Honoring God can be a noteworthy experience

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 28, 2015

            Britton played a tune on his guitar, and then I picked a song on my mandolin, and so on.  There was no audience really, just cars that passed by the town’s gazebo in the middle of Fort Gibson where we decided to have some father and son time under the guise of a jam session just before sundown last week.  By the way, our little community really does have a beautiful downtown area with its hundred year old brick buildings, old wooden doors, and decorative street lamps, all making it just perfect in the evenings for doing, well, nothing. That’s the best part (although a few more shops or vendors that stay open into the evening might make a nice addition).

            I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I spend my time, especially when I’m away from the office.  Do you ever think about that? Even with all the important goals we have before us to accomplish, life here on earth is temporary. Do we make our time count?

            The apostle Paul tells Christians in Ephesus, “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).”

            As Paul gives us examples of things we can do that do not fall into the unwise category, he suggests we should spend time understanding the Lord’s will instead of spending what little time we have on foolishness.  Next, he makes a play on words by telling us to not get drunk on wine (spirits), but to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and spend time singing, sharing Spirit-approved music with others and to the Lord.

            I suppose Paul could have written countless chapters on examples of things we as Christians should spend more time on. He told the church in Thessalonica to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, do not quench the Spirit, hold to what is good, and reject every kind of evil.”

            The fact is, every good gift comes from the Lord (James 1:17), and Paul says everything we do should be something for which we can thank God.

            Pickin’ n grinnin’ for nobody at the town’s gazebo may not sound like a great way to spend much time, but you couldn’t convince me of that, especially when it involves spending time with my son. It sure beat whatever I was watching on television.   And as mine and Britton’s father-son bond grows closer, I know without a doubt that God blesses our time together when we honor Him with our lives.  I pray you find ways this week to honor God by making your time count.  Have a blessed week!

Children never stop needing spiritual guidance

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 21, 2015

            Graduation season is here, so congratulations to all high school and college graduates. It is a time of life that can either be liberating or terrifying! Sometimes a lot of both!

            My daughter, Ashton, walks the stage at Oklahoma Christian University this Friday with a bachelor’s degree that includes three minors: Spanish, Bible, and Family Studies (a lot of psychology and counseling classes).  What a thrill!!  No more school!!   But this also means it’s time for her to get a job that will pay her bills, and those school loans that come due beginning six months after graduation.  O well, she’s not the first kid to enter the real world.  I know a lot of you more experienced parents are having a good laugh right now at the scenario I have dreamed up in my head.  But hey, you can’t blame a dad for hoping their kid will be financially independent within days after graduation, right?  Yes I know, dream on, dream on.

            Of course, we all want professional and financial success for our children.  But the more important issue at hand for any parent of a soon to be graduate is what kind of plans are in the works for spiritual success in the real world.  If it’s not uncommon for grown children to still need their parents after graduation to help them with finances and advice on handling day to day responsibilities isn’t it possible, if not probable, they might also need their parents for spiritual guidance?  It’s been my experience that the answer is yes!

             Sometimes I wonder what age Solomon is referring to when he gave this advice to parents, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6).”

             We see the word “children” and the word “old”. But what about in between? Parents never stop being parents, and our children never stop being our children. So I tend to think Solomon is not just talking about training our kids up through the teen years.  I think he could very well have meant adult children, too.  This means parents have great responsibility in making sure we continue to teach our children, not just in the things we say, but also in how we live, our relationships with our neighbors, and how we carry on day to day business with integrity.

            May God bless children with the wisdom to listen to the advice and experiences of the older generations, and may God bless the older generations with the wisdom to model righteous living, and give appropriate advice only when needed.  Have a great week!

Pruning sin from your life is worth the effort

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 14, 2015

            I would make a horrible barber!  I decided my Kalanchoe plant that sits by a window in the office lobby needed a trim.  If you’re not familiar with this kind of plant, it has waxy leaves, and bright flowers (mine are red). But if not trimmed, it can grow in the wrong direction, or grow too much in the wrong places, and eventually become unhealthy.

            Jesus told his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:1-2).”

            So, I dug out a pair of scissors and got after this mess of a plant. Unfortunately, I’m not totally sure I didn’t trim too much! Nevertheless, my newly sculpted plant, which now looks more like a couple of stubs sticking out of the dirt, is soaking up sun rays, ready for new growth, without the dead stems and runaway vines attached.

            Jesus continued, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned (John 15:5-6).”

            Early spring is a good time for pruning some plants, but spiritually speaking, the Bible encourages Christians to be constantly on the lookout for unhealthy branches that need to be pruned from our lives.  It’s for the same reason as plants. One website that gives advice on pruning Kalanchoes says it is necessary to prevent the plants from toppling and risking broken branches.

            People can suffer the same consequences as plants if we are not vigilant in taking care of our souls. We can become weighed down with problems, self-inflicted or cast on us by our choice of friends, hobbies or selfishness. We can experience spiritual damage and brokenness. Likewise, we can experience great rewards if we are willing to take sort of a spiritual inventory of our lives, cut-off those branches that cast a shadow on our relationship with God. This will allow us to see the light clearly, and begin to receive nourishment from His word, apply it to our lives, and then just experience the blooms of joy, watching God give the increase.

