Sterling Griggs

Some say that when you add 1 to 2, you get a third wheel. Tripods can hold things up but aren't very stable. A triple in baseball is good, a four-bagger is better. You can make a three-point field goal in basketball, but if you get fouled then you have a four-point play, a rare but valuable occurrence. Going from 3 to 4 is a great thing. When we came home with Emmerson the other day it didn't take long to realize that our whole world had drastically changed. Just when we thought that we were getting the hang of taking care of 3 kids now God has given us a fourth. For those of you who aren't familiar with my situation, my wife and I really never planned on having a fourth child. It's not like we didn't think four would be good - we were just happy with three and had a peace about not expanding our family any more. So this past August I got the "procedure" done that would ensure we would not be able to have any more kids. Then, a week later, we found ...

Emmerson Caroline Griggs is finally here! She was born at 10:24 this morning and is a beautiful healthy girl. Update: Baby Emme slept great through the night and she is an absolute joy. She weighs in at 5 lbs. 14 oz. and is 19 inches long, so she's a little petite thing.

No, this isn't about money or how to get rich off of investments. Anyone who knows me knows that I am clueless about such things. What I want to talk about is investing in people. There is a little boy in our community who is the oldest of three. He is in first grade and happened to be in my oldest daughter's kindergarten class last year. His home life if far from what it should be - they don't have enough money for food and decent clothes but they do for cigarettes and beer - and this young man is always getting in trouble at school. His mother makes all sorts of excuses for him - the school is too strict; he's a boy let him play; they're out to get me - and he really has no father figure in his life (his mom just married a man who has his own share of issues). It breaks my heart to see this young boy struggle and I have done my best to love on him and bring him to church so that he can grow in a better environment. Then, there are the girls that I know who ha...

There's almost nothing more satisfying in life than seeing Duke lose in basketball. And when your team beats them, the euphoria can be difficult to describe. Last night in Winston-Salem the Wake Forest Demon Deacons outplayed and ultimately outscored the Duke Blue Devils 86-73 in a game that produced bedlam and pandemonium afterwards. Our team is young but they played with poise and intensity, giving all of us Wake fans a flicker of hope not just for the future but perhaps for this year as well. Go Deacs!

Well, it looks like we are in a holding pattern right now. Kellie is progressing but not very rapidly. And at 35 weeks the doctors don't do any interventions that might help speed things along since it's still considered pre-term. We just saw the doctor and he verified that there has been no change, so we are going to go home and see what a change of scenery might do.

Kellie and I are at the hospital waiting to have our fourth baby. Hopefully before the day is over little Emmerson Caroline Griggs (Emme) will be here. I'll keep you posted!

I like to check out the signs that many churches have on their front lawns. In the county where I live, these signs can be especially humorous and I've taken the time to jot some of the more memorable ones down. Pictures would probably be better but you'll just have to take my word for it. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Turn to Him or you'll be toast. Without a doubt this is my favorite one. It stood in front of a church that had chains across the entrance to its parking lot that prohibited any trucks from making turn-arounds. Talk about rolling out the welcome mat! Try Jesus. If you don't like Him the devil will always take you back. It's as if Jesus is something we could sample, like an hors devours. Or maybe He's like that pair of jeans you try on at the mall. If they don't fit, you simply don't get them. Is this what they mean about trying Jesus? The wages of sin is death. Quit before payday. For the unchurched person I'm sure that this sign i...

With this being our fifth pregnancy (our third one went to be with the Lord early), Kellie and I have become accustomed to the things that people say as the belly begins to bulge bigger. Most people say things out of the kindness of their hearts and in blissful ignorance. I thought I'd share some of the comments that stick out to us the most. Upon hearing that we already have three children, " You know what causes that, don't you?" Uh, yeah, we got that part down pretty well. "You're not having twins, are you?" Are you saying that my wife is as big as a cow or do really think there's two in there? "Are you going to breast feed or bottle feed?" This is kinda personal, isn't it? I mean, when you ask where the restroom is in my house, I don't ask you "Are you going to go number 1 or number 2?" do I? "You haven't had that baby yet?" What do they want my wife to tell them, "Oh yeah, we already had...

The story of Peter walking on the water is found in Matthew 14:-33 . In this story, Jesus comes walking across the water toward the disciples' boat, which at the time was being battered by a storm. Oh, and it's also around 3 in the morning. The disciples see Jesus and believe they are seeing a ghost and so they cry out in fear. Jesus responds to them, "Have courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." From the context we are led to believe that His answer is enough for the disciples. What happens next is that Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk on water but then sees how scary his surroundings are, takes his eyes off of Jesus, and begins to sink until Jesus saves the day. Many preachers exhort Peter for his great faith and then exhort us to keep our eyes on Jesus so that we won't sink. Christian music artists sing of their desire to have the kind of faith that Peter did, to step out of the boat onto the crashing waves. Peter is considered a faith he...

Have you ever felt that way? You know, like doo doo? Well, I'm knee deep in it right now and I have doctor's appointment in an hour to get this junk cleared up. I despise going to see my doctor. He's a great guy and all, but I only go if I feel like I really have no other options. A couple of months ago I was sick and knew I probably needed an antibiotic, but when I found a bottle that my wife didn't finish in the cabinet I knew I was good to go. No doctor's visit needed. But today is different. It's as if this sickness knew all along it was going to kick my tail. I actually felt it coming on Friday night and by Saturday morning I was feeling pretty rough. I rallied that afternoon and did too much and by Sunday I was dragging again. Monday was worse and last night the coughing started, so I gave in and am breaking one of my personal man-laws: Don't go to the doctor unless you are basically dead. But before you shame me for being a wuss, you must und...