Pastor Stephen Grant?

Stephen Grant is the pastor at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church on eastern Long Island. Grant is one of the more unique second-career clergy around, as he once worked for the CIA. Besides theology, his interests include archery, golf, writing, classic films, the beach, poker, baseball, and history. Grant also knows his wines, champagnes and brews. Oh yes, he generally dislikes politicians, and happens to be an expert marksman with a handgun and a rifle, while being pretty handy with a combat knife as well.

Friday, December 31, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating...

“He became convinced that architectural style and worship choices were intimately intertwined.”

What do you think?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating…

Can torture ever be moral? The issue is considered in Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel available at Amazon.com.

Monday, November 29, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating…

Given the security breach related to WikiLeaks, a line from Warrior Monk: "Since 9-11, we’re all friends now – CIA, FBI, NSA and so on – or at least we’re supposed to be."

Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Holy Scripture And Warrior Monk

The following Holy Scripture quote relates to Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authority. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God… But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” (Romans 13:1,4)

Sunday, October 31, 2010

How Would Pastor Grant Vote?


How would Pastor Stephen Grant vote on Tuesday? To be sure, pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-traditional values, and strong on national security. But his general view of politicians? From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating: "Grant whispered to himself, 'Politicians, yuck.'"

Saturday, October 30, 2010

From the Desk of Pastor Stephen Grant: Halloween or Reformation Day



For many people, October 31 means Halloween. Time to dress up in costume, and knock on doors for some candy.

But for many Christians, October 31 is Reformation Day. That is, the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

The following is from a Lutheran Witness article by Rev. Mark A Loest:

“By the time they are confirmed, Lutherans know that the public outcry that fueled the Reformation of the church started with Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses. They also know that Luther’s theses had to do with the selling of indulgences. However, today’s Lutherans do not always understand exactly what indulgences are and why Luther protested their sale…”

The full article can be read here. It offers an excellent summation of the topic.



Friday, October 29, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel ...

A bit on the woes of faithful Anglicans from the novel:

"Stone could not tolerate the sharp revisionist turn the leaders of the U.S. Episcopal Church had taken in recent times, so his parishioners at St. Bartholomew’s Church voted to leave a few short years ago."



Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.


Friday, October 22, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel ...


A character in Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel makes the following declaration about Ayn Rand:

“Well, Rand had her economics basically right. She made clear the bankruptcy of socialism, and that capitalism and freedom work best. But on just about everything else, she was full of crap.”

Comments or thoughts?

Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.


Monday, October 18, 2010

From the Desk of Pastor Stephen Grant

As noted in Warrior Monk, my friends and I use For All the Saints: A Prayer Book For and By the Church from the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau for our daily devotions. This four-volume set is the most comprehensive devotional I've ever used, and the books are beautifully presented. I highly recommend the entire set.

For more information on For All the Saints, go here.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel ...


So, what is Pope Augustine I's answer to the question, "What does the world see when it looks at the Christian faith?"

In Warrior Monk, the Pope writes:

Too often, it is conflict and division. We should be saddened and ashamed that Christian unity is so lacking. After all, Jesus specifically prayed: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20-23)

We can – and will – debate the degree of unity necessary, but Christians certainly must achieve much more than what exists today. While progress has been made, we have fallen far short of Christ’s desire.


Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.


Thursday, October 14, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel ...

A key character is described:

"She was striking. The neckline of the white halter top dress with black polka dots plunged down between her breasts, allowing for plentiful revelation of neck, shoulders, back and unmistakably strong arms."

Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating…

A question offered in the book:

"What does the world see when it looks at the Christian faith?"

Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

From the Desk of Pastor Stephen Grant

While the Yankee fans (along with at least one Cardinals fan) among my parishioners here at St. Mary's Lutheran Church on Long Island will disagree, my pick to go to the World Series and win it all is the Cincinnati Reds. As a hometown Cincinnati kid, how could I possibly go against Votto, Bruce, and the Cuban Missile? Let's go Reds!

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating…

"From first grade through high school, his life was about parochial school, attending church, reading, the Cincinnati Reds and, starting in junior high, playing golf and practicing archery."

Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.

Monday, October 4, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating…

"With both his former employer, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Church, Grant learned enough about human nature to know that evil existed and protection was necessary."

Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating…

"It increasingly seemed that if you wanted to arrange a discreet meeting, a church in Europe was ideal..."

Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Keating on the Radio

Author Ray Keating was interviewed today (September 24) about Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel on Pastor Wiley Drake's radio show. Pastor Drake apparently found the idea of going from CIA agent to pastor intriguing given that he was a former private investigator.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

From Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating…

"Grant tried not to think too deeply about a Lutheran pastor having the hots for a Catholic nun..."


Get the book at CreateSpace or at Amazon.com here.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010