Supernatural Miracles: Do They Still Happen? (part 1)
Let the Bible Speak for Itself
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(January 22, 2008)

As with any Bible issue, it is always best to let the Bible speak for itself when questions arise. Keep in mind, the kinds of miracles to which I am discussing are the supernatural kind. I am not referring to instances in which God blesses us in one way or another with good health, wealth, good days, intervention in a situation, and other good things that could possibly occur naturally because of God’s goodness, or as an answer to prayer which can be powerful and effective (James 5:13-16).
There are two Mentions of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.
1) Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (gift of Holy Spirit mentioned in Acts 2:38) that comforts, guides, and helps us to grow spiritually.
2) Empowerment of the Holy Spirit (which gave people in the first century the ability to do supernatural miracles)
Jesus performed supernatural miracles. He also passed this miraculous empowerment of the Holy Spirit on to those he chose to give it to, such as the apostles and others. Those people could pass on this miraculous empowerment of the Holy Spirit to yet others. But those people could not pass it on, even though they were empowered to do miracles like Jesus, the apostles, and other disciples or followers of Christ. In short, the third generation of those who received this ability to do supernatural miracles could not pass it to a fourth generation. Therefore, after the third generation of “miracle-doers” passed away, so did the ability to perform miracles.
In the first century, there were no Bible studies like we have today because the Bible was in the process of being written. So, the story of Jesus was told by disciples who would then do miracles so people would believe. The last books of the Bible were written by John in about 90-100 A.D. Shortly after that, collections of the Bible began to appear, and people began to write down or make copies of the writings that had been passed to them. By the 2nd century there were lists of books of the Bible written by people of the day.
Hebrews 2:3-4 tells us that miracles confirmed the truth of the message being preached, but only as the Spirit enabled (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Luke 9:1 Jesus called together the twelve apostles. He gave them power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases. Then he sent out the twelve to preach and heal the sick.
Luke 10:1 and 9, Jesus appoints 72 others to teach and heal.
Acts 6:5-6 the apostles appointed seven men to take care of widows and oversee the distribution of food. Philip was one of the seven who the apostles laid their hands on.
Acts 8:4-8 Philip preached and did miracles in Samaria.
How can Philip prove the truth of his message of salvation? After all, the books of the Bible had not been written. Truth was proven by doing miracles.
Acts 8:9-13 Simon the Sorcerer believed and was baptized. He saw the miracles of Philip. He was astonished by the genuine thing.
Acts 8:14 Peter and John went to Samaria and placed their hands on the people in Samaria so they could receive the miraculous empowerment of the Holy Spirit. (which is something Philip apparently could not do because he was in that third generation of people who had the miraculous empowerment of the Holy Spirit, but could not pass it on).
Everything has purpose in Scripture. The purpose of miracles was
1. So that we may believe (John 20:30-31)
2. To confirm salvation (Hebrews 2:3-4)
3. To edify and strengthen the early church. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

(special thanks to pulpit minister Dan Rouse for help with research for this article)

Supernatural Miracles: Do They Still Happen? (part 2)
Let the Bible Speak for Itself
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(January 29, 2008)

This is a continuation of last week’s article in which I am discussing the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do supernatural miracles. This is not to be confused with other blessings from God such as good health, wealth, running into a good friend at just the right time, intervention in a situation, or receiving an answer to a prayer the way you wanted.
In last week’s article, we looked at Biblical examples and how they show the purpose of the supernatural miracles we read about to be the following:
1. So that we may believe (John 20:30-31)
2. To confirm salvation (Hebrews 2:3-4)
3. To edify and strengthen the early church. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
The Bible also indicates the following about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do miracles:
1. Jesus performed miracles and gave the apostles and others the ability to perform miracles. (Luke 9:1 and 10:1)
2. The apostles could give others the ability to do miracles. (Acts 8:14)
3. The others could not pass on this ability. (Acts 8:4-8 Philip did miracles, but Peter and John had to come to Samaria to lay their hands on people so they could receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit).

A Few Things to Think about:
The Corinthian church was “gifted” but...
1. they still had problems.
2. they were not very spiritually minded.
3. Paul still had to write letters to answer their questions.
4. These gifts (abilities to do miracles by the miraculous empowerment of the Holy Spirit) were limited... otherwise why did the Corinthians have to write Paul?
5. These gifts did not make them mature.
6. The job of the Spirit was to protect the basic Gospel message by allowing the teachers to do miracles.
7. Paul could not heal Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30)
8. Miracles or healing could only happen as the Spirit enabled. (1 Corinthians 12:11 and Hebrews 2:4)

God knows the ripple effect of supernatural miracles (miracles that upset the balance of nature, or supersede nature or push nature aside). We live in a world of choice and consequences. (not a robotic world with no choices).
The world would be in total chaos if God did miracles all the time and answered every prayer in the way we wanted. Why? Because we would never know what to expect. If there were NEVER consequences for our actions, then there would be no need for a plan of salvation, no need to live right, no need to love our neighbor, and no need to have faith.
If God did supernatural miracles today such as the parting of the Red Sea, more people would be angry at God than happy, because we could never get enough. Examples: 1) Two babies get sick, one is healed and one is not. 2) God chooses to prevent a bus from hitting a 3-year old, but next time He doesn’t.
Even in the first century, God did not behave like Santa Claus. If God did everything for us, then we would no longer need to be of service to others.
There were even consequences for miracles in the first century just like there would be today. If you could have lived in the town of Bethany after Lazarus died in John 11, what do you think you might have seen?
a. Grieving
b. People taking off work to mourn
c. If Lazarus had a business, it might have shut down.
d. Competing businesses begin to thrive.
What are some things that might have happened when Jesus raised him from the dead?
a. Joy
b. Lazarus’ theoretical business re-opens.
c. Other businesses fail.
What would happen if God were to dump enough grain on Africa to feed the entire country. How long would people praise Him? Is there enough food and medicine in the world right now to help Africa? Yes, but people won’t work together and distribute the food. What if God cured the world of AIDS? How long would people praise Him?
We serve an AWESOME God who is capable of doing anything He wants. Let’s just praise God for making decisions based on what is best, instead of what we think is best. He may choose allow something to happen or not to happen, or to use someone to carry out His will in a certain instance, but unless someone lived in the first century and made contact with Jesus or an empowered disciple, they don’t even have a chance of performing a miracle of the supernatural variety.

(special thanks to pulpit minister Dan Rouse for help with research for this article)

Spiritual Decision-Making: How do I know if I’m right?
The answer has already been written down for us.
by Barrett Vanlandingham (January 15, 2008)

According to the Bible, the wisest man who ever lived is Solomon, King of Israel. This is how he got that way. About 970 years before the time of Christ, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5)
Solomon asked for a discerning heart to govern God’s people (v. 9). God was so pleased with Solomon’s request for wisdom instead of a long life or wealth, that he granted the request and said, “…there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” (v. 12)
Then, God proceeded to give him even all the things he did not ask for such as wealth. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom (v.34).
In Ecclesiastes 1:12 Solomon says he devoted himself to study and explore the meaning of life. He experienced everything in life, many times, in excess. He had more cattle, gold, silver, fruit trees, servants, entertainers, and more of everything else than anyone else. He went so far as to say, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccl. 1:9)
He not only applied himself to wisdom, but also to madness, folly, and pleasure! Eventually, he learned that those kinds of things were only “…a chasing after the wind.” (Eccl. 1:17) When all was said and done, Solomon said, “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Eccl. 1:2)
He finishes the book by saying, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Eccl. 12:13-14)
So what does this mean to us? We’ve all heard the saying that some of the best things in life can be found right under your nose. That is so true. Most of us have a copy of God’s word, the Bible. But, when problems and difficult decisions arise, how many times do we consult scripture for the answer? If we’re wise, the answer should be “everytime!”
In this “One Nation under God…” the snag is usually not that we didn’t know how or where to find the answer to life’s questions. It’s simply that we too often refuse to obey what God has to say on these matters. And instead, we look to Dr. Phil, Oprah, Jerry Springer, or Montel Williams to give us wisdom and set our paths straight.
When it comes to spiritual decision-making, God’s word will either give you a direct answer, or sometimes it gives us general principles to think about. Marriage and dating relationships, alcohol, gambling, cursing, gossiping, adultery, fornication, peer pressure, friends, materialism, selfishness, you name it, the Bible has something to say about it.
Our willingness to find out God’s will and obey His word shows two very important things: 1) that we are wise enough to pay attention to the wisest man who ever lived, and 2) that we love God. In John 14:15, Jesus is quoted as saying, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

Thought-Provoking Questions to Help Get Your New Year Re-Focused
A Call to Build the House of the Lord
by Barrett Vanlandingham (January 1, 2008)

