Reaching out to others will change your life

by Barrett Vanlandingham

July 9, 2013

            Living in a third world country even for a short amount of time has a way of putting some things into perspective.  Our 28 member Honduras mission team (from Fort Gibson Church of Christ) landed safely back in Tulsa last Wednesday after spending nine days in southern Honduras about a mile from the border of Nicaragua (as a crow flies).

             Our job was to change lives or at least bring joy through serving people who live in extreme poverty there.  We did our best to share the love of Christ.  While some of our group poured a concrete floor for a medical clinic we help support, and a nearby place of worship, others of us conducted a four-day Vacation Bible School for about 90 children, and handed out food bags in a nearby fishing village. 

            We delivered two milk cows with money raised by young kids from our church, and delivered another milk cow with money raised by the Alpha and Omega club at Fort Gibson High School.  The cows were awarded to responsible Christian families who will use some of the milk for themselves and give some to their impoverished neighbors.

            Before leaving Honduras, we built a small wooden house (16’ x 16’) for a local preacher who is just starting out, and does not own a bed or any other furniture.

            But for as much effort as we put into changing lives, as always it was our mission team who came back changed.  Anyone who has ever been on a mission trip would say the same thing. 

            The fact is that when God says He rewards those who earnestly seek Him, He means it, whether your efforts are local or abroad.  One thing is for sure, all who went to Honduras will never again look at life here in the U.S. the same.   Have a great week!

  During our VBS in Cedeno, Honduras, we clowned around and spent time with children like Juan (2^nd from the left).  At night, he sleeps outside with animals, and he survives by eating mangos that fall from the trees.  He is one of about 100 kids who eat lunch five days a week at the church-supported nutrition site where we were working.

  Shown here are some of the officers of Fort Gibson High School’s Alpha and Omega club, Gracie Vanlandingham, Hunter Hackworth, Hayden Hackworth, and Krista Keeley. They went on the mission trip and personally awarded a milk cow to Delia Aguilar who lives in Choluteca, Honduras. This past school year, club members raised enough money ($800) to purchase and deliver  the cow with the help of Mission Lazarus, a Christian service organization there. The recipient is a Christian who raises eleven children as a single mother. 

  This is one of the locals we delivered food bags to in an effort to spread the love of Christ.  The small hut she lives in is typical for those who live in this fishing village in southern Honduras just a couple of blocks away from the Pacific Ocean.

   Mission trip leaders Glen and Robin Elliott seen here smoothing out dirt and rock floor before concrete can be poured under the medical clinic which is up on stilts because of flooding.  The concrete floor will provide a good location for children to play and eat. Most of the kids do not have shoes, which results in intestinal illnesses caused by bacteria they get from the dirt, and unclean water they drink at home.  Although a newly installed water system at this site should help alleviate some of this problem.

 Lisa Vanlandingham, Terry Hackworth, and Susan Keeley laying bricks around the worship pavilion while Gabe Laney pours cement, sand, and gravel into the mixer.

   Missionaries from Fort Gibson (alphabetical order) include:   Rachel Archer, Glen and Robin Elliott, Terry, Gean, Hunter, Hayden, and Hannah  Hackworth,  Jerry, Susan, Krista, and Kali Keeley,  Everett and Gabe Laney. Edgar Lucero,  Brittany Palmer, Sara and Hope Perry, Mona Seabolt, Roy Smith, Bree Snider, Dustin Stillwell, Zachary Taylor, Barrett, Lisa, Gracie, and Britton Vanlandingham, Kara Wallace.

  (VBS teachers) Edgar Lucero (right) is one of the ministers for South College Church of Christ’s Hispanic congregation in Tahlequah. He teamed up with Honduran preacher Siney Medina (left) to portray Kiko(Edgar) and Chavos (Siney), well-known Latin American comedy characters.  Their routine kept the attention of the children so they could teach the kids Bible stories through song.

 Round and round we go!  Playing games with children during VBS in Honduras.

Although most of us on the trip couldn't communicate well enough in Spanish to be the "out front" teachers/singers, the job of having the puppets mouth along with the songs worked just fine.  There was also plenty of crowd control that just about anyone could help with somewhat successfully.

