Just a thought to help start your week.

This sign is one that my father-in-law put up on this tree just down the dirt road from their house many years ago.  At the edge of their property, it obviously warned folks that there was to be “no hunting.”  However, as one might guess, there indeed was a lot of hunting that went on in those woods.  

Many a night we sat at their dining table eating deer steak and gravy made from the spoils of one of my father-in-law’s own hunts out there.  (And don’t forget those cat-head biscuits!)  His sign warned that there was to be no hunting, yet he was doing exactly what he warned others not to do.

The point for him, of course, was that it was his property.  He could hunt out there all he wanted, but there were not to be any trespassers attempting to head into those woods thinking they could do the same.  It was his, he made the rules, and others were to stand by those rules.

Do you ever catch yourself questioning God’s rules in your life?  We twist and turn His commands and live as though they were just suggestions.  We don’t understand the dangers out there in the world, so we attempt to go and do as we please, ignoring His warnings to us.

Yes, His Word includes a lot of “do nots,” but every one of them is for our benefit.

Trespassers hunting on my in-law’s property could have faced the danger of being shot at themselves, had he been out there carefully listening for a deer to rustle the underbrush nearby.  You see, his signs weren’t there just for him.  That “no hunting” sign was also meant to serve as a protection to anyone reading it – to keep them safe from harm.

We may not (and hopefully will not) ever know all the dangers from which God has kept us.  But if we will simply obey His warnings, remain on His path in our life, and quit focusing so much on the woodsy treks of others, life’s travels would be so much easier.  His Word has been “posted.”  Are we paying attention?

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

I don’t know how many of you are military or war enthusiasts.  I’m not really, but I do find certain aspects interesting, such as battlefields, cannons, and relics of past conflicts.  What you see in my picture this week is an object that is described as follows – “A buoyed mine found on the beach of the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy in January 1987.  The mine was anchored by a cable to a sinker on the sea bed and lurked two metres below the surface so that it would be hit by a passing ship.”

I took that picture in a World War II museum in Normandy.  That mine had lain below the surface of the waters of the English Channel for over thirty years before being discovered, raised, and displayed.  

You see from the description above that these unexploded mines would basically float just two metres (meters) below the surface of the water.  That’s just about six and a half feet for us English folks.  Barely the distance of a tall man.  The potential to destroy ships and vessels filled with soldiers was as close as the height of one man!  And it lurked just out of sight below the surface.

As you travel the highways, byways, and waterways of your life this week and every week, you need not travel in fear, for the Lord has His hands upon us.  However, we do need to travel with awareness of the potential dangers that lurk so very close to us and those we love.

The only distance between you and utter and complete disaster may simply be the distance of one person.  One person and their negative destructive personality and luring lifestyle may be all it takes to bring your good existence to an explosive end.

As well, there may only be that same short distance between you and peace time, free from war.  Just One.  You can travel the rest of your days with danger lurking so very close, and it may never explode.  It may just float there for the rest of your days.  Then one unsuspecting afternoon, as you meander back through the memories of your past wars and battles, you’ll see the enormous disaster that never took place, simply because of the One in Whose trust you placed your life.

Whatever lies below the surface, even if you never see it, can be entrusted to the God who calms the seas and wants to fight all your battles for you.  Trust Him, and travel safely.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

I’ve always been a fan of zoos.  When my siblings and I were young, we made many trips to the Memphis Zoo and always had a wonderful time roaming around watching the animals.  My own kids have visited that zoo, the National Zoo, Birmingham Zoo, Gulf Coast Zoo, and I’m sure others, including the zoo-like Animal Kingdom at Disney World, where I snapped this picture of a snacking rhinoceros.  

Part of what makes a zoo a fun place to visit is that you can get fairly up close and personal with dangerous animals, unusual ones, and endangered species, most of which you would never have an opportunity to see elsewhere.  And, each one is safely behind a fence, glassed case, or walled enclosure.  

A rhinoceros such as this one would pose great danger to a human in the wild.  However, kept at a distance from people, these and other amazing creatures that could otherwise cause great harm are somewhat docile and exciting to watch.

