Written by Bill Grandi on June 3rd, 2025
Well…I definitely feel like an old man today. My oldest daughter, Tami, reaches the big 5-0 mark today. She has been a real joy and blessing to have, raise, and watch grow into a godly woman. She has a heart as big as the ocean, especially for kids. Even though she has never had any of her own; never been married; she oozes love for kids. She has taught Kindergarten for almost all of her 25 years teaching. The last 3 have been spent teaching in our local Spencer-Owen School System. Due to a heart attack (SCAD) 4 years ago, she lives with us (her apartment had 25 steps almost straight up and the doctor said, “No way”). So after living on her own for 3-4 years, enduring COVID, leaving in the dark and coming home in the dark, having almost zero friends due to said schedule, she moved in with us and has stayed. Plus, affordable housing in Spencer is almost non-existent these days due to expansion. She is enjoying a vacation of sorts to Tennessee where she lived for the first 15 years of her teaching career. We encouraged it, especially after the rough teaching year she had. Happy Birthday #1 daughter (birth order). 🙂
I finished reading Proverbs on May 31 so I just continued reading the book which is next: Ecclesiastes. If you haven’t read it, you must. I challenge you to do so. I read Chapter 2 this morning and there is NO WAY someone can read this book and say the Bible is irrelevant. Ecclesiastes is as relevant a book in the Bible as you will read just about anywhere. In 1:9 it says, “History repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is new.” Hmmm sounds vaguely familiar to “Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
In Chapter 2 there is more “pull-no-punches” stuff. “I tried pleasure and found it was meaningless.” (2:1) “I tried to cheer myself with laughter and wine and found it was foolishness.” (2:2-3) “I built and made gardens and planted trees. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure…it was meaningless, like chasing the wind.” (2:5-11) His conclusion? “So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless-like chasing the wind.” (2:17)
What a sad state of affairs for the wisest man on earth. Solomon was given so much and he threw it all away. Ecclesiastes is his story of endless and meaningless pursuits. It is sobering. It is raw. It is honest. It is relevant. People today are no different than they were in Solomon’s day. Pursuing pleasure, temporary answers, and a salve to an empty life that will never be satisfied, except in a relationship with Christ. Stop pursuing that which does not last and pursue the ONE who loves you more than you know.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Empty pursuits, Fulfillment, God's Word, Lifestyle, Meaning in Life, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Seeking, Sin, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on June 2nd, 2025
Most people know the story of Job. A rich man (called the richest man in that entire area-Job 1:3) whose life is turned upside down. First, Satan takes away everything he has, including his children dying, except for his health. Then, he is allowed to tinker with his health and it says Job was covered with boils from head to foot. He scraped his skin with pieces of broken pottery (2:7-8). But perhaps the worst of it was putting up with the endless drivel of his so-called “friends.” I’ll not get into all they said-there isn’t enough space for all of that. But with their endless drivel came assumptions which had no basis whatsoever. I suspect many of us have been there-either the victim or the “victimee.” (yeah, I know that is not a word but who knows?). 🙂 The most basic assumption they made is that Job was suffering because of unconfessed sin. They pounded that hard and not always was it kind.
It got me to thinking about how I approach people and act as though I know it all and “speak for God.” It is, of course, not true, but I sure do act like it sometimes. Again, I don’t think I’m alone. We have all had those times we act like judge, jury and executioner when it comes to someone else’s suffering. There has got to be a reason this is happening to them! Unfortunately, we have trouble keeping our thoughts to ourselves. So yesterday, at the end of my sermon, I shared three thoughts. I thought I would share them with you this morning.
First, sometimes we can come off as judge, jury and executioner (like Job’s “friends”). We are opinionated and judgmental, often failing to put ourselves into the shoes of the other person. Be careful with this. Like Haman in Esther’s story, pride will come back to haunt us.
Second, and on the heels of the first, until we have experienced what another is experiencing, let’s keep our mouths shut on giving advice or opinions. Nothing more needs said about this.
Third, be careful of pat answers and pat words that we spout off because they sound good. Some of what we say simply sound like cliches.
Here is a good piece of advice: instead of always acting like we have the answer, let’s just be a friend who can be one without words if necessary.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Friendship, Grace, Humility, Kindness, Mercy, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Story, Truth Telling
Written by Bill Grandi on May 30th, 2025
Let me start out with a statement that I believe is irrefutable:
Understanding God sometimes is like finding a needle in a haystack.
We search and search but it just seems like a lost cause. We truly want to understand God and to have a relationship with Him but the task seems impossible. Imagine being inserted into Esther’s ongoing drama of life in the palace with an anti-Semite like Haman, or into the drama of Job’s life of losing everything then having those worthless humans called “friends” rip you apart, spout off their drivel, and blame your sin for all that is happening.