Everyday Is Independence Day for Christians
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 2, 2013

            For Americans, July 4 marks the occasion in 1776 when the 13 original U.S. colonies declared independence from Britain. The Declaration of In­dependence reads as follows:

We hold these truths to be self-evident,

that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

            With these memorable words, Thomas Jefferson, at the age of 33, laid the cornerstone of the United States of America.

            Jesus was also 33 years old when His death, burial and resurrection made Him the Cornerstone of the Church.  Read: Eph 2:11-22, Matt 21:42-46, John 8:31-36, Romans 6:18.

            For Christians, Independence Day came when Jesus put an end to the rule of the Old Law by nailing it to the cross. Up until that point, Jews (not Gentiles) were God’s chosen people just by the fact that they were born as Jews, and it would be through their line of people that the Christ would come.  But the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus changed everything, making it possible for all who believed in Jesus as the son of God to become His chosen people.

            “ ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22, ESV).”

            Christians, no matter what nationality, could finally share a common name as God's new chosen people.  Both Jews and Gentiles who believe could finally be baptized, re­ceive forgiveness of sin, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and be add­ed to the Lord's church, just as we are today (Acts 2:38). This gives us daily cleansing of our sin because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:7).

            You may know people in our community who are still shackled in the prison of unbelief, or maybe they are under the misconception that Jesus would never accept a person like them.  Now would be a great time to go to the Father in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to the fact that Jesus loves everyone, and only He can set us free.  (John 8:36 and Rom.5:5-8).”  Have a great week!

Negative peer pressure doesn’t have to always win
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 25, 2013

            This summer at church camp, my youth group will be looking into what it means to “Set Yourself Free.”   Those three words are much more than a catchy camp theme.  They are also a life-long challenge for most of us whether we bear the name Christian or not.

            Take for instance, negative peer pressure and how to get away from it.  This is not only a teenage issue.  Teens and adults struggle with negative peer pressure.  Sometimes, we refer to it as “complying with cultural norms”.  And while that may sound better, it’s all the same thing.  The number one excuse is usually, “Everyone else is doing it!”

            Most of the time, we associate this excuse with teens who are either wanting to misbehave, or are struggling with being singled out versus just caving in and playing the same “mature” video games their friends are playing.  Some struggle with listening to the same inappropriate music everyone else is listening to, or wearing the same clothes everyone else is wearing even though that item of clothing is too expensive or revealing.

            Parents find themselves running their entire family ragged trying to keep up with other parents who have children the same age as theirs.  And then there’s the issue of trying to be the volunteer of the year.  You know the type, the one who can’t say no, the one who desires to be seen as “ultra-involved in your community or church” while in your heart you know it’s negatively affecting your relationships.  Please don’t take me wrong.  It is important to find your talent and get involved.  But there has to be a balance, and sometimes you just have to learn to say that little two letter word, “NO”.  Try it sometime when the little voice in your head is telling you, “You’re already over-committed.”   Don’t ignore it. Pray about it. Trust God to lead you.

            In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul says the words of the Bible will equip you with exactly what you need to live the best life.  The problem is that most of us are just too busy to spend a few minutes a day talking to God in prayer, much less gaining wisdom from the Bible. It is the best-selling book of all time.

            In Luke 15:17, we are told the story of a son who took his inheritance and ran away from home so he could live the fast life.  In the end, but out of desperation after he ran out of money, he came to his senses and went back to his father who gladly welcomed him home.  Jesus will do the same.  He always has time for you.  Have a great week!

Christ brings direction to a world spinning out of control

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 18, 2013

            My son, Britton, and I had a blast at the Fort Gibson Burnout Competition over the weekend.  The weather was perfect, the attendance was great, and the hotrods were impressive.

            It was amazing to watch these suped up cars with high performance engines sit absolutely still while the rear wheels spin full speed ahead, smoke billowing into a crowd of cheering fans.

            The pessimistic part of me kept wondering if one of those roaring speedsters was somehow going to get loose and rocket through the crowd.  Thank the Lord and some skilled drivers, that didn’t happen.

