Category: <span>thoughts by John Grant</span>

Published August 18, 2009

Grace Received

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions; it is by grace you have been saved.�
Ephesians 2:4-5

Police CarAfter a long drive, I was only a couple of miles from home and the exit from the Interstate looked like an oasis in the desert. Coming down the off ramp, as I approached the intersection, the green arrow turned orange and I continued, thinking it would stay on longer. But no, it was a short orange and a quick red. As I rolled through the red, I thought that I should have stopped and then when I heard the siren and saw the red and blue lights, I really thought I should have stopped.

I knew he had me and I had no argument. I pulled into a parking lot, safely off the highway, and was greeted by a friendly officer of the law. I admitted to what I did and apologized. While he checked out my driving record, I searched for my registration. In a few moments he came back and said he saw that I had a good driving record and he was not going to give me a ticket. I thanked his and we parted company.

As I drove away, I thought about how I had received his grace. I deserved a ticket, but he excused me from the punishment I rightfully deserved. That was true grace demonstrated.

Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve and grace is getting what you don’t deserve. I was in the wrong. I deserved a ticket. That would have been justice. If I had gotten a ticket and gone to court, I could have asked the judge to show mercy and not find me guilty as I deserved. But to not get what I deserved in the first place was an act of grace.

Our relationship with Christ is much the same way. No matter how good of a life we have led, we are all sinners and deserve punishment. But God intervened and sent His Son so that by acceptance of Him, we would not get what we deserved and instead have eternal life in Glory. We are saved by our faith and His grace.

We are saved by faith, not works: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to
do ” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Fanny Crosby said it so well in that great hymn Saved by Grace: “Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; but oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story—Saved by grace.�
(a thought on life from John Grant )

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published July 27, 2009

America: Who is your GOD?

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people He hath chosen for His own inheritance.� Psalms 33:12

American flagThere has been a lot of debate lately as to whether our country is a “Christian nation.� Officially we are not. After all the establishment of a state religion was one of the reasons the pilgrims came to settle in this new land. But they brought with them their Judeo Christian values and upon those values this great nation was founded. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

From the doorways of our public buildings to the imprint on our money, we are constantly reminded that in God we trust. The Ten Commandments adorn the chambers of the Supreme Court and the daily sessions of our legislative bodies are commenced with prayer. We pledge to our flag as “one nation under God.�

While we are not officially a Christian nation, we are clearly one nation under God. In the words of President Ronald Reagan – “If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

The question is whether we are indeed forgetting that we are one nation under God. We need only look at the worldview expressed by so many today. God is nowhere on their radar screen and Biblical literacy and church attendance is at an all time low. The media, from sit-coms to the evening news mock Biblical values.

Many have given up on the political process, seeing the secular slant that government has taken, but I am reminded of Edmund Burke’s comment that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.�

It is easy to get discouraged when we see our land slipping and sliding away from Judeo Christian values, but as we pause to celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence, let us remember that the solution to the ills of this world are not at the bar of the court, or in the chambers of our legislative bodies.

The solutions are at the altar of Christ as we humbly submit to Him and dedicate our lives and our country to Him. The only way for America to return to its Judeo Christian roots is for revival to break out in this land.

“For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let thy mercy O Lord be upon us, according as we hope in thee.� Psalm 33:21-22
(a thought on life from John Grant))

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published June 18, 2009

Home at Last

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?�  1 Corinthians 15:55

Christian DevotionalLife is full of homecomings. I remember school homecomings and coming home from my honeymoon, carrying my wife into our new home. I recently spent the better part of three months away from home living at the state capitol and returning only on weekends. It was good to get back home. I have done that for 35 years, each legislative session and I always look forward to getting home. After cooking my own meals and living alone for all those weeks, I was really joyful to get back home.

The end of the legislative calendar is marked with “Sine Die,� which literally translated means “without day.� But in the common usage it means the permanent and final adjournment of the legislative session without any extensions or returns. It is over for good. There will be future ones, but this one is over forever.

 Life is like that. Each of is born with a sine die date, the date known only to God, but nonetheless a certainty for all who are born into life on this earth. Solomon said it when he said there is a time for all things, including a time to die. No one, regardless of wealth or worldly rank has been able to escape it. And human tendency is to regard it as a relentless and unyielding enemy. As soon as we are born, death becomes our destiny and though many have tried, no one has developed an antidote for it. It is the ultimate homecoming. The question, though is to which home does one go?

