Written by Bill Grandi on September 18th, 2025
“A heart never forgets.”
I’m not sure where I heard that before. I’m sure it isn’t original. 🙂
That came home to me this morning as I thought about my day yesterday. For the past 7 years, I have been reading once a month to the Kindergarten class at one of our local elementary schools. It started out with the United Way looking for men who would read in their Real Men Read program. I thought it sounded like fun. I love to read and if I could help one child develop a love for reading, and their imagination at the same time, count me in! Little did I know how it would morph. After the first two years, COVID hit. You know the deal on that. But I talked to the Kindergarten teacher and we worked it so we could go outside when the weather was good (chilly but good) and I could read without a mask when I came inside. (Can I tell you how badly I hated masks?) Anyway, for a year I continued to read to new kids. 4 years ago that teacher left and my daughter, Tami, became the teacher of that class. I wanted to expand the program so I talked to several people and in time our new Curriculum Director was able to secure a Title I grant. We now call it Book Buddies. That allowed us to also purchase books for the students to take home. I read=they take their own copy of that book home. This year our local Community Foundation paid for the books. (Thank you OCCF!) That first year I read to 7 classes in 3 different elementary schools. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Starting three years ago, the husband of one of the teachers reads to her class; the church’s Youth Pastor reads to 3 classes in another; and I read to 5 classes in 2 different schools. Yesterday, Jo & I delivered books to the school where the teacher’s husband reads. I confess I had an ulterior motive. The principal of the school is involved in the church. We have twins from the church in the K class, and their sister, whom I read to, is now in 3rd grade. Plus, the new teacher of the 3rd grade class lived across from us when she was growing up in Terre Haute!
Of course, Ashley has changed. Jo and I have also. It took her a moment to recognize us. (Her mind has aged but we haven’t). 🙂 I found out her mom is in a home for Alzheimer’s patients in a city not too far from where we live. So Jo and I plan to visit her within the next couple of weeks and then take Ashley out for lunch afterwards. Her mom and Jo were friends. She attended the church I pastored in Terre Haute. We moved away in 2000 and have not seen her since.
But Ashley? Yeah, fond memories of a little red-haired girl who used to visit and whom our daughters used to babysit. “The heart never forgets.”
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Tags: Friendship, Love, Ministry, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Reflection, Reminiscing, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on September 17th, 2025
I was the victim of a crime late yesterday.
I went to check my checking account last night because I knew my mortgage payment had been taken out when I saw a charge that I suspected was not mine. You guessed it. Someone had somehow gotten a hold of my wife’s debit card number and used it to purchase something on Amazon. The purchase was made at 4:50, just before the banks closed and most people would not be looking at their bank account. As it was, it was about the time I was heading to bed when I discovered it. Too late to alert the bank. Amazon had already approved it. So this morning I will make my way to the bank to close down that card, and stop the thief from continuing his crimes. (And hopefully get a refund, but I’m not holding my breath).
Jo, whom I admire for her innocence, asked THE question that has been asked before thousands of times: “How come people do this?” I have asked that same question only differently: “Why can’t people leave my stuff alone? I don’t bother theirs; why do they have to bother mine?” When you get right down to it, that is a pretty naive question and the answer is simple. It’s called SIN. Ever since the Garden, we have been living life our own way and against the plan of God. Long gone is the biblical mandate of treating others as we would like to be treated. I seriously doubt the individual who is using Jo’s card fraudulently gives a rip about whether he/she is doing right or wrong against someone else. After all, “it is all about me,” right?
I can take the necessary steps to assure the card is no longer usable. What I cannot do is change the heart of the individual who decided to commit a crime against the law of the land and against another human being. I can hope he/she will get caught (but I seriously doubt it). I can hope that person’s heart will be changed (only God can do that). But, most importantly, I can check my own heart and my attitude toward how I treat others. I may not use someone’s debit card (and I don’t/won’t), but I can make sure I am not taking advantage of someone or making them feel less than important.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Lifestyle, Opinion, Reflection, Sin, Stealing, Story, Theft
Written by Bill Grandi on September 16th, 2025
How does God really feel about our hypocrisy and “show”?