That is where we find ourselves this week in a message I have titled When All Seems Lost from Esther 6-Job 20. I will be spending some time with Esther’s feast with the king and Haman and how she “set the table” for it and also how Haman did himself no favors by his arrogance when asked how he would reward someone. The latter half of the message will be on Satan, God and Job’s so-called friends. If you are reading this and are able to attend we would love to have you. We have two services at 9:00 and 10:45. The second service has a youth program. If you are unable to attend in person, please join our live stream at the same times. 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: Friendship, God's Plan, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Sermon Series, Trials
Written by Bill Grandi on May 29th, 2025
I’m going to step a bit out of my comfort zone this morning. I’m going to suggest you join me in a month long search. Normally I post Living in the Shadow on LinkedIn as a daily devotion. But I’m even going to forego that today. Why? Because this is one of those ideas that only a seeking and searching Christ-follower can sense its importance or relevance. I have been preaching through the Bible in 2025 using the Everyday Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp as a reliable guide. Each Sunday’s sermon has been centered around the previous week’s daily devotional reading which, as you can imagine, requires that I read ahead. It also requires that I work ahead since I am not now, nor have ever been, a pastor who waits until that week to work the upcoming Sunday’s sermon. That gives me the shivers even as I write that. 🙂 So…on June 22nd my sermon is entitled What to Pray For. Not a real imaginative title, I know, but I’m at a loss to catch better clickbait. 🙂 Here are the three points (I normally do two) of the sermon:
A HEART THAT LONGS FOR GOD (42, 66-69)
A HEART THAT SEEKS PURITY (51)
A HEART THAT TRUSTS (62, 73)
The Scripture reading for that week (and for that Sunday) has been Psalm 40-77. Obviously I can’t preach on that whole passage, so I did what I have done all year: highlight and pick and choose. As I read those chapters and as I read the devotions I found the thread I wanted to focus on. The numbers in the parentheses above are the chapters I’m going to glean the sermon from. Psalm 40-77 focuses on the simple things- things we pray for and God is more than willing to answer.
So, here is my challenge: I’d like to ask you to join me in a month long adventure of praying these three yearnings each day. I have already begun doing so this week. I finished writing the sermon yesterday and my plan is to share on June 22nd how God answered my prayer. Will you join me by praying these three things each day for the next month? Whenever you have your daily Quiet Time (or Encounter Time as I call mine), ask God to grant you these three requests. Read the chapters and see if they convict you to start and continue this quest. I, obviously, have no idea how God will answer my prayer, but I am excited to see! Maybe keep a journal to record your thoughts and God’s work in your life.
Will you join me?
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Tags: Challenge, Christian Living, God's Word, Humility, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Scripture look, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on May 28th, 2025
Jo and I have an early summer ritual, if you can call it that. I/we get a schedule of as many of our young people who are playing ball, write them all down on a calendar, and then make every effort to see as many games as possible. We started doing this several years ago and thoroughly enjoy going. Several things stand in our favor: first, if the kid’s teams are playing each other (we cheer for both sides) we get to see as many at one time as possible; and two, the ball fields are all in one place. We will do, as we did last night, go from one game to another. We see the parents (some are there every night of the week) and chat with them. Try to see the kids and let them know we are there. Then move on to the next field. Just for reference, there 7 fields at the sports complex. Last night we caught a break. Kids from the church only played on 3 of the 7 fields. There have been nights when they were on 5 or 6 of the 7!
It starts with T-ball where the little ones are so tiny they look like specks on the field and they are more a comedy routine than ballplayers. I was speaking with one mom last night and her son will not swing at a pitch thrown by a coach (they throw 3). But put him up to the T and he is raring to go. Our grandson played T-ball and he was serious back then, so there was no playing with the dandelions or staring off into space or running to the wrong base. But for these kids, it is their first foray into sports. They graduate to the next level where the skill set is somewhat better. They still like to play with the dandelions, and still wander into space, but for the most part, they are “getting it.” Hitting coach pitch is sometimes a challenge, but I can see improvement as the season progresses. Of course, they keep moving up in age and the skill set gets better. We watched some pretty good hitting and fielding in the 7-8 year olds last night. It is still coach pitch but the kids are getting better. Then we walked to Field #6 where fast-pitch girl’s softball was being played. Some of those girls really get it. Coach is one of the moms in the church and there are several girls on the team. I think it is safe to say coach is a bit more intense than the girls, but I also know she just wants them to play their best.
