tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-244093762012-01-27T23:37:29.512-05:00Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.comBlogger5761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-48502270734660519892012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:002012-01-27T09:00:37.720-05:00

A favorite movie of mine is the surfing documentary "Riding Giants." The film is about big wave surfing across the globe and it tracks the history of surfing from it's roots in Hawaii to the tow in revolution today (tow in is where surfers are towed by watercraft into giant waves that are often considered to big to hand paddle into). The movie begins with a spoofy animated bit about surfing in

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-18548818172051515822012-01-24T02:51:00.001-05:002012-01-24T07:04:32.888-05:00

This past year and a half my wife and I have enjoyed the tremendous privilege of walking alongside a very special group of high school students. We joined them at the beginning of their junior year and are almost to the point of seeing them graduate and move on to college and career choices.  Part of the satisfaction has been how they have welcomed us to join them on their journey, allowing us to

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-47711944543781107222012-01-16T08:25:00.000-05:002012-01-16T08:25:40.840-05:00

Today we "officially" acknowledge and celebrate the life, ministry, and achievements of the late Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King.  As I was reading online news stories and blogs this morning, I was drawn to one blog in particular that was written by a woman who painted a moving picture of her response to Dr. King's life and legacy as a humanitarian and champion of freedom. While reading her article,

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-77848992291099245602012-01-12T07:41:00.000-05:002012-01-12T07:41:45.510-05:00

When I was a kid growing up, I used to enjoy building model airplanes and cars.  These models were the ones that came in the box with hundreds of pieces that had to be glued together with this special model glue that came in a tube.  I would use a toothpick to apply the glue to the pieces and would have to sometimes wait for hours before continuing while a certain section of the model's glue took

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-8952956127450021542012-01-09T08:56:00.000-05:002012-01-09T08:56:43.434-05:00

If you have ever watched a sporting event that relies on quick reflexes, such as football or baseball, then you understand just how important a matter of seconds can be.  The quarterback who holds on to the ball for a second to long without throwing it down field will most likely find himself at the bottom of a pile of big sweaty men.  The batter at the plate has only a fraction of a second to

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-45866862453602826862012-01-05T09:06:00.000-05:002012-01-05T09:06:24.523-05:00

How many of you have Facebook accounts?  Of those of you who do, how many "friends" do you have on Facebook?  I have over 1,300 "friends" on Facebook, most of which I have casually added to my list of "friends" because they sent a request or I went to high school with them or something like that.  My wife makes fun of me because she knows that I really don't know many of these 1,300+ all that

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-5573360920942368972012-01-03T07:00:00.000-05:002012-01-03T07:00:19.256-05:00

"I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have, I give to you..." (Acts 3:6)  Have you ever wanted to give more than your means would allow?  I'm not talking about buying something that you wanted and realizing that you didn't quite have enough to pull off the purchase.  I'm talking about those times where you see a need and in your heart you have a desperate desire to meet it. There are

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-10879429043086277032011-12-30T10:46:00.001-05:002011-12-30T10:46:34.249-05:00

As the end of every year draws close, many begin to consider what areas of their lives need major or minor overhauls. These revelations transform themselves into New Year's resolutions, most of which are broken in the first few weeks of January. The noblest of intentions fizzle and die as weight loss goals and personal growth programs slowly give way to the reality of life and time constraints.

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-65372917645659144572011-12-20T09:07:00.000-05:002011-12-20T09:07:01.520-05:00

There were times in seminary when I would spend inordinate amounts of time seeking the answers to my most burning theological questions.  This was a period in my life when I was immersed in theological studies and surrounded by guys who were seeking to fill their quest for knowledge just as I was.  Looking back over those years, it was a tremendous time of spiritual growth which laid the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-89865294694372506792011-12-19T07:47:00.000-05:002011-12-19T07:47:41.627-05:00

Yesterday as my family gathered to worship with other believers, our pastor read from Luke 1:46-55 as part of our worship.  In this passage we find Mary praising God with all of her heart because of the great joy she is experiencing knowing that the child she is carrying in her womb will one day redeem the world.  Mary is praising the Jesus that is in her, literally.  The one that she will

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-73636220750117773772011-12-16T08:43:00.000-05:002011-12-16T08:43:19.297-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  Or is it?  I'll be totally honest from the get-go, Christmas is not my favorite holiday of the year.  The consumerist chaos that ensues once Thanksgiving is near has left me a little bit jaded I suppose.  But perhaps more than that, thanks to the internet and anyone who has an opinion (myself included), Christmas has become an entirely different animal

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-34509460829768792202011-12-13T15:14:00.000-05:002011-12-13T15:14:44.328-05:00

Building on yesterday's post about whether we should market the church or not (if you didn't read it, then read it now!), another question that the believer must answer is what church he/she should become a part of.  There are lots and lots of churches in all shapes, colors, and styles to choose from and most of us have an opinion about what we like and don't like in a church.  Just how in the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-19589221277763136172011-12-12T09:26:00.000-05:002011-12-12T09:26:27.723-05:00

