By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Petrified.  What does that word mean to you?  Scared and terrified?  Hard as rock and very old?

This petrified tree is on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.  The school has incorporated it into their landscape, even paving their sidewalks around the tree.

One who is afraid to go on, terrified of what’s next, or fearful of the unknown circumstances of tomorrow might become petrified.  As such, that person is then difficult to budge, firmly planted in their fears.  Not all fears are unfounded, of course, but they do not have to weigh us down until we become unmovable.  If just a mustard seed’s worth of faith can move a mountain, then surely it couldn’t take that much to loose the fear of a petrifying situation.

Identify the things that scare you or worry you this week.  Those things may not ever completely go away, but we can learn to make our paths around them, going on about our lives, learning from our fears and moving ahead.

Take whatever petrifies you and turn it into a place to sit and enjoy God’s beauty and provision in your life.  Be thankful for even the fears, because they make us strong.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

It is a glorious Monday morning yet again.  The birds are chirping.  The sun is shining.  And all the temptations you felt this morning to cover up your head and stay in the bed were also felt by most of the rest of us.

This creature (either ugly or cute, depending on your hate-’em or love-’em attitude) was caught staring into a low window at the back of our house one evening.  It’s an opossum — or as most of us call it, a possum.  Strange creatures, they were even once described in the very early 1600’s by John Smith and his secretary as having a head like a swine, a tail like a rat, and being as big as a cat.

One thing that makes the possum interesting is it’s ability to “play possum”.  When threatened or faced with some sort of danger, it curls up and pretends to be asleep, much like you were tempted to do this morning.  But, alas, just playing possum doesn’t make the world go away.  We only close our eyes to the opportunities around us.

Instead of giving in to the temptation to “play possum”, keeping our distance from the world, we should remember there are hurting people all around us who need to see a smile.  Ok, maybe our smile is goofy and scary like that of the possum, but at least it’s a smile!  Be bold, be brave, meet the world head on this week.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Depending on where you live, you have experienced any number of the following in the last week or so — rain and flooding, tornadoes, 80+ degrees, snow and ice, and pollen counts that make the head spin.  But regardless of that, it’s hard to deny that it seems as if Spring is already in the air.  The trees and flowers are already beautiful, and February isn’t even over yet.

Animals are scurrying about, including this little guy – a brightly colored lizard of some kind.  The deer filling my driveway each night seem to know that hunting season is over.  Turtles are venturing up from their winter homes on pond’s bottom to sun themselves once more.  Daffodils are blooming everywhere, and the flowering Bradford pear trees and Japanese tulips have been gorgeous.

And then, we remember that ugly little rodent called a ground hog.  It recently reminded us that Winter isn’t over yet.  And so it isn’t.  March has not yet begun.  But isn’t it wonderful to see how the world comes to life this time each year?!

A new week can be just as exciting, if we let it.  Think about your week ahead.  Maybe you don’t see any brightness blooming in your future.  Well, you just might be the one who needs to be responsible for making your little world brighter!  Make a difference this week.  Even the smallest brightly colored lizards can bring a smile to someone’s face.  Shine brightly.  The world needs it!

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Tis the season for the geese.  Or at least it is at my house.  Canadian geese visit the pond behind our house yearly.  They usually come in pairs, but here you see just one lone goose standing at the water’s edge.  One lone goose.  Alone?  Yes.  But lonely?  I’m not sure.  However, because I know they are usually in pairs, I took notice of this one standing alone.

People need companionship.  We were not created to be left alone.  We need the love and support from our neighbors and friends, and they, in turn, need ours.  Sure, we all need some alone time, but we need the companionship even more.

This morning, I read of a gentleman who was just found in his home.  The police reported that he had been deceased for a “few years”!  His own neighbor stated that he had not seen the man in two years and would not have checked on him if the deceased gentleman’s nephew had not called to ask him to do so.  In two years, no family or neighbors had checked on this man.  What a sad thing to happen.

God brings people to our minds for a reason.  Check on them.  Visit them.  Send a card, an email, a “thinking of you” note of some kind.  We are to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Be a good neighbor this week.  If you don’t, who will?

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

There are thousands of Christian churches across the US, and millions of people that claim the name of Jesus. However, it’s my belief that only a small number of these churches and believers are following a genuine example of what God tells us is His model for the church in Acts 2.

Let’s take a look at this church model, which formed shortly after thousands came to the saving faith in Jesus following Pentecost:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:42-47‬ ‭

A Biblical church does several key things:

1. Fellowships with each other

2. Love’s each other

3. Worships the Lord together in one place (i.e. A church building)

4. Shares individual resources to help one another

5. Witnesses to non believers and guides them to salvation through Jesus

Are you lacking in any of these areas? Are you helping fellow brothers and sisters in need? Are you attending church each Sunday and spending quality time with fellow believers with meals and/or small groups?

If you are, great! If you are not, there is good news. Today is a new day and a new opportunity. You can take steps at being a quality member of the body of Christ for the glory of the Lord.

If I or anyone with the American Christian Association can help you to better understand how to follow an Acts 2 style church, please reply to this post or contact us anytime.

Together, we can be THE CHURCH. Let’s help each other to follow the model that God has given us and make a profound step at building Gods kingdom in our great nation.

