Is It a Chore to God to Church? (April 8, 2004)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
I recently heard someone say, “It’s getting to be a chore to go to church.” This statement was made by someone who attends another congregation. Nevertheless, it’s troubling enough to warrant some attention here among our church family. The context of the statement was that this person had simply had it up to here with mean-spirited, negative, and hateful “church people,” and felt it becoming more and more difficult to face them 3 and 4 times a week during times that should be devoted to worshiping God and serving others. But the only thing these people wanted to do was to use the various meeting times as a time to tear down what Jesus built... the church. What a sad way of life to be caught in on judgment day. Jesus suffered and died for the church, not us. Our time should be spent enjoying the victory, and bringing others to Him.
The picture painted in the New Testament of a Christian’s attitude is vivid. Things not included in this picture are things like cruelty, divisiveness, quarrelsome, complaining, arguing, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These have no place in the heart of someone who wants a home in heaven. Philippians 4:5 says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth in chapter 16, verses 17 and following, he speaks of some individuals who are good to be associated with because of their proper attitude: “...they have supplied what was lacking from you.” “...refreshed my spirit...”, “greet you warmly in the Lord...”, “Greet another with a holy kiss.” Here’s to a postive attitude! (references: Rom 12:14, Phil 2:5-4, 2 Tim 2:24, 1 Pet 2:1)
Welcome to my bulletin article site. What I do is minister to young Christians, their families, their friends, and others in the Fort Gibson, OK area. So check-in every now and then, and I'll try to have an encouraging word for you.
Monday, April 12, 2004
Hungry, Filled, and Overflowing (April 1, 2004)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
God truly blessed our LTC Preview Night this past Sunday. Leadership Training for Christ has become a way of life for the majority of our young people, their parents, and the LTC coaches. It is so inspiring to see our youth involved in demonstrating this year’s theme “Stand Firm” in so many creative ways, especially since Jesus himself was so creative in teaching lessons.
Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
It is encouraging to see our young people hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Sunday night, their blessing was obvious, they were filled; and because of them, those of us who witnessed the youth-led worship and afterwards the chorus, puppets, drama, signing, displays, and Bible bowl demonstration were also spiritually filled if we were hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
I can’t help but make the connection to Matthew 18:3 where Jesus said, “...I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
I get the idea Jesus means what He says when He uses words like truth and never. Jesus never lies, and never is a very long time. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us that to the Lord “...a thousand years is like a day.” So to me, the word never means our chances of entering heaven are ZERO unless we conform to this truth.
We must all let our attitudes reflect the example of our loving Savior. This means adjusting our life so we can be filled to overflowing, not unwilling to share with all people the joy of being a child of God.
(related passages: 2Cor. 4:15; 1Thes. 3:12; Gal. 6:7-10)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
God truly blessed our LTC Preview Night this past Sunday. Leadership Training for Christ has become a way of life for the majority of our young people, their parents, and the LTC coaches. It is so inspiring to see our youth involved in demonstrating this year’s theme “Stand Firm” in so many creative ways, especially since Jesus himself was so creative in teaching lessons.
Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
It is encouraging to see our young people hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Sunday night, their blessing was obvious, they were filled; and because of them, those of us who witnessed the youth-led worship and afterwards the chorus, puppets, drama, signing, displays, and Bible bowl demonstration were also spiritually filled if we were hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
I can’t help but make the connection to Matthew 18:3 where Jesus said, “...I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
I get the idea Jesus means what He says when He uses words like truth and never. Jesus never lies, and never is a very long time. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us that to the Lord “...a thousand years is like a day.” So to me, the word never means our chances of entering heaven are ZERO unless we conform to this truth.
We must all let our attitudes reflect the example of our loving Savior. This means adjusting our life so we can be filled to overflowing, not unwilling to share with all people the joy of being a child of God.
(related passages: 2Cor. 4:15; 1Thes. 3:12; Gal. 6:7-10)
Is Your Ax Sharp? (March 25, 2004)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
If the time comes that someone asks you to chop down a forest with an ax, most of us would take the time to sharpen our blade first because a dull ax would lead to a lot of frustration; and, if you want to see clearly while driving in a rainstorm, it pays to install a new set of wipers now and then when you get your car serviced; and, if you want to rest safely under a good shade tree, it would be nice to know that its roots are well-watered and extend deep into the soil. I know, you get the picture.
Spiritually speaking, each of us has a responsibility to be prepared and make sure we continue to grow and develop a deeper understanding of God’s Word. After all, as Christians, 1 Peter 3:15 says that we are to “...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...”