It is fun watching the progression as they age. From the “lostness” which is T-ball to the intensity which is late adolescence, the kids do what they are supposed to do: improve (for the most part). Sort of like the Christian faith. Begin as a baby and as maturity happens faith deepens. Staying the same is not to be an option.
My biggest issue last night? I under dressed and had to leave since shorts and a t-shirt were not made for the weather. You’d think I would learn since I am “mature.” 🙂
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Tags: Christian Living, Kid's sports, Lifestyle, Opinion, Parenting, Reflection
Written by Bill Grandi on May 27th, 2025
Happy Tuesday! Or Happy Day After Memorial Day! I hope you had a relaxing Memorial Day and during your day took the time to be grateful for the men and women who have served our country and prayed for the families of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I tried something new yesterday. I texted every one of those who served in the military from the church and thanked them for their service. I’m not looking for a “WOW! That was fantastic!” I wanted to encourage those who served that they did not do it in vain and are not forgotten.
Every other month I read the book of Proverbs. I take the day of the month and read that chapter. Today, I read chapter 27 because…well…it is May 27th. 🙂 Rather than pontificate as though I’m an expert (I’m definitely not), I thought I would simply record some of the verses that stood out to me this morning and share them with you. I will then let you draw your own conclusions. Ready?
Verse 1: “Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.”
Verse 2: “Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth-a stranger, not your own lips.”
Verse 6: “Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”
Verse 9: “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.”
Verse 10: “Never abandon a friend-either yours or your father’s.”
Verse 17: “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
Verse 19: “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.”
Verse 23: “Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds.”
There you have it. I’m wondering two things: 1) which one stands out to you as most meaningful? and 2) was there any other verse that particularly reached your heart today? Have a great day as you get back “into the swing of things.”
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Friendship, God's Word, Humility, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Truth Telling, Words of Wisdom
Written by Bill Grandi on May 23rd, 2025
There are many faulty ideas about God running around. For example, the atheist says, “There is no God.” The agnostic says, “I’m not saying there isn’t a God, but it must be proven.” The Deist says, “A supreme being created the earth, got it going, and then withdrew from it and takes no interest.” Pantheism believes God is the universe and in everything-the plant, the bug, whatever, is God. But there is one I think is devastating, especially to those who call themselves followers of Christ. That is the idea that God is done working. Doomsday “prophets” will tell us God is done with us and we are all going to hell in a handbasket. He has turned His back on America, and the world in general (and sometimes even the church).
People would have thought that about the Jewish nation when they were carted off to Babylon in exile. “See. They got what they deserved.” But as ancient history attests, God wasn’t done then, and I firmly believe He still isn’t done. Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther would all agree. This Sunday my message is entitled “God is Still Working” and it is based on the life of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (first half of her book). Here is my breakdown:
EZRA- the priest who brought a fresh start
NEHEMIAH- the cupbearer who built a wall
ESTHER- the queen who saved a nation
I hope you will join us this Sunday at 9:00 and 10:45 at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. If you are unable to attend in person, please join our live stream at the same times. 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, Opinion, Sermon Series, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on May 22nd, 2025
“A promise is a promise is a promise.”
Ever heard that? I have and if I was to look back deep enough into my memory bank (which is getting harder to do as I get older 🙂 ), I am sure I will also find a time or two or three when I used it. The short end of that is simply to make a promise is to keep it. Plain and simple. One saying we used when I was a kid was “Cross my heart and hope to die.” Aaaah yeah. I don’t think I will use that these days, but when used it was saying, “Whatever I just committed to I will do.” One I never got used to hearing was “Pinky swear.” Say what? What in the world does linking pinky fingers have anything to do with anything? Well…it is simply another way to say, “I promise.”
As I read chapter 10 of Nehemiah this morning as part of my Everyday Gospel reading, the people are challenged by Ezra reading the Law, the religious leaders, the governor (Nehemiah) and others to make a commitment to follow God. In fact, it is a pretty strong commitment they are making: “(They) joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord.” (v.29) What follows are five different times they “promise” to God to keep a vow. I would like to suggest that you take the time to read it for yourself. Pay particular attention to verses 30, 31, 32, 35, and the last words of 39. There is no doubt in my mind they were totally sincere in their words and commitment.
