The best relationship recipe reaches back to Solomon

by Barrett Vanlandingham

September 29, 2015

       “A friend loves at all times… (Proverbs 17:17) 

One great thing about being part of this Christian family is relationships. When I look across the church pews full of people on Sundays and Wednesdays, I see a lot more than just other worshipers. I see brothers and sisters in Christ who I am closer to than some of my own blood relatives. I know many of you feel the same. It’s only natural since these are the people you might spend so much time with.

   Last Wednesday night, I taught the 7^th-9^th grade boys on guidelines for good relationships, for being suitable helpers and companions. Our young people will be leading the church before we know it. It’s important that we as adults teach them in word and by example about good relationships.

   Solomon became so wise, in part, by making mistakes, a LOT of’em. But his mistakes can still help us even 3000 years later if we will pay attention to his Spirit-inspired Proverbs. Here are some good relational qualities stated or described in Proverbs:

1)     sensitive, careful in speech       (12:18)

2)     supportive, kind, cheerful          (12:25)

3)     peacemaker                               (15:1)

4)     doesn’t gossip                            (17:9)

5)     cheerful, optimistic                    (17:22)

6)     encouraging, knows what to say (25:11)

7)     honest, wants the best for others (27:6)

A few from the New Testament include:

1)     compassionate, always there (Rom 12:15)

2)     unselfish, helpful              (Galatians 6:2)

3)     listens well, controls temper (James 1:19)

   When I read this list, I realize the bar is set pretty high for anyone who claims to be a good friend to anybody. For me personally, I could stand to improve in every category even though most of this relationship recipe seems to be common sense. This is something I am going to pray about today.  May God bless us all with the sincere desire and wisdom to improve our relationships in all of our many walks of life. Have a great week!

The beauty of a new season honors God

by Barrett Vanlandingham

September 22, 2015

            As I sat on my porch the other day, I noticed leaves already falling from the trees in my backyard. This reminded me that another summer season ends today, making room for what I think is the most beautiful season of all. The reds, browns, yellows, and oranges of fall will soon be here, blessing us with natural beauty that could only be created by the hand of God. The strength and grandeur of our hills and valleys will be objects of amazement as the autumn transition occurs with the help of intricately designed tree leaves painting our landscapes and neighborhoods with the brilliant colors we look forward to each year.

            Three-thousand years ago, the psalmist David wrote, “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1).”

            I can’t help but envision David finally sitting down to write those words as he looked back on his years, thinking of all the ways he witnessed God at work.  David must have marveled at nature as he spent countless hours in the fields and mountainsides tending and protecting his father’s sheep. Mental snapshots of his unlikely victory against the giant Goliath, and of the many times God saved David from being killed by a jealous King Saul, and of David’s many military victories, snapshots that must have all played in his mind as he wrote so many psalms that honor God as Creator. David certainly examined the evidence many times over as to whether God was truly the Creator of all things. His writings consistently show his answer was “YES”.

            “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork (Psalm 19:1).”

            Psalms indicates that it’s not only humans who are capable of praising God, though we may never fully understand how this is possible. At the very least, all of nature honors God by simply doing what He created it to do.        

             “7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven (Psalm 148:7-13).” 

            Since nature is doing its job, we as Christians should ask ourselves if we are doing what God created us to do. In the first century, the apostle Paul told Christians in Ephesus they have a purpose. It’s the same purpose we have today. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).”

            May we choose to show our love to God through our obedience to Him, the Creator of all things seen and unseen. Have a blessed week!

Conflicting remote controls teach an alarming spiritual lesson

by Barrett Vanlandingham

September 15, 2015

            The other morning as my son was trying to leave for school, he got quite a surprise when he unlocked his car and opened the door. That very instant, a variety of anti-theft alarms went off loudly and without regard for the fact that the owner of the car (my son) was actually the one trying to enter the car.

            The problem was that I had locked my son’s car the day before with a different remote. It is a starting device that had been installed by the previous owner. Its purpose was to start the car without the driver being inside. Evidently, you’re not supposed to use the other functions of the remote starter, such as locking and unlocking the doors because the two remotes get confused on which one is in charge. 

            As an aside: Funny thing, I had been asked late the night before to be a fill-in speaker the next morning for our preacher who had to leave for Texas to speak at a funeral. I wasn’t worried what I would speak about because God always provides something for me.  So, as the alarms were sounding from my son’s car because of the conflicting remote controls, I knew exactly what would be the topic of my devotional talk that morning. It would begin with some of the words of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount.

            “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other… (Matthew 6:24).”

            The apostle Paul echoed these sentiments when he wrote to the church in Rome, encouraging them to be slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:15-23), instead of being slaves to sin as they were before being baptized into Christ Jesus (Romans 6:3-4).

            When the car alarms were going bizzerk (even with the engine running), things quickly became frustrating and confusing as we tried to figure out which button to push, so my son wouldn’t be late for school.  We got it right, at least for a moment. The alarms stopped, that is, until he opened the door again, and the alarms started all over again!  Not a good way to score “good neighbor” points. Nevertheless, by the process of elimination we finally figured it out.

            Spiritual alarms should sound-off within us when we allow ourselves to be controlled by the devil’s schemes, when we know we should only allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our lives.  Following two opposing forces can only lead to frustration and confusion. Light and darkness have nothing in common (2 Corinthians 6:14). We must choose God only, in every part of our lives. May God give us all the strength and wisdom we need to not only be dedicated disciples, but also to go and make disciples for Him.  Have a blessed week!

A “blood moon” does not mean the end

by Barrett Vanlandingham

September 8, 2015

            In Matthew 24:3-8, Jesus makes it clear that wars, earthquakes and such are NOT signs of the end of the age.

            In case you hear news reports or anyone talking about the term “blood moon” as related to the end of the world, I thought it would be good to review what the Bible says about when The Day will come.

            I am not sure where the term originated, but “blood moon” refers to a total lunar eclipse, especially when this occurs four times in a row separated by a six month period of time as it has the last couple of years, with the final of four in this series of lunar eclipses coming up September 27-28.  A lunar eclipse is when the earth is situated between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the moon that makes it appear a beautiful copper color. What a spectacular blessing of nature! These occurrences have happened for thousands of years.

            Sadly, a very few over-zealous Bible prophecy teachers have tried to link the lunar eclipse with scripture and try to predict exactly when the end of the world will come. Those who are into this have not only tried to predict the end of the world, but they have also tried use the four “blood moon” pattern to predict major significant events for Jewish people.

            However, based on what the Bible says, I would have to say all of this “blood moon” business is nothing but hogwash meant to garner self-serving attention and make money off those who haven’t read God’s word on the issue. I would be thoroughly impressed if someone were able to use the patterns of God’s creation to predict the final day, since no one could possibly do that.  Remember Jesus’ words?

            “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come (Mark 13:32-33).”

            Did you hear that? Not even Jesus knows when the end will come. So, let’s say if someone who makes their living predicting the end times were able to do this successfully, that would mean a human knew more about Christ’s return than Christ Himself!  This would also mean Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit were all liars, or at the very least wrong, if God’s word turns out to be in error.

            Joel 2:31 and Revelation 6:12 both mention the moon turning to blood and the sun turning to darkness. But, the Revelation passage also mentions stars of the skies falling to earth. But I guess if you’re in the business of predicting, one out of the three events might be good enough for what you’re trying to accomplish, whatever that is.  As for me, I am going to side with Jesus on the matter. Simply be on guard, and be ready all the time for the Judgment, no matter when that happens.

            “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Hebrews 9:27-28).”  Have a blessed week!