Above the Sun: Reasons to be thankful abound (pt 2): “Christian fellowship”

by Barrett Vanlandingham

November 10, 2019

            Jesus!  There was really no way I could write about anything else last week in part one of my November series on reasons to be thankful. Today, I’d like to talk about “Christian fellowship.”

            In Acts 2:42-47, the writer Luke described the interaction of early Christians in the years just after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, and to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” They were so excited about honoring God, helping each other, and encouraging one another that Christians could be seen every day meeting together. Non-Christians could clearly see this kind of fellowship was something they wanted to be a part of. People by the thousands followed Peter’s command to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). The Lord then added them to the number of people who had been saved this same way. (Acts 2:41, 47).

            A few years later, some Christians had lost their way. The writer of Hebrews wrote these words:  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

            The writer here was dealing with a group of Christians whose faith was growing cold and was only looking inward, not outward. The writer could clearly see these wayward believers were in desperate need of encouragement that could only come from other Christians who understood their unique challenges. So, to make the above statement even more relevant, the writer then shines the spotlight directly on the topic of those who would “deliberately keep on sinning after receiving knowledge of the truth” (v.26), warning them that their behavior will eventually result in the same consequences as all those who are enemies of God.

            That’s some pretty heavy stuff. But just like today, people back then failed to place proper importance on Christian fellowship as a means of staying strong in the faith. How many times have you heard someone say their faith is only between them and God, and no one else? The fact is, we simply cannot live out our faith journey without both helping and being helped by others.

            We all have those days when we just feel like staying home instead of going to a Bible class or a church fellowship. But as Christians, we must remember the greatest command. Agape’. Love God and love others (Matthew 22:34). You see, when we love people the way Jesus wants us to, we think about what is in the best interest of others instead of only ourselves. Christian love realizes the importance of being present when Christians come together. Just being present is a tremendous encouragement to others in your church family. After all, how can we effectively build up one another and pray for each other (James 5:15-16) if we do not spend time with one another, and discuss those needs we can help with.

            The people of Fort Gibson are not unlike folks in other parts of rural America who rise to the occasion when tragedies or disasters leave our neighbors in desperate situations. Many of these efforts have been led by Christians who are simply living out the kind of fellowship we read about in Acts 2. It’s an ancient recipe for soul winning and for simply doing the right thing, but one that we still benefit from, and can still be thankful for 2000 years later.          

            Next week, I’ll discuss family.  Have a great week! 

Above the Sun: Reasons to be thankful abound – part 1

by Barrett Vanlandingham

November 3, 2019

            If I can push away from the table long enough to think during this time of year, November is always a special time to reflect and be thankful for the blessings God has given us. In my four-part series on reasons to be thankful, I’d like to talk about Jesus, Christian fellowship, family, and hope.

            John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

            Unless you’re an extreme early Christmas shopper, you are probably still in the process deciding what to put under the tree for your loved ones. Or if you’re like me, you haven’t even gotten that far. Regardless, if you’ve ever had a hard time thinking of that perfect gift for someone, imagine how God felt as he began to realize there was only one perfect Gift to give to all of humanity. It was not on sale, and it was a one of a kind. It was not a want. It was a need that most people didn’t even know they needed. It was not only the perfect Gift. It was the ONLY Gift that could meet the needs of not only the living and those yet to be born, but also those who were faithful to God generations before this Gift would be given. The Gift, of course, was Jesus Christ.

            Thousands of years before Jesus came to earth, He was written about in Genesis 3:15 shortly after the fall of Adam and Eve as the One who would crush the head of the serpent in spite of the serpent striking his heel. That prophecy was fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection from the dead, claiming victory over death, not only for himself, but for all those who would believe in Him. Our belief is proven by our obedience, not just in our belief (James 1:22, 2:14,24,26). You see, Satan and his angels very much believe in Jesus and His power to save, but they will never obey. Hell is their destination along with those who reject God and refuse to do His will (Matthew 25:41-46).

            To describe Jesus is difficult to say the least. But it sure is fun trying, amen? Jesus is the only one who can lead us to God the Father (John 14:6), and Jesus is the only one who can save us (Acts 4:12). He is in a unique position to do so because he actually lived here as a human, and faced the same struggles we deal with today (Hebrews 4:14-16). Countless songs and poems have been written about Jesus, his love, grace, mercy, and power! But none paints a complete picture of the One who is the ultimate Source of reasons to be thankful.