Several years ago when I was student in seminary the concept of marketing the church became a topic of discussion.  Should we market the church to make it appealing to people in a consumer-driven culture?  And if so, how do we undertake this endeavor without cheapening the message of the gospel and "selling out" as the critics predicted would happen? While most of those who debated the issue

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-81362107331212318212011-12-12T08:12:00.000-05:002011-12-12T08:12:14.459-05:00

Grounded.  That word carries with it so much weight and meaning.  As a kid growing up it meant that I was most certainly in trouble.  Back in the day when I was a kid we didn't worry about being grounded from all of our electronic devices and computers because they didn't exist like they do know (except for the Atari which was freakin' sweet).  Instead, being grounded meant that I couldn't play

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-24354649838485660432011-12-07T22:19:00.000-05:002011-12-07T22:19:53.618-05:00

Depending on your age and station in life, change can be either a dirty word or one that invigorates your soul.  The former operate from an "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality while the latter often want to see wholesale house cleanings take place.  Is change good or bad, or have we defined it into the ground? Well, it all depends... Sometimes the need for change is urgent.  Citizens of

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-85819652831937207462011-11-29T14:20:00.000-05:002011-11-29T14:20:34.466-05:00

This fall time of year often causes me to wax nostalgic.  Initially, I dream of summers gone by and how I wish we could just bypass winter altogether and have it be July year-round.  But then I settle into reality and start to reminisce about other times in my life that were meaningful to me.  Some of these times involve family trips or mission opportunities that propelled my spiritual growth,

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-14417564724529258282011-11-29T08:23:00.001-05:002011-11-29T08:54:07.311-05:00

I hate being stuck in the same old position.  You know the one I'm talking about.  Where you know what is right and honoring to God, yet you find yourself stuck in that repetitive pattern of "habitual" sin that has plagued you for your entire life.  Why is it so hard to just say "no" to sin?  Sure, we can avoid the "big" ones without much difficulty, you know like murdering, adultery,

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-40849458495212008682011-11-16T08:33:00.000-05:002011-11-16T08:33:04.392-05:00

What is your first thought when your eyes open in the morning?  When your feet hit the floor, do you feel a dread for what faces you during the day?  I would dare to say that most people don't consider themselves morning people, but even if you are one who enjoys mornings like I do it doesn't mean that you greet everyday like you are Mr. or Mrs. Sunshine.  How many people live as if their goal is

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-43952805763155983672011-11-14T07:01:00.000-05:002011-11-14T07:01:01.277-05:00

He comes into the room and no one really notice that he's there.  It's not that no one likes him, it's just that no one really knows him or has taken the time.  He is allowed to exist in obscurity, a regular presence that you notice out of the corner of your eye yet you don't feel compelled to connect with him beyond a surface level.  If someone were to mention his name it would probably ring a

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-86047713686799226372011-11-08T13:25:00.000-05:002011-11-08T13:25:38.205-05:00

With today being an election day, I've noticed that the disillusionment that many Americans on all sides of the political spectrum feel toward government institutions has perhaps never been so severe.  The idealistic notion that the next elected official will somehow be a political messiah no longer holds weight (not that it was ever true in the first place).  Discontent seems to be everywhere,

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-2100692268715166422011-11-07T08:13:00.000-05:002011-11-07T08:13:50.457-05:00

The rebel is easy to spot.  He's the one who cares nothing for the rules - or better yet, he manipulates them to fit his own needs.  He wants to blaze his own trail, yet his trail won't lead to the benefit of others but rather to the base of an altar that idolizes himself.  The rebel isn't willing to compromise with any standards that don't mesh with his own.  He'll show up at your meetings but

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-32916928012814394692011-11-05T11:47:00.000-04:002011-11-05T11:47:22.629-04:00

I just read an article in an ESPN Magazine about Tim Tebow, the starting quarterback (for now) of the Denver Broncos.  If you've never heard about Tebow then you have probably been living without electricity for the past decade.  He was the all-American high school quarterback from Florida who just happened to be home-schooled.  Tebow is the son of missionary parents and from day one in the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-12835572023220286002011-11-02T21:48:00.000-04:002011-11-02T21:48:58.869-04:00

Me. Myself. I.  These three pronouns love to go together and they always push for the front of the line.  They know nothing about courtesy or respect.  Sacrifice?  Are you kidding!  Someone once said, "There is no 'I' in team."  True, but there is a "me" in there and there are plenty of people who jettison the notion of being a team player for a shot at the limelight.  If you don't believe me,

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-29048896838719384492011-10-25T08:50:00.001-04:002011-10-25T08:50:12.397-04:00

The television show Lost was one of my favorite shows of all time. Thanks to Netflix, I can relive every episode from every season as often as I want and this time around my oldest daughter is watching it with me. We are in the midst of Season Four (there are six seasons in all) and it can be just as confusing to fully understand what is going on in the plot now as it was when the series first

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-62962896393861349842011-10-21T09:15:00.000-04:002011-10-21T09:15:46.684-04:00

Sunglasses have become an essential part of my life, not because I want to look cool but because my eyes are so stinkin' sensitive to the sun and sunshine is so critical to my well-being and happiness.  I have never personally invested in an expensive pair of sunglasses (i.e., Oakley's or Ray Ban's) because I could never justify having an expensive pair of sunglasses that I would either lose or

