Written by Bill Grandi on December 29th, 2023
The final Sunday of 2023 is rapidly approaching. I know…hard to believe. Right? But it is a fact that Christmas is over and 2024 is staring us right in the eyeballs. In a few days people will be staying up and watching the ball drop. The only thing I watch drop is my eyelids as I go to bed at my normal time. Usually that time is around 9:00. I may actually push it to 10:00 but I’m not counting on it. 🙂
This sermon ends my theme of VICTORY for 2023. It has been an interesting year in many ways. I took my first ever foray into preaching on Revelation. I started it on January 8 and preached to the end of February. I took a break for the months of March and April to take a look at Characters of Easter, then preached some on Joshua as I focused on Mother’s and Father’s Day. In July and August I went back to Revelation and got to chapter 13. During that time Pastor Ryan and his family took a 7 week sabbatical. It was a super busy time for me, but I was able to be involved in some of the young people’s ballgames (I loved it). In September and October I preached a much-needed series on The God We Worship which culminated in the church’s 19th anniversary. During the months of November and December I honed in on More Than a Holiday (Thanksgiving and Christmas being more than a holiday on the calendar).
And here I am…the last Sunday in 2023 and finishing up by asking “What Does it all Mean?” You can visit my other blog, Cycleguy’s Spin, for a more complete idea of the sermon. I’d like to invite you to visit us online or in person this Sunday (if you live in or around Spencer or if you are visiting McCormick’s Creek State Park). We would love to have you. We have two services: on at 9:00 and one at 10:45. Both are live streamed.
Have a good end of the year and may your 2024 bring you closer to Jesus. I will talk about the theme for 2024 in next week’s post on the Sunday gathering.
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Tags: Christian Living, Christmas, Doctrine, God's Plan, Reflection, Sermon Series
Written by Bill Grandi on December 28th, 2023
I had some trouble this morning. I had some trouble making a decision. No, it wasn’t whether to get out of bed or not. 🙂 And no, it was not earth-shattering, ground-breaking, or even life-changing. It really should have been a simple one. You see, every other month I read Proverbs. The chapter I read corresponds with the day. In other words, today is the 28th so I read chapter 28. Each time I read I highlight a different verse with a different color. (I recently found Mr. Pen Bible Safe Highlighters to be fantastic with no bleed through). Back to earth, Bill. Proverbs 28 is filled with so many verses I could highlight that I couldn’t make a quick decision. Here are just a couple:
28:2- “When there is moral rot in a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.” Need I say more?
28:6- “Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.” Hmmm. That sets your mind back a bit.
28:7- “Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.” Choose friends wisely.
28:13- “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” Shades of Psalm 51.
There are more and I would encourage you to read the chapter. Slowly. Savoring it. But, here is the verse I settled on this morning: “Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.” (v.25)
Some would look at that verse and their eyes will light up at the latter part. “See? Prosperity is promised.” But the whole verse must be considered, not just a section. “Greed causes fighting.” Put a nail through that section. “I want.” -> “Step aside.” (or step on/over) -> “I get.” That is a recipe for disaster. And that is exactly the point of that first section. James 4:1-2 says, “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have…”
The core issue is greed, selfishness. The rest of that verse simply says if we take our eyes off ourselves and trust we will know true wealth. Can there be anything better than true reliance on the Source?
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Generosity, Greed, Lifestyle, Mercy, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look
Written by Bill Grandi on December 27th, 2023
I had totally planned as I sat down for my Encounter Time this morning to write about the aftermath of Christmas. What’s it like? Why do we feel let down? How can we overcome this “down” affect?
But then I read a psalm this morning. Psalm 51 to be exact. For those who don’t know, Psalm 51 was written by David after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, her husband (and his subsequent cover up). Having his sin exposed to him by Nathan, the prophet, David fell to his knees. Psalm 51 is the result of that guilt and repentance. You can read the whole sordid story of David and Bathsheba and the surrounding events in 2 Samuel 11-12.