            Next week, I’ll discuss Christian fellowship.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: The devil’s treats are always tricks

by Barrett Vanlandingham

October 27, 2019

            If there is one thing the devil is good at, it is deception. Verse after verse, the Bible uses words like blinded, lies, deceit, falsehood, traps, schemes, tricks, and tempt, to describe the methods the “father of lies” uses to try to hurt God by hurting us. And that doesn’t even count all the other verses that do not use those words:

            “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Genesis 3:4-5).

            The infamous “not in the devil’s tale” together with promises that Adam and Eve would gain knowledge and be like God was all it took to drive a wedge between God and these naïve humans who did not understand what the devil was up to. They did know, however, that the devil’s version of what would happen if they ate from the tree was different from what God had said. So, why take Satan’s word over God’s word? Maybe Adam and Eve were not afraid of the serpent. Maybe they had previous conversations with him, and had developed trust. Maybe they wanted to believe they could become like their Hero even if it meant disobeying Him to accomplish this.

             We have exactly the same tendencies today. We want to obey God, but the devil has a way of setting traps that appeal to our vanity. God gives us free will, but the search for happiness or success drives some to exchange God’s plan for one that provides a perceived solution to a real problem. The apostle Paul speaks of the consequences for some who chose created things and man-made ideas over the Creator and His plan for our well-being. 

            Romans 1:26-28 says, “26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.”

            Those worldly choices never turn out as Satan promises. But choosing God's way is often difficult for both naive and mature Christians because Satan offers immediate gratification paired with delayed consequences. Unfortunately, this scheme appeals to those in desperate circumstances.

            The problem with being turned over to a depraved mind is not only the fact that God is basically telling that individual to go ahead and try it their way, but their thinking also becomes corrupt, evil, and warped because God has been pushed aside. Paul says this leads to all kinds of wickedness, consequences, and ultimately spiritual death if repentance (turning back to God) does not take place. But even with repentance, consequences of sin are very real and can stay with us a long time, even though we have re-committed to God. When it comes to spiritual warfare, Peter’s words bring comfort and hope as we await Christ’s return.

            “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

            Thankfully, God is more patient with us than we are with each other. The length and depth of His grace and mercy are truly indescribable. The devil’s deceptive treats will never rise to the level of God’s love for us. He proved this with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. And because of that, we have hope that is found in no other name but Jesus.   Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Fall break is a good time to see God working

by Barrett Vanlandingham

October 20, 2019

            It may be fall break for students and educators, but God’s creation is still hard at work preparing its colorful autumn scenes just for us to enjoy. It’s part of a plan that has been active since the fourth day of creation: “He made the moon to mark the seasons” (Psalm 104:19).

             Even though the Bible makes it clear we are not to worship created things, but rather, the Creator, there are a lot of things we can learn about God by simply taking time to look at nature. The words of the apostle Paul remind us of this.

             ^“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1: 20).

            Yes, Paul, I agree. Based on just how amazing created things really are, there is no reason to think everything just popped into being on its own by accident, or even slowly evolved into something amazing on its own. If I chop a tree down and let it sit there for 13.8 billion years, would anyone actually argue that the wood would evolve into a beautiful desk with drawers just because a human needed a desk? Of course not. The desk had a designer and a builder, like everything in nature including humans needed a Designer and Builder.  The system that moves cells through our body is called a flagellum. Without even one of its parts, it would not work at all. The same is true for our eyes. For instance, without the system that causes tears/moisture, our eyes wouldn’t work. And without eyes, there would be no reason to have a system to moisten them. These are two examples of body parts that had to have been created whole for any of it to work, and not evolved over long periods of time.

            The fact is, our Creator has literally thought of everything, and according to David, everything in the world including us belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). God’s attention to detail is simply mind-blowing, and this should give us confidence that He always has our best interest at heart.

