Small doses of sin can really build up!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 21, 2009

My wife and I recently bought a pre-owned mini-van. It was exactly what we were looking for, a 2007 Nissan Quest. But I have to admit, besides reliability, one of the greatest things about getting a new car is just that it’s clean! This is especially the case for those of us who still have children living at home.
Here’s where the story gets good. We decided to sell our 2003 Chrysler Town & Country ourselves. And even though it runs great, it occurred to us that we would need to do some cleaning of the interior before anyone would want to buy it. Some cleaning turned into a LOT of cleaning. So, after two days of detailing it inside and out, my wife and I along with our kids now have a new appreciation and education on the topic of mini-van maintenance. You would not even believe the amount of crushed-up, ground-in candy bars, M & M’s, gummy bears, candy corn, Kix Cereal, and even melted crayons we successfully removed from the cup holders, the floor and from the inset brackets that anchor-down the kids’ seats, which by the way we took out and cleaned, too.
At some point, I thought to myself, there must be a good lesson in this somewhere. Here’s what I found in a chapter of the New Testament known as the Seven Woes.
Jesus says in Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.”
Little did I realize, but everytime I or someone else spilled or dropped even a little something in the mini-van over the course of five years, it built up! What I wound up with was a BIG MESS that was mostly hidden until I made the decision to open-up my car for inspection. That’s exactly what happens to us when we allow sin or junk of many kinds to come into our lives. We may intend to get rid of most of it, but there’s always the residue of consequences that are leftover. There’s only so much we can get rid of on our own. After that, it’s only by the blood of Jesus Christ that we can be made completely clean and stay that way, ready for inspection by our peers or even God.
It’s scary to think of becoming completely transparent. Even those who profess to be dedicated Christians have floor mats in their lives that haven’t been cleaned out from under in a very long time. Sin builds up and we often forget it’s there until something happens that makes us re-commit our lives to Jesus. God bless your efforts to be spiritually beautiful inside and out. (end)

Are you hot?
July 14, 2009
by Barrett Vanlandingham

As I try to learn Spanish, it occurred to me why foreigners have difficulty learning English. So many of our words and terms have multiple meanings. Take the word “hot.”
If you’re an adult, “hot” means one thing, usually something to do with temperatures not unlike some we’ve felt this summer. If you’re a teenager, “hot” can mean something totally different, usually a reference to good looks and not to morals as was the case in my parents’ generation. If you’re playing a game, the terms “cold, hot, hotter, and HOT” are meant to give directions to a secret location where something has been hidden. And last but not least, hot (as in fire) in the Bible takes on meaning that should quickly get all of our attention as it is used to describe hell, the place reserved for the devil and those who follow him instead of God.
In Paul’s instructions to young Timothy, Paul says, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:1-2)
Paul was very concerned not only with false teaching, but also with Christians who would get caught up in them, resulting in backsliding in the faith. The fact is we all have influence on somebody. And as followers of Jesus Christ we have a responsibility to lead people in the right direction so we don’t act as a hot iron that sears the consciences of those we teach with our own opinions, traditions, likes and dislikes. The wise Bible student will use God’s word as the only authority on spiritual matters which includes everything for Christians.
Paul spoke firmly to those who would mislead others in regards to God’s word.
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:8)
Wow, now if that doesn’t get your attention I don’t know what will! Something tells me that the word hot might barely begin to describe the place reserved for those who pervert the words of the Bible.
The book of James says a big amen to Paul when the writer says, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1) James goes on to warn us against using our tongue for evil.
May God bless you this week in your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers as you strive to be the kind of hot that irons God’s truths onto anyone who will listen. (end)

Fort Faith: Ups and Downs of Life
July 7, 2009
by Barrett Vanlandingham

Well, I’m still in one piece after having taken my youth group to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. One of my friends said it just right: “I still like the rides, but some of the rides no longer like me.” Let me put this into perspective. I rode the Titan rollercoaster once! Some of the kids rode it 15 to 20 times! This giant orange rollercoaster track is 300-feet tall which is about the same height as the Lookout Tower and the Superman Tower. The ride goes about 90 miles an hour almost straight down before it levels off and shoots back up for some unbelievably intense twists and turns. The night before we went into the park, our youth group had a devotional in which I told them to think about the ups and downs of life when they ride rollercoasters the next day. But after having ridden the Titan for myself, I must confess that the only part of life I could think about during a 90 mph drop was the part where it ends!
For youth ministers, summertime is our one big shot at making an impact on our kids that will last through the school year. A busy youth calendar is not just something to keep the youth group busy. It’s a tool that incorporates experiences that happen through church camps, mission trips, and fun trips of many kinds into the overall mindset of teenagers. It’s about creating memories that ministers like me can refer back to during the school year. Those positive experiences and memories can help snap a kid out of difficult situations involving peer pressure.
Parents, as you know, your kids will go through many emotional and spiritual ups and downs while you’re trying to guide them through adolescence. The only question is whether they will go through these challenging times with God or without Him. At some point, our children will grow up and leave home. Part of a parent’s job is to prepare their children for life outside of the nest. And although keeping your children involved in church youth group activities and Bible class is very important, it is more important for parents to model Christ-like behavior. This way, kids can see the end result of Bible study, church attendance, commitment to marriage, and honesty in business and interpersonal relationships.
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8).
Adults go through ups and downs, too. The challenges are a little different. But the God who helps us get through the teenage years is the same God who can help us through our grown-up struggles.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize without weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.”(Hebrews 4;15) (end)

