With Father’s Day only two weeks away, I decided to focus my next few blogs specifically on grandfathering. To all you grandmothers out there, you can either ignore these next few posts, or you could ask your husbands to read them. So, ladies, I thank you for your patience as I speak to the men in the family for a bit.

Men, I think you would agree there are few things that compare with the excitement of becoming a father for the first time—though becoming a grandfather for the first time is right up there at the top of the list. I remember that day when I became a grandfather just before my 49^th birthday. I was both excited and sobered by the realization that another generation of my own flesh and blood had arrived on the scene.

I also should admit that I felt a lot like I did when I became a father for the first time. Many of the same feelings about what it meant to be a father resurfaced when I became a grandfather. I was aware that this was a significant responsibility, but had no idea what was ahead or if I was prepared fulfill that responsibility well.

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[It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Dr. Larry McCall, a new friend I met this year who has been such a blessing to me. I know he will be to you too. Larry is Founder and Director of Walking Like Jesus Ministries and author of Loving Your Wife as Christ Loves the Church. He is currently writing a book called “Gospel-Centered Grandparenting”.]

So, what do you think is the best part of being a grandparent? What’s that well-worn quip? “The best thing about being a grandparent is that you can spoil the grandkids then send them home to their parents!” Really? That’s it? That’s the best thing about being a grandparent? Hmmm . . . I hope not! Who wants spoiled children running around? There’s got to be something better. So, what is the best part of being a grandparent?

I think for most of us grandparents, our “enjoyment quotient” is high.

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TRAPPINGS…?  

…OR TRUTH?

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. (I Cor. 15:3-5)

A recent radio advertisement invited listeners to purchase their Easter ‘goodies’ to celebrate what Easter is about: Easter baskets, Easter eggs, lilies and sweets, a time to go to church with your family, and most of all—gathering all the family for a special, and delicious Easter dinner with all the trappings.

A simple review of Easter advertisements today—including some church ads—will not offer much insight into what this most significant of Christian holidays is actually about—the celebration of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Whatever we make of it, the truth is, He is risen! Of course, I’m not so naïve as to think that merchants have any motivation whatsoever to make much of Christ’s resurrection as a way of selling products. After all, chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs are much more marketable.

But as Christians, what do we make of Easter?

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“So is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but… will achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  (Isaiah 55:11) 

What grandparent wouldn’t love knowing their grandchildren are getting into God’s Word more? I know I want to see my grandchildren digging into God’s Word. I don’t think there’s anything like reading the Word, but the second-best option is for them to listen to it regularly. I know if I can get my grandkids to listen to the Word, they are very likely to start reading it too.

That’s why I’m excited about High Speed Luke. That’s what I said… High Speed Luke. I know what you’re thinking, and when I first heard about this Bible tool, I was very skeptical too. Now, I am believer, and I think you will be too.

So, I’ll let the founder, Tom Helling, tell you about High Speed Luke and how it came about. If you’re a skeptic like I was, you need to read this. After you read about it, if you have grandkids between the ages of 8 and 25, I urge to you to go to the High Speed Luke web site and get your grandkids into the Word… fast!

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“A healing tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it crushes the spirit.”  Prov. 15:4 (NASB)

While a student at Denver Seminary (a very long time ago), then president Dr. Vernon Grounds, made an indelible impression upon this young, naïve seminarian. Dr. Grounds went out of his way to greet each student he encountered with a genuine word of encouragement and value. That was his way, and in his company, not only did I feel like the most important person on campus, I also knew that he believed God had great plans for my life.

There was, on the other hand, a professor who didn’t particularly care for me, and who made it very clear that he considered me nothing more than an “average” student who, in his opinion, “would never amount to anything.”  Which of the two do you think stirred life and hope into my spirit, and which crushed my spirit? I wish I could say that Dr. Grounds’ life-giving words had more impact on me than the latter, but for a long time I felt my spirit crushed — something very hard to repair.

The spirit of children and youth are especially easily damaged and crushed by our words, if we are careless with them.

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