There is a safe place in life’s storms
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 28, 2010

You may remember the old hymn that says, “Where could I go but to the Lord?” I know it may seem strange, but those words popped into my head the other day after coming out of a School Safety and Health Committee meeting. There I sat with three students, two teachers, and the vice-principal of Fort Gibson Middle School. Our job was to identify potential problems and come up with solutions.
Christians must do the same thing. We must make efforts to identify our spiritual weaknesses, and then look to God’s word for solutions. We often overlook obvious answers to life’s problems, mainly because we get caught up in the very world that created the problems in the first place. It is crazy to think that when the storms of life hit, that we can find comfort in earthly things. Our true safe-haven lies in the One who stilled the storm two-thousand years ago.
In Matthew 8:23-27, we’re told that Jesus and his disciples got into a boat when all of the sudden a storm swept waves over them! It is obvious by the fact that the disciples woke Jesus from his sleep and asked him to save them that they knew where to turn in this moment of trouble. Then, just as they had hoped, Jesus “rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” The thing that strikes me as odd in that passage is that afterwards the disciples were pretty much blown away by what Jesus was able to do for them. So they asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
I’m thinking, “How can they say that after watching Jesus heal throughout Galilee those who were demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, not to mention the fact they had just witnessed his amazing Sermon on the Mount which included the Beattitudes?”
But are we any different today when it comes to our lack of faith? We see the handiwork of God. We experience the love of Jesus through his Holy Spirit and through Christian brothers and sisters. We even have amazing amounts of historical and archeological evidence that prove the Bible can be trusted. It is the same today as it was thousands of years ago.
And even though we know where to turn for help in the storms of life, our faith often grows dim until the next major life crisis, just like the disciples in the first century.
May God grant each of us the desire, strength and confidence to trust in the Lord always, especially when we feel like we have everything under control.

You can’t judge spiritual cleanliness by what’s on the outside
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 21, 2010

One thing I do not enjoy is taking my car to the carwash. But occasionally I do it anyway so it won’t be too much of an eyesore. And if it rains, well, that’s all the better since that means I may be able to stretch a little farther between car washings.
Anyway, the other day I got into my car while thinking to myself, “It’s looking pretty clean today.” But when I drove into the sun I realized my windshield was dirty, not the kind of dirty you can clean-off with wipers, but the kind that builds up on the inside. I actually had to take Windex, a rag, and some major elbow grease to scrub-off the fog-like film that had been slowly building up for quite some time.
My mind immediately turned to what Jesus said in Matthew 23:25-28. He spoke strong words towards the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who were more concerned with their outward appearances than their true inner character. He even called them hypocrites!
Then he said, “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” He said, “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”
He also compared them to “…whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything is unclean.” Jesus told them that even though they appear to be righteous people, they are really full of hypocrisy and wickedness on the inside.
This passage is a great reminder to all Christians. Simply put, it is much more important to apply lasting Christ-like qualities to our inner self than to dwell on outward appearances or on being part of the social elite which are both very temporary.
Just like the inside of my windshield, worldly influences can clutter our spiritual life, even when no one else knows. It is only when God’s Son shines in our heart that we can truly see if we are walking in His light.
There is certainly nothing wrong with making a good outward impression. We should always put our best foot forward. But God knows our heart. He is not fooled by any façade or mask or anything else that may be covering up what is really going on inside the very being He created.

Commitment to marriage starts with God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 14, 2010

We all know of places throughout this country where long marriages are considered a novelty. My parents, Charles and Judy Vanlandingham of Tahlequah, are celebrating their 54th anniversary this month. Funny thing is, even though 54 years together is a great accomplishment, long marriages are not that unique in our area.
Fort Gibson is blessed with many marriages that continue to stand the test of time. Seems just about every week or so, another local couple celebrates a major milestone.
So what is the key to a successful marriage? It’s pretty common to get answers such as “I have just learned to keep my opinion to myself.” Or, “I have just learned to have a lot of patience.”
Those answers may be humorous and often true. But most of the successful marriages I have witnessed give credit to their commitment to God. You see, when we place God at the top of our priority list, everything else falls right into place. This is true for business relationships, social relationships, and is certainly true for marriages.
There is nothing worse than a Christian trying to work for a boss who has no morals. Young Christians often have a hard time fitting in at school if the majority of kids around them are immoral. And a marriage will find out not long after the “I do’s” if the vows were based on God or romance and fun.
That’s why 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” The fact is, light and darkness cannot happen at the same time, just as Jesus who is described as light (John 1:4-9) cannot be darkness, nor can darkness exist in his presence.
A good marriage will flourish in the light, where Jesus is. Good marriages include God as the first and most important partner. This makes sense in light of the fact that God created us and knows us better than anyone.
You may have heard someone ask, “Have you performed your vows today that you took when you got married?” In other words, are you putting more or less effort into your marriage now than when you said, “I do?” But just as important is this question, “Were your wedding vows based on your relationship with God to begin with?” If not, it’s not too late to give your marriage completely over to Him. The first and greatest commandment is a good place to start: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).”
May God bless your marriage as you put your relationship in His hands.

