Written by Bill Grandi on July 2nd, 2024
I recently read the following quote in my reading:
“If God is small enough to be understood, he wouldn’t be big enough to be worshiped.” (Quote by Evelyn Underhill found in Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia by Dr. John Dunlop, MD.-p.160)
One of the biggest challenges (I think) of the Christian faith that many face, indeed many seekers, is understanding God. Take, for instance, the quote from Ms. Underhill. The very real truth is this: if we could understand God, then He is not God.
Psalm 115:3-9 says, “Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. 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. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. O Israel, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield.” (NLT) The psalmist is comparing idols made with hands with the God he worshiped. There is no comparison! And that is his point. There’s no one like our God.
Lamentations 3:22-24 says, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!'” (NLT) Just take a look at the God who is above all:
- His steadfast covenant love never ends.
- He keeps His promises.
- His compassion never ends.
- His mercy is renewed every morning.
- His faithfulness to His promises is greater than our sin.
- Hope is a gift to us when we remember Whom we serve.
Do not try to figure God out. Like Isaiah 40:18 asks, “To whom can you compare God?” Verse 25 asks, “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. I’ll save you time and trouble trying to answer that: NO ONE.
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Tags: Christian Living, God, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Worship
Written by Bill Grandi on July 1st, 2024
“You take the high road and I’ll take the high road.”
Of course, that is not how it goes. Frankly, only in a song does anyone want to take the low road. That’s like saying, “You take the mountain and I’ll take the valley” says no on ever. Most people want to stay on the mountain top and not find themselves in the valley.
However, consider what Billy Graham is credited with saying: “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.” Growth in our character and relationships, both with others and with God, often occur in the valley. It is nice to be on the mountaintop where inspiration and nearness can be fostered, but it is in the valley where we find our “true faith.” Maybe the better way to put it is in the valley we find out how real our faith is.
On the mountaintop it is easy to have the answers. Things are good. Life is good. In many ways, life is also easy. We find a “big” God, One who says He can meet all our needs. It is easy to believe that when we are “in the clouds.” I would go away to camp or some youth conference and sense God’s presence as never before. But when I got back home and got back into the trenches is where I found out whether what I believed and experienced was true or not. I found out if the God I worshiped on the mountaintop was the same God in the valley. Is God sufficient for all my needs? Is God’s strength able to sustain me when things aren’t looking so good or when life gets a tad bit rough?
We won’t find out the answers to those questions by staying on the mountaintop-no matter how much we like it there. “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can understand the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall into exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT)
The only way to learn the truth of those words is in the valley. Don’t fear the valley.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Suffering, Surrender, Trials
Written by Bill Grandi on June 27th, 2024
All people matter to God, therefore they should matter to us.
Lately I’ve been reading a book on dementia entitled Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia by John Dunlop, MD. Because it seems to be becoming a bigger issue these days, I thought I’d read up on it and learn more. It has been an eye-opening book (in a good way). Over and over Dr Dunlop has emphasized the importance of dignity for the dementia sufferer, as well as it’s kissing cousin, Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Dunlop is a committed Christ-follower so his perspective is different than many in the medical field. Instead of writing them off as a “nuisance” and a “bother” for others, especially their caregivers, he pushes the belief that showing them dignity is first and foremost. One very helpful section is found on pages 123-125 where he gives a number of practical way we can express dignity. He does it from the perspective of entering their “world.”
But this devotion is not a book review. While he has obviously focused his attention on the dementia patient, I couldn’t help but make the correlation to others in our sphere on influence. Each person we come in contact with should be deemed a person who matters. Whether it is the same sex, ethnicity, color, position in life, or social status, we need to, no, we must see them as people who hold special importance in God’s eye. As a Christ-follower that means they must hold importance in my eyes as well. We may not always agree, we may not always get along, we may butt heads from time to time, but that should not change how much each of us should matter.
In James 2 James warns the church about choosing sides and showing preference to one group over another. He says it is a shame and a black mark to do so (my loose translation). Jesus Himself told the parable of the Good Samaritan and showed how a man who was hated because of his ethnicity was actually more of a brother than the so-called “religious people.”
We have all seen people snubbed because of political affiliation. We have all seen people snubbed because of color. We have all seen people snubbed because of sexual orientation. We have all seen people snubbed because of status. We have all seen people snubbed because of a medical condition. It is ugly. Like I said, I may not agree with someone’s opinion or lifestyle, and can’t compromise the truth, but at the same time that gives me NO RIGHT to denigrate or write someone off as being persona non grata because we are different.
