Amity Methodist Church

Amity Methodist Church A Congregation of the Global Methodist Church

03/25/2026

In my reading last night I came across a verse that I had been thinking about. It is Matthew 19:30 and is repeated in Matthew 20:16. dealing with the last being first. I don't think it is the main point of the verse, but here is what strikes me.

As I have shared, I'm not an athlete. I basically stunk at basketball and baseball. The only sport I could play was football, and that was more desire than ability. I can recall a time at school when people chose up teams at recess. You might guess where I ended up.

I think about Jesus's words differently. It isn't who served longest but who is "wanted on the team". The world says grab the best and most talented. I remember being on a church conference board that interviewed pastor candidates. We were to look for the 'best and brightest', which was awkward for me because I myself was average with a big God. So why the last? I suggest the last are the ones who know they are not a prize. They do not see themselves as better or one deserving to be chosen. They know who they are and, as such, know that it will only be by the grace of God that they are chosen for the "team". God sees their hearts and is ready to show His power by not only choosing them, but doing good things through them. They won't take credit for what gets done. The truth is we are all last, but that doesn't matter to God. He just wants a heart that will follow in love. He'll take care of the rest. So for all who have felt the pain of being chosen last, take heart. You are wanted and have a valued place, as God sees it.

08/05/2025

There is a lot of talk about AI, Artificial Intelligence, lately. There are various feelings about it. I acknowledge that I am no expert on it. I did receive an ad that bothers me. This company offered an AI companion, which they said had memory and a 'soul'. It offered a meaningful friendship, the chance to have a passionate relationship, or to be taught by an insightful mentor. I think it is sad that the church is not reaching people with the love we all hunger for that this is attempting to tap into. If the only friend someone can find is a machine, what's going on? Machines can be very helpful in finding information and doing work. I am glad for my computer, except when it doesn't work 🙂. But it doesn't replace relationships. I hope we who follow Jesus will have open eyes to see those who are hungry for someone to care and can reach out.

07/19/2025

Today, while I walked, I had a thought I ask us to consider. In a nutshell, could we stop using labels, if we do. Some popular ones are white Christian nationalists and another is woke left-wing liberals. Labels are an easy, even, lazy way to avoid dealing with an individual and really talking with them. Jesus dealt with this. He was sharing some deep things with people and even confronting them. At first they were responding and then they just shut him down by saying he was demon possessed and a Samaritan (John 8:31-48) People are a complex collection of thoughts and convictions. I believe we usually use the most outrageous actions of someone who is supposed to be in that group to describe it in our minds. It does nothing to solve problems if we just blame some other group for everything. We are all part of the problem. We won't agree on everything, but can we try to at least understand what someone is thinking? Can w ask Jesus to show us how we can make things better and also take seriously our call to share Him, which is the key solution to our problems?

03/04/2025

he other day, I was again walking on the trail. A man was walking not too far in front of me. Suddenly, a younger man came jogging by me. I watched him go by and continued walking. But then he passed the man in front of me. This was an older man by the way. Then the man in front of me also began to jog, not as fast as the younger man who passed him, but jogging nonetheless. He jogged until he turned around and was still jogging when he passed me going the other way.
I wondered if seeing the younger man jog by moved him to decide to jog. He was just walking until then. Hebrews 10:24 talks about Christians spurring on others to love and doing good. Is my life modeling walking with Jesus and showing others it is worth considering? A jogging man may have inspired another man to do likewise. We are called to do the same thing before others by our following Jesus. Am I? A

02/16/2025

At the moment, we have family living with us who have pets, including cats. Since I get up to help Ardyth get ready for work, I feed the cats. When I come out the bedroom door, some are waiting. They run toward the Kitchen. They wait at the door when I come in with the food off the porch. They sprint to the food dishes and immediately dig in. It struck me how hungry they are for breakfast. The Psalmist talked about having a hunger for God. In Psalm 42 he compares it not to food but water. He says he thirsts for God like a deer panting for water. Do we have a deep hunger to know God? Is it our deepest one? Do we want him like a thirsty deer or a hungry cat? If not, what will we do about it? We could start with praying for it. If we have it, how are we trying to satisfy it? He is near and wanting to share life with you

12/13/2024

Driving today, I heard a Christmas carol "The Little Drummer Boy". As I listened I was struck by two things, one silly and one profound. The song is not from the Bible but may be a legend. It deals with people bringing gifts to the newborn king and since the boy was poor, all he could offer was to play his drum for him. Everyone is happy apparently

The silly that struck me is a person offering to play a drum for a relatively newborn baby. I know the boy said he had no gift fit for a King, but I can't imagine too many moms wanting a drum played for their newborn. Loud noises are not the usual hope. It is a joke that if parents want to get revenge on their children for their behavior when they were young then when they are grown and have their own children, buy the grandchild a drum set for Christmas. That is how it hit me.

