Whose Robe Are You Wearing?
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(October 7 - 2008)
In my house growing up, it was always fun to put on a robe. Or, if I really wanted to have an adventure I would put on my mom’s robe, and transform into royalty, or Moses, Abraham, or even Jesus. Getting to carry a big stick to serve as my “rod or my staff” was a bonus that compounded the fun. Nobody but me really knew who I was pretending to be since the costumes for all my characters looked basically the same.
That wasn’t the case in 2 Kings 10:22. That’s where we read about how Jehu, the King of Israel at the time, tricked all the ministers of Baal (false god) into putting on robes. This action made them easily identifiable so Jehu could have them put to death.
King Jehu called together an assembly of all the people. He told them they were there for the purpose of holding a great sacrifice for Baal. Jehu said, “…Anyone who fails to come will no longer live.” When the temple was crowded, “full from one end to the other,” Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring robes for all the ministers of Baal.” Then, after sending everyone away who was not a minister of Baal, Jehu ordered them to be slaughtered. The bodies were thrown out, the temple was demolished, and people after that used the temple site as a latrine.
So what does this mean to us? Things are not always as they appear. And sometimes, culture can even convince us to put on robes that identify us with the world even though we profess to side with God. In your spiritual battles, you have the choice everyday of putting on a robe that identifies you as being on the world’s side, or you can choose everyday to put on a robe that identifies you with God’s team. Evil forces in this world are very clever at disguising sinful activities as things that bring lasting joy. But the robe of sin will only weigh you down and lead toward spiritual death.
Sometimes, we think we can fool people as to which side we’re on. The fact is, most people are not fooled for long. The true color of your robe is usually revealed at some point in your life. And God is NEVER fooled.
Revelation 6:11 and 7:9 indicates that God can clearly distinguish those who have given-up their lives for the hope of life in heaven. They are the ones with white robes, washed in the blood of Jesus the Lamb. Are you washed in the blood of Jesus?
Acts 22:16 tells us the apostle Paul was baptized to wash his sins away. Romans 6:1-11 tells us that after you’re baptized, you can live a new life. Acts 2:36-47 says that three-thousand people were baptized for the forgiveness of sins, and that the “saved” were added to the church.
May God bless each of us with the wisdom to lay down our pride and do whatever God asks of us to be saved. Will your robe be white when God returns? (end)
Welcome to my bulletin article site. What I do is minister to young Christians, their families, their friends, and others in the Fort Gibson, OK area. So check-in every now and then, and I'll try to have an encouraging word for you.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Goliath’s Failure Gives Giant Lessons for Us Today
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, September 16, 2008)
By all accounts, the fight between Goliath and David should have ended much differently than it did. When you read 1 Samuel 17 it is easy to see that a nine-feet tall Philistine warrior whose armor weighed 125 pounds, and whose iron spear-tip alone weighed 15 pounds should have not wound up flat on the ground with his head cut off. But that’s exactly what happened in spite of the fact that Goliath even had his own shield bearer who went out before him.
No one else besides a shepherd boy named David would even dare to fight Goliath. So, what happened? What went wrong? Well, a couple of things. Goliath was obviously in the habit of placing his confidence in none other than himself. He was arrogant, threatening, rude, and irreverent towards God’s people. For forty days, Goliath came out to taunt King Saul and the Israelites saying, “…Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us… This day I defy the ranks of Israel! (1 Sam. 8-10)…” After Goliath saw who was coming out to fight, he said, “:44 Come here… and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.”
The whole scene sounds pretty intimidating to me. But that didn’t stop David who then said to the Philistine, “…You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head (1 Sam. 17:45-46)…”
What follows next is my favorite part of the story “:48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.”
David takes five smooth stones and uses one of them in a sling to strike the giant down, and then takes Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head.
“:51 …When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.”
I’m not sure which part of the story is more pathetic, Goliath’s over-confidence, or the Philistine army’s cowardly reaction to a young shepherd boy defeating their “hero.”
Two lessons we must learn from this are 1) where to put our faith, and 2) what kind of things we should place our priorities on.
David put his confidence in God even though the odds were against him. He had to endure criticism from many including his own brothers, and being made fun of by those who were only judging David from outward appearances.
May we all pray that God gives us the confidence to trust in Him even when the world says we’re not strong enough or smart enough to win the battle against the devil. May we never be afraid to lay our pride aside, and let God’s power work within us. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, September 16, 2008)
By all accounts, the fight between Goliath and David should have ended much differently than it did. When you read 1 Samuel 17 it is easy to see that a nine-feet tall Philistine warrior whose armor weighed 125 pounds, and whose iron spear-tip alone weighed 15 pounds should have not wound up flat on the ground with his head cut off. But that’s exactly what happened in spite of the fact that Goliath even had his own shield bearer who went out before him.
No one else besides a shepherd boy named David would even dare to fight Goliath. So, what happened? What went wrong? Well, a couple of things. Goliath was obviously in the habit of placing his confidence in none other than himself. He was arrogant, threatening, rude, and irreverent towards God’s people. For forty days, Goliath came out to taunt King Saul and the Israelites saying, “…Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us… This day I defy the ranks of Israel! (1 Sam. 8-10)…” After Goliath saw who was coming out to fight, he said, “:44 Come here… and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.”
The whole scene sounds pretty intimidating to me. But that didn’t stop David who then said to the Philistine, “…You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head (1 Sam. 17:45-46)…”
What follows next is my favorite part of the story “:48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.”
David takes five smooth stones and uses one of them in a sling to strike the giant down, and then takes Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head.
“:51 …When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.”
I’m not sure which part of the story is more pathetic, Goliath’s over-confidence, or the Philistine army’s cowardly reaction to a young shepherd boy defeating their “hero.”
Two lessons we must learn from this are 1) where to put our faith, and 2) what kind of things we should place our priorities on.
David put his confidence in God even though the odds were against him. He had to endure criticism from many including his own brothers, and being made fun of by those who were only judging David from outward appearances.
May we all pray that God gives us the confidence to trust in Him even when the world says we’re not strong enough or smart enough to win the battle against the devil. May we never be afraid to lay our pride aside, and let God’s power work within us. (end)
Your decisions can make for generations of consequences
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, September 30, 2008)
In 1 Kings 12:1-33 we read about how the mistakes of Jeroboam (Solomon’s official in charge of the labor force) caused problems for the northern kingdom of Israel for the next 250-years.
In 977 B.C. Israel split after Solomon died because his son, Rehoboam would not relieve any of the tax burdens on the people, and in fact planned to make it worse.
Rehoboam remained king of the southern kingdom of Judah where Jerusalem and the temple were located, while Jeroboam became king of the new northern kingdom of Israel.
Here’s where Jeroboam messed up, royally! He made two golden calves to which his people were to offer sacrifices. He set one in Dan and one in Bethel, both in the northern kingdom in an effort to keep his people from going down into the southern kingdom of Judah to Jerusalem to worship at the temple there. Jeroboam also appointed priests from “…all sorts of people even though they were not Levites (:31).” He also instituted a religious festival on the same day as the one in Jerusalem, so that sacrifices could be made to the idols instead of to God.
Jeroboam did these things because he feared for his life if the people were to again become loyal to Rehoboam, the king of Judah (:27). Jeroboam’s actions put him in direct opposition to God’s commands to not worship idols.
For the next 250 years, most of the 19 kings were evil and were said to have walked in the ways of Jeroboam. What a way to be remembered! Over and over in 1 Kings and 2 Kings we read about the sin that Jeroboam “…caused Israel to commit” until eventually they were removed from the Lord’s presence and exiled to Assyria (2 Kings 17:21-23).
There are many lessons that can be learned here. Trusting and obeying God for starters. But one very important lesson is this: Every decision we make has a consequence attached to it. In this case, the ripple effect was HUGE. It went on and on. Jeroboam’s actions to influence the people to worship idols started a trend that infected almost every king of Israel who came after him, and caused problems for the few good kings to have to deal with.
In 1 Kings 16:31 we read that King Ahab was even more evil than any king before him including Jeroboam. He went as far as to marry the wicked Jezebel and began to serve and worship the false gods, Baal and Asherah.
In 2 Kings 10:28-32 we read that King Jehu destroyed Baal worship, but he still did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, “which he had caused Israel to commit.”
For us today, we need to keep in mind that even though culture puts a lot of pressure on us to accept worldly ways as normal, God’s standard has never changed. Doing things the world’s way may bring temporary happiness, but it will never bring the lasting joy that serving God can. And it is only by doing God’s will that we know for sure which direction our ripple effect is carrying us and those we influence. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, September 30, 2008)
In 1 Kings 12:1-33 we read about how the mistakes of Jeroboam (Solomon’s official in charge of the labor force) caused problems for the northern kingdom of Israel for the next 250-years.
In 977 B.C. Israel split after Solomon died because his son, Rehoboam would not relieve any of the tax burdens on the people, and in fact planned to make it worse.
Rehoboam remained king of the southern kingdom of Judah where Jerusalem and the temple were located, while Jeroboam became king of the new northern kingdom of Israel.
Here’s where Jeroboam messed up, royally! He made two golden calves to which his people were to offer sacrifices. He set one in Dan and one in Bethel, both in the northern kingdom in an effort to keep his people from going down into the southern kingdom of Judah to Jerusalem to worship at the temple there. Jeroboam also appointed priests from “…all sorts of people even though they were not Levites (:31).” He also instituted a religious festival on the same day as the one in Jerusalem, so that sacrifices could be made to the idols instead of to God.
Jeroboam did these things because he feared for his life if the people were to again become loyal to Rehoboam, the king of Judah (:27). Jeroboam’s actions put him in direct opposition to God’s commands to not worship idols.
For the next 250 years, most of the 19 kings were evil and were said to have walked in the ways of Jeroboam. What a way to be remembered! Over and over in 1 Kings and 2 Kings we read about the sin that Jeroboam “…caused Israel to commit” until eventually they were removed from the Lord’s presence and exiled to Assyria (2 Kings 17:21-23).
There are many lessons that can be learned here. Trusting and obeying God for starters. But one very important lesson is this: Every decision we make has a consequence attached to it. In this case, the ripple effect was HUGE. It went on and on. Jeroboam’s actions to influence the people to worship idols started a trend that infected almost every king of Israel who came after him, and caused problems for the few good kings to have to deal with.
In 1 Kings 16:31 we read that King Ahab was even more evil than any king before him including Jeroboam. He went as far as to marry the wicked Jezebel and began to serve and worship the false gods, Baal and Asherah.
In 2 Kings 10:28-32 we read that King Jehu destroyed Baal worship, but he still did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, “which he had caused Israel to commit.”
For us today, we need to keep in mind that even though culture puts a lot of pressure on us to accept worldly ways as normal, God’s standard has never changed. Doing things the world’s way may bring temporary happiness, but it will never bring the lasting joy that serving God can. And it is only by doing God’s will that we know for sure which direction our ripple effect is carrying us and those we influence. (end)
Monday, September 08, 2008
Autumn Fast Approaches
Is it ever too early to decorate your life with Christian virtues?
by Barrett Vanlandingham (9-9-08)
Not to jump the gun or anything, but it won’t be long now before the autumn season begins to cover Northeastern Oklahoma with cooler weather, crisp air, beautiful fall colors, and the rustling sounds of leaves.
Lisa actually wore a sweatshirt to Fort Gibson’s first football game. Not only that, but she also decorated our front porch and fireplace mantle with autumn leaves, scarecrows, and pumpkins. Lisa is not a fan of any particular state school, but I would definitely classify her as a “Sooner” at least in her drive to decorate for fall during the first week of September. But hey, if that’s all it takes to keep peace in the Vanlandingham house, then I’m definitely a huge fan of fall in September. Besides, autumn hits for real on September 22nd if you can believe that! So, why wait ‘til the last minute, right?
Anyway, what’s the point of all this talk of “Sooners” and fall decor? Spiritual lessons, of course. Friends, one of these days the Lord is going to return. It may be sooner. It may be later. But it will happen. We just don’t know when. Unlike autumn, there’s not a date on the calendar for us to highlight in order to be prepared for that final day.
As Christians, we are to decorate our lives with the fruit of the Spirit every single minute of every single day. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Near the end of the apostle Paul’s life, he told Timothy to “…be prepared in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2).”
Jesus himself said “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matt. 24:36).”
So what does this mean to us? If scripture says that no one but the Father knows when judgment day will be, then it would certainly be to our advantage to be prepared all the time. After all, God is good… all the time.
Wouldn’t that be strange if God was only good to us part of the time? What if God only let us breathe 23 hours a day? Or what if God only provided food for us every now and then? Or what if God only provided hope for us occasionally? Or what if every other day God changed His commands that he expects us to obey?
The fact is, we serve an awesome God who is faithful, true, and just. We can depend on Him all the time, even if we don’t know exactly when His return will be. Practically speaking, our destiny is sealed when we die.
In Matthew 16:27 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” May God bless each of us as we pray for the perseverance we need to be prepared all the time, and not wait ‘til the last minute since we don’t know when that will be.
Is it ever too early to decorate your life with Christian virtues?
by Barrett Vanlandingham (9-9-08)
Not to jump the gun or anything, but it won’t be long now before the autumn season begins to cover Northeastern Oklahoma with cooler weather, crisp air, beautiful fall colors, and the rustling sounds of leaves.
Lisa actually wore a sweatshirt to Fort Gibson’s first football game. Not only that, but she also decorated our front porch and fireplace mantle with autumn leaves, scarecrows, and pumpkins. Lisa is not a fan of any particular state school, but I would definitely classify her as a “Sooner” at least in her drive to decorate for fall during the first week of September. But hey, if that’s all it takes to keep peace in the Vanlandingham house, then I’m definitely a huge fan of fall in September. Besides, autumn hits for real on September 22nd if you can believe that! So, why wait ‘til the last minute, right?
Anyway, what’s the point of all this talk of “Sooners” and fall decor? Spiritual lessons, of course. Friends, one of these days the Lord is going to return. It may be sooner. It may be later. But it will happen. We just don’t know when. Unlike autumn, there’s not a date on the calendar for us to highlight in order to be prepared for that final day.
As Christians, we are to decorate our lives with the fruit of the Spirit every single minute of every single day. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Near the end of the apostle Paul’s life, he told Timothy to “…be prepared in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2).”
Jesus himself said “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matt. 24:36).”
So what does this mean to us? If scripture says that no one but the Father knows when judgment day will be, then it would certainly be to our advantage to be prepared all the time. After all, God is good… all the time.
Wouldn’t that be strange if God was only good to us part of the time? What if God only let us breathe 23 hours a day? Or what if God only provided food for us every now and then? Or what if God only provided hope for us occasionally? Or what if every other day God changed His commands that he expects us to obey?
The fact is, we serve an awesome God who is faithful, true, and just. We can depend on Him all the time, even if we don’t know exactly when His return will be. Practically speaking, our destiny is sealed when we die.