Christ-like teens can make a big difference
September 7, 2010
by Barrett Vanlandingham

I was checking Facebook this week when I noticed a thought-provoking conversation among three local teenagers. One boy wrote, “I don’t feel like going to church tonight.” Another boy responded, “When you don’t feel like going, that’s exactly when you really need to go.” Next, a young lady chimed in with, “Hey, what if God said, ‘Hmm, I don’t feel like letting you walk today?’”
I was greatly encouraged by such mature thoughts from teenagers I have no doubt that the God’s Holy Spirit was guiding both of them to say the right thing.
Have you read the words of David in Psalms 30:11? “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,” (NASB) It has been my experience that when I don’t feel like participating in worship or Bible class, God always blesses me when I choose differently. When we go to God in prayer, He is faithful and will always replace those feelings of discouragement, worry, and even selfishness with feelings of peace, joy, and selflessness. Encouragement from Godly friends always helps.
As for the young lady’s comment? All I have to say to that is “How true!” God really doesn’t owe us anything. But He continues to bless us. Heaven forbid that God should ever have a bad day, and not feel like producing air for us to breathe. Or imagine if God decided to take the weekend off and not tell the sun to rise.
We know from scripture that God is patient. But we also know that on a several occasions, God had all He wanted to take from a rebellious people. Remember the flood? Remember the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? Remember all those times God allowed his chosen people (Israel) to be defeated? In each instance, it was because their hearts had turned away from God’s commands which were designed to help them succeed.
Yes, we all have days that we just don’t feel like being around people. But that fact should cause us to praise our God even more! We have a God who knows exactly what it feels like to be in our shoes, especially shoes that don’t fit.
God is good! Have a praise-filled week!

The secret to overcoming evil is good!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 31, 2010

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9)”
This has to be one of the hardest Biblical commands to obey. After all, why would anyone want to give a blessing to someone who has just insulted them?
As kids have returned to school, this topic has been on my mind a lot lately. As if the daily stresses of life are not difficult enough, being on the receiving end of an insult is not what any of us wants to add to our list of chores whether we’re a kid or an adult.
So, what blessings do you stand to inherit if you choose to bless someone after they treat you badly? For starters, the obvious blessing of learning patience, and learning to love those who are undeserving. I feel pretty fortunate that God continues to bless my life even though I am so undeserving. I could save my pennies for a million years and never be able to earn a single blessing from God. But he blesses me anyway. He blesses us all so richly!
The apostle Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).” That is a pretty clear statement. And in terms of spiritual war, a loving and caring attitude will always win out in the end.
The apostle Peter says to answer everyone with gentleness and respect “…so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Peter 3:16).”
This is one of those areas where we as Christians just have to trust in God’s wisdom. We all know how satisfying it is to feel like we got the best of someone. The only flaw in that way of thinking is that our goal as Christians is to show the love of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
The reward of letting God be the one to take revenge may be that of saving a soul from the fires of hell. After all, what are the chances of saving someone’s soul if we as Christians act out as badly as those we are trying to save? God has always known just what to do to get someone’s attention.
2 Corinthians 10:3 tells us, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” Paul goes on to say that the weapon of the Christian is power from God to demolish the devil’s strongholds.
May you receive the power of goodness this week as you bring the love of Christ to all those in your path.

The Christian life is not as hard as pulling teeth, really!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 24, 2010

My 12-year old son, Britton, and I walked into the dentist office Friday for him to have some teeth pulled. What we didn’t know is that he would be getting NINE teeth pulled that very day. His orthodontist wanted the dentist to pull the rest of Britton’s baby teeth so his big teeth could grow in properly with the help of braces.
It was not easy to sit in the corner and watch my son endure several deadening shots and have nine teeth pulled. But we both knew it would be worth it in the end.
So what does this have to do with the Christian life? Simply put, we must separate ourselves from things that cause us problems spiritually. That is a principle to which every Christian can relate.
One great thing about growing in our relationship with God is that it doesn’t have to be as hard as pulling teeth. You see, I could do nothing to ease Britton’s teeth pulling experience. But in spiritual matters, our challenges are an entirely different story.
We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Eph 2:10). Even better, we can depend on help from God in every difficult circumstance since we are fellow workers with God (1 Cor. 3:9). He always gives us a way of escape for every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).
There are several New Testament passages which tell us the dangers of staying attached to situations that threaten our Christian walk. 1 Cor. 15:53 tells us that “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 tells us it’s not good for Christians to be tied closely to unbelievers.
There are also verses that deal with the consequences of being an unproductive Christian, or a member who poses a threat to the rest of the body. In John 15:1-2, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
That’s why it is important for Christians to do everything we can to encourage every member of the body.
In Britton’s case, a little bit of physical sacrifice now will help him down the road. Spiritually, it’s the same way. There may be some things we need to pull out of our lives now in order to serve Him better and secure a better relationship with our Savior. God bless you.