 But, for those who follow Christ and have trusted our life to Him, death is not an enemy, but a glorious destiny. Through the resurrection, death has been defeated and is no longer our enemy. As Christians, we need not fear death, for Christ has gone before us and will welcome us as we enter into eternity with him.

Death frees us to experience the glorious heavenly presence of God. No illness can defeat us. No disaster can rob us of eternal life. For Christians, death is not our enemy, but is nothing less than a vehicle that enables believers to experience God’s glory to the fullest.

I should not let death or the fear of it prevent me from experiencing a full and abundant life, because death cannot rob me of my inheritance as a child of God. With that assurance, I can enjoy my life in peace and earthly fulfillment, knowing that my future is secure and my eternity glorious.

I still have a lot I want and need to do here on earth, so I am not ready for that ultimate homecoming, but I can look forward to it and be sure of it, because my reservation is sure, having given my heart to Christ.

 Have you made sure your eternal room is reserved?
( a thought on life from John Grant )

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published June 12, 2009

Who is your Role Model – Luther or Galileo?

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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They had much in common. They were university professors, both lived in central Europe during the same century and both made astounding discoveries that would later change the world. But, in the end they chose to take separate responses to similar challenges to their faith and religious beliefs and their choices gave us a real life lesson in how to respond to the pressure of the world when our beliefs are challenged.

Galileo Galilei was the first to use a refracting telescope to make important astronomical discoveries. Galileo made a series of profound discoveries using his new telescope. As a professor of astronomy at University of Pisa, Galileo was required to teach the accepted theory of his time that the sun and all the planets revolved around the Earth. Galileo’s observations with his new telescope convinced him of the truth of a sun-centered planetary system. He is often referred to as the “father of astronomy.”

Galileo’s support for the heliocentric theory got him into trouble with the Roman Catholic Church. He was convicted of heresy and forced to recant and publicly withdraw his support of a theory that said the earth was not the center of the universe. He did so to save his life by simply proclaiming that his discoveries were simply untrue.

Martin Luther was a professor at the University of Whittenberg. He became convinced that the Bible was the true Word of God and had been abused by the Catholic Church. He appealed to the Pope to affirm the Gospel and later posted his 95 Thesis (really 95 points of error between the Gospel and its interpretation by the church) on the door of Castle Church. He sought not a breakaway from the church but a reformation from within.

Like Galileo, Luther was tried has a heretic and brought before the Diet of Worms where he was given the opportunity to recant and get in theological line with the church. He declined to do so saying, “On this I take my stand. I can do no other.” At Worms Luther stood for his beliefs. At Worms, Luther stood alone. At Worms Luther was true to his faith.

As I recently stood before the tomb of Galileo at Santa Croce Church in Florence, Italy, only a few days after kneeling at the grave of Luther in Whittenberg, suddenly the contrast of two similar, yet diametrically different men struck me. One stood at risk for his beliefs, while the other renounced truth and betrayed his faith for his personal safety. I was reminded of the admonition of Paul writing to the church at Corinth saying “Stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” I thought of what my church might be like if Luther had wimped on his faith like Galileo did. Luther stood firm in the faith.

The world tells us to compromise for our personal gain, but the Bible tells us to stand firm for our faith not matter what the world says. It is easy to compromise and conform. There is company in a crowd and it is often lonely to stand alone, but our faith tells us to stick to our ground and in the words of Martin Luther, “we can do no other.”

Question: Who would you say is your role model in your own life?

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published June 7, 2009

Pressing on Toward the Goal

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.� Philippians 3:12

It was one of those red letter milestone days, the ones you remember forever. Our youngest received his Juris Doctor degree. I am not sure our family is big enough to handle three “Dr. Grants,� but here we are. Any day when your child graduates is a big day but this one (not unlike the last one) was really special.

Since I had also received the same degree from the same school in the same courtyard, I got to present the diploma. After donning my cap and gown, as we processed in, thoughts came through my head of all that God has blessed me with since I made the same walk forty one years ago.

Then came the big moment……… When his name was called, the Dean handed me the diploma and I in turn presented it to our graduate, but not before giving him a bear hug and whispering in his ear… “Congratulations Dr. Grant, I love you!�

For Jamie and all the other graduates, it marked the conclusion of years of study, but also the beginning of a new chapter of life. That’s why they call it a “commencement,� rather than a “conclusion.� It is a mile marker in life, one that should never be a conclusion of learning new things and meeting new challenges. Life is a journey and like most journeys, it is filled with roadblocks and speed bumps, joys and sorrows and dreams and nightmares.

