Our Creator provides plenty of opportunities to learn about him
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 13, 2012

             It’s amazing what you can learn about God just from walking around on a farm.  This past week, I took groups of kids on a “Fun Day at the Farm” in Tahlequah.  We ride horses, bikes, play basketball, croquet, fish, have lunch and a Bible study.

            One young lady was riding a horse in the round training pen.  But everytime the horse walked by a certain spot, it was as if it was drawn to a clump of grass poking through the fence.  The horse would stop and eat as much grass as it could before the young lady kicked it back into gear, which was not an easy task for a fifth grader.

            I told the kids to take notice of how God provides for every living creature.  While the horse could hardly stay away from the grass, and appeared to love it like a kid loves cotton candy, none of us was tempted to eat even a little of it.  God provides for all of His creation.   He is compassionate, thoughtful, and pays attention to detail.

            The beauty of the intricate leaves, incredibly designed trees, creative clouds, ponds that provide life for creatures big and small, and rolling hills that were formed by the hand of God gave each child on the trip something to think about. 

We serve a creative God who has thought of everything!  We breathe out the very thing that trees need to survive (carbon dioxide), and trees emit the very thing that humans need to survive (oxygen).  There are more than 5000 products made from trees!

            While Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3 remind us that all things were created by Jesus and for Jesus, Romans 1:20 reminds us that from the very beginning, mankind has been able to understand a lot about God’s qualities by what has been made.

            Our “Fun Day at the Farm” experience unfortunately did not include catching fish, but it was not for lack of trying.  Even so, patience, perseverance, self-control, and the importance of simple fun and fellowship are valuable lessons that come to mind when I think about my failure to catch even one fish on our trip.   Who knows what God was up to?  He very rarely works within my time frame!

            Whatever the case, summer is a great time to take notice of God’s creation no matter where you are.  Have a blessed week!

Summer vacations are a great time to grow closer to God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 6, 2012

            School has only been out for a couple of weeks or so, and people are already talking about what they did for summer vacation!  It is good to take a break once in a while to reset and re-evaluate your life and just have some plain ole’ fun before getting back to your daily routine. 

Solomon said in Ecclesiastes three that there is a time and a season for every activity under the sun. Vacation time definitely fits in there somewhere!  But there is one thing we must never take a break from, and that is our love, commitment, and praise of Jehovah God!  You see, when we team-up with God, He makes sure our load in life is never too heavy to bear.

 In the New Testament, Jesus is quoted as saying,

            “28  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV).”

            What a tremendous reassurance!  This passage causes the reader to think about two oxen working side by side with their heads or necks fastened together with a yoke.  Even if the pair gets along with each other, the strain of the yoke is a constant reminder to the animals that they are not free to roam on their own.  If you were an ox, you may not like that!

But Jesus points out that when a Christian is yoked together with him, that he bears the part of the load that would be impossible for us to bear on our own.  The hope and joy he provides for us makes being yoked to him a very good prospect because he is a humble teacher who only requires from us what we can handle (and in reality he even helps us with that).  In fact, if we were separated from Christ, our attempts to overcome sin and win even one spiritual battle would be fruitless. 

Satan is very skilled at tempting Christians to take a vacation from God when we take time off from our jobs and school.  The problem is that when our vacation time is up, we have allowed ourselves to become a little cozier with the devil.   This makes facing those spiritual battles in the real world even more difficult.

The fact is when our will is in line with God’s will, life becomes joyful even in spite of the challenges and temptations that are sure to come our way.  As Christians, we must remember to make it our commitment everyday (even while on vacation) when we wake up, to walk God’s righteous and narrow path that leads to heaven.  Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection has made this possible.  Will you walk with him today?   Have a great week!

Anytime is a great time to remember the price of freedom
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 30, 2012 

            Memorial Day has come and gone for another year, but there are just some things we should never forget, and never forget to be thankful for.

            The United States of America was founded on Christian principles by great men with great vision for a life of freedom.  The older I get, the more I appreciate the continued sacrifices of the men and women who have shown tremendous loyalty and bravery in the face of danger.  They have stood at attention, ready to serve and defend our country, and even willingly fought to preserve quality of life we enjoy here in the USA.  What a gift!

            Memorial Day may be the designated day for Americans to pay honor to the fallen of our military, but considering their sacrifice and the cost to their families, we should all make an effort to be thankful every single day of the year.

            Jesus’ tour of duty here on earth, his official ministry, began at about age thirty and lasted about three years.  In John 10:10, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, assures us that we can not only find salvation through him, but have a joyful and abundant life.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (NIV)

            Jesus Christ left the comforts of his home in heaven, and even willingly separated himself from his Father so that he could experience the same spiritual battles that we face today.  The Hebrew writer points out that Jesus is uniquely qualified to understand the trials we face, because he went through them, too.  His experience on earth as a human being allows us to be able to approach God in prayer with confidence that He can truly empathize with our struggles (ref: Hebrews 4:14-16). 