Haggai 1:5-7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: Give careful thought to your ways! You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but you never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
In case you’re a little behind on setting goals for 2008, here are some thoughts that will challenge you to build your spiritual house to please God? The above passage is a statement from God through the prophet Haggai after God’s people had become lax in their spirituality. The people were very busy and very successful at improving their own standard of living. But while they were taking time to build nice houses for themselves, they were ignoring the fact that the Lord’s house lay in ruin. In short, God’s people had lost focus. They had allowed their enemies to intimidate and discourage them from honoring God in their daily lives.
God’s people were obviously getting a lot accomplished by the world’s standards. But nothing they did gave them true joy or satisfaction. God had called them to do some work for Him. Yet, they simply allowed other things, other less important things get in the way of what God wanted them to do.
Sound familiar? It should. This same old struggle has gone on for thousands of years, and it’s not any easier for us today than it was back then. The devil and those he has influenced are very skilled at providing distractions for us. And the more we resist, the harder satan tries to find ways of tricking us into turning our backs on God.
At the beginning of this new year, we should all take a time to reflect on our commitment to God. We all need to think about where we are spiritually compared to where we ought to be. And we need to re-evaluate what kind of spiritual construction is taking place in each of our lives, and on whose foundation we are building.
Ask yourself these questions:
1) What’s one thing you could do this year to build a better relationship with God? With your church family?
2) What is the biggest time-waster in your life?
3) For whose salvation will you pray for?
4) What’s the most important way you will try to make this year different from last year?
5) What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
6) Which part of your spiritual life do you most want to make progress in this year?
7) What’s the most important decision you need to make this year?
8) If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say?
9) Who do you most want to encourage this year?
10) What area of your life most needs simplifying?
May we ever strive to be God’s people in a very committed way. May we strive to make every word, action, and thought something that would be approved by God. May we always remember Philippians 4:13. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Spiritual Gift Wrapping
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(December 18, 2007)
When it comes to wrapping Christmas gifts, sometimes it is fun to fool the one on the receiving end by putting a small gift in a big box, or maybe labeling the wrapping paper with someone else’s name on it until time for opening gifts.
When it comes to who we are spiritually, there is no room for joking. So, who we are on the outside must be the same person we are on the inside. Paul was worried about this very thing in 2 Corinthians 11 where he was talking about false apostles.
There are no false apostles and no real apostles for that matter among us today because apostles must be chosen directly by God, like Paul, or called by Jesus, like the original twelve. But that doesn’t mean that in our day and time, there can’t be people who refer to themselves as Christians while their motives are less than holy.
In 2 Corinthians 11, we read that Paul was afraid that some in the church in Corinth might be led astray from their pure and sincere devotion to Christ by those “super-apostles” or possibly pseudo-apostles who were masquerading as apostles of Christ. These were apparently well-trained speakers, unlike Paul, who may have appeared to do all the right things, while their motives were deceitful. We are not told exactly what they were doing wrong, only that their righteous appearance was a fraud.
It has been said that the greatest weapon the devil has in his arsenal to test us is praise and flattery. That is not to say that it is wrong to give a compliment to a Christian brother or sister. It is only to say that Satan is a master at using our egos to destroy us spiritually if we start believing that we, apart from God, are able to accomplish anything.
The serpent offered the promise of special knowledge that was to allow Adam and Eve to become like God. The Corinthians wanted to become rich and reign as Kings (1 Cor. 4:8). They were susceptible to a false gospel possibly put forth by slick talking, diamond studded apostles that appealed to the Corinthians’ human pride and desire to be special.
Way too often, we fall into the trap of thinking that if we do this or that, God will somehow reward us on earth with health or wealth, and that these blessings are a confirmation of our faith. But as Paul so pointedly brings to the attention of the Corinthian Church in regards to the false apostles, “Their end will be what their actions deserve.” The same holds true for those who follow after them. Read John 15:18-25, and 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 and tell me if you think we are guaranteed an abundance of material wealth and physical health if we follow Jesus. We must remember that as Christians, we are citizens of Heaven, and the recipients of spiritual rewards both in this life and the life to come.
Please pray today for God to help us stay humble and know that all good things come from Him, the One in Whom we serve and have our hope. Let us also seek to be spiritually genuine inside and out as we encourage one another daily on the path to Heaven.

What I Want For Christmas?
…to continue letting the light of Christ shine in Fort Gibson…
and to shed a little light on some Christmas myths
by Barrett Vanlandingham (Fort Faith-December 11, 2007)


It’s so refreshing to see all of the beautiful Christmas decorations donning the streets, homes, and yards of Fort Gibson. It’s also a beautiful thing to see nativity scenes here and there, and to hear Christmas caroling as Christians in our little town enjoy the extra emphasis put on Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God’s son, and our Savior, for at least one month out of the year. The very name of the holiday “Christmas” is a heartwarming reminder to me and all Christians of our Savior and His servant-hearted example that it is more blessed to give than to receive. It is also good to have at least a yearly reason to encourage us all to do more acts of service for those who are less fortunate.
There are at least a few myths associated with the religious part of Christmas. Namely, we really don’t know in which month Jesus was born. Also, we really don’t know how many wise men there were who delivered the three gifts to the house, not to a manger (Matthew 2:11). And finally, we don’t know whether the angels were singing or not when they praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest” while announcing Jesus’ birth to shepherds in a field (Luke 2:13). By the way, to my knowledge, shepherds tended their flocks outside during the warmer months, not winter.
Religiously speaking, December should be no different than any other month. The fact that our wallet is much thinner because of gift-buying and our waist much fatter because of over-eating is really a man-made thing.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate that more people think about Jesus in December, because really, I do appreciate it. But if there were three gifts I could give to an entire town on Christmas, it would be the gift of helping us all remember Jesus all year round, and placing Him at the top of our priority list, and letting our actions prove it in our attitude towards our fellow citizens.
So, with that being said, I would like to thank Renee’ Fite and the Fort Gibson Times for asking me to be a guest writer and publishing this Fort Faith column for almost an entire year now. Not once, that I know of, has an editor changed the meaning or content of what I have written. Fort Gibson is a very diverse town in many ways, but with a very strong Christian base. So I, for one, appreciate the Fort Gibson Times for paying attention to the interests of its town in a time when God’s name is being taken out of many venues on the national scene.
In writing this column, I always do my absolute best to make every word agree with Bible teaching since the Bible is God’s inspired word and gives us everything we need to know (2 Timothy 3:16). And as always, please, check it out for yourself.

Thanksgiving is Over, but Giving Thanks Is Not
Don’t let your faith stay zipped up like frozen leftovers
By Barrett Vanlandingham (Nov. 27, 2007)

Thanksgiving meals are kind of like revivals or Gospel meetings. They’re great when consumed fresh, but the taste and even the nourishment diminishes unless fresh recipes are applied throughout the year. The great thing about spiritual nourishment is that God makes sure we can never get tired of His Cookbook (the Bible) when the right ingredients are prepared and consumed. A healthy diet of Galatians 5:22-23 is a great place to start. The Fruit of the Spirit listed here includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The Bible gives Christians and non-Christians alike many great recipes that not only help sustain us while on earth, but also show us the way to that great banquet in the sky hosted by Jesus Christ Himself. It does take effort on our part. Even though all believers are invited to the banquet, we must follow God’s plan and enter through the right door so that He can “…reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)
James 2:24, 26 says, “24.You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 26.As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
In God’s wisdom, He knew that man could never save himself from spiritual death. That’s why He gave us a plan to follow. So, even though we are saved by God’s amazing grace, it is only because of His grace (unmerited favor) that He provides us direction, and covers our sin through the death of His son, providing the ultimate hope through Jesus’ resurrection. Romans 6:4 says, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father we too may live a new life.”
The fact that we serve a risen Savior is reason to celebrate and be thankful continually. The awesomeness of His love should be enough to bring us to our knees, literally. May God bless each of our efforts to study His word on a regular basis, and apply recipes from God’s book as we “live a new life” everyday because of His son. Thank You, Jesus. From each of Your dedicated followers here in Fort Gibson.

Thanksgiving: Turkey or Ham Is Good
but spiritual food for family, friends and others is most important
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(November 20, 2007)
Here in Fort Gibson, we all have so much to be thankful for this time of year. One of those things is that our community is small enough that it’s fairly easy to keep up with each others’ spiritual needs. With not much effort, we know when someone is struggling with their faith. Certainly within our own families we should know when the devil is luring our loved ones away from the straight and narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14).
In Philippians 1:3, Paul was writing from prison when he said, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” We should all strive to be the kind of people that others thank God for when they think about us.
We all have special memories of loved ones or events that we like to think about. The gift of remembering things is special in itself. We need to remember to thank God for special memories.
To Paul, the saints or Christians in Philippi were special. He had good feelings towards them because they partnered with him in teaching the good news of Jesus Christ. His Christian brothers and sisters were constantly in is heart whether he was in chains or out evangelizing. He longed to be with them because they shared a common mission, and shared in God’s grace. Paul tells his dear friend, Titus, in Titus 2:11-12 that the grace of God not only brings salvation, but also “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives...”
During those times that you are tempted to sin, it would be wise to think about God’s grace and whether you are sharing in it, or separated from it. Part of the reason Paul was able to stand firm in the faith is because he had a wonderful support system consisting of his Christian family for whom he was thankful.
We’ve all seen other Christians who appear weaker than ourselves. Sometimes, that weaker Christian IS ourselves. Sometime, we think our only spiritual obligation is to self. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 paints a picture of a body of Christ that grows in knowledge and faith so it can be unified. We should all continue to be thankful as we grow in love and support for each other as we share a common mission that is dependant on God’s grace.
Let us all encourage one another over and over again with the good news of Jesus Christ which is the greatest thing any of us could be thankful for. Romans 10:15 echoes the thoughts of the prophet in Isaiah 52:7 with these words: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Salvation: How Do I Know I’m Going to Heaven?
(Part 1)
by Barrett Vanlandingham

How do you know if you’re going to anybody’s home? You generally have to know that person, then be invited to their house, then follow the directions to get there. Then if you still can't get there on your own, call them and they'll come and take you there.
As a Christian, you can know you are going to heaven because God loves you enough to send his son to die for you as the ultimate sacrifice for your sins (ref: John 3:16). “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)
In John 10:9-11, Jesus calls himself the good shepherd. He uses a figure of speech to reassure his followers (sheep) that he loves and protects them spiritually and in fact would lay down his life for them so they could live eternally in heaven.
The writer of Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.”
This passage tells us that we didn’t write the Bible, and we cannot be perfect, but we can perfectly carry out God’s plan of salvation by partnering with Jesus who IS the author and perfecter of our faith. He takes into consideration the fact that “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24) We just have to make sure we have a relationship with Christ Jesus since he said “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Here is how that is accomplished:
1) hearing God’s word, (Rom. 10:17; John 5:24)
2) believing that Jesus is God’s son (Mark 16:16; Heb. 11:6),
and acting on this belief by continuing a life of
3) repentance or turning from worldly ways, (Acts 2:38; James 1:21-22; 1 Tim. 2:19)
4) confessing (Matthew 10:32-33; 1 Tim. 2:19) with our mouth and attitude
what we believe about Jesus, and immersion or
5) baptism into Christ for the forgiveness of sins. (Gal. 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-11; Mark 16:16)
No matter how much we accomplish through obedience which demonstrates our faith and love for the Father (John 14:15), it is still God’s grace that saves us in the end (Romans 3:24) when we live our lives in obedience to him (James 2:24 & 26). Without God’s help and willingness to fellowship with us, we could not find our way to heaven since we continue to “fall short.” The good news about God is this: “But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Translation? Walking with God leads to heaven.

