Written by Bill Grandi on July 4th, 2025
We all face challenges. No one anywhere, except for some televangelist hucksters, has ever said that life will be easy when you come to Christ. Years ago I read the story (and just recently ran across it again) of a church that was having a reunion. A former member who attended the celebration had worked hard and had become a millionaire. When he testified about how had had grown in the faith, he related an incident from his childhood.
He said that when he earned his first dollar as a boy, he decided to keep it for the rest of his life. But then a guest missionary preached about the urgent need on the mission fields. He struggled about giving his dollar. “However, the Lord won,” the man said proudly, “and I put my treasured dollar in the offering basket. And I’m convinced that the reason God has blessed me so much is that when I was a little boy I gave Him everything I possessed.” The congregation was awestruck by the testimony-until a little old lady in front piped up, “I dare you to do it again!”
I honestly don’t know how true that story is, but there is a vital truth behind it. We must not let past attainments stunt our spiritual growth. Nor should they define our spiritual growth. And most definitely should they not stop our spiritual growth.
I realize this weekend is the 4th of July weekend. Many churches and pastors across the country will be honing in on that celebration. Confession: I will not be. I am continuing in my series from the Everyday Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp. Perhaps, more needed is the lesson found in Psalm 108-145 (with specific emphasis on Psalm 119) than a foray into celebrating American (which I am not against). But my thinking is America will not change by laws or “big beautiful bills” or protests or fireworks. No…America will have to change from the inside. Each and every individual, especially those of who claim to follow Jesus, need our hearts changed. We need to stand on God’s Word and claim the changing message of the Gospel. That will not happen until we are convinced God and His Word can be trusted. That is why my sermon this Sunday is entitled Taking God at His Word.
I hope you celebrate the birthday of America, the greatest country to live in. (I have no problem saying, “Sayonara” to those who don’t like it here). But more importantly, our hearts must change. And that only happens when we become convinced God is Who He said He is and can be trusted. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. If you are unable to join us in person, please join us online for our live stream. We meet at 9:00 and 10:45. Send a request to join our Facebook Group at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship or view our public page at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship-Spencer, In. Or you can watch via YouTube at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you online. And let me ask you to do me a favor: please let us know you are watching and then feel free to comment-yay or nay. If you have any questions, please ask and I will get back to you. Thanks. And thanks for praying for us.
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Tags: Church, God, God's Word, Reflection, Sermon Series
Written by Bill Grandi on July 3rd, 2025
I went to the dermatologist yesterday. It all started several years ago when I developed an itching that wouldn’t quit and left me with some spots that left me with some questions. Not the “is this cancer?” type of question, but what exactly is it that is causing me to suddenly itch like this? I had some pretty good spots on my back as a result. A trip to a dermatologist showed the spots were not cancer but were actually dermatitis. Contact dermatitis to be exact. That simply means that I was suddenly allergic to certain chemicals used in detergents, cleaning agents, paper products (like toilet paper), and the biggest one of all: body wash. I had been using body wash for years and suddenly it was the culprit. There was a certain ingredient almost all body washes contain that was particularly deadly to me…get ready for it… Cocamidopropyl Betaine. Yeah…I know. I can’t even say it let alone spell it. All I know is that I had to start looking at every body wash on the planet and if it had that ingredient in it, I had to avoid it. Guess it is back to bar soap. 🙂 Fortunately, I found some soap by companies (Everyman Jack, Dr. Squatch, and others) that smell good. In fact, I like them a lot. But I had to watch what products I used. But here is something funny. It is a good thing I am planning on being cremated. Why you ask? Because I am allergic to Formaldehyde. Is that not hilarious? Anyway, there are tons of chemicals I cannot even begin to pronounce in that list. Yay me! 🙂
All that to say is that it actually turned out for my good. I had to change dermatologist due to the other moving away, and this one I have been going to for the past 3-4 years or so has been treating me for spots on my head and face which were suspicious. She has also told me I need to wear a hat in the sun. I hate wearing hats except when I played or umpired baseball!!! I know there are some oddballs whom I think sleep in their hats, but whose judging? 🙂 I got a good report yesterday. She said, “I looked good.” I wanted to be snarky and say, “I know” but I knew she was referring to my head and face. In fact, she did a full-body check and except for a small dermatitis rash, she said I looked good. Again… 🙂 🙂
