The Bible can help you deal with life’s jolts

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 19, 2015

            There is nothing quite like the feeling of 120 volts of electrical current zapping my fingers!

            Even though I am pretty sure it is legal for a homeowner to replace an existing electrical outlet, I am not sure it is wise, at least for me. Any doubts I may have had about that have clearly disappeared. Yes, I saved some money by doing it myself. But the electrical jolt I received when I grabbed a hot wire was far more shocking than the cost of hiring a professional electrician, or at least an experienced “Do it yourselfer”.  

            Looking back on my painful yet eventual successful attempt, I did a lot of things right. I went out to my breaker box and found the switch labeled “hallway bath”. I turned it to the off position which turned out the lights in the bathroom. What I didn’t realize was that the outlet I needed to replace was actually connected to a different breaker.  Uh, Oh!  So, the wire I thought was safe actually had 120 volts running through it the entire time I had been unscrewing the plate and pulling the outlet from the wall.      The mistaken assumption on my part is what led to the shocking and almost conclusion of my “Do it yourself” project.

            I texted my buddy, Jerry P who had encouraged me to take-on the project. I let him know the undesirable outcome. His response was simply, “I shouldn’t tell you I had a good laugh. But I did! Experience is the best teacher.”  What compassion!  (not)  At least he went on to say that the same thing has happened to him. Somehow through my still throbbing finger, that knowledge made me feel a little better. Plus, Jerry came over and helped me find the correct breaker (which wasn’t even labeled) and finish replacing the outlet.  Still, I can’t get over the fact that I actually felt safe and confident even though I was really in danger and didn’t know it.

            Have you ever seen someone taking a dangerous turn spiritually, and you just wished there was something you could do about it?  It’s a helpless feeling to watch someone who has no relationship with God or maybe is spiritually immature, wandering around and not understanding why their relationships and life in general are constantly experiencing circuit malfunctions.  We all know people who go through their daily routines not realizing they are existing in a state of spiritual danger. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

            Christians have a responsibility to carry out the Great Commission of Christ. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).”

            The commands of Christ are pretty simple. Love God. Love others. Believe in Christ as the son of God. Obey his word.  The Bible says some will accept, but even more will reject.  Nevertheless, it is the message we will be judged by one day, and it is the message people need to hear so the events of judgement day will not come as a shock.

            Any Christian will tell you their faith does not mean a problem free life.  But it does mean that when life throws you a jolt, you can still find healing, peace, comfort, and direction from God’s word, a supportive church family, and His Holy Spirit.

              Have a blessed week!

The evidence shows Satan is real

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 12, 2015

            Historical and archaeological facts found in the Bible are the most accurate and authentic ever studied or discovered. The names and locations of cities and other landmarks listed in the Bible are right on target with everything we know of today. The Bible has also been a valuable resource for knowing about government leaders and world powers during ancient times. 

These are some of the many reasons I feel confident in believing the Bible when it comes to other questions that arise such as “Is the devil real?”  In short, yes!  The Bible specifically mentions “Satan” over 50 times, and that doesn’t even include all the other names listed such as Lucifer, tempter, murderer, father of lies, and so on. He is described as a created spirit being who has limitations, unlike God who has no limitations.

            The ancient Jews were known to take great care to preserve the integrity of the books of Genesis through Malachi. The writers of the New Testament books of Matthew through Revelation often quoted Old Testament passages including Genesis, which has been regarded as one of the most controversial due to its teachings about creation, the fall of man into sin, Noah and the flood, and God altering the languages of those constructing the Tower of Babel.  Nevertheless, the writers of the New Testament and Jesus himself placed high importance and credibility on Old Testament writings which are where many people, places, and things we read about in the New Testament were first introduced, such as the devil.  That is also one more reason I believe the Old Testament writing were more than good poetry.

            Jesus, a historical figure himself, written about by dozens of ancient authors, spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan. In Matthew 4 and Luke 4, the devil used the tactics of lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to try to make Jesus stumble and fall into temptation. It didn’t work on our Lord, but that hasn’t stopped the devil from continuing these same tactics to tempt people today, 2000 years later. Those were also the same methods Satan used to tempt Eve some 6000 years ago according to the Bible’s timeline, which is the same number of years of recorded history we have available to us today.

            All the way through the Bible, temptation has always been basically the same (1 Corinthians 10:13) because the devil has always been involved in its formation. In John 14:30 our King, Jesus Christ, refers to the devil as the ruler or prince of this world. So, it should come as no surprise that the snares the devil throws in our path today still follow a fairly narrow blueprint.   “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world (1 John 2:16).”

            Just one quick conversation about evil in the world we live in today would be enough to convince most people that dark forces are a reality. But thank God, Christ overcame darkness, and if we commit our life to Him, we can too.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).”

Have a great week!

A lax Christian attitude will lead to pain

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 5, 2015

            Did you ever have one of those moments when you wished you could turn back time even by 5 minutes so you could make a better decision?  I’m sure we all have.

            I was walking barefoot in my backyard this past weekend picking up branches Lisa had just pruned. I knew there were little pointy sticks and stubbly things I needed to avoid. But because I didn’t want to take the time to simply put on shoes, and because my feet are partially numb due to nerve problems in my back, I kept cleaning up the yard without proper protection on my feet.  Smart, huh? I obviously knew I wasn’t wearing shoes, but because of the numbness in my feet, I had become a little lax in thinking about precautions.  I knew there were potential dangers, but I wasn’t really worried too much about them, at least until I got a nice big splinter in my left big toe. Yes, I felt it! Even with the numbness I realized immediately what had just happened.

            Christians can become lax in their faith and do the same thing spiritually. This can happen when either we let our guard down one too many times, or by making bad choices and getting by with it enough times that we think we are immune to the devil’s schemes.

            It happens all the time to good people who convince themselves everything is going to be okay when they head into the casino, or when they take another drink, or when they cheat on their taxes. Others find trouble by opening their mouth when they should have kept it closed, or when a married man or woman casually flirts with someone else. Exceeding the speed limit, driving carelessly, or texting while driving can also lead you down the wrong road in a hurry.  

            “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,² through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared (1 Timothy 4:1-2, ESV).”

            We are not immune to temptation. If we are not vigilant in our faith, we can convince ourselves that it is okay to behave as the world behaves. We can become just like those whose consciences are seared. We can become numb to the traps satan has set for us until it is too late.

            The sting of sin or even foolish behavior can have serious consequences in this life, and worse yet, in the life to come. God has blessed baptized believers with the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) to guide and comfort us, and with the ability to stand up under the pressures of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Still yet, we would all be better off to listen and apply what Paul told Christians in Thessalonica, “Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thes 5:22).”

            1 Peter 5:8 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

            Have a blessed week, keep your shoes on, and keep an eye out for those splinters!            

Honoring God can be a noteworthy experience

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 28, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Children never stop needing spiritual guidance

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 21, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pruning sin from your life is worth the effort

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 14, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spiritual lessons can be found even at a garage sale

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 7, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good spiritual health requires effort

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 31, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 24, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God grants peace in the midst of trials

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 17, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

Following the One who paid it all comes at a price

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 10, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can understand more about God than you might think

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 3, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

Predicting the final day is harder than predicting the weather

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 24, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God’s grace extends farther than you might think

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 17, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t let the devil steal your spiritual growth

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 10, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bible challenges today’s Christian teachers

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 3, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

Even angels learn from the church

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 27, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

            Have a blessed week!

God wants to see you in heaven

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 20, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

A good feast is difficult to turn down

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 13, 2015

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

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

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

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

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