Above the Sun: God is always here for us

September 15, 2019

by Barrett Vanlandingham

            If you have ever felt that God was ignoring your plea or not even hearing you in the first place, the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge is for you.

            In Luke 18, the writer says Jesus’ purpose in telling the parable to his disciples was to “show them that they should pray and never give up.” The story involves a widow who was not willing to take no for an answer, and an unjust judge who did not care about God or anyone else!  The widow, over and over, kept showing up asking for justice against someone who had done her wrong. The judge kept putting her off but eventually got tired of her bothering him, so he finally agreed to help her.

            “And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off” (Luke 18:6-7)?

            God has never required that His children repeat the same request over and over and over again. But this parable does remind us to not give up on God, and to remember our version of perfect timing is not the same as God’s version. Wouldn’t it be scary to think that God’s wisdom and actions somehow depend on when and what we think is the best solution?

            Peter summed it up this way: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

        In addition, it is important for us to make sure our heart is in the right place when we present our desires and concerns.

            “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:3). The Bible also tells us that if we are walking in step with God, prayer can achieve amazing results, though it is still in God’s time.

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

            Another point of the parable is that if a crooked judge can be influenced or even have a change of mind about helping someone, then surely a fair judge would do the same. Our Heavenly Father is the fairest of all, and Christians can be confident that He continually acts in the best interest of His chosen ones. This is not only true when we ask for things, but also when we do not even know what to ask for, or possibly didn’t even know we needed to ask. Remember the words of Paul?

            “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).

            We can trust with certainty that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28). Have a great week!

Above the Sun: God can help you change for the better

September 8, 2019

by Barrett Vanlandingham

                      ²⁶He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29).

            This parable teaches that yes, we are involved in our own spiritual growth just like the man who scattered the seed.  But we are not alone in this process. Just like the growing process of the seed, the positive change in our lives is a mystery in which Jesus Christ is the solution (1 Timothy 3:16). I can just imagine Jesus smiling and using air quotation marks while saying “All by itself” as He was telling the story to his disciples about how the soil produces grain.

            So often, we plan things out for our lives the way we see it happening. We pray about it, press on full steam ahead, include God in everything we do, and assume or hope God feels the same about our plans as we do. But even when we have the best of intentions, God sometimes has something different in mind for us. He even has plans for us when we have no idea what to do. For that we are all grateful. It’s a thought passed down from the wisest human who ever lived, Solomon.           

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

            Submitting or committing to anything or anyone takes a lot of work and faith (belief).

            In Ephesians 2:8-10, the apostle Paul does not stop with saying “it is by grace you have been saved.” He continues to say that grace saves us through our faith. We are saved by our belief in God’s act of grace that accomplished what we could not do on our own, the forgiveness of sin. We obey God’s word and do the things He asks of us because we believe in Jesus’ power to save us.

            If we do not obey God’s teachings, James 2:18-19 says we are no different than the demons who believe there is one God.  Faith and deeds go hand in hand. “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).

            Here are three things to think about in regards to spiritual growth:

1. It involves a partnership between the believer and God where we keep in step with His Spirit and His attributes such as love and kindness (Galatians 5:22-25). Paul says, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

2. As we do His will, we grow a little at a time. Even Paul admitted he still had work to do in maturing as a Christian (Philippians 3:12-14). Peter would agree. He told Christians to grow spiritually by adding Christ-like qualities into their lives a step at a time (2 Peter 1:5-8). He says, “Make every effort to confirm your calling and election” (v. 10)

3. Finally, Jesus explains that spiritual growth has a purpose, to make us ready for the harvest or the end of the age when the righteous will shine like the sun, and the weeds will be burned in the fire.

            God’s word has the power to change hearts and minds, and bring the lost into a saved relationship with Him through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Romans 1:16-17).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: It is never too late to work in God’s kingdom

September 1, 2019

by Barrett Vanlandingham

            “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1-2).

            Did you ever try to do something nice for someone, but it backfired? That’s what happened in this parable told by Jesus. The agreement between the workers and the landowner was a fair one. The problem came at the end of the day when the workers found out the landowner had also hired additional workers throughout the day, and paid them the same even though the new hires did not work as many hours in the heat of the day as those who started earlier.

