Above the Sun: It takes more than prayer to save us

by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 6, 2021 

            This may surprise you, but the popular “Sinner’s Prayer” that is practiced by a lot of denominations is found nowhere in God’s word. Yes, you heard it right. The “Sinner’s Prayer” is not in the Bible. There are no examples of anyone becoming a Christian by saying a prayer.

            This is a problem for a lot of reasons including that many people over the years have gone to their graves believing that they were saved when they said this prayer. They had been told by well-meaning teachers that if they really believed the words, they had just prayed from the bottom of their heart, they were now saved.

God’s instructions still remain unchanged by anything or anyone including new religions, politics, cultural changes, or personal preferences. The apostle Paul is very clear on this issue.

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

            In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

            So, if we can find everything we need in the Bible to be thoroughly equipped to serve God, there is no need or justification for looking elsewhere or coming up with our own recipes for salvation other than that which is found in the Bible.

The same New Testament author, Paul, told the church in Rome that their “new life” in Christ could begin after (not before) they were immersed/baptized (Romans 6:1-11).  In this passage, he compares baptism to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and the “new life” that follows.

In the story of the Ethiopian who was immersed by Philip, it was after (not before) they came up out of the water that the Ethiopian “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39).

            Peter said in Acts 2:38 that baptism is the point at which your sins are forgiven. This is also when God adds the “saved” to His church (Acts 2:41, 47).

In the story of Saul’s (Paul’s) conversion to Christianity, Jesus appeared to Paul as a bright light from heaven. They had a conversation (Acts 22:6-10). Imagine talking/praying to God and actually hearing Him respond! No wonder Paul repeated his conversion story so many times! Paul even asked Jesus, “What shall I do, Lord?”  You see, even a direct conversation with Jesus did not save Paul or forgive his sins. Several verses later, Jesus commanded a man named Ananias to tell Paul: “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16, also Acts 9:1-19).

Many people have called on God for help, but as Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

            A sincere prayer of repentance or turning to God is always a good thing. But from the beginning of Christianity, prayer alone does not save. Neither does confessing sins alone or even belief in God if you’re not willing to obey (1 John 1:5-10 and James 2:14-25).

            In the end, it’s all about committing our lives to God, trusting Him, and obeying what His word says is required for salvation that gives us access to God’s amazing grace (Titus 2:11-14). Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Be a seed planter

by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 30, 2021 

            Corn, beets, melons, squash, peppers, various herbs and flowers, just to name a few things gardeners are planting right now. I am far from being an expert in this field, but it’s easy to find charts and lists that help novices like me know the when’s, what’s, and where’s of planting. Thankfully, there is no chart that limits Christians from planting God’s word any time of year into the hearts of lost souls.

            You may remember John’s story of Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well at noon, in the heat of the day. When it became clear to her that this man who spoke of “living water” might just be the Messiah, she went back into town and told people about this man, Jesus, who was able to tell her about “everything she ever did.”

            Jesus’ disciples had just returned from buying food in town and offered him some. But he took this opportunity to plant spiritual seed, explaining to them that his food was “to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” 

If His disciples were still wondering why he was talking with a Samaritan woman (John 4:27), Jesus made it clearer with more seed planting: “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).

Jesus was letting his disciples know that the kind of good news he was about was not limited by tradition, cultural prejudices, or barriers of any kind. The townspeople no doubt had a lot of questions to ask Jesus based on what they’d heard from the Samaritan woman. She had planted the seed of faith in them that was now in her. This evidently resulted in them also wanting to have conversations with Jesus about “living water”, which they did, and then believed in Him as the “Savior of the world” (John 4:42).

            To me, part of what makes this story so great is that earthly logic went out the window once Jesus entered the picture. The chances and circumstances for success were just all wrong. Jews and Samaritans didn’t have anything to do with each other. It was also the wrong time of day to have a conversation like this because it was noon, the heat of the day, Jesus was tired and probably hungry, and this woman who was living in sin may very well have chosen this time of day to avoid people. There were a lot of things going against this meeting.

            I think most of us have experienced God’s involvement in our life in ways that we cannot understand or explain, and often when we least expect it. The fact is, we can make plans, do the work, but in the end, it is God who decides when or if it should be blessed. The apostle Paul said it best:   

            “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).

Have a great day!

