A hopeful day is always ahead

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 17, 2016

            “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him (Lamentations 3:22-24).”

             Jeremiah, known as the “weeping prophet”, is traditionally thought to have authored the Old Testament book of Lamentations. You may have heard his words from the above text put to music. If you only read those verses, you wouldn’t know that the book as a whole is actually a despairing poem about the destruction of Jerusalem in about 586 B.C.

            God’s prophets were always telling His people to shape it up, or face some serious consequences. But even when the Jews obeyed God, it was never for very long. They always managed to fall away, disobey, follow other gods, or all of the above. So, in this case, the consequences were that Jerusalem was destroyed, and King Nebuchadnezzar took captive some of the best and the brightest of its young citizens such as Ezekiel, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But whereas they were taken to Babylon, Jeremiah was left in Jerusalem where he had to face the destruction of his community every single day. On top of that, many people simply hated Jeremiah because he was the bearer of bad news of the destruction before it came.

            In our lifetimes, many things change. God’s word is not one of those things. Each generation worries about what’s happening in our world. We are thrown off balance. We wonder what God’s plans are for fixing things, and whether we will get to be a part of the solution, or a casualty of God’s wrath brought about by our own generation’s disobedience and rebelliousness. Instead of holding to God’s unchanging hand, our generation as a whole has chosen to fall into the devil’s ever-changing deceitful and alluring traps that adjust and morph to take advantage of each generation’s pride and weaknesses.

            Even with all of the destruction that Jeremiah and so many other prophets witnessed throughout the ages, they always remembered and credited God for being their only hope, if anyone would listen and obey. This is also true for us today even though, just like back then, there will be consequences we will all have to live with because of the choices we have made as a nation.

            Just like Jeremiah, we can always hope in this: God’s love is never-ending. His mercies for us never lose their power. They will be just as new and fresh tomorrow when you wake up, as today. We have a new opportunity every morning to draw nearer to God, His love, and His mercies. The choice is ours.  Have a blessed week!

God’s grace covers more than we will ever know

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 10, 2016

            I am so thankful for the blessings of life.  Yes, we all have things in our lives we would rather do without. If we didn’t, we would already be in heaven. But a few days ago, I was sitting at my desk making my song list for Sunday when blessings began to flood my mind so much it was a little overwhelming.  If this has never happened to you, I encourage you to take some time out away from any distractions, and just think about all the ways you have been blessed, and then talk to God, and express to Him as best you can your thankfulness.

            My moment might have had something to do with the song I was reading through at the moment: “Grace Greater Than Our Sin.”  I had already been thinking of how grateful I was for the sunshine, the cool breeze, the green grass, and the church volunteers who were cutting the grass that day.  I had also been reading online the thoughtful sentiments so many had posted on Facebook about some of the beautiful qualities that make mothers so special.

            All that being said, it was the words of that song about God’s grace that truly blew me away. I think it was the line that said, “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.”  What a tremendous and indescribable gift we have in the form of God’s grace.

            Our pulpit minister, Dan Rouse, has been preaching for over forty years. He told me it has only been in the last several years that he has even begun to comprehend the role that grace plays in our salvation. Dan says that a good example of grace would be the fact that he was baptized into Christ as a boy. Since then, he has gained a lot more knowledge and has done a lot more things for the Lord. But he said that he is no more saved today (or in his words, “saved-er”) than he was back then, thanks to God’s grace.  

            I think most of us have a difficult time accepting or even understanding grace. It truly is hard to accept that no matter how hard we try to do everything right, we’re going to fall short (Romans 3:23). That is why we need God’s grace. If it weren’t for grace, none of us would have a chance to enter heaven.

            The apostle Paul, in one of his earliest letters, told the Galatians about the importance of believing in Jesus Christ, and putting Him on in baptism in regards to their salvation (Galatians 3:1-14 and 3:26-27). He also reminded the Romans of this several years later (Romans 3:22-31 and 6:1-11).  A few years after that, Paul told people in Ephesus who had already obeyed this same pattern, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).”  Still, Paul says it would not be right for us to purposely sin just so grace could bail us out (Rom. 6:1).

            When Paul wrote letters to local churches, he always had a purpose. Maybe the Ephesians were a little like me, unable to comprehend grace, so we stress out trying to do everything right, even though there is nothing we can do on our own to make it into heaven. Sure, I can obey as best I can. All of the New Testament writers talk about the importance of obedience, and God knows our hearts. But if I could earn my salvation, there would have been no need for Jesus to come to earth and die on a cross for my sins. So, today and always, I am grateful for God’s grace. Have a blessed week!

Graduation is an exciting time for young Christians

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 3, 2016

            As if most parents of high school seniors don’t mope around enough over the fact their child is quickly checking off that “list of lasts” characterized by their long awaited senior year, we have finally hit the month of May. That’s when days feel like months to the students, and a month feels like no time at all to parents who will soon see their kids move on to their next chapter in life. 

            For many young Christians getting ready to graduate, the coming months and years will bring new kinds of trials. It will be the first time they will go through situations without the immediate help of parents to advise them on what to do. This is when they find out if they really were listening to their parents, trusted friends and relatives, and Bible class teachers.