            The Bible teaches that one way or another, unproductive branches, or those Christians who choose to plant their roots in sin, will not stay connected to Christ the True Vine, in this life or the next. Please pray today that someone special to you will choose to grow in Christ today.  Have a great week!

Spiritual lessons can be found even at a garage sale

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 7, 2015

            This past weekend our missions team unpacked box after box, bag after bag, car trunks, and trailer loads of donations for our garage sale to raise funds for our summer mission trip to Honduras.  It’s the second poorest country in the western hemisphere next to Haiti.

            While my son Britton and I were organizing stuff, I thought to myself each shoe, shirt, pair of pants, and trinket we unpacked actually meant something important to somebody at one time. But as with everything else on earth, time marches on and causes things to become outdated and not needed anymore, at least by the original owner. So it either gets thrown away or passed on to someone else who appreciates its value. 

            This is also a fairly accurate depiction of how we treat God’s word if we’re not careful.  Most people have multiple Bibles in their house. But since not everyone has been taught by a more mature Christian about what’s inside, they may just leave their Bible sitting on a shelf.  They don’t realize just how important God’s word really is when it comes to sorting out the problems and challenges of an average day. 

            Other people grew up reading and even memorizing the Bible (like me). But because they consider themselves, their family, or their upbringing religious, they don’t really feel an urgency to work at staying armed for spiritual battle. They become lax in their daily Bible study. Their faith dwindles. That is a pretty good description of me at various times in my life. It’s easy to be slowly lulled into a state of false confidence, underestimating the value of actively growing your faith.  Then, just like those outdated items that hang on a hanger, sit in a drawer, a shelf, or in a closet, attic, or basement collecting dust, God’s word in our life can also become hard to detect if a Bible is not opened, read, allowed to increase our faith, practiced, and shared with others.

            Paul said a lot in his letter to the Roman church that today’s Christians would do well to heed.  “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16a).”

            “Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ (Romans 10:17).”

            There are countless lessons we can learn from garage sales such as knowing which things in our lives we need to get rid of, and how to simplify our schedules so we have more time for God. May the Lord bless you with the strong desire to apply God’s word to your daily walk. Our world needs it now more than ever.  Have a great week!

Good spiritual health requires effort

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 31, 2015

               I have many friends who are working to get their bodies into better shape. I love reading their online posts and visiting with friends who are choosing better eating habits and sensible exercise plans. It helps motivate me.  Even though I’m pretty sure it’s not in my body’s best interest to train for a half-marathon, there are a few things I could be doing just to feel better and increase my energy level.

            In matters of faith, the same thing applies. We could all stand to be in better shape, spiritually.  But there are no miracle cures. Even spiritual growth involves goals, effort, commitment, and accountability.  It’s like the old saying, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

            Lisa and I still laugh about a bottle of shellfish pills I ordered 20 years ago from a late night infomercial that would supposedly prevent fat from being absorbed into my system. The selling point was that you could eat whatever you want, and there wouldn’t be any negative consequences. The miracle pill didn’t work. All it did was make me sick to my stomach.

            I can think of several friends who motivate me to put effort into my spiritual growth. My first Bible professor at Oklahoma Christian University, Dr. Howard Norton, once mentioned some of the benefits he receives from his yearly reading of the Bible. I have always been grateful Dr. Norton shared that because I just figured he was naturally a spiritual giant.  Also, my friend Glen told me the other day about some of the benefits he has received over the years from being part of Bible study groups. I was impressed by that because Glen is a businessman who is constantly busy, but he finds time outside of normal Sunday and Wednesday worship times to grow his faith. Also, there are some ladies at my church who formed a group a couple of years ago they call GROW (God Renewing Our Women). They meet each Thursday for Bible study and practical life application. 

            You may remember the old saying, “You only get out of it what you’re willing to put into it.”  How true! People who are in good spiritual shape don’t get there by accident. They work at it.  Otherwise, they would face the same consequences everyone else does who ignore the Bible’s instructions on obtaining good spiritual health. For Christians, our physical goals must be tied to our spiritual goals. We must ask ourselves, “How will this decision impact me or others spiritually?”

            Now at 250, I’ve lost 10 pounds this month by watching my portion sizes, limiting fat and sugar intake, walking a mile a day, light exercise, and trying not to eat past 6:30. My goal is to make sure my physical health doesn’t limit my spiritual health and opportunities to impact my family and others for Christ.  If this sounds like a goal you’re interested in achieving, let’s pray for each other!    Have a great week!

It is good to stay in touch with God’s word

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 24, 2015

            “ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book (Revelation 22:18-19).”

            I must admit when I re-read those words from the book of Revelation a few days ago, they did not set well with me.  I found that strange but I was not sure why. What was most disturbing were not the words themselves, but rather the fact that I had an uncomfortable reaction when I read them.

