Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Recently, some friends of mine had a heated verbal exchange over politics. No surprise there, right? Many people I know have broken off friendships because of that. At one point, the military man said to the uber-liberal something like, “Well, I still love you, man.” What an amazing statement that true friendship goes way beyond emotion and differences of opinion.
My friend, that is exactly what Jesus came to show and teach. He said, “… [He] call[s] us no longer servants, but friends; and [his] love is everlasting” (John 15:15). In Proverbs 17:17 we find this golden nugget: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
You know what a community is, but have you heard of a famunity? It’s a family living and working together. The family unit has been called the core of society. As families grow and thrive, a community is strong. How much better is it for love and peace to prevail in a Christian community following the teachings of Jesus?
Listen to Psalm 133:1 and 3: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethern to dwell together in unity. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. ” May there be peace and harmony in your family.
It was a sunny afternoon when Howie and I were pulled off the highway fixing lunch at a lake. A man (who I will call “John,” to protect his privacy) heard Howie playing music. He came up and asked what kind of guitar Howie was playing. After some conversation, Howie asked him to join us for lunch. He replied, “No, thanks” and started to leave. Howie shook his hand and said, “Man, it was great to meet you, John.” John’s response is vividly engraved in my mind as he said with amazement in his voice, “Wow, nobody ever says that to me. Usually people just tell me to get away.” You see, John was homeless, wearing a jacket and carrying his pack in hand. He didn’t look neat and kempt like the tourists in this area.
Howie began to share with him the value John had in the eyes of God. This is a priceless message to those who feel like the offscouring of the Earth. It is really heartbreaking to think there are so many around us who feel worthless, ashamed, and alone because hard times hit.
We ended up praying with him, hugging him as tears streamed down his cheeks. Howie gave him a Living Water: The Gospel of John that is small enough to fit in his pack – some encouragement for the dark, lonely days and a copy of his CD “Wayfarin Strangers Amped”. As John left Howie told him he loved him that Jesus loves him, hugging him again. Tears softened his eyes, and John went his way, deeply touched, apologizing for crying.
Many of us pass the homeless regularly. What is our response? Are we inconvenienced by their presence? Do we wish they would just go away, take a bath and somehow not disrupt our view? Or, do we see them as dearly loved by our Heavenly Father and therefore, by us. My heart is challenged to respond to the “lowly” in our communities with kindness and mercy.
Heavenly Father, make us vessels of your love. Show us how to personally care for those we see that are in the greatest need a touch from you today.
“…Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Matthew 24:34-36
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Did you ever watch two babies playing with one toy? Almost always, they will at some point fight over it. “Mine!” says one; “No, mine!” says the other. Who taught them that?
Proverbs 22:15 tells us, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” The child must be taught a better way right from the start. Loving discipline is the key to a happy family and a well-functioning society.