Doing without can be a blessing
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 17, 2010

The Bible speaks of fasting a lot more than other topics that we as Christians tend to dwell on. I wonder why? Could it be that fasting just simply doesn’t fit our lifestyle in America? This idea of purposely doing without is a thought worth spending some time on.
For me, food is the last thing I want to do without for any length of time. For others, food is not that big of a temptation. However, indulgences such as TV, computer, music, and other forms of entertainment might be more difficult for this generation to do without for very long.
The Bible speaks of people fasting for various reasons. Sometimes, Christians would fast and pray before sending missionaries into the field. Other times, people would fast and put on sackcloth and ashes while in the process of deep mourning.
So, what is the purpose of fasting? Taken in context, it appears that people back in the first century and before fasted in an effort to gain better focus as they communicated with God. It may have also been a way to empathize with someone who was going through a difficult time. In other words, one might feel guilty indulging in a meal when their good friend was going through a crisis.
The only real Biblical direction for fasting comes from Matthew 6:16-18. Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” Jesus is basically telling his disciples to not be dramatic, seeking attention in hopes of people thinking they are extra religious or something for doing without.
There is no reason to think that fasting makes God honor one prayer over another. But certainly the hunger pains of doing without food would be a continual reminder the One who provides us with everything we need. Fasting would certainly cause one to think about all the blessings we have because of the incredible way our Creator has put this universe into existence.
Yes, fasting from food has value. But these days, fasting from other things that make our lives extremely comfortable might be of equal value when it comes to developing our focus and relationship with God.
May God bless us all as we re-evaluate our needs and our wants in an effort to walk closer to our Heavenly Father. (end)

Timing is Everything
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 10, 2010

I once heard a Bible class teacher ask his students, “Who all wants to go to heaven?” Of course, everyone raised their hands. Then he asked, “Who all wants to go right now?” Hilariously, no one raised their hands! Sadly, that’s the way it is for many people.
Last Friday, an afternoon ride on my Kawasaki was about as good as it could get in my book. That is, until it started raining. Then, those little drops of precip suddenly began to feel like marbles hitting my helmet, arms and legs as I cruised down the highway. But considering how badly we’ve been needing rain lately, I wasn’t going to complain. In fact, I came up with a pretty good spiritual application for the situation that was soaking me.
Timing is everything. As I looked at those amazing stormclouds that were forming I couldn’t help but wonder if I would make it back home before the clouds burst. Well, I didn’t. I wanted rain, just not immediately.
We all look forward to meeting God face to face one day and experiencing his reign in heaven. The Bible says we will all kneel before him one day and acknowledge Jesus Christ as his son. That day will come whether we’re ready or not. Ideally, we will all be ready for that day. Tragically, most people will not be ready. Scripture tells us that God is patient and not willing that any should perish. But we also know that eventually judgment day will come. Scripture says that the road to hell is broad (Matthew 7:13), and that most people are on that road simply because they allow themselves to be dragged away and enticed by their own evil desires (James 1:14).
One time I asked a group of teenagers if they would go to heaven today if they could. Some said yes. Others said they would like to eventually after they had the chance to have a few more life experiences such as marriage. Unfortunately, none of us knows when that final day will come. Jesus said so in Matthew 24:36. He said even he doesn’t know when that day will be, and neither do the angels, but only the Father.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, the apostle Paul says, “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
May God bless us all with the desire to watch and pray as that final day approaches, that we may all be ready to hear our Master say, “Well done.”

Summer Commitments Put to the Test
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 3, 2010

