Pastor Will Shewey, Shades of Grace United Methodist Church Link to YouTube Video – Mark 10:13-21 Photos From 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,…Keep Reading

A MEME MIGHT BE LIKED BY MORE READERS, BUT WE NEED MORE THAN MEMES. A NATION DIVIDED On June 15, 1858, the Republic Party of Illinois nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Senate. In accepting the nomination, he said, “We are now far into the fifth year since a policy was initiated with the avowed object and confident promise of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that…Keep Reading

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4 I have been having a talk with our summer flowers that are still blooming. “Don’t you feel stressed,” I ask…Keep Reading

The old house held to memories of happier days, but that was long ago. It could remember the sound of children playing, the smell of breakfast cooking, and the warmth of the morning fire while the frost slept on the roof. How it longed for those days again when it wasn’t just a house but a home. Now it was empty and silent and cold. “This old house once knew…Keep Reading

“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts…” 2 Corinthians 4:6 Yesterday we remembered the song, “Into My Heart” written in 1924. Those simple words have inspired many of us since our childhood days. Another verse of that song says: “Out of my heart, out of my heart, Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus; Shine out today, shine…Keep Reading

“Sin is crouching at the door.” (Genesis 4:7) – “Behold I stand at the door…” (Revelation 3:20) “Sin is crouching at your door.” Those are the words that God spoke to Cain when he was pouting because life wasn’t fair. I don’t think that anyone of us would want to answer the door if we saw the person crouching outside. That is what sin does. It sneaks and crouches, waiting…Keep Reading

Over the years I have been to many seminars that stressed the need to plan ahead. There is also another factor that cannot be ignored. It is called, “living one day at a time.” The Bible says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” (Proverbs 27:1). Finding balance in life requires much faith in God. Each day we embark on a new…Keep Reading

Pastor Will Shewey, Shades of Grace United Methodist Church Link to YouTube Video – Mark 10:13-16 From Pastor Will Shewey – About Shades of Grace Lord, as the light of another day dawns over these rugged mountains, be near. Lord, as the misty fog rolls through these troubled valleys, be our strong tower of hope. Lord, as the birds sing , oblivious to sadness and fear that grips our land,…Keep Reading

Nate and I were sitting eating dinner together when he heard a noise coming from one of our air purifiers. He says, “Do you hear that?” Even though we are maties, we hear things differently. When he was in the marines, he fired 155 mm, M109 Howitzers. There weren’t the ear protections then that there is now. So it makes his hearing very different. He can’t hear things that I…Keep Reading

“But Moses did not give any wagons to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.” Numbers 7:9 Perhaps this seems unfair. “Why did they have to walk and carry the burden when the rest got wagons?” The people understood that they had the responsibility and privilege of caring for what was near to the heart of God. Those items…Keep Reading

God is not limited; we are. Sometimes we pray from the standpoint of our own limitations. Can we think big enough? Probably not. However, when we pray for someone, pray for their soul, as well as the physical, pray for their friends and relatives, and all their concerns. We can’t see, nor can we hear what goes on in the hearts, minds, bodies and souls of others. God Can. Prayers…Keep Reading

Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion. Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave and eats a bread it does not harvest. Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero, and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful. Pity a nation that despises a passion in its dream, yet submits in its awakening. Pity the nation that raises not its voice…Keep Reading