In Matthew 16:27 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” May God bless each of us as we pray for the perseverance we need to be prepared all the time, and not wait ‘til the last minute since we don’t know when that will be.
Monday, August 25, 2008
If the world is against you, that’s not necessarily a bad thing
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, August 26, 2008)
One day, as I sat and thought about the peer pressure the kids in my youth group are under, my thoughts began to form the word and music to this song based on the Gospel of John 15:18.
(verse 1) Walking down the halls at school, feeling like everybody’s fool, wondering why my blue skies have to turn gray. Well, they laugh and poke fun at me, because I practice Christianity. Some things never change, I guess it’s meant to be.
(chorus) Cause Jesus said no slave is greater than his master. If the world hates you, know it hated me first. And he said don’t fear. I’ll be with you always, holding your hand until your final day.
(verse 2) So I walked on to class with pride, my Bible held close to my side. The Crucified One’s been raised yes the battle’s been won. I don’t worry about a thing. I put a smile on my face and sing. And let the people know about my Savior and my King.
(to chorus then refrain) Sometimes I worry about this and ‘bout that, and then I begin to pray. That’s when everything’s okay.
(chorus) Cause Jesus said no slave is greater than his master. If the world hates you, know it hated me first. And he said don’t fear. I’ll be with you always, holding your hand until your final day.
(ending) That’s when I know everything’s gonna be okay.
My youth group took went to a rally the other day, and one of the nights before we went to bed we had a devotional with just us. One of the things they kept mentioning as a prayer request was to hold each other accountable for their actions during the school year. I must say I was a little taken back at their level of maturity on this matter. Peer pressure is such a mountain to overcome for all of us, especially for teenagers who are still young in the faith. I was amazed that they not only recognized the fiery darts of Satan, but that they also came up with a biblical solution and asked God to bless their dedication with a successful outcome. Siding with God and walking with the Lord will not guarantee an easy life or even a happy one, but the promise of a real future in heaven because of Jesus brings us true joy even now in the present.
After the youth rally, my wife and I went to eat at a Braum’s in Muskogee. I was already so deliriously tired from the trip that I was on the verge of laughing or crying at any moment. But what pushed me over the edge was this: the very enthusiastic young man behind the counter taking our order asked me if I was a youth minister. I said yes. He immediately had a bigger smile on his face, shook his head slightly, and said, “I love God.”
I’m sorry folks, but I thought for a minute I wasn’t going to be able to keep from crying right there in the middle of Braum’s at such an honest answer coming from such a transparent and cheerful person. I do not know the young man who waited on me that day, but I just wanted to shout hallelujah at his enthusiasm for the Lord.
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
Spiritual Warfare
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, August 19, 2008)
The kids are back in school, mountains of peer pressure have begun to pile up on them. Meanwhile, parents and grandparents are left trying to figure out how to help those young souls they love so much make it through those tough years of adolescence.
Read Nehemiah 4:13-23. There are three things you should know about spiritual warfare that you can find in this passage. Here they are:
1. Do not be afraid
2. Remember the Lord
3. Fight
In about 600 BC, Nehemiah, the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in the palace of Susa (in modern day Iran), had prayed to God and then received permission from the king to re-build the wall of Jerusalem. But the evil and jealous Sanballat the Samaritan was intent on preventing this from happening. The wall had been destroyed when the Jews were booted out of their city by the Babylonians.
Nehemiah used half of his workforce to build the wall, while the other half stood guard, paying special attention to the lowest points of the wall, and where there were families. This was done to make sure that Sanballat, along with several other bullies and their forces were not successful in stopping the re-building of the wall, which surrounded the very centerpiece of Jewish civilization.
Nehemiah said to the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Later he said, “20. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
You know, it’s easy to forget that even here in little Fort Gibson, we have a heavenly guest who wants to be part of our lives everyday. He’s the same God who was with Nehemiah 2600 years ago, and who helped him re-build the Jerusalem wall in only 52 days (6:15).
When we are walking with the Lord, we have every reason to be confident, not fearful. When we are constant in prayer, we can’t help but to constantly remember the Lord. And when we are fighting on the Lord’s side, we will find that the Lord is faithful to us, and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.
The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that when we use our Christian armor the way it was intended, we will be able to do three things: fearlessly make known the Gospel, we will pray in the Spirit continually, and we will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. That's the same basic message that Nehemiah taught 600 years earlier.
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, the apostles Paul says,
“3. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
May God give each of us the perseverance to make sure we are in that number when the trumpet sounds and the Lord gathers us home. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, August 26, 2008)
One day, as I sat and thought about the peer pressure the kids in my youth group are under, my thoughts began to form the word and music to this song based on the Gospel of John 15:18.
(verse 1) Walking down the halls at school, feeling like everybody’s fool, wondering why my blue skies have to turn gray. Well, they laugh and poke fun at me, because I practice Christianity. Some things never change, I guess it’s meant to be.
(chorus) Cause Jesus said no slave is greater than his master. If the world hates you, know it hated me first. And he said don’t fear. I’ll be with you always, holding your hand until your final day.
(verse 2) So I walked on to class with pride, my Bible held close to my side. The Crucified One’s been raised yes the battle’s been won. I don’t worry about a thing. I put a smile on my face and sing. And let the people know about my Savior and my King.
(to chorus then refrain) Sometimes I worry about this and ‘bout that, and then I begin to pray. That’s when everything’s okay.
(chorus) Cause Jesus said no slave is greater than his master. If the world hates you, know it hated me first. And he said don’t fear. I’ll be with you always, holding your hand until your final day.
(ending) That’s when I know everything’s gonna be okay.
My youth group took went to a rally the other day, and one of the nights before we went to bed we had a devotional with just us. One of the things they kept mentioning as a prayer request was to hold each other accountable for their actions during the school year. I must say I was a little taken back at their level of maturity on this matter. Peer pressure is such a mountain to overcome for all of us, especially for teenagers who are still young in the faith. I was amazed that they not only recognized the fiery darts of Satan, but that they also came up with a biblical solution and asked God to bless their dedication with a successful outcome. Siding with God and walking with the Lord will not guarantee an easy life or even a happy one, but the promise of a real future in heaven because of Jesus brings us true joy even now in the present.
After the youth rally, my wife and I went to eat at a Braum’s in Muskogee. I was already so deliriously tired from the trip that I was on the verge of laughing or crying at any moment. But what pushed me over the edge was this: the very enthusiastic young man behind the counter taking our order asked me if I was a youth minister. I said yes. He immediately had a bigger smile on his face, shook his head slightly, and said, “I love God.”
I’m sorry folks, but I thought for a minute I wasn’t going to be able to keep from crying right there in the middle of Braum’s at such an honest answer coming from such a transparent and cheerful person. I do not know the young man who waited on me that day, but I just wanted to shout hallelujah at his enthusiasm for the Lord.
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
Spiritual Warfare
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, August 19, 2008)
The kids are back in school, mountains of peer pressure have begun to pile up on them. Meanwhile, parents and grandparents are left trying to figure out how to help those young souls they love so much make it through those tough years of adolescence.
Read Nehemiah 4:13-23. There are three things you should know about spiritual warfare that you can find in this passage. Here they are:
1. Do not be afraid
2. Remember the Lord
3. Fight
In about 600 BC, Nehemiah, the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in the palace of Susa (in modern day Iran), had prayed to God and then received permission from the king to re-build the wall of Jerusalem. But the evil and jealous Sanballat the Samaritan was intent on preventing this from happening. The wall had been destroyed when the Jews were booted out of their city by the Babylonians.
Nehemiah used half of his workforce to build the wall, while the other half stood guard, paying special attention to the lowest points of the wall, and where there were families. This was done to make sure that Sanballat, along with several other bullies and their forces were not successful in stopping the re-building of the wall, which surrounded the very centerpiece of Jewish civilization.
Nehemiah said to the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Later he said, “20. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
You know, it’s easy to forget that even here in little Fort Gibson, we have a heavenly guest who wants to be part of our lives everyday. He’s the same God who was with Nehemiah 2600 years ago, and who helped him re-build the Jerusalem wall in only 52 days (6:15).
When we are walking with the Lord, we have every reason to be confident, not fearful. When we are constant in prayer, we can’t help but to constantly remember the Lord. And when we are fighting on the Lord’s side, we will find that the Lord is faithful to us, and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.
The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that when we use our Christian armor the way it was intended, we will be able to do three things: fearlessly make known the Gospel, we will pray in the Spirit continually, and we will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. That's the same basic message that Nehemiah taught 600 years earlier.
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, the apostles Paul says,
“3. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
May God give each of us the perseverance to make sure we are in that number when the trumpet sounds and the Lord gathers us home. (end)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Preparing Your Kids for Back to School Temptations
by Barrett Vanlandingham
for August 12, 2008
Ah yes! The time of year we all look forward to and dread at the same time. For me, it's nice to get my family back into some sort of routine. The summer break is a relief for a while. But, after all we have an awesome school system in Fort Gibson, great teachers, staff, lots of volunteers, and lots of great traditions to get involved in. The part I don't like is the peer pressure and other temptations our children have to deal with.
So, what's a parent to do to make sure your kids don't get carried away with negative peer pressure?
1. Your first line of defense is prayer. James 5:16 tells us that "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Too often, we use prayer as a last resort when we have no where else to turn. In reality, a good visit with God should be the very first thing we do in all circumstances. God may not answer your prayer the way you had hoped, and when you had hoped. After all, God is not Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. But God is listening, and God provides the lessons and the support that every family member needs when they need them. We can be sure that God will not tempt us (James 1:13). But sometimes the lessons God teaches us can be hard. When a priority is placed on prayer in your family, God will no doubt bless you.
2. Good communication with your child is of HUGE importance. They have spent their whole life hearing you tell them what you expect of them. But we as parents must let them know that what they have to say is also important, and that we are listening and making decisions, in part, based on their feelings. We may not always be able to give them everything they want. That would not even be healthy, and would result in a spoiled brat. But at least they can know that we are giving serious consideration to what they have to say, and then basing our final decision on what is spiritually healthy. Your child will respect you for this.
3. Let your children know you love them. Not only with your words, but in your relationship with them. Children know when your actions don't equal your words. They will also know how much you love them by your relationship with God, and how much you encourage them to have a good relationship with God.
4. Set boundaries. Even though kids like to complain about what you won't let them do, most kids feel more comfortable with boundaries than without them. Also let them know about all the good things such as spiritual and physical safety and security that take place because of boundaries. This will help them with decision making at school when you're not around. Offer alternatives. If your child asks to be part of something you know is wrong, explain to them what the Bible says about the issue, and then try to offer an alternative activity. They will eventually model this same behavior in their own lives.
5. Remind them to take pride in following God's will. Sometimes, kids don't know how to respond to their friends who want them to be part of something that's wrong. Be sure to tell your children that they have a right to say "no" to temptations. Not only that, but remind them that it takes a much stronger person to do the right thing than just following the crowd. Ask your child to gauge their decisions on whether their choice will lead them a step closer to heaven, or a step farther away. Ask them if this is something that Jesus approves of.
6. Encourage your child to have friends who are also trying to follow Jesus. It's always a lot easier to do the right thing when you have support from your closest friends.
7. Remind your child of the great reward for those who earnestly seek God (Hebrews 11:6).
May God bless all parents who strive to do His will and who encourage their children to do the same.
Summer Heat and Spiritual Challenges Have Much in Common
by Barrett Vanlandingham
As I stepped out onto my porch the other day, one thing became obvious. The heat and humidity were so extreme that I knew immediately I needed to get back inside. That inner thermometer is just something we're all born with. Even animals know when it's time to find a shady spot to stand in. That's also the way it should be with sin and temptation.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."
Let's face it. We all know the difference between right and wrong. If not, we all certainly know (in general) the things God approves of, versus the things He does not smile on. We can all think of at least subtle things we would all do differently in regard to how we use our time, or we might even tweek our attitude, dress, hobbies, or entertainment a little if we knew that God were going to pay us a personal visit today.
But there are so many sins listed in the Bible. Gossip, cursing, issues of decency, lust, fornication, self-discipline, selfishness, greed, ill-gotten gain such as gambling, and lack of Bible knowledge and application. That sounds like a lot of keep up with. How can we ever be pleasing to God in every area of our existence?
The fact is, when we make God number one in our lives, all of those other issues become a lot easier to deal with. The apostle Paul went through many different kinds of spiritual persecution. So, his statements in Romans 8 have carried a lot of meaning for Christians throughout the centuries. He said, ":28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Paul then makes a special connection between Christians and God's Son by saying that Jesus is the "firstborn among many brothers." Then Paul asked the question in verse 31, " ...If God is for us, who can be against us?" He states that if God went so far as to offer His own Son to save us, would he not also "give us all things?"
God loves us. We're created in His image. And there's nothing He desires more than for us to be in heaven with Him someday. He has done everything He could possibly do to get us there besides turn us in to little robots that are unable to make choices. He gives us a free will and allows us to choose Him if we so desire. He even gives us the gift of His Spirit when we are baptized (Acts 2:38) to guide and comfort us until He returns.
As followers of Jesus, we have much to be joyful about, we have much to be thankful for, and we have much to gain from studying and applying God's word. So, when spiritual challenges come our way, just remember that God will always provide something "good" to hold on to, and He will always provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) as we "test everything" by His word, and "avoid every kind of evil."
May God bless us all with the ability to get out of the heat of sin and temptation, and into the cool of His shelter of love, joy, hope, and peace.
Step up to the plate for God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
This summer, thousands of kids from across America, including hundreds from here in Fort Gibson, are attending church camps at one place or another. My youth group just returned from Burnt Cabin Christian Camp on Lake Tenkiller. Our theme was “Step Up to the Plate.” Even though this sounds like a sports-related lesson, it’s really a spiritual lesson that all ages can learn from. Here are some things to think about:
• Satan throws all kinds of pitches at us. We must be steadfast in prayer and Bible study. This will help us discern the best way to overcome life’s curve balls and the occasional fastball that just seems to be on you before you know it.
• It’s up to each and every Christian to make sure we have the right equipment to win our spiritual battles against the devil. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God’s word is inspired and gives us everything we need to be approved by God.
• It’s important for us to place a priority on staying in great spiritual shape by training or practicing everyday those spiritual disciplines we read about in God’s word. Yes, it’s that Bible knowledge that serves as a great foundation. But, unless we learn how to apply those lessons to our lives, the knowledge alone will not get us to heaven.
• We must choose everyday to be on the right team. The world throws so many choices into our path, we must be willing to compare the available options with what God says is pleasing to him. It is also helpful to look at the New Testament to see the example set by Christians in the first century.
• We must choose to swing. Satan would like to convince us to be so scared of him that we just sit and do nothing. But that’s not even biblical. As Christians, we must trust that God’s spirit will work within each of us to overcome the pitches of deceit that the devil throws our way.
May God bless each of us as we earnestly seek his will in our lives.
