Written by Bill Grandi on December 16th, 2024
For 2025 I have asked the church I pastor (Owen Valley Christian Fellowship in Spencer, IN) to accept a challenge. The challenge was to use Everyday Gospel, a daily devotional written by Paul David Tripp as their go-to this coming year. Thanks to the generosity of Crossway Publishing, who offered the opportunity to buy them in bulk for $10 each (order at least 10), our folks were able to get on board for the challenge. To date we have had to order…wait for it…120 copies of the book!! That means there will be at least 120 people who will be reading the devotional each day plus the Scripture corresponding to it. By the end of the year, we will have read through the whole Bible. But I did something even crazier, which really put a target on my forehead. I told them that instead of preaching a series or a book of the Bible or even topics in 2025, that I would base all my sermons on the Scriptures read the previous week (Sunday through Saturday). For example, on January 5th, the first Sunday of 2025, I will preach on Genesis 1-15, the Scripture passages we are to read for January 1-4. In all of my 50+ years of ministry, I have never-read that NEVER- preached on the whole Bible from the first Sunday of the year to the last. I’m not kidding you when I say I come with a bit of fear after I opened my mouth and made that statement. I wonder now if it was what drove people to sign up for the book.
But I also have to admit to a ton of excitement and cautious optimism for the task in front of me. As I stated earlier, I have NEVER taken on this task before. It will require some serious study and preparation as I weed through some great parts of the Bible but also some tough parts (how does one preach through parts of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers and make it exciting?). It has also required me reading the Devotional ahead of time, then I will go back and read it again on its planned day, along with the Scripture passage. Last night I read the devotions for January 26 & 27 in preparation for the sermon on February 2nd. My thoughts today are taken from the January 26th devotion.
We hear a lot during this time of the year about love, joy, and hope. My daughter Tami’s favorite Christmas song has the lyrics “The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.” (O Holy Night). I know how this whole scenario ends (Jesus wins) but even with that belief/truth, it is hard not to feel like many others do: where is the hope? We sure don’t live in a hopeful society do we? I’m not even talking politics here. I’m talking about life. Before I went to my ManCave last night to focus my thoughts and heart and to sit with an ice pack on my new knee and a hot pad on sore places from the needles of that surgery, I heard about Syria, the death of the United HealthCare CEO, the pardons, the rhetoric which seemed to say murder was wrong “but,” the immigration crisis, etc. You get the picture. So, tell me, where is the hope? I have an 18 year old, soon-to-be a high school graduate grandson, who will be attending THE Ohio State University this fall. What kind of world will he grow up in? One without truth? One without boundaries? One without knowing right from wrong? One without HOPE! I pray not. I pray that Braden’s generation says, “Enough is enough!” and claws its way back to truth and the hope that comes with it. In his January 26th devotion, Paul David Tripp writes, “True and lasting hope is found in these words: “I will dwell in the midst of my people.”
May Tripp’s words be a signpost for my grandson’s generation. Really, for every generation still living and will soon be living. “May you dwell in the midst of your people, Lord.”
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Tags: Bible/Scripture, Choices, Christian Living, Church, God, God's Presence, God's Word, Opinion, Reflection, Truth Telling
Written by Bill Grandi on December 12th, 2024
“For whom do you live?” is a good question to ask myself and for others to ponder as well.
It is typical, especially in the culture wars of today, to say, “I live for myself.” We can see it in phrases like “My body; my choice.” It is, after all, all about me. And tragically, it is finding more and more footing with Christ-followers than we might think. We seem to be on a road to self-actualization. I will call it rationalization. It is too hard living my/our life for someone else so let’s crawl back into our hole and live for self.
For those outside of Christ, that philosophy can be understood. They don’t have a higher calling. They don’t have the Creator of the universe, the sovereign God who made all, rules all, and controls all as the “check” in their lives. But for we who call ourselves Christ-followers, there comes a point where we must choose. And frankly, that choice is a tough one. It involves making a radical decision to humbly lay aside our wants and desires and lay it all at His feet and say, “Here I am Lord. I lay my desires, my plans, my dreams, my future at your feet and surrender them all to You.”