            “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

            God could have made the leaves to just fall off the trees with no beautiful color changes. But He didn’t. That tells me God is creative, and He enjoys bringing warmth and wonderment into our lives. So, as we experience this autumn season, remember the words of the prophet Isaiah that give believers hope in the Lord’s promises. “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Faith unity can start anywhere

by Barrett Vanlandingham

October 13, 2019

            God moments are just fun to experience, and fun to tell. So, here goes. I am in my 18^th year in youth ministry here at the Fort Gibson church of Christ. One of my neighbors, Shawn Evans, has been music minister at the First Baptist Church for about the same amount of time. We each have a small role in Fort Gibson’s BBQ and Music Festival coming up this weekend. But the more I thought about the task we have been given, the more I see God’s hand at work. I am not trying to make more of something than it really is. I am simply calling it as I see it.

            Shawn and I are good friends, and both of us place God as our highest priority. So, whatever differences we may have when it comes to how we see the Bible, we work well together for the good of our community. After all, our sons acted and sang together in the 2017 production of Phantom of the Opera at the high school. Members of athletic teams, boards, and various clubs and associations work together all the time for the betterment of schools and communities, even though they do not agree on everything. It is this mixing of people and ideas that helps us understand each other better.

            From a biblical standpoint, it is the way Christians are to fulfill the Great Commission to “Go into all the world.”  It is only when we venture outside of our inner circles that we not only gain a better understanding of each other, but God blesses our efforts just like He did with the five loaves and two fish that fed thousands of people in spite of the apparent odds that something so impossible could be possible. The understanding of God’s will is important enough that Jesus actually prayed for all those who wear the name of Christ to someday be unified in Him.

            In John 17:20-21, Jesus prayed for his closest disciples and future generations of believers:  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

            Okay, back to the BBQ and Music Festival. Since I will be playing with a band I have formed for this event, Shawn and I have been visiting about things like how many microphones will be needed, where they will be placed, the number of speakers, cords, and amplifiers. Discussing sound equipment may seem trivial on the surface, but when the result is a weekend of added joy and happiness for our little town, God is at work, and that is simply a good thing

            By the way, my bass player is Trey Reed. He’s a barber here in town who also happens to be the youth pastor for the Methodist Church. Our drummer is Nathan Walkingstick, an NSU student from Fort Gibson who is actively involved in NSU’s Riverhawks for Christ. Singing harmony with me are two of my youth group members who also happen to be award-winning vocalists: Caleb Wilkie and Kinley Wilson.

            I hope many of you will make it Friday evening at 7:00pm at the gazebo to hear us perform a variety of genres. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Faulty assumptions make for faulty outcomes

by Barrett Vanlandingham

October 6, 2019

            One of the worst things we can do when it comes to finding out the will of God is to take things out of context during Bible study. Through the Bible, God has communicated to us everything we need to know in order to please Him (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

            The problem is that sometimes we look at just the words we need in order to prove our point, and ignore the overall context. This is dangerous because just reading one verse instead of the whole chapter (or more) may take us in a completely different direction than what God intended.

            A few days ago, our preacher and missions deacon left for Colombia in South America to meet up with our missionaries there. Around noon, our missions deacon texted me saying, “The Houston airport is shut down because of bad weather. We need someone to come bring us back to Fort Gibson.”  I thought to myself, “O no, that’s at least an eight-hour trip one way with no stops.” I proceeded to put out a request to our church family through social media to see if anyone could break loose and drive to Houston.

            A few minutes later, the deacon called and asked me if anyone had volunteered to come and get him and our preacher. I told him I hadn’t yet, but for $247 per person, he and the preacher could call an Uber to get them to the Dallas airport, and then fly on in from there.  He said that would not work, again, because the airport was shut down. I was very confused why that would matter. Then, he mentioned that another preacher from a nearby town who was also traveling with them had called his wife to come get him, and she had already arrived. I was thinking, “How in the world is this even possible, and why don’t they all just ride back together?”

            Finally, I asked in frustration, “Where are you?”  He said, “The Tulsa airport!”  You can only imagine the relief on both ends of the phone after that little piece of information was shared. At that point, the job of finding them a ride back to Fort Gibson was much easier since someone would only have to drive an hour and a half round trip instead of 16-18 hours!  We laughed about it. After all, how could two very experienced communicators make such an elementary mistake? It happens. We were both sincere. But we were both unknowingly approaching a problem from opposite ends which made a solution impossible until we had the necessary facts.

