Written by Bill Grandi on February 14th, 2024
Have you ever noticed that there are typically two kinds of people dealing with Valentine’s Day? There are those to love it. They go all out-flowers, cards, eating out (or cooking a candlelight dinner…since when?). On the other hand are those who loathe the day. Love has left them high and dry. Disappointed. Broken.
Disregarding the love/loathe feelings, the idea behind the day-expressing love-is a good one (although it has become a tad bit too cheesy and commercial).
The very first date Jo and I went on was back in 1971, near the end of our freshman year in college. I borrowed a car and we were off to another town to see the movie everyone was raving about-Love Story-starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw. Without researching it I couldn’t tell you much about the movie except 3 things: 1) Ali was a beautiful woman; 2) I think she was dying; and 3) one of the stupidest statements about love came from that movie. That saying was “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
Say what? If that’s the case I’ve just wasted 50+ years of being married to the same woman! If I had a dollar for every time I have had to say, “I’m sorry” I could retire and live off the interest! I realize there are bullies and arrogant people who either blame others consistently or cannot look in the mirror and admit they make mistakes. But seriously? Never?
Love is an elusive definition. The Apostle Paul described love in perhaps the most recognized Scripture and description. He described love as being kind, patient, not jealous, not proud, not demanding, not a record-keeper, not a “rejoicer” in wrong but a “rejoicer” in truth. But even that falls short when you consider a cross on a hill when the perfect Lover gave His life for all people so sin can be defeated and death vanquished.
He never had to say, “I’m sorry.” But we who look at that cross should fall to our knees in tears and repentance with those two words flowing from our lips: “I’m sorry my sin put you there.”
After all, “No greater love has a man than this than a man lay down his life for his friends.” Happy real Valentine’s Day.
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Tags: Christian Living, Friendship, Humility, Jesus, Love, Opinion, Reflection, Story, Valentine's Day
Written by Bill Grandi on February 13th, 2024
On my mind this morning when I woke up; when I rode my bike on my inside trainer; as I took a shower and dressed; and now as I sit and read my Bible at the table is a task-something I will do today…
I will attend a visitation and funeral of the friend of one of our new young ladies in the church.
She drank herself to death. That is harsh to say, I know, but even though only 30, her body said, “Enough.” It came to that point of her liver and kidneys failing due to alcohol abuse and past cancer treatments.
She is not alone. It is almost like an epidemic. People who lose hope. More specifically, young people who have lost hope. I guess we expect it more from an older person who can say, “I’ve lived my life. It is time for me to go.” But a young person? That cuts. Losing hope knows no age limits. It knows no status (Hollywood stars for example). It knows no financial acumen (the rich or the poor).
When did people lose hope? Please don’t fall back on COVID, although I am convinced it may have exacerbated it. Isolation. Loneliness. But I ask again: when did people lost hope? When did they lose sight of what David wrote: “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!”? (Ps. 139:17-18). Maybe a better question is, “Did they ever know they were valuable to God?”
There seems to be no doubt that we are living in a hopeless generation and it is tragic that so many are living in such despair that they either want to end it all, give up, or in the case like this just simply say, “What’s the use?” and stop fighting for life. If we could only get back to what David wrote earlier in Psalm 139: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” (verses 7-10). Those aren’t words of lament, of complaining about God’s presence. They are words of triumph. Of joy. Of hope.
Something there is just too little of these days. But something offered to us by the One who gave and gives us life.
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Presence, Grace, Hope, Hopelessness, Loneliness, Mercy, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on February 12th, 2024
Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. It is now part of what is being called President’s Day which is a celebration on February 19th, a conglomerate of Lincoln’s birthday and Washington’s birthday (22nd). I can remember when we used to celebrate them separately. Now I can’t even remember when that changed. Perhaps that happened when we got all “revisionist history?” I don’t know. My post today is not going to go down that rabbit trail.
Instead, Abraham Lincoln was known for making wise statements. I’d like to take a brief look at two of them.
One actually finds it roots in the Old Testament book of Proverbs. Lincoln once said, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Those words are very similar to those found in Proverbs 17:28.