            And while this was no doubt a fun event to enjoy, the minister part of me could not help but make a comparison between someone whose life just seems to go around in circles and never really get anywhere, just like those spinning wheels. There may even be a smokescreen or other superficial evidence of progress, or even friends cheering them on in their endeavor, while in reality nothing of spiritual significance has occurred in that person’s life.  We see this happening all over the world as people continue to look for answers in the wrong places.

              It can be easy, even for Christians, to get so caught up in day to day life, and in our own projects, desires, and hobbies that we forget to spend time and effort on the important things.  The Israelites were constantly guilty of this behavior, and as a result, God let them circle through the wilderness for 40 years! The Bible warns Christians against wasting time.

            “¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17).”

            One important thing to remember is that even though physical growth happens without much effort, spiritual growth happens only by choice.  And God urges us to do so. He even lists specific areas to work on for those of us who wear the name Christian.

            “⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).”

            May God bless your spiritual journey, that you may not go in circles, but instead make forward progress as you work towards spiritual growth everyday.  Have a great week!

Running the Christian race is a worthy endeavor  
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 11, 2013

          I could definitely stand to be in better physical shape.  A lot of my friends are constantly training for one race or another.  A 5-K here, a 10-K there.  Staying in shape is important.  The same can be said for our spiritual shape.

            Each of the New Testament writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, Jude, and the unidentified writer of Hebrews) talks about the importance staying faithful to God.

With so much attention given to this issue, the obvious question to ask would be, “Why is that important?”  After all, in the world we live in today, obeying the commands of God who we haven’t seen is not exactly the most popular way to spend our time.  In fact, most people could care less about walking a narrow path to a place they’ve only heard about (Matthew 7:13-14).

Even some Christians would go as far as to say that it is not important to even try to be good since we are saved by grace anyway.  And while it is true that God’s grace saves us, this does not give us a free pass to simply live life on our own terms and disregard God’s will for us as New Testament Christians.  The apostle Paul made that clear in Rom. 6:1-11 and Gal. 5:4.

Paul also warned Christians in Corinth that as they run the Christian race, they should run in a way to get the prize instead of running aimlessly.  He encourages Christians to not fight spiritual battles like a boxer who just swats at the air.  He says it is important for us to not only tell others about Christ, but to make sure we ourselves are also staying fit spiritually.

“No, I beat my body and make it a slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize (1 Cor. 9:27).”

Paul knew what it was like to butt heads with God.  It didn’t work very well for him (Acts 9) and it will not work very well for us either.  Maybe that’s why he wrote so much on this topic after he became a Christian.

The apostle Peter also encourages Christians to stay faithful til the end.  He goes as far as to say that we should be careful what we believe about Scripture because of how some people distort the meaning of the message.

“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.  But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Peter 3:17-18).”

God promises to reward your earnest efforts in running the race and seeking him (Hebrews 11:6).  This verse and many others in the New Testament disqualify half-hearted attempts to please God.  Spend some time in fervent prayer everyday, asking God to guide your steps.  You will surely notice a big difference in your life, and in the lives of those you come in contact with.  Have a blessed week!

 

Children are a blessing from God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 4, 2013

            Even after directing Junior Camp with a bunch of third through fifth graders this past week, I can honestly say that there is something extra refreshing and inspirational about children.

            During our worship time, we sang a song with these lyrics: “Holy Lord, most holy Lord, You alone are worthy of my praise. O holy Lord, most holy Lord, with all of my heart I sing. Great are you, Lord!  Worthy of praise!  Holy and true, great are You, Lord, most holy Lord.”

            Whether you know the tune of the song is not important.  But I will say that I have sung this song probably hundreds of times, and the only two times that tears have actually come to my eyes is when I have heard children sing it by themselves with no adult voices.  This was the case at Junior Camp. Of course, there were more missed notes without the adult voices to guide them, but that didn’t matter.  It was almost as if we were listening to baby angels praising God.  What a blessing.

