God presence can improve your New Year
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 28, 2010

In just a few days we will ring in the New Year of 2011. In the Bible, the New Testament has a lot to say about new things.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Most of us probably like the sound of becoming a new creation, especially for those of us who’ve lived long enough to experience challenges in this old life. So, how do we become a new creation? Paul says we must be in Christ to become new.
Think of it this way. In order for a seed to grow into a new plant, either the old plant has to die, or there must be a separation of the old plant from the new seed. This happens in our culture everyday as old ways and ideas make room for the new.
In John 12:24 Jesus consoles his disciples by explaining to them the importance of him dying. “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
This was a new way of looking at things for Jesus’ disciples. Up until this point, they hadn’t really thought about carrying on Jesus’ teachings and acts of service in his absence.
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He had to die, not only so he could be raised from the dead to live a new life, but also so that we could have hope of a new life in heaven. Jesus’ birth, his life, his suffering, his death, and his resurrection are the Gospel story. It has stood the test of time and continues to be the freshest, most exciting and life-changing Good News ever told! But the New Testament’s Gospel story could have never been written without Christ’s death on the cross. Only the blood of the Lamb could forgive sin. That was something the blood of bulls and goats could never accomplish.
We too must die to self, turn our back on worldly ways in the things we say and do, and be buried through baptism into Christ so that we can be raised to live a new life, clothed in Christ. These principles are taught in Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 3:26-27 and Galatians 2:20.
As each generation tries to be new and improved, mankind has also tried to improve on the Bible’s plan of salvation. This is not wise. In Mark 8:36 Jesus asks, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
God’s Word gives us everything we need to find salvation (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
2011 will bring many new opportunities for us all. May we never be ashamed of taking a stand for Jesus in the New Year and every year. God bless your efforts to live for Him and teach others the love of Christ. (end)

An Adventure in Honduras
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 16, 2010

My trip to Central America to the mountainous region of Honduras last week was eye-opening. Our hopes were to
find mission works for our church family to get involved with since our door for taking teams into Mexico is closed for now.
But as they say, when one door is closed, God always opens another. And this trip was definitely a success!
On one day, missions deacon Glen Elliott and I visited a medical clinic funded by churches of Christ through Mission
Lazarus. It was about four blocks from the Pacific coast. The irony is that we were under the shade of beautiful coconut and
palm trees as we visited impoverished and malnourished children who were taking part in a nutrition program. Some of the
toddlers and other young children had bloated stomachs from drinking water that contains parasites which cause gas. Other
children struggled with health problems because of the germs that enter a child’s system through bare feet. And others were
in fact suffering from lack of food and from not eating the right kinds of foods.
Next, we continued down a highway that should be labeled “pothole alley.” We passed dozens of ox-drawn carts,
and hundreds of bicyclists and pedestrians on either side of the narrow roads. Our driver slowed down enough at one point
so that several young boys could give us a close-up look at live iguanas they were hoping to sell us for five-dollars apiece.
No, I didn’t even attempt to bring one back with me. Can you imagine making it through an airport pat-down with a two-foot
long Honduran iguana?
We also went to a neighborhood to check on a home-building project. As I was shooting video, a man and his herd
of livestock came around the corner towards us, not in a trailer, but on foot, or should I say on hoof! Let’s just say at one
point I pictured myself in a situation similar to the “running of the bulls” in Spain. Not nearly as extreme, but when one
huge black Brahma bull lowered its head at me and I briefly felt the power of its head and horns, I knew this was serious
business. My shirt ripped on a fence as I was making my getaway, but trust me, I wasn’t worried about the shirt.
The adventures continued. We attended the graduation of several bright young preachers from the four year Baxter
Institute. We got to know two of them very well, Siney Medina and Olvin Flores, who need support for their work in Honduras.
We also spent a couple of nights loading thousands of Christmas gifts to be hauled into some of the poorest regions
of Honduras through the “Magi Project.” And we got to eat tostadas from a street vendor just three miles from the Nicaraguan
border while purchasing a giant fallen tree from a landowner. The wood will be made into furniture for
Mission Lazarus to sell to support its orphanage and other projects.
We can all take part in telling and showing the Good News of Jesus as he commanded in Matthew 28:18-
20 and Acts 1:8. May God bless us all as we prayerfully consider how to best use our blessings and talents to go
and be a witness for Christ in foreign lands and here at home.

God can bring peace to life’s challenges
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 7, 2010

When I entered into full-time ministry nearly nine years ago, I didn’t realize Satan worked against Christians in so many ways.
As you read this, I will be returning from a week of fact-finding in Honduras for the Fort Gibson Church of Christ. Our missions deacon Glen Elliott and I are hoping to find a replacement trip for our Mexico mission effort. It was put on hold over the summer because of the escalating drug wars and kidnapping in Mexico. In fact, as I write this, I have just received word that one of the locals, a young man we worked with on a church building project, has been kidnapped by drug cartel thugs. His name is Felipe. He is the right-hand man for Ladi Gordiano who is the foreman on several church building projects in Monterrey. He is also a Gospel preacher. Please pray for all those in Mexico who are doing the Lord’s work.
When Jesus said, “Go into all the world…” he never said things would be easy. To prepare for the Honduras trip, I got a tetanus shot, a prescription of malaria pills, I read news reports, watched videos, looked at pictures, crammed my brain full of Central America trivia, and sought advice from others. But the fact is we live in a very unpredictable world that is not controlled by any one of us, no matter how much prep work we do.
As Christians, we must have faith that things will turn out for the best (Romans 8:28) and that God’s view of what goes on in the world is complete. He sees the beginning, middle, and end. We only see a small part of the picture. The apostle Paul evidently spent some time thinking about this as well.
In 1 Corinthians 13:12 Paul wrote, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
As much as we would like, there is no way we can fully understand why things happen the way they do here in this broken world. Can you even imagine how terrifying life would be if we knew what was around every corner? Perhaps that is why Peter wrote that we should “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).”
The first part of that verse encourages us to stay focused. You see, it is only when we view life through a Godly lens that we can even begin to understand spiritual warfare.
May you experience joy and peace this week as you turn your heart over to God, and let him deal with life’s unpredictable moments. (end)

The more you give, the more you are like God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 30, 2010

I don’t know about you but every morning when I wake up, there are certain things I expect God to do for me. I expect the sun to rise. I expect there to be ground to walk on. I expect there to be air to breathe. And I expect there to be a heavenly home awaiting me if this should be my last day to live.
But have you ever thought about what life would be like if God gave us what we deserved? Scary thought, huh? The fact is most of us expect God to keep blessing us even though we don’t always treat him as we should.
Jesus tells us in Luke 6:27-28 “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” He goes on to say that if we only love and do good to those who love us, we’re no better than those who choose to live in sin.
It would be easy for us to get depressed if we went through life feeling as though God owed us something. But if we counted our blessings, we would most definitely find that the good outweighs the bad. And God expects us to share life’s blessings with others.
This is the time of year when it becomes a little harder to stretch a dollar. But it’s also the time of year that can be a real blessing when it comes to spiritual growth. You see, when we trust God to take care of our needs, he always comes through.
One of the questions I often get asked is what to do if you’re not sure you have enough money, food, clothing or whatever to give away? Go ahead and give. That’s an excellent opportunity to grow your faith.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?” or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ He goes on to say “…your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Then Jesus tells the crowd to put God first in their lives and then all those other worries will be taken care of. (ref: Matthew 6:31-33)
Many people across America just finished celebrating Thanksgiving. Many prayers of thanks were given for life’s blessings. But now we head into another season in which many gifts will be exchanged, and many will celebrate the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ.
This is also an excellent opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life by giving to those less fortunate than you, and by telling and showing others how a life with Jesus is the greatest gift ever. (end)

The Autumn Season Highlights God’s Handiwork
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 16, 2010

For the first time ever, the leaves on the maple tree in my yard turned a brilliant bright yellow splashed with shades of orange and red! Past years have not been near this impressive. But this year? Well, as my son put it, “Our tree looks like a picture!”
Of course, why should anyone be surprised? After all, God has had a lot of practice since the third day of creation when He made plants and trees (Genesis 1:11).
So why are some autumns prettier than others? That’s kind of the boring part, but it suffices to say that differing amounts of sunlight, rain, and cool but not freezing nights (so the experts say) are the cause.
In Ecclesiastes 3:11 Solomon says this of God, “He has made all things beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
God has truly blessed all of us with a beautiful autumn this year. I have seen a lot of colorful trees in and around Fort Gibson that demand I take notice of God’s amazing power and creativity.
Leaves changing color is no accident. God designed them in this way. Science tells us that during the summer, leaves combine sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and sugar. It’s a process called photosynthesis. But since there’s not enough light in the winter for this to happen, most trees rest and live off the food they have stored up. Then the green Chlorophyll disappears so we can see the orange and yellow colors that were there all along. The reds and purples appear as cooler weather changes the color of the sugars.
Amazing! And after that, the dead leaves even have a job to do. Once they fall to the ground, they provide nutrients to the soil and help hold moisture in the ground.
The world in which we live is vibrant, orderly, and beautifully jaw-dropping. It was designed in such a way that mankind could catch a glimpse of our Creator and have a greater appreciation for Him.
Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
God is good. Have a blessed week!

