Nehemiah understands your challenges (Part 1 of 5 part series)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 2, 2009
Sometimes it’s easy to think that no one understands the challenges you are facing. But the Bible is full of people who have experienced everything you are going through in one form or another. That’s why it’s so important to read about the lives of Bible characters. They’ve been where you are.
Take Nehemiah for instance. 20 members of my youth group and 20 adults here at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ are going on a mission trip to Monterrey, Mexico June 13-19. We will be helping to construct a church building in the developing suburb of Santa Monica, Mexico. The more I thought about our trip, the more I began to relate with Nehemiah. In fact, every person going on this mission trip or any mission trip this summer should be able to relate with Nehemiah. He was a very well-respected man of God who definitely relates to anyone experiencing one of life’s valleys. He was an exiled Jew working as the cupbearer to the king in Susa (modern-day Iran) about 450 years before the time of Christ.
In this part one of a five part series on Nehemiah, we’re going to take a look at the problem he was facing and how similar this is to situations missionaries and others face today.
Let’s read Nehemiah 1:3. “They said to me, those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
The problem was that Jerusalem was the single most important place on earth for the Jews. Major cities were defined by their walls. Without walls and gates, Jerusalem lost its dignity and respect not only as the centerpiece of the Jewish nation, but also as a city. People would view it as only a common village, not a great city. Many Jews, especially those with power and influence had been driven out of Judah into Babylonian exile (modern-day Iraq). They were later taken over by the Medes and Persians (modern-day Iran) who began to let them go back home. That’s when Nehemiah’s brother along with some other men told him about the condition of their homeland. Broken down walls and burned gates only added insult to injury to the Jews.
Mexico has been in the news a lot recently because of violence involving drug cartels, and illness and deaths caused by the H1N1 virus (aka: swine flu). Christians hate to see the diminishing of God’s word being spread as the result of anything the devil can come up with. But the fact is, fear brought on by over-reaction and hyped-up media reports has resulted in the cancelation of a lot of mission trips into Mexico. This is bad for Christian brothers and sisters there who need our resources to help in the saving of lost souls. Changing Mexico from the inside out may be the only way to change the turmoil there.
We all face daily challenges and uncertainties. Maybe not actual broken down walls, but maybe broken down family lives, broken down communication lines, broken down self-image or reputation. Nehemiah sought the help of God when he was at his lowest. We will take a look at his reaction to bad news in part two. Have a great week!
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.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Make sure God has a place in your family this summer
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 26, 2009
Waking up this week probably seems a little sweeter for a lot of kids. No more school! On one hand, this could spell trouble if your kids have too much unsupervised or unplanned time. On the other hand, summer vacation can make for some great opportunities to spend more time with your family. After all, time during the school year is a precious commodity to say the least. As if homework doesn’t keep them busy enough, just add one or two extra-curricular activities and that can make for a very hectic schedule in need of a break!
Even in the summer, spending time with your kids can seem more challenging than it should. Sometimes, all I feel like doing is reclining in my chair in the living room. Some of that is okay. We all need a little “down time,” parents and children. But it is important to be aware of what your kids are up to. They need quality time with you. And if you’re too busy, they will find other things to occupy their time. Some of those things may be good, others not so much. And with the extra time on their hands that summer provides, it’s more important than ever to take advantage of all the great possibilities for good parenting. An investment in your kids over the summer could pay off in a big way in the fall when you have to once again compete for time with your family.
The Bible speaks of using our time wisely. The apostle Paul said, “Be very careful how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
It’s not an accident that Paul placed this scripture just before another lengthy passage regarding relationships between husbands and wives, children and parents. In Ephesians 6:1-4, Paul stresses the importance of children obeying their parents. But he also reminds parents, and in particular fathers, to not purposely irritate or annoy their kids to the extreme, but instead to raise their children in the Lord. This not only requires quality family time at home or even on vacations, but it also requires regular Bible study. This can be a challenge. But it’s one that can be overcome if the parent is setting the example by studying at home, in Bible class, and in worship service. You can also incorporate God into your conversations. It’s good to do anyway, but it also reminds your children of your priorities. If not now, in the end your children will thank you for making God part of your family, even during summer vacation. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 26, 2009
Waking up this week probably seems a little sweeter for a lot of kids. No more school! On one hand, this could spell trouble if your kids have too much unsupervised or unplanned time. On the other hand, summer vacation can make for some great opportunities to spend more time with your family. After all, time during the school year is a precious commodity to say the least. As if homework doesn’t keep them busy enough, just add one or two extra-curricular activities and that can make for a very hectic schedule in need of a break!