            “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you” (Matthew 20:13-14).

            The point Jesus makes in this parable is that it doesn’t matter when someone turns their life over to God and begins to work for Him. A person who was dedicated to the Lord for 90-years does not get a better place in heaven than someone who becomes a Christian the hour before the trumpet of the Lord sounds! People in the first century were particularly concerned with this issue because the Jews were originally God’s chosen people. One popular Jewish Christian belief in the first century held that Gentiles who became Christians could only be saved if they obeyed Jewish law first. Paul preached against this.

            Three takeaways from this parable are that the grace of God is overwhelming, never-ending, and unbiased.

            First, there is nothing that spells grace any more than the words of Peter. He told his readers that the reason God has not already returned for the Judgment is because of His patience and unwillingness that anyone should perish, but that all people would eventually turn to Him (2 Peter 3:9). God will continue seeking those who would work in His kingdom until the final hour. And yes, they will get the same reward as those who worked their whole lives.

            Second, the supply of God’s grace will never be depleted. It is not like a jar of peanut butter that eventually has to be scraped out. God’s jar is always full and fresh no matter when you open it. The workers at the end of the day did not receive the “leftover” wages, but instead a full day’s pay in spite of their short-comings.

            Third, it is important for new Christians as well as lifetime Christians to understand that God’s grace is not limited to certain types of people. It is given to all who choose God, even if they do not look like, sound like, smell like, or dress like anyone else you know. In the parable, nobody else was willing to hire the latecomers. We do not know why they were considered rejects. The good landowner not only hired them, but gave them the same amount as the others.

            As members of Christ’s church, we are also to reach out to the broken, and not only to those who rise to a certain level.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: A little kindness can make a big difference

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 25, 2019

            “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:12-14).

            Doesn’t it feel good when someone goes out of their way to do something nice for you? Jesus wants his followers to be that kind of friend. In this parable, Jesus urges us to seek people who are living in sin or who have strayed away. He also teaches here that we are to celebrate when they are brought back into the church family or perhaps welcomed in for the first time.  Just like Jesus, the shepherd in this parable considered all of his sheep to be valuable and important enough to go great lengths to save them from harm.

            In Luke 19, Jesus went further than just telling a story about seeking the lost, He actually showed us in a real-life scenario as He entered Jericho and found himself in the middle of a crowd. It would have been easy for most of us to miss out on the opportunity to visit with Zacchaeus. After all, most people didn’t want anything to do with him because he was a wealthy tax collector. Those who held that office were known to charge taxpayers extra to pad their own bank accounts. Zacchaeus was also short, and could not see above the crowd. So, he climbed a tree ahead of the crowd in hopes of being able to see Jesus as He came by.  Not only was Zacchaeus able to see the Savior, but Jesus noticed him sitting in the tree and told him to come down so they could visit more at Zacchaeus’s house. The special attention Jesus showed this man ultimately resulted in Zacchaeus making things right with the people and with God. Jesus reached out to Zacchaeus, and in return, Zacchaeus took action to change for the better.

            In Luke 15:5-6, there are more celebratory details expressed by the shepherd at finding his sheep. “And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’” The shepherd lifts up his no longer lost sheep as he declares victory!

            Jesus calls His followers to reach out to lost sinners, and to joyfully add those who repent and are saved into our fellowship. Luke writes in Acts 8:8 that “There was great joy in that city.” This was after the Samaritans, who were despised by many, became Christians.

            Of course, one important variable we do not know from the parable of the lost sheep is how long the sheep is lost. A Christian brother or sister who strays from God’s path will stay lost until they choose to come home. We all have free will. One thing we do know is that God is patient with us (2 Peter 3:9), and so we should be patient with those who continue to struggle spiritually. Our attitude as a concerned Christian can either cause someone to open the door to Jesus, or to let Jesus keep knocking (Revelation 3:20).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Repentance is a good thing

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 18, 2019

            “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’  “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go” (Matthew 21:28-30).