God’s word can guide us through Satan’s deceptions
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 9, 2010

I consider myself to be pretty savvy when it comes to the internet. But about a month and a half ago, I accidentally subscribed to a penny bidding service called swipeauctions.com. The way I understood it, you’re supposed to pay a penny to bid on an item. Then, the company charges your credit card for your bids and your purchase. Here’s the problem. As soon as I signed up for the service and punched in my credit card number, a message popped up saying something like, “Congratulations on your $159 membership purchase!” There was no “Are you sure?” There was no “This amount will be charged to you.” It was just click and then “Congratulations!”
When it comes to doing spiritual battle, that’s the way the devil works. There are no second chances. When a person joins up with the dark side, even by accident, there are negative consequences. Sometimes immediate, sometimes delayed, but there are always consequences.
Satan is very manipulative. He makes sin look so inviting, sometimes almost too good to be true. He even tries to convince us that secret sins are okay since no one will ever find out. But the fact is it’s not okay. Sin is never okay. Sin cannot enter the presence of God. That’s why it’s so important to show by your actions that you believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that you are committed to obeying his commands and example. The New Testament says the saved are those who’ve been symbolically buried with Christ in baptism, then raised to live a new life clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:26 & Romans 6:1-11).
This doesn’t mean Satan will leave you alone because you have committed yourself to Christ. Realistically, the devil will likely target you even more. After all, Satan tempted Jesus himself in the desert for forty days just before his official ministry began (Luke 4:1-13). Even as Jesus was fasting, the devil was cleverly trying to convince Him that it was okay to turn stones into bread and give in to earthly cravings. Satan also tried to make a deal with Jesus to worship Satan, and in exchange the devil would give Jesus more authority over earthly things. Then the devil even tried to get Jesus to jump off the highest point of the temple so that angels could rescue Jesus. Of course, we know that Jesus refused in all three instances, and quoted his reasons directly from scripture.
You see, Jesus not only had God’s word in his heart, but he also obeyed it. Jesus could have taken the easy way out, but he set the example for us so we could have a worthy Savior to follow.
Well, it has taken me over a month to get swipeauctions.com to agree to give my money back. As for me, I’ve learned several good lessons along the way, not the least of which comes from 1 Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” Have a great day! (end)

Facing fears versus fleeing evil: thoughts from the campfire
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 2, 2010

My 12-year old son Britton and I went on a little hunting and camping trip at my parents’ farm in Tahlequah over fall break. There’s nothing more relaxing to me than a night with a full moon, perfect weather, a campfire, and a tent by a pond on the side of a hill. It was fun even though I kept falling asleep at the upper end of the tent, and would wake up after sliding to the lower end.
We were planning to hunt coyotes in the morning but not at 5a.m.! That’s when I was awakened to the sound of something that just seemed large as it brushed up against the side of our tent. My mind was racing with how to scare this creature away and rescue my sleeping son. So, I manned up, and went outside the tent to stoke the campfire and do my best in my role of protector. But much to my joy, the only things I had to contend with were two friendly donkeys, a curious mule, and a small herd of horses that had come by for a drink at the pond. I breathed a sigh of relief until it dawned on me that horses like to lean up against large solid structures to scratch. I thought to myself, “If those horses lean on this tent and fall over on my son, there won’t be anything left of him.” So, I quickly shewed them away as to avoid such a calamity.
So what does this little camping story have to do with matters of faith? For me, it’s a reminder of how the devil can sneak up on us when we least expect it. Just about the time we think all the conditions of life are perfect, Satan is always slithering close-by to choke the joy out of us. The devil can use anything or anyone to accomplish his task of stealing souls. He can use friends, family members, bosses, co-workers, traffic situations, financial struggles, and lust of many kinds to draw us away from God. And it’s usually when our defenses are down.
I like the story of David and Goliath because even though David’s own brothers were jealous and gave him absolutely no support, God was there to give him strength to face the giant. 1 Samuel 17:48 says that David ran to the battle line to meet Goliath and ultimately achieved victory. So even though scripture also tells us to avoid evil, sometimes overcoming our adversary means facing it head-on, like David did.
Bible study, prayer, and advice from an older, wiser Christian can be of great help in deciding which direction is best. Either way, giving your challenges over to God will give you peace when you need it most.
God bless and have a great day!

The Bible is easy to believe when you examine the evidence
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 26, 2010

I used to take it for granted that when I began a Bible study with someone that they at least believed in God, and believed in the Bible’s account of creation. Well, that hasn’t been the case for me for quite some time. In fact, these days it seems it is more fashionable than ever to doubt God word or even profess to be an atheist or to believe in evolution. This shouldn’t surprise us considering America’s school children have been indoctrinated with the Big Bang Theory and Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in textbooks for many years now. A book titled “Convicted” by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. has been a great help to my study on Christian evidences, and so much of my information in this article will come from his writings.
One important thing to remember when discussing creation versus evolution is this. No one has ever proven that non-living matter can evolve from nothing. And certainly no one has proven that life can evolve from non-living matter. Therefore, something (or someone) had to have always been there for anything to be created. And that someone is God.
The Bible has proven itself many times over as reliable in the areas of history and geography. William Mitchell Ramsay was a Bible skeptic who lived in 1851-1939. He set out to discredit the New Testament book of Acts which mentions 32 countries, nine Mediterranean islands, 54 cities, and is packed with geographical details. But in every circumstance in which Ramsay was able to check, Luke, the author of Acts, got it right. In fact, the Bible has never been proven wrong on anything. That’s likely why it’s the bestselling book of all time.
Evolutionists insist creation took place billions of years ago. They push this view so there will be enough time to theorize that mankind evolved three-million years ago from non-living matter, then from amoeba, worms, reptiles, lower mammals and so on.
Genesis 1:1-5 says that in the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, water, light and darkness which he called day and night. It also says there was evening and morning on the first day and every day after that. On the 2nd day came sky, day three-plants & trees, day four-sun, moon, & stars, day five-birds & fish, day six-animals and man and woman. Based on the Bible’s timeline, there’s no way the earth could be much older than 6000 years, certainly not millions or billions of years old. Besides, how could plants grow if they had to stay in the dark for millions of years waiting on the sun to be created? Is a six day creation sounding better?
We know from Genesis 1:26-27 that mankind was created in God’s image. Hebrews 2:5-7 makes the point that man was created “a little lower than the angels.” In fact, mankind is to rule over all the creatures. Last I checked, amoebas, worms, reptiles and apes weren’t fit to rule over anything. God bless you and have a great day!

Bible principles hold key to quality of life
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 19, 2010

Since I love chips and salsa, I didn’t think I would have any problem taste testing just one single hot pepper. Well, I was wrong. Evidently, there was a reason someone dropped off a full bag of peppers at the church recently. I’m guessing it was because they were too hot to eat! And since they didn’t come with directions or a warning label, I cut one pepper into pieces, put one bit into my mouth and began to chew then quickly realized I had made a BAD mistake. In fact, my lips and tongue were on fire for the better part of an hour despite the ice cubes and water.
Too bad our lips and tongues don’t have that reaction when we gossip, curse, or use our mouths as weapons. The world would no doubt be a better place to live without the levels of profanity we have these days in TV, movies, and in real life.
James 3:7-8 says, “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
You see, a man’s tongue can only be tamed when God’s Spirit dwells inside him. Without a relationship to God, the fruits of the Spirit do not grow inside us. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are qualities that only obedient Christians can have to the fullest. God’s word is how we understand what God expects of his children.
I saw a quote this week that stated an interesting irony, “Our children are discouraged from reading the Bible in school, but they are encouraged to read it in prison.” Thank goodness this does not describe Fort Gibson.
When I read reports about how schools in other parts of the nation forbid students to read the Bible at school, it makes me even more appreciative of our school system here in Fort Gibson. Our town definitely enjoys a quality of life that other places just don’t have. The importance our town places on God and character education has a huge impact on the moral fiber of Fort Gibson.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).”

