Thursday, May 27, 2010

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)

Friday, May 21, 2010

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)

Thursday, May 13, 2010

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!

Friday, May 07, 2010

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)

Saturday, May 01, 2010

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.”