One of the knocks of so many against the church is “the church is full of hypocrites.” True. But also not true. Say what?
Well, you see, a hypocrite says one thing but lives a different way. They don’t really care how they present Christ. But there are also those who do. Why is it then that those who shoot the “hypocrisy” bullet only see one side of the equation? Their perspective is skewed because they choose those who back up their own lie. They like to focus on those who don’t care what kind of testimony they are giving. All the while, they are blind to those who truly do care and are trying to live their lives as close to the Jesus-model they can.
The truth is that we are all hypocrites. That’s because none of us are perfect; we are all sinners. Because of that one powerful truth, we will all fail in some way. I will NEVER be THE PERFECT WITNESS. And, of course, neither will you.
The real burr in the saddle though are those who simply don’t care. They will say, “Yeah, I go to church” or “Yeah, I’m a Christian” but have NO intention of living like it. I’m not perfect by any stretch. No one knows that more than me, but what frustrates the pastor in me are those who simply don’t care, but love the pretense and show of going to church. The real crux of the matter is not what I think, but what God thinks. Reading from Amos this morning gave me that answer: “I hate all your show and pretense-the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” (Amos 5:21-24 NLT).
Hmmmm. Not much doubt how He feels is there? We, of course, do not have burnt, grain or peace offerings that we offer in our assemblies as they were required to do. But we do sing. We do give. We do have communion. We do have some guy up front yapping away. 🙂 We even have a certain day set aside for honoring God (Sunday). But are those things meaningful to us or are they something we just do?
Hypocrite or “real”? Only you can answer that question.
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Tags: "Show", Christian Living, Church, Hypocrisy, Hypocrites, Jesus, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on September 15th, 2025
I shared this yesterday with the church I pastor. I thought I would share it with you.
This past week our country has faced some horrific events. On September 11th we commemorated the most devastating attack on American soil when two planes hit the Twin Towers, one hit the Pentagon and one was taken down early in a field in PA. 2977 precious souls lost their lives in the attacks. This past Thursday was the 24th anniversary of that attack. Bookending that remembrance was a brutal attack of Ukrainian refugee, Aryna Zarutska by a man who should never have been on the streets, and the assassination of conservative commentator and Christ-follower, Charlie Kirk. Sadly, the use of video has brought both the stabbing death and the assassination to our eyes and to be forever burned in our memories.
For various reasons very little was said about the stabbing death, possibly due to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I don’t care what political persuasion you are and how you feel about him. What I do care about is the response to his death. From celebration to extreme sadness and tears, I am glad that except for some rogue people, people across the aisle are appalled at the senseless killing of another human being.
What has me disconcerted is the hatred and vitriol spewed out about his death, both locally and nationally. What is even more appalling to me is that some of this is coming from those who call themselves Christians. You may not have agreed with his views, but no one should rejoice in the death of another, especially one who follows Christ. Two weeks ago in a sermon on pride I said, “Pride rejoices in an evil person’s death.” I mentioned how some were not sad that Ozzie Osbourne had died. It saddens me (as well as maddens me) that those who call themselves Christians can rejoice over the death of another. The hatred and mean words must stop with each one of us. Ironically, while all this was going on, there was a revival taking place on the campus of Ohio State University, where our grandson attends, with hundreds of students coming to Christ and being publicly baptized. THAT is the solution right there: giving our hearts and lives to Jesus.
Instead of hatred I suggest we pray. We need to pray for a move of God in our country. We need to pray for the family of Iryna Zarutska. We need to pray for Charlie’s widow and 2 young children who will now grow up without a dad. We need to pray for our own hearts, and ask God to help us get rid of any hate we carry toward anyone, to learn to forgive and live as Christ would have us live. If you have spewed out some of that hate, you need to repent because that is not the way of Jesus.
I can remember after 9/11 the politicians who could not see eye to eye on what was the best thing to eat for breakfast, standing on the steps of the Capitol and singing together, “God Bless America.” Was it for show? Possibly. But it told us that we need God’s blessing on our country. I would also add that we need to start saying, “America. Bless God.” We need to turn our hearts to Him and pray for Him to work in the hearts and lives of each of us, especially His people. I still believe in a God who can change this country around and bring peace and healing.
