God’s Two Gifts God’s gift to the world: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s gift to believers: “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of…Keep Reading

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places The song Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places was very popular, and our oldest had just fallen in love with the young man to whom she has now been married for 43 years. As we went over the rivers and through the woods to Grandma’s house, we were serenaded—perhaps inundated—by the song. Many are looking for love in all the…Keep Reading

My Redeemer Lives Isaiah catalogs a long list of evils in his day: extreme wealth of some and extreme poverty of others, corruption in government, rampant drunkenness and immorality, empty, compromising religion, and indifference to it all by those in power (Isa 1:21-23). Apparently, some were looking to the arm of man to save them, prompting Isaiah to write, “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in…Keep Reading

Receiving and Harvesting Inspiration, Faith, and Love from Others “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for…Keep Reading

The Lord Knows Us All by our Name “Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.” 1st Samuel 3:9 It was a sad time for the people of God; Eli, the priest, wasn’t listening to the Lord, and the Lamp of God in the Temple was going out. That probably meant that it was late night, but…Keep Reading

Sharing the Reason for the Hope That You Have “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 When I was a youth I was influenced by people who truly seemed to walk with the Lord. I wanted to experience the kind of Christian faith that they had. These witnesses of Christ came out…Keep Reading

Loud Holy Silence “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” Joshua 6:10 NLT Holy Silence can be so loud if we will only listen. A Quaker pastor said that sometimes visitors to their church were surprised by, and uncomfortable with, silence. Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time to keep silence, and a…Keep Reading

Showing Kindness David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1 Our creator gave us senses that can bring old friends to our memories. Think about it: The taste of a certain food, a fragrance, a song on the radio, an old cliché that you have not heard in a long time, the warmth of…Keep Reading

Pastor Will Shewey, Shades of Grace United Methodist Church Link to YouTube Video – Luke Chapter 12:32-40 From Pastor Will Shewey Seventy people gathered for this Saturday morning worship service at Shades of Grace, a United Methodist congregation. Once again, there were several first time and returning guests. The choir sounded wonderful again today and Landon shared several uplifting songs of praise. Constable Kent was our officer for today and…Keep Reading

Journey on the Bus Bound for Glory “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” Luke 7:20 There was a popular tourist attraction that entertained thousands of visitors each year. Outside the entrance was a parking lot for buses. The lot was full of buses from many places, all shapes, models, with names of various companies on them. The thing that they had in common was…Keep Reading

Death was a Revival of What it Means to be a Child of God Eternally “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” Psalm 116:15 In a world where tradition is becoming more difficult to define, our faith was refreshed at the recent funeral of Betty Bellamy Neeley. For a multitude of people on earth, and in Heaven, knowing Betty was one of life’s…Keep Reading