Taking a fresh look the Creator
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 12, 2010

Who are we supposed to believe anyway? As I watched a world news report the other day, it focused on a crystal cave in Mexico that scientists say is 500-million years old. The cave is quite impressive. But is it really that old?
Between Hollywood, textbooks and science museums, an entire culture if not an entire world has bought into this so-called pre-historic idea. What does that mean anyway? How can there be anything before history?
The Bible gives a pretty straight forward timeline of how long it took God to create the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. Six days. He rested on the seventh day. Then, when you add up the length of time people of the Bible lived, 6000 years is a more accurate picture for the age of the earth and mankind. Yes, six-thousand years. That’s it.
But how could this be? After all, just look at natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon. Could it really be that young? Yes. Just think about how quickly such a tremendous amount of pressure and devastation could have taken place courtesy of a worldwide flood.
And as for evolution, just how many supposed “missing links” do we have to endure hearing about. One after another, these man-ape models have turned out to be hoaxes. They’ve been created alright, just not by God, but instead by men using a vivid imagination along with old teeth and bones of animals like pigs and donkeys.
Seems it takes a whole lot more faith to believe in evolution and pre-historic notions than it does to agree with the Bible’s account of creation.
There’s really no reason why a Christian can’t be a scientist. I read recently that 40-percent of scientists are Christians. The Bible spoke of many things long before science accepted them as fact. The Bible described the water-cycle long before scientists did. The Bible also described the earth as round and floating even before a flat earth had been disproven. The Bible also agrees with astronomers today who say that stars cannot be numbered even though early star gazers had estimated there to be only about a thousand stars. The Bible also had it right on matters of cleanliness and disease long before the importance of hand washing had been discovered. And the Bible talked about trenches and springs under the surface of the ocean long before they had been discovered.
Our God is truly amazing. His word hasn’t been wrong about anything yet including history, geography, and science. Won’t you trust Him today?

The greatest homecoming of all is still to come
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 5, 2010

Homecoming weekend here in Fort Gibson was quite spectacular. The weather was perfect, the school spirit was “over the top”, the parade featured a long line of class floats as well as an impressive cast of queens and their kings.
Every parent and grandparent along the parade route, in the fieldhouse, and in the stands before the game were no doubt proud as punch of their child. I know I was. My daughter, Ashton, is this year’s “Drama Queen”. Hee hee. And thanks to Murrys Nissan, I was able to cart her and her king, Austin Adamson, down the parade route in a new 370Z Convertible Touring Roadster. Wow! Just getting to drive that car for the day made my year a lot more memorable!
Spiritually, the idea of homecoming is central to the very existence of every Christian. Some of my favorite hymns are “Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims”, the old spiritual “Poor Wayfaring Stranger”, and of course “To Canaan’s Land” and “I’ll Fly Away.”
Each of those songs, and many more remind us that our time here on earth is only a very small piece of our life overall. One day, there will be a homecoming like none other. That will be the day that God calls all of his faithful home to heaven.
When Jesus left this earth, his disciples gazed at his ascension until a cloud hid him from their sight. That’s when two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11)."
Can you even imagine what that day will be like? Just think of all the things that consume our minds with worry, heartache, and depression here on earth. Just think of all the physical, emotional, and mental aches, pains, frustration, and illnesses that plague so many. The fact is, we as Christians who stay faithful in spite of worldly persecution have a promise that was inspired by God and written down by John two-thousand years ago. Revelation 7:17 says, “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven, and that Jesus “…will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
May God bless everyone who bears the name Christian, on the journey through this life towards the greatest homecoming of all.

There is a safe place in life’s storms
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 28, 2010

You may remember the old hymn that says, “Where could I go but to the Lord?” I know it may seem strange, but those words popped into my head the other day after coming out of a School Safety and Health Committee meeting. There I sat with three students, two teachers, and the vice-principal of Fort Gibson Middle School. Our job was to identify potential problems and come up with solutions.
Christians must do the same thing. We must make efforts to identify our spiritual weaknesses, and then look to God’s word for solutions. We often overlook obvious answers to life’s problems, mainly because we get caught up in the very world that created the problems in the first place. It is crazy to think that when the storms of life hit, that we can find comfort in earthly things. Our true safe-haven lies in the One who stilled the storm two-thousand years ago.
In Matthew 8:23-27, we’re told that Jesus and his disciples got into a boat when all of the sudden a storm swept waves over them! It is obvious by the fact that the disciples woke Jesus from his sleep and asked him to save them that they knew where to turn in this moment of trouble. Then, just as they had hoped, Jesus “rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” The thing that strikes me as odd in that passage is that afterwards the disciples were pretty much blown away by what Jesus was able to do for them. So they asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
I’m thinking, “How can they say that after watching Jesus heal throughout Galilee those who were demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, not to mention the fact they had just witnessed his amazing Sermon on the Mount which included the Beattitudes?”
But are we any different today when it comes to our lack of faith? We see the handiwork of God. We experience the love of Jesus through his Holy Spirit and through Christian brothers and sisters. We even have amazing amounts of historical and archeological evidence that prove the Bible can be trusted. It is the same today as it was thousands of years ago.
And even though we know where to turn for help in the storms of life, our faith often grows dim until the next major life crisis, just like the disciples in the first century.
May God grant each of us the desire, strength and confidence to trust in the Lord always, especially when we feel like we have everything under control.

You can’t judge spiritual cleanliness by what’s on the outside
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 21, 2010

One thing I do not enjoy is taking my car to the carwash. But occasionally I do it anyway so it won’t be too much of an eyesore. And if it rains, well, that’s all the better since that means I may be able to stretch a little farther between car washings.
Anyway, the other day I got into my car while thinking to myself, “It’s looking pretty clean today.” But when I drove into the sun I realized my windshield was dirty, not the kind of dirty you can clean-off with wipers, but the kind that builds up on the inside. I actually had to take Windex, a rag, and some major elbow grease to scrub-off the fog-like film that had been slowly building up for quite some time.
My mind immediately turned to what Jesus said in Matthew 23:25-28. He spoke strong words towards the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who were more concerned with their outward appearances than their true inner character. He even called them hypocrites!
Then he said, “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” He said, “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”
He also compared them to “…whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything is unclean.” Jesus told them that even though they appear to be righteous people, they are really full of hypocrisy and wickedness on the inside.
This passage is a great reminder to all Christians. Simply put, it is much more important to apply lasting Christ-like qualities to our inner self than to dwell on outward appearances or on being part of the social elite which are both very temporary.
Just like the inside of my windshield, worldly influences can clutter our spiritual life, even when no one else knows. It is only when God’s Son shines in our heart that we can truly see if we are walking in His light.
There is certainly nothing wrong with making a good outward impression. We should always put our best foot forward. But God knows our heart. He is not fooled by any façade or mask or anything else that may be covering up what is really going on inside the very being He created.

Commitment to marriage starts with God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 14, 2010

We all know of places throughout this country where long marriages are considered a novelty. My parents, Charles and Judy Vanlandingham of Tahlequah, are celebrating their 54th anniversary this month. Funny thing is, even though 54 years together is a great accomplishment, long marriages are not that unique in our area.
Fort Gibson is blessed with many marriages that continue to stand the test of time. Seems just about every week or so, another local couple celebrates a major milestone.
So what is the key to a successful marriage? It’s pretty common to get answers such as “I have just learned to keep my opinion to myself.” Or, “I have just learned to have a lot of patience.”
Those answers may be humorous and often true. But most of the successful marriages I have witnessed give credit to their commitment to God. You see, when we place God at the top of our priority list, everything else falls right into place. This is true for business relationships, social relationships, and is certainly true for marriages.
There is nothing worse than a Christian trying to work for a boss who has no morals. Young Christians often have a hard time fitting in at school if the majority of kids around them are immoral. And a marriage will find out not long after the “I do’s” if the vows were based on God or romance and fun.
That’s why 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” The fact is, light and darkness cannot happen at the same time, just as Jesus who is described as light (John 1:4-9) cannot be darkness, nor can darkness exist in his presence.
A good marriage will flourish in the light, where Jesus is. Good marriages include God as the first and most important partner. This makes sense in light of the fact that God created us and knows us better than anyone.
You may have heard someone ask, “Have you performed your vows today that you took when you got married?” In other words, are you putting more or less effort into your marriage now than when you said, “I do?” But just as important is this question, “Were your wedding vows based on your relationship with God to begin with?” If not, it’s not too late to give your marriage completely over to Him. The first and greatest commandment is a good place to start: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).”
May God bless your marriage as you put your relationship in His hands.