I thought I would hit the highlights of Psalm 51. This is, by no means, exhaustive. Please just keep in mind that David was living in guilt and shame for his actions. His words speak to all of us:
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.” David knew where and to Whom He needed to go. He relied on God’s unfailing love.
“Wash me clean from my guilt.” There it is! The albatross around his neck and heart.
“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Sin had left its crimson stain as an old hymn says. He needed the stain removed. He needed to be cleansed as white as newly fallen snow.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit in me.” A clean heart wasn’t enough. His whole “self” needed cleansed and redirected.
“Restore to me the joy of my salvation.” It is important to see that sin didn’t cause him to lose his salvation, but he did lose the JOY of it. One can’t enjoy something if guilt is hanging around.
“Forgive me for shedding blood.” David realized there was more than just adultery involved. Murder was too. He needed forgiven and cleansed for that.
He ends with a statement: “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
The road to healing; the road to forgiveness; the road to a renewed and restored relationship with the Father begins with a repentant heart. I don’t know if you needed this today or not. If you don’t then please feel free to pass it along to someone who may. If you do, may you have the restored joy which comes from a renewed relationship with God. End the old year and start the new year with a clean slate.
All Scripture is from the New Living Translation.
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Tags: Christian Living, Forgiveness, Grace, Guilt, Opinion, Reflection, Renewed, Restored, Scripture look, Shame, Sin, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on December 25th, 2023
Merry Christmas everyone! We left this morning for Ohio and will be home tomorrow so I’ll be taking a break from posting here. But due whether I will post this week or just include something about the sermon for Sunday. In either case, have a great week.
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Tags: Christmas, Miscellaneous, Reflection
Written by Bill Grandi on December 22nd, 2023
What do the Innkeeper, Herod and the Religious leaders all have in common? Well…I suspect the title of this post gave it away. They all missed Christmas. Well…not Christmas as we know it. Obviously. But they did miss the significance of the birth which took place right under their noses.
At the same time there are some who did not miss Christmas. The most obvious are Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men. But there were two who had waited a long time and finally saw their wait come to pass. I am, of course, talking about Simeon and Anna (See Luke 2:25-40 for their stories).
Back to the first three. This Sunday I will talking about how they missed Christmas and why. I thought I would give you a taste of what I will be saying.
1. The Innkeeper missed Christmas because he was too preoccupied. Have we gotten so preoccupied with life that we miss it?
2. Herod (and others like him) miss Christmas because they refuse to believe or they see Him as a threat. Like Scrooge, they work without a thought given to others or the true meaning of the season.
3. The religious leaders missed Christmas because of their religion. The big question-the huge question-is this: if the religious leaders knew of Messiah’s birth and where it was to take place, why did they not go with the magi or form a group to go together? I mean, if I had been looking for something to happen for years, and I knew it was prophesied to happen, why would I stay home? Surely they had some curiosity. But then again…maybe not.
We have one service on Sunday morning at 10:00 so if you plan to attend or watch online please keep that in mind. We also have a Christmas Eve service planned at 5:00 that will be laid back, involving singing some carols, hearing some testimonies, taking communion together, watching a Christmas video, and listening to Mollie Wainscott play O Holy Night on her violin. The morning service will be live streamed but not the evening. I look forward to seeing you.
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Tags: Christmas, Doctrine, God, God's Character, God's Plan, Jesus, Reflection, Sermon Series
Written by Bill Grandi on December 21st, 2023
There are just sometimes you just couldn’t orchestrate something any better even if you tried. Know what I mean? Case in point: this morning.