The important thing is that we never give up growing, learning and most important of all serving others. In Philippians, Paul tells of “pressing on,� and we too should live a life of always reaching for new goals, learning new things and reaching new heights.

Most important of all is that we should use every ounce of every talent that God has given us for this journey of life. As the great humorist Erma Bombeck said: “When I stand before God t the end of my live, I would hope that I would not have single bit of talent left, and could say I used everything you gave me.�

My prayer and life’s ambition is that I will never stop learning and that my tombstone will be my ultimate diploma.
  (a though on life from John Grant )

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published May 24, 2009

God’s Database

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.â€? Hebrews 4:13

Christian DevotionalWhen I saw the caller id on my cell phone as the “Capitol Police,â€? of course I answered. “Mr. Grant, this is Sergeant Walker, and I am holding your driver’s license in my hand.â€? “No,â€? I said, “that couldn’t be“. I knew it was in my money clip, but when I looked sure enough - it was missing. He told me which entrance to the capitol he was calling from and I told him I would be right there.

I still don’t know how it slipped out of my pocket, but the bigger mystery was how they found out my cell phone number, so I asked. Sergeant Walker responded by telling me that they have a gigantic computer that probably has more information about me than I know about myself. Scary, isn’t it?

As I walked down the hall, those words “more than I know about myself� kept ringing in my ears. There’s a spiritual parallel here. God knows me better than could ever know myself.  He loves me and created me even knowing everything that I would ever do. God knows me completely inside and out.  He knows every detail, far beyond my ability to understand.

Everyone has some knowledge, but only God has all knowledge. Everyone is present somewhere at any given moment, but only God can be present absolutely everywhere   at every given moment.  Every person has some power, but only God has unlimited power.

He knows all about us just as the painter knows his painting. Psalm 139 is so clear as the author celebrates God’s perfect knowledge of man’s thoughts and actions, and the reason of this wonderful knowledge, namely, that God is the Maker of man,,,, He knows me! Nothing I say or do or go or think can be hidden from Him.

David lays down this great doctrine in Psalm 139, that the God with whom we have to do has a perfect knowledge of us, and that all the motions and actions both of our inward and of our outward man are naked and open before Him.

Now, that’s a word picture if ever I have heard one… naked before God. So maybe I need to be a little more careful what I think, say or do, because God knows and sees it all.  
(a thought on life from John Grant)

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published May 19, 2009

Things are not Always as they Appear

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.� 
2 Corinthians11:13

Last week, the “trail boss� of our church motorcycle group organized a ride to a place called “Spook Hill,� where it appears that vehicles defy the law of gravity and roll uphill. In reality, it is an optical illusion that makes it look like an uphill roll, but the law of gravity has not yet been repealed and objects still roll downhill, no matter what ancient spirits may allegedly be lurking around.

We had a good time, but on the ride back, I couldn’t help but draw a spiritual comparison to our visit. Satan often disguises that which is bad to appear as good. The enemy often tries to portray himself as good, a friend who cares for you or as truth. 

That is not the case though, Peter said “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour�.  He lays traps and waits for you to fall.  He is after the result and may work on traps that take years to develop in your life when he can rise up and pounce on you. 

No need to fear though as God says “Greater is He who is in your than he that is in the world�.  God will take care of it if you let Him. But, we must know the source and not trust what we see or feel in a worldly sense.

We always need to be on alert and use caution.  Things are not always as they appear.  At times we can allow what we find desirable to overshadow and hide the truth we do not want to see that is in details.  If we are not careful, we will only see what we want to see.

Other times, we may find something or someone that appears to be good only to find out later that we were deceived.  We often are not aware of all the facts or know the end result.

The real question is whether we see things with worldly eyes……. eyes conditioned by the educational system, the media, the entertainment industry and others that would mould our minds to be unlike the mind of Christ or with spiritual eyes, the way God sees things.

How do I acquire spiritual eyes? I do it by constantly worshiping God throughout my daily routine, by being in the Word daily, by regularly participating in public worship and Bible fellowship with other Christians.

Mold your eyes, your mind and your perspective to be like that of Jesus and you will have the spiritual eyes to see as He sees, no matter how deceptive things may be from a non-Biblical world view. 
(a thought on life from John Grant )
 

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published May 12, 2009

Gifts for Royalty

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.�  2 Chronicles 17:11

It is a tradition that goes back for centuries. Sometimes it comes out of respect, sometimes out of fear and not infrequently out of good business. I am talking about the time old tradition that when people meet the King they bring a gift.

