Not all advice is good

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 30, 2018

          So many people are wandering around in this world looking for answers. Unfortunately, there are many unqualified people out there who are more than willing to give opinions to life’s most difficult questions.

          If we are not grounded in God’s word, listening to the wrong person can have disastrous consequences. Following the wrong advice can result in a life without the joy we were seeking, and even result in missing out on heaven! There are few things that are as disappointing as going down one of life’s roads, thinking you know where it leads, but finding that the true happiness you were seeking was on a completely different path.

           King David’s son, Solomon, was the wisest man who ever lived. He experienced many excesses in life, both good and bad. So he would definitely be qualified to make this statement: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12).  What a sad state of affairs! It pays to find out if your source for solutions is really qualified, and whether the wisdom coming from a possibly well-meaning friend measures up to the wisdom of Solomon and the other inspired writers of the truths found in God’s word.

          The apostle Paul established a lot of new churches in the first century. He was constantly communicating with these younger brothers and sisters in Christ about being careful to not stray off track. He said this to Christians in Philippi: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

          Paul was not saying they needed to be afraid or scared of God as a means of obeying Him, but rather to show a deep and sincere respect for God’s word when it came to deciding how they would live their lives. Paul was rooted in the truths of God’s word, and so he wanted these new Christians to also stay strong in the faith.

          Worldly wisdom rarely sees eye to eye with God. Be careful who you listen to. Have a great week!

Keeping in hot water is not always bad

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 23, 2018

          Let me save you some grief. If you have had the same hot water tank for more than the recommended eight years, you are just asking for it.  I had mine for about 13 years, and ignored some warning signs along the way. Mistake.

          So, when Lisa got up at 6:00a.m. last Thursday to get ready for work (she’s a teacher), she noticed a small pond in our kitchen floor, and an ice-skating rink in our driveway. She came back to the bedroom and tapped on my arm to wake me up. I figured the tapping would not be followed by good news. I was right. I walked into the garage and opened the closet for the hot water heater. The tank was spewing everywhere.  I was just thankful this was not in the middle of the house. By the way, if you don’t have a tray under your tank to drain off water in such a case as this, that would have also been helpful.  I have one now.

          It is easy to forget how quickly time passes by regarding household maintenance. The same is true for spiritual maintenance and the accompanying warning signs. As Christians who want to know and understand more of God’s will, it is really up to us to commit to staying in God’s word. Over time, a hot water tank fills up with sediment that reduces its capacity and its ability to heat. Spiritually speaking, a Christian’s mind can fill up with distractions and useless information that hinder our ability to do God’s will effectively (Hebrews 12:1-2). The good news is that it doesn’t cost $1690 to clear your mind and re-fill it with things that are helpful to the Christian walk.

          Most of us already own multiple copies of the Bible. The trick to transforming your life is not just owning a Bible, or even reading your Bible, but rather taking the time to understand your Bible, and doing what it says. Praying before and after your Bible study time will help. And finally, choose to be a part of friend groups and activities that reinforce your desire to walk with God. Have a great week!

Be an encourager

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 16, 2018

          If the Lord is willing, in 2018 I will write my 600^th Fort Faith column since 2007. I want to thank each of you for reading my column. Your kind responses of encouragement and insights are so nice to receive.

          “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

          Encouraging words are something I just can’t get enough of. I am sure you feel the same. So I would like each of us to use 2018 as a year to encourage and be encouraged (1 Thessalonians 5:11). This way of thinking is extremely important to our faith walk. The fact is, there are just a lot of people and circumstances that can throw shade on our best efforts to stay positive about life. That is why it is more important than ever to make deliberate attempts from sun up til sun down to live a life of encouragement, one that brings joy to those in our presence, and joy in our own lives.

          After Saul the Pharisee and persecutor of Christians became known as Paul the apostle, people were understandably skeptical of his sincerity right off the bat as he began to proclaim in Damascus that Jesus was “the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). This put Paul in a bit of a pickle because not only did other believers think he was still up to his old tricks of persecuting Christians, Jewish leaders were beginning to see him as a traitor. So they plotted to kill him (Acts 9:23). He escaped to Jerusalem with the help of some other disciples. But he wasn’t received any better there until Barnabas entered the picture. His real name was Joseph (Acts 4:36), but the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas, which means ‘son of encouragement.’

          Barnabas was worth his weight in gold to Paul’s mission to spread Christianity, living up to his nickname by introducing Paul to the other apostles. Barnabas told them the story of how Paul saw and spoke to the Lord on the way to Damascus, and that afterwards he “preached boldly in the name of the Lord” (Acts 9:28). Let’s strive to be an encouragement to someone this week!  

Let It Go

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 9, 2018

          We all made mistakes in 2017. Thankfully, we are in a BRAND NEW YEAR, with a brand new calendar with no blemishes.  You now have the opportunity to LET THE PAST GO. Yes, the devil wants you to carry forward your sins (even those you’ve repented of) and your feelings of guilt. Satan wants you to continually ask yourself: “Why even try? What difference does it make?”

          It makes a BIG difference!  After all, Jesus gave His best effort for us.  We should do the same for Him.  In Luke 6:46, Jesus asked his listeners an important question: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”         Sometimes it is really hard to move forward when we allow our past mistakes to weigh us down. One of my jobs as a teenager was to clean cow manure out of the dairy barn on the farm where I grew up. But when my job was over each day, I didn’t take a to-go box or a sack full of manure with me. I’m sure you understand why.

          The devil not only wants us to continue finding that dark area of our life, and walk in it, he also wants us to keep beating ourselves over the head for our past mistakes. Do NOT listen to Satan.  Listen to God.

          James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  Keep in mind the importance of not only resisting the devil, but also the importance of submitting to God.  It takes both. Cutting something bad out of your life doesn’t work unless you replace it with something better.

          Paul had plenty of baggage in his past before he became a Christian. He told the early church:  “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14).

          Thank you Father God for do-overs, for the ability to apologize to You and those we’ve wronged, and then to move on.  God, we praise You this day and always in Jesus’ name.   Have a great week!