Jim Graff

It’s often said: “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” And sometimes, that’s true. But in most cases, what we don’t know is hurting us more than we realize. A report from the American Enterprise Institute points to a lack of education as a major cause of poor health and financial stress, proving that ignorance […]

When I was 25 years old, both of my parents left earth for heaven. I handled their passing as well as I could, thinking I had worked through the grieving process. But in my thirties, a fresh wave of grief hit. I realized how much I missed their direction and affirmation. I was making big […]

Our society has become increasingly pragmatic. If something looks good to us, we’ll generally do it — especially if we think it won’t hurt anyone else. In this culture, it’s important to remember it’s not just what we do that matters; Why we do it is important, too. Motives matter. Proverbs 16:2 confirms this when […]

Most of us don’t jump for joy when we hear the word obligation. Why? Because it sounds like work—most likely for someone else’s benefit. But what if some obligations actually enriched us rather than burdened us? What if they were actually the key to a life of deep joy and fulfillment? In Romans 13:8, Paul […]

The Information Age has revolutionized communication. In my lifetime, we’ve gone from snail mail to fax, email to DMs, and now Zoom. Yet, despite this unprecedented access to connection, relationships haven’t necessarily improved. In fact, sociologists report that loneliness has reached epidemic levels. A 2023 study found that 58 percent of Americans feel like no […]

When God first stirred my heart toward becoming a pastor, I had a hard time accepting it. My dreams were to play baseball and practice law, not preach! Just the thought of standing before a congregation filled me with dread. The first time I spoke publicly was at my university’s vespers service. It was only […]

I love hiking. When I pass a breathtaking landscape, my heart stirs with the urge to explore. But too often, just as my excitement begins building, I spot an unwelcome sign: No Trespassing. It’s never the sign I want to see. My heart sinks, and I drive on, disappointed. But if I owned that land, […]

I read statistics the other day that shocked me. Pew Research reported, “About four-in-ten U.S. adults say people who do not believe in God can go to heaven.” Barna Research Group stated, “48 percent of U.S. adults believe a person who is generally good, or does enough good for others, will earn a place in […]

I recently learned about bummer lambs—lambs rejected by their mothers for various reasons. Without intervention, they would die, too weak and helpless to survive alone. That’s where a good shepherd steps in. He rescues the bummer lamb, bottle-feeds it, and nurtures it, holding it close until it gains strength and matures. These lambs grow up […]

In my first year of college, I attended church every time the doors were open. I was determined to grow in my faith and knew I had a lot to learn. One week felt exceptionally rough. I was trying to decide whether to continue playing college baseball or quit to focus on the calling I […]