Christ-like teens can make a big difference
September 7, 2010
by Barrett Vanlandingham

I was checking Facebook this week when I noticed a thought-provoking conversation among three local teenagers. One boy wrote, “I don’t feel like going to church tonight.” Another boy responded, “When you don’t feel like going, that’s exactly when you really need to go.” Next, a young lady chimed in with, “Hey, what if God said, ‘Hmm, I don’t feel like letting you walk today?’”
I was greatly encouraged by such mature thoughts from teenagers I have no doubt that the God’s Holy Spirit was guiding both of them to say the right thing.
Have you read the words of David in Psalms 30:11? “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,” (NASB) It has been my experience that when I don’t feel like participating in worship or Bible class, God always blesses me when I choose differently. When we go to God in prayer, He is faithful and will always replace those feelings of discouragement, worry, and even selfishness with feelings of peace, joy, and selflessness. Encouragement from Godly friends always helps.
As for the young lady’s comment? All I have to say to that is “How true!” God really doesn’t owe us anything. But He continues to bless us. Heaven forbid that God should ever have a bad day, and not feel like producing air for us to breathe. Or imagine if God decided to take the weekend off and not tell the sun to rise.
We know from scripture that God is patient. But we also know that on a several occasions, God had all He wanted to take from a rebellious people. Remember the flood? Remember the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? Remember all those times God allowed his chosen people (Israel) to be defeated? In each instance, it was because their hearts had turned away from God’s commands which were designed to help them succeed.
Yes, we all have days that we just don’t feel like being around people. But that fact should cause us to praise our God even more! We have a God who knows exactly what it feels like to be in our shoes, especially shoes that don’t fit.
God is good! Have a praise-filled week!

The secret to overcoming evil is good!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 31, 2010

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9)”
This has to be one of the hardest Biblical commands to obey. After all, why would anyone want to give a blessing to someone who has just insulted them?
As kids have returned to school, this topic has been on my mind a lot lately. As if the daily stresses of life are not difficult enough, being on the receiving end of an insult is not what any of us wants to add to our list of chores whether we’re a kid or an adult.
So, what blessings do you stand to inherit if you choose to bless someone after they treat you badly? For starters, the obvious blessing of learning patience, and learning to love those who are undeserving. I feel pretty fortunate that God continues to bless my life even though I am so undeserving. I could save my pennies for a million years and never be able to earn a single blessing from God. But he blesses me anyway. He blesses us all so richly!
The apostle Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).” That is a pretty clear statement. And in terms of spiritual war, a loving and caring attitude will always win out in the end.
The apostle Peter says to answer everyone with gentleness and respect “…so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Peter 3:16).”
This is one of those areas where we as Christians just have to trust in God’s wisdom. We all know how satisfying it is to feel like we got the best of someone. The only flaw in that way of thinking is that our goal as Christians is to show the love of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
The reward of letting God be the one to take revenge may be that of saving a soul from the fires of hell. After all, what are the chances of saving someone’s soul if we as Christians act out as badly as those we are trying to save? God has always known just what to do to get someone’s attention.
2 Corinthians 10:3 tells us, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” Paul goes on to say that the weapon of the Christian is power from God to demolish the devil’s strongholds.
May you receive the power of goodness this week as you bring the love of Christ to all those in your path.

The Christian life is not as hard as pulling teeth, really!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 24, 2010

My 12-year old son, Britton, and I walked into the dentist office Friday for him to have some teeth pulled. What we didn’t know is that he would be getting NINE teeth pulled that very day. His orthodontist wanted the dentist to pull the rest of Britton’s baby teeth so his big teeth could grow in properly with the help of braces.
It was not easy to sit in the corner and watch my son endure several deadening shots and have nine teeth pulled. But we both knew it would be worth it in the end.
So what does this have to do with the Christian life? Simply put, we must separate ourselves from things that cause us problems spiritually. That is a principle to which every Christian can relate.
One great thing about growing in our relationship with God is that it doesn’t have to be as hard as pulling teeth. You see, I could do nothing to ease Britton’s teeth pulling experience. But in spiritual matters, our challenges are an entirely different story.
We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Eph 2:10). Even better, we can depend on help from God in every difficult circumstance since we are fellow workers with God (1 Cor. 3:9). He always gives us a way of escape for every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).
There are several New Testament passages which tell us the dangers of staying attached to situations that threaten our Christian walk. 1 Cor. 15:53 tells us that “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 tells us it’s not good for Christians to be tied closely to unbelievers.
There are also verses that deal with the consequences of being an unproductive Christian, or a member who poses a threat to the rest of the body. In John 15:1-2, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
That’s why it is important for Christians to do everything we can to encourage every member of the body.
In Britton’s case, a little bit of physical sacrifice now will help him down the road. Spiritually, it’s the same way. There may be some things we need to pull out of our lives now in order to serve Him better and secure a better relationship with our Savior. God bless you.

Doing without can be a blessing
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 17, 2010

The Bible speaks of fasting a lot more than other topics that we as Christians tend to dwell on. I wonder why? Could it be that fasting just simply doesn’t fit our lifestyle in America? This idea of purposely doing without is a thought worth spending some time on.
For me, food is the last thing I want to do without for any length of time. For others, food is not that big of a temptation. However, indulgences such as TV, computer, music, and other forms of entertainment might be more difficult for this generation to do without for very long.
The Bible speaks of people fasting for various reasons. Sometimes, Christians would fast and pray before sending missionaries into the field. Other times, people would fast and put on sackcloth and ashes while in the process of deep mourning.
So, what is the purpose of fasting? Taken in context, it appears that people back in the first century and before fasted in an effort to gain better focus as they communicated with God. It may have also been a way to empathize with someone who was going through a difficult time. In other words, one might feel guilty indulging in a meal when their good friend was going through a crisis.
The only real Biblical direction for fasting comes from Matthew 6:16-18. Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” Jesus is basically telling his disciples to not be dramatic, seeking attention in hopes of people thinking they are extra religious or something for doing without.
There is no reason to think that fasting makes God honor one prayer over another. But certainly the hunger pains of doing without food would be a continual reminder the One who provides us with everything we need. Fasting would certainly cause one to think about all the blessings we have because of the incredible way our Creator has put this universe into existence.
Yes, fasting from food has value. But these days, fasting from other things that make our lives extremely comfortable might be of equal value when it comes to developing our focus and relationship with God.
May God bless us all as we re-evaluate our needs and our wants in an effort to walk closer to our Heavenly Father. (end)

Timing is Everything
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 10, 2010

I once heard a Bible class teacher ask his students, “Who all wants to go to heaven?” Of course, everyone raised their hands. Then he asked, “Who all wants to go right now?” Hilariously, no one raised their hands! Sadly, that’s the way it is for many people.
Last Friday, an afternoon ride on my Kawasaki was about as good as it could get in my book. That is, until it started raining. Then, those little drops of precip suddenly began to feel like marbles hitting my helmet, arms and legs as I cruised down the highway. But considering how badly we’ve been needing rain lately, I wasn’t going to complain. In fact, I came up with a pretty good spiritual application for the situation that was soaking me.
Timing is everything. As I looked at those amazing stormclouds that were forming I couldn’t help but wonder if I would make it back home before the clouds burst. Well, I didn’t. I wanted rain, just not immediately.
We all look forward to meeting God face to face one day and experiencing his reign in heaven. The Bible says we will all kneel before him one day and acknowledge Jesus Christ as his son. That day will come whether we’re ready or not. Ideally, we will all be ready for that day. Tragically, most people will not be ready. Scripture tells us that God is patient and not willing that any should perish. But we also know that eventually judgment day will come. Scripture says that the road to hell is broad (Matthew 7:13), and that most people are on that road simply because they allow themselves to be dragged away and enticed by their own evil desires (James 1:14).
One time I asked a group of teenagers if they would go to heaven today if they could. Some said yes. Others said they would like to eventually after they had the chance to have a few more life experiences such as marriage. Unfortunately, none of us knows when that final day will come. Jesus said so in Matthew 24:36. He said even he doesn’t know when that day will be, and neither do the angels, but only the Father.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, the apostle Paul says, “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
May God bless us all with the desire to watch and pray as that final day approaches, that we may all be ready to hear our Master say, “Well done.”