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a cross was both a tragedy and a blessing that we should remember and be thankful for, not just on Sundays, but everyday.  His selfless act gives hope and help to all as we face daily spiritual battles.

            In this day and time, there are still many Christians around the world who suffer persecution because of their beliefs in Jesus Christ.  Some are tortured and even killed. In the end, God will “wipe away every tear” (Revelation 7:17). 

Thankfully, we live in a country where we have the freedom to worship as we choose, without fear of persecution, torture, or death. Most of us will never actually have to fight on a battlefield.  But yet, we all get to experience a much better life because of the selflessness of those in our nation’s military who died while protecting our country.

To all those who have served in our nation’s military, to all those who are still serving, we say, “Thank you!”

Marijuana may be natural but not Biblical
By Barrett Vanlandingham
May 23, 2012


I saw an image on the Internet the other day that says “Marijuana Never Hurt Anyone.” I thought to myself, “You’ve got to be joking!”

After all, there’s got to be a reason it’s illegal in most countries. They couldn’t all be wrong.

In only a few minutes of research I found more data on the dangers of pot than I could print here.

Beyond that, a missionary friend of mine sent word just a few days ago of some very disturbing news that happened just across the U.S./Mexico border. Here is part of what he said: “23 people were killed yesterday (May 4) in Nuevo Laredo, just across the line from Laredo, Texas. Nine bodies were found hanging from a very busy bridge. 14 decapitated heads were delivered to city hall in coolers. The 14 bodies were found in a car left by one of the bridges to the states.”

Not only does marijuana lead to hurt, but killing!

Yes, I’ve heard all the reasons people have for wanting the government to legalize marijuana. But other than increased tax dollars, can you imagine the burden on society if illegal drugs were legalized?

You think the cost of health care is too high now? Just imagine trying to pay for the treatment of all those people who become hooked on drugs because of increased availability. And no, the fact that marijuana is “natural” is not a good reason to smoke it either. After all, poison ivy is also natural and most of us would not ingest it!

Remember Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, 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.”

But how can anyone expect to fulfill these commands with a brain suffering from altered judgment, perception, short-term memory loss, and a host of other problems associated with long-term marijuana use? In addition, pot has 50 to 70 percent more cancer causing chemicals than cigarettes!

May God bless you with the desire to experience the real high that comes with being a committed Christian, and to soar on wings like eagles with all those whose strength is fueled by hope in the Lord (ref: Isaiah 40:31). Have a great week!

Reach Barrett Vanlandingham at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ at (918) 478-2222 or barrett@ftgcc.org.

God’s word has a lot to say about our choice of words
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 16, 2012

            Recently, a young man informed me that a person’s morals are not determined by their choice to use foul language.  He said, “They’re just words.”

In cliché form, that would be, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”  And while that is true in some cases, better wording might be “You shouldn’t judge a book only by its cover.” 

But to say, “They’re only words!?” and somehow think any of us, Christians or not, has a “green light” to spew curse words whenever and wherever, that is far from God’s truth! True, the First Amendment gives Americans the right to free speech. Thank God for that! But just because we have certain rights as citizens does not mean we should take every road available to us.

In First Corinthians 6:12 (ESV) Paul says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything.”

This includes our speech.  Paul strongly encourages Christians to watch what they say.

 “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”  (Colossians 3:8, NIV)

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29, NIV)

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” (Eph. 5:4, ESV)

There are other scriptures that make it even clearer the connection between the words we speak, to the person we are on the inside, and ultimately the condition of our soul.  Think about these two quotes from Jesus.

 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  (Luke 6:45,ESV)

 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV)

Yes, God’s grace is a wonderful thing.  Our sins would send us straight to hell without it. But we must all remember these words of Paul. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2)    Have a great week!

Future Success of Graduating Seniors Begins with God

by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 9, 2012

May 18th is almost here, and so is the next chapter in the lives of our Fort Gibson graduates. For graduating seniors, the month of May is all about crossing one of life’s major finish lines. It’s also about new found freedom, new challenges, and of course the receiving of all those graduation gifts!

The greatest gift we can give our children is a relationship with God. But obviously, that has to start long before time to order caps and gowns!

As parents already know, our children watch us closely from the time they are born. They know the difference between what we preach to them versus how we act in our own lives.

“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16, ESV)

And boy do our children hear! They hear everything and they see everything. They may act as if they don’t know what’s going on sometimes just to avoid conflict for a time. But sooner or later, the truth always floats to the top in one way or another.

In Deuteronomy 6, Moses gives the Israelites a message from God on how to teach their children. And who better to give advice than our Creator?

4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (ESV)

Of course, a child’s success in education and extra-curricular activities can lead to opportunities in this life, but the gift of a relationship with God lasts forever. That’s actually my paraphrase of Paul’s words to Timothy.

“…train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV)

Please take a moment this week to pray for all of Fort Gibson’s graduating seniors, that they may remember that all good things come from God. Have a great week!

