By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Admittedly, my home office space is a mess.  However, it’s my mess, and my level of organization, so therefore, it is not problem to me.

A few years ago, I purchased this old sign at an antique store, brought it home, and hung it on my office door.  I did it as a joke, but the sign really serves a purpose.  It’s a kind of deterrent for anyone that might get too close to my piles and stacks of stuff.  “Shown By Appointment Only!”

I pray to the Lord very often.  I find myself talking to Him as I lay down at night.  I start my day talking to Him as I first open my eyes every morning.  I talk to Him at various random times throughout the day.  And, I talk to the Lord every time I sit down for a meal.

Because God is ever-present, and because, as the Scripture reminds me, He will never leave me, I know that I need not be concerned about making an appointment to meet with Him.  He is always readily available, willing, and welcoming.

If God had a sign similar to mine hanging on the “door,” and we had to make an appointment just to see Him, what a waiting list that would undoubtedly be!

Of course, my old sign serves as another reminder to me as well.  It may imply that no one is allowed without an appointment, but that doesn’t include the Lord.  No matter how big the mess is, no matter how unorganized I can become, no matter how crazy life gets, I can never hide it from Him.  He sees all, knows all, and cares about it all.

“No Appointment Needed!” is what His sign would say to us this week.

Aren’t you thankful?  I am!

Just a thought.

By Vijayan Rayappan

Luke 7:36-50

As a help in understanding the expression “in His human virtues with His divine attributes,” let us use some cases in the Gospel of Luke as illustrations. In 7:36-50 a sinful woman came into the home of a Pharisee who had invited the Lord Jesus to eat with him. As we read the account of this incident, we see that Jesus, the Man-Savior, conducted Himself in His human virtues. He was not at all bothered by that sinful woman… If we had been the Lord Jesus, we probably would have been troubled by the behavior of this woman. We might have said to her, “Don’t you know that I am a guest in this house? Can’t you see that I am eating?”

However, to act in that way would be to fail to act in the proper human virtues. In this situation the Savior was very kind and patient, realizing that this woman had been convicted of her sins. He was also merciful. To be merciful is to sympathize with others in their poor condition and low estate. In addition to exercising kindness, patience, and mercy toward the woman, the Lord Jesus also exercised His understanding.

Furthermore, He was wise and loving. Perhaps you are wondering what divine attributes are expressed in 7:36-50. First, here we have the divine forgiveness (7:47-48). God is the only one who can grant forgiveness of sins. He alone is qualified to forgive sins. In 7:50 the Lord Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” The giving of peace is also a divine attribute. God is the only one who can give inner peace. In 7:36-50 we see the Man-Savior in the house of a Pharisee acting in His human virtues with His divine attributes.

He could behave in such a manner because He was God. Hence, He acted in the highest standard of morality, for His human virtues expressed His divine attributes. Amen!!!

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Evidence. It’s the kind of thing every detective or trial lawyer looks to find. Evidence is the proof that something has happened, or that someone has been somewhere or done something. Evidence is that which is left behind once we have moved along.

In my most recent Sunday sermon, I used Paul’s missionary life as an example for us to follow. From Paul’s writings in the book of Romans, we are reminded that our missionary work as preachers, teachers, and sharers of the Gospel should include evidence – evidence that we know Christ ourselves and evidence that we have personally experienced the gift of the Gospel about which we speak.

This photo is one of those I didn’t take the time to think about beforehand. I just snapped it as the two of us walked along the pier at Grand Haven, Michigan, one of the many historic towns located on the shores of the vast Lake Michigan. We were taking a trek out to the lighthouse. We wanted to experience the views for ourselves.
We were walking along the concrete pier, not on the sand. Therefore, we left no footprints. We didn’t need to purchase a ticket or have some type of a pass in order to visit, so there was no paper trail. It was just us.

Our long shadows cast upon the sandy shoreline were the only visible evidence of our presence. And yet, those shadows lingered no longer than did we. As quickly as we had come and gone, our shadows, the evidence of our visit to that beautiful place, were gone as well. The evidence didn’t last long. Our mark on the place was temporary. The difference we made, if any, was fleeting.

As you walk along the trek of this week’s pier, you may experience beautiful scenery. You may meet fascinating people on their own personal journeys. And each of those experiences will be brief and momentary. How will you spend them? What difference will you make?

