This Week’s Thought

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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.

Dedicate Time with Family This Christmas Season

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Family

By Ryan Kelly –

As Christmas draws near, the season invites us to slow our pace and turn our hearts toward what truly matters. In a world filled with noise, schedules, and distractions, dedicating intentional time with family mirrors an act of worship in itself. These moments of togetherness reflect God’s design for community, reminding us that love is best expressed not only in words, but in presence, patience, and shared time. Gathering around a table, sharing stories, or praying together prepares our hearts to receive the joy of Christ’s birth with gratitude and unity.

Scripture reminds us of the sacred responsibility and blessing found in family relationships. Deuteronomy 6:6–7 calls believers to keep God’s commandments close to their hearts and to teach them diligently to their children, speaking of them in everyday moments at home and along the way. This passage highlights that faith is most powerfully passed down through time spent together, where love, instruction, and example intertwine. Likewise, Psalm 127:1 affirms that unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts are in vain, reminding us that God’s presence is the foundation of a strong and faithful home.

As we prepare for Christmas, choosing family time over busyness mirrors the humility and intentionality of the season itself. God chose to enter the world not in grandeur, but within a family, surrounded by love and obedience. When we set aside time to be fully present with one another, we honor that same spirit that the Lord set before us. May our homes this season be filled not only with celebration, but with peace, conversation, prayer, and the gentle reminder that Christ is all that we need.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

On the Christmas that was eleven years old, my Dad’s mother remained in the hospital following a very recent major stroke.  Things were crazy around our house.  My brother and sister are younger than I, and at those ages, we were understandably excited about the coming Christmas.  But with everything else going on, Christmas Eve came with still no decorations put up, no tree in the house.  Just before closing time for the local businesses that afternoon, my Dad made a few desperate phone calls, and he, along with my 9-year-old brother and I, headed off to the local Radio Shack store, the one place with a good affordable tree.

I don’t remember how much the kind man charged my Dad for that last tree in his store, the one they had decorated and placed in the front display window for the Christmas season.  But I do remember that he only added one dollar to the total for all of the decorations on the tree.  My brother and I grabbed one end of the tree with our Dad on the other, and we headed out the door and across the parking lot, losing and breaking some of those ornaments along the way.  We shoved that decorated tree into the back of our long Chevrolet Impala station wagon, took it home, and placed it in the big front window of our living room.  Talk about a last minute Christmas tree!  There was nothing spectacular about that tree itself, but it certainly was beautiful to us kids.  And I love to tell that story, because I know it’s true.

The ornament you see here was hand-beaded by a Native American Choctaw Indian woman, a friend of my sister, several years ago and given to my mother-in-law, who passed away a few short months ago.  In going through assorted Christmas decorations she left behind, I located this little ornament that my sister had given to her one year, and I brought it home recently to place on our own tree.

There’s nothing incredibly outstanding about it.  The ornament itself is made of “unbreakable” plastic.  The beads are strung around it, and a metal hook is attached.  To any other person, it’s a simple plastic ornament with no others to match it, and it could very well have ended up in the discard pile.  Nothing appears spectacular about that ornament, but it’s beautiful to me.  And I know it’s story.

You probably have those Christmas story memories.  Maybe you continue to share them with your family members through the holidays.  Memories that are special because we know the story.

Christmas is the story of the birth of Christ Jesus.  I know His story to be special and incredible.  Therefore I will continue to tell the story because I know it to be true!  I pray you do as well.  Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours, and may all your dreams for the holidays and the New Year of 2026 come true.

Just a thought.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Christmas time is here.  You’ve been busy with the decorating, shopping, events, and parties.  You’ve hung the stockings with care, slung the tinsel all over there, and watched your budget with prayer.  You’ve gotten the menu written, crocheted new mittens, and told the kids they’re not getting kittens.  It has already been a busy season.