And the moral of the story is… God always wins!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 30, 2009

Surprise, Surprise! God wins another battle. In this final part of my five part series on Nehemiah, we will take a look at what led to his success in restoring dignity for God’s people.
It was a bad day for Israel in 605 B.C. when Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem. This happened twice more over the next several years. Judah’s most prominent, intelligent, and powerful were hauled into exile in Babylon (modern-day Iraq). But after about 150 years, Nehemiah came on the scene. He was serving as the cupbearer to the new world power, King Artaxerxes of Susa (modern-day Iran).
Nehemiah received the news that Jerusalem, the centerpiece of Jewish pride lay in ruin, with its walls torn down and gates burned. He sat down, wept, mourned and fasted for days, prayed, then approached the king to get permission to go back to his homeland to rebuild the wall and gates, and restore dignity to the Jewish people.
Let’s read. "So the wall was completed on the 25th of Elul, in 52 days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God." (Neh. 6:15-16)
Isn’t it amazing that the nation of Israel made the same mistakes over and over, and then in the end it was always the same thing that rescued them from their consequences? Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? I mean, it had been 150 years since the Jews were exiled into Babylon. God delivered them into the hands of the enemy because of their disobedience. And even though by Nehemiah’s time many Jews had already been allowed to return home, damage to the Jerusalem wall and gates had already been done. The once great city lay in ruin and disgrace.
But as with any great challenge or obstacle, it often only takes one person to start a cycle of encouragement that results in a complete turnaround. That was the case for Nehemiah. That’s also the case for us. We often simply need to be reminded of where we need to turn to find answers to life’s problems. But it has to start with somebody who is willing to stand up for God.
The month of Elul referred to in the above passage is the sixth month of the Jewish religious calendar. This comes to mind as I write this article in the month of June. For Jews, Elul is known as the month of repentance, divine mercy, and forgiveness since there are no festivals or feast days during Elul. For Christians, repentance, recognition of God’s mercy, and thankfulness of God’s forgiveness and forgiving others should be part of our daily life.
May God bless our homes and community as we strive to have the courage of Nehemiah in seeking God’s help to encourage others to make a difference where it counts. (end)

Teamwork is key to facing challenges
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 23, 2009

This section of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah no doubt inspired the writers of the New Testament on the topic of unity and teamwork. Nehemiah received the horrible news of the destruction of Jerusalem’s wall and gates. He mourned, fasted, prayed to God, received permission from the king to inspect the wall for himself, and he successfully challenged the locals to help re-build the wall by reminding them of the disgrace and encouraging them with accounts of how God had blessed his efforts so far.
In part four of my series on Nehemiah, we will take a look at Nehemiah’s plan to re-build the wall and gates of Jerusalem and restore the dignity of God’s people, the Jews.
“Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them!” (Neh. 3:1-2)
This is just a small portion of the scripture detailing who built what. The point I want you to get is that the Jewish people had a common goal. And even though they were from all walks of life, they each had a job to do that was equally important as the next guy’s. When they received threats, they watched out for each other. At least for a time, half the people built, while the other half stood guard, especially at the low points of the wall and near families.
This is also the way a church family is supposed to operate. Let’s read what Paul says in Romans 12:4-6. “Just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…” Paul also says in Galatians 6:2 to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” James says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
We will all experience low points in life when the devil is trying to knock us down. That’s when we need a Christian brother or sister to help guard our section of the wall. And depending on the kind of attack, we may need to call on a brother or sister who has talents in a particular area such as prayer, listening, encouragement, teaching, or serving. The point is that we can all be used to God’s glory in overcoming the devil’s schemes.
Next week in the final part of my series, we will look at Nehemiah’s victory. (end)

The challenge to change needs help from God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 16, 2009

In the first two parts of my series on Nehemiah, we have seen that he had to face disappointment and heartache. These are challenges we still face today. In Nehemiah’s case, the problem was that the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down and the gates burned during the time of the Jewish exile to Babylon in about 600 B.C. This was a disgrace to the Jews since Jerusalem was a great part of their dignity and identity. When Nehemiah heard the news of the destruction, he was broken-hearted, he sat down, mourned and fasted for days, prayed, and then went before the king to get permission to survey the land firsthand.
So, in part three we will take a look at Nehemiah’s next move. With a fire lit under him having witnessed the scene for himself, he went to all the locals in Jerusalem who would be helping with the re-building and gave them a challenge.
“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.’” (Neh. 2:17)
As with any presentation given by a motivational speaker, the one doing the talking has to feel passionate about the topic. Nehemiah wanted change. So how did he motivate the people to help? He did his homework and knew what he was talking about. He spoke with confidence and reminded the people of what was at stake. And he told them about his relationship with God, and about everything the Lord had done so far to bless his efforts. But as with every challenge, there is a counter-challenge. After the people got on board, trouble came in the form of three men who mocked, ridiculed, made threats, and started rumors. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Gesham were determined to stop Nehemiah from restoring the dignity of the Jewish people.
As you are reading this, I will be in Santa Monica, Mexico near Monterrey with the rest of our mission team from the Fort Gibson Church of Christ. We will be helping construct a church building there. This situation is not unlike that of Nehemiah’s time. A weakened government and powerful drug cartels have made parts of Mexico unstable. However, our efforts to build church buildings in several Mexican towns continue to be successful only because God has responded to many prayers from people right here in Fort Gibson. Without God’s help, any nation including Mexico is destined for failure. In fact, without God, any individual is also destined for failure, and people are what make up nations.
Remember the word of the apostle Paul in Colossians 2:6-7. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Next week in part four, we will take a look at Nehemiah’s plan of action for rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. (end)

