Spiritual pioneers don’t have to be ancient

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 29, 2014

            He was fed meat and bread by ravens in the morning and in the evening.  He successfully challenged 850 false prophets to a contest to find out whose God was real.  He also prayed for a drought, and then prayed for it to end three and a half years later.  He was sometimes a courageous and zealous prophet of God, and other times a discouraged and fearful fugitive who hid from the evil King Ahab and ruthless Queen Jezebel.  (Ref: 1 Kings 17-19)

            The Bible character I have just introduced in part three of my series titled “The Way Home” is Elijah.  Much like the characters in my previous two Fort Faith columns, Moses and David, Elijah’s life wasn’t perfect.  But he went through things that still encourage Christians today, and help point us the way home to heaven. 

            Elijah and those who honored God were severely outnumbered by those who had chosen to make idols and false gods their priority. Yet, Elijah obeyed God. And as a result of his faith, the people of Israel who had waivered from God’s will turned back toward Him.  

            One of Elijah’s most important jobs was to show the power of God to the people and remind them just who God really is.  Today, that is still one of the most important tasks facing Christians, to introduce a spiritually unconscious society to God and His son, Jesus the Christ.

            Remember God demonstrated to Elijah He was not always in the BIG things like earthquakes, fire, and wind, but in the “whisper.” (Ref: 1 Kings 19:12)  One way to demonstrate the power of God is to point out the little things in nature - babies, storms, plants, wind - and the little things in our every day life - food, breath, and shelter.

            Of course, the biggest display of God’s power was in the resurrection of His Son. People need to know about the power of the Gospel of Jesus. Society needs to hear about the power of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The story of Jesus has the power to wake those people who are stuck in neutral. Additionally, we can teach others that while God poured out fire in the time of Elijah, He now pours His Holy Spirit out on us today (Acts 2:38) and that the Spirit is a powerful force, the only way we can overcome Satan and live an “abundant life.” (ref: John 10:10, 14:15, 16:7).

            Elijah and those like him in the Bible were an important part of God’s plan to point us in the right direction.  But then again, we are also part of God’s plan to continue showing people the way home heaven.  This week, pray that our generation would turn to God and faithfully lead others to Him even in the small things we do and say.  Have a great week!

Future generations must grasp the importance of faith in God

by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 22, 2014

            Last week, I wrote about Moses, a pioneer of restoring righteousness among God’s people.  But more importantly, he was a willing vessel who God used time and time again to serve God in big and small ways. He set a great example for Christians today as we strive to carry on the legacy of preparing the way home to heaven for future generations.

            This week’s column focuses on another well-known Old Testament hero named David who was a pioneer of faith.  He went from being a small shepherd boy and harp player, to becoming the armor bearer for King Saul, to becoming the under-dog who would slay Goliath, to becoming King of Israel, all because of his faith!  He made lots of mistakes, he learned from his mistakes, and he was able to forgive himself knowing that God had also forgiven him.   

            David’s successes were not in the absence of difficulties.  Before becoming king, David faced jealousy from older brothers and from King Saul who envied David’s abilities as a warrior. Later in life when David was king, he caused the death of his own child because of his selfishness, lack of self-control, and then lying about his relationship with another man’s wife while her husband was off to war. In the end, David, a warrior with blood on his hands, was not allowed to build God’s temple.  Although his son, Solomon, who later became king, did build the temple by using materials David brought back from battles. 

            Though his accomplishments were many, David was still only human with plenty of mistakes in his life to prove it.  But along with those mistakes came many opportunities for David’s faith to increase as he turned back to God.  And so, David goes down in history as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Those may have been Old Testament times, but we can apply those same principles to our lives in New Testament times. 

            God loves us and will forgive even our worst willful and unintentional sins when we clothe ourselves in Christ (Galatians 3:26 and Romans 6:1-11 and Acts 2:38).  The blood of Jesus then continues to cleanse Christians who live a life of repentance by turning away from evil and walking in the light (1 John 1:7).  God will even forgive the willful sins of a Christian when we go to Him in prayer (James 5:15-16).

            So yes, even though David is known as a pioneer of faith, he does not have to be the only pioneer of faith.  We as Christians today have an obligation to continue planting spiritual seeds, and preparing the way home for this lost and dying world that we are a part of right now.  We must be diligent to teach our generation of family, friends, and others the importance of living by faith, and that when we fail, God is always there ready to forgive and strengthen us as we commit to walking his righteous path.  Our world needs the love of Jesus more now than ever. This week, ask God to strengthen your faith, and use you to spread the love of Christ where you are!  Have a great week!