            This time of year, churches everywhere pray that the young people they send out into the world after high school will not only be prepared to represent Jesus Christ in all aspects of their lives, but will have the confidence, courage, and strength it takes to follow through with what they know is right. Applying that knowledge is usually the hardest part of living the Christian life, whether you’re a teen or an adult. That’s why it is so important to remember to pray about it.

            The apostle Paul penned the following verses in a letter to the church in Philippi about 2000 years ago. But his inspired message means just as much today just as much as it did back then:

            “8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9).”

            Those words from Paul are some of my favorites. In just two verses, Paul manages to sum up the answers to any truly important questions a graduate could have. In fact, no matter what time of life we’re in, those two verses will point our attitudes away from the wrong, and into the right direction. He even gives us a way to know if we’re on the right track. Peace of mind is a short checklist that most of us can figure out pretty quickly.

            So in reality, whether you’re a parent or a student, the emphasis of a quickly dwindling senior year should not be on a “list of lasts”, but instead on exciting and new beginnings, and opportunities for faith building, and bringing others to Jesus.  Have a blessed week!

Getting the big picture in your Christian walk is important

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 26, 2016

            Did you ever get yourself into a situation of responsibility that made you think, “How did I get into this?”  Well, my mother in law volunteered me to be the photographer for her brother’s wedding last week. In her defense, she knows I have a very nice camera I use for this and that.  The problem is, until last Friday, I had never been a wedding photographer.  The pressure was on for me to do a really good job.

            The problem with photography in general is that each time the lighting conditions change, you have to change the settings on your camera, unless you have it set to automatic. The problem with “auto” is that the camera doesn’t always get it right, so the photographer has to manually switch the settings. That was the part I was stressed about since even though I am not a beginner, I am also far from professional level. But after I started doing a little research, asking questions of experienced photographers, and practicing what I had learned, I found the challenge of doing a wedding wouldn’t be nearly as bad as I thought.

            As a minister, I couldn’t help but equate this scenario with the Christian life which is also challenging, to say the least. But I have found when I research and study the issues I have questions about, seek advice from more mature Christians or maybe Christians who have more experience in a particular area, and then apply that knowledge to my life, I find my spiritual battles don’t always have to feel so lopsided against me.

            One major difference between photography and Christianity is the “automatic” and “manual” settings. With photography, you have to adjust the camera’s setting to fit your environment. But with Christianity, you have only one setting, “LOVE.” So, in general, you have to choose in which environments or situations you are willing to put yourself. With a camera, you make decisions on the spot, depending on how your situation changes. But with Christianity, your setting is always on “love.” 

            Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31).”

            Someone who loves God will strive to not put themselves in a position that forces them into having to make the decision of how to react. You know, questions like, “Should I, or shouldn’t I? But even if you do find yourself in a bad situation, it is never too late to do the right thing. Just remember, the correct setting in the Christian life is always to show that you “love God” by obeying His commands (ref: John 14:15,23).”   You may still wind up suffering consequences in this lifetime for a bad decision, but turning your dial back to “love” for God will have eternal rewards.  Have a blessed week!         

Evidence and logic can help build your faith

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 17, 2016

            “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge (2 Peter 1:5).”

            The other day a campus minister friend told me about a strange conversation he had with a young man who has started attending his church. When asked about his faith, the young man said, “I’m an atheist.”  Obviously, this stunned my friend since most people you meet at church believe in God.  So, my friend asked the young man why he comes to church if he doesn’t believe in God. The answer? “I’m bored.”  This didn’t really surprise me since I’d heard it years before from a friend who attended church three times a week because of the “nice people there” even though he said he didn’t believe in God. Well, I thought, at least they know what they do not believe in, and why they do what they do.

            This thought process made me think about my answers to faith-related questions such as “Why do I do what I do, and exactly what do I believe, and why?”  How about you? If someone asked you why you go to church, or why you believe in God, would you have a good answer? For me, I am continually sculpting my answers to these kinds of questions, not so much in the area of Bible doctrine, but in areas of evidence and logic that help me give answers that maybe someone hasn’t thought about.

            My campus minister friend (who also happens to be a math teacher) brought up a very good point. If he waded through a creek, tipped over a rock, and found a Rolex watch with its tiny intricate 220 parts all still intact or not, most people would agree the watch, at some point, had been manufactured. In other words, the watch did not just appear there over billions of years because the stream needed it to appear or manufacture itself from elements found in the creek bed. Most rational thinking people would say the watch obviously had a designer.

            Oddly enough, the human body has thousands of living parts of varying sizes from the cell on up, all working perfectly to keep our bodies going, and yet, many people think the human body is just an accident that formed over billions of years, without God’s help. No Designer. Wow! You talk about a belief system that requires a lot of faith! That would be one. It makes no sense, but that’s exactly where a lot of people stand. As for evolution, not even one piece of evidence has ever been discovered showing that one kind of animal has ever turned into another.

            I even have a few Christian friends who believe that God created the process of evolution in order to create us. That doesn’t work either, since so many of the tiny parts of our bodies such as protein, DNA, and cell’s energy producer known as ATP had to be in existence, fully formed at the same time, in order for each to play crucial roles in the manufacture of the other. Similarly, the human eye, the cell’s locomotion device known as flagellum, and blood clotting are also examples of things that could not have come about through evolution since in order for them to work at all, the entire unit or process had to have existed in full form at the start, not evolved.

