1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13 There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.” Do you remember hearing those words from a parent who had just “laid down the law” about something? We certainly did not have to ask, “What do you…Keep Reading

I will arise and go to my father…” Luke 15:18 He stood with the congregation as they started to sing. Wanting to slip out of the church, and wanting to stay, was a tug of war in his soul. With fingers gripping the pew he stood there like Peter when he wanted to step out of the boat: “Lord if it is you, If this is real, let me come…Keep Reading

LETTING OTHERS DO OUR THINKING Buzzards—more correctly, vultures—are scavengers. They search high and low (pun intended) for the dead and the dying and would as soon eat a skunk as a rabbit. They don’t carry morsels back to their young, but (in non-scientific terms) puke food up for the young. This reminds me of some Christians. Not the babes in Christ, mind you, because they have an insatiable appetite for…Keep Reading

Revelation 14:2-3 “And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne.” (Revelation 14:2-3) They are the redeemed in Heaven, and they are singing in glorious harmony. There are no solo performances, but an innumerable people with one voice…Keep Reading

PRACTICING OUR PRIESTHOOD Peter addresses his first epistle to sojourners or temporary residents in a country that is hostile to them. Paul said that our citizenship is in heaven. However, so long as we sojourn here, we have an essential role. We are God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation within a nation (1 Pet 2:9). In chapters two and three, Peter sets forth seven priestly responsibilities relevant…Keep Reading

Heretic Hunters Are Not Licensed by Jesus When Jesus spoke the Parable of the Tares, saying they should be allowed to grow with the wheat until harvest time, he said that he was speaking of the kingdom of heaven (Matt 13:24). When he explained the parable to the disciples, he said that he is the Sower, and the field is the world (vv.37-38). Some have concluded that allowing the tares…Keep Reading

2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…” 2 Peter 1:3 I am thankful that we don’t have to carry all of the weight of life at one time; and that grace will always show up at the right time. Grace is necessary for many things. There is grace to get through our troubles, grace for living and for dying, grace to…Keep Reading

2 Corinthians 4:18 “We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 Faith in God is living while surrounded by the invisible. If we must see it to believe it we have missed the point. Consider when the disciples were in the upper room…Keep Reading

Ezekiel 16-17 “We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 Faith in God is living while surrounded by the invisible. If we must see it to believe it we have missed the point. Consider when the disciples were in the upper room with…Keep Reading

Pastor Will Shewey, Shades of Grace United Methodist Church Link to YouTube Video – John 13:31:35 From Pastor Will Shewey Eleven years ago I was preparing to embark on a life changing journey. I was appointed to begin a new church start for the United Methodist denomination. It sounded so easy, but many obstacles were thrown in our path When I announced the name will be Shades of Grace, I…Keep Reading

ARE YOU READY FOR THE FAMINE? Solomon said, “One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet” (Prov 27:7). America has lost its appetite for the spiritual, not because it is well-nourished, but because two generations (Boomers and Gen X) have stuffed themselves with the empty calories of humanism, materialism, and health-and-wealth religion as peddled in pulpits catering to narcissism….Keep Reading