Christ can help you overcome life’s trials

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 4, 2015

            There is a reason the cliché “When it rains, it pours” has stood the test of time. Things just seem to happen that way, don’t they?

            My first-born daughter survived with no injuries, but she flipped her car down a small embankment on the way back from church camp two weeks ago when she slipped off the edge of the road and over-corrected. What a lovely way for a recent college grad to begin her job search.

Just last week, a close friend’s daughter survived hitting a telephone poll with two other people in the car. They’re all fine. 

Matt, a healthy young youth minister friend of mine who was one of my camp counselors two weeks ago, came down with an auto-immune disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome that attacks the nervous system, and now he is having to learn to use his hands and legs again. 

In the same hospital, the wife of one of my youth deacons is struggling with a difficult health problem despite successfully chaperoning at our week of church camp and a three day trip to Six Flags.

During church camp, I heard heartbreaking stories from kids whose parents are proving by their actions that their children are not a priority in their lives. Please pray about this.

I am well aware my little list of woes hardly scratches the surface of the troubles people are dealing with these days. But each of these situations are important to those dealing with them.  I know it’s of little consolation, but the trials of this life are something we are practically born to experience. 2000 years ago, Jesus tried to console his disciples regarding the difficulties they would soon face.

Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”  His point being that everyone will have struggles in this life, but in the end, those who follow him will overcome just like he would.

            The apostle Peter was well aware that Jesus Christ was of the source of all peace.  He said, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (1 Peter 5:7-9).”

Of course, we tend to forget that the majority of the time, things go well for most people, especially those who are trying to live a righteous life. And since that is the case, we feel picked on when things do not go well for us. I have been hearing way too many stories from the valley these days. So, I figured if I could use a little encouragement, maybe you could too. One thing is for certain, even in the worst trials of life, we can know that Jesus also suffered (Hebrews 4:15-16), and it is Jesus who can carry us through today.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Mathew 11:28-30).”

Have a blessed week!

The Christian life is the best thrill ride of all

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 28, 2015

            There it was. The New Texas Giant, no doubt the best wooden rollercoaster I have ever ridden, and it was mine for the day!  Steep drops, fast turns, and twists that made me feel like I was going to fall completely out of the car, in spite of the seat belt and single lap bar pressing against my stomach and legs. Amazingly, it was a very smooth ride, even with all the scary stuff.  At the end of the day, I was able to join in the conversations with the teens in my youth group about all the adventures and challenges we had at Six Flags over Texas last week.

            As I think back on our little summer trip to and from the Lone Star State, I could not help but make comparisons to the Christian journey. There are lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, moments that make you gasp, and feel like your heart is about to stop.  At the end of the journey, we will all get off the ride.  The saved will gather to their home beyond the skies.  And as I picture it, we will spend an eternity praising God, celebrating our victory, and visiting with friends and loved ones about all of the magnificent ways the Holy Spirit traveled with us along life's pathways to arrive safely home in heaven where the faithful belong.

            The Bible says the wisest man who ever lived is Solomon. His writings are full of advice on life, based on the near countless mistakes he made as he searched for wisdom and the meaning of life. His God-inspired words have been quoted over and over for thousands of years. He said, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6)."

            In the Christian life, just like a rollercoaster, the only choice we have is whether to get on the ride. After that, we can be assured that the good and bad times will come. This is also the case for non-Christians. The difference is that Christians can be certain that God will never let go of us once we have chosen to cloth ourselves with Christ through baptism (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 8:31-39, Galatians 3:26-27). He is even better than the safety bar, the seat belt, and the mechanical parts that attach the coaster to the tracks.  He is God.  We can choose to quench His Spirit, and squirm away from the safety of our Creator, but He is always waiting for us to return to His loving arms.

            Pray today that God gives you the wisdom, knowledge, and strength to either start or continue your journey of faith.  Have a blessed week!

The Holy Spirit is a Christian’s closest friend

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 21, 2015

            Our theme at church camp this summer was “got Spirit?”  The reason I put this in question form is simply to remind our campers that it really is their choice as to whether the Holy Spirit dwells in them.

            The indwelling or seal of God’s Holy Spirit is a gift we receive when we are baptized. Being marked or sealed with the Holy Spirit guarantees our inheritance until God brings us home to heaven (ref: Ephesians 1:13-14).

Another job of the Holy Spirit is to guide and comfort us. The apostle Paul told Christians in Galatia that “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).”  He was referring to the qualities or fruit of the Holy Spirit that we should allow to show in our lives such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).”

Paul told Christians in Corinth, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).”

            In the New Testament book of Acts 2 the apostle Peter preached the first Gospel sermon. Thousands of people were there. They had traveled in for the Jewish “Feast of Weeks”, also known by the Greek term, Pentecost, which became known as the day that the Holy Spirit began working in the apostles to spread the early church. When people came to an understanding that the One they crucified really was the promised Messiah, the Son of God, their reaction was astounding.