Salvation: How Do I Know I’m Going to Heaven?
(Part 2)
by Barrett Vanlandingham

Since the 1st century, the Apostle Paul’s words to the Christians in Ephesus have resonated loud and clear. This is still true today despite the growing cultural noise that at times can drown out Biblical instruction and words of encouragement such as these:
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the head and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,” (Ephesians 1:17-20)
Three basics things are listed in these verses that Christians can KNOW: 1) hope of heaven, 2) riches to be found there, and 3) Christ’s power dwells in us.
Isn’t it reassuring to know that the same power that is in Christ and raised him from the dead is the same power that shows us the way to heaven?
The Apostle Peter tells us about the qualities of God, and says that by taking part in them we can “…escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4) He goes on in verse 10 to say “…be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall.” Even though nothing we do can “earn” a spot in heaven, action is required on our part.
We know that God is patient and doesn’t want anyone to perish, but instead come to repentance or to know him (ref: 2 Peter 3:9). That requires action. The apostle John says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” (John 1:12). Notice here that we have the “right” to become children of God. It’s not a guarantee for those who put forth no effort. But it is very assuring to KNOW that because of God’s grace (Romans 3:24), he gives us the right of being his children when we act on our belief in him (James 1:21-22; James 2:24 & 26). In Luke 6:46, Jesus begins the parable of the wise and foolish builders by saying, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
So, how do you know if you’re going to heaven? God’s word is the complete instruction guide on how to get there (ref: 2 Timothy 3:16-17). If you believe in God at all, you must believe his word is inspired, and that Jesus meant it when he said in John 14:1-4 to trust in him, and that he has gone to prepare a place for us. The fact is, if God is at the top of your priorities (and only you know that), you are promised a reward. “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels; and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27) In short, always do your best to obey his commands, and God takes care of the rest (ref: Matthew 10:22).

Finding Stuff in Your Bible Can Be A Workout!
(but well worth your effort for the sake of others and self)
by Barrett Vanlandingham (October 18, 2007)

Did you ever wish you could find that scripture you were looking for, but you just couldn’t seem to track it down? It always seems to happen when you’re in a conversation and someone asks you a question. You know that feeling, don’t you? The one that makes you say to yourself, “Uh Oh. I wish I were better prepared.”
Well, this year I bought a new larger print Bible to replace my old smaller print Bible. Please, no jokes about getting older! But, I love the size of the words. The only problem is that its concordance is a lot smaller than in my old Bible. And let’s face it, we’re all human, and none of us has the entire Bible memorized. Even Jesus was handed the Scroll of Isaiah (Luke 4:14-20) to read, as opposed to reciting it from memory. I presume that without using his special powers, He had to read it just like the rest of us, although in many instances Jesus did recite scripture from memory.
So, last week I embarked upon a mission to transfer all my old notes and cross-references to my new Bible, and to mark my new Bible for any topic likely to come up in conversation, or any topic I’m likely to teach in a class or sermon to fulfill 1 Peter 3:15. And guess what? I’m STILL not finished. The fact is, I don’t think we ever get finished with such a worthy endeavor. But it is very much a project worth our time. We may never complete the task, but just think of all the things we will learn, and all the time our mind will spend thinking holy thoughts, and our actions demonstrating holy behavior (Matthew 16:24-27 and Ecclesiastes 12:14).
It’s kind of like the story of the weak and sickly man who had a dream that God told him to push against a giant boulder in order to get better. He loved pushing against the boulder because it gave him purpose. But, after months of pushing, the man became angry that the rock had not even moved one bit. Then, God reminded the man that he was only supposed to push against the rock, not move it. God told the man to look in the mirror, and to his surprise, he had grown muscular, and he realized that he hadn’t coughed or wheezed in months, and that he really did feel better. Improvement had taken place, just not with the boulder, but instead with the man.
We may never get our Bibles completely marked and have ready answers to every question by pushing our way through page after page of scripture. But we will find that our personal walk with God makes much more sense the more we understand the will of our Creator. Joy, even in the face of adversity will take up more and more space in our hearts which will overflow (Luke 6:43-45) and affect people around us. Also, the spiritual muscles we receive by exercising our minds with personal Bible study will leave us better prepared to answer those questions posed by others or ourselves.

I Trust You, Lord… I Think
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(September 20, 2007)

A young person recently wrote these words on a public diary on the internet: “I love God, I really do. I will never stop loving him. Do I trust him? That is where I am having a problem. I want to trust. I try so hard to not question. In the end I am only human.”
The following is some of what I wrote back: Trusting in the Lord is difficult at times because just we don't understand everything, yet. For instance, we really don’t have the full picture of what our life on earth will seem like after we get to heaven. Yes, we know heaven is a worthy goal, and we know life on earth is nothing compared to the joys of heaven. But because we’re human and not spirit, we really cannot comprehend our reward in relation to our struggles.
It's easy to read about trust in the Bible (Proverbs 3:5-6), “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
but living it is one of the most difficult challenges we face as Christians.
Lots of great men and women in the Bible had difficulty with trusting God:
1) Esther was afraid the king would kill her if she stood up for God's chosen people.
2) Gideon always wanted God to give him a sign that He was really with him.
3) Peter actually walked on water but then sank when he took his eyes off Jesus.
4) Sarah and Abraham laughed when God told them they would have a son at age 90 and 100.
5) Moses tried to talk God out of choosing him, and later got frustrated and struck the rock instead of speaking to it as he was commanded.
6) Thomas knew Jesus, and still doubted the Lord’s identity.
The list goes on. Don't you think Noah probably had some doubts as he built an ark for 100-years while people laughed at him? The people had never even experienced rain, and Noah was telling them the earth would be flooded.
Stories like these are written to help grow our faith (John 20:30-32). To this day, God places a rainbow in the sky to remind us that He always keeps his promises (Genesis 9:16). God is glorified in our weaknesses. It is only when we acknowledge dependence on God that we are at our strongest, spiritually. Everyday, we should look for ways that God takes care of us, and thank Him for it. God is good and loyal to us, even when we're not. He's worthy to be praised, He's worthy of our respect and loyalty. Some day, everything will make sense. The writer of 1 John 3:2-3 possibly struggled with issues of trust and doubt.
“2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
The fact is, if we believe in God at all, we must trust Him. We can either go through life’s struggles and into eternity with Him, or without. That is one choice we get to make.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Meteor Showers
This is only one of God’s finest hours
by Barrett Vanlandingham (August14, 2007)

What an amazing display of God’s creation over Fort Gibson early Monday morning. The Perseid meteor shower was there for all to see. My children and I were up at one-thirty in the morning to witness this natural light show that happens every year as the Earth passes through a comet, and we get to see little pieces of sparkling debris passing into the earth’s atmosphere. What a blessing! That was my first time to stay up and watch the spectacle. During a one hour period, my children and I ooooed and aaaawed as we saw about 25 shooting stars one at a time glowing through the night sky right above my backyard (and yours, too). As incredible as the site was, it’s even more inspiring to think about the fact that God’s creation of the meteor showers is barely a thimble-full of the breath-taking phenomenons listed on His resume (Genesis 1:16), and that even each star is unique. 1 Corinthians 15:41 says, “The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.”
It’s also important for us to remember to worship the Creator and not the creation. Deuteronomy 4:19 says, “And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.”
For thousands of years, people have fallen into worshiping God’s creations instead of God Himself. Angels, stars, the sun, moon, animals, and nature. Each of these things is spectacular in their own way. Jesus obviously saw great value in His creations as He even referred to Himself as “the bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16). But we as Christians must remember that none of these things deserves the respect and awe that our Creator (Genesis 1:26) deserves. After all, it is not God’s creation that offers us hope of eternal life, but rather God Himself. When it comes to important things in our lives, nothing glows more radiant than Jesus. Not sports, not jobs, not hobbies. Even our spouses and children are supposed to take a back seat to the importance of God in our lives. You see, when God is at the top of our priority list, everything else including family, jobs, hobbies, and sports will fall into place in just the right way. Jesus truly is our bright and Morning star.

Below: Pics of "rail grinder" re-surfacing train tracks in Fort Gibson on August 9, 2007. See bulletin article below.

Family Adventures in Fort Gibson
Can Lead to Meaningful Spiritual Conversations
by Barrett Vanlandingham (August 14)

Before last week, I had never heard of a rail grinder (back to that in a minute). But thanks be to God for His sense of humor and timeliness, a normal ole’ day out with my three children turned into something even more special. While my wife was getting her classroom ready at school, I took the kids (ages 14, 12, & 9) out for a day of adventure. I never know where we’ll wind up when we set out like this, but it’s always fun. We always run into something or someone interesting in Fort Gibson.
First, we went to the “Fort” area and toured around the Garrett house where the officer’s quarters were back in the 1800’s. It’s for sale. But since I can’t afford the $295,000 asking price, I decided to at least take some pictures of my kids on the front and back porch areas of the 7,000 square foot mansion and dream about how I would use this place for God if it were in my possession.
Then, went down the hill and across the tracks to the park and the old river bridge. Of course, if you read my previous article you know what I think of when I see bridges (Jesus is our support and bridge to heaven).
At some point while in the fort area things got really interesting. One of the kids said, “Here comes the train, let’s go take some pictures!” Yes, but it wasn’t the normal train that barrels through town. This one had two passenger cars, and about four other cars that I had never seen, and had tons of sparks flying out from under a couple of them. There were giant black metal protective flaps or shields attached to the sides just outside of the wheels. The next cars had huge sprinklers that appeared to cool down the rails and the areas on either side of the tracks. The caboose had a manned water sprayer on the back of it which appeared to be dousing any potential leftover sparks.
For a family of picture-taking fanatics, all of this was quite a spectacle, and made for some great photo ops as you can imagine. When the train stopped near the post office, we took that as an opportunity to find out exactly what they were doing. One worker who was shoveling dirt and rock away from the rails told us the train was a rail grinder. He said that rails have to maintain a certain shape in order for trains to continue running on them safely. He said that’s the job of the rail grinder. When you see the sparks coming out from under the train, the rail grinder is transforming the rails back into the shape they’re supposed to be.
For any Christian, it shouldn’t take a whole lot of creativity to see the spiritual applications here. In Romans 12:2a, the apostle Paul says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Jesus is our “Rail Grinder.” You see, life and all its stresses and burdens have a way of disfiguring our spiritual thought processes. The path we travel can become unsafe when we allow worldly influences to dictate what’s normal, chiseling away at our spiritual values. Satan spends a lot of time trying to convince us that things like gossip, malicious talking, drunkenness, gambling, marital unfaithfulness, fornication, unwise use of time, and even poor prayer and study habits are okay as long as we don’t let it go “too far.” I have one word to say to that: “What?!”
Here’s the bottom line, you know, where the “train meets the tracks.” We must become more dependent on Jesus to renew and re-shape our minds. It won’t happen automatically over time any more than the train tracks will re-shape themselves. Jesus is the only way this will ever happen. If we are to make it safely to heaven, we must have a relationship with Him that continually transforms us because of His grace through prayer, Bible study, and obedience by applying His truths to our lives. May God bless us all as we strive daily to find those teachable moments with our children and grandchildren, and let Jesus be our spiritual “Rail Grinder.”