            Oddly enough, I had been doing research on some possible themes and topics for summer camp, and it was that passage from Revelation 22:18-19 that I came to first. It was part of a series of lessons under a theme I ran across titled “Revive.”  The lesson, which I had actually written ten years earlier, taught the importance of reviving the integrity of how we treat scripture. In other words, are we willing to let the Bible speak for itself, or only follow until that point at which we disagree?  You know what I mean?

            For whatever reason, I probably had not read, or at least given much thought to, those verses in years. What bothered me was that in such a relatively short amount of time, even a minister who studies and teaches several times a week can allow himself to be swayed by cultural norms. How could I dip my toe even a little into the societal mindset that says, “I want to do what I want to do!”  Or maybe that wasn’t it at all.  Maybe what bothered me is that I’ve heard those verses so many times spoken in the negative tone of “I am right and you’re wrong!” instead of in a spirit of love.

            Whatever the reason for my cringing reaction, I decided it must be worth further study, especially if it means getting back to the very simple principle of letting God be God, letting God do the instructing, and letting me do the following, especially since I am not the one with the answers. The fact is, God loves us very much. So, when He says something, especially when it comes in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, maybe God is simply trying to leave us with the most important words we need to remember, which happen to also be the words we too easily forget.

            The apostle Paul planted many congregations of the Lord’s church and spent a lot of time reminding them to stay revived, renewed, and not to go back to their former way of life.  Paul told the church in Rome, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).”

            Yes, the Bible often says things in a very straightforward manner that is not politically correct in our culture today (and not back then either). But since our souls are at stake, would we really want God’s instructions to be any other way?  Have a great week!

God grants peace in the midst of trials

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 17, 2015

            Funny how problems that weren’t even on your radar when you woke up that day, suddenly become priorities. That’s the kind of day I had last Monday. First, I realized my driver’s license expired about a week and a half before!   Next, my oldest daughter called from college telling me her car needs over $2000 in repairs on a vehicle that is only worth about $4000.  To top it all off, I got a sore throat and chest congestion.  If that weren’t enough for me, several of my church family members have been struggling with their health this week in ways that make my problems look like nothing! Please take a minute and pray for them since I know a lot of you are prayer warriors.  I am pausing to pray for you & your loved ones, too.

            In John 16, Jesus basically tells his disciples that if they thought things were tough so far, just wait.  Things were about to get a lot worse as far as being persecuted for teaching about Christ and living in obedience to Him.  But he goes on to say that those who love Him are loved by the Father. I will come back to that magnificent statement in a minute.

            Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33, ESV).”

            The lesson we are to take from this statement is simple and of greatest encouragement.  The fact is, we have not lived in the Garden of Eden for quite some time now, so we can know with certainty bad stuff is going to happen in this life. Jesus reassures his disciples by saying He has overcome the world, meaning this: If Jesus can do it, so can those who choose to trust and obey His will for us. There is no one who can do a better job helping us in our spiritual battles than Jesus!

            Jesus’ comment in verse 33 is preceded by a statement in verse 27 that I think should fill us with even more confidence.  “...the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God (John 16:27).”

            There are no other words Jesus could have spoken to bring more peace to today’s obedient Christians than those. The fact that “the Father himself loves you” does not mean there will not be problems in this life, but it does mean that the Creator himself makes all things beautiful in its time (ref: Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Have a great week!

Following the One who paid it all comes at a price

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 10, 2015

            I went to Harp’s grocery store in Fort Gibson to buy two gallons of milk last week just in case the weatherman was right.  But as usual, I came out with a cart full of much more, including bottled water, grape juice, meat, cereal, cream of mushroom, cream of celery, corn, green beans, bread, eggs, an onion, a few other things, and yes, two gallons of milk.  I think the price was $73.  The funny thing is, I wasn’t even hungry!  I was just trying to be prepared.

            Wow, it costs a lot to be prepared!  It’s no different in the Christian life. One of the biggest frustrations in ministry comes when the parent of an older teenager expresses worry and concern about their child who doesn’t want to make time for worship, Bible reading, prayer, or even practice Christianity.  Believe me, I sympathize and empathize when it comes to these types of parenting issues. Preparing our children for spiritual battle takes sacrifice.

             For the minister, the frustration is not just about what’s going on now, it is about how that family got to this point in the first place, by rarely filling their child’s spiritual grocery cart with even the essentials of Christian commitment, much less the extra things just to be prepared. In hindsight, most parents wish they had gone ahead and paid the $73 (so to speak) and more.

            God’s word encourages Christian parents to guide their children to practice Christianity and to model the life of Christ among their friends and classmates. This also prepares them for life as a productive Christian when they grow up.  But parents often fall victim to peer pressure just like kids do, gauging success by worldly standards. Next thing you know, the parent’s desire to prepare their child for a life of popularity, or life as a sports star, entertainer, musician, brainiac or whatever, outweighs their desire to prepare them for a life of service to the Lord. 