Proverbs 3:11-13 says, “My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” (NLT) Dr. Chen is obviously not my father, but I’m glad she takes her job seriously. Skin cancer is not something I want to experience. Sometimes you take the pain and inconvenience for the future look.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Inconvenience, Ministry, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Story, Suffering
Written by Bill Grandi on July 2nd, 2025
I’d like to piggyback on my devotion from yesterday where I used Psalm 119. The Everyday Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp actually divided the reading of the psalm into two days: verses 1-88 and verses 89-176. As I read the Scripture for today and the corresponding devotion, I realized there was so much more to Psalm 119 than I was able to convey yesterday. Here are some further thoughts:
In my preparation for this Sunday’s sermon, I read that 169 of the 176 verses in this psalm make some reference to the Word of God. It uses words like laws, statutes, commandments, and others. One thing should become very clear as you read this chapter: until you know the importance of God’s Word and unless you are willing to take God at his Word all the rest won’t matter. As PDT states:
“God’s Word can reshape how you think and should guide every step you take.” (p.231)
One of the thoughts I expressed this past Sunday is that there seems to be a disconnect followers of Christ are guilty of: what we say we believe and the way we live. To carry that further: sometimes the disconnect is so strong that unbelievers cannot tell the difference between us and them. They hear “I am a Christian” or “I go to church” blah, blah, blah come from our lips but then see our lives being no different than theirs. We drink, we cuss, we tell the same dirty jokes/stories, we gossip, we lie, we cheat, etc and then we can’t help but see why people are in such disarray when it comes to faith. Way too often our lives are guided-not by Scripture, but by our culture or how we feel.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (NLT) When you use a flashlight to light your way, you don’t shine it into the sky or even on your face. No, you shine it on the path you are walking. God’s Word is to be that light for our path. It is not so ethereal that it lights the sky, nor is it introspective that it only shines its light on us. As we walk the path of our daily walk, that Word is to be our guiding light. Knowing which direction to go or where to take my next step, God’s Word is to be the light on my path. His Word is to rearrange everything about me-my thoughts, my intentions, my actions-and it is to guide me into all truth.
Simply put: if I believe God’s Word (and I do), it will be expressed in the way I live my life. Drive a nail through that!
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Tags: Bible/Scripture, Christian Living, God's Word, Leadership, Lifestyle, Opinion, Quiet Time, Reflection, Scripture look, Truth Telling
Written by Bill Grandi on July 1st, 2025
Seriously? July 1? Already? That means we are 1/2 way through 2025…already. That also means (around here) one month until school starts. My memory is not so bad that I don’t remember getting out of school around Memorial Day and not going back until after Labor Day. That meant 3 whole months of blissful summer. July and August were taken up by playing baseball and then August was when we went to visit family. Miss baseball? Not a chance! But we had a whole month to visit family so why? Needless to say these days are different. And to be perfectly honest: I had enough trouble studying when the weather turned cooler and colder. Trying to study when I should be outside doing what I was made to do (have fun and not study) would be even more trying.
July 1 is a perfect time to stop and evaluate. I’m half way through the year. How am I doing? Like many, I’m okay on some things; not so okay on others.
I’m okay with my daily reading of Everyday Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp. My daily encounter with his devotions and the Scripture involved is on target. It has helped preaching from the previous week’s devotions and Scripture. It has required that I stay about 3-4 weeks ahead in my first reading in order to plan my sermons. My second reading is each morning. The message this Sunday is taken from Psalm 119. In fact, I read the first 88 verses just this morning. Reading those verses got me thinking along the lines of asking myself how I was doing. Here are a few of the verses from Psalm 119 that stood out to me this morning:
“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” (v. 9)
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (v. 11)
“Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” (v. 18)
“Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.” (v.37)
“You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word.” (Vv.73-74)
Those are just a few that made me think and meditate this morning. What about you? I’d like to encourage you to stop and take the time to read Psalm 119: 1-88 and then let me know what verse(s) stood out to you. {Note: All Scripture from the NLT}
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Tags: Bible verses, Christian Living, God's Word, Ministry, Quiet Time, Reflection, Scripture look
Written by Bill Grandi on June 30th, 2025
Say the word “idols” and you will get all kinds of ideas of what people are thinking. Some will think of stone or statue-like idols, like those found in Hindu or Buddhist temples or Catholic churches. And yes, those kinds of idols are a powerful spiritual evil. But it is important to realize that the Bible has a much wider version of what an idol is.