In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul tells Timothy to 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season...” This fits perfectly with 2:15 in regard to “correctly handling” or “rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” It’s so important for us to keep our minds spiritually sharp so we don’t begin to put up with unsound doctrine (4:3).
As Christians, there will be times when those we are closest to have questions about God’s Word. It’s up to you and me to make sure we’ve done all we can to know where to find the answer, and then to know how to explain the passage if it’s not completely clear. There are some passages we may never fully understand. But one thing is for sure, our efforts to understand the Bible will pay off by leading us and those we teach closer to Him.
Philippians 2 says that God is at work in us as we seek Him. Now that’s a vote of confidence! Have a great day.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
If the time comes that someone asks you to chop down a forest with an ax, most of us would take the time to sharpen our blade first because a dull ax would lead to a lot of frustration; and, if you want to see clearly while driving in a rainstorm, it pays to install a new set of wipers now and then when you get your car serviced; and, if you want to rest safely under a good shade tree, it would be nice to know that its roots are well-watered and extend deep into the soil. I know, you get the picture.
Spiritually speaking, each of us has a responsibility to be prepared and make sure we continue to grow and develop a deeper understanding of God’s Word. After all, as Christians, 1 Peter 3:15 says that we are to “...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...”
In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul tells Timothy to 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season...” This fits perfectly with 2:15 in regard to “correctly handling” or “rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” It’s so important for us to keep our minds spiritually sharp so we don’t begin to put up with unsound doctrine (4:3).
As Christians, there will be times when those we are closest to have questions about God’s Word. It’s up to you and me to make sure we’ve done all we can to know where to find the answer, and then to know how to explain the passage if it’s not completely clear. There are some passages we may never fully understand. But one thing is for sure, our efforts to understand the Bible will pay off by leading us and those we teach closer to Him.
Philippians 2 says that God is at work in us as we seek Him. Now that’s a vote of confidence! Have a great day.
Food for the Soul (March 18, 2004)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Matthew 4:1-4 “1. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4. Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
Have you ever walked into a grocery store on an empty stomach? Not a good idea... at least for me. I tend to buy and then eat anything and everything that’s not good for me.
When we are at our weakest moments spiritually, temptations can get the best of us if we’re not continually feasting on God’s Word. Keeping our minds full of what God has to say to us is the only way to prevent Satan from filling our spiritual voids with his falsehoods that lead to eternal damnation.
To accomplish this, we must make it a habit to study God’s Word continually. It’s never too early to get your kids and grandkids into the habit of feasting on God’s Word. It is up to each of us to find creative ways of encouraging those we love to read the Bible.
While I typed the above scripture reference, guess who was reading it to me? My 8 year old daughter, Gracie. May God bless each of us with the time and desire to feast on the Word of God.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Matthew 4:1-4 “1. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4. Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
Have you ever walked into a grocery store on an empty stomach? Not a good idea... at least for me. I tend to buy and then eat anything and everything that’s not good for me.
When we are at our weakest moments spiritually, temptations can get the best of us if we’re not continually feasting on God’s Word. Keeping our minds full of what God has to say to us is the only way to prevent Satan from filling our spiritual voids with his falsehoods that lead to eternal damnation.
To accomplish this, we must make it a habit to study God’s Word continually. It’s never too early to get your kids and grandkids into the habit of feasting on God’s Word. It is up to each of us to find creative ways of encouraging those we love to read the Bible.
While I typed the above scripture reference, guess who was reading it to me? My 8 year old daughter, Gracie. May God bless each of us with the time and desire to feast on the Word of God.
Middle Ground or Holy Ground (March 4, 2004)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
“Tell me whose side are you livin’ on? I’m livin’ on the Lord’s side.” Those beautiful words rang out in song at the Intermediate Elementary gymnasium in Fort Gibson Monday. What a thrill it was to guide the souls of 168 at “Kids For Christ” a little closer to God. Commitment was my lesson topic. Through several Bible passages, crowd participation, and those little remote control cars I told you about a couple of weeks ago, these 3rd-5th graders were able to learn that there is no middle ground when it comes to serving the Lord. We’re just as lost when we straddle the fence as we are when we refuse to obey God’s commands altogether.
For a kid, this means if somebody wants you to join in on making fun of a classmate, bullying someone, or just leaving someone out of your friendship circle, tell them, "I can't because I'm living on the Lord's side." This is Bible-based information that our kids and grandkids need to know today more than ever. Oh, if we adults could fully learn this lesson.
