Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Do I have any doubts about this?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 13, 2020 

            So what does it matter if my decisions are based on whether I have doubts that it is the right thing to do? In short, if I am willing to risk my relationship with God, I am telling God that His will doesn’t matter as much as my wants matter.  This means I was willing to follow my own will even though I had an inkling that God may not be okay with it.

            Let’s say you want to watch a movie. You have heard it has a little bit of nudity and profanity in it.  You feel a little guilty for choosing to go ahead with it, but you do anyway. Afterwards, you realize you were evidently thinking of the wrong movie because the one you just watched was clean.  Did you sin in this example?

            Or how about this scenario: Many of the people you hang around use curse words. You know that’s wrong, so you choose to say a word that rhymes with a curse word. You feel a little guilty about saying it, but you really just want to fit in. After all, it’s not technically a curse word.  Did you sin in this example?

            To me, issue like these are hard to deal with because as a Christian, all I really want to do is make sure my actions and words are righteous, and a benefit to God’s kingdom and never a problem for it. But since too often I am just a selfish human, I am tempted to lean in favor of what I want, especially if I can convince myself the Bible doesn’t make a strong argument against whatever I am considering.

            The apostle Paul is a big help on this topic. If you have not read Romans 14, be prepared to have your mind blown. At least, that’s kind of how I felt the first several times I read it. The context here is the interaction of weak and strong Christians, and how being on God’s team is more about promoting righteousness, peace, and joy than judging each other’s attempts to honor God by things we do, eat, drink, or even the days we consider sacred.

            “19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:19-23).

            1 Corinthians 8 also explores this topic in regard to eating meat sacrificed to idols. Paul says even though there is only one God, and idols really amount to nothing, we would be in the wrong to cause a weaker brother to go against his conscience because a stronger brother’s example encouraged him to do so.

            Christians must always be vigilant that our words or actions never send a message that cause others to stumble spiritually or cause a divide or decay of anyone’s relationship with our Lord. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Is it a righteous use of my time?

(Re-edited from newspaper version to make the three points clearer; new version used in the church announcement sheet on December 6)
December 6, 2020
by Barrett Vanlandingham  

            What does it matter if my decisions are a righteous use of my time?

The short answer: Time is running out, and in the end, we do not want to get caught opposing Jesus and the example he set for us to follow.

            . This was the message of the apostle Paul to Christians in Ephesus:

“15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit“ (Ephesians 5:15-18).

            Paul talks about three ways we should use our time: 1) be careful and make wise use of it, 2) don’t be foolish in what you think God expects of you, 3) and don’t waste your time with debauchery which is the opposite of righteousness. 

First, anyone who would try to argue that a person’s unwise and careless choice to sin instead of living righteously is no one else’s business needs to read the Bible. It is full of examples of innocent people suffering consequences because of their relationship to someone who did not think about anyone but themselves. That is exactly why the children of Israel had to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years. They could have gone directly from Egyptian slavery to the “Promised Land” of Canaan in a matter of days But most of the Israelite spies did not have faith that the Lord would help them conquer the land (Numbers 14). They convinced the people of this and even encouraged them to grumble against Moses and the Lord. The Israelites all suffered because they chose to be influenced be the careless unwise actions of a few.

Second, in the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25, only five of them made wise use of their time and chose to bring enough lamp oil to keep their flames burning while waiting to greet the bridegroom. As a result, they were ready and prepared to enter the wedding banquet. However, the five foolish virgins were shut outside because they assumed they could show up late for the wedding banquet after they went to purchase more lamp oil. They foolishly did not understand the will of the bridegroom. The same could happen to us if we choose to not take the time to understand God’s will.

            Third, a few thousand years before Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Noah engaged in debauchery after the flood when he got drunk on wine from his vineyard (Genesis 9:20-27). Debauchery is any Godless act involving out of control behavior.  In time, and evidently with some life changes on Noah’s part, Bible history describes him as faithful, heir of righteousness, and as a preacher of righteousness (Hebrews 11:7, 2 Peter 2:5).  Still, Noah would have saved his family and entire nations a lot of turmoil if he would have exercised some self-control. His son Ham was the father of the nation of Canaan. But because of Noah’s anger over Ham seeing him passed out drunk and naked and telling his brothers about it, Noah cursed the entire nation of Canaan to be slaves of the territories belonging to brothers Japheth and Shem.

A wise Christian is holy. This means serving God with the limited time we have. And just like in the days of Noah, choosing sin over righteousness, even if only temporarily, not only affects the one making the bad choices, but other people, too. There is no middle ground. Choosing righteousness is the wise choice.

            Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Have I Prayed Seriously about It?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 29, 2020 

            What does it matter if my decisions are made only after serious prayer?

The short answer: God knows when your heart is sincere versus just saying words.

            The first recorded instance of prayer came after the birth of Adam’s grandson (Seth’s son), Enosh, when “people began to call upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26).

            Perhaps this resulted from the example Adam set by giving God credit for the birth of Seth after Abel’s murder (4:25). Adam and Eve had a lot of things they could have stayed bitter about besides their banishment from the Garden of Eden. But their willingness to move ahead with God may very well have set the tone among family and friends to acknowledge their Creator and have a sincere prayer relationship with Him.

            The theme of submitting to the Father’s will is carried into the New Testament where Jesus set the ultimate example of humility: dying on the cross for our sins. Jesus applauds this quality in the parable of the self-righteous Pharisee and the humble tax collector who had both gone up to the temple to pray. Pharisees were among the religious elite. They were well-studied and strived to follow God’s law to a tee which resulted in the sin of having a “better than thou” attitude. Tax collectors were often known to be dishonest. But in this parable, it was the tax collector who exhibited sincerity, humility, and deep embarrassment over the life he was living as he approached God in prayer. In the end, it was the tax collector’s prayer that God accepted.

            “11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’  13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner’” (Luke 18:11-13).

            In the famed Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his disciples against practicing righteousness such as good works and public prayer for the purpose of impressing others:

            “7 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:5-7).

            Public prayer leaders, teachers, and servants of various kinds are much needed. In fact, just one chapter before this, Jesus tells us to let our light shine, but with an attitude that would glorify God and not ourselves (Matthew 5:14-16).  

            It really is about the heart, whether a prayer is public or private. Our motives for offering prayer matter (James 4:3), as do our efforts in walking God’s path during our faith journey here in this life (James 5:16, 1 Peter 3:12, 1 John 1:7).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Are my motives selfish or unselfish?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 22, 2020 

            What does it matter if my decisions are based on selfish or unselfish motives?

The short answer: God wants us to think of others first.

            James 4:3 tells his readers that the reason they did not receive from God what they asked for was because they asked with wrong motives. James said their motive was strictly pleasure. He said we cannot be friends with the world and with God. In fact, James said, “Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

            God not only places this much importance on our motives in dealing with the subject of prayer and our intent when we approach Him, this frame of mind is also important in our everyday life. God cares about our motives, not just what we do and say, but why we do and say.

            Remember, God is patient with us and does not want anyone to lose their soul. That is why He urges us to pattern our lives after Jesus and walk by His Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, and verse 25 tells us we should stay in step with the Spirit. None of the Spirit’s qualities such as love, joy, and peace have anything to do with selfishness, and in Philippians 4:8, we are told to think about things that are pure and lovely. Selfishness somehow did not make the list of things to think about.

            The apostle Paul said that when the Lord comes, He will expose motives of the heart and give praise to those who prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). I sometimes wonder if any of us would live our lives more faithful to God if punishment for wrong motives and disobedience were immediate. I don’t know. In the Old Testament days, God was more immediate in this regard, but it did not seem to have any effect. People have always been stubborn and rebellious. But make no mistake about it, just because people are not punished immediately for sin does not mean God has forgotten.

            In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul hits this topic head on:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).  He proceeds to write about the humility Christ showed by putting His own comforts aside in order to save us.

            Paul told a much younger Timothy that devoting himself to God’s word would not only result in salvation for himself but for those who learned from Timothy’s example (1 Timothy 4:15-16).

            Our motives really do matter. So many times, people we thought were honest turn out to be dishonest, or were only doing something for selfish reasons. That is so disheartening. May we all strive to be pure in heart in everything we say, do, and think. Have a great week.

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Can it be done in Jesus’ name?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 15, 2020 

            What does it matter if my decisions can be done in the name of the Lord Jesus?

The short answer:  As God’s chosen people (1 Peter 2:9), we should have a Christlike attitude and feel confident that if Jesus were physically standing here with us today, he would agree with our words and actions. We should be able to say, “Jesus told me to” or “I checked with Jesus and he said it is okay.”

            The apostle Paul said, “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).

            Why would Paul say something like that? Well, he tried life the other way and it did not work for him. Paul wound up being struck blind by Jesus himself on his way to persecute Christians. It was by experiencing temporary but total blindness that Paul learned to see spiritually as well as regain his physical sight (Acts 9, 22, 26).

