Great friendships know no age boundaries
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 29, 2011

A large roomful of pre-schoolers and senior citizens, and teenagers teamed with widows and widowers. Dozens of unlikely friendships gathered Saturday night at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ for a special banquet.
It’s part of their Adopt-a-Widow and Special Friend program. The children decided on a menu of chicken pot pie, fruit salad, and spinach salad. Dessert was dirt cake which tasted suspiciously like crushed Oreos mixed with Cool Whip and cream cheese topped with a gummy worm. The children did all the food prep themselves, served the guests, sat and visited with their widows and senior friends, and then put on a very entertaining talent show which included a lot of audience participation.
The reason I spent so much time setting up my thought for the week is simply to paint you a picture of the beautiful friendships that can take place when generations spanning 90-years get to know one another.
The Bible has much to say about the wisdom of interaction and communication among the young and young at heart. Think about this:
1) In Titus 2:3-5 older women are encourage to live in such a way as to teach the younger women to be good wives and mothers. 2) In 2 Timothy 1:5 the apostle Paul makes mention of Timothy having been taught well in matters of faith by his mother and grandmother. 3) Noah’s sons must have respected their father a tremendous amount to go along with a 100 year ark-building project that surely made their family social outcasts. 4) The great friendship between the widowed Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi is still quoted in weddings today: “Wherever you go I will go.” 5) Samuel’s parents saw great value in allowing Eli the priest to have a hand in training their child for service to God. 6) Joshua spent 40 years being mentored by Moses, and finally, 7) the prophet Elijah spent time with his successor Elisha.
It is no accident that the Bible speaks so often of the wisdom of the older generation. The young have much to learn from the experiences of those who have already lived through many of the trials now being faced by those who are younger.
On the other hand, in Matthew 19:14 Jesus certainly saw the value in letting the children come to him. He even went as far as to say that we all need to be more like children.
Yes, conversations between the young and young at heart are often entertaining to say the least. Sometimes, awkward is the best adjective, while other times, priceless or heart-warming are better descriptions. But the outcome for those on either end who put forth the effort is always a blessing.
Next week, I will tell you about a new program for the Fort Gibson community aimed at providing support for caregivers of loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Making Godly decisions will help you avoid negative consequences
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 22, 2011

Sunday morning I was in a hurry to get to the church building for a prayer meeting before services. So in my attempt to put that final touch on my hair, I grabbed a tube of styling gel. But just before I took the cap off, my wife Lisa said, “Wait a minute! That’s not hair gel, that’s shampoo!” We both had a good laugh. Then I told her, “Once again, I’ve learned the lesson that just because something looks like it might be the right thing doesn’t mean it is the right thing.”
I probably learn this lesson several times a week in one area of life or another. Maybe you do, too. I have quoted Solomon’s words before in regards to finding absolute truth, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12). And while applying shampoo instead of styling gel is not likely to lead to death, it certainly could have slowed down my plans for going to a prayer meeting!
Many of the decisions we make are much more important, and require time in prayer. Scripture places a lot of importance on including prayer in your decisions. Paul says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18)
We all know hindsight is 20-20, but perhaps if Peter would have been praying in the Garden of Gethsemane instead of sleeping (Mark 14:37-41), he would have made better decisions later in the chapter. His denial of Christ three times before the rooster crowed is a huge example of someone opening his mouth before thinking. How unfortunate to be chosen as an apostle, yet be included in a two-thousand year old book in the section of what not to do! The Bible is full of Godly people, many of whom made poor choices before coming to their senses. Just think about David’s lust for Bathsheba! That is one more reason to “Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) .”
Christians should not be so naïve as to think we never make mistakes. Remember Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
That is why having a prayerful attitude is so important. The world we live in presents more choices than ever before. Not only that, but because of technology those choices come at us faster than ever. If we’re not careful we can make the mistake of trying to make quick decisions in an effort to keep up. Sometimes, the outcome can be much more detrimental than shampoo over styling gel. May God bless you this week in your choices!

