Thanks for visiting my blog, Straight From the Heart.
I am the son of Bishop and Mrs. C.R. Grady and grew up in Charleston, SC. I am very appreciative that I was brought up in the faith and nurtured by my parents and siblings. Growing up, I was focused on all things football, basketball and baseball and went through an intellectual transformation that started my senior in high school and has followed me ever since. Now, I am concerned about all things theology, preaching, and church administration, but, most importantly, family.
Growing up in a family of what I thought were overachievers, I felt really bad that I had a speech impediment. In fact, I stuttered from age 6 until I turned 20. Early in life, I vowed to never be involved in public speaking and found comfort and solace in the written word.
In high school, I was part of the yearbook staff, and, in college, I tried my hand at writing for the International page of The Hilltop newspaper at Howard University. I have written articles in the The (AME) Christian Recorder and published sermons in The AME Review. I’ve also written for Heritage magazine, the Decatur Living Christian Magazine (Decatur, IL), been a religion columnist for The Indianapolis Recorder, a guest religion writer for The Indianapolis Star, as well as a commentary writer for The Indiana News.
I’ve had the privilege of lecturing at the following colleges and universities: Richland Community College, the University of Illinois at Springfield, and Indiana State University. I also taught Bible Study at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), and preached at Allen University for Religious Emphasis Week.
I am married to the former India Clemons, an accomplished educator and native of Illinois. She has allowed me to bring her all the way to SC, whose Southern Cuisine and Low Country treats -- Pralines and Caramel Bear Claws -- she loves.
I have been involved in many things, but take most seriously mounting the pulpit weekly and preaching the Gospel. I try my best to live by these words:
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow, it exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable?” (Hebrews 4:12-13)