Andy Stoddard
@atstoddard.bsky.social
You gotta kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight - Bruce Cockburn
Those who know me know that April 16th is always a challenging day for me. Here's what I have learned over the last few years, however. Pain doesn’t negate God’s presence. But God’s presence doesn’t always negate the pain.
revandy.org/2025/04/16/a...
revandy.org/2025/04/16/a...
April 16 – I Wish It Had Not Happened (I Hope That’s Healthier Than It Sounds)
As some of you who have known me for a while know, April 16 is never easy for me. This has been an odd week for me. I’ve been in a bad mood all week, and one thing I have gotten better at thr…
revandy.org
April 16, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Those who know me know that April 16th is always a challenging day for me. Here's what I have learned over the last few years, however. Pain doesn’t negate God’s presence. But God’s presence doesn’t always negate the pain.
revandy.org/2025/04/16/a...
revandy.org/2025/04/16/a...
Reposted by Andy Stoddard
Love is the very image of God: it is the brightness of his glory. ~ John Wesley
April 2, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Love is the very image of God: it is the brightness of his glory. ~ John Wesley
When you and your son watch too much severance
March 18, 2025 at 4:54 PM
When you and your son watch too much severance
There was an old saying about bad weather that it was only "fit for crows and Methodist circuit riders." I've got a wedding outside of Star, MS, that may put that to the test today. Off I go!
March 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
There was an old saying about bad weather that it was only "fit for crows and Methodist circuit riders." I've got a wedding outside of Star, MS, that may put that to the test today. Off I go!
Heading up to the Mississippi Delta for a funeral. Twenty-six years ago, when I took my first church up there, I would not have believed I would come to love this special place so much. And in a full circle moment, in a few months, it looks like we'll be sending our son up there to college.
March 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Heading up to the Mississippi Delta for a funeral. Twenty-six years ago, when I took my first church up there, I would not have believed I would come to love this special place so much. And in a full circle moment, in a few months, it looks like we'll be sending our son up there to college.
MDOT sign person a Jason Isbell fan?
March 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM
MDOT sign person a Jason Isbell fan?
When someone truly angers us, we should ask ourselves is it because we see something in them that we do we do not like about ourselves (our shadow). Perhaps our anger at others is an opportunity for us to work on ourselves
March 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
When someone truly angers us, we should ask ourselves is it because we see something in them that we do we do not like about ourselves (our shadow). Perhaps our anger at others is an opportunity for us to work on ourselves
Watched a video that I'm pondering. Christian maturity is not how we feel about God or even how we perform for God. It's how we treat other image-bearers. How do we keep the greatest commandment of love of God and Neighbor? That is the mark of Christian maturity.
February 7, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Watched a video that I'm pondering. Christian maturity is not how we feel about God or even how we perform for God. It's how we treat other image-bearers. How do we keep the greatest commandment of love of God and Neighbor? That is the mark of Christian maturity.
Reposted by Andy Stoddard
Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture, and all Scripture is fulfilled in Christ.
This may sound like a simple statement, but it’s actually an essential foundation for good theology.
This may sound like a simple statement, but it’s actually an essential foundation for good theology.
January 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture, and all Scripture is fulfilled in Christ.
This may sound like a simple statement, but it’s actually an essential foundation for good theology.
This may sound like a simple statement, but it’s actually an essential foundation for good theology.
Reposted by Andy Stoddard
I know this sounds weak, I know it.
But kindness is one of the few things we carry that can make a difference for each other.
We can’t undo all this hate, but we can still make life a little easier for others.
But kindness is one of the few things we carry that can make a difference for each other.
We can’t undo all this hate, but we can still make life a little easier for others.
January 21, 2025 at 3:56 AM
I know this sounds weak, I know it.
But kindness is one of the few things we carry that can make a difference for each other.
We can’t undo all this hate, but we can still make life a little easier for others.
But kindness is one of the few things we carry that can make a difference for each other.
We can’t undo all this hate, but we can still make life a little easier for others.
Reposted by Andy Stoddard
“Look at him! A friend of sinners!” (Luke 7:34).
In an angry, adversarial world like this, a Friend like that is priceless.
In an angry, adversarial world like this, a Friend like that is priceless.
January 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
“Look at him! A friend of sinners!” (Luke 7:34).
In an angry, adversarial world like this, a Friend like that is priceless.
In an angry, adversarial world like this, a Friend like that is priceless.
These clouds are something this morning
January 4, 2025 at 1:33 PM
These clouds are something this morning
Lots of death recently. Given me much to ponder. The older I get, the longer I am in ministry, the more I just want to do one thing - love my people. Shepherd them. Care for them. Hold the hand of the dying and pray for the sick. I just want to love people as faithfully as I possibly can.