            Paul spent the rest of his life following “the Way.” Acts 9:1 is the first time this term is used to describe Christians “belonging to the Way.”  It comes from a Greek word meaning road, highway, or way of life leading to salvation or the true way of life in relation to God. The expression occurs throughout the book of Acts.

            Today, we can read stories of “the Way” of Jesus and apply those solid Biblical teachings to help us distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).

            As we read God’s word, our faith in God and our hope through Jesus Christ is strengthened. Those who put their faith in Jesus “clothe yourselves with Christ” by being “baptized into Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). This is when God adds you to His church (Acts 2:41, 47). This is accomplished with God’s power, grace, and work, not ours (Colossians 2:12, Ephesians 2:8-9).

            Being clothed in Christ allows us to follow the example of Jesus. We are to live as he lived and do the good works that God gave us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

            New Christians and even those of us who’ve been around for a while need to be reminded of what it means to “Do all in the name of the Lord.”         

            In Colossians 3:1-17, Paul took the opportunity to tell his readers exactly how to do this and win the ultimate prize of appearing with Christ in glory (3:4). Paul said to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

            Next, Paul does two things. He makes list of sinful activities such as impurity, idolatry, and lying that Christians need to put to death in their lives. Then, he makes a list of good qualities such as kindness, compassion, patience, and humility to apply in the lives of those who are clothed in Christ.

            At the end of Paul’s list, he tells us to “forgive as the Lord forgave you” and “put on love,” which unifies everything else (3:14).

            Doing things in the name of Jesus involves more than just saying his name before you say or do something, it involves careful decision-making, leading to a life reflecting the love, joy, humility, and compassion of Christ. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Does it bring glory to God?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 8, 2020

            One might ask, “What does it matter if my decisions bring glory to God?” The short answer: Jesus brought glory to the Father by serving others and we should too.

            If you are a Christian, it is Christ who lives in you (Galatians 2:20). He lived here to do the will of the Father (John 6:38) and to bring honor to Him (John 17:1, 4, 18, 19). As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should also strive to bring glory to God by doing His will (John 15:8).

            It is by studying the Bible that we learn how to bring glory to God, and at the same time learn to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).

            In 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, the apostle Paul said that everything we do should be to glorify God, no matter what it is. This kind of life seeks the highest good of other people, and in the end will result in the salvation of souls that would otherwise be lost.

            God has never been a fan of lip service and man-made traditions presented as God’s law. People have always tried to trick God into believing they are bringing honor and glory to Him when it was really only about making themselves look good or doing what was convenient for them.

            In Matthew 15:7-9, Jesus refers back to words written 700 years earlier by the prophet Isaiah: “The LORD says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught’’” (Isaiah 29:13).

            Jesus uses this passage to scold the religious high and mighty of the day (Pharisees) who took an over-abundance of pride in doing things right while pointing out others’ faults. The Pharisees failed at applying the heart of God and the intent of God’s law in real life situations. Most often, the Pharisees failed with regard to compassion, mercy, and just plain old common sense such as when Jesus explained the hypocrisy of the Pharisees when they criticized Him for working on the Sabbath when He healed a man’s sickness.

            "If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?" (Luke 14:5)

             In Isaiah 1:13-20, the prophet expressed God’s disgust with a rebellious nation whose sacrifices were considered by God to be “meaningless offerings.” Even their prayers were ignored by God because their check-mark religion of offerings and ceremonies did not change their heart to be like God’s. Their religion was shallow and did not translate to their willingness to live right, defend the oppressed, and seek justice (1:15-17).

            False religion does not bring glory to God. It is worthless (Jeremiah 7:1-11).

Using God’s blessings for evil, like Israel did, is also a good way to get on God’s bad side (Hosea 2:8-13). And in Malachi 1:6-14, God is disgusted with Israel for offering Him inferior sacrifices and thinking God won’t notice or care that they were not giving Him their best.

            It is just as important to honor God today as it was thousands of years ago. And just like back then, glorifying God is not about pumping up God’s ego and self-esteem. It is really all about serving others in such a way they will also want to trust God’s word and walk the path of righteousness that leads to salvation.

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Would Jesus do it?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 1, 2020 

            So why does it matter if your decisions are based on whether Jesus would do it?  In short, if He wouldn’t do it, then we shouldn’t either.

            The apostle and writer John quotes Jesus as saying, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father expect through me” (John 14:6).

            Now THAT is some serious motivation to do as Jesus did and to speak as He spoke. Jesus made sure we have all we need to do just that.

            When Jesus left this earth, the Bible says He sent his Holy Spirit to be with us: “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).