            As a result, parents sink more and more attention into their child’s extracurricular activities, while dropping the ball almost entirely when it comes to youth group, church-related activities, setting a good example for their children. The outcome is less than desirable. That’s when parents finally wakes up and do one of two things: 1) give up because they know they messed up and are too embarrassed or prideful to ask for help from a minister or other Christian friend, or 2) tells the minister about their problem, hoping they can fix it.

            Yes, many things can be done to remedy what has resulted from misguided parenting decisions. But we really do reap what we sow (ref: Galatians 6:7).  Even if the child’s spiritual walk is straightened out to the point they can keep in step with the Spirit (ref: Ephesians 5:25), the child still missed out on many blessings that were forfeited in the name of chasing worldly success.  You may have even experienced something similar as an adult.

            Preparing our children to model Christianity comes at a price that cannot be put off until later.  It costs more than just lip service or even posting Bible verses on social media. It may mean the child’s teammates have to do without them if events routinely interfere with worship times.

            God bless you Christians and those considering a walk with Christ, the One who truly paid it all.  Have a great week!

You can understand more about God than you might think

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 3, 2015

            I couldn’t help but laugh last week as the Tuesday paper came out while our brief but respectable snowfall covered the ground and even resulted in school cancellations. What timing! In the back of my mind, I felt there was a chance it would snow that day because of the forecast, especially if I wrote about the fact that predicting snowfall is easier than predicting Judgment Day. Bottom line, none of us knew for sure it would snow in our exact area. If I would have known, the tone of my article would have been much different. 

            I am pretty confident God really does enjoy playing with us sometimes just to give us something to smile about. I actually take comfort in that. I think God tries to communicate with us more than we give Him credit for. I just think most times we don’t listen or notice, because if we did listen and notice, I think we could make more sense out of those times when things either do or do not go our way, keeping in mind that free will also plays a big role in outcomes.

            All of the writers of the Bible were inspired by God in the stories and commands they put on paper (Galatians 1:11-12, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Tim. 3:16). Even Jesus said the words He spoke were not His own but came from the Father (John 14:10).  And although the writings of the Bible have been complete for about two-thousand years (Jude 1:3), God does continue to let His will and presence be known. He doesn’t do this through revealing new ideas (Galatians 1:8) that run counter to the Bible as some have insisted.  But rather, God continues to operate in the same consistent way.  “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).”

            I am always encouraged to read about archaeologists’ discoveries that confirm geographical locations, and names and titles mentioned in the Bible. I am always amazed when a new scientific discovery proves once again that God’s description of things in nature, space, and the creation story of Genesis are just as the Bible says, instead of being proven wrong by whatever the latest theory people seem to be chasing.

            It really is nice to take comfort and confidence in knowing that science of any kind never has and never will overturn the truths written in God’s word.  Even in 1947 when hundreds of handwritten copies of Old Testament books and other Jewish writings together known as the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in caves, nothing disputed the Bible.  The manuscripts date back to 200 years before the time of Christ.  That’s a thousand years older than the 800 A.D. copies of the Old Testament that were previously the oldest to be discovered.

            If we will pay attention to the written word as well as His creation, we can learn a lot about God, His will for us, and yes, even a little about His sense of humor.  By the way, before I could finish writing this Friday afternoon, it started snowing again!  Smile and have a blessed week!

Predicting the final day is harder than predicting the weather

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 24, 2015

            As I look at my watch while writing this, I am wondering if the weather is going to hold out as I take a busload of teenagers to a weekend youth rally in Russellville, Arkansas in about three hours.  I’m thinking, “The forecast looks a little messy, but overall promising.” Bottom line? I just don’t know.

            I hear people talking a lot these days about whether we going to have any real accumulation of snow this winter?  We already know the groundhog saw its shadow, which means six more weeks of winter.  But where is it? A few flakes here and there, and just enough ice on the roads to cancel school for a day is all we can get.  Seems like all the signs are there, but nothing significant is happening, at least around here (at the time I am writing this).

            Spiritually speaking, people do the same thing. We don’t have Doppler radar to predict the coming of Judgment Day. But that doesn’t stop people from looking for signs that the end is near. Over the years, people have tried to predict dates and times of the end. They were wrong.  People have even mistakenly tried to make a connection between a description in a Bible verse and similar events that may be happening today, but to no avail.

            The apostle Paul told his much younger brother in the faith, Timothy, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days (2 Tim. 3:1).”  He went on to describe people in the “last days” in terms of being unholy, slanderous, without self-control, and so on. It may shock you to know he was not even describing people of the world, since non God followers have always been viewed in this way. Paul was actually describing Christians! 

            The term “last days” was one that was used by people in Old Testament times to describe the Messianic Age, the time after the coming of Christ into the world (Lipscomb/Shepherd Commentary, Gospel Advocate Co., 1983, p. 226). In other words, the last days have been taking place from the time of Jesus’ ministry, and will continue all the way up until Judgment Day. So, it is correct to say that we are living in the “last days,” and have been for about two-thousand years. Think about it. There have been “wars and rumors of wars (ref: Mark 13:5-8),” and “nation rising up against nation” for thousands of years, and Jesus says, “Do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come,” and “These are the beginning of birth pains.”   Since that’s the case, is there any way to know when the end will come? 

