Sterling Griggs

Today was the first day of school for my two oldest kids. My wife took our oldest to her first day of middle school (gasp!) and I dropped my now fourth grader off for her first day, trying hard not to embarrass her. I then took my two youngest who won't start school until later this week to a new doughnut shop that recently opened on Oak Island (Ahoy Doughnuts). I thought my girls would enjoy fresh doughnuts after school plus I wanted to have something sweet to dip in my coffee. We walked into the shop and, as I am in the habit of doing, I began talking with woman behind the counter. They asked if I wanted coffee which I politely declined, informing them that I am a true coffee snob who roasts his own coffee. That opened up the conversation to the possibility of serving fresh coffee in their shop among other things. As we continued to chat, I learned that this woman and her husband and kids moved down to the area this past spring soon after we did from the same area of Winston-S...

I am a huge fan of the Jason Bourne movies. The latest installment in the Bourne saga, The Bourne Legacy , did not feature the Jason Bourne character but it was crafted along the same plot lines as the first three movies. Because I believe movies made from books are rarely ever as good as the books themselves, I have gone back and read a few of the books and have not been disappointed. The movies do not follow the plot line of the books that closely, but many of the same characters and situations are still there. There is something about reading a great book or watching a thrilling movie that stirs up something inside of me. I find it easy to take on part of the mindset of the main characters and, in my imagination, try to think like they would think in a given situation. I know that sounds pretty cheesy, but when the Rocky movies came out a couple of decades ago I'm pretty sure I saw you shadow boxing as you left the theater. So as I headed to my car after watching The Bourn...

What makes you want to follow after the lead of someone else? Is it their charisma, past successes, or the fact that you trust them? All of these come into play, yet it's hard to deny that being a leader involves more than possessing just one special quality. Leadership is vision in action. It's a package deal, and wrapped up in it are several critical components that work together in such a way that others will be inspired and motivated by your vision in action: Vision -  This is the God-given picture of where you want to go. Vision can't be taught, it can only be steered and grown in a certain direction. Relationships - Leadership is first and foremost about people. People are not merely a means for you to use to accomplish your goal. Rather, people are the vehicle by which your vision is driven and accomplished. Cultivating real and personal relationships with the people around you will ensure that they are on your team because they believe in you, not just because t...

This past Sunday I joined with others in singing the words to "Sweetly Broken" in worship. The words of the chorus are beautiful and powerful: At the cross You, beckon me, Draw me gently, to my knees and I am, Lost for words, so lost in love I'm, Sweetly broken, wholly surrendered! As I sang these words and considered their meaning, my heart just about burst within me. How marvelous is the grace of God! How incredible that He would save one so undeserving as me! I was so struck by the cross and the redemption that it bought me when it suddenly hit me how selfish sometimes my worship has become. Yes, I am broken for my own sin but how often am I moved in the same way for others? The gospel is for you, for me, for everyone. As we are broken over our sin and humbled by our redemption, may we also be broken for those who have not yet tasted and seen the beauty of Christ.

As a kid, I remember being unable to contain my joy when it came time for our family beach trip each summer. I'm pretty sure I was that kid who asked his parents "Are we there yet?" every few miles. Once we actually arrived at the coast, me and my brothers would crane our necks to see who could get the first glimpse of the ocean. It was all I could do to contain myself. The other day as we were driving down a fairly rural road, we passed an older church with a pretty large graveyard out front (I figured there were more bodies in the ground than in the pews). My wife and I were struck at how the headstones in this cemetery were all turned kind of oddly but in the same direction. It seemed to us that it would make more sense and be practical for them to be facing away from the church and toward the road. That's when it hit us like a brick in the face. These graves were all pointing east. They were buried with the anticipation of Christ's return from the eastern s...

When I am away from my family for any length of time, I am constantly confronted with reminders of just how much they mean to me. If I see another family enjoying a meal or time together, I am transported in my mind to my own wife and kids and I instantly miss them. Sights and sounds, messes and chaos all remind me of just how blessed I am. As a follower of Jesus Christ, should I have to be reminded of just how much He paid to redeem me? I mean, how often every day do I stop and reminisce about the gospel and its radical expression of love for me? It's not that I don't realize the magnitude of the grace of God - I dwell on it daily as I spend time in the Bible. But how often do I get sidetracked with other, more trivial activities that suck the life out of me and demand my vitality? Do I put as much passion in my worship of the Creator God who sacrificed all for me as I do in yelling at the TV when my favorite sports team is on? I want to be reminded daily, even hourly - b...