Successful grieving takes time and technique
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 9, 2009

Last week in part one of five articles on Nehemiah, we looked at a serious problem being faced by the Jews in about 450 B.C. The walls of Jerusalem had been torn down and its gates had been burned by the Babylonians. The centerpiece of Jewish civilization had been shattered, its dignity destroyed. But now that the Medo-Persians (modern-day Iran) were in control, exiled Jews such as Nehemiah were being allowed to go back to their homeland only to be horrified by the destruction. This week, we’re going to take a look at Nehemiah’s reaction to the news he received about Jerusalem.
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days, I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” (Neh. 2:4)
This was no doubt an unusual sight considering the fact that Nehemiah held the very important position of cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. This would be about the same as turning on the news and seeing one of the President’s cabinet members sitting on the front lawn of the White House, crying, refusing to eat, and praying. Any witnesses must have been alarmed as to what could have brought such a powerful man to his knees. Other biblical accounts of mourning also involve sitting in the dust, and putting on sack cloth and ashes (Jonah 3:6, Jeremiah 6:26, Ezekiel 27:30).
The point is Nehemiah knew what it felt like to be saddened and even humiliated. Nehemiah’s reaction is a great model for us to follow. He didn’t brush it off and say, “Oh well!” or “Times change!” or “It’s not my problem!” He reacted appropriately. He sat down and wept. He took time to think about the seriousness of the situation for his people. He did without food for a time presumably so he could stay focused on the crisis at hand. Most importantly, he took his concerns before the Lord in prayer, and he confessed that his sins and the sins of his people, the Israelites were what led to their sad state of affairs. After praying to God, Nehemiah went before the king and received permission to go to Jerusalem to survey the devastation firsthand.
One thing Nehemiah had going for him is that he knew very well the agreement God had made with the Israelites. That if they would only return to God and obey his commands, the Lord would once again bless them.
Most of us will experience some degree of sadness and humiliation in this life whether self-inflicted or not. That’s a given. We live in a broken world. The question is how to react to bad news or bad circumstances. Reading God’s word will re-acquaint you with people from long ago who dealt with similar circumstances, how they got into their predicaments, and how it was resolved. Then taking your grief before the Lord will result in peace and comfort, and will give you wisdom and direction as to your next move. We will take a look at Nehemiah’s next move in part three. (end)

Nehemiah understands your challenges (Part 1 of 5 part series)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 2, 2009

Sometimes it’s easy to think that no one understands the challenges you are facing. But the Bible is full of people who have experienced everything you are going through in one form or another. That’s why it’s so important to read about the lives of Bible characters. They’ve been where you are.
Take Nehemiah for instance. 20 members of my youth group and 20 adults here at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ are going on a mission trip to Monterrey, Mexico June 13-19. We will be helping to construct a church building in the developing suburb of Santa Monica, Mexico. The more I thought about our trip, the more I began to relate with Nehemiah. In fact, every person going on this mission trip or any mission trip this summer should be able to relate with Nehemiah. He was a very well-respected man of God who definitely relates to anyone experiencing one of life’s valleys. He was an exiled Jew working as the cupbearer to the king in Susa (modern-day Iran) about 450 years before the time of Christ.
In this part one of a five part series on Nehemiah, we’re going to take a look at the problem he was facing and how similar this is to situations missionaries and others face today.
Let’s read Nehemiah 1:3. “They said to me, those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
The problem was that Jerusalem was the single most important place on earth for the Jews. Major cities were defined by their walls. Without walls and gates, Jerusalem lost its dignity and respect not only as the centerpiece of the Jewish nation, but also as a city. People would view it as only a common village, not a great city. Many Jews, especially those with power and influence had been driven out of Judah into Babylonian exile (modern-day Iraq). They were later taken over by the Medes and Persians (modern-day Iran) who began to let them go back home. That’s when Nehemiah’s brother along with some other men told him about the condition of their homeland. Broken down walls and burned gates only added insult to injury to the Jews.
Mexico has been in the news a lot recently because of violence involving drug cartels, and illness and deaths caused by the H1N1 virus (aka: swine flu). Christians hate to see the diminishing of God’s word being spread as the result of anything the devil can come up with. But the fact is, fear brought on by over-reaction and hyped-up media reports has resulted in the cancelation of a lot of mission trips into Mexico. This is bad for Christian brothers and sisters there who need our resources to help in the saving of lost souls. Changing Mexico from the inside out may be the only way to change the turmoil there.
We all face daily challenges and uncertainties. Maybe not actual broken down walls, but maybe broken down family lives, broken down communication lines, broken down self-image or reputation. Nehemiah sought the help of God when he was at his lowest. We will take a look at his reaction to bad news in part two. Have a great week!