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-52097412166607234572011-10-20T09:08:00.002-04:002011-10-20T09:16:14.628-04:00

I came across this cartoon on Facebook the other day and just about spit my coffee on my computer's keyboard. In an age of so much technology - most of which I really like - there has become a disconnect when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Like the illustration above addresses, technology has antiquated our commonly accepted terminology and replaced it with more postmodern

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-80408966971479388212011-10-18T09:51:00.000-04:002011-10-18T09:51:09.540-04:00

The call of God on your life is not always an easy one to accept.  It's not that any of us want to necessarily live life apart from God's divine direction, but there are times when what He asks of us may not make sense to us - or others in our lives - so that we balk at what and where we believe He is leading us to do.  Knowing that God wants to use you is not that hard to believe.  Knowing how

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-50236821640980152122011-10-14T08:52:00.000-04:002011-10-14T08:52:44.017-04:00

"Seeing is believing."  This is a saying that has been around for a long time.  But what does it really mean?  Are we to call into question anything that we cannot or have not truly experienced?  If that is the case, our belief systems are confined to the small spaces that contain our personal world.  In other words, we wouldn't believe much because there is so much we have not seen.  The

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-30151811769089915002011-10-11T19:29:00.000-04:002011-10-11T19:29:36.135-04:00

"If you don't learn from history then you are doomed to repeat it."  This is a phrase that I've heard uttered many, many times and the meaning of it is pretty obvious.  Learn from the mistakes of the past so that they do not become a part of your present. Each week I have the chance to teach middle and high school history at an independent school and this past class we were discussing the fall

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-87115592715417790972011-10-06T07:50:00.000-04:002011-10-06T07:50:38.274-04:00

This isn't meant to be gross or inappropriate, but the day that I switched from briefs to boxers was a great day in my life.  It was like one of those rites of passage from childhood into manhood.  The boxers vs. briefs debate will probably always be waged and eventually you're gonna have to make a decision which side you are on.  I'm not sure that I can adequately explain why it is so glorious,

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-2528647940883974552011-10-04T09:58:00.001-04:002011-10-04T10:54:25.293-04:00

When you woke up this morning, did you spend several minutes in prayer in order to determine what you should wear or whether or not to have cereal or waffles for breakfast?  Chances are, that wasn't part of your agenda.  And if it was, I hope the waffles tasted great.  The fact is, most of us don't spend an awful lot of time praying when it comes to the everyday "normal" choices that we face. 

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-54475619789373164452011-09-29T09:13:00.000-04:002011-09-29T09:13:35.079-04:00

Yes, we need each other.  Community in Christ is so important and no one needs to be a lone ranger Christian or leader.  But we can be a bit too needy... "Tom" was a young youth pastor, fresh out of Bible college and considering seminary training in his near future.  He was plugged into the Methodist church near his college, volunteering with the students there for four years as a very active

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-25159920368791630592011-09-27T09:25:00.001-04:002011-09-27T09:25:30.143-04:00

At the ripe young age of 41, I find myself in the midst of seeking to discern God's next destination for my life and ministry.  This doesn't mean that I'm sitting on the couch each day in my pj's watching cheesy soap operas while waiting for the phone to ring or an email to appear that will whisk me away to my next destination.  Part of what makes each of us unique is that none of us are called

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-60995925979401217292011-09-22T00:04:00.001-04:002011-09-22T00:09:53.084-04:00

If listening is an art form, then I am a pretty lousy artist at times. Oh, I may hear what you are saying but because I'm a "fixer" I'm focusing more on the solution to your problem that I'm going to give to you once you stop talking - that is if I haven't interrupted you by now. Listening is one if those skills that I have been working on becoming more proficient with and thankfully I've run

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-80969646154008603892011-09-19T12:38:00.000-04:002011-09-19T12:38:59.817-04:00

As someone who loves summer and hot weather, I don't particularly care for the transition to colder weather.  Fall is beautiful and not too brisk, but I know what lies beyond and it makes me shiver, literally.  However, college football serves as a wonderful buffer for a guy like me to make that unwanted but inevitable transition into the depths of what we call winter. Let me go ahead and throw

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-83792062504700123342011-09-14T10:24:00.000-04:002011-09-14T10:24:32.968-04:00

No offense to shows like CSI, I'm pretty sure it isn't always so easy to determine exactly what it is that has caused the death of a crime victim or even one who has died from "natural causes" (at least not in a one hour frame of time).  I remember the story of a 14-year-old in North Carolina whose death was a baffling mystery when he was first found dead.  He had a friend over to spend the night

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-12898852442748310022011-09-13T10:21:00.000-04:002011-09-13T10:21:01.632-04:00

With four children in our home, my wife and I are bombarded with the constant need for activity and entertainment.  Up until this past week, expanded digital cable television has filled much of that demand with ESPN, Disney Channel, Nick Jr., and the various children's on demand channels cycling in high rotation.  Not to mention that since our televisions are high definition, I can watch all of

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-73618927110330905372011-09-05T21:45:00.000-04:002011-09-05T21:45:50.764-04:00