           

Above the Sun: Be a blessing today

by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 23, 2021 

            “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

            Most of us would rather be around others who make us feel good instead of those who suck every bit of the air out of the room as soon as they walk in.

You know the type, those who try to make every conversation about themselves. For instance, one person says, “It sure is a beautiful day!” The other person says, “Yeah, maybe for you. But nobody ever talks to me or visits me, so that’s why I’m always depressed.”  

Or one person says, “Let’s go do something nice for somebody today.” The other person says, “Why? Nobody ever does anything nice for me!”

And then there’s the person who says, “I am NOT donating clothes to homeless people because they might be on drugs.”

Obviously, these are bad attitudes that everyone should strive to avoid. If there is anyone who deserves to be in a bad mood and looking for reasons to take it out on somebody it is God. But he is not that way in spite of how we treat Him.

“…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

 Our Lord is a blessing and he wants us to be a blessing to others.

“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).

We’ve all heard the following famous words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount: “Treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12).

He goes on to say that those few words sum up everything that is said in the Law and the Prophets, basically what we call the Old Testament. In other words, Jesus is saying that if we all loved others the way God wants us to, the Bible could have been a lot shorter! (Matthew 22:36-40).

Americans have it really good, and I am happy about that. But it does cause me to stop and think about how even the poorest person in the U.S. is rich in comparison to most of the world’s population. Jesus had a lot to say about what we do with our blessings including our time, talents, and earthly possessions. In the book of Luke, Jesus makes a powerful statement on this topic:

“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

It is not as if Jesus is asking something of us that he was not also willing to do.

“…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

The apostle Paul said, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

Solomon said, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (Proverbs 11:25).

With so many things to be worried and stressed about, it is a challenge for any of us to keep from being negative or making everything about us. But scripture clearly teaches that those who give their anxiety to God (1 Peter 5:7) and commit to seeking God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), and that includes being a blessing to others, will find it well worth their efforts. 

Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Immersion and forgiveness are connected

by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 16, 2021 

            Since 2007, when I started writing this column, I have tried to stay true to what the Bible teaches on any topic. I figure that’s what the world needs, more truth, less opinion.

In regards to today’s title, “Immersion and forgiveness are connected,” I knew I better be able to back it up with scripture since the religious world is not only conflicted on what it means to baptize, but also whether it is even necessary for our salvation.

            The word “baptism” comes from the Greek word “baptizo” which means to immerse, dip, plunge, or submerge. “Baptizo” was used by the Greeks to describe submerging a cloth under the water to dye it. This word was also used to describe the sinking of a ship.

So, it would be accurate to read Mark 16:16 as “He that believes and is immersed (baptized) shall be saved.”

            But since most of you reading this are not Greek scholars (neither am I), and none of us lived in the first century, let’s look at the Bible and how it clearly demonstrates that baptism was immersion.

            After Jesus was baptized by John “in the Jordan” (Mark 1:9-10), he "went up from the water" (Matthew 3:16).

When the Ethiopian was baptized, he is described as going “down into the water" and "coming up out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39).

The Old Testament uses “baptizo” when Naaman “went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times” to be miraculously cured of leprosy (2 Kings 5:14).

In both Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12, baptism is called a "burial" and "resurrection" that re-enacts Jesus’ burial and resurrection. If someone asks you to bury something, would you sprinkle it? No. Would you pour something on it? No.

            Now that we’ve looked at how baptism was done, let’s look at why? One popular but incorrect answer is that baptism is an outward sign of our inner grace already received. Another is that baptism is simply an act of obedience expected of those who have already been forgiven. But the Bible teaches that baptism is the point at which Christ promised to remove sins.

            Look again at Mark 16:16. Jesus said that salvation follows belief and baptism.

Also, in Acts 2:36-38, when the people “were cut to the heart” and indicated their belief in Jesus by asking Peter, “What shall we do?” Peter told them to "Repent and be baptized… in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." This passage makes it clear that forgiveness of sins follows repentance and baptism. Remember, the people had already believed.

In the story of Paul, he was told to "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16). You see, even though Paul had believed in Jesus, and repented (turned away from the life he was living in error), he still had his sins. So, in order to complete his obedience, he must be baptized to wash away his sins. It was at the point of baptism that his sins were forgiven. At this point, a believer can truly begin to “live a new life” (Romans 6:4) clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).