            There are few verses in the Bible that give us as much hope as this parable. It was told by Jesus when He was approached in the temple by the chief priests and elders who were questioning His authority. He used this illustration to explain to them the importance of repentance. Jesus basically explained that it is not so much where you start out, it is where you end up that is important. Jesus explained that it was the first son who did what his father wanted even though neither son gave the answer their father hoped for.

            There are a lot of definitions for repentance depending on whom you ask. Some common ideas back then as well as today may include being sorry, or apologizing, or asking forgiveness. Someone can be forced to do a task even though they do it grudgingly. That is not repentance. The point Jesus made to His listeners was that repentance involves changing your mind as well as your actions.

            In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees and other religious leaders were good at putting on a good religious show, but they were not genuine, and Jesus knew they were frauds. In Matthew 23, He warned the crowds and his disciples to not follow the example of the scribes and Pharisees because they did not practice what they preached. In fact, He said any deeds they did were for the purpose of impressing people. They relied on outer appearance more than on the power of God within them.

            Jesus reminded the Pharisees that prostitutes and tax collectors were turning to God to make them whole, while the self-righteous religious leaders were too busy relying on themselves and their public display of religion to make them appear holy.

            In living the Christian life, we all face those times when we need to rethink our responsibilities when it comes to being a new creation and ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). The apostle Peter had strong words for those false preachers and teachers who had strayed from presenting and living out God’s will, in exchange for man-made teachings.

            “It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them” (2 Peter 2:21).

            Repentance is what keeps us pointed in the right direction, and we are all in need of that. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Wearing Jesus is the best choice in fashion

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 4, 2019

            It’s that time of year when families head to stores for back to school shopping. New clothes for a new school year just go hand in hand.

            The Bible talks about clothing that is of greatest importance. In fact, doing without it would be the worst possible choice anyone could make. On several occasions, the apostle Paul told anyone who would listen his thoughts on clothing.

            To the church in Rome, he said, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:14).”

            To the church in Galatia, he said, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27).”

            To the church in Colossae, he said, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12).”

            Paul is among those first century Christians who would be more than qualified to speak on the topic of clothing because his spiritual journey led him into situations where he had to do without.           

            “I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked (2 Corinthians 11:27).”

            Surprisingly, with everything he went through, Paul did not write about the kind of clothing most of us are familiar with. But rather, a kind of clothing that is even more important. Spiritual clothing.

            To the church in Ephesus, Paul goes even further in explaining the importance of clothing ourselves in Christ through baptism, and applying His qualities to our lives. He likens truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, and prayer to armor that Christians need to put on in order to win our daily spiritual battles.

            “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11).”

            Yes, it’s always fun to get a new shirt or new pair of shoes. But when it comes to what really matters, it is much more important to make sure our spiritual wardrobe is well stocked for whatever challenges are certain to come our way. Earthly clothing styles come and go. Jesus and eternity are forever.  Have a great week!

Goliath’s Failure Gives Giant Lessons for Us Today

by Barrett Vanlandingham 
(Original article:  Fort Faith, September 16, 2008)

By all accounts, the fight between Goliath and David should have ended much differently than it did. 

When you read 1 Samuel 17 it is easy to see that a nine-feet tall Philistine warrior whose armor weighed 125 pounds, and whose iron spear-tip alone weighed 15 pounds should have not wound up flat on the ground with his head cut off. But that’s exactly what happened in spite of the fact that Goliath even had his own shield bearer who went out before him.

No one else besides a shepherd boy named David would even dare to fight Goliath. So, what happened? What went wrong? Well, a couple of things. Goliath was obviously in the habit of placing his confidence in none other than himself. He was arrogant, threatening, rude, and irreverent towards God’s people. 

For forty days, Goliath came out to taunt King Saul and the Israelites saying, “…Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us… This day I defy the ranks of Israel! (1 Sam. 8-10)…” After Goliath saw who was coming out to fight, he said, “:44 Come here… and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.”

The whole scene sounds pretty intimidating to me. But that didn’t stop David who then said to the Philistine, “…You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head (1 Sam. 17:45-46)…”

What follows next is my favorite part of the story “:48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.”