I have an almost constant pattern in the morning. I seldom deviate from it. Other than the shower, etc I take every morning, I have what I call my Encounter Time (ET). Some call it their Quiet Time. During my ET, I use several different resources to read and meditate on, but the crux is my reading from the Bible. I am almost constantly reading from Psalms (usually 2 chapters a day, except 119); every other month the book of Proverbs (1 chapter/day = 31 days); and from the NT. This year I have read through the NT twice and am now on my 3rd time. This will obviously carry on into 2024. Today’s reading was from Psalm 39-40, Pr. 21, and Mark 15-16. There was some great stuff in Psalms and Proverbs today, but the real irony was in Mark. Mark 15-16 is about Jesus’ death and resurrection!!
This is Christmas…the birth of Jesus and I’m reading about the death and resurrection. The irony didn’t escape me. Birth. Death. Resurrection (Life). The story of His life and purpose. Then the words to a well-known Christmas song came to mind. Here is a snippet: “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity; Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel…Mild He lays His glory by, Born than man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give us second birth.”
The irony-no, the truth-does not escape me. Birth. Death. Life. They go together. For Jesus. For us. Or maybe I ought to say, “For Jesus. Because of Jesus for us.” The birth needs the death and resurrection to give meaning. The death and resurrection needs the birth to have a beginning. “Born to raise the sons of earth/Born to give them second birth/Hark the herald angels sing/Glory to the newborn King.”
Celebrate His birth with the future (His and yours) in mind.
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Tags: Christmas, Doctrine, God, God's Plan, God's Word, Jesus, Opinion, Reflection, Resurrection, Story, Truth
Written by Bill Grandi on December 20th, 2023
One of my blogging friends, Martha Jane Orlando, blogs at Meditations of my Heart. She recently wrote and posted a simple but profound poem. You can find her blog and the poem here. To save you some time on the poem, here it is: “Holy candles/Lit in hope/Peace and joy/Laced in love/Everlasting/Flames ablaze/Light profound/Darkness flees/When God surrounds/The Soul and self. Amen”
That simple poem carries the essence of the Christmas story. Or maybe I should the essence of what we are looking for in the Christmas story or Christmas season. We all long for hope. We all long for peace. We all long for joy. We all long for love. If what I write is not true, check out the many Christmas songs we sing. How many of them talk about one of those 4 longings?
The story of Christmas, and yes, even the season of Christmas for those not even interested in the deeper story, draws people to those 4 longings in some way. Sadly, there will be many who will seek the answer to those longings in the temporary-a relationship, a drink, a sentiment, a party with friends, even ringing a bell. But in the long run those 4 longings won’t be answered in or with the temporary. No, as Martha says, “Light profound/Darkness flees/When God surrounds/the Soul and self.” Profound and everlasting change will come only when the Eternal Father (God) surrounds us with His presence. When the baby in the manger, God made flesh, becomes more than a prop in a play. When the angels are more than dressed-up kids in white sheets and the wise men are more than kids in bathrobes. 🙂 Only when the truth of the Christmas story becomes more than a cute sentiment will those 4 longings become a permanent part of our lives.
Thank you, Martha, for the simple, yet insightful poem. Thank you, God, for the answer to the longings of each and every heart: love, joy, peace and hope…Jesus Christ, the baby born in the manger. The King who became a baby, who became a sacrifice, who is now a King again…AND WILL COME AGAIN AS KING.
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Tags: Christmas, God, God's Plan, Hope, Jesus, Joy, Love, Opinion, Peace, Reflection, Story
Written by Bill Grandi on December 19th, 2023
It used to be that one blogger would feature another blogger for the purpose of helping the other to be “heard.” I also had another reason: I felt what the other person said was worth others hearing it. I used to read a blog which has since almost ceased due to a lack of readers (I just may be including my own in that statement). 🙂 Her name was Diane Ronzino and she blogged at Hadarah. Yesterday (Monday) she emailed me to tell me Merry Christmas but also to let me know of a blog she published. Now…for some reason Feedly does not include her blog in any feed to notify me of a new one and there is no place to sign up for an email from her. But this time Diane personally emailed me. I went to her blog and read her post. It was beautiful and since I am not a poet, it struck me even more. I’d like to ask you to head over there to read her post. You can find it here.
