By Ryan Kelly –

Lineage gives us proof of God’s grace throughout generations. Despite the ugly sin of our past, God can and does work despite our shortcomings and brings us to perfection through the blood of Jesus

This is the highlight that bridges the Old and New Testsment in Matthew 1 with the lineage of Jesus. Specifically, the last 14 versus references the time of the exile of the Israelites up to the birth of Jesus. This time is a direct reflection of our exile outside of the Garden of Eden. It puts us as truly “in the world but not of the world.”  This world is not our home…we are in exile. 

But, the good news is where Matthew 1 concludes. 

Jesus is coming for us all.  John 14:3 states, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” 

Jesus came once to die for our sins and to conquer death, and He will come again to finish off all evil and to create to New Jerusalem for His people.   So rejoice, for Scripture is clear that God has already shown how the end will come…and it will be a great revival and time of celebration for all who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

By Brad Campbell –

Well, we’ve done it.  Relief and anxiety mixed into one.  The baby graduated high school this weekend!  Was I nuts, letting them grow up so fast?  How on earth did this happen?  Me – this old – this soon?!  And here we are sending another young person into this corrupt world to fend for herself. 

This squirrel doesn’t care that it lives in Nashville – one of the most famous American cities.  It cares nothing about country music.  It cares nothing about the hustle and bustle all around it.  All this squirrel cares about is a good view from a lofty perch in order to spy out more goodies upon which he can feast.

Why aren’t we the same?  Hold tight to the limb we sometimes seem to be out on.  Hold close to the Father Who created us and set us here upon this earth.  Take care to notice the little things in life – the next meal, the support system in our lives, the friendly folks around us (like the goose in the background, also minding its’ own business).

There is so much more to this life than worrying about tomorrow.  After all, God doesn’t. And He only expects us to take one day at a time.  That’s the challenge for this week. Take it just one day at a time.  Trust Him for tomorrow.  Thank Him for forgiveness of yesterday.  But live in today.  Hold close to your limb, knowing that whatever tomorrow brings, God awaits us there.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week. 

Tulips.  Beautiful flowers.  Just one example of so many of God’s magnificent creations. They are a member of the lily family.  Shaped like a cup, they generally are used to symbolize perfect love. 

Tulips.  Or two lips.  Two lips God gave me.  They are seen first when I speak.  Two lips that are not always so beautiful, so gracious, and full of perfect love.  

The Scriptures remind us that God loves us more than any of the rest of His creation.  So my two lips are more important, more beautiful, and more useful to Him than any tulips can be.  I am to use my two lips to praise Him and to tell others of His greatness.

Interesting, huh?  Maybe I should use my two lips to order some tulips to show the love my two lips just can’t seem to speak.  I know, I’m twisting my words.  If you think this was tough to hear, you should have tried listening to me as I twisted up words, thoughts, and my tongue trying to preach God’s Word yesterday.  These two lips of mine, meant to spread beauty, haven’t done a very good job of that lately.

May God give us the words our two lips should speak in order to praise Him for His creation this week (including the tulips)!

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

There are many that have a false impression of who a Christian is and whether they are one. Unlike most societies in our world, the US still claims a strong heritage of Christianity. But just because you believe in elements of faith, are you a Christian?

1 John speaks to this and articulated if-then statements about the actions and beliefs of. Christian versus those of non-Christians. 

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭1:8-10‬

John goes on to say:

“My little children, these things write I unto you that you may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says, I know him, But doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoso keepeth his word, and in him has the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:”. ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:1-5‬ 

It all comes down to our heart. If we are in Jesus, we will have the desire to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others and will do all that we can obey the Father. 

If you do not fit this belief, I urge you to search for God in prayer and ask Him to come into your life. He will. 

If you match this description and are following Jesus, then be the reflection of the radiance of Jesus and let everyone know of your faith in our Lord.  Let it it clear that you are a child of the living God!

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week. 

Last week, my wife and I took a trip (the reason you didn’t get one of these emails). Along with a great group of folks, we toured the “Ark Encounter” in northern Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati.  This built-to-scale and very much life-size replica of Noah’s ark is a true wonder to see.  For most of a day, we wandered the long corridors of the great ship where we learned of the Bible-time experiences of Noah and his family, visited with animals like iguanas, alpacas, and goats, and simply stood in awe in front of the massive door.

We “church folks” take time to study our Bibles, read our lessons, discuss things with one another, and listen to our pastor’s messages, and yet until we can see for ourselves, we don’t truly realize the magnitude of the story itself.  How were so many animals fed on a regular basis?  Where did all the “before-indoor-plumbing” waste go?  So many questions.