Another summer of church camp is over! For some kids, it was a time to re-unite with friends, or let barriers down that often stay up during the school year. Others say it’s a time to get closer to God, or re-commit their lives to following Christ. Inspiring worship, Bible classes, and discussion times are also a big part of the camp experience.
I take my youth group to Burnt Cabin Christian Camp out on Lake Tenkiller. We studied the book of Daniel. We looked at the decisions he and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) made as teenagers that had a profound impact on their lives.
But just how long does that impact last for our teenagers today? That’s always a heavily discussed topic at camp. It seems the biggest fear among teens during camp is the question of how to stay spiritually strong during the school year.
The fact is, teens need and want reinforcement from Christian friends and parents when it comes to battling peer pressure in school. It doesn’t take long at all, sometimes only a week or two, for teens to slip back into their old habits once camp is over. The odds are even worse after school starts.
Satan doesn’t wait for us to get a battle plan together. He doesn’t fight fair. That’s why it’s important for all Christians to approach spiritual warfare as seriously as the devil approaches it.
The devil has been ticked off at God at least since shortly after the fall of man. God’s judgment on Satan is recorded in Genesis 3:14 and following. God tells the devil that he will have a miserable existence and that he will be cursed worse than any of the animals for deceiving Adam and Eve.
So, since Satan lost one battle against God in the Garden of Eden, and then again when Jesus overcame death on the cross, his only hope of hurting God is by tempting mankind. The devil doesn’t care if you’re young, old, or in between. A soul is a soul. And he wants to drag as many as he can to hell with him. Hell is that place God created to punish the devil and his followers.
The highlight of my summer was seeing my daughter, Ashton, put on Christ in baptism. The book of Romans says baptism is what unites us with Christ (Romans 6:1-11). She is now dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
As parents, Lisa and I do our best to teach our children the ways of Jesus, to model the Christian life, and to create opportunities for spiritual growth. As hard as it is to think about, all children must eventually learn to work out their own salvation (Phil. 2:12) in their own time. Parents can’t do it for them. Baptism is the easiest part of the plan of salvation. Living an obedient life to God is the most challenging. May God bless us all as we raise children to “live a life worthy of the calling” we have received (Eph 4:1). And may God bless our children this school year with strength and confidence to stay faithful.

Cast down your bucket where you are!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 27, 2010

Booker T. Washington once gave a speech in which he told the story of a ship’s captain who was desperately trying to save his crew. They were in the Atlantic Ocean just off the northern coast of South America. The captain signaled to another ship’s captain to send drinking water before his crew literally died of thirst. The other captain signaled back, “Cast down your buckets where you are!”
The distressed captain signaled again, but to his dismay, he received the same response. This exchange went back and forth a few more times until the distressed captain finally gave in and ordered his crew, “Cast down the buckets where we are!” Then, low and behold, the crew drew up bucket after bucket of fresh water.
You see, although they were in the Atlantic Ocean, they were anchored at the mouth of the Amazon River. It’s one of the largest rivers in the world. And the flow is so strong that it forces fresh water 200 miles out from the coast where you can still get fresh water. 20-percent of the world’s ocean water comes from the Amazon.
Spiritually speaking, we all have opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life right where we are. Our culture is so program-oriented that many folks think they can’t serve others unless an official service project is announced. Don’t get me wrong. We’re all in favor of planned service projects. But service to others is supposed to be a way of life, not just a special project in which we meet at a certain time to go and do a good deed.
How many times have you heard someone say, “O, I’m not good at anything.” Or, “I just don’t have any talents to share with others.”
The fact is, God created each of us in his own image (Genesis 1:26). Yes, I know it’s hard to imagine how the scoundrel down the road has anything in common with the Creator. But God has blessed us all with the ability to make a difference right where we are.
In fact, the apostle Paul said, 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Just like the fishermen in Luke 5:1-11 who let down their nets, fished all night and came up with no catch, it’s also possible for us to fail. They key to success for us is the same as it was for them. Direction from Jesus Christ. Have a great week!

Ahh Shucks! Another lesson from my garden
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 20, 2010

Both of the small corn patches in my backyard were beginning to look more than a little suspect. So, I went ahead and picked’em, boiled’em, and served’em to my family over the weekend with some peppers, onions, green beans, and some leftover pork.
There weren't many kernels, but at least it was good and sweet, just the way an ear of peaches and cream corn should be. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
All in all, the gardening project wasn’t too embarrassing of an outcome for a group of novices. In fact, I felt that my effort and that of my kids probably reaped about as much as we sowed.
Not that we can ever earn God’s grace, but sometimes it is easy to forget that spiritual rewards do not come without effort.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Anyone who doesn’t think spiritual rewards involve some work on our part hasn’t read Ephesians 6:10-12. “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
That definitely sounds like to me that spiritual warfare is no walk in the park. Of course, Christians can do battle with the devil all day long and still not be deserving of a home in heaven. It is only by God’s grace that we will ever hear words such as these from Matthew 25:21. “ 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Ephesians 2:4 reminds us that God’s grace is what allows us to have a relationship with him through Jesus Christ.
The only question remaining is this: What will you do with the open door God has given you?
Let’s all enjoy God’s richest blessings this week, and remember that he is the giver of all good things. (end)

Bible thoughts from Crape Myrtles
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 13, 2010

