Written by Bill Grandi on July 28th, 2025
“The dwarfs are for the dwarfs.”
If you have ever read The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis then you may be familiar with that statement. There are two statements made with frequency in The Last Battle, the final installment of the series. The two statements are: 1) “Further up and further in” and 2) “the dwarfs are for the dwarfs.” As I just finished reading the series this past week, that phrase just stuck with me.
The Last Battle is the end of Narnia as we know it, but the beginning of Narnia as it really is. Throughout the chronicles the dwarfs are pictured as interesting individuals. Some are good; some are bad. But in The Last Battle we see them at their worst. Held captive by the enemies of Narnia (Calormenes), they are set free through a series of circumstances that involve Eustace and Jill (two children from our world whom we were introduced to in The Silver Chair), as well as some characters from Narnia-a prince, a unicorn, a dwarf who left the group, and others. The dwarfs are set free but there isn’t an ounce of thankfulness in their bones because “the dwarfs are for the dwarfs.” When there is a battle between the two forces, the dwarfs take part by shooting arrows at Narnian horses that had been freed. “The dwarfs are for the dwarfs.” Then they turn against the Calormenes with the same statement. Lewis even paints a fanciful scene in the new Narnia where the dwarfs are sitting in a circle in the stable and can’t see any good, including food that Aslan provides for them. Why?
“The dwarfs are for the dwarfs.” Selfishness sours a person. Nothing anyone does satisfies. When we live for ourselves, we live with a rather small package. Unlike what Jesus modeled and did. He once said,
Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mt. 20:26-28 NLT)
The dwarfs missed out on so much because they only lived for themselves. We would do well to live like Jesus did-living for and serving others.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Chronicles of Narnia, Humility, Kindness, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection
Written by Bill Grandi on July 24th, 2025
It is Christmas in July. Say what? “Have you been watching Hallmark again Bill?” The answer is No. If I want to see my wife during December I get my fill of Hallmark then (that is saying she does like to watch it). Some organizations do Christmas in July as sort of a “gifting month” for some cause. I have even heard of some pastors who preach a series of sermons using the Christmas in July theme.
To be totally clear and totally transparent, none of those are on my radar. I guess you might call my first sentence click-bait. 🙂 But during my Scripture reading this morning as I follow the Everyday Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp, I was led to read Isaiah 9-12. Well you can’t read chapter 9 without reading verses 6-7. Here it is for your reading pleasure:
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! (NLT)
Sound familiar? It should. Even the skeptic has surely heard that passage during the most celebratory time on the calendar. How ironic that I should read it during the month of July. But even more important is the simple truth of that passage. Jesus is called 4 names- unless, like some, you split Wonderful Counselor into two. In either case, the names of Jesus are powerful, yet simple. They describe His character, who He is. Whole sermons can be and have been preached on each name. The great point is that each name has special meaning and describe Jesus as far more than a baby in a manger. Stop and read those names again and meditate on what each one means and how it affects your life.
And then celebrate Christmas in July in a whole new way.
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Tags: Christmas, God, Jesus, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look
Written by Bill Grandi on July 23rd, 2025
We read often in the Bible about “the fear of God.” In our 21st century mindset we immediately think “fear” has something to do with being scared. Just this past week in a sermon I said that “fear of God does not mean being afraid of God. It means being in awe of God.”
Some people still have trouble grasping that. They think of God has being so high and holy (He is); so righteous and pure (He is); so majestic and unexplainable (He is), that to consider not being afraid of Him is nothing they would consider. After all, someone so powerful demands our respect and whatever He says goes. Least that is what we think.
Now…there is some credence to that. The fact that God is so much greater than us or than we can express, or that He is so much more powerful than we can imagine, sometimes leaves us with a feeling of dread. More aptly put: fear. But once again I ask that you consider fear is not being afraid of God, but being in awe of God.
This came home to me powerfully as I read my Scripture devotion this morning. We were asked to read Isaiah 5-8. In that section is one of THE MOST POWERFUL Scriptures and encounters with God recorded in the Bible. It is the story of Isaiah in chapter 6 when he encounters God in all his holiness. Rather than describe it for you, let me allow the passage itself to do that:
It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!’ (NLT)
Isaiah was overwhelmed with the purity and the sheer magnificence of a holy God. He was in AWE of God. That awe led him to repent and to admit he was unclean. That is what the awe of God should cause us to do as well. All pride stripped away. All semblance of our own goodness undone. In seven verses, the Gospel is preached: God is holy, we are not. We are sinners in desperate need of cleansing and there is no hope for us aside from that.