            For me, the fact that the Bible has proven to be the most accurate and oldest history book is a really good tool to add to my faith box. Also, the Bible has been very helpful in discoveries related to all areas of science. This lends huge amounts of convincing evidence supporting the Bible’s claims of how the universe was created by the God. Also, the Bible has never been proven wrong, on anything. Yes, it still takes faith to believe in God. But one day, faith and hope will not be necessary. Only love will remain, forever. Have a blessed week!

Singing like an angel may not be a compliment

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 12, 2016

            I always enjoy the singing part of worship, when the voices of my church family blend the “fruit of lips” (Hebrews 13:15) in praise to God. Singing as worship holds a special place in scripture that surfaces in times of celebration and in times of stress and sorrow, and is not limited to an activity that takes place inside a church building. In addition to Sunday, worship, including singing, can take place anywhere, anytime, everywhere, all the time.

            We can only assume, since so much is written in the Bible about singing to God, that He appreciates the songs we sing to Him, provided we are sincere in the words we offer to God. If our walk doesn’t match our talk (or our worship), then God rejects our offerings (Isaiah 1:10-15, Amos 5:21-23). Our acts of worship are a very important part of our relationship with God. Singing is a big part of that. In fact, we may not be the only ones singing. Zephaniah 3:17 makes mention of God rejoicing over His people with singing. What a beautiful thought. Just imagine, God singing over us!

            Traditionally, we often talk about angels singing. But do they really sing? In the Bible, we read about angels speaking, shouting, and praising, but we never hear about them singing. Even in Luke’s account of the birth of the Christ child, the angels praised God “saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest (ref: Luke 2:10-14).’”

            Revelation 5:8-9 speaks of four living creatures and 24 elders singing a new song to Christ, the Lamb of God. But angels are not included in the reference to singing. In verse 2, angels “proclaimed”, and in verses 11-12, thousands of angels in a loud voice were “saying”. But still, no mention of singing.

            Yes, I know, this is a difficult pill to swallow if you’re like me, and have always imagined angels singing. After all, dozens, possibly even hundreds of songs have been written about singing angels and their harps, which the Bible doesn’t mention either. Just people and those same four living creatures previously mentioned have harps. The trumpet seems to be the instrument preferred by God for His angels (ref: Revelation 8-9).

            It may just be that singing is something God has reserved only for His most special creation of humans, either as our offering to Him, or when He sings over us (and those four living creatures). Whatever the case, there is no doubt that when Christians come together to sing praises to God, the love and joy that God blesses us with in return is very real. Personally, I think those feelings may very well be the result of God singing over us, because He loves us.

            Having said all of that, the idea of angels singing is not out of the realm of possibility. Psalm 47:6-7 and James 5:13 would seem to make a close connection between praising and singing. Still, for all the mention of people and even heavenly creatures singing, there is no reference to singing angels.

   Nevertheless, being told you sing like an angel may not be a compliment after all, even though praising, proclaiming, and shouting can take place within the context of singing. But even if angels are not capable of singing, we can be joyful that the Creator of all things (including angels) is capable of singing over us, with us, and even sometimes in spite of us.  Have a blessed week!

Missionaries are also needed right here at home

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 5, 2016 

            At times, I have asked myself, “What is the difference between mission work and local work?”   Nothing really.  My church family supports two Honduran preachers who we refer to as our missionaries. But to them and anyone else in Honduras, they are just local ministers.  Likewise, no one here in the U.S. refers to local ministers as missionaries, even though we are definitely on a mission and are supported by a local church.

            Have you ever thought about why local Christians go on “mission trips”, especially to places where churches have already been established, and are meeting on a regular basis, while there is still so much work to be done here locally?  We go on “mission trips” because Jesus told His disciples, “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).”  This means to be Jesus where you are, in your region, and far away. We go to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to the lost, but also to encourage Christians in other cities and countries just like disciples did in the first century.

            There is another very important goal my church family has when it comes to sending our local members to other countries. It is to light a fire inside us, so when we get back, we will do better at seeking opportunities to serve here in the states and in our local area. I am always so encouraged when I see various church groups, as well as organizations and individuals doing service projects within our own community. It is needed and appreciated.

            This summer is my church family’s off year for doing a major mission trip. So, we found another fantastic opportunity, and it’s fairly close by. Hope Harbor Children’s Home near Claremore is dedicated to transforming the lives of at-risk teens and their families. If you live in Fort Gibson, you may have spotted the blue containers in the Church of Christ parking lot used to collect clothes that are hauled away to the Hope Harbor Thrift Store. Proceeds help defray the cost of the services provided by the children’s home. The public is encouraged to use these containers. Even the clothes that cannot be sold in the thrift store are loaded into a huge trailer and taken to a recycling site that pays by the pound.

            It’s a great way to apply James 1:27 which says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

            In June, I am taking my youth group on a three day mission trip to Hope Harbor to work at the thrift store sorting clothes, and to do some gravel work at the children’s home campus, and to weed and mulch their flower beds.