            Yes, children are high maintenance.  Yes, children can be annoying.  (Weren’t we all?)  But for some reason, hearing them sing praises to God at the top of their lungs makes children’s ministry all worth it.  They are not worried about what anyone else thinks of them.  They are not worried about saying all of the words correctly or hitting all of the notes perfectly.  They just sing and offer pure praise, and God just listens to their hearts, just like He listens to ours.  They have their whole lives ahead of them, so much potential.  And already they minister to adults daily without evening knowing it.  God is so good.

            Jesus held a special place in his heart for children. Remember this passage in the New Testament book of Matthew?

            “Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 19:13-14)

            Whether we remember it or not, we’ve all been children.  Sometimes we forget that in God’s eyes we are still children in many ways, stumbling and making mistakes on a daily basis.  But one thing is for sure.  As Christians, God is our Father, He is always there for us, guiding, comforting, giving, and forgiving as we repent.  May God bless each of us with the sincere desire to be innocent and pure like little children.  Have a great week!

Be Jesus to someone everyday

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 28, 2013

            Just when you think the world’s priorities are so far out of whack things could never get back in line, there always seems to be some sort of crisis that causes people to re-think life.

            Our state and much of our nation are no doubt going through that right now as tornado damage here in Oklahoma is causing people everywhere to re-focus.

            Many of us have close friends or family members who were affected by nature’s recent wrath. It is hard to make it through an entire day without having a conversation or hearing news about what is going on in Moore and other towns that were in the path.    

            One giant blessing that is coming out of all of this is seeing and hearing about so many acts of compassion, selflessness, kindness, and love being shown towards victims and volunteers.  This is truly inspiring.  There is probably not a town in Oklahoma that is not doing something to help.  Here in Fort Gibson, churches, schools and many other kind-hearted people have unified for a very important cause.  Suddenly, things that used to seem so important have taken a back seat to offering aid, hope, and hugs to those whose world was turned upside down in a matter of minutes.

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

            Christians have a vital job to do during this very difficult time.  While it is certainly important to help others by giving money and any supplies that are needed, we also must model the definition of love as stated by the apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth.  This is something we need to do not only in times of crisis, but especially after things get back to normal and people have forgotten to have a Christ-like attitude. 

            There may not be a natural disaster every week to cause people to unite and be Jesus to those who are hurting, but tragedy and crises do occur year round, even here in our small town.  It may be on your block or even in your family.

            May we all work towards making a difference for someone in our community today and everyday.  God bless and have a great week!

Flowers teach lessons that help us grow in spirit
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 21, 2013

            One of the things I love about this time of year is beautiful flowers everywhere!  I really appreciate all of Fort Gibson’s very talented and persistent green thumbs. 

Glen and Betty Hopfer have a spectacular purple Clematis vine with hundreds of blooms that have climbed and decorated the corner of their house several feet high! 

As I took some pictures of their flowerbed, I couldn’t help but be in awe of God’s handiwork in partnership with the Hopfer’s.  But as colorful as this scene was, the words of the prophet Isaiah came to mind.  “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).”

While I do not like the thought of eventual doom for these blooms, it is encouraging that God loves mankind much more than grass and flowers (Matthew 6:28-30).  But with that love comes great responsibility.

The role of Christians has become more important than ever as people are being influenced by an ever-increasingly wicked world, and need something and someone to trust in. It is a daunting task as the statistics show people acting on their feelings of hopelessness.

A recent study by Julie Phillips of Rutgers University shows that more people now die of suicide than in car accidents!

The root of the problem is really nothing new, and has been around since the beginning of mankind.  It is just that these days, people increasingly seem to embrace taking on more distractions and more financial risks in their lives instead of seeking advice from God on experiencing peace, hope, and assurance.  He’s been an expert on this for a very long time.

God created all of nature for us to enjoy. He also created us with the ability to have fun, laugh, accomplish our goals, and experience a full range of emotions that comes with daily life.  But where we tend to mess up is when our lives become unbalanced, and we forget to just simply spend time being in awe of God, studying the truths of his word, and praising Him for all the ways He blesses our lives, and for the hope we have through his son Jesus the Christ. 

For thousands of years, God’s Holy Spirit has made sure that God’s word in written form would stand the test of time.  These truths will still be here to guide all of humanity long after the thrills of this world wilt and let us down.