Contact us at communications@myamericanchristian.org

By Brad Campbell –

Isn’t it wonderful when our week clicks right along without any distractions?  If you are like me, distractions come and go throughout the course of the normal day.  Sometimes those distractions are just that — things that take us away from the necessary task at hand and that prevent us from focusing on what is most important.  But sometimes those distractions are meant to take us away from the everyday take-it-for-granted routines and make us see or spend time with something (or even someone) else.

This beaver dam didn’t just pop up over night.  This structure likely appeared gradually and then grew in size over the course of several days or even weeks until what began as a small interruption in the water’s flow has now brought the flow to a complete stop.  But this beaver dam – this hindrance, if you will – has also done something else.  It has created two resting pools of water where insect populations now thrive.  These insects have attracted more birds, more frogs, and more turtles into the habitat.  Each creature is now depending on another to help sustain its existence.

All of this activity – all of this life – began with the introduction of one hindrance.  As you begin a new week, greet your hindrances with an appreciation for what new things or people they may be bringing into your life.  Enjoy the hindrances.  Those very things that “block” your progress today may very well be keeping you from some greater harm further down stream.

Just a thought.

Our world today is not only empowered to mock, ridicule, and attack Christians, but in many cases the people of the world are encouraged to do so. The god of this world, Satan, takes Scripture and twists it in the minds and hearts of non-believers to make it seem silly. He blinds the eyes and binds the hearts of non-believers so that they enjoy the fifth by which they live and have no desire for the gracious love by which God abounds.

So we as Christians should do two things:

1. Understand that Satan is actively blinding non-believers to truth.

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

2. Love those that mock and persecute us because God loves them despite their sin (and ours):

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44

It’s not easy to follow the teachings of Christ. But who said it was going to be easy? We do it because we love our Lord Jesus with all of our heart and have an active desire to follow His commands. And besides, weren’t we an enemy of God before we put our faith in Jesus?

Let’s work to love our enemies this week.

Ryan Kelly

Hattiesburg, MS

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Oh dear, it’s Monday again.  Admit it.  You’ve said or thought that already today.  Why do we sometimes dread Monday?  Perhaps it’s because most of us hate the possibilities of the unknown.  We know what our plans are for the week, but we don’t how those plans will change, and we don’t know what else God has in store for us along the way, either.

As children, we feel safe in the watch care of our parents.  As long as Mom or Dad is nearby, we are ok.  So why aren’t we that way as adults?  These two deer – mom and little one – explored the area behind our house not too long ago.  Mom’s ears were perked up, alert for any danger or unforeseen harm.  As Christians, why can’t we be as content as the baby deer, relying on our Parent to guide and guard our way this week?

No we don’t know what’s ahead, and that makes us uncomfortable at times.  However, we do know that God is already there, He is ever alert and protecting His children, and we are safe in His presence.  Instead of “Oh dear, it’s Monday”, how about “Oh dear Father, I trust You to lead me through the unforeseen dangers of this week, spiritual and physical.  May I remain as close to You as this tiny deer is to its mother.  And may I grow to pant for You as the deer pants for water, longing for more.”

 

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Is your cup half full, or is it half empty? One of those two perspectives is ultimately how each one of us look at things. Are you a “Woe” person, or a “Wow” person? Are you thankful to have opened your eyes this morning, or are you moaning that the day is too long already?

I believe our perspective makes a world of difference in how we see things. Take these two little turtles, for instance. Look especially at the one on the right. What do you see? Is that turtle hanging on for dear life? Is he about to give up on things and jump off? Or does he seem to be stretching in order to enjoy the sunshine?

Of course, neither turtle has done anything quickly, as is evidenced by the moss growing on their backs! But they have been on the move. No turtle reaches the top of any tree stump without making the effort to climb up. He must look up, and then climb up, in order to enjoy the sunshine.

This week, look up! Climb up! And even if the rest of the world thinks you look like you’re just hanging on, stretch toward the Son, basking in His warm embrace.

How does your week ahead look? It’s all about perspective. Keep it that way.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

The picture I would like to share with you this week is one of grass. Not just any grass, mind you, but a tall stalk growing on a sand dune at the beach. I’ve never made a habit of photographing grass, and I didn’t intend to do that on this occasion. So why the picture?

Well, I was on an outing alone, snapping pictures of the birds scrambling in the sand for their breakfast, sailboats slowly cruising by the shore, and people out for a leisurely stroll. I raised my camera to take a picture of something I’ve now forgotten, and I snapped the photo. Only then did I realize that my camera had chosen to change the focus from what I was watching to this lone stalk of beach grass that stood nearby.

As we begin another week in our always busy lives, perhaps we need to have our focus changed. What are those things you are watching, the things that take the most of your valuable time, those things that are always going on all around you? Raise your weary head, look directly at the people and the world right in front of you, and change your focus.

See that neighbor who longs for a “hello” or a hug. Visit that coworker who feels he/she is drowning in looming deadlines and offer a hand. Shift your focus and see what’s truly important. So, you ask me to explain what is so important about that grass. I have no idea. I just know my focus was changed that morning. And as long as I am open to the changes the Lord shows me, the better my focus will be.

Refocus your lens for this week.