Spiritual Treats Are the Sweetest of All
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith - October 28 - 2008)
Here in Fort Gibson, trick-or-treating is no doubt one of the all-time favorite activities of the year for kids. It not only gives kids a chance to wear costumes and visit dozens of houses in search of something sweet, but it also gives us adults some great inner-action with a younger generation that generally feels we have nothing in common with them.
So, what can we do as Christians with this wonderful opportunity of face to face inner-action with complete strangers, as well as with friends and neighbors? One time I heard a great sermon on personal evangelism, and the key phrase that kept coming up was “just talking!” He was simply saying that in your conversations, always try to include something about Jesus Christ, church, God, you get the idea. In other words, if you’re getting your hair cut, you might mention to the barber that you need a trim for an upcoming church event. Or, you might say to a sales clerk that you need a warmer jacket for when you go door-knocking to invite people to church. Or, if you are test-driving a car with a salesman, you might run a quick errand to the church building. “Just talking!”
So, maybe as you give out candy to trick-or-treaters, you can also say something to them that honors God. In fact, while I’m giving advice, here’s a list of ten things you could say to honor God on Halloween night:
1) Jesus loves you (John 3:16). Take him with you everywhere you go.
2) God is good, all the time (Mark 10:18).
3) You look as pretty as a little angel.
4) God sure blessed us with some great weather.
5) Show me your muscles. Wow! I bet you’re as strong as Sampson (Judges 13-16)
6) Wow! Your costume is as colorful as Joseph’s coat! (Genesis 37)
7) That’s a big growl. You sound as powerful as the “Lion of Judah!” Do you know who that is? Jesus. (Revelation 5:5).
You might reserve these last few for the older kids.
8) You look as scary as judgment day for the unsaved!
9) The Bible says God made us in his image (Genesis 1:27), but I don’t think that’s quite what he had in mind!
10) I bet God likes your costume, because it sure scared the devil out of me!
The point is, we can all do better at working our faith into our conversations. But one word of caution: Even when joking around, we must remember that our words and actions teach others about our level of commitment to God. May we always accurately convey God’s saving message in the spirit of love as our Heavenly Father commands. It’s the sweetest treat of all. (end)
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.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Separation of Church and State? Not in the Constitution
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(October 21 - 2008)
On November 4, 2008 our country will elect a new President of the United States, either John McCain or Barack Obama.
And out of all the issues that have been debated, one thing has stood the test of time for every federal and local administration: Our dependence on God, and consequences for not following God’s moral code.
As part of their inaugural addresses, every U.S. President has called on God to bless this country. On April 30, 1789, George Washington said,
“It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States,”
Our Declaration of Independence acknowledges the God of the Bible four times, referring to Nature’s God, Creator, Supreme Judge of the World, and divine Providence.
All fifty states call on God in their state constitutions. Author and first Governor of Pennsylvania, William Penn (1644-1718), said, "Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."
Is it really possible that all fifty states are guilty of violating the U.S. Constitution in their own state constitution? Come on! Is it really possible that every U.S. President has broken the law by asking for God’s assistance in running our nation’s government? Or is it that satan has slowly and skillfully taken generations to bluff our governmental leaders and lull voters into thinking everything will be okay and taken care of by “someone else?”
Our U.S. Constitution never even once mentions the phrase “separation of church and state.” Yet, Christians feel forced to be politically correct to appease an ever-increasingly worldly culture that expects tolerance from us, while we get no tolerance from those who are clinging to a phrase that doesn’t even exist in our constitution.
Yes, Thomas Jefferson did respond to a letter in 1802 from Danbury Baptist Church leaders who were worried about their religious freedoms. But when he mentioned the phrase “wall of separation between church and state,” he was re-assuring those church leaders that the U.S. government would not threaten their religious freedoms. He was not saying that God had to be taken out of all government-funded entities.
The people of North Korea know what it’s like to be under a Godless government. May each of us pray fervently for our lawmakers and judges who interpret laws, that they will remember the spirit as well as the Spirit that has made our country great. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(October 21 - 2008)
On November 4, 2008 our country will elect a new President of the United States, either John McCain or Barack Obama.
And out of all the issues that have been debated, one thing has stood the test of time for every federal and local administration: Our dependence on God, and consequences for not following God’s moral code.
As part of their inaugural addresses, every U.S. President has called on God to bless this country. On April 30, 1789, George Washington said,
“It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States,”
Our Declaration of Independence acknowledges the God of the Bible four times, referring to Nature’s God, Creator, Supreme Judge of the World, and divine Providence.
All fifty states call on God in their state constitutions. Author and first Governor of Pennsylvania, William Penn (1644-1718), said, "Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."
Is it really possible that all fifty states are guilty of violating the U.S. Constitution in their own state constitution? Come on! Is it really possible that every U.S. President has broken the law by asking for God’s assistance in running our nation’s government? Or is it that satan has slowly and skillfully taken generations to bluff our governmental leaders and lull voters into thinking everything will be okay and taken care of by “someone else?”
