Andy Talks

Today, another has the chance to redeem Namoi’s property and, with that, gain Ruth as a wife. The man, first in line, does not do that. It’s interesting the scripture never names him. There’s even a funny Hebrew idiom that he is called. I’m not saying that he commits a sin, but he does not do what he could have. We focus a lot on sins of “commission” when we do things we should not do. We should also focus on the sins of “omission” when we do not do the things we should be doing. Let’s avoid evil, yes. But let’s also seek to do good. Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/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://www.biblega

Chapter three of Ruth is full of some interesting things. Threshing floors, odd routines, things just sound out of step to us.  What is happening? We see Ruth showing to Boaz that her time of grief is now over, and she would desire marriage. But not just any marriage, but marriage to him. As an older person, this is quite an unexpected gift of kindness. Once again, we see in Ruth the power of kindness, of true, empathic kindness, to change everything. Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%203&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form h

We begin to see the power of kindness today. Boaz shows kindness to Ruth. Why? Well, first, he’s a good man. Second, he tells her that he and others have heard of the kindness that she has shown to her mother-in-law.  Ruth has left her people and has taken refuge under the wings of the God of Israel. We see kindness begin to weave its way into so many tales of redemption. Kindness is always rewarded, for it brings goodness.  It changes others, and it changes us. Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%202%3A%204-34&version=NIVYou can watch

In our Traditional message from Ephiphany, Andy shares with us from Matthew 2: 1-12. We see the story of the Wise Men, but more than this, we see the first impression of who Jesus is. We see the wideness of God's mercy. 

Ruth goes out to glean from the fields of harvest. Gleaning is a command that God gives His people regarding the harvest. They are not to take everything from the field. They are to leave room at the margins for the poor. It is one of God’s ways to force His people to remember (and see) the poor. And Ruth just so happens to find herself at Boaz’s field. God is work, causing us to remember the poor guiding us in our lives. Let’s give ourselves space to pay attention to God’s nudge. Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%202%3A%201-3&versio

Naomi tells the people, do not call her by her name but now call her “Mara.”  This is the Hebrew word for bitter.  In the Bible, your name isn’t just what they call you; it’s who you are. Namio is telling the people she has changed. She is bitter.  We will all suffer. We will all have bad times. But don’t let grief change your name. Don’t let it change who you are. Stay rooted in what is good, not in bitterness.  Don’t let it change you. Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%201%3A%206-22&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form here

We’ll start today looking at the book of Ruth. This is a wonderful book, one of my very favorites, because it teaches us the power of redemptive kindness. We need some of that redemptive kindness in the world today, don’t we? We all hope the New Year will be better, but we look a few days in and realize everything is the same as it has always been. We will have hard times this year, as we do each year. Don’t hope for a perfect year. But live this year knowing that God is with us, no matter what! Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%201%3A%2

In our Christmas Eve sermon, Andy shares with us from Luke 2: 1-20. Mary saw all that had happened that night and treasured it. May we watch what God is doing and treasure it as well.

In our Traditional message from December 22, 2024, Andy shares with us from Luke 1: 39-45. Mary needed safety and welcome. Where did she go? She went home. So can we. Come home. Come home to faith, to church and community, to Jesus. 

Jesus forgives Peter. He asked Peter three times if he loved Jesus. Each time, Peter responds yes, but the word “love” that Peter uses is not the word that Jesus uses.  Jesus eventually responds with the same “love” as Peter. Jesus meets Peter where He is. Jesus knows us; He loves us. He understands us. He also tells Peter not to worry about others and their journey. He is to follow Jesus. Don’t worry about them. Follow Him. 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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021%3A%2015-25&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We see Peter going fishing today. This doesn’t just mean he’s going back to an old hobby, but he’s going back to his old life. This whole Jesus stuff is over. He’s tried it, he failed, and he’s going back to what he knows. He’s going fishing. But even when he’s going back to the old, who finds him there?  Jesus.  Even when he wants to walk away, Jesus is there. Jesus didn’t give up on him. And He won’t on you either. Don’t give up on Jesus. Because Jesus won’t give up on you. 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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021%3A%201-14&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We see John tell us today why we have his Gospel and really all the rest of the Bible. It was given so that we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that we may have life through believing in Him. John, and all the Bible, was given to us not merely for information but for transformation. It was not given so that we could know more; it was given so that we could be transformed by the grace and goodness of Jesus! 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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A%2030-31&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

I love Thomas. I always feel the need to defend him because we identify him by his worst moment, “Doubting Thomas.” We don’t think about the brave moments before today’s text or after today’s text. We only think about this moment. As someone who has struggled with doubt at times, I resonate with Thomas. But today, he experiences Jesus. And Jesus says, stop doubting and believe. Remember that experience and believe. That’s good for us today as well. We need to remember when we experienced Jesus. Hold on to that moment. And believe!  Today, may we remember what God has done. May we stop doubting and believe! 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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A%2024-29&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form h

After the resurrection, the disciples gather together behind locked doors. The text tells us that they do this because they are afraid. They lock their doors out of fear. Don’t we do the same? How often in our lives do we engage the world through fear instead of faith? It is easy to turn to fear over and over again, especially when we have had trials or pain. The disciples were scared. They had reason to be. But, engaging the world in fear is not the path that we are called to walk. 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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A%2019-23&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, as Jesus is raised, He speaks with Mary Magdalene. What is interesting to me about this conversation is that she doesn’t recognize Him. They are talking, and she asks Him questions, but she doesn't recognize Him. It isn’t until He calls her name that she recognizes that Jesus is with her. Perhaps she cannot see Him because the tears she is crying hide Him from her. Today, don’t let your tears hide Jesus from you.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A%2011-18&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We see Peter and John, after a footrace, get to the tomb. When they get there, they see wondrous signs, and they know something has happened or something significant has taken place. They just don’t know what. John believes, even though he doesn’t understand. Sometimes, we have to sit and be comfortable in the mystery. We may not understand God, but we know Him, and we know that He is good. We can sit in the mystery. And that mystery is beautiful. Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A%201-10&version=NIVYou can watch this in video

Today in Rooted, we see Nicodemus move from darkness to light. Jesus was not finished with his story. Just like He is not finished with our story either.

Sorry for being absent last week. But we are back! We’ll pick up where we left off with John 19. Today, we see the death of Jesus. He says it is finished. He has finished His task. It is complete. This task completes the process of salvation as well. All that is required for salvation has now been done. There is nothing more that needs to be done or added. It is finished. We also talk about the beautiful symbology of the blood and the water that flows from Jesus’ side. There’s something very powerful here as well. Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s

In our Traditional message from December 8, 2024, Andy shares with us from Luke 3: 1-6. We can have hope because God is at work. We can have peace because God is in control.

In our Traditional message from the First Sudnay of Advent, Andy shares with us from Luke 21: 25-36. We see Jesus telling us to be prepared. Look up. In this world of gray, look for green. Keep your heads up. Hope is always coming!