            If you have a group that would like to do some work at Hope Harbor, please call 918-343-0003. You can also find out more about their services at www.hopeharborinc.org

            Hope Harbor is just one of many great opportunities to carry out Christ’s mission of showing love through service to those who need it most. I encourage you to find an opportunity for “mission work” each day, no matter how big or small, to make a difference in someone’s life. Have a blessed week!

Weekly worship helps Christians stay strong

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 29, 2016

            Another Easter has come and gone, right along with the impressive totals posted on church attendance boards everywhere, at least until next year. Yes, there will be maybe one or two more big Sundays in 2016 for those churches that have special membership drives or a “Friends and Family Day.”  But for the most part, Easter Sunday is the big one. I pray that you were willing and able to worship over the weekend, and that your appetite for honoring God, and remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son increased.

            We know from scripture that church attendance is important. The writer of the book of Hebrews made that clear in a section of scripture that encourages Christians to draw near to our God who keeps His promises. The writer also speaks of the importance of consistent or regular fellowship with other worshippers in order to gain strength to do spiritual battle.

             “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 (Hebrews 10:24-25).”

            The Hebrew writer drives the point home by reminding us there is a lot riding on the strength we gain by coming together as worshippers of God. Christianity was never meant to be a solo act, but rather a team effort, where each member of the church body does its share of the work, and encourages the other team members to keep fighting the good fight. The singing praises and praying to God, the weekly taking of the Lord’s Supper, giving of your means, the Bible study, and fellowship are not only biblical, but they are spiritually powerful and beneficial to those who take part.  The Hebrew writer makes it clear that the most tragic consequence of all awaits those believers who choose to pull away from God’s family, and become spiritually bankrupt, unable to fight the devil.

            “26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries (Hebrews 10:26-27).”

            There are many other passages that teach that a Christian can fall away or lose their salvation if they trade in living a righteous life for an unrighteous life. Here are just a few: Romans 8:12-13, 2 Peter 3:17 & 2:20-21, Revelation 3:1-5, James 5:19-20, 1 Timothy 4:1, Galatians 5:4 & 6:7, 1 Corinthians 6:7-9 & 9:27 & 10:12, Matthew 13:37-42, and 1 John 1:7-10.  It is to our benefit to give and get as much help as possible to keep each other on track.

            Granted, sitting on a church pew every week and memorizing Bible verses doesn’t make someone a good Christian anymore than sitting in a henhouse and making clucking sounds makes me a chicken. Furthermore, scripture teaches that many who appear to be religious by all appearances, may not have a relationship with the Lord at all (ref: Matthew 7:21-23). God knows our hearts and motives. God also knows exactly how cunning the devil is when it comes to setting traps and snatching the souls of unsuspecting Christians and non-Christians alike. So as for me and my house, I am going to continue teaching and practicing faithful church attendance, to honor God, remember His Son, and to encourage others. After all, God really does know what He’s talking about.  Have a blessed week!

Time in God’s word can change your life

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 22, 2016

            Now that everyone’s back from spring break, it’s back to life as usual for Oklahoma students and their families. It’s always nice to take a break and go somewhere for a brief visit, even though most of us have no desire to actually stay there long-term. Thus, the old saying: “It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.”

            Odd to say, but the Bible is a vacation spot of sorts for many people. We go to and through its pages for a lot of different reasons. Some go there for comfort, or for a break from the stresses and worries of life. There are those who find themselves in a spiritual desert, searching for answers, hungering and thirsting for righteousness. They are drawn to God’s word. Then, just like Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, they “will be filled (Matthew 5:6)”, and “will be given (Matthew 6:33)” the things we need.

            In spite of Jesus’ promise, every single one of us who strives to be Christ-like still allow God’s teachings to take a back seat in our lives occasionally when it comes to our attitudes and what we do with our time. Even though the apostle Paul encourages us to spend time in God’s word, and to “Do your best” to handle God’s word correctly (2 Timothy 2:15), even Paul himself admits to making poor choices frequently.

            “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand… Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:21, 24-25).”

            Priority shifts can happen when we allow things like worry, stress, busy schedules, finances, and relationship problems to take over. When Satan can’t get us to stumble from that direction, he finds other ways such as tempting us to place more importance on our wives, husbands, children, friends, hobbies, and even our jobs than we place on God. That strategy is very effective, deceitful, and difficult to overcome because those are the things on earth we love the most. Any relationship or thing we love more than God is an idol. It is doomed to fail because God is no longer our priority and we become more influenced by created things rather than the Creator and His word. This was also a concern of Moses as he spoke to the nation of Israel regarding their love for God, and the importance of passing this love for God on to future generations.

            “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).”

            May God bless us all with wisdom to enjoy time with God in prayer, in His word, and to include God all the time in every part of our lives. Have a blessed week!

True success includes Godly values

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 15, 2016

            I honestly don’t think I’ve ever heard of a town with so many kids excelling in so many ways as I see in Fort Gibson these days. Our band, choir, FFA, academics, and sports teams are winning something everytime I turn around. But the thing I am most impressed with is that so many of our teachers and coaches place a tremendous amount of importance on promoting Christian character traits by their example. It seems to be working!