The other is a bit more confrontive. With the Civil War spawning bitter feelings all across our country, Abe saw fit to speak a kind word about the south. A shocked bystander asked him how he could do that. His answer was poignant: “Madam, do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friend?”
Jesus once said, “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you.” (Mt. 5:43). “If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If you are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will reap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.” (Pr. 25:21-22).
Instead of responding tit for tat, let’s respond as Jesus has told us, and as Proverbs has encouraged us to. There is power in our actions…or inaction.
{Note: All Scripture is from the New Living Translation}
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Friendship, Jesus, Kindness, Mercy, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Seeking revenge
Written by Bill Grandi on February 8th, 2024
Something to think about: Someone has said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”
There is most definitely some truth to that. Proverbs 29:23 says, “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility bring honor.” When speaking to the proud and spiritually, self-righteous, arrogant Pharisees, Jesus said, “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). And, of course, I think most of us are familiar with the words “Pride goes before a fall.”
Humility is not an easy virtue to see, nor is it an easy one to manifest. One can’t go around saying or thinking, “I’m humble” because that defeats the whole thing. 🙂 I read that the Hebrew word for humility literally means “being aware of and comfortable with your place.” I like that because it says, “Where I am, there I am. I’m content with my space and don’t want yours.”
In the book of Genesis we find the story of the tower of Babel. In 11:4 they say, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous… (emphasis mine). It made them famous alright, just not in the way they thought or wanted. They should have stayed content in their space.
Today’s challenge: Don’t think less of yourself. Think of yourself less. See how it turns out and let me know.
{Note: All Scripture verses are from the New Living Translation}
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Tags: Christian Living, Humility, Leadership, Lifestyle, Opinion, Pride, Reflection
Written by Bill Grandi on February 7th, 2024
I’m convinced that one of the hardest things to do is for a person to forgive himself of past sins or discretions. I’m guessing we have all been there-either personally or with a friend or someone we know.
It might go something like this:
- Person: Does God forgive all my sin?
- You: Yes. I firmly believe He does.
- P: I’m not too sure about that.
- Y: Why?
- P: I’ve done some really bad things. If I told you everything, you would turn away from me or it would at least curl your insides.
- Y: Try me.
- P: I just couldn’t. You would no longer like me or want to be my friend.
- Y: First, that is not true. Second, what does my reaction have to do with God?
- P: Because He would turn away and say, “That’s too much. I just can’t.”
You can carry that conversation on if you like. I want to stop it and add my thoughts. This conversation or one like it, and the thought of that person, came to mind when I read Psalm 130:3-4 this morning. “Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.” Can it be any clearer? Consider I John 1:9 which says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
I relish the truth that God forgives and when He does He forgives totally and completely. No hanging on. No crossing His fingers. It is not only forgiven but also forgotten.
Now…if we can just forgive and remind ourselves of that.
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Tags: Christian Living, Forgiveness, Forgiving Self, God, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin
Written by Bill Grandi on February 6th, 2024
Have you ever heard of Judson Van Deventer? Neither had I. Or so I thought. It was not until I read -as Paul Harvey used to say, “The rest of the story”-that I knew more about him than I thought.
Born on a farm, JVD learned to paint, studied art, and became an art teacher. God, however, had different plans for him. Encouraged by his friends, Judson also felt called to evangelism. But it was hard for him to give up teaching art. He finally made his decision.
Following God is not always (like hardly ever) easy. Sometimes we are challenged to make tough choices. Our comfortable, sedentary life is uprooted. Even though we make the choice to follow Jesus and His call, there may still be moments of doubt and even anxiety.
Judson heeded God’s call. Later he went back to teaching. His decision to surrender even led to a song you may heard or sung: “All to Jesus I surrender/All to Him I freely give/I will ever love and trust Him/In His presence daily live/I surrender all, I surrender all/All to Thee my blessed Savior/I surrender all.”
Oh…and one more thing: remember when I said that Judson eventually went back into teaching? One of his students was a young man who name was…wait for it…Billy Graham.