            This fail in communication and context was a great reminder to me that if it can happen in that kind of instance, it can also happen in other ways, such as with our Bible study.  We must ask ourselves why we believe what we believe about God’s will for our spiritual journey. Do we just take someone else’s word for it, or do we study for ourselves? If we do study for ourselves, do we have an open mind as to what God is telling us? Do we look at the overall context and message of what God is conveying, or do we simply cherry pick Bible verses to validate our traditions and prove opinions we already have?

            May God bless us all with the desire to dig into God’s word and ask basic questions about context, purpose, audience, time-frame, location, and culture. The answers found in God’s word will always prove as relevant today as when the Bible was written.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: You can make an eternal difference on the job

by Barrett Vanlandingham

September 29, 2019

            “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

            This is a hard pill to swallow for most people, especially those of us who have worked for a boss who less than likeable, or a teacher who just seems to enjoy making students miserable more than teaching them something. But the apostle Paul gives us plenty of reasons to change the way we feel about being employed and working in challenging situations. In fact, he says our attitude towards our job and our boss are directly tied to our respect of God, and commitment to doing God’s work.

            The old cliché’ warning about winning the battle while losing the war hits close to home in regard to this topic. Paul was not in favor of slavery, but he did teach that “masters are worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered” (1 Timothy 6:1).  

            This is definitely an “above the sun” principal that still applies to our work ethic today and how we speak about our bosses. There are no doubt times when a worker’s assessment of their boss as unfair, mean, no good, and ignorant may be right on target. But as Christians, Paul says we need to be careful that in the process of putting someone in their place we do not compromise our ability to win their soul or even someone else who witnesses the conflict. Having a good and constructive attitude in dealing with anyone is very important, as is timing of when we choose to have these conversations.

            Many people become even more defensive if they are publicly called out for their behavior, even if the one doing the calling out is nice about it. It’s much better to have these conversations privately when possible. If your boss really is of bad character, having a sincere talk with them can only really have one of two outcomes, either that will be the final nail in your coffin, or things might actually get better because you understand each other better. Either outcome would be a blessing. The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, said, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). In the end, you will be a lot closer to winning this person over to Christ than before, and for the Christian, this is really the goal of every conversation.

            For most people, their jobs are not their hobbies. That’s why they are called jobs. So, it is impressive when an employee works at their job the way we should all be working for God. An employer or even a co-worker who witnesses this may ask or wonder why you are taking your job so seriously. This question opens the door for a conversation about doing all things to God’s glory (Colossians 3:17) and making good use of your time while someone is paying you to do a job.  Having this kind of attitude on the job promotes trust, leading to conversations that could make a difference in where someone spends eternity.

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Keep your spiritual direction

by Barrett Vanlandingham

September 22, 2019

            The other day I sat down at my computer to do some work and the strangest thing happened. Everytime I moved my wireless mouse to the right my cursor moved to the left, and everytime I moved my mouse to the left my curser moved to the right. Everytime I moved my mouse up my curser moved down, and vice versa. Very confusing.

            I soon figured out the problem was not with the mouse, the curser, or even the computer. It was operator error! Even though the mouse was sitting in its normal spot on my desk, it was turned in the opposite direction, and therefore, everytime I moved it one way, the curser on my screen moved opposite.

            This can also happen spiritually while we are on our faith journey. Without knowing our destination and directions how to get there, we would wander aimlessly. During a road trip, if our map or GPS is turned upside down or backwards, it would be significantly more difficult to get where we’re going. The same is true spiritually. It is important to read the Bible to know God’s will for us. That way, when someone gives us advice that conflicts with God’s direction, it doesn’t feel right, sound right, or look right.

            The writer of Hebrews lists several faith hall of famers such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Rahab, and many others who exhibited faith in their journeys. Readers are then encouraged to heed the writer’s advice on how to successfully reach our heavenly destination.

            “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

            So, the writer reminds us that runners who expect to win the prize choose the route with the fewest obstacles that could get in our way. Next, the word endurance is a good reminder to put our faith and knowledge into action daily. This helps build our spiritual muscles so that when the valleys and temptations of life come our way we will be able to keep moving forward. Next, we are reminded to look at the example of Jesus for inspiration. He went through so much. But because He knew His destination and how to get there, He stayed the course, and as long as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps we will too.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: God is always here for us

September 15, 2019

by Barrett Vanlandingham

            If you have ever felt that God was ignoring your plea or not even hearing you in the first place, the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge is for you.