            In a public school setting, Christianity as a doctrine or preferred way of life cannot be taught verbally in the classroom and such by teachers. But certainly the fruit of the Spirit can be promoted by example.  “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (ref: Galatians 5:22-23)” are all positive qualities that would be hard to ignore by students and teachers alike when Christians walk in these ways. When given the opportunity, most people want to be associated with these traits. As beings made in God’s image, it’s just how we are wired.

            The writer of 1 John 4:18 reminds Christians that their walk needs to match their talk when it comes to responding to those in need, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

            The perfect message of loving God and loving others really cannot be ignored. Jesus says those are the greatest commands. When any of us obey God’s commands (ref: John 14:15, 23 and 1 John 5:3) in our attitudes, actions, and word choices, others take notice and want to experience that same joy.

            While earthly accomplishments are fun for a while, the apostle Paul, whose writings indicate he may have been a sports fan (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Philippians 3:13-14), reminds us all to keep our priorities in line, putting spiritual/eternal things first.           

            “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).”

            For Christians, there should be no separation when it comes to earthly accomplishments and spiritual ones. Our witness to others works best when the two are inseparable, when our daily lives, chores, hobbies, careers, and relationships include Jesus in every aspect. Paul agrees.

            “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).”

            If our actions or words are such that God cannot be glorified in our choices, then we should seriously re-consider our life plans. This week, let’s all pray for opportunities to teach someone about the love of Christ by the way we live. Blessings! 

Lights are meant to shine!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 8, 2016

            Blink, blink, blink. My office phone has a red light on it that flashes when I have messages in my voicemail. It’s really handy to have because even at a brief glance I know when someone has left a message. The only problem is that I keep my phone in the top left drawer of my desk, which shouldn’t be a problem as long as I keep the drawer pulled out where I can see my phone. But sometimes, I shove the drawer closed if I am looking for something in the drawer under it, and then forget to open the top drawer again. When that happens, I lose sight of my phone and any messages I may receive when I step into Dan’s office (our pulpit minister) to discuss a Bible verse, or when I run a really important errand like re-filling my coffee cup.

            The other day I was feeling a little down when I noticed my drawer was shut. So, I opened it, saw the flashing light, pushed the button, and listened to a very encouraging message I needed to hear from one of my readers. You see, even though I have a red flashing light to announce the arrival of what may be an important message, it does me no good at all if the light is tucked safely inside my desk drawer where I can’t see it. The same is true spiritually.

            The old song “This Little Light of Mine” has a verse that says, “Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m gonna let it shine.” Those lyrics come from the “Sermon on the Mount”  when Jesus said, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house (Matthew 5:15, KJV).”

            The word “bushel” means “basket.” Jesus is helping his disciples visualize how ridiculous it would be to hide your light under a basket, especially if it was needed to help people see what was going on around them. On many occasions, Jesus refers to himself as the Light. Here, and in the preceding verse, Jesus is reminding his disciples that as followers of his, their lives and message will bring light to an otherwise dark world if they are putting his words into practice.  In verse 14 Jesus tells his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14, ESV).”

            Even in broad daylight, our world is full of darkness. The only bright or flashing lights most people see these days are not coming from Jesus or from his followers, but rather from video games, television, internet, casinos, sports stadiums, or possibly from emergency responders who see close-up the consequences of too many Jesus followers being afraid to shine their light into the darkness. The people we come in contact with on a daily basis need to see our lives as Christians reflecting the light of Christ. Only then can those living in darkness see the joys found in walking in the light, and then make the choice to walk there too.

            We must remember the words of Paul:  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16, NIV).”

            Strangely enough, it wasn’t until Paul was struck blind by a bright light that he was able to see the importance of committing his life to following Jesus the Light, and sharing Good News of Jesus with others.

            This week, I pray that God will show you a specific area of darkness in which to shine the light of Christ. God bless you!

Following Jesus involves more than just wearing His name

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 1, 2016

            “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32, NIV).”

            So, I guess the question is this: Are you choosing to hold to the teachings of Jesus Christ? If not, you are living way beneath your potential. You are living as a slave to the ways of this world. You are not living the ultimate life of freedom found only in Christ. In fact, Jesus does not even consider those who are disobedient to his word, to be Christians. Ouch! Does this mean we are not allowed to make mistakes without surrendering our disciple card? Of course not! We would not need a Savior if we were perfect. Jesus knows that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” He simply wants to remind those who bear His name, to take seriously our Christian journey. He knows the difference between our choosing to sin (willful sin), versus just sinning out of ignorance or sinning because of human weakness. In short, Jesus knows our hearts and our minds.

            You see, after Jesus died on the cross, resurrected from the tomb, and ascended back to his Father, something very special happened. God’s Holy Spirit came to this earth as Jesus promised (ref: John 16:7-15), and worked through believers to build and grow Christ’s church, not churches (ref: Matthew 16:18). The church is that part of God’s kingdom that continues to grow as the Lord adds baptized believers “to their number daily those who were being saved (ref: Acts 2:38-47).” The New Testament refers to the church as the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). The apostle Paul says, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25-27).”