What it comes down to is the opening question I presented: “For whom do I live?” You see, we were not made to bring glory to ourselves. We were made to bring glory to the Father. In the OT story of the children of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai, Moses was in mountains getting the Law from God. They became impatient and wanted a “god.” So Aaron took the gold they left Egypt with and fashioned a golden calf. When Moses saw it he was enraged. So enraged, he busted the tablets which had just been made. Ironically, one of the first statements on those tablets said, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Moses was livid; God was even more so. They had taken the glory intended for God alone and given it to a mass of formed gold. I’m still trying to figure out Aaron’s thinking when he said, “Don’t get upset my lord (talking to Moses)…When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire and out came this calf!” (Exodus 32:22-24) Aaaah yeah. Simply put: the people of Israel decided that God’s glory was not enough. They wanted a fake.
Am I much different though? How often have I been so stuck on myself that I have laid aside the glory only God should get for that which is given to me? I take credit for something I have no business taking credit for. I must remember that I am only a creature; He is the Creator. He won’t settle for second place. So let me ask again: “For whom do you live?”
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Humility, Leadership, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Surrender
Written by Bill Grandi on December 11th, 2024
Have you noticed how hard it is to listen to the news these days? It seems like the media relishes in giving us the bad news, the awful news and the really awful news. True, we hear of heroes who saved lives on subway trains or of men and women who are serving our country or communities.
Henry David Thoreau once said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Sadly, especially in our cultural times, that is true. No matter that our civilization is privy to ideas, inventions and conveniences that previous generations didn’t even dream of and if they did, they were either seen as crackpots or “out there.” But seriously, think about the advances we have seen in just the past 5 to 10 years. I can remember when my dad was a computer operator and the computers were in a frigid room and were as big as a house. (Okay, slight exaggeration, unless you consider a mini-home). 🙂 In spite of our technological advances, we still see far too many men and women who wander aimlessly, with the no particular direction to go. These people are purposeless. I liken it to two things I believe we can all relate to. One is a pinball machine. I’m sure we have all seen them in action. Pull the lever and watch the ball take off. And then we watch it and it goes from bumper to bumper-once, twice, three times-and eventually drops to get slapped back into action again. The other picture is of the person wandering in the woods, seemingly lost. They can do one of two things: either continue wandering willy nilly in a “whatever strikes your fancy” way (which shows no purpose), or follow a path until it either leads you out of the woods or burns itself out and you have to backtrack and start all over again (at least there is a method to the madness).
Have you ever considered the idea that the Christmas story has the stories of two men who knew their purpose and knew why they came? One was John the Baptizer. Zechariah said about his son: “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High because you will prepare the way for the Lord.” (Luke 1:76). The following 3 verses tell us more of John’s purpose. The other was Jesus. We know why He came. He even tells us over and over throughout His short ministry that He came to “seek and save the lost.” “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10)
So, the question we all must face is “Why am I here?” What is my purpose in life? Hopefully, you know what yours is. Live that purpose to its fullest.
{All Scripture from the NLT}
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Purpose, Reflection, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on December 10th, 2024
“Arrogance.” “Pure arrogance.”
Those were the words I used to my wife after I heard about the capture of the alleged shooter of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson. After she heard the news she said, “I wonder how he got caught?” When they announced it I commented to her that he will have gotten caught because of his own arrogance. Let me explain.
Arrogance comes in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Some are blatant, like someone who let’s you know “he’s special.” There are some who delight in puffing themselves up before others, either by their attitude or words. One can almost see them walking around with his/her nose in the air. Some people have a sense of entitlement, like whatever they say or do deserves mention. I can think of certain Hollywood players who have that attitude. For example, they want to pontificate on an election as though they know it all, even threatening to leave the country if so-and-so wins. All I can say is “Bye. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Then there are those like this alleged killer. Smart, maybe too smart for his own good. Smarter than the average bear (at least in his own mind). Who knows what motivated this alleged killer. Maybe it will come out in the end. He had things planned out. A ghost gun. Silencer. A mask. What he didn’t plan, and this is what is sad, is what I was referring to when I made my comment to Jo. The audacity and arrogance to think he is smarter than everyone else and no one will really notice him in public. But someone did recognize him and now he is in custody.