Christians must pave the way for future generations

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 15, 2014

 

            There’s no doubt about it.  We live in a generation of consumers.  We have high expectations for what someone else can do for us. Unfortunately, this is also the case when it comes to matters of faith and religion.  It is easy to expect someone else to blaze the trail for us so that we can gain the benefits.  Granted, not all of us are gifted at trail blazing.  But, there are many things we can do to help prepare the way home for future generations.

            The apostle Paul wrote to his young brother in the faith, Timothy, to remind him of principles that needed to be reinforced among Christians.  One of the most basic things he taught is the importance of being available and willing to carry God’s message and do the work of the Lord. In other words, be a willing vessel.

            Paul said, “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work (2 Timothy 2:20-21).”

            One of my lessons at church camp this summer is about Moses (Numbers 16).  He is a good example of someone who didn’t feel qualified to lead in the way God called him to lead.  But because he was a willing vessel, many great things were accomplished through him.  For Moses, leadership wasn’t always something as glamorous as standing up to Pharaoh and leading the children of Israel out of Egypt.  Sometimes it was something as simple as reminding the people about God’s law, encouraging obedience, and warning about the consequences of disobedience.          

            While Moses was busy leading God’s people, many from the priestly tribe of Levi evidently had a shallow view of the importance of the jobs God asked them to do.  They became jealous of God’s decision to make Moses their leader and Aaron their high priest even though the Levites had no small task in ministering to the community and working at the Lord’s tabernacle.  Those Levites rejected God’s decision and became jealous vessels, not willing ones!  They were paving the way to destruction for themselves and future generations.

            It would have been easy for Moses to cave in to public demand instead of teaching the people to honor God’s commands.  But Moses knew generations of people after him could either be saved or lost based on his convictions.  Scripture points out that Moses was not perfect, but he goes down in history as one dedicated to restoring righteousness among God’s people.

             In our culture today, people are sometimes not very tolerant of anyone encouraging obedience to God’s will, and even less tolerant of anyone warning about the consequences of disobedience.  That is why it is vital for Christians to model Christ. In other words, take-on the joy and heart of a servant so unbelievers will be drawn to what you have, and believers will be encouraged to do something other than point out people’s faults.

            There is plenty of work to do in the Lord’s kingdom today, and every job in Christian service helps restore righteousness and pave the way home for generations that follow.  Have a great week!

Parent – Child Relationships Don’t Have to be Difficult

by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 8, 2014 

            As a full-time youth minister, husband, and parent of three children, one of the challenges I hear teenagers talk about the most is their relationship with their parents.  What always seems to surprise the teenagers I teach is that parents also struggle with how to handle things when they discover their children have a mind of their own.  It’s not just difficult for one side or the other. But both the child and the parent are going through unchartered territory.  The need each other to get through this time of life, but figuring out just how much and in what ways is another story! 

            Yes, we parents have already gone through the adolescent years.  But for some reason, that doesn’t seem to make parenting much easier, does it?  At least we know (most of the time) why the friction occurs, though we don’t always know when it will occur.  What’s funny is that kids are usually under the impression that they are the ones who struggle the most in this relationship.  In some cases, this may be true when the parent has totally lost touch with what it was like to grow into your own person.

            I read a statement recently in the book “What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do” by Randy Simmons that I believe to be very true when it comes to parents and children getting along.  He said, “Teenagers need strong ‘roots’ and stability, but at the same time they need some ‘wings’ with which to fly and exert some independence.” 

            Trust is a great tool in a child gaining independence and freedom. A teenager can earn trust by accepting responsibilities, following directions, maintaining a proper and respectful attitude, and not being sneaky.  For instance, when a teenage girl tells her parent she can be trusted, she must prove it with her actions and attitudes more than just on the day of the request.  A parent once told me that his sons wanted to skip Wednesday Bible class and go to a movie.  The parent simply answered, “With good decisions come good consequences.”   And then he walked away.  The boys trusted their dad and showed up for church on their own. He kept his word and gave them money to pay the cost of the late movie and snacks.

            If kids only knew just how easy it really is to keep this parent-child thing under control, they would have a much smoother existence under their parents’ roof.  Unfortunately, the art of good communication is something most people do not learn until a little later in life.  Effective communication builds strong bridges connecting parents and children.  The book I mentioned lists the following suggestions:

            1) Choose an appropriate time and place to talk about your complaint, not publicly, and not in times of stress and pressure. 

            2) Be direct but gentle. Words can hurt both ways.  So teach your children to obey, but not be afraid to ask questions about reasons why.  “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Prov. 15:1).”  