It is as old as when the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts of precious metals as a tribute and the Arabs brought him animals. The King was a man who led a nation of great power and neighboring countries would purchase peace with the King of Judah.

This tradition has been vetted in the press this week as leaders from the top twenty countries of the world descended upon London to try and figure out what’s wrong with the world economy and who is going to take the responsibility to fix it. Our President presented the Queen with an engraved I-Pod, as his gift.

We read of the gifts of the Maji, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar in the Gospels…. Kings who followed a star to find the baby Jesus and became the first to worship Him.

Their gifts were fitting for a King… gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Some were ordinary gifts for a king — myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable. Others  are prophetic — gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of priesthood and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death.

Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering. Did you think of what you would bring if you got to meet Jesus?

Well, someday, we will all visit Jesus and stand before Him. What he wants is not some thing, but some one…. YOU!

The greatest gift we can give Him is to accept Him, trust in His Word and give ourselves totally to Him. He wants us to live a truly holy life and there is no greater gift to give to our King,  King  Jesus.                
(a thought on life from John Grant )

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published April 2, 2009

The Rest of the Story

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'”   So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10-12

Christian DevotionsHe has been a household word for years and has often ridden with us as we drove our car. His name has been synonymous with moral and family values and he was one of the most trusted men in America. He was a household icon and had one of the nation’s most familiar and instantly recognizable voices and was credited with inventing or popularizing terms such as “skyjacker� and “Reaganomics.� He has been heard nationally since 1951 and been on the air since 1933.

I remember one day a number of years ago when out of the clear blue he called me and his voice over the phone sounded just like it did on the radio where one of his most often used quotes was “stand by for news.� He spoke to and estimated twenty four million listeners and was on 1200 radio stations. His regular column was carried by three hundred newspapers across America. He was the most listened to broadcaster in America and always ended with that homespun “good day.�

The voice of Paul Harvey was taken off the air forever just a short time ago when he died in Arizona at the age of ninety. He always stood for and spoke out on issues of patriotism and the responsibility. I remember one quote he made saying: “Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing and now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.�

Perhaps his most remembered footprint was when he told part of a story just long enough to set the hook and make you try to figure out how it would end, only to break for a commercial that seemed to last forever. And then when he returned. He would tell “the rest of the story,� and it with something totally different than what you had imagined.

Jesus had a similar form of teaching, like Harvey, often asking questions as he led people into a mental process of drawing their earthly answers and conclusions, only to answer an earthly question in spiritual terms. Paul the apostle, writing in Romans (Romans 14: 10-12), reminds us that Jesus will get the last word and He will tell us the rest of our story as we give our account to God.

Paul Harvey had that experience as he heard the real rest of the story. And, so will you and I for it is the appointment for every person to die and then the judgment. We will all have that experience, but the Bible tells us that how we live our lives and for whom we live our lives, determines what will be the script.
( a thought on life from John Grant )

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published March 18, 2009

Are you a Self Feeder?

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in fullassurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.� Hebrews 10:22-23

The media always seems to sell the sensational, tell the part of the story that makes the best read and have a headline or a presentation form that will catch the reader or listeners eye. Such was the case recently when headlines declared that the pastor of America’s fifth largest church said, “We made a mistake.�

The secular press and jealous pastors seized on the moment to say: “See, we told you so.� But what wasn’t so prominently reported and talked about in the media was the rest of the story.

Being a “program driven� and “seeker sensitive� church, Willow Creek Community Church has spent millions of dollars setting up all kinds of programs designed to increase participation and therefore making the participants better disciples of Jesus.

The church undertook a study and survey to determine what ministries were most beneficial for the most people. The results of the survey were both interesting and surprising. It was obvious that in some areas there was not much benefit in relation to the resources put to certain ministries and in other areas, the opposite was the case… not enough resources to meet the need and demand.

Rev. Bill Hybels made two statements. The first hit the press with large headlines when he said: “We made a mistake.� But the rest of the statement was the most important and one not very well understood by the secular world.

What the study showed is that all these “programs� did not lead people into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Hybels said what was apparent was that if the church is not creating “self feeders� instead of “spoon feeders,� all the ministry programs imaginable won’t penetrate souls. The main mission of the church is to create men and women who hunger for the Word and absorb themselves in it daily……people who fall to their knees and seek the will of God in their lives.

