ lead us forward on the foundational values we have in common.
Our books
Here at MHM, our books nurture faith, inspire purpose, and uphold truth. Even when it’s uncomfortable. We want to provide books that will help families navigate the current cultural moment. Whether that’s by providing books to your children that will never propagate gender identity madness, or by empowering parents with Apologetics titles.
This is incredibly important right now. Read my friends! And read lots (I’m preaching to myself too!). I pray we continue to increase in faith and love while also allowing the LORD to strengthen our backs and stir up indefatigable courage in each and every one of us.
On a completely different note, if you could write up a TESTIMONIAL FOR MUD HEN MAMA and send it to michelle@mudhenmama.com, we will send you a 10% off coupon for your next purchase! We need testimonials! Lots of them! Please send them over!! We would greatly, greatly (greatly) appreciate it!
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