Satan has a plan for your children; do you? (Part two of Commitment)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
How many times do we not trust God to give us what we need, and what our children need, just so we can satisfy our worldly cravings for worldly success? We ask ourselves, “How is my family or my children ever going to find true joy and happiness unless I take control of what I can see, therefore relegating God to the passenger seat?”
The answer is faith-based commitment to God. And when we are committed to God, we will be committed to our families.
This article is a continuation from two weeks ago where I discussed “Commitment to God.”
When it comes to commitment to your family, we must remember that this cannot be separated from what it means to be committed to God.
We must strive for holiness and being set apart for service to God, and when this happens, we will automatically show commitment to our families by providing for them in every way: financially, emotionally, materially and spiritually.
Parents, we cannot truly be committed to our families the way God wants us to be, when we knowingly lead our children right up to the gates of hell and all but turn them over to Satan. Look at the clothes we buy for our daughters. Look at the activities we allow our kids to be a part of just so our little sweet-pea or little bubba won't have to miss out on what everyone else is doing. Look at the words of hatred and division we speak shameless in front of our children. Parents, providing for your family does not mean spending $30-$100 a month on strangers to come into our homes unsupervised and fill our children's heads full of Hollywood and Hip-Hop's values. It's expensive and destructive. The entertainment industry is not in business of saving your child's soul. Satan has a plan for your children, and you better have one too. Commitment to family does not mean letting TV, Internet, videos, sports, music or anything else come between your family and God.
Ephesians 6:1-4 says, “ 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2. "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3. "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Parents, minister to your children in these ways. It's your God-given responsibility.
1. Parents, provide opportunities for your kids to learn about Jesus. Bring them to youth and church events.
2. When your kids have questions about life, tell them what the Bible has to say about it (this requires study).
3. Let your children see you study.
4. Let your children see that your study and your church attendance has made a difference in your life, and in your parenting.
5. Parents, be consistent. Train your children starting at day one to gauge everything by what is holy (not by what is sexy to the world)... by what is holy (not by what is popular to the world)... by what is holy (not by what tastes good, feels good, smells good, looks good and sounds good to the world). This world is going to BURN... and unless we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:2), God tells us that our souls will suffer for eternity, and that's a lot longer than this lifetime. Even if it's a good activity on the surface, and it draws us in the direction of ungodliness, or prevents us from worshiping God, it's wrong.
6. When we make the decision to become parents, we also make the decision to become teachers. So we must make every moment count, and realize that we teach our families not only by what we say, but by what we do.
7. Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16. making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
May God bless us as we strive for holiness and as we encourage our families to live for God in every aspect of life.
Celebrate freedom from sin this Independence Day
by Barrett Vanlandingham
As our nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, I couldn't help but think about the freedoms we as Christians enjoy through Jesus who paid the ultimate price for our sins.
Some people look at Christianity as an oppressive religion that takes all of the fun out of life. But nothing could be further from the truth. How incredible is it that we get to have a wonderful relationship with the creator?
It's almost incomprehensible that there is such a powerful God who promises to rescue those who obey him. How awesome is it to know that we can experience joy here on earth in spite of the burdens that weigh heavily on mankind.
How indescribable is it that after this life is over, his faithful will get to enter into the joys of heaven, all because of God's amazing grace which includes his incredible plan for our salvation?
God's original chosen people, the Jews, had more than 600 rules under the Law of Moses they had to keep in order to continue on in his good graces. You know many of those Old Testament rules. For instance, before the new law was put into place after Jesus' resurrection, people had to worship on Saturday. But later, first century through present day, Christians assemble on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2).
Before the New Covenant came along, each family had to sacrifice an animal once a year. Jews were not allowed to eat certain animals that were considered unclean.
But under the new covenant (we call it the New Testament) which is based on loving God and loving our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40; 1 Corinthians 13), Christians are the chosen people. In fact, anyone who becomes a Christian and is found to be faithful on judgment day, no matter their race, color or country, will inherit eternal life in heaven (Romans 10:11-13, Matthew 7:21, Luke 6:46).
Hebrews 7:12 says, “For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.” Hebrews 8:7 says, “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.” Hebrews 13:13 says, “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.”
The Old Law is important because it shows us the nature of God, and how he means what he says (Remember the flood?). There are also a lot of references in the New Testament that would not make a lot of sense if you hadn't read the Old Testament. That is why 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that all scripture is inspired or God-breathed and is useful for things like teaching, training and to equip us for every good work.
Matthew 15:11 and Romans 14:14 make it clear that nothing in and of itself is unclean, but instead our attitude towards God and other people is what dictates spiritual cleanliness which is more important than standards imposed by the world. In other words, it would be a sin to eat, drink or do anything in the presence of someone else if you knew they would be offended by it.
The issue of “Biblical authority” is the reason why New Testament Christians do (or don't do) a lot of things in the name of religion. If God demands something, why would we give him anything else?
The reason Christians do not practice animal sacrifices like the Jews did is because we are not commanded to under the new covenant.
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice.
The apostle Paul, however, does tell us in Romans 12:1 that we are to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
May we all enjoy the ultimate freedom more and more each day.
If you commit, follow through every time (Part One of Commitment)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Have you ever met someone who was always where they are supposed to be at the right time?
Conversely, have you ever met someone who could not give you a straight answer, and when they did, they did not follow through on what they said they would do?
There are some people who will read their Bible everyday, but are hateful to everyone they meet. This article is about commitment to God.
I was talking with my dad awhile back. And anyone who knows my dad knows that if he has a job to do, it will get done on time, one way or another. So I asked him, dad, why is it that some people just seem to be places, not because they were expected to be, and not because they were asked to be, but because it was just the right thing to do? What separates those people from others?
He said, “It is because those people have already made the decision to be a part of something or to live a certain lifestyle. They made a commitment to certain things long before they were put on the calendar, and long before they were faced with ‘Should I, or shouldn't I?’”
Commitment to God is kind of like riding an elevator ... you're either ON or OFF. Revelation 3:15-16 talks about people who are neither hot nor cold in their commitment to God. He says that because they are lukewarm, he will spit them out of His mouth.
Matthew 22:34-38 tells us the greatest command is to “…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The Gospel of Mark adds “and with all your strength” to that list.
This means that we are to love God with everything we have, and everything we are. If you believe that God exists, and that Jesus is his son, and that there is a heaven, and a hell, you really need to make up your mind as to whom you're going to commit. After all, what's the point in calling yourself a Christian if you're only going to go halfway, because halfway won't get you there.
John 14:15 tells us the way God knows whether we love him is by our obedience to his commands.
What if we don't commit to God? Matthew 10:32-33 says, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
Does your life show that you know Jesus Christ, or that you care more for things of the world? We must be willing to choose God over anyone or anything.
We can have huge bank accounts, popularity, possessions, desire for athletic and academic scholarships, but when those things become our gods, and we choose them over God the Father, that's a BIG PROBLEM: that's SIN, and that shows a LACK of COMMITMENT to God.
This is a lesson that Abraham did very well on when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham loved his son Isaac and knew that Isaac was a part of the plan to make a great nation like God had promised in Genesis 12:2. So, Abraham was willing to put aside his own feelings on the matter, and submit and trust God TOTALLY.
In fact, Abraham had so much faith that when he was preparing to take his son there to sacrifice him, Genesis 22:5 says “He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’”
Abraham knew that total commitment was a two-way trail, and that God would not go back on his original promise, and that one way or another, God would prevent Isaac's death.
How many times do we not trust God to give us what we need, and what our children need, just so we can satisfy our worldly cravings for worldly success. We ask ourselves, “How is my family or my children ever going to find true joy and happiness?” The answer is faith-based commitment to God. And when we are committed to God, we will be committed to our families. I will discuss that in two weeks in part two.
Expletives go crossways with God’s word, will
by Barrett Vanlandingham
More than once I've had young people ask me if it was really a sin to curse. They were astonished when I gave them the answer, “Yes!”
The Apostle Paul said, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things (Philippians 4:8).”
When it comes to cursing and other sins of the mouth, how can you or anyone else in your presence possibly “think about such things” (Godly things) if your mouth is spewing out curse words?
James 3:3-12 is one of the most famous passages in the Bible for its instruction on how we use our mouth. The writer says, “:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder…” James goes on to compare the tongue to a spark that can set a whole forest on fire. He says, “:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
In Romans 3:9-10 Paul quotes from the Old Testament about sin. Then in verse 14 he says, “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
When I was a kid and someone would curse, oftentimes it would be pointed out that people who curse just simply do not have a good enough vocabulary to think of other words to say. That may be true to an extent. But I think a better explanation as to why people curse is because their minds have been filled to overflowing with worldly influences. This happens when we get lax in our spiritual battle.
Proverbs 4:23-24 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”
The Gospel of Matthew 12:34 & 36-37 says, “…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks… But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Sins of the mouth not only include cursing. Romans 1:28-32 includes gossip and slander in a list of sins that will land someone in hell. Paul even goes on to say that even those who approve of this practice are also in the same danger of eternal condemnation.
Walking on God's path to heaven begins with the following passages: Romans 10:17 and John 5:24 (hear), Mark 16:16 and Hebrews 11:6 (believe), Acts 2:38 and James 1:21-22 (repent), Matthew 10:32-33 and 2 Timothy 2:19 (confess), Galatians 3:26-27 and Romans 6:1-11 (baptism for the forgiveness of sins).
This article only scratches the surface on the issue of cursing. The attitudes behind the cursing are just as harmful spiritually. One thing is for sure. If we spend more time in study of God's word, more time acting on our belief, more time prayerfully turning away from the world's influence, more time acknowledging that Jesus is God's Son and that He is our only hope, and more time thinking about the blessings that come from being clothed in Christ through baptism, we would definitely not have near as much time or desire to allow negative thoughts and words to infect or influence our destiny.
How do you get beautiful feet? Opportunities abound this summer to volunteer
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Here we are! Another June and another vacation Bible school season well under way. You don't have to look far this time of year to find those three nostalgic letters — VBS — that so many kids look forward to every summer.
The tradition of VBS dates back at least 100 years in America. Although, it's difficult to pinpoint who actually started it. Here in Fort Gibson, several churches are offering VBS this summer.
It's an opportunity for kids to learn Bible stories, see puppet and drama skits, have a snack, sing and pray. It's also an opportunity for adults and teenagers to get involved in church work in a “no pressure” environment.
As teachers at VBS, church camp, or any other time where we are responsible for impressionable young minds, there are a few important things to remember. We as a Christian community must be willing to let the Bible speak for itself and not inject our own opinions if they are not supported by the Bible.
James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
I love VBS as much as anybody. But even in the midst of having fun and being creative in teaching the Bible, it is of greatest importance to not only show God's love to young souls in our care, but also to teach “God-approved” messages.
The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesian church that “There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father who is over all and through all and in all (Eph. 4:4-6).
We all have opinions when it comes to religion or anything else. However, it is God who created us. His Son came to earth, died and was raised for us. It's fair to say that God has earned our loyalty and respect. In return, we all should be willing to take the time necessary to study His word and find out what He expects of us.
Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Be very care, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.”
In order to understand what the Lord's will is, we must spend much time in prayer and Bible study. How else can we accurately teach God's word unless we study? 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the truth.”
Then, we have an obligation to obey and teach His word. Some of the last words Jesus spoke before He returned to His Father are recorded in Mathew 28:18-20.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'”
“… As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans 10:15)”
Make God bless us all as we grow in the knowledge of God's word and apply it to our lives.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
for August 12, 2008
Ah yes! The time of year we all look forward to and dread at the same time. For me, it's nice to get my family back into some sort of routine. The summer break is a relief for a while. But, after all we have an awesome school system in Fort Gibson, great teachers, staff, lots of volunteers, and lots of great traditions to get involved in. The part I don't like is the peer pressure and other temptations our children have to deal with.
So, what's a parent to do to make sure your kids don't get carried away with negative peer pressure?
1. Your first line of defense is prayer. James 5:16 tells us that "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Too often, we use prayer as a last resort when we have no where else to turn. In reality, a good visit with God should be the very first thing we do in all circumstances. God may not answer your prayer the way you had hoped, and when you had hoped. After all, God is not Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. But God is listening, and God provides the lessons and the support that every family member needs when they need them. We can be sure that God will not tempt us (James 1:13). But sometimes the lessons God teaches us can be hard. When a priority is placed on prayer in your family, God will no doubt bless you.
2. Good communication with your child is of HUGE importance. They have spent their whole life hearing you tell them what you expect of them. But we as parents must let them know that what they have to say is also important, and that we are listening and making decisions, in part, based on their feelings. We may not always be able to give them everything they want. That would not even be healthy, and would result in a spoiled brat. But at least they can know that we are giving serious consideration to what they have to say, and then basing our final decision on what is spiritually healthy. Your child will respect you for this.
3. Let your children know you love them. Not only with your words, but in your relationship with them. Children know when your actions don't equal your words. They will also know how much you love them by your relationship with God, and how much you encourage them to have a good relationship with God.
4. Set boundaries. Even though kids like to complain about what you won't let them do, most kids feel more comfortable with boundaries than without them. Also let them know about all the good things such as spiritual and physical safety and security that take place because of boundaries. This will help them with decision making at school when you're not around. Offer alternatives. If your child asks to be part of something you know is wrong, explain to them what the Bible says about the issue, and then try to offer an alternative activity. They will eventually model this same behavior in their own lives.
5. Remind them to take pride in following God's will. Sometimes, kids don't know how to respond to their friends who want them to be part of something that's wrong. Be sure to tell your children that they have a right to say "no" to temptations. Not only that, but remind them that it takes a much stronger person to do the right thing than just following the crowd. Ask your child to gauge their decisions on whether their choice will lead them a step closer to heaven, or a step farther away. Ask them if this is something that Jesus approves of.
6. Encourage your child to have friends who are also trying to follow Jesus. It's always a lot easier to do the right thing when you have support from your closest friends.
7. Remind your child of the great reward for those who earnestly seek God (Hebrews 11:6).
May God bless all parents who strive to do His will and who encourage their children to do the same.
Summer Heat and Spiritual Challenges Have Much in Common
by Barrett Vanlandingham
As I stepped out onto my porch the other day, one thing became obvious. The heat and humidity were so extreme that I knew immediately I needed to get back inside. That inner thermometer is just something we're all born with. Even animals know when it's time to find a shady spot to stand in. That's also the way it should be with sin and temptation.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."
Let's face it. We all know the difference between right and wrong. If not, we all certainly know (in general) the things God approves of, versus the things He does not smile on. We can all think of at least subtle things we would all do differently in regard to how we use our time, or we might even tweek our attitude, dress, hobbies, or entertainment a little if we knew that God were going to pay us a personal visit today.
But there are so many sins listed in the Bible. Gossip, cursing, issues of decency, lust, fornication, self-discipline, selfishness, greed, ill-gotten gain such as gambling, and lack of Bible knowledge and application. That sounds like a lot of keep up with. How can we ever be pleasing to God in every area of our existence?