January 4, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Lots of death recently. Given me much to ponder. The older I get, the longer I am in ministry, the more I just want to do one thing - love my people. Shepherd them. Care for them. Hold the hand of the dying and pray for the sick. I just want to love people as faithfully as I possibly can.
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.
youtu.be/1IZAAfmjMUM
youtu.be/1IZAAfmjMUM
Reflections with Andy - Don’t Let Grief Change Your Name - Ruth 1: 6-22
YouTube video by Andy Stoddard
youtu.be
January 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
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.
youtu.be/1IZAAfmjMUM
youtu.be/1IZAAfmjMUM
We 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.
youtu.be/phWE62sp4yo?...
youtu.be/phWE62sp4yo?...
Reflections with Andy - Count it All Joy - Ruth 1: 1-5
YouTube video by Andy Stoddard
youtu.be
January 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
We 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.
youtu.be/phWE62sp4yo?...
youtu.be/phWE62sp4yo?...
You know what I have to do today? Nothing. For the first time in I don't know how long, there is nothing I have to do today. No sermons to write, no papers to work on, no duties I have to do. Just nothing. I'm going to drink coffee, eat gummies, and read. Living my best life!
December 28, 2024 at 3:13 PM
You know what I have to do today? Nothing. For the first time in I don't know how long, there is nothing I have to do today. No sermons to write, no papers to work on, no duties I have to do. Just nothing. I'm going to drink coffee, eat gummies, and read. Living my best life!
Three years out, still cancer free. Two more years of check ins and I’ll be free and clear.
December 20, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Three years out, still cancer free. Two more years of check ins and I’ll be free and clear.
We are so blessed
December 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM
We are so blessed
Reposted by Andy Stoddard
Happy birthday, Mississippi! (Cartoon From the bicentennial).
December 10, 2024 at 9:06 PM
Happy birthday, Mississippi! (Cartoon From the bicentennial).
Reposted by Andy Stoddard
Jesus: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
He did not say, “… and I will give you a challenge, or a pep talk, or a tongue-lashing, or a social media shaming.”
Jesus gives rest. And who of us doesn’t need space to rest and re-think our lives?
He did not say, “… and I will give you a challenge, or a pep talk, or a tongue-lashing, or a social media shaming.”
Jesus gives rest. And who of us doesn’t need space to rest and re-think our lives?
December 5, 2024 at 4:10 PM
Jesus: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
He did not say, “… and I will give you a challenge, or a pep talk, or a tongue-lashing, or a social media shaming.”
Jesus gives rest. And who of us doesn’t need space to rest and re-think our lives?
He did not say, “… and I will give you a challenge, or a pep talk, or a tongue-lashing, or a social media shaming.”
Jesus gives rest. And who of us doesn’t need space to rest and re-think our lives?
When it said “to be continued” at the end of Wicked someone yell out oh no! I agree man.
That may be the best adaptation of a musical I’ve ever seen. Perfect. No notes.
That may be the best adaptation of a musical I’ve ever seen. Perfect. No notes.
December 1, 2024 at 3:59 AM
When it said “to be continued” at the end of Wicked someone yell out oh no! I agree man.
That may be the best adaptation of a musical I’ve ever seen. Perfect. No notes.
That may be the best adaptation of a musical I’ve ever seen. Perfect. No notes.
Reposted by Andy Stoddard
I don’t have more contempt for a song than I do Don’t Take the Girl by Tim McGraw
November 30, 2024 at 2:52 AM
I don’t have more contempt for a song than I do Don’t Take the Girl by Tim McGraw
How Thanksgiving ends - working on my next paper
November 29, 2024 at 2:25 AM
How Thanksgiving ends - working on my next paper
I am thankful. I have an awesome wife and kids, a few good friends, a church that I am blessed to serve and feel a debt of gratitude towards, and just the blessings of seeing a new day.
This past year hasn’t always been easy but God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
This past year hasn’t always been easy but God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
November 29, 2024 at 12:54 AM
I am thankful. I have an awesome wife and kids, a few good friends, a church that I am blessed to serve and feel a debt of gratitude towards, and just the blessings of seeing a new day.
This past year hasn’t always been easy but God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
This past year hasn’t always been easy but God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Reposted by Andy Stoddard
Now, in addition to @bethmoorelpm.bsky.social and @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social now joining us here, I welcome also friends @peter-wehner.bsky.social and @rayortlund.bsky.social to bluer skies.
It is already a happier place
It is already a happier place
November 27, 2024 at 3:23 AM
Now, in addition to @bethmoorelpm.bsky.social and @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social now joining us here, I welcome also friends @peter-wehner.bsky.social and @rayortlund.bsky.social to bluer skies.
It is already a happier place
It is already a happier place