Dementia patients deserve loving treatment. We all do. Let’s begin to give dignity to others. Let’s begin to treat others as we would like to be treated.
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Tags: Alzheimer's, Choices, Christian Living, Church, Dementia, Dignity, Friendship, Jesus, Kindness, Lifestyle, Love, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Truth Telling
Written by Bill Grandi on June 26th, 2024
Remember Groundhog Day?
No, not the day Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) is supposed to be able to accurately predict the weather. The folklore goes like this: if he sees his shadow and returns to his hole we are supposed to have 6 more weeks of winter-like weather. If he doesn’t see his shadow we are supposed to have an early spring. As I said it is folklore, and I personally put no stock in it, especially “since when can the weatherman can predict the weather” according to Doc Brown.
I’m speaking more of the movie where Bill Murray’s character (Phil) is stuck in the same day over and over. Have you ever felt like you have lived this day before?
In March of 2023 an EF-3 tornado tore through McCormick’s Creek State Park and destroyed the camping sites. The tornado never landed but the vortex created by the winds sucked everything up and out and threw trees and campers around like they were toys. As chaplain for the Owen County Sheriff’s Department I was a witness to the destruction. The tornado did land just outside of Spencer and destroyed homes, farm equipment, and everything in its path. On June 25, 2023 another weather event went through Spencer that included huge hail and damaging winds. I was visiting in a hospital outside Indy and never encountered it, until I got back home and saw the destruction to the trees, landscape, cars (wife and daughter’s and others) and the house (it put a hole through the roof and went into the attic) and fence. Remember that date: June 25.
Yesterday was June 25, 2024. Guess what happened? Well…not quite the destructive weather event but it had the potential of being one. Fortunately, all we experienced were high winds, rain that came down so hard it was scary, thunder and lightning, and a power outage that lasted about 5-6 hours. Earlier in the day, on our way back from St. Louis, Tami reminded me of the hail storm we had one year ago on June 25th. It came up on her memories on Facebook (whatever that means). 🙂
Memories are good…sometimes. Sometimes being reminded of things is not only good, but essential. This morning I was reading Psalm 106. The psalmist is in a reminiscent mood and he is reminding his readers of the history involving the people of Israel, starting with their escape from Egypt. Throughout the chapter he reminds his readers how God came through for them but how unfaithful they were. His purpose? “Save us, O Lord our God! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.” (Verse 47- NLT)
Remembering is good, especially when it comes to remembering the goodness of God. THAT we must never forget! Take some time today to remember God’s goodness.
One more thing: can we just skip June 25 next year? 🙂
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Tags: Christian Living, God, God's goodness, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on June 24th, 2024
“Welcome to Pioneer Days.”
Those were the words I greeted people with yesterday. No, we didn’t have a dress-up Sunday. And no, Jesse James, Wild Bill, or any other cowboy came to visit. What made it like Pioneer Days was at 8:00 am
THE POWER WENT OUT.
I haven’t heard the exact cause although I have heard of a tree across a power line a few miles down the road, but then I heard of others who didn’t have power. One lives a good 10-15 miles from the church building and another lives a little over two the opposite direction. The people at the first service were real troopers and so we soldiered on. We sang with minimum instrumentation. We sang without the words on the screen (Power Point). I preached holding a little light in my hand so I could see my notes and Bible (that was weird). And by the time we were done the temperature and humidity in the building had become a sauna-like existence. It was so bad that even those who always come up to speak to me afterwards or to give me a hug left without doing either. I told someone I sure am glad I used deodorant and body spray! 🙂 Gail spoke to me. She said, “It used to be we didn’t have A/C in our houses and survived. Now we can barely function without it.” (Comments paraphrased). She’s right you know?
I am really proud of the folks from OVCF. I do feel bad for the first-time visitors we had. But then again, they did see us “trooper on.”
Back to my opening comment. It sure makes one wonder how in the world they did it back in Pioneer Days. No air. No fans. No electricity. Maybe because of that they could better manage a day like yesterday. Hot, humid, with temps in the 80s-90s. But we survived without power instruments. Without Power Point. Without air. Without lights. Without fans. I knew those bulletins we use are more than just to make our Bibles look thick. 🙂 Oh…five minutes after I gave the benediction the power came back on in time for a cool down for the second service.
