Andy Talks

In today’s Rooted Reflections, we finish Daniel 6 and celebrate God’s deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den. But the story points us toward something bigger than Daniel’s rescue: his faithfulness to God also led him to seek the welfare of the foreign kingdom where he lived. Like Jeremiah’s call to Israel in exile, Daniel reminds us that following God does not mean withdrawing from the world around us. We can worship God first, trust God completely, and still work faithfully for the good of our communities—even when we find ourselves in difficult or uncomfortable places. Wherever God has placed you today, work for good.

Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.

You can read today’s passage here.

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You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In today’s reflection from Daniel 6:10–18, we see Daniel respond to the king’s new law with quiet, consistent faithfulness. Daniel knows the decree has been signed and understands the consequences, but he simply continues doing what he has always done: praying to God three times a day. His circumstances change, but his faithfulness doesn’t. Daniel’s example challenges us to consider whose approval we are seeking and what ultimately determines our choices. Cultures, opinions, and circumstances change, but Jesus remains the same. Rather than allowing every cultural pressure or controversy to determine our focus, we are called to keep our eyes on Jesus, seeking his approval and following the demands of the gospel. Like Daniel, may we have the courage to remain faithful, to love and serve others, and to trust God with the consequences.

Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.

You can read today’s passage here.

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.

You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In today’s reflection from Daniel 6:1–9, we look at the danger of flattery and the importance of having people in our lives who will lovingly tell us the truth. Darius allows himself to be convinced that he is so important that everyone should worship him, a decision that will quickly get him into trouble. In contrast, Daniel’s enemies search for any weakness or corruption they can use against him but find nothing. The only thing they can use against Daniel is his faithfulness to God. That gives us a powerful question to consider: what would people find if they examined our lives? None of us will be perfect, but we can strive to be faithful—to love God, love our neighbors, and live in such a way that our devotion to God is evident. May we surround ourselves with people who encourage us while also being willing to correct us, and may our faithfulness be the thing people notice most about us.

Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.

You can read today’s passage here.

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.

You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

What do United Methodists believe? It really comes down to one word: Grace.  Yes, but what do we really believe about Grace?  Join us as we reflect upon Ephesians 2: 1-10 and talk about how God is always the first actor in our faith and our salvation. It's always about grace. Always. 

On this Labor Day reflection, we step away from Daniel for a moment to consider what Scripture teaches us about work and rest. Work was part of God’s good creation from the beginning—Adam was given a purpose and vocation in the Garden of Eden—but the fall brought toil, frustration, and difficulty into our work. Our work can give us purpose, dignity, and an opportunity to use the gifts God has given us, but work is not God. That’s why Sabbath is so important. God modeled rest for us, not because God needed to recover, but because we need to remember that the world doesn’t depend entirely on us. Sabbath reminds us that God is God and we are not. On this Labor Day, we’re encouraged to embrace the goodness of work while also learning to stop, rest, worship, and trust that God is still at work even when we aren’t.

Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.

You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In today’s reflection, we finish Daniel chapter 5 and hear Daniel interpret the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar. Belshazzar offers Daniel power, prestige, and a gold chain, but Daniel makes it clear that he isn’t serving God for earthly rewards. Daniel reminds Belshazzar of what happened to Nebuchadnezzar and points out that Belshazzar knew the story but failed to humble himself before God. The contrast between Daniel and Belshazzar challenges us to ask why we do what we do. Are we seeking recognition, approval, and earthly rewards, or are we serving simply because God has given us a calling? Pride leads us away from God, while humility and obedience lead us toward him. As we finish Daniel 5, we’re reminded that the path of Jesus is always the path of humility, faithfulness, and obedience.

Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.

You can read today’s passage here.

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.

You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In today’s reflection from Daniel 5, we look at the famous story of the writing on the wall and, more specifically, at the sacred vessels Belshazzar took from the temple and used at his feast. That leads us to think about what makes something sacred. A church building, an altar, communion vessels, or even Scripture are not holy simply because of the materials they are made from; they are sacred because they have been set apart for the worship of God. And while we are grateful for sacred spaces, our relationship with God isn’t limited to a sanctuary. Through God’s grace, we can find sacred moments in our homes, our cars, our workplaces, coffee shops, and throughout our ordinary lives. Our souls are longing for the divine, so today we’re invited to slow down, look for those moments, and enter into the sacred presence of God wherever we find ourselves.

Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.

You can read today’s passage here.

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. 

You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar finally comes to his senses after being humbled by his own pride. He had become so convinced of his own power and greatness that he forgot the most important truth: God is God, and we are not. In this reflection, we look briefly at the historical questions surrounding Nebuchadnezzar’s period of madness, but more importantly, we consider the spiritual truth at the heart of the story. Pride can convince us that we are in control, that we don’t need God or anyone else, and that we can manage life on our own. But Nebuchadnezzar discovers that humility brings him back to himself. We don’t have to control everything, have everything figured out, or carry everything alone. When we recognize our dependence on God, release our need for control, and live with humility, we can begin to find peace, purpose, and sanity again.

Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.

You can read today’s passage here.

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.

You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream warning him that his pride and confidence in his own power are leading him toward a great humbling. Daniel interprets the dream and tells the king to turn from his ways and recognize that God is sovereign, but Nebuchadnezzar doesn’t listen. A year later, he looks over Babylon and proudly declares that he has built it all by his own power and majesty—and almost immediately, everything is taken from him. In this reflection, we talk about one of the most important lessons we can learn from Nebuchadnezzar: God is God, and we are not. Every good gift we have, including our abilities, opportunities, accomplishments, and even our ability to work hard, ultimately comes from God. We don’t want to spend our lives “kicking against the goads.” Instead, let’s recognize God’s gifts, give God the glory, and live with humility and gratitude.

Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.

You can read today’s passage here.

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.

You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

We continue talking about the things that truly matter in our faith.  We talk in this message about one of the essential things of our Wesleyan belief: Holiness. But what is that?  Jesus tells us in Matthew: love.  The test of our faith and holiness is this: love.