In being called to be “in the world and not of the world,” we as Christians continue to see all those dangers, temptations, problems, and man-eating disasters, but we can remain out of harm’s way if we stay behind the barriers and heed the warnings.  You see, there’s no reason God’s people can’t live a magnificent life if we stay on the path He’s created for us, keep away from obvious dangers, and focus on the beauty of His creation.

As Satan continues to roam about this world, “seeking whom he may devour,” remember that he observes no boundaries, he remains behind no enclosures, and he is always ready to pounce.  It’s up to us to stay at a distance from him and his little imps.  We must pay attention to the warnings in God’s Word, and be ever mindful of the dangers of this world.  Sometimes we look evil directly in the face, and all we see is a cute creature chewing its afternoon snack, when in reality, it has the potential to pose a much greater threat of danger.

Watch for the animals of this world.  In the mean time, watch, look, and listen.  But don’t feed the beasts.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

My wife and I very recently spent a few days on the Alabama Gulf Coast with all three daughters and one of their hubbies, and we had a grand time exploring, taking in some sights, relaxing on the beach, eating some good meals, and enjoying the available activities and shows.  One of those shows was a very nice dancing demonstration by the Pow Wow Club of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, one of whom you see here.  The extravagancy of their costumes seems to ‘hide’ all the cruelty of life that they may have experienced.

Both my father and my mother can claim descendancy from Native American Indians.  My sister and her pastor husband minister to large groups of Choctaw Indians in the Mississippi counties where my sister also works with those children in their school system.  A vast majority of these folks live at and below the poverty line.

My first college roommate was a member of the South Alabama Mowa Band of Indians.  He was raised by and lived with his grandparents, and he struggled with school and soon dropped out, largely due to the expense of it all.

All of these images remind me, and I hope they will remind you, that pain and difficulties run deep for so many people.  Oppression has hit most people groups, races, and ethnicities at times.  Yet with the opportunities that today’s world offers, it remains difficult for many of us to understand the hurts in others.

The chanting during those Indian dances was beautiful to hear, but there was a melancholy moaning, almost a wailing, in the sound of their voices – cries of difficult days past.  However, as the Pow Wow Club spokesman told the crowd that afternoon, they look forward to the future as they pray to The Creator for wisdom and His guidance!  

Oh, today won’t you put on your best garb, if even just spiritually speaking, and dance like nobody’s watching.  Worship The Creator.  Give Him the glory for bringing you through your past, praise His name for the blessings of today, and ask Him to grant you wisdom and guidance for your tomorrow!  Remember that we aren’t here just to entertain the crowds.  We are here to make an everlasting difference.  Folks are watching.  Dance!

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you feel like you meet yourself coming and going?  Most of us do at times.  We have schedules full of self-imposed deadlines, events, meetings, yard work, etc.  Life gets hectic.  But we make it through those days and keep right on going.

The very busy intersection you see in my picture is right in the heart of Paris.  Of course the traffic and directional signs are all written in French, so they were not readily discernable to us.  However, I never once (in Paris or here at home) have seen a traffic sign to describe what you see here.  You can easily see vehicles of all sizes going at least three different directions all in the same place at the same time.

This was fascinating to me, because even those large tour buses were squeezing through the oncoming traffic to make their way across this crazy intersection.  As far as I could tell, it was well organized chaos.  Yet, the drivers of these many vehicles didn’t seem fazed by it at all.  It was their ‘normal.’

Some people experience a ‘normal’ very similar to this traffic.  Perhaps your week can be described, too, as well organized chaos.  Yet, you get things done and arrive where you need to be.  For others, a ‘normal’ week would be a scene quite the opposite of this one, in which the days are entirely too quiet, the traffic too sparse, and the hours too long.

As you run the ragged race set before you in the week ahead, just be aware that what is ‘normal’ to you can be frightening to someone else.  Take the time to love on your neighbors.  In the middle of that crazy traffic scene, we pedestrians still had the right-of-way at the crosswalks, and all traffic from all directions stopped to allow us to pass.

The world may not stop to allow you to get through your days, but walking together, hand-in-hand if only symbolically, certainly makes crossing those crazy roads much easier.  May the crazy traffic in the roads of your week ahead part and allow our journeys to be a good one – together.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

An eyesore of a building has been bulldozed in my town.  Those familiar with where I live will perhaps recognize what’s left of the old structure.  The rest of you will need help identifying it.  I stood in the street and took a picture of what remained, although even this is gone now.  

This building was once our county’s health department.  I remember taking my oldest daughter into this building to meet the highway department official who would administer her driving test.  The basement level once housed the offices of our district attorney and his staff.  I’m also told that some fifty years ago, a weight watchers group met down there.  Most recently, the building housed our county commissioners’ offices.  Good things once happened there.

The structure has been abandoned for quite some time.  It had its problems, but it was a mainstay.  Some were disappointed that it took so long to be taken down.  Others offered their own opinions and/or solutions.  It seems that old building hung on for as long as it could.  Now, it stands no more.

I wonder how many days you might, too, feel like an empty shell of a building.  At one time, you were full of energy, spirit, excitement, happiness, and potential.  But, you’ve allowed Satan to take those things away from you.  You have felt as if the town – the world – would look and be so much better off without you.

I dare say we all have felt the repercussions of suicide in our communities and perhaps in our own families.  Maybe you have battled those demons in your own life.  Please stop to remember that without you, there is only a hole where you once stood.  Think of all those who would love to help you recover the excitement and joy in your life that once roamed those halls.  Before you take the drastic step of taking a bulldozer to what God created, reach out with all you are and all you have to someone you trust.  Feasible solutions to your difficulties can be found.  

That particular street in our town doesn’t even look the same now.  Don’t dare give the world a chance to experience life without you.  There’s only one you, created by the Master for good.  Cry out to Him.  Call out to me or anyone else you can find.  Call off the bulldozer.  Let’s sit and work out another solution.  I love you.  God loves you.  And this world is a better place with you in it!

(Post script – In all the years of writing these ‘thoughts’ I’ve never taken up this subject.  And I’ve never added words as an addendum.  But I am now.  If this message doesn’t hit home with you, please share it with someone you know and love who is having a difficult time.  We never know just how much hurt lies deep inside someone’s heart, mind, and soul.  The national suicide/crisis hotline number is 1-800-273-TALK or simply dial 988, or go to 988lifeline.org)

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

This picture is of a bath tub.  It is a normal, albeit old style, bath tub.  It is brown, of normal size and normal shape.  So what makes this tub any different from any other tub you’ve ever seen?

My wife and I were on a road trip nearly two years ago during which we drove through several states in the eastern U.S.  We stopped wherever we wanted.  Did some sightseeing.  Ate at some places we don’t have near home.  Each evening, we talked about what we had done and where we had been, and we mapped out the next day’s tentative plans.  As we crossed the Pennsylvania state line, driving west to east, my wife realized our chosen route would take us within thirty miles or so of the town of Hershey, made famous, of course, because of the great work of Mr. Milton Hershey and his beloved chocolate factory.  So we detoured.

We managed to find a hotel room right on Hershey Way, ate a nice dinner, and the next morning took an interesting tour of the Hershey museum and factory.  Their gift shop will go down in history as the largest candy store I’ve ever seen.  (Yes, we came home with a bunch!)  But in our tour of that place, we were able to see how the milk chocolate production was done in years past versus today’s more mechanized methods.

The old tub you see here was used to carry molten chocolate.  These tubs on wheels were pushed by factory workers from one station to another in the chocolate making process.  This old bath tub is different because of what was inside it!

Christian, I suggest that we are the same as that old tub.  We may look like the others around us.  We may have similar shape, size, and color.  We may even get around in a similar manner.  But we contain something the world does not — the Holy Spirit.  And He can put a ‘coating’ or ‘flavor’ on our lives like nothing else ever could.

I’m glad we made that slight detour that day.  I’m blessed and thankful that what I am privileged to carry with me every day I live is by far the biggest and best thing I’ve ever possessed – the love and forgiveness of Almighty God.

This week, encourage someone who has never met the Lord to taste and see that He is good!

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Right off the bat, I will admit this is not one of the best photos I have ever made.  I realize that.  I am also not in the habit of taking pictures while I drive.  I would like that to be made known.  However, it happened here.