Questions about God’s creation lead to some amazing places 
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 2, 2012

            So how old is the universe?  6000 years?  13-point-5 billion?  18-billion?  Or something else?  The Bible’s timeline leads us back about 6000 years to the time of Adam and the six days of creation.   And since Jesus is our Creator and he quoted from Genesis, he must have felt it was reliable.  So, that’s the time-frame I feel most comfortable with. 

            One of the hang-ups some folks have about accepting a “young earth” concept is that many scientific methods of measurement lead to a very “old earth” conclusion, even though other scientific measurements do support a “young earth”.

            Over the past two weeks, I have been involved in a very lengthy and public online discussion of this topic which has resulted in a faith building experience for all sides involved.

            The reason I say “faith building” is that all parties involved believe in God, and believe that Jesus is the son of God, and consider themselves to be Christian by the Bible’s standard.

            One believes in the possibility of an “old earth”.  One believes God used evolution to create everything, which I strongly reject.  And I believe in a “young earth” in which the universe was formed out of nothing, at God’s command (Hebrews 11:3), and man was created in God’s image.  In other words, the “spark” that defines “in God’s image” was there from the start.

            The one thing that even began to close the gap in the discussion was something called “Appearance of Age” doctrine.  It simply means that in the beginning, God created everything at His command, fully-grown, mature, having the appearance of appropriate age in every way.

            For instance, one of the debaters rightfully noted that God created Adam to appear, let’s say, 25-years old.  And if a scientist were to evaluate Adam on his first day of life, the scientist would have come to the conclusion that Adam’s blood, skin, bones, and brain were that of a 25-year old even though he had only been created by God earlier that day. 

The same logic would apply to the rest of creation.  Trees would already have age rings, glaciers would already have free-thaw lines, and coal, oil, and natural gas would already be in the ground for man to use that didn’t take billions of years to form.

These kinds of examples do not result in a “God of deception.”  We must remember that God’s nature is to be creative.   If he created a fully mature universe, he could have also created a light in space that was not the result of an explosion that happened billions of years ago, just like a painting could show light rays without sun.  There are also several New Testament examples of the “Appearance of Age” concept:

1) Jesus turned water into wine that would have scientifically measured to be much older wine that came from grapes, not water.

2) The five loaves and two fish that Jesus multiplied into enough to feed thousands of people had to appear older than the initial grain and fish eggs.
2) And when Jesus re-attached Malchus’ ear that Peter cut off with a sword, the scar would have tested to be more than a few seconds old. 

3) And just think about the new blood that flowed through the veins of the resurrected Jesus.  Scientific measurements would likely have pointed to 33-year old blood, even though all of his original blood had drained.

Science is a wonderful thing that changes continually, which is really no surprise for those who read the Bible.  First Corinthians 1:19 says, “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 

In the end, we must remember the words of Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God.”   Have a blessed week!

Spring is a great time to learn about God

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 25, 2012

I grew up in the church and I still find myself wishing I knew more about God. Like many of you, there are a lot of things I would love to ask Him. And even though that may not happen this side of eternity, there are more things we can know about God than we think.

My entire life, I have heard lessons that warn about making the mistake of worshiping “created things” instead of the “Creator”. And while that is very much true, there is much we can learn about God simply by taking notice of things He has created.

This isn’t the first time I’ve written on this general topic. But since I recently studied Romans 1:18-23 again, I thought it worthy of an attempt to take on its challenge. In this inspired passage, the apostle Paul talks about the present and future consequences of ignoring God’s will for our lives. Paul talks specifically about unrighteous men who suppress the truth that has been observable by mankind from the beginning.

“19.For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20.For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse (ESV).”

Paul makes it clear that mankind has been able to gather knowledge about God since creation!  That alone is an important fact since that rules out the possibility of millions of years separating the creation of the world from the creation of mankind.

One example of the attributes of God that Paul may be talking about is God’s attention to detail. Just think about the water cycle and the amazing process it uses to evaporate water into the sky and then rain on the land. The design of a flower, the process of vegetation growing, and the precision of a bird’s wings also remind us of God’s ability to get things right. He even designed tree rings so we could know the age of a tree. And then there are things like emotions, beauty, music, and memory. And then there are body parts such as the eye which could never have functioned to begin with if not created fully mature from the start, not a process of evolution.

Things like that do not just happen by accident. It took a Designer who definitely knows the difference between a day and a thousand years, and is without a doubt the ultimate authority on time and space. Jesus not only came to earth in the form of a man, but was also there at the time of creation. He quoted Genesis several times and so it is reasonable to think that at least Jesus believed the Old Testament’s account of a six-day creation. He could have also clarified or disputed it if he thought the inspired writings of Moses were inaccurate or misleading.

So what does this mean to us? When God gives us direction in his holy word on how to inherit eternal life, we really have no reason to doubt him. God’s fingerprints are all over his creation. From molecules to mountains, they provide overwhelming evidence of a God who has a plan for us. God knows the way to heaven, and because of his son Jesus Christ, we have the assurance that we can get there. Have a great week!