            3) Tell the truth.  Lying creates distrust.   Kids and adults sometimes choose to lie in order to avoid conflict, only to have to face a more heated argument later.

            4)  Deal with problems before they get too big.  Sometimes, conflict is based on a simple misunderstanding.

            Sometimes, one side or the other just chooses to be difficult.  Yes, children and parents can be guilty of this.  I would not suggest this tactic.  In the end, neither side wins.  On the other hand, having a respectful and loving attitude and at least trying to understand the other point of view will make everyone feel better towards each other long term, even if a parent and child still do not see eye to eye.  Have a blessed week!

Ready or not, your child will do spiritual battle

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 1, 2014

            Lately, I have spent a lot of time updating my family’s GPS units.  I recently gave one to my daughter for graduation with a lifetime of updates.

            There’s just something about coming to the reality that your child will be leaving the nest in a month and a half.  From a dad’s perspective, the least I could do is make sure her GPS maps are all up to date before she hits the road for her next journey.

            The same is true spiritually.  The only difference is that you don’t wait until the last minute to make sure your kids have the right directions programmed in to their brain.  It starts very early on.  In fact, the first time kids challenge their parents regarding spiritual matters, it usually catches parents off guard!  This forces the parent to make a decision they may not have thought much about, or maybe they just thought it would come natural.  Yes, some answers to questions come natural, but others can require significantly more brain power to deal with.  And even then, sometimes you’re not exactly sure if you made the right decision.

            I remember one time when my now 16-year-old son was about four years old, he asked me this question, “If God created everything, then who created God?”  Another question he asked was this, “Is God real in the same way that Santa is real?”  I thought to myself, “Wow! Parenting is going to be fun!  Ugh.”  The questions have only gotten tougher over the years.

            The Bible’s teachings have been a great source of comfort for me as a parent because God’s word is consistent in its teaching.  There is no topic not covered.  As time goes along, life presents opportunities to teach our children Bible based answers to life’s questions.  Yes, Bible class is important.  But if Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights are the only times children receive Biblical instruction, that is only about one-half of one-percent of their time per week. That is why it is important for parents to spend time reading the Bible on a regular basis, and then find practical ways to weave it into our children’s lives all day, every day (ref: Deut. 6) long before it is time for them to leave the house.  This way, your child will at know now and later where life’s best advice comes from.

            Just as we update our GPS units to keep up with changes to roads and highways, it is also necessary to update our children on a variety of topics that we may come across in life that might be spiritually helpful.  Your child may say, “O dad!” or “O mom, don’t worry!”  But on the inside, they will always know you have their best interests at heart as you help them stay alert to the devil’s schemes (1 Peter 5:8-9), and as you make sure your children stay prepared to do spiritual battle away from home.  Have a great week!

Membership in God’s Family is a Big Deal

(part 5 of 5 articles on "Family Life")
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 24, 2014 

            In the final part of my five part series “Family Life” I want to talk about the most important family of all, God’s family.  Making sure you and your loved ones are part of it is the greatest decision you will ever make.

            In Matthew 12:46-50 someone in a crowd that Jesus was teaching told Him that Jesus’ family was waiting for Him outside.  But Jesus’ response to this was probably not what the crowd expected to hear.  He said, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”  Pointing to his disciples he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

            Wow! That must have been a shock, at least at first, for people to hear such a thing from such a respected teacher.  But I suspect there were no doubt many Aha moments as His words began to sink in.  Jesus was not disowning his earthly family.  He was simply making the point that even though our earthly families mean a great deal to each of us in this lifetime, Christians are part of God’s family which lasts into eternity!

            About a week ago, Lisa and I returned from our 25^th wedding anniversary trip to Florida and the Caribbean Sea.  We had never experienced anything like that!  The clear blue water and white sand beaches of the Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel were amazing.  I can barely begin to describe to you the beauty of God’s creation we got to be a part of there.  I mentioned to Lisa that I think I may now have an idea of what the Garden of Eden was like.

            But as wonderful as that trip was, and as blessed as I feel to have such an amazing woman in my life, I feel even more blessed that she and I both are part of God’s family.  This means when Jesus returns to bring His faithful home, we will get to experience something much greater than a temporary relationship on God’s beautiful earth.  We will get to experience paradise in heaven for an eternity that far surpasses our imagination and certainly any of God’s created things here on earth!            We are doing our best to guide our children in this way, too.