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Tags: 9/11, America, assasination, Choices, Christian Living, Death, Forgiveness, God's Word, Grace, Jesus, Leadership, Lifestyle, Love, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, revival, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on September 11th, 2025
“Do you remember?”
That statement seems to always preface the next part of that complete statement: “Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when the airplanes of hate and destruction hit the Twin Towers?”
Yes. Yes I do. September 11, 2001. Two men and I from the church I was pastor of that time were making our way from Sandusky, OH to a church in Massillon, OH to attend a one day workshop on church leadership. As a church in a blue collar town we were struggling to keep our head above water as we watched people leave the church. Not because they were dissatisfied but because they had to move. I had started less than a year before in November of 2000 and watched as that first year we lost about 27 people who moved out of town. We were seeking encouragement and wisdom and some direction. It wasn’t until we arrived in Massillon and walked into the church building that we heard the news. We had driven the two hours with no radio on in order to engage in uninterrupted conversation so we were clueless until we got to the venue and the TV was showing the events.
I’m going to be honest and candid, I was virtually ignorant of the Twin Towers. Things like that never drew my attention. But that all changed in a blink of an eye. For the most part, the workshop was a wash for all who were there. When I got home that evening, my eyes were glued to the TV, hoping against hope that people would be found alive. Reality told me differently but I was somehow hoping it was all a dream.
I do know this. Life changed. Life in the United States changed. No longer were we the carefree, trusting nation we once were. Security beyond all security sprung up. Flights changed. Protocol changed. More than that, our air of invincibility changed. For a brief few days, our partisan politics were pushed aside as they stood on the steps and sang “God Bless America.” Talking heads finally had something positive to say about the land they lived in. Our military stepped up. And yes, churches stepped up. Sermons were changed for that Sunday (I changed mine). People were echoing not “God Bless America” (which I still want His hand on our land) but began saying, “America, Bless God.” It was an appeal for America to repent and turn to God for renewal. Honor God not wealth or the wealthy.
Yes, I remember. If you were living then, I bet you do as well. I echo what was said back then: “American, Bless God.” May our hearts return to Him.
How ironic that on this historic day, we have recently seen a rash of senseless murders. Iryna Zarutska (Ukrainian woman on public transit). And now Charlie Kirk. “Father, heal our land, but even more so, our souls. Clean out the hatred and replace it with love.”
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Tags: 9/11, Church, Death, Hate, Leadership, Love, Opinion, Reflection, Remembering, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on September 10th, 2025
“Lion, tiger, bears, oh my!”
That is from an old child’s story called The Wizard of Oz. You remember that don’t you? 🙂 Dorothy and her companions said those words when they were scared by noises in the forest. That phrase came to mind as I thought about my reading this morning from Everyday Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp. Yesterday I wrote about the first 3 chapters of Daniel. You can read about it here. Rather than take up time and space, I’d just like to encourage you to read that post.
Today’s reading is chapters 4-6. Again, there are some interesting insights to gain, aside from the story in chapter 6 of Daniel in the lion’s den (one of the most familiar of all biblical stories). Here is a brief recap with lessons from these three chapters:
1. Pride’s downfall. Chapter 4. Nebuchadnezzar is the most powerful man on the planet. His kingdom stretches to points unknown. But he has a problem: PRIDE. One evening he has a dream which troubles him. He calls in all his magicians, astrologers and other goofs to interpret the dream. They are unable to. It is now Daniel’s turn. Daniel not only hears the dream he is troubled by its meaning. But he proceeds to tell Neb the meaning of his dream. Neb is headed for a rude awakening. His pride will lead to him spending 7 years in the wilderness living like an animal, eating grass, with hair as long as a bird’s feathers and nails like the claws of an animal. After 7 years he is restored to his place as king and he tells the people there is no God like God.
2. Pride’s destruction. Chapter 5. Belshazzar, Neb’s son, is now king and one night he has a feast and brings out the sacred items (gold cups) from the temple, which had been confiscated years before by his father. Suddenly a hand appeared and wrote on the wall. Calling on Daniel, the interpretation is clear. “Belshazzar, you are done.” Cyrus conquers Babylon that evening.