So, who should be baptized? A repentant believer who has turned away from the world’s ways, and has decided to follow Jesus. How should one be baptized?  Immersion. Why should one be baptized? Forgiveness of sins to start a new life, saved in Christ.
            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Life after graduation requires spiritual strategies

by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 9, 2021           

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma!  In just a few days, 2021 high school graduations will be taking place all across the nation, marking the very first major crossroads for those walking the stage. So many decisions to make. So many directions to consider.

            It is of greatest importance that young Christian graduates understand their lives will go much smoother if the spiritual journey comes first, because when God is at the top, everything else falls into place the way it should. The option of just bringing Jesus along for the ride when it’s convenient has never worked well for anyone.

            This is true when it comes to every single decision we make: career, hobbies, relationships. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. As a young king, he asked God for the ability to discern right from wrong. God was so impressed that young Solomon’s request was not for wealth or power, He gave him all of that. His wisdom was so evident, that the people knew it had come from God (1 Kings 3:28).

The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are both great places to start if you’re looking for examples of Solomon’s wisdom and advice on which way to turn at life’s crossroads. Proverbs was actually written for the benefit of young people to make better decisions, practical tips for living. Ecclesiastes was written to teach readers the importance of respecting God and keeping His commands instead of chasing after worldly things while leaving God out of the picture.

Solomon said: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.  Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:23-27).

There are so many evil forces at work, competing for our children’s hearts to distract them from the One who loves them most of all. Everywhere they turn, our children are fed lies that glamorize sinful language, sinful lifestyles, and goals that lead to sinful outcomes. Solomon warns against all of this, and against successes that are not sinful, but can damage our relationship with God or cause someone else to stumble.

“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just learn from the lessons of Solomon and avoid the consequences that come with bad decision-making? The problem is that we are human and we usually feel the need to try things out for ourselves. That seems to be especially true for young people. We’ve all been there. So please join me in prayer for our graduating seniors, that they would seek wisdom from God to make righteous decisions as they set out on their own. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: I believe in the church and its mission

by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 2, 2021           

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma!  In my most recent articles, I have written about what I believe the Bible says about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Today, I want to spend some time on the church, what it is, and why it is important to all of us.

Here in one of about 15 Bible belt states, it is hard to imagine towns without a church on every corner. The church influences everything in our communities, from businesses and schools to politics. This does not happen by trying to force-feed our beliefs down someone’s windpipe. Positive change happens from the inside out. This is where the church comes in. We as Christians are the church, and yes there has to be teaching that goes on, and it must be done in a spirit of truth and love (Ephesians 4:15).

We know the church must be very important to Jesus because the Bible describes the church as Christ’s body (Ephesians 4:12), with Christ being the head of the church (Colossians 1:18). The church is also described as Christ’s bride, making Him the groom (Ephesians 5). The Bible tells us in at least 8 verses that Christ died for us, His church (Ephesians 5:25).

In Acts 2, Luke wrote that those who repented and were baptized would receive forgiveness of sins and also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He goes on to say the Lord added three-thousand to their number that day, those who were being saved (Acts 2:41, 47). That was the beginning of the Lord’s church, His body of believers that still exists today all around the world.

Okay, so now what?

Some of Jesus’ final words before ascending back to the Father were instructions to his disciples to “Go” teach people everywhere about Christ’s commands (Matthew 28:19-20). The apostle Paul told Christians in Rome of the importance of taking the good news of Jesus Christ to others so they can hear it, believe it, and call on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:14-15).

The New Testament tells us there are many important reasons for the Lord’s body, the church, to meet together: To encourage, fellowship, sing, preach, teach, give, pray, and to remember the Lord’s death during communion. Hebrews 10:24-27 makes the connection between meeting together and staying strong in the faith through the encouragement (:25) received. The attitude of Christians who meet together becomes characterized by love and good deeds. All of this helps Christians avoid deliberate sinning so that we do not become enemies of God (:27).

So, Christ loved us, the church, enough to die for us. We should view the church as important because those who God adds to the church are among the saved. Our goal as Christians should be to tell the good news of Jesus and invite others to become members of Christ’s body, the church. This is where believers in Christ can be encouraged through fellowship and the teaching of His word, and also encourage others while honoring God with our worship. If you are not sure if God has added you to His church, I invite you to contact me so we can talk about it.

Have a great week!