Be in awe of God today.
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Tags: Awe of God, Fear of God, God, Holiness, Humility, Isaiah, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Worship
Written by Bill Grandi on July 22nd, 2025
“You sound like a broken record.” I have had those words said to me a few times. 🙂 Well…I’m going to sound like a broken record today. After yesterday’s devotion, I’m back at it.
The inspiration for today’s devotion is from Isaiah 1:11-14. Here they are in totality:‘What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?’ says the Lord. ‘I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgust me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting-they are sinful and false. I want no more pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me, I cannot stand them!’ (NLT)
Methinks God is a little (okay more than just a little) upset with them! The gist of this passage is He is upset with their playacting, their formalism, their thinking that performing acts of “religiosity” are sufficient. God says, “No way.” Sadly, these were all acts He ordained and commanded that they do. But He never intended that they take the place of heartfelt devotion to Him. I get it. Sometimes you do something so often that it becomes meaningless. I tell my wife every day that I love her but those words become meaningless if I just say them as I walk out the door or because they are a habit.
Following Jesus on a daily basis is never to be routine. Worshiping God on a daily basis is never to be taken for granted. To pride ourselves in reading the Bible, attending church on a weekly basis, memorizing Scripture, or even being generous in our giving is not a reason for patting ourselves on the back. God still wants our attitude toward Him and all that entails to be one of heartfelt obedience and love.
I’m not there yet. But I will keep moving toward that goal. Join me won’t you?
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Formalism, Genuine Faith, Hypocrisy, Jesus, Lifestyle, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Surrender
Written by Bill Grandi on July 21st, 2025
A verse I have read multiple times before stood out to me this morning: Proverbs 21:3
The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.
One of the blights on the witness of the Christian faith is the failure of those to put into practice what the Bible teaches. Granted, there will always be those who aren’t interested in it. But this verse lists specifically a certain type of person: one who goes to church, sings the songs, takes communion, smiles at people, and says all the right words, but has no inkling of practicing their faith outside the church doors.
Jesus Himself confronted this very same issue in Matthew 23. In a chapter called the “7 Woe Passage” because 7 times He says, “Woe to you scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites”, Jesus point blank called them out. He told the people in verse 3 to “practice and do what they tell them, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they preach” (v.3). How many times have we heard those words used in conversations with people having trouble with latching onto the Christian faith? We call that person a hypocrite and Jesus obliges us by calling them the same. He even gives a further description by saying “Everything they do is for show” (v.5). In one of the woes Jesus talks about the scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites being careful to give their tithes (and to be seen by others doing so), but forgetting the more important things-justice, mercy and faith (v. 23).
That brings us full-circle to the passage in Proverbs. It also draws me to Micah 6:8
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Summary: it is not what we do at a church service that matters. It is what we do outside the church walls that shows how real our faith is to us.
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Tags: Christian Living, Grace, Kindness, Leadership, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look
Written by Bill Grandi on July 17th, 2025
It began with one of history’s earliest recorded instances of biological warfare. In 1347 a Mongol army besieging the Genoese trading post of Caffa in the Crimea (modern day Ukraine) catapulted the bodies of bubonic plague victims over the town’s wall. The terrified defenders fled to Italy, carrying with them the deadly plague bacteria (and the rats and fleas that spread them). Over the next three years the plague spread throughout Europe in the massive epidemic known as the Black Death. Before the epidemic ran its course an estimate 20 million people-approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of Europe’s population then-perished. The coming centuries would see recurring outbreaks of the bubonic plague, which would remain a dangerous, unchecked killer until the development of antibiotics in the 20th century.
Though the Black Death is the most famous epidemic in history, it was not the only one. The influenza epidemic of 1918-1919 killed an estimated 30-50 million people, and several million more died at about the same time in an outbreak of typhus in eastern Europe. Other infectious diseases such a malaria, yellow fever, and more recently AIDS and COVID also claimed uncounted millions of victims.