That process of building God’s kingdom with Jesus as its chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:13-20) is still happening today, and according to the prophet Daniel, it is a kingdom that will never be destroyed (ref: Daniel 2:44, 7:14). That’s the Lord’s church I fervently pray and have faith that I am a part of. To be clear, I am not talking about labels on church signs, since labels do not always determine how a body of believers functions. I am talking about the Lord’s one and only church. But considering there are thousands upon thousands of manmade denominations, or variations of the Lord’s body (the church) to be a member of today, how are we to know which one we should choose to fellowship? Which group of believers should we worship with on the first day of the week? Jesus says the answer is simple. It’s the one that holds to his teaching, the one he died for, those he says are “really my disciples.”

            May God bless all individuals and groups who bear the name of Christ, with the sincere desire, wisdom, confidence, perseverance, and love for God, to conform to His will, and no one else’s. Have a great week! 

Christians must fan the flame of God

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 23, 2016

Beautiful pink sunsets and vibrant growth in our prairies and pastures are a couple of benefits to the recent grass fires in our part of the state. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of curses to add to those blessings when fire is mixed with Oklahoma’s wild winds known for “sweeping down the plain!”  The smoke and danger to lives and property are always of grave concern.

There are two Bible passages that come to mind when I think about Oklahoma grassfires driven by strong winds. One is found in the book of James 3 where the writer reminds Christians about the dangers of letting their speech go unchecked:

“The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell (James 3:5-6, NIV).” 

The ability to communicate with others is a tremendous blessing, whether it is verbal, written, or any other way. But just like a prairie fire set in the wrong place and with no guidance or accountability, the words we choose to say will most certainly cause great amounts of damage.

On the other hand, just like a fire that is well-managed, the words that come from our mouths will most certainly be a tremendous blessing to all those around. When this happens, no one gets burned. Not only that, but the Lord’s kingdom grows and becomes more vibrant with new souls experiencing the joys of walking in the light and love of the Jesus Christ.

The second passage comes from the apostle Paul who once gave Timothy, his younger brother in the faith, this very important advice:  “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God (2 Timothy 1:6, ESV).”

It appears that even though Timothy was blessed with knowing the life-saving news of Jesus Christ, evidently Paul thought he wasn’t communicating this message effectively to bless the lives of others.

Let God’s Holy Spirit work in your life to fan your flame, and to bring souls to Him. Have a blessed week!

Jesus is still the real deal!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 16, 2016

            When I wrote this article last Friday morning, February 12^th, the weather forecast called for 65-degrees and sunny skies for today, Tuesday the 16th!  But I know this is Oklahoma, and things can change quickly where the weather is concerned.             Just about everything I can think of is susceptible to change. This world is full of uncertainty and distrust.

There is someone who will never let you down, and that is Jesus Christ. Our Lord’s teachings have stood the test of time where others’ teachings have failed.  He only preached for about three and a half years and yet his words, his life, and his fulfillment of dozens of Old Testament prophecies have made a mark on history and on mankind like none other. Think about this quote credited to Australian philanthropist Henry G. Bosch:

            “Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only three. Yet the influence of Christ's three-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him.”  Bosch continued, “Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.”

            Last week, a teenager in my Wednesday night class asked how to respond to someone who wants to know why anyone would become a Christian. I told him that I believe we can trust that Jesus Christ actually existed. We also know for sure that Christian and non-Christian teachers, historians, philosophers, and government leaders in the first, second, and third centuries wrote about Jesus Christ, and about those Christians who followed him, and about the great miracles he performed, the death he died, and the resurrection on the third day. Some of those writers loved Jesus, and some hated him. But the fact is, they still wrote about him. It is that man, Jesus of Nazareth, who claimed to be the Son of God. His teachings have changed people’s lives for the better for the last 2000 years.

First and second century historians (Julius Africanus, Thallus, and Phlegon) confirm the darkness that took place in the middle of the day during the Passover when Jesus was crucified, and also the earthquake that shook the earth. Second century writer Tertullian also said that the Roman archives confirm the supernatural darkness.  Let’s not forget that the most accurate history book of all times is still the Bible, which also records the darkness and earthquake that took place at the crucifixion, as well as the many other amazing stories of Jesus’ life.

In a world where trustworthiness is getting harder to come by, the facts about the life of Christ as our loving Savior and the effect He still has on the world today continue to prove He is worthy of our trust and devotion. God bless you!

The Gospel story is worth your time

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 9, 2016

            When I see an ad that says “1/2 Price!!” it definitely gets my attention. So, when a pharmacist told me I could go online to the manufacturer’s website to find a coupon, I eagerly searched and found a “1/2 off” coupon for my prescription. I was excited to say the least, especially since the standard price was nearly $120 (per month) after insurance. I took the coupon to the pharmacy that gave me the tip, and they said, “Yep, the coupon is valid. You’re going to save half!”  I said, “Great!  But I wish I had known about it three years ago.”

            The fact is, I could have known, but I simply didn’t put in the effort to find out. No one else told me the coupon was even available, nor did anyone know I even needed a good deal on a prescription. As a consequence of not using a coupon, I have been paying about $55 more every six weeks than I should have. Ouch!