You may say, “Well, it won’t last. What good am I doing when I attempt to share with others?” Why don’t you just let those others answer those questions. Perhaps the shadows of our presence there, with the Lord’s help, will remain longer than we think. Maybe our shadows are longer than they appear. Prayerfully so.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

For those that know me, they know that empathy is not necessarily my strong suit. I deeply love others and I have a big heart for those that are truly less fortunate or have had hardship fall on them. However, I also tend to be a bit cynical of what I hear and critical of those who I feel have created their own hardships through a series of poor decisions.

But, is this the right attitude to have? I really don’t think it is. If the Lord had this same attitude toward us as His children, I doubt our prayers would be answered and our needs would be met. So if God looks past our faults and failures and has a huge amount of grace and mercy on us, why should I not grant this to others as well? I think I should.

Many of you may not have an issue with this, and I am thankful for that. It is a blessing to have empathy towards others and to show the love of Jesus at all times. If you are like me and struggle with this from time to time, let’s work to make 2025 a year where our empathy shines and we go the extra mile to show the light and love of Jesus to everyone, even if their struggles are by their own doing. After all, isn’t that the case with all of us in some way?

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

As my wife attended meetings and worked through the day, I walked two or three miles around the downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, streets. As I walked and visited several churches in the area, which I’ve previously told you about, I walked up to this beautiful place. The grounds were immaculate. The flowers and plants were amazing. Obviously someone had worked very hard at maintaining their place of worship.

As I walked up to the front of the church, whom did I see, but Jesus Himself. Now, of course, this is just a statue, but it is a very nice representation of Christ our Savior and two young children, one in His lap and one standing beside them, seemingly awaiting his turn with the Master.
I was genuinely surprised to get to see this beautiful sculpture and to spend a few minutes admiring it up close. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised to run into Jesus at His own house of worship, but then again….

I can’t help but think that even we well-intentioned worshipers gather together in God’s House for our times of worship, whenever they may be, and we simply go about our routines, our recitations, our rehearsed lessons, and our pious prayers, with no focus whatsoever upon the One to Whom all of these things should be aimed.
The Lord is certainly anywhere and everywhere we go and gather. There is no doubt to that at all. What concerns me is that we don’t often enough acknowledge His presence even while we are gathered to worship Him.

Yes, I was pleasantly surprised to walk up to Jesus that particular morning. But my aim for the coming week will be to actively look for Jesus, so that I’m not surprised when I see Him. I will strive to look for Him in my times of worship but also in my times of regular day-to-day activities. I will look for Him as I walk the walk each day this week.

Will you?

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

 Just a thought to help start your week.

Those are the words you’ve read for the majority of the past 18 years, come January.  I am so very blessed, and God has been so very good.  I consider each and every one of you to be a friend, even those I’ve never met in person.

In fact, some of you think you know me, but with a different face and name.  My brother, Brett, has published these for several years in the newspaper for which he writes.  He has told me several times about folks who think Brad and Brett are both the same person, just writing different things under each name and printing them in the same paper!

Maybe I’m not who you think I am, but I am who God made me.  You are the person God made you to be.  Look back upon the past years, or perhaps months — maybe just look back at this past week.  Who do you see?  Someone you know and love?  Even if you’re not very happy with yourself, God still loves you.

I don’t have much of a “thought” for you this week.  As I write this, it is Monday December 23, just two days before Christmas.  Are you ready?  Some of you won’t read this for another week or two.  And that really doesn’t matter.  For the question I want to ask is this — Are you ready for Him?  

We celebrate Christ’s birthday on December 25.  But His second coming could be any day.  Are we ready?  Are we being all we can be for the Lord while we await His return?

Sometimes we get too lazy.  We sit back, curl up next to the warm fire, like this one that my brother-in-law built in their back yard this past weekend.  Several family members enjoyed a time of talking and eating smores around the fire in the cold afternoon air.  It had been a full day, we had a great time, ate a lot, laughed even more, and then sat back gratefully enjoying it all.

There’s nothing wrong with relaxing by the fire this winter when it’s no fun to be out and about.  But don’t forget, there is plenty to do before His return.  Too many of our friends and neighbors don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

It’s our purpose to share with them.  It has been my goal, and my honor, to share this very thing with you over these past years.  May God continue to bless you through these simple words, and by His grace, may He give us more time to tell about His goodness!  The future of so many depend on it!

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

For most of us, our holiday season has been full of planning for the best Christmas, whether it’s the gifts or the food, or both, and getting ready for what lies ahead.  Are the relatives coming?  Will there be enough ham to go around?  Is there enough time to get it all done?

Along with the activities of Christmas week also come the realities that the year is coming to an end.  All we have experienced in 2024 will be behind us, and we can begin new things in 2025, if we choose to do so.  There is so much to think about and so much to do.  But, when we think about it, these days are not much different from our other days of the year.

