Above the Sun: The Bible and science are not always at odds

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 14, 2021 

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma!  In our part of the country, we enjoy our share of natural beauty. 

Anyone who has spent any time at all marveling at our sunsets, forests, fields, lakes, and rivers has probably given thought as to how all of these things got here. Now, add that to the wonders of the animal kingdom, including livestock right on down to your loveable house pet. Now, think about humans, with all of our unique capabilities like feeling and giving love, emotion, compassion, the ability for memory and recall, and altruistic behaviors such as risking your own life to save another.

Some have said the universe according to the Bible is not the same as the universe discovered and observed by science. The thing I find interesting is how God’s word never changes, but what science believes constantly changes with each discovery that proves the Bible had it right all along.

            It has only been since 1925 that Edwin Hubble proved with his telescope our universe is expanding.  Bible writings from 2500 to 3000 years ago talk about God stretching out the heavens. “This is what God the LORD says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out . . .”  (also: Isaiah 42:5, 42:12, Jeremiah 10:12, 51:15).

            One of the earliest to discover the water cycle was a French potter and hydraulics engineer named Bernard Palissy in 1580. His idea was only accepted by mainstream science in the early 1800’s.

            The Old Testament prophet Amos wrote about the water cycle in about 800 BC.

“He who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth, the Lord is His name” (Amos 9:6).

            In 2000 BC, Job said, “For He draws up the drops of water, they distill rain from the mist, which the clouds pour down, they drip upon man abundantly” (Job 36:27-28).  “He wraps up the waters in His clouds, and the cloud does not burst under them” (Job 26:8).

In 950 BC, Solomon wrote: “All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again” (Ecclesiastes 1:7).

Archaeologists continue to dig up proof of the accuracy of Bible people, places, positions, and events. Here are just a few:

In 2017, excavators of Jerusalem’s Western Wall plaza found a nickel-sized clay seal bearing the inscription “Belonging to the governor of the city.” This provides positive proof that 2 Kings 23:8 and 2 Chronicles 18:25 were correct in their references to governors for cities that functioned like city mayors.

Also, thanks to new advanced photography, words on a 2000-year-old copper alloy seal ring originally discovered in the late 1960’s are now readable. The Greek inscription says “of Pilates” and has been determined to have belonged to Pontius Pilate. In 1961, another inscription found on a stone in the Roman theater of Caesarea says: “Building in honor of Tiberius ... Pontius Pilate ... Prefect of Judea.”

God created everything, including science, for which I am thankful. But scientific theory often needs a little time to catch up to Biblical truths.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Seasons change but God stays the same

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 7, 2021 

             Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma! As the spring season arrives in just a few days, our lakes, rivers, rolling hills, and even our yards, gardens, and pastures will take on new looks, feels, smells, and sounds.

We all welcome these changes with each of our four distinct seasons in this region. How awesome it is to live in a place where God blesses us in such wonderful ways. God designed our planet, universe, and everything in it to operate in the ways he created them.

With all the changes that take place around us all year long, you might think that the God of creation would also change. For us, it is a good thing that he does not. The Hebrew writer makes a statement that cannot be misunderstood: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

This message is echoed all through the Bible, Old and New Testaments, as God speaks to his people and as his people speak to him.

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6).

So, in spite of the Jews becoming careless in their attitude toward God, he keeps his word that he will welcome them back when they decide to return (Malachi 3:7). This principle was re-stated in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

Scripture assures us that when God says something, he means it.  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

In a letter from the apostle Paul to Timothy, he gives an example of how God is unchanging. It is no doubt meant to encourage the young preacher even after his mentor is gone.

"If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful, because he cannot be false to himself" (2 Timothy 2:13).

Ironically, this verse finds its roots in the words of the wicked Old Testament prophet, Balaam (Numbers 23:19), who told Balak, king of Moab, how to weaken the Israelites through idolatry and sexual immorality. Nevertheless, Balaam and later Paul in the New Testament spoke about God’s faithfulness and inability to lie or go against his own word.

In Psalm 90 the writer quotes Moses as saying, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2).

God wants us to know we can depend on him. The fact that things around us change all the time has no bearing on an eternal God.

“The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:11).

God’s assurances are not only written in his word, but in history. And one day we will all see the outcome of God’s promises face to face.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Have a great day!