Lately I've developed a fascination with big wave surfing (thanks to The Wave by Susan Casey). I've never surfed in my life and would probably fail miserably if I tried to stand up on a surf board on a one foot wave, but the guys that go for the big waves truly fascinate me.  And when I mean big, I'm talking 50+ foot waves in places like Teahupoo in Tahiti, Mavericks outside of San Francisco, and

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-1689352045213522862011-08-30T09:37:00.001-04:002011-08-30T09:43:23.383-04:00

Many of you who read this will debate me on this point, but Lost was without a doubt the most intriguing and exciting show that has ever been on television.  I picked up on Lost in Season 2 and quickly rented all of the DVD's from Season 1 so that I could catch up and not be lost (pardon the pun).  Now with Netflix, I can stream all the episodes of Lost in the comfort of my own home and so over

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-30276628235661321932011-08-29T12:31:00.000-04:002011-08-29T12:31:22.893-04:00

When I was a small child I was diagnosed with a heart condition that prompted doctors to forbid me to participate in team sports.  Soccer, football, baseball, basketball.  All of those sports were off-limits on an "official" basis, but of course I played in the backyard, driveway, and gym at church.  Still, playing pickup ball was no substitute for actually being on the field or the court.  For

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-59133506598537393582011-08-24T07:17:00.000-04:002011-08-24T07:17:16.105-04:00

When I was in junior high and high school I loved to watch scary movies.  The movies then were more geared toward the suspense element than the splattergory movies that are out now, and I loved the thrill of the chase and the escape that inevitably occurred at the end of most of them.  As I have aged a little, I don't really have a taste for that genre of entertainment anymore, but there are

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-34984346783098935202011-08-18T11:02:00.000-04:002011-08-18T11:02:57.133-04:00

Not long ago, I had the chance to sit in on a group of middle school students (6th-8th grade) who were asked, "If you were the ruler of the world, what kind of rules would you have in place to lead your people?"  You can only imagine the range of silly and crazy answers that they wrote down, yet there was also no shortage of thoughtful and mature suggestions that were indicative of the younger

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-4517381655500003292011-08-09T10:14:00.000-04:002011-08-09T10:14:54.694-04:00

If you have ever experienced that little tickle in the back of your throat that forces you to cough almost incessantly, then you know what the itch is all about.  Or if you have ever had poison oak anywhere on your body, you know how hard it is to harness that almost uncontrollable urge to scratch until you draw blood.  The itch can drive you crazy and can consume your thoughts.  It can also

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-61706938014750796442011-08-03T09:51:00.000-04:002011-08-03T09:51:09.143-04:00

Have you seen those cars with all of the "Christian" bumper stickers on them?  You know, the ones that pretty much say "Turn or Burn" on them?  Or maybe you've had the gumption to stomach listening to one of those preachers on TV who speaks with an inflection that sounds like a case of bad hiccups and all of his language is flowered with some sort of medieval Gothic flavor.  Have you ever

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-49852984366197195362011-07-30T09:24:00.000-04:002011-07-30T09:24:37.429-04:00

My neighbor's dog can be pretty frightening creature.  It is part pit bull, part hell on earth, and while it is normally tethered to a tree in the front yard its leash allows it to patrol right up to the corner of the yard  I haven't personally witnessed its semi-attacks on people walking by nor did I see my other neighbor hit it with a bat as it tried to jump on her son, but this dog has a bit

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-55207757733219125312011-07-27T10:12:00.000-04:002011-07-27T10:12:48.643-04:00

I'm not sure if it's a product of hitting my 40's or not, but I find that I am more drawn back to "the way things used to be" than ever before.  It's funny how I can tell stories to my kids and my students of how we didn't have computers, satellite TV, or cell phones when I was a kid.  A text was a book that we read.  The Atari entertainment system was brand new and so limited in what games you

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-25887546823750422692011-07-13T22:21:00.000-04:002011-07-13T22:21:07.719-04:00

I love beach time. All the stress of getting packed, trying to tie up any loose ends before you leave, and the travel time with a van full of kids immediately melts when I see that water. Many people out there are mountain people or they prefer the lake or even winter time over a trip to the beach in the summer, but I honestly don't know how that can be. When God separated the water from the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-25345591923971271162011-07-05T11:18:00.000-04:002011-07-05T11:18:33.004-04:00

My son just finished up a week of Vacation Bible School class that so far has been the highlight of his year. He would fuss at my wife and I if we arrived too early to pick him up because, according to him, missing the full amount of "circle time" at the end was unacceptable. On one of the last days of VBS my wife arrived to pick him up and, before he came to the door to the leave, one of the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-75462475922816055272011-06-24T09:57:00.000-04:002011-06-24T09:57:31.759-04:00

I met a gentleman last year who had lots and lots of questions and doubts about the Bible and Christianity in general. He had been hurt in the past by less than loving people who claimed to be followers of Christ and as a result he undertook his own spiritual journey to find truth. From what I could gather, he allowed his anger and disappointment with people to fuel his frustration with God. He

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-15135918793699141062011-06-22T09:11:00.000-04:002011-06-22T09:11:02.889-04:00