Even in the summer, spending time with your kids can seem more challenging than it should. Sometimes, all I feel like doing is reclining in my chair in the living room. Some of that is okay. We all need a little “down time,” parents and children. But it is important to be aware of what your kids are up to. They need quality time with you. And if you’re too busy, they will find other things to occupy their time. Some of those things may be good, others not so much. And with the extra time on their hands that summer provides, it’s more important than ever to take advantage of all the great possibilities for good parenting. An investment in your kids over the summer could pay off in a big way in the fall when you have to once again compete for time with your family.
The Bible speaks of using our time wisely. The apostle Paul said, “Be very careful how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
It’s not an accident that Paul placed this scripture just before another lengthy passage regarding relationships between husbands and wives, children and parents. In Ephesians 6:1-4, Paul stresses the importance of children obeying their parents. But he also reminds parents, and in particular fathers, to not purposely irritate or annoy their kids to the extreme, but instead to raise their children in the Lord. This not only requires quality family time at home or even on vacations, but it also requires regular Bible study. This can be a challenge. But it’s one that can be overcome if the parent is setting the example by studying at home, in Bible class, and in worship service. You can also incorporate God into your conversations. It’s good to do anyway, but it also reminds your children of your priorities. If not now, in the end your children will thank you for making God part of your family, even during summer vacation. (end)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Answers become clearer in the light
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 19, 2009
It was late last Tuesday night. My daughter was depending on me to fix the computer printer so she could finish a project. But after spending nearly an hour trying to get it to work, the printer was still chewing up page after page. Something was broken, I just knew it! Finally, I decided to just leave it alone, sleep on it, and give it another try later. The next morning, I opened the front of the printer and spotted something I hadn’t seen the night before. So I got my flashlight to investigate further. There it was! A tiny piece of paper wadded up and blocking an area that was difficult to see in dim lighting. It was nothing that a pair of tweezers and a little light on the subject couldn’t handle. Immediately, two things crossed my mind. First I thought, “I have found my next Fort Faith topic.” Second, “I can’t believe it took me so long to figure out that my trusty flashlight would have been a big help the night before.”
As a minister, I think a lot about the word “light” and how it has so many spiritual meanings. Romans 8:27 tells us that God searches our hearts. How is he able to do that, and how does he always find what he’s looking for? It’s simple! Just as scripture says, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). The writer goes on to say that in order for us to have fellowship with God and remain free from sin, we must walk in the light.
Many of life’s problems can be solved with light. Have you ever had someone approach you needing help with a personal crisis? And the more you listened, the more you realized that the solution was for them to stop walking in spiritual darkness.
How many times have you stubbed your toe as you walked across a dark room, and thought to yourself, “Ouch! I wish I had seen that!” Obviously, the best way to keep from stubbing your toe is to look where you’re going. And sometimes, that requires light. I remember as a young boy, walking across the cow pasture after dark, and almost always stepping in something the cows had left behind. That problem could have also been solved with light, not to mention the pile of dirty shoes that stayed on our back porch courtesy of the same problem, not using a light.
So how do we make sure we’re walking “in him”, in the light, where there is no darkness, and where we cannot be separated from the love of God? Romans 8:39 tells us we can find this assurance “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, and Romans 6:1-11 tell us that believers are “baptized into Christ Jesus.”
May God bless your spiritual journey as you remember that God rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6) (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 19, 2009
It was late last Tuesday night. My daughter was depending on me to fix the computer printer so she could finish a project. But after spending nearly an hour trying to get it to work, the printer was still chewing up page after page. Something was broken, I just knew it! Finally, I decided to just leave it alone, sleep on it, and give it another try later. The next morning, I opened the front of the printer and spotted something I hadn’t seen the night before. So I got my flashlight to investigate further. There it was! A tiny piece of paper wadded up and blocking an area that was difficult to see in dim lighting. It was nothing that a pair of tweezers and a little light on the subject couldn’t handle. Immediately, two things crossed my mind. First I thought, “I have found my next Fort Faith topic.” Second, “I can’t believe it took me so long to figure out that my trusty flashlight would have been a big help the night before.”