            Jesus knew what He was talking about. After He had left this earth, the Holy Spirit (or Helper) did, in fact, make His presence known during the Jewish feast known as Pentecost. About 120 of Jesus’ disciples who had gathered, both men and women, began to miraculously declare the wonders of God in other languages (Acts 2:11) that could be understood by thousands of people from various nations who had come to the feast (Acts 1-2).  

            Peter explained to the crowd that this miraculous event was foretold by the prophet Joel, and that King David wrote about the resurrected Messiah long ago, the very Jesus “whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). The message and miracles were so convincing that three-thousand previously non-believers now believed in Jesus as their only hope of salvation. They repented, were baptized, and the Lord added them to the church that very day (Acts 2:41, 47).

            The New Testament tells us the Holy Spirit is available to help, guide, comfort, and even intercede for us when we do not know what to ask of God (Romans 8:26-27). Peter says every baptized believer receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Yes, your body can become a temple of the Christ’s Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 8:9-11) and have available all the qualities of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that Christians are supposed to stay in step with (Galatians 5:25). Paul warned early Christians to not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). So yes, it is possible to throw away such a magnificent gift.

            The writers of the 27 books of the New Testament were inspired by Christ’s Holy Spirit in the words they wrote down for everyone since that time to read and receive instruction from God (2 Timothy 3:16).

            Hebrews 5:14 tells us those who consume the Bible’s message can distinguish good from evil. And why wouldn’t this be the case since Jesus’ Holy Spirit inspired the very words of the Bible, and Jesus himself is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)? He experienced the best and the worst of life on earth. He showed us how to live by faith, obeying and trusting the Father to save us even when life gets complicated (Colossians 3:1-4).  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Is It Biblical?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 25, 2020 

            “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

            So why does it matter if your decisions are based on what the Bible says? According to the writer of Hebrews, it is because your chances of making the best decisions possible depend on having knowledge of God’s word, the Bible. And when we apply God’s word daily to our lives, we get better at identifying right from wrong, unholy from holy, sin from righteousness.

            The question of whether something is biblical is important because the Bible, after thousands of years, has continued to prove reliable in every way: geographically, historically, archeologically, and societally. We still base years in history on their relation to Christ’s time on earth: B.C. or A.D.

            We can trust the Bible, Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT). People such as Josephus, Polycarp, Ignatius, Tertullian, and Origen who lived within a few years of Jesus to 300 years afterwards spoke about Jesus, made lists of the books of the NT, and quoted the NT thousands of times.  

            Writers of the NT made 103 references to Old Testament (OT) scriptures, of which, 60 referred to Genesis. Jesus himself quoted and made reference to the writings of at least 14 books of the Old Testament including Genesis and the facts about creation (Matthew 19:4, Mark 13:19, Gen. 1-2), and Cain’s killing of Abel (Luke 11:51, Gen. 4:8), marriage defined as the coming together of a man and a woman (Mark 10:6-8, Gen 1:18, 2:22-24), Noah and the flood (Luke 17:26-27, Gen. 6-9), and the story of Jonah being swallowed by a big fish (Matthew 12:39-41, Jonah 1).  He also made reference to OT people including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, Elijah, the prophets Isaiah, Daniel, and others.

           In the NT, Colossians 1:15-17 and John 1:1-14 place Jesus with God in the beginning where creation is described in Genesis 1-2.

            John 5:39 quotes Jesus himself making a strong connection with the OT:

            He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:

Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the

Prophets and the Psalms” (John 5:39).

            All of this serves to remind us that though we are New Testament Christians today, the writers of the NT and Jesus clearly believed in the wisdom, credibility, accuracy, and reliability of the OT. In fact, 2 Timothy 3:16 says “all scripture is inspired by God,” and that would include the NT as well since 2 Peter 3:15-16 refers to Paul’s NT writings as “scripture.”

            This world throws us a lot of distractions. But God has given us his holy word to guide us every step of the way. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Let God’s word guide your decisions

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 18, 2020 

            As the end of October creeps closer, trick or treat sweets and the mysteries of Halloween are without a doubt two of the main things on people’s minds, kids and adults alike. But unlike most years in history, the biggest mystery to be solved this time around is the question of exactly how to do Halloween or whether to do it at all.

            From the Old Testament through the New Testament, the Bible is filled with stories of people who were faced with dilemmas of the how’s and why’s and should I’s.  Peter had to decide whether he would get out of the boat and try to walk on water to Jesus. Esther had to decide whether to risk her life and approach the king to save her people. Abraham had to decide whether he was willing to give up anything and everything including his own son to prove his trust in God. David had to decide whether to sin with Bathsheba. A young boy had to decide whether he would give Jesus his lunch of five loaves and two fish.

