Category: Personal Ministry: Updates and Philosophy

I Have Read the Whole Bible in Its Original Languages

Those who’ve known me for a long time will recall that I cut myself off from reading devotionally in English Bibles at the beginning of 2018. You may also recall that when I quote Scripture in these blog posts, I have generally produced my own translations for each quote. In one sense this effort has finally paid off. As of earlier this week, finishing the book of Revelation, I have now read the whole Bible in its original languages.

Continue reading “I Have Read the Whole Bible in Its Original Languages” →

The Body of Christ, Election, and Disability

As an employee of Joni and Friends and a Sunday School teacher for my church’s disability ministry, I’m regularly around Christian disability ministry and people affected by disability. One of the most encouraging things about disability ministry is that the people I’m around who believe in disability ministry believe in the importance of the church. In particular, we cling to the truth that the church is the body of Christ, and as the analogy Paul lays out in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 shows, the body of Christ is composed of members–each needed by the others. Or in other words, the church needs people with disabilities!

Continue reading “The Body of Christ, Election, and Disability” →

Personal Updates – May 2020

As you can tell by looking at the archives, this blog hasn’t been active for about 15 months. I, Grant, have for the past four years been the only person who really posts here, and I anticipate that situation will continue. Because of the long absence, I wanted to leave a quick note about what’s changed in my life and how that impacts the existence of this blog.

Continue reading “Personal Updates – May 2020” →

Ministry Updates, Part III: Of Bibles and Teaching Opportunities

I am a preacher without a Bible. I do own several Bibles, and I do preach from the Bible, but I do not own a Bible I actually enjoy taking with me into a pulpit. Let me explain. Continue reading “Ministry Updates, Part III: Of Bibles and Teaching Opportunities” →

Ministry Updates, Part II: Seminary

I am now in my spring semester of my second year of seminary. If I had always been on a 3 year plan, I’d be half done now. However, by unit count, I’m currently more like 40% done. This is unimportant; I’d rather talk about some things I’ve learned and the surprising unity of my seminary experience thus far. Having recently finished my survey courses, I have now had the privilege to read through the entire Bible for class, including reading the entire New Testament twice and large sections of the Old Testament two or more times. This alone has been incredibly beneficial.

Continue reading “Ministry Updates, Part II: Seminary” →

Ministry Updates, Part I: Fiji

In a brief amount of time I have between fall and winter classes of my second year of seminary, I want to write a few brief posts that update people one where I am in life and ministry and continue to encourage readers in manners similar to previous posts. This is first of an unknown number of these updates for December, 2017.

In the middle of my fall semester, I had the opportunity to go to Fiji for a few days on a very brief missions trip. This update will discuss what that was and why it happened in Q&A form. Continue reading “Ministry Updates, Part I: Fiji” →

Some Summer Reading: Grant 2016

Last summer the authors of this blog published lists of books we were going to read here, here, and here.  We want to start a fun tradition, so we’re doing it again!  Grant will post his list in this post.  Calvin and Chris’s lists will follow shortly. Continue reading “Some Summer Reading: Grant 2016” →

Starving Children in Africa Would Love your Brussel Sprouts, Johnny!

As many of you already know, I recently returned from spending three and a half months in Lilongwe, Malawi.  Naturally people ask me lots of ill conceived questions.  For example, “How was Malawi?”  Hot.  Malawi was hot.  It still is, by the way.  Thanks for asking.  Oh, you meant how my time in Malawi was?  Why didn’t you say so in the first place?  Others may ask, “What was the most interesting thing you learned in Malawi?”  Which is an interesting question, but it’s hard for anyone to really say, “This, THIS, is what I learned over the past four months that is absolutely important.”  So I prefer the rephrase, “What did you learn in Malawi?”  But this post isn’t about that question.  This post is about the question, “What did you enjoy about going to Malawi?” Continue reading “Starving Children in Africa Would Love your Brussel Sprouts, Johnny!” →

End of Summer Reading List Update, 2015 (Grant)

At the beginning of summer, the authors of this blog posted reading lists of books we would read over summer.  This is an update on what Grant has read this summer, since he leaves for Malawi tomorrow, and tonight (to be spent at Dodger Stadium as Zack Greinke pitches a gem) marks the end of his summer.  For the original post, see here. Continue reading “End of Summer Reading List Update, 2015 (Grant)” →