Your Christ-like attitude can give hope to others  
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 18, 2012

            As people age, we grow wiser, right? (or at least we’re supposed to)

Well, in the New Testament there was an older gentleman who had experienced a lot in his life. He went from persecuting Christians as a young Jewish man, to becoming a Christian and finding out what life is like as the persecuted, instead of the persecutor.  So, when Paul gives advice to his young brother in the faith, Timothy, it would behoove us all to listen to what he has to say.

            In 1 Timothy 4:16, the apostle Paul says, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

            Since Paul spent the first part of his life inciting riots against Christians, he knew full well just how easy it was to get people all worked up and ready to mob someone.  But as an older man, he worked harder to save people from an eternity in hell than he worked against Christians in his earlier years, and he had the scars to prove it.

            Paul knew what life was like on both sides of the fence, and therefore had a unique perspective.  As a one-time persecutor of Christians, he knew that portraying the passionate persecutor would automatically draw a lot of people to his anti-Christian cause.  Fortunately, for Paul, God gave him a second chance in the form of being struck blind for a few days on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).  Yes, he started out watching his life and his doctrine closely, but as a persecutor.  And look what it got him… a direct confrontation with God!

Tangling with the Creator is generally not a good idea, but it turned out to be a real blessing in this case.  Paul was able to experience the incredible power of God in a very close and real way.  And he most certainly knew there was a lot more power where that came from.  Ironically, the blindness that Paul experienced helped him to see better than ever!  Sometimes it takes a reality check, doesn’t it?

Paul knew his previous path caused heartache, pain, and even death for those on the receiving end of his persecution. But he eventually figured out that his choices also led to negative consequences for himself.  God made sure of that!

After his belief, repentance, confession, and baptism into Jesus Christ, Paul’s life was still radical.  But, this time he was part of something that brought joy and salvation.  It was a change that he himself experienced and wanted others to know.

If you stopped believing in God today, would your life seem any different to the people you come in contact with?  How radical is your faith?  Do you persevere in your Christian walk so much that people see the love of Jesus in your life and want to experience that same joy and salvation?  May God bless your efforts to live for him!

Christians are never really alone
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 11, 2012

            Can you imagine being in a situation where you are surrounded by bad guys, and it looks like there is just no way out?   That is, until a bigger army of good guys with better weapons, shows up and surrounds the bad guys and saves the day.

That is pretty much the story of 2 Kings 6:8-23.  It is one of my very favorite scriptures to read when I am feeling a little overwhelmed. In this passage, the prophet Elisha’s servant wakes up one morning and sees a strong Aramean army with horses and chariots that had surrounded the city of Dothan where Elisha was staying.  The Arameans had come to capture Elisha because he kept warning the king of Israel about the king of Aram’s military strategies to defeat Israel.

            Even though Elisha’s servant was very afraid, Elisha was not.  In fact, he told his servant, “Don’t be afraid… Those who are with us are more than those who are with them (:16).”  Elisha prayed for God to open the eyes of his servant so that he could see what was really taking place.  What happened next is nothing short of mind-blowing!

            The Bible says, “Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (:17).”

             Two major things happened here that we should all think about:

1) Aram’s army would not prove successful in capturing or defeating Elisha, the man of God. 

2) Elisha’s servant learned a great lesson about having godly friends who live what they preach!

            The one great theme that weaves its way throughout the Bible from beginning to end is also played out in this story.  It is that there is hope for all who trust in God, and obey his commands.  Can you even imagine the look on the face of Elisha’s servant when God allowed him to see what was going on behind the scenes?  You talk about a faith booster! 

The Bible contains many supernatural miracles that were performed and recorded so that people would continue to have faith in God. But humanity has always had short-lived faith, just as the church buildings that were full on Easter Sunday will not be full the week after.

We as Christians have opportunities every day to help open the eyes of the un-churched by simply setting a Christ-like example of humility and love.  The question is whether we are bold enough to not only teach God’s word, but to live it.  Remember, just when you may think you are alone in your spiritual battles, God is always ready for you to let him do his best work in defeating Satan (2 Cor. 12:9-11). Have a blessed week!

An empty grave gives hope to humanity!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 4, 2012

            Can you even imagine the amount of attention that would have been given to the burial of someone who claimed to be the son of God?

            Jesus was put through a mock trial, tortured, crucified, and then buried in a tomb.  All eyes would have certainly stayed on the tomb afterwards.  Why?  Even before his death, Jesus had said he would be “…three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40).”  In speaking of his body, Jesus told the Jews, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days (John 2:19).”  His resurrection was also foretold by David in Psalm 16:10. 

Matthew 27:62-66 says that while Jesus was still in the tomb, the chief priests and the Pharisees got permission from Pilate to secure the stone covering the entrance to the tomb because they remembered that Jesus had said, “After three days I will rise again.”  So they put a seal on the stone and posted Roman guards there (Matt. 28:4).