            In Luke 18, the writer says Jesus’ purpose in telling the parable to his disciples was to “show them that they should pray and never give up.” The story involves a widow who was not willing to take no for an answer, and an unjust judge who did not care about God or anyone else!  The widow, over and over, kept showing up asking for justice against someone who had done her wrong. The judge kept putting her off but eventually got tired of her bothering him, so he finally agreed to help her.

            “And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off” (Luke 18:6-7)?

            God has never required that His children repeat the same request over and over and over again. But this parable does remind us to not give up on God, and to remember our version of perfect timing is not the same as God’s version. Wouldn’t it be scary to think that God’s wisdom and actions somehow depend on when and what we think is the best solution?

            Peter summed it up this way: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

        In addition, it is important for us to make sure our heart is in the right place when we present our desires and concerns.

            “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:3). The Bible also tells us that if we are walking in step with God, prayer can achieve amazing results, though it is still in God’s time.

        “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

            Another point of the parable is that if a crooked judge can be influenced or even have a change of mind about helping someone, then surely a fair judge would do the same. Our Heavenly Father is the fairest of all, and Christians can be confident that He continually acts in the best interest of His chosen ones. This is not only true when we ask for things, but also when we do not even know what to ask for, or possibly didn’t even know we needed to ask. Remember the words of Paul?

            “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).

            We can trust with certainty that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28). Have a great week!

Above the Sun: God can help you change for the better

September 8, 2019

by Barrett Vanlandingham

                      ²⁶He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29).

            This parable teaches that yes, we are involved in our own spiritual growth just like the man who scattered the seed.  But we are not alone in this process. Just like the growing process of the seed, the positive change in our lives is a mystery in which Jesus Christ is the solution (1 Timothy 3:16). I can just imagine Jesus smiling and using air quotation marks while saying “All by itself” as He was telling the story to his disciples about how the soil produces grain.

            So often, we plan things out for our lives the way we see it happening. We pray about it, press on full steam ahead, include God in everything we do, and assume or hope God feels the same about our plans as we do. But even when we have the best of intentions, God sometimes has something different in mind for us. He even has plans for us when we have no idea what to do. For that we are all grateful. It’s a thought passed down from the wisest human who ever lived, Solomon.           

            “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

            Submitting or committing to anything or anyone takes a lot of work and faith (belief).

            In Ephesians 2:8-10, the apostle Paul does not stop with saying “it is by grace you have been saved.” He continues to say that grace saves us through our faith. We are saved by our belief in God’s act of grace that accomplished what we could not do on our own, the forgiveness of sin. We obey God’s word and do the things He asks of us because we believe in Jesus’ power to save us.

            If we do not obey God’s teachings, James 2:18-19 says we are no different than the demons who believe there is one God.  Faith and deeds go hand in hand. “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).

            Here are three things to think about in regards to spiritual growth:

1. It involves a partnership between the believer and God where we keep in step with His Spirit and His attributes such as love and kindness (Galatians 5:22-25). Paul says, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

2. As we do His will, we grow a little at a time. Even Paul admitted he still had work to do in maturing as a Christian (Philippians 3:12-14). Peter would agree. He told Christians to grow spiritually by adding Christ-like qualities into their lives a step at a time (2 Peter 1:5-8). He says, “Make every effort to confirm your calling and election” (v. 10)

3. Finally, Jesus explains that spiritual growth has a purpose, to make us ready for the harvest or the end of the age when the righteous will shine like the sun, and the weeds will be burned in the fire.

            God’s word has the power to change hearts and minds, and bring the lost into a saved relationship with Him through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Romans 1:16-17).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: It is never too late to work in God’s kingdom

September 1, 2019

by Barrett Vanlandingham

            “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1-2).

            Did you ever try to do something nice for someone, but it backfired? That’s what happened in this parable told by Jesus. The agreement between the workers and the landowner was a fair one. The problem came at the end of the day when the workers found out the landowner had also hired additional workers throughout the day, and paid them the same even though the new hires did not work as many hours in the heat of the day as those who started earlier.

            “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you” (Matthew 20:13-14).