May God bless you this week with the desire and confidence to simplify your life, let go of distractions that hinder your relationship with God, and to simply get re-acquainted with the joys that come from knowing that we serve an eternal God who has an eternal purpose for us.

Save room for Jesus on your summer vacation
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 14, 2013

            Summer is when most people try to squeeze in some vacation time. And why not? School age kids will be out of class in little more than a week.  And besides, everyone needs a break now and then.

            But one thing Christians must keep in mind is that summer break does not mean a vacation from God.  After all, what if God took a vacation from us?  We would be in a world of hurt!  For me, it would be unthinkable to go on a vacation to relax the body He created, or admire His handiwork in nature, while leaving Him at home or penciled-in somewhere in my weekly planner until I am ready to continue our walk.

            In one of Jesus’ parables, he said, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes (Luke 12:35-37).”

            Jesus teaches that we must always be ready for his return, “because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (v 40).”

            This advice does not sound like Jesus thinks it’s a good idea to separate ourselves from God, even for a minute.  Remember what happened to Peter when he was allowed to walk on the water but then took his eyes off of Jesus?  He sank, just like the ark probably would have if Noah would have chosen to use his own blueprints instead of God’s.

            We have the choice everyday to walk with God or not.  If we choose not to, there will be consequences, either for ourselves or someone else, possibly a friend or family member who looks to you as an example of righteousness.

            Whether your break hits in the summer, fall, winter, or spring, it is important for Christians to use whatever time you have to grow closer to our heavenly Father, not farther away from Him. We must constantly seek to spiritually renew our minds (Romans 12:1-2) by spending more time with Him in prayer and Bible study.  This will not only give us helpful knowledge, but will help us to be better prepared to carry out His instruction (2 Timothy 4:2).  This may mean something as simple as modeling the servant-heart of Jesus in your own neighborhood, or even when you go on vacation.  Have a blessed week!

A little known name in the Bible teaches important lessons
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 8, 2013

            Just when you thought you knew all of the names in the Bible, someone like Cleopas comes along.  And even though you may not have heard of Cleopas, you may have heard the story of what happened on the road to Emmaus.  Luke tells the story in Luke 24:13-35, and it is of great importance to all Christians. I will explain why, later.

            The story takes place on the Sunday after the crucifixion of Jesus.  Cleopas and another follower of Jesus were walking from Jerusalem to a town called Emmaus which was about seven miles away.  The men were very sad that such a great teacher had been put to death. 

The events of the weekend were so horrific that some of Jesus’ followers, including Cleopas, either forgot or didn’t understand the prophecies that Jesus would not only die on a cross, but that he would rise again (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Psalm 16:9-10).  The Lord himself had also prophesied his own resurrection when he told the Jews, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days (John 2:19).”

Women who visited the site where Jesus’ body was laid and guarded told Cleopas and several other disciples about the empty tomb, but most did not believe the news (Luke 24:11).  It was only on the road to Emmaus when Cleopas unknowingly shared his doubts and uncertainties with the resurrected Jesus that things became clearer.

“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him (Luke 24:15-16).”

When Jesus asked them what they were discussing, they presumed he was a visitor to the area.  So they sadly told him about the crucifixion and how they had hoped that Jesus would bring Israel back into power (instead of the Romans), and about the reports that Jesus’ body was missing.

Jesus took this opportunity to remind them of the things spoken by the prophets long before, and that the Christ would suffer and ascend back to his father.  Jesus had supper with them and allowed them to recognize who he was for a brief moment after he gave thanks for the bread and handed it to them, and then he disappeared.  The men quickly began to tell others about their experience.

Three quick lessons we can learn from Cleopas:

1) It is a good thing to discuss your struggles and doubts with other Christians, and to go to God in prayer (James 5:16). 

2) It is good to seek information from God’s word that will shed light on your questions. Romans 1:20 says that we can even learn some things about God from examining what He has created.

3) It is good to share information with others about matters of faith you have discovered.  This will be an encouragement to you and to those you share Jesus with.

            Have a blessed week and remember, whether in times of peace or stress, to allow Jesus to share his word, the bread of life, with you!