The Baby Jesus Was Prophesied Long Before He Came 
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 6, 2011

            This month, people all over the world, and certainly right here in Fort Gibson will be celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Christ.  It’s a wonderful time of year when the global spotlight shines on one of the greatest events in history for all to see.

            One of the incredible things about Christ’s birth that gives me additional confidence in his story is the accuracy of Old Testament prophecy.  Besides the New Testament accounts in Matthew and Luke, the birth of Christ was written about by OT prophets Jeremiah (600 B.C.), Micah and Isaiah (700BC) hundreds of years before He arrived on the scene as a human infant, born in Bethlehem.  Other OT prophesies spoke about his life, death, and resurrection.

            Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

            Can you imagine what it must have been like for the young Mary, as she slowly realized that she would play such an important role in OT prophecy (ref: Micah 5:2-5 and Isaiah 7:14 and Jeremiah 23:5-6) written so long ago?  Could it be that the promised ruler from Bethlehem would really be born of Mary, a virgin, some 700 years after it was prophesied?  The answer was yes!

            Still, this must have been extremely difficult to believe for the soon to be parents!  But God was watching out for this descendant of David known as Joseph and his soon to be wife, Mary.  God sent an angel, who not only spoke with Mary (Luke 1:28) personally, but also appeared in a dream to Joseph (Matthew 1:20) who was on the verge of backing out of marrying this young woman to whom he was pledged (Matt. 1:18). 

In fact, until this angelic visit, Joseph had planned to quietly divorce Mary before the marriage was consummated.  After all, who had ever heard of such a thing?  A virgin being with child?  Really?  But the angel was evidently convincing enough that Joseph obeyed and took Mary home to be his wife, though they had no union until she gave birth to a son (Matt. 1:24-25).  And yes, they named him Jesus.  He would also be known as Immanuel, which means “God with us”, a term prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 and mentioned again in Matthew 1:23.

With the exception of his miraculous birth, Jesus was probably much like any other kid in his Nazareth neighborhood. Of course, word probably began to spread pretty rapidly by age twelve that his level of wisdom in conversations with the elders at the temple was nothing less than remarkable.  Then by about age thirty, the supernatural miracles he performed after his official ministry began let everyone know that this guy had something to offer that no one else had!

One thing we know for certain is that there were eyes of skepticism and hearts of hope on Christ’s life from the time he was born, until even after his resurrection.  How could one man affect an entire world and even the angels from the time of his birth unless he was truly the son of God, our only hope of salvation?  Have a blessed week!   

Spiritual Feasting Is the Best Meal 
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 29, 2011

            Well, I trust that everyone used dietary self-restraint over Thanksgiving… as much as I did!  Okay, Okay!  So, maybe I was a little bit bad.  After all, who can say “no” to tables full of food and dessert cooked to perfection? 

            Let’s just put Turkey Day behind us, and hop back onto the wagon of self-discipline, at least until the dinner bell rings at Christmas!  Oh, the temptations we have during the holidays!

            There is one kind of food that doesn’t result in weight gain, though.  And believe it or not, it is comfort food at its best.  BREAD.  But this is not just any kind of bread.  It’s the bread of life!  In John 6, we read about the miraculous feeding of the five-thousand with only five loaves and two fishes.  This obviously made quite an impression on the people.  So Jesus, sensing that they were only following him because he was feeding them physically, began to try to explain to them that spiritually speaking, he could offer them much more than fish and bread.

              In John 6:51 Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

            Some were evidently confused or even offended by Jesus’ teaching.  They thought Jesus was asking them to eat his physical flesh.  And as you can imagine, most folks were not interested in that prospect! So he goes on to explain in verse 63, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

            Jesus asked the Twelve (chosen disciples) if they were going to leave him, too.  In verse 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

            So here is the question.  Do you have any friends or family who do not know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?  Do you know anyone who enjoys all of the physical blessings of God, but has somehow missed the best meal of all, the Living Bread?  Trust me, I love a tasty holiday meal as much as anyone.  But it is only when we feast on the word of God (all year long) that we receive the spiritual nutrition needed to guide us into eternity.  Have a blessed week!

Thanksgiving should be a part of everyday life

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 22, 2011

One of the great Thanksgiving traditions my church family has is to write down the things we are thankful for on a card, and then have them read aloud during our midweek service.

What comes out of this gathering is a renewed sense of our blessings. It also helps us to better understand what is important to our Christian brothers and sisters. With so much hustle and bustle during the rest of the year, it is always nice to have the chance to sit back and listen to what others are thankful for.

Meeting with your church family is important all year long, but there’s something extra special about the holidays. One of the top things people are thankful for is always family. That holds true even for those who do not attend worship anywhere but still cherish God’s blessings. For others, it is the relationships they enjoy with friends, Christian brothers and sisters, or the fact that we live in a free country, and have the freedom to worship as we choose. I have one friend from India who doesn’t even feel free to go back home because he fears for his life. He is Christian in a nation where Christians are persecuted, some even to the point of death.

