Dear Reader,

Everywhere we turn, the world is full of noise and uncertainty. News headlines are filled with conflict, division, and stories that can leave us weary. Social media makes it worse, bombarding us with opinions and fears at a pace we were never created to carry. It can feel overwhelming, and if we are honest, sometimes hope feels thin.

But Scripture reminds us that hope is not tied to the headlines. Hope is anchored in the promises of God, who has not changed. The world may shift and stumble, but the Lord remains faithful and unshaken. The psalmist said, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way” (Psalm 46:1-2).

Christian hope is not blind optimism. It doesn’t mean pretending problems aren’t real. It means trusting that Jesus has already overcome the world. Hope sees beyond what is temporary and rests in what is eternal. It remembers that even when the cross looked like the darkest moment in history, God was writing resurrection into the story. 

That same God is still writing redemption today. For every brokenness we see, there is a Savior who heals. For every injustice, there is a King who will one day set all things right. For every moment of despair, there is a Spirit who whispers peace that passes understanding.

So what do we do while the world groans? We keep our eyes lifted. We pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. We live faithfully in the small spaces of our lives, showing kindness, extending grace, and holding to hope not just for ourselves but for those around us.

The world may tell us that hope is foolish, but we know the truth. Our hope is not in governments, markets, or movements. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And because He lives, our hope will never be in vain.

In Christ,

James 

Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor

Grace Resurrection Methodist Church

Family of Grace,

The past several days have been another stretch of confusion, sadness, and chaos. I’ve been thinking about divide et impera—“divide and conquer”—an age-old strategy to control the thoughts and actions of the masses with no single point of origin. 

Over millennia leaders learned that power can be gained or kept by fragmenting opposition. Jesus is the first recorded historical figure to warn against it: in the Gospels He shows how destruction comes when a kingdom or a house is divided.

There’s a word from Jesus that has given me peace for many years:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

There is a physical world and a spiritual world. The physical feels like the old adage, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”—loud, in our face, always demanding a reaction. That makes it easy for the enemy to use differing opinions against us. I understand that much of the world runs on divide-and-conquer, dog-eat-dog, winners and losers. But the Spirit’s realm is different. Paul reminds us in Ephesians that we “do not wrestle against flesh and blood,” but against rulers and powers of this dark world. On Sunday I said we can have differences in our minds yet still be unified in our hearts. I believe that deeply.

John Wesley’s words ring in my heart whenever the earthly realm feels split. In his sermon “On the Catholic Spirit” (“catholic” meaning universal), he asks: “Is your heart right, as my heart is?” We will have many differences; they matter, and we need not deny them. But the core question for working together is, “Are our hearts alike?” 

Wesley continues, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may… If it be so, then give me your hand. I do not mean, ‘Be of my opinion.’ You need not; I do not expect or desire it. Neither do I mean, ‘I will be of your opinion.’ Keep you your opinion; I mine.” Don’t you love that?

If we had lived that out last week, perhaps there would have been less carnage and loss of life. This is the Christian call: to love at all costs, to keep our hearts mended together, and to walk—not in front of or behind our brother or sister—but beside them. That’s the heart of Jesus. I want it to be mine. Will you pray for me? I’ll pray for you.

In Christ,
James

Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor

Grace Resurrection Methodist Church

Dear Reader,

Every year on September 11, we pause to remember a day that changed our nation forever. The images, the grief, and the sense of shock are still vivid for many of us who lived through it. Thousands of lives were lost, families were broken, and an entire nation was shaken to its core.

As Christians, when we look back on that day, we do so with a mixture of sorrow and hope. Sorrow for the lives cut short and the families who still carry the weight of loss. Hope because even in the darkest of times, the light of Christ was present. We saw it in the bravery of first responders who ran into danger to save others. We saw it in the way strangers cared for one another in the days that followed. And we see it now as we continue to lean on God’s promise that He is near to the brokenhearted.

Times like these, as well as what happened this week in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, stun us. We don’t know what to do or say. But as followers of Jesus, we simply stand still and trust God until we see that he makes us ready to heal, be healed and use what’s intended for evil for his glory.    

Psalm 46 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” That truth carried many through the days after the attacks, and it still carries us today. When we face tragedy, we don’t face it alone. God does not leave us in our pain. He enters it with us and gives us strength to endure.

Anniversaries like this remind us that life is fragile, but they also remind us to anchor ourselves in what is eternal. The hope of the gospel assures us that evil and death do not have the final word. Christ does.

Today, as we remember September 11, let us pray for the families who continue to grieve, for our nation to walk in unity and compassion, and for our own hearts to remain rooted in Christ. Pray for strength and peace in the midst of grief for the Kirk family.

May we honor those we lost not only by remembering them, but by living lives of faith, hope, and love in the world they left behind.

James

Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church

Next week our Pastor Emeritus, Randy Mickler, will begin a study on the Book of Acts. I am genuinely excited about this because Acts has been speaking to me in fresh ways lately. In particular, Acts 18 has been on my heart.

In this chapter we find the Apostle Paul arriving in Corinth with a clear calling. He is sent to bring the gospel in a city known for its wealth, power, and moral compromise. Paul does not shy away from speaking truth. He names greed and lust as destructive forces that were damaging the city and even drawing new believers away from Christ.