Above the Sun: I believe in the Holy Spirit

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 25, 2021           

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma!  I pray you are having a great day. All glory to God, the Giver of all good things, the One who gives us “above the sun” hope in this life and the life to come.

             Two weeks ago, my article focused on some reasons to believe in God. Last week I centered on Jesus. Today, I want to take a look at the role of the Holy Spirit, and some reasons I believe we should obey Him the same as we obey God the Father and God the Son, all three are part of what some call the Trinity or Godhead.

            The Bible makes it clear that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one, in complete unity. The Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13, Ephesians 1:13) is also referred to by several other names in scripture: Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11), Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16-17), Spirit of his (God’s) Son (Galatians 4:6). The Bible describes the Holy Spirit’s job as our Helper, Counselor, Comforter, Guide, Advocate, Keeper, and Interceder.

            The writers of the Bible credit the Holy Spirit as well as the Father and Son for the words written down for us, not just the writers themselves (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16, John 14:26, and John 12:49). You may have heard people say they believe the words directly spoken by Jesus, but not the words of the New Testament writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, and Jude. This would be a misguided notion since all of the Bible’s words were inspired by the Holy Spirit and are just as important to follow as those spoken by Jesus and the Father. That is why the apostle Paul urged Christians in Ephesus to “not grieve the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30). Simply put, Paul was giving instructions on Christian living, things to do or not do, and he wanted to remind these new Christians that purposely disobeying God’s word causes grief to God’s Spirit.

A similar instruction is given by Jesus regarding his own words: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46, John 14:15, 21, 23, 24).

            In 1 John 5:2-3, the writer says God’s will should be our priority: “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.”

            We as humans probably relate best to Jesus Christ than to God or His Holy Spirit simply because Jesus came to earth in human form, allowed himself to be tempted as we are (Hebrews 4:14-16). But it was Jesus who said, “I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).

            After Peter’s compelling sermon during a Jewish festival known as Pentecost, he told a large audience of new believers that they needed to “repent and be baptized” in the name of Jesus Christ in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Luke says that God added three-thousand new believers to the Lord’s church that day, those who believed Peter’s message and were baptized (Acts 2:41, 47). Upon their commitment, the seal of the Holy Spirit was placed in them as a guarantee of their inheritance of heaven (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30).

            As a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), God wants us to keep in step with His Spirit (Galatians 5:25). By living by the Spirit, we “do not put out the Spirit’s fire” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). May we all strive daily to listen and do the will of God’s Spirit. He is our number one weapon in spiritual warfare, as He dwells inside and partners with every baptized believer. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: I believe in Jesus

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 18, 2021           

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma! I pray you are getting to enjoy some of these beautiful spring days and nights. Glory to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit for making all good things possible. Everything becomes clearer when we view this life and our future life beyond the grave with an “above the sun” mentality.

             Last week, my article focused on some reasons to believe in God. Today, I want to think about Jesus and some of the reasons I believe in Him, and perhaps more importantly, why we should believe in Him.

            As we look through the New Testament, the word “believe” does not just mean that we acknowledge something is true (James 2:19). It means that we believe to the point that our lives are changed because of that belief. True belief calls for action and change (Luke 6:46, John 14:15, 21, 23, 24, James 2:17, 24, 26).

            For me, Matthew 1:20 is a good starting point for my belief in Jesus. An angel told Joseph that the Holy Spirit would place a baby in Mary’s womb, and his name would be Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. The virgin birth and even the location of where Jesus would be born was prophesied hundreds of years before (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2).

So many details in Jesus’ life could not have been foretold and fulfilled if Jesus were not the Son of God. Here are a few more of them:

Jesus was betrayed by a friend, mocked, beaten, spit upon, hands and feet pierced, crucified with thieves, side pierced, no broken bones, lots were cast for his garments, buried in a rich man’s tomb, rose from the dead and ascended.

Those details are well known to anyone who has read the New Testament. But what makes them even more spectacular is the fact that these events were also written about long before any of them happened! Just read Psalm 16, 22, 34, 41:9, 68, 110, Isaiah 52, 53, Zechariah 11, 12 in the well-guarded Old Testament books if you want to be even more impressed with the New Testament.

Even ancient books from outside of the Bible agree with the words of the Bible. A good place to start is in the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, book 18, chapter 3, verse 3, that talk about the life of Jesus, miracles, His crucifixion, resurrection, and appearances afterwards.