The Bible is very, very clear about the danger of arrogance. “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” (I Cor. 10:12) Another translation puts it this way: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (ESV) The truth of it all is that everyone has an Achilles heel. Everyone of us has a weakness that can bring us down. Think Titanic. Let me add a few more verses. “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Pr. 11:2). “The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished…Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” (Pr. 16:5, 11) One last one: “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.” (Pr. 29:23). By the way, take a look at that verse. What a difference a few letters make!
What was behind the alleged killer’s motive, who knows? What I do know is this: pride and arrogance brought his downfall. Truthfully, we must all guard against that danger.
{Unless noted all verses are NLT}
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Tags: Arrogance, Christian Living, God's Word, Humility, Opinion, Pride, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin
Written by Bill Grandi on December 9th, 2024
I’m going to brag a little bit. Not about me but about the church I pastor. Even as I write that it sounds bad. But please hear me out before you write me off. 🙂
Yesterday was a big day in the life of Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. Perhaps I can give you a better perspective by giving you a shortened timeline of the history of OVCF.
- Started in October of 2004
- They met at several different places until they settled on the Owen Valley Sports Complex.
- The pastor who came with them left after just a few months, but they plugged away with guest speakers, some from the community.
- Jo & I came in November of 2005. Diana, the church secretary, and I started the same time.
- The complex was dirty and small but we made due.
- The flood of 2008 displaced us for 4 months (we met at the Owen Valley Middle School).
- In 2010 we purchased a previously abandoned Mormon church building and began immediately getting it ready for occupancy. September of 2010 was our first worship in the new building. It was small (we knew it ahead of time), but it was to become our home.
- In 2011 we found out we had been embezzled out of $200+k. We chose to forgive and move on.
- In 2012 we renovated and remodeled our inside space.
- In 2014 we hired Ryan East as our youth pastor.
- In 2018 we expanded by building a children’s wing. That was a very, very wise choice. We paid cash (another very wise choice).
- In 2020-2022 we lived through the COVID era but through the faithfulness of God on multiple fronts and the generosity of our people, we never had to cut anything. It was during this time that our live stream became a reality.
- Beginning with the dedication of the children’s wing in 2018, we started planning and preparing and saving for an addition to our building. We were determined to pay cash for it. Our people have been patient meeting in two services and faithful in their giving.
Yesterday, December 8th, we broke ground for that addition. The weather, which had been frigid all week, turned beautiful. The sun was shining and it was in the 40s. I used Psalm 84:1-2,10-12 as we prayed and dedicated our new effort to God and several turned dirt. The excavators are possibly starting this week. Our plan is to get the earth moved and let it sit through the winter and then in the spring pour concrete and put up the building. We will proceed as we have the money. God has been faithful. Why would He stop now? He won’t.
Thanks for listening to my “brag” this morning. But I never want it to sound as though “we did this.” We are extremely thankful to God for His abundant grace and faithfulness to us as a church family. My prayer is that we will never forget what God has done. My further prayer is that we will never lose sight of Who is in charge; that we will never get too big for our britches (and that God will make us bring our belts in a few notches if we do); and that OVCF will always feel like home.
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Tags: Church, Church History, God, God's faithfulness, Ministry, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Reflection, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on December 5th, 2024
Years ago I bought a book by the late Francis Schaeffer entitled No Little People. It was a collection of 16 of his sermons. My favorite was No Little People, No Little Places. The gist of that sermon can easily be seen by the title. No one or no place the follower of Christ is should ever be seen as too small or too insignificant.
In his December 3rd devotion from Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotion, author Paul David Tripp wrote, “God calls us to represent Him in this fallen world not because we are able but because He is.” When Moses found himself before the burning bush in Exodus 3-4, he was filled with excuses on how God made a mistake calling him to face the Egyptians and to free His people in Egypt.
Moses does what many of us do. God calls us or leads us to do something and we pull out the “Excuses-to-use” book. “I’m insignificant.” “I can’t talk.” “They won’t believe me.” “Send someone else.” Excuse after excuse. Comparison. Feeling inadequate. All in an attempt to avoid heeding God’s call.