David takes five smooth stones and uses one of them in a sling to strike the giant down, and then takes Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head.

“:51 …When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.”

I’m not sure which part of the story is more pathetic, Goliath’s over-confidence, or the Philistine army’s cowardly reaction to a young shepherd boy defeating their “hero.”

Two lessons we must learn from this are 1) where to put our faith, and 2) what kind of things we should place our priorities on.
David put his confidence in God even though the odds were against him. He had to endure criticism from many including his own brothers, and being made fun of by those who were only judging David from outward appearances.

May we all pray that God gives us the confidence to trust in Him even when the world says we’re not strong enough or smart enough to win the battle against the devil. May we never be afraid to lay our pride aside, and let God’s power work within us. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Your decisions can make for generations of consequences

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 21, 2019 (original version: September 2008)

In 1 Kings 12:1-33 we read about how the mistakes of Jeroboam (Solomon’s official in charge of the labor force) caused problems for the northern kingdom of Israel for the next 250-years.

In 977 B.C. Israel split after Solomon died because his son, Rehoboam would not relieve any of the tax burdens on the people, and in fact planned to make it worse.

Rehoboam remained king of the southern kingdom of Judah where Jerusalem and the temple were located, while Jeroboam became king of the new northern kingdom of Israel.

Here’s where Jeroboam messed up, royally! He made two golden calves to which his people were to offer sacrifices. He set one in Dan and one in Bethel, both in the northern kingdom in an effort to keep his people from going down into the southern kingdom of Judah to Jerusalem to worship at the temple there. Jeroboam also appointed priests from “…all sorts of people even though they were not Levites (:31).” He also instituted a religious festival on the same day as the one in Jerusalem, so that sacrifices could be made to the idols instead of to God.

Jeroboam did these things because he feared for his life if the people were to again become loyal to Rehoboam, the king of Judah (:27). Jeroboam’s actions put him in direct opposition to God’s commands to not worship idols.

For the next 250 years, most of the 19 kings were evil and were said to have walked in the ways of Jeroboam. What a way to be remembered! Over and over in 1 Kings and 2 Kings we read about the sin that Jeroboam “…caused Israel to commit” until eventually they were removed from the Lord’s presence and exiled to Assyria (2 Kings 17:21-23).

There are many lessons that can be learned here. Trusting and obeying God for starters. But one very important lesson is this: Every decision we make has a consequence attached to it. In this case, the ripple effect was HUGE. It went on and on. Jeroboam’s actions to influence the people to worship idols started a trend that infected almost every king of Israel who came after him, and caused problems for the few good kings to have to deal with.

In 1 Kings 16:31 we read that King Ahab was even more evil than any king before him including Jeroboam. He went as far as to marry the wicked Jezebel and began to serve and worship the false gods, Baal and Asherah.

In 2 Kings 10:28-32 we read that King Jehu destroyed Baal worship, but he still did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, “which he had caused Israel to commit.”

For us today, we need to keep in mind that even though culture puts a lot of pressure on us to accept worldly ways as normal, God’s standard has never changed. Doing things the world’s way may bring temporary happiness, but it will never bring the lasting joy that serving God can. And it is only by doing God’s will that we know for sure which direction our ripple effect is carrying us and those we influence.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: We are equipped with spiritual thermometers to help us

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 14, 2019 (original version: June 2008)

Summer in Oklahoma can bring a lot of different things. These days, more so than not, we can pretty much expect heat and humidity when we step outside. God created us with an inner thermometer to know when the temperature is unfavorable. Even animals know when it's time to find a shady spot or maybe a pond to cool off.

God also created us this way in regards to sin and temptation.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."

Let's face it. We all know the difference between right and wrong. If not, we all certainly know (in general) the things God approves of, versus the things He does not smile on. We can all think of subtle things we would all do differently in regard to time management. If we thought God were going to pay us a personal visit today, most of us would likely change at least a little something about our attitude, dress, hobbies, or entertainment choices.

