Can We Really Have Peace? by Andy Stoddard

I’ve been thinking a lot about peace recently.  We are in the midst of Advent, a season of hope, peace, love, and joy.  It’s in this season when we proclaim the words of Isaiah 9:6-7: For a child has been born for us,a son given to us;authority rests upon his shoulders;and he is namedWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of

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Are You John The Baptist? by Andy Stoddard

As we start our journey through Mark together, today we are going to look at Chapter 1:1-8:  In the NRSV this section is entitled The Proclamation of John the Baptist: 1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead

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happy

Happiness: Cause And Effect by Andy Stoddard

How do you live a happy life?  For you, what would result in happiness? We may have a list.  If I have this.  Or if I have that.  If I’m able to accomplish this.  Or if this happens at work, or at home, or in my own life, then I’ll be happy.  We’ve probably all got our list of what

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Why You Don’t Have To Be Anxious by Andy Stoddard

I mentioned in my sermon here at St. Matthew’s that I really love the book of Psalms. They are honest, they are beautiful and they speak to the heart, and come from the heart.  They really are some of the most powerful words on all the scripture. So, often when I am reading the texts for each day, my eyes are drawn to whatever

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Grace Upon Grace by Andy Stoddard

Grace is not a one-time thing.  God doesn’t just see our sins, forgive us one time, and then choose to be done with us forever. No, God constantly gives us grace. God gives us grace to forgive us, He gives us grace to empower us, He gives us grace to lead us.  For us, and for the world, grace is

Read More ⟶

Keep On Moving: Perfect In Love by Andy Stoddard

One of the things that I know most about faith is that we are going somewhere.  We are on the move.  We have a direction and a purpose. Now that somewhere, in time, is heaven. One day, for those of us that believe, we will cross over into eternity and we will forever be with the Lord.  That’s something to

Read More ⟶

Why We Rejoice by Andy Stoddard

One of the great blessings in life is to celebrate the ways that God works and moves.  Sometimes, in our bid to stay humble, we can forget to give testimony to what God has done.  Now, we do want to be careful, making sure that God gets the glory for whatever good happens in life, but we need to stop

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Know Thyself by Andy Stoddard

One of the best things in the world that we can do is know ourselves.  Know our strengths.  Know our weaknesses.  There’s an old saying – know thyself. That’s a good thing. Because when we know ourselves, we know what to be on the lookout for.  What are things that could cause us trouble. What are the things in our

Read More ⟶

Can We Really Have Peace? by Andy Stoddard

I’ve been thinking a lot about peace recently.  We are in the midst of Advent, a season of hope, peace, love, and joy.  It’s in this season when we proclaim the words of Isaiah 9:6-7: For a child has been born for us,a son given to us;authority rests upon his shoulders;and he is namedWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of

Read More ⟶

Are You John The Baptist? by Andy Stoddard

As we start our journey through Mark together, today we are going to look at Chapter 1:1-8:  In the NRSV this section is entitled The Proclamation of John the Baptist: 1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead

Read More ⟶
happy

Happiness: Cause And Effect by Andy Stoddard

How do you live a happy life?  For you, what would result in happiness? We may have a list.  If I have this.  Or if I have that.  If I’m able to accomplish this.  Or if this happens at work, or at home, or in my own life, then I’ll be happy.  We’ve probably all got our list of what

Read More ⟶

Why You Don’t Have To Be Anxious by Andy Stoddard

I mentioned in my sermon here at St. Matthew’s that I really love the book of Psalms. They are honest, they are beautiful and they speak to the heart, and come from the heart.  They really are some of the most powerful words on all the scripture. So, often when I am reading the texts for each day, my eyes are drawn to whatever

Read More ⟶

Grace Upon Grace by Andy Stoddard

Grace is not a one-time thing.  God doesn’t just see our sins, forgive us one time, and then choose to be done with us forever. No, God constantly gives us grace. God gives us grace to forgive us, He gives us grace to empower us, He gives us grace to lead us.  For us, and for the world, grace is

Read More ⟶

Keep On Moving: Perfect In Love by Andy Stoddard

One of the things that I know most about faith is that we are going somewhere.  We are on the move.  We have a direction and a purpose. Now that somewhere, in time, is heaven. One day, for those of us that believe, we will cross over into eternity and we will forever be with the Lord.  That’s something to

Read More ⟶

Why We Rejoice by Andy Stoddard

One of the great blessings in life is to celebrate the ways that God works and moves.  Sometimes, in our bid to stay humble, we can forget to give testimony to what God has done.  Now, we do want to be careful, making sure that God gets the glory for whatever good happens in life, but we need to stop

Read More ⟶

Know Thyself by Andy Stoddard

One of the best things in the world that we can do is know ourselves.  Know our strengths.  Know our weaknesses.  There’s an old saying – know thyself. That’s a good thing. Because when we know ourselves, we know what to be on the lookout for.  What are things that could cause us trouble. What are the things in our

Read More ⟶

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