            The point Jesus makes in this parable is that it doesn’t matter when someone turns their life over to God and begins to work for Him. A person who was dedicated to the Lord for 90-years does not get a better place in heaven than someone who becomes a Christian the hour before the trumpet of the Lord sounds! People in the first century were particularly concerned with this issue because the Jews were originally God’s chosen people. One popular Jewish Christian belief in the first century held that Gentiles who became Christians could only be saved if they obeyed Jewish law first. Paul preached against this.

            Three takeaways from this parable are that the grace of God is overwhelming, never-ending, and unbiased.

            First, there is nothing that spells grace any more than the words of Peter. He told his readers that the reason God has not already returned for the Judgment is because of His patience and unwillingness that anyone should perish, but that all people would eventually turn to Him (2 Peter 3:9). God will continue seeking those who would work in His kingdom until the final hour. And yes, they will get the same reward as those who worked their whole lives.

            Second, the supply of God’s grace will never be depleted. It is not like a jar of peanut butter that eventually has to be scraped out. God’s jar is always full and fresh no matter when you open it. The workers at the end of the day did not receive the “leftover” wages, but instead a full day’s pay in spite of their short-comings.

            Third, it is important for new Christians as well as lifetime Christians to understand that God’s grace is not limited to certain types of people. It is given to all who choose God, even if they do not look like, sound like, smell like, or dress like anyone else you know. In the parable, nobody else was willing to hire the latecomers. We do not know why they were considered rejects. The good landowner not only hired them, but gave them the same amount as the others.

            As members of Christ’s church, we are also to reach out to the broken, and not only to those who rise to a certain level.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: A little kindness can make a big difference

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 25, 2019

            “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:12-14).

            Doesn’t it feel good when someone goes out of their way to do something nice for you? Jesus wants his followers to be that kind of friend. In this parable, Jesus urges us to seek people who are living in sin or who have strayed away. He also teaches here that we are to celebrate when they are brought back into the church family or perhaps welcomed in for the first time.  Just like Jesus, the shepherd in this parable considered all of his sheep to be valuable and important enough to go great lengths to save them from harm.

            In Luke 19, Jesus went further than just telling a story about seeking the lost, He actually showed us in a real-life scenario as He entered Jericho and found himself in the middle of a crowd. It would have been easy for most of us to miss out on the opportunity to visit with Zacchaeus. After all, most people didn’t want anything to do with him because he was a wealthy tax collector. Those who held that office were known to charge taxpayers extra to pad their own bank accounts. Zacchaeus was also short, and could not see above the crowd. So, he climbed a tree ahead of the crowd in hopes of being able to see Jesus as He came by.  Not only was Zacchaeus able to see the Savior, but Jesus noticed him sitting in the tree and told him to come down so they could visit more at Zacchaeus’s house. The special attention Jesus showed this man ultimately resulted in Zacchaeus making things right with the people and with God. Jesus reached out to Zacchaeus, and in return, Zacchaeus took action to change for the better.

            In Luke 15:5-6, there are more celebratory details expressed by the shepherd at finding his sheep. “And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’” The shepherd lifts up his no longer lost sheep as he declares victory!

            Jesus calls His followers to reach out to lost sinners, and to joyfully add those who repent and are saved into our fellowship. Luke writes in Acts 8:8 that “There was great joy in that city.” This was after the Samaritans, who were despised by many, became Christians.

            Of course, one important variable we do not know from the parable of the lost sheep is how long the sheep is lost. A Christian brother or sister who strays from God’s path will stay lost until they choose to come home. We all have free will. One thing we do know is that God is patient with us (2 Peter 3:9), and so we should be patient with those who continue to struggle spiritually. Our attitude as a concerned Christian can either cause someone to open the door to Jesus, or to let Jesus keep knocking (Revelation 3:20).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Repentance is a good thing

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 18, 2019

            “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’  “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go” (Matthew 21:28-30).

            There are few verses in the Bible that give us as much hope as this parable. It was told by Jesus when He was approached in the temple by the chief priests and elders who were questioning His authority. He used this illustration to explain to them the importance of repentance. Jesus basically explained that it is not so much where you start out, it is where you end up that is important. Jesus explained that it was the first son who did what his father wanted even though neither son gave the answer their father hoped for.

            There are a lot of definitions for repentance depending on whom you ask. Some common ideas back then as well as today may include being sorry, or apologizing, or asking forgiveness. Someone can be forced to do a task even though they do it grudgingly. That is not repentance. The point Jesus made to His listeners was that repentance involves changing your mind as well as your actions.