            Spiritually, most of us probably know of people who are in desperate need of a good deal. But often, those who need Jesus either don’t know that’s what they’re missing, or they don’t know where to start, or they’re embarrassed to ask. The Bible says that Jesus came to earth, showed us how to live as humble servants, died for all, rose on the third day, and will be coming back to bring his faithful home to heaven. In the meantime, he has left his Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11) to guide and comfort those who are willing to trust and obey. We benefit both in this life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).

            In the case of the coupon, it really is up to each consumer to be our own advocate in order to avoid paying higher prices. But in the case of a friend or neighbor or acquaintance in need of Jesus, that is the responsibility of every Christian. One of the most quoted, but least applied passages of scripture in the Bible is known as the Great Commission. Jesus spoke it to His disciples just before He ascended back to His Father in heaven.

            “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore 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 28:18-20).”         

            Followers of Jesus Christ (disciples) each carry a bagful of seed to sow wherever we go. It’s called the Gospel story, the Good News. Most of us have multiple opportunities daily to reach people characterized as either good soil, rocky ground, hard path, or thorn-infested places (Matthew 13).  Christians have the exciting privilege of telling others about Jesus and what He has done for us (Matthew 10:32). The special qualities the Holy Spirit brings into our lives (Galatians 5:22-23) of every baptized believer (Acts 2:38) cannot be ignored by anyone.

            In Isaiah 55:11, the prophet says that God’s word never returns empty. But it’s our job to make sure God’s word gets to those who need it most. If you don’t know who that is, just pray about, and the Spirit of God will open doors of opportunity at just the perfect time. The results will be appreciated more than any coupon. May God bless your efforts to make a difference in someone’s life this week by letting Christ work in you (Ephesians 2:10). Have a great week!

People of faith experience less stress

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 2, 2016

           Last Sunday after evening worship, my youth group met at mine and Lisa’s friends’ house for what we call a devotional.  David and Sara Perry provided the hospitality, the grilled hamburgers, peanut butter cookies and chocolate cake, and the 30 teens who showed up brought some serious appetites, their beautiful voices for praise, and some amazing insight that should be very encouraging for the older generation.

            I asked several of them beforehand to answer (in front of everyone) the question of three reasons why they have hope. Their answers with very little time to think about it were simply heart-warming.  One student said she has hope because God has a long history of choosing imperfect people to lead others in His path. Another said, “Hey, if David was known as a man after God’s own heart even though he messed up a LOT, maybe I have a chance!”  Another talked about the support he receives by being a part of a church family who places their hope in God. Another said he was encouraged by the examples of older Christians, “not just the really old ones, but also those in their 20’s and 30’s who are staying faithful to God.”  One by one, each of the teens expressed their feelings of why they have hope. It all came back to their relationship with God, their church family, and the way they see God working in their lives and the lives of others.

            It should be no surprise, but in a quick internet search I found survey after survey showing that people who place a high importance on the practice of faith and church attendance have lower stress levels, less depression, shorter hospital stays, longer lives, and happier lives than those who are less involved in church activities.  Even children of parents who attend church more often are reportedly less likely to be lonely or depressed.

            The surveys and articles I read were only a couple of years to several years old. But there are other articles, or letters I should say, that were written 2000 years ago that say basically the same thing. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew includes several verses that are devoted to telling people they have nothing to worry about as long as they are seeking God first (Matthew 6:25-34).

            The apostle Peter encourages his readers to give God their stress, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).”

            We already know that Jesus was a fan of meeting with fellow God followers each Sabbath.  In Luke 4:16, the writer says that Jesus “went into the synagogue, as was his custom.”  The important work Jesus had to carry out benefitted greatly by the frequency of time he spent in fellowship, worship, the reading of God’s word, and prayer. A Christian’s work today also requires this type of commitment that not only relieves stress, but provides hope. Have a blessed week!

The Christian Walk is not meant to be a run

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 26, 2015

            When we read inspirational stories from the Bible, it is easy to get the idea that maybe we’re doing something wrong in regards to our Christian walk, otherwise exciting things would be happening all the time. There’s a temptation to compare ourselves to the Bible’s spiritual highlight reel, and then come to the conclusion that our spiritual walk is more like a crawl in comparison to what we read.

            Think about these stories: 1) Noah building an ark to save his family from the flood, 2) God testing Abraham’s faith by asking him to use Isaac as a sacrifice, 3) God asking Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery, 4) Elijah calling down fire from above to prove his God was real, and that Baal was a false god.

            The fact is, there’s a reason why those of us who follow Jesus refer to it as the Christian walk, instead of the Christian run. It’s a long journey. Yes, there are times when we must “flee”. Paul urges Christians to “flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18).”  He also tells Timothy to remind God’s people to “flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (2 Timothy 2:22).”  At one point, Paul even compares the Christian journey to a race (1 Cor. 9:24). Still, disciples of Christ must learn to walk first, not run. And even then, we must pace ourselves so that we do no become weary in well-doing (Galatians 6:9).

            The Holy Spirit inspired writers to record the incredible miracles we read about. But there was not a huge flood every year, and we have no reason to think that God required Abraham to prove his faith every day at an altar, or that Moses crossed the Red Sea every day, or that Elijah had a monthly showdown on Mount Carmel with hundreds of false prophets.

