This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services
rest

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

We arrived first thing that morning at the dock in Ketchikan, Alaska.  Ketchikan is known both as ‘Alaska’s first city’ and as the ‘salmon capital of the world.’  As a matter of fact, the ship had a few tense minutes wait for some random fishing boats who meandered entirely too close as the ship attempted to near the dock.

We eagerly awaited our time to disembark the ship and spend the day exploring the city on foot.  We did just that, too.  We walked along the water, went shopping, ate an amazing meal, admired many hundreds of different beautiful flower beds and arrangements, and enjoyed the great weather.  We walked here, we walked there, we walked everywhere we went.  Then, as time began to near for us to settle aboard the ship, we did just that, beat most of the heavy crowds, walked back and went straight up to our cabin where we kicked off our shoes and rested our weary feet.

Because we remained at the dock for a little while and the town was bustling below, I chose to sit on our balcony, prop up my feet, and read a book I’d not had a chance to begin, one by my friend and wonderful storyteller Sean Dietrich.  I greatly enjoyed those quite moments reading and people watching at several times on our trip.

Life is busy.  I don’t have to tell you that.  Many of us have jobs, schedules, calendars, events, meetings, activities, and family responsibilities that keep us busy most waking hours.  That isn’t necessarily a complaint or a bad thing.  It’s just the truth.  We run throughout the days and weeks going here, going there, and squeezing in yet another something at which we must show up and appear to be on top of our game.  We desperately need to stop, prop up our feet, and focus on other things.

Maybe we need to do just as I did and take a break from it all.  Even from my perspective on the balcony, I could see that the world remained busy, people were still going about their business, things didn’t stop or cease to exist simply because I chose to take a break for myself and my sanity.

Oh, that we each could learn to do that very thing.  The thing is, the world will continue to operate without us running ragged thinking we are the ones who have to keep it going.  The Bible reminds us, as I’m sure I have repeated from time to time, to “be still and know that I am God.”  Be still.  Be still.  Be still.  And in that stillness that certainly can exist even with the world bustling around us and below us, know that He is God, He is in control, and He is all you need.

Just a thought.

Weekly Inspiration: God in the Storm

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services
storm

By Ryan Kelly –

Storms have a way of unsettling us. They arrive without warning, linger longer than we expect, and leave us asking questions we may never fully understand. We often want to know why we are in the storm and when it will finally pass. Yet so often, those answers remain just beyond our reach.

What we can know is this: we are never alone in the storm. God does not wait for the skies to clear before drawing near. He walks with us through the wind, the rain, and the uncertainty, steady and unshaken even when everything around us feels out of control. As Scripture reminds us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2).

No matter how fierce the storm may seem or how long the clouds hang overhead, God remains with us, holding us fast and refusing to let us go. The storm may test our strength, but it can never remove His love. When we cannot see the shore and do not know what comes next, we can rest in the assurance of His promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services
donuts

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

I want to first explain that I am not a paid spokesperson for any doughnut company.  I can tackle a box of Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts, devour a bag of Little Debbie’s mini powdered doughnuts, or very willingly knock back some fresh-from-the-grease homemade doughnuts from our local ‘Touch of Home’ Mennonite bakery.  They are all equally divine in nature.

The doughnuts you happen to see in my picture were a carefully chosen grouping we gathered at just one of a great many Dunkin Donuts establishments we came across while venturing around New England.  We enjoyed every flavor, size, and style that we tried.  All wonderful in its own way.

We had driven past more Dunkin Donut establishments in those few days than I’ve seen in my entire lifetime elsewhere, but we chose to stop at this particular one after my wife had made it her mission to point out every single one that I had let go by.  So inside for a snack and coffee we went — gladly, I might add.

The one thing that makes Dunkin stand out differently from all the rest is their slogan, “America runs on Dunkin.”  If you stop in their shop in Maryville, TN, for instance, you’ll see the “Maryville Runs on Dunkin” sign, and each town with one of their shops has their own personalized sign.

What do you run on?  Or, what runs you?  Or, on what do you run?  (See, the sugar affects my grammar as well!)  Is it doughnuts, coffee, or some other such sugar or caffeine providing item?