Summer Commitments Put to the Test
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 3, 2010

Another summer of church camp is over! For some kids, it was a time to re-unite with friends, or let barriers down that often stay up during the school year. Others say it’s a time to get closer to God, or re-commit their lives to following Christ. Inspiring worship, Bible classes, and discussion times are also a big part of the camp experience.
I take my youth group to Burnt Cabin Christian Camp out on Lake Tenkiller. We studied the book of Daniel. We looked at the decisions he and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) made as teenagers that had a profound impact on their lives.
But just how long does that impact last for our teenagers today? That’s always a heavily discussed topic at camp. It seems the biggest fear among teens during camp is the question of how to stay spiritually strong during the school year.
The fact is, teens need and want reinforcement from Christian friends and parents when it comes to battling peer pressure in school. It doesn’t take long at all, sometimes only a week or two, for teens to slip back into their old habits once camp is over. The odds are even worse after school starts.
Satan doesn’t wait for us to get a battle plan together. He doesn’t fight fair. That’s why it’s important for all Christians to approach spiritual warfare as seriously as the devil approaches it.
The devil has been ticked off at God at least since shortly after the fall of man. God’s judgment on Satan is recorded in Genesis 3:14 and following. God tells the devil that he will have a miserable existence and that he will be cursed worse than any of the animals for deceiving Adam and Eve.
So, since Satan lost one battle against God in the Garden of Eden, and then again when Jesus overcame death on the cross, his only hope of hurting God is by tempting mankind. The devil doesn’t care if you’re young, old, or in between. A soul is a soul. And he wants to drag as many as he can to hell with him. Hell is that place God created to punish the devil and his followers.
The highlight of my summer was seeing my daughter, Ashton, put on Christ in baptism. The book of Romans says baptism is what unites us with Christ (Romans 6:1-11). She is now dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
As parents, Lisa and I do our best to teach our children the ways of Jesus, to model the Christian life, and to create opportunities for spiritual growth. As hard as it is to think about, all children must eventually learn to work out their own salvation (Phil. 2:12) in their own time. Parents can’t do it for them. Baptism is the easiest part of the plan of salvation. Living an obedient life to God is the most challenging. May God bless us all as we raise children to “live a life worthy of the calling” we have received (Eph 4:1). And may God bless our children this school year with strength and confidence to stay faithful.

Cast down your bucket where you are!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 27, 2010

Booker T. Washington once gave a speech in which he told the story of a ship’s captain who was desperately trying to save his crew. They were in the Atlantic Ocean just off the northern coast of South America. The captain signaled to another ship’s captain to send drinking water before his crew literally died of thirst. The other captain signaled back, “Cast down your buckets where you are!”
The distressed captain signaled again, but to his dismay, he received the same response. This exchange went back and forth a few more times until the distressed captain finally gave in and ordered his crew, “Cast down the buckets where we are!” Then, low and behold, the crew drew up bucket after bucket of fresh water.
You see, although they were in the Atlantic Ocean, they were anchored at the mouth of the Amazon River. It’s one of the largest rivers in the world. And the flow is so strong that it forces fresh water 200 miles out from the coast where you can still get fresh water. 20-percent of the world’s ocean water comes from the Amazon.
Spiritually speaking, we all have opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life right where we are. Our culture is so program-oriented that many folks think they can’t serve others unless an official service project is announced. Don’t get me wrong. We’re all in favor of planned service projects. But service to others is supposed to be a way of life, not just a special project in which we meet at a certain time to go and do a good deed.
How many times have you heard someone say, “O, I’m not good at anything.” Or, “I just don’t have any talents to share with others.”
The fact is, God created each of us in his own image (Genesis 1:26). Yes, I know it’s hard to imagine how the scoundrel down the road has anything in common with the Creator. But God has blessed us all with the ability to make a difference right where we are.
In fact, the apostle Paul said, 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Just like the fishermen in Luke 5:1-11 who let down their nets, fished all night and came up with no catch, it’s also possible for us to fail. They key to success for us is the same as it was for them. Direction from Jesus Christ. Have a great week!

Ahh Shucks! Another lesson from my garden
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 20, 2010

Both of the small corn patches in my backyard were beginning to look more than a little suspect. So, I went ahead and picked’em, boiled’em, and served’em to my family over the weekend with some peppers, onions, green beans, and some leftover pork.
There weren't many kernels, but at least it was good and sweet, just the way an ear of peaches and cream corn should be. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
All in all, the gardening project wasn’t too embarrassing of an outcome for a group of novices. In fact, I felt that my effort and that of my kids probably reaped about as much as we sowed.
Not that we can ever earn God’s grace, but sometimes it is easy to forget that spiritual rewards do not come without effort.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Anyone who doesn’t think spiritual rewards involve some work on our part hasn’t read Ephesians 6:10-12. “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
That definitely sounds like to me that spiritual warfare is no walk in the park. Of course, Christians can do battle with the devil all day long and still not be deserving of a home in heaven. It is only by God’s grace that we will ever hear words such as these from Matthew 25:21. “ 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Ephesians 2:4 reminds us that God’s grace is what allows us to have a relationship with him through Jesus Christ.
The only question remaining is this: What will you do with the open door God has given you?
Let’s all enjoy God’s richest blessings this week, and remember that he is the giver of all good things. (end)

Bible thoughts from Crape Myrtles
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 13, 2010

My wife’s parents came to visit over the weekend. This is always a good thing because my father-in-law, Harold, is quite a handyman. So, Lisa immediately handed her dad a “things to do” list. One of those items was to save her crape myrtles.
With all of the recent rain, these small flowering decorative trees are struggling to stay upright. There’s just too much water weighing down the delicate limbs and blooms. So, considering the fact that the trees had already been pruned before the blooming started, the solution to our problem was a simple support rope. The bright yellow rope I had on hand would not work because it didn’t match the décor, so my wife told me. So, we found a small spool of thin, brown rope at Keith’s Hardware that was perfect for the task. Harold stretched it from a nearby fence post, around the crape myrtle, and attached it to the other post. This provided enough support for the tree to stay upright.
Christians also need support. We get weighed down by the cares of this world. Even after pruning things out of our lives that aren’t good for us, we still need help staying strong. And just like the yellow rope wasn’t the right match for the crape myrtle project, Christians also need to make sure we’re seeking the right kind of support from the right people.
Yes, there are times when it’s nice to talk to someone who will just sit and listen. But there are other times when we need someone who is spiritually mature enough to give good advice. Sometimes, we seek a sympathetic ear when what we really need is a kick in the pants! A church family should provide support for its members in a strong and loving way.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” We each have a responsibility to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12), but there are times when one part of the body needs assistance from another. If your left foot is hurting, you tend to put more weight on your right foot. It’s the same in the body of Christ, the church family.
Paul says in Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
A good church family provides the kind of Bible instruction and encouragement necessary for its members to grow and bloom to their fullest potential. Then, they are able to reach out to a spiritually sick and dying world.
2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”

The Son can make all things beautiful
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 6, 2010

This is my family’s inaugural year for growing corn. So far, we have yet to pick anything off the stalk. But at least we have stalks to pick from, I think.
We planted two small patches of the corn several weeks ago. The first is on the west side of my house where it’s shady in the morning and late afternoon. The second patch is behind the house where it’s sunny most of the day. It became apparent pretty quickly that the corn planted behind the house grew faster. In fact, it is now twice as tall as the other corn.
I couldn’t resist giving my youth group a tour of my little garden to demonstrate what happens when corn receives a lot of exposure to the sun versus when it doesn’t.
The apostle Paul addressed the issue of spiritual growth in regard to some Christians who thought they were better than others based on who baptized them. Paul said, “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” This passage teaches a couple of important lessons we need to remember:
1) Our job as Christians is to plant seed and water it. The seed may be the actual teaching of the Gospel story of Jesus, or it might be an act of kindness that leads to a teaching opportunity. You might be best at planting seed, while others may be better at watering or nurturing new Christians. As fellow workers with God (1 Cor. 3:9), every Christian has a unique God-given talent to use for the saving of lost souls.
2) In the end, it comes down to the relationship between an individual and God. He is the only one who can turn our efforts to save souls into something truly beautiful and life-changing. None of us on our own can force anyone to apply God’s word to their life as much as we try. All we can do is plant, water and wait for God to do his mighty work through the Son.
The wisest man who ever lived was Solomon. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 he said this about God: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
God is not a respecter of persons. All who draw near to the Son will grow in a relationship with God that will transform their lives forever.
Let God make you beautiful today. (end)