The fact is, when we make God number one in our lives, all of those other issues become a lot easier to deal with. The apostle Paul went through many different kinds of spiritual persecution. So, his statements in Romans 8 have carried a lot of meaning for Christians throughout the centuries. He said, ":28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Paul then makes a special connection between Christians and God's Son by saying that Jesus is the "firstborn among many brothers." Then Paul asked the question in verse 31, " ...If God is for us, who can be against us?" He states that if God went so far as to offer His own Son to save us, would he not also "give us all things?"
God loves us. We're created in His image. And there's nothing He desires more than for us to be in heaven with Him someday. He has done everything He could possibly do to get us there besides turn us in to little robots that are unable to make choices. He gives us a free will and allows us to choose Him if we so desire. He even gives us the gift of His Spirit when we are baptized (Acts 2:38) to guide and comfort us until He returns.
As followers of Jesus, we have much to be joyful about, we have much to be thankful for, and we have much to gain from studying and applying God's word. So, when spiritual challenges come our way, just remember that God will always provide something "good" to hold on to, and He will always provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) as we "test everything" by His word, and "avoid every kind of evil."
May God bless us all with the ability to get out of the heat of sin and temptation, and into the cool of His shelter of love, joy, hope, and peace.
Step up to the plate for God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
This summer, thousands of kids from across America, including hundreds from here in Fort Gibson, are attending church camps at one place or another. My youth group just returned from Burnt Cabin Christian Camp on Lake Tenkiller. Our theme was “Step Up to the Plate.” Even though this sounds like a sports-related lesson, it’s really a spiritual lesson that all ages can learn from. Here are some things to think about:
• Satan throws all kinds of pitches at us. We must be steadfast in prayer and Bible study. This will help us discern the best way to overcome life’s curve balls and the occasional fastball that just seems to be on you before you know it.
• It’s up to each and every Christian to make sure we have the right equipment to win our spiritual battles against the devil. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God’s word is inspired and gives us everything we need to be approved by God.
• It’s important for us to place a priority on staying in great spiritual shape by training or practicing everyday those spiritual disciplines we read about in God’s word. Yes, it’s that Bible knowledge that serves as a great foundation. But, unless we learn how to apply those lessons to our lives, the knowledge alone will not get us to heaven.
• We must choose everyday to be on the right team. The world throws so many choices into our path, we must be willing to compare the available options with what God says is pleasing to him. It is also helpful to look at the New Testament to see the example set by Christians in the first century.
• We must choose to swing. Satan would like to convince us to be so scared of him that we just sit and do nothing. But that’s not even biblical. As Christians, we must trust that God’s spirit will work within each of us to overcome the pitches of deceit that the devil throws our way.
May God bless each of us as we earnestly seek his will in our lives.
Satan has a plan for your children; do you? (Part two of Commitment)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
How many times do we not trust God to give us what we need, and what our children need, just so we can satisfy our worldly cravings for worldly success? We ask ourselves, “How is my family or my children ever going to find true joy and happiness unless I take control of what I can see, therefore relegating God to the passenger seat?”
The answer is faith-based commitment to God. And when we are committed to God, we will be committed to our families.
This article is a continuation from two weeks ago where I discussed “Commitment to God.”
When it comes to commitment to your family, we must remember that this cannot be separated from what it means to be committed to God.
We must strive for holiness and being set apart for service to God, and when this happens, we will automatically show commitment to our families by providing for them in every way: financially, emotionally, materially and spiritually.
Parents, we cannot truly be committed to our families the way God wants us to be, when we knowingly lead our children right up to the gates of hell and all but turn them over to Satan. Look at the clothes we buy for our daughters. Look at the activities we allow our kids to be a part of just so our little sweet-pea or little bubba won't have to miss out on what everyone else is doing. Look at the words of hatred and division we speak shameless in front of our children. Parents, providing for your family does not mean spending $30-$100 a month on strangers to come into our homes unsupervised and fill our children's heads full of Hollywood and Hip-Hop's values. It's expensive and destructive. The entertainment industry is not in business of saving your child's soul. Satan has a plan for your children, and you better have one too. Commitment to family does not mean letting TV, Internet, videos, sports, music or anything else come between your family and God.
Ephesians 6:1-4 says, “ 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2. "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3. "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Parents, minister to your children in these ways. It's your God-given responsibility.
1. Parents, provide opportunities for your kids to learn about Jesus. Bring them to youth and church events.
2. When your kids have questions about life, tell them what the Bible has to say about it (this requires study).
3. Let your children see you study.
4. Let your children see that your study and your church attendance has made a difference in your life, and in your parenting.
5. Parents, be consistent. Train your children starting at day one to gauge everything by what is holy (not by what is sexy to the world)... by what is holy (not by what is popular to the world)... by what is holy (not by what tastes good, feels good, smells good, looks good and sounds good to the world). This world is going to BURN... and unless we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:2), God tells us that our souls will suffer for eternity, and that's a lot longer than this lifetime. Even if it's a good activity on the surface, and it draws us in the direction of ungodliness, or prevents us from worshiping God, it's wrong.
6. When we make the decision to become parents, we also make the decision to become teachers. So we must make every moment count, and realize that we teach our families not only by what we say, but by what we do.
7. Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16. making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
May God bless us as we strive for holiness and as we encourage our families to live for God in every aspect of life.
Celebrate freedom from sin this Independence Day
by Barrett Vanlandingham
As our nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, I couldn't help but think about the freedoms we as Christians enjoy through Jesus who paid the ultimate price for our sins.
Some people look at Christianity as an oppressive religion that takes all of the fun out of life. But nothing could be further from the truth. How incredible is it that we get to have a wonderful relationship with the creator?
It's almost incomprehensible that there is such a powerful God who promises to rescue those who obey him. How awesome is it to know that we can experience joy here on earth in spite of the burdens that weigh heavily on mankind.
How indescribable is it that after this life is over, his faithful will get to enter into the joys of heaven, all because of God's amazing grace which includes his incredible plan for our salvation?
God's original chosen people, the Jews, had more than 600 rules under the Law of Moses they had to keep in order to continue on in his good graces. You know many of those Old Testament rules. For instance, before the new law was put into place after Jesus' resurrection, people had to worship on Saturday. But later, first century through present day, Christians assemble on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2).
Before the New Covenant came along, each family had to sacrifice an animal once a year. Jews were not allowed to eat certain animals that were considered unclean.
But under the new covenant (we call it the New Testament) which is based on loving God and loving our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40; 1 Corinthians 13), Christians are the chosen people. In fact, anyone who becomes a Christian and is found to be faithful on judgment day, no matter their race, color or country, will inherit eternal life in heaven (Romans 10:11-13, Matthew 7:21, Luke 6:46).
Hebrews 7:12 says, “For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.” Hebrews 8:7 says, “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.” Hebrews 13:13 says, “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.”
The Old Law is important because it shows us the nature of God, and how he means what he says (Remember the flood?). There are also a lot of references in the New Testament that would not make a lot of sense if you hadn't read the Old Testament. That is why 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that all scripture is inspired or God-breathed and is useful for things like teaching, training and to equip us for every good work.
Matthew 15:11 and Romans 14:14 make it clear that nothing in and of itself is unclean, but instead our attitude towards God and other people is what dictates spiritual cleanliness which is more important than standards imposed by the world. In other words, it would be a sin to eat, drink or do anything in the presence of someone else if you knew they would be offended by it.
The issue of “Biblical authority” is the reason why New Testament Christians do (or don't do) a lot of things in the name of religion. If God demands something, why would we give him anything else?
The reason Christians do not practice animal sacrifices like the Jews did is because we are not commanded to under the new covenant.
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice.
The apostle Paul, however, does tell us in Romans 12:1 that we are to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
May we all enjoy the ultimate freedom more and more each day.
If you commit, follow through every time (Part One of Commitment)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Have you ever met someone who was always where they are supposed to be at the right time?
Conversely, have you ever met someone who could not give you a straight answer, and when they did, they did not follow through on what they said they would do?
There are some people who will read their Bible everyday, but are hateful to everyone they meet. This article is about commitment to God.
I was talking with my dad awhile back. And anyone who knows my dad knows that if he has a job to do, it will get done on time, one way or another. So I asked him, dad, why is it that some people just seem to be places, not because they were expected to be, and not because they were asked to be, but because it was just the right thing to do? What separates those people from others?
He said, “It is because those people have already made the decision to be a part of something or to live a certain lifestyle. They made a commitment to certain things long before they were put on the calendar, and long before they were faced with ‘Should I, or shouldn't I?’”
Commitment to God is kind of like riding an elevator ... you're either ON or OFF. Revelation 3:15-16 talks about people who are neither hot nor cold in their commitment to God. He says that because they are lukewarm, he will spit them out of His mouth.
Matthew 22:34-38 tells us the greatest command is to “…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The Gospel of Mark adds “and with all your strength” to that list.
This means that we are to love God with everything we have, and everything we are. If you believe that God exists, and that Jesus is his son, and that there is a heaven, and a hell, you really need to make up your mind as to whom you're going to commit. After all, what's the point in calling yourself a Christian if you're only going to go halfway, because halfway won't get you there.
John 14:15 tells us the way God knows whether we love him is by our obedience to his commands.
What if we don't commit to God? Matthew 10:32-33 says, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
Does your life show that you know Jesus Christ, or that you care more for things of the world? We must be willing to choose God over anyone or anything.
We can have huge bank accounts, popularity, possessions, desire for athletic and academic scholarships, but when those things become our gods, and we choose them over God the Father, that's a BIG PROBLEM: that's SIN, and that shows a LACK of COMMITMENT to God.
This is a lesson that Abraham did very well on when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham loved his son Isaac and knew that Isaac was a part of the plan to make a great nation like God had promised in Genesis 12:2. So, Abraham was willing to put aside his own feelings on the matter, and submit and trust God TOTALLY.
In fact, Abraham had so much faith that when he was preparing to take his son there to sacrifice him, Genesis 22:5 says “He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’”
Abraham knew that total commitment was a two-way trail, and that God would not go back on his original promise, and that one way or another, God would prevent Isaac's death.
How many times do we not trust God to give us what we need, and what our children need, just so we can satisfy our worldly cravings for worldly success. We ask ourselves, “How is my family or my children ever going to find true joy and happiness?” The answer is faith-based commitment to God. And when we are committed to God, we will be committed to our families. I will discuss that in two weeks in part two.
Expletives go crossways with God’s word, will
by Barrett Vanlandingham
More than once I've had young people ask me if it was really a sin to curse. They were astonished when I gave them the answer, “Yes!”
The Apostle Paul said, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things (Philippians 4:8).”
When it comes to cursing and other sins of the mouth, how can you or anyone else in your presence possibly “think about such things” (Godly things) if your mouth is spewing out curse words?
James 3:3-12 is one of the most famous passages in the Bible for its instruction on how we use our mouth. The writer says, “:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder…” James goes on to compare the tongue to a spark that can set a whole forest on fire. He says, “:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
In Romans 3:9-10 Paul quotes from the Old Testament about sin. Then in verse 14 he says, “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
When I was a kid and someone would curse, oftentimes it would be pointed out that people who curse just simply do not have a good enough vocabulary to think of other words to say. That may be true to an extent. But I think a better explanation as to why people curse is because their minds have been filled to overflowing with worldly influences. This happens when we get lax in our spiritual battle.
Proverbs 4:23-24 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”
The Gospel of Matthew 12:34 & 36-37 says, “…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks… But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Sins of the mouth not only include cursing. Romans 1:28-32 includes gossip and slander in a list of sins that will land someone in hell. Paul even goes on to say that even those who approve of this practice are also in the same danger of eternal condemnation.
Walking on God's path to heaven begins with the following passages: Romans 10:17 and John 5:24 (hear), Mark 16:16 and Hebrews 11:6 (believe), Acts 2:38 and James 1:21-22 (repent), Matthew 10:32-33 and 2 Timothy 2:19 (confess), Galatians 3:26-27 and Romans 6:1-11 (baptism for the forgiveness of sins).
This article only scratches the surface on the issue of cursing. The attitudes behind the cursing are just as harmful spiritually. One thing is for sure. If we spend more time in study of God's word, more time acting on our belief, more time prayerfully turning away from the world's influence, more time acknowledging that Jesus is God's Son and that He is our only hope, and more time thinking about the blessings that come from being clothed in Christ through baptism, we would definitely not have near as much time or desire to allow negative thoughts and words to infect or influence our destiny.
How do you get beautiful feet? Opportunities abound this summer to volunteer
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Here we are! Another June and another vacation Bible school season well under way. You don't have to look far this time of year to find those three nostalgic letters — VBS — that so many kids look forward to every summer.
The tradition of VBS dates back at least 100 years in America. Although, it's difficult to pinpoint who actually started it. Here in Fort Gibson, several churches are offering VBS this summer.
It's an opportunity for kids to learn Bible stories, see puppet and drama skits, have a snack, sing and pray. It's also an opportunity for adults and teenagers to get involved in church work in a “no pressure” environment.
As teachers at VBS, church camp, or any other time where we are responsible for impressionable young minds, there are a few important things to remember. We as a Christian community must be willing to let the Bible speak for itself and not inject our own opinions if they are not supported by the Bible.
James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
I love VBS as much as anybody. But even in the midst of having fun and being creative in teaching the Bible, it is of greatest importance to not only show God's love to young souls in our care, but also to teach “God-approved” messages.
The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesian church that “There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father who is over all and through all and in all (Eph. 4:4-6).
We all have opinions when it comes to religion or anything else. However, it is God who created us. His Son came to earth, died and was raised for us. It's fair to say that God has earned our loyalty and respect. In return, we all should be willing to take the time necessary to study His word and find out what He expects of us.
Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Be very care, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.”
In order to understand what the Lord's will is, we must spend much time in prayer and Bible study. How else can we accurately teach God's word unless we study? 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the truth.”
Then, we have an obligation to obey and teach His word. Some of the last words Jesus spoke before He returned to His Father are recorded in Mathew 28:18-20.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'”
“… As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans 10:15)”
Make God bless us all as we grow in the knowledge of God's word and apply it to our lives.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Happy Anniversary Sweetie! The Yoke’s on Us
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(June 3, 2008)
A wedding anniversary is one of those things you don’t want to miss. Mine and Lisa’s just happens to be June 3, 1989. This makes 19 wonderful years for us.
Being married to a “Proverbs 31” woman has made things quite enjoyable and entertaining over the years. Proverbs 31:10-12 says, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”
This passage goes on to talk about all the ways the virtuous woman watches over the affairs of her household. It says, “:23 Her husband is respected at the city gate…” “:28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” :31 …let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
Lisa and I work at our marriage. Nothing good, including a good marriage, comes without determination and team work. In fact, many of the things that make a woman of noble character could also be said of a noble man. The reason a husband would be respected at the city gate is because his wife has a good reputation in the community and regarding faithfulness to the marriage. The same can be said of the woman.
