Written by Bill Grandi on March 3rd, 2025
Who’s teaching whom?
Good question. I’m convinced that leadership is a lifetime of learning. So is being a parent. So is being a pastor. Life lessons are all over the map. It could happen in a conversation with a child. It could happen in an interaction on a ball field. It could happen when reading a book. You get the point. Truthfully learning starts when we are children.
I was struck by this as I read Deuteronomy 11 this morning during my morning devotions. I was reading Deuteronomy 11-13 as part of my Everyday Gospel devotions when I ran across the following: “You must love the Lord your God and always obey his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands. Keep in mind that I am not talking to your children, who have never experienced the discipline of the Lord your God or seen his greatness and his strong hand and powerful arm. They didn’t see (v.3)…They didn’t see (v.4)…Your children didn’t see (v.5)…They didn’t see (v.6)…But you have seen the Lord perform all these mighty deeds with your own eyes!” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the point I am trying to get across. As Moses is talking to those he is leading, he reminds them the responsibility they have of teaching their children, because why?…the children did experience what their parents had. How were they to know what happened or how to act unless the parents teach them? It was to start with the Shema (6:4)-“The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” He then challenges them with telling their children at any time and to make it prominent in their lives. That is virtually repeated in 11:18-20.
If you haven’t already started teaching the little people in your life, it is time to start. Sons. Daughters. Nieces. Nephews. Grandchildren. Neighbor kids. Church kids. (Be careful of the setting with these last two). Teaching and learning go hand in hand. As I learn I teach; as I teach I learn. Remember: the lessons you and I learn in life are to be passed on to those we love and care about.
But it starts when we are young…AND NEVER STOPS!!
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Teaching children
Written by Bill Grandi on February 28th, 2025
“Come on in! The water is fine!” We might hear that from someone inviting us to join them in the pool or the ocean. However, a smart person will check out the person inviting them. Are they shivering? Are their lips blue? Are their teeth chattering? Or do they look totally relaxed and comfortable? We tend to be somewhat cautious in situations like that.
Why, then, are we less conscious when it comes to an invitation to join in where we are told to “Follow your heart” or “YOLO” or “Do what makes you feel good” or “I can do whatever I want. We live in an age of grace”? You recognize those statements, and others like them, I’m sure. The desire of our culture is to hide the consequences of those lines of reasoning, and “suck us into” its hideous swamp.
My sermon for Sunday finds the people of Israel seeking independence from God but also failing to see there is a consequence to that thinking and to their sin. Sort of like many of us, we want to indulge but we don’t want the extra pounds that come with indulging. They took it a step further: it had nothing to do with what they ate or did not eat. It had everything to do with lifestyle and obeying God’s law. We find many today taking that same approach. “I will do what I want. I don’t want to even think about results and consequences.” That’s a pretty scary (and dead end) philosophy.
I would appreciate your prayers for Sunday’s message. It is one that we all need to hear, but not all will take it well. If you can join us in person, please feel free to do so at 9 and 10:45. If not, we live stream both services at the same times. You can catch them on YouTube or on our website during the week. You can send a request to our Facebook Group at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship or view our public page at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship-Spencer, IN. You may also watch via our YouTube channel at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. If you happen to watch, would you mind letting us know? No pressure. I promise. I look forward to hearing from you.
Posted in InTheShadow | 2 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Faith/Feelings, God's Word, Opinion, Sermon Series
Written by Bill Grandi on February 27th, 2025
Psalm 118:5-9 says, “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people to do me? Yes, the Lord is for me: he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” (NLT)
Those verses were part of my Scripture reading this morning. As I read the rest of Psalm 118 I was further impacted by what the psalmist writes. But I couldn’t help but come up short as I read verses 5-9. Given our current political climate and the world stage, those verses took on more meaning. And then as I read Moses’ opening comments in his swan song (Deuteronomy), I couldn’t help but make a connection.