Two of my daughters were home in time to help with our family’s annual chex-mix-making festivities.  We were very busy doing this and that in the kitchen when the microwave decided it had breathed its last, and it gave up Marley’s Christmas ghost.  So we removed the faulty appliance from the house, chunked it in the dumpster, and made a trek to the big home do-it-yourself center in search of a replacement.  Having found an exact copy of the original, we loaded our cart and were about to leave the store, when what to our wondering eyes should appear — but lots and lots of Christmas decorations and lights.

Our trip to that store became twice as expensive as it had begun from the appliance aisle as we loaded not one, not two, but three separate light-up animals onto our bulging cart, slid the plastic give-me-5-percent-off-with-every-purchase card through the slot at the register ourselves and headed toward home.  We finished our first project with new appliance installed, then immediately installed the light-up critters you see here.  

Beside our front walkway now stand a chicken, a cat, and a dog.  And you ask why.  Well, they are cute, they light up, and we didn’t have anything like them.  But those aren’t the reasons we let them follow us home.  Eldest daughter and hubby are parents to our several grand-chickens.  Middle daughter and hubby are parents to our grand-dog.  And youngest daughter is the proud mother of our grand-cat.

So, each kiddo is now represented in Mom and Dad’s yard by their particular light-up animal.  This Christmas, all the kids are represented at our house.

This Christmas, are you and all of your kids represented at the Father’s House?  It’s easier than a quick trip to town.  Just introduce them to Jesus – the reason for the season – and the One Who can light up their world!  Nothing could make for a better Christmas!

Just a thought.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Do you collect things?  Most, if not all of us, collect something, even if it’s only dust.  Our refrigerator looks like a travel log, covered with magnets (pictures) from so many places we have been and enjoyed.  We stop at every state-line welcome center and do our best to take in the local souvenir shops.  These stops, of course, mean that we inevitably come home with more than we had.

This is one of those particular places.  One afternoon driving across New Mexico into Arizona, we stopped for photos at the Continental Divide signs then pulled into the parking lot of this store just a few minutes before their closing time.  The ladies working that afternoon were very kind to us, recognized our seeming weariness, welcomed us in for the restrooms and to shop a few minutes before locking the front door behind us as we stepped back outside.  Those few minutes inside allowed us to gather up several souvenirs for various friends and family members.

I frequently relate these “thoughts” to traveling through this old world, for that is exactly what we are doing on a daily basis.  And as we travel this world, meandering our way through each and every God-given day, I can’t help but wonder what souvenirs we are picking up.

Are we gathering smiles and experiences from those around us?  Are we in turn sharing with them about where we’ve been?  You see, I look at souvenir collecting as a give and gather situation.  Not only are we collecting things to take back with us, but we are always leaving bits and pieces of ourselves wherever we go.

We speak, wave, smile, or simply share a friendly conversation with a cashier or even another fellow traveler whose path we’ve stumbled across.  We become a mixture of all the places we’ve been and all the people we’ve met.

Then, as we get older and our trip begins to reach the final destination, we remember fondly how the Lord blessed us along with way.  Perhaps, just perhaps, He has a refrigerator with my name on it.  And on that fridge are magnets and mementos of where all He has carried me – of our travels together.  And there in prominent view are also photos of all the people with whom I’ve interacted along the way.  True souvenirs.  Souls I’ve pointed toward the Lord.  Oh God, may that refrigerator be full of faces — Godly souvenirs!

Just a thought.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Disclaimer first – Some of you are reading this on Thanksgiving week.  Some will be reading it later.  Regardless, we are to be thankful all year.

The road you see pictured here is just an old country road.  Because we know what lies beyond those hills and curves, we know that a road was in existence here at least as far back as the very early 1800’s – more than 200 years ago.  This particular road winds its way through the deep woods of the county in which we live.  It climbs hills, overlooks extremely deep ravines, crosses creek beds, and provides a means of access to some prime hunting lands.

This road also happens to be the very road upon which my wife’s family have lived for at least four generations now.  I know by looking at this picture exactly where this spot is located on that road, because I’m familiar with the road.

As God’s people, we are called to travel life’s winding road from the moment we first follow the Lord until that last moment when He finally takes us Home.  And along that road, we will encounter many precious memories, people, and places.  Because we live it, we will remember specific spots along that road that will forever remain special in our hearts.