            But guess what?  Jesus rose from the dead on the third day just like he said he would!  His body wasn’t stolen while the guards were asleep even though they were paid to say that (Matt. 28:15).  Jesus didn’t just simply wake up in the cool of the tomb from a deep trance (swoon theory) caused by the crucifixion and then somehow have the energy to roll the stone away and escape.  And no, everyone didn’t simply forget which tomb he was buried in!  And no, his followers didn’t somehow overpower the Roman guards who were trained killing machines, and then take the body.  

If anyone wanted the body to stay in the tomb more than the Jews, I don’t know who it would have been. The Jews wanted the body to stay right where it was because this would prove that Jesus was just a man, and not the Messiah capable of a miraculous resurrection.  But their schemes were no match for the son of God.

Jesus did, in fact, appear again after his burial.  But he certainly wasn’t dead!  Scripture says he gave many convincing proofs to his apostles that he was alive. “He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-3).”   Paul says that Jesus appeared to more than 500 followers (1 Corinthians 15:6), and that most of them were still alive at the time Paul was writing First Corinthians. 

So, if the face to face visits with Jesus after his resurrection were only lies, why didn’t anyone in the first century successfully dispute the New Testament letters that were being circulated?  It’s because the statements were true!  At least the people who lived back then thought so enough that they were willing to become Christians, and even suffer because of their belief in Jesus as God’s son.  Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, overcame the grave, conquering death to give the assurance of heaven to all who believe in him and obey his will.  Have a great week!

Take the name of Jesus  with you, everywhere
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 28, 2012

If you’ve been a Christian for very long, you have probably heard somebody ask someone else, “How is your spiritual life?”

            Of course, we all know what that person meant.  But wouldn’t it be nice if we all got to the point where we could just ask the question, “How are you?”  And we would automatically understand what the person was really asking was, “How are you doing spiritually?”

            You see, for Christians the only life we have is the Christian life.  “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).”

            That means every activity we’re involved in, every job, every conversation, every hobby, and every close friend needs to be seen by Christians as something or someone vital to our walk (our Christian walk).  Yes, that may sound a little extreme at first.  But what is our alternative?  The only other option is to trap God inside a box and only let him out when it’s time to “go to church” or when it’s convenient for us.

            However, that is not how God intended for us to experience life.  He wants to be a part of EVERY part of our lives.  It is only then that we can live a truly abundant life (John 10:10).

            The problem is that Christians have forgotten the dangers of accepting the world’s way of thinking.  In other words, sectioning off areas of our lives where we will or will not allow God to enter or be a part of.  We would do well to remember what Paul said in Romans 12:2.

            “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

            The pattern of this world has been set by the prince of this world, Satan.  Jesus himself even referred to the devil by that name in John 12:31 and John 14:30.  The apostle Paul also referred to the devil as the god of this age (world) in 2 Corinthians 4:4.  Paul also calls the devil “the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient (Ephesians 2:2).”

            Yes, we all have to live in this broken world.  But we do not have to conform to it.  Our lives, no matter what “section” we’re living in at the time, should still be Spirit-led to the point that others may see the love of Christ in us.  There are souls to be saved, and it is the job of the Christian to show them the light of Christ.  Have a blessed week!

Spiritual spring-cleaning starts with finding good help!

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 21, 2012

First, it was an old stack of papers, next a boxful of outdated pamphlets, then several other items that at one time seemed so important. One by one, I threw each of them into the trashcan and then proceeded to dust the shelves in my office. Amazing how a little spring-cleaning changed the whole feel of my work environment!

Spiritual spring-cleaning is much the same. Throw a little of this and a little of that out, then dust here and there, and re-organize the shelves of our life. With God’s help, a little effort our part can make a huge difference in what we are able to accomplish everyday for the sake of Christ. Remember, God can do a LOT with a little.

The psalmist David said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).”

Mankind has always been dependant on God for help. Yes, he obviously wants us to do our best to be a light in this dark world. But for thousands of years now God has also been very clear that he will help us in every way if we will honor him with our lives.

God is the only one who can take our dirty, hopeless lives and make us clean and full of hope. Our job as his creation is to let him to take our filthy dust rags and make us presentable.

Here are a few things to remember during your spiritual spring-cleaning:

1) Make time to take an honest look at yourself. Take inventory of those things that are clearly standing in the way of your relationship with God. Is it gambling, jealousy, guilt, sexual sins, alcohol, gossip, foul language or other sins of the mouth? Is there a person or a hobby that you value more than God? Pinpoint one or two things that are dragging you down spiritually.

2) Pray. I mean PRAY. Not just a little canned prayer. I mean for you to get real with God and even talk outloud or get on your knees if you have to. Beg or petition his help in cleaning temptations and sin out of your life.