But there is one plague that is more widespread and deadly than all others combined. It has been called the “plague of plagues.” It affects every person who has ever lived or will ever live. But…ssshhh…don’t say the word too loud because in many churches today, and in society as well the word is not kosher. It is too woke to even mention in some circles. But I’m not afraid to say it: SIN. We can look for all kinds of names to dress it up, but the word is SIN. It’s not a mistake. It’s not a slip up. It’s not a poor choice. It’s not any other word people want to come up to cover the seriousness of that word. We are all guilty of sin. In Romans 7:14-25 the Apostle Paul talks about his struggle with sin. The battle with it is real and ongoing. But he finishes with these words: “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NLT)
There is only ONE solution to the problem of sin. That solution is not our good works. It is not picking ourselves by our own bootstraps. It is not a resolve “I will make it on my own.” It is not in a promise that “I will stop doing that.” The answer is found in one place and one place only: the cross of Christ. There is no other way…no matter what people say!
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Tags: Christian Living, God's Word, Opinion, Reflection, Sin, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on July 16th, 2025
One of the determining factors today is “How does this make me feel?” In other words, our feelings determine what we believe and what we do. This philosophy is nothing new. Many of you are probably too young to remember a song from the 70s (1977 to be exact) that Debby Boone sang: “You Light Up My Life.” Man, was it a chart topper! But in the lyrics was a phrase that capped off the belief system of so many then…and so many now. “It can’t be wrong/when it feels so right.” That blast from the past predates our current culture, but certainly not in sentiment. Far too much of what we do and say is based on how it makes us feel.
That goes for our faith as well. For too many people what they feel determines what they believe. The result (in their minds) is that because the Bible does not line up with their feelings, it must not be true. After all, our feelings don’t lie. Or do they? You know the answer to that. So instead of allowing the truth of the Bible to determine what we believe and how we behave, the “truth” of our culture or even our gut matters more. Feelings determine whether something is right or wrong, not what the Bible says. “I don’t like how it makes me feel so I’m going to change the truth to fit my feelings.” That has so many wrong conclusions its scary. “I love those people so I am going to excuse their sinful behavior.” “He didn’t like those people or what they did so he murdered them.” The reality of this is that instead of being changed and motivated by what the Bible says, we interpret the Bible through our clouded and biased lens of “I think” or “I don’t think.” Or “I feel” or “I don’t feel.” The ultimate end is we can justify just about anything we want to. How else can we simply sit by while people lie, cheat, steal, resist arrest, kill, take another’s spouse, scheme to undermine someone and not feel an ounce of shame or guilt? Easy. We have hardened our hearts and consciences to the wrong and the right of situations.
If we want to change our lives and turn our world around, it will not be done by the government, by rules and laws. It will be done when our lives are transformed by the truth of the Gospel not the so-called “truth” of our feelings or our culture. As Joshua put it: “Choose today whom you will serve, but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Faith/Feelings, God's Word, Lifestyle, Opinion, Reflection, Right/wrong, Story, Values
Written by Bill Grandi on July 15th, 2025
“He got what is coming to him.” “It’s about time people found out!” “I hope they throw the book at him.”
Those are just typical phrases we hear when we hear of someone getting caught doing something illegal or just downright evil. I’m not excusing sinful behavior. The full weight of the law ought to be brought down on those doing illegal deeds, trafficking in sex trade, taking advantage of people with scams, abusing children, etc. What I AM concerned about is our attitude toward others. Take, for example, a Christian “celebrity” who falls. A recent scandal of a Christian musician has been the “talk of the town” and all sorts of scenarios have been painted as to what should happen to him. There are those saddened by the news of another Christian looked-up-to falling. There are those curiosity-seekers who search the internet for more juicy stuff to suckle on. And then, of course, there are those who gloat-believer and non-believer alike. I can’t speak for the non-believer. They have issues themselves they will have to answer for, like “What did you do with Jesus?” It is the believer’s response that raises flags for me. Without a doubt there are and will be those who relish the news of another Christian falling,whether it be this musician or that musician or another televangelist or some big name preacher.