Recent Bridge Tragedy Catches National Attention
But Demands Spiritual Inspection for Every Individual
by Barrett Vanlandingham (August 9, 2007)

Times of loss such as the recent bridge collapse in Minnesota often force many of us to conduct a spiritual inspection of sorts, just as engineers there are doing physical inspections to see what went wrong. Those people who perished in that accident had no warning of their impending deaths. That’s the way life’s end often comes.
I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between the bridge in question, versus our spiritual bridge. Jesus is our bridge. You see, we have no way of getting to our heavenly destination without Him.
. As Jesus spoke to some of His disciples in the Gospel of John 14 he was giving a brief description of heaven as he was reminding them to trust in God and to have hope in the place where He was going. One of his disciples, Thomas, said he didn’t know the way to where Jesus was going. But verse 6 says, “Jesus answered, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That’s also why we pray to God through the name of Jesus.
No matter how strong we build bridges, roads, buildings, and houses, things in this life are only temporary. Sooner or later, everything on earth will come to an end. Such will not be the case for the truths of our Savior. Matthew 24:35 quotes Jesus as saying, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
There are a lot of things in life that are not certain. Who of us could even take one single breath without God’s help? And if we could, who of us could create the elements necessary to create the air we breath? Who of us could take a single step without God’s power? And if we could, who of us could create the ground we walk on?
One thing is for sure: that if we follow Jesus’ teachings, we will gain a reward in heaven. I don’t know anyone else who has ever promised me the gift of eternal life in heaven besides God, and I don’t know of anyone else who can take me to God except His Son, Jesus.
Now, back to that spiritual bridge inspection. If your support beams seem a little rusty or stressed, it’s not Jesus who’s supporting you. It’s always good to take frequent looks at where your strength is coming from. If you are feeling burdened by life’s load, chances are, you may be trying to be your own support and your own bridge. I don’t know of anyone who can successfully carry themselves down life’s messy roads. But Jesus can carry us! His shoulders are plenty broad enough. In fact, just imagine yourself standing on one side of a valley, and heaven is on the other side. Now imagine a big wooden bridge connecting the two. Now look closer, and notice that the wooden bridge is actually the blood-stained cross that Jesus died on. What a bridge! What a support! (Romans 6:1-5, 1 John 1:7, John 14:6). And He did it for you and me. God bless you.

Hola! Time for a ministry update
by Barrett Vanlandingham

Hello, that is. As you know, I usually write a devotional thought for my bulletin article. But once or twice a year I think it’s fitting to give you an update of my family’s work here in Fort Gibson.
By the time you read this, I will very likely be headed to the “border.” I thank you all so much for allowing me and my family to minister to the families here in our congregation, in the community, and even across the U.S. border into Mexico. What a blessing it is to be able to raise a family in such a wonderful place as Fort Gibson. My 14-year old daughter, Ashton, and I are the only ones of my family who are going on the mission trip to Saltillo with our congregation’s team of 34. Ashton and I are very grateful to make this trip which is about four hours across the Mexican border. Lisa is staying home with the two younger ones. Gracie turned 12 in May and will get to go in a couple of years. 9-year old Britton is not very happy that he doesn’t get to go, but I guess his time will come soon enough. Lisa continues to enjoy teaching the pre-schoolers after having taken a quarter off to teach the 7th-9th grade girls Wednesday night class. The day after we return from Mexico on July 30, my family minus Gracie will be headed to mini-camp July 1-4 at Burnt Cabin for the 7-9 year olds. Gracie will be staying with grandparents while Lisa, Ashton, and I help staff Britton’s last year as a mini-camper.
After that, I have about a week to finish getting ready for the full-week at Burnt Cabin for those who’ve completed 6th-12th grades. Our theme for July 15-21 will be “Looking to Heaven in 2007. We will take a look at five things Jesus offers us that should keep our eyes looking to that heavenly goal.
Next, I will be speaking at Claremore’s summer series on July 25 on the topic of “What Jesus taught about the poor, hurting, and afflicted.” Then, the youth group will go to Chandler Road’s youth Rally.
After that, I have a few days to make final preparations for Junior Camp at Burnt Cabin for those who’ve completed 3rd-5th grades. Our theme for the August 5-8 Junior Camp will be LIFE, which stands for Love, Identity, Father, and Eternal life. We will be looking at the world’s version of how we should view ourselves, versus how God says we should view ourselves, and how special each child is because of Jesus.
After that, the next big thing is after school starts. On August 24-26, I will be taking a large group of teens to the high energy Jumpstart Youth Rally in Neosho, Missouri where the theme for the 1000-participant weekend is “Ignite.” The church there has asked me to be one of the Bible class teachers. I always look forward to taking the kids to Jumpstart.
Our house is open every Thursday all summer from 7-9pm for teens to come by for an indepth Bible study, question and answers, and prayer time. Also, every Sunday night this summer we will have devotionals in various homes. There are six “Fun Days at the Farm” on the calendar. These have been a blast so far... Three for teens, and three for 3rd-5th grades. We go to Vanlandingham Farms in Tahlequah to ride horses, go fishing, play basketball, softball, and croquet, and have lunch.
Other than that… it’s a pretty quiet summer, ha. Thanks again for the continual encouragement in so many ways, the thoughtful notes, kind words, and smiles. You are truly a wonderful church family for my family to be a part of.

Teaching the Bible: A Worthy Calling
Are you willing?
by Barrett Vanlandingham (April 26, 2007)

The following are words to a song I wrote that express thankfulness to all of those who dedicate their lives to teaching children… and yes, those who taught us when we were children.
What a privilege it is to even have the same title as those teachers I remember from my childhood. Each of us owes a debt of gratitude to those who were the first to teach us about creation, and the great stories of Noah, Ruth, Jonah, Esther, Gideon, Moses, Elijah, and Abraham… just to name a few characters from the 39 books of the Old Testament.
And what would our lives be like if someone hadn’t taught us stories from the 27 New Testament books… stories about people like the twelve ordinary men Jesus chose to be His apostles, stories about Jesus’ life as a young boy all the way through to the beginning of His ministry, stories of His agonizing journey to the cross, and the greatest story of all… when Jesus overcame death, and returned to His Father to prepare us a place in heaven to live for eternity.
The will of God revealed in His word, delivered by teachers is something to be thankful for, and something that should inspire others to want to teach children, too.
Romans 10:15b “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
The song begins by looking into the eyes of children.

A Teacher’s Song (BV, April 1996)

You look into their eyes and see His wondrous creation.
They’re looking to you for what they need, but only He can give. (to chorus)

They call it the Great Commission, to “go into all the world.”
It starts here at home, teaching the little ones, to grow up strong. (to chorus)

A teacher's job is never done. There's always more to do.
You finish one task, then starts another one. It seems it's all on you. (to chorus)

Those same little children, you taught long ago, are grown up and teaching too.
Though years have flown by, it feels good inside, to know God worked in you.(to chorus)

So, thank you teachers, for what you do, for showing us the way.
For teaching God’s word, week after week, in what you do and say. (to chorus)

(chorus) So Lord, please speak through me, and do what is Your will.
For those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.

Listening to God’s Voice
What would Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego say today?
by Barrett Vanlandingham (March 29, 2007)

Fort Gibson is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, but even here, there's probably not a sin under the sun that hasn't been committed. In a lost and broken world where the prince of this world (aka: the prince of darkness) thrives on alcohol abuse, gambling addictions, marital unfaithfulness, dishonesty, the love of money, cultural peer pressure, or maybe spending too much time with our hobbies and not enough time with our families and with God, it is more important than ever for us to pay close attention to what God is trying to tell us. Most of us have faced or currently face spiritual challenges and temptations that seem larger than life. The question of “Who do we listen to?” during those times plays an important role in our quality of life here on earth, as well as our eternal destiny.

Setting the Stage
The Bible text: Daniel 3. It was about 607 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar set up an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide.
The Order?
Everyone in Babylon must worship the great image everytime the king’s royal music was played throughout the land. The king expected everyone, including Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who had been taken captive from Jerusalem to serve in the king’s palace, to bow down to the golden image.
The Consequences?
For those who didn’t bow down, they would immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.
The Problem? (at least for the king)
…is that those three young men being held captive for service to the king, were dedicated to God, and would not bow down to the golden image when they heard the sounds of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other music.

The Outcome?
As is always the case, God’s people won! Yes, the three were thrown into the fire, but God saved them.

What would Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego say today?
The application is simply that no matter what our culture is telling us, we must listen to God, and serve Him only. Did the three young men get cold chills when they heard the music? If they were human, I’m sure they did. Who would not get at least a few butterflies? They certainly knew how they would stick out when they just went about their business when the music was played, while everyone else was bowing to the statue. I think the young men would remind us today that like every good habit, serving God takes practice. They had already proven that by eating a simple diet of vegetables instead of the king’s royal food, they would look healthier and better nourished than others who were also captured for service to the king. I think the three would also tell us to stand firm in God’s word no matter how the world turns up the heat on us. People may make fun of Christians and their beliefs, but in the end, the Bible points out that the reward is much greater than the persecution. May we all renew our commitments to God daily as we continue to face challenges in this life.