3) Be realistic. God has already told us that as long as we live on earth we will fall short of the glory of God. So do not be discouraged. “Unintentional” sin happens everyday even for the most dedicated Christians. But what really bugs the devil is when we commit to defeating “willful” sin by holding tightly to God’s hand. He makes all the difference.

4) Live joyfully! “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song (Psalm 28:7, NIV).”

A walk with God begins with believing and confessing that Jesus is God’s son, deciding to follow God’s way, and then being buried with Christ in baptism so you can live a new life in him (Romans 6:1-11).  What a way to begin the spring season.  Have a great week!

Be careful who you trust when asking for direction
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 14, 2012

            As I was trying to meet a fellow youth minister for lunch a few days ago, I discovered that my handy dandy GPS didn’t know the difference between the place I wanted to go, versus a place with a similar name.

            I programmed the gadget on my dash to guide me to the Panda Express in Broken Arrow. It guided me to a restaurant alright, just not the right one.  The GPS called it by the right name, and it was even in the right neighborhood.  But when I arrived at my final destination (according to the GPS), it was not the right restaurant at all.  I had to call a trusted friend who knows the area to give me directions to where I wanted to go.

            Wouldn’t you agree that there are a lot of similarities in this little story when compared to our spiritual journey?  I had put my trust in a man-made gadget to get me to the right place.  And even though most of the time it is accurate, it was WAY off in this case.

            The Bible directs us to heaven. We just have to be willing to let God’s word have the final say on maneuvering life’s winding roads and intersections instead of putting our trust in worldly wisdom.

It is so nice to have Godly friends we can trust.  But ultimately we all should compare the advice we receive even from trusted friends with the advice that comes from our most trusted friend, God.

When I teach teenagers, I often tell them that I try to accurately convey the Bible’s message. I also try to live the kind of life that makes me a credible and trustworthy mentor.   But ultimately, they need to compare what I teach them with what the Bible says is truth.

Bookstore shelves are packed with thousands of opinions of what scripture teaches and how we should respond.  But the wise student needs to understand that there really is no substitute for Bible study. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (ESV).”

Following false directions from a GPS is an inconvenience.  But obeying the direction of false teachers could have eternal and undesirable consequences.  Let us remember Solomon’s inspired words, “Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:27, ESV).”  Have a blessed week!

The Bible has great advice for stopping arguments before they start.

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 6, 2012

The quickest way for me to start a fight with Lisa is to give her a tip on the easiest way to clean the dried chocolate residue from her coffee cup that I found on the counter top.

You see, even if I try to use my “helpful quiet tone”, there are just some things better left unsaid. This is true especially for those of us, like me, who are far from perfect when it comes to leaving things sitting around. Besides, the argument could have been avoided altogether if I had simply cleaned the mug myself just like Lisa quietly picks up the slack for me when I’m forgetful or a little overloaded.

My goal about stating opinions is simply “don’t” unless someone is in danger physically or spiritually, which they were not in this case. Fail! In fact, stating an opinion when silence would have been the better choice is more likely to have negative consequences.

Interpersonal relationship building takes a lot of effort whether in the workplace, socially, or at home. The old saying “anything worth having is worth working for” became an old saying because it is so true. If you want a good friendship with someone, you must work at it. You must treat that person extra special, the way you want to be treated.

Jesus said it two-thousand years ago in his famous Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew 5-7. "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) This concept goes back even thousands of years before Jesus said it. In fact, Jesus points to the Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets) as the source of his summary on how to treat others.

So why is it so difficult to keep from criticizing or even throwing stones at others when we all in fact live in glass houses? Obviously, there are many answers and excuses for that one. And none of us has a perfect record at holding our tongue while fixing our own problems.

In that same sermon, Jesus addressed the problem of people who are quick to point out everyone else’s faults without paying attention to their own first.

“ 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matt 7:3-5, ESV)

May God bless us all as we include Him in every thought BEFORE it comes out of our mouth. Have a great week!

Shopping for Bibles is exciting when you think of the reward!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 27, 2012

Fishing poles, tackle, life vests, fish finders, boats, and outdoor clothing. I found it all in in my mailbox Friday!  Not the real thing unfortunately, just an elaborate publication of sale ads!  It was still fun to look at all the things I wish I had, that is, if I would actually make the time to use them.

As I looked at the lures, knives, and reels, and even got excited about the possibility of using so many outdoorsy tools, a question popped into my head.  Why don’t most people get this excited about sale ads that highlight the latest Bibles, commentaries, concordances, and Bible software?   After all, there’s not really a comparison here when it comes to importance.

On one hand, we’re talking about hobbies, really fun hobbies, but nonetheless, hobbies.  On the other hand, we’re talking about matters of heaven, hell, and many things in between such as relationships and family.

I guess the reason this was really on my mind is because lately I have been shopping for an English Standard Version of the Bible (ESV).  It’s basically a word for word translation of the Greek and Hebrew texts and is easy to read.  The exact one I want actually comes out this summer. It’s the Large Print Thinline ESV which has a good concordance and maps, but not so big that I can’t easily pack it for summer camp and other youth trips. 