But I also know human nature and it wasn’t very long until those promises were broken. We will often say, “Promises are made to be broken.” Even as I write that it sounds strange. Why would I promise something if I didn’t mean it? Here is the rub though: as I said already, I believe they were sincere. Just like I am when I make a promise. But soon the pressures of living in the world took hold and they lost their oomph to stay true. Hmmm. I know someone just like that. I see him when I look into the mirror every morning. Not that I intend on failing on my promise. I don’t ever recall saying, “Forget about my promise. I’m going to do this anyway.” It sort of just happens, and then like Peter I realize it and come to the feet of Jesus asking for forgiveness.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep” are words I’m pretty sure is not the way God wants us to be thinking. Make the promise and then ask His help in keeping it.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Ministry, Opinion, Promises, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin
Written by Bill Grandi on May 21st, 2025
July 4th speaks to many people on different levels. Some will celebrate the birth of our nation. Some will look forward to the cookouts and grilled burgers, hot dogs, brats, and myriads of other concoctions. Some will relish the day off work and find themselves laying in a hammock. Some will attend a baseball game with the family.
But a good majority of people will take part in and enjoy fireworks-professional or personal. They know just where to park to see the display (and avoid a massive crowd of people). I have only been to a couple of fireworks shows sponsored by organizations who pay big bucks to entertain. And I must admit that I have been impressed by the ingenuity of humans. Sort of reminds me of Gandalf’s displays in the Fellowship of the Ring when he visited the hobbits.
But last night it wasn’t human at all. It was all God. I was struggling to sleep last night and because of that, what I would have normally missed because I was sleeping, I saw God’s creation on full display. It was God’s Sound and Light Show. Didn’t cost me a dime to watch. I didn’t have to sit in a chair on a hot and steamy July evening getting eaten alive by all kinds of pesky bugs. I had a front row seat at my front door or looking out a window at the back of the house. Thunder. Lightning (and plenty of it). Rain (more than plenty). All combined to give me a pretty impressive display of God’s magnificent creation at work. I know there will be people who will downplay it and say, “Well, that was just creation reacting to changes in the atmosphere…blah blah blah.” I can say they are correct, but my next question is, “Who made it?”
Psalm 19:1-4 says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” Psalm 8:3-4 adds some thoughts to that: “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers-the moon and the stars you set in place-what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human being that you should care for them?” Verse 9 completes that chapter with the following words: “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”
Next time you look into the night sky or see a sound and light display, give some thought to the ONE who created it. It wasn’t human hands and we certainly can’t duplicate it. Psalm 14:1 also adds this: “Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.'”
{All Scripture is from the New Living Translation}
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Tags: Creation, God, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on May 20th, 2025
Celebrations are meant to be shared by all.
After a trip to Ohio that was uneventful getting there, we had a great time celebrating the graduation of our only grandson from high school. His current (and so far only) interest, Cameron, also graduated. We endured over 400+ students graduating and (sadly) very poor acoustics which did an injustice to all the speakers, to see him accomplish something which not too many years ago seemed so far out in the distance. After getting to share a meal on Saturday night at Roosters (his and my favorite when there) with Braden, Janna and Mike, and Mike’s son, Andrew (who graduates this coming Sunday), we had a very full Sunday afternoon and evening. It was in downtown Columbus and I am so glad Mike drove. He knew where he was going and it was nice to be along for the ride. After a Monday morning breakfast at IHOP with Braden and Cameron we headed back home around 9:15. Plans were to be home by 1:30 or so. That was until we got stuck in a 1-2 hour wait due to a wreck not quite 4 miles ahead of us. It took us almost 1-2 hours to go 4 miles or so, until I was able to get off the Interstate (due to it being closed completely) and get around the accident. All in all though, we made it home in 6 hours which is just 2 hours longer than normal. Jo and I went to the local ball fields to watch some of the kids play last night and when we got home we were beat. But it was one of those “good beats.” I slept almost until my alarm went off at 3:30.
For my reading this morning I was in Nehemiah. The people of Judah had made their way back to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon with the blessing of Cyrus, the king of the Medes-Persians. Ezra, the priest, was with the first wave. But the report of the devastation of the walls surrounding Jerusalem reached Nehemiah and he was so distraught that King Artaxerxes noticed it. Nehemiah petitioned for, and was granted, passage back to Jerusalem. There were those who intended to rain on Nehemiah’s parade, but one word from the king changed all that. Ezra brought spiritual reform; Nehemiah brought physical reform. In this case they went hand in hand. And along with Nehemiah’s work came both trouble (by outsiders), but also a celebration for being back and being able to rebuild the walls. While not all were happy and did not celebrate this milestone, Nehemiah did and he invited the people to do so.
I think it would behoove all of us to find things, events, and especially people, to celebrate. There is enough doom and gloom in the world without adding to someone’s angst. Praise and encourage others. Find the good in others and celebrate that. As Proverbs 20 says, “Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.” (V.15). It also says, “A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.” (v.19)
There you have it. “Celebrate good times come on!” (cue song). 🙂
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Tags: Celebration, Friendship, Graduation, Leadership, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Reflection, Story