My wife’s parents came to visit over the weekend. This is always a good thing because my father-in-law, Harold, is quite a handyman. So, Lisa immediately handed her dad a “things to do” list. One of those items was to save her crape myrtles.
With all of the recent rain, these small flowering decorative trees are struggling to stay upright. There’s just too much water weighing down the delicate limbs and blooms. So, considering the fact that the trees had already been pruned before the blooming started, the solution to our problem was a simple support rope. The bright yellow rope I had on hand would not work because it didn’t match the décor, so my wife told me. So, we found a small spool of thin, brown rope at Keith’s Hardware that was perfect for the task. Harold stretched it from a nearby fence post, around the crape myrtle, and attached it to the other post. This provided enough support for the tree to stay upright.
Christians also need support. We get weighed down by the cares of this world. Even after pruning things out of our lives that aren’t good for us, we still need help staying strong. And just like the yellow rope wasn’t the right match for the crape myrtle project, Christians also need to make sure we’re seeking the right kind of support from the right people.
Yes, there are times when it’s nice to talk to someone who will just sit and listen. But there are other times when we need someone who is spiritually mature enough to give good advice. Sometimes, we seek a sympathetic ear when what we really need is a kick in the pants! A church family should provide support for its members in a strong and loving way.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” We each have a responsibility to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12), but there are times when one part of the body needs assistance from another. If your left foot is hurting, you tend to put more weight on your right foot. It’s the same in the body of Christ, the church family.
Paul says in Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
A good church family provides the kind of Bible instruction and encouragement necessary for its members to grow and bloom to their fullest potential. Then, they are able to reach out to a spiritually sick and dying world.
2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”

The Son can make all things beautiful
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 6, 2010

This is my family’s inaugural year for growing corn. So far, we have yet to pick anything off the stalk. But at least we have stalks to pick from, I think.
We planted two small patches of the corn several weeks ago. The first is on the west side of my house where it’s shady in the morning and late afternoon. The second patch is behind the house where it’s sunny most of the day. It became apparent pretty quickly that the corn planted behind the house grew faster. In fact, it is now twice as tall as the other corn.
I couldn’t resist giving my youth group a tour of my little garden to demonstrate what happens when corn receives a lot of exposure to the sun versus when it doesn’t.
The apostle Paul addressed the issue of spiritual growth in regard to some Christians who thought they were better than others based on who baptized them. Paul said, “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” This passage teaches a couple of important lessons we need to remember:
1) Our job as Christians is to plant seed and water it. The seed may be the actual teaching of the Gospel story of Jesus, or it might be an act of kindness that leads to a teaching opportunity. You might be best at planting seed, while others may be better at watering or nurturing new Christians. As fellow workers with God (1 Cor. 3:9), every Christian has a unique God-given talent to use for the saving of lost souls.
2) In the end, it comes down to the relationship between an individual and God. He is the only one who can turn our efforts to save souls into something truly beautiful and life-changing. None of us on our own can force anyone to apply God’s word to their life as much as we try. All we can do is plant, water and wait for God to do his mighty work through the Son.
The wisest man who ever lived was Solomon. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 he said this about God: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
God is not a respecter of persons. All who draw near to the Son will grow in a relationship with God that will transform their lives forever.
Let God make you beautiful today. (end)


Trust is as easy as falling off a cliff
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 29, 2010

There’s nothing quite like walking off of a 40-feet high cliff backwards, even when multiple safety ropes and harnesses are present.
The rappelling trip I told you I was going on last week was successful, as evidenced by the fact that I am still alive to write about it. In the process, I learned a lot about rappelling, about myself, and even picked up a few great spiritual lessons along the way.
One of my friends, Rob, and his son Anthony were in charge of the trip. Rob made sure the equipment I was wearing was properly fastened. Anthony, a very close friend and former youth group member, was the belayer. That’s the guy who holds on to my back-up rope (belay line). That rope is then was fastened to him and tied to a huge rock. In addition, Anthony had another safety rope attaching him to a tree. He stood on the same ledge I was standing on as I leaned back to start my journey down the face of the cliff. And trust me, 40-feet looks A LOT higher from the top of the cliff than from the bottom.
After waiting nearly four hours in the heat for my turn to rappel, it didn’t take a lot of coaxing for me back down the cliff. Besides, I knew there were bottles of water and sandwiches waiting for me after it was over. But, just as I leaned backwards over the 40-feet of air with nothing at the bottom but rock, Anthony tripped over his safety line and fell flat on his back on the ledge I had just departed from. He quickly jumped to his feet. I must admit, this might have been very disturbing if I hadn’t already known just how many safety back-ups were in place.
Spiritual trust is kind of the same thing. It takes time to trust in God since we cannot see him. Trust only comes after we understand what we’ve been equipped with. We must learn how to use God’s blessings to experience joy in this life as we look forward to the life to come. Our equipment includes prayer and Bible study. And when we make the effort to see how God works successfully in people’s lives every day, we can’t help but grow in trust.
In rappelling, I had to trust that the anchor rock, two trees, the main line, the belay line, my harness, and Anthony’s harness were not all going to break at the same time. Seems easy until you get ready to test it out for real.
In the Christian life, we may start out giving God only a little bit of line to work with. But as we practice our faith everyday and honor God for the amazing things he continues to do, our trust grows. We are safe when we are anchored to the Rock. Besides, at the end of our spiritual journey there will a lot more than sandwiches and bottled water.
On a personal note, I am still afraid of heights. But after this experience, there are many other fears such as public speaking that are no longer near as big of a deal.
May God bless your spiritual walk as you learn to trust him with every part of your life. (end)