In the meantime, I downloaded an ESV Study Bible onto my phone via the Kindle application which means I can also download it onto my work and home computers at no extra charge.  You just wouldn’t believe all the Bible helps I now have in my phone at just the push of a button!  It occurred to me that if I were to carry this Bible plus all its maps, concordances, topical studies, and commentaries around with me in book form, I would need a small truck! 

While I was shopping for Bibles and study resources, I was amazed at how many options are available.  I have used the 1984 New International Version (NIV) Bible for many years.  But since the new 2011 NIV has come out with several changes which I do not have time to discuss in this article, I’ve decided to promote the ESV which again is accurate and still easy to read.

So, why am I telling you all of this?  Well, you may be one of those people who stays informed on the latest in spiritual warfare.  But just in case you’re not, I thought it would be good to pass along this information to you.  After all, these days we can’t really have enough help when it comes to doing battle with the devil.  Satan is our most dangerous foe who never rests and is constantly updating and improving his arsenal of weapons and techniques of stealing souls. 

Likewise, Christians must be just as diligent in standing firm in the truth of God’s word.  We must continue to train and cross-train in the use of spiritual weaponry, whether we’re using traditional book-form Bibles and resources, free online helps, e-books, or cell phone apps.

May God bless you with a joyful week!

Both strong and struggling Christians have much in common with clay

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 21, 2012



I always love the part of planning summer camp where I ask God to give me an idea for a camp theme. Well, for this summer it looks like the Holy Spirit has guided me toward the theme of “Jars of Clay”. Wow! At least Lisa won’t have to worry about finding a good craft idea for the kids!

That being taken care of, I spent a lot of time this past week coming up with ideas and writing Bible lessons. At one point, I noticed several small plastic containers of Play-Dough sitting on a table in my office (Yes, I am a youth minister). Seeking creative inspiration, I opened one of them and found a hard, cracked, dried-up, purplish lump of clay, not much to work with. But I thought to myself, “Hey, if this is where God is leading me, then who am I to say there’s not a Bible lesson in there somewhere.”

The first thing I did was try to mold the hardened clay as it was. That didn’t work. So, I poured water into the container, poked my finger into the clay a few times, and decided the chances of reviving this lump of mess was slim to nothing. So, I put the lid back on and left it for several hours while I worked on some other things. Later in the afternoon, I looked inside the container and found what looked like hardened smashed blueberries floating in purple soup! Again, not much to work with. But I decided to give it a shot anyway.

I dug the lumpy goo out of the cup and into my hand. Ugh! It was quite a sight and felt disturbingly gross. But, I kept squeezing and smashing until the most of the imperfections were gone. I rolled it into a ball and then flattened it repeatedly. Then, to my surprise, this odd-looking mixture eventually became a moldable piece of clay! I couldn’t help but make the connection of Jesus being our living water (John 4:13), and the powerful message of Jesus we carry in spite of the fact we are fragile and even cracked jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The Bible has a lot to say about lumps of clay, jars of clay, dust of the earth, the hands of the potter, and even potsherd or small broken pieces of pottery. Each word or phrase is easily compared to mankind as a creation of God, the master Potter. I’m looking forward to a deeper study on each of these topics.

We as God’s children must surrender fully to our Maker, without quarrelling about why He is using us for this purpose or that (Isaiah 45:9 and Romans 9:21).

May God bless us as we allow His light to shine through our strengths, imperfections, and brokenness. Have a blessed week!

News of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection never gets old
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 14, 2012

My daughter, Gracie, was the first to tell me Saturday night that some singer named Whitney Houston was dead. I was totally shocked. I explained to her that the death of this 80’s and 90’s superstar is seen by my generation the same as today’s younger generation would view the death of someone like Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift in about twenty years. Or maybe for others, the death of Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977.

My point is this. Celebrities come and go. And yes, they eventually die just like everyone else. But the most famous person who ever lived on this earth was no doubt Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And while he lived and died in human form, what makes him different from anyone else in all of history (besides being God’s son) is that he rose again and dwells in his heavenly home.

One of the arguments in favor of Jesus being who he said he was is the fact that we are still talking about him today, two-thousand years after his death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible is the greatest seller of all time. The Bible’s inspired writers gave us details of Christ’s death for us to remember each first day of the week during the Lord’s Supper. Those details are part of the very compelling Gospel story that changed the world beginning in the first century when thousands of Jews who listened to the preaching of the apostle Peter repented and were baptized that very day (ref: Acts 2:38). Christ’s followers almost immediately had their faith put to the test in many ways. His early followers were willing to be persecuted and even die for Christ’s sake. That’s something most people will not do if they have any doubts in the credibility of the person to whom they are committed.

In the United States, Christians today still find themselves defending their faith and the doctrine presented in God’s word. Many other countries today are still hostile towards Christians or unwilling to let the Bible be openly taught.