Important fact: Scripture defines an idol as anything that exercises rule and control over our heart, which God alone should have. Each event, each purchase, each person, each hobby, each daily exercise that is more important to me than God is an idol. It is easy to excuse what I just said by saying, “But it’s just a hobby!” Or “It’s just a game!” or (fill in the blank). God designed all of us to be worshipers. Yes, it is true that “there is a God-shaped vacuum in each of that only God can fill,” but it is also equally true that we struggle maintaining priorities as to who or what will play the dominant role in our lives. Idols are not always evil things, but idolatry always is. Paul David Tripp wrote: “A desire for even a good thing becomes a bad thing when it becomes a ruling thing.” (Everyday Gospel Devotional-June 30-p.228)
Psalm 115 is an interesting psalm. It starts out with “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for unfailing love and faithfulness.” Okay…good so far. I can grasp that God gets all the glory. But then the psalm takes an interesting turn in verses 3-8. Almost with a sarcastic and mocking tone, he makes sure we know facts about idols:
- Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands.
- They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see.
- They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell.
- They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound.
That is a pretty harsh description of idols that we often worship. Quite the contrast to “O Israel, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield.” (v.9) and “All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield.” (v.11)
The idols of wood, stone, or clay offer us nothing but heartache and emptiness. Satisfaction is found only in the ONE who is full of unfailing love and faithfulness. We all must answer the question: What rules your heart?
{Note: All Scripture from the New Living Translation}
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Tags: Christian Living, God, Idolatry, Idols, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Priorities, Reflection, Scripture look, Worship
Written by Bill Grandi on June 26th, 2025
From our earliest days we are taught by our parents, coaches, friends, and others that “you can do this.” I don’t know how many times I heard, especially when it came to sports, “Don’t quit. Don’t give up. You can do this.” Granted, there is something to be said for perseverance and not giving up. I often heard the statement, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” My competitive streak wouldn’t allow me to quit. Whether it was something I can do for myself or something that the team could do, quitting was never an option. It was drilled into me “The game is not over until the last out.” “You don’t quit until the buzzer sounds.” And, to be honest, those served me well…in sports.
But that “I can do” philosophy also transferred over to my Christian faith. For years I lived with this albatross hanging around my neck of perform, perform, perform. “Never quit.” “Never give up.” “You can do this.” After all, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13) But even something good can be taken too far. So like many before me and (there will be) many after me, I hitched up my pants, tightened my belt, pulled up my bootstraps, and labored on in my own strength, but under the guise of a Spirit-led life. How futile. How sad.
I have come to realize there really is one big difference between the life of laboring to please God and the life God intended for me to live: my standing with God does not hinge on perfect compliance to rules and hitching up my belt to “do my best,” but on His rock-solid promises to me. He never changes. He never wavers in His love for me. When I stumble and fall He doesn’t stand there saying, “Told you to trust Me!” No, He reaches down and lifts me up, dusts me off, and then says, “Let’s walk this road together.”
Live authentically but don’t fear failure. Trust the One the psalmist describes in chapter 102: “They will perish, but you remain forever, they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them. But you are always the same; you will live forever.” (verses 25-27)
Stop the “you can do this” talk and exchange it for “He can do this through me.” As a fellow blogger always closes with: Be encouraged.
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Tags: Bootstrap living, Christian Living, Lifestyle, Ministry, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Perseverance, Real strength, Reflection
Written by Bill Grandi on June 25th, 2025
After working out at the Y the past two days and knowing I was going to be visiting the young people at church camp today, I decided to ride my bike. Inside, of course. After all, it was 3:00 AM. 🙂 Anyway, I can think of nothing more boring than riding inside (except maybe running on a treadmill) so I put on my headphones and crank up the volume a bit and zone out. This morning I was listening to a new recording by a group called The Sowers. I am ashamed to admit that some of it is AI generated music but real people write the songs and real people sing. It was a newly released recording (they have something like 13 or 14 full albums on Spotify). A song came on that caught my attention (there were several which did) but this one stood out. Before I give you some of the lyrics a little backdrop will help.