            Here is something more to think about: God the Father did not act alone in the creation story. New Testament writers make it clear that Jesus was there too. Yes, God said, “Let there be…” but the actual creation was done by or through the Son (1 Corinthians 8:6, John 1:1-3, John 1:18, Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:1-3) who is also referred to as God (part of the Godhead consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

            In the book of John, emphasis is placed on the importance of believing Jesus is God’s Son and the Light of the world: “if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins" (John 8:12-24).

            Jesus’ #1 goal then and today is to save souls. While on earth, he was never all about trying to prove his own power, but the Father’s power working through Jesus in hopes of bringing salvation to the lost (John 10:24-38, 14:6, 20:30-31).  This is why it is so important to be clothed in Christ through baptism (Galatians 3:26-27).

            And these are just a few of the reasons I believe in Jesus. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: I believe in God

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 11, 2021           

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma! I hope you are having a lovely day. If you are a follower of God, you know your life is more peaceful when you focus “above the sun” instead of “under the sun” where Solomon said everything is meaningless. This message is more important today than ever.

            It is nice to know that in the chaotic times we are living in, the most important things we can believe in will always be true, and will always work in our favor.  Today, I want to look at a few things we can believe about God the Father.

            The apostle Paul said, “There is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6, Genesis 1:26).

So, having created man on the 6^th day, and knowing us better than anyone, God has understood for a very long time the how’s and why’s of achieving a rewarding life here on earth and how we can someday hear those words: “well done, good and faithful servant.”   

But just like in our culture today, even Jesus’ disciples needed to be reminded of some very basic things, especially during Jesus’ final days. Jesus cuts to the chase in John 14:1 when he says, “Believe in God’ believe also in me.”  Jesus said these words while comforting his disciples not long before his crucifixion. His disciples no doubt had lots of questions and concerns about the future of Jesus and their future. So, it was important for Jesus to give them one easy instruction to hold onto before his departure.

Christians are to carry out this command to “Believe in God” by applying his standards to the way we live, not our standards and not the world’s (John 14:10-12). The apostle Paul tells us why.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

            So much comfort in such a short amount of scripture. Everything is going to be okay for those who love God. Even though this life may still have its share of problems, we can be assured that life in heaven will be much different.

            John defines what it means to love God. “This is love for God: to keep his commands” (1 John 5:3).

            True love for God was as hard for people back then to grasp as it is today. James wrote that both faith (belief) and deeds (words) are necessary, not just one or the other.

            “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder” (James 2:19).  Demons believe in God and they knew who was in their presence when Jesus arrived on the scene. But belief or faith is not just acknowledging the identity of God, it requires obedience. That is why we accept God’s offering of grace by having faith in Jesus as our only hope, and by being baptized, and by living a new life in Christ made possible by God’s grace (Romans 6:1-11, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1:17-23).

            From some of the oldest verses in the Bible (Deuteronomy 31:6) to the newest (Romans 8:38-39) we can believe without a doubt in God’s faithfulness to those who are committed to walking with Him, especially when we are in need of His grace. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Happy Easter!

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 4, 2021           

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma! I hope everyone is having a spectacular Easter Sunday.

            As a kid, this was always one of my favorite holidays. The church building was packed, the congregational singing was phenomenal, all the men wore their best suits, all the ladies wore their nicest dresses with corsages, and there seemed to be an unspoken but well-acknowledged competition for who would wear the largest hat. On so many levels, those were the best Sundays of all. Of course, the fact we got to hunt Easter eggs after Sunday lunch may have sweetened my memories of Easter Sunday just a bit.

As I got a little older, and started paying more attention, I realized Easter Sunday was special for other reasons, too. As a young adult until now at age 56, each year I look forward to this one Sunday out of the year, when we focus our attention on the details of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Luke 24, John 20) and how that applies to us.

As a young man developing his faith, it was so nice to be in a crowd of believers singing songs like “Up from the Grace He Arose!” and to be reminded of the time when Jesus claimed victory over the grave, and comforted his disciples, letting them know that since he has overcome the world, his followers can, too (John 6:33).

The fact that the grave is still empty was an awakening for me like none other, other than the crucifixion itself (John 19) which we remember every first day of the week when we take the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29).