Trusting in the Lord is worth the effort
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 22, 2010

As I write this article, I am nervously preparing for a rappelling trip at Robber’s Cave near Wilburton with several other church members. I’ve never been rappelling. The only thing I know about it is that it involves a cliff, a rope, a good amount of trust, and a lot of butterflies in my stomach at this point.
There are a lot of spiritual parallels that could be drawn between rappelling and our trust in God. But since I’ve never been rappelling, I will save that for another day. I will, however, continue this line of thinking on the topic of trust.
I claim to trust in God. But, I will admit that saying it versus doing it are two totally different things. I was talking with my wife just this morning about the fact that I teach Bible classes on the topic of trusting God, even though I know deep inside how difficult it is to live it. In short, trusting God is easy when everything is going your way, and your map through life seems easy to follow. But that can change quickly when you come to life’s crossroads.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
That passage from Proverbs is very well known by those who study a lot of Bible. I hope you will take it to heart. It teaches us a great lesson about trusting God, even when we don’t understand his method in getting things done. It is nice to know that God has the ability to make our paths straight. This doesn’t mean our stairway to heaven won’t be without difficulty. It only means that if we stay the course, and stay faithful along the path, we will ultimately see the face of God and experience eternal life in heaven.
The next couple of verses, Proverbs 3:7-8, are great additions to these thoughts. “7. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
We often lean on our own understanding because we forget just how much God understands. Solomon spent a lifetime searching for wisdom, so he is definitely qualified to remind us of the downfall of considering our wisdom as greater than the Lord’s. Anyone who worries too much would likely give a quick amen to verse 8.
May we all learn to let go of worry, and trust in the Lord. May we all enjoy the daily spiritual refreshment that comes from trusting in Him. (end)

A Happy Father Accepts His God-Given Role
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 15, 2010

In today’s culture, we have all but made man into some sort of neutral human with no unique characteristics or role different from that of a woman. A lot of TV shows these days paint dads out to be the weakest member of the family, a buffoon, with no or very little leadership ability.
This is opposite to what God’s word teaches about man’s role in the family. And since the Bible has remained unchanged for thousands of years, the wise would come to the conclusion that scripture has it right, not Hollywood, not anyone else with a differing view. After all, even those who work in the entertainment industry are quick to poke fun at the rate of marriage failure among their peers. It doesn’t take much brain power to figure out that when man and woman both live by God’s rules, the family unit will stay intact.
God intends for man to be the head of the family, and to provide for his wife and children financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. This order is not a slam towards women by any stretch. It is simply the role of man. I’m not saying that it is wrong for a husband to earn a smaller paycheck than his wife. But he certainly needs to do his share in every way to provide security for his family, and his wife needs to help him with his responsibilities. There are many things a good wife can take responsibility for, just read Proverbs 31 on the wife of noble character. In my household, I consult with my wife and she consults with me on every major decision. We also talk about how our decisions might affect our family spiritually.
In Genesis 1:26 and 2:7 we’re told that God formed man in his own image from the dust of the ground. Later, Adam named the animals that were brought to him. But he found none to be a suitable helper. So God caused Adam to fall asleep. And while he was sleeping, God took one of man’s ribs, made a woman, and brought her to the man. Genesis 3:16 says that the husband will rule over his wife.
It is a delicate balance, but one that can be achieved. You see, while man was incomplete without woman, she was exactly what man needed to make him complete. They are dependent on each other as each one puts God first.
Galatians 5:22 says, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Men in our culture today obviously should not take this as any kind of license for abusive behavior. But instead, real men should strive to love their families like Jesus loved us. This will make it possible for wives to truly submit to their husbands “as to the Lord.” Verse 25 makes the man’s job even clearer. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” This Father’s Day, may God bless every father with the desire to be the kind of dad he was intended to be. (end)

Angels anyone? Spiritual warfare in Fort Gibson is very real
June 1, 2010
by Barrett Vanlandingham