            Great men and women of the Bible had lives just like you and me. They didn’t have mountaintop moments and huge spiritual battles every day, and neither do we. God has never expected his followers to experience their spiritual journey in a dead sprint all the time. Even Jesus had to withdraw to quiet places to be alone and talk to His Father.

            This past weekend I took 41 teens and chaperons to Arlington for a youth rally with over 4000 more teens where the theme was “Walk”.  The message was basically that even though we often fail, and think we should be a several more miles into our journey than we are, we must remember that being a follower of Jesus means that we take steps, not leaps, towards our goal. It is important to practice trusting God every day with the little things in life. This builds our faith so that when the huge challenges come along, it is easier to trust God. It worked for Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and many others we read about in the Bible. 

            Remember Paul’s message to Christians in Corinth:  “For we WALK by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV).”  This week, think about these two questions:  What is the step God is asking you to take?  What’s holding you back from taking it?

            Have a blessed week!

God is still watching out for you

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 19, 2016

            It is so nice when encouragement comes along unexpectedly. I was studying to teach a middle school Bible class a few days ago when I ran across a thought that just really made me feel good about life and faith, so pretty much everything.

            The study material I was reading from said that in the first century, the Jews used the terminology “the Word” to refer to God expressing Himself. The apostle John used the term “the Word” to describe Jesus and define Jesus as the One who was not only with God in the beginning, but actually was God, not just a part of God, or related to God, but that Jesus is God just like the Holy Spirit is God.

            “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3).”  These thoughts are echoed in Colossians 1:15-17.

            The rest of the chapter makes it crystal clear that John’s use of the term “the Word” meant “Jesus”. 

            Some people may wonder why this information should be so encouraging to Christians and really all of humankind. The reason is that the idea of God expressing Himself through Jesus is just one more puzzle piece that helps us understand our Savior a little better. We already knew from Genesis 1:26 that it wasn’t just God the Father by Himself there at the time of creation.  Genesis 1:2 says the Spirit was also there, and both John and Paul state that Jesus was not only there, but that He was the One doing the actual creating. This is totally consistent with the idea that God expressed Himself through Jesus (the Word). It is also interesting that in my Spanish Bible, “the Word” is translated “el Verbo” or in English, “the Verb”.

            The fact that God expressed Himself through Jesus is very encouraging because it was God’s Son, Jesus, who came to this earth to find out what life is like for us, to give us a living, breathing example of how God wants us to live our lives, and to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Scripture says that the blood of bulls and goats could not save us, but only the blood of God in the flesh, Jesus, “the Word”, “el Verbo”, the perfect sacrifice. Then, when Jesus ascended back to the Father, He sent His Holy Spirit to be our Comforter, our Advocate, and to continue making sure the Heavenly Father understands us, to this very day (Romans 8:26-27).

            In my times of spiritual struggle, I find encouragement in the fact that God knows exactly how we feel. It wasn’t a disconnected Jesus who came here, but rather God, expressing Himself through Jesus, “the Word”.   And because of that, the Bible says that we can confidently take our fears, failures, bad days, and any other kind of day to God in prayer, knowing He understands, and knowing He has provided a way to heaven for those who are willing to trust Him and obey His word. Have a great week!

God is faithful to his children

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 12, 2016

            Every parent I know, myself included, has had days when they wondered what planet their offspring was living on at the moment. Most children have thought the same about their parents. We all have those challenging days, weeks, or even years. But the Bible’s most famous psalmist appears to have had way more than his share of tough days, though many of those were self-inflicted.

            King David’s own son, Absalom, even tried to kill him and take his throne after underhandedly turning many of the Israelites against the king, convincing them that only he understood their challenges and could provide justice in their favor. In fear for his life, King David fled Jerusalem for a time. In the end, David’s armies were victorious over the thousands of Israelites who had turned their allegiances away from him in favor of his son. Absalom wound up being killed by one of David’s generals in spite of orders to treat Absalom gently. It was the conspiracy by David’s son, and God’s righting of the situation that compelled David to compose what we know as Psalm 3:1-4. He wrote,

            “O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill.”

            In just these few verses, it is easy to see the anguish David was feeling as he was dealing with the disloyalty of the Israelites, the loss of his throne, the loss of a relationship with his son, and the death of a son.        With the piling up of all those negatives, it must have been difficult for David to defend his beliefs that God could save him. It is very possible that David felt guilt that his own poor decision making might actually be the reason Absalom was so rebellious. After all, David took no action when one of his other sons, Amnon, raped Tamar (Amnon’s half-sister). So, it wound up being Absalom who had Amnon killed for committing the crime against Tamar. That was the beginning of the breaking down of David and Absalom’s relationship.

            Even though David often acted wrongly, he knew that getting back on track with a faithful God was his only hope, whether the consequences were the result of a rebellious son, or the result of bad parenting. In our lives today, it is still easy to lay blame on someone else when things go badly for us.  

            One lesson we can learn from David is that our God is faithful, and will always lift us from the depths of despair when we cry out to Him. Lesson number two is that we are never too far away from God to ask Him for help.  He will always take us back even if there are consequences to pay this side of heaven. We all make mistakes. The only thing we can do is ask God’s forgiveness, and commit to serving God wholeheartedly starting right now. Have a blessed week!