Before you hang the Grinch label on me, let me share what struck me as profound and is apparently the idea of the song. The song is a beautiful example of grace, which is at the core of Christmas. The fact the boy offered the only thing he had to express his love is accepted. Mary nods at his request and when finished the baby smiles at him. The fact is none of us have any gift fit for Jesus to offer. All we can offer, and what he readily accepts, is love from the heart which can be expressed in numerous ways, even playing a drum. I love the idea of Baby Jesus smiling at a poor boy's gift of love. I hope we bring a smile to Jesus' face this Christmas with ours.

12/05/2024

Black Friday was last week. I had thought of something and then saw it from others. We think of Black Friday as a day to buy great gifts, perhaps on sale. Merchants think of it as a day to make income for their business. I thought about another Friday that really is what Christmas is about. We call it Good Friday because a priceless gift was offered for us all. It was not "good" for Jesus. He died a horrible death in place of rebels so we could be offered forgiveness if we seek it from him. This is the greatest gift and we could never afford it. He says come follow me and it's yours. The baby was born to give his life for us. That is the gift beyond all others. I hope you have sought it. If not, it really doesn't matter what's under your tree in the end.Black Friday was last week. I had thought of something and then saw it from others. We think of Black Friday as a day to buy great gifts, perhaps on sale. Merchants think of it as a day to make income for their business. I thought about another Friday that really is what Christmas is about. We call it Good Friday because a priceless gift was offered for us all. It was not "good" for Jesus. He died a horrible death in place of rebels so we could be offered forgiveness if we seek it from him. This is the greatest gift and we could never afford it. He says come follow me and it's yours. The baby was born to give his life for us. That is the gift beyond all others. I hope you have sought it. If not, it really doesn't matter what's under your tree in the end.

10/20/2024

I was reminded of the importance of perspective the other night. I was sitting watching my High School get clobbered in a football game. I was not happy. As I sat there, something caught my eye. The recently full moon came up in the east over the tree line. It was a beautiful orange color and large. I love full moons. So my sour mood was challenged by a thing of beauty.
I thought how things in life can look bleak and bad. We can get down. Yet it is best if we keep our eyes open to any of what some call "God winks". We see something good in the midst of what seems not to be. It may not remove the bad situation but is a reminder that God is still near. My team did not rally but I saw something good anyway. May God give us open eyes to see his nearness.

07/11/2024

I saw something walking on the trail. A man had one of those backpack-type child carriers. This was one where a young child was in the front and facing the dad. I noticed how the dad looked down at the child and the child was looking up at the dad. The child was not old enough to talk with the dad. Dad was doing all the work but did not look disturbed at doing it. The child seemed too young to actually express love in a concrete way to the dad. The child did not hug him. He was just being carried. But it seemed beautiful to me.
Does this say anything about how God and us? I came across Exodus 33:11, where it said God talked with Moses face to face like a friend. I found Psalm 131:2 where the Psalmist says his soul is like a weaned child with Mom. Jesus said we should be like children in Matthew 18:3. We can think we are so smart and in charge when the truth is we could not do anything but for the mercy and gifts of God. We get caught up sometimes in what we think we have accomplished. I imagine God looking at me and not seeing any great person, just someone who he is pleased to love and understanding he will not get anything comparable back from me. Like that dad, God does all the heavy lifting in our relationship. Whether I see it or not, he carries me. What he really seeks is for me to focus my eyes and life on him. I think that pleases him.

06/25/2024

I have finished another year helping at Dan Emmett. I thank God for the opportunity. Toward the end of the school year, I saw a student from the previous year, that I had worked with, in the hall. However, she did not acknowledge me or look at me. It does not upset me, she may have been distracted, but it could be, she did not remember me. It had been a year ago and she was a fourth grader now. I am glad for the time we did have.
As I think about this I recall Isaiah 49:15-16, which are popular verses. Basically, they say that while people may forget us, God never will. In fact, he has engraved us on the palms of his hands. The creator and sustainer of all there is is mindful of me. In fact, he is aware of all of us and wants us all to come home. What an awesome thought!

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16649 Wooster Road
Mount Vernon, OH
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