Moses and the people of Israel are at the cusp of the Promised Land…again. Forty years earlier they were there also, but a lack of trust and faith in God’s ability to keep His word led to their wandering the wilderness. Deut. 1:2-3 is stating the current situation: “Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea…But forty years after…” Moses is now challenging them with entrance into the Promised Land. He is recalling historically how God has been with them. In fact, in 2:36 he writes, “The Lord our God also helped us conquer Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Gorge…” Moses was trying to help them see God’s role in their lives. But their failure had been to see that God was enough. All they saw were giants and unobtainable cities and land.
Circle back to that passage in Psalm 118. The psalmist is reminding his readers of God’s role in their lives: “It is better…” It is wise to get control of spending, especially that which is wasteful (and in some cases morally wrong). But we are foolish to think that one man, or two men, any number of men/women will fix things. Humans are fallible which means we will make mistakes. We all long for peace on earth but we are fools to think any man will accomplish that. We can try but unless the Prince of Peace is involved, there won’t be any. IMHO I believe there will not be peace on earth until the Prince of Peace returns. Man can try…and should…in order to make this world a better place to live, but unless and until we realize that our trust is not to be in any human, it will be temporary at best.
Just as Moses reminded the people of Israel who their real leader was and who gave them the victory; until we see what the psalmist is trying to say about where our trust must be, we will miss the mark. I’m all for peace and dealing with the debt, but let’s remember WHO truly is in charge and who alone can make it right.
Posted in InTheShadow | 4 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God, God's Plan, Leadership, Opinion, Peace, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Surrender
Written by Bill Grandi on February 26th, 2025
“God is a bunch of contradictions.”
So some say. They have trouble reconciling a God of love with a God of justice. They have issues with God being a God of love and yet demanding we, human that we are, live a life of purity and sacrifice. “How can a God whom you say is One of love send anyone to hell?” “If God is a God of Omniscience (all-knowing) how can He forget my past sins?”
I don’t pretend to know all the answers (how foolish would that be?). But in Numbers 35 there is a unique set-up put in place by God that shows His character. Please keep in mind that “God’s attributes never work in conflict with each other.” (Tripp-2/26-p.70) If you yawn, I mean read through Numbers, 🙂 you will find yourself approaching the next to last chapter in chapter 35. In this one incident we see God’s attributes working in tandem with each other. It is true that God expects His people to act differently. We see His love working in tandem with His holiness. We see His justice working with His holiness. We see His patience working with His desire for the salvation of His people.
In Numbers 35:6-12 God establishes what are called “cities of refuge.” These cities are designed to be just that…refuge. But not refuge for the brokenhearted, or the sick, or the dying, or anyone who is seeking rest. No. The cities of refuge were designed for those who accidentally killed someone. Not acts of anger or revenge, but accidents. I swing an axe and the head flies off striking you and killing you. We are joking around and I push you and you stumble and fall, hit your head and die. Justice by the family or even townspeople would likely be swift and “an eye for an eye” type of revenge. But cities of refuge were for those who accidentally caused the death to flee to until he/she could get a proper hearing. There were certain rules to abide by and they could not be broken. For example, the person was required to stay in the city. If he left for any reason and was found by a member of the family, his life could be taken. Sounds harsh but in reality it wasn’t.
Here is the point I am trying to make: God is uncompromisingly holy and sin is an affront to Him and needs to be dealt with. But this is not one of those situations. A city of refuge provides mercy where mercy is needed. God’s holiness and mercy are not in conflict but actually in tandem with each other. We see these two attributes come into play thousands of years later when a man who was more than a man (He was the Son of God) makes His way to a cross. God’s justice for sin is taken care of in this divine act of mercy.
Contradictory? Nope. I’m thankful for mercy and justice working together.
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: cities of refuge, God, God's attributes, God's justice, God's Plan, Grace, Jesus, Mercy, Opinion, Reflection
Written by Bill Grandi on February 25th, 2025
Politics or not? Racial shots or not?