Please understand: while I believe sin has its consequences, gloating over someone getting caught due to their sin should never be our reaction. Can you see God saying, “You rejected me when you were alive. What makes you think I am sad you are dead and lost”? I don’t. I see His heart breaking over the final destination of someone who rejected Him. I cannot and will not see him rubbing His hands together or clapping while saying, “Yes! Another one bites the dust and will spend eternity in the flames of hell.” The Bible says, “God is patient and wants all men everywhere to repent and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
When you hear of someone who falls, don’t gloat. Remember this: “Pride goes before the fall.” Instead, pray for that person. Take no pleasure in someone’s fall. Leave the media alone. Don’t go surfing to see how much dirt you can find. Be thankful for “There but for the grace of God go I.”
And who knows? You may have the opportunity to extend to someone something we all need: G.R.A.C.E.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Grace, Humility, Judgmentalism, Kindness, Leadership, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Opinion, Positive/Negative Attitude, Reflection, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on July 14th, 2025
900+ miles of driving. Two days of reconnecting with my brothers and their families. A time of relaxation with no agenda. A softball game. Two baseball games. A County Fair. Celebration of Life on Saturday. 90+ degree weather with 500% humidity (slight exaggeration). Time with my daughter, Janna, her friend, Mike, and my grandson. DQ Blizzard. Does it get any better than that? As you can tell it was a full but much needed week of basically doing nothing. The only “something” I did was cut my grass yesterday afternoon in 89 degree weather. Not the smartest thing I have ever done but after a week away and rain in the forecast (they were correct) and more predicted this week, I prefer to mow my lawn than a forest.
Today it is back to work. I have to admit, though, not only was it nice not having an agenda, but just getting away was what the doctor ordered. I am very conscientious about my work. I was taught a work ethic by my parents and also by mentors that work is a priority. Sadly, I have often taken that to the extreme and I would not classify myself as a workaholic (which my wife has at various times), I have put too much stock in my work and not taken the requisite time off. Every Friday is my day off and only in very rare cases (a funeral, for example) have I not taken that day for just me and Jo. For so many years I have served churches where I was the only one on staff so that changed what an occasional Friday looked like. I have tried to become very protective of Fridays. But, in my case, it is the other 6 days where I find myself a bit too wrapped up in. Up at 3:30, go the office to work on sermons, do office stuff, meet with staff, go to the Y at lunch time (I haven’t ridden my bike outside since my knee replacement), going all afternoon and sometimes (like tonight) heading to someone’s house to visit or teach. Rinse. Repeat.
I’m not bragging. I’m relating what many people fall into: “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.” Or in my case: “I have this work ethic…” The danger, of course, for anyone with a working mindset is burnout. I have enough variable in my day-exercise, reading, eating meals with people, laughing a lot-to stave off that ugly monster. For a time. But as I found out this past week, I needed time away. Yes it was long and hot. And yes, it was lots of driving. But IT WAS DIFFERENT. And I needed different. I was talking with someone just the week before I left and he said, “I’d rather burnout than rust out.” There is some truth to that, but can I say, “How about neither?” I’m not an archer, but I have heard that to keep the string working properly you can’t keep the tension on it all the time.
Hmmm sounds like good advice.
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Tags: Leadership, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Reflection, Story, Work ethic
Written by Bill Grandi on July 8th, 2025
This will probably be my one and only post for this week. Jo and I left yesterday after the morning worship and planned to spend the night in Columbus, hopefully visiting Mike and our daughter, Janna, and (we hope), our grandson, Braden, and his girlfriend (although that is so ’80s), Cameron. Monday (today) we plan to drive to my brother, Rob’s house, in PA where a reunion of sorts will take place with his wife, Joy, and one of my other brothers, Garry, his wife, Deb, and their daughter, Lia. My youngest brother, Curt, lives in Camano Island, WA and was unable to swing the flight. When I asked how long it had been, Rob sent me a picture and said, “June 13, 2019.” Seriously it had been that long? I thought maybe 4-5 years. But just over 6? Anyway, Jo and I will heading to Rob’s house and spend Monday through Wednesday morning there and then head back to Columbus and hopefully watch Braden play his last two ball games before moving onto Ohio State. It is sort of hard to see a chapter close, but when one closes, the rest of the book lies before you. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in his life in the future.
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