I was speaking with someone yesterday about God’s plan for our life. About how His surprises are endless. And how His timing is impeccable. We never know…only He does.
{My thanks to Our Daily Bread for the story of JVD. The filler is mine}
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Tags: Christian Living, God's Plan, God's Timing, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Story, Surrender
Written by Bill Grandi on February 5th, 2024
I was sick last week. Sick as in I slept a lot. It all started Sunday. By the end of the second service, I was losing my voice. That Sunday night at our small group, my voice was raspy. Monday morning saw me with barely a voice but also coughing some. Not a lot but enough to say, “Hey! Something is going on here.” So I went to the office Monday morning and after staff meeting (in a large room) I went home. I slept most of the afternoon. I NEVER do that. I slept the night with help from that “sneezing, stuffy nose…medicine.” I went to the office in the early morning but left before anyone got there. I came home and slept for 2 hours. Ditto for Wednesday morning except I felt a ton better. So much so, I rode my bike inside for 50 minutes. Thursday was much of the same. Early morning office. Go home. I went to the Y at lunchtime to work out some stiffness then went to the quiet office in the afternoon. I stayed away from people as much as possible because what is going around is some kind of virus/flu that is passed on rather easily. I call it the creeping crud. I say all that to share with you some lessons I learned.
First, I’m not young anymore (as if…). I can’t burn the candle at both ends and not run out of steam. Jo kept asking me to slow down but it was like talking to a deaf man. My thinking was I riding my bike inside; I was going to the Y; I was sleeping (somewhat); I was taking my vitamins and immune supplements; that should keep me healthy. No, sometimes the body says, “No more.” Mine said that plus “You are now going to sleep.”
Second, sometimes if you don’t listen to your body, there are stronger forces to deal with. Namely, God. Sometimes God slows a person down because He needs us (me) to listen. Sadly, in my burning the candle at both ends lifestyle, I was failing to listen to Him. Not only did He need me to take time with Him, I think He also was giving me some time to read an all-important book I had been waiting for over 3 months for. (I pre-ordered it last year). I got it read and it knocked my socks off. The book, by the way, is The Deconstruction of Christianity by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett. 253 pages of a phenomenal read. With my previous schedule it would have taken me weeks to read it. With being at home, not having a TV in my ManCave, I was able to read. The only interruption was an occasional snooze here and there. 🙂
Third, you learn the value of others. Chairs and tables that had been set up, but needed to be taken back down because I had to cancel class, were done by my two co-workers. I’m grateful for them picking up the slack.
I’m back to work this Monday morning. I’m still not back to normal (whatever that might be). Rumor has it this thing hangs on awhile. Hopefully, I’m a little wiser. At least just a smidge.
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Tags: God's Plan, Lessons Learned, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Reflection, Sickness, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on February 2nd, 2024
Watching a child learn to walk is an experience worth having. The first steps are a major accomplishment and come with some pain (on the child’s part as he/she falls and on yours was you watch it). When they do take those first fledgling steps I’m not sure who is more excited-the parents or the child. Of course, there will be challenges and failures (more of the latter to start with), and we expect that. The progression from those first tentative steps to wobbling to more steadiness to running to jogging to sprinting and then to long-distance running is fun to watch.
As in life, so in the Christian walk. Life is not at a standstill. If it is, the person is in deep trouble.
By the same token, if the church is not helping lives to be changed, it is in a rut also. Understand, I don’t believe the church changes lives. Jesus does that. And only Him. But we have a hand in it. if we are not reaching out and spreading the message of the Gospel, then as Paul asks in Romans 10, “How can they hear unless someone tells them?” It is also important to see that we who name the name of Christ, who claim Him as our Savior also change. To remain the same is like a child learning to walk and at the age of 10 still holding onto furniture, taking a step or two and then falling, rolling over to their knees and getting back up. We would be concerned…as well we should.
I’m continuing my series on WELCOME HOME…where…
- The Gospel is Preached
- Jesus is Honored
- Grace is Offered
This week’s message is WELCOME HOME…where…
LIVES ARE CHANGED
Join us in person or via live stream at 9:00 or 10:45. We would love to hear from you.