I love it when the Olympics roll around because I get to see so many different athletes from all over the world competing in sporting events that normally aren't on my radar. These sports could be on television on a regular basis throughout the year and I probably wouldn't watch them, but when gymnastics or curling or track and field or downhill skiing comes on during the Olympics, I find myself

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-74479511780249677252011-06-14T09:52:00.000-04:002011-06-14T09:52:24.124-04:00

The other day my two oldest kids were starting to watch a show that I would rather they not watch (Disney channel has got some pretty crappy programming sometimes) so I asked them to turn the channel. They told me that mom (i.e., my wife) has let them watch it in the past, so they felt like they should be able to watch it now. My wife and I usually agree on programming choices and I'm pretty sure

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-20642392749182001682011-06-08T06:54:00.000-04:002011-06-08T06:54:05.718-04:00

The other day as I was driving down the highway, I passed a car that had a large magnetic advertisement sprawled across the driver's door. When I read what was written on that placard, I had to slow down to take a double take. This car was advertising a mobile DNA paternity testing service that would come directly to your home. Is this something that we really need? Have the phone lines been

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-19654737671205115562011-06-02T11:25:00.000-04:002011-06-02T12:06:10.359-04:00

Let me start this post off by saying that I don't write this in any way to trump myself up or appear arrogant. Whenever I hear or read of someone reporting about their spiritual discipline (i.e., their personal Bible study, prayer life, meditations, etc.), I often think about those religious leaders in the New Testament who received so much criticism from Jesus. If they wanted to get a pat on the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-55620068720652077582011-05-27T10:24:00.000-04:002011-05-27T10:24:38.919-04:00

Today I've been dwelling on who God is. I know how He is identified in  Scripture - holy, just, righteous, Creator, etc. - but on a personal level sometimes I lose sight of just who He truly is to me. On Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights I enjoy the opportunity to join other believers in singing songs that exalt His greatness and I can rock it out in the car anytime I want to tunes that

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-40391122753107326882011-05-20T08:50:00.000-04:002011-05-20T08:50:14.130-04:00

2000 years ago a leader sat in his chair contemplating an enormous decision. Before him stood a battered man whose identity had the leader baffled. The religious establishment had tagged this man a rebel and a con artist, one whose true goal was to cause an insurrection that would overthrow the Roman government. If that was true, this leader would lose his job and quite possibly his life. Yet

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-17780154386082907432011-05-17T23:03:00.000-04:002011-05-17T23:03:04.466-04:00

Yesterday in the early morning hours just as the light began to illuminate the sky, I looked up and saw a hawk flying as hard as its wings could take it.  In hot pursuit were two mockingbirds who were ridiculously small in comparison.  Their high pitched shrills and aggressive behavior made it apparent that they didn't see their small size as an impediment to the business at hand. What would they

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-39080005786366882242011-05-15T00:30:00.000-04:002011-05-15T00:30:20.930-04:00

As the father of four kids, sickness is a regular occurrence in our house. It seems that Kellie and I are always armed with ibuprofen and acetaminophen and we have our pediatrician's number on speed dial. But what really irks me is how often sickness seems to strike at the most inopportune times (not that there is a good time to be sick, mind you). Why must my kids get sick so often on Saturdays

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-89265398721992593742011-05-03T11:10:00.001-04:002011-05-03T13:14:37.503-04:00

"Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17-22) What exactly is being asked of Jesus in this question? Some would say that the young man asking this question wants to know how he can earn his way into eternity with God, therefore pointing to the possibility of a works salvation. Even those who deny the possibility of earning salvation (as I do) may stumble when it appears

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-86831096344992765372011-04-27T11:01:00.000-04:002011-04-27T11:01:12.789-04:00

Abut a year and a half ago my wife and kids convinced me that we needed a dog for a pet. For years I had fought against that notion because, quite frankly, with 4 kids I didn't think we needed a pet. We changed enough diapers and cleaned up enough messes as it is. A dog in the mix would just make our already chaotic life more hectic. But they were persuasive and even a bit pitiful in their

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-13644702685326430272011-04-21T16:36:00.000-04:002011-04-21T16:36:02.488-04:00

"He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Without a doubt this verse is one of the most meaningful verses in the entire the Bible to me. It's not that it's the "best" verse (if there is such a thing) or the most theologically loaded, but in these 25 words we find the entirety of the beauty and power of

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-33010804001273239612011-04-12T09:23:00.000-04:002011-04-12T09:23:37.748-04:00

"Freedom isn't free." I've seen that phrase many times on car bumper stickers and t-shirts and I totally get the meaning behind it. In order for us to fully understand the freedom that we enjoy as American citizens we must also understand the incredible sacrifice given by many men and women over the years to ensure that we keep those freedoms. Whether you are a military buff or a pacifist, you

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-53836886841496911212011-04-06T22:41:00.000-04:002011-04-06T22:41:33.635-04:00

Preacher's kids get a bum rap, don't they? There has long been this notion that the wildest kids in the church are the ones who have no choice but to be there every time the doors are open. The movie To Save a Life illustrates this perfectly - the preacher's kid is the one who smokes the most dope, tells the most lies, and gets into the most trouble. Personally, I don't think that this stigma is