Thanksgiving and Christmas bring with them a renewed opportunity to be verbally thankful for anything and everything along life’s journey.  God has been so very good to us along the way.  And, He will continue to be just as good for the rest of our travels.  We will always have many things for which to be thankful.

In this week’s sermon, I, as many other pastors did, I’m sure, reminded us not just to be thankful, but to tell the Lord just how thankful we are.  Give Him the praise, honor, and glory that He so richly deserves, not just at this time of year, but all year through — all along our road.

And, as I reminded us, in the story of the 10 lepers that Jesus healed one day, only one of those men came back to say, “Thank you.”  In your holiday celebrations, in your excitement and chaos, in your family gatherings or just quiet little times along the road, if there is to be only 1 in your crowd to voice thanks to the Lord this year, then be that one!

I’m thankful for you.

Just a thought.

This Week’s Thought

Posted on by Horizon Professional Services

By Brad Campbell –

Have you ever seen a totem pole?  We would normally associate a totem pole with a Native American location.  We saw several totem poles of varying heights, shapes, and colors on our trip to Alaska this summer.  The two pictures you see here are of the same pole.  I just “zoomed in” for you to be able to see a little more detail.

Contrary to popular belief, the Native Americans did not create the totem poles or use them for religious-type ceremonies or worship.  The totem pole was designed to represent their people, their land, their culture, and the animals around them.  Some poles are naturally much more detailed than others.  Each face on the pole tells a part of the story of the people who created it and placed it there.

As a pastor, I have the opportunity to stand in front of my church family and face them.  I see their faces, and I see their smiles or frowns.  Because I know the people, I can also see their stories.  I see their backgrounds, their hurts and failures, and their happinesses and successes.  Most of all, I see the One Who created each and every one and placed them here.

A totem pole is designed so that as one looks upon it, they will be reminded of their story.  They will be reminded of the places, times, and situations from which they came.  They will be reminded of everything that brought them to the place where they now stand — as a witness to those who will continue to see.

We Christians take our places in the world around us each week, representing the One Who placed us here.  We tell our stories, even if silently, of the places and times and situations from which we come, each and every part of which has made us into the person we are today.  And as we stand together in this world, we form a totem pole, if you will, of a mixture of answered prayers, healed hurts and diseases, cares and love of the Father, and so much more.

Wherever you stand this week, you are being gazed upon.  Some are looking simply at the outside – the dress, the colors, the smile or frown, the hair-do, or even the location where we stand.  But if we stand true long enough, if we stand strong long enough, prayerfully they will begin to see the Creator we represent.  They will see the details in our creation, the work of His hands upon our lives, the many stories we have yet to tell of the goodness and the grace of a loving, forgiving, almighty God who placed us here to be a representative of Him.

Stand strong like the totem pole.  The world is watching — and so is the Creator.

Just a thought.

American Christianity Prior to 1865

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By Dan Naylor –

The modern American Republic appears intent upon erasing its history. Some ideological movements actively vilify George Washington and Abraham Lincoln while pushing an aggressive “America Last” agenda. Historians hope for greater historical literacy, but what they see instead is the steady destruction of our shared past. Scholars have a strategic window to encourage historical literacy, or, failing that, to enable a measure of historical accuracy. How? By conducting concise examinations of Early American history using the opportunities afforded by modern social media. Christianity imparted meaning, discipline and comfort to Early Americans. 

What meaning did Christianity contribute to Americans in the period up to 1865? More to the point, what if Christianity had not contributed? What if Early America had rejected faith entirely, opting instead for atheism, the bleak outlook of paganism or an amoral nihilism? Was a French-style revolution ever the preferred path for Americans—with its savage purging of elites, destruction of religious institutions, and the deliberate enthronement of a tyrant? As one of the American Revolution’s foremost thinkers, Thomas Paine consistently references God and the Bible in “Common Sense” and his many other works , presenting Christian ideas through a lens of reason and common logic. George Washington, in contrast to the wild leaders of most rebellions, oversaw a revolutionary victory and relatively peaceful presidency. He followed this with an astonishing peaceful transition in 1797. The same year he passed away, 1799, Napoleon’s coup plunged Europe into the maelstrom of war. Jefferson’s timeless ideals of equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness will always guide and inspire us. However, these latter concepts are secondary. The Early American nation ultimately rooted its identity in a Christian vision—establishing itself as a republic under God. 