I have pondered writing this since last night, but decided to sit on it. I’d like to preface it with these words from the Apostle Paul: “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God…When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness-timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.” (I Cor. 1:18; 2:1-5 NLT)
With those words in mind, please allow me to share my thoughts. While waiting for a delivery late yesterday afternoon, my wife had the TV on and featured was an African American “pastor” ranting and raving and hyperventilating this past Sunday morning from his pulpit. He was using racial slurs that if I had used them would have led to demonstrations and calls for me to be cancelled. It was, in my opinion, a disgusting display from the pulpit- the place where God’s Word and God’s Word only should be preached. I have NEVER in my 72 years and 50+ years of ministry ever preached politics from the pulpit (and I won’t start now), nor have I ever displayed the disgusting speech I heard from Sunday’s “sermon.” I will not give the man’s name since I don’t want to give him any press. I won’t call him a “pastor” because pastors are shepherds who feed sheep, not incite or beat sheep. Now, maybe his people are used to that type of carrying on. But I do not see that as anywhere close to what the Apostle Paul says ought to be our main focus: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (2:2). How anyone could have walked away from that display and said, “Christ was preached and honored today” would be beyond me. Nor could anyone walk away saying, “I heard the Gospel of Jesus and how much He loves me and I want Him as my Savior and Lord.” All they would walk away with would have been hatred and vitriol and incitement to riot.
I’ll get off my soap box. I’ll close with more words from Paul: “You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.” (2 Cor. 2:17 NLT). I will continue preaching the Word of God and only that. Not politics. Not incendiary garbage. Christ crucified and raised and coming again.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Church, God's Word, Jesus, Leadership, Ministry, Opinion, Politics, Preaching, Reflection, Scripture look, Sermon topic, Speech, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on February 24th, 2025
“The No Complaining Rule.” That was the book by Jon Gordon I referenced in Friday’s post and said I would post his list of 5 Things to Do instead of Complain. I have also added some Scripture to fortify it from a “spiritual” standpoint. So here they are:
1. Practice Gratitude. Counting our blessings instead of our misery changes our perspective. We are confronted each day with positives and negatives. Practicing gratitude takes our eyes of ourselves. Phil. 4:4,8-9 tells us to “rejoice always” and then the latter two verses tell us to think on the right things.
2. Praise Others. We ought to be thinking how we can thank and praise others for acts of kindness. The Bible tells us to “encourage one another” and Hebrews 10:24 tells us to “think of ways to motivated one another to acts of love and good works.”
3. Focus on Success. A few weeks ago my perspective got twisted a little and I was a grumbling, bumbling mess one morning. It was actually the morning I was gong to implement including this in my sermon. It took me a few moments to reflect on what God has been doing here at the church and in people’s lives I love to realize that I had much to be thankful for. Numbers are not important, although some use them as a gauge (ours have been exceptional). I began to focus on how God has blessed me and I found myself wallowing in praise instead of misery. Pr. 4:25-27 are great verses to keep us on the right path.
4. Let Go. Focus on things you have the power to change. Focus on things you have control over, not those you don’t. For example, can you control the weather? Can you snap a finger and the weather go from 10 to 90? My guess is No. 🙂 Ps. 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots; some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Pr. 21:31 also reinforces that thought.
5. Pray and Read Scripture. Jon says Pray and Meditate but I’m leery of the connotation of that so I choose to replace meditate with Read Scripture. Great Scriptures to read are Psalm 57 & 58 and Proverbs 27. They are too long to print here.
I finished by challenging the folks who were there or watched online to do a “No Complaining Day” tomorrow. Some jokingly said they were going to get it all out of their system today. 🙂 One late elementary school girl was a visitor and I know her parents (as does Tami). Tami texted the mom about it and she said her daughter blew it as soon as she got in the car to leave (her dad picked her up). She quipped back, “It doesn’t start until tomorrow!” Too funny. Join me in a No Complaining Day. Invite others to join you.