Thankfully, our worship is not dependent on modern conveniences to be worship. Simple. Singularly focused. God-honoring. That is all we had…but that was enough.
{Note: There will be no meditation tomorrow. For a belated birthday present, we are taking Tami to see her beloved Atlanta Braves (cough cough) see the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis. We will be leaving this morning (Monday) and returning tomorrow. Your prayers for a safe trip would be appreciated). One good thing: I am wearing Pittsburgh Pirate shirt. 🙂 }
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Tags: Church, God's Plan, God's Word, Leadership, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Worship
Written by Bill Grandi on June 20th, 2024
Jeremiah fought for all he was worth! No, not a UFC no-holds-barred kind of fight. Unless you are talking about a spiritual battle.
In Jeremiah 1:17-19 we find these words: “Get up and prepare for action…Do not be afraid of them. For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall…They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (I wrote about that in my June 18th post). But that was just the beginning. In 7:1-8:3, we find one of the biggest issues Jeremiah has to fight through: faulty religion. Strangely enough, what Jeremiah had to fight with is not a lot different than today.
Here is a short analysis:
- Faulty religion trusts in external observances and institutions. Too many today think going to church, maybe lifting their hands, or putting money in the coffer is all they need to do. Trouble is: one can do all of that, and more, without one bit of heart.
- Faulty religion exhibits ungodly behavior. I remember joking as a teenager with my classmates who were of a certain religion. They could party Friday night, go to church on Saturday morning and take care of things, then “go parking” on Saturday night and feel as thought they were alright. After all, they had “done their duty.” There is something wrong with that picture.
- Faulty religion turns its back on God instructions. Jer. 7:13 says, “While you were doing these wicked things, says the Lord, I spoke to you about it repeatedly, but you would not listen. I called out to you, but your refused to answer.” (NLT). How often do we do “our own thing”? God’s Word is seen as a killjoy to our lifestyle.
It’s easy to allow what could and should be a vibrant, alive, and life-changing faith to become old or even misdirected. Let’s challenge ourselves to not allow our faith to become an outward thing but to be a “heart thing.”
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Tags: Christian Living, God, God's Word, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Religion, Scripture look, Sin, Spiritual battle, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on June 19th, 2024
In my daily reading through the New Testament, I have hit the book of Revelation. Ironically, I will finish a series of preaching on Revelation during the months of July and August. I’m not bragging. I started it in January of 2023. Yes, you read that right. 2023! 🙂 I interrupted it a lot but decided I need to finish it. Anyway…I read chapters 2 & 3 yesterday and today. If I had a guess I would say those two chapters may be the most preached-on section of Revelation.
Those two chapters contain the letters to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Here is a short synopsis:
- All have a pastor- “The the angel of church…”
- All but one (Laodicea) have something good said about them.
- Two have good but no wrong said about them (Smyrna and Philadelphia)
- All are fighting false teachers/teachings except Sardis and Laodicea.
I would suspect Laodicea hits us the hardest in our day and age. “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Rev. 3:15-16 (NLT)
When I cycle, I carry two insulated bottles on my bike. One is filled with water; the other is filled with some type of electrolyte drink. I freeze them ahead of time so I have a cold drink on the ride. Every once in a while I will misjudge the water thawing. The electrolyte replacement drink gets consumed first, then comes the water. But occasionally, the water has lost its ice and is lukewarm. I tell myself, “At least its wet,” but it is blah and so unsatisfying I can’t wait to finish and get a real drink of cold, fresh water.
The letter to the church at Ephesus was not a compliment, it was a judgment. But with the judgment comes a reminder: “Get with the program. Stop faking it. Stop riding the fence. I’m knocking asking you to let me in. If you do, and set your heart on me, I’ll be glad to have you join Me at a meal.”
To sit with Him at a meal, to chat with Him; to discuss life with Him, sounds really good! I think I’ll take Him up on His offer to catch fire.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Word, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Surrender
Written by Bill Grandi on June 18th, 2024
It has been a wild ride the past few weeks. The church family I pastor is small compared to many other churches (just under 200), but we have seen our share of deaths, sickness, cancer, hardship, testings, and all things “human.” Just because we are followers of Jesus does not make us exempt from any of that, in spite of the heretical ramblings of the health/wealth crowd.