There are so many sins listed in the Bible. Gossip, cursing, issues of decency, lust, fornication, self-discipline, selfishness, greed, ill-gotten gain such as gambling, and lack of Bible knowledge and application. That sounds like a lot of keep up with. How can we ever be pleasing to God in every area of our existence?

The fact is, when we make God number one in our lives, all of those other issues become a lot easier to deal with. The apostle Paul went through many different kinds of spiritual persecution. So, his statements in Romans 8 have carried a lot of meaning for Christians throughout the centuries.

Paul said, "28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

            Paul then makes a special connection between Christians and God's Son by saying that Jesus is the "firstborn among many brothers." Then Paul asked the question in verse 31, " ...If God is for us, who can be against us?" He states that if God went so far as to offer His own Son to save us, would he not also "give us all things?"

            God loves us. We're created in His image. And there's nothing He desires more than for us to be in heaven with Him someday. He has done everything He could possibly do to get us there besides turn us into little robots that are unable to make choices. He gives us a free will and allows us to choose Him if we so desire. He even gives us the gift of His Spirit when we are baptized (Acts 2:38) to guide and comfort us until He returns.

            As followers of Jesus, we have much to be joyful about, we have much to be thankful for, and we have much to gain from studying and applying God's word. So, when spiritual challenges come our way, just remember that God will always provide something "good" to hold on to, and He will always provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) as we "test everything" by His word, and "avoid every kind of evil." God is always pulling for us to get out of the heat spiritually. But what we do with his invitation is up to us.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Satan has a plan for your children (Part two of Commitment)

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 7, 2019 (original version: June 2008)

How many times do we not trust God to give us what we need, and what our children need, just so we can satisfy our worldly cravings for worldly success? We ask ourselves, “How is my family or my children ever going to find true joy and happiness unless I take control of what I can see, therefore relegating God to the passenger seat?” The answer is faith-based commitment to God. And when we are committed to God, we will be committed to our families.

When it comes to commitment to your family, we must remember that this cannot be separated from what it means to be committed to God. We must strive for holiness and being set apart for service to God. When this happens, we will automatically show commitment to our families by providing for them in every way: financially, emotionally, materially and spiritually.

Parents, we cannot truly be committed to our families the way God wants us to be if we knowingly lead our children right up to the gates of hell and all but turn them over to Satan. This is why it is important to choose carefully the clothes we buy for our daughters, and the activities we allow our kids to be a part of. Parents must be careful to have pure speech, not just in regard to cursing, but in the way we talk to anyone including our family.  

Providing for your family also includes what we allow our children’s minds to be filled with in regards to entertainment. We must be careful that we do not allow strangers to come into our homes unsupervised and fill our children's heads full of Hollywood’s values. The entertainment industry is not in business of saving your child's soul. Satan has a plan for your children, and you better have one too. Commitment to family does not mean letting TV, Internet, videos, sports, music or anything else come between your family and God.

Ephesians 6:1-4 says, “1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2. "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3. "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

The past 18 years of youth ministry have given me at least a little bit of insight when it comes to answering the question of how to increase your child’s chances of succeeding spiritually:

1. Bring them to youth and church events.

2. Be consistent in giving Bible-based answers to their questions, and how you raise them.

3. Let your children see you study, and that it has resulted in you living a life of faith, hope, love, and joy.

4. When we make the decision to become parents, we also make the decision to become teachers. We must make every moment count (Ephesians 5:15-16), and realize that we teach our families not only by what we say, but by what we do.

May God bless us as we strive for holiness and as we encourage our families to live for God in every aspect of life. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Commitment requires follow through

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 30, 2019 (original version: June 2008)

            People who stay committed to anything are rare jewels these days.

            I was talking with my dad awhile back. And anyone who knows my dad knows that if he has a job to do, it will get done on time, one way or another. So, I asked him why is it that some people just seem to always be where they’re supposed to be, not because they were expected to be, and not because they were asked to be, but because it was just the right thing to do? What separates those people from others? He said, “It is because those people have already made the decision to be a part of something or to live a certain lifestyle. They made a commitment to certain things long before they were put on the calendar, and long before they were faced with ‘Should I, or shouldn't I?’”