Posted in InTheShadow | 10 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Positive/Negative Attitude, Reflection, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on February 21st, 2025
Grumbling and complaining seems to be a normal thing for many to do. And that includes we who should be the most thankful. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” (Phil. 2:14-14 NLT)
The section of Scripture I will be preaching on this Sunday is filled with grumbling and complaining. I found 9-count them 9!-instances of grumbling and complaining. Those 9 were just introductions to even more. Miriam. Aaron. 10 of the 12 spies. It is like the world of the Israelites was awash with it. Tragically, so are many of us.
I am going to do more this week than just preach about grumbling and complaining. With the help of a book by Jon Gordon called The No Complaining Rule, I also plan to share some thoughts on Five Things to Do Instead of Complaining. I will share them in Monday’s post. I’d like to invite you to join us in person this week at 9:00 and 10:45. If you cannot be here please join us via live stream. You can catch them on YouTube or on our website during the week. You can send a request to our Facebook Group at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship or view our public page at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship-Spencer, IN. You may also watch via our YouTube channel at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. If you happen to watch, would you mind letting us know? No pressure. I promise. I look forward to hearing from you.
Posted in InTheShadow | 4 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, Complaining, Grumbling, Opinion, Reflection, Sermon Series
Written by Bill Grandi on February 20th, 2025
“You are as stubborn as a mule.” Ever heard those words…only not so kindly? Other words can be and have been used as substitutes. Since I don’t talk that way, I prefer to use the more bland word “donkey.”
My reading this morning from Everyday Gospel included Balaam and his incident with his donkey. Balak was fearful of the horde of Israelites who were at his doorstep so he commissioned Balaam, a “prophet from God,” to pronounce a curse on them. Balaam first refused but the lure of money drew him to Balak. It was on his way there when Balaam’s donkey saw an angel and three times was beaten by Balaam for his stubbornness. (See what I did there?) 🙂 Anyway, eventually Balaam saw the angel and was rebuked by his donkey and the angel for beating his donkey. Long story short Balaam pronounced what was supposed to be a curse on the Israelites but it came out as a blessing. Unable to pronounce a curse, Balaam gave Balak another approach: have your women seduce the Israelite men, thus compromising who they were. Intermarriage was forbidden in the Israelite culture and, more importantly, by God. It got so bad that one of the Israelite men flaunted his Midianite woman in front of others and took her into his tent. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, took a spear and thrust the spear completely through him and into the woman’s stomach. Lovely picture (and you can use your own imagination), but it stopped the plague.
Okay…so that might have been a bit TMI for now. But not really. God doesn’t take sin lightly. But let’s pedal backward for a moment. I’m still intrigued by the donkey and Balaam. I have been called the other word (with some adjectives added) in the past, and I may hear it again in the future. But, in this case, it just might be a compliment. I have, at times, been as stubborn as a mule. I will admit that. As I have gotten older I realize there are some hills worth dying on and some that I will let others have. I’m sort of stubborn when it comes to truth. But other times? It’s not worth it. When I think of being stubborn and being almost cartoonish about it, I think of a little child standing with his arms crossed and a lower lip pouting out. I heard it once said that a little girl was being punished and told to go to stand in a corner. Her comment to her mom was, “I may be standing on the outside, but I’m sitting on the inside.”
That’s me sometimes. “Do what God? You talking to me?” “I don’t wanna!” And there you have it. Stubbornness. I need to be more like Balaam’s donkey and less of an…well you know. Are you stubborn? How have you learned to deal with it? Has God softened your heart?
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Word, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin, Story, Stubbornness, Surrender
Written by Bill Grandi on February 19th, 2025
Anger. Bane or blessing?
Well…depends on whom you ask. Ask a hot-head and he will say, “It is good.” You see, in their minds losing their cool brings about what they want. Operative words: what. they. want. Yep. You heard it from me. A hot-head generally gets what they want. Unless you consider, losing friends, losing future good impact, getting kicked out of games, looking like a fool, etc a good thing. (Please notice tongue firmly in cheek).