I just want to offer a very simple challenge for us each this week.  Let’s make it our mission to “run on Jesus.”  Maybe we could even make us some shirts with that slogan and adopt it as our life’s goal.  Let’s Run on Jesus this week!  He will provide much more for you than that quick sugar rush of a doughnut ever could!

Just a thought.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services
Rim Rock

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

My wife and I had spent several days exploring the four-state area of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.  Along the way we saw many spectacular scenes.  One of the beautiful spots we enjoyed was the view you see here.  This is part of Colorado’s Fruita Canyon as seen from the amazing twenty-three-mile route that Rim Rock Drive spans through the Colorado National Monument.  God’s beauty abounds.

Rim Rock Drive is aptly named because of the winding route it takes along the rim of the canyon.  Harrowing at times, it makes it very difficult to both drive and keep your eyes on the road while also trying desperately to take in all the views below.  But the only way to see the beauty below is to drive that narrow winding breath-taking road along the upper rim of the canyon.

Life offers some amazing views and experiences along the way.  Maybe we are even currently living in an amazing time in our own lives.  But we don’t have the same view from down here that the Lord has from up above.  He looks down and watches His children as we navigate life’s highways and byways.  He knows the beauty we seem to ignore.  He sees the whole picture while we tend to wallow in the here-and-now.

Sometimes it is necessary in life to step out of our comfort zone, which I very much did by driving this and several other routes that week, and tackle the unnerving so we can get but a glimpse at the bigger more beautiful picture the Lord has painted for us.  You see, those who stay down in the canyon may see the beauty of the mountain rock walls surrounding them, but until they take the higher road, they will never see the whole picture.

God has so many “great and wonderful things” prepared for you.  Perhaps you just need to take a tighter grip upon the steering wheel of the car and head out on the winding highway to see for yourself.  Until you do, you’ll never know what beauty you’re missing, what blessings you could have had from Him, what experiences you might never have had.

Take a trip through the uncomfortable.  When you finally reach the other side, there will be no doubt how blessed you are because of the experience.

Just a thought.

Pause at Noon to Pray and Draw Near to God Every Day

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services
prayer

Today, believers across our nation are invited to pause at noon and pray. This moment is to humble our hearts, seek God’s forgiveness, intercede for our leaders, and ask for healing and peace in our land. This call to prayer comes from Rev. Franklin Graham, who emphasizes that we are living in a time that urgently needs hope, unity, and spiritual renewal. He has invited everyone to join with him in this time of prayer and repentance today at noon, recognizing that prayer is powerful and that God hears the prayers of His people.

This special moment of collective prayer isn’t meant to be a one-time event. It serves as a reminder that prayer is not just something we do only when crisis reaches our doorstep, but something we are called to maintain continually throughout our lives. Prayer is our lifeline to God. It is where we bring our gratitude and our burdens, our doubts and our dreams, knowing that the Lord listens and responds according to His unfailing love.

In Scripture we find this timeless promise: when God’s people humble themselves, seek His face, and turn from their sin, He hears from heaven, forgives, and brings healing. Today’s call to pray at noon is anchored in that truth and points us beyond the moment to a daily rhythm of communion with our Creator.

Why prayer matters every day:

• Prayer draws us close to God’s heart. It shifts our focus from fear and confusion to faith and dependence on Him.

• Prayer changes us. It softens pride, deepens humility, and aligns our will with God’s purpose.

• Prayer impacts others. Our prayers for family, leaders, neighbors, and communities invite God’s peace, protection, and wisdom in ways only He can provide.

So as you lift your heart in prayer at noon today, let it also become the start of a greater commitment: to seek God in prayer not just once, but every day. Let prayer be the foundation of your joy, the strength of your courage, and the source of your hope.

Pause today at noon. Pray. And then continue to draw near to the Lord each day through prayer.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services
Stool Photo

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Nineteen years.  That’s how long ago I wrote and sent my first emailed weekly thought.  Many of you are instantly amazed that I’ve even had that many thoughts of any kind!  But seriously, at times through the years, I’ve been asked this question – “Do you write out something and then find a picture to go along with it?”  The answer is that no, I do the opposite.  I settle on a picture and then just start typing.

