Andy Talks

We see a passage today that we’ve all heard a million times, so we look at it in the right context; they will beat their swords into plowshares, and they shall not learn of war anymore. We see, though, that this beloved passage is in the midst of God’s restoration and salvation. Then we see that there will come a time when God will restore. The reality is that those things are not now.  We don’t need to lose hope.  There will come peace. There will come restoration. There will come all these things.  The devil longs to make us give up hope for this.  Let’s keep believing, even when it is hard.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=582022619You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, we see Micah condemn the shepherds, the royal prophets, and the kings. For a pastor, such as myself, I always read those words and take them to heart. Am I leading in a way that brings health? That points to Jesus? That helps others know His grace.  That’s a heavy question, one that I ponder deeply. But perhaps you are not a pastor; you’re just a “regular” person. This means nothing to you and for you, right?  Well, no, we all have influence.  We all have eyes looking to us for wisdom and for guidance. All of us can influence others with how we live, how we love, and how we point others to Jesus. All of us are persons of influence.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=581757635You can watch this in video form here - htt

The path we are walking as a church is challenging, but we believe it is the right path. The world needs to see what unity can look like. Just because we don't agree on everything doesn't mean we can't unite on the main thing.

Today, in Micah, we see the prophet condemn the people for their actions, but in verse two, he hits at what is driving their actions. Their hearts.  Their hearts covet things that are not theirs, which leads to their hands stealing, taking, and destroying. It all starts with the heart.  The Psalmist tells us that God grants us the desires of our hearts, but what God is doing is causing our hearts to desire Him, and He longs to give Himself to us.  Let us be careful, though, that our hearts do not grow so enmeshed within the world that we desire things of this world more than we desire God. That will destroy us. Let us guard our hearts. Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=581675839You can watch this in video form here - https:/

Today, we begin our time in Micah. He is a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah, and he begins today by saying that judgment will come on both the northern kingdom (Israel and Samaria) and the southern kingdom (Judah and Jerusalem). Samaria has worshiped idols, and that sin has even infected Jerusalem. In our lives, we should look at those around us and ask if they are a positive or negative influence on us. Then, we can even ask the next question: Are we a positive or a negative influence on others? These are questions that each of us should ponder and answer.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here -https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=581589542You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Jonah tells God why he ran today. He knew who God was. He knew what God would do. He understood God’s character. God is a God of compassion and of mercy. He is a God of grace who abounds in mercy.  Jonah hated the Nivevites so much that he did not want God to forgive. That’s why he ran. Today, do we understand just how deeply God loves us for us?  And do we understand that God shows compassion on all, especially the folks with whom we struggle? God shows them mercy and compassion. He calls us to do just the same.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=581438281You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, we see two “changes.” First, Jonah changes. He gets out of the belly of the great fish, and he does the very thing that he said he would not do. He goes to Nineveh and he preaches to the very folks he did not want to. He changed. Now, it was only after great suffering that he changed. Second, we see the people of Nevaeh change. They heard the message from Jonah, and they changed. They repented. They were sorry for their great sin. They changed. The great thing about this is that we see what happens when we change and repent. God forgives.Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=581438281You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We see Jonah in the belly of the fish today, and in this moment, he remembers the Lord. He cries out to the Lord.  He turns to Him and remembers His temple, He remembers His goodness, and He remembers that God saves. Salvation is from the Lord.  Sometimes, we have to wind up in the belly of the whale before we are broken enough to turn to God. Sometimes, we don’t think we need God, that we got it. We must have that myth destroyed. And then sometimes we think, well, I can’t turn to God; He won’t forgive me. We need that destroyed as well. God hears us, most especially when we are in the belly. Turn to Him, remember Him. And He will salve. Salvation is from the Lord. Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=581168527You can watch thi

We start one of the most well-known and beloved stories in the Bible today, the story of Jonah. Today, we see Jonah run from God. If you know anything about Ninevah, you will understand why Jonah ran.  The Ninevites were truly terrible. They came and conquered by fear. They wanted the people to be afraid of them.  Jonah saw how bad they were, and he didn’t want them to receive the forgiveness he felt they didn’t deserve. So, he ran. So many of us do the same; we have a call from God, and we run.  Here is the truth, though. We can’t run from God. Today, are you running? Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580901836You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today in Obadiah, we are talking about the concept of schadenfreude.  This is when someone takes pleasure in the misfortune of others. In our world, things have become so polarized that it seems as though when our “enemies” or those who disagree with us, especially theologically or politically, have a misfortune, it’s tempting to say, “Ha!  You got what was coming to you!”  For many of us, that may be one of our daily temptations. It’s easy to wish that upon those we are tempted to see as our enemies and then take pleasure in it.  In the text today, we see that is not something that pleases the Lord.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580901836You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, I realized when reviewing my notes that I had skipped Hosea!  We just jumped right over it when we started the minor prophets. I thought it would be good today not to necessarily look at all of Hosea but look at my favorite chapter in this book, Chapter 11.  In this chapter, we see how frustrated the Lord is with the sins of the people and how He is ready to give them over and give them up.  But, right in that moment, His compassion is awakened, and He remembers His great love.  Oh, how deep is the Father’s love for us? You are loved today. And so are “they.” And so is the entire world. That goodness and love change the world today.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580901836You can watch this in video form here - ht