3. Pride’s demise. Chapter 6. Daniel remains steadfast in his commitment to God in spite of the scheming hatred of his co-workers. Darius is tricked into signing into law that anyone caught worshiping another deity is to be thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel never wavers. Darius has no choice. After a sleepless night, Darius rushes to the den and calls out to Daniel, “Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you?” The answer, of course, is yes. Pride finds its demise in a faithful servant.
Three powerful lessons we need to learn about pride. “Pride goes before the fall” is what the Bible says. As we see here and in life, pride is ugly and devastating. Humility changes everything.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Word, Humility, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Pride, Reflection, Scripture look, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on September 9th, 2025
BOLDNESS.
My reading for the Everyday Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp took me into the book of Daniel, chapters 1-3. This is an incredible book, especially in the early chapters as we read the story of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Their given Babylonian names are Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (It seems strange to me that we talk about Daniel but when we talk about the other three we use their Babylonian name. I know…rabbit trail) 🙂
There are 4 great stories about them, 3 which have more prominence than one of them.
- What will we eat? Daniel 1. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted all those who were going to serve in his court to eat and drink his food and wine. The 4 Hebrew young men said, “No can do.” They offered an alternative and at the end of 10 days looked healthier and better nourished than their counterparts who ate the king’s food.
- Daniel interprets a dream. Daniel 2. This is a less well-known story. When King Neb has a dream he demands his “wise men” tell him the dream and interpret it. His anger led him to order them all killed until Daniel got wind of it and challenged the king with being given some time. He then told and interpreted the dream, all the time giving glory to God.
- Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and the idol. Daniel 3. King Neb made a monstrous idol and demanded that all bow down. If not, a fiery furnace awaited. The 3 Hebrew men refused to bow down and were cast into the furnace which had been heated 7 times hotter than normal. The king had no explanation when he looked into the furnace and saw not 3, but 4 walking around.
- Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel 6. I didn’t read this today. I will write about it tomorrow.
Three great stories today involving God’s children and one tomorrow (with a little extra thrown in). All three show God’s power and authority over all. It also shows the BOLDNESS of God’s followers who were willing to take a stand for what they believed was God’s way. There is no question those stories speak to us today. Followers of Jesus are called on to take a stand for truth and what is right. The 4 Hebrew young men refused to defile themselves by eating food and drink that was contrary to their dietary laws. The 3 refused to bow down to an idol.
Be bold today. Take a stand for truth and what is right. Don’t compromise. Hold to your convictions…even if there are consequences.
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Tags: Boldness, Choices, Christian Living, Compromise, Convictions, God's Plan, Leadership, Lifestyle, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Surrender
Written by Bill Grandi on September 8th, 2025
How do you feel about old or older people? That is a really important question to ask these days.
I suspect I was a typical teenager/young person (way back in the Dark Ages). I wanted to be older but not too old. I just knew that the older I got the more respect I would get. At least it was supposed to happen that way. But then I also looked at those who were really old and thought, “Man, I don’t ever want to be like that.” Well, here I am! 🙂
Fortunately, God has blessed me with still having my faculties, but as I age I also am more aware of others who struggle. They struggle physically, emotionally, socially, and mentally. I’m not sure if it is societal awareness or just the aging process in myself, but I am much more cognizant of people struggling with dementia or Alzheimer’s. I’m currently reading a short book by Ben Boland entitled Priceless People-Loving Older People & People Living with Dementia. Ben has been a chaplain for over 15 years in Australia, but I’m sure you will agree geography is no barrier to something like dementia. Right off the bat he sets the record straight. He says all people are Immutably Valuable and that is because we all have at least a threefold value:
- We’re created by God.
- We’re created in God’s image.
- We’re so loved by God that Jesus died for us.
We have all been created by the Master and valued beyond far more than just outward beauty or ability. In my own experience as a pastor I have seen it is much more common to devalue someone whose quality of life is not what we weigh as viable. I’ve seen people in nursing homes never receiving a visitor from their family. Other than staff, I may have been the only one to come by and visit. Sad. What changes our outlook is realizing older people and people living with dementia are valuable and loved by God, because they, like all other people, bear the image of God.