Meaning came alive, however, only through disciplined effort. In the critical early decades of colonial Massachusetts, Increase Mather and the Governor and Council attributed the catastrophic King Philip’s War (1675–1678) to the failings of Christians in Mather’s colony. This strategy may be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to impose discipline upon Mather’s flock. Though such measures may strike modern sensibilities as cruel and severe, they must be weighed alongside Mather’s acts of generosity, including his fundraising initiatives and his care for the impoverished members of his congregation. The colonists won the war, as they had so fervently prayed. As Puritan influence waned, the Great Awakenings of 1730–1755 and 1790–1840 came to be seen as times of intense spiritual fervor that seemed anything but disciplined. Yet the Great Awakenings were also times of profound discipline and church growth. The dramatic conversion of so many was followed by the yeoman work of faithful friends, relatives, spiritual fathers, and mentors who, empowered by love and by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, guided converts into true discipleship.

An objective examination of Christianity in the early American Republic would be stripped of its meaning and discipline without the sustaining and deeply emotional solace of faith in Jesus Christ. One may focus upon the politics of Early America, its military history and its westward development. And yet, how can one turn a blind eye to the everyday suffering borne by so many, or to the crushing weight of slavery that persisted for generations? Cotton Mather himself penned the The Nightingale: An Essay on Songs Among Thorns, or, The Supports and Comforts of the Afflicted Believer. This may mean little to a reader unaware of the sorrow which bore heavily on Mather, who lost thirteen of his fifteen children during his lifetime, and his wives Abigail (1702) and Elizabeth (1713). If there could be worse tragedies, among the most devastating was the loss of husbands and sons in brutal conflict. Well known is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s heartrending “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, written after he had rushed to be with his severely wounded son. Sadly, this was an all-too-common occurrence in America’s Civil War. Connecting with Early Americans is no easy task, yet by witnessing their living faith in an eternal, loving God, one may catch a fleeting glimpse of the hope that sustained them.

The moment invites historians to cultivate within our communities and beyond a renewed awareness of the Christian meaning of the American Republic. May we also recognize the need for a holy life that reflects the discipline of our fathers. Might we enjoy the comfort of the Holy Spirit, always with us in trouble. 

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3–4

Weekly Inspirational: Growing in Patience

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By Ryan Kelly –

For many of us, patience does not come easily. We live in a world of instant results, quick fixes, and constant motion, yet God often calls us to wait. Waiting can feel uncomfortable or even frustrating, but it is in the waiting that our faith is stretched and our character refined. When we find ourselves growing weary, we must remember that patience is not passive; it is an active trust in God’s perfect timing and purpose for our lives.

The Lord often tests our patience not to punish us, but to strengthen us. Every delay, every unanswered prayer, and every long road is an opportunity to deepen our reliance on Him. Just as gold is refined in fire, our faith is refined through perseverance. James reminds us, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). God uses the seasons of waiting to mold us into people of endurance, humility, and faith.

Patience also reveals the condition of our hearts. When we rush ahead of God, we risk missing the lessons He is trying to teach us in the moment. But when we slow down and trust His process, we find peace even in uncertainty. As Romans 12:12 encourages, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” This kind of patience does not come from human willpower; it flows from a surrendered heart that believes God truly knows best.

So this week, if you feel your patience running thin, take a breath and remember that God is working even when you cannot see it. Every trial, delay, and interruption can be a divine opportunity to grow. Ask the Lord to give you His peace in the waiting and His strength to persevere with grace. The more we learn to rest in His timing, the more we will see that patience is not a burden, it is a blessing.