Above the Sun: God’s way is always the best

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 28, 2021 

            So I was in prayer a few days ago when we were snowed in, asking God for a good idea to write about for today’s column when I noticed my TV streaming service was not working.

            I tried everything I could think of to fix it but nothing worked, that is, until one last resort solution popped into my head. Why hadn’t I thought of it before? After all, when it comes to electronics problems, this has been the answer about 95-percent of the time in my experience. Oh, I had thought of it earlier on in the trouble-shooting process but thought surely that would not fix it. It must be something more complex. As I tried one thing after another, I had forgotten about the one solution I hadn’t tried when I thought of it earlier: Go back to the basics, unplug my TV, and plug it back in! It worked! There was nothing wrong with my TV streaming service, it was my TV. It evidently just needed a simple reset so it could function properly.

            People can be like this, can’t we? A problem arises, but instead of going back to the basics, we often beat our head against the wall, trying one thing after another instead of just taking a step back and going with the sure thing. Even those of us living the Christian life get caught up in trying to come up with our own solutions instead of seeking answers from God, the One who created our universe and everything in it. The whole “do it my way” method usually does not end well for anyone. Jesus spoke to his disciples about this very thing.

            46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete” (Luke 6:46-49).

            The devil is good at putting alternate solutions in front of us when we feel we’ve failed at something or when things don’t happen for us fast enough. But if we ask God for guidance, and hold tight to his hand, he promises to make things work out for our good, even though we may not understand it at the time.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: God’s love is amazing

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 14, 2021 

            The extent of God’s love for us really is beyond our comprehension. Every single day, He makes sure we know we are loved. He gives and gives and gives. Every breath and everything good comes from Him.

            Johnson Oatman Jr wrote a song in 1897 that still rings so true today. It is called “Count Your Blessings.”  The first verse and chorus are as follows:

            When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

            As you notice, the word “love” is not mentioned here or anywhere in the song. But we really do not have to hear or see the word “love” to know God loves us, do we? People are this way, too. There are those in our lives who express their feelings verbally. What a blessing. Who doesn’t like to hear the words “I love you.” But if you’re like me, you would much rather be shown you are loved than to just hear those words. Even better is hearing those words AND being shown love.

            The Bible is full of words inspired by God. It is not hard to find the word “love” in the Bible, especially since loving God and loving your neighbor is the first and greatest commandment. It is of great comfort to know that the God who created love also loves us beyond what we can imagine. He backs up his words with a promise.

            “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

            The apostle Paul says people can accomplish a lot of things, but without love, they mean nothing.  He goes ahead and describes love:

            “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

            Let’s do our part to fill the world with love. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Don’t Get Lost in the Hype

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 21, 2021 

Even this far into February, you probably have not managed to pay respect to all the things February is known for.  O yes, you’ve probably at least thought about a few of them: Love, Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, and the Super Bowl. But it is also American Heart Month, Canned Food Month, Grapefruit Month, Hot Breakfast Month, and Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month.

Strangely enough, that last one is most closely aligned with how February got its name. Evidently, our shortest month of the year got its start as a spring-cleaning festival. The Roman month Februarius was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, a ritual called Februa was held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar. And in case you were wondering why February only has 28 days, it is because February was the last month added to the Roman calendar. But since I wasn’t there for any of this, I am going to have to take the word of my Google search.

Other causes celebrated in February include: Birth Defects Prevention, Cataract Awareness, Cervical Cancer Awareness, Glaucoma Awareness, National Wear Red Day, Organ Donor Day, Burn Awareness Week, Eating Disorders Awareness Week, American Diabetes Alert Day, National Kidney Month, National MS Month, Earth Day, National Volunteer Week, and World Health Day.

With so many important things to remember and celebrate just in the month of February, it would be easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of what is truly most important. Paul encouraged the early Christians to keep worldly interests and achievements in proper perspective, so they could experience their best life in Christ.

 “12 I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. 15 All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don’t agree with, God will make it clear to you. 16 But we should continue following the truth we already have. 17 Brothers and sisters, join together in following my example. Also, learn by watching those who are living the way we showed you” (Philippians 3:12-17, Easy to Read Version).

These were important words for new and old Christians back then and for all of us today. The battle is tough, the race is exhausting, even discouraging. But the joy of knowing you helped someone come to know Christ and to be known by Him is so worth it.  Have a great week!