Make sure God has a place in your family this summer
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 26, 2009

Waking up this week probably seems a little sweeter for a lot of kids. No more school! On one hand, this could spell trouble if your kids have too much unsupervised or unplanned time. On the other hand, summer vacation can make for some great opportunities to spend more time with your family. After all, time during the school year is a precious commodity to say the least. As if homework doesn’t keep them busy enough, just add one or two extra-curricular activities and that can make for a very hectic schedule in need of a break!
Even in the summer, spending time with your kids can seem more challenging than it should. Sometimes, all I feel like doing is reclining in my chair in the living room. Some of that is okay. We all need a little “down time,” parents and children. But it is important to be aware of what your kids are up to. They need quality time with you. And if you’re too busy, they will find other things to occupy their time. Some of those things may be good, others not so much. And with the extra time on their hands that summer provides, it’s more important than ever to take advantage of all the great possibilities for good parenting. An investment in your kids over the summer could pay off in a big way in the fall when you have to once again compete for time with your family.
The Bible speaks of using our time wisely. The apostle Paul said, “Be very careful how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
It’s not an accident that Paul placed this scripture just before another lengthy passage regarding relationships between husbands and wives, children and parents. In Ephesians 6:1-4, Paul stresses the importance of children obeying their parents. But he also reminds parents, and in particular fathers, to not purposely irritate or annoy their kids to the extreme, but instead to raise their children in the Lord. This not only requires quality family time at home or even on vacations, but it also requires regular Bible study. This can be a challenge. But it’s one that can be overcome if the parent is setting the example by studying at home, in Bible class, and in worship service. You can also incorporate God into your conversations. It’s good to do anyway, but it also reminds your children of your priorities. If not now, in the end your children will thank you for making God part of your family, even during summer vacation. (end)

Answers become clearer in the light
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 19, 2009

It was late last Tuesday night. My daughter was depending on me to fix the computer printer so she could finish a project. But after spending nearly an hour trying to get it to work, the printer was still chewing up page after page. Something was broken, I just knew it! Finally, I decided to just leave it alone, sleep on it, and give it another try later. The next morning, I opened the front of the printer and spotted something I hadn’t seen the night before. So I got my flashlight to investigate further. There it was! A tiny piece of paper wadded up and blocking an area that was difficult to see in dim lighting. It was nothing that a pair of tweezers and a little light on the subject couldn’t handle. Immediately, two things crossed my mind. First I thought, “I have found my next Fort Faith topic.” Second, “I can’t believe it took me so long to figure out that my trusty flashlight would have been a big help the night before.”
As a minister, I think a lot about the word “light” and how it has so many spiritual meanings. Romans 8:27 tells us that God searches our hearts. How is he able to do that, and how does he always find what he’s looking for? It’s simple! Just as scripture says, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). The writer goes on to say that in order for us to have fellowship with God and remain free from sin, we must walk in the light.
Many of life’s problems can be solved with light. Have you ever had someone approach you needing help with a personal crisis? And the more you listened, the more you realized that the solution was for them to stop walking in spiritual darkness.
How many times have you stubbed your toe as you walked across a dark room, and thought to yourself, “Ouch! I wish I had seen that!” Obviously, the best way to keep from stubbing your toe is to look where you’re going. And sometimes, that requires light. I remember as a young boy, walking across the cow pasture after dark, and almost always stepping in something the cows had left behind. That problem could have also been solved with light, not to mention the pile of dirty shoes that stayed on our back porch courtesy of the same problem, not using a light.
So how do we make sure we’re walking “in him”, in the light, where there is no darkness, and where we cannot be separated from the love of God? Romans 8:39 tells us we can find this assurance “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, and Romans 6:1-11 tell us that believers are “baptized into Christ Jesus.”
May God bless your spiritual journey as you remember that God rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6) (end)

Sonshine and reign will help you grow
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 12, 2009

The grass in my backyard could definitely stand to be mowed. The weeds appear to be plotting a takeover. The problem is that the rain has made the ground too soggy to walk on without making deep footprints. Therefore, mowing lately has been next to impossible.
Spiritually speaking, we all know people who need to cut some things out of their lives before the weeds of sin choke them out. The only problem is that just like my backyard, people who are deep into sin often need a little “Sonshine” from someone who cares before they will let you help them with their problem. If you try to barge-in too fast, you might not be very effective because their life is just too weighed down with sin. Overly ambitious soul-savers can sometimes leave deep footprints on people that look worse than the battered sinner they had set out to save.
It is very important to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and both parts of that verse are equally important. Yes, we must speak the truth in our efforts to inform someone that they are in spiritual danger. But we must make sure that we talk to people in a way that is perceived as a loving attitude just like Jesus had. We can never put enough emphasis on letting the love of Christ show through us. That’s why the greatest commandments are to love God and then love your neighbor.
One more thing to remember about soul saving is that if you convince someone to cut a particular sin out of their life, they are going to need something positive to replace it with. This is a fact that cannot be underplayed whether you’re talking about yard work, or self-improvement. Read what Jesus had to say about this.
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” (Matthew 11:24-26)
The best kind of rain is that of Jesus “reigning” in our lives. You see, as long as God’s Son shines in your heart, there will be no room for weeds to grow. Have a blessed day! (end)

Swimming through life is easier with a Heavenly Partner
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 3, 2009