            Children have no choice as to which earthly family they are born into.  In Old Covenant times before Jesus came to earth, children born into the nation of Israel were automatically God’s chosen people.  But in New Testament times, through Jesus, we have “the right to become children of God (John 1:12-13)”.  It is a choice to obey God’s will and let Him add you into His family of believers (Acts 2:47).   Will you choose Him today?  Have a blessed week!

Family crises can be overcome with God’s help

(part 4 of 5 articles on "Family Life")
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 17, 2014

            I really haven’t met anyone who hasn’t had some sort of family crisis.  Sometimes it’s your fault, sometimes another person’s fault, and sometimes things just happen. Financial problems, death, divorce, conflict.  It’s just part of life in a broken world.  The question is not really “Will I experience a crisis?”  But rather, “What kind of crises will I experience in my life, and how will I get through the hard times?”

            In 2 Kings 11-12 we’re told about a baby boy named Joash whose father was the wicked king Ahaziah.  In fact, the king was so wicked he was killed after only a year on the throne.  Then, in a successful takeover attempt to become the ruling queen of the land for the next six years, Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, began to have the rest of the royal family killed.  She succeeded with one exception, baby Joash’s aunt hid him away until he was seven years old.  Long story short?  The people thought Queen Athaliah was too much of a tyrant, so the seven year old Joash was revealed as the rightful heir to the throne.   

            At first, it would appear that Joash had the cards stacked against him.  The hand he was dealt in life meant he lived his first seven years in hiding as a fugitive from his power hungry murderous grandmother who would have killed Joash had she known of his existence.

            The fact that Joash became king at such an early age was another problem.  But he accepted the challenge.  That’s one of the great things about youth, isn’t it?  The word “can’t” is not really in your vocabulary.  And in Joash’s case, he had the support of the people who had been through all of the evil leadership they could stomach.  But still, how did he do it?  2 Kings 12:2 says, “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”   Joash reigned in Jerusalem for the next forty years with help from his Godly mentor Jehoiada the priest.  Stories like these must have been on the apostle Paul’s mind when he instructed young Timothy to not let his youth stand in the way of his calling as a minister of the Gospel (1 Timothy 4:12).

            Sometimes, the crises of life can seem more than a little overwhelming no matter if we are young, old, or in between.  It is important for us to remember to pray to God with the right motives (James 4:3).  But we must keep in mind that God has a plan.  And whether you find yourself in pleasant circumstances or challenging ones, God can help you work through it all.  We Christians must learn to live up to our name.  As followers of Christ, we must have faith and confidence that God goes with us into every spiritual battle.  There is no spiritual challenge that God has not helped His believers defeat in the past.  The same promise of God’s devotion to us holds true in the present and future.   Have a blessed week!

Family infighting is no way to live

(part 3 of 5 articles on "Family Life")
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 10, 2014 

            Highly rated television shows dealing with family conflict are not hard to find.  Dramatic series, situation comedies, and reality shows ranging from 19 Kids and Counting, Duck Dynasty, and Dance Moms, to some of the classics you may remember such as Dallas, Mama’s Family, The Cosby Show, and I Love Lucy.  They’re popular because people can relate in one way or another.  

            The blame game has been around since the beginning.  Adam tried to blame God for his disobedience in the Garden of Eden.  “The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it (Genesis 3:12).”   Next was Cain who killed his brother, Abel, basically out of jealous anger that arose when God accepted Abel’s animal sacrifice but not Cain’s sacrifice of vegetation or “fruits of the soil”.

            Genesis 37:2-8 gives the scenario of how Joseph’s brothers became angry and hated him.  As the story goes, Joseph checked on his brothers who were tending the flocks, and then gave “a bad report about them” to their father, Jacob.  Their feelings about Joseph worsened after Jacob presented the favorite son with an “ornate” robe.  Then, as if tensions weren’t high enough, Joseph told his brothers about his dreams, foretelling that they would someday bow down to him.  They were so angry they attempted to murder him, but then decided to just sell him into slavery.  But Joseph eventually managed to become the Governor of Egypt who would save much of the known world from starvation, including his brothers.  And yes, they bowed to him.

            In Joseph’s family conflict, as in most, problems arose because of three things: 
1) Their values were different.  Evidently, Joseph’s idea of satisfactory work was not the same as his brothers.  On a practical aside, this is exactly why Christians are to be of one heart and mind like Paul urged of the early church (Acts 4:32).  This could actually be achieved in God’s family today if all Christians allowed God’s word to speak for itself.  Like values are the basis for any good relationship as Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 6:14 when he urged the Corinthian Christians to not be yoked together with unbelievers.  It is necessary for our closest allies to be on the same page spiritually in order to help each other in our Christian journeys.
2) Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph added fuel to the fire of conflict.  The same happens today when parents express more love for one child than another.  It is only natural to like the behavior of a sweet child more than the behavior of the child who is disrespectful.  But it is important for parents to show love for our children equally even though we don’t always like their attitudes equally.  Your consistency in Christian parenting will pay off with a child who honors God.