The writer of Hebrews tells us to draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. We need to seek (draw near) to God every day and not depend on others to do it for us. He is patiently waiting for you. Remember, you are as close to God as you choose to be.

In these days ahead, ask yourself if you are a self feeder or a spoon feeder.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published March 14, 2009

Messages from Above

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.� Hebrews 11:1

When I purchased the car last year, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to reading the manual….. nobody does. In fact they say that the automobile handbook is the most unread book. I did notice some reference to “Engine Diagnostics Notification,� but thought nothing of it.

Then last week, on a Sunday afternoon, I got an e-mail telling me that all four of my tires were below acceptable pressure and it told me the pressure in each tire. I sort of sat there and stared at the monitor trying to figure it all out. How could my tire pressure be beamed up so a satellite high above that would in turn send me this e-mail? I got another e-mail telling me that I needed an oil change.

I was perplexed, as it was beyond my ability to understand, but I have learned over the years that I don’t necessarily have to understand how something works in order to participate in its value. I still don’t understand how the Internet works when I communicate almost instantly with someone on the other side of the world, but that doesn’t stop me from sending and receiving dozens of e-mails each day.

Faith in God is like that. I don’t have all the answers and I don’t understand everything, but I have faith in God as much as I have faith that while the dawn is still dark, the sun will rise at precisely the right time.

Having faith is not like having a wish list of things we would like to see happen. No, faith, as used in the Biblical sense is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists. Faith is an unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence.

We drive our cars, purchase our food and do all sorts of things on the faith that they will work and not be harmful to us. Yet, why is it that many people use the excuse that they do not have proof of Christianity and therefore cannot embrace it? Through Jesus, we have assurance, guarantee and confidence.

How much of what we do is really motivated by an implicit trust in God’s Word? This is how we can tell whether we are living in faith. God tells to walk by faith and not by sight and have faith in Him…. Have faith in Him.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published February 28, 2009

What Happened to Layaway?

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Scenic shotIt was a real learning experience when I learned the term. I can remember like it was yesterday. My mother said we were going to town to shop and purchase something. I can’t remember what it was but remember it was something we really wanted. We lived out in the country so going to town was an event and the only place to shop for other than groceries and animal feed.

We went downtown, got in the elevator and went to the top floor and proceeded to pick out our purchase. My mother placed the purchase on the counter and pulled out her charge plate, the aluminum store charge devise that was a precursor to modern day credit cards.

After settling up and getting my mother’s signature, the sales clerk gave her back her charge plate and proceeded to put the package under the counter. My mother turned and walked away without our long awaited purchase.

I asked her to explain and that’s when I learned the term. “Layaway� means that we can’t afford to pay now for what we have purchased, so the store neatly stores it away until it is paid for in full and then we can take it home. I think that probably anyone under forty years old is a stranger to the term.

It is so different now, as it is the exact opposite. I was reading through the advertising supplements of this week’s Sunday newspaper and saw page after page of “pay no interest for a year� and even one that said “no payments until 2010.� It would appear that now you can do the opposite of layaway. Instead of sheltering our object of need until it’s paid for, we take immediate possession of our object of greed and pay for it on a plan where it is designed to self destruct or become technologically obsolete with thirty days after you make the last payment.
 
No wonder people are spending more than they make and banks are in the financial soup.

But, the Bible gives us a better definition. Jesus told us to not doddle over what the earth calls treasures, but to lay away heavenly treasures….. those with real value. And He so aptly tells us that where our treasure is, our heart will be also. Now that’s the real definition of layaway.

Question: What are your treasures… the things of this world or the things of heaven? 
( a thought on life from John Grant )

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Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published February 18, 2009

What I am Worth?

By John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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‘Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

In these turbulent economic times, it seems like each week brings more bad news….. jobs lost, homes foreclosed, retirement nests with fewer eggs and, on it goes. Where will it stop? Nobody knows. After recently looking at my retirement plan, maybe I had better re-think my senior years. Instead of cruising the Mediterranean, perhaps it will be more like bobbing a cork from a cane pole on the Withalachocche.

In the past four months, Americans have lost more than three trillion dollars in net worth. But it was a recent article in a Washington newspaper that caught my attention. It’s not just the American dollar that’s losing value. A government agency has decided that an American life isn’t worth what it used to be.