My 10-year old son told me a few weeks ago just how much he hated swim class. He said, “The water is too cold and it’s just too far to swim to the other end of the pool.” The water was actually 80-degrees. But because the kids take a nice hot shower before they jump in the pool, of course, the water feels cold. As for the distance? Well, 25 meters is 25 meters hot or cold. I told him, “Son, you are going to swim to the other end of the pool if I have to jump in the pool and swim with you!” I showed up to his next swim class with my swimsuit on (under my clothes) just in case I had to make good on my threat. It was amazing to see such quick improvement. I guess the thought of your dad jumping into the pool during fourth grade swim class was a pretty good motivator. Luckily, just my presence was enough to persuade him to try harder. The next week I showed up again at swim class, and then the next day I came to his swim meet. Each time he swam much better.
Spiritually speaking, our journey in this life often seems uncomfortable. Sometimes our walk seems long and tiresome. Our Heavenly Father knows this and so does his Son. That’s why he sent his Holy Spirit to dwell inside every Christian (Acts 2:38) after we are immersed (baptized) into Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). We are never told that living the Christian life will be easy. In fact, we are told just the opposite (John 15:18-21). James 1:2 tells us trials must come so that we may grow to maturity in our faith. But make no mistake about it, the Holy Spirit is with us every step of the way, so it should be no surprise that he can show us how to escape temptations (1 Cor. 10:13). He will also show us the way to heaven unless we prevent him from doing his job by quenching the Spirit’s fire (1 Thes. 5:19).
When it comes down to it, Paul said it just right. “38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).” That’s great news!
But still, you must follow the steps of Jesus to get to the finish line. The fact is, the only one who can steal your salvation is you by letting go of the Holy Spirit’s hand, so to speak. You are the one who can put out the Spirit’s fire. You are also the one who can turn your back on the Lord and follow the road that leads to spiritual death (James 1:13 and Hebrews 10:26).
Yes, swimming through life can be tough. But choosing to keep God’s Spirit with you all the way will most certainly put you on the path to eternal victory. (end)

The Lord Loves the Taste of Righteousness
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 28, 2009

David was known for his tasteful acts of righteousness, at least until after he became King of Israel. And even then, he found his way back to God.
This is the fifth and final part of my series on Psalm 34 which centers around verse eight: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” We will take a look at the proof that being righteous really did make a difference for David and others.
Psalm 34:15-22 says, “15. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16. the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; 20. he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22. The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.”
Up until this point, David had taken care of sheep, slain lions and bears, killed a giant, won many victories for King Saul and God’s people, and had endured much jealousy from his brothers. And now, with Saul still trying to kill David who was best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan, David knows without a doubt that God’s eyes and ears are paying attention to his needs, and that God sees him as a righteous man.
Time after time, David had seen the Lord turn his face away from those who practiced evil ways. This resulted in evil people making bad decisions that only hurt themselves even more.
David is writing to assure the downcast and brokenhearted that God will not ignore those who take refuge in him.
During some of my darkest moments in life, I have come to realize that maybe I shouldn’t be so focused on how to change a situation I have no control over. I have often found that difficulties provide wonderful opportunities for me to drawer nearer to God and let him be in charge of areas in my life that I previously wanted to control. The burden lifted. Hebrews 4:15 assures us that Jesus understands our struggles.
May we all carry out the Lord’s will as we are given opportunity, and let God handle the outcome. He will make a difference in you and those around you. (end)

Pass the Peace, Please
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 21, 2009

David knew the taste of a peaceful life even when times were tough.
The most recognizable part of David’s Psalm 34 is verse 8. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” But since I focused on it earlier, I’m moving on to verses 11-14 for part four of this five part series. Let’s read David’s words and look for his recipe for avoiding evil.
“11. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13. keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
By this point in David’s life, which you can read about in 1 Samuel chapters 16-21, he had learned a lot about the advantages of serving the Lord. So, when he says, “Listen to me,” it’s not because he just likes hearing himself talk. He actually wants to tell us something we need to hear. He knew firsthand of life’s distractions. That’s why he said, “Come, my children” which implies action or urgency. Remember when David “ran” to the battle line to fight Goliath? David now wants us pay attention to an important lesson.
David knew whatever words he spoke, he would have to defend them to his family, to King Saul, to his best friend Jonathan, and most importantly to God. He loved life and learned through experience what it took to see “many good days.” Pure speech was at the top of his list of advice for enjoying a good quality of life. Look where threats against God’s people landed Goliath. Dead! Look at the predicament David wound up in because of lusting for Bathsheba and then the deception that followed. Lives lost! About a thousand years later in the New Testament, Jesus said, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36).” That should give each of us reason to think before we speak. Most of us wouldn’t have near as many “I wish I hadn’t said that” moments if we were to remember those very important words of Jesus that not only lead to peace for those around us, but peace for ourselves.
David ends his thoughts in verse 14 by giving us two extremes, one to avoid, and one to pursue. The prize of turning from evil and doing good is obtained through seeking peace. It is once again no surprise that the pursuit of another “fruit of the Spirit” (ref: Galatians 5:22-23) is the answer to life’s problems. In fact, the best spiritual meals can be had only when you’re in a right relationship with God. We must make it a point to be at His supper table everyday and say, “Pass the peace, please!” It’s part of a spiritual food group that we must have in order to exercise our Christianity to the fullest. In other words, how can we possibly win souls for Christ if we ourselves are in spiritual turmoil. Have a blessed and peaceful week! (end)

The ancient recipe for victory is still tasty today
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 14, 2009

