Rev. Ray and Pat Amos[/caption “They shall go hindmost with their standards.” Numbers 2:31 “Bringing up the rear” was a position assigned to the tribe of Dan. I cannot imagine the whining and fussing that would happen today should a group of us be told that we are to be the cow’s tail wherever we travel. Hindmost may not have the glamour as that of being up front. In a…Keep Reading

“You are those who have stood by me in my trials….’Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:28-32 “Do not judge me by my successes. Judge me by how many times I fell down, and got back up again.” -Nelson Mandela The…Keep Reading

“But one thing I do: forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before..” Philippians 3:13 “We should have won that ball game! It was rigged and everybody knew it.” The high school had lost a championship because of a bad call, and the player who was saying these things wasn’t about to forget it. He was perturbed. The only problem was that he…Keep Reading

“Take care so that you don’t forget the Lord who brought you out…” Deuteronomy 6:12 Isn’t it amazing how quickly our spiritual attitudes can change? A friend walked out of church and said that his cup was full and running over with joy. Later he told me that on the way home his wife’s driving made him spill everything in the cup. John Wesley wrote that his heart was strangely…Keep Reading

“Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:8b Peter wasn’t being arrogant when he refused to let Jesus wash his feet. It must have been embarrassing to see Jesus doing what he and the others should have already done. “You have no part with me.” Who could bear to hear those words coming from Christ? Is it any wonder that Peter…Keep Reading

Mark Chapter 8 Deny Thyself and Follow Me Link to YouTube Video From Pastor Will Shewey A young man arrived at our doors this morning and told Lloyd he was baptized at Shades in 2018. As with many of our worshipers, he had disappeared for a few years. Today he was heading for a job interview and needed a change of clothing. He told me the baptism was on a…Keep Reading

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17 There are two things that I will preach until I am no longer able to preach. One is The Love of God; the other is God’s Grace. I really think that the two are identical twins. I can’t seem to find in Scripture where Jesus offered anything…Keep Reading

“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 It is important that we keep a “check up” on our relationship with God, and that we watch out for one another. Many of us grew up, and raised our children, in a culture where missing church wasn’t an option. Church…Keep Reading

“Brother Saul.” Acts 9:17 There may be a few unexpected surprises in Heaven. Someone years ago, wrote a poem about this very thing. “I dreamed God came the other night, And Heaven’s gate swung wide. With kindly grace an angel welcomed me inside, And there to my astonishment Stood folks I’d known on earth: Some I’d judged and labeled, Unfit, of little worth! Angry words rose to my lips, But…Keep Reading

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…” Hebrews 10:12 I was invited to preach in a historical church. Behind the pulpit was a very old chair that didn’t look very strong. No one said not to sit in it, but three different people told me that Francis Asbury sat in it, and that it was…Keep Reading

When first starting to exercise, decidedly, the exercises would be things that could be done into older age. There were no aspirations to be a runner, to body build or be a trainer. I just wanted a quality of life, and to keep in some kind of shape. It’s been said that only 10 minutes each morning will go far to enhance mood and blood flow. Have to confess that…Keep Reading

I have always heard about having your second childhood. Now I wonder if that is happening. After years of preaching, I have been sitting in church pews more often than usual. It’s not uncommon for a child to hear an adult say, “Sit still,” but you should not have to say that to an adult, especially a preacher in church. Why then do I keep being told to sit still;…Keep Reading