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

“Come and have breakfast” John 21:1-12 We are having breakfast at our church this morning. There have been many breakfast fellowships over the years. There was one that I will never forget. It was after midnight when the phone rang. As I answered it, I heard a sad voice say, “Sam is dead, what must I do?” I went to the house where a love story of fifty-seven years had…Keep Reading

He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. Psalm 107:29 The sun shines, and it rains on the just and the unjust. “How do people get along without the Lord?” They don’t, His grace comes to all of us every day. Some just do not know or acknowledge it. How quickly life can show that we have no control over the forces of this world. God is…Keep Reading

THE TURNING POINT In most wars, there is a decisive turning point. It may be the entrance of an additional ally on the side of one of the combatants, the development of a new weapon, or a major victory. Although the war is not yet over, the outcome is assured. There are at least three turning points in the defeat of Satan. Turning point #1: Jesus’ entry into the battle…Keep Reading

…Jesus, tired out by His journey, was sitting by the well. John 4:6 “God was tired out;” what an incredible thought. He was sitting by the well. Was He remembering when He watched Jacob dig this well? He supplied the water to the well, yet He needed someone to give Him a drink. What do we do when we are tired? When was the last time that we sat by…Keep Reading

The Medication of Mediation Researchers have known for years that meditation can be effective in treating anxiety disorders, including depression. Now we know why: Catherine Kerr, director of translational neuroscience for the contemplative studies initiative at Brown University, says that when we are depressed, attention is “consumed by negative preoccupations, thoughts and worries. Instead of disengaging and moving on, we find ourselves digging deeper into negative thought patterns.” Now hear…Keep Reading

A LESSON FROM THE BIRDS I recall some words of wisdom given to me when, over a quarter of a century ago, I was the Executive Director of New Pathways for Children, a residential treatment facility for adolescents. My part-time maintenance man was an older gentleman we called “Mr. Dan.” Mr. Dan gave me some words of wisdom that I want to pass on to my Facebook friends. Mr. Dan’s…Keep Reading

Joel 1:2-3 “Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.” Telling stories is a part of our culture and heritage. Our generations grew up with storytellers. They didn’t think of…Keep Reading

Control the Burn When Paul wrote “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath’ (Eph 4:26, NKJV), he was not exhorting us to become angry, as the writer of Hebrews exhorts us to “be content” (Heb 13:15). The Living Bible captures the meaning: “If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still…Keep Reading