            Jesus says, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come (Mark 13:32-33).”

            On a practical level, we need to be prepared to meet Jesus face to face everyday. You see, whether we die before He returns, or are still alive when we hear the trumpet sound and see Him on the clouds, one thing is for sure: the end will come and we must be ready.  Have a blessed week!

God’s grace extends farther than you might think

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 17, 2015

            Over the years, I have had people tell me they have done just too many bad things in their lifetime for God to save them.  Sometimes, this leads to a bad attitude, hopelessness, or sometimes it leads to embracing the idea that there is no such thing as God.  That way, there’s no accountability and no reason to even try to change for the better.  Either way is a sad existence, and not necessary.

            In Matthew 20 Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard.  In summary, the landowner paid each of the five groups of workers a full day’s wages, even though some of them began their shift early morning, some at 9am, some at noon, some at 3pm, and some at 5pm. But when the shift was over at 6pm and the landowner paid everyone the same amount, those who had been working since 9am “began to grumble against the landowner.”  His response, “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”

            The outcome is encouraging, especially for those who feel too much time has gone by or too much water has gone under the bridge for them to be saved.  It is never too late for anyone to come to Christ.  Jesus wants all to come to Him, from little children to the elderly, and everyone in between.  

            There is nothing I’ve read in the Bible that indicates we will be required on Judgment Day to pull out our time sheet and prove how many hours, days, weeks, months, and years we have spent in service to the Master.  Of course, it is never a clever strategy to bank on a sincere deathbed confession since none of us really knows how or when we will cross over from this life to the afterlife.  But this parable makes it clear that those who have not put in even an hour’s work in service to God can be rewarded in the same way as those who have served the Lord their entire life.

            The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  This includes Christians and non-Christians alike.  The fact is we are all sinners, even those who have spent every day of their life trying to do what’s right. One thing is for sure, we all need a Savior.

            “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).”

            No, we will not be required to score high on a list of service points, but we do want to make sure we stand before the Master one day clothed in His Son. That is one requirement we do not want to be too late in fulfilling. Why not accept God’s grace by obeying His will for your life today?  Have a great week!

Don’t let the devil steal your spiritual growth

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 10, 2015

            As I was reading the parable of the sower this week, the very first scenario Jesus spoke of really caught my attention.  “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up (Matthew 13:3-4).”

            In verse 19 Jesus explains it this way, “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”

            If we as Christians are doing our job, at least the people we have contact with should know about the story of Jesus and how we can have hope because of Him (John 3:16).  The problem comes when that person chooses to do nothing with the seed that was given to them, or when a person doesn’t understand how to apply what was given to them. If the seed is not allowed to take root, the devil will steal it at the first opportunity.

            When my son was a toddler, he often managed to say or do something in public that would be embarrassing to his parents if anyone was paying attention.  I am guessing most parents could tell a similar story.  I would sweat bullets while praying no one noticed what he just said or did. Some of my friends and family told me that was payback!

            This reminds me in some strange way about how the devil must feel when a Christian parent tries to teach their child an important lesson, or when a Christian neighbor tries to reach out to a guy down the street.  In both cases, satan is sweating bullets in hopes the good advice never sinks in, or even better, that the intended target was not paying attention, or didn’t understand how to apply what you were trying to tell them.  At that point, the evil one gets a second chance to sow a clever distraction in hopes the Christian neighbor will get discouraged or forget to follow-up on the good message originally sown into either a hard heart, or into a heart that just didn’t understand.

            Even for mature Christians, it is important to keep studying and making an effort to understand God’s word on a deeper level. Why?  Because even Bible teachers and other Christians can have bad experiences and disappointments that result in hardened hearts.  A once vibrant spiritual journey can look more like a coasting or even a stagnant existence.  A mature Christian may even continue to teach and have knowledge of God’s word, but they’ve allowed their life experiences to steal their joy and their passion for Christ and serving others.  That’s when the devil rushes in to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). That’s when the devil tries to get a foothold (Ephesians 4:27) on your heart.

            Without prayerful and regular Bible study, we may miss out on some of life’s richest blessings because of not understanding how to apply knowledge we’ve received.  May God bless you with the desire to know and understand more of God’s will, and the confidence to apply it in your life.  Have a great week!

The Bible challenges today’s Christian teachers

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 3, 2015

            In last week’s article, I wrote about an often overlooked scripture (Ephesians 3:10-11) in which Paul tells Christians that part of our job as members of the Lord’s church is to teach the angels about the wisdom of God.  

            I must admit it’s more than a little intimidating to think angels are learning about God from us!  But when you think about it, those Bible verses should not affect us that way. After all, the reason Jesus Himself came to earth was not only to save us through His sacrifice, but also to walk in our shoes, and be tempted in the ways we are tempted, and to be faced with the daily struggles of humanity.  God not only allowed humans to educate His Son here on earth, but He allows His church to educate angels to this very day.