I pray that you are enjoying my series titled “Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).” For me, it’s been very exciting and encouraging to look back three-thousand years at the life of David before he became King of Israel.
Last week, we looked at how incredible it was that David praised God continually during such a difficult and stressful period of his life. The pressure was on from King Saul. He had it out for David and wanted him dead, mainly because Saul was jealous of David’s many victories. Everytime David turned around, Saul was trying to pin him to the wall with a spear! Kind of makes the idea of being on “pins and needles” a little more inviting, strangely enough.
This week, let’s pick out four actions in David’s life that led to so many victories.
Let’s read Psalm 34:4-7. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
Did you catch those? David did these four things: 1. Sought the Lord. 2. Looked to God. 3. Called out to God 4. Feared God.
Those four things resulted in an unbeatable recipe for David. For every action of David, there was a reaction from God. 1. Seeking the Lord led to an answer of being delivered from his fears. 2. Looking to God made David radiant and without shame. 3. Despite just how poor of a situation he was in, he called to God who heard and saved David from his troubles. 4. David respected or feared the Lord which resulted in God drawing close to David and delivering him.
This theme was carried into the New Testament in a number of places. James 4:2-3 comes to mind. The writer says, “…You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” We’re also told in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek God first and his righteousness, he will provide us with everything we need.
God knew David’s heart and blessed him greatly because of it. David humbled himself before the Lord and acknowledged God’s power as the reason for his success. God also knows our heart. The fact is, none of us would even have air to breathe if it weren’t for God having created it. Everything and everyone had to have been created at some point. David knew the origin of his strength and his victories, and he wasn’t too proud to let everyone know about his God. May we all be drawn closer to God as the taste of the Lord becomes sweeter and sweeter with each spiritual victory. (end)

The taste of praise is sweet
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 7, 2009

David enjoyed the taste of praise in times of happiness and joy, as well as in times of fear and anxiety. In last week’s article, I marveled at David’s ability to praise God even when he was on the run from King Saul who was trying to kill him. David somehow was able to take shelter under God and write an amazing poem of praise that we call Psalm 34. In the middle of it David said, “:08 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
The first three verses of Psalm 34 are just as incredible. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”
It’s easy to feel confident in our faith when life’s recipe is mixed just right. But when any of the ingredients for having a happy life is missing, we sometimes struggle spiritually.
We pray to God during the tough times, but do we praise him like David did? How could David have been so spiritually connected during such a difficult and stressful time? I believe the answer lies in his heart. 1 Samuel 13:14 says that David was a man after God’s own heart.
The fact is, David knew that tough times would come and go. But his experience had already shown him that siding with God could allow him to accomplish things that would have seemed impossible to most people. Despite the fact that David was described as “only a boy” (1 Sam. 17:33), he was said to have slain tens of thousands during times of war in comparison to Saul’s thousands. This should have been no shock since the “Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (1 Sam. 16:13) from the day that Samuel anointed David to replace Saul as king.
In Psalm 34:2, David knew that the afflicted would be encouraged by hearing the Lord’s praise which was always on his lips. And why wouldn’t their spirits be lifted and hopes restored? After all, they were hearing about a God who worked in uncommon ways through a very common young man, and there were many witnesses to back up his story.
David is simply saying that praising the Lord continually made a big difference in his life and it can in yours too.
Barrett Vanlandingham can be reached at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ. ftgcoc_barrett@sbcglobal.nets or 478-2222.

The Lord tastes good in times of joy and stress
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 31, 2009

Anyone who’s been to a summer church camp I’ve directed knows I like my theme titles to rhyme with the year. I’ve been working on a series of lessons for this summer titled “Tasting Fine in 2009.” It’s based on Psalm 34:8 which says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
David is the writer of the 34th Psalm. He wrote it as he was being forced to flee his country because Saul (King if Israel) was trying to kill him. He was so scared that he acted like a madman and let saliva run down his beard so that Achish (King of Gath) would let him go (1 Samuel 21:10-15).
But even in the middle of all this, David managed to praise God with such clarity of mind. In fact, each verse of the Psalm 34 poem begins with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is pretty impressive for someone who was on the run, afraid for his life, and struggling with feelings of insecurity. David trusted God, but it’s only natural for someone to feel uneasy when someone’s chasing you.
The fact is, David was definitely qualified to say that the Lord tasted good. Why? Because time after time, God helped David overcome King Saul’s efforts to kill him (1 Sam. 18:12 & 23:14). The Lord even blessed David with a best friend (Jonathan) who was the son of Saul! Can you imagine being best friends with someone whose dad was always trying to kill you? No thanks! But God had a plan that involved putting David in the right place at the right time. Sometimes we wonder why God allows things to happen as they do. It’s okay to wonder. But it’s more important to trust God even when we don’t fully understand how his plan needs to be carried out.
In David’s lifetime, he knew the negative consequences of excluding God from his decisions such as the time he lusted after Bathsheba. He also knew the blessings of taking refuge in the Lord such as the time God helped David kill Goliath. We all have giants to deal with, don’t we?
This idea of taking refuge in the Lord was important for David, and it is just as important for us today. Our world is full of distractions, and we need time alone with the Lord to revive. God desires a relationship with us. But we need a relationship with him. Have you tasted the Lord lately? (end)

Christians need to hit the Book more
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 24, 2009

