Andy Talks

In our Monday Morning reflections with Andy, we look at John 1:1-18.  This is John's Christmas story, but it is not exactly like the other Gospels. We see that Jesus was the Word of God and is the Light of God.  The darkness has not overcome the light, even now.  Do not grow afraid or weary.  Light always wins over darkness.

In our Friday morning reflections, we look at Matthew 28:1-10. In this passage, we see that the women find the tomb empty, and they are afraid.  Both the angel and Jesus acknowledges that fear. But they both give the women a mission, something to do, in spite of their fear. There are things that we are all afraid of. That is reality.  But, in this moment, we also have a mission. We can't cower in fear, even now. We must be faithful. Courage is not not being afraid. Courage is being afraid and doing the right thing anyway.  Do not be afraid today. Have courage. Be faithful!

Join us for James 4: 11-17!

Today in our morning reflections we read about Deborah in Judges 4.  She is one of the great judges and prophets of the Old Testament, but she would have been easy for many in her time to dismiss. God used her for amazing things.  Today, who are we tempted to dismiss that God may want to use in powerful ways.  Will we be looking?  Will we see? God will move. Let's join Him.

Today in our morning reflections, we look at Matthew 27:45-54, specifically when the curtain in the Temple is torn.  At that moment, the barrier between the Holy of Holies and the rest of the Temple is destroyed.  At that moment, everyone has access to the Holy of Holies, everyone has access to God. As I say often, you don't "need" me to have access to God.  Everyone has all the access they need.  Preachers, we hope to strengthen and help your walk, but you don't "need" us.  My prayer is that when we get back to "normal" whatever that is, we will be stronger in our faith for having worked on it in this valley.

In our Tuesday morning reflections, we look at what happens after Joshua. We see Judges. In this book, the people cycle from sin to captivity to a leader who follows God to freedom, back to sin, over and over again.  They keep falling into idolatry.  But why? What is idolatry?  Why do the people keep falling back into this sin?  That's what we'll talk more about today.

Today in our morning reflections, we are looking at Joshua 24: 16 through the end of the chapter.  This is right after the famous passage where Joshua tells the people to pick who they will serve, but he and his family will serve the Lord.  We see the people say that they too will serve the Lord. But what does that mean?  And will they really?  Read more today (and this week) to find out.

In our sermon from July 26, 2020, Andy shares with us from 1 John 5.  The inner witness, that is the evidence of God.  You ask me how I know He lives?  He lives within my heart!

This week in our morning reflections, Andy will be looking at the books that shaped him and molded him.  Each day he'll be talking about a different book that is important to his life and his faith. These other books have shaped Andy theologically and spiritually, today's books continue to shape him through his own personal devotional life. The Rule of Benedict and the Book of Common Prayer are two texts that Andy uses each day to direct his own personal prayer and devotional life. They are spiritual anchors for him in a world that can seem rudderless.  What, for you, are your spiritual anchors?  The Book of Common Prayer - https://www.amazon.com/Common-Prayer-Administration-Sacraments-Ceremonies/dp/0898690803/The Rule of St. Benedict - https://www.amazon.com/Rule-Benedict-Spirituality-Century-Spiritual/dp/0824525949

This week in our morning reflections, Andy will be looking at the books that shaped him and molded him.  Each day he'll be talking about a different book that is important to his life and his faith. Today Andy talks about two of Phillip Yancey's great books, The Jesus I Never Know and What's So Amazing About Grace.  In Jesus, Yancey decides to look at who the Bible actually says that Jesus is.  Not who has been told Jesus is, but what the Bible actually says.  The answer may be different than you expect. 

This week in our morning reflections, Andy will be looking at the books that shaped him and molded him.  Each day he'll be talking about a different book that is important to his life and his faith. This book has shaped his understanding of theology probably more so than any other book.  This book lays out the understanding that sin has greatly corrupted all of creation, but the goal and purpose of salvation is to restore what sin has taken and bring about that restored, new creation.  God will redeem and restore not only us but all of the cosmos.  He is working on all of us, through His grace! The New Creation - https://www.amazon.com/New-Creation-Wesleys-Theology-Today/dp/0687096022/

This week in our morning reflections, Andy will be looking at the books that shaped him and molded him.  Each day he'll be talking about a different book that is important to his life and his faith. For Andy, the Ragamuffin Gospel may be the important book he's ever read.  This book tells us this.  We are all broken and imperfect, we all fall down, we all mess up, we all make mistakes.  Everyone one of us.  And we are radically loved, no matter what.  God's grace is great and amazing, not because we are perfect, but because God is good and God is love.  This book will change your life.  The Ragamuffin Gospel - https://www.amazon.com/Ragamuffin-Gospel-Bedraggled-Beat-Up-Burnt/dp/1590525027

Join Andy as he shares about the books that influence him and his faith.  Today, Andy shares about Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. This was the first book he read after he became a Christian and it's intellectual thought process appealed to him and to many.  This is a great book that centers in on what are the true essentials of the Christian faith.