Spiritual grit is character. True spiritual grit is character rooted in the person of God. Spiritual formation is character development. Everyone undergoes spiritual formation either intentionally or most often unintentionally. Intentional effort is essential in building spiritual grit. At the same time, it can never be separated from the grace and good news of Jesus Christ. The lessons on spiritual formation in this book were gleaned while ministering to U.S. Marines and Sailors over almost two decades. The study completed in 2006 documents that character can be strengthened intentionally through spiritual formation groups. Since retiring from the Navy in 2007, the author has pastored a local church in Alaska. The same spiritual formation lessons learned as a chaplain with Marines and Sailors still apply as a pastor. Today he applies these same principles to shepherding the hearts of a flock in today's hostile culture, just as he did caring for warriors training for combat. Grady has been pastor of Eagle River Grace since March 2007 when he retired as a chaplain from the U.S. Navy after 26 years. In the Navy, he served tours of duty on a nuclear submarine, a cruiser, an aircraft carrier, Seabee Battalions, and with numerous U.S. Marine units, which included a combat tour in the first Gulf War. He has lived in Iceland, Spain, Korea, and Japan. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, a Masters of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a B.S. in engineering from Texas A&M. His active, diverse ministry and travels span four decades and over 30 countries. Grady and his wife Pat are the parents of two adult children. His married son is a youth pastor in Oregon and his daughter serves with a charitable organization in California.