Even though the Bible doesn’t give us a direct command to celebrate Easter or Christmas as religious holidays, God’s word repeatedly supports coming together for the purpose of strengthening our faith through the teaching of God’s word and the fellowship of Christians (Hebrews 10:19-26). These are all things that take place every week. Re-visiting the scene of the empty tomb as a church family, the body of Christ, is just one more way we honor our Lord and encourage one another, whether on a "special" Sunday or any other time.

In fact, the last thing Jesus said before ascending back to his Father was that we should teach people to “obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The gospel story that we are to obey is the good news of Jesus, his death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). An obedient Christian life is a re-enactment of the gospel story. That is why we die to the ways of the world, we are buried in baptism, and we are raised to live a new life, clothed in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 3:26-27).

These are just a few of my memories of Easters gone by, reflections with renewed hope of what it means to serve a risen Savior!   Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Foolishness can be bad or really good

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 28, 2021           

            April Fool’s Day jokes have been a long-standing tradition.  In 1985, Sports Illustrated tricked readers when they ran a made-up article about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour.

            In that context, a fool is just someone who fell for a light-hearted joke because a prankster fooled the prankee. No harm done. But generally, the word fool is kind of like the name Jezebel in some ways. Nobody wants to be labeled as either. A man may be labeled a fool for chasing an evil woman. Or a woman may be labeled a fool for staying in an abusive relationship.

While those scenarios are bad enough, even from an earthly perspective, it is the spiritual context that is far worse since the consequences not only affect you here on earth, but can last into eternity.  King David took foolishness to a whole new level, and as a result he and many others suffered. In spite of the fact that he was well-acquainted with God from an early age, he later fell away from the very One who had blessed him. David still knew of God, but lived as if he did not. Guilty of lying, adultery, and murder, David was well-qualified to make this statement:

“Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and commit evil deeds; not one of them practices what is good” (Psalm 14:1).

In the end, David came back to God, not only admitting his sin, but also repenting of it. In fact, the Bible says that David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22, 1 Samuel 13:14).

            It only makes sense that if you convince yourself there is no God, foolish decision-making is soon to follow. That is the worldly way of throwing caution to the wind.

            However, in a sense, there is a way of throwing caution to the wind that pleases God. It is called living by faith. The difference is that living by faith does not mean living foolishly, blindly or simply trusting in fate or destiny to save you. Instead, living by faith is putting everything in God’s hands, trusting Him to save you, knowing He is the only One who can. Worldly people might consider this to be foolish.  When applied this way, the apostle Paul was not bothered by such a label.

            “We are fools for Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:10).

In this context, Paul wears the title with dignity, knowing that a life committed to Christ will often be uncomfortable and at odds with the way the majority of people choose to live.  In the end, living as a “fool for Christ” will prove to be the wisest thing we could ever do.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Smile, Jesus loves you!

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 21, 2021 

            “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma!  Spring is here, signs of optimism are everywhere in spite of the doom and gloom we see on national news.

            Just a few days ago, a young man who has been worshipping with our church family decided to put on Christ in baptism. Awesome! Try convincing him that good things are not taking place these days. Through answered prayers, Bible study, the influence of loving people, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, this young man went from an uncertain future to actually knowing what lies ahead for him. His journey as a Spirit-indwelled baptized believer has begun (Acts 2:38).

            Just a few church pews away, I see another young man who recently finished a prison sentence, singing with joy to the Lord every Sunday. It is hard to miss his enthusiasm, even with a mask. Try convincing him that good things are not happening these days.

In the past year, I have heard of good things taking place in many places across the nation and throughout the world. Even in the middle of political and social unrest, and a worldwide pandemic when so many people had written off 2020 and have their doubts about 2021, a missionary friend of mine could not contain his enthusiasm when telling me about the thousands of people in Latin America who gave their lives to Christ in 2020 and no signs of slowing down in 2021.

There are many great and positive things going on every single day to fill our minds with. There is no reason to dwell on earthly disappointments and worries for those whose hope is set on things above the sun. How can we as Christians ignore the fact that we are not promised even our next breath, heartbeat, or step here on earth?

“You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14).

For Christians, the words of James are not discouraging, but quite the opposite. The apostle Paul sent a similar message to the church in Thessalonica to remind them there is more to life than what we see with our eyes.

“9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

The Hebrew writer taught the early Christians about the importance of spending time with each other on a regular basis.

“Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer” (Hebrews 10:25).

Peter says the trials we undergo are not the end of the story for those who believe in Jesus Christ. “…for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9).