In the song, "On Bended Knee," we sing "...make our lives a holy praise unto You." Yes, everything we do should glorify God. But let us never forget that pleasing God not only means loving and serving Him, but also loving and serving others. (reference: Matthew 22:34-40, Philippains 2:3, Galatianss 5:13)
Likewise, we can have confidence that if we choose to obey God’s commands, this puts us in a loving relationship with the Father. Then we can know without a doubt we are living holy lives on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, not on uncommitted middle ground, but on committed holy ground.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
“Tell me whose side are you livin’ on? I’m livin’ on the Lord’s side.” Those beautiful words rang out in song at the Intermediate Elementary gymnasium in Fort Gibson Monday. What a thrill it was to guide the souls of 168 at “Kids For Christ” a little closer to God. Commitment was my lesson topic. Through several Bible passages, crowd participation, and those little remote control cars I told you about a couple of weeks ago, these 3rd-5th graders were able to learn that there is no middle ground when it comes to serving the Lord. We’re just as lost when we straddle the fence as we are when we refuse to obey God’s commands altogether.
For a kid, this means if somebody wants you to join in on making fun of a classmate, bullying someone, or just leaving someone out of your friendship circle, tell them, "I can't because I'm living on the Lord's side." This is Bible-based information that our kids and grandkids need to know today more than ever. Oh, if we adults could fully learn this lesson.
In the song, "On Bended Knee," we sing "...make our lives a holy praise unto You." Yes, everything we do should glorify God. But let us never forget that pleasing God not only means loving and serving Him, but also loving and serving others. (reference: Matthew 22:34-40, Philippains 2:3, Galatianss 5:13)
Likewise, we can have confidence that if we choose to obey God’s commands, this puts us in a loving relationship with the Father. Then we can know without a doubt we are living holy lives on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, not on uncommitted middle ground, but on committed holy ground.
Choose This Day (February 19, 2004)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
1. Whose remote control is in charge of your life?
2. In the spiritual game of tag, we have the ultimate base
if we hold fast to God’s word. These were the topics of two devotionals last weekend at a lock-in for the Fort Gibson and Haskell youth groups and their friends.
In the first devo, I used one remote control car and two transmitters on the same frequency to illustrate how we can’t serve two masters. The toy car obviously didn’t have a choice in the matter. So, when Cole and Colby were both trying to maneuver the car at the same time, it rolled back and forth, ‘round in circles, and stalled out instead of following a straight path. However, Christians are able to choose which signals we accept. Gal. 5:17 reminds us that sin and God’s Spirit are in conflict with each other. Rev. 3:14-22 tells us lukewarm Christians have no place in Christ. In Jos. 24:14-15, Joshua encourages the Israelites to choose to serve God.
The second devo was given by Haskell’s youth minister, Mark Kennell, and involved two games of tag... one game had a base (safe zone), and the other didn’t. This illustrated life when we walk with God versus turning away from Him like the Israelites in the book of Jeremiah.
45 of us made the trip. About 10 were visitors. We stayed overnight at the Robinson Avenue Church of Christ gymnasium in Springdale, played lots of games and had a midnight pizza party. The trip also included a trip to the mall and to the “Jones Center for Families” where we went ice-skating. Most of the kids were so tired after staying up all night, we left early instead of staying for our 4pm swim. We all had tons of fun, and learned some valuable lessons about making choices.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
1. Whose remote control is in charge of your life?
2. In the spiritual game of tag, we have the ultimate base
if we hold fast to God’s word. These were the topics of two devotionals last weekend at a lock-in for the Fort Gibson and Haskell youth groups and their friends.
In the first devo, I used one remote control car and two transmitters on the same frequency to illustrate how we can’t serve two masters. The toy car obviously didn’t have a choice in the matter. So, when Cole and Colby were both trying to maneuver the car at the same time, it rolled back and forth, ‘round in circles, and stalled out instead of following a straight path. However, Christians are able to choose which signals we accept. Gal. 5:17 reminds us that sin and God’s Spirit are in conflict with each other. Rev. 3:14-22 tells us lukewarm Christians have no place in Christ. In Jos. 24:14-15, Joshua encourages the Israelites to choose to serve God.
The second devo was given by Haskell’s youth minister, Mark Kennell, and involved two games of tag... one game had a base (safe zone), and the other didn’t. This illustrated life when we walk with God versus turning away from Him like the Israelites in the book of Jeremiah.
45 of us made the trip. About 10 were visitors. We stayed overnight at the Robinson Avenue Church of Christ gymnasium in Springdale, played lots of games and had a midnight pizza party. The trip also included a trip to the mall and to the “Jones Center for Families” where we went ice-skating. Most of the kids were so tired after staying up all night, we left early instead of staying for our 4pm swim. We all had tons of fun, and learned some valuable lessons about making choices.
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