            In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees and other religious leaders were good at putting on a good religious show, but they were not genuine, and Jesus knew they were frauds. In Matthew 23, He warned the crowds and his disciples to not follow the example of the scribes and Pharisees because they did not practice what they preached. In fact, He said any deeds they did were for the purpose of impressing people. They relied on outer appearance more than on the power of God within them.

            Jesus reminded the Pharisees that prostitutes and tax collectors were turning to God to make them whole, while the self-righteous religious leaders were too busy relying on themselves and their public display of religion to make them appear holy.

            In living the Christian life, we all face those times when we need to rethink our responsibilities when it comes to being a new creation and ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). The apostle Peter had strong words for those false preachers and teachers who had strayed from presenting and living out God’s will, in exchange for man-made teachings.

            “It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them” (2 Peter 2:21).

            Repentance is what keeps us pointed in the right direction, and we are all in need of that. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Wearing Jesus is the best choice in fashion

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 4, 2019

            It’s that time of year when families head to stores for back to school shopping. New clothes for a new school year just go hand in hand.

            The Bible talks about clothing that is of greatest importance. In fact, doing without it would be the worst possible choice anyone could make. On several occasions, the apostle Paul told anyone who would listen his thoughts on clothing.

            To the church in Rome, he said, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:14).”

            To the church in Galatia, he said, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27).”

            To the church in Colossae, he said, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12).”

            Paul is among those first century Christians who would be more than qualified to speak on the topic of clothing because his spiritual journey led him into situations where he had to do without.           

            “I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked (2 Corinthians 11:27).”

            Surprisingly, with everything he went through, Paul did not write about the kind of clothing most of us are familiar with. But rather, a kind of clothing that is even more important. Spiritual clothing.

            To the church in Ephesus, Paul goes even further in explaining the importance of clothing ourselves in Christ through baptism, and applying His qualities to our lives. He likens truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, and prayer to armor that Christians need to put on in order to win our daily spiritual battles.

            “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11).”

            Yes, it’s always fun to get a new shirt or new pair of shoes. But when it comes to what really matters, it is much more important to make sure our spiritual wardrobe is well stocked for whatever challenges are certain to come our way. Earthly clothing styles come and go. Jesus and eternity are forever.  Have a great week!

Goliath’s Failure Gives Giant Lessons for Us Today

by Barrett Vanlandingham 
(Original article:  Fort Faith, September 16, 2008)

By all accounts, the fight between Goliath and David should have ended much differently than it did. 

When you read 1 Samuel 17 it is easy to see that a nine-feet tall Philistine warrior whose armor weighed 125 pounds, and whose iron spear-tip alone weighed 15 pounds should have not wound up flat on the ground with his head cut off. But that’s exactly what happened in spite of the fact that Goliath even had his own shield bearer who went out before him.

No one else besides a shepherd boy named David would even dare to fight Goliath. So, what happened? What went wrong? Well, a couple of things. Goliath was obviously in the habit of placing his confidence in none other than himself. He was arrogant, threatening, rude, and irreverent towards God’s people. 

For forty days, Goliath came out to taunt King Saul and the Israelites saying, “…Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us… This day I defy the ranks of Israel! (1 Sam. 8-10)…” After Goliath saw who was coming out to fight, he said, “:44 Come here… and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.”

The whole scene sounds pretty intimidating to me. But that didn’t stop David who then said to the Philistine, “…You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head (1 Sam. 17:45-46)…”

What follows next is my favorite part of the story “:48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.”

David takes five smooth stones and uses one of them in a sling to strike the giant down, and then takes Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head.

“:51 …When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.”

I’m not sure which part of the story is more pathetic, Goliath’s over-confidence, or the Philistine army’s cowardly reaction to a young shepherd boy defeating their “hero.”

Two lessons we must learn from this are 1) where to put our faith, and 2) what kind of things we should place our priorities on.
David put his confidence in God even though the odds were against him. He had to endure criticism from many including his own brothers, and being made fun of by those who were only judging David from outward appearances.

May we all pray that God gives us the confidence to trust in Him even when the world says we’re not strong enough or smart enough to win the battle against the devil. May we never be afraid to lay our pride aside, and let God’s power work within us. Have a great week!