Who do you listen to when there’s so many choices?
Your decision has eternal significance.
by Barrett Vanlandingham (March 08, 2007)

Recently, at Detour Zone (after school program for 6th-12th graders), I noticed how captivated a roomful of teenagers had become by just listening to each other’s ring tones on their cell phones. Some of the ring tones they have downloaded through the internet and from each other’s cell phones are “pretty interesting.” Everything from the sound of laughing babies, to the screech of a rock-n-roll guitar, to the clucks of chickens can be used as a ring tone. The more bizarre the sound, the more laughs you get from your friends when your cell phone rings. All of this started me to thinking about spiritual applications, since the world is full of sounds competing for our ears’ attention.
Matthew 13:1-9 tells the story of a farmer who was sowing seed. Some of it fell on hard ground where birds ate it up, some on rocky ground where the plants were scorched because of shallow roots, some on thorny soil which caused the plants to be choked out, and some on good soil which resulted in a very successful crop. Then Jesus said, “He who has ears, let him hear.” In this story, it’s easy to tell which soil (or life) was turned out the best… the one that accepted the message.
Jesus has given the same New Testament message to us for nearly two-thousand years. The question today is whether we are listening to the voice of truth, or to the messages being sent by the world. It can be confusing as Christians living in the world, yet being separate from it. It’s not an impossible task at all if we keep our ears in tune with the Gospel message of Jesus and the salvation He brings. It’s a irresistible message that we must help Jesus deliver to all.
Luke 10:38-41 tells the story of Jesus and his disciples visiting the home of Mary and her sister Martha. Preparations had to be made for the guests, but Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to what he had to say. This didn’t go over very well with Martha who was busy getting things ready… and when Martha asked Jesus to tell her sister to start helping out, Jesus wouldn’t do it because he said Mary had made a better choice. What this means to me and you is that we need to constantly re-evaluate what’s important in life. Sometimes, we get so bogged down in the daily stresses of life and meeting deadlines, we forget about the importance of listening to what Jesus is trying to tell us in his word.
In Luke 10:16, Jesus had just chosen 72 people to go ahead of him to every town and place he was about to go. He told them, “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” It’s so important for us to realize the consequences of not accepting and applying God’s word. True hearing, just like true believing, involves obedience, not just the accumulation of knowledge. God knows the difference.
1 John 4:1-6 echoes this thought, and states further that whoever knows God listens to God’s message, while those who are from the world do not. This becomes extremely important in light of what 1 Peter 3:12 has to say about who God listens to… “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
May God bless us all as we strive to hear Godly messages in a noisy world.

Good to the Last Drop... Jesus
by Barrett Vanlandingham

As I was brewing my morning coffee, a commercial jingle from probably thirty years ago wafted through my mind like the aroma I was taking in at the moment. As the deadline for my bulletin article was fast approaching, I couldn’t help but make the connection between a fresh pot of coffee and... Jesus. Do you remember the saying, "Good to the last drop?" It is certainly one of the most successful advertising campaigns ever.
Jesus is also "good to the last drop." In our world today, there are so many uncertainties. By that, I mean people, places, and things you cannot depend on. There is, however, someone you can always depend on... no matter how confused our culture becomes. That someone is Jesus. You never have to wonder whether he has changed his mind on anything. The answer is always no. He is the ultimate constant in the life of every Christian. He is an eternal compass because he always points us in the right direction. You never have to wonder whether he still loves us. The answer is always yes.
In coffee talk, Jesus is...
1) the most satisfying blend. He is the Savior to all kinds of people.
2) the perfect roast. He stayed on earth long enough to experience every temptation.
3) the richest aroma. Just one whiff and your eyes are opened to a whole new life.
4) the smoothest brew. He never changes and always tastes the same.
5) the boldest flavor. He lived with confidence and wants us to do the same.
6) the best ground. His word gives us everything we need. Not too much; not too little.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, thank you for indulging in this article anyway. I guess the most important lesson that any of us could gain from this little exercise, is simply that lessons about Jesus can be found anywhere if you will just look for them. So, why not sip a cup of creativity today and think about ways of including Jesus in everything you think, say, and do.

Holding Unswervingly
by Barrett Vanlandingham

It may have been a beautiful day today (Wednesday) weather-wise, but memories of the ice-storms of 2007 still linger in our minds. And for me, a wealth of spiritual applications have also stuck in my mind in the same way the freezing rain stuck to the roads, power lines, and trees.
One morning on my way to the church building, I re-discovered some things about winter driving: 1) Ice should always be respected. It never pays to be over-confident in your driving abilities. 2) Never have the attitude that you are all-knowing when it comes to sensing exactly the location of all those slick spots that can cause your car to be thrown off track. 3) Keep plenty of space between your car and everyone else's by thinking ahead.
So what does this have to do with our spiritual lives? 1) The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:12 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" Sometimes, we forget just how sneaky the devil really is in his ability to cause us to sin. There's nothing that makes satan happier than spotting someone who thinks they have it all figured out.
2) Arrogance opens the door to many opportunities to fall hard. The mature Christian knows to remain humble, no matter how much Bible knowledge he or she has attained. In other words, it always pays to be on the lookout for "ole Scratch" himself, since he has seemingly countless demons in his army with which to wage a war of evil against good. Remember, God always provides us a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
3) We as Christians sometimes like to ride the fence in matters of faith. We often think that as long as whatever we are doing, thinking, saying, or feeling isn't technically a sin, then it must be okay. In other words, let's just live as close to the edge as possible. But, it's good to keep more than a little distance between you and trouble. This makes it easier to stay on the right path when we are in constant fellowship with God and our Christian brothers and sisters (1 John 1:7).
May God bless each of us as we strive to travel on the pathway of righteousness, and “Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:27)

Lessons from Nature
by Barrett Vanlandingham

It is amazing how God’s written word and God’s creation are a reflection of each other. Take for instance lessons on unity. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 teaches about the advantages of teamwork when it comes to getting a job done, and when it comes to taking care of each other when times get tough. Verse 12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
We’ve all seen firsthand the devastation that has taken place because of the ice-storm. Even trees that had been there for 100-years were no match for the freezing rain. But look closely at the picture below taken by Terry Hackworth. It’s a grove of tall pine trees planted and grown closely together. Despite the fact that many other strong and beautiful trees which stood nearby, proud and alone, were destroyed, these trees were able to bear the burden. What made the difference here? Unity.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” You see, when we help each other, good things happen. Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us that service leads to unity, and that unity leads to spiritual maturity, and that maturity brings us closer to the fullness of Christ. Verse 14 says, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” We learn here that making the mistake of unifying under the doctrines of men inevitably leads to a spiritual shipwreck. Let us all strive to follow the one and only Gospel (Galatians 1:6) and as we keep the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3).

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
Psalm 96:12b

New Year’s
Resolution or Revolution?
by Barrett Vanlandingham (December 28, 2006)

Resolution---a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent.
Revolution---the overthrow or renunciation of a ruler or government.

New Year’s resolutions may be a step in the right direction for those of us wanting to quit a bad habit or change a lifestyle. But if we were really serious about making behavioral changes, we would probably consider making New Year’s revolutions instead of resolutions. The promises we make at the beginning of a new year should set us on a straighter spiritual course. This is going to require that we trade in our worldly thinking, in exchange for Godly thinking... a true revolution... or an action that closes our life’s door on the devil, and opens it to a wonderful relationship with the Ruler of all... our Creator... Jehovah God. True peace and joy can only come when we choose to walk only on God’s path, keeping our eyes fixed on Him, instead of taking our eyes off the prize only to find ourselves sinking in the consequences of pleasing our worldly appetites. No longer can our decisions be based on what other people think or even on what we think; but instead, on what God thinks. Before making decisions, we must ask ourselves, "Is it Biblical? Does scripture give a specific answer either for or against it?" Here are some passages that will help us with our decision making in the coming year:

1. Would Jesus do it? If He wouldn’t do it, then you shouldn’t either. We Christians no longer live, but Christ lives in us. Galatians 2:20.
2. Will it bring glory to God? Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31.
3. Can it be done in the name of the Lord Jesus? Colossians 3:17.
4. Is it coming from selfish or unselfish motives? 1 Corinthians 4:5. Sometimes we don’t receive things we pray for because of wrong motives. James 4:3.
5. Is it a wise use of my time? Ephesians 5:16 and John 9:4.
6. Will it cause me or others to have thoughts that are not pure, lovely, and excellent? Philippians 4:8; Avoid evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22.
7. Is it constructive and beneficial? 1 Corinthians10:23-24.
8. Is it a first priority for me as a Christian? Matthew 6:33.

Where Are You?
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(December 14, 2006)

The close of another year. It’s always a good time to reflect. If someone were to ask you the question “Where are you?”, most of us would probably answer something to the effect of... “I’m sitting here... standing there... going to school here... working there.” But for the Christian, life is about much more than what’s going on here in this world. Our emotions, environment, financial situation, and whatever else do not dictate the most important part of the answer to “Where are you?”
Think about the old song: Walking Down Heaven’s Road; and then read what Jesus said in the book of Matthew 7:13-14.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Who are the few? Those who look like good people?
The answer is… Faithful Christians. In John 14:15, Jesus said… “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, “ Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Are you on the wide road that leads to destruction? Or the narrow road that leads to life? There are only two roads. You have to choose one… or the other. Which one will it be? We all want a life in heaven. But do we really understand what this means for us while we are still on earth? Even though the narrow road that leads to heaven is filled with the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22): Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… it often puts you at odds with the world. In other words… you will often find yourself in direct conflict with what other people in the world see as normal or acceptable. We all need some time to have fun or wind down from a long day or a long week… God created us in His image… and that includes our desire to laugh and live life to the fullest. But even fun and social activities need to be done in moderation with Christ-like attitudes… otherwise, we wouldn’t have time to love God, and love others which are the two greatest commands, much less find time to serve others like Jesus told us to in John 13:15 after He washed the feet of His disciples.
Galatians 5:25 says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” So, where are you, today? Are you where you need to be when Christ comes back for that final judgment? Have your words, your actions, and your thoughts helped you stay in step with God’s Spirit today? If not, why not turn loose of your burden or whatever is separating you from the love of God which is only found in Christ Jesus.


Taking Time for God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(November 30, 2006)

What a blessing it is to be in Christ. Why? Because being in Christ allows us access to God, and time alone with God. Even in the midst, or shall I say Especially in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle, Isaiah’s words in 40:31 are as relevant today as they were in 760 B.C.
"Yet those who wait for the LORD
will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles;
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary."
Are you struggling with sins of the mouth? Take time for God.
Are you struggling in a relationship? Take time for God.
Are you struggling with an addiction? Take time for God.
Are you struggling in your faith? Take time for God.
Are you struggling with your identity (who you are, and what you stand for)? Take time for God.
Are you struggling with your self-esteem? Take time for God.
Are you struggling with your priorities? Take time for God.
You see, when we take time FOR God, we are taking time AWAY from world and its effects on us. The MORE time we spend with God, the LESS time we will even want to spend catering to the cares of the world and our own selfish ambition (Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition...).
The Apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote these inspired words from Philippians 1:6.
"being confident of this,
that He who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus."
Let’s face it (either now or later)... the love of God is irresistible and worthy. Will you take time for Him today?