God is good, amen? Have a great week!

Above the Sun: The Bible and science are not always at odds

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 14, 2021 

            Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma!  In our part of the country, we enjoy our share of natural beauty. 

Anyone who has spent any time at all marveling at our sunsets, forests, fields, lakes, and rivers has probably given thought as to how all of these things got here. Now, add that to the wonders of the animal kingdom, including livestock right on down to your loveable house pet. Now, think about humans, with all of our unique capabilities like feeling and giving love, emotion, compassion, the ability for memory and recall, and altruistic behaviors such as risking your own life to save another.

Some have said the universe according to the Bible is not the same as the universe discovered and observed by science. The thing I find interesting is how God’s word never changes, but what science believes constantly changes with each discovery that proves the Bible had it right all along.

            It has only been since 1925 that Edwin Hubble proved with his telescope our universe is expanding.  Bible writings from 2500 to 3000 years ago talk about God stretching out the heavens. “This is what God the LORD says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out . . .”  (also: Isaiah 42:5, 42:12, Jeremiah 10:12, 51:15).

            One of the earliest to discover the water cycle was a French potter and hydraulics engineer named Bernard Palissy in 1580. His idea was only accepted by mainstream science in the early 1800’s.

            The Old Testament prophet Amos wrote about the water cycle in about 800 BC.

“He who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth, the Lord is His name” (Amos 9:6).

            In 2000 BC, Job said, “For He draws up the drops of water, they distill rain from the mist, which the clouds pour down, they drip upon man abundantly” (Job 36:27-28).  “He wraps up the waters in His clouds, and the cloud does not burst under them” (Job 26:8).

In 950 BC, Solomon wrote: “All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again” (Ecclesiastes 1:7).

Archaeologists continue to dig up proof of the accuracy of Bible people, places, positions, and events. Here are just a few:

In 2017, excavators of Jerusalem’s Western Wall plaza found a nickel-sized clay seal bearing the inscription “Belonging to the governor of the city.” This provides positive proof that 2 Kings 23:8 and 2 Chronicles 18:25 were correct in their references to governors for cities that functioned like city mayors.

Also, thanks to new advanced photography, words on a 2000-year-old copper alloy seal ring originally discovered in the late 1960’s are now readable. The Greek inscription says “of Pilates” and has been determined to have belonged to Pontius Pilate. In 1961, another inscription found on a stone in the Roman theater of Caesarea says: “Building in honor of Tiberius ... Pontius Pilate ... Prefect of Judea.”

God created everything, including science, for which I am thankful. But scientific theory often needs a little time to catch up to Biblical truths.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Seasons change but God stays the same

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 7, 2021 

             Hello from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma! As the spring season arrives in just a few days, our lakes, rivers, rolling hills, and even our yards, gardens, and pastures will take on new looks, feels, smells, and sounds.

We all welcome these changes with each of our four distinct seasons in this region. How awesome it is to live in a place where God blesses us in such wonderful ways. God designed our planet, universe, and everything in it to operate in the ways he created them.

With all the changes that take place around us all year long, you might think that the God of creation would also change. For us, it is a good thing that he does not. The Hebrew writer makes a statement that cannot be misunderstood: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

This message is echoed all through the Bible, Old and New Testaments, as God speaks to his people and as his people speak to him.

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6).

So, in spite of the Jews becoming careless in their attitude toward God, he keeps his word that he will welcome them back when they decide to return (Malachi 3:7). This principle was re-stated in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

Scripture assures us that when God says something, he means it.  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

In a letter from the apostle Paul to Timothy, he gives an example of how God is unchanging. It is no doubt meant to encourage the young preacher even after his mentor is gone.

"If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful, because he cannot be false to himself" (2 Timothy 2:13).

Ironically, this verse finds its roots in the words of the wicked Old Testament prophet, Balaam (Numbers 23:19), who told Balak, king of Moab, how to weaken the Israelites through idolatry and sexual immorality. Nevertheless, Balaam and later Paul in the New Testament spoke about God’s faithfulness and inability to lie or go against his own word.

In Psalm 90 the writer quotes Moses as saying, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2).

God wants us to know we can depend on him. The fact that things around us change all the time has no bearing on an eternal God.

“The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:11).

God’s assurances are not only written in his word, but in history. And one day we will all see the outcome of God’s promises face to face.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Have a great day!