            As interesting of an idea teaching angels is, there really is something else much more important for Christians to remember when it comes to teaching.  In the book of James, the writer tells us, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).”

            New Testament letters such as this one penned by James are known as epistles.  These letters were written to address problems in the first century church, or to answer questions from new Christians.  James is not trying to discourage people from teaching if that is their gift.  He is simply reminding those who want the position of a teacher to remember that their words must not only reflect God’s truth, but teachers must also put these truths into action in their own lives. 

            Based on other New Testament writings such as Paul’s, it appears that the early church had the same problem we have today.  Many people want to air their feelings on religious issues in the role of teacher.  But those same people are not always willing or successful at putting into action the things they are teaching.  James weaves the requirement of the faith and deeds combination throughout his letter.  What a challenge this is to me!  Perhaps it is to you as well.

            The fact is, when we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, part of our job description involves teaching others the complete will of God (ref: Matthew 28:19-20).  Each of us teaches in some capacity.  We do not all hold the official title of teacher.  But those to whom we are closest, and others with whom we interact, and even people who know we are Christians and watch us from a distance, are learning from our words and our actions.   May God bless each of us with the desire to live out His will everyday, wherever we are, as people learn from what we do, and not just what we say.  Have a great week!

Even angels learn from the church

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 27, 2015

            Most conversations regarding church attendance find their way to the book of Hebrews which says, “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25).”

            We understand the importance of coming together as worshippers to praise God and remember the sacrifice of His Son.  But there is another passage that may give you something new to consider when deciding just how much importance to place on His church.  We already know that Jesus died for the church to make it possible for sinners to be cleansed and give hope of heaven to a lost world.  But if you’re like me, you may have overlooked what Paul says God’s intentions for the church are in relation to the angels, yes angels!

            “10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3:10-11).”

            The Creator Himself wants the church to educate angels on the many aspects of the wisdom of God?  So, what in the world could angels need to know from Christians that they don’t already know by simply being in God’s presence?  For starters, angels do not have to have faith that God and heaven are real, since they already dwell in His presence (ref: Matt. 18:10).

            Can you imagine what angels must be thinking when they witness some of the things that are unique to humans, especially those baptized believers that God has added to His church (Acts 2:41, 47), those who were lost and are now found?  Something tells me there’s not a lot of brokenness in God’s presence, no guilt-ridden, remorseful hearts confessing their faults to one another and praying for each other to receive spiritual healing (ref: James 5:16).  Those are things that only happen on earth, among those who have put their trust in God, those who worship Him with all their heart having never seen Him face to face.  Those are things that must be pretty mind-blowing to angelic beings.

            Maybe that’s why Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10).”

            What a thrill that God actually allows Christians to take part in teaching angels things they couldn’t understand without observing the behavior of those in the Lord’s church.  We as Christians are honored that God allows us to participate in not only making a difference here on earth, but also among the angels as we honor God when we come together for worship, and as we honor Him in our daily lives in the way we interact with others.  Besides, do any of us really want to explain to God why we didn't participate in His plan for the church to teach angels?

            Have a blessed week!

God wants to see you in heaven

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 20, 2015

            One of my favorite scriptures comes from John 14:1-4.  In this passage Jesus is comforting his disciples because His time here on earth is coming to a close. 

            “1. Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2.  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4. And you know the way to where I am going.”

            Wow!  It is hard for me to imagine actually needing to be comforted after spending three years preaching and doing miracles alongside Jesus Himself!  But His disciples did not exactly have the same perspective we do today.  Jewish teachers had taught people for generations that when the Messiah came, He would be an earthly king and would set up an earthly kingdom to benefit the Jews.  It is no wonder the disciples were confused that even though Jesus performed many miracles, His main interests were focused on a things beyond this earth.

            We are truly blessed to live in this day and time where we can learn about Jesus in a much broader context than the early disciples learned.  You see, when Jesus’ disciples and the earliest Christians were trying to get things figured out, they did not have the benefit of being able to go onto the internet and Google evidence of how to know the Bible is telling the truth.  Those early believers probably didn’t realize some of them would eventually be writing the books of the Bible by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That must have been an amazing experience!

            Today, we not only have access to dozens of translations of the Bible, but almost unlimited resources including ancient history books from outside of the Bible that talk about Jesus.  Some of the authors were followers, some were not.  But they both confirmed His existence.  Beyond that, evidence of our universe being created by God and that the Bible is reliable has piled up like never before in just our lifetime.  The same science and technology that so many have tried to use to discredit God as Creator, have actually unearthed, revealed, scoped out, and focused in on so much evidence favoring the credibility of the Bible, that it would actually take more faith NOT TO believe in God and the Bible, than TO believe in Him.

            In the Bible, God has given us a roadmap to heaven.  So when I read those precious words of Jesus telling me that He has gone to prepare a place for me, I get really excited!  I know many of you do, too.  I look forward to reuniting with so many loved ones who’ve gone there.  But most of all, I look forward to meeting Jesus Christ, the One who made it all possible.  Have a great week!