God’s Greatness
in our weakness
by Barrett Vanlandingham (November 2, 2006)
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." When God said those words to the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, that is probably not the response Paul was hoping for when he asked God to take away his thorn in the flesh. Nevertheless, verse 10 says that Paul learned to delight in life’s difficulties for the sake of Christ.
None of us likes to feel as though we are weak or lowly, but God can use all of us in very special ways. This was a very important message that Paul was bringing to the church at Corinth beginning in 1 Corinthians 1:26. In the 1st century when social classes were highly emphasized, Paul’s message was one of hope and comfort. You see, our God is mightier than any political leader, any warrior, any person of wealth, and any social class.
The job of being God or of having ultimate power is already taken by our Lord. There are no job openings in the Blessed Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, God does want to work in our lives, and He desires a relationship with us as we faithfully serve Him in our worship, and as we serve others to His glory. The fact that we have things wrong with us physically, emotionally, or any other way makes it possible for God to be glorified even more.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 tells us that Paul was not a good speaker (yet God spoke through him).
Exodus 4:10 tells us that Moses was not a good speaker. (but God used him to communicate with Pharaoh and to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery).
Judges 6:14-17 tells us that God used Gideon and 300 soldiers to defeat 120-thousand Midianites, even though Gideon’s clan of Manasseh was the weakest, and he was the least in the family.
2 Timothy 1:7-12 tells us that God did not give Christians a spirit of timidity when it comes to serving and testifying about our Lord.
Ephesians 4:11 tells us that we are each created with special talents that we can put to work for God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that as Christians, we are a new creation, and that the old self is put away.
May God help us to be confident that He can use us, even when we sometimes feel that our talents are not as great as others’. Remember, even though the world has all kinds of ideas about how we should gauge success and self-worth, a life of Christian service is the greatest life possible here on earth; and it will lead to the greatest life beyond imagination in the life to come. To all fellow citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), keep running the good race. God promises victory for those found faithful (Rev. 2:10). The prize will be like none other.

Don’t be Tricked by Imitations
by Barrett Vanlandingham(October 19, 2006)
As the season reveals fall colors, and costumes conceal identities of candy-seeking kiddos,
I couldn’t help but make the connection with a trick of sorts that happened to me this week.
I received an e-mail that told a very heartwarming story about the importance of spending
time with your children, and then it made a very desperate plea for each of the mail
recipients to forward the mail on to several others so that AOL (an internet company) would
send 32-cents per e-mail to the needy family to pay their daughter’s hospital bill.
As it turned out, I happened to know the family, so I called and found out that
nothing in the letter was true. It was a hoax... bogus... a TRICK... and had been
circulating for about a year. They don’t know who started it, and they can’t seem to get it stopped.
A similar thought comes to mind when I think about New Testament Christianity. It was only about 15-20 years after Jesus’ crucifixion that Paul wrote a letter to the churches in Galatia.
Galatians 1:6-7 says, "6. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7. which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."
There are all kinds of imitations out there when it comes to matters of faith. We would all do well to not get caught up in their trickery. There is one act of imitating, however, to which we are supposed to pay considerable attention. Ephesians 5:1 says, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children." The Apostle Paul also talks quite a bit about imitating him as he imitates Christ (1 Cor. 11:1; 4:16), and he also mentions that the church in Thessalonica "became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 2:14) In fact, a big part of Christian life is setting a Godly example for others to follow.
(1 Peter 2:12, 21; 1 Peter 4:4-5; Philippians 1:27; Romans 12:17; 1 Timothy 4:12) There is no room for cheap imitations in following Christ. Jesus is the "Real Deal", and our salvation was purchased at the highest price... the life of our Savior.
God’s Word makes it clear that choosing to avoid the world’s cheap imitations of a joyful lifestyle will be more than worth it in the end, even though the world will heap abuse and insults on you. But those who choose to oppose God’s plan for the Christian life "will have to give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (1 Peter 4:1-5, 14)


Every Knee Shall Bow
by Barrett Vanlandingham (October 5, 2006)
Sometimes when life seems to be moving a little fast, a bit of re-focusing can go a long way. The world has tried (somewhat successfully) to move our hearts away from what’s really important: submitting fully to the will of our heavenly Father. Our strength, our hope, and our minds need daily renewal (ref: Isaiah 40:31; Romans 12:2).
In Isaiah 45:22-25 the Lord says this: "22. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked; Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24. They will say of me, "In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength." All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. 25. But in the Lord all the descendarnts of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."
Things to Think About...
It’s so nice to be reminded that 2700 years later (since the time Isaiah was written), WE who are in the Lord ARE those descendants of Israel. But here are some questions: Do we really show by our words and our deeds that we live as one who bows before the throne of God? Are our priorities such that we can truly say, "In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength?" Do we really believe "there is no other" God? If so, then why do so many other things get in the way of our commitment to Him?
So What Now?
As the Hebrew writer said, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (12:1b) Let us lay our crowns at Jesus feet and cry holy! Then, when all is done, let us all be able to confidently kneel before the Father; let us know without a doubt that we have lived a life worthy of our calling in Jesus Christ; let us know without a doubt that God will find us righteous and will see fit to lift us up from our knees, and bring us home with all of the other faithful, where our Father will give us a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

Pirate Christians
by Barrett Vanlandingham (September 21, 2006)
We are the pirates we don’t do anything.
We just stay at home, and lie around.
And if you ask us, to do anything,
we’ll just tell you, we don’t do anything.
The above chorus is part of a silly kids’ non-sensical song about the attitude of pirate want-to-be’s; it’s also a sad example of how some people try to live their Christian lives... so afraid of sinning, or maybe just lazy, they just choose to not do anything... just like pirates.
Think about this: In 2 Thessalonians 3:6, the apostle Paul says, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. Why does Paul say this? It’s because Christians are not supposed to lie around and do nothing. Idleness leads nowhere good fast, and bad company corrupts good character. (ref: 1 Cor. 15:33)
Ephesians 4:15-16 says, "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Our time will be filled with something. The devil wins if we willingly sin, or even if we do nothing at all to serve Christ. In Colossians 4, Paul tells Christians to devote themselves to prayer so that doors may be opened for the gospel to be proclaimed clearly. Other things Christians can spend time doing? Serving others; setting a good example; keeping a tight rein on our speech; reading our Bible; applying the knowledge we gain from Bible study.
In Matthew 28:18-20, The last thing Jesus said before He went back to His Father is known as the Great Commission. He asked us to "Go" and make disciples... baptize them... and teach them to obey everything He has commanded us. And then He makes a promise based on our obedience: "And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."
The example Jesus set for us while he was here was one of action, not idleness. The same can be said of those who followed Him. Many of them even died for Him. Therefore, the same attitude of action should be seen in all Christians who "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." (Philippians 2:12-13) Today, let’s all pray for opportunities to let God work through us as we honor Him with our lives.

Spotting a Spiritual Fraud
by Barrett Vanlandingham (September 7, 2006)
Apparently our youth are informed enough to spot a spiritual fraud when they see one.
I was encouraged recently that when a guest speaker at the Jumpstart Youth Rally in Neosho, Missouri asked a crowd of 700 kids including some of our own, "How many of you have seen the movie The Da Vinci Code?" only a very few hands went up. I found this to be hilarious because the theme of the rally was "The Divine Code" which was supposed to help kids combat the false and fictional teachings in The Da Vinci Code (such as the question of whether Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and even had children). As it turned out, most of the kids at the rally hadn’t even seen the movie. Still, we all need to press forward in being able to defend our faith, and understand why we believe what we believe.
1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," (our 7th-8th graders explored proofs for 6 mo. prior to the rally)
I hope my conclusions aren’t too optimistic. But I found humor and hope in the fact that at least 99-percent of the kids in that auditorium were not interested in paying money to see a fictional movie that attempts to erode true Biblical teachings. Still, the youth rally was a huge success by all accounts: the singing, the food, fellowship, and concert were great... the speakers did an excellent job of exploring the identity of Jesus. Was He a Liar? a Looney? or a Lord? Our youth are now informed at least a little more about why we can be confident that Jesus really is who He and others say He is, our Lord!... and that the words of the Bible really are true and inspired by God. There were also classes aimed at helping youth apply these facts to issues they struggle with in their daily lives such as dealing with worldly comedy, music, tv, movies, and internet that are likely more of a threat to our children than The Da Vinci Code.
We had 7 high schoolers make the trip (Josh Huggins, Katie Coombes, Zak Kelley, Robby Branscum, Mallory Jameson, Chase Hardin, and Tara Richey), 7 middle schoolers (Lance Bradley, Ashton Vanlandingham, Nana Wallace, Levi Dause, Lauran Murray, Boomer Brown, and Ashlee Townsend), 5 sponsors, and 3 underage sponsors’ children. A BIG thanks to Rob Wallace, Tonya Wallace, Lisa Vanlandingham, and Jackie Jameson for helping chaperone during the Jumpstart trip.
As a side note, a big thanks to Jenny West for helping Joyce Burdine, Mary Burton, Paula Fontenot, and Nancy Steveson with Detour Zone this week (30 attended). Also thanks to Gary and Kelly Cook, Lisa V, Rhonda Branscum, and Jenny for helping at last week’s 5th Quarter fellowship after the game (60 attended).

