Acts 20:35

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Good morning my children! It’s going to be a great, beautify day. I hope and pray all is well with you all.

As I daily share stories that are apropos of my childhood, my desire is to introduce you to who your daddy really is. These cumulative snippets of my early life are parenthetical to and are used to explain who I am and why I lived as I did in our life together as a family. They are also descriptive of who I am today as I continue, steadfastly (not by any good within me, but all by God for the glory of God), to be a servant of Jesus Christ, my Lord God and Savior.

The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

After all, I serve the one, true God who is sovereign and in control of every minute detail of my life. And not only mine, but your life too. God, in His great omniscient and omnipotent power, created us all for His glory. He is my Father God, and I am His child.

When your daddy was a child, my dad (that is, your Grandpa Campbell) was a Baptist pastor. Our home was usually right next door to the church in what people called the ‘parsonage,’ the home for the pastor and his family. My brothers and I were called PKs, or ‘preachers’ kids.’ To me, growing up as a PK was nothing to be embarrassed about. Some of my childhood friends’ fathers where factory workers, farmers, professionals in the neighborhood, and a few where even raised by their grandparents. We all had different life circumstances. At home, I have many memories of life as a PK. For example, my brothers and I would go after church on a Sunday, once a month, with our parents and our grandparents to a retirement center. In those days it was called an ‘old folks home’ or a ‘nursing home.’ While there, we would go and visit all the residents, one-by-one, in their rooms. Then, later, we would all meet for a church worship service. My brothers and I would always sings a Christian chorus or hymn, and my dad would preach a short message. Then we would greet the residents again as we say goodby. My brothers and I would also be the ones to mow the grass, take care of the church grounds, as well as clean and dust the inside of the church sanctuary, with ether my mother or with my grandmother. My brothers and I would also go door-to-door in our neighborhood to pass out invitations for families to come to our church for any special service we may be having. One Sunday, we had a baptismal service. After church and before we started our Sunday meal, Dad told us that he lost his favorite pen and it must be in the bottom of the baptistry. So he needed one of us boys to go and get his pen. That meant that we would have to put our swimming trunks on and swim under water to get the pen from the bottom of the baptistry. We all pulled straws to see who was the fortunate one who gets to go and I won. So I got changed into my swimming trunks and ran next door to unlock the church and went down to the baptistry. Thinking it was the right thing to do, I did not walk into the baptistry, but I took a huge dive into the water. The water splashed all over the choir seats that were in front, Oh no! I was in trouble and had to clean everything up by myself – but dad did get his pen.

Growing up as a PK was not awkward or difficult. To me, it was fun. As long as I had love from my parents, which I did, I can truly say, life was great.

Since my life as a PK was so precious and important to me, I wanted to give my children the same love and experiences I had while growing up. I was taught, not only the facts of the Bible and their stories, I was taught how to read and apply the Word of God to my life. To me, as a Christian, God speaks to me through His Word, the Holy Bible. I remember going to my Grandma Barnes’ home to visit Granda and Grandpa. Grandma, was crippled with rheumatoid arthitis and was always in pain. She was sitting in a comfortable chair in the living room with her marked up Bible on her lap. She carefully closed the Bible when we arrived, and my mother would help Grandma during our visit. That’s my life as I knew it. Loving God by reading His Word and serving others. This is the life, the Christian life, that I hoped to pass on to you, my children.

When I was in seminary, during the summer months you kids would come along with me and spend the day as I went to class. We would pack a picnic lunch and bring all your toys and books you wanted to have. After my class and during breaks, I would quickly come out and we would spend time together playing and reading. Then a little later, we all would drive down to the homeless center. I was so proud of your kids. You would pass out the songbooks and Bibles to the homeless men. I would preach a message of encouragement and salvation and then afterwards, you and I would meet, greet, and pick-up the songbooks and Bible. We did this every week and I was so happy to be serving God and helping these men with my children. This was the way I would teach my children, the same way my parents taught me. We served God together. Then a few years later, we all would go to a retirement center once a month, just like I did when I was your age with my parents. Craig would read a Psalm, your mother and Erin would sing, and I would play the piano and preach the midday message. It was alway my desire that my children would grow up to love and serve God, by loving and serving others in His church.

Today, my life is no different. I still have one purpose and goal for my life: to love and serve my God for His glory only. I thank my God that He is so real and evident in my life. My God has always been and will always be the most important person in my life. Because I am Christ’s when He purchased me with His own precious blood, my life is not my own, it is all for Him. I lack nothing and I have joy overflowing from the bottom of my heart. And based on the promises of God in His Word, the Holy Bible, He will never leave me not forsake me. My life will always be, until my dying day when I close my eyes in peace, for my Jesus. I pray He will be able to say to me on that glorious day, “well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.” I also pray Jesus Christ will be able to say these very same words to my precious children, whom I love, as well.

I love you, my children: my Craig and Erin. I pray for you both every day!

Sam

“Others” by Charles D. Meigs, 1902

1. Lord, help me live from day to day
   In such a self-forgetful way
   That even when I kneel to pray
   My prayer shall be for others.
   • Refrain:
     Yes, others, Lord, yes, others,
     Let this my motto be;
     Help me to live for others,
     Help me to live for others,
     That I may live like Thee,
     That I may live like Thee.
2. Help me in all the work I do
   To ever be sincere and true,
   And know that all I’d do for You
   Must needs be done for others.
3. Let “Self” be crucified and slain
   And buried deep: and all in vain
   May efforts be to rise again,
   Except to live for others.
4. So when my work on earth is done,
   And my new work in heav’n’s begun,
   I’ll praise You for the crown I’ve won,
   But praise You more for others.