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-91095837370439599802011-04-03T11:22:00.000-04:002011-04-03T11:22:29.886-04:00

A while ago I heard about a local church that had an interesting sermon topic for their morning worship service: Dental Hygiene. No lie, that was the message. Now please understand that this "church" was really just a gathering of people who believed that there was no such thing as absolute truth and that everyone eventually went to heaven, so what better topic to discuss than how to take care of

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-34101286131265824982011-03-30T10:57:00.000-04:002011-03-30T10:57:03.407-04:00

Driving uphill in a car with manual transmission is one of the most difficult and challenging experiences I have ever had. I vividly remember the first time I was asked to drive a vehicle with a stick shift. It was after I graduated from college and I was enjoying a "year off" before entering seminary. A gentleman from my church invited me to join his home remodeling company and so I spent a year

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-22735690076394287752011-03-23T11:47:00.001-04:002011-03-23T13:22:58.945-04:00

Right now I am not a huge fan of people. Let me explain. I noticed this past Saturday that the gas can for fueling my lawn mower was missing from my garage. Maybe I loaned it to a neighbor, I thought, but none of my neighbors had it. Oh well, I'll just get a new one. Then last night I noticed that my weed eater was also missing from my garage. And not just my weed eater but also the chain saw

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-66057123937546978992011-03-09T09:52:00.002-05:002011-03-09T13:12:01.827-05:00

You've all heard it. The excuse sounds that same no matter who says it. "I would go to church, but there are too many hypocrites there." Too many hypocrites. Is that to say if there were far less hypocrites according to the norm then these people would be more than happy to give church a try? Hypocrisy. Yes, there are hypocrites in church. And there are hypocrites in the grocery store, at the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-5807898305364577842011-02-23T08:42:00.000-05:002011-02-23T08:42:35.087-05:00

When you become a parent your life is immediately thrust into the realm of all sorts of new and arresting noises. I vividly remember the first few days home with our first born and basically waking up every time she whimpered or even stirred. These were new noises and I wasn't exactly sure how I was supposed to respond to them. The regular crying for food and for changing took weeks getting used

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-69159250306335265612011-02-15T09:49:00.000-05:002011-02-15T09:49:27.047-05:00

There is nothing quite better for me than to be at home. As much as I love the idea of traveling and seeing and experiencing new places, I am always grateful to be able to come back home. In my teenage years there were times I could not wait to get out of the house "for good," but even then I would always seem to gravitate back to that place where I felt most at secure. Everyone has a place

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-36477888583692786102011-02-04T07:51:00.000-05:002011-02-04T09:57:13.638-05:00

It is often said in Christian circles that God is a God of second chances. What is meant by that is that we serve a God who is able to overcome our sinfulness and basic ignorance to love us and He extends mercy to us even though we don't deserve it. When we fall down, He picks us back up. This is a beautiful picture of the grace with which God daily lavishes upon the believer.But what of those

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-68723084401055532452011-01-31T09:35:00.001-05:002011-01-31T09:36:49.264-05:00

Have you ever heard of the association game called Seven Degrees of Separation? The way we played when I was younger was that we would try to figure out how closely we were connected to the actor Kevin Bacon (think of the movie Footloose – go 1980’s!). Usually you could associate yourself with the actor within seven degrees (steps) or less. Here is an example of how this might look: 1)    My

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-71520326947834498652011-01-26T12:30:00.000-05:002011-01-26T12:30:36.354-05:00

The other day I spoke with a woman who seemed to be bound up with concern.  When I first saw her she seemed to be rather preoccupied, but I chose not to dig into her business because, quite honestly, I thought maybe that's how she normally was.  But then she stopped me to ask a serious question: "What do you think about ______________ and his view of salvation?" I am not going to reveal the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-68744279853505001142011-01-21T09:03:00.000-05:002011-01-21T09:03:55.136-05:00

Have you ever experienced an event or moment in your life that left you feeling let down and disappointed?  As a fan of Wake Forest sports I'm living in that reality right now, but let's go deeper than just feeling low because our favorite team is having an off year.  What about those times where people let you down or you don't get the promotion you hoped for or your plans fall through at the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-20063747520399724772011-01-20T14:23:00.000-05:002011-01-20T14:23:49.378-05:00

One of the goals I set for myself is to read through the Bible each year.  I hesitate to write that because I don't want to sound like I'm beating my own drum, but I share it if for no other reason than to encourage others to do the same.  I have found that the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan fits my schedule and my desire best.  There are 25 days worth of reading each month, which means

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-31238880267286735072011-01-11T13:13:00.001-05:002011-01-11T13:18:14.936-05:00

As a parent of four kids, I can tell you that there aren't many things I treasure more than those four little faces I see every day.  Of course, there are moments where I wish I could magically teleport myself to a faraway place that is devoid of screaming, constant questions, and chaos.  There are also days where the homework/shower and bath time/bedtime/discipline routines completely wear me

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-75218551427419698022011-01-09T22:39:00.000-05:002011-01-09T22:39:07.226-05:00