Jesus Blessed Jesus
by Barrett Vanlandingham (August 24, 2006)

For me, there is not a more encouraging song than "The Great Physician." Four inspiring verses... each ending in the chorus "Sweetest carol ever sung, Jesus, blessed Jesus. These great words were penned nearly 150 years ago by William Hunter in 1859.
Have you thought about it lately? I mean have you really thought about the perfection of Jesus Christ... the fact that He has the ultimate power, but yet He can relate to each one of us, no matter what our age, income level... no matter what our illness, or aches and pains. Jesus understands. He truly is "The Great Physician." Not only can He celebrate with us, and cry with us because He lived for us, died for us, and was raised for us! (Eph.1:18-20) He can also heal, console, guide, and offer us a greater reward for our obedience than we can possibly imagine.
Jesus, Blessed Jesus! Amen?
Jesus is quoted as saying this in Luke 4:18... "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
In this passage, it becomes very obvious to me that there is a direct link between God’s Spirit living in us, and our willingness as Christians to have a servant-heart like that of Jesus Christ... a heart that looks out for the spiritual well-being of those in humble circumstances.
Think about where Jesus was before He came to earth... difficult to imagine, isn’t it? (John 1:1) But for Christ, the Son of God, to leave His home in heaven to come and live with the likes of us for 33-years, knowing we would eventually crucify Him (Isaiah 53), can you even begin to comprehend the love He must have felt for the men and women He created, and the never-ending selflessness He must have possessed in order to follow through with His decision to save us? So when we think of it that way... any song, poem, sermon, lesson, illustration, thought, word, action, or deed that portrays the indescribable attitude of Jesus really is the "Sweetest carol ever sung."
His power fed, healed, and saved people by the thousands in the first century even though his actions and results ran counter to worldly logic. In that regard, not a lot has changed in 2000 years. And thank the Lord that He also has not changed in 2000 years. We can depend on Him as a constant... to guide us safely home, even when the world continues to try to show us a happier life... and even during our darkest moments when God seems so far away. Remember, Jesus knows what that feels like, too. That’s why He will always be Jesus, Blessed Jesus. Love Him today, serve Him today, obey Him today, live with Him forever.

So Now What Do We Do?
by Barrett Vanlandingham

Our summer series based on the book "Honesty, Morality, and Conscience" by Jerry White challenged us in many ways. We dug into questions of how to stay true to God while at home, at work, with friends, with family, as a student, with yourself, and in any other areas of our lives. We explored what the Bible has to say about those issues as they relate to morals, cheating, lying, our example, and who we really are. One of the most eye-opening thoughts I ran across in my studies on these matters became my opening statement: "Sinning wouldn’t be so popular if its wages were paid immediately." A big thanks to whoever came up with that. This is a reference to Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..."
As with any good series of lessons, seminar, church camp, mission trip, or Gospel meeting, the challenge is always to apply what we learn. I guess the fact that oftentimes old sayings are true... are how they become old sayings. For instance, our prayerful plea that we might "apply to our lives the lesson we learned today."
So, now what do we do? Will we actually put into practice what we’ve learned about honesty, morality, and conscience? We have a responsibility as Christians to grow spiritually, not just in our knowledge of God’s Word, but also how we apply it.
2 Peter 1: 5-8 says this regarding God’s promise that we can escape corruption in the world by participating in His divine nature:
"5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Let us each prayerfully live out our lives honoring God in the ways we obey Him and love each other (two points from Dan’s sermon). Let us open our eyes to what God’s Word tells us in James 4:14...
"Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. "
When your time comes to vanish away, your opportunity for decision-making will be over. Romans 14:12 tells us... "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." No excuses, no covering up, no dishonesty will be able to change our destiny when we each kneel before God (ref. Rom. 14:11). Stay strong in the faith!

Burnt Cabin Summary
by Barrett Vanlandingham (July 27, 2006)

Well, another camp session has come and gone. But the seeds that were sown are already growing. God blessed our week with nine baptisms: Tuesday - Zane Cook and Kevin Cook of Fort Gibson... Wednesday - Taylor Potts and Kayla Potts of Charleston, Arkansas, and Nick Curry and Ashley Tevebaugh of Gore ... Thursday - Sara Swayze and Mercedes Boling of Gore... Saturday - Amy Kehr of Sand Springs. After camp was over, Bubba Dickens and Nathan Baker of Gore were baptized Sunday morning at Lake Road Church of Christ; and at the South Walker Church of Christ in OKC, Amber Rey (aka Elmo) and her older sister Alex were baptized Sunday morning. Reaching for Higher Ground was our theme this year. Our theme song was as follows:

Reaching for Higher Ground
(verse 1) A broken world... has nothing to offer me.
Even thought I’ve tried... to find happiness down here. (repeat verse)
(chorus) So Lord, I’m reaching... for higher ground.
Lord, I’m reaching... for higher ground.
Where the streets are made of gold... Where it’s never too hot nor cold.
Lord, I’m reaching for higher ground.
(verse 2) The friends I have... they mean the world to me.
But the Lord, my God... gives me hope for eternity. (repeat verse)
(chorus) So Lord, I’m reaching... for higher ground.
Lord, I’m reaching... for higher ground.
Where we’ll see our Father’s face... Where we’ll live in our Savior’s grace.
Lord, I’m reaching... for higher ground.
Lord, I’m reaching... for higher ground.

Listen to this song at
www.ftgchurchofchrist.com
(follow the Burnt Cabin link)

2006 Burnt Cabin Awards
Director’s Award
Rachel Elliott / Josh Huggins
Fort Gibson

Courtney Keese
Servant Heart Award
Kelsey Hackworth - Moore

Model Jr Girl
Paige Parker - Fort Gibson

Model Intermediate Girl
Ashley Tevebaugh - Gore

Model Sr Girl
Teena Henry - Morris

Model Jr. Boy
Tevin Taylor - OKC

Model Intermediate Boy
Trey Lashley - Fort Gibson

Model Sr Boy
Kyle Lashley - Fort Gibson

Best Jr Girl Bible Student
Emily Farris - Colcord

Best Intermediate Girl Bible Student
Tillisha Gray - Tahlequah

Best Sr Girl Bible Student
Tara Richey - Fort Gibson

Best Jr Boy Bible Student
Todd Waters - Fort Gibson

Best Intermediate Boy Bible Student
Nick Murray - Gore

Best Sr Boy Bible Student
Luke Hollen - Sand Springs

Royalty
(voted on by campers)
Queen - Amanda Frost - Fort Gibson
King - Tyler Cook - Fort Gibson
Princess - Keely Richey - Fort Gibson
Prince - Kacy Cook - Fort Gibson
Duchess - Chelsey Mead - Fort Gibson
Duke - Jordan Yaws - Oregon

Canteen Time at Mini Camp
July 13, 2006
by Barrett Vanlandingham

As I watched the mini-campers (ages 7-10) line up for a snack at canteen, and for meals at the mess hall last week, I couldn’t help but think of this passage from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:6)...
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
How beautiful it was to see all of those little faces living out the same scenes that we read about in the above passage and also in chapters 14 and 15 (the feeding of the 4000 and 5000).
The children at camp may have thought they were only in line for a much deserved snack; but in reality God was using good fun, good fellowship, and good memories to fit into an overall plan to fill their hunger and thirst for righteousness. May we as mature Christians always be prepared to "serve up" spiritual meals and snacks when opportunities arise. Barrett

Summer Passing Quickly
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 6, 2006

Hola Everyone! That’s "Hello" in Spanish. All 24 of us had a great time on the eight day Monterrey, Mexico trip June 24-July1. With God’s help, we accomplished a good bit at three different sites where we helped construct church buildings for small congregations that already have preachers. We met a lot of really nice people from the local churches like 68-year old Lupe’, who worked with us everyday; and then there was 15-year old Abraham and 11 year old Favian, who were both favorites of the kids. We were happy to come back home, and very happy to see the American flag waving us back in at the border. I will leave details of the trip to our Missions Deacon Glen Elliott, who will give a report this coming Sunday night.
This week (July 5-8), Lisa and I are "mini-camping" at Burnt Cabin (about 90 kids ages 7-10) along with Jenna Arnett, Paula Fontenot, Gean Hackworth, and many other staffers from other towns. The camp ends Saturday after a lunch banquet and awards assembly that parents who sign upon the first day are invited to be a part.
I will spend July 9-14 as close to the office as possible finishing up getting ready for Fort Gibson’s week of Burnt Cabin. And then a week after that it’s off to Saint Louis for a youth rally and Six Flags. I will give a full report on those events after they happen.
I would like to let each of you know how much I appreciated your support of the youth ministry here in Fort Gibson. I thoroughly enjoy every ministry opportunity inside and outside of the church that I am fortunate enough to be a part. Thank you.
Kenny Lashley and I wrote a song on the way back from Mexico that tells the story of our group’s dirt leveling, block laying, cement work, and relationships that made the trip even more special. Maybe we can sing it for you sometime.
Monterrey
The boards and the cords, we used on the floor, helped our amigos worship the Lord.
The dirt we tossed, so no souls will be lost; Jesus’ blood will cover the cost.
Cement was poured; the blocks were laid, so beautiful music could be made.
The forms torn down; the walls went up, as God’s gentle breeze would fill our cup.
The old gentle man, with blood, sweat, & tears, we worked side by side, with children & cheers.
Like manna from heaven that fell from above, they prepared food with hands that were so full of love.
[Chorus] Monterrey, Monterrey. We see Jesus, in Monterrey. (2X)

Marked for Life!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 22, 2006

It was a "Baaaaad Monday", at least if you were a goat on the Branscum farm this week. It was time to tattoo the "kids" (AKA baby goats, just to avoid confusion and rumors of scandal; just "kidding"). Anyway, each goat underwent an ear-pinching and ink-marking process that left an identifiable green number on the inside of its ear that helps prove origin.
Christian "kids" as well as all of us older "goats" are also marked for life in an inward way that helps us prove our origin. Acts 2:37 tells us that the early Christians were "cut to the heart" upon hearing the story of Jesus and the lengths He went to give us hope of salvation. We’re told in the very next verse of an incredible gift that God gives to those who are baptized believers. It’s the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s a gift that marks us for life, making us different than we were (1 Peter 2:9). It’s a gift that labels us in a way that helps others recognize us as God’s chosen people.
We are marked with characteristics that belong to God... AKA The Fruit of the Spirit: love joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Peter reminds us that we should possess Christian virtues in increasing measure to prevent us from becoming unproductive in our knowledge (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Even though Christian virtues are internal markings of a Christian, Matthew records Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount saying that the qualities that make Christians special cannot stay hidden inside. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16).
In the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25:31-46, the goats are pictured on judgement day as the unsaved on Jesus’ left. The reason they are unsaved is because either they were not marked with Christian virtues, or possibly they were marked, but chose to not allow God’s Spirit to transform them into obedient sheep with a heart for serving others, and thereby serve Christ (v. 45).
Let us all remember that even though we were created in God’s image, we are nothing but hopeless goats unless we earmark our lives for commitment to following our loving Shepherd who we will most certainly bow before someday... marked or unmarked.