So, as I was scrolling back through hundreds of photos on my phone, I ran across this one.  Granted it’s a stock photo, a screen shot that I took while roaming around the internet a while back.  With the exception of its color, this stool is exactly like one that my mother’s parents had in their home as long as I can remember.  There were fourteen of us grandkids on that side, not to mention the spouses and kids of the older ones.  It was a rare privilege for any one of us to get to sit at the “big table.”  But sometimes, when maybe there were only a handful of us visiting, we would gather ’round that dining table, which I love to tell others now sits in my own home, and the smallest of us would get to sit on the stool.  We might perch up on the top, or when the seat was raised, sit on one of the lower steps.

I don’t know who in the family wound up with that old stool.  I’ve longingly looked at some like it in various antique or junk stores through the years.  But it isn’t even about the stool.  It’s about the memories associated with it.

For that stool, to me, represents times gone by.  It is a symbol of simpler days – maybe not for our parents, but for us as we grew up.  It represents being initiated into the wonderful sit-at-the-big-table crowd, listening to the grownup conversations, even if we didn’t contribute.  It reminds me of the countless meals that were spread upon that table, the cold fried chicken, bacon, and biscuits that we kids would reach up under the tablecloth that had been thrown over it all and sneak some of.  That stool is a reminder of times, places, and people I have loved and held very dear.  I would like to find a stool like it.  I want to sit on that seat again.

I am so very blessed to be a part of a loving, Bible-believing and teaching, church FAMILY.  Granted, I’m the pastor, so I see the gathered crowd from a different angle than most, but I stand in front of those pews, those seats, and I remember the faces of so very many dear Saints of God that have long passed to their eternal reward.  A twinge of sadness arrives for but a very brief moment, but then I’m reminded of those same things the old stool reminds me of – – times, places, and people that I have loved and held very dear.

If you haven’t been to church lately, if you haven’t sat upon an old church pew (or even a newer more comfortable seat that has replaced those pews), if you haven’t been where those who raised us worshiped together themselves, then may I urge you this very week to go looking for your seat?  There’s something about those special seats that bring the world together, remind you of Who and what matters most, and puts everything into perspective again.

Time is precious.  Please take your seat at the table.  Oh what glorious conversations await.

Just a thought.

Drawing Closer to God in 2026

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services
prayer

By Ryan Kelly –

As we step into a new year, we are reminded that each day is a gift and an invitation from God to begin again with hope, purpose, and trust. The turning of the calendar does not merely mark the passage of time; it offers us a sacred opportunity to realign our lives with what matters most. Rather than focusing solely on resolutions that fade, we are called to fix our eyes on Christ, trusting that God is already at work in this new season and preparing growth we cannot yet see.

A positive outlook for the year ahead is rooted not in our own strength, but in the faithfulness of the Lord. Scripture assures us that God’s mercies are new every morning, and with each sunrise comes fresh grace to walk more closely with Him. When we choose to seek God daily through prayer, Scripture, worship, and obedience, we invite His peace to shape our perspective and His wisdom to guide our decisions. Even in uncertainty, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that God orders the steps of those who trust in Him.

As we dedicate ourselves to growing closer to the Lord, our hearts begin to change. The more time we spend in His presence, the more our desires are aligned with His will. This alignment does not happen overnight. It is the result of daily surrender and faithful commitment. When our primary goal becomes knowing God more deeply, He gently reshapes our priorities, strengthens our faith, and refines our character to reflect His love.

Let this new year be marked by a simple yet powerful commitment to draw nearer to God each day. As we do, we will find that He draws nearer to us, guiding our hearts, renewing our minds, and leading us into a life shaped by His purposes. With hope in Christ and trust in His plan, we can step confidently into the year ahead, assured that walking closely with the Lord is the surest path to lasting joy and peace.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
James 4:8

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

You know from my previous “thoughts” from time to time that as I travel, I tend to photograph unusual flowers, plants, rocks, trees, etc.  You’ll see one of those trees in this picture.  You may not think it’s that unusual.  It looks like any normal tree might.  But the reason I took this picture was because of what I had just read and found out about the tree and a few others very similar nearby.

This is an olive tree.  That’s unusual in itself to me, since most of the trees that grow where we live are pine or oak.  This olive tree was one of several planted in what is now a downtown area of historic Scottsdale, Arizona.  They were planted to stand as a break from the desert winds before most of those buildings were there.  And these olive trees are now well over 125 years old, having all been planted in 1896.  

