Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
I once heard Bruce Lee say, “Be water, my friend.” You know, water has many amazing qualities, but it makes no sound of itself. You can put billions of drops together, and they lay quietly. They only make sound when they’re on the move. Think about rain, or water moving over rocks. A waterfall can be a deafening roar, and waves in the ocean are powerful and noisy.
The body of Christ is similar. When the church lies dormant, comfortable in its’ surroundings, it’s a silent witness. But when the Holy Spirit is engaged, the Church can be a loud force for good. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus never intended his church to lie dormant.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
From my current vantage point, my life is split into two major divisions: half before Christ, half with Christ. Most of what I learned the first half, I processed and responded to with my material mind. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “The natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” That’s why Jesus said in John 3, “You must be born again. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit.”
This past half of my life, I process and respond to things with my spiritually-alive mind. How about you, my friend? Have you been born again?
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
No one who knew me in my former days could ever have imagined the man I’d become, but God could. That’s because He created me. I’m like that lump of clay in Isaiah 64:8. I didn’t get back up on the wheel; at the appointed time the potter picked me up, and placed me back on the wheel. Then, he skillfully began to mold and shape me.
Thirty-two years in the making, I’m still not finished. I doubt that I will be complete, this side of eternity. However, I am quite different than I was, and the master potter continues to refine this lump of clay as he sees fit. Now, I am something useful to him. My friend, pray the potter will mold and shape you into that vessel he can use for his purposes.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Okay, just because life gets tough, is that any reason to give up? Life can be tough! But remember this: there is somebody out there who has it worse than you, and they are fighting on. If they can, you can too. James writes in chapter 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into different temptations, knowing this: that the trying of your faith works patience. But, let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Ride it out. You’ll be better for it, my friend.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Today, I thought we could use some encouragement from the apostle Paul. This is from his letter to the Philippians, chapter 4:8. I pray this strengthens you. “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report. If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Man, there sure is a lot of unrest and tension in our world. At the same time, it seems like folks are all about feeding their desires with all the goodies in life, including, well, you know. James’ letter speaks to this. Chapter 4 begins: “Where do wars, and fightings come from among you? From your lusts, that war in your members.”
The original Greek word for ‘lust’ is where the word ‘hedonism’ comes from. It speaks of personal pleasure being the goal in life. That describes our society well, doesn’t it? The disciple’s life is one of disciplining ourselves, rather than gorging on stuff. Let’s be disciples of Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
My grandfather had a farm in upstate New York. I remember him burning the field, like the Native Americans did, to increase the crop yield the following year. So I tried that once. Before I knew it, the fire was out of control. I took a broom and hit a spot, and it immediately started five more fires! I had to call for help to put it out.
In James 3, he talks about the tongue. In verse 5 through 6, we read: “Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things, behold how great a matter a little fire kindles. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, and defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” Friend, we need to bridle our tongues to speak good things.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
I’m not going to tell you something you don’t already know, and it’s this: we live in a fallen world. True. As a result, bad things happen. In fact, bad things happen to good people. The cat gets hit by a car; you slip on the ice and sprain your ankle; your favorite relative dies unexpectedly; and so on it goes.
Well, God never promises us a rose garden. In 1 Peter 5:7, the apostle tells us to “cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” Got trouble? Turn it all over to God, and let Him help you with it. You have problems; Jesus has answers.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
I love to look up into the heavens at night. When the moon is full, the stars are very faint. But when the moon is not visible, the stars are bright. In fact, the darker the night, the brighter the stars. This is what it’s like when we live for Jesus in a fallen world. The darker society gets, the brighter God’s people shine. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Father, turn up your light in us, please.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
In the 1960’s, the Beach Boys had a song that goes: “There’s a place, where I can go, and tell my secrets to, in my room, in my room.” It expresses the need we all have for a quiet place, and someone to tell our deepest troubles to.
For me, that place of quiet and refuge is the Lord himself. Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 6:6, said “When you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father, which is in secret.” The closet is a secret chamber – a quiet, set-apart place. It’s good to get alone with our heavenly father.