Not many would dispute the fact that God is alive and well in Fort Gibson. He is our only hope, and is very active in our lives today. That statement is true whether anyone agrees. But when it comes to angels, the opinions vary greatly. Some people mistakenly place too much importance on angels which are only created beings not worthy of our worship. Man is only a little lower than them (Hebrews 2:7). However, other people ignore the importance of angels and their impact on our daily lives.
Hebrews 1:14 says they are “…ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” Just in case you’re looking for a little extra motivation in this life to obey the Bible, that would be a good one! People who are living in such a way to inherit eternal life in heaven also have the added benefit of being served by angels in this lifetime.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3 that we are to become like little children. Then in verse 10, Jesus says that the angels of those children always see the face of “my Father in heaven.”
That should be a great source of confidence for Christians. Just think, when we humble ourselves and take on childlike qualities such as purity and innocence, is it so far-fetched to think that we also have angels who help us every day and that are constantly able to see God?
In speaking of the Israelites, Daniel 12:1 refers to the archangel Michael as the “great prince” who protects your people. Michael is also mentioned in Jude 1:9 as disputing with the devil over the body of Moses which God had buried in a secret location. Maybe the devil wanted Moses’ body to be buried in a public grave so that it might become an object of idol worship. Nevertheless, it should be a faith-builder to know that angels are fighting spiritual battles behind the scenes on our behalf.
In 2 Kings 6:8-23, the Arameans were trying to invade Israel’s territory. But they were unsuccessful because the prophet Elisha kept warning the king of Israel about Aram’s strategies. So, the king of Aram sent an army at night to surround the city of Dothan where the prophet Elisha was staying. When morning came, Elisha’s servant was scared of what he saw. But Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” 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.”
The Lord blinded the enemy, sent them in a different direction, fed them, spared their lives, and the Aram army ultimately stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
May we all be ever thankful to God for the angels and others in our lives who support us in our spiritual battles. (end)

The older generation has much to offer
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 25, 2010

Try after try, I failed miserably at starting a campfire for my son and his friend over the weekend. My credibility as an outdoorsman was quickly going up in smoke. I was trying to make good use of a pile of green wood my good friend Curtis brought me a few days ago. I stacked small pieces of green wood on top of shredded paper. On top of that, bigger pieces of green wood. Eventually I found some old wood and piled that on top.
But after using up just about every piece of paper I could find along with one and a half containers of charcoal starter fluid, I realized what I had been doing wrong. In my efforts to impress my son with my campfire making abilities, I had underestimated the importance of stacking the older, cured wood underneath the newer green logs that had just been delivered, not the other way around. I thought that if I used enough shredded paper and charcoal starter fluid, surely the green wood would ignite. But my efforts were to no avail. By the time I got it figured out, I was almost out of paper and fluid.
I couldn’t help but think of how this applies spiritually. Sometimes, we underestimate the importance of the older generation, and how it provides a much needed foundation. Grandparents simply have more wisdom than those younger. This wisdom can be extremely valuable to those seeking to not repeat mistakes of generations past.
This reality is just as important for the older generation to be reminded of as it is for the younger generation to remember. Oftentimes, society gets it all backwards. Just like stacking green wood under the older cured wood doesn’t work very well, neither does trying to make important decisions in life without consulting those who’ve been around for a while.
“They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age... (Psalm 93:13-14)” Job 12:12 says, “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”
I took a break from writing to check on the boys and the campfire. Guess what? The old wood had burned out, but the fire was still very much burning. Why? Because the placement of the cured wood under the green wood gave the campfire just the start it needed to last.
The Bible sees the wisdom in honoring the elderly and placing them in positions of respect. So should we all. (end)

Dancing in the Rain
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 18, 2010

With all of the storms we’ve had lately I couldn’t help but think of something I read the other day. It said, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Think about that one!
I just began my ninth year in full-time youth ministry here in Fort Gibson. During that time, I have met some incredible people who amaze me with the amount of joy they have in their hearts despite difficult physical circumstances. I’ve been able to have close friendships with people who have poor hearing, poor eye-sight, no legs, disabled legs, no arms, partial arms, bad hearts, bad lungs, mental disabilities, no teeth, and no hair! And yet, these individuals continue to inspire people around them because they refuse to be defined by what they do not have.
How in the world can a person put a smile on their face everyday even when it takes ten times as much effort to do normal tasks? The answer is actually not of this world. As I write, tears of gratitude fill my eyes as I think about how God is able to provide each of us with an abundant life in spite of earthly sorrows.
In Philippians 3:20-21, the apostle Paul reminds us to not set our minds on things of this earth. He says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Now there’s something worth looking forward to! No more aches, no more pains. And let’s not forget that Jesus was no stranger to either of those. But in heaven, our bodies will become like Jesus’ body.
The psalmist David exalted the Lord God with these words, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever (Ps. 30:11-12).”
Through the eyes of the world, the storms of life are only something to be endured. But God’s love gives us hope and assurance, and teaches us the joy of embracing life’s trials.
Jesus, the Great Shepherd, said this regarding his sheep, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).”
May God bless you this week as you choose to dance for the One who truly reigns!