            Commitment to God is kind of like riding an elevator ... you're either ON or OFF. Revelation 3:15-16 talks about people who are neither hot nor cold in their commitment to God. He says that because they are lukewarm, he will spit them out of His mouth.

            Matthew 22:34-38 tells us the greatest command is to “…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The Gospel of Mark adds “and with all your strength” to that list. This means that we are to love God with everything we have, and everything we are.

If you believe that God exists, and that Jesus is his son, and that there is a heaven and a hell, it is extremely important to follow through with commitment.  After all, what's the point in calling yourself a Christian if you're only going to go halfway, because halfway won't get you there.

John 14:15 tells us God knows whether we love him by our obedience to his commands.

            What if we don't commit to God? Matthew 10:32-33 says, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”

            Commitment demands we choose God over anyone or anything. We can have huge bank accounts, popularity, possessions, desire for athletic and academic scholarships, but when those things become our gods, and we choose them over God the Father, that's sin.

It’s a test Abraham scored well on. God asked him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham loved his son Isaac and knew that Isaac was a part of the plan to make a great nation like God had promised in Genesis 12:2. So, Abraham was willing to put aside his own feelings on the matter, and submit and trust God TOTALLY. In fact, Abraham had so much faith that when he was preparing to take his son there to sacrifice him, Genesis 22:5 says “He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’”          Abraham knew that total commitment was a two-way trail, and that God would not go back on his original promise, and that one way or another, God would prevent Isaac's death.

How many times do we not trust God to give us what we need, and what our children need, just so we can satisfy our worldly cravings for worldly success. We ask ourselves, “How is my family or my children ever going to find true joy and happiness?” The answer is faith-based commitment to God. And when we are committed to God, we will be committed to our families. More on that topic next week.  Have a great day!

Above the Sun: Expletives go crossways with God’s will for you

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 23, 2019 (original version: June 2008)

More than once I've had young people ask me if it was really a sin to curse. They were astonished when I gave them the answer, “Yes!”

The Apostle Paul said, “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 (Philippians 4:8).”

When it comes to cursing and other sins of the mouth, how can you or anyone else in your presence possibly “think about such things” (Godly things) if your mouth is spewing out curse words?

James 3:3-12 is one of the most famous passages in the Bible for its instruction on how we use our mouth. The writer says, “:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder…” James goes on to compare the tongue to a spark that can set a whole forest on fire. He says, “:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

In Romans 3:9-10 Paul quotes from the Old Testament about sin. Then in verse 14 he says, “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

When I was a kid and someone would curse, oftentimes it would be pointed out that people who curse just simply do not have a good enough vocabulary to think of other words to say. That may be true to an extent. But I think a better explanation as to why people curse is because their minds have been filled to overflowing with worldly influences. This happens when we get lax in our spiritual battle. Proverbs 4:23-24 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”

The Gospel of Matthew 12:34 & 36-37 says, “…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks… But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Sins of the mouth not only include cursing. Romans 1:28-32 includes gossip and slander in a list of sins that will land someone in hell. Paul even goes on to say that even those who approve of this practice are also in the same danger of eternal condemnation.

The attitudes behind cursing are just as harmful spiritually. One thing is for sure. If we spend more time in study of God's word, more time acting on our belief, more time prayerfully turning away from the world's influence, more time acknowledging that Jesus is God's Son and that He is our only hope, and more time thinking about the blessings that come from being clothed in Christ through baptism, we would definitely not have near as much time or desire to allow negative thoughts and words to infect or influence our destiny. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: There is a silver lining for our flood crisis

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 16, 2019

           

My summer mission trip to Honduras is always a joy. Our Christian brothers and sisters there in Tegucigalpa are always so welcoming. This time, I felt a little guilty for planning a mission trip out of country when there is so much work to do here because of the flood damage. But then it occurred to me I have not met even one flood victim here who would want to trade places with any of our friends in Honduras who live in 16 by 16 shacks with dirt floors and outside bathrooms and kitchens.