They are unusual.  They stand out.  And they were planted with a purpose.  These things ought to describe us as Christians.

We certainly were planted with a purpose.  God intends for us to love, serve, and worship Him, and He intends for us to be a bright light in a dark world.  As such, we are automatically unusual, and we should stand out from all the rest.  

I don’t know that I want a sign posted near me to say how old I am and why I was put here.  On the other hand, by living as a Child of the Father, I am basically wearing a sign just like that.  I call myself by His name, and I represent Him wherever I go — even in odd downtown desert places where I might not be expected to survive.

Planted with a purpose.  Growing with His help.  Representing Him to all who pass by.  Those are wonderful things on which to focus in this brand new year.

Just a thought.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services

By Brad Campbell – Just a thought to help start your week.

The old year of 2025 is fading into the past while the new year of 2026 is just becoming clear on the horizon.  I’ve always thought it was very interesting that as much as we think of one year disappearing and another one being a brand new start, there is not a lot of difference between the two.  We arrive on January 1 each year to find it to be very much like the day before, December 31 of the past year.  A different year, yes, but only seconds apart.

I do like the thought that a new year can bring opportunities for us to do something different and perhaps more importantly to be something different.  That thought itself seems to bring some hope in that I don’t have to give up.  I really can be different – in a good way – in the coming year.

For many people, our family included, the new year begins without several family members who began last year with us.  There are holes that cannot be filled, places that cannot be taken, people that cannot be replaced.  We hesitate to go forward because we are spending an awful lot of time looking in the rearview mirror.  I took a picture of this little sign this past summer in a place I no longer remember.  The quote, attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, says, “The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”

Simply put, I know the past to have been difficult, lonely, sorrowful, and full of mourning.  However, I also know the past to have been glorious, bright, inviting, full of adventures, and very much a learning experience.  All of those things can prepare me for the future of this next year.  There will be difficult days, and there will be wonderful days.  There will be hard times, and there will be great times.  There will be losses, but thank God, there is always the glorious possibility of new gains and gifts from Above.

Take time to reflect upon the past – upon 2025 specifically.  For what things and in what ways are you better prepared for 2026 now?  God is always good.  Every day is a good day.  As God leads you from one year into the next, and even from one month, week, and day, and moment into the next, reflect on His goodness and grace and thank Him in advance for all that He has in store for you in the coming year!

Just a thought.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

A couple of weeks ago, I glanced out the back window as I walked through the den, and I saw something unusual in the pond.  I watched for a few seconds and decided it was a beaver.  I knew if this was the case, then we would soon have serious issues.  So, about the time I thought of calling my next door neighbor (He actually owns the pond.) to tell him we needed to tackle that situation, I realized it wasn’t a beaver after all.

A very playful and energetic otter had somehow made its way from the nearby river up a creek or two and was now having a ball playing and splashing around.  Otters have been spotted in other areas of the state, but to my knowledge not around here.  At least I couldn’t find any written proof of such.  And this led me to believe, because the lone otter seemed to be the only one of its species anywhere around, that he shouldn’t “otter” be here!

The holidays, as much as they are grand and wonderful for so many people, are equally difficult and a struggle for others.  Christmas, the beginning of a New Year, and the festivities or family and church events surrounding each can be quite overwhelming.  We are forced to look back at the past year, which quite honestly for some of us has been a year we pray never to repeat.  And we can’t help but wonder are we the lone creature making our way up river in unknown waters to fend for ourselves?

Maybe we look back and think that it just shouldn’t “otter” be this way.  And we’re right.  It shouldn’t.  But because we live in a sinful, fallen world, there will always be the difficulties of life until the Lord chooses to take us out of here.

That little otter hasn’t been seen again since the one morning I snapped some photos and got a quick video.  It must have continued its trek elsewhere.  —  We will too.

Tomorrow, or maybe the next day or the one after that, we will realize that it really doesn’t have to be this way.  Life is what we make of it, by the grace of God.  This is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Every day — every day — is a blessing.  No, maybe it shouldn’t “otter” be this way.  But because we as Christians have the blessed hope for tomorrow, it won’t always!

Blessings on you and yours throughout these glorious holidays and into the New Year.

Just a thought.