Christian image problems can be solved one person at a time
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 11, 2010


A recent survey of people who are outside of Christianity suggests those of us who wear the name Christian have our work cut out for us.

According to a book titled “UnChristian” by the Barna Group’s David Kinnaman, there are six common points of skepticism and objections raised by people outside of Christianity. Kinnaman has interviewed thousands of people to discover trends in religion over the years. But until a couple of years ago he never really wanted to write a book. It was this study that compelled him to share his findings in a book. His title “UnChristian” sums up most of his discoveries regarding outsiders’ opinions of Christians. He uses the term outsider to describe those who are atheist, agnostic, those of a religion other than Christianity, and unchurched adults.

Kinnaman lists their views of Christians as follows while admitting that these criticisms are sometimes meant to “push our buttons.”

1) Hypocritical. Outsiders feel that we Christians say one thing and do another. They are also skeptical of our morally superior attitudes, and feel that Christians think the church is only a place for “virtuous and morally pure people.”

2) Too focused on getting converts. Outsiders wonder if we genuinely care about them. They feel like targets rather than people.

3) Antihomosexual. Outsiders say that Christians are bigoted and show disdain for gays and lesbians.

4) Sheltered. Christians Are thought of as old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. Outsiders say we do not respond to reality in appropriately complex ways, and not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people’s lives.

5) Too political. Overly motivated by a political agenda.

6) Judgmental. Outsiders think of Christians as quick to judge others. They doubt we love others as we say we do.

Another interesting thing that came out of the study was that most outsiders opinions of Christianity is not based on what they see in TV and movies, but instead on personal contact with those of the Christian faith. What makes this fact encouraging is that Christians, not Hollywood, are apparently in control of what non-Christians think of us.

Improving the image of Christians can happen, but not by media coverage or political campaigns, but rather one person at a time. May God bless each of us with even one opportunity this week to show the love of Christ to an outsider. (end)

Knowing Jesus is a two-way street
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 4, 2010

In last week’s article, I still wasn’t sure whether I would take my son, Britton, and his friend Teddy camping over the weekend for his 12th birthday. Well, we decided against it and I’m glad we did because a pretty good rain did in fact come in overnight. So, we went skating in Tahlequah instead.
I sat on a bench against the wall at the skating rink while Britton and Teddy were on the skate floor with about 200 other sweaty little kids. All of the sudden, my two skated over to me, out of breath, laughing their heads off. Teddy said that some girl skated up to Britton and said, “Hey, Courtney wants to know if you want to go out with her?” I thought, “This should be interesting!” Britton responded to her by saying, “I don’t even know who she is!” So, all parties went their separate directions. The little girl had to break the news to Courtney that the boy she didn’t know wouldn’t go out with the girl he didn’t know.
I have now told that story no less than a dozen times since last week, and so as I thought of what message I wanted to bring you this week, of course it was one of my top three choices.
Spiritually speaking, this story will play out on the Final Day many times over. For we all know that the road and gate into heaven is narrow and only a few will find it, while the road and gate into everlasting destruction is wide and many will be on that path (Matt 7:13-14).
Many times we hear people say they know Jesus. But as I’ve stated before, it is more important for Jesus to know us. The Bible points out that the devil and demons know exactly who Jesus is. Scripture also points out that on that final day many will say Lord, Lord, and tell of the deeds they did in Jesus’ name, and He will say, “I never knew you.” (Matt 7:21-23)
But how could that happen? Doesn’t Jesus know everyone? Of course He does in some sense. He knows who the devil is, so I’m reasonably certain he knows the rest of us. I think of it in these terms. The door that we open to follow Jesus is like a door of recognition. When we choose to keep the door open, he knows us and welcomes us into his arms. But when we close the door on him, he cannot see us. We in effect cause Jesus to not recognize us as one of his children anymore. It would be as if he never knew us.
When you’re sins are washed away in baptism, Jesus forgets everything wrong you ever did. It’s as if he never knew of your sin. And not only that, if you continue to walk his righteous path, his blood from the cross continually cleanses you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). For those times you intentionally sin, Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 17:3 to forgive wrongs as a sinner repents. 1 John 1:9 says that Jesus forgives our sins as we confess. Jesus doesn’t remember the sins he has already forgiven, not even one.
Everyone has an appointment to kneel before the Father and praise him (Rom 14:10-12). For some, this will be a celebration like none other. But for most, this will be the worst day ever. For it is then that the sheep and the goats will be parted. The sheep who have followed the Great Shepherd will follow him into that blessed home of eternal paradise. However, the goats that refused to obey his will when they had a chance will be doomed into eternal punishment as they hear, “I never knew you.”