When it comes to team work, the Bible has plenty to say. The apostle Paul talks about this in the book of 2 Corinthians 6:14 through 7:2. He says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
Any married couple can testify to the fact that arguments often take place over the strangest of things. It may be a big issue. But often, it’s something small or seemingly insignificant that sparks a HUGE fight. My point is that relationships are challenging enough without adding the element of religious differences. It would be worth the effort of any aspiring couple to look into their spiritual beliefs before being joined in holy matrimony. Overlooking issues of religion could result in a holy nightmare!
The picture Paul is painting in this passage is of the unity of two oxen that work well tied together under the same yoke. This would be in contrast to trying to force, let’s say, an ostrich and a kangaroo into the same yoke, and expecting them to successfully pull a plow through a field. It’s not going to happen because the partnership was doomed from the beginning.
The only way a marriage will be blessed by God is if both partners vow to put God (our Yoke) first, even above their spouse. And in doing so, the husband and wife will honor each other, and God will make sure everything else falls into place.
Lisa, thanks for being such a wonderful wife and mother to our children.
Happy Anniversary, Sweetie! Love, Barrett.
Should we shop for churches like we shop for cars?
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 27, 2008)
My oldest daughter is now 15, and she’s had her intentions set on taking over my Jeep Grand Cherokee for quite sometime. Granted, my Jeep is 11 years old now, but I still like it and so I’m having a little trouble deciding whether to let her have my vehicle, or get a different car for her. One thing I’ve discovered lately, especially since I haven’t shopped for a vehicle in quite a while, is that there is a mind-boggling assortment of makes and models out there.
The same is true in religion. Here in Fort Gibson, there are 18 churches listed on the Chamber of Commerce website. But how can this be? I thought the Lord died for one church, not many.
Paul said, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:3-6).”
Jesus said in Matthew 16:13-18 that based upon the rock or fact that He is the Son of God, He will build His church.
Neither Jesus nor Paul ever said anything positive about there being many different kinds of churches that teach different messages from the true Gospel. However, this is not a new problem.
In Galatians 1:6-9 Paul told the Christians there “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.”
Parents, more than anyone, should understand the concept of making sacrifices for their household, and then making rules for the family to keep. Parents have that privilege of making lawful rules, and children have a responsibility to abide by what parents say. The Bible says so.
It’s the same way with Jesus. He earned the right of our respect and obedience when He came to this earth to suffer, die, and be raised from the dead so that we could have hope of eternal life in heaven.
Every denomination of the one true church most likely believes that what they are doing in the name of Jesus is right. But one thing we can all agree on is this: We owe it to ourselves, our families, our friends, our acquaintances, and most of all to Jesus to go back to the Bible. We must make sure that our beliefs are in line with Jesus Christ. Then, if we insist on being in separate buildings because of traditions, personalities, or convenience, then so be it.
Paul told a young Timothy in chapter 3:16 that “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
Hebrews 12:2-3 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
May God bless us all as we continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
Blown down trees: Let’s get to the ‘root cause’
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 20, 2008)
As soon as I saw the damages in our yard, the voices in my head were singing this old song loud and clear, “Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, I shall not be moved.” My yard retains water really well, so what was the problem?
In only a week’s time, Lisa and I lost two trees, one from the front and one from the back yard. Both trees were blown over by high winds, but for very different reasons that warranted some spiritual analogies to pass on to you.
The first tree that “got it” was one of those beautiful but smelly Bradford Pears I talked about in an earlier article. This tree was HUGE for a Bradford Pear. It was obviously thriving where it was planted. But anyone who’s ever had a Bradford knows that its limbs are a little on the brittle side, and the branch angles are narrow which make them susceptible to breaking in high winds. So, you’re supposed to keep them trimmed so that won’t happen, or at least as quickly. Well, that’s a rule I didn’t exactly keep. So, when the winds came, the very large and strong-looking tree snapped like a twig.
Spiritually speaking, it is also dangerous to have narrow branches or attitudes. As Christians, we must reach out with open arms to the unsaved as well as to our Christian family. Failure to be transparent with our faith can cause us to become a little on the brittle side, and it also deprives others of much needed encouragement. We ourselves may appear to have it all together, but when troubling winds blow our way, it’s nice to have the support of our Christian family. Hebrews 10:24 tells us that meeting together helps us stay strong in love and good deeds.
That’s why James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Wider angles on your branches also helps fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)…”
The second tree was a willow. So, it had no problem bending, swaying, or reaching out. Its problem was the shallowness of its roots. There was plenty of water for the willow to drink. But when it began to grow, its roots stayed too close to the surface, never diving deep into the soil where it could be anchored strongly.
Spiritually speaking, the lesson is that it’s not hard to be planted in Christ. Romans 6:1-14 says we get into Christ by being baptized and this frees us from our sins (Acts 2:38). But when we commit to God, we must also commit to growing in Christian virtues. 2 Peter 1:3-11 tells us about the nature of God. Verse eight says, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
So are we saved when we are planted in Christ? Yes. But unlike a tree, we have a choice as to how deep our roots grow. But just like a tree, we risk being pulled up by our roots when the winds blow if we do not increase in our knowledge and apply what we’ve learned just like the seed planted in good soil in Matthew 13:23.
God knows when we are giving Him our best, and He will reward each person according to what he has done (Matthew 16:27).
We Have A Lot To Croak About
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 13, 2008)
Are you a frog? That’s an odd question! But the other night when I was sitting on my back porch here in Fort Gibson, my 12-year old daughter, Gracie, ran up to Lisa and I, jumping up and down, and revealed her newest treasure. It was a tree frog about as big as my thumb. Of course, it had big sticky hands and feet, and bulging eyes. But that’s not what I wanted to tell you about.
It was bedtime, so I told Gracie, “It’s a school night! Just put down the frog and go to your room.” So, with some resistance she carefully placed it on a water-covered stump in the backyard, about 7 feet from where I was sitting. I told Gracie, “Don’t worry! As soon as you go to bed, the frog will probably get its top hat and cane, and do a little jig for us.” Well, that didn’t happen. But what did happen sparked an idea for this article.
That little frog began to croak a medium high-pitch tone that was so loud I could barely carry on a conversation with my wife. What a disaster! Just one frog was making all that noise. And then I could hear what sounded like dozens of other frogs in the distance chiming in with this one. As soon as I got past the shock of how loudly one frog could croak, I thought to myself just how much like a tree frog are we as Christians supposed to be? Just think of the lessons we can learn from critters like this!
In the Bible, frogs are generally not represented in a very positive light. They are referred to as one of the plagues in the story of Moses and Pharaoh. And in Revelation, it is said that three evil spirits looked like frogs.
But I would like to submit a different view of frogs. Much like a frog that clings to a tree, we as Christians cling to a tree, also known as the cross of Jesus Christ. Remember the old song “I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.” It is the fact that Jesus hung on a tree that empowers each of us to boldly proclaim (even when it seems like no one is listening) the Gospel story of Jesus Christ, and what He did for us.
In the case of Jesus, He would voluntarily cling to a cross to give us hope. He was the perfect sacrifice, and the very reason why we as God-following people no longer cling to the Old Testament way of doing things such as animal sacrifice.
“because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4).”
People who lived prior to the crucifixion of Jesus are also covered by His blood if they obeyed the Old Testament law.
You may never view yourself as a frog clinging to a tree, croaking out through the night. But that’s okay as long as you remember that Jesus hung on a tree, and that we as Christians should imitate Jesus and offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1). And just like that frog, we also have a message worth telling the world about, beginning in our own neighborhoods. Have a great day!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(June 3, 2008)
A wedding anniversary is one of those things you don’t want to miss. Mine and Lisa’s just happens to be June 3, 1989. This makes 19 wonderful years for us.
Being married to a “Proverbs 31” woman has made things quite enjoyable and entertaining over the years. Proverbs 31:10-12 says, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”
This passage goes on to talk about all the ways the virtuous woman watches over the affairs of her household. It says, “:23 Her husband is respected at the city gate…” “:28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” :31 …let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
Lisa and I work at our marriage. Nothing good, including a good marriage, comes without determination and team work. In fact, many of the things that make a woman of noble character could also be said of a noble man. The reason a husband would be respected at the city gate is because his wife has a good reputation in the community and regarding faithfulness to the marriage. The same can be said of the woman.
When it comes to team work, the Bible has plenty to say. The apostle Paul talks about this in the book of 2 Corinthians 6:14 through 7:2. He says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
Any married couple can testify to the fact that arguments often take place over the strangest of things. It may be a big issue. But often, it’s something small or seemingly insignificant that sparks a HUGE fight. My point is that relationships are challenging enough without adding the element of religious differences. It would be worth the effort of any aspiring couple to look into their spiritual beliefs before being joined in holy matrimony. Overlooking issues of religion could result in a holy nightmare!
The picture Paul is painting in this passage is of the unity of two oxen that work well tied together under the same yoke. This would be in contrast to trying to force, let’s say, an ostrich and a kangaroo into the same yoke, and expecting them to successfully pull a plow through a field. It’s not going to happen because the partnership was doomed from the beginning.
The only way a marriage will be blessed by God is if both partners vow to put God (our Yoke) first, even above their spouse. And in doing so, the husband and wife will honor each other, and God will make sure everything else falls into place.
Lisa, thanks for being such a wonderful wife and mother to our children.
Happy Anniversary, Sweetie! Love, Barrett.
Should we shop for churches like we shop for cars?
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 27, 2008)
My oldest daughter is now 15, and she’s had her intentions set on taking over my Jeep Grand Cherokee for quite sometime. Granted, my Jeep is 11 years old now, but I still like it and so I’m having a little trouble deciding whether to let her have my vehicle, or get a different car for her. One thing I’ve discovered lately, especially since I haven’t shopped for a vehicle in quite a while, is that there is a mind-boggling assortment of makes and models out there.
The same is true in religion. Here in Fort Gibson, there are 18 churches listed on the Chamber of Commerce website. But how can this be? I thought the Lord died for one church, not many.
Paul said, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:3-6).”
Jesus said in Matthew 16:13-18 that based upon the rock or fact that He is the Son of God, He will build His church.
Neither Jesus nor Paul ever said anything positive about there being many different kinds of churches that teach different messages from the true Gospel. However, this is not a new problem.
In Galatians 1:6-9 Paul told the Christians there “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.”
Parents, more than anyone, should understand the concept of making sacrifices for their household, and then making rules for the family to keep. Parents have that privilege of making lawful rules, and children have a responsibility to abide by what parents say. The Bible says so.
It’s the same way with Jesus. He earned the right of our respect and obedience when He came to this earth to suffer, die, and be raised from the dead so that we could have hope of eternal life in heaven.
Every denomination of the one true church most likely believes that what they are doing in the name of Jesus is right. But one thing we can all agree on is this: We owe it to ourselves, our families, our friends, our acquaintances, and most of all to Jesus to go back to the Bible. We must make sure that our beliefs are in line with Jesus Christ. Then, if we insist on being in separate buildings because of traditions, personalities, or convenience, then so be it.
Paul told a young Timothy in chapter 3:16 that “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
Hebrews 12:2-3 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
May God bless us all as we continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
Blown down trees: Let’s get to the ‘root cause’
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 20, 2008)
As soon as I saw the damages in our yard, the voices in my head were singing this old song loud and clear, “Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, I shall not be moved.” My yard retains water really well, so what was the problem?
In only a week’s time, Lisa and I lost two trees, one from the front and one from the back yard. Both trees were blown over by high winds, but for very different reasons that warranted some spiritual analogies to pass on to you.
The first tree that “got it” was one of those beautiful but smelly Bradford Pears I talked about in an earlier article. This tree was HUGE for a Bradford Pear. It was obviously thriving where it was planted. But anyone who’s ever had a Bradford knows that its limbs are a little on the brittle side, and the branch angles are narrow which make them susceptible to breaking in high winds. So, you’re supposed to keep them trimmed so that won’t happen, or at least as quickly. Well, that’s a rule I didn’t exactly keep. So, when the winds came, the very large and strong-looking tree snapped like a twig.
Spiritually speaking, it is also dangerous to have narrow branches or attitudes. As Christians, we must reach out with open arms to the unsaved as well as to our Christian family. Failure to be transparent with our faith can cause us to become a little on the brittle side, and it also deprives others of much needed encouragement. We ourselves may appear to have it all together, but when troubling winds blow our way, it’s nice to have the support of our Christian family. Hebrews 10:24 tells us that meeting together helps us stay strong in love and good deeds.
That’s why James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Wider angles on your branches also helps fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)…”
The second tree was a willow. So, it had no problem bending, swaying, or reaching out. Its problem was the shallowness of its roots. There was plenty of water for the willow to drink. But when it began to grow, its roots stayed too close to the surface, never diving deep into the soil where it could be anchored strongly.
Spiritually speaking, the lesson is that it’s not hard to be planted in Christ. Romans 6:1-14 says we get into Christ by being baptized and this frees us from our sins (Acts 2:38). But when we commit to God, we must also commit to growing in Christian virtues. 2 Peter 1:3-11 tells us about the nature of God. Verse eight says, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
So are we saved when we are planted in Christ? Yes. But unlike a tree, we have a choice as to how deep our roots grow. But just like a tree, we risk being pulled up by our roots when the winds blow if we do not increase in our knowledge and apply what we’ve learned just like the seed planted in good soil in Matthew 13:23.
God knows when we are giving Him our best, and He will reward each person according to what he has done (Matthew 16:27).
We Have A Lot To Croak About
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 13, 2008)
Are you a frog? That’s an odd question! But the other night when I was sitting on my back porch here in Fort Gibson, my 12-year old daughter, Gracie, ran up to Lisa and I, jumping up and down, and revealed her newest treasure. It was a tree frog about as big as my thumb. Of course, it had big sticky hands and feet, and bulging eyes. But that’s not what I wanted to tell you about.
It was bedtime, so I told Gracie, “It’s a school night! Just put down the frog and go to your room.” So, with some resistance she carefully placed it on a water-covered stump in the backyard, about 7 feet from where I was sitting. I told Gracie, “Don’t worry! As soon as you go to bed, the frog will probably get its top hat and cane, and do a little jig for us.” Well, that didn’t happen. But what did happen sparked an idea for this article.
That little frog began to croak a medium high-pitch tone that was so loud I could barely carry on a conversation with my wife. What a disaster! Just one frog was making all that noise. And then I could hear what sounded like dozens of other frogs in the distance chiming in with this one. As soon as I got past the shock of how loudly one frog could croak, I thought to myself just how much like a tree frog are we as Christians supposed to be? Just think of the lessons we can learn from critters like this!
In the Bible, frogs are generally not represented in a very positive light. They are referred to as one of the plagues in the story of Moses and Pharaoh. And in Revelation, it is said that three evil spirits looked like frogs.