Trust is as easy as falling off a cliff
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 29, 2010

There’s nothing quite like walking off of a 40-feet high cliff backwards, even when multiple safety ropes and harnesses are present.
The rappelling trip I told you I was going on last week was successful, as evidenced by the fact that I am still alive to write about it. In the process, I learned a lot about rappelling, about myself, and even picked up a few great spiritual lessons along the way.
One of my friends, Rob, and his son Anthony were in charge of the trip. Rob made sure the equipment I was wearing was properly fastened. Anthony, a very close friend and former youth group member, was the belayer. That’s the guy who holds on to my back-up rope (belay line). That rope is then was fastened to him and tied to a huge rock. In addition, Anthony had another safety rope attaching him to a tree. He stood on the same ledge I was standing on as I leaned back to start my journey down the face of the cliff. And trust me, 40-feet looks A LOT higher from the top of the cliff than from the bottom.
After waiting nearly four hours in the heat for my turn to rappel, it didn’t take a lot of coaxing for me back down the cliff. Besides, I knew there were bottles of water and sandwiches waiting for me after it was over. But, just as I leaned backwards over the 40-feet of air with nothing at the bottom but rock, Anthony tripped over his safety line and fell flat on his back on the ledge I had just departed from. He quickly jumped to his feet. I must admit, this might have been very disturbing if I hadn’t already known just how many safety back-ups were in place.
Spiritual trust is kind of the same thing. It takes time to trust in God since we cannot see him. Trust only comes after we understand what we’ve been equipped with. We must learn how to use God’s blessings to experience joy in this life as we look forward to the life to come. Our equipment includes prayer and Bible study. And when we make the effort to see how God works successfully in people’s lives every day, we can’t help but grow in trust.
In rappelling, I had to trust that the anchor rock, two trees, the main line, the belay line, my harness, and Anthony’s harness were not all going to break at the same time. Seems easy until you get ready to test it out for real.
In the Christian life, we may start out giving God only a little bit of line to work with. But as we practice our faith everyday and honor God for the amazing things he continues to do, our trust grows. We are safe when we are anchored to the Rock. Besides, at the end of our spiritual journey there will a lot more than sandwiches and bottled water.
On a personal note, I am still afraid of heights. But after this experience, there are many other fears such as public speaking that are no longer near as big of a deal.
May God bless your spiritual walk as you learn to trust him with every part of your life. (end)

Trusting in the Lord is worth the effort
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 22, 2010

As I write this article, I am nervously preparing for a rappelling trip at Robber’s Cave near Wilburton with several other church members. I’ve never been rappelling. The only thing I know about it is that it involves a cliff, a rope, a good amount of trust, and a lot of butterflies in my stomach at this point.
There are a lot of spiritual parallels that could be drawn between rappelling and our trust in God. But since I’ve never been rappelling, I will save that for another day. I will, however, continue this line of thinking on the topic of trust.
I claim to trust in God. But, I will admit that saying it versus doing it are two totally different things. I was talking with my wife just this morning about the fact that I teach Bible classes on the topic of trusting God, even though I know deep inside how difficult it is to live it. In short, trusting God is easy when everything is going your way, and your map through life seems easy to follow. But that can change quickly when you come to life’s crossroads.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
That passage from Proverbs is very well known by those who study a lot of Bible. I hope you will take it to heart. It teaches us a great lesson about trusting God, even when we don’t understand his method in getting things done. It is nice to know that God has the ability to make our paths straight. This doesn’t mean our stairway to heaven won’t be without difficulty. It only means that if we stay the course, and stay faithful along the path, we will ultimately see the face of God and experience eternal life in heaven.
The next couple of verses, Proverbs 3:7-8, are great additions to these thoughts. “7. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
We often lean on our own understanding because we forget just how much God understands. Solomon spent a lifetime searching for wisdom, so he is definitely qualified to remind us of the downfall of considering our wisdom as greater than the Lord’s. Anyone who worries too much would likely give a quick amen to verse 8.
May we all learn to let go of worry, and trust in the Lord. May we all enjoy the daily spiritual refreshment that comes from trusting in Him. (end)

A Happy Father Accepts His God-Given Role
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 15, 2010

In today’s culture, we have all but made man into some sort of neutral human with no unique characteristics or role different from that of a woman. A lot of TV shows these days paint dads out to be the weakest member of the family, a buffoon, with no or very little leadership ability.
This is opposite to what God’s word teaches about man’s role in the family. And since the Bible has remained unchanged for thousands of years, the wise would come to the conclusion that scripture has it right, not Hollywood, not anyone else with a differing view. After all, even those who work in the entertainment industry are quick to poke fun at the rate of marriage failure among their peers. It doesn’t take much brain power to figure out that when man and woman both live by God’s rules, the family unit will stay intact.
God intends for man to be the head of the family, and to provide for his wife and children financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. This order is not a slam towards women by any stretch. It is simply the role of man. I’m not saying that it is wrong for a husband to earn a smaller paycheck than his wife. But he certainly needs to do his share in every way to provide security for his family, and his wife needs to help him with his responsibilities. There are many things a good wife can take responsibility for, just read Proverbs 31 on the wife of noble character. In my household, I consult with my wife and she consults with me on every major decision. We also talk about how our decisions might affect our family spiritually.
In Genesis 1:26 and 2:7 we’re told that God formed man in his own image from the dust of the ground. Later, Adam named the animals that were brought to him. But he found none to be a suitable helper. So God caused Adam to fall asleep. And while he was sleeping, God took one of man’s ribs, made a woman, and brought her to the man. Genesis 3:16 says that the husband will rule over his wife.
It is a delicate balance, but one that can be achieved. You see, while man was incomplete without woman, she was exactly what man needed to make him complete. They are dependent on each other as each one puts God first.
Galatians 5:22 says, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Men in our culture today obviously should not take this as any kind of license for abusive behavior. But instead, real men should strive to love their families like Jesus loved us. This will make it possible for wives to truly submit to their husbands “as to the Lord.” Verse 25 makes the man’s job even clearer. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” This Father’s Day, may God bless every father with the desire to be the kind of dad he was intended to be. (end)

Angels anyone? Spiritual warfare in Fort Gibson is very real
June 1, 2010
by Barrett Vanlandingham

Not many would dispute the fact that God is alive and well in Fort Gibson. He is our only hope, and is very active in our lives today. That statement is true whether anyone agrees. But when it comes to angels, the opinions vary greatly. Some people mistakenly place too much importance on angels which are only created beings not worthy of our worship. Man is only a little lower than them (Hebrews 2:7). However, other people ignore the importance of angels and their impact on our daily lives.
Hebrews 1:14 says they are “…ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” Just in case you’re looking for a little extra motivation in this life to obey the Bible, that would be a good one! People who are living in such a way to inherit eternal life in heaven also have the added benefit of being served by angels in this lifetime.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3 that we are to become like little children. Then in verse 10, Jesus says that the angels of those children always see the face of “my Father in heaven.”
That should be a great source of confidence for Christians. Just think, when we humble ourselves and take on childlike qualities such as purity and innocence, is it so far-fetched to think that we also have angels who help us every day and that are constantly able to see God?
In speaking of the Israelites, Daniel 12:1 refers to the archangel Michael as the “great prince” who protects your people. Michael is also mentioned in Jude 1:9 as disputing with the devil over the body of Moses which God had buried in a secret location. Maybe the devil wanted Moses’ body to be buried in a public grave so that it might become an object of idol worship. Nevertheless, it should be a faith-builder to know that angels are fighting spiritual battles behind the scenes on our behalf.
In 2 Kings 6:8-23, the Arameans were trying to invade Israel’s territory. But they were unsuccessful because the prophet Elisha kept warning the king of Israel about Aram’s strategies. So, the king of Aram sent an army at night to surround the city of Dothan where the prophet Elisha was staying. When morning came, Elisha’s servant was scared of what he saw. But Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
The Lord blinded the enemy, sent them in a different direction, fed them, spared their lives, and the Aram army ultimately stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
May we all be ever thankful to God for the angels and others in our lives who support us in our spiritual battles. (end)

The older generation has much to offer
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 25, 2010