How many times have you said or heard “I was lucky”? Or “It was fate or chance.” May I just say that my insides curl when I hear those words? Okay…full disclosure: I despise those words. I AM NOT a believer in luck, fate or chance in the life of a follower of Christ. While things may seem random to us; while being saved from a wreck is seen as luck; while something happening that is good (or bad) is seen as fate or chance; I take a different stance. I believe God has all things under His control and while I don’t agree in total with predestination or TULIP (Google it), I DO BELIEVE that God has all things under His control and in His hand. I think that is why the song “Yes It’s Him” by the Sowers struck a chord this morning. Here is a partial bit of the song:
“You should have died that night but you walked away/Called it luck didn’t stop to pray/But there was fire in the unseen fight/A hand that held you through the night.
You call it chance/I call it grace/That wasn’t fate/Look at your face.
Yes, it’s Him, the One who pulled you from the flame/Yes it’s Him, you were never just a name/Not luck not fate it’s Jesus’ hand/Yes, it’s Him, now take your stand.” (Copyright 2025-the Sowers-Vol. 5)
The song continues on from there. But this section says what I feel. We are often recipients of God’s gracious hand and simply tend to just slough it off. Luck. Fate. Chance. Two Scriptures were part of my reading this morning. “You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.” (Ps. 92:4) “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.” (Ps.95:6-7) {Scriptures from NLT}
It’s not luck, fate or chance. Give credit where credit is due.
{Note:Sowers music can be heard on Spotify, Apple and YouTube}
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, God's Word, Grace, Humility, No chance, No fate, No luck, Opinion, Reflection, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on June 24th, 2025
Time to switch gears. I deeply appreciate all those who have expressed their thoughts and prayers over the recent tragedy the church family I pastor recently suffered but since I know about the hope I have for the future, I also know it is time to move forward. That doesn’t mean the hurt and loneliness for the family isn’t there, but like I told someone yesterday, as the pastor I also have other sheep who need tended to. That also goes for this blog. So…here is something new.
I recently started a new book entitled Gospel Zero by Andrew Farley and John Lynch. I have read some of Andrew’s other books and can truly say one thing: the dude knows and teaches about grace. Two of his other books, the Naked Gospel and Twisted Scripture take on the issue of grace vs legalism with him landing resoundingly on the side of GRACE. As I have begun this book (just last night) I have NO DOUBT this one will as well. A couple of thoughts from my reading last night will show that:
God’s new way of grace isn’t just a tweak to an old contract; it’s a game-changer. (p.1)
For example, Hebrews 8:6 speaks of a “better covenant” with “better promises.” Jesus spoke about laying down His life, not just flipping the script to a new page. Considering what we read in the Old Testament, He turned the playbook of life on its head. He is like the coach experiencing no or simply moderate success coming into practice and saying, “Okay boys. You know that old playbook? Toss it. From now on this will be the new one.”
But the following line from the book is what tells me I’m in for quite a ride:
Let’s be crystal clear: the Law, with its Ten Golden Hits, isn’t your stairway to heaven- it’s more like a flashing neon sign screaming ‘mess up alert,’ leading you straight to the trapdoor of failure. (p.5)
2 Corinthians 3:7-9 said “the old way, which bring condemnation…” Simply put: the Law could not bring life. James was clear that you break the Law in one spot, you break it on all. It was all or nothing. How could that bring life? Simple: it couldn’t and won’t.
Jo and I will jokingly say, “Must be a legalist” when following someone in the car who will not go over the speed limit. It says, “55” and by golly 55 it is! Not 56. Not 55 1/2. Maybe under but never over. (And yes, I confess it frustrates me). That is the way of legalism, the Law. Keep it to the “T.” But, in all honesty, who can? Answer: NO ONE. Only One has been able to and He died to save us from that legalism and death. I keep reminding myself of the words “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Where do you stand?