Our day’s journey left us each weary from walking, but awe-struck at the same time. God, in all His wonderful majesty, orchestrated an event so great that two of every kind of animal arrived to join the others, one family of eight people moved in with the creatures to care for them and live safely from the floods, and the rest of civilization was completely destroyed.

So what is my challenge for this week?  Don’t just read the Scriptures.  See the Scriptures. Try to wrap your finite mind around the work of our Lord God.  And as you walk among the regular worldly creatures this week, look up and take in the majesty of His protection that surrounds you on every side, guarding you from the rising waters, and carrying you to dry ground.  What a mighty God we serve!

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

There are so many men and women in our nation that are seeking the Lord. Although all are at different points in their growth, those that are seeking salvation through Jesus will find it. But, it takes faith. 

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Jesus tells us that faith as small as a grain of a mustard seed moves mountains, so never think that you are not good enough or incapable of seeing God. We can all see God and are all loved by Him. 

For the non-believer – if you seek Him with your whole heart, you will find Him because God is real and is active in your life. 

For the believer, we must all continue to draw close to God and seek a closer relationship with Him, as this is the only way to grow as Christian brothers and sisters.

Remember that seeking God and having faith in God go hand in hand. Have the faith of a child and seek your Father. He will not let you down. 

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week. 

This beautiful southern plantation mansion sits just a few miles south of the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, in the town of Franklin.  Quiet, peaceful, and beautiful are just a few things that come to mind when you look at this picture.  However, it wasn’t always the case there.  This home, built in 1826, sat very near one of the Civil War’s terrible battles and as a result became a hospital for the wounded and dying.  At one point, the bodies of four dead Confederate generals lay stretched out on the back porch.

Every home, beautiful on the outside or not, has issues.  The world may not know that relationships and hearts lay dying on the inside.  But God knows all.

As you face a new week ahead, open your home to the sick and dying of this world.  Maybe you cannot physically do that, but you can certainly prayerfully take on that challenge.  As you meet with the Lord each day, pray earnestly for neighbors and friends who are dealing with terrible battles of their own (known to you or not).  Each war brings casualties.  But, a prayerful relationship with the Lord above will make all the difference to a once-dying soul who needs to know the Great Physician by name.  Fight on.

Just a thought.

Trust is not what you can see or touch, but belief in the promises of God. Trust is what the disciples had when Jesus was being nailed to the cross for the punishment of our sin. They had faith that Jesus was the Son of God, and we know from the words of Jesus that even faith as small as the grain of a mustard seed can move mountains.

Jesus died, and their faith and trust was tested like never before.  But after three days, their faith and trust was realized with the impossible resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus conquered sin and death for all that believe and trust in Him. This promise was, and is, and will be for all.

This is the celebration of Easter, and it is what unites us all as believers. We may have disagreements and differences in some ways, but what unites us all is the complete faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior. So let’s stand hand in hand as brothers and sisters in Christ and celebrate the wonderful news that each of us that trust in Jesus will be washed clean – as white as snow.

Hallelujah to the risen Savior!

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

My youngest daughter and I took a road trip to Nashville, TN, a couple of weeks ago.  Nashville, the home of country music, is a favorite of each of my girls.  We did some exploring, took in the Country Music Hall of Fame and the famed Ernest Tubb Record Shop. 

As we walked along the Cumberland River downtown, we stopped to admire the beauty of the place, which you can see in the trees pictured here.  Just mere feet away from us were seemingly mobs of people bustling about in anticipation of many ongoing activities, traffic in every lane and going in every direction, and oh the noise.  And yet, even in the midst of all that, was the beauty of God’s creation.

As you enter the hustle and bustle of your week, perhaps full of mobs of people, lots of traffic, or maybe too much noise, take time – if even just a moment – to see the beauty of God’s creation right there beside you.

And if you don’t SEE the beauty, then BE the beauty.  The world needs it!  And oh, what a difference it can make. 

Just a thought…

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week. 

Who doesn’t like a good celebration?  Perhaps I should clarify a little.  I realize many so-called celebrations include several not-so-wise decisions and questionable activities, but I’m speaking here about good wholesome fun celebrations.  It might be for a birthday, marriage, retirement, or any number of other reasons.

My photo here is of one such very large celebration we were a part of at Walt Disney World a few short years ago.  There were lots of songs, fireworks, and people which made for an amazing show.

The Bible even speaks of celebrations, especially the kind that take place in Heaven when a person comes to know the Lord as their own personal savior.  Imagine the biggest, most elaborate celebration you can think of.  Now understand that the grandest of all those celebrations here on this earth are absolutely nothing to compare with a Heavenly celebration!!

It’s time for a party!  Introduce someone to Jesus this week!  Let’s celebrate together!

Just a thought.