Try after try, I failed miserably at starting a campfire for my son and his friend over the weekend. My credibility as an outdoorsman was quickly going up in smoke. I was trying to make good use of a pile of green wood my good friend Curtis brought me a few days ago. I stacked small pieces of green wood on top of shredded paper. On top of that, bigger pieces of green wood. Eventually I found some old wood and piled that on top.
But after using up just about every piece of paper I could find along with one and a half containers of charcoal starter fluid, I realized what I had been doing wrong. In my efforts to impress my son with my campfire making abilities, I had underestimated the importance of stacking the older, cured wood underneath the newer green logs that had just been delivered, not the other way around. I thought that if I used enough shredded paper and charcoal starter fluid, surely the green wood would ignite. But my efforts were to no avail. By the time I got it figured out, I was almost out of paper and fluid.
I couldn’t help but think of how this applies spiritually. Sometimes, we underestimate the importance of the older generation, and how it provides a much needed foundation. Grandparents simply have more wisdom than those younger. This wisdom can be extremely valuable to those seeking to not repeat mistakes of generations past.
This reality is just as important for the older generation to be reminded of as it is for the younger generation to remember. Oftentimes, society gets it all backwards. Just like stacking green wood under the older cured wood doesn’t work very well, neither does trying to make important decisions in life without consulting those who’ve been around for a while.
“They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age... (Psalm 93:13-14)” Job 12:12 says, “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”
I took a break from writing to check on the boys and the campfire. Guess what? The old wood had burned out, but the fire was still very much burning. Why? Because the placement of the cured wood under the green wood gave the campfire just the start it needed to last.
The Bible sees the wisdom in honoring the elderly and placing them in positions of respect. So should we all. (end)

Dancing in the Rain
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 18, 2010

With all of the storms we’ve had lately I couldn’t help but think of something I read the other day. It said, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Think about that one!
I just began my ninth year in full-time youth ministry here in Fort Gibson. During that time, I have met some incredible people who amaze me with the amount of joy they have in their hearts despite difficult physical circumstances. I’ve been able to have close friendships with people who have poor hearing, poor eye-sight, no legs, disabled legs, no arms, partial arms, bad hearts, bad lungs, mental disabilities, no teeth, and no hair! And yet, these individuals continue to inspire people around them because they refuse to be defined by what they do not have.
How in the world can a person put a smile on their face everyday even when it takes ten times as much effort to do normal tasks? The answer is actually not of this world. As I write, tears of gratitude fill my eyes as I think about how God is able to provide each of us with an abundant life in spite of earthly sorrows.
In Philippians 3:20-21, the apostle Paul reminds us to not set our minds on things of this earth. He says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Now there’s something worth looking forward to! No more aches, no more pains. And let’s not forget that Jesus was no stranger to either of those. But in heaven, our bodies will become like Jesus’ body.
The psalmist David exalted the Lord God with these words, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever (Ps. 30:11-12).”
Through the eyes of the world, the storms of life are only something to be endured. But God’s love gives us hope and assurance, and teaches us the joy of embracing life’s trials.
Jesus, the Great Shepherd, said this regarding his sheep, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).”
May God bless you this week as you choose to dance for the One who truly reigns!

Christian image problems can be solved one person at a time
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 11, 2010


A recent survey of people who are outside of Christianity suggests those of us who wear the name Christian have our work cut out for us.

According to a book titled “UnChristian” by the Barna Group’s David Kinnaman, there are six common points of skepticism and objections raised by people outside of Christianity. Kinnaman has interviewed thousands of people to discover trends in religion over the years. But until a couple of years ago he never really wanted to write a book. It was this study that compelled him to share his findings in a book. His title “UnChristian” sums up most of his discoveries regarding outsiders’ opinions of Christians. He uses the term outsider to describe those who are atheist, agnostic, those of a religion other than Christianity, and unchurched adults.

Kinnaman lists their views of Christians as follows while admitting that these criticisms are sometimes meant to “push our buttons.”

1) Hypocritical. Outsiders feel that we Christians say one thing and do another. They are also skeptical of our morally superior attitudes, and feel that Christians think the church is only a place for “virtuous and morally pure people.”

2) Too focused on getting converts. Outsiders wonder if we genuinely care about them. They feel like targets rather than people.

3) Antihomosexual. Outsiders say that Christians are bigoted and show disdain for gays and lesbians.

4) Sheltered. Christians Are thought of as old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. Outsiders say we do not respond to reality in appropriately complex ways, and not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people’s lives.

5) Too political. Overly motivated by a political agenda.

6) Judgmental. Outsiders think of Christians as quick to judge others. They doubt we love others as we say we do.

Another interesting thing that came out of the study was that most outsiders opinions of Christianity is not based on what they see in TV and movies, but instead on personal contact with those of the Christian faith. What makes this fact encouraging is that Christians, not Hollywood, are apparently in control of what non-Christians think of us.

Improving the image of Christians can happen, but not by media coverage or political campaigns, but rather one person at a time. May God bless each of us with even one opportunity this week to show the love of Christ to an outsider. (end)

Knowing Jesus is a two-way street
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 4, 2010

In last week’s article, I still wasn’t sure whether I would take my son, Britton, and his friend Teddy camping over the weekend for his 12th birthday. Well, we decided against it and I’m glad we did because a pretty good rain did in fact come in overnight. So, we went skating in Tahlequah instead.
I sat on a bench against the wall at the skating rink while Britton and Teddy were on the skate floor with about 200 other sweaty little kids. All of the sudden, my two skated over to me, out of breath, laughing their heads off. Teddy said that some girl skated up to Britton and said, “Hey, Courtney wants to know if you want to go out with her?” I thought, “This should be interesting!” Britton responded to her by saying, “I don’t even know who she is!” So, all parties went their separate directions. The little girl had to break the news to Courtney that the boy she didn’t know wouldn’t go out with the girl he didn’t know.
I have now told that story no less than a dozen times since last week, and so as I thought of what message I wanted to bring you this week, of course it was one of my top three choices.
Spiritually speaking, this story will play out on the Final Day many times over. For we all know that the road and gate into heaven is narrow and only a few will find it, while the road and gate into everlasting destruction is wide and many will be on that path (Matt 7:13-14).
Many times we hear people say they know Jesus. But as I’ve stated before, it is more important for Jesus to know us. The Bible points out that the devil and demons know exactly who Jesus is. Scripture also points out that on that final day many will say Lord, Lord, and tell of the deeds they did in Jesus’ name, and He will say, “I never knew you.” (Matt 7:21-23)
But how could that happen? Doesn’t Jesus know everyone? Of course He does in some sense. He knows who the devil is, so I’m reasonably certain he knows the rest of us. I think of it in these terms. The door that we open to follow Jesus is like a door of recognition. When we choose to keep the door open, he knows us and welcomes us into his arms. But when we close the door on him, he cannot see us. We in effect cause Jesus to not recognize us as one of his children anymore. It would be as if he never knew us.
When you’re sins are washed away in baptism, Jesus forgets everything wrong you ever did. It’s as if he never knew of your sin. And not only that, if you continue to walk his righteous path, his blood from the cross continually cleanses you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). For those times you intentionally sin, Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 17:3 to forgive wrongs as a sinner repents. 1 John 1:9 says that Jesus forgives our sins as we confess. Jesus doesn’t remember the sins he has already forgiven, not even one.
Everyone has an appointment to kneel before the Father and praise him (Rom 14:10-12). For some, this will be a celebration like none other. But for most, this will be the worst day ever. For it is then that the sheep and the goats will be parted. The sheep who have followed the Great Shepherd will follow him into that blessed home of eternal paradise. However, the goats that refused to obey his will when they had a chance will be doomed into eternal punishment as they hear, “I never knew you.”

Rain is an inconvenient necessity
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 27, 2010

As I was trying to decide whether to go camping over the weekend for my son’s birthday, the major question in my mind was “Is it going to rain?” The only reason it seemed like a big deal was because we were going to be sleeping in a tent! What to do? What to do? Overnight in a tent was Britton’s only birthday request and the rain clouds had been overhead all day as I was trying to decide a course of action.
As a youth minister, I teach kids to trust God with their choices even though it’s hard to understand why rain falls on the just and the unjust. We all know God is going to return one day to bring his faithful home to reign with him forever. What we don’t know is when that is going to happen. I try to explain to young people (and older ones too) that the best thing to do is to live everyday as if it were your last. This way, if tomorrow turns out to be Judgment Day, hey, you’re good to go! Or if you lose their life in an accident, you’re still going to be okay. Not that you can describe life in heaven as “okay” but you understand what I mean.
I realize this may be a drab topic for some to come to grips with, but it is important to be prepared to meet God face to face. Everyone will have that opportunity one day.
Noah was a preacher of righteousness who worked on building an ark for 100 years! It’s going to rain! It’s going to rain! What a message to have to preach to such a corrupt generation of people, and worse yet, they had never seen rain!
But as Genesis 7:11-12 states, “…on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.” Then verse 24 says that the waters flooded the earth for 150 days.
Well, as I write this article on Friday afternoon I still don’t know for sure if it’s going to rain on my son’s camping trip. But even if it does, the only thing we will suffer is some minor inconvenience. However, in the days of Noah there was so much rain that only eight people (Noah’s family) were saved!
1 Peter 3:21 says, “…this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also…not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Scripture promises that the earth will never flood again as in the days of Noah, but the earth will burn. So, the next time you see the five day outlook, think about God’s eternal forecast. Your obedience to Him can make all the difference as to the level of your spiritual rain gage. Will God find your well-spring running over, or drained by obedience to the world? Have a Spirit-led week!