The “value of a statistical life” is $6.9 million in today’s dollars, the Environmental Protection Agency reckoned in May – a drop of nearly $1 million from five years ago. When drawing up regulations, government agencies put a value on human life and then weigh the costs versus the lifesaving benefits of a proposed rule. The less a life is worth to the government, the less the need for a regulation, such as tighter restrictions on pollution. Agency officials say they were just reporting what the science told them.

On the other hand though, the Bible believes in man’s uniqueness and in his supremacy over the rest of creation. Because he was created in an incomparable and invaluable “divine” image no amount of money can equate to the value of a human life……. Including the value of lives in being before birth.

Jesus saw no class or caste, nor should we. God created each one of us. Jesus put a special emphasis on children and for that matter, each one of us is a child of God…… none worth more than another.

Owning a beautiful home, that’s comfort. Driving a fancy car, that’s convenience. Commanding a high salary, that’s luxury. But holding my three week old granddaughter Ellie in my arms, that’s priceless and something no one can value in intrinsic worth. God did no greater work than when he created a little child.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/02/18/jg_worth/

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published February 2, 2009

The Kingdoms of this World

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying,” The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelations 11:15-16

In the change of  our national leadership, I could not help but think of the implications of the seventh angel in Revelation. As I watched the inauguration, I noted the prayers of invocation and benediction, the singing of God Bless America and the many references to God in various remarks from the podium, but most of them seemed ceremonial and obligatory and few could claim any apparent sincerity. The references seemed superficial at best.

Perhaps it was because I knew the background of the speakers and the many past comments they have made which sounded like there was no connection to God or desire for Him to get in the way of their own personal (kingdom) agendas.

When people proclaim that it should be legal to terminate the life of a human being in the name of a woman’s convenience or those who proclaim that it is alright to marry the person of your choice, regardless of gender, I wonder what connection with divine inspiration they really have.

When people say that a policy of celibacy in singleness and monogamy in marriage is puritanical or claim that church attendance is for the weak, who need a crutch, I wonder if they really desire God to bless America, or do they want God’s approval for their self-centered kingdom.

Some day, when the seventh trumpet is sounded, America will find out how insignificant their kingdoms are when the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord.

The plain truth of the Bible reveals that the “Kingdom of God” is to be a literal government composed of spirit rulers who shall rule over all nations on earth. It is to take over the governments of the nations at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Christ will become the “King of kings,” and He will rule by the law of God.

Jesus Christ will return to earth for the purpose of setting up the Kingdom of God and judging the nations. This time, He will not come meekly but with God’s wrath against a rebellious mankind! The nations’ political rulers will be furious when they realize that Christ has come to abolish the governments of this world and to establish the Kingdom of God, which will rule over all the earth. Then those who glibly ask for God’s blessing over their personal ungodly kingdoms and agendas will find out what the Lord’s kingdom really is. Lord, come quickly, because we can’t hold on much longer. 
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/02/02/jg_kingdoms/

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Published January 26, 2009

Don’t Take a Chance on Your Future

By John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.� Psalm 42:5-6

These are tough economic times and few have not been touched by the current recession. Many have seen their savings and retirement income dwindle. Most have seen the equity in their home decrease to the point where they own more on their mortgage than the current value of their home. Foreclosures are at an all time high (2.3 million American homes last year). More than two million people have lost their jobs and the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in thirty four years.

With diminished income and savings people are cutting back on their expenditures and the spiral down effect puts even more people out of work. Strangely though, there is one industry that appears to be thriving and growing in that many states lottery sales are rising in this recession.

According to a recent press article, it seems that in these tough times, many people appear willing to gamble a few precious dollars in the hope of winning instant deliverance from their economic woes. More than half of all states with lotteries have reported rising sales over the past six months, and some researchers say financial insecurity might be driving people to risk more of their money than usual on $1 and $5 instant scratch-offs and other daily games in hopes of a big payoff.

As unemployment and home foreclosures mount, psychologists are seeing a rise in stress, anxiety and depression.  The emotional fallout has led to a rash of “crimes of desperation” … bank robberies… arson… insurance fraud – and in some cases – murder or suicide.

It is interesting to see where the world’s people turn when faced with adversity…….gambling money they can’t afford to lose in system where the odds of winning are remote……. appropriating property that doesn’t belong to them…… consuming alcohol and drugs to drown their sorrows.

God’s Holy Word is clear on where we should turn, when our soul is downcast and times get tough. Psalm 42 has the simple prescription: Put your hope in God, not in power, possessions, positions and chances. Put your hope in God.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/01/26/jg_take-a-chance/

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men