Years ago I participated in a mission trip with my youth group to Nassau, Bahamas (yeah, I know what you're thinking, but we really did do mission work there).  One of the focal points for the week was to help local churches connect with those in their community through door-to-door surveys.  Each one of us was paired up with another fellow student - all with matching t-shirts no less - and we

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-23043951723243443662011-01-03T13:56:00.000-05:002011-01-03T13:56:58.722-05:00

Food is one of the great loves of my life.  There really isn't a time of the day when I'm not ready to eat a little snack or try something new.  Sushi = goodness in raw form.  Pizza = pure circular delight.  Chocolate = God's gift to His children.  Texas Pete = nectar of the gods.  This love of food also compels me to undertake creative attempts in the kitchen.  On any given night my family has

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-25352553229799491972010-12-28T06:40:00.001-05:002010-12-28T06:51:08.565-05:00

It's almost comical how social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook have allowed us to reveal our thoughts and feelings for the rest of the world to see.  We even get to leave comments filled with our feelings and thoughts about other peoples' feelings and thoughts.  Some choose to post the most mundane things as their status, such as what food they just ate, their recent trip to the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-53372857635195314872010-12-13T14:19:00.000-05:002010-12-13T14:19:48.378-05:00

Music is without a doubt the medium that moves my heart the most.  Although I am not personally gifted as a musician or a singer, I find that music has the ability to draw my affections toward my Lord like nothing else can.  There have been times when I have been as spiritually parched as a desert, but when I meditate on God's Word set to music it literally makes my soul sing.  Nothing seems to

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-51763086662775879702010-12-07T10:13:00.001-05:002010-12-07T16:55:19.829-05:00

Have you ever thought much about heaven and what it will be like?  This morning I was reading through Revelation 4 and 5 and was blown away again at just how incredible heaven is going to be.  Growing up in a church environment I was regularly inundated with imagery of heaven, ranging from pearly gates, streets of gold, and a mansion reserved for me.  While variations of these images are found

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-78017684434247625222010-11-29T08:51:00.000-05:002010-11-29T08:51:49.730-05:00

Radical.  This word is so commonplace that it's almost lost it's punch.  Not to take away from its legitimacy as a word in our English language, but it seems to be one of those catch words that is used to blanket so many things.  As a child of the 1980's, I heard it used in its shortened form - rad - way too many times to mention.  Now I hear it to describe how followers of Christ should be in

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-260596118175853382010-11-26T23:03:00.000-05:002010-11-26T23:03:06.341-05:00

I did not wake up four hours early to stand in lines to wait for outrageous shopping deals this morning.  I did, however, go online to order a new Christmas tree last night, buying it for the Black Friday special price with the option of free shipping or pick up.  In fact, I looked at many items online last night that we are considering getting for our kids and I found that most were better

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-30188105797830987592010-11-23T11:27:00.001-05:002010-11-23T13:37:44.387-05:00

It was the summer of 1986.  I remember it well.  That was when I responded to God's call to serve Him in full time ministry.  I was only 16 years old then, about to enter my junior year in high school, but I knew then as I do now that there wasn't anything else that I could do with my life.  I tried "regular jobs" but none of them ever satisfied.  My passion was to serve students and that was the

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-13551130877183623282010-11-15T21:38:00.000-05:002010-11-15T21:38:38.323-05:00

Relevant.  To be totally honest, I'm not completely sure what that word really means.  The dictionary defines it as "connected with the matter at hand," so it would almost make sense to say that many would equate relevant with being modern, trendy, or hip.  If that was the case, then there are a lot of relevant churches out there that on the surface seem to "get it" when it comes to being

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-15266940333685517532010-11-08T12:52:00.000-05:002010-11-08T12:52:00.911-05:00

The other night I had the opportunity to sit down with a guy and talk theology, something I love to do. I was introduced to him by a good friend of mine who has been trying to line us up to talk for some time. It didn't take long into our conversation that I realized I was engaging someone who was incredibly well read and intelligent. He came from a pretty oppressive church background and, as a

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-55608473684105237142010-11-04T12:20:00.000-04:002010-11-04T12:20:05.527-04:00

I love the teaching of Jesus found in John 8:1-11.  Commonly known as the story of the woman caught in adultery, this story delves into what it truly means to be forgiven of sin and restored in the sight of God. The story starts with Jesus teaching in the temple in the morning to a crowd of eager listeners.  Soon, a commotion overpowers His words.  Jewish religious leaders known as scribes and

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-74507086419780454282010-11-01T09:28:00.000-04:002010-11-01T09:28:59.213-04:00

"Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth." (Exodus 20:4) The second commandment (see above) is one that many of you are familiar with. "Don't make an idol," God said. "You can't represent Me by wood or stone or metal or by associating Me with some other object in nature. I am God and I am

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-4288784997755354352010-10-28T06:18:00.000-04:002010-10-28T06:18:11.503-04:00

Have you ever started a project, job, sport, or discipline only to quit before you were finished because it was too hard?  My senior year in high school I went to work for a lawn service that was owned by a good friend's older brother.  After giving almost every afternoon and Saturday for a month, I was not enjoying the job at all.  I reasoned that since it was my senior year, I shouldn't have to

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-28304946310280884742010-10-15T06:48:00.000-04:002010-10-15T06:48:52.884-04:00