With time, the deaths of some celebrities fade into the history books while the deaths of other celebrities just fade.

The news of Jesus has not faded one bit! It has become stronger with time. It is not only recorded in the Bible, but also in history books and other literature. In fact, Jesus has been written about more than anyone else… ever! His story was translated into other languages by 150 A.D. The hundreds of eye-witnesses to Jesus after he rose no doubt fueled the Spirit’s fire, helping catapult his life-saving message all the way into the 21st century, an encouraging lesson for us today to carry on the torch.

We never like to see our earthly heroes or heroins die too soon. But when it comes to Jesus Christ, his self-sacrificial attitude and his well-documented resurrection give hope of eternal life to those who remain faithful to him. Have a blessed week!

Some spiritual lessons can make you say uggh!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 7, 2012

            A young lady who comes to my summer camp wrote on Facebook, “It’s always your favorite sins that do you in.”   To which I responded, “Yep... just like a dog returns to its vomit! (Proverbs 26:11 and 2 Peter 2:22). Too bad we can't visualize dog vomit everytime temptation presents itself!”

I guess it’s already too late to mention that you probably shouldn’t be reading this week’s column right now if you are eating lunch!

            Anyway, if there was ever anyone qualified to pen those words, it was definitely Solomon.  He asked for wisdom, and boy did he get it.  Unfortunately, one of the best places (though painful and sometimes dangerous) to get wisdom is from simply living life and making mistakes.  That’s why I often pray for God to “gently” give me wisdom, and sometimes He agrees.  I want to be able to make good choices and advise others when asked.  But I don’t like the idea of receiving wisdom from the school of hard knocks!

            The smart choice would be to learn from others’ mistakes, and remember the consequences they had to deal with because of their bad decision-making.  But we all know human nature doesn’t always accommodate this technique.  Too bad.  As hard as we try, we are still going to make mistakes because one: we just had to try it our way, and two: we’re human.

            But I must go back to that very descriptive and visual proverb and ask the question, “Why can’t we see sin for what it really is?”   Dog vomit!  We would all be much better off if we could keep that little thought in our mind for everytime we were tempted to sin.  But for some reason, most of us have a hard time staying away from our “favorite sins”. In fact, most of us probably visualize our favorite sins the way a kid thinks about cotton candy!  Unfortunately, falling into sin is always more fun than dealing with the consequences of it.

            The good news is that we have a Savior who understands our every weakness.  He came to earth and went through every kind of temptation just so he could know what we go through.  And then he even went to the cross as the only perfect sacrifice to die for our sins so we could have hope of heaven.  But he didn’t leave us as orphans (John 14:18).  Through his Holy Spirit, he left clear instructions in the Bible, his inspired word, on how to avoid sin and make sure our imperfections are washed clean everyday.   There is no better life than that of a Christian who walks confidently, looking forward to the day we kneel before Jesus as he welcomes us home.  Have a blessed week!

In the light of God is a great place to walk
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 31, 2012

            As I went outside to start my car the other morning, I noticed my windshield was frosted over while the windshield of my wife’s car was clear. 

I was thinking how strange that was and then I realized her vehicle was parked on the side of the driveway closest to the sun, while mine was still in the shadow unable to receive any direct light.

I remember basically the same thing happening over the summer to three wisteria vines in my backyard that received varying levels of sun.  The one that received the most light grew and bloomed.  The others?  Not so much.

The first Biblical passage that came to mind was definitely 1 John 1:5-7 which says, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet we walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  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 (NIV, 1984).”

John’s message here is simple.  Live your life in the light of God!  That’s where the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from every sin.  And while those statements are true, the opposite is also true.  That if we do not walk in the light where God is, we should not expect the same reward as those who do.  And tragically, Christ’s blood will not cover our sins if we choose to walk on the world’s dark side, away from God’s light, and never asking forgiveness.

You see, there is willful sin, and unintentional sin.  Both can send someone to hell if not covered by Christ’s blood.  But scripture is very clear that we are not perfect.  In Romans 3:23 Paul says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  The word “fall” is present tense, which means we continue to make mistakes.  So, why can we still be saved even though we make mistakes?  After all, sin cannot enter heaven, right?  (right)  But there is a big difference between willful sin and unintentional sin.  A willful sin is a choice we make that puts us on the dark path.  When we choose to sin, we must repent and ask God’s forgiveness. 

On the other hand, unintentional sin just happens simply because we make mistakes even while walking in God’s light.  In other words, we all stumble and sin daily, even without knowing it, yes even without choosing to sin.  That is when the Bible teaches that a baptized believer (Romans 6:1-11) experiences a special kind of forgiveness only available to those who walk in the light.

Paul goes on to tell us the good news, that we “...are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood… (Rom. 3:24-25)”

During winter, sometimes the sun is hard to find.  But when you do see its light and feel its warmth, just remember the blessing of Jesus Christ can only be found in the light of God.  Have a blessed week!