This is a snapshot I took a while back while on one of the beautiful beaches of the Alabama gulf coast.  I like to walk along the water’s edge and watch its ebb and flow right there on the sand.  The shoreline changes with every wave, every move of the water.  Yet, it never goes away.

The water comes, the water goes, but the sands remain.  Yes, storms may take big sections at times, but repairs are made, and life goes on.  Countless times in any given day, the water rolls in and out along the sands of the beach.  And the beach is unchanged.

As we walk in and out of each new day, as we go about our regular activities or even the busy ones of the wonderful holiday season, are we making a difference?  We come and we go.  Relatives come and go.  Dinners come and go.  Days, weeks, months, and years come and go.  But are we doing only that?  Are we making a difference at all?

There’s a lot wrapped up in those questions.  Allow me to simplify it a little.  It may truly seem to you that you make no difference, but I assure you that the sands of your times together with those you love will never ever be the same because you have touched their lives!  Every roll of every wave shifts the sands around, making new designs, cooling off the hot ground beneath our feet, and making life’s walk a little more pleasant.  Yes, you make a difference!  Never let anyone else tell you differently.

And let’s pray together that we make such a wonderful difference for the Lord, that the sands upon which we walk will never be the same again.

As we pass from this shoreline to the next, may the footprints we leave behind faithfully guide those who walk behind.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

Do you ever have one of those moments in life where you feel like almost nothing is going right and you are facing ‘attacks’ from every direction? To a small extent, that is the position I feel I am in at the moment. Grant, these ‘attacks’ are not actually an attack, but rather a series of unfortunate circumstances that they by themselves are not at all serious, but added together they seem quite ominous.

So from a spiritual perspective, how best should we handle these situations? No question that these are a consequence of a fallen world where things break, people act crazy, and nothing goes quite the way that it seems it should. But beyond all of this chaos, we must remember that Jesus is on the Throne and the Holy Spirit dwells within us. This should serve not only as a comfort that God is walking through the attacks with us, but that He shelters us and fight the battles for us (whether figuratively or literally).

A good father does not shelter his children from all obstacles in life, but he rather loves his children and helps them through these obstacles in order for them to be stronger and grow as a man or woman in his image.

This is what God does for us. He may allow us to walk through the storm, but He never leaves our side. In order for us to grow, we must face adversity. In order for us to be shaped in the image of God, we must be refined through fire and strengthened by the Lord’s hand. Who better to teach and train us than the Lord of all Creation?

So the next time that you face a time of attacks and obstacles, remember that none of it is a surprise to our Lord, and He is right there with you in the fight, helping you all along the way!

2 Corinthians 4: 6-9 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Just a thought to help start your week.

You may look at the tree in my photo and see nothing but a scraggly old tree.  But allow me to point out something that makes it at least slightly incredible.

While on a walking tour of Paris, our attention was drawn to many things around us.  One of those things was this particular old tree.  Of course, our group had a very good guide and interpreter, on whom we depended very much for details.  And although I certainly couldn’t read the French on the sign attached to this grand old tree, she read it for us.  The simple little green sign hung with wire around the tree trunk includes information that tells us about the tree’s age.

This black locust tree was planted in the year 1601 by Jean Robin, the gardener of France’s King Henri IV.  The type of tree, to whom it belonged, by whom it was planted, and the age are all unbelievably known for all to see and read for themselves.

Of course the nearly 425-year-old tree now has its lower limbs aided by supports, but it still stands.  It still stands in the very spot it was planted those four centuries ago.  Countless people have walked underneath it, rested in its shade, and stood amazed with the reality of its age.  All of this, and, yes, it’s just an old tree.

As Christians, we are called upon to spread the Word, the Gospel, the Good News, the Story of Christmas with our world.  For some reason the thoughts of that assignment seem to scare us to death some days, when, in reality, we can simply stand where the Great Gardener places us.  You’ve met Him.  Jesus is His name, and He’s the Gardener for our God King.

How ever many years it has been since you called upon His name, He saved you from your sins, and you began to wear the name of Christ around your neck, you have been called upon to share the blessings of His glorious beneficial shade with others.  Perhaps you’ve reached the age where you now need more support than before in order to keep sharing.  But, still, you’re called to share.

May this Christmas season find every one of us as His children standing strong, even with the support of others, and especially with His support, and may we be faithful to share the blessings of the Father with all who come near.  We can do all of this.  I can do all of this.  Yes, just old me.

Just a thought.