Devotionals / Newsletters
July 2024 Not Following Jesus, is way harder.
The way of Jesus is not harder than the alternatives. It’s far, far easier. Jesus is a genius who knows exactly how to live. Oh, sure, life can be heavy… but life without Jesus is heavier. He even said it, straight-up:
February 2024 “Leaders”
I believe God is going to do great things in the Global Methodist Church, but we can hinder that if we aren’t careful. If we choose the wrong leaders, stubbornly demand our own way, or hold on to grudges about what has happened in the past, we will get bogged down and possibly even move ourselves outside of God’s will.
November / December 2023 “The Journey / Living Fully”
September 2023: “Do we want church growth?”
Are we willing to accept what that really means? More immature Christians in the church, More work not less, sharing power, disagreements, change…
June 2023 “Gideon: A case study in instruction – Judges 7”
February 2023“Do you want to get well?”
Jesus sees him and says “Do you want to get well?”
What an obvious question! Of course he wants to get well!
Jesus already knows the answer, he can see why this man is here.
This man was at the pool all of the time, trying to get in before someone else when the angel stirred the water.
The man, looking at Jesus and not knowing who he truly is says that he can’t get in before someone else does. He’s too slow.
August 2022 Bible Study
July 2022 Leaders need Humility
April 2022 Easter Thoughts
It is hard not to be thinking of the events going on in the Ukraine as we come to this Easter season. I spoke in my message last week about how Paul’s heart was changed and instead of persecuting the people of “The Way”, God led him to become a leader in the Christian movement.
My request is that all of us pray that God will change the heart and soul of President Putin and bring an end to the death and destruction that is occurring in this part of the world. As part of that change, may we all find it in our own hearts to forgive President Putin as we should all those that seek God’s forgiveness.
Easter Blessings,
Pastor Ed
February 2022 Love: Change the World
August 2021 Be Not Afraid
May 2021 It Takes Work
April 2021 Have Faith
February 2021 Why can’t we just get along
December 2020 Red boots and Christmas
October 2020 Reach Out
situations.
August 2020 Do not Fear
Welcome Pastor Ed Armantrout
My name is Ed Armantrout and I want to take a few moments of your time to tell you about me
and my family as I begin service to New Burlington UMC and Selma Christ UMC.
Pastor Andy’s farewell
laughed together, shared tears, grown closer to one another in the church, and
deepened our faith. It has been a true joy serving with you.
May 2020 Time to stop the whine
March 2020 Renewal
February 2020 Remembering
December 2019 ELF
October 2019 Life is a Highway
August 2019 Sabbatical
July 2019 Free to Become
June 2019 Love the Family
April 2019 Spring is in the Air
March 2019 Lent
February 2019 28 Pillows
January 2019 Epiphany
November 2018 Autumn
October 2018 Make Smooth the Rough Places
September 2018 A Fresh Start
August 2018 Whatever you do…
July 2018 Introduction
I just wanted to say, “Hello” and introduce myself. I’m Pastor Andy Martin and on July 1st I’ll begin my appointment to Selma and New Burlington. My wife, “Susan” and I are very excited about our appointments and the possibilities God has in store for us all.
June 2018 Transitions
A famous cartoon shows a caricature of a well known painting of Adam and Eve fleeing from the garden driven by an overarching angel with a flaming sword in his hand, gates closing behind them. Adam is saying to Eve, “Eve, we are living in a time of transition.” We all know that transitions can be bad, as for Adam and Eve, but transitions are also good. Transitions are a time for moving forward, accepting new challenges, and growing in Christ. Above all, for Lana and me, it is a time for remembrance as we fondly look back to all our times together.
May 2018 Not Alone
A man stopped by a house with a sign out front that said, “Talking Dog For Sale.” The owner directed him to the backyard to see the dog. He was pretty skeptical and called out, “You talk?” “Yep,” the mutt replied. The man then said, “So, what’s your story?” The dog looked up and said, “Well, I discovered this gift when I was young and I wanted to help the government so I went to work for the CIA. I jetted around from country to country. I’ve spied on world leaders because no one ever figured a dog could eavesdrop.
March 2018 Not about the Rabbit?