3)  Inflated egos are never a good thing in keeping family peace.  Even though Joseph’s brothers may have been loafing on the job, and even though Jacob let it be known that he loved one son more than the others, Joseph did not have to flaunt his favored status.  There was no reason for him to tell his brothers about his dream in which their sheaves of grain bowed down to his.  Things are sometimes better left unsaid for the sake of peace unless your silence puts a family member in danger spiritually or physically.  Have a blessed week!

Respect is an important part of family life (part 2 of 5 articles on "Family Life"

 by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 3, 2014

            I’ve actually had parents tell me, “I love my children, but honestly, I just don’t like them these days!”   There is almost nothing more frustrating as a parent than to feel you’re not being respected by your children.  I’m sure my parents probably felt the same way when I was a child, as parents have for generations.   It’s just part of the process of kids discovering their boundaries, becoming their own person, and taking responsibility for their own actions. 

            So, in part 2 of my series “Family Life”, I will take a look at the benefits of respect within the family unit.

            Showing respect to all family members is important, not only to help keep things running smoothly on a day to day basis.  But there are other rewards, too, especially when it comes to respect between parents and children.   The Bible speaks to this issue.

            Solomon made a lot of mistakes in his quest for wisdom.  But when all was said and done, he wrote down things he learned which are still of great value for today’s families who are wise enough to apply the lessons he learned so long ago.

            In Proverbs 1:8-9 Solomon says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” 

            Most people already know this but I’m going to say it anyway. Children feel more secure when they have boundaries in their lives.  Children who live with little accountability actually admire families in which the parents and children have close relationships.  Those bonds are cemented by mutual respect when children know their parents love and care enough about them to enforce reasonable boundaries.  And when a parent feels that a child appreciates their instruction, the parent/child relationship grows.  So parents, please never feel like you’re the bad guy when you enforce household rules.  Your children respect you for it, even though they don’t want you to know it.

            In a letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul made a reference to commandment number 5 of the 10 Commandments.  He said, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor you father and mother-which is the first commandment with a promise-so it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth (Eph. 6:1-3).”  

            We would all do well to show respect for the advice and experiences of our parents and others who have journeyed this life ahead of us.  In some cases, respect means following their lead, and in other cases, learning from their mistakes.  Have a great week!

Family unity is strengthened with God as the common bond

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 27, 2014

            TV parents can be funny, helpless, crude, near perfect, or just about any other way a show’s producer wants to portray them.  The Bible shows parents in many different lights, too. 

            In this week’s Fort Faith column, I am beginning a five part series on family life.  In part one, I am going to take a look at what the Bible has to say about parents and their responsibilities.

            For starters, parents are supposed to teach their children about the kind of behavior God expects them to practice.  The wisest man who ever lived has a famous quote on this topic.  It comes from Proverbs 22:6.  Solomon says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

            This may be a general statement.  But I happen to believe it is true, even if it takes more than a few years to reach the desired outcome.  I know of one man who rebelled against his parents from the time he was a child until he himself was in his sixties!  Eventually he came to realize his parents really did know best when they were basing life lessons from the Bible. When things work as they should, the family unit is to be the main source of learning for children.  Parents are supposed to make sure of that, even though a child can often, at least for a time, live as if he or she learned nothing from them. Moses wrote that parents are to take advantage of daily opportunities to teach life lessons by weaving God’s commands into everyday tasks and conversations (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

            It is also important for parents to correct their children in the way God intended when they get off track.  After all, the media and other influences in our society certainly show no hesitation when forcefully targeting and teaching our children to live by cultural norms that are opposite God’s will for His people. When a parent spends time with a child, they grow to understand each other.  And even if a child disagrees with a parent’s decision, they will respect the parent who uses Godly advice.  Maybe not immediately, but they’ll come around.

            And finally, parents are supposed to nurture their children, and make them feel loved and supported, not bitter or discouraged (Colossians 3:21).  This does not mean a parent has to be a pushover.  It simply means the parent should imitate the love of Jesus. Be willing to listen, and teach them Godly traits through word and example.  One more thing, parents should always pray to God about the decisions they make for their family.

            By the way, this series of family articles and advice is aimed at me and my parenting skills as much as anyone.  Have a great week!