“37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  38. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:37-41).”

A few verses later, Peter reiterates that it is God who does the saving work, not us.  “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:47).”  Paul also spoke to the fact that it is God who does the work in saving us (ref: Colossians 2:12).” 

Finally, for those times we don’t know how to approach God, or what to say to God, the Bible says the Spirit intercedes for us since the Spirit knows the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:11), and God knows the mind of the Spirit (Rom. 8:26-27)  .

So, back to the original question.  “got Spirit?”  Have a great week!

There is nothing too broken for God to fix

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 9, 2015

            Those of you who have had a broken bone or two will agree it’s just no fun at all. One of the teenage girls in my youth group (Hannah) broke her left arm last Thursday during a trip to a water slide with some friends. So, instead of ending her day with memories of the perfect summer afternoon, she wound up in a hospital emergency room just two days before our week of church camp began.  On top of that ordeal, a tornado warning was issued in the middle of it all. Broken bones never happen at a good time.  So, what good could possibly come out of Hannah’s broken bone? Well obviously, that’s for God to decide.

            One thing Christians must learn to do is take God at his word. That is hard, especially when our plans fall through, and we have to trust that God has something better in mind. The Bible is full of these kinds of examples.

            Certainly, Joseph had to have wondered what God was up to when his brothers sold him into slavery.  But if that hadn’t happened, Joseph would not have been in the position to interpret dreams for the king, impressing him so much that the king appointed Joseph governor of Egypt (Genesis 41). This gave Joseph the opportunity to devise a plan to save millions of people from starvation during a seven-year famine by storing up food during seven years of plenty. Later, Joseph would say that what his brothers meant for harm, God meant for good (Gen. 45:5 and Gen. 50:20).  The harsh treatment, slavery, and imprisonment Joseph had to endure probably did not make much sense to him. But as time would tell, commitment to God would eventually pay off, not only for Joseph, but for an entire nation.

            Ezekiel 37 doesn’t talk about broken bones, but it does talk about a valley full of dry and scattered bones, rotting skeletal remains of a slain army. This must have been quite a site for the Lord’s prophet, Ezekiel, to behold!  What good could possibly come from such a heap? But God allowed Ezekiel to speak to the bones on God’s behalf, and watch the bones begin to rattle and come back together, complete with skin and breath inside them, made whole by God’s power.

            Hannah and her friends made it home safely in spite of the detour to the ER during the tornado warning. At the time of writing this, she was scheduled for visit with an orthopedic surgeon the next day. She will be good as new in a matter of weeks, and will eventually look back on this time with wisdom everytime she reads, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).”   

            God heals broken lives, broken relationships, and broken bones. Have a blessed week!

Jesus is sweeter than peach cobbler

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 7, 2015

            It was 3:26pm, Friday, July 03, 2015.  The text message came in from my mother that said, “Look what’s waiting for you!”  It was a picture of homemade peach cobbler!

            I needed no additional encouragement to make the trip from Fort Gibson to Tahlequah, ASAP. In fact, I would have gladly traveled a lot further than 30 minutes for my mom’s peach cobbler.  It’s been my favorite since I was a little boy.  As soon as I saw the picture, I could practically taste and smell the sweetness that awaited me. I could hardly wait to get there.

            Christians are a picture of Jesus to non-Christians. At least we are supposed to be. 

After the apostle Paul left his old way of life of persecuting followers of Jesus, he took seriously the idea of living faithfully the truths of our Lord, just as we should. He issued a challenge to Christians in Corinth that also served as a measure of accountability for himself.  He said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).”  He also told the church in Ephesus, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma (Ephesians 5:1-2).”

            The advice he gave to his Christian brothers and sisters was the same advice he was following.  This was especially important for Paul because people already had a picture in mind of what Paul was like, and it wasn’t pretty since he was previously a zealous persecutor of Christians.  So, it was important for Paul to be consistent in his new way of life so that the skeptics would know without a doubt that Paul was for real.  Eventually, the old picture of Paul faded away as he proved by his attitude and actions that he was a changed man.

            When people look at Christians today, they should see a picture of Christ’s love in action.  The picture they see should have the same effect it did on the apostle Paul 2000 years ago when he wrote, “For Christ's love compels us (2 Cor. 5:14).”   When people see God’s love in us, it should make them want to waste no time in finding that same joy that is only available through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

            Every day, we as Christians wake up with a new opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, to be that irresistible picture of Jesus the world needs to see, and to pass along God’s truths that the psalmist David described like this: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”   Have a blessed week, and always remember that heaven is "waiting for you" and others who choose to walk with God.