It is easy to lose touch with older people, especially as they may lose touch with reality. But don’t be one of those people who do. Find a neighbor or a fellow church goer or someone in a home who needs a friend. You will be glad you did.
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: Aging, Alzheimer's, Dementia, Friendship, God's Plan, Grace, Kindness, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on September 4th, 2025
I have recently read some books lately that have changed my life and perspective!
I’m also sure I am not alone when I write that. One of the burning issues on my heart of late has been the place of special needs children and adults (herein called people for sake of brevity). I have written about several parents who have special needs children in our church fellowship. For the sake of privacy, I obviously will not give their names. We have several on the spectrum. Twins who both fit that picture-one worse than the other. One with a devastating lifelong handicap called Williams Syndrome. She has been adopted. This same family have several special needs children of their own and have taken in others who have been abused. I started asking myself, “What can I do?” “What can the church do?”
So I did what I thought was the first best thing to do (besides pray): READ. So I purchased some book to help me understand and get my juices flowing. Unbroken Faith by Diane Dokko Kim, the mother of an autistic child (who at the time of the writing was a teenager and non-verbal). Then I read The Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples. It is subtitled “A Gospel Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and their Families.” And I just finished reading Boundless Hope for every child by Kim Botto. All three were eye-openers for me. I broached the subject in staff meeting about the need to do something and it will take some doing and some reconfiguring of our current building and plans, but it can and will be done. All in God’s timing. Meanwhile, I continue reading and those I want to involve will meet and pray and plan for the future.
If you know of a church that has a special needs ministry, would you please have them contact me? Meanwhile, I would suggest you start by reading those three books for you, for your church, but most of all for the parents and friends and caregivers of special needs people.
EVERY PERSON MATTERS. They matter to God. They should matter to us. Please contact me if you can offer some help.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, Church, Grace, Jesus, Kindness, Leadership, Love, Ministry, Opinion, Parenting, Reflection, Special needs people
Written by Bill Grandi on September 3rd, 2025
Have you noticed that lately people are uncomfortable with the word “sin”? Sadly, many pastors are loathe to use that word as well. We find other words to use instead. Words like “I made a mistake.” Or “I messed up.” Or here is one: “I made a bad decision.”
One thing I have learned over the years is that “Sin is sin.” No matter what you call it or how one tries to cover it up, sin is still sin. The Greek word is hamartia and is not necessarily tied to religion because it simply means “to fail” or “to miss the mark.” When I would talk to young people about their decision to follow Jesus, and even now when I speak to adults, I compare the word sin to a pole vaulter who runs down the runway, plants his pole, but either falls short or knocks the pole of its hooks. Try as we may, we will all fall short. Romans 3:23 is very clear that “All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” All means ALL.
The truthful part of this is that all of us are included but we sure do a bang up job of trying to cover it up or to pretend we are not included. As I said earlier, talking about sin is not very “contemporary.” Neither are words like “lost” or “condemnation” or “the wages of sin is death” and others. We are too sophisticated for those types of words.
Tragically we are falling in line with the whole draw of sin: covering up and pretending. Sin offers a lot but delivers little. How often have you or someone you know been drawn into sin and before you/they realize it a trap has been sprung. We find ourselves so deep it is hard to get out. The alcoholic or drug addict or porn addict or (fill in the blank) never started out by saying, “I think will become an addict today.” No. It all starts out so innocent. A little taste here. A little taste there. A look here. A look there. A numbing here. A numbing there. You get the picture. Before we know it we are hooked. That is the draw of sin.
Here is the reality: God is holy. We are not. God is perfect. We are not. Every breach of that perfection is called sin and we are all guilty. The tragedy is when sin is no longer sin to us. We develop a crustiness over our heart and find ourselves in grave danger when that becomes us. Let’s get back to basics. Let’s all take stock of our hearts and see what lies there. The psalmist says, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Ps. 119:11). A little later in that same chapter he writes, “Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.” (v.37). ‘Nuff said.
Posted in InTheShadow | 10 Responses »
Tags: Addiction, Christian Living, Excuses, God's Word, Grace, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin, Story
