By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Donuts (doughnuts) are some of my favorite things.  I very much enjoy the national chain varieties, especially those that turn on the “Hot” light when the fresh ones come out of the oven.  There are also some extremely good local varieties within driving distance of where we live, and I’ve eaten some of them all.  Donuts really are wonderful.  However…

Wife and I had gotten up much earlier than we normally do.  We left home before the roosters had even thought of crowing, and we headed out of town to be present at the hospital when Relative was to have serious surgery.  Wife had her tote bag prepared with reading material, snacks, and several of her ever-present water bottles.  Radio was set to one of those play-the-same-songs-over-and-over-every-day Christian music stations, and we hit the road.

I heard the odd noise and felt the strange thump that made me think I had run over something.  But before we even left our town, I had stopped twice to look, found nothing out of the ordinary, and off we went.  Barely twenty miles later, the dreaded dashboard light was blinking at me, off the interstate exit I went, and we pulled up at the nearby truck stop.  The time was now 5:30 a.m., long before any regular tire repair businesses of any kind would think of opening their doors.

I “just happened” to be right at that particular exit, “just happened” to be merely yards from the large national chain truck stop, “just happened” to pull up right in front of the semi-truck tire repair business as my tire went completely flat, and there “just happened” to be an employee walking my direction.  No doubt, the Lord had put us exactly where we needed to be at the precise time we were to be there.  The kind gentleman was a great help in getting the flat tire off the car and replacing it with the manufacturer-included “donut” tire that had previously been hidden in the bowels of my car.  After spending his time crawling around on the cold pavement, changing my tire, and getting us prepared to go, the same kind gentleman refused any payment, and simply said, “Just be safe on the road.”

I promised I would.  I set the cruise control to the recommended maximum speed for a donut tire, made the trek back home, swapped vehicles, and again we were on our way.

We left home that second time two hours later than we originally had.  We arrived at the out-of-town hospital as Relative’s successful surgery was completed.  We were late, and we had missed it all.

That “donut” of a tire, as of my writing this, has been returned to its rightful spot in my car.  Our donut experience made for a longer day than we expected, but I’m grateful that the Lord provided the donut (and all of those other details) exactly when they were needed.

Trust the Lord to provide for you the exact remedies to your needs this week!  It may seem as if your plans are thwarted and rearranged, but He provides the right needs for the right times.  God bless donuts!

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

When a person visits the beach, such as the Gulf Coast, he or she could likely see one of these wooden sidewalks.  Of course, a wooden walkway such as the one in my picture here on the Alabama coast, is known as a boardwalk.  Very simply, it is a walkway made of boards.

Because of the difficulty of walking upon the loose sand, and also because of the ongoing preservation of the sand dunes and grasses, these boardwalks provide easy access to the water’s edge without causing any undue harm to the environment or making for problematic walking on the sand’s unstable surface.  Someone with limited mobility could manage a trek along the boardwalk much easier than a walk in the sand.  Stability is a wonderful thing when we are uneasy.

The familiar Bible story of the man who built his house upon the sand reminds us that the house built upon the rock, the stable surface, was much stronger and much more able to withstand life’s storms and shifting sands.

The boardwalk doesn’t take away the difficulty or perhaps even some danger of walking across those hot shifting sands, but it provides a much easier way to cross those same difficult areas while walking above them.

Perhaps you are one of the many who prayed for a much easier 2025 than the experiences you had in the past year.  Perhaps you are one who have dreamed of better days than those you’ve been having.  As you pray for the Lord to take away those difficulties and problems, be aware of the very real possibility that He, in His infinite wisdom, may never remove those shifting sands from your life.  He may, however, be providing a much easier walk across those same sands by giving you His boardwalk.

The thing about those boardwalks is that they are only sparsely created.  You may have to trudge through some tough sandy areas before you get to the boardwalk.  Don’t give up.  When you get there, you will find the walk much easier.  Walk along, looking down upon those same difficult areas of life you’ve just walked through, and take your trek out to the edge of His Living Water, where the refreshment makes it ALL worthwhile.

Praying you reach the boardwalk this week.

Just a thought.

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.