As a minister, I think a lot about the word “light” and how it has so many spiritual meanings. Romans 8:27 tells us that God searches our hearts. How is he able to do that, and how does he always find what he’s looking for? It’s simple! Just as scripture says, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). The writer goes on to say that in order for us to have fellowship with God and remain free from sin, we must walk in the light.
Many of life’s problems can be solved with light. Have you ever had someone approach you needing help with a personal crisis? And the more you listened, the more you realized that the solution was for them to stop walking in spiritual darkness.
How many times have you stubbed your toe as you walked across a dark room, and thought to yourself, “Ouch! I wish I had seen that!” Obviously, the best way to keep from stubbing your toe is to look where you’re going. And sometimes, that requires light. I remember as a young boy, walking across the cow pasture after dark, and almost always stepping in something the cows had left behind. That problem could have also been solved with light, not to mention the pile of dirty shoes that stayed on our back porch courtesy of the same problem, not using a light.
So how do we make sure we’re walking “in him”, in the light, where there is no darkness, and where we cannot be separated from the love of God? Romans 8:39 tells us we can find this assurance “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, and Romans 6:1-11 tell us that believers are “baptized into Christ Jesus.”
May God bless your spiritual journey as you remember that God rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6) (end)
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Sonshine and reign will help you grow
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 12, 2009
The grass in my backyard could definitely stand to be mowed. The weeds appear to be plotting a takeover. The problem is that the rain has made the ground too soggy to walk on without making deep footprints. Therefore, mowing lately has been next to impossible.
Spiritually speaking, we all know people who need to cut some things out of their lives before the weeds of sin choke them out. The only problem is that just like my backyard, people who are deep into sin often need a little “Sonshine” from someone who cares before they will let you help them with their problem. If you try to barge-in too fast, you might not be very effective because their life is just too weighed down with sin. Overly ambitious soul-savers can sometimes leave deep footprints on people that look worse than the battered sinner they had set out to save.
It is very important to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and both parts of that verse are equally important. Yes, we must speak the truth in our efforts to inform someone that they are in spiritual danger. But we must make sure that we talk to people in a way that is perceived as a loving attitude just like Jesus had. We can never put enough emphasis on letting the love of Christ show through us. That’s why the greatest commandments are to love God and then love your neighbor.
One more thing to remember about soul saving is that if you convince someone to cut a particular sin out of their life, they are going to need something positive to replace it with. This is a fact that cannot be underplayed whether you’re talking about yard work, or self-improvement. Read what Jesus had to say about this.
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” (Matthew 11:24-26)
The best kind of rain is that of Jesus “reigning” in our lives. You see, as long as God’s Son shines in your heart, there will be no room for weeds to grow. Have a blessed day! (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 12, 2009
The grass in my backyard could definitely stand to be mowed. The weeds appear to be plotting a takeover. The problem is that the rain has made the ground too soggy to walk on without making deep footprints. Therefore, mowing lately has been next to impossible.
Spiritually speaking, we all know people who need to cut some things out of their lives before the weeds of sin choke them out. The only problem is that just like my backyard, people who are deep into sin often need a little “Sonshine” from someone who cares before they will let you help them with their problem. If you try to barge-in too fast, you might not be very effective because their life is just too weighed down with sin. Overly ambitious soul-savers can sometimes leave deep footprints on people that look worse than the battered sinner they had set out to save.
It is very important to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and both parts of that verse are equally important. Yes, we must speak the truth in our efforts to inform someone that they are in spiritual danger. But we must make sure that we talk to people in a way that is perceived as a loving attitude just like Jesus had. We can never put enough emphasis on letting the love of Christ show through us. That’s why the greatest commandments are to love God and then love your neighbor.
One more thing to remember about soul saving is that if you convince someone to cut a particular sin out of their life, they are going to need something positive to replace it with. This is a fact that cannot be underplayed whether you’re talking about yard work, or self-improvement. Read what Jesus had to say about this.
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” (Matthew 11:24-26)
The best kind of rain is that of Jesus “reigning” in our lives. You see, as long as God’s Son shines in your heart, there will be no room for weeds to grow. Have a blessed day! (end)
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