So, what are you thankful for? I usually wait til the last minute and wind up not writing much of anything on my card. So this time, I am making sure that doesn’t happen again. For me, I am thankful for Godly parents who raised me to love and honor God. I am thankful for the guidance and comfort that comes from the gift of God’s Holy Spirit that is promised to everyone who repents and is baptized (ref: Acts 2:38). I am also thankful for a Godly wife who is always there to encourage me and work side by side to raise our three children in the Lord. And finally, I am thankful that I get to live in a town like Fort Gibson. What a place!

The words of the apostle Paul from Colossians 3:16-17 are great reminders of what our attitudes should be not only during the holidays, but all the time. “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Let us all remember to tell God how grateful we are for each and every blessing we have. Let us also remember to prove our thankfulness to Him in the way we honor God with our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Faith in God Is Easier Than The Alternative by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 15, 2011

            As I was leaving the church building a few nights ago, I literally stood still in amazement at what I saw.  You may have also noticed just how incredible the full moon over Fort Gibson shone. It literally looked like it was just a few hundred yards away!  I thought to myself, “How can anyone say there is no God?”

If you happen to be an atheist, let me just say that I love you, and everything I say in this article is only meant to acknowledge God’s greatness, and give us all a few things to think about.  If you’ve heard these things before, I pray that you will at least consider them once more so that you may soon experience the joy found in a relationship with God through Jesus. (ref: Acts 2:38)

            Everything in creation has such wonderful design.  It would take a tremendous amount of faith to think there was no Designer.  The computer I am typing on could not have created itself out of a pile of plastic and metal no matter how much time it had!  It would be absurd to think otherwise. Yet, there are those who believe and teach that the humans who designed and created the computer had no Designer themselves!

            How long do you think it would take a pile of boards, nails, bricks, shingles, and cement to turn itself into a beautiful home?  I cannot imagine anyone believing that the house they live in could have created itself.  It had to be designed and built.  How about the car you drive?  Could it have created itself, given enough time?  Even for those who think the universe is much older than the six-thousand years documented in the Bible, the evidence would say a car cannot design and create itself, much less be able to start with a key and drive down the road!

            Humans are much more complex than anything mankind has created.  So, how could anyone believe that the creation of humans was just some sort of cosmic accident?

            The fact is, the devil is the greatest deceiver of all.  He has sown seeds of doubt almost from the beginning.  For some reason, God kicked Satan out of His presence.  Maybe it was because the devil wanted to be on equals with the Creator.  This would have been the same sort of temptation that tripped up Adam and Eve, courtesy of the devil (Genesis 3).

            Yes, it is mind-blowing to imagine the amount of power God must possess in order to have created our universe and everything in it.  But it would be even more difficult to imagine that everything just created itself!  The Bible’s account of God creating the heavens and the earth is the only possibility that even begins to make sense (ref: Genesis 1, John 1:1-14, Colossians 1:15-19).  A design requires a Designer.

            One quick trip to the library or the internet reveals discoveries in the fields of earth and space, archaeology, medicine, and history that the Bible had already documented thousands of years ago.  That is why so many non-believers, in their quest to disprove the Bible, wind up converting themselves to Christianity. With each new discovery, the ancient words of the Bible continue to prove reliable and accurate to this day.  God is good! 

Shaky Ground Is No Match For God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 9, 2011

Funny thing happened Friday. I was having writer’s block as I sat down to compose another Fort Faith column for the Fort Gibson Times. So, I went to God in prayer about this little problem of mine. I asked God to give me something obvious to write about, something that would be relevant to my readers, something that would glorify Him. I felt good about my visit with God, but I still didn’t know what I would write about.

I had to run an errand to Tahlequah that afternoon, so of course, the most obvious topic would be the beautiful colors of autumn. Who can ignore God’s presence during this season? “But I write about that every year,” I thought to myself. I was holding out for something more significant. Now, I’m not so sure I shouldn’t have just gone ahead and written about fall leaves!

I had no idea we were about to experience an EARTHQUAKE (of all things). At least at my house, it didn’t feel a whole lot different than thunder or maybe a train passing through town. But still, an earthquake? I have lived in Oklahoma all my life, ten years in Fort Gibson, and have never even seen a tornado! And now, many of us can say we’ve actually experienced a tremor! (actually three). I am reasonably certain God didn’t send us an earthquake just because I prayed for something important to write about. But, I will say that any natural disaster works wonders when it comes to reminding us of the power of God and our need for His presence in our lives.

One of my Facebook friends quoted this passage from Psalm 46:1-3, (NIV). “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

To me, there is nothing more comforting than to be reminded that we can go to our Creator anytime for peace during life’s turmoils. I am a full-time youth minister who spends a lot of time studying the Bible. And still, passages that remind me I can go to God in times of stress and worry (and He will do something about it) have such a calming effect on me.

When I think about how small the earth is in comparison to other planets and galaxies, it is humbling to think that we have a God who loves us totally and unconditionally. Our planet is barely a speck in relation to the total picture of things, and yet God continues to prove how important we are to Him. This earth can rumble and tumble all it wants, but in the end, God has a much better place awaiting those who are found faithful. Have a blessed week!

Jesus gives us lots of reasons to be thankful

By Barrett Vanlandingham
November 1, 2011

Psalm 136:1 (ESV) says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

If you’ve never read the 136th Psalm, do yourself a favor and read it. The author skillfully lists 26 things for which mankind can be thankful, and reminds us in each phrase that God’s love endures forever. As with all biblical prophecy, that also turned out to be true since Christ who was the ultimate example of love lives forever.

There is a song we sing in worship that goes “For all that You’ve done I will thank you, for all that you’re going to do. For all that you’ve promised and all that you are is all that has carried me through. My Jesus I thank you… Thank you for loving and setting me free. Thank you for giving your life just for me. How I thank you. My Jesus I thank you. I gratefully thank you. Thank you.”

There are a lot of things I thank God for when I pray. We’ve all been so blessed. It’s easy for me to get caught up in spending the majority of my prayer time either asking God for more blessings, or thanking him for all the things he has blessed me with. How about you? But when I stop to think about it, the most important thing to thank God for is the gift of his son, Jesus. Without him, we would all be lost. He not only created us (John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:16), he also died for us, and rose for us. That is why we have hope. We serve a risen Savior who conquered death and who went back to heaven to prepare a place for Christians found to be faithful in the end (John 14:1-4, Revelation 2:10, Matthew 10:22).

So here we are in the month of November… again! Can you believe it? It’s the time when we as a nation turn more of our attention than usual towards taking notice of things to be thankful for. It’s also a time when we seem to put a little extra effort into making a difference in someone else’s life, especially someone who is less fortunate, or just struggling maybe temporarily in some way. It can also be rewarding to do a kind deed for a friend or family member to give them something to be thankful for. Thank God for selfless people who look for ways to bless others’ lives all year long! Remember, when we do a kind deed to honor God (not self), no matter how small, our Creator can, has, and will bless our efforts (Hebrews 11:6), and more importantly God is glorified. Have a great week!

New Construction & Reduced Camper Fees for Burnt Cabin Are Coming Our Way!


by Barrett Vanlandingham

There are things we look back at and know without a doubt, it was a turning point, a watershed moment, a life-changing event.

For an estimated 39-thousand children, plus staffers and campers’ families, Burnt Cabin Christian Camp has been exactly that. It’s been over fifty years since the camp opened its doors to young people to experience God in a very unique and personal way. Many of you have no doubt been campers, staffers, or both!

It probably made no sense in the beginning years that people’s lives would be touched in such a powerful way. After all, the camp was built on the side of a rocky hill. Old Army barracks from Fort Chaffee were the first dorms and are still there! But over the years, with God’s blessing and much help from selfless volunteers and generous contributors, the camp has been transformed into a place that campers look forward to coming back to year after year.

Wouldn’t it be nice to mark our spot in Burnt Cabin’s history by helping the camp march into the next generation better equipped than ever to handle the growing spiritual needs of families with children?

Here’s How You Can Help

Please pray for a three-year, $2.7 million fundraiser that will begin next month. Please make plans to attend a presentation here at the building by BCCC caretaker Sam Yaws on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 5pm. He will speak on the much needed addition, and show a video that takes a look at the past, present, and future of the camp.

Here’s the scoop:

The Burnt Cabin Board of Directors will be paying cash for the new construction with donations received.

The project includes a new 160 bed dorm on the 1st floor. The 2nd floor has a kitchen and a 450 seat cafeteria with a stone fireplace. Drop-down indoor basketball goals are also planned. The cafeteria and wrap-around sheltered balcony will also be used for Bible classes.

Interest from a million dollars of the $2.7 will help cut camper fees by up to half!

3333 families are needed to give $270 per year for three years to accomplish this. Tell anyone you know who has moved away and might be willing to help. And finally, prayerfully consider how your family can help make these plans for Burnt Cabin and future generations become reality.

Unity Is Still Christ’s Plea
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 25, 2011

            Last week, my article focused on why the writers of the New Testament felt it was necessary to encourage new Christians and remind them of God’s will for them.  I wanted to write just a little more on that topic this week.

In review, all but six books (Matthew, Mark, Luke John, Acts, and Revelation) of the New Testament were considered letters, also known as Epistles, written to specific Christians, the church or Christians in general, or to specific congregations of the Lord’s church.  The Epistles were vitally important since first century Christians were undergoing tremendous persecution from those who did not believe that Jesus was actually the Christ, the son of God, the Messiah.  The Epistles were written to address specific concerns, problems, or questions that the recipients of those letters were dealing with.

            The writers made frequent mention of false teachers (2 John 1:7) and false gospels that were throwing the early Christians into confusion (ref: Galatians 1:6-10).  Ancient history from outside of the Bible agrees that even in the first century there were many philosophies on the nature of God and even the identity and nature of Jesus Christ, and on the specifics of salvation.

            That’s why passages such as 1 Peter 1:3, Colossians 1-2, 1 & 2 John, and Romans 6:1-11 were so important in reminding new Christians that the One they were following was indeed worthy of their dedication and commitment.

            Jesus died for only one church. Christians are symbolically the body of Christ. The New Testament never mentions there being more than one body (ref: Eph. 4:1-6).   Unfortunately, now there are thousands of denominations of Christ’s body. Such a tragedy that not only Christ’s hands, feet, and side were pierced, but His body (the Church), has been pulled and torn in thousands of different directions over nothing but selfish disputes. 

Let me pose some disturbing questions for our consideration:  1) How can we blame non-believers for not wanting to be a part of such division?   2) Do you suppose that if we knew that God were returning next week to take his faithful home to heaven, that we could manage to throw our opinions and traditions aside long enough to follow God’s word only?  3) Let’s start with Fort Gibson.  Would we be willing to tear down all of the church buildings in our town, and build one BIG building for us to worship in, using only God’s inspired word to guide us?

In John 17:20-21, Jesus prayed for himself, then for his disciples, and then for all believers.  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

            May the words of Jesus himself ring in our ears as we renew our commitment to following God’s New Testament teachings.  Just like the children’s song says, “I stand alone on the word of God, the BIBLE.”  Have a blessed day!

The Bible’s Encouraging Words Are Timeless
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 18, 2011

            The more I read the Bible, the more it occurs to me that our generation today has a lot in common with the first century.

             It has been about two-thousand years since the writers of the New Testament sent their letters to individual Christians, specific congregations, and to Christians in general.  These letters, also referred to as Epistles, include all the New Testament except for the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Acts, and Revelation.   The Epistles were written to answer specific questions and to instruct and encourage Christians in their new way of life. 

Christianity was still in its infant stages. But already there were false doctrines and distortions of the truth that had surfaced and were being taught.  Even some of the churches Paul had helped establish were being swayed by these false teachers.

            Paul tells the churches in Galatia, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel, which is really no gospel at all.  Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-7, NIV).

            In Acts 17:18-21 (NIV), Paul makes note of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who “…spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.”   Three philosophies were as follows: 1) The Epicureans didn’t think God created the world, and felt that humanity’s top goal should be to achieve worldly happiness.  2) The Stoics were the opposite. They taught that the world was created by God, but that all things were fixed by fate, even God. Their goal was to be in total control of every emotion.  3) Gnosticism was another philosophy of the day but was not mentioned by name. Its adherents felt that they had an inner knowledge (gnosis) that no one else had. They taught that the world and mankind was dirty and evil. They felt that only the spirit was good, so therefore, Jesus was actually a spirit-only being, and his body was only an illusion, and that the bodily resurrection of Jesus was not possible since the true Christ would not possibly want to take human form.

            These kinds of false teachings were confusing to many early Christians who were already suffering persecution for their practice of Christianity.  They needed to know their efforts in following Christ were not in vain.  That is why the writer of 1 John and 2 John, for instance, spent a lot of pen power reminding new Christians that they can “know” that Jesus really did come to earth in human form.  Other passages such as 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) were very important in reminding Christians of their “…hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  The apostle Paul devoted much of Colossians 1-2 in describing and defining Jesus our Lord.

            These same passages are just as important today as in the first century when it comes to encouraging Christians to continue walking with Christ.  Have a blessed day!

Everyday is a blessing from God

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 11, 2011

             This past Friday morning I was sitting on my back porch having a cup of my favorite coffee. I had just ground and brewed a portion of the beans I recently brought back from my mission trip to Honduras.  The sun was shining bright above the eastern horizon, the skies were a beautiful blue, the trees and vines in my back yard were green, and to top it off there was a nice cool breeze ushering in the day.  I was making plans for a tailgate party before the football game.

            That’s when I decided to pray to God.  But what I had to say must have sounded less than impressive to our Creator.  I actually asked God to bless this day!  You talk about feeling stupid.  I immediately apologized, laughed, and thanked God for all of the above things I mentioned, plus safety for the players.

            God gives us so many blessings everyday that we often don’t think to thank Him for.  Lately, my ankle has been very sore.  It all has to do with a sports-related back injury many years ago resulting in my central nervous system failing to communicate properly with my foot. This causes me to walk with a slight limp sometimes because my right foot won’t push down enough to support my weight which I am in the process of trying to reduce!

            Anyway, when I opened my laptop computer to write this article, I checked my e-mail first.  That’s when I saw a message from www.godtube.com regarding an inspirational video that I should watch.  So I did, and now my sore ankle doesn't seem like anything to complain about.  It was the story of a twin baby boy who was born dead.  The doctors set him aside to deliver his sister.  But when baby Cristal cried, so did baby Christopher!  He had gone without oxygen for fifteen minutes, suffered brain damage, could not walk, talk, or speak, and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.  His life would prove to be difficult.  His father left his mother and seven children shortly after the twins were delivered.

Christopher’s story of learning to read, write, talk, graduate high school in honors classes ranked 5^th out of 360 students, and be the only one in his family to graduate college is truly inspirational. His single mother’s faith in Jesus Christ encouraged Christopher to seek a relationship with God.  He says his life mirrors John 9:1-3 where Jesus heals a man born blind.

            “1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

So, in spite of his speech problems, disfigured limbs, and confinement to a wheelchair, Christopher’s faith and determination have helped him to live an unconfined life, speaking to groups all across the nation to tell his story and how God has blessed him richly. You can read more at www.christophercoleman.net .  Have a blessed day!

Attention to Detail Really Matters

by Barrett Vanlandingham

September 27, 2011

            To say the least, I am not a mechanical genius. Just a few days ago I yanked and pulled to start my push mower, but to no avail.  “What could possibly be the problem,” I asked myself.

            Then, I remembered a simple solution I learned as a kid when my mini-bike became difficult to start.  At age six, my dad had taught me how to remove and clean a spark plug.  Most of the time that fixed it.  And guess what? It worked this time, too.

            For some reason, it was amazing to me all over again that such a small thing as a clean sparkplug could make such a huge difference in how an entire lawnmower operated!  I was so happy, I turned off the mower and re-started it three more times just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke!  Immediately, I thought to myself how true this is to anything in life.  Just getting back to the basics and making sure all your foundational ducks are in a row can take a frustrating situation, and make it workable.

            In the Old Testament, we’re told about a time when the Lord’s anger burned against his people because they hadn’t obeyed the words written in the “Book of the Law” (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). What’s worse, the book, which had apparently been lost for as many as 400-years, was discovered in the temple while workers were doing repairs!  Can you imagine going to a church building every week to honor the only gods you knew about, not even knowing what Jehovah God expected of you until one day somebody discovers the only copy of God’s word that existed in your country?

Josiah, who was King of Judah at the time (600 B.C.), was known to have done right in the eyes of the Lord.  And when he heard that the book had been found basically right under their noses, he showed great remorse, tearing his robes and ordering his attendants to find out “…what all is written in this book that has been found.” (2 Kings 22:13)

            At that point, Josiah went to the temple, gathered together all the people, and read the Book of the Covenant. That day Josiah and all the people renewed their pledge to keep the Lord’s commands.

            So many times, in the middle of life’s turmoil, when things just aren’t working the way they should, it is easy for us to forget where to turn for real peace and hope, just like the children of Israel forgot.  The solution was always there in God’s word, but no one bothered to study and teach it to their children because idol worship and other detestable practices had become popular and eventually the only thing people knew. Sound familiar?

 In the Gospel of Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  
May we never forget where real truth can be found.  Have a great week!

Homecoming Day for God’s Team Will Bring Victory For Sure 

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 20 , 2011

Fort Gibson’s homecoming festivities this Friday will no doubt result in many reunions of classmates from past years.  As a minister, I can’t help but make the connection between homecoming and that final Day.

This past week, a good friend to a lot of people in Fort Gibson said good-bye to life here on earth.  94-year old Lloyd Elkins along with his good nature, smiles, and Christian attitude will be greatly missed.  But just like classmates who have graduated and gone on to bigger and better things, Lloyd has too.  Many of us will be excited to see Lloyd and so many other loved ones on the other side when that day comes, the day Christians are re-united with the rest of God’s team.

In John 14:1-4 Jesus comforts his disciples with these words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

According to the Bible, most people live their lives on the broad road that leads to destruction (ref: Matthew 7:13-14).  For those, “Homecoming Day” will not be a joyous occasion.  How awful it would be to hear, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers (Matthew 7:23).”

But for faithful Christians, Paul has this to say in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Paul is simply saying that as long as he lives on earth, he will live for Jesus, live like Jesus, and live because of Jesus.  And the day he dies, Paul is saying that even death will be victory.  The same applies for faithful Christians today.

Many of us long for the day that we get to re-unite with loved ones who’ve gone on before us.  Yes, the prospect of death is scary to most of us, but only because we tend to be fearful of the unknown.  We would do well to remember these words, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).”  The apostle Peter knew without a doubt that we should build our hopes on Jesus Christ, the Firm Foundation.  He is the only One who has the power to save us from our sins. 

Jesus says in John 14:6, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Those are great words of comfort for those whose sins have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb.

As Ananias told the man who would eventually be known as the apostle Paul,  “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his (God’s) name (Acts 22:16).”

Have a blessed homecoming week!

An Act of Kindness Can Fit Inside A Shoebox

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 13, 2011

When Lisa and my daughter Gracie got home from shopping Saturday night and began packing two shoebox size containers with Christmas presents bound for impoverished children in Honduras, I wondered to myself if it would even begin to make a difference.

But after re-visiting in my mind the things I witnessed this summer, I was almost ashamed the thought had crossed my mind. Honduras is one of the poorest of the third world countries in the western hemisphere. They have no wealthy friends, family, neighbors, or programs to give them things we take for granted.

The items in these boxes will likely be the nicest gifts these children receive all year. Toothbrushes, underwear, clothes, and toys for the younger kids. School supplies are added for the older ones.

It’s all part of the “Magi Project”, a program of “Healing Hands International” based out of Nashville. In time for Christmas, the organization will ship thousands of gifts to the some of the poorest children in Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua who have been put on a list by local preachers.

Gean Hackworth is the local coordinator here in Fort Gibson. She says she jumped at taking on this project after seeing just how excited and involved her third grade Bible class was this summer in collecting over $900 to purchase a milk cow for a Honduran family. Gean says the “Magi Project” is not only a great way to help those who need help, but it also trains children to be servant-hearted and mission-minded. This effort is drawing a lot of support from all ages as parents, grandparents and other individuals in Fort Gibson lend a hand.

Last December, Glen Elliott (the missions deacon at my church) and I had the privilege of being on the other end of the “Magi Project”. We were actually in Honduras checking out some other mission opportunities when we received word one night that we were needed to help load thousands of gift boxes onto a truck that were being stored in a local church. The boxes had been shipped from towns all across the U.S. just like Fort Gibson. They would be taken to drop-off points throughout Honduras. It was an experience I will never forget.

God provides doors of opportunity everyday for us to open, walk through, and make a difference. It really doesn’t matter if it’s the “Magi Project”, water wells in Africa, medical mission trips in Guatemala, or just being a good neighbor in your own community, there is always room for another act of kindness. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet so that “…you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15) Whose feet will you wash this week? Have a great day!

A Hectic Life Is No Match for the God of

Comfort

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 30, 2011

            Did you ever have one of those weeks that just wouldn’t seem to end?  We’ve all been there.  For me, it came last week.  I love doing full-time youth ministry more than just about anything, and I love the fact that our church hosted a four day relationships conference, and I loved the three day youth rally in Missouri that I went to with 53 kids and eight adult chaperons.  But at some point in my unusually long 84-plus hour work schedule of things I love to do, I was thinking, “This is way too much of a good thing!”  In fact, it’s the things that we enjoy doing the most that can easily lead to an unbalanced life.

            Even so, it quickly donned on me that things could always be worse!  A lot of you know what I am talking about.  So, even in the middle of writing this article I paused to pray for strength, peace, hope and healing, not just for myself, but for all of you who have grueling weeks year round, not just occasionally like me.
            We should pray for those who are dealing with loved ones in the hospitals and nursing homes, for those who are caretakers at home, for those who have stressful marriages or other family issues, for those who have difficult jobs, dead end jobs, or no jobs, for those who are struggling with health issues, for those who have family members in the military, for parents trying to raise God-fearing children in a culture that doesn’t care enough about God, for those whose lives are too busy, and for those who are not busy enough.
        The wisest man who ever lived was Solomon.  In Ecclesiastes 3:1 he wrote “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”
        So, we know from Solomon’s writings that life will not always be a bed of roses. But he also says that God “has made everything beautiful in its time.”  And that includes all of us!
        The silver lining to any of our struggles is that we serve a God who can carry us through all of life’s messes and challenges.  We serve a God who loves each one of us, and has prepared a place for us in heaven.  We serve a God who “rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
         Good and bad times are just a part of life on earth. But with God, Christians can be joyful even when the circumstances are not happy ones. In discussing difficult situations with his disciples, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)     Have a great week!

God is with our children, even when they leave home
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 23, 2011

            As Lisa and I send our daughter, Ashton, off to Oklahoma Christian University to begin her freshman year, all kinds of thoughts rush through my mind. But the most comforting thought of all is the fact that God is going with her.

            I would be naïve to think she won’t occasionally stumble along the way and make a mistakes, hopefully not as many as I did.  But Ashton knows that she not only has parents who love her unconditionally, but more importantly, she has a Heavenly Father who loves her more than any of us can possibly imagine.

            Many of you who are reading this feel the same way about your children or grandchildren. God bless you. Isn’t it just amazing to think that the very Spirit of God makes His home inside every Christian?  It is more than the mind can comprehend, and yet, it’s true! The same Spirit who was there 6000 years ago when the Earth was created wells with us 24/7.

            In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul says, Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” (ESV)

            Even so, it is possible for any of us to make mistakes.  Athletes often become overconfident and lose to a lesser opponent because of arrogance getting in the way of good judgment or concentration.  For Christians, this is also true, especially during those times when we think we are at our strongest spiritually.

            Paul also says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12, NIV)

            Lisa and I have raised Ashton to be a Godly woman. We even loosened the reigns a little as she edged closer to leaving home so she could sharpen her decision-making skills while still living under our roof.  I know a lot of you have done the same.  But as we all know, there’s nothing that teaches life lessons any better than the kick in the gut we’ve all gone through in one way or another (aka: natural consequences).

            Please, let’s all take a moment and pray for all of our children, the ones still in the nest, and the ones taking flight, that they will hold onto God’s hand, so the lessons learned won’t be more of a burden than they can handle (ref: 1 Cor. 10:13).   Have a blessed week!

God is in control
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 16, 2011

The rain we’ve received lately is an answer to many prayers. So, why did God make us wait so long? After all, many crops failed during the drought, cattlemen have had to pay premium prices for hay if they could even find any to buy, towns everywhere have had to ration water, and of course, there’s the heat-related illnesses and deaths. The question of “why” things like this happen is not new. People have asked questions like that for thousands of years.
The fact is, God works in His own time for His own reasons that we sometimes do not understand. But since we no longer live in the Garden of Eden, and since we haven’t reached the pearly gates of Heaven, why would we even expect things here on Earth to be perfect?
God formed us. He gives us what we need. It rains on the just and the unjust. He gives us beautiful days with perfect weather that we didn’t ask for or deserve. He gives us the fruit of the Spirit that makes our lives so much more complete. Imagine what our lives would be like without “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” As with the apostle Paul, God’s grace is sufficient for us. We all have an affliction or a thorn in the flesh we’d like to get rid of. But if everything in our lives was perfect, we would not need a relationship with God, and we would not need the hope provided through His son, Jesus.
When Joseph’s jealous brothers tossed him down a well and sold him into slavery, he probably never thought this would be the route God was taking to make him the Governor of Egypt. And he probably couldn’t have imagined that he would be the one to save the known world from famine by saving up huge quantities of grain during times of abundance.
In Isaiah 43:19, The Lord told Jacob, “I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” God was reminding the nation of Israel of His mercy in spite of the fact they continued to disobey him, resulting in serious consequences.
There is a lot we could learn from the plagues and misfortune the Israelites brought on themselves because of their stubbornness and disobedience towards God.
So what does all this mean for us today? We will always have to deal with the consequences of our sin and the sin of others as long as we live here. But for Christians, God has indeed provided a “way in the wilderness” of life and “streams in the wasteland” of a corrupt culture. And for those who choose to follow God’s righteous path, a blessing of Heaven awaits!

Give God the chance to be amazing this school year

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 2, 2011

            Most of the time my Fort Faith column is a devotional thought on one topic or another.  But this week I am going to tell you how I was blessed this summer in the normal course of doing youth ministry at Fort Gibson Church of Christ.  Of course, when you tag along with God it seems nothing is ever really normal.

Let me just say that the 100-plus degree temperatures we’ve been dealing with were no match for the Spirit’s fire at church camp this summer.  I sincerely hope many of you had similar experiences.  If so, I would love to hear about it.  The theme for my weeks of church camp at Burnt Cabin was titled “Knee Mail”.  Yes, we studied all about prayer. It was awesome!

But going into it, I was embarrassingly worried that things would not go well.  So once I figured out the obvious answer, I prayed, and cast my anxiety on Him. Then I asked many others to pray.  God listened.  And God responded with more blessings than I could count.

By week’s end, six teenagers had put on Christ in baptism (Romans 6:1-11 and Acts 2:38), and seventy more had requested prayer for either themselves or someone close to them.

It was so inspiring to receive tearful hugs from young people who are faced with so many temptations.  It was truly a mountaintop experience to hear one young person say, “I am finished with my old life of sin, I am not going back there again, I want to stay on track with the Lord.”

Another teen made a similar statement, “I’ve been struggling to live the Christian life and I need your prayers.”

In just a matter of days our children will be headed back to school.  The unity of youth groups everywhere will be tested as routine school schedules and activities begin to take up our kids’ time, and pull them in many different directions.  Satan will be there front and center, making sure to hurl as many stumbling blocks as possible to throw our young people off track.  But instead of mourning the trials and temptations to come, let’s all trust God to give us an amazing school year.  Let’s all remember to thank Him for each victory everyday.

As a Christian man, a parent, and a youth minister, I am going to try harder than ever this year to be a support for young people in our community, and look for opportunities to help them with their spiritual growth.  Fort Gibson is blessed to have a lot of Godly men and women who will be doing the same.  What a blessing!  May God give each of us the desire, energy, knowledge and ability to lift the name of Jesus high, honoring Him in all we do.  Have a great day!

A branch not connected to the vine is dead

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 26, 2011

            So what’s the big deal with church attendance?  Well, for starters let’s take a look at the Gospel of John chapter 15.  Jesus says, “I am the 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 (Jn 15:1-2).”

            Yes it is true that sitting in a church building doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sticking a boot in the oven makes it a biscuit!  However, the body of Christ is the church. Christians are part of that body. Christ did not die for a church building.  He died for His church, the people. So it only makes sense that we as Christians need to assemble with other members of the Lord’s body in order to stay connected to the Vine, and therefore stay alive.

            A dead branch cannot bear fruit and cannot stay connected to the vine any more than darkness can be in Christ’s presence.  That is why dead limbs are separated from the vine much like Christians who are no longer sustained by the bread of life become separated from the Lord and from their Christian brothers and sisters.

            If it sounds to you like our God is a jealous God, that’s true!  He stated that himself in Exodus 20:5 in the listing of the Ten Commandments.  But it is important to know that God’s jealousy is not a destructive quality in our relationship with Him.

In fact, it is just the opposite. God sets boundaries that come with consequences because he loves us with a love that humans cannot even begin to comprehend.  He wants us to choose him and obey him so we can experience the blessings of being in him, that our joy may be complete (ref: Jn 15:11)

He proved his love when he became flesh and took a beating and was crucified and was raised to give us hope of eternal life. If he hadn’t gone through all of that, mankind would have a very hard time understanding what gives God the right to trim dead limbs from the Vine, and even prune fruit-producing limbs.

The fact is, God knows and understands us better than anyone (Hebrews 4:14-16).  And even with all of our flaws, he opens his arms wide to every person in the world, no matter what they’ve done, in hopes that all will repent, accept His grace, and get connected to Christ the true Vine.  Have a blessed day!

There is always hope for those who turn to the Lord

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 19, 2011 

            Scripture is very clear on the fact that Christians can turn away from the Lord.  This is not a good thing, but it has happened, does happen and will continue to happen as long as we are human.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).”

            In writing to Christians in Rome, Paul clearly stated a message that the world back then and the world today would rather not believe, that hell (spiritual death) awaits those who follow the ways of the world instead of God’s ways.  Paul says, “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the Spirit you will put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Romans 8:13-14).”

That is why scripture places so much importance on repentance, or a continual turning away from the world in favor of walking with God.

One of the most intriguing passages I have read lately comes from the book of Ezekiel 38:24-30. God gave a message to the prophet Ezekiel to give to God’s chosen people, the Israelites, who for hundreds of years rebelled against God’s degrees and paid the price for it over and over again through military defeats, slavery and other misfortunes.

The message was one of love, hope and peace to the children of Israel who God loved deeply and wanted them to walk in His righteous path.  The Lord said, “For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you…”

Today, God offers Christians the same opportunity He gave to the Israelites 2600 years ago, the chance to walk with Him, and the assurance of heaven when this life is over.

Galatians 3:26-27 says, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Scripture not only tells us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (ref: Romans 8:37-39), but it also reminds us that we can be our own worst enemy in this regard because of our own evil desires that can lead to spiritual death (ref: James 1:13-15).     May God bless your days as you seek His face in all things. (end)

Keep on the lookout for spiritual road hazards

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 12, 2011

            In my previous life as a TV journalist, I wrote about potholes many times, but hardly ever about manholes.  But after my experience last week in Honduras with the Fort Gibson Church of Christ mission team, I definitely have a new well of stories to dig from.  And yes, it includes uncovered, unmarked manholes that I had to dodge while driving white-knuckled and wide-eyed in a rented 15 passenger Toyota van.

            There were no warning signs, no florescent paint around them, no orange cones, and no barricades, just several very deep manholes about three feet in diameter.  Hondurans call serious road hazards such as these “baches” (like gotcha).

Driving in Honduras was kind of like playing a video game, only this was for real.  In fact, as I was driving, I noticed an uncovered manhole in the oncoming lane of traffic and sitting next to it was a tire, a front bumper and a radiator that had just fallen victim to this unforgiving bache.

            In living the Christian life, there are spiritual baches along life’s highways.  Some result in permanent physical consequences, and some you can recover from, kind of like driving over an annoying speed bump versus hitting a deep bache that stops you dead in your tracks and causes the immediate destruction of your car.

            The main difference between earthly baches and spiritual ones is that no one likes road hazards.  On the other hand, the devil is very deceptive and is a master at creating temptations that can be very appealing to our senses (James 1:13-15).  These spiritual baches can lure even the strongest Christian into a trap. This means we need to be careful to stay alert (1 Thessalonians 5:6) and remember  the consequences or rewards that will come at the end of our spiritual journey.

            In Paul’s final instructions to the church in Thessalonica he says, “Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thes. 5:22, ESV)

            This means we cannot pick and choose which sins we will allow ourselves to participate in. God’s inspired word makes it very clear that we are to not be involved in sin, in any form, even when it appears to be cute, funny, off color, entertaining, or even socially acceptable.

            Scripture says that not only we to stay away from sin, but that we should not approve of the sinful actions of others (ref: Romans 1:32).

            May God bless us all with the wisdom we need to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) to help keep our friends and loved ones in a right relationship with God, and ourselves, too.   Have a great day!