A slow decline in the number of people committed to basic Bible principles continues to produce some startling statistics. The latest Barna Group Survey says only one-percent of the youngest adult generation has a biblical worldview.
That means only one-percent of America’s 18-23 year olds believe the following:
1. Moral truth exists.
2. The Bible is completely accurate in all the principles it teaches.
3. Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
4. A person cannot earn their way into Heaven by good works.
5. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
6. God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator who still rules the universe today.
What is scary about that percentage is that less than three years ago, another survey of the millennial (teenage) generation revealed only four-percent of that age group is committed to basic Bible principles. What’s worse is that this Millennial Generation is the biggest-ever group of teenagers in American history.
65-percent of the World War II generation said they were committed to basic Bible principles. 35-percent of the Baby Boomers said they were committed to basic Bible principles. 16-percent of Generation X said they were committed to basic Bible principles.
Now, imagine how the problems we face in our society today will be handled when the Millennial Generation is in the driver’s seat instead of the Baby Boomers.
Another Barna Group Survey cited in the Christian Post suggests that even though most Americans consider themselves to be of the Christian faith and say they know the content of the Bible, less than one out of ten Americans demonstrate such knowledge by their actions.
In an article for the Christian Science Monitor, Michael Spencer wrote, “We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught.” He goes on to say that we’ve spent billions in the name of religion, and have produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Spencer says, “Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community.” He says, “Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.”
Only when we model the love of Jesus Christ and apply his teachings will our friends, neighbors, and families take our commitment to God seriously. That will change more lives than any amount of political grandstanding and protesting issues in the name of religion.
Bottom line? Deuteronomy 6:4-9 had it right all along. God’s people must do a better job at studying and understanding their Bibles and following through with application, and teaching their children to do the same. It is imperative that we know exactly what we are commanded to do. And it is equally important that we take seriously our responsibility to obey the Bible’s teachings. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

Spiritual Lessons from Driver’s Test
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 17, 2009

As I sat there as a nervous dad in the Driver’s License Examiner waiting room Friday, I couldn’t help but feel a certain amount of apprehension for my 16-year old daughter. I thought to myself, “She’s only had her permit for six months. Is she ready to take that final step?” At any moment now, it would be her turn to get behind the wheel of my Jeep with the officer sitting next to her. Would she pass the test? I hoped so. But regardless, there was nothing else I could do to help her now. The training period was over. The officer read my daughter’s name loudly from the sign-in clip board. Her time had come, and off they went! Within 15 minutes, they returned. She had passed the test!
Spiritually speaking, there are some definite parallels to what parents go through in raising their children in the Lord. We train and train, but ultimately it is the child who has to decide whether to apply God’s word to their life. Eventually, they have to be tested for themselves away from their parents. That is the point at which a parent learns the meaning of “giving it over to God.”
Prayer is powerful. And beyond that, there is nothing else you can do to shelter your children from physical, emotional, or spiritual harm. It’s between them and God. But let me say again, “Prayer is powerful.” Prayer must be our first line of action, not a last resort.
So, as soon as we pulled into the driveway with her license in hand, I felt the urge to pray. I prayed for her, I prayed over “Herbert” (my 1982 Ford F-150 she will be driving), and I prayed for all the drivers on the road. Before she could even get into the pickup, I’m pretty sure I had wiped enough tears from my eyes to at least wash the hood. However, I restrained myself.
I wouldn’t have wanted the neighbors to think I wasn’t handling things well.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
I have no doubt that my daughter is developing her own relationship with God. But just like the driver’s test, she will stand before God one day and answer for herself. We all will. The good news is that for Christians, Jesus has already passed the test for us. We just have to follow the narrow road that leads to him (Matthew 7:13-14). (end)

The Most Misunderstood Part of God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 3, 2009

Maybe it’s because we are human, but it seems most Christians have an easier time understanding the idea of God the Father and God the Son than God the Holy Spirit.
But it is important for every Christian to spend time thinking about the Spirit and His work in the Bible and in us. Why? It’s because the Holy Spirit is that part of God who is actually closest to us.
In fact, according the scripture, if the Spirit had a physical address, it would probably read something like “Every Baptized Believer Avenue.”
You can read about that in Acts 2:38. That’s where Peter just finished preaching the first Gospel sermon. The people were deeply grieved, realizing they had just crucified the Son of God. So they asked, “What shall we do?” That’s when Peter said, “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.”
God’s word reaffirms this truth many times in the New Testament. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 tells us that God “…anointed us, and set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Paul is simply saying that every Christian has a covenant or an agreement with God of the blessing of heaven. And to prove God means what he says, he sent his Holy Spirit to dwell inside us. The Holy Spirit makes his home in our body, our temple (2 Cor. 6:16 and 1 Cor. 3:16) when we obey his word. Part of that obedience is being baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
In John 14:15-17a, Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.”
Jesus said those words to let his disciples know that after he would be crucified, raised on the third day, and then go back to his heavenly Father, he would be sending that other part of God to guide them.
Jesus reaffirms this thought in some of the final words he would say to his disciples. It’s recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 after Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So what has the Holy Spirit done for us? The Spirit is what enabled Jesus and his disciples in the first century to do miracles to convince people that Jesus' message was true. Then, the Spirit made sure these events and other words of the Bible were written down accurately over the course of 1500 years, by 40 writers on three different continents. We can take a book of the Bible dating back over two-thousand years, and it will read the same as a new copy today (ref: 2 Peter 1:20-21).
So what does the Holy Spirit do for us today?
1. He gives us a way of escape in temptations (1 Cor. 10:13).
2. He gives us inner strength (Ephesians 3:16).
3. He communicates our prayers to God when we are not sure of what to ask (Romans 8:26-27).
4. He transforms us into the likeness of Jesus (2 Cor 3:17-18).
5. He leads us to partake in that wonderful fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
May God bless us all as we take confidence in knowing the power that is available to each of us who has made our bodies a home for God’s Holy Spirit. (end)