Above the Sun: God’s way is always the best

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 28, 2021 

            So I was in prayer a few days ago when we were snowed in, asking God for a good idea to write about for today’s column when I noticed my TV streaming service was not working.

            I tried everything I could think of to fix it but nothing worked, that is, until one last resort solution popped into my head. Why hadn’t I thought of it before? After all, when it comes to electronics problems, this has been the answer about 95-percent of the time in my experience. Oh, I had thought of it earlier on in the trouble-shooting process but thought surely that would not fix it. It must be something more complex. As I tried one thing after another, I had forgotten about the one solution I hadn’t tried when I thought of it earlier: Go back to the basics, unplug my TV, and plug it back in! It worked! There was nothing wrong with my TV streaming service, it was my TV. It evidently just needed a simple reset so it could function properly.

            People can be like this, can’t we? A problem arises, but instead of going back to the basics, we often beat our head against the wall, trying one thing after another instead of just taking a step back and going with the sure thing. Even those of us living the Christian life get caught up in trying to come up with our own solutions instead of seeking answers from God, the One who created our universe and everything in it. The whole “do it my way” method usually does not end well for anyone. Jesus spoke to his disciples about this very thing.

            46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete” (Luke 6:46-49).

            The devil is good at putting alternate solutions in front of us when we feel we’ve failed at something or when things don’t happen for us fast enough. But if we ask God for guidance, and hold tight to his hand, he promises to make things work out for our good, even though we may not understand it at the time.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: God’s love is amazing

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 14, 2021 

            The extent of God’s love for us really is beyond our comprehension. Every single day, He makes sure we know we are loved. He gives and gives and gives. Every breath and everything good comes from Him.

            Johnson Oatman Jr wrote a song in 1897 that still rings so true today. It is called “Count Your Blessings.”  The first verse and chorus are as follows:

            When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

            As you notice, the word “love” is not mentioned here or anywhere in the song. But we really do not have to hear or see the word “love” to know God loves us, do we? People are this way, too. There are those in our lives who express their feelings verbally. What a blessing. Who doesn’t like to hear the words “I love you.” But if you’re like me, you would much rather be shown you are loved than to just hear those words. Even better is hearing those words AND being shown love.

            The Bible is full of words inspired by God. It is not hard to find the word “love” in the Bible, especially since loving God and loving your neighbor is the first and greatest commandment. It is of great comfort to know that the God who created love also loves us beyond what we can imagine. He backs up his words with a promise.

            “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” (John 3:16).

            The apostle Paul says people can accomplish a lot of things, but without love, they mean nothing.  He goes ahead and describes love:

            “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

            Let’s do our part to fill the world with love. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Don’t Get Lost in the Hype

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 21, 2021 

Even this far into February, you probably have not managed to pay respect to all the things February is known for.  O yes, you’ve probably at least thought about a few of them: Love, Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, and the Super Bowl. But it is also American Heart Month, Canned Food Month, Grapefruit Month, Hot Breakfast Month, and Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month.

Strangely enough, that last one is most closely aligned with how February got its name. Evidently, our shortest month of the year got its start as a spring-cleaning festival. The Roman month Februarius was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, a ritual called Februa was held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar. And in case you were wondering why February only has 28 days, it is because February was the last month added to the Roman calendar. But since I wasn’t there for any of this, I am going to have to take the word of my Google search.

Other causes celebrated in February include: Birth Defects Prevention, Cataract Awareness, Cervical Cancer Awareness, Glaucoma Awareness, National Wear Red Day, Organ Donor Day, Burn Awareness Week, Eating Disorders Awareness Week, American Diabetes Alert Day, National Kidney Month, National MS Month, Earth Day, National Volunteer Week, and World Health Day.

With so many important things to remember and celebrate just in the month of February, it would be easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of what is truly most important. Paul encouraged the early Christians to keep worldly interests and achievements in proper perspective, so they could experience their best life in Christ.

 “12 I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. 15 All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don’t agree with, God will make it clear to you. 16 But we should continue following the truth we already have. 17 Brothers and sisters, join together in following my example. Also, learn by watching those who are living the way we showed you” (Philippians 3:12-17, Easy to Read Version).

These were important words for new and old Christians back then and for all of us today. The battle is tough, the race is exhausting, even discouraging. But the joy of knowing you helped someone come to know Christ and to be known by Him is so worth it.  Have a great week!