Today, we continue looking at the Gospel passages for recent Sundays. Today, we’ll look at the passage for this coming Sunday, John 15: 1-8. This is a well-known passage where Jesus tells us that He is the vine, and we are branches. He is our life; apart from Him, we can do nothing. How do we remain in Him?  Jesus tells us that we must abide in Him.  We have tools that God has given us, such as prayer, scripture, communion, worship, and other things.  When we do such things, we remain deeply rooted in the love of Jesus. When we abide in Him, we find our very life and bear much fruit! Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580537420You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

For the next two days, I’m going to look at the Gospel passages for last Sunday and next Sunday. I’ll go a couple of Sundays without preaching, so I thought it may be interesting to look at these passages. Yesterday was John 10: 11-18. We see Jesus tell us that He is the good shepherd. What does the Good Shepherd do?  He lays down His life for His sheep. That’s how loved you are. Jesus’ life was not taken; he laid it down for you and for me.  Because He loves us. That’s how much value you have. The Good Shepherd gave it all for us.  Never forget that. Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580537396You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Amos 9 once again tells us of the judgment that is coming. But Amos, like almost every one of the prophets, ends this way - grace. God tells the people that He will restore, He will rebuild, He will replant. He loves them. If you read Amos, you will see this love is not because they are perfect and they get it right, we see this love is because God is good.  He loves His people. He will not give up on His people. He will not forsake His people.  He loves His people.  He loves you today, no matter what.  Today, you are loved.  That is the great hope of the prophets, this reminder that no matter what, God loves us.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580378560You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

God continues His rebuke of the people. We see that they have lost their way. Instead of placing God first, instead of placing their faith and religion first in their lives, have have placed the accumulation of wealth first. They are complaining about their faith because they cannot steal from the poor on the Sabbath because they cannot sell.  They have lost their way.  Because of this, there will be a famine.  Not a famine of food, but of hearing the Word of the Lord. They have hardened their hearts so that they cannot hear from the Lord. Let us be careful not to make the same mistake.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580378560You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Amos is rebuked by one of the King’s priests today. He is told, you should not be a prophet here.  Go back to your home and prophecy there. However, Amos responds that he is not a prophet. He doesn’t come from a line of prophets.  He was simply called by God to go and speak, so that is what he did. Today, you don’t have to be a preacher to speak. You just need to go where it is that God has called you. Go. Be faithful.  Follow His voice, follow His lead. Go where He sends.  In doing that, you are being faithful.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580303526You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Two of the major parts of our walk with God are the notions of forgiveness and grace and of accountability.  We see both of these parts displayed in Amos 7.  We see God relent from punishing the sins of His people. But then we see God take a plumb line, a tool that shows how vertical or straight something is, and measure His people against it. Are they being faithful?  Are they being true?  Are they keeping the covenant? We need to give the Spirit room in our lives to convict us, to show us our sins so that we can repent. We need God’s plumb line, pointing us to righteousness.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=580213791You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, in our reading, God continues His rebuke of Israel. He points to their pride, how they lay on beds of ivory and show no concern for the needs around them. They have even begun to use His call for justice as a tool to harm others. They are seeking more and more and more. They are focused on more wealth, more stuff, and more ways to inflate their pride instead of what God calls them to, more love of Him and more love of their neighbors. We, especially those of us who are middle class, face the same temptation, seeking to gain more instead of love more. Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=579934019You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In our Sunday sermon from INTERSECTION from April 14, 2024, Andy shares with us from Luke 24: 28-39. In the life of Jesus, we have seen beauty, we have seen grace, mercy, and redemption.  We know it. But now, now we must show it!  

In our reading today, we see one of those famous verses from the prophets - let justice flow down like water and righteousness like an everflowing stream.  God tells us today through Amos that He does not desire the worship or the festivals, but He desires justice.  He desires for us to live out what we pray on Sundays - thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Worship matters, community matters, these things are important. But what God desires most of all is for us to live out that truth of His reign for all the world to know.  It should bother us that God’s kingdom is not being lived out.  We should seek to live in this truth.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=579697067You can watch this in video form here - https:/