Our U.S. Constitution never even once mentions the phrase “separation of church and state.” Yet, Christians feel forced to be politically correct to appease an ever-increasingly worldly culture that expects tolerance from us, while we get no tolerance from those who are clinging to a phrase that doesn’t even exist in our constitution.
Yes, Thomas Jefferson did respond to a letter in 1802 from Danbury Baptist Church leaders who were worried about their religious freedoms. But when he mentioned the phrase “wall of separation between church and state,” he was re-assuring those church leaders that the U.S. government would not threaten their religious freedoms. He was not saying that God had to be taken out of all government-funded entities.
The people of North Korea know what it’s like to be under a Godless government. May each of us pray fervently for our lawmakers and judges who interpret laws, that they will remember the spirit as well as the Spirit that has made our country great. (end)
The devil’s tricks are always cleverly disguised
by Barrett Vanlandingham (October 14 - 2008)
As I sat down to write this article in my office in Fort Gibson, I checked my e-mail and was reminded that the devil can find us wherever we live. In my inbox was an e-mail which informed me that $6.2 million dollars had been deposited into my bank account. The return address even said “Your ATM Account.” If I hadn’t already received similar e-mails several times before, I might have thought, “Whoo Hoo! I’m rich, I’m rich!” I also receive e-mails fairly often from a “wealthy businessman” from another country who wanted me to open an account for his $50-million dollars. He even agreed to give me ten-percent for my trouble. What a deal! I received another e-mail saying I could “click here” to watch instant pornography (and nobody would even know). The junk e-mails I received were even worse before I figured out how to block most of them.
Each of the e-mails I received has two things in common:
1) They are masterminded by satan.
2) They make promises that will only lead to spiritual death as well as many earthly problems even if the sin is private.
You have about as much chance that someone is going to deposit six-million dollars into your account as you do at finding real happiness through pornography.
October is a month filled with not only fall festivals, but also practical jokes and disguises. As Christians, we need to also use this month to be reminded of the disguises satan uses to trick us. The deceiver makes promises that only result in temporary earthly happiness. They quickly switch to heartache, conflict, guilt, and unfulfilled expectations of contentment instead of true joy, true peace, and true love which last forever.
Remember what the apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:10? “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearances of evil.”
In the seventh chapter of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived said this about the man who chose to have relations with an adultress. “:22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose :23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life… :27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.”
You see, the promises of the world will let you down. Just ask Wall Street and the investment banks. They may have been paved with good intentions, but they were swallowed up with greed or selfishness just like Jonah, and just like King David who lusted after Bathsheba, an act which cost lives. But the promises of God will never let you down. As imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1), we should also never break promises in exchange for the lies of the devil which are empty and only serve to provoke God’s wrath (Eph. 5:7). We are to not partner with them or approve of them (Romans 1:32).
May God bless you as you lift up His name, cling to the cross, and approach his throne of grace everyday with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).
by Barrett Vanlandingham (October 14 - 2008)
As I sat down to write this article in my office in Fort Gibson, I checked my e-mail and was reminded that the devil can find us wherever we live. In my inbox was an e-mail which informed me that $6.2 million dollars had been deposited into my bank account. The return address even said “Your ATM Account.” If I hadn’t already received similar e-mails several times before, I might have thought, “Whoo Hoo! I’m rich, I’m rich!” I also receive e-mails fairly often from a “wealthy businessman” from another country who wanted me to open an account for his $50-million dollars. He even agreed to give me ten-percent for my trouble. What a deal! I received another e-mail saying I could “click here” to watch instant pornography (and nobody would even know). The junk e-mails I received were even worse before I figured out how to block most of them.
Each of the e-mails I received has two things in common:
1) They are masterminded by satan.
2) They make promises that will only lead to spiritual death as well as many earthly problems even if the sin is private.
You have about as much chance that someone is going to deposit six-million dollars into your account as you do at finding real happiness through pornography.
October is a month filled with not only fall festivals, but also practical jokes and disguises. As Christians, we need to also use this month to be reminded of the disguises satan uses to trick us. The deceiver makes promises that only result in temporary earthly happiness. They quickly switch to heartache, conflict, guilt, and unfulfilled expectations of contentment instead of true joy, true peace, and true love which last forever.
Remember what the apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:10? “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearances of evil.”
In the seventh chapter of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived said this about the man who chose to have relations with an adultress. “:22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose :23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life… :27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.”
You see, the promises of the world will let you down. Just ask Wall Street and the investment banks. They may have been paved with good intentions, but they were swallowed up with greed or selfishness just like Jonah, and just like King David who lusted after Bathsheba, an act which cost lives. But the promises of God will never let you down. As imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1), we should also never break promises in exchange for the lies of the devil which are empty and only serve to provoke God’s wrath (Eph. 5:7). We are to not partner with them or approve of them (Romans 1:32).
May God bless you as you lift up His name, cling to the cross, and approach his throne of grace everyday with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).
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