Over the years I’ve learned something important. God doesn’t call people because they are multi-talented; can woo the socks off people; are a good fund-raiser; have an outgoing personality; or any other welcome trait that we put a premium on. No, God actually uses people who are not full of themselves. He’s not looking for those who think they are God’s gift to the human race. He is looking for people who are willing to be used. Those who realize they are nothing and can do nothing without Him.
He’s looking for people who are humble and small and willing to follow and trust Him. Hmmm. Seems to me like the precedent was set over 2000 years ago by a baby in a manger.
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Tags: Christian Living, Christmas, God's Plan, Humility, Jesus, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Story, Usefullness
Written by Bill Grandi on December 4th, 2024
Learning Journal #5: WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE…
…is dying
…has died
…has a long-term illness
…has dementia or Alzheimer’s
…turns his/her back on their faith
…comes out of the closet sexually
…disowns you or turns against you
…makes bad decisions
As one can imagine, the scenarios would never stop. Those are just the tip of the iceberg.
Funny thing (not ha-ha funny) is that many are either too hard to answer or really have no answer. The hard truth is that sometimes there is no answer, or at least, an easy one. But there are people who think they have the answer. But, generally, they don’t have answers. They have cliches.
- “God is good all the time; all the time God is good.” I cannot even begin to tell you how annoying that is. Let me use one word: REAL. It’s not that it isn’t true. It is to an extent. But you just don’t go spouting that cliche off to a parent whose child announced he/she is leaving the faith or is seeking gender surgery or cancer has been found. Or a man’s wife stares back at him with no recollection of who he is. Yeah…not good words to say carelessly.
- “Praise the Lord anyhow!” No. Curse Him is what we really feel like doing. The last thing God wants for us to do is pretend all is well. He will be there as we continue soothing our heart and working through our pain and seeking His will.
You get my drift. Sometimes we are just better off keeping our words and cliches to ourselves. Sometimes all that other person needs is for someone to just show up. Galatians 6:2 says, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” (NLT) Doesn’t get much plainer than that.
And you don’t even need to use words.
{Note: if you get a chance check out this post I read the other day. It says it much better than I can}
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Tags: Christian Living, Cliches, God's Plan, Hurting, Kindness, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Suffering, Sympathy, Truth Telling
Written by Bill Grandi on December 3rd, 2024
Learning Journal #4: VARIABLE SPEED REQUIRED
I am not ADHD- not by a long shot. But I guess I can be mistaken for that occasionally, When I get involved in something, I get involved-sometimes too quickly, too obsessively, and too energetically. This can lead to rash actions (unfortunately) and also hurt feelings.
Case in point: After having the knee replacement on November 11th, I have what could be called “cabin fever.” (It is 11/23 as I write this particular entry). I call it “a desire to get out of the house.” Jo calls it “pushing it.” You can see the source of conflict already without me saying so. Can’t you? I went to my first post-op yesterday (22nd) with the surgeon and his PA gave me some freedom. I can start going to the office. I can go to the Y as long as I’m careful (I can walk and do upper body strength conditioning. Sadly, no bike yet). I immediately began talking about going to the office next week and the Y. That met with resistance even though the PA said I could. Me? I want to dive all the way in.
Jesus told a parable in Matthew 13 about a farmer sowing seed. Some seed fell on hard ground; some on rocky soil; some among thorns; and some on good soil. That second soil is what I have in mind. There are some who hear the Word and it sprouts up. They grow like wildfire. But they grew too fast without getting roots. The plant soon wilts-they soon wilt-because of the heat. I’m eager to get my life back to the way it was. I’m ready to get back all gung-ho. Meanwhile, I have someone putting on the brakes, someone (whom I think) wants to clip my wings. In all honesty, I really do believe she has my best interest in mind. 🙂 I guess there needs to be a happy medium?