But I would like to submit a different view of frogs. Much like a frog that clings to a tree, we as Christians cling to a tree, also known as the cross of Jesus Christ. Remember the old song “I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.” It is the fact that Jesus hung on a tree that empowers each of us to boldly proclaim (even when it seems like no one is listening) the Gospel story of Jesus Christ, and what He did for us.
In the case of Jesus, He would voluntarily cling to a cross to give us hope. He was the perfect sacrifice, and the very reason why we as God-following people no longer cling to the Old Testament way of doing things such as animal sacrifice.
“because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4).”
People who lived prior to the crucifixion of Jesus are also covered by His blood if they obeyed the Old Testament law.
You may never view yourself as a frog clinging to a tree, croaking out through the night. But that’s okay as long as you remember that Jesus hung on a tree, and that we as Christians should imitate Jesus and offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1). And just like that frog, we also have a message worth telling the world about, beginning in our own neighborhoods. Have a great day!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Mothers are Special
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 8, 2008)
To imagine what life would have been like without my mother is almost too much to think about. I was one of those boys who would have married his mom, at least until I went to first grade and discovered there was such a thing as girls.
I remember just like it was yesterday. For the first few days of school, my mom would stand in the hallway outside my classroom door and occasionally look through the window. Eventually, I noticed she wasn’t there anymore, but that was okay because she still picked me up everyday for lunch at the city park in Tahlequah. I can still remember the giant shade trees, a gentle breeze, and the joy of opening my Hot Wheels lunch box she had packed for me which included a PBJ sandwich, grapes, and a thermos of milk. The best thing of all was just getting to look at my mom’s face for the whole lunch period before she took me back to school. Life could not have been sweeter! Then, one day I told my mom I wanted to eat lunch in the cafeteria with all the other kids. What a bitter-sweet moment that must have been for mom. But she just smiled and said, “Okay.” She had successfully completed her job of transitioning me into a school system that I would be a part of for the next twelve years.
From what I’ve observed, mothers have a difficult job. They fulfill so many needs in the family unit, I couldn’t even begin to list them all in one article. I know it might have been easier to pay the bills if mom would have worked outside the home. But there’s no amount of money that could have replaced the consistency in life, solid foundation, and confidence I received as a result of my mom choosing to be a stay at home mom at least until I was established in school.
Single mothers and wives of deadbeat husbands have even bigger challenges that I can’t even begin to adequately address here. There is one thing we can all agree on, and that’s the fact that the choices we make when we are young can follow us the rest of our lives. That’s why it is so important for mothers (and fathers) to teach their children about Christian priorities even when it appears they’re not listening. It’s just as important, if not more so, to follow through by practicing what we preach as Christian parents.
The virtuous woman is described in Proverbs 31:10-31 as being worth far more than rubies. “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” The passage goes on to teach that many women do noble things, but a “woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Once again, a lesson that teaches that when we put God first in our lives, everything else will fall into place. Successes and failures will continue to be a part of life on earth, but God rewards His faithful both in this life and the life to come.
by Barrett Vanlandingham (May 8, 2008)
To imagine what life would have been like without my mother is almost too much to think about. I was one of those boys who would have married his mom, at least until I went to first grade and discovered there was such a thing as girls.
I remember just like it was yesterday. For the first few days of school, my mom would stand in the hallway outside my classroom door and occasionally look through the window. Eventually, I noticed she wasn’t there anymore, but that was okay because she still picked me up everyday for lunch at the city park in Tahlequah. I can still remember the giant shade trees, a gentle breeze, and the joy of opening my Hot Wheels lunch box she had packed for me which included a PBJ sandwich, grapes, and a thermos of milk. The best thing of all was just getting to look at my mom’s face for the whole lunch period before she took me back to school. Life could not have been sweeter! Then, one day I told my mom I wanted to eat lunch in the cafeteria with all the other kids. What a bitter-sweet moment that must have been for mom. But she just smiled and said, “Okay.” She had successfully completed her job of transitioning me into a school system that I would be a part of for the next twelve years.
From what I’ve observed, mothers have a difficult job. They fulfill so many needs in the family unit, I couldn’t even begin to list them all in one article. I know it might have been easier to pay the bills if mom would have worked outside the home. But there’s no amount of money that could have replaced the consistency in life, solid foundation, and confidence I received as a result of my mom choosing to be a stay at home mom at least until I was established in school.
Single mothers and wives of deadbeat husbands have even bigger challenges that I can’t even begin to adequately address here. There is one thing we can all agree on, and that’s the fact that the choices we make when we are young can follow us the rest of our lives. That’s why it is so important for mothers (and fathers) to teach their children about Christian priorities even when it appears they’re not listening. It’s just as important, if not more so, to follow through by practicing what we preach as Christian parents.
The virtuous woman is described in Proverbs 31:10-31 as being worth far more than rubies. “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” The passage goes on to teach that many women do noble things, but a “woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Once again, a lesson that teaches that when we put God first in our lives, everything else will fall into place. Successes and failures will continue to be a part of life on earth, but God rewards His faithful both in this life and the life to come.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Spring and Summer Parenting Present Unique Challenges
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Fort Faith, April 29, 2008
Parenting seemed so much easier before I became a parent. It’s that time of year when good times are in the air. Spring and summer parties, outings, and events abound.
Having said that, another Fort Gibson Prom is already in the history books. And by now, a lot of parents and students who strive for a moral lifestyle have no doubt been wondering whether their money was well spent.
Students in Fort Gibson spent between $100 and $1000 on going to the prom depending on the cost of their tux, dress, transportation (car, limo, or helicopter), and where they go out to eat beforehand, flowers, and $100 for a ticket, or $200 if you’re taking a date (unless they sold candy to reduce their ticket cost).
I spoke with school officials beforehand about this year’s prom. They said they would do their best to make sure it was better in terms of students’ behavior than in past years. As a youth minister, I have spoken with parent sponsors and students over the last six years. Each year, I receive the same reports. “It’s expensive and immoral.” Others say, “It’s fun.”
This year’s comments regarding behavior have been all good, a stark contrast from previous years. One school official said this year’s graduating class has been a positive example all year, and did an outstanding job of setting a positive tone for the prom. He said the underclassmen followed the example of the seniors, and that made for a great prom. Plus, there was a well-supervised after-party at the old gym that provided fun entertainment including giant inflatables and a hypnotist.
A couple of years ago, one chaperon said he couldn’t believe “how nasty some of the kids were dancing.” School officials say chaperons make their presence known, but some kids are going to misbehave on the dance floor regardless. And the slow dances are not the problem anymore. Chaperons say it’s the other kind of dancing where students are all over each other if they’re not kept apart. School officials say that’s why we have only one dance the entire school year.
Chalk it up to good parenting, good luck, good DNA, good teaching, good prayer, but whatever it is, the problems associated with past proms are not at all representative of this year’s event, according to the adults and students I spoke with afterwards.
Spiritually speaking, I am not sure that going to the prom is any worse (and it might be better) than going to other activities where immorality occurs. For instance, pro-sports events where beer is free flowing and belligerent fans are usually within a few seats away (even if they haven’t been drinking!). Which is worse: dirty dancing, low-cut dresses and lust, or drunken and belligerent sports fans? One event exposes us to the sins of drunkenness and loss of self-control. The other exposes us to the promotion of sexual sins. How about taking your family to eat at restaurants that serve alcohol? Even people who oppose immoral dancing often find themselves at restaurants where our kids get to watch people knock back one pitcher of beer or margaritas after another.
So, what’s a Christian parent to do? Good question! It depends on their parenting philosophy. Some allow their kids to participate in an activity so they can test their faith and see close-up “what goes on” as long as they maintain Christian values. Other parents will provide an alternative so their children will not be tempted. Still other parents will state their disapproval, but tell their kids to do what they want.
One thing is for sure. Parenting begins at birth, not on the day of the prom, the date, the movie, the water park, and not when we send them off to college. If we haven’t taught our kids how to apply Christian values by the time they’re old enough to be tempted, we’re in for a rocky road. But that doesn’t mean we can ever stop being Christian parents. We have a responsibility to continue setting the example and offering biblical advice to our children all the days of our life, even though we ourselves have messed up and continue to make mistakes. Our children need to know that after they fail, we will be there to dust them off and help put them back on the right path even though there still may be consequences to deal with.
Make no mistake about it, there is a lot hanging in the balance of our decisions. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” The apostle Paul has this to say, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13).”
May God bless our efforts as we allow God’s Spirit to work within us as we seek His guidance in making decisions for our children.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Fort Faith, April 29, 2008
Parenting seemed so much easier before I became a parent. It’s that time of year when good times are in the air. Spring and summer parties, outings, and events abound.
Having said that, another Fort Gibson Prom is already in the history books. And by now, a lot of parents and students who strive for a moral lifestyle have no doubt been wondering whether their money was well spent.
Students in Fort Gibson spent between $100 and $1000 on going to the prom depending on the cost of their tux, dress, transportation (car, limo, or helicopter), and where they go out to eat beforehand, flowers, and $100 for a ticket, or $200 if you’re taking a date (unless they sold candy to reduce their ticket cost).
I spoke with school officials beforehand about this year’s prom. They said they would do their best to make sure it was better in terms of students’ behavior than in past years. As a youth minister, I have spoken with parent sponsors and students over the last six years. Each year, I receive the same reports. “It’s expensive and immoral.” Others say, “It’s fun.”
This year’s comments regarding behavior have been all good, a stark contrast from previous years. One school official said this year’s graduating class has been a positive example all year, and did an outstanding job of setting a positive tone for the prom. He said the underclassmen followed the example of the seniors, and that made for a great prom. Plus, there was a well-supervised after-party at the old gym that provided fun entertainment including giant inflatables and a hypnotist.
A couple of years ago, one chaperon said he couldn’t believe “how nasty some of the kids were dancing.” School officials say chaperons make their presence known, but some kids are going to misbehave on the dance floor regardless. And the slow dances are not the problem anymore. Chaperons say it’s the other kind of dancing where students are all over each other if they’re not kept apart. School officials say that’s why we have only one dance the entire school year.
Chalk it up to good parenting, good luck, good DNA, good teaching, good prayer, but whatever it is, the problems associated with past proms are not at all representative of this year’s event, according to the adults and students I spoke with afterwards.
Spiritually speaking, I am not sure that going to the prom is any worse (and it might be better) than going to other activities where immorality occurs. For instance, pro-sports events where beer is free flowing and belligerent fans are usually within a few seats away (even if they haven’t been drinking!). Which is worse: dirty dancing, low-cut dresses and lust, or drunken and belligerent sports fans? One event exposes us to the sins of drunkenness and loss of self-control. The other exposes us to the promotion of sexual sins. How about taking your family to eat at restaurants that serve alcohol? Even people who oppose immoral dancing often find themselves at restaurants where our kids get to watch people knock back one pitcher of beer or margaritas after another.
So, what’s a Christian parent to do? Good question! It depends on their parenting philosophy. Some allow their kids to participate in an activity so they can test their faith and see close-up “what goes on” as long as they maintain Christian values. Other parents will provide an alternative so their children will not be tempted. Still other parents will state their disapproval, but tell their kids to do what they want.
One thing is for sure. Parenting begins at birth, not on the day of the prom, the date, the movie, the water park, and not when we send them off to college. If we haven’t taught our kids how to apply Christian values by the time they’re old enough to be tempted, we’re in for a rocky road. But that doesn’t mean we can ever stop being Christian parents. We have a responsibility to continue setting the example and offering biblical advice to our children all the days of our life, even though we ourselves have messed up and continue to make mistakes. Our children need to know that after they fail, we will be there to dust them off and help put them back on the right path even though there still may be consequences to deal with.
Make no mistake about it, there is a lot hanging in the balance of our decisions. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” The apostle Paul has this to say, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13).”
May God bless our efforts as we allow God’s Spirit to work within us as we seek His guidance in making decisions for our children.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Ever-changing Weather Patterns
vs.
Un-changing Hand of God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Fort Faith - April 22, 2008
vs.
Un-changing Hand of God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Fort Faith - April 22, 2008
Unless you’re someone like my brother who likes to brag about riding his motorcycle in the cold, wind, and rain, most of us “casual bikers” are looking forward to at least a few days of consistent weather of the drier variety.
Sometimes I wonder how such a consistent, dependable, un-changing God can be the God of such inconsistency, especially when it comes to Oklahoma weather. After all, the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.”
Those two ways of thinking seem to be at odds with each other until you think about you think about how big God really is. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it (Genesis 1). So, who are we say that earthly inconsistencies are inconsistent at all? Isn’t it just possible that things that make absolutely no sense to us make perfect sense to our Creator who knows exactly what His creation needs?
God may test His people (1 Thessalonians 2:4, 1 Corinthians 3:13), and may send trials (James 1:2-4). But we can be assured that God does NOT send temptations (James 1:13-15) which can either come from us or from the devil as was the case when Jesus was fasting in desert before beginning His ministry (Matthew 4).
Matthew 5:45 says, “…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Remember the story of a very stubborn preacher named Jonah who was vomited onto dry land after being in the belly of a big fish for three days? That happened to get Jonah’s attention after he refused to obey God and go preach to the wicked city of Nineveh. So, after praying to God from inside the belly of the fish, and eventually unraveling the seaweed from his head, and probably having quite a clean-up job to do, Jonah finally agreed to go to Nineveh.
Upon hearing Jonah’s message of impending doom, the people there actually turned from their evil ways! Therefore, God changed His mind about destroying them. Then, believe it or not, Jonah became angry because of God’s great compassion (Jonah 4). After all, the Ninevites were extremely violent and cruel.
So, Jonah who was apparently a better preacher than a builder sat under a shelter he made for himself while waiting to see what God’s next move would be for Nineveh. Little did Jonah know that God was about to teach him another lesson. God provided a vine to give Jonah some shade to “ease his discomfort.” Jonah was happy about that, especially since the shelter he had made for himself apparently wasn’t doing the trick. But, the next morning, God sent a worm to eat the vine, then shortly thereafter a scorching east wind and sun that blazed on Jonah’s head. This made Jonah “angry enough to die.”
God said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not make it grow…” God went on to tell Jonah of the importance of showing concern for Nineveh, a city of people who “cannot tell their right hand from their left…”
The fact is, we live in a broken world, the land of the dying. If earth were a perfect place, we would have nothing to look forward to. Just like Jonah, we created nothing, not even a blade of grass. God created everything. None of us here in Fort Gibson is qualified to give the final word on how God should operate. I, for one, would not like the idea of living on a planet in which the one in control was just another person. Yikes!
Let’s all pray today that God will help each of us have the kind of faith that will allow us to trust God even when the storms of life make no sense to us (Proverbs 3:4-5).
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Spiritual Deadline Approaching
More at Stake Than I.R.S. Penalties
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, April 15, 2008)
Hopefully, you made the April 15th deadline to file your taxes. If not, maybe you can file an extension. Unfortunately, that’s not the way it works spiritually. There are no extensions. But, there are a few things in which we should all be happy to pay a high rate of interest. The writer of Hebrews 9:27-28 has this to say about the end times:
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus will appear one more time to bring his faithful home and give them a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). The first time He appeared was when he lived on earth, was crucified, and was resurrected. The second time will be judgment day.