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Tags: Christian Living, Grace, Grace vs Law, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look
Written by Bill Grandi on June 23rd, 2025
“Life sometimes doesn’t make sense.” I think we all know that in our head, but until it really hits us in the heart, we often just mouth those words. This past week was one of those weeks where it became a reality. Friday, the 13th, following a week serving at camp as a dorm mom and putting herself out for several of the kids who just needed a friend, one of the young ladies from the church was in a two-car head-on collision 5-6 miles from home. She passed away immediately from her injuries. The other lady died after being life-flighted to an Indy hospital. To say it was an emotional Sunday (the 15th) and an emotional week with the private viewing on Wednesday and a celebration of life (over 500 people came) on Thursday would be a slight understatement. It was brutal would be more accurate. It would be accurate to say that while time stood still for some, life moved on for others (yours truly). I grieved alone and with others, but I also knew there were others who needed shepherded.
The June 20th devotion in Everyday Gospel by Paul David Tripp said this in its opening gambit: “Life looks radically different when we view it from the perspective of eternity.” One of the points I brought out in the my short statement during the celebration was the following: “Some of you here do not believe in God. I know that. Some of you may but have difficulty believing in a Jesus who rose from the dead. But that is where you miss out. We are here celebrating ________ life because of that fact. She believed that and therefore that is the source of our hope.” I said a few other things, but failed to say one Scripture I had planned to use. In I Cor. 1519 Paul wrote, “And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” (NLT)
In yesterday’s message I mentioned that Asaph, the writer of Psalm 73, was on a bad downward spiral. Then something switched. Verse 17 tells us he went into the sanctuary (where God lived in the Old Testament) and after being in God’s presence, realized he was looking at it all wrong. Eternity is so much better than what we have and see here on earth. Mr. Tripp says we get “eternity amnesia.” I like that phrase. We forget the eternal perspective.
It’s a whole new week. For mom, siblings and others the pain remains (and may never go away…only lessen). But the pain of separation is eased by the truth of the resurrected Christ. My week is already looking like a challenge in various ways. I can’t allow my distorted view of the present to disrupt the work of God in the future.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Eternity, God's Plan, Heaven, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on June 19th, 2025
“He won’t have friends.” “He won’t go to college.” “He won’t be able to work and have a career.” “He won’t get married and have a family.” First, such cruel things to say to a hurting mother. Second, they are the norm for comments made to mothers/fathers of autistic children. This will be my last post on the saga of Diane Dokko Kim from her book “Unbroken Faith.”
Excuse my French but people can be such idiots. They have to have an opinion about everything, even things they don’t understand. Mrs Kim says it well: “Regardless of how rare a child’s diagnosis, every special-needs parent’s mind slips into a universal pit of despair, as if bound to an unalterable script.” (p.183) The parent asks questions like, “What will our child’s life be like?” “What will happen to him/her if something happens to me?” “Is his life forever a hopeless cycle of ‘He can’t do this or that'”?
Bound up in that is our foolhardy idea of what success is. Way too many of us think success if a nice house, 2+ cars, kids who excel, a great job, tons of money in the bank, etc. Just looking at that list should tell you how warped our idea of success is. We have lived in a comfortable ranch house since 2006 but it is nowhere near like so many others surrounding us. I have two paid off cars. I have one daughter who teaches K kids and lives with us, and the other lives in another state-a divorce statistic. I do have a great job I absolutely love and have been at this current one for 19+ years. As I edge toward the reality of how much longer can I do this? (I am 72), I definitely don’t have tons of money in the bank and if not for the generosity of a friend, I would have almost nothing in my retirement (I don’t get SS). Am I successful? To the world. No. To the people who matter in my life-my wife, daughters who still love and respect me, a grandson who still hugs me and says he loves me, a church full of people who I know love me? A BIG FAT YES!
I like what Mrs Kim quoted: “Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.” (p.185) And here is the amazing thing: He accomplished all of that without a degree, career, marriage, family, or loyalty of friends. I wonder what people today would have said about him?
Mrs Kim’s son, Jeremy, at the time of her writing the book (2017) was 16. Mostly nonverbal, functions socially at the level of a 3-4 year old, is prone to wander and requires constant supervision. He has singing outbursts and giggles out loud at inopportune times. But his life is not wasted. He has spurred special-needs ministries in multiple churches, as well as volunteers galore.
Enrich your life. Read this book.
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Tags: Autism, Choices, Friendship, God's Plan, Kindness, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Story
