Sterling Griggs

My 2 year old son Deacon has mastered the word "no". So well, in fact, that many times it doesn't matter what you ask him or tell him, he will simply reply with "no". There are times when it's cute and funny, but usually it's rather frustrating. How do you get a 2 year old to say something other than "no"? I heard a preacher say one time that the words "no Lord" don't make a lot of sense to God. Not that God can't understand those words (I mean, He understands everything) but when His people tell Him "no" while at the same time calling Him "Lord", it is a terrible paradox. The slave doesn't tell his master and owner "no". Tonight as I was tucking Deacon into bed, I asked him to say the word "yes". Without hesitation he said, "Yesth" (he had his pacifier in so he spoke with a lisp). Just to verify that he could do so, I had him repeat it over and over again until he ...

Last week at World Changers in Columbus, OH, was simply incredible and now Vacation Bible School is upon us. We were working in the toughest parts of Columbus but God has His hand of protection upon us and we were able to see Him move in many ways. Not only did homes get repaired but hearts were changed as well. It's been so long since I blogged that my picture has turned up on milk cartons as missing. Once we get past this stretch I'll do my best to be more regular.

I haven't posted much lately because I simply haven't had the time to sit and do so. June is without a doubt the busiest month on the planet for me. This past weekend we honored all of our graduates during the morning service and I had a chance to deliver the message. Also this past Thursday I took the graduating seniors out to dinner, hosted a pool and pizza party for our graduating 8th graders on Saturday night, and held a cookout for our rising 7th graders and their families which was followed up with a night of dodgeball at the YMCA on Sunday night. Oh, and I performed a wedding on Saturday morning. This coming Saturday, June 14, I will be taking 93 adults and students to World Changers in Columbus, OH. If you don't know what World Changers is all about, it's a fantastic mission trip where students work to repair the homes of the less fortunate and then at night are engaged in relevant worship and Bible study. This is by far the largest group we've ever t...

I was reading some passages in the gospel of Luke earlier, and I came across some statements made by people about Jesus that reminded just how narrow-minded we can be sometimes. The first statement was made by a Pharisee in Luke 7:39 . Jesus was a guest in this man's house and while they were enjoying a meal together, a woman "who was a sinner" came in and began to wash Jesus' feet with her hair, using her tears and fragrant oil to wipe them. This Pharisee was taken back by this and said, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him - a sinner!" First of all, Jesus knew exactly what kind of woman this was. He came to seek and save the lost ( Luke 19:10 ) so this is exactly the kind of person that Jesus would allow to touch Him. Second, it was rather arrogant of this Pharisee to think that his level of sin put him in a different category than this woman. One sin is enough to estrange us from God for a...