Some people point to Matthew 24:4-8 as proof that the end is near. However, a close look at those passages show that the wars, rumors of war, earthquakes are only the beginning of “birth pains,” and that the “end is still to come.” Matt. 24:36 says, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Jesus goes on to say in the rest of the chapter that the final day will be like the story of Noah when the righteous were saved while the wicked were not.
1 Thessalonians speaks a lot about the end times. Paul says in 5:2 “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” That means there will be no warning, even from the “prediction experts.”
In 1 Thess. 4:16-17 we are told that those who are “…dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
However it happens, I do know for sure that I have a responsibility to be ready when the Lord comes to take us home. It would make absolutely no sense at all to have 27 books of the New Testament that teach us the story of Jesus and how to live our lives, and then for Jesus to give us a second chance after He returns to take His faithful home. Seems to me that would kind of defeat the purpose of being prepared for the judgment. That is to say if He’s going to bring one boat-load of the faithful home to heaven and then give the unsaved a second chance. That might be good for them, but that would destroy the entire premise of the New Testament to live holy lives.
I don’t know about you, but whether I’m alive or dead when Christ returns, my soul plans on being in the first and only boat-load home to paradise. That is the only appointment in which we have a guarantee.
More at Stake Than I.R.S. Penalties
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, April 15, 2008)
Hopefully, you made the April 15th deadline to file your taxes. If not, maybe you can file an extension. Unfortunately, that’s not the way it works spiritually. There are no extensions. But, there are a few things in which we should all be happy to pay a high rate of interest. The writer of Hebrews 9:27-28 has this to say about the end times:
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus will appear one more time to bring his faithful home and give them a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). The first time He appeared was when he lived on earth, was crucified, and was resurrected. The second time will be judgment day.
Some people point to Matthew 24:4-8 as proof that the end is near. However, a close look at those passages show that the wars, rumors of war, earthquakes are only the beginning of “birth pains,” and that the “end is still to come.” Matt. 24:36 says, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Jesus goes on to say in the rest of the chapter that the final day will be like the story of Noah when the righteous were saved while the wicked were not.
1 Thessalonians speaks a lot about the end times. Paul says in 5:2 “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” That means there will be no warning, even from the “prediction experts.”
In 1 Thess. 4:16-17 we are told that those who are “…dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
However it happens, I do know for sure that I have a responsibility to be ready when the Lord comes to take us home. It would make absolutely no sense at all to have 27 books of the New Testament that teach us the story of Jesus and how to live our lives, and then for Jesus to give us a second chance after He returns to take His faithful home. Seems to me that would kind of defeat the purpose of being prepared for the judgment. That is to say if He’s going to bring one boat-load of the faithful home to heaven and then give the unsaved a second chance. That might be good for them, but that would destroy the entire premise of the New Testament to live holy lives.
I don’t know about you, but whether I’m alive or dead when Christ returns, my soul plans on being in the first and only boat-load home to paradise. That is the only appointment in which we have a guarantee.
Mission trips are just one way to
“Go into all the world…”
(for Fort Faith, April 8, 2008)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
This is the time of year when youth groups everywhere including here in Fort Gibson are gathering prayers and financial support for their yearly mission trips. Whether a domestic or foreign trip, God will surely bless the efforts of those who faithfully and diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). It is my sincere prayer that if you’re not going on a mission trip, you would consider helping support someone who is going.
This idea of going on mission trips dates back to what’s known as The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. The conversation (one of His last) takes place after the resurrection when Jesus was talking to His disciples before ascending back to His Father.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
This practice of teaching the life and message of Jesus Christ has been going on ever since.
One time my buddy Glen and I were on a mission trip at a church camp in Spearfish, South Dakota. We were talking about the difference between local evangelism and mission work. About the only thing we could come up with is where you begin and end. Think about it, even if you travel to the other side of the earth to teach the Gospel, to those people it’s a local work even though you are on a mission trip. The fact is, one soul is just as important as another.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In other words, we are to teach people locally, regionally, throughout our nation, and worldwide. In spite of the fact that we are amazingly blessed with technology, there are still many people here at home and far away who have either not heard the message of Jesus Christ at all, or who need to see Jesus living in you.
Our Lord’s words in Matthew 9:37 still ring true today. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
What Jesus said next is something we can all do. “…ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Translation? Prayer! James 5:13 tells us that the “prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
God’s word assures us that if we sincerely ask Him to use us to save souls, He will most certainly put us to work no matter who we are, no matter how young or old. As long as we live, we all have purpose here on earth. That purpose is to glorify God and bring souls to him through teaching His message, living out a Christ-like example, and helping support those who are called into the mission field, no matter where that may be.
“Go into all the world…”
(for Fort Faith, April 8, 2008)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
This is the time of year when youth groups everywhere including here in Fort Gibson are gathering prayers and financial support for their yearly mission trips. Whether a domestic or foreign trip, God will surely bless the efforts of those who faithfully and diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). It is my sincere prayer that if you’re not going on a mission trip, you would consider helping support someone who is going.
This idea of going on mission trips dates back to what’s known as The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. The conversation (one of His last) takes place after the resurrection when Jesus was talking to His disciples before ascending back to His Father.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
This practice of teaching the life and message of Jesus Christ has been going on ever since.
One time my buddy Glen and I were on a mission trip at a church camp in Spearfish, South Dakota. We were talking about the difference between local evangelism and mission work. About the only thing we could come up with is where you begin and end. Think about it, even if you travel to the other side of the earth to teach the Gospel, to those people it’s a local work even though you are on a mission trip. The fact is, one soul is just as important as another.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In other words, we are to teach people locally, regionally, throughout our nation, and worldwide. In spite of the fact that we are amazingly blessed with technology, there are still many people here at home and far away who have either not heard the message of Jesus Christ at all, or who need to see Jesus living in you.
Our Lord’s words in Matthew 9:37 still ring true today. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
What Jesus said next is something we can all do. “…ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Translation? Prayer! James 5:13 tells us that the “prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
God’s word assures us that if we sincerely ask Him to use us to save souls, He will most certainly put us to work no matter who we are, no matter how young or old. As long as we live, we all have purpose here on earth. That purpose is to glorify God and bring souls to him through teaching His message, living out a Christ-like example, and helping support those who are called into the mission field, no matter where that may be.
April Fools and Showers
Bring Forth Thoughts of God’s Power
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, April 1, 2008)
Every month or at least every season of the year has characteristics that turn my thoughts to Scripture. For instance, ever since someone sent me an e-mail bringing this to my attention I can’t help but think of Psalm 14:1 when April Fool’s day rolls around. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
Except for the fact that passage hadn’t been written at the time of Noah, it would have probably been a favorite of his. Noah preached for as many as 100-years about the impending flood, and no one believed him. After all, people up until then had not experienced rain, much less a flood. The heavy rains that fell on Fort Gibson and elsewhere recently reminded me once again of God’s power.
Genesis 6-9 tells the story of the flood: 5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the Lord said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:5-8).”
Of course, you know what happened next. God gave Noah specific instructions. The ark was to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, 45 feet tall, made of cypress (gopher) wood, and would be used by Noah’s family along with pairs of animals to survive for an entire year.
Can you imagine the ridicule Noah and his family must have been put through by people in his community? Just think of the people’s reaction when he would answer the question, “Hey Noah! What are you doing?” It must have been difficult to keep from being swayed by people’s opinions and the cultural mindset. Add to that the challenges Noah must have also faced within his own family. After all, just before this massive project began, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). Do you think he ever went to the local bookstore to look for information on raising teenagers in a corrupt society? Of course, by the time the ark was built, he might have been reading books on how to complete long-term projects with your hundred year old children (pretty young compared to Noah’s 600 years).
So what’s the lesson in this for us today? The same as back then. The earth will never be flooded so badly again that it destroys all life. But more importantly, we know there is a God, and He always keeps his promises. This should be of great comfort for all of us, young and old, and especially parents of teenagers who no doubt have their hands full battling societal trends and norms. Just remember, if Noah could work with and teach his sons for a hundred years, maybe training our children for twenty years or so isn’t all that bad after all considering the prize at the end of the rainbow.
Bring Forth Thoughts of God’s Power
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, April 1, 2008)
Every month or at least every season of the year has characteristics that turn my thoughts to Scripture. For instance, ever since someone sent me an e-mail bringing this to my attention I can’t help but think of Psalm 14:1 when April Fool’s day rolls around. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
Except for the fact that passage hadn’t been written at the time of Noah, it would have probably been a favorite of his. Noah preached for as many as 100-years about the impending flood, and no one believed him. After all, people up until then had not experienced rain, much less a flood. The heavy rains that fell on Fort Gibson and elsewhere recently reminded me once again of God’s power.
Genesis 6-9 tells the story of the flood: 5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the Lord said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:5-8).”
Of course, you know what happened next. God gave Noah specific instructions. The ark was to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, 45 feet tall, made of cypress (gopher) wood, and would be used by Noah’s family along with pairs of animals to survive for an entire year.
Can you imagine the ridicule Noah and his family must have been put through by people in his community? Just think of the people’s reaction when he would answer the question, “Hey Noah! What are you doing?” It must have been difficult to keep from being swayed by people’s opinions and the cultural mindset. Add to that the challenges Noah must have also faced within his own family. After all, just before this massive project began, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). Do you think he ever went to the local bookstore to look for information on raising teenagers in a corrupt society? Of course, by the time the ark was built, he might have been reading books on how to complete long-term projects with your hundred year old children (pretty young compared to Noah’s 600 years).
So what’s the lesson in this for us today? The same as back then. The earth will never be flooded so badly again that it destroys all life. But more importantly, we know there is a God, and He always keeps his promises. This should be of great comfort for all of us, young and old, and especially parents of teenagers who no doubt have their hands full battling societal trends and norms. Just remember, if Noah could work with and teach his sons for a hundred years, maybe training our children for twenty years or so isn’t all that bad after all considering the prize at the end of the rainbow.
Looks can be deceiving
Flowering beauty doesn’t always mean pleasing aroma
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, March 25, 2008)
As I looked out my window this week, I immediately noticed the beautiful Bradford pear tree in our front yard in nearly full bloom. For a spring lover as myself, the white flowering branches sprinkled with green unopened blooms were a sight to behold. It was a fresh and welcome sign of new life. What a wonderful gift!
There was only one problem with this hallmark moment. When my daughter and I actually went outside to get into the car, both of us were hit smack dab in the sniffer with the horrible odor of rotten meat or something equally disgusting. She asked me, “Dad, why in the world would God create such a beautiful tree and make its blooms smell so badly?” I answered, “Maybe He did it to help parents explain to their kids how a person can be beautiful on the outside, and still have a stinky attitude.” She thought that was pretty funny. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?
Some people are a little like Bradford pears, aren’t they? In fact, most of us probably have at least a few Bradfords in our life. You know, those people who on the surface seem to be just fine, but the minute you have any dealings with them you find out they have a “tude,” as in attitude?
So, what do you do about people like that? Well honestly, there’s not a lot any of us can do to change anyone, but God can. The Bible is full of quotes on this topic. For starters, “A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).” Although sometimes this happens immediately, it doesn’t always. God may want that person to learn the consequences of being a hot head, and that can take some time, especially if a person is particularly thick-headed or stubborn.
Jesus used the highly visible Pharisees as examples of this topic many times. In one instance He said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness, (Matthew 23:27)."
So, the next time you see a Bradford pear tree, a chrysanthemum, a geranium, or a marigold, be sure to thank God for the beauty He created, but also remember to ask Him to make you as beautiful on the inside as those creations are on the outside. You see, God loves us more than any of His other creations. In fact, He sent His one and only son, the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley (Song of Solomon 2:1), to die for our sins and be raised on the third day so that those who believe in Him could have hope of eternal life (John 3:16).
As for all the Bradfords out there? Let God, not us, worry about them. When we let God work on our inner self, the beauty He creates inside us will be evident to many. Then He, not us will receive the glory.
Flowering beauty doesn’t always mean pleasing aroma
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, March 25, 2008)
As I looked out my window this week, I immediately noticed the beautiful Bradford pear tree in our front yard in nearly full bloom. For a spring lover as myself, the white flowering branches sprinkled with green unopened blooms were a sight to behold. It was a fresh and welcome sign of new life. What a wonderful gift!
There was only one problem with this hallmark moment. When my daughter and I actually went outside to get into the car, both of us were hit smack dab in the sniffer with the horrible odor of rotten meat or something equally disgusting. She asked me, “Dad, why in the world would God create such a beautiful tree and make its blooms smell so badly?” I answered, “Maybe He did it to help parents explain to their kids how a person can be beautiful on the outside, and still have a stinky attitude.” She thought that was pretty funny. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?
Some people are a little like Bradford pears, aren’t they? In fact, most of us probably have at least a few Bradfords in our life. You know, those people who on the surface seem to be just fine, but the minute you have any dealings with them you find out they have a “tude,” as in attitude?
So, what do you do about people like that? Well honestly, there’s not a lot any of us can do to change anyone, but God can. The Bible is full of quotes on this topic. For starters, “A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).” Although sometimes this happens immediately, it doesn’t always. God may want that person to learn the consequences of being a hot head, and that can take some time, especially if a person is particularly thick-headed or stubborn.
Jesus used the highly visible Pharisees as examples of this topic many times. In one instance He said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness, (Matthew 23:27)."
So, the next time you see a Bradford pear tree, a chrysanthemum, a geranium, or a marigold, be sure to thank God for the beauty He created, but also remember to ask Him to make you as beautiful on the inside as those creations are on the outside. You see, God loves us more than any of His other creations. In fact, He sent His one and only son, the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley (Song of Solomon 2:1), to die for our sins and be raised on the third day so that those who believe in Him could have hope of eternal life (John 3:16).
As for all the Bradfords out there? Let God, not us, worry about them. When we let God work on our inner self, the beauty He creates inside us will be evident to many. Then He, not us will receive the glory.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Racism: Would the First Century Jesus Be Accepted in Fort Gibson?
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, March 11, 2008)
Have you ever felt threatened by someone just because they looked or spoke differently from yourself? Sometimes I wonder whether Jesus would be accepted today in Fort Gibson or most towns, for that matter. After all, He was a Jewish man who lived between the Mediterranean and the Sea of Galilee. I’m thinking He probably didn’t look like most of us (no matter what his skin color), and definitely didn’t talk like us unless you happen to know Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic.
I was talking with my wife the other day about conversations with our children shortly after they learned to talk and had become aware of what they looked like. I remember one of our children telling a story about a classmate at pre-school, but she couldn’t remember his name. So, she described him as the “brown boy.” That was the first inkling we had that she had become aware of physical differences. Even so, how sweet it was to hear that innocent of a description of a person in that context. She was only using color to describe which classmate she was talking about. My wife and I have trained our children the same as I try to train kids in Bible class: “When you’re talking about a person, leave out their race.” The exception to that rule is if you need to describe a person you’re looking for.