            While issues such as social/physical distancing and masking up before going out to beg for candy is not exactly a hot Bible topic, the Bible does give us principles to live by when making any kind of decision.  The writer of the book of Hebrews encourages believers to not stop at just consuming the basics of Christianity, but to dig deeper so they would be prepared to see Satan coming long before it’s too late.

            “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

            Just like physical food, spiritual meat or solid food supplies your needs for the long haul while the shallower Bible topics characterized by milk may head you in the right direction for a while but not keep you full enough to survive those rough spiritual challenges. That is why Jesus told his listeners in the Sermon on the Mount to “hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

            It is only when we fill ourselves with solid food from God’s word that we gain the knowledge we need to fight the spiritual battles we face every day. The apostle Peter encouraged his readers to escape the corruption of the world by growing in the faith.

            “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance Godliness, to Godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (1 Peter 1:5-7).

            Applying these virtues to our daily lives strengthens and supports our commitment to Jesus Christ and our mission to draw others to Him. You see, when we put Jesus (instead of us) on the throne where He belongs, decision-making becomes a lot easier. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Trials grow into blessings

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 12, 2020 

            With several dozen blooms on Lisa’s miniature pumpkin vines, I assured her we would have at least 40 little gourds at harvest time. 

            In the end, we wound up with just 22 tiny orange pumpkins that were anywhere from 1 and ½ inches in diameter to 3 inches. The harvest was colorful but smaller than what I was hoping for. Still, they made quite an impression on her 20 second graders after Lisa read to them “The Littlest Pumpkin” and then gave each student a little pumpkin.

            The book was about a little pumpkin that was overlooked at the grocery store by every customer all day because it was too little for anyone to carve it into a jack-o-lantern. Funny thing is, until I read the book later, I did not realize that my harvest expectations were similar to those of the littlest pumpkin. I wanted 40 pumpkins to grow, not 22.  And the little pumpkin in the book wanted to be purchased like all the other pumpkins, not left by itself when the store closed at the end of the day.

            The silver lining in the book was that after the store closed, the mice in the store gathered around, decorated for a fall party, and carved the littlest pumpkin into a glorious centerpiece. For the mice, this pumpkin was the perfect size. It made the party extra special since the mice would not have had a centerpiece if the little pumpkin had been purchased by a customer.

            The silver lining for what I thought was a failure of a crop was that even though I had hoped for 40 little pumpkins, we really only needed 20.  We got 22. That’s one for each child, one for Mrs. Vanlandingham, and one extra to give away to Lisa’s friend Linda who just celebrated two years of life after a massive stroke affected her entire right side. Linda is gaining strength but has a long way to go. Her perseverance is a huge inspiration to her church family and others who watched her go from eloquent-speaking English professor, to not being able to walk, speak, or even know her colors and numbers, to now re-gaining her vocabulary, communication skills, and physical strength.

            God used those pumpkin vines to grow the perfect number of pumpkins for His purpose. God is using Lisa’s friend Linda to inspire and encourage others in ways that none of us saw coming. God will also use the times we are living in now to help carve each of us into the best version of ourselves to the glory of God and for the saving of lost souls.

            “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

            “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Fall highlights God’s faithfulness

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 5, 2020 

            Here we go with cooler weather, shorter days, sounds of marching bands, and trees already giving hints that a spectacular fall is headed our way.

            You may already have noticed signs of the autumn season beginning to take center stage here in northeastern Oklahoma. God is amazing like that. Even with so many issues our world is faced with these days, our Creator faithfully allows the sun to rise and set, and allows the seasons to come and go. He continues to provide us with air to breathe, food to eat, and clothes to wear. He continues to give each of us opportunities to show love and help those who are less fortunate.

            The fall season is just one more way God shows us that He has not turned His back on us, and that He is still with us and cares deeply for us. Sometimes God just seems so far away and uninterested in the things that are important to us at the moment. In reality, it is usually us who are uninterested in the things that are important to Him, and it is us who have wandered away from Him, not the other way around.

            My son, Britton, wrote a song just a few months ago that talks about this very thing. You can hear Britton and his girlfriend Kaitlyn sing “Lift Him Up” by going to my new website: www.barrettvanlandingham.com and click on the “featured videos” link.

            Here are the lyrics: (verse 1) Far and away from my Savior. No direction to carry me through. Bewildered and feeling abandoned. It was me who was distant from You.

            (Pre-Chorus): God You had the perfect plan. You made me new, now I stand. (Chorus): Just to... lift Him up… I want to break out in song. He reigns now from above, the love I’ve sought all along. And in the wilderness, I will be His. I know I’ll always belong. His holiness is, my oasis, and in the midst I’m made strong.

