I do NOT often recommend items or people. Mainly because I don’t want to be culpable when you are inevitably disappointed, but today I will go against my usual practice. What follows is a foreword I wrote for a book titled Grace and Truth (Volume 1), by Pastor Joe Grimaldi. The few paragraphs below will tell you more about my relationship with this author, but if you would like to purchase this book, which I went out of my way to tell you is worth your time, you can contact Pastor Grimaldi at church@fbcok.com or call 330-745-3619.
I spent over half a decade co-laboring with the author of this book almost daily. Working closely with someone for almost six years, you quickly discern whether the pulpit life matches the private life. I can say with assurance, Pastor Joe Grimaldi is who he is. He does not project a presence in public and becomes someone else at home. I was privileged to observe him on the high days and the low.
Reflecting on this man (from whom I have learned more about ministry than any other single person) and after reading this manuscript, I can confidently say this book reflects the author. I was blessed to be present when the first message titled “Grace and Truth” was preached. At that initial hearing and multiple subsequent hearings, I was smitten to the heart each time. Pastor Grimaldi poured his heart both into the study of this subject AND the preaching of this needed topic.
There is a word and practice sorely needed in this day of “gotcha journalism,” hot takes, and the debate-of-the-week spirit currently popular on social media. That word is BALANCE. Jesus loved sinners, hated sin, flipped tables, said “go and sin no more,” and was, in every way, balanced.
I have heard it said, for every mile of road, there are two miles of ditch. This short book will encourage the reader to walk the middle of the road far from both ditches, where I believe Jesus walked. Not to pursue compromise or in an attempt to please everyone at the expense of taking a stand, but to walk circumspectly as Jesus walked. Jesus never softened truth to appear gracious, and He never abandoned grace to prove He was truthful. He was and is our only perfect example of grace and truth coexisting in the same Person.
Is the author of this book perfect? No. I know of few men more convinced of their shortcomings than Pastor Joe Grimaldi. Yet, I have watched this man practice the Biblical tenets and practical concepts outlined in this book on numerous occasions, even when it mortified his flesh.
I highly recommend this book to you because it’s biblically based. Because it has been tested and practiced by the author. And because I believe it will be helpful to you.
For His Glory,
Micah McCurry