            It is amazing to me how people here are dealing with so much loss of property with such a positive and hopeful attitude. None of us likes to hear the words, “It could always be worse.” But the fact is, it could, and deep down, even those affected directly by the flood know it. Yes, it’s a pain to be inconvenienced. I complain about the floaties I have in my left eye that obstruct my vision a little, and the slight limp I have because of an old back injury. Reality is that I have friends who are blind in one or both eyes, and I have friends who are confined to wheelchairs. They would love to trade places with someone who only has floaties in one eye and who can still walk. I remember when my 18-month-old daughter was gravely ill with staff pneumonia. She was in ICU and had surgery on her lung to make her well. I remember the sadness I felt as a parent until I looked at another baby nearby who was only a month old and already had three heart surgeries, and more to come.

            During mission trips I have taken into Mexico and Honduras, I often caught myself wondering why some of the people there didn’t make their huts look more presentable. But then it occurred to me they would love to if they only had a hammer, nails, a saw, lumber, and some decent roofing materials. But those things cost money, and when minimum wage is about $200 a month, yes month, people can’t afford a lot of extra’s.

Here in our area, there is abundant help for flood victims to be able to clean up, re-build, and start life over in nice new 1000 to 3000 square foot homes with new furniture and appliances. Even those who are worse off, still have comfortable places to stay with food until they can get back on their feet.

There are who knows how many relief workers and groups from out of town coming here ready to jump in and bless our community with fresh energy, optimism, hard work, and compassion. Some of those include: Church of Christ Disaster Response Team, Churches of Christ Relief Efforts, Red Cross, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Christian Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Church of God in Christ. Many individuals and area churches are also donating money to the community resource center that is set-up in the old gym at Fort Gibson High School.

We talk about our country as the land of opportunity. And it’s in times like these we find out why. It’s all about neighbor helping neighbor, wherever they’re from, most of whom will never even meet face to face. As the days and weeks go by, we will all have opportunities to brighten someone’s day. Your act of kindness, big or small, may never be a news headline. But that has no bearing on its value.  God bless and have a great week!

Above the Sun: The beauty of Jesus is rises above the flood

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 9, 2019

            In light of the flooding we have experienced in many of our communities, I couldn’t help but think about how people might have felt in the days of Noah in relation to today.

There is a good chance nobody had ever seen rain before the worldwide flood. Imagine their shock!  In addition, when the flood did happen, it wasn’t only rain that caused it. Genesis 7:11 says “On that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights” (Genesis 7). Yes, rain fell, but just like the swollen banks of the Arkansas River, springs far beneath the surface of the oceans welled up with such force that everything on earth was covered. Even the highest mountains were under at least 23 feet of water!

            The Bible neither proves nor disproves that rain had not fallen up until the time of the flood. Genesis 2:5-6 only says that there were no shrubs when the earth was created because God had not yet sent rain. This was because there was no one to work the ground since man had not yet been created. At some point, there were streams or mists to “water the whole surface of the ground.”  But even after man was created, Genesis 2:10 says it was a river that watered the Garden of Eden. The first recorded rainfall was at the time of the flood.

            Here in Fort Gibson and surrounding towns, we saw some rain, but not nearly the kind of rain it would take to cause the flooding we’ve experienced. To me, the weirdest thing was that even with clear sunny skies around here, rainfall elsewhere caused floodwaters to inundate our area to levels no one ever imagined.

            One of the major differences between the days of Noah versus today is that Noah warned people about the flood for 100 years while he was building the ark. No one listened to his message of righteousness. Only Noah and his family made it out alive, floating their way to safety. The rest of the population perished because their hearts continued to be inclined towards “evil all of the time.”  

Here in our area, the “hundred-year flood” came with much less warning than in the days of Noah. But in the midst of its destruction of homes, property, crops, and business, our community has pulled together like possibly never before. Messages of righteousness are not only being preached, but are being practiced in countless ways. Neighbors, strangers, businesses, paid rescuers, and countless volunteers are all pitching in to help one another during our time of crisis. The heart of Christ is being seen in every selfless act of service and every word of encouragement.