            (verse 2) Now my life is so different. It's a journey of purpose and grace. Darkness still tries to pursue me. But I walk in the light of your face.

            (Bridge): Holy Father of us all. At Your feet now we will fall.

            I hope you enjoy Britton’s song as it expresses the beauty of God’s perfect plan. Even during seasons of darkness, we can still walk in the light of our Savior.

            “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9).

            Let this fall season serve as a beautiful reminder of God’s presence and His desire to have a close relationship with you. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Your neighbor’s nose knows

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 27, 2020 

            You can learn a lot about your neighbors even if you are trying to not be nosy.  For instance, if mine and Lisa’s evening walks are any indication, the neighbors within a mile radius of our house are passing the sniff test with flying colors!

            One of the games Lisa and I like to play while out walking is to try and guess the smell which most of the time is more of an aroma than an odor. We smell fire pits, charcoal grills, and freshly mown lawns. But one of our favorite smells is laundry sheets. Lisa can actually tell the difference among the different brands: Bounce, Snuggle, or Gain. I, on the other hand, am not quite as sniff savvy. But I like the smells just the same.

            “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7).

            From the time God brought Adam to life by breathing into his nose, the sense of smell has been an important part of our existence. Words such as fragrant, foul, aroma, and stench have been used in the Bible to describe our attitude towards each other and towards God. The fact that God actually associates these kinds of words with each of us should knock some sense into our scents. He knows when our attitude stinks and when we are a breath of fresh air to all those around. Your neighbors know it, too.

            The apostle Paul said, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

            Parents understand what it is to burst with pride when we see our children exhibit selflessness or accomplish a noble task. Now imagine how God felt when He watched His son humble Himself even to the point of death (Philippians 2:8) for a bunch of people who didn’t even know they needed Jesus to save them. His humble attitude of love, compassion, determination, and grace under pressure was received by God as an offering that He recognized as fragrant and special, a perfect offering that nobody else could give. As Christians, this is how we are to be among our friends, co-workers, classmates, and anyone else we’re around. We are to be so wrapped up in Jesus that we smell like Him, Christlike, whether our example is accepted or rejected.        

            “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

            In a world that is full of messes, God wants us to be different, fragrant, the aroma of Christ. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Catchy labels do not define good religion and ice-cream

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 20, 2020 

            When I saw the words “peanut butter chocolate” through the glass door in the freezer section at the grocery store, that was all it took for me to grab two pints of ice-cream as I headed to the checkout line. I felt so smart because I didn’t even have to go off my low sugar, low carb diet!  This was special “keto” ice-cream I am actually allowed to eat.

This was going to be the perfect ending to my day since this was the first time I had found “legal” ice-cream since I started my diet a year and 4 months ago. I got home, ate supper, and rushed to grab my low carb, low sugar treat out of the freezer. But when I took the lid off and tried to spoon some out, it was hard as a rock! I finally managed to get a serving into a small bowl and begin what I hoped would be a marvelous experience. I took my first bite, letting the texture and taste sink in. My hopes were dashed. It was the worst tasting so-called ice-cream I have ever experienced. The consistency and taste reminded me of old ice-cream that had slightly melted and was stuck back in the fridge for about a year or two until it almost turned into powdery ice crystals. Once again, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

When it comes to matters of faith, there are so many things in life that mirror the scenario I just told you about. Just like with diets, it pays to ask credible sources and consult God’s word on any major life changes you are getting ready to dive into. The terms “Christian, Christian faith, Christian journey, Christian life, Christian music, Christian t-shirts” and so on bring to mind certain expectations that involve things Jesus taught about life, doctrine, morals, and salvation. Someone who is new in their faith may hear certain words linked to Christianity and automatically think he or she is headed in the right direction. But that is often not so.

The apostle Paul addressed this issue to Christians in Galatia, some of whom had begun to fall away from the truth they had been taught. “6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7).

Paul also wrote to Christians in Corinth, reminding them of the Israelites in Moses’ time who experienced God in some amazing ways, yet still chose to turn their backs on Him. This resulted in tragic consequences that Paul said we should learn from.

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Corinthians 10:6).

“12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).

As my good friend and family minister Steve Parker reminded me the other day, even though God’s love is unconditional, salvation is not. God will love people who wind up in hell just as much as those who go to heaven. 