Posted in InTheShadow | Comments Off on #LivesAreChanged
Tags: Christian Living, God's Plan, Jesus, Leadership, Ministry, Opinion, Preaching topic, Reflection
Written by Bill Grandi on February 1st, 2024
I read a heartwarming story of a college basketball star (no name given) who stayed behind after the game to help with the clean up of empty cups and food wrappers. A fan posted a video and more than 80 thousand people viewed it. One person commented, “[The young man] is one of the most humble guys you will ever meet in your life.” It would have been more expected of that young man to go out and celebrate rather than to do clean up work.
That young man learned two words which are rapidly becoming non-existent in our culture: humility and service. And they go hand in hand. While beating the chest and wagging hands and fingers as though asking for and collecting applause are what is seen (and expected from the player), humility and service paint a different picture. While “thug-ball” and “stop-em-in-the-ground ball” and “how-much-money-can-I-make” ball is all the rage, off to the side is the humble one quietly doing his/her job with an attitude of a servant.
Oops, I said that wrong. I’m not allowed to call myself or anyone else a servant these days. It is demeaning. It is a slap in the face. It is misogyny. My one word response? Hogwash. It is not demeaning to be a servant. In fact, I’ll venture so far as to say we need it more now than ever. We have gone so far…down I might add…when we consider being called a servant is demeaning or any of the other adjectives you can use.
Me? I want that. After all, the One I gladly serve and call Lord, the Greatest Man who has ever lived or ever will live (Jesus) once said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Call me a humble servant. Please. There is no greater compliment.
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Please don’t forget to check out my review of Granger Smith’s book Like a River at my other blog, Cycleguy’s Spin.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, Humility, Jesus, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Servant, Service, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on January 31st, 2024
I did a review of Country Music star, Granger Smith’s book Like a River on my other site, Cycleguy’s Spin. It will post today. I’d like to ask you to visit that site and see what is so special about this book (especially since I am not a Country Music fan). 🙂
One of the recurring theme in Psalms is “God’s faithful love endures forever.” I just started reading Psalm 119 this morning as I journey through Psalms (it is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible) and the number of times it speaks of “God’s faithful love endures forever” in the previous 118 chapters would take a lot more meticulous work than I am able to give to it. But Psalm 136 take the prize. 26 verses = 26 times it says, “His faithful love endures forever.”
That may not seem significant to you at the moment, but I ask that you read the story of Abram and Sarai (later to become Abraham and Sarah) in Genesis 12-23. Pay particular attention to Sarah. She lived in a time when it was a disgrace not to have a child. Year after year she longed for and waited to have a child, especially when one had been promised. Shen she and Abraham are told they would have a son and that Abraham’s seed would be as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Oh the joy! Until days turn into months; months turn into years; years turn into decades; and decades turned into Sarah being 89 and Abraham 100. Still without a child. She had tried earlier to take matters into her own hands by giving her handmaid, Hagar, to Abraham. Ishmael was born but he was not the promised child and it didn’t bring Sarah the satisfaction she thought it would. In fact, it led to conflict so strong that Hagar and Ishmael had to leave. Much of the Middle East issues are a result of this child. Finally, at the age of 89 and Abraham at 100, the promised child was born. They named him Isaac.
My purpose in this devotion is not to get into a discussion of the Middle East conflict and how Sarah’s efforts have a direct bearing on them. No…my point is to talk about “God’s faithful love endures forever.” Even through Sarah’s conniving and wondering, God’s faithful love endured. He promised. He delivered.
The same God of Abraham and Sarah is the same God today. His faithful love endures forever, even when we don’t see. Sarah didn’t but even in spite of her missteps, she clung to the promise of a son. She clung to the truth that God would keep His word. Those same words are for us today: God’s faithful love endures forever. So don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t throw your hands up in despair. He is a God of His word.
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Tags: Christian Living, God, God's Plan, God's Word, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Scripture look