The truth of God’s word is no illusion
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 15, 2011

My son has been playing “magic” tricks on me all week. And even though Britton is only 12-years old, some of his illusions are truly amazing. Sometimes he uses them to tell Bible stories. So, I began to think to myself that if my own sweet, innocent son can wow me with sleight of hand, imagine what the devil can do with thousands of years to practice his deceptive craft.
Christians should always be wise to the devil’s cunning. There is nothing that makes Satan more happy than to pull the wool over the eyes of the unsuspecting. If he can’t lure the strong Christian off track, he will gladly settle for picking on a vulnerable loved one.
In 1 Peter 5:8 the writer says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (NIV)
Strangely enough, as obvious as a roaring lion is, it always manages to find a victim as long as it’s in its element. The Bible refers to the devil as the prince of this world (NIV, John 12:31, 16:11). The earth is his element. The souls of mankind are at the top of his menu. The devil is intimidating, aware of our weaknesses, and relentless in taking advantage of opportunities to tempt us. God allows the devil to roam freely, just like a lion in the jungle. And while he may be as obvious as a roaring lion, his followers are often much more sneaky.
Jesus warns us about those who have chosen the path of darkness, those who have teamed up with the great deceiver. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (NIV, Matthew 7:15)
But to the Christian, Satan’s schemes are very recognizable by simply comparing the fruit he is offering through his followers, to the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus says, “By their fruit you will recognize them (NIV, Matthew 7:16).”
Paul says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… (NASB, Galatians 5:22-23)”
As Christians, it could be overwhelming trying to learn all the tricks of the devil. I used to get stressed because I didn’t understand everything about every religious group out there. The good news is that we don’t have to. We really only have to know what God’s word says in order to quickly spot a fraud or a potential tool for Satan to use against us.
Spiritually speaking, new tricks or at least new twists on old tricks are invented everyday. But God’s word remains unchanged. May God bless you this week as you look to him and his will revealed through his word.

Rebelling against God’s word doesn’t change the truth
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 8, 2011

In a world where the majority of people believe that truth is relative, our incentive for sticking with God is just as powerful as ever. You see, just because someone doesn’t believe in God’s ability to save us from eternal damnation doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Whether you’re in Fort Gibson or Hollywood, truth is truth.
Christians have always been in the minority. Scripture tells us plainly that the road leading to life is narrow, while the road leading to destruction is broad (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus goes on to say that while many people walk the wide road to hell, only a few people take the narrow path that leads to heaven.
In recent days, actor Charlie Sheen has begun to find out (again) what happens when you travel the worldly path that he thought would bring him happiness. His children have been taken away, he has lost his job, and everytime he sits down for an interview to defend himself he digs a deeper hole as he brags about his history of illegal drug abuse. Even the liberal media appears shocked and disturbed at his attitude.
Hundreds of years before the New Testament writer, Matthew, quoted Jesus’ statement about the broad and narrow roads, Solomon wrote these words in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
It is truly a challenge to be very persuasive in convincing young people that the popular ways of the world are hardly ever in line with God’s ways. But just one look at the entertainment news will clue you in on the consequences of sin. We find out about the heartbreaking stories of the rich and famous almost immediately through TV or internet. But just like the children of Israel who continually rebelled against God, people today keep living life on their own terms instead of trusting our heavenly Father to lead the way.
Fort Gibson is certainly not exempt from the consequences of sin. We see it everyday. I hear heartbreaking stories all the time of people who thought they wouldn’t get caught in one escapade or another. But sin always has a way of catching up to the one who committed it. Truth always floats to the top.
The silver lining is this: no matter how many times we choose to walk the wide and crowded path that leads to destruction, God is always nearby, with arms outstretched, ready to forgive as we repent. Have a blessed day!

Putting joy in your worship puts a smile in your heart
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 29, 2011

Psalm 28:7 says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”
Years ago, I was at a church service when the worship leader stopped the song and asked us if we had joy in our hearts, and then he said with a smile, “Well, some of you better tell your face because you don’t look like it!”
Point well-taken. Given, sometimes we show up for worship and we may not feel worthy of communing joyfully with God because of sin in our life. And sometimes, the devil just seems to be working overtime to bring us down. Other times, we show up for worship and only go through the motions without thinking about what we are doing. When that happens, we are making the choice not to give God our best.
The Bible has a lot to say about the connection between worship and having a joyful attitude. In fact, the Psalmist David experienced joy at the very thought of going to worship. In Psalm 122:1 David says, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”
The Apostle Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4).”
So, if Christians have reason to rejoice outside of worship gatherings, how much more joy should fill our hearts when we come together to praise God in song, prayer, the Lord’s Supper, giving, and to listen to the teaching of God’s word?
Jesus tells his followers in Luke 10:20 to “…rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” If that’s not reason to burst at the seams, I don’t know what is!
Granted, having a joyful attitude in worship or elsewhere does not always mean having a smile on your face. But, it also does not mean portraying feelings of boredom or apathy.
One of the great benefits of coming together as Christians to worship God is so we can encourage one another to love and serve (Hebrews 10:23-25).”
We have many reasons to be joyful in the Lord. This week, let’s all do our best to share the enthusiasm found in the book of Jeremiah 15:16 when the prophet expressed a hunger for God’s word in this way, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.”
Have a great day, and may the joy of the Lord be your strength!

Absolute truth can be found if you look in the right place
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 22, 2011

Just before Jesus was crucified, he told the Roman governor, Pontius Pilot, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me (John 18:37).” Pilate responded, “What is truth?”
People have been searching for ages to find the answer to that question. Unfortunately, we have not always looked in the right place.
In John 14:6, Jesus answers Thomas’s question, “How can we know the way (to where you are)?” “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
That flies in the face of today’s worldly wisdom. Mankind has manufactured more maps than ever these days that supposedly lead to truth and salvation. Even Oprah has declared that Jesus could not be the only way to God.
But Peter’s inspired words make it abundantly clear that Jesus is in fact the only way. In Acts 4:10-12, Luke quotes Peter as saying, “…there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
The term “truth” has been watered down and twisted so much that most people ironically believe that truth is absolutely relative. Huh? Yes, I agree. That makes no sense. Bottom line? Most people simply don’t like to have their options limited in anything unless it’s convenient!
One survey suggests that 70-percent of teens believe there is no such thing as absolute truth. Another statistic says that two out of three adults believe that truth is relative to the situations in which people find themselves.
If truth were known, most people would tell you they feel more comfortable when everyone understands the rules. That is certainly the case when we play any kind of game. That is also the case in business dealings. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a culture anywhere on the planet that doesn’t value a set of guidelines. Even the most hardened criminals recognize there are lines that should not be crossed.
One thing is for sure, we will all meet Jesus face to face some day. He will be our Judge, and he will be using God’s word to do the judging (2 Corinthians 5:10, John 12:49, 2 Timothy 4:1, Acts 10:42, Romans 2:16) .
We don’t even have to wonder which truths we will be judged by. Jesus already told us that. What mankind must decide is just how much earthly pride we are willing to let go of. The answer to that will have a direct impact on whether we will choose to let Christ lead us home to our heavenly Father.

Bible verses of comfort have been time tested
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 15, 2011

With all the cold and snow we’ve been through in the last couple of weeks, it’s hard to imagine we still have over 30 days of winter left! On the other hand, we could say that spring is only a month away! I think I like the sound of that better.
That’s the way it is in life, too. The facts are simply the facts. But how we state those facts can make a tremendous difference in the way we and others feel about them. I guess it’s like the old saying about the glass being half-empty versus half-full.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus reminds us that those who have a relationship with God have no need to worry. It’s a principle that has proven true for thousands of years.
When I was a kid, I worried a lot about dying. I can’t remember why. It probably had something to do with watching too many episodes of Dark Shadows at the neighbor’s house. That was tame compared to today’s TV thrillers. Anyway, I seemed to dwell more on dying than on the part about getting to go to heaven. But as an adult Christian, I realize death is nothing to fear. The only sad part is the thought of leaving those you love behind to deal with life in this broken world.
I recently made a design for my business cards that included several Bible verses of comfort. And since it’s not likely that I will be able to give everyone in our town a card, I thought at least the subscribers of the Fort Gibson Times might appreciate my list of comforting Bible verses.
They include: Proverbs 3:5-6 on trusting in the Lord. John 14:1-4 on Jesus taking us to heaven. 1 Peter 5:7 on casting our anxiety on God. Philippians 4:13 on our strength coming from the Lord. Matthew 11:28 on Jesus providing rest for the burdened. 1 John 1:7 on assurances that come from walking with God. And Joshua 1:9 on being strong and courageous.
In a day and time when our culture tries to convince us to seek comfort in worldly things, verses like these can help point us to the truth. There are many more where those came from!
Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, no doubt because of all the mistakes he made as he searched for the meaning of life. In the end, he said the whole duty of man is to “Fear God and keep his commandments (Proverbs 12:13).”
If you have a verse of comfort or encouragement, please pass it along to me after you have passed it along to a close friend. Have a blessed day!

Winter storms bring spiritual lessons as numerous as snowflakes
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 8, 2011

As I looked outside my window at a few of Fort Gibson’s snow-packed neighborhoods, I thought about what spiritual lessons could be learned. And since we were all snowed-in for a few days, I asked my family to help me come up with some ideas. Here are five of them:
1) No matter how bad things look right now, things will improve. Even though we often have to deal with the forces of nature and other consequences of living in this world, we know heaven awaits the faithful.
2) Impressions - You can tell by looking at footprints in the snow where people have been. As Christians, we leave impressions that represent our Savior. That’s a big responsibility. We are Christ’s hands and feet. As Christians interact with people in our community, we must make sure we are leaving Godly impressions. As the winds blow, our footprints in the snow often fade. It’s the same way in life. This means Christians must continually look for opportunities to leave impressions for those outside of Christ to follow.
3) Snow can be destructive as we’ve seen this winter, just like people who wear the name Christian while bringing reproach upon the church by their worldly actions. Snow can also be beautiful, just like joyful Christians who strive to spread the love of Christ in all they do. When people experience the love of Christ through the lives of Christians, it is a beautiful thing and of great benefit to the kingdom of Christ.
4) A snowflake is one of the most unique creations known to mankind. By itself, a single snowflake is amazing. But when it unites with billions of other snowflakes, it becomes a strong force to be reckoned with. A single Christian can also do some amazing things. But when Christians unite, something very special happens, and even greater things are accomplished. The early disciples we read about were incredible individuals. But Christians uniting for the sake of Christ continues to result in fulfilling his command to spread the good news locally, then to the region, and then to the entire world (Acts 1:8).
5) And the final lesson, “Snow angels!” Everytime I see someone lie on their back in a pile of frozen precip, flap their arms and legs, and create an angel, my first thought is always, “Burrrr!” But my second thought is “Wow! That took some guts and effort.” Christians are called to be holy or set apart for service to God (1 Peter 2:9). The Bible says Christians will be rewarded according to what they have done (Romans 2:6), but it never says that living the Christian life will be easy (John 15:18-21). It takes effort. When Jesus came to earth, he set the ultimate example of what it means to put forth effort for a cause. We were his “cause,” and we still are today.
Enjoy the blessings of winter!

Confessing Jesus as God’s Son should change your life
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 1, 2011

2 Timothy 2:19 says, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
When it comes to hope of heaven, this verse should be of interest to everyone. Confess is one of only a few words in the New Testament that gives us specific directions on how to get to heaven.
In this verse, acknowledging the Lord Jesus as God’s Son and proving your sincerity by turning away from wickedness are key to having a relationship with our Savior. The writer, Paul, goes on to say that by turning our backs on evil (or repenting), we become “…an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work (v. 21).” In other words, when we follow the Great Shepherd, He knows we are His sheep (John 10:27).
Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:9 that simply doing good works cannot save us. However, it only stands to reason that one who has truly confessed will do good works, and follow through with obeying God’s word consistently.
Until we read closely, it might be easy to draw a wrong conclusion on Romans 10:9, which says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
This verse means exactly what it says. But when discussing matters of salvation, we should define what it means to confess. In 2 Tim. 2:19, Paul makes it clear that one who worships God cannot partner with wickedness (Eph. 5:7 and 2 Cor. 6:14-18). As I’ve noted before, the devil and his demons clearly believed in the identities of God and the Son. But it would be absurd to think that either the devil or even those who follow his ways will enter into the joys of heaven someday. Their happiness is temporary. It will not extend beyond this life just like those who only do good things to bring praise to themselves (Matt. 6).
It would also be wise to note that in Acts 16:16-34, the jailer’s belief in the Lord was followed immediately by baptism. If fact, every Biblical example of someone becoming a Christian involved baptism (for the forgiveness of sins, Acts 2:38).
Yes, all Christians stumble and fall (Rom. 3:23). The difference between those who live in the light versus those who live in darkness is a matter of the heart. Christians who model a life of confession do not like to operate in shady circumstances or deceptive business practices. And when they fall into temptation it bothers them. They ask forgiveness from God and from those they have sinned against. God knows our heart.
The one who truly confesses is the one whose life is changed because of it. You see, when we acknowledge Christ by putting him in his proper place, we are compelled to obey his commands (Matt. 10:32-33,42). In fact, scripture says our obedience to God is how he knows we love him. God bless your efforts to conform to his will and not your own (Rom. 12:1-2).

Views of non-Christians should cause Christians to re-evaluate
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 25, 2011

Have you ever heard a non-Christian or maybe a “fallen away” Christian say that church people are just a bunch of hypocrites? I know I have. Granted, there are some folks who just use this phrase as an excuse to not commit to being an active part of a church family. That being said, in some cases these people are simply stating the truth. Ouch! How do we know this?
Among young “outsiders” to Christianity, “84-percent say they personally know at least one committed Christian. Yet, just 15-percent thought the lifestyles of those Christ followers were significantly different from the norm.” This is a quote from the book “UnChristian” based on a 2007 Barna Group survey.
The survey showed that Christians are distinct on some religious variables such as how many Bibles they own, how often they go to church, and how much money they drop in the collection plate. But when it came to non-religious lifestyle factors, David Kinnaman, the author of the book, said there were “few meaningful gaps” between those who claim to be committed Christians versus non-Christians.
The survey asked people to identify their behaviors during the last thirty days. The result was that Christians were as likely as non-Christians to bet or gamble, visit a pornographic website, view sexually explicit magazines or movies, have an affair, steal, consult a medium or a psychic, physically fight or abuse someone, get drunk, use an illegal drug, lie, seek revenge, and say mean things behind someone’s back.
Kinnaman says, “It’s not just our lifestyles that have gotten us into trouble.” He says “It’s the very way in which we convey the priorities of being a Christian.”
The survey showed that the most common message Christians convey is that Christianity is a religion of rules and regulations. Kinnaman says that “outsiders” think of us as hypocrites because they are measuring us by our own standards.
However, he is quick to point out that the Bible says we should bear much fruit (John 15:8), and that without a way of measuring the reality of our faith, it is nothing more than empty beliefs (James 2:20-26). In other words, “Faith without deeds is dead.”
Scripture says we will continue to mess up as long as we live. But that doesn’t mean we can’t commit wholeheartedly everyday to a life of imitating our Savior and Lord, being known by our love and being compelled by His. God bless!

The love of Christ is important to Fort Gibson
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 18, 2011

2011 begins my fifth year of writing my “Fort Faith” column for the Fort Gibson Times. So far, I’ve written on topics such as salvation, reliability of the Bible, mission work, evolution, and Christian attitudes.
These are all important things to talk about. But there is no more important topic to discuss than that of spreading the love of Christ throughout our community. The reason I say that is because if we will continue “being Jesus” to those around us, can you imagine what Fort Gibson would be like? Not that God hasn’t blessed our town already. After all, Fort Gibson is ranked second in the state for the best place to raise children. Let’s never take that for granted.
In a lot of towns, there can be a big difference between being a nice place to live versus being a Godly place to live. In Fort Gibson’s case, I tend to think the two are very much intertwined. Though we are a small town, people who call themselves Christians here still have plenty of opportunities to be Jesus to those who are hurting. I’m glad I live in a town where it’s not hard to find people doing just that.
But not to stick our heads in the sand, we must stay alert to those who have not heard or experienced the story of Jesus and his love for all. In my position as youth minister at Fort Gibson Church of Christ, students occasionally request prayer for a friend who doesn’t believe in God. They also ask me questions about how to respond to classmates who have trouble believing Bible stories such as the flood, creation, and various other miracles.
One of the things I truly believe is that the most effective way of reaching others with the Bible is to simply live it. Remember, most people will come closer to listening to those who model the love of Christ as opposed to only telling them about it. This is true with friends, family members and anyone else you’re around. Godly actions on the part of Christians can and do lead to open doors where people are anxious to hear the rest of the story.
Bottom line? The love of Jesus changes people’s lives. That’s why the Bible is the best seller of all times, and that’s why so many people have written about Jesus for so many centuries dating back to shortly after the Bible was completed in the first century.
Please take time today to pray for the people of our town to continue doing what it takes to be blessed with such a great place to live. God bless!

Article on creation sparks heated comments
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 11, 2011

By far, the Fort Faith article of 2010 that received the most feedback was printed in the October 27 Fort Gibson Times. It was titled: The Bible is easy to believe when you examine the evidence.
I really don’t consider myself to be a controversial writer. I guess that’s why I was shocked at the level of insults espoused by some of those who responded. As far as I can tell, the venom came from other parts of the U.S. and even overseas by online readers who do not share the Bible’s account of how the world came into being, and how mankind was created.
Those who responded negatively referred to me as liar, ignorant, poor soul, pathetic, and brainwashed fool. At one point, one guy even tried to prove me wrong by referring to words he read in a fictional book titled: The Da Vinci Code. Another person compared the Bible to mythical writings of long ago.
Rebellion to God’s word is nothing new. In 2 Timothy 4:2-5 Paul tells his young friend Timothy that the time will come when men will find teachers to teach them what their itching ears want to hear, turning away from the truth in exchange for myths.
Paul encourages Timothy to “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.”
Another of my favorite scriptures comes from 1 Peter 3:15. “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. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
In both passages, the writers remind Christians to keep their attitude in check while teaching those who would attack.
It’s been my personal experience that when someone doesn’t share the views of the Bible, but yet has no proof otherwise, they resort to character attacks.
But Paul says to endure hardship as we do the work of an evangelist. The lashes he underwent certainly qualify him to talk about persecution.
May you find strength, courage, and wisdom this year as you stand up for God’s truths, letting our community and even the entire world see Christ’s love working in you. This year I plan to continue teaching God’s truths in my words, deeds, and in my writings. Thank you for reading Fort Faith, and BIG thanks to the Muskogee Phoenix for continuing to publish my article in the Fort Gibson Times.

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)