While you are there please leave a comment for her to read. In the meantime, I want to comment further on her post.
The poem/reading Diane offers is simple, yet contains profound truth. The HOLY came to be with the unholy. The HOLY came to be with what was once holy and sinless. The HOLY came to be with the broken. But He didn’t just come to be with the broken, He came to make the broken whole. He came to take care of the sin problem we all have (Romans 3:10, 23). He came to set the captives free. It is easy to talk about how He came to break the chains of shame and addiction and (you name it). But it is far more concise to say that He came to break the chains of sin. Period. All else- our shame, our addictions, our struggles-are a result of that sin that entered the world- when the Holy became unholy-when our parents (Adam and Eve) decided they knew better than the ONE who was and is completely HOLY.
This Christmas season is more than a jolly good time. It is more than lights twinkling on a tree or a house. It is more than greeting people with a smile, a howdy-doody, a “Have a merry Christmas” or singing about chestnuts roasting on an open fire or dreaming of a white Christmas. It is much more about a holy night where joy entered the world in a form of a baby who grew, lived, died, and rose again…all to make the unholy Holy.
May the real truth of Christmas ring in your heart louder than any bell.
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Tags: Christmas, God, God's Plan, Jesus, Opinion, Reflection, Sin, Story, Truth
Written by Bill Grandi on December 18th, 2023
Our world is filled with people who feel little. It could be because someone wanted to puff themselves up so their mode of operation was to put another down so that person felt “less than.” It could be a life circumstance led to a defeatist attitude. It could be a bully decided to exert his/her influence and beat the person down. And sadly, there are those whose personality is such that they are likely to put themselves down with words and thoughts like “I’m just a nobody.”
The late Francis Schaeffer once wrote a book called No Little People, No Little Places in which he attempted to defend that in God’s economy there are no little people, no insignificant people AND there is no place where a Christ-follower finds himself that is unimportant.
If there is anyone in the Christmas story that could fit that bill it was the shepherds. Among many other facts and quirks about them, one truth remains: they were considered the lowest of the low, the bottom feeders, maybe one tick above the leper. Their exposure to society was minimal due to their profession and all the baggage that went with it. We will call them outliers.
It should strike us then that the announcement of Jesus’ birth was not made in a palace, a Temple, or in front of the religious elite. It was made on a hillside, in the dead of night, to a motley crew of unwanted men. While it should strike us, it should not surprise us. Jesus once said, “I came to seek and to save the lost.” He also said that it wasn’t the well who needed the physician, but the sick.
Even at His birth, He showed that. No class distinction. No “I’m better than you.” No small people. I like it that way.
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Tags: Christian Living, God, Humility, Jesus, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection
Written by Bill Grandi on December 15th, 2023
Aspiring actors and actresses are everywhere. I went to high school with Jeff Goldblum. My senior picture is on the same page in our yearbook as his. I had no clue Jeff would leave our high school and head to New York for the stage and ultimately to a TV show named TenSpeed and Brownshoe, and then on to Jurassic Park, Independence Day, multiple other movies, and finally back to TV with Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
For every successful actor there are hundreds, maybe thousands who never make it. At best, they are two-bit players. Truthfully, some people are looked at that way. Many overlooked. Many seen as hacks. It happens all the time, in every profession. Sunday’s sermon will be dealing with two groups of people. One, is seen as little people. The others are seen as big people. Well…at least as the world looks at them that way. But in God’s eyes, there are no little people and there are no big people.
Shepherds and Wise men. The have’s and the have not’s. The clean and the unclean. The “welcome-to-my-world” versus those who are “not welcome anywhere.” The stories are familiar but I will be praying we all might learn something new this week. I look forward to seeing you in person at 9:00 and 10:45 or via live stream.
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Tags: Christmas, God, God's Character, Humility, Opinion, Reflection, Sermon Series, Story