BTW: I won’t even tell you when the PA told me I could start driving again, nor will I tell you Jo’s reaction! 🙂 🙂
{Note: I did honor Jo and waited until the 25th to make my first trip to the Y. We attended worship with the church family together on the 24th and left after I had a chance to visit for a few minutes and the music started for the start of the second service (and I used the walker for safety’s sake). I did go to a staff meeting on Wednesday, the 27th. My first time driving was the 27th}.
FREEDOM!!
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Tags: Christian Living, God's Plan, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Scripture look, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on December 2nd, 2024
December 2nd! Hard to believe, isn’t it, that Christmas is a mere 23 days away. In the church world, we have already begun preparing for that day. In yesterday’s message, I made a statement that I firmly believe in. It is one, I said, you can drive a nail through. That statement was God remembers His promises; God remembers His people.
Due to a messed up sleep schedule from the knee surgery, as well as rehab appointments in the early morning, I have had to adjust my time when I have my daily devotions. But I have still tried to stay on track each day. For this season, part of my time is using Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotional by Paul David Tripp. Keeping in mind the statement I made yesterday in my message, this is what Tripp’s December 2nd devotion said:
“When I read the story of Abraham and Sarah’s long wait for a promised son, I think of another Son that was promised. The hope of the world rested on the shoulders of this promised Son, but as century followed century, it seemed as though this Son would never come. But one night in a stable in Bethlehem, to a lowly carpenter and his wife the promised Messiah came. Nothing in all of those centuries that has passed was able to stop the promised of God. Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, the Lamb, the Savior was born at just the right time to provide justification, reconciliation, forgiveness, and new life to all who believe. God’s promises are not limited by human weakness or the passage of time. Don’t give way to fear; God will do what He has promised to do.”
Those words by PDT simply confirm what I said. God remembers His promises; God remembers His people. Long thought forsaken, God’s people had virtually given up looking for their Messiah. But God was not done yet. He brought to fruition every word He ever said; every act He ever did; every feast ever enacted, by the birth of a tiny baby in the city of Bethlehem. God in the flesh, the Messiah, Jesus.
My hope and prayer for you and for me is that the awareness of God’s gift becomes even more alive in us as we celebrate His birth this month.
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Tags: Christmas, God's Plan, Jesus, Opinion, Reflection, Truth
Written by Bill Grandi on November 27th, 2024
This will be my last Learning Journal entry for this week. I’m going to do tomorrow what we all should be doing: laying aside our devices, our social media fetish, and our “all things tech” obsession and spend time with family and friends. I have some more Learning Journal entries written and will just carry them over to next week. Here is Learning Journal entry #3: SLOW AND STEADY.
One week before my surgery, one of the teenage girls in the church family had hip surgery. Some of it was from birth (her hip socket was not round and each time she ran or rotated that hip friction and erosion happened), and some of it was from a TKD opponent in class who did what he was not supposed to do-grab a kick and twist her. Anyway, she has hip surgery and one week later mine followed.
She has a blog she writes on Substack (carefully monitored by her parents…yay for them!) and in one of her posts she talked about slow and steady. I commented that slow and steady is most definitely the road back to health. I know for myself I have experienced some frustration after exercising religiously and therapy that it is not progressing as quickly as I would like.
Slow and steady. These exercises hurt. Slow and steady. I don’t want to use the walker. Slow and steady. Get me that cane! Slow and steady. I’d sure like to go to the office. Slow and steady. I want to drive. Slow and steady. I want to go to the Y. Slow and steady.
Sort of reminds me of the Christian walk. When a person come to Christ, no one should expect a spiritual giant in a week. Least of all, that person himself/herself. And yet, we sometimes get frustrated because we aren’t moving as fast we we want or think we should. Slow and steady are the words to keep in mind. Plus…give yourself some grace!! 🙂
Another factor to keep in mind is we will not always be on an upward trajectory. Ups and downs. Plateaus. Spurts and stops are all a part of the growth process. I’m reminded of the words of Colossians 2:6-7: “And now, just as you accepted Christ as Lord…Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (NLT) These verses are a reminder that life in Christ is a slow growth process. Roots don’t grow deep overnight.
Sort of like slow and steady.
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Tags: Growth, Lifestyle, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Scripture look, Slow and Steady, Story, Suffering, Surrender, Trials
