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I’m going to talk about myself this morning, and though I could write all day on my favorite topic, I will keep it short! (Perhaps a false expectation – being short!)
First, the verse of Scripture that I’ve been meditating on recently …
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (Psalm 4:1)
I’ve been blessed by thinking over and over, “You have given me relief when I was in distress.” It’s been a great help with frustration.
Second, I’m finishing a book entitled Discipleship That Works. It’s a summation of discipling principles that I’ve learned over 50 years. Only five percent of American churches have a disciple-making culture, so I believe this book is needed.
Writing this book has been an immersive experience. I get to my office at 5:30 a.m., have my devotions, write an Interruption, then work on the book until noon or 1 p.m. Then I exercise.
I’ve had to postpone or not answer many emails, not call people that I should call, and postpone reading books on my “to be read” list.
Please be patient with me.
The book is 35,000 words, and I’ve written over 100,000 words, which means that I often use the paste-and-cut features on Microsoft Word.
I have a folder saved with the notation “Fourth and Final” time to write and re-write this book. I recently went to see my editor, and after his review of the book, I now have a folder on my computer that reads “Fifth and Final” time.
Prayers needed and appreciated.
Third, my ministry for the last two years has been Discipling Another. The ministry has a great team of volunteers. We are working with local and international churches to develop sustainable discipleship.
The concept of “sustainable discipleship” is completely discussed in my new book. I hope you can’t wait to buy one or two dozen copies to share with friends and church leaders that you know. (There will be a special discount for purchasing one or two dozen copies!)
A side note … We have translated First Steps Conversations, our one-on-one discipling content, into six languages in two years and have just begun working on the Spanish version.
Fourth, my wife and I recently hosted four grandkids and a dog for part of a weekend. The parents were off gallivanting! But we did just fine without them.
I first took them to a candy shop to make sure they had energy for the weekend. I confess this was a mistake. But we rallied the rest of the weekend by following the Grandparent’s Diet for Grandkids in taking them to Lee’s Chicken, Taco Bell, and Schuler’s donuts.
A great blessing was that the dog slept with my wife. After years of having her cat (which I dislike) sleep on my feet, I felt deep joy when the dog rolled over and tried to lick my wife on the face in the middle of the night!
Fifth, about 5,000 people who have watched the movie, The Jesus Revolution, have said to me, “This movie reminds me of you, Pastor Grant.” (Number only slightly exaggerated).
And the movie is vicariously me.
A couple began following Jesus at Calvary Chapel in L.A. in 1971, then drove a VW microbus across the country to start a Jesus House in Daytona Beach, Florida – where I arrived on the last day of 1971 to accept Jesus then hitchhike back to Springfield, Ohio, to start the church where I pastored for 49 years.
YES, God still performs miracles!!!!
That’s It.
My short update. I know that all of you have been wondering, “What’s up with Pastor Grant?” I’ve now given the update, so you can now enjoy the rest of your week.
But first, another verse of Scripture that has blessed me recently …
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you (2 Timothy 4:22).