Ask the victim of anger and there is no way the battered (physically or mentally) spouse, child, employee, fellow student would say it was good. In fact, they would tell you it is downright harmful and the toxic relationship should end (if they are not too afraid to say so).
This morning I was reading Numbers 20 and read where anger got the best of someone and it didn’t turn out well for him. The people of Israel were complaining (so what else is new?) about not having water to drink, among other things. So Moses and Aaron left them and went to the Tabernacle where the presence of the Lord appeared to them. Moses was told to take his staff and to speak to the rock and it would pour out water. So Moses takes his staff and goes to the rock. So far so good. But instead of speaking to the rock he spoke to the people of Israel. In anger he called them rebels. Then he struck the rock. In anger. Twice. Water gushed out but if you read that passage again nowhere does it say to speak to the people and no where does it say to strike the rock.
Anger got the best of Moses. But the consequences of his anger were swift and deadly. “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” Talk about devastating consequences for anger! This was not a lifetime of PTSD from abuse. This was not bruises covered up by clothing and makeup. This was not cowering in fear. All of those are legitimate results of unbridled anger toward someone (the victim). Sadly, Moses’ anger at the people of Israel had an eternal consequence. After leading the people for 40 years he would not step foot into the Promised Land.
Let’s get a handle on our anger. Let’s see the consequences we leave in the wake of our unbridled passionate response to something we don’t like. It hurts our testimony, maybe even destroying it. It hurts those we supposedly love. It leaves marks and scars on the recipients of our anger. We are admonished in several Scriptures to not let anger reign. Check out Pr. 5:22-23; 12:16; 14:17, 29; 25:28 to name just a few.
GET. CONTROL!!!!!
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: Anger, Choices, Christian Living, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Self-control, Speech
Written by Bill Grandi on February 18th, 2025
Don’t you just love being around negative, griping people? (In case, you can’t see it I have my tongue fully in my cheek).
You could be having a fully alive morning and then meet someone whose very presence seems to put a damper on it. You walk through the door into your office or a meeting and immediately you can tell “that person” is in the room. The joviality and ease of the room is missing. Or worse, you may already be in the room, laughing and having a nice relaxing moment with colleagues and then “that person” walks in and it seems like something has sucked out all the air in the room. Gone is the joviality. Gone is the ease of conversation. Gone is the sense of anticipation of a good and productive meeting.
I’m not very tolerant of negative, griping people. I avoid them like a plague if possible. I hate to admit that I will sometimes take the long way around rather than come face to face with a “Debby Downer” or a “Frowning Fred.” Neither of them seem to have a good thing to say and seem to only cling and hang on with helpless rambling.
Numbers 16-17 is one of those passages of Scripture which makes perfect sense and we can relate to. Several of the men (Levites) decided they didn’t quite like Moses and Aaron’s leadership. They couldn’t understand why they had to listen to and do what Moses said. So they rebelled. Bad thing to do. Moses was God’s appointed leader and to take this approach was not going to turn out well for them. Long story short: it didn’t. The earth swallowed them up. Even after that show-and-tell, the very next morning they began muttering against Moses and Aaron again. What is wrong with those people? They just had a vivid demonstration of God’s judgment as He reacted to their rebellion and now they are at it again. Needless to say, it did not turn out well for them either.
There are several lessons to be learned in these two chapters. One is the stupidity of complaining against God’s work. Perhaps the most prominent is that God’s grace is seen as Aaron stands between those being destroyed and those kept alive by his actions. It is a great picture of a future time when someone who would be on a hill called Calvary and He would stand in the gap and take God’s judgment for sin on His shoulders.
Now THAT is amazing grace!
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Complaining, God's Plan, God's Word, Griping, Lifestyle, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin, Speech, Story