A Family Circus comic strip shows the children of the family on Easter morning. One asks, “Who laid all these eggs?” The reply of another child is, “The Easter Bunny.” “Who colored them?” Again the reply, “The Easter Bunny.” The first child asks again, “Who gave us the jelly beans?” The reply, “The Easter Bunny.”
February 2018 An Act of Love
February – Valentine’s Day. As you’re taking in all the Cupids, hearts, and chocolates, and Valentine festivities take another look at the calendar – February 14 is also Ash Wednesday, the traditional start of Lent. Easter or Resurrection Sunday is only six weeks away. Lent is generally that season of the year when people have chosen to give up some favorite treat or vice. One man said his children traditionally gave up something like candy for Lent.
January 2018 Who We Are
December 2017 Slow Down
I swore I would never do it. I had always said I would never go out shopping on “Black Friday” but Staples had a good deal on something at which I had been considering. I thought, “Heh. Join the rush. Get in on the excitement. I’ll go, and I’ll go early. After all, who’s going to be shopping at Staples. And so I went. When I arrived, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was as if everyone in town was there. The lines were 25 deep and three registers were open. I said to myself, “This is crazy.” And I walked out. I traveled a little further down McGalliard, and cars went flying by me. I could see them in the review mirror weaving in and out of traffic.
November 2017 Give Thanks
October 2017 Go.
The sights and smells of the season: burning leaves, damp woods, pumpkins in the field, cornfields ready for picking, the color of the leaves. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. It’s also a time for homecomings, celebrations, and so much more. I hope that you take part in each of them as we celebrate homecoming and also our 175th anniversary as a congregation in Selma.
June 2017 Don’t take Tomorrow for Granted
There is a silly story about two men sitting on a river bank. The night was still except the sound of a chorus of crickets. One of the men said, “Crickets sure do sing.” The other answered, “Yep, they sure do.” As he was saying this he heard the sounds of a church choir rehearsing nearby. “Sure is beautiful music, isn’t it?” he said. The first man, still thinking about the crickets replied, “And to think they do it by rubbing their legs together.”
April 2017 Christ is Risen
Dr. John Trent in Christian Parenting Today tells about a wedding video he once saw. The video was shot from the back of the church looking up the aisle toward the bride and groom. Because of the camera angle, you could see several members of the congregation. Suddenly, during the vows, a man jumped up from his pew and yelled, “Yes, Yes, Yes!” as he pumped his fist. Then he froze and slid down into his seat–and sheepishly took off his headphones. It turned out he had been listening to the Auburn-Alabama football game, and his favorite team had just scored.
February 2017 Coming to the Rescue
Back in the days when Paul authored those words, the Greeks were sports mad. In fact, things haven’t changed much. Even as I write this, millions of avid sports fans are anticipating the upcoming Super Bowl where the Patriots and Falcons are gearing up for a Super Bowl ring.
January 2017 Personal Experience
It’s 2017! Who would have thought? As I think about another new year I think about those laudable New Year’s resolutions which we all make but by the second week of January have given up. There is one resolution, however, that I pray we keep ever before us. The Apostle Paul who was a very focused individual. His goal was to keep “pressing on.” (Philippians 3:12, 14)
December 2016 That first Christmas
That first Christmas was quite messy. A young girl becomes pregnant before the marriage is consummated. Before the birth is approaching they are forced by an authority way beyond her control to travel to another town to register for a census and taxes. Their trip takes them 80 miles on the back of a donkey. When they finally arrive, probably late at night, Mary already is in labor and they cannot find a place to stay except someone’s stable. Can you hear her crying out into the night? Can you hear her crying while all around her is the bustle of the town which is teeming with life and energy? Does she feel alone and isolated, abandoned and forgotten?
November 2016 Thanksgiving
What? It’s almost Thanksgiving?! Well, everyday ought to be a day of Thanksgiving, but yes, the DAY of Thanksgiving is a few weeks away. It’ll be a time for families, for gathering, for eating, and for TURKEY. And just think … if you burn your turkey there is still cause for thanksgiving. According to Craig Boldman and Pete Matthews, authors of Every Excuse in the Book: 714 Ways to Say “It’s Not My Fault”, even if you burn the Thanksgiving turkey, there are several reasons to be thankful: