By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

We talk about how tough life is.  And it is.  We talk about how tired we are.  And we really are.  We talk about all the difficult things that every single one of us faces on a daily basis.  And we do face those things.  So, what good does it do us to talk about it?

Let’s think on that for a second, by asking ourselves another question.  What is prayer?  Isn’t prayer just a conversation with God?  Prayer is speaking to, talking with, crying out to, and listening for the voice of God Himself.  For the Christian, prayer is a relationship, and that relationship reminds me that even though I must face difficult days, I will never do it alone.  I can tell Him all my troubles, my cares, my concerns, my joys, and my triumphs.

Grand-dog came to visit us recently for a couple of days.  He is an indoor animal who is usually outdoors in the safety of his own fenced back yard.  However, when he visits us, he must venture out on his (long) leash and harness.  We explored several times over those two days.  He had one-on-one nose-to-nose conversations with some of the neighbors’ cows.  I’m not sure what they discussed, but it didn’t take too long.

He particularly enjoyed visiting the horse you see behind him here.  There seemed to be a mutual respect between the two.  Dog, on his leash.  Horse, in his fenced yard.  Dog, much smaller and shorter, checking out his large animal friend, while Horse, much larger and taller, seemed unamused by the little visitor, but not the least bothered by his presence.  Both animals, in their own spaces somehow shared the outdoor space of their animal world.  And although not a sound was made between the two of them, they both seemed to understand their place, their situation, their time.

Here, Horse and Grand-dog peered down the road in the same direction.  It didn’t matter that they were different sizes.  It didn’t matter that they were somewhat separated by their own leashes and fences.  It didn’t matter that they were different animals with different purposes in life.  It didn’t even matter that their languages were not the same.  They stood side by side with mutual respect and understanding.  And although they spoke no words between them, they faced the road together.

God gives His human creatures those friends who fill similar roles in our lives.  We may be separated by certain things.  We may stand in different places, speak differently, vote differently, and have any number of other differences.  But we can stand side by side and face life’s road together.  To me, that is one of the ultimate blessings of true friendship.  Friendship that welcomes conversation if needed, and silence if desired.

Do you have friends like these?  I am so very thankful that I do.  Give God thanks for those friends.  And always remember, regardless of anything else in life, “what a friend we have in Jesus!”  With Him as your friend, you never face the future alone.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

We all want to live in a peaceful world, but sometimes it seems like the world just wants to create chaos simply for chaos’ sake. This can be very frustrating to those of us who seek peace in our lives and enjoyment with those around us. How do we as Christians live peacefully in a world set in turmoil?

I wish I had a certain answer for us on this, but it’s something with I am struggling myself at the moment (a long story for another day). What I can do is walk you through what I’m doing in my life and in the life of my family to help provide the most peaceful environment possible. Here are some tips:

1. Don’t be an instrument of chaos. It is easy to lose your temper, get frustrated, or even be the source of controversy or antagonism. But, we must fight that urge unless it is absolutely necessary. This means avoiding negative posts on social media, creating a calm environment for your friends and family, and seeking peaceful relationships. If you want to say something negative, say something positive instead. Build others up and seek to be a positive figure in your life.
   
2. Pray. This seems obvious, but remember that there is a spiritual war around us that we can’t see but can often feel. The greatest weapon that we have in this war is the Lord’s help and the light that we have through Jesus’ work in our lives. Pray for the Lord’s protection from evil, that you will yourself be a shining light in a dark world, and that you and your family will live a life of peace with those around you.
   
3. Desire the best for others, including your enemies. This can be tough, whereas it is natural to wish an element of harm to those who do harm to you. We must resist this temptation, though. Turning the other cheek doesn’t mean ‘rolling over’ or being a soft person, rather it means that we are to love our enemies and pray for them. Nothing reverses negative feelings more than praying for salvation for an unbeliever or for someone’s heart to be changed rather than them receiving punishment. Praying for your enemies is good both for them and for you.
   
4. Surround yourself with light. Darkness must resist the light, it cannot stand in its presence. This means that you should immerse yourself and your life in everything that brings glory to God. This absolutely includes prayer, but it also means listening to Christian music, singing and praising the Lord, and speaking with the Lord out loud vs. quietly (because remember, Satan and his demons cannot hear your thoughts but can hear your voice). This also means to avoid sin at all cost. If there is anything in your life that represent darkness, cut it out completely. Surround yourself with light, and you will have true peace around you.

Do you have any good ideas for inspiring a peaceful life? We would love to hear from you. Message us anytime at communications@myamericanchristian.org or connect with us on social media. May the Lord bring peace about your life and to those who you love.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Sometimes it is nice to be first, isn’t it?  First in the check-out line at the grocery store, first car at the traffic light (so you can actually move when the light turns green!), first one to the theater restrooms at intermission.  You get the point.  First sometimes means a blue ribbon or a gold medal.  But first can also mean that you are wading into untested waters where untold dangers or uncertainties lurk below the surface.  So, first can also be undaunting to say the least.

The church that you see here in my picture this week is a first.  It wasn’t the first one we had seen on our trip.  Quite the contrary.  I had already photographed many churches before we ever made it a point to go see this one.  So what makes this particular church so special?  It was first.

This church has the distinction of being the very first church of any kind in the state of Rhode Island.  It also holds the title of the oldest Baptist church in America, having been founded in the year 1638.  Its name, First Baptist Church, really does tell a story.  It was first.  This particular church building was built in 1775, the year before American officially gained her independence!  There is a lot of history on this particular hill in downtown Providence.

I was first.  That is, I’m the oldest of my siblings.  I got here before they did.  Of course, that makes me the oldest.  And, getting old first isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!  But that means, in some ways, I can set the example for my brother and sister – should they choose to watch.

Had this particular First Baptist Church not been “the” first one, there quite possibly would not be a bronze plaque on the front.  There would probably not be distinguished wording on the large sign on the front lawn.  There would probably have not been tourists like us and some other nice folks we met who made it a point to walk around and “ooo” and “ahhh” at the old place.  We did because it was first.

The Bible tells us that we love Jesus because He first loved us.  He loved me FIRST.  He loved me before anyone else loved me.  He knew me and loved me as I was knit together, the Scripture says, in my mother’s womb.  He knew me before the world began.  You can’t get much more “first” than that!

I may never have a blue ribbon or gold medal around my neck.  I may never have a bronze plaque or commemorative sign placed upon my lawn.  But I have the distinguishment of being loved FIRST by my Lord and Savior.  Now that’s worth celebrating!

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

Maybe it’s my Southern upbringing, but I feel that fellowshipping with friends and family over food is such a great opportunity for connection. Lunch in particular invites a welcomed midday break where two or more people can connect in a meaningful way.

I encourage everyone to seek after opportunities to catch-up with friends or family, or perhaps to get to know someone with whom you don’t yet have a relationship. I have found lunch meetings to be a great way to do this. It is a low pressure, high reward way to grow a deeper relationship with someone and also enjoy some good food in the process! Take a moment this week to find a day that is open and ask someone to lunch. You’ll be glad that you did.

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:13

By Ryan Kelly –

Let’s face it, life is busy. When you ask someone “how are you doing,” they will often reply to you something along the lines of “doing great, just busy.” Or maybe they will go on and on about work, kids’ activities, school projects, problems, etc. You may do the same…perhaps even in a subconscious game of outdoing the other person’s busyness. Because after all, this is the norm of our society today.

I’m not going to be one to suggest that we shouldn’t be busy, because such is life for most of us and it does not have to be a bad thing. But what I do want to stress is that God did not create us to be busy all of the time. First, he gave us a day of rest that far too many of us overlook. The Sabbath is there for a reason, so that we can rest from work and celebrate the Lord. But even aside from the Sabbath, we need to find ways to take little breaks throughout the day and enjoy the moment far more than we do.

There are so many opportunities to enjoy the little moments of the day. Here are a few suggestions, in no particular order:
1. Look up and see the sun, the clouds, the birds, and the sky while feeling a cool breeze blowing and the glow of the sun hitting your skin.
2. Play with your kids and think of how amazing it is to have a life in front of you that enjoys your company.
3. Enjoy time with others and strive to form deeper, lasting conversation.
4. Savor bites of food and focus on the different tastes, all the while being thankful for the nutrition and flavor that you get to enjoy.
5. Close your eyes for a moment, stretch your arms, and just live in the peaceful calm of the moment.
6. Find a fun game to play, even a quick one, and allow your mind to relax.
7. Sit in silent reflection and walk through your day in your mind, thinking of the good things that have taken place and the opportunities still to come.
8. Treat yourself to a lunch or a snack.
9. Take a few minutes and read a chapter of your favorite book of the Bible.
10. Sit in silent prayer and thank the Lord for each little moment that He gives us.

There is an unlimited number of things that we can do to enjoy little moments in the day. This list are just a few examples that came to mind and some that I try to enact in my own life. No matter how you enjoy the little moments that the Lord gives us, just be sure to do it frequently. It is good for your heart and your spirit.

“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

It’s a crazy world.  Folks are nuts.  From neighbors to political parties, we are seeing people come unglued.  Be it in the church family or outside of that realm, instead of denying self and taking up their daily cross, people are denying the cross and doing anything possible to boost and elevate themselves.  

In those first few sentences, I have told you absolutely nothing you didn’t already know.  You are quite familiar with it all.  From where you stand, either party or candidate might be the best, or might be the worst.  From where you stand, the church is building up the community, or it is heavily involved in false prophecy and is bringing the community (and us) down with it.  From where you stand, your perspective as a Christian should be no different than mine, in that people are sinners, and God is the great forgiver!  But it depends on where you stand.

All you have to do is look at my picture this week, and you will know exactly where in this big world I was standing at the time.  Yep, I was on the corner of both famed travel avenues – Wall Street and Broadway – in New York City.  Wall Street is known primarily for the stock market activity that takes place there.  Broadway is primarily known for the arts and performances that take place there.  When you think about it, the two streets are not that different.  It just depends on where you stand.

Let me tell you that standing still anywhere in New York City is quite the challenge with all the hustle and bustle of the crowds at any given moment of time.  Probably you are standing somewhere today that isn’t quite like that particular spot.  However, you are still overwhelmed by the noise, by the crowds, by the people, by the opinions, the problems, the number of directions you can go from there, the ones that might (or might not) follow you if you went, or even the trail you will leave behind

Yes, the world is nuts.  But we are a part of this world.  And the difference you can make as a Christian in this life, the challenges you may face as a hurting human being, the overwhelming thoughts and burdens that are on your mind at this very moment in time, may all be made different depending on where you stand.

Stand with Jesus.  Stand for Jesus.  What’s happening in your life this week?  It ALL depends on where you stand.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

This is a special week for our family, as my son is representing the State of Mississippi in the DYB World Series in Bossier City, Louisiana. He has been playing baseball since he was 3, and he has grown into a fantastic player with a big bat and an exceptional arm. His All-Star team this year is what we dub the “Dream Team,” where it consists of the best players in our area who are all focused on one mission, to win.

As of my writing, tomorrow they will play in the championship game against Texas. Why am I telling you this you may ask? It is because of the journey that we have recently been on with my son and his hitting. I know that some may scoff at the idea of praying for a game, but I can tell you that we have been praying fervently for his hitting since he hit a massive slump in late spring. He went 0-15 from the end of May through early July…which is the largest slump of his life by far. His confidence was down, he was doubting himself, and he grew both frustrated and discouraged. It was a truly sad time.

Does this sound familiar to anyone by chance? Life can sometimes erupt into a series of perceived failures to the point where we question everything that we do. It is a horrible “slump” that can affect us all in life.

So how did we help our son to get out of his slump? With tremendous amounts of prayer and a heart to see the greater picture of what is going on. We focused not on mechanics or practice, but on our prayer life and our reliance on the Lord to work through him as the Lord saw fit. We placed this burden on the Lord and not on our own shoulders. I remember the feeling that I had when we were down by one run with two men on base, and my son with two strikes his a blistering double off of the left field wall to score both runs and allow us to take the lead, which eventually led to a State Championship. Since then, he has batted over .800 and is the hottest hitter on the team.

Was this success his own doing? In my view, absolutely not. It was the Lord working through him and with him for a greater purpose. My job as a father now is not to celebrate, but to praise the Lord with thankfulness in humility, and to show my son to do the same. We have grown much closer to the Lord during this time, and I can only wonder if this slump was used by God to do this for us. If that is the case, I am truly thankful. In all things, I am thankful. And no matter how the game turns out tomorrow, we as a family will be thankful…for so many things.

The Lord is good and He loves us. If you are in a slump right now and are struggling to dig out, remember to dig out on your knees in prayer by placing your concerns and burdens on the Lord. He will help you like no other, and praise be to the Lord who loves His children.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Guilford, Vermont, is a very picturesque little village.  We drove around a little, admiring the beautiful scenery, the colorful flowers, and the awesome old homes, barns and other structures along the roadways.

The general store provided a place for us to stretch our legs a few minutes, admire the homemade jellies, jams, and candles on display near the small cafe in the corner.  I was tempted to purchase a few of the chocolate chip cookies.  The sign said “small” cookies $1.00, and “large” cookies $3.00.  The only cookies I saw were at least as big around as a softball.  So I asked the gentleman behind the counter if there were any of the small cookies left.  He told me I was looking at them.  The “large” cookies were in the case just below and were about as big around as my head!

Leaving temptation behind, we crossed the highway and took the other main road up the hill and around several curves before arriving at this beautiful covered bridge.  Just off to the right was a water fall.  Ladies in the front yard of the huge old home nearby were preparing for what we assumed to be a wedding reception or some such grand event.  We walked over the bridge, admiring the structure itself but mostly the scenery all around it.  God outdid Himself there.

And even with all the beauty of everything we saw while there, what I see most now from my picture is this.  That bridge covered the old dirt road.  It made a safe passageway for travelers to cross.  It provided shade for our walk across it, and it allowed us some rest and respite from the heat of the day.  It allowed us some time to reflect and enjoy the goodness of God.  We were covered there.

You and I are probably not much different in our daily lives, circumstances, and responsibilities.  We each need rest, refuge, and rejuvenation from the world around us.  God provides the coverage we need.  His loving arms can hold you tighter than any human hug you could imagine.  And if you think His nature is beautiful, just think on How beautiful He and His loving care are.  Yes, the world is tough.  Yes, it may be a rough week.  But, yes, also, He promises His children all the coverage we need.

Take advantage of His coverage this week.  And invite someone else to experience it with you.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

I myself love sport. I grew up playing sports, I have children who compete in sports now, and my family and I enjoy watching sports both live and over television. I believe that sport is a fantastic way to build teamwork, let loose energy in a constructive way, and to learn to complete in a healthy manner that can translate into all aspects of life. Sport is truly wonderful in my opinion.

The ancient Greek’s agreed with this philosophy, having established the Olympic games in 776 BC as a way to set aside political differences and allow athletes who represented different nations to complete in a friendly manner without the need for war or political unrest. The goal of the Olympics was peace and unity. The ancient Olympics ended in 393 AD and was re-established in 1894 under these same ideas of peace and unity.

Fast forward to today, one can visit the official Olympics website and find the goal of the games to be much the same. The goal reads as follows: “The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”

Without being long winded, let’s dissect a few elements. First, “build a peaceful and better world”. Is it more peaceful to make fun of the world’s most historic and largest religion in the opening ceremonies in a wildly innappropriate and offensive manner? Next, “without discrimination of any kind” and “a spirit of…fair play.” Who exactly gets to define what discrimination is? Who decides what is fair play? Is it the athletes, the collective voices of the nations competing, the government of the host nation, or the Olympics committee?

I absolutely agree with the goals and ambition of the Olympics, and I applaud our many athletes for representing the US in these games as well as all athletes throughout the world. But from all that I have seen from the promotional side of the Olympic games, they have fallen far short of the goal of unity and peace. Rather, I would say they just lobbed metaphorical bombs of intolerance and hate all over the world under the banner of “tolerance and human rights.” In a word…wokeism.

Moving forward, I would like to see politics completely removed from the Olympics as it was originally intended. Athletes can share their beliefs lovingly with one another and create bonds across the world, and we as fans can watch and support our nations without being ostracized and offended. But if this is not the case and we’re going to start being political and controversial with each session of the games, then I look forward to lobbying for the next Olympics to celebrate Jesus Christ as the savior of the world who conquered death for all that believe and worship in Him. We’ll then see what is more effective…a bunch of men in drag making fun of the Last Supper, or a celebration of the Lord God who created the universe and who deeply loves all of His people. For the sake of moving hearts and saving souls, I’d put my emphasis on the latter.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Before this summer’s trip to New England, we made a very tentative list of some things we thought might be interesting to see or do along the way.  Some of those places were simply of some interest to us, some just because we’d be close, and some were historical places we might not see again.  One of those such places I wanted to see was Plymouth Harbor and the Plymouth Rock.

Now, if you pep yourself up, expecting to see something extraordinary, grand, unbelievable, and huge, then you might be disappointed.  I knew Plymouth Rock was just a rock that marked the spot where the pilgrims landed so many years ago on the Mayflower.  And just a rock it is.

Granted, that rock has been surrounded by a large ornate structure of columns and a roof.  Iron fencing surrounds the rock itself.  As Momma would say, “You may look, but you can’t touch.”

It’s just a rock.  But that rock represents so much more.  It represents a new world.  It stands for freedom OF religion, not FROM it.  It stands for struggles and hardships – both those left behind and those to come.  That rock represents life itself where so many people had wondered if they would ever really have one.

You and I have friends who question why we bother to attend church.  They say it’s just a building.  It’s just a place filled with messed up people.  It’s just some place else to have to go when their week is already so full of other things.  I’m here to tell you that it’s so much more than that.

The church is a place where hurting people have traveled in order to get away from the terrible world, if but for a little while.  The church is a structure meant not to keep us away, but to have a safe place to gather.  The church is a place where we have the freedom to worship as we please.  It’s where we bring our hardships and our struggles, leave them at the altar, and re-boost our courage and strength to wear the armor of God and face the struggles and hardships of the week ahead.  It’s place we all need to go.

You can avoid the church if that’s what you really want.  Or, you can go, but with the attitude that you’ll be disappointed.  And that may be exactly what will happen.  The church, as so many have said, is not meant to be a museum for the saints, but a hospital for the sinners.  We are all broken, just like that big famous Plymouth Rock, with the glue and repairs of the Master to hold us back together.  And like that rock at Plymouth Harbor, we children of God have been marked by His hand and surrounded by His loving care.

As you plan the activities and journeys of your week ahead.  I pray your road takes you to the church house – the one built upon the Rock.  You’ll be glad you experienced it for yourself.

Just a thought.