A good feast is difficult to turn down

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 13, 2015

            One bird, then no birds, then 14 birds.  How amazing it is to watch a scouting bird perch on the bird feeder under my pergola, get a few bites, and fly away.  At first, I thought the bird did not like what I had to offer.  But then, it brought several friends to join in the feast! Finches and Chickadees, all there for a few quick beak-fulls of birdseed. Some appeared to wait their turn, while others would dive-bomb their way into an open spot.

            Why did the other birds follow the first one back to the bird feeder?  It is the same reason many people attend church services for the first time.  It has to do with the attitude and message of the Christians who already attend.  If the existing church members have a positive message and a great attitude when they go back to work or school or wherever they encounter the most people, then it’s only natural their friends, classmates, or co-workers are curious.  That curiosity is an open door to invite them to worship or another church-related activity.

            On the other hand, when people know you attend church, but they see your bad attitude on the job, at school, at sporting events, or maybe at restaurants while a server is taking your order, then it is not likely they would want to follow you back to church on Sunday.  It is important for Christians to lead holy lives everywhere. That doesn’t mean snooty or “holier than thou” lives.  It simply means to be set apart from the world for service to God. Having a good all around attitude which includes having a servant-heart towards others is a HUGE part of serving God. A holy life is evident when Christ’s love is present in your thoughts, speech, and conduct.

            Jesus took the whole “greatest commandment” thing of loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself to another level when He said,             “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35).”  How could anyone resist love like that?

            So next time you see a bird flying somewhere with other birds following, just remember it is because the lead bird not only has a message worth listening to, but also has an attitude that has been changed by the feast it has eaten.  The other birds naturally want to follow. The same is true for people.  The question is, has your attitude been changed by what you’ve been feasting on spiritually?  Or is your message just words only, with no evidence of spiritual nutrition in your life?  May we all strive to give and live a message of love, peace, and joy that can be clearly seen by others.  

Jesus can make your New Year beautiful

by Barrett Vanlandingham

     Most of us have experienced things that didn’t go our way in 2014. Unfortunately, disappointments are just part of life on earth. But that doesn’t mean your life can’t improve.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 these very encouraging words, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Sadly, most people overlook the joy that can be found in Christ. They look to the world instead of God’s word for answers to their questions about love and contentment. Even Christians sometimes get caught up in looking for fulfillment in every direction except the one that counts.

How sad it is to see parents pushing their children to be involved in everything except church activities. How sad it is to see fathers and mothers putting great amounts of effort into gaining social status and achieving worldly goals at the expense of spending time teaching and modeling Christlike values to their children and to each other. How sad it is when people go to ministers, and beg them to try to fix a family problem that could have been avoided in the first place if Godly priorities had been in place all along.

How sad it is to see families try to deal with loss or other problems without the Lord.

God wants us to do our best with our talents and abilities. How exciting it is when a professional athlete or actor models the Christian life even when no one around them supports Godly values. God wants us to make a difference for His kingdom.

This way, when tragedy or disappointment happens, our house will not crumble because it is built on the foundation of our Rock and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

In this life we will all face trouble whether we do it with the support of Christ and His church, or without.

God bless you and have a Happy New Year!

Snowman Christians can be a little cold

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 23, 2014

            It won’t be long now before we start seeing snowmen popping up here and there.  The other day I actually tried to look up the origins of the snowman, and even though I found some interesting stories, no one seems to know the origins of our wintery friends. 

            If snowmen could talk, we probably still wouldn’t know much about them because of how they appear on the scene, and then leave before we know it.  Church members can be a little like snowmen at times, especially those who rush in to church at the last minute and then leave before anyone can have any meaningful interaction.  They look great for a short amount of time and then disappear as if they are afraid they will melt if they stay too long. 

            Every congregation has snowman Christians, and probably most of us have been guilty of being one at some point.  Our rush-rush-rush culture we have created is responsible for much of the problem of keeping others at arm’s length and even distrust that has found its way into just about every part of our lives, yes even the church.

            If I were going into a battle I would want to know as much as I could about those who are assigned to cover my back, just as they would feel more confident if they knew me better.  Spiritually, it’s the same way.  The Bible makes a parallel between living the Christian life and fighting a battle.  In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 and Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul talks about spiritual war.  In Hebrews 6:25 the writer talks about the encouragement we should receive from each other when we meet together as Christians.  In the first century, the early church experienced a lot of persecution.  It’s no wonder why those Christians met together daily (Acts 2:46), and it’s no wonder why “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47) 

            If you feel more encouragement away from your Christian family than with, that is a problem that needs to be fixed. The good news is you can do something about it. Start by simply treating others the way you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), not just people your age.  In fact, Barna Group research shows meaningful relationships in the church have a profound impact on whether someone stays in the church.  

            No one feels comfortable being on a team with someone who puts in the least amount of time possible, just enough time to dress up, show up, go through the motions for a short time, and say they’re on the team.  That’s what a snowman Christian does, and then he disappears until the conditions are perfect for him to appear for another short visit.  I think most Christians undervalue their presence and interaction among their church family.  In our culture, it’s easy to forget that spending time with your church family is not just about you.  It’s about demonstrating love for God and for others.

            So, even though being frigid, well-dressed, and predictably seasonal are great qualities in a snowman, it’s not really a good thing in a Christian family.  Have a blessed week and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Lights Are Beautiful Reminders

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 16, 2014

            Here in Oklahoma’s oldest town, we have a lot to be thankful for.  I can’t help but be reminded of the blessings of life when I drive through downtown and see the beautiful Christmas lights donning our tree (one of the state’s tallest), and the twinkling lights decorating the light poles near the gazebo.  Many of our neighborhoods throughout Fort Gibson do an amazing job at bringing in the holiday season with Christmas scenes for all to enjoy.  What a blessing!

            So what do you think about when you see all those colorful blinking lights of all shapes and sizes strung on rooftops, windows, curbs, and trees?  I guess one could mention stress and shopping deadlines.  But for me, I think I’ll stick to time with family, joy, laughter, good things to eat, holiday music, and caroling.  I would like to add one more thing for Christians to consider, though.

            Jesus said it best.  “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  (Matt 5:14-16, NIV)

            A decorated Christmas tree (or house or yard) is much more than something pretty to appreciate in the month of December.  It is a beautiful reminder that if a simple tree donning colorful blinking and twinkling bulbs can help change the attitude of an entire nation for one month, imagine how much of a difference Christians could make if we let our light shine all year long.  What if we let Jesus shine through us in our homes, schools, jobs, sporting events, vacation, hobbies, in our choices of recreation and entertainment?

            I think Christians sometimes undervalue what it means to be a Christian, and the opportunities we have to make a difference that matters.  In the day to day grind of life, it is easy to get wrapped up in perspectives on life that are completely opposite of how Jesus wants us to live.  2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”

             That amazing life now and in the life to come is the result of God's grace offering a plan of salvation for us to obey.  It calls for

1) believing that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God (John 8:24),

2) living a life of repentance or exchanging worldly living for a walk with God (Luke 13:3),

3) confessing with your mouth and actions that Jesus is Lord (Matthew 10:32-33),

4) being baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:26-27, Romans 6:1-11).

            Christians, I have three words to remind you of: You are SAVED.  The blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross made sure of it.  All I can say to that is... WOW.  We have a gift and a message to share and to shine that is unlike any other.  So, shine on and have a blessed week!

Jesus is amazing for so many reasons!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 9, 2014

            One of the most incredible things about Jesus’ life and death is that he knew when he was going to die, he knew how he was going to die, he knew that some of his closest friends were going to turn their backs on him, and yet he followed through with his plan to save us anyway.

            The reason Jesus knew those things is because: 

1) He was the Son of God, and He was simply capable of knowing those things.  

2)  Jesus was a well-studied Jewish Rabbi who knew well the words of the Old Testament where the prophecies were written.

            You may remember that on multiple occasions, Jesus found himself outnumbered by hostile crowds who wanted to kill him because they did not believe Jesus’ claim that he was the son of God (Luke 4:28-30, John 8:59, and John 10: 31-39).  But because his time to die had not yet come, he escaped their grasp each time.  And even if it were his time to die, it would be by crucifixion, not by stoning or being shoved off a cliff like the crowds were trying to do in the above scripture references.

            The son of God knew exactly how everything would happen because he was the Christ. And even the human Rabbi part of him understood the things that had been written about him as much as a thousand years before he arrived on earth in human form.

            The Old Testament prophecies are very impressive, and are great evidence that Jesus was who he said he was.  Nearly all of these prophecies were things that Jesus would have had absolutely NO control over whatsoever IF he were not the Son of God.  In fact, out of dozens of prophecies about Jesus, even if he were able to fulfill only eight of them, that translates to a 1 out of 10 to the 28th power of a chance that the prophecies could be true… unless Jesus was the Son of God.  That is a 1 with 28 zeros! 

            We know from prophecy that Jesus would be rejected by the Jews (Psalm 118:22), die a humiliating death (Ps 22), betrayed by a friend (Ps 41:9), sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12),  beaten (Isaiah 52:14), spit upon (Is 50:6), hands and feet pierced (Ps 22:16), his side pieced ( Zech 12:10), given gall and vinegar (Ps 69:21), no broken bones (Ps 34:20), buried in a rich man’s tomb (Is 53:9), his enemies would cast lots for his clothing ( Ps 22:18), He would rise again (Ps 16:10), ascend into heaven ( Ps 68:18), and would sit down at the right hand of God (Ps 110: 1).  These were all prophecies that proved true in the New Testament.  Even non-Bible authors in the first, second, and third centuries spoke of Jesus Christ and Christians in their writings.  The life of Jesus is something that century after century has not been able to stop talking about.

            That’s the kind of Savior we serve!  So, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s also never forget Christ’s love for us, and what he went through just so we could live in heaven when this life is over.  Have a great week!