We have not been immune from it personally either. Years ago in a time of seeking direction during a tough season, I ran across Jeremiah 1:17-19. A little background makes this poignant. Jeremiah’s ministry occurred during a hard time, days when Judah sank into chaos morally and politically. The kings were worthless and ungodly. Jerusalem fell and Jeremiah suffered. Like Jeremiah, we don’t get to pick our times or circumstances. Our job is to follow. It was during a tough time when God told Jeremiah the following words and then also led me to the following verses: “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land-the king, officials, priests, and people of Judah. They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (NLT)
Those words were like gold to me at the time I found them. They still are. Take a moment to read that Scripture again and then take note of what He tells Jeremiah and then ask how it applies to you. When I feel overwhelmed by life’s circumstances and battles, these words dig down deep into my soul. I hope they do the same for you today.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God, God's Strength, Ministry, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Suffering
Written by Bill Grandi on June 17th, 2024
This past weekend was one of milestones for me. Three to be exact. I’ll go from Good, to Better, to Best.
Milestone #1– Although mostly meaningless to many of you, I reached my first 20 mile ride of the season. I have slowly been building my mileage throughout this season, although it has never been this late when I have hit this marker. But life happens. A tsunami-like work schedule, weird weather (so far lots of rain), family commitments, knee issues and age (71) have all played havoc with my riding routine. It got so bad that I even road one morning this past week in 40 degree weather! I slightly under-dressed for that one and got back to the office with my hands not working very well (I couldn’t move them). This past Saturday I hit the 20 mile marker. It was a pretty good day for a ride. Hot (which I like) and a tad bit windy. But I survived. 🙂
Milestone #2– Father’s Day. 49 years ago and 44 years (almost 45) ago, I became a father. Tami and Janna have been the two blessings in my life I would never want to have been without. And then Janna blessed me with being a grandfather almost 18 years ago (October). Braden has been a highlight of my time here on earth. I realize not all can say the same about their children and grandchildren, but I thank God every day for these three gifts God gave me.
Milestone #3– This one is THE highlight of my milestones, the coup de grace of blessings. June 16, 1973 is when Jo and I were married. So yesterday, June 16th, was our 51st anniversary. We have been through a lot; have had our share of ups and downs; moved when we didn’t want to and moved when we did; celebrated the highlights and mourned the low-lights (the death of our parents for one); and we did it together. People find it incredible when I say we have never had an argument, but then I remind them we have had lots of quiet nights. 🙂 She has hopefully seen the transformation of an arrogant, opinionated, know-it-all into a man whose heart beats with love for God and for the people He has entrusted to me in my role as pastor/shepherd. At 71 I still have a passion for my work and want to continue doing this until God says, “Enough.” But more than that I want to be known as a man who loved His God first and foremost, loved his children, loved his grandson, loved the church he is now serving, but most of all, loved his wife and was an example of a godly husband, father, grandfather, pastor and man.
Will there be more milestones? I certainly hope so. But only the Father knows (and He ain’t telling). Meanwhile, I want to live my life with purpose and meaning and to live it well.
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Tags: Anniversary, Christian Living, Family, Father, Leadership, Marriage, Opinion, Parenting, Reflection, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on June 13th, 2024
I read in the past, and again recently, the following story:
A fisherman who caught crabs would keep them in a bucket without a lid. Someone noticed this and asked him, “Don’t you have to keep a lid on that bucket?”
He said, “No, they never get out.”
“Why? Because they can’t get out?”
“No,” he said. “When one crab tries to go over the side, the others reach up and pull him back down.”
When I read that I thought, “How much like humans that is.” We can’t hardly stand to watch someone, especially a rival, get ahead of us. We turn green with envy and jealousy and begin to think, “Hey! I deserve that. Not him. Not her. I put forth a lot of effort to get that.”
Envy is one of those things that we shoot at someone else and end up wounding ourselves.
Listen to these verses:
“The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Mt. 23:11-12
“There are six things the Lord hates-no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes…” Pr. 6:16-17a
“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Pr. 11:2
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.” Js. 4:6,10
There are tons more where those came from! Simple truth: God wants us to put the needs of others above our own, to love one another, to and care for one another. Envy, and its sister, jealousy are listed as works of the flesh in Galatians 5 and really have no place in the life of the Christ-follower. Let’s stop it before it takes root.
{Note: All Scripture is from the New Living Translation}
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Envy, Humility, Jealousy, Love, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin
