Above the Sun: No trick here! Living for God is a treat!

October 28, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          Out of all the tricks the devil tries to pull on us, I think the seed of uncertainty is among the worst he plants in our path.

          You see, Satan wants to discourage Christians at every turn possible. He hopes we will simply give up the long term joys of living for God in exchange for the temporary happiness offered by a broken world. That is all the “prince” of this world has to offer. If Satan can accomplish this, he not only throws a huge roadblock in our path, but he also manages to stop us from bringing lost souls to Christ.

          In Paul’s final days, he warned his young friend, Timothy, about being intimidated by the challenging task of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ even in the face of persecution. Paul often found himself behind bars because of his unwillingness to be quiet about the teachings of our Lord. He did not let this discourage him, or make him uncertain about the value of the Lord’s saving message.

          “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

          For most of us, the idea of being persecuted like first century Christians is not likely to ever happen. On the other hand, since the devil is known as a deceiver and the father of lies, we know he continually re-packages his old ideas that have worked so well for centuries.

          We may never be physically harmed or imprisoned for standing up for the truth, or for teaching about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope we have through the sacrificial work He accomplished. But that doesn’t mean we will never be intimidated socially or professionally for talking too much about our Savior. Even here in America, our society is already at a point that makes life difficult for business owners who are committed to Christ. In recent months and years, some shop owners have already found themselves being dragged into court because they were not willing to violate their own consciences about biblical teachings.

          Paul’s advice to the early Christians may be nearly 2000 years old, but it is still relevant for us. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Paul wrote these words of comfort and confidence:

          “16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Those who put their trust in Jesus have no reason to fear.  The writer of 1 John 5:13 tells us why:

          “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

          Have a great day!

Above the Sun: Masks are not only worn in October

October 21, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          Imagine if you could reveal your deepest struggles and not worry about anyone being hypercritical of you. That would be the ultimate level of transparency. Problem is, we all have at least a mask or two we wear in addition to who we really are. We wear masks because:

          1) We are embarrassed of our faults.

          2) We do not want to be judged harshly.

          3) We are afraid people will lose confidence in us either professionally or personally.

          4) We are afraid we are alone in our struggle or that no one would understand our choices.

          5) We feel most people are more interested in knowing about our dirt, than genuinely wanting to help.

          But as much as we think we are alone in our struggles and sins, the Bible disagrees.

          “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

          “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

          “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

          So what should we do about the masks? This is where drawing closer to church family, and a having strong prayer life come in handy. Also, it is important to re-commit every day to allowing God to guide us.

          “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

          “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

          “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

          “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

          Sounds easy enough. But most of us only trust God with the problems we feel we can almost fix ourselves. Solomon was the wisest man ever, and he found that depending on ourselves is not the answer.

          “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

          It may be scary just thinking about taking off your mask, but the promise of a closer relationship with God will be more than worth it.  Have a great day!

Above the Sun: Working for God leads to exciting things

October 14, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          As I was scrolling through Google, I noticed a few more newspapers are printing my column. I would like to give a big shout-out to the fine folks who catch me in the "Oskaloosa Herald" in Iowa, the "Morehead News" in Kentucky, and the "Herald Bulletin" in Anderson, Indiana. 

          Thank you for letting me pass along a few thoughts each week on topics such as trusting in God, challenges to your faith journey, overcoming temptation, and loving your neighbor.

          For readers who do not know, my weekly column titled "Above the Sun" originates in the Sunday edition of the Muskogee Phoenix. Other newspapers, mostly owned by CNHI, are running it under the heading "Religion Column." My purpose is to offer meaningful encouragement, and also remind us of Solomon's words so long ago in Ecclesiastes that everything "under the sun" is meaningless, and therefore, living our lives with an "above the sun" mindset is a much better alternative. This means living with a heavenly joy even while we are still here on earth. It means making life’s decisions with the knowledge that things here are very temporary, and that heaven is our ultimate goal. It was Jesus' selfless act 2000 years ago that makes life worth living today! His perfect sacrifice was one that only He could accomplish as God’s son.

          In 2007, when I was asked by the Fort Gibson Times if I would be willing to write a weekly religion column it never occurred to me that it would eventually be read in multiple states and even around the world digitally because of the internet. I appreciate my Oklahoma friends who read me in the Norman Transcript, Stillwater News Press, Enid News, Tahlequah Daily Press, Duncan Banner, Ada News, Claremore Daily Progress, Woodward News, McAlester News-Capital, and the Muskogee Phoenix.

          My religion column is also made available for the Chickasha Express Star, Edmond Sun, The Moore American, Pauls Valley Democrat, Stilwell Democrat Journal, and several other CNHI newspapers in other states. Although, I have not confirmed whether these papers actually run my column every week or just on occasion.

          The paper does not pay me to write my column, nor do I pay the paper to print it. For me, it is a privilege to tell the story of Jesus and His will for us. I simply write Spirit-led Bible-based content that is backed by God's word, the same scripture my parents taught me as a kid, the same scripture I studied at Oklahoma Christian University while getting my Mass Communications/radio-television degree, the same scripture I tried to live by during my TV reporter days at KTUL in Tulsa and WVVA in West Virginia, the same scripture I’ve taught teens since 2002 in my full-time youth ministry at Fort Gibson church of Christ, and the same scripture I pray guides my family and yours.

          Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Discouragement is no match for God

October 7, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          Some days you just wonder if your efforts to accomplish your goals for the day are worth it. Last week, I was trying to purchase a very used stationary bicycle from an individual in Muskogee, and it literally took me most of the day!

          I found the bike through the “LetGo” app, the seller and I did not speak the same language, and there are always trust issues on both ends with these kinds of transactions. So, just the simple task of finding out where and when to meet was quite an ordeal. In the end, the seller showed up on time, was friendly, and met me in a public place. I paid the asking price of $30 and we both left happy.

          In the Christian life, we all have goals. But some days it can seem like we are spinning our wheels and going nowhere. The apostle Paul offers this encouragement:

          “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

          Nevertheless, we live in a world where most of the people we are trying to save are not interested in the message of Christ. This should be no surprise. The Bible says most people travel through life on the wide road that leads to destruction, while only a few choose the narrow road leading to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

          The frustrations we face in bringing the lost into a saved condition should not discourage us from trying.  Jesus tells us to “go” and teach God’s commands to all people, baptizing and making disciples (followers) of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).

          There have always been those who are simply not ready to listen. In Matthew 10:14 Jesus said, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.”

          In another instance, Jesus tells His disciples to “look at the fields! They are ripe for the harvest” (John 4:35).

          There are people willing to listen. God presents them to us in His time. Sometimes, a person who is currently unwilling to listen can change when God leads them into the right set of circumstances that softens their heart. The lost son in Luke 15:11-32 had a bad attitude towards his father until he experienced the negative consequences of wild living. He eventually “came to his senses” and his father welcomed him back home.

          When a parent’s efforts to influence a rebellious child fail, it should be a comfort that God is still there patiently teaching that child lessons in a way that only a Heavenly Father can (2 Peter 3:9). The same is true for other family members, friends, and acquaintances. Just keep going, doing, and planting. Trust God to do the rest.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: God gives us the right kind of credit

September 30, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          In a TV commercial I recently saw, one man was laughing hysterically while racing a go-cart, a woman in a store was smiling like she has just received the best news ever, elsewhere friends in a restaurant dined with a look of contentedness and joy.

          What do all of these people have in common? They are all actors portraying how customers feel when they use their new 4% interest credit card!  But we all know that’s not the end of the story when it comes to charging up excessive debt.

          Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:15-16).

          There is a reason why the devil is so successful in luring people over to the dark side. Sin is fun and full of promises, at least for a little while. A trap works well because prey does not know it’s a trap. The trap looks good, feels good, tastes good, sounds good, or smells good, at least it does at first. But the Bible assures us that at some point before it is too late, we will be given enough clues to catch on to the fact that the lure of sin is a trap.

          “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

          You’ve heard the old saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Still, we make excuses for our mis-steps. In the case of overusing credit cards, we tell ourselves:

          1. I don’t have any money, but I deserve happiness. 

          2. I can pay it off later, surely I will come up with the money. 

          3. I don’t want to be left out of all the fun.

          4. I have to charge it up, so people won’t think I can’t afford things.

          Jesus referred to himself as “the good shepherd.” He said to be careful about who you follow if you want to live life to the full.

          “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

          Jesus’ death on the cross canceled our debt of sin. That’s why Christians choose to live in obedience to Him.

           “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:12-13).

          Have a great week!

Above the Sun: God can be praised because of you

September 23, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          Our words and actions can make more of a difference and travel further than you might think.

          The apostle Paul experienced both good and bad consequences of the “ripple effect” during his days of ministry. He was the poster child for the old adage “your reputation precedes you.”  Even after he stopped persecuting Christians, and instead became one, he had a difficult time convincing people he was no longer that same person who persistently and violently fought against the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ.

          In a letter to the Galatian church, Paul wrote: “I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they praised God because of me” (Galatians 1:22-24).

          Paul is not patting himself on the back here. But he is fully aware that turning his life over to Christ is impacting people in a way that was never possible in his former life as an overly zealous and misguided Jew. Christians, near and far, who knew anything about the old Paul (previously Saul) would have avoided him at all cost for fear of being dragged out of their homes and stoned to death by mobs organized by Paul. He could not have been more off-track in his thinking, and without intervention from God Himself, Paul was unlikely to soften his grudge against Jesus Christ and all things Christian.  But on Paul’s way to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light and made it painfully clear that Paul was in error and that he needed to open his eyes to the truth.

          It took some time for word to spread about Paul’s newfound commitment to Jesus Christ. But in the eyes of any first century Christian, a God who could turn Paul around was more than worthy of their praise.

          We have all said and done things we’re ashamed of. And to make things worse, the ripple effect can have consequences we may have never even thought about. But the same ripples that carry bad news can also carry good news as in the case of Paul and his life change. Praise God for that! My 35^th high school reunion in Tahlequah is only a few weeks away. Enough said.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Remember to thank God for fall blessings

September 16, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          Lovers of all things yellow, orange, red, and brown are just a few days away from their favorite season of the year! Autumn begins this Saturday, September 22.       

          The New Testament writer, James, said it best!  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

          A few signs of fall? Coffee shops are changing their menus to include seasonal concoctions like pumpkin spice lattes, and clothing stores have been touting their fall lines for weeks already. The sounds of snare and bass drums, tubas and trumpets echo across neighborhoods everywhere as high school bands put in extra practice for half-time performances and upcoming band competitions.         

          Yep! There is no doubt about it. Fall is here, along with everything that makes it so special. We all have things we like about this time of year that make it so enjoyable, whether that means things to taste, look at, wear, talk about, smell, listen to, touch, or be entertained by.

          Our Creator knew what He was doing when He made our universe and everything in it.  I do not know what season it was when the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the church in Philippi. But I think autumn is as good a guess as any!  It is the perfect time to think about our blessings, and all things pure and lovely.

          “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).  

          Maybe Paul wrote his letter to the Romans during a beautiful season such as this. He uses the awesomeness of God’s creation to remind us of how amazing our Creator really is.

          “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 people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

          He would certainly have appreciated the beauty of nature at a time when he was writing such important instruction to the Roman church.

          Every season has its beauty. God is just good that way. We will never be able to count all of the blessings God provides. But that should never stop us from giving Him thanks for all good things. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Never assume little problems won’t get out of hand

September 9, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          Lessons in faith can come from the strangest places. As I was setting up games and activities last week for a 5^th Quarter my church was hosting after the football game, my helper, Thomas Holton, informed me one of the brand new dry-erase markers was hard, dry, and unusable.  He said the lid had a tiny crack in it that allowed air in. The felt tip was ruined.

          This scenario was unfortunate for the marker, but it totally illustrates what can happen to people when something that may seem like a tiny problem goes unchecked for too long.

          We all have those days that are just hard to get through. Most times, we just push through the best we can.  But over time, small amounts of doubt, resentment, fear, anger can do a lot of damage if we don’t do something about it. We may put on a happy face and convince everyone that life is grand, just like it seemed for that dry-erase marker. But that little crack in our life that came from an emotional injury has continued to do damage, and over time our heart has become hardened to having healthy relationships.

          Other attitude problems such as arrogance, conceit, and boastfulness can start out small.  But if allowed to grow, they can take over a person’s life and even affect others. In 1 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul was trying to help new Christians in Corinth see the error of their ways. One case in particular dealt with sexual immorality, but his advice to avoid the “I will do what I want” attitude applies to many things. Paul listed “greed, idol worship, slander, drunkenness, and stealing.”

          Paul said, “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

          Paul was saying that the Christian lifestyle should be pure, and turn away from old sinful ways that can silently spread through an entire body of believers if not stopped, just like yeast spreads through dough.

          Take some time to ask God to bless us all with the awareness and wisdom to take seriously any threat to our faith journey, and the courage and strength to face it head-on, and overcome with God’s power. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Jesus Christ can give you the best rest

September 2, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          Even though Labor Day has been a federal holiday since 1894, and many strides have been made to improve working conditions in the USA, Americans appear to be more stressed, tired, and distracted than ever. I hear a lot of people these days talking about just how exhausted they are, emotionally and spiritually.  The phrase “I just can’t get my head above water” comes to mind. Sometimes, I am one of those people. Maybe you can relate.

          There is an answer.  His name is Jesus. We may never be able to actually walk on water like He did, but we can put our faith in the One who did walk on water and a whole lot more (John 20:30-31 and 21:25). We can also live a joy-filled life in spite of circumstances, all because of Jesus (John 10:10).

          In Matthew 11:2-3, Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, was probably experiencing a lot of stress while he was in jail before his execution. He was having doubts about whether Jesus was in fact the Savior who had been prophesied about in scripture. This would be important to know since John was moments away from being put to death, in essence, because of his commitment to Jesus. So, John sent his friends to ask Jesus one more time if He was indeed the Messiah. Jesus performed several miracles in their presence and told them to go report back to John what they had seen (Matthew 11:4-6).

          Later in this chapter, Jesus tells the people something that no doubt carried more weight after hearing the story about His cousin, John the Baptist, and seeing the miracles for themselves.

          Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

          His statement paints a picture that is just as relevant today. People who are weary and burdened in this life have something to smile about!  We all face challenges in our daily grind, but when we re-define these trials as part of our “faith journey” instead of just a bad day or a bad year, things just make more sense, and remind us of the glory to come!

          A few years later, the apostle Paul told Christians in Galatia something we need to remember as the devil throws roadblocks in our way:  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

          Have a great day!

Above the Sun: You are not the first to question God

August 26, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          The topic of “weather” is undoubtedly one of the most talked about on earth. And when the weather doesn’t blow the right way according to our wisdom, we may wonder if God is really watching over us.

          People have questioned God’s decision-making for thousands of years. The prophet Habakkuk complained to God about the bad behavior of his people in Judah.  And then he really complained when he found out God’s plan to punish them by allowing the evil Babylonians to overtake them. 

          “Lord, are you not from everlasting? ... Your eyes are too pure to look on evil… Why do you then tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (Habakkuk 1:12-13)  In the next chapter, God assures Habakkuk that He will punish all the wicked at the right time, while the righteous must continue to live by faith.

          I think most people have a hard time living by faith when money is running low. Have you ever worried about whether you can afford to cheerfully put a generous amount into the collection plate on Sunday morning?

          The prophet Malachi writes about the nation of Israel and how they were robbing God by not giving Him their full tithe.  But God challenges them to “put me to the test,” and then watch to see if God would be faithful to His promise to meet their needs.

          “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10).

          God was making the point that those who claim to be committed to God should learn to trust Him with everything.

          Remember how the story of Jonah ends?  He was angry at God for not punishing the people of Nineveh who repented. Jonah would have rather seen God’s wrath on them since they had acted cruelly towards Jonah’s people, the Hebrews. However, God questioned Jonah when he seemed to be more concerned with the livelihood of a leafy vine that God provided on the spot to give Jonah some shade on a scorching hot day, than Jonah’s concern for the 120,000 people in Nineveh who would have been struck dead if they had not repented. God was teaching Jonah a lesson in priorities and the value of souls over pride, grudges, and material things.

          Things don’t always make sense to us in this life. But God knows what He is doing, and because Jesus lived and suffered here, we can trust that God has our best interest at heart.

          Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Bring Jesus into your school

August 19, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          It is not as difficult as you might think to experience God’s presence in our schools, in spite of statements in recent years such as “God has been kicked out of our schools.”

          Think about it with me. Is anyone really so naïve as to think God could be kicked out of anywhere He wants to be? I guess one question is: “Does God want to be in our schools?” Of course He does. Jesus places high importance on the well-being of children.

          “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42).

          Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14).

          Even though public school teachers are often restricted on leading public prayer, and restricted on what they can tell students about the Bible, this does not mean the Bible cannot be taught by every teacher, staff, and student who want to do so simply by their actions and choice of words.

          One local school administrator told me he encourages other staff, faculty, and volunteers to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) even if they are not allowed to teach directly from the Bible. When this happens, students and adults can plainly see that Christ is active and living through those who follow Jesus.

          We already know that every baptized believer has the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). So, if Christians are teaching and attending public schools, Jesus is already there because His Holy Spirit is there. The apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian church multiple times that the Christian’s body belongs to Christ and that His Holy Spirit dwells in us (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19, 2 Cor. 6:16).

          The question is just how much work are we willing to let the Holy Spirit do through us, or in our schools?  Paul reminded the early Christians to not quench the Spirit’s fire (1 Thes. 5:19).
          In another instance, Jesus was in his hometown of Nazareth teaching with great wisdom and even healing some who were sick (Matthew 13:58 and Mark 6:5). But because of the people’s lack of faith in Him and His mission, Jesus did only a small portion of what He was capable of doing.  In fact, “He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

          So yes, Jesus will forever be in our schools. But it is up to each of us to be his hands, his feet, mouth, and even His mind (Philippians 2:5-8).

          Have a great week!

Your past does not define you

August 12, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          It is more than painful to imagine a world where all of the people in it were defined by or only known by the things they had done in the past. This statement would be true whether you’re talking about the bad things you’ve done or even the good things you’ve done.

          If you’re like most people, you can have an almost perfect day. But if you fail at even one thing, that tends to be what you agonize over at the end of the day instead of your successes. Likewise, if you have a completely successful day, it is sometimes easy to slack off the next day simply because you did so well the day before.

          The apostle Paul was aware of both the bad and the good that he was responsible for in his past. But he chose to not dwell on either past as he worked towards daily obedience of what God wanted him to do in the present.

          “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

          In today’s times, the winner of a race might receive a medal. But in Paul’s day, the victor most likely received a crown of laurel leaves similar to the crown depicted on paintings and sculptures of Julius Caesar. And even though a crown of laurel leaves symbolized the supremacy or power of an athlete, it still would be a temporary moment of glory since it wilted not long after the award was given. Paul was determined to invest his time and energy striving for a prize that would never fade away. He referred to the prize as the “upward call of God.”

          One thing we as Christians need to remember is that the devil never takes a day off. He has a plan for you every single hour of every day. To dwell on our past mistakes or our past successes gives Satan more time to set traps for our future. That is why Paul reminded first century Christians to keep moving forward in their faith.

          “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Have a great day!

Above the Sun: It is important to know where home really is

August 5, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

          Northeastern Oklahoma is a very special place. This fact was brought to mind even more the other day when Lisa and I went to Oklahoma City to help two of our kids move. As we were on the way from Fort Gibson through Tulsa to OKC, I noticed our green rolling hills gradually disappearing with each mile, turning into red dirt, and lower altitude land forms, boring in comparison to what we see every day around here.

          For me and my family, this part of the state will always be home. But a day is coming when this place and any other place on this earth will not feel like home, and in fact, will no longer be our home.  There is an old song by Mary Reeves Davis that goes”

          “This world is not my home. I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heavens open door and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

          As much as I love my life, my family, and my work, these things are just temporary. Nothing here on earth was ever meant to be permanent. This is why it is so important to put things into perspective: relationships, accomplishments, everything! Of course, I love my family. But if I do not teach them the things they need to know in order to go to heaven, my love for them was really all in vain.

          In the book of Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus tells His disciples that if they want to follow Him to heaven, they should put their life focus on God’s will, not on earthly things.

          “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

          In Genesis 7:1, Hebrews 11:7, and 2 Peter 2:5, we are told that God allowed Noah and his whole family to enter the ark and escape destruction because Noah was a righteous man and also a preacher of righteousness.  It would have been easy for Noah to become discouraged when those people watching him build the ark would not listen to him. But Noah continued to preach, and his efforts paid off for his family because Noah was focused on God’s message and not his own. Noah knew that the earth in its current form was about to be destroyed by water. The earth we call our home will be destroyed again, not by water, but by fire. That is why it is so important for us to make decisions based on attaining life in our eternal home instead of only looking for happiness in this very temporary home.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Baptism is required by God’s authority

July 22, 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

            Most Christian groups agree that when it comes to Judgment Day, it will be important to have loved God and our neighbor. After all, Jesus said those are the greatest commands. But Jesus also said four times in a single chapter that loving Him also means obeying His commands (John 14:15,21,23,24).

That is where conflict arises today as followers of Jesus either don’t read the Bible enough to be informed about what to obey, or maybe they read but have put off obeying.

            Jesus’ expectations in the Great Commission are clear:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

            Sadly, many choose to ignore such simple commands of our Lord.

            A young man told me the other day he had already been saved but he still needed to be baptized. I asked, “If you are already saved, why do you need to be baptized?” He agreed to a Bible study.

            After Peter preached the first Gospel sermon, many realized the One who was put to death on the cross was indeed the Son of God! They were “cut to the heart” and asked what they needed to do.

Peter told them: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit… Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added (by the Lord) to their number that day.” (Acts 2:38,41,47).          

Hearing and believing the story of Jesus, repenting (turning away from worldly ways), confessing what you believe, and being baptized is the New Testament pattern. Every person who became a believing follower of Jesus Christ was baptized. 

Anyone who would argue against baptism for salvation would have to throw out the books of Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:16, John 3:1-5, Acts 2:38, 10:34-48, 16:25-40, 19:1-5, 22:16, Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 3:26-27, Colossians 2:11-13, Titus 3:5-7, and 1 Peter 3:18-22.

I recently heard about a baptized believer who was arguing against the necessity of baptism. A friend of his said, “If you are so sure you’re right, you should not let your children be baptized.” The man changed his position.

The Bible says baptism washes our sins away so we can live a new life. It is part of God’s plan for your salvation. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Jesus provides the best kind of hope!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 22, 2018

            The final part of my 5 part series on Reasons to Look Above the Sun is no doubt the most exciting part of all: Our Hope of Salvation!

            To hope means to desire something with confident expectation. In 1 John 5:13, the writer says the purpose of his letter was so Christians could “know” we have eternal life.

            Salvation is the deliverance from sin. Paul says the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). But since everyone sins (Romans 3:23), Jesus Christ came to save us (John 3:15-16 and Acts 4:10-12).

            It does not matter if you are poor, disabled, imprisoned or whatever kind of “have not,” the hope of salvation is for anyone and everyone who is in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). It also does not increase your chances of salvation if you are among the “haves” since God does not care which country you’re from, what language you speak, or what you look like. God made this perfectly clear through Luke’s writings in Acts 10:9-48 when He allowed the Holy Spirit to be poured out on the Gentiles just to prove He no longer favored the Jews only.

            We can know for sure that God’s word is accurate. Yes, we must have faith like the “ancients” had (Hebrews 11), but it is not a blind faith, and neither was theirs. God has given us all kinds of evidence to prove His word is true, and that Jesus truly is His Son and our only hope of salvation.

            There are dozens of prophecies in the Old Covenant in places such as Isaiah 53, Genesis 49:10, Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 16:10, 34:20, and Micah 5:2 that give details about Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection up to a thousand years before He came to earth and fulfilled those prophecies.  There is evidence from the fields of archaeology, geography, science, medicine, and astronomy that prove the Bible’s accuracy regarding matters of healthcare, stars and plants, and precise locations of events.  And we must never forget those first century Christians who practiced their faith even in the face of persecution. Their example still encourages us to stay faithful.

             Our hope of salvation is in Jesus. Believe in Him (John 8:24). Repent by turning to Him in obedience (Acts 2:38 and Luke 13:3-5). Confess Him (Matthew 10:32-33). Be baptized for the forgiveness of sin to start a new life clothed in Him (Galatians 3:26-27 and Romans 6:1-11). Claim your victory now and in heaven through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: It’s all about Jesus!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 15, 2018

            In part 4 of my series Reasons to Look Above the Sun, we’re going to look at Jesus and His perfect example. Jesus left His life in heaven to come down to earth so that we might follow His example of love and selflessness, and learn to be “above the sun” thinkers. He told us he was going to prepare a place for us, and that someday He would return to bring His faithful home.

            Jesus not only tells us how to live, He shows us. Jesus has done everything He expects us to do. Jesus is our perfect example of how to be human, humble, and faithful.

            In Hebrews 4:15 the writer says this about Jesus in regards to living as a human:  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

            Just think of all the ways you have been tempted. The Bible says Jesus knows exactly what that feels like to face temptation like yours. I have known people who were afraid to put on Christ in baptism (Galatians 3:26-27) because they didn’t feel like they were good enough to wear the name of Christ.  The fact is, none of us will ever be good enough. That is why He chose to become the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  He simply wants us to trust and obey. Grace does the rest!

            As for humility? In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul tells us Jesus served and humbled himself all the way to the cross. In John 13:13 we’re told that Jesus even washed his disciples’ feet. In our culture today, living with a humble attitude is something most of us probably do not see a lot of. Kali, one of my former youth group members, was in an airport recently with a college group when her flight was delayed. A man noticed how her group responded to the airport worker who informed them of the delay.  The man told Kali he could tell they were Christians by the humble way they responded. Living with an “above the sun” mentality makes a difference!

            Jesus was faithful.  In Matthew 26:36-42, Jesus prayed that if there was no other way to avoid dying on the cross, He would go along with His Father’s will. Christ was faithful and suffered for doing good. We as Christians should also expect to suffer for doing good. (1 Peter 2:19-21 and John 15:18-21).

            Jesus worked to show a lost world how to be human, humble and faithful in our “above the sun” journey.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: True love and compassion are connected to obedience

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 8, 2018

            In part 3 of my series Reasons to Look Above the Sun, the Christ-like qualities of agape’ love and compassion take center stage.

            While love can be defined as a strong and positive emotion of regard and affection, compassion could be defined as love put into action, especially in showing concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. It really is hard to separate the two. A person who truly loves is also a person who shows compassion.  It is painful to imagine a world without true love.

            Phileo is brotherly love or friendship love. 2 Peter 1:7-9 describes phileo love as brotherly kindness or brotherly affection. Agape’ is unconditional love. It is when we seek another’s highest good instead of only looking to please ourselves.

            In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus talks about Agape’ love in response to the question: “Which is the greatest command in the Law?” He told them it was to agape’ (love) God and agape’ (love) your neighbor. In Luke 10:29, Jesus explained in the story of the Good Samaritan that anyone to whom you have opportunity to show mercy is your neighbor. So, Jesus not only defines the greatest commands, but explains on a practical level, we are to love both God and all people.  

            The apostle Paul echoes this thought when he writes, “Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10).  This is a Christian’s motivation to bring more people into the church family.

            Can a person show or even understand true love if they are not a Christian? John says, “Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).  In John 14, Jesus makes it clear four times in this chapter alone that people who love Him are those who obey Him (John 14:15, 21, 23, 24).