            There are a lot of things we may never understand about the flood and consequences we are dealing with today. But it is definitely one for the record books, both in the amount of property loss, and in the amount of servant-heartedness being shown.  God bless!

Above the Sun: Finding the right church is worth some serious effort

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 2, 2019 (original version, May 27, 2008)

Since Lisa and I are empty nesters, and since her 2007 minivan has over a hundred thousand miles on it, we’ve been thinking about a getting a replacement vehicle of the non-minivan variety. It’s a shopping task that seems pretty easy at first, that is, until you start looking at all the possibilities. Even after weeding out the ones that have bad looking tail lights, there is still a mind-boggling assortment of makes and models to sift through.

The same is true in religion. Google lists 15 different churches in the Fort Gibson area, not counting a half dozen more outside of the area where people attend. But how can this be? I thought the Lord died for his church (Ephesians 5:25), not churches. The church is referred to as the Lord’s body, not bodies. One body with many members (Romans 12:5).

Jesus said in Matthew 16:13-18 that based upon the rock (or fact) that He is the Son of God, He would build His church.

There is a difference between the term church which is the body of Christ as a whole worldwide, versus the term congregation which is a group of church members (or church family) that meets at a specific location. When a group or congregation of the Lord’s church decides it wants to practice their faith or conduct worship in a way that is not consistent with the Bible, that group becomes a denomination of the Lord’s church. They are no longer following God’s word, but their own agenda. Each congregation must make sure it is doing Bible things Bible ways so as to not branch away from God’s will and form man-made denominations.

Paul said, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:3-6).

Neither Jesus nor Paul ever said anything positive about there being many different kinds of churches that teach different messages from the true Gospel. In Galatians 1:6-9 Paul told the Christians there “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 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.”

            Jesus earned the right of our respect and obedience when He came to this earth to suffer, die, and be raised from the dead so that we could have hope of eternal life in heaven.

            Every denomination of the one true church most likely believes that what they are doing in the name of Jesus is right. One thing we can all agree on is this: We owe it to ourselves, our families, our friends, our acquaintances, and most of all to Jesus to go back to the Bible. We must make sure that our beliefs and practices are in line with Jesus Christ and the inspired word He has preserved for us to follow. Then, if we must worship in separate buildings because of tradition, personalities, or convenience, then so be it.

            May God bless us all as we continue to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: The greatest battle was won at the cross

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 26, 2019

            As an American, I am extremely grateful for all those dedicated men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Their bravery and sacrifice make it possible for the rest of us to enjoy the freedoms we have in this country. Freedom of religion is at the top of the list of things we should be thankful for, since the result of it is the only thing that extends beyond this life. It is good and appropriate that we have a special holiday called Memorial Day set aside to honor these exceptionally committed Americans who make our freedoms possible.

            In the book of Daniel 6, we’re told about a time in Babylon when people were only free to pray to king Darius. It was a trap set for Daniel by those who were jealous of his position in the kingdom. They tricked king Darius into signing a law stating that if anyone prayed to any other god or person in the next 30 days, they would be thrown into a den of lions. Daniel had faith in His God, so he continued praying three times a day with his window open as had always done before. Sure enough, he was thrown into the den, and sure enough, God saved him.

Daniel knew God had a plan, not just for that day, but for every day in the future. Jesus was that plan. The prophet wrote about kingdoms that would rise and fall such as the Babylonian Empire, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. But he also wrote about a very different kingdom that God would create, like a rock cut out of a mountain that would become huge, fill the whole earth, and never be destroyed. The kingdom of Christ. That includes the church He died for, and everything Jesus is about.

The reason Christ’s kingdom would last forever is because He defeated sin and death at the cross. As the perfect sacrifice for sin, He gave us a path to heaven. As Christians, the Bible instructs us to remember the death of Jesus each time we partake of the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine (1 Corinthians 11:26). The early church met and “broke bread” on the first day of each week (Acts 20:7). That is also the time they set aside money to help with the mission of the church.

So, as we remember those who have died while in service to our country, let’s also remember that Jesus Christ is at the center of the freedoms we all hold dear. Without Him, these hard fought freedoms would have no value in the long run.

Have a great week!