Cow Lips and Christianity Have Something in Common
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 24, 2009

Interesting things always happen when you take God’s work into a mission field. This time in Monterrey, Mexico was no different. One of the local elders of a Monterrey Church of Christ has a taco stand where we ate breakfast one morning which was a first for me. We didn’t find out until afterwards that the tasty soft tacos were 100-percent cow lips! They call it barbecoa. If it hadn’t tasted so incredibly good, I would be saying, “YUK” right about now. I guess that was a small sacrifice to encourage a brother in Christ.
I can’t help but be more appreciative of life here in Northeastern Oklahoma everytime I take a trip across the Rio Grande. Ten of us from the Fort Gibson Church of Christ made the journey into Monterrey last week on a short term mission trip to continue construction on a new church building near there. The Fort Gibson Church of Christ purchased the land about a year and a half ago in the fast-growing suburb of Santa Monica. The foundation is finished, most of the walls are up, and now work on the floor, ceiling, and roof will take place soon. The 10-thousand square foot building will seat as many as 400 people, and will provide classroom space. Right now, the 60 members are meeting in a small building about the size of a garage.
While there are obviously some cultural differences between the U.S. and Mexico based on economics, politics, and tradition, there are more similarities than differences. And the desire to worship God seems just as strong there as it does here.
Jeri Collins, Glen and Robin Elliott, Everett Laney, Kenny Lashley, Dan Rouse, myself, and three others from the Sand Springs Church of Christ made the February 14-20 trip.
Despite the news reports of increased danger in Mexico, our group never felt in danger while we were there. Project Director Rick Owens has built over a hundred church buildings in the past 20-years with volunteer help, mostly teenagers who come in to help week after week. And not even once has there been an instance of violence aimed at any of the church groups, and no serious injuries. That’s impressive considering there have been literally thousands of teenage and adult groups make the trip over the years to dig foundations, lay block, mix and pour cement, and put up roof supports.
Not everyone is able to make a trip across the border or overseas on a mission trip. But everyone can help support those who do. May God bless you as you consider ways of taking the message of Jesus into the world (Matthew 28:18-20). (end)


Outstretched
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 3, 2009


“With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, His love endures forever.” Those few words penned by the writer of the 136th Psalm should provide more comfort and present more challenges to Christians than the longest sermon ever preached.
How many times have we asked, “Where was God?” The fact is, the world used to be a near perfect place. That is, until sin entered, and Adam and Eve chose to follow the advice of the devil in the Garden of Eden. That’s the point at which mankind began to value created things more than the Creator. The world had become a broken place, full of tragedy and natural consequences.
As time passed, people became used to dealing with life outside of the garden, and began to feel that the world was a pretty good place to live as long as things were going their way. In other words, the “norm” for life on earth became defined as pretty good except for when bad things would happen.
So, when bad things would happen as a result of not living in a near perfect place, people began to look for someone to blame. Too often, that someone was God. It’s the same today.
We forget that we only have ourselves to blame for the world we live in. You see, in reality life on earth is a lot more work than it was when Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden. We need to cherish every blessing we receive as something special, not as something God owes us. The blessings should be looked at as the exception, not the rule. After all, does any of us really want from God what we deserve?
A youth minister friend of mine, Tom, was very angry with God because his dad developed a brain aneurism three days before Tom’s wedding. He survived the ordeal but Tom’s faith was shaken to the point of considering leaving his job and quitting the church. He was given the opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip to Africa. He went even though his heart was not in it. His job there was to play with children and sing to them while the more experienced missionaries were to have Bible studies with the kids’ parents. Tom found out that most of the children had aids and probably would not live long. The kids he thought were nine or ten, were actually malnourished teenagers. Tom became tired of singing to the children, so he asked them to sing something for him. They began to sing words that when translated are “Holy is the Lord.” One little four-year old boy had polio, but was still walking with leg-braces. And as soon as the singing began, the little boy outstretched his arms to heaven and sang with all his might, “Holy is the Lord.” That child knew more about the meaning of life in his four short years than most of us who’ve lived a lot longer.
Tom could no longer be angry with God for allowing his dad to suffer. The little boy had taught him the lesson that we all have the privilege of praising God for as long or as short a time as we have on earth.
God’s hand is outstretched to us. His love never fades. But we must also outstretch to God. For we did not create ourselves nor any of our blessings. We all understand the concept of being forgiven, yet still having to suffer consequences. Well, that’s a pretty good description of life on earth. We are forgiven because of God’s grace that provides us a way to do his will and reap the reward of heaven. That doesn’t mean bad things will never happen to us or those we love while we live here. We can be sure of that.
May God give us the confidence and understanding to reach out to God and praise his dear name even in times of crisis. (end)