Ice-cream may not have anything to do with my eternal destiny, but as is the case with ice-cream, there are some things in your faith journey you just can’t leave out.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: We already have the answers to life’s problems

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 13, 2020 

            Boy was I surprised last Thursday when I was informed I had shipped a 75 inch television, at a cost of nearly $2000, to someone with my same name in Pennsylvania!

            It was actually a fraudulent e-mail I received from someone pretending to be from “Amazon.com.”  It looked very official at first glance with a colorful “Amazon” logo and a fake “Shipping Confirmation Order # 402-3268049-8740387.”

The scam e-mail said:  “We thought you'd like to know that Your order has been dispatched. If you did not place this order please call us on (844)-903-2957 to report this to our fraud protection team. Your Orders on Amazon.com. We hope to see you again soon!”

Besides the fact that I immediately checked my Amazon account for some peace of mind, I also checked the wording of the e-mail, kind of bizarre. It did not take but a few seconds to spot several mistakes in grammar, punctuation, random capitalizations, and general misuse of the English language. I underlined a few of them.

Unfortunately, the devil is a much better liar than the con behind the e-mail. Still, the same principles apply when it comes to making any decision, large or small. As Christians, we are in a daily battle with the “Father of Lies.” And even though Satan has a lot more experience than we do at this game, our Heavenly Father is the greatest Warrior we could possibly have on our side (Exodus 15:3). He is patient with us and does not want any of us to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

God is many things the devil is not. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present. God has given us His holy word and His Holy Spirit to guide us through life in all matters of decision-making. We do not have to know every trick in the devil’s book of deception. The only answers we need to know are the time-tested ancient words God has already spoken. About 3000 years ago, Solomon spoke these God-inspired words:

“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way” (Proverbs 4:14-15).

2000 years ago, the apostle Paul reminded young Timothy to teach this:

“Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness’” (2 Timothy 2:19).

If we know what God expects of us, anything outside of that is sin or at the very least dangerous territory. Christians are advised to avoid both. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

We all know life is just hard sometimes. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus and model our lives after Him, we come to realize most of the problems we’re faced with do not seem near as difficult to solve.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Hard work does not have to be discouraging

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 6, 2020 

            “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30).

            While Labor Day weekend celebrates the American worker, it does not celebrate job satisfaction. Surveys show more than half of those employed are not happy with their jobs. It is easy to become complacent, disengaged, or bored with a job if your reason for working is solely to live, pay bills, and invest. Those are all attached to worldly ways of thinking.

            Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote a lot about the multitude of dead ends that can be found under the sun, as he described it about 30 times in Ecclesiastes. It is no wonder that people who have an under the sun worldview on the job are not as happy as people who think above the sun.

            One of the job descriptions of being human is that we work. It was that way from the time God created Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:15), and the work only got harder after sin entered the world (Genesis 3:17-19). But that did nothing to diminish one of the main purposes for the creation of mankind. The apostle Paul told local church members “For 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).

            So, it should be no surprise that we just feel better when we are active. Beyond that, the attitude we have on the job is not only a blessing to our co-workers, but it also brings honor to God. Our attitude does not go unnoticed on earth or in heaven.

“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 Christ you are serving.  (Colossians 3:23-24).

            Jesus told the parable of a rich man who was successful in a worldly way, and even had to tear down his barns and build bigger ones just to keep up with his crops. But because he was not rich toward God, everything including his life was taken from him (Luke 12:16-22).

            When we carry our Christian attitude into our job, people notice. This opens the door for conversations to be had about the joy and peace that can be found through Jesus Christ.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Don’t let yourself be bugged to death

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 30, 2020

            Lisa and I are trying our hand at growing pumpkins this summer, but we noticed lately that some of the leaves and stems are wilting. So, after some research, Lisa determined our pumpkin vines may be doubling as a hotel and restaurant for destructive  squash bugs. They are good hiders and they often lay eggs on the underside of the leaves of squash, pumpkins, gourds, melons, and cucumbers.

            Squash bugs and the devil have a lot in common. Just like bugs hide eggs that later hatch and destroy by piercing tender leaves and stems and sucking out the plant’s sap, Satan quietly sets traps in places you don’t even suspect.

            The apostle Paul warned us about being lax in watching out for the devil’s schemes. “And do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27).

            Why? Because if steps are not taken to get rid of the devil’s plan for your life, he’s ready to pounce, and not like Winnie the Pooh’s overly friendly buddy, Tigger. When Satan pounces, it’s for real, and the consequences can be eternal. In the book of James, the writer reminds us that God does not tempt us. We have a free will to say yes or no to Satan’s traps.

            “14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:14-15).

