By Brad Campbell –

By Ryan Kelly –

A few years ago, God would give me a simple but powerful message about life – “don’t look down.”  

What did he mean by this?  It’s my belief that He was doing a great work in my life and beginning to give me a measure of wealth, power and success.  The reason for the caution on not looking down was to keep my eyes on Him and not on the things of this world…because those things were never about me and solely about Him. 

It reminds me of the Mark 6 when the disciples were on a boat in the Sea of Galillee when a storm approached. In the midst of the storm, Peter saw Jesus walking on the rippling water and heard Jesus call to Him. Peter stepped out of the boat and momentarily walked on the water with Jesus, until he was distracted by the waves and lightning and then looked down to realize how far he could fall. Then, he fell. 

We must keep our eyes on Jesus always. When we do, life circumstances will not shift us away from God’s will for each of us. When we focus only on Jesus, we will do great things in His name. 

Keep the faith – a faith that, if the Lord wills, can move mountains!

By Brad Campbell –

Sometimes we begin our Monday mornings by wondering where the path will take us this week.  There may be meetings or appointments in our near future.  There may be nothing on our calendar for the week ahead.  Yet, we each walk a path, perhaps not too unlike this one on my in-law’s property, and we cannot clearly see where the path leads.

Walking the Christian path is not the easiest way to travel, and yet it’s the one we followers of Christ have been called to walk.  So think of it something like this.  As autumn approaches, our pathway will be colored with bright leaves and decorated with fallen pine cones and acorns or the occasional red spider lily.  Summer months provide a lush green path, and the months of spring provide life along the way in the form of new growth and baby birds in their nests.  Even winter provides us with a clear walking path, because the leaves have fallen and our way seems to be brighter lit.

You have been called to walk a particular path this week – one designed just for you.  Enjoy the walk.  Worship the Creator as you travel through the week ahead, giving thanks for all you encounter along the way.  No, you don’t necessarily know what all the path holds ahead, but trust the One Who does.  No matter the season, and no matter the week day, His path is a beautiful one to travel.  May He bless your walk this week.

By Ryan Kelly –

Have you ever had the feeling that you are being watched.  Maybe being evaluated and studied?  If so, you are almost certainly correct. 

The world is constantly watching Christians in order to study how we act and react in both times of good and, perhaps especially, times of bad. Will you glorify God when your world is crumbling, or will you resort to how the rest of the world acts?

Romans 12:1-2 tells us, “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Shine the light of Jesus for all to see, regardless of what is going on around you in life. Love the light. Share the light. 

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

It is no secret that there is turmoil in our nation.  The word “disrespect” is probably one of the most used words in today’s language.  Allow me to add my two cents.  This picture is an enormous depiction of the “Star Spangled Banner”, the flag that inspired our national anthem.  Both this model and that original flag are displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.  And they are just a couple of examples of the patriotism on display there.

Patriotism is a beautiful thing.  I believe in it and I love to see it happening.  However, patriotism will not save a soul.  Our national anthem is sung as a reminder of the greatness of this nation and those who fought and died to keep us free.  However, that great song will not save a soul.  Our flag, whether flying clear and crisp, torn and tattered, or folded neatly in the proper triangular form and handed to a soldier’s widow at his grave, is to be respected, saluted, and pledged to.  However, that flag will never save a soul.

The rampant disrespect is not really against those things.  It is completely against those who stood and fought, and especially those who never had the chance to return home from battle.

I’ve told you all before that I promised myself several years ago that I would not let these emails become a political forum, and I’ve kept that promise.  This isn’t about politics, who is in office, or anything else of the sort.  This nation is hemorrhaging because some individuals who make entirely too much money have mistakenly assumed that they know what’s best for the rest of us.  And they couldn’t be more wrong.  It isn’t one knee that needs to be taken.  It is two.

The Bible reminds us that one day every knee will bow in respect to God the Father. EVERY knee.  We each have two.  Take a stand for what is right and against what is disrespectful, but take two knees and pray that God Himself will forgive the ignorance.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

It’s such a joy to be able to help others in the name of Jesus. Spending time with fellow believers and helping with their needs is not just a mission of the church, but a true priveledge that each Christian can enjoy. 

But, how often do we really do this?  How often do we get caught up in our own lives and neglect our brothers and sisters?

Philippians 2:4 says, “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

As we stay in constant fellowship with God, we too should keep the interests of fellow believers at heart. 

Take an opportunity this week to reach out to a brother or sister in Christ and see how they are doing and maybe pray with them for a need they they have. If you can, take the next step and help them with that need. You’ll be glad that you did. 