We were traveling a long straight stretch of Utah highway this particular day.  Few cars were seen coming or going.  Even fewer trees were to be found.  Every once in a while, we would see a lone exit ramp seemingly leading off toward nothing at all.  

Being a Mississippi boy who was raised on those rolling tree-lined hills at the Tennessee line, I am familiar with roads that include lush green grass, farms, towns and neighborhoods.  If you miss one highway exit, there will be another in just a little while.  They may lead off to small communities, but they do lead somewhere.  And so, this particular driving experience through Utah was an odd one for me.  I was amazed, to say the least, at the mile-after-mile stretches of absolute nothingness.  

When we crossed into Colorado, headed south through Durango, and ventured toward Highway 550 (the “Million Dollar Highway”), which is another story for another day, I felt instantly more at home.  There were towns, trees, waterways, and various landscapes all around.

Sometimes life’s roads become a little barren.  We go for hours, days, maybe even weeks at a time without much communication with the Lord.  Our Bible study or worship time lacks something.  Our prayer life either dwindles or just doesn’t provide any powerful results.  During those times, it is important to remember that God never moved.  He is always present.  What changed was that we took a different road.  We ventured off into a difficult experience.  We managed to stray from what is best, and ended up traveling a long lonely road of nothingness.

What’s interesting to me is that the very same highway that carries me through the nothingness of this life actually can eventually lead me right back to the mountains of his mercy and grace, if only I stay focused on the road ahead, be mindful of the other travelers, and remain steadfast in my journey.  As a Christian finishes his travels, he will reach that beautiful place where he feels so much more at home.  I guarantee it.

When you grow tired of life’s scenery, keep traveling, my friend.  Changes are just up ahead.  You may need to cross a desert first.  You may have to venture into another “state” of mind.  But His blessings which lie ahead are all worth the journey.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

I had the joy of singing a wonderful song in church today called “Because He Lives.” Many of you are familiar with this great worship song.
If you have ever questioned the meaning or purpose of your life, this song sums it up well. No doubt the Lord used each of us in a multitude of ways, but without a foundation in our life, it can still seem in vain.

Why do we do what we do?

If you have this thought, reflect over the lyric “life is worth the living, just because He lives.” If Jesus simply died on the cross, His death would have been virtually meaningless. But because Jesus rose from the grave and conquered sin and death once and for all, it makes our life truly worth living.

So what is our purpose and meaning? It is to glorify Jesus through our life, knowing that we will live in Heaven with Him for all eternity when we make Him the king of our life. It means that whatever job we have, however much money is in our bank account, or whatever our family life looks like, we stand on the rock of Christ with confidence that our life has meaning and purpose. It is because we live for Him and not ourselves.

With this in mind, celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus and live every moment of your life for Him. Only then will you truly meet the purpose of your life. Live for Him, because He lives for you!

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

On just about all of our travels, I manage to find a beautiful church building to photograph.  Many times, I have wandered inside open churches to see the stained glass windows, admire the architecture, or simply sit in a quiet space for a bit.

This past weekend was a busy one for us, with lots to do and places to go.  I slipped out of one of those busy events to walk, alone, down a dark city sidewalk and stretch my legs.  A couple of blocks away stood this beautiful church building.  So, with no downtown traffic that time of night, I stood in the street and snapped a few pictures.  I don’t really know why.  I just like to see beautiful old churches like this one.  Later, I took a similar picture of another church building a few blocks away.

I’m quite sure both buildings were locked up.  There certainly wouldn’t have been anyone inside at that time of night.  But still, they stood strong and proud with the light shining all around.

Believe me, I know how hard it is some days to stand strong as a Christian.  I realize that we each have those days when it seems we are hollow inside, no one is home, and we are all alone.  Even then (and maybe ‘especially’ then) we should proudly display the Light shining on us from above.

Those church buildings, and any others for that matter, display the same architectural designs in the daytime.  But at night, in the darkness, when no one else is around, with no hustle and bustle or busy activity, they stand in the Light for the occasional passerby.

I believe we are called to do the same.  Even when we think no one else is around and we walk those streets alone, stand strong in the Light.  Even if no one else sees, God surely will.

Just a thought.