            So, off to the store she goes to purchase Sevin spray. I said, “Do you mean Sevin dust?  No, her source said the spray version is better at killing squash bugs because it gets up under the leaves better where they are hiding. That’s important because if you only look on the surface, you see what looks to be a healthy plant. By the time you find out otherwise it’s too late.

            For Christians who are trying to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ it is important to understand His will for us. This helps us spot things below the surface that bug us spiritually and are a danger to our souls (Hebrews 12:1-3). Prayer and Bible study help us target sin and temptation and replace them with good things.

            “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” (Philippians 4:8).

            God’s word tells Christians to put to death our earthly nature such as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, filthy language and lying in exchange for true love, peace, and forgiving one another. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3).

            While I am not sure whether our experiment with squash bugs and Sevin spray will be successful, I do know following God’s word will grow our faith (Romans 10:17). Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Your forever home is not here

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 23, 2020 

            If you come into my house and the TV is on, there is a pretty good chance it will be on HGTV where someone is building or renovating what they hope will be their “forever home” or a home that is so perfect, they hope to stay there as long as they are living.

            I understand “forever home” so there is no judgment at all from me towards anyone who uses the term. We all say things we do not really mean when we think about it.

After a recent Bible study on the topic of control, it occurred to me that any notion of me or anyone else being able to control my earthly future would be misplaced. “Forever home” fits in that category since life itself is so unpredictable. People change jobs. People change goals. People change their minds. So, at the risk of sounding like a “Debbie downer” I just do not see how calling an earthly structure a “forever home” is realistic or even desirable.

The good news is that those who follow and put their hope in Jesus Christ do have a real “forever home” and the Bible says Jesus himself is the One building it for us. In a conversation Jesus was having with some of his closest followers just hours before the crucifixion, he said these words:

            “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).

            Two of my favorite songs are Jesus, You’re My Firm Foundation and This World Is Not My Home.  Hymnals and Christian radio are full of songs that encourage us to keep our eyes on Jesus because of the temporary nature of life on earth. Another song that comes to mind is Temporary Home co-written by Carrie Underwood. The chorus talks about “Windows and rooms that I'm passing through.”

            It is our knowledge of the fact that life is short in this broken world that is one of our motivations to stay connected to the only One who can help us get to a better place, heaven, our real “forever home.” The apostle Paul told Christians in Ephesus that believers, no matter who they once were, are already part of something special and permanent.   

“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).

We cannot ask for a better “forever home” than one that includes eternal fellowship with Jesus and all the saved. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Temptation flies in the face of righteousness

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 16, 2020 

            As Lisa and I sat down to eat on the patio of a restaurant the other day, we couldn’t help but notice the high-powered oscillating fans almost blowing the food off our plates. I didn’t think things could get any worse. But after we asked the waiter turn off the fans so we could enjoy our meal, things did get worse, unless you like flies with your food. The longer we sat there with no fan to push them away, the more flies that seemed to find their way to my plate!

            This summer, we decided to declare war on flies and mosquitoes, and in the process, I noticed there are similarities in the way flying insects are attracted to things that will kill them, and the way humans are attracted to sin. Our most recent attempt has been a small plastic bag we purchased that comes with a horrible smelling object inside that smells even worse when you fill the bag with water.  Flies are attracted to the odor and find their way into the bag via a little trap-door in the top. Once the fly is inside, it cannot get back out. It dies a very slow death.  Very effective.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death."

We are attracted to sin because it looks pleasurable and even harmless on the surface. We misjudge how far is too far, and how much is too much. We ignore the Bible’s advice on steering clear of questionable influences, and next thing you know, we have fallen into sin along with lasting consequences. Temptation is patient with us. Temptation can work on us slowly, little by little. Even when we are in over our heads, we deny there is a problem until it is too late.

Some sins take a more direct approach like the purple zapper light or a fly swatter. Flying insects get too close and are either incinerated or swatted into oblivion. Other sins are almost invisible, kind of like bug spray or mosquito mist. We assume Satan is asleep or is no longer interested in stealing our soul. We become careless and begin to take part in things we used to avoid when we thought the devil was chasing us. Again, sin is patient. Satan sets the trap and waits for us to veer into an area that we have been warned about. But we become confident in ourselves and stop trusting in God’s warnings. Then just like a fly, well, you get the idea.

For me, the oscillating patio fan represents God and my church family. The fan had a noticeable presence that I thought I could live without until it was gone. I didn’t fully understand its purpose. Then, I realized just how important it was, just like we need to realize that being left alone in spiritual battle is a losing proposition. We need God and good Christian friends, so we do not become stagnant, and to encourage us to live pure lives as we influence others for Christ.  Have a great week!