Frauds, Fakes, & Fumes
by Barrett Vanlandingham (June 8, 2006)

A gas pump in Doylestown, Pennsylvania recently sold fuel for 32.9 cents a gallon, at least until an upstanding citizen noticed the decimal point was in the wrong spot. Meanwhile, a “miracle” pill you’re supposed to put into your gas tank to increase your gas mileage by 15 to 35 percent is reportedly turning out to be a fraud. No one could have seen that one coming! Ha.
Let’s face it. We all like a good deal. But most things that appear to be too good to be true really are just that. Cons who are out to make a quick dime are nothing new. Scripture says that God detests those who are deceptive. Psalm 5:6 speaks of them as “bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.”
It happens in religion, too. Paul describes fast-talking “super-apostles” in 2 Corinthians 11 who offer a different spirit and a different gospel than the one from Christ. Galatians 1:8 tells us those who twist the scriptures are in for serious consequences, even if it’s an angel.
As for the first story of the decimal in the wrong place? That’s a great reminder of just how important such a small detail can make; and therefore, we as Christians should make sure our example teaches the right lesson (refer to James 3:1), and that we make every effort to avoid the very appearance of evil (refer to 1 Thessalonians 5:22). And yes, that includes “secret” sins (refer to Philippians 4:7-9) that we may only think about, but yet may prevent the God of peace from being with us.
And what would a bulletin article about frauds, fakes, and fumes be without some mention of the rare date of 06-06-06 that happened this week? Those who are superstitious worried about it all day… while devil worshippers held a special mass in Hollywood. As it turns out, even that date had to be twisted a little to make the media scare happen. After all, wasn’t it really 06-06-2006? Regardless of the date, it was just another beautiful day and opportunity that God blessed us with to bring glory, praise, and honor to our Creator.
Isn’t it such a comfort to know that no matter what amount of deceptive practices there are out there in the world and in religion, we serve a God who is mighty, powerful, loving, merciful, and totally real… like none other.

Going with the Flow
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 11, 2006)

On the way to the office Wednesday morning, I couldn’t help but notice the streams of water flowing alongside the road; and since I had just taught a roomful of middle and high schoolers at Detour Zone Tuesday on the topic of how Christians should look for spiritual twists to everyday occurrences, this one was too good to pass up.
What kind of feeling do you get when you see floodwaters brimming out of their banks, pouring through fields, neighborhoods, and other places they shouldn’t be? Certainly, the words "unsettled" and "destructive" come to my mind. Water is simply not in its most productive state when rushing ripples roll aimlessly without banks, borders, or purpose.
At the Feast of the Tabernacles in John 7:37b-38, Jesus says, "If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
This image does not describe an out of control situation on either end. First off, Jesus has something to offer us, "living water." Secondly, if we drink-in His will for us, Jesus says we will then have spiritual qualities to demonstrate and to offer others. There has to be a definite and constant standard that we as Christians can depend on for direction to heaven.
What would have happened to the tree in Psalm 1:3 if the stream would have changed course and left the tree without water? No growth.
As Christians, we know where to find living water. It pours out of God’s Word into our souls, and can fill us to overflowing. But we then have a responsibility to channel that overflow to those who need Jesus.
Jesus says,"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matt. 5:6) Paul told the Corinthians that we are fellow workers with God in that process. It is our charge to plant and water (1 Cor. 3:7-9). God will make things grow.
So, while we meander through life, let us remember to fortify our banks by applying God’s Word to our lives. This will keep our stream flowing in the right direction, and show others the way. (1 Cor. 9:27, Deut. 12:8-9, Prov. 10:17)

Lloyd Elkins knows how to plant & water. He presented our secretary and birthday girl Janet Strain with a vase full of his beautiful Amaryllis "Red Lion" flowers.
See them at the office, Lloyd’s house, or www.ftgchurchofchrist.com

Satan's Many Disguises
(A Look Beyond the Cultural Glitz)
by Barrett Vanlandingham (April 26, 2006)

Would you believe that in the midst of a dirt and concrete project in my backyard, the idea for this week's bulletin article poured and leveled into my thoughts. Dale Trout (Lisa Walkingstick's father) and his crew were about halfway finished with what would eventually be an extension to my back porch, when it dawned on me that somewhere down the line I was going to have to make a decision on whether to cut down two trees. You see, even though the trees are providing shade, the roots are a threat to the concrete (which cost more than the trees) and possibly to the foundation of my house.
Now, the spiritual application. God is so good to us, and offers us so much. But you don't have to look very far to find examples of Christian brothers and sisters surrendering to satan's tricks (sometimes unknowingly)... all in the name of comfortably fitting-in to cultural norms, or in some cases, satisfying selfish ambitions. [James 3:16; Galatians 5:19-21; Philippians 2:3]
Satan is a schemer. He's very skilled at appealing to our ego, our senses, and our desire for us or our children to "fit-in." At the same time, he slowly tightens his satanic noose around our neck until it's too late for us to escape without serious consequences to ourselves, others, or to those we love.
Here's the admonition. Enjoy God's blessings; but realize that just as God can turn negatives into positives (as in the case of Joseph), satan can use blessings to distract us from his sneak attacks just like roots can crack and damage concrete which is much less valuable than our souls for which Jesus paid the ultimate price. [1 Corinthians 10:12 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!”]
The only culture we need to spend time fitting in to is the heavenly culture. After all, we are already citizens of heaven. [Philippians 3:20] We have a right, a privilege, and a responsibility to act like it. So, when this earth ceases to exist, along with the smoke and mirrors of pop culture's mesmerizing (yet troubling) images, rhythms, intriguing lights, and the deadly lure of chemical dependence... and the casinos' empty promises of fulfillment, the devil's bottomless bag of tricks that keeps people looking in the wrong direction for love, acceptance, happiness, and popularity... our home in heaven will be standing strong for an eternity long after those other things that we thought were so important are destroyed. Thus the verse to Amazing Grace: we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun. Have a great week living for Him!

Another “Thumbs Up” for our Youth
(and some very supportive parents)
By Barrett Vanlandingham (April 13, 2006)

When my family first moved here, I could not have imagined some of the very encouraging things I would be privileged to witness.
One example happened this past week during Monday Night for the Master… and involved an elderly lady named Cleo who is a resident at the local nursing home.
Here’s the background: Cleo had been in a coma… unable to communicate at all when a nurse heard her humming the tune Amazing Grace. Cleo’s daughter (who is not a member of the church) flew in from out of state, and stopped off at the church building to ask if we had any song on tape that her mother could listen to. Janet sent her on her way with a tape of a “Ladies’ Day” girls’ quintet from April 20, 2002: Jenna Arnett, Amber Burright, Amanda Coombes, the late Courtney Keese, and Kara Kelly. What a ministry their voices turned out to be!
Janet then promised Cleo’s daughter that we would have a group of young people sing to Cleo Monday night. About 20 of us went . We read scripture from Psalm 119:97-103… sang several songs including Amazing Grace, and then closed with a prayer. Cleo couldn’t say much, but an occasional one word answer, and her facial expressions said it all. In the end, the kids were blessed just as much as Cleo.
The kids also spent quality time that night with Elizabeth Arthur, Thelma Jones, Mary Hobbs, and Pauline Hilburn. Each of these ladies are such a joy!

And there’s more to smile about…

Our 6th-12th grade boys did an excellent job leading worship during our Wednesday night devotional. Cole Berkenbile, Levi Walker, Zane Cook, Kyle Lashley, Trey Lashley, and Josh Huggins were all eager, and did not even hesitate to serve God in this way this week. Thanks guys.
A sign-up sheet stays on the youth bulletin board in the lobby for those youth who are willing to lead. Families, please pray for your children and remind them to practice on their own and to pray about their leadership skills, and their leadership in daily life shown by their example.
With all of our upcoming youth events, summertime is an excellent time for our young ones to work on their leadership and evangelism skills. Parents and grandparents, please remember to encourage and give LOTS of positive reinforcement in this area, and look for opportunities for them to put these skills to use.
Boys and girls (and the rest of us) need to continually work on the admonition in 1 Peter 3:15.
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

One Final Note (about taking notes)…

The 4th grade girls and boys are also doing a great job of taking notes during Dan’s sermons, and then turning them in during Bible class: (Jessica Bradley, Amanda Cothrum, Wesley Jones, Kevin Koel, Audrey Ross, Nathan Tiger, Gracie Vanlandingham, and Todd Waters). A BIG THANKS to their teacher, Dian Tibbles, for helping these young children build a strong spiritual foundation that will last.

Also Congratulations to…
8th Grader Katie Coombes!

Katie is the first in the 7th and 8th grade class to memorize all 21 Bible categories on our list:
O.T. Books
O.T. Divisions
N.T. Books
N.T. Divisions
N.T.Writers
Apostles
Two Greatest Commands
Days of Creation
Ten Plagues
Ten Commandments
Twelve Songs of Jacob
Twelve tribes of Israel
Psalm 23
The Lord’s Prayer
Fruits of the Spirit
Beatitudes
Christian Armor
Plan of Salvation
Christian Virtues
Acts of Worship
The Great Commission

Training Church Leaders for Tomorrow
By Barrett Vanlandingham (April 6, 2006)

Crying… knees knocking… hands shaking… voice trembling. I’ve seen it all during our Wednesday night leadership training time. Let me take a moment to say how proud I am of our 3rd-5th grade boys who take part in leading worship once a month on Wednesday nights.
It is so encouraging to see these young boys growing up in the Lord, and learning to serve Him in this way.
Blake Burrows, Jeremy Koel, Kevin Koel, and Todd Waters did an excellent job with the songs, Bible reading and prayer this week.
Next Wednesday night, the 6th-12th grade boys will lead our devotional time.
A sign-up sheet stays on the youth bulletin board in the lobby, so that our boys can go ahead and sign-up as far in advance as they would like. Please encourage our 3rd-12th grade boys to sign-up. They also need to practice their songs and Bible readings several times outloud at home. If they are leading a prayer, they need to go ahead and make a list of things they want to pray for. Preparation and prayer in advance is the key for them to feel more confident to stand in the pulpit.