In the middle of this spiritual battle, Paul is not alone. He meets Aquila and Priscilla, two strong leaders who stand beside him in ministry. Later, when Silas and Timothy arrive, Paul feels an even greater burden in his spirit to preach the word with boldness.

The chapter unfolds in a striking way.

First, Paul engrosses himself in preaching. His whole heart is invested in the message of Christ.

Second, opposition rises. Jewish leaders resist him and blaspheme, and Paul tells them plainly that they are working against their own good.

Third, the responsibility shifts. Paul shakes out his garments as a sign that their rejection is now on their own heads. He will no longer carry the weight of their resistance.

Finally, Paul turns to the Gentiles. This is where the story takes an encouraging turn. A Roman named Justus opens his home for worship, and Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believes in Christ. Many others in Corinth hear the message, believe, and are baptized.

What I love about Acts 18 is the picture of perseverance. Paul does not let rejection stop him. He speaks the truth with clarity, he recognizes when hearts are closed, and he pours himself into those who are ready to hear. The result is a growing movement of faith in a city that desperately needed the light of the gospel.

I believe this same pattern still speaks to us today. We are called to speak truth with courage, to entrust the results to God, and to walk faithfully with those who are ready to receive the message of Christ.

In the 21st century, we have no choice but to be this kind of Christ follower. As a church planter, I’m asking God to give me the boldness of these faithful people who have gone before me. Time is short. Jesus is the way. Be bold!

James

Rev. James Williams 
Senior Pastor, Grace Resurrection Methodist Church

Dear Reader, 

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on all the transitions I’ve experienced in life. As a Methodist, new beginnings can be somewhat frequent. As I look back, there were times I loved the change, and there were times when I didn’t have a clue what God was doing.  But, I can say they were all beautiful and a blessing in different ways. 

I’ve done many things wrong, but the one thing I’ve done right is to try to see God in everything that happens. This story, which I heard not long ago, is a good example. When I heard it, it hit me like a ton of bricks. 

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey. 

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park, just feeding some pigeons.  

The boy sat down next to the man and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.

 
The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave.  But before the boy had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. And the man gave the boy his biggest smile ever. 

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?

“He replied, ‘I had lunch with God’.” Before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? God’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to the homeless shelter where he slept each night. The director of the shelter was stunned by the look of peace on the man’s face and asked, “Jack, what did you do today that made you so happy?”

The man, Jack, replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” And before the director could respond, Jack added,” You know, God’s much younger than I expected.”

As we find ourselves in the midst of this transition, as things start coming into place, isn’t it a good time to turn away from our wants and desires, and instead, trust in the Lord to renew our strength, even if its just with Twinkies and root beer?

The prophet Isaiah goes so far as to say this:

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, and his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youth will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

In the midst of transition, it is better to keep our eyes on God’s Kingdom rather than our own. Change feels different but God always has a plan and sits next to us. How about you? Where do you need to trust the process and see God? Believe me, He’s there. 

James

Rev. James Williams 
Senior Pastor, Grace Resurrection Methodist Church

Dear Reader, 

We humans, especially in the church still live by a process we learned in childhood.  When we’re hurt or lose a few points, instead of loving one another through the process of understanding and pain we, “take our ball and go home.”  It’s one thing to talk about faith and love when life feels easy. It’s another thing entirely when someone hurts or offends you. The sting of betrayal, harsh words, or unfair treatment can settle deep in the heart. That’s when faith isn’t just a comforting idea, it becomes a choice.

When I started working on the current sermon series I’m in, I was reeling over a long discussion I’d had with another pastor who’s in a crisis of faith right now. They are fighting the temptation to just go away, ghost or abandon a hard situation. It was through no fault of their own but there’s a willingness to walk away from people we love instead of fighting not against but FOR that person who hurt us. The Bible doesn’t give us an escape clause when we’ve been wronged. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 about loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us are some of the hardest to live out. They don’t just challenge our instincts; they go against them entirely. Our natural reaction is to protect ourselves, to withdraw, or even to retaliate. But faith calls us to something higher.

Loving people in the middle of pain doesn’t mean pretending the hurt didn’t happen. It’s not about excusing bad behavior or letting people keep hurting us. It’s about trusting that God sees, knows, and will deal with every injustice. Faith reminds us that God’s love is big enough to hold both our pain and the person who caused it.

When Paul wrote to the Romans, he said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). That’s not passive advice—it’s a powerful way of breaking cycles of bitterness. Choosing love when we’ve been wronged doesn’t make us weak; it shows that our hearts are anchored in something deeper than the moment.

The truth is, faith and love are inseparable. Faith believes God is at work even when we don’t see it. Love acts on that belief, extending grace that we’ve already received ourselves. And sometimes, the greatest testimony of faith is loving someone when every part of you wants to walk away.

It’s not easy. It may not feel fair. But it’s the way of Christ. And when we choose it, we step into a freedom that resentment can never give.

Use the cross as a bridge. It works every time. 

James

Rev. James Williams 

Senior Pastor, Grace Resurrection Methodist Church