            I know of many people who are not Christians, and yet, by earthly standards they are great people. They even do acts of kindness at the expense of their own comforts. There are no doubt countless humanitarians who do good deeds here on earth even though they never think “above the sun.”   Solomon says everything we do “under the sun” is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:14) if we do not obey God (12:13-14). Think of the opportunities that are missed when good deeds are done without telling someone about Jesus!

            God showed His love for us when He sent His Son to save us from sin. It was a selfless act that gives us a true picture of what it means to live life “above the sun.”  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: You can be joyful everyday

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 24, 2018

          We have all woken up on the wrong side of the bed at one time or another. Sometimes there’s a good reason for it, and sometimes there’s not. But when it happens, you know it.

          In my next few articles, I will write about reasons to look above the sun.  True joy is one of those reasons, and you can experience it all day every day of your life if your focus is above the sun (heaven), instead of under the sun (earthly focus only).

          As I’ve mentioned before, Solomon used the phrase “under the sun” more than 30 times in the book of Ecclesiastes. He writes that everything under the sun is meaningless. All of our best efforts to accomplish anything, and even the results of our worldly efforts are meaningless. The only way this is not true is when our efforts are attached to goals that are above the sun. In other words, what happens on earth stays on earth unless our worldly accomplishments lead to a heavenly end.

          My 80-year old dad retired at age 65. For 36 years, he owned and managed the Sonic Drive-In in Tahlequah from 1968 to 2004. He sacrificed a lot. It made for many long days, but it paid the bills. His consistency and hard work was rewarded year after year with the title of #1 in sales in the nation. But even though his earthly accomplishments got him a lot of well-deserved awards, it was his “above the sun” accomplishments that meant the most to him. I don’t even know how many Bible studies, baptisms, rides to church, and visits about life with his employees he was involved in over the years. His employees witnessed his work ethic and joy, and they knew he had something they needed. This opened the door to many “above the sun” conversations.

           Joy is God-given gladness, not temporary emotion like happiness. In John’s Gospel, Jesus portrays joy as the offspring of obedience to his command to love.

          “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:9-12).

          We are commanded to love as Jesus loves. Obeying Jesus’ love command is the doorway to joy here on earth, and in heaven.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Our souls need watering, too

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 17, 2018

          Thank goodness I have a green thumb wife to make our yard look presentable. If it were up to me, we would have a nicely mown yard, but with no flowers, shrubs, or pergola with wisteria vine. Thanks to God for giving me a wife who has a passion for decorating our yard with warm and inviting shades of color and design.

          The other day she told me she had forgotten to water her Rose of Sharon that she had recently planted.  It was in sad shape, and would be on its way to flower heaven if it didn’t get a drink soon.  She quenched its critical thirst with a big gulp from the garden hose, and it quickly revived.

          When Lisa came in from watering, she said, “I have an idea for your next article!” She told me how sometimes we plant things in our yard, but if we forget to nurture them, they will die. She said that’s the way new Christians are, and even old Christians who have moved into a new church family.  We pride ourselves on saying, “Come be a part of our church!”  We give ourselves an extra pat on the back if we manage to get someone in the doors.  We may even invite them to lunch.  After a while, we assume they’ve experienced all the hospitality required to make them a solid and productive member.  So, we turn our attention elsewhere, neglecting to water the flowers we planted. Eventually, they wilt or even disappear.

          Remember Paul’s words: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

          Notice here that Paul doesn’t say how long is long enough to nurture a brother or sister in Christ.  It is different for everyone. Even Paul had a hard time figuring out when to stop providing spiritual milk or basic truths to new Christians, and start feeding solid food or deeper truths.

          “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready” (1 Corinthians 3:2).

           We may wonder when God is going to get around to growing someone’s faith since that is His job. Well, some people just need a little more watering than others. That’s our job. We as Christians should all work together in partnership with God, being there for each other, and praying for each other for when the day of trouble comes and we find ourselves in a spiritual drought. God bless, and have a great week!