BaseCamp 2011 Day Two

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

There’s an old saying that we’ve all heard – physician heal thyself. I think for me as a pastor, it could be translated – preacher hear thy sermon!

I spent the last week in worship at Asbury talking about spiritual gifts and how none are greater than the others. All of our gifts are from God, all of our gifts are at work for the same purpose of strengthening the Body of Christ and helping that Body to represent Christ to the entire world. To love, to care, to serve, to pray for, to cry with, to, in short, be the body.

Each gift matters. Each gift is important. Each gift strengthens the whole of the church.

You have a gift. You are called. You need to be living out God’s calling on your life.

So, during BaseCamp I am part of what used to be called “Support,” which is now Critical Needs. Which, I keep calling Critical Access. And I forget what it’s called and call it support.

We make lunch for the other teams. We go get things. We fix things. We run water to people. We are busy, busy bees.

But we are behind the scenes. We aren’t that visible. Other teams are tearing down things. Or are working with kids. Or are witnessing to others about Jesus.

We went to Sam’s and bought lunch meat.

So, here’s what I’m doing. I’m listening to my sermon. We are also part of the body. Without this team, BaseCamp wouldn’t work. Without this team, people wouldn’t have lunch to eat or water to drink. Without this team, our Body would not be able to function.

Even through no one sees it.

Today, I’m going to be faithful to my task, and do what I can do to strengthen the body.

How about you? Today, serve where you are. Even if it’s not in the forefront. Even if it is in the background. Even if no one but God notices.

Because God notices. And He is proud of all service done in His name.

Today, no matter where you are, be faithful.

BaseCamp 2011 Day One

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

Morning Everyone. Posting will be spotty this week. Asbury is putting on our yearly BaseCamp, where over 100 youth from Asbury and other churches come together to do mission work and service all over the Pine Belt. There is worship and fellowship, and it is really a great time to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

So, pray for us this week. I’ll try to update each morning as I make coffee for the leaders’ meeting we have every day.

Today, I want to leave you with a quote I reference in my sermon yesterday by Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

May we each be the hands and feet of Jesus today, with all the we do. Pray for these youth as they seek to do that today.

Puzzle Intro Podcast

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

The sermon podcast for Sunday, June 26, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website. This is the first sermon in our series about Spiritual Gifts – “Puzzle.” This an introductory sermon that deals with spiritual gifts and what it means for the Body of Christ. The text is 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6, 12-27. You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.

The Asbury Cheer Team

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

For better or worse here’s a video of me dancing.

Our Easter Surprise

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

Check it out

What I’ve Seen Today

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

I can’t sleep. It’s Sunday night. Normally I’m exhausted after a long day of worship, visiting with folks, meetings, and chasing the kids.

I can’t sleep tonight. So, I do what I do when I can’t sleep. I write.

I can’t sleep tonight because of what I’ve seen today. I’ve seen something amazing today. I’ve seen God at work.

I’ve been lucky enough to have served God in ministry since 1998. I’ve been under appointment (i.e. a preacher) since 1999. I’ve had the great privilege and honor of serving some amazing people and churches in these years. At Boyle, Linn, and Litton UMCs, those sweet folk taught me how to grow up and be a pastor. At Coy UMC, I found my voice and learned how to preach. At Ripley FUMC, I had the honor of seeing what can happen when a church really tries to impact its community.

I’ve been lucky to serve some great people.

Today, though, I can’t sleep. Because I saw God at work here at Asbury Church. I saw Him in our children as they led us in worship. I saw Him in the praise team as they communicated the grace and mercy of God through song. I saw Him in a line for lunch that literally stretched out of the worship center. I saw Him in the laughter and joy of those same folks waiting in line to eat. I saw Him the hands of folks working the kitchen as they served a teeming mass of people lunch. I saw Him in the fact that so many people, people I literally didn’t know stayed after worship to fellowship, to laugh, to just be together as the Body of Christ. I saw Him in children running to get Easter Eggs and sliding down slides. I saw Him in the youth gather back tonight, eating crawfish listening to music and enjoying the company of fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.

There’s an old song my wife used to sing some in church – “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place.” Today, I saw the effect of that spirit. I saw God move in the lives of people. I saw people draw close to God and close to each other.

I saw God move in church today. And I am so thankful that my eyes have gotten to see it.

And I can’t wait until next week to see what He’s going to do here at Asbury.

I can’t sleep tonight. And I’ve never been more happy about it.

Back to Basics – Eyes Open Podcast

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

The sermon podcast for April 10, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website. It’s the fifth in our series “Back to Basics.” It’s entitled “Eyes Open” and the text is Matthew 25: 31-46. You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.

What’s Next Podcast

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

The sermon podcast for April 3, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website. It’s the fourth in our series “Back to Basics.” It’s entitled “What’s Next” and the text is Matthew 22: 34-40. You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.

Back to Basics – Our Response Podcast

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Andy Stoddard

The sermon podcast for March 27, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website. It’s the third in our series “Back to Basics.” It’s entitled “Our Response” and the text is John 3: 16-21. You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.

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Category Archives: Asbury