The story of Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4 has been used for years as a textbook example of how evangelism should be approached.  In the story, Jesus finds a point of common interest with the woman (they both want water), He bridges the conversation to spiritual issues and steers clear of chasing any rabbits in the conversation, and in the end He extends an invitation for her to see

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-12455849213205502342010-10-12T14:25:00.001-04:002010-10-14T06:36:37.657-04:00

As one who has grown up attending church, I have often identified a specific church with the senior pastor who leads it. Adrian Rogers was the face of Belleview in Memphis and Thomas Road was synonymous with Jerry Fallwell. The same can be said of churches today, with often the first question being asked of attendees being, "Isn't that Pastor so-and-so's church?" While these associations may not

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-928721518661112802010-10-07T08:53:00.000-04:002010-10-07T08:53:28.557-04:00

Last night Kellie and I went to the fair without the kids so that we could fully enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and flavors that we missed when we took the whole crew.  One of my favorite times of the year is when the Dixie Classic Fair comes to town.  I love to eat and there are so many choices that I often get overwhelmed.  Elephant ears, deep fried candy bars, Richardson's root beer,

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-5485376863267221922010-09-26T14:26:00.000-04:002010-09-26T14:26:58.951-04:00

It has been said that there are two things that you don't talk about in mixed company: religion and politics.  You can talk about relationships, you can gossip incessantly, and you can crack foul jokes.  But nothing ruins a social get together like someone with an opinion, right? But what can be said and taught when the body of Christ meets together for regular worship and Bible study?  Once we

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-44205683771735287392010-09-22T06:51:00.000-04:002010-09-22T06:51:37.784-04:00

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) It's hard for me to sit in one place for too long.  Even if I have time to settle down to watch a ball game (which is rare), I often get up multiple times during the game to do this or that.  I don't believe I have ADD or anything like that, it's just that there are so many things that run through my mind that I can't just let them sit there

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-43431874912736632182010-09-15T11:45:00.000-04:002010-09-15T11:45:15.262-04:00

There are many things that I have experience that have been so life-altering I probably will never get over them.  One is having open heart surgery in 1996 at the tender age of 26.  My wedding day in 1999 was perhaps one of the most joyful and overwhelming days ever.  The birth of each one of my children was incredible, but there is nothing like witnessing (and even assisting) in the birth of

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-9073545353511729512010-09-13T14:38:00.000-04:002010-09-13T14:38:43.251-04:00

Today is a glasses day for me.  I woke up this morning with a mild case of conjunctivitis and therefore contacts were not an option.  I've had sight issues since high school but it wasn't until my late 20's that the need for corrective lenses became pretty drastic.  Contacts soon became an option for me and they are my first choice because sometimes glasses just get in the way.  However, my

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-29782386455990037982010-09-09T14:33:00.001-04:002010-09-09T17:43:32.625-04:00

In the past I was not afraid to mix it up over theological issues even if I could barely support what I believed. You could call it ignorance or arrogance, I call it immaturity. Now that I have matured with a little age on me, I see the need to refrain from engaging in silly arguments over theological minutia that really don't amount to a hill of beans at the end of the day. If it's a major

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-76143379561765336762010-08-31T09:20:00.000-04:002010-08-31T09:20:10.380-04:00

There are times in life when we experience pain and suffering.  It is during these moment that can we struggle to comprehend just exactly where God is in the midst of all this evil that seems to be around us.  The "problem of evil" has been a dagger thrown at Christianity for centuries: "If God is as good and as great as you say He is, then why is there all this evil?  Either He's not great

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-5415433891986221562010-08-24T10:21:00.000-04:002010-08-24T10:21:19.989-04:00

"I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." (Matthew 25:40). Jesus commands that we care for the poor, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, provide for the needy.  These things are characteristic of kingdom citizens.  Believers have for centuries created programs to meet the needs of "the least of these" and it continues today.  Homeless

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-90757531498057807152010-08-23T07:23:00.000-04:002010-08-23T07:23:23.584-04:00

God loves people.  I believe this to be true with all of my heart.  Does He also love those who don't love Him in return?  Again the answer is yes, for God loves with a perfect love that transcends any way that our feeble minds could understand.  The Bible makes it abundantly clear: God is love.  Does this mean that it is God's desire for everyone to be saved, for all people to be in heaven

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-49789683747397194162010-08-20T07:17:00.000-04:002010-08-20T07:17:33.483-04:00

If I was totally honest with myself and others, I would have to admit that at this point in my life I thought that I would be in a much different arena of ministry than I find myself in right now.  Perhaps I would be serving in a "big" church somewhere with a staff that liked the same kind of music that I did and enjoyed going out for sushi at least once a week with our families of four+ kids

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24409376.post-68636690564906093332010-08-19T09:45:00.000-04:002010-08-19T09:45:37.592-04:00

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you." (Matthew 6:33) The kingdom of God.  When I was a seminary student I chose to write a paper on that very topic because I really didn't understand the meaning of the term.  What I discovered was that the kingdom of God is past, present, and future.  In other words, God is sovereign and He

Sterling Griggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929691521171347178noreply@blogger.com0