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Have you ever reached a point in your life where you absolutely didn’t care?  You felt so low that you didn’t care what happened next, and you felt like no one else cared either? I pray you’ve never felt this way, but sadly many people do at times.

I snapped this photo of my youngest as we ventured into Georgetown on our most recent D.C. trip.  We had enjoyed a full week and were all tired, and she chose this moment to rest — leaning against the post that clearly says “No Standing”.  At that moment, she didn’t care.

Very recently, I was put in touch with a young man who will never read this, and whom none of you will know, so I feel confident in sharing his story.  Simply, he felt as if all was lost.  Basically homeless, except for the kindness of one lone friend.  Wife ill and hoping for help from a disability filing.  Part-time work with not enough pay to take care of the basic bills.  Applying for help, but stuck in the waiting period.  Heartbroken because they can have no children.  Estranged family members because of a sad misunderstanding.  No car for transportation.  And the young man truly felt as if no one cared.  After a long afternoon, I still can only pray that I managed to convince him otherwise.

God always cares.  When it seems as if your world has fallen apart, God cares.  When it seems as if no one loves you or is concerned about what happens to you, God cares. When you seem as if you have nowhere else to go and you are crying for help, God cares.  And, God wants to use His children to show that caring love to a hurting desperate world around us.

Listen, someone is calling for help — right now.  Before it’s too late, introduce them to the One Who cares.

By Brad Campbell –

Hi all.  Just a thought to help start your week.

First a disclaimer — My wife took this picture; I didn’t.  However, it is a picture of yours truly.  I am standing in a portion of a display in Washington D.C.’s Newseum about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Although this was a “visitor friendly” display, it was not “flash friendly” for photos, so I hope you can make it out.  I’m standing behind a bronze casting of the Birmingham, Alabama, jail cell door where Dr. King was jailed for eight days in April 1963 for protesting segregation.  It was from that cell that he wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”.

Dr. King is most well-known because of the fact that he took a stand for what he believed was right.  And so should we.  In a world and nation where so many folks are standing up for what is wrong, we must stand up for all that is right.

God gave you a brain, a mouth, and a voice box for a reason.  Use them to proclaim His glory.  Speak up for Him to a lost and hurting world spiraling toward destruction.  Shout from the mountaintops words of praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Looking through metal bars of a jail cell door puts a different perspective on what you see on the other side.  Most of us will never spend a day in jail for simply speaking our minds (thank God!), but the day is very quickly approaching even in the great US of A when we Christians will be greatly persecuted for speaking up for the Lord.

Simply ask yourself this week if it’s worth it to you.  If yes, then let’s speak up together, even if it’s behind the cell door.

By Ryan Kelly –

How many people have you spoken with that are not ready for death?  Many people say they want to see Jesus, but “just not right now.”  Many will say they are not prepared, or that there is something that they still needed to do before they die. 

Hebrews 9:27-28 states, ““Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Death is coming for us all. We cannot run from it or pretend that it does not exist. It may happen today, tomorrow, or in eighty years. Whenever God plans to take us home, we should always be ready. We should always be “where God wants us to be.”  

If there is sin in your life, NOW is the time to get rid of it. If there is something that God has told you to do, NOW is the time to do it. Do not wait for another day or a better time. NOW is your time. 

Only God knows when the end will come. But we all know there we will have an end. It is our responsibility to do today what God has told us to do. Therefore when there is a tomorrow and a time for us to go, we will be ready. 

By Brad Campbell –

Today something will happen that a lot of folks have never seen before – a solar eclipse. The moon will move between the earth and the sun, blocking the sunlight for a little while.  You’ve no doubt heard all the hype, and perhaps you have special equipment with which to view the show today, but I do not.  So, alas, there will be no photo of the eclipse for me to share.  However, here’s a shot of a beautiful full moon from a while back, so that you get the idea (lol).

Glasses have been given away or sold in many locations.  School children are being turned out early today.  I have even heard folks saying they were planning to stay inside and stay away from the eclipse.  People are hiding their pets and making arrangements to bring them inside.  It’s as if the year 2000 is hitting again and folks are scared of what might happen.

As preposterous as all of this sounds, sadly it’s true.  And yet when is the last time you looked with this much enthusiasm at the returning of Christ?  If we truly were as prepared to meet Him as we seem to be prepared for the eclipse today, the world would be a much better place.

Live today (and every day) to its fullest.  But, don’t let the hype of the world and its activities eclipse the real news.  He’s coming back.  And we better get ready!