“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 Veterans and families remember that moment of leaving home the first time, the tearful good-by, the turning around to walk away. Suddenly a short lifetime of growing up in a happy home has changed into a lonely and frightening…Keep Reading

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” Psalm 19:15 The driveway was on a steep hill, and a friend was at our house getting ready to leave. Her little boy had already jumped into the van as she turned to say something to us. That was when he kicked it out of gear. It…Keep Reading

Ezekiel 16-17 “Do not put your trust in mortals who cannot save.” (Psalm 146:3). It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” (Psalm 118:8) It is election day. The negative tone of the campaign has been a dark cloud that eclipses our heart and mind to the good that is around us. Unkind and negative news seems to constantly hammer at our soul. Family…Keep Reading

The Fair Market Value of Our Souls Fair Market Value is “a price a willing, knowledgeable, unpressured buyer is willing to pay to a willing, knowledgeable, and unpressured seller.” Jesus was willing to shed his blood for my soul and your soul. Don’t be deceived by Satan that the price was divided between the billions who live or will live. Had I been the only sinner in the world, Christ…Keep Reading

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16 Yesterday I was with the children at the altar when a sweet little girl looked up at the large cross above her and asked, “How does it work?” I keep thinking of the words in the Bible that say, “a little child shall lead them,” and…Keep Reading

Pastor Will Shewey, Shades of Grace United Methodist Church Link to YouTube Video – Matthew 28:16-20 Pastor Will Shewey Shades of Grace, a United Methodist Congregation is a certified Safe Sanctuary location. We recently contracted with the city police department for addition of two more weekdays with a uniformed officer on premises. We are zero tolerant when safety issues arise. Our goal is to make every worshiper, guests, and volunteers…Keep Reading

BE A BEATITUDE Those who fear the Lord and delight in his commandments are blessed and a blessing: “By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown” (Proverbs 11:11). “The blessing of the upright is the beneficent words and deeds that bring enrichment to a community. But the words of the wicked have a disastrous effect on society, endangering,…Keep Reading

“For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 “O, it sets my heart a clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock, when the frost is on the punkin and the fodders in the shock.” The autumn mornings are already cool. Who remembers waking up on a cold morning in a feather bed? The temperature inside the house was the same as the…Keep Reading

When we speak of Heaven’s beauty, we may talk about the crystal sea, street of gold, walls of jasper, and gates of pearl; but I have a suspicion that the greatest beauty may surprise us. It may be the very thing that we find difficult to look at on this earth. We have all seen common things that have transformed into beauty. Hans Christian Anderson’s little barnyard bird suffered abuse…Keep Reading

Through the ages, men have tried in vain to destroy the Bible. It has survived the attacks of its enemies, the neglect of its friends, and the abuse of its users. We abuse the word by “cherry-picking” passages that seem to fit our preconceived ideas and ignoring or discounting others. Most of us are not as radical as Thomas Jefferson, who literally cut from his New Testament things that he…Keep Reading

If we find God’s word burdensome, one of three things is true. One, we are not saved. Two, we are saved but are struggling with our faith. Three, we are misreading the word of God—or being misled by others who misread it. Jesus warned of such persons: “For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they…Keep Reading