Being added to the Church is God's job
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 20, 2010

Occasionally, I hear someone talking about which church they decided to join. This subject always gets my attention since Jesus died for only one church. Which one? Well, we can only assume that he died for the one described in the New Testament of the Bible. I will leave the line-drawing among denominations to God, as to which ones He approves of, and which ones he disapproves of. Our God is sovereign, and really doesn’t need any help from any of us deciding this issue. All we can do is trust fully that God’s inspired word, the Bible, accurately describes the things we need to know about what is pleasing to our Creator, compassion being right at the top.
Beyond that, I will say this: In Acts 2, Peter preached the first Gospel sermon. He told thousands who were present that they really had crucified the son of God, and that they needed to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. Acts 2:41 says, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
This is the first example of a group of people in the New Testament gathering as common believers in Christ. The next few verses tell of the fellowship and worship that took place when the believers were together. Then the writer says, “…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Other New Testament passages pinpoint the elements of what Christians do when they gather such as prayer, singing, Bible study, giving, and encouraging.
So, is it possible to join a church? According to scripture, the answer has to be no. God is the one who adds us to his church when we obey his plan of salvation. When we are baptized, we do not join a particular denomination of the Lord’s church located in a particular town. Neither are we voted in by existing members. We are actually added to the Lord’s church, the global church, the only church, by guess who? The Lord, God himself!
So, what do we do with the fact that there are many different places of worship that do things so differently, even right here in Fort Gibson? Well, there are obviously going to be personality differences and cultural differences in how worship is “done.” We must all be careful about rushing to judgment regarding the rightness or wrongness of traditions in worship, unless they contradict clear Bible teaching on the matter.
As for this word “join,” it is important for Christians to identify themselves, or place membership with a local body of believers so they can encourage and build one another up (Hebrews 10:25). It is only human nature to try harder at anything when you are being held accountable for your actions. Meeting together gives us the opportunity to see close up what our Christian family is struggling with. It would be easy to let each other slip through the cracks spiritually if our only interaction was through the internet.
May God bless you richly in your spiritual journey as you reap the rewards of seeking His face (Heb. 11:6), and letting Him add you to His number.

Fine tuning your spiritual walk
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 13, 2010

Have you ever known the answer to a problem in your life but just couldn’t get motivated to do anything about it? If you’re alive at all, the answer to that is a definite yes.
As Christians, this is one of the biggest dilemmas we deal with. We are not short on good advice, knowledge about spiritual things, or good information on Christian living. Our generation has access to more information than any other generation in history. Books, TV, radio, computer, the list goes on of ways we receive helpful information. So, the problem is not access to good ideas. The problem is the same as it has been since the beginning of time. Mankind, simply put, is stubborn and selfish. We do what satisfies our own wants because we are rarely compelled by what someone else wants.
So, how do we fix this in the spiritual sense? After all, we exist to serve Jesus Christ, right? Why is it so hard to put our own fleshly desires aside, and follow God’s will instead?
I believe that if we are to be successfully compelled into living a righteous life, we have to understand that we as Christians are “called” to a higher standard than the world. But as with anything we are compelled to do, I believe two things must take place: 1) There has to be a sense of urgency. 2) There has to be a sense of loyalty.
Those two factors must work hand in hand if you are to reach that higher standard you’re hoping to achieve. But just how does something get high enough on your priority list for you to have that sense of urgency and loyalty?
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Simply put, understanding Christ’s role in your salvation is a sure fire way to not only explain to others why you have hope, but it also helps us to stay faithful and obedient to him. One day, Christ will judge us according to what we have done on earth. We don’t know when that day will be. That should provide us with some sense of urgency. As for loyalty, the four Gospels clearly state the extreme measures Jesus was willing to go through for us, so that we could one day stand before him with confidence.
May God bless you this week with a greater sense of urgency to be Jesus to a lost and hurting world, and to feel that sense of loyalty that could only be brought-on by someone who gave everything for you.

The Sunday after Easter also tells a story
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 6, 2010

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter weekend. Family meals, egg hunting, and religious gatherings are all hallmarks of this very special holiday. But every year it causes me to wonder how church buildings everywhere can be so packed on one Sunday, and not so much the very next week and the weeks following.
It’s almost as if some of us believe we get extra points for attending worship on one Sunday over another. We’re all guilty of this mindset to some extent, aren’t we? What I mean is that the majority of Christians would not even consider missing Easter Sunday. But for some reason the majority also don’t place as much emphasis on other Sundays or other church meeting times such as Wednesday night Bible studies and such decided by church leadership.
Have you ever made an excuse for not attending church by saying that you were just too busy, only to be told by someone that Jesus wasn’t too busy to die for you but he did anyway? That could be more than a little embarrassing, couldn’t it? I actually know someone who that happened to recently. Ouch! Lesson learned.
None of us can really say that the Bible doesn’t back frequent meeting times. Acts chapter 2 tells us that the early church met every day. So we shouldn’t think meeting once a week or even two and three times a week is overdoing it.
Everytime Christians come together in the name of Jesus is special, no matter what day. But Sundays are especially important because the New Testament places so much importance on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). How often does the first day of the week come around? Every week. This is the day early Christians came together to take the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-29). The unleavened bread represents the body of Jesus, while the fruit of the vine represent his blood. Even today, during these Sunday gatherings we are to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It’s the day Christians set aside a portion of their income for the work of the church (1 Cor. 16). We also know that Christians prayed, studied, and sang to God when they came together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us that Christians shouldn’t neglect assemblies because this fellowship is how we can encourage each other toward love and good deeds.
Bottom line? Jesus died and rose (Matt. 28:6) for mankind to save us from our sins (Rom. 5:8, John 3:16). If we choose to accept this gift by obeying his plan of salvation (Matt. 10:32, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:1-10), we have a very bright future! Now THAT is the Bible’s Gospel message, worth hearing Easter Sunday and any other day of the year. Have an awesome week because Jesus loves you. (end)

Spring into a new season of faith
By Barrett Vanlandingham
March 30, 2010

My daughter, Gracie, brought home a bouquet of wild yellow daffodils a few days ago she picked from the field that sits between the Christian Church and the Church of Christ. The flowers are in a clear vase sitting on my supper table as I write. It’s heart-warming to imagine that those flowers were planted years ago when a house still stood there on the old Wallace and Ludy Huggins place across from the high school gymnasium. And even though all those years have passed and no one lives there anymore, the flowers are no doubt as beautiful today as they were back then. You can drive by and see for yourself. And the smell, as Gracie says, is wonderful. I have to agree.
It’s truly amazing to experience the beauty of God’s creation in something as simple as a yellow flower with a tender green stem that reappears year after year. After all, I can’t even create a dandelion or a blade of grass. Isn’t it fascinating that God spoke into existence every petal and every leaf we see. If that weren’t enough, He also thought into existence every vibrant stroke of color and every dull shade too which provides the perfect compliment.
I guess what really causes me to ponder God’s power is that He not only created the simple as well as the complex things we enjoy, He also designed a way for all living things to stay alive for a period of time. We don’t always agree with God on what that period of time should be. But as God reminded Job so long ago, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? (Job 38:4,19)”
I think I can safely say that would be a great big NO for all of us. And yet, we worry, fuss and fret over so many things when we really just need to enjoy even the “smallest” of blessings.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (Matthew 6:28-30)”
Despite the oddity of the last day of winter hitting 70-something degrees and the first day of spring dropping into the 30’s, the sun still rises and sets every day. The seasons still change (eventually), and springtime still makes us feel like breathing in deeply to experience that invisible quality that God so freely gives through nature. Praise Him! Praise Him! Have a great week, and know that our God is alive this spring and always! (end)