One time I was teaching Bible class when a student began his story with “There’s this black guy…” I listened to the story which did not need a physical description. Then, I proceeded to ask him to re-tell the story without telling me the person’s color. He said, “What?” I said, “Was it necessary to tell me the color of the boy in your story?” He said, “No.” Point made. Since then, I have listened to many more stories from this young man and I have never again heard him use race as an unnecessary description. God is good.
Racism is nothing new. The Bible makes several points regarding this topic. After all, Jews and Gentiles hated each other. Scripture makes it clear that racism, bigotry, and prejudice are not tolerated. Ever heard of the Golden Rule? “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).” And that’s just scratching the surface of how God views how we treat and think about each other. He has loved all of mankind from the beginning.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27).” Then in verse 31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good…”
The Jews, not the Gentiles, were considered God’s chosen people because Jesus would come into the world through this line. That was God’s sovereign choice just as it is God’s sovereign choice today under the new covenant (New Testament) to save people of all races who choose to obey God’s word. Ephesians 2:11-22 makes it clear that Christ’s purpose was to preach peace to both groups and “create in himself one new man out of the two.”
So, what does this mean to us today? It means the same thing as it did to those to whom Peter was preaching in the first century.
“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right (Acts 10:34-35).’”
As Christians, we are to be imitators of God. We are to love others selflessly like God loves us.
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:19-21).”
We are told to love everyone increasingly, and to be kind to all people, and to respect others (1 Thessalonians 3:11-12, 5:15, 1 Peter 2:17).
I don’t know what Jesus looked like while He was here on earth. But if He were born in Fort Gibson and looked like one of us (again, no matter what His skin color), would we have anything to do with him, even then? Would we want Him to listen to our music, or watch our favorite movies and TV shows? Would we want Him to listen to our jokes? Would we invite Him to be in on our conversations and business dealings? The answer may lie in just how much you have to do with Him now.
May we always remember and act on these words of Jesus spoken two-thousand years ago: “…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).”
Talking to Teenagers about Drinking and Drugs
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, March 4, 2008)
Our town is no stranger to tragedy: car crashes, train accidents. Fort Gibson has seen its share of tough times. And although natural death cannot always be prevented, the man-made variety can be. Such is the case with alcohol and drug related deaths. Fort Gibson police and school officials both tell me there has been a drug and alcohol problem among local teens for years, much like the national scene. They say this year is no different, except the biggest problem these days is that kids are stealing prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinets and passing them out to their friends. The sad thing is that only about ten-percent of these occurrences are being reported.
Occasionally, I am asked to teach a Bible class on the topic of alcohol, drugs, and teenagers. Aside from all of the other Biblical reasons not to drink alcohol when you’re a teenager is the fact that it’s a sin. And not only that, it’s a “willful sin.” Unless you’re at least 21-years old, the law of the land says you cannot lawfully drink alcohol. And, adults cannot legally purchase alcohol for anyone under the age of 21. As for illegal drugs and illegally obtained prescription drugs, do I really even need to go there?
Romans 13:1-7 says that we as Christians must submit to the governing authorities. Colossians 3:22-25 echoes this idea and says that we should obey authority and work as if working for the Lord. You see, if we choose to continue living in America we must go by the rules our governing bodies have created as long as those rules do not conflict with God’s rules. So, the issue of illegal drugs and teenage drinking should be a “no-brainer” since it’s a violation of both God’s law and government’s law.
Now, back to that idea of “sin” versus “willful sin.” An example of sin for a man might be the thoughts that come into his head after he accidentally sees a woman whose skirt is too high or the neckline too low. It becomes a willful sin when he chooses to take a second or third look at her in a lustful way. Willful sin for a woman could also include lust. It could also mean going to the mall knowing her checking account is too low, and then choosing to purchase a cute purse while knowing the check will bounce or at the very least she will not have money to buy groceries or diapers. I knew a young lady who couldn’t afford diapers, but managed to pay for a $300 tattoo and a monthly trip to the nail salon.
So, while Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 6:1 says that we should not intentionally sin just because we know that God’s grace saves us in the end. Yes, we all continue to sin simply because we are human and are not capable of being completely perfect. However, to use this as an excuse for willful sin puts us in grave danger since the Lord doesn’t listen to those who do evil (1 Peter 3:12).
We know from the story of the lost son (Luke 15:11) that our heavenly Father will always accept us back when we truly repent. We also know that God is patient and does not want anyone to perish, and wants us all to turn to Him (2 Peter 3:9). But make no mistake about it, God know your heart.
Nevertheless, there are consequences in this life, and in the life to come for those found intentionally not walking on God’s path. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
There’s no getting around it, teenage alcohol and illegal drug use are examples of willful sin, and in some cases with approval of parents. These behaviors can lead to lifetime chemical dependency, rape, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, death, and other tragic consequences such as car collisions with innocent victims.
But more importantly, even though nothing can separate us from the love of God that can only be found in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:28), we ourselves can turn our backs on God and choose to commit willful sin which results in spiritual death (Romans 8:13, Hebrews 3:12-13, James 5:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:12, 2 Timothy 2:16-18).
We can rationalize all we want. One thing is for sure: If you never start drinking or taking drugs, you will never have to quit. Just how close to the edge are you willing to go, and is it really worth the eternal risk?
Complaining: What a way to waste a good life!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, February 19, 2008)
A man came into my office with a smile and I asked him, “What do you think should be the topic of my article?” Without hesitation, his smile turned to a frown as he said, “Complaining!” “Too many people complain about EVERYTHING!” he said. “Just the thought of a complainer is enough to turn a good day into a bad one.”
The Bible says quite a lot about this negative quality of complaining possessed by so many people these days (and apparently even in the first century and before). The Apostle Paul talked about it in the book of Philippians 2:14-15.
He said, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe…”
What’s he talking about? The entire second chapter of Philippians is a note of encouragement to the local church. Paul is reminding them and us to imitate the humility of Christ, to stay away from selfish ambition, and to know that God is working in us as we work out our own salvation. And then he immediately tells us that if we’re going to represent God like Paul does, we need to have a good attitude even when things don’t go our way. He says, “So you too should be glad and rejoice.” Scripture tells us that Paul was beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, and needy. But because he was looking beyond his present circumstances, he was able to remain joyful and not turn into a habitual complainer. If Paul was able to keep from complaining, well, you get the picture.
Two chapters later in 4:8 Paul tells us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”
That description of a Christian hardly resembles that of a complainer. Paul goes on to say in the next verse that if we think on positive things and put them into practice, “the God of peace will be with you.” That’s one big reason to dwell on the positive.
Here’s another reason: Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us to “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” The writer is simply saying to not waste your time with things that are unproductive (like complaining) when there are so many other positive things you could be doing.
A few verses earlier in 4:29 Paul says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” He even says in verses 31-32 to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every kind of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Now there’s a slice of reality. Jesus could have seen the world’s behavior as an opportunity to grumble or complain, or just destroy it immediately. But instead, He chose to come to this Earth to show us how to live, and how to get to Heaven. He demonstrated the heart of a servant in everything from washing his disciples’ feet, to even submitting to His Father’s will of becoming the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind. And He did it without grumbling or complaining.
May God bless you as you bring honor and glory to Him with your positive attitude.
Prayer: It’s Not Only A Good Habit
It’s a Command Worth Obeying
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith-February 12, 2008)
When you think about all the privileges we have in this life, what comes to mind? Freedom of religion? Freedom of expression? Freedom of family and friends? These are all wonderful things to be able to enjoy. But did you ever think about just how incredible of a gift it truly is to be able to pray to the Creator Himself? Did you ever think about just how awesome it is to be able to approach God with your thoughts, concerns, and thankfulness? Most of us will never meet a President, a King, or a Prime Minister. But have you ever thought about the fact that we all have the opportunity to meet with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of the Universe, the God who fashioned each of us in His own image?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
You may be thinking, “What in the world would I say to God all day long everyday?” Something tells me that today’s fast paced, high stressed culture may not be all that different from what a lot of people experienced in the first century. The Apostle Paul knew that well. He encouraged Christians in Thessalonica to focus on their blessings. That message applies to us today as well.
The writers of the Psalms must have spent much time contemplating the privilege of getting into the mind of God and communicating with Him. It was no doubt important during the days of so many false gods to have as much time alone with God as possible and to stay in His word.
Psalm 1 says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
It has been said that it takes 21 days to make a habit. My challenge to each of us is this: Talk to God continuously for 21 days, not just when you wake up, not just when you go to sleep, not just at meal time, and not just when you have a crisis. Talk to Him continually. Ask His advice on everything. Thank Him for everything. Express your joy to Him in everything. See if it changes how you approach life. See if praying continually helps your behavior while watching a basketball game, or while you’re conversing with a restaurant worker. See if having a prayerful attitude gives you more patience in your homelife. Just like holding hands with your wife while arguing is next to impossible, so is misbehaving while talking to God.
Romans 8:26 says, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Talking to God continually will obviously take lots of practice. There will likely be many times you will get side-tracked and forget to include Him in your thoughts. But just like any other goal worthy of accomplishing, having a good relationship with God is worth the effort.
Christian Leadership
There is enough work for all men and women to do.
But there are defined roles even in spite of political correctness.
by Barrett Vanlandingham (Fort Faith, February 5, 2008)
I recently fielded a concern from someone who took exception to my use of the phrase “Christian leadership” when referring to spiritual responsibilities of men and women, boys and girls. The person was afraid that I was violating the Bible’s commands, in particular, the sections that deal with women’s roles in the church.
Let me first say that if it were not for Godly women, there would be a lot fewer Godly men to lead Christian familes, and to lead churches. I am so thankful for my mother and for all the women who taught me in the ways of the Lord starting at a very young age. Even as I matured, I learned so much from them by the way they conducted themselves and continued to exhibit the Spiritual fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
It is possible for families to serve God with a woman as the spiritual leader, but how much more effective is God’s word when the husband also places God as his top priority? The fact is, God created everything with purpose and order. And when we are in step with God's purpose, things always work much more smoothly than when we allow culture to dictate order and morality.
When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-16), He showed us how to lead others to Christ through serving.
In reading Biblical examples of women who took the lead in various circumstances, it is easy to conclude a few simple things about women in the Bible: They not only took seriously their feminine and submissive roles as wives and nurturing mothers, but they also possessed great leadership skills and were encouraged to use them.
In fact, the role of a Christian woman, wife, or mother requires great leadership skills and wisdom. Proverbs 31 says that the wife of noble character is worth far more than rubies. It goes on to describe her as having a good reputation for making wise household and business decisions for her family. Titus 2 says that older women are to teach the younger women in the ways of God. The book of Judges tells of a female judge named Deborah. The prophetess Miriam led a group of women in song after the Pharaoh’s army drowned in the Red Sea that Moses and the Israelites had just crossed. Esther saved God’s people from destruction by risking her own life by approaching the King on their behalf. The Apostle Paul wrote about Timothy’s sincere faith that was passed down from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. In Acts 18:26, we’re told of a great preacher named Apollos who apparently didn’t have his facts straight until Priscilla and her husband Aquila invited him to their home and taught him the “way of God more adequately.”
It would be difficult to count the number of instances in the Bible where women took-on extremely important leadership roles in furthering the cause of Christ or helping God’s people accomplish certain tasks.
This does not mean that it would be appropriate for a woman to go against 1 Timothy 2:11-15 or 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 which require submission to the man’s role during a worship service that includes men and women. Conversely, it would also be inappropriate for a man to barge in to a situation that requires leadership skills possessed by a woman. Men who have tried this would know all too well.
It is just as important today as it was in Bible times for men and women of all ages to recognize the urgency of using our God-given talents to carry out His will. Men are to lead in worship, as well as be spiritual leaders in the church and at home. The overseers or elders of a congregation are to be the husband of one wife, manage his own family well, and possess Godly qualities listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-9. That being said, men and women are to share in Godly responsibilities as Bible history points out time and time again.
1 Corinthians 11:11 says, “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of women.” Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
In a marriage, when men shirk their responsibilities as spiritual leaders, the entire family suffers. When women fail spiritually, the same is true: the children and the husband are adversely affected.
As for spiritual leadership in general, Christian men and women, boys and girls are all called to lead through service, the same way Jesus did. We are all called to teach the world everything God has commanded (ref: Matthew 28:18-20). Not everyone has to do the same exact job, but every job leads towards the same goal and is of equal importance in the church (ref: Romans 12:4). As the Apostle Paul said, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?... As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (ref: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
May God bless each of us as we bring honor to Him with whatever talent God has given us and expects us to use in accordance with His plan.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, March 11, 2008)
Have you ever felt threatened by someone just because they looked or spoke differently from yourself? Sometimes I wonder whether Jesus would be accepted today in Fort Gibson or most towns, for that matter. After all, He was a Jewish man who lived between the Mediterranean and the Sea of Galilee. I’m thinking He probably didn’t look like most of us (no matter what his skin color), and definitely didn’t talk like us unless you happen to know Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic.
I was talking with my wife the other day about conversations with our children shortly after they learned to talk and had become aware of what they looked like. I remember one of our children telling a story about a classmate at pre-school, but she couldn’t remember his name. So, she described him as the “brown boy.” That was the first inkling we had that she had become aware of physical differences. Even so, how sweet it was to hear that innocent of a description of a person in that context. She was only using color to describe which classmate she was talking about. My wife and I have trained our children the same as I try to train kids in Bible class: “When you’re talking about a person, leave out their race.” The exception to that rule is if you need to describe a person you’re looking for.
One time I was teaching Bible class when a student began his story with “There’s this black guy…” I listened to the story which did not need a physical description. Then, I proceeded to ask him to re-tell the story without telling me the person’s color. He said, “What?” I said, “Was it necessary to tell me the color of the boy in your story?” He said, “No.” Point made. Since then, I have listened to many more stories from this young man and I have never again heard him use race as an unnecessary description. God is good.
Racism is nothing new. The Bible makes several points regarding this topic. After all, Jews and Gentiles hated each other. Scripture makes it clear that racism, bigotry, and prejudice are not tolerated. Ever heard of the Golden Rule? “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).” And that’s just scratching the surface of how God views how we treat and think about each other. He has loved all of mankind from the beginning.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27).” Then in verse 31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good…”
The Jews, not the Gentiles, were considered God’s chosen people because Jesus would come into the world through this line. That was God’s sovereign choice just as it is God’s sovereign choice today under the new covenant (New Testament) to save people of all races who choose to obey God’s word. Ephesians 2:11-22 makes it clear that Christ’s purpose was to preach peace to both groups and “create in himself one new man out of the two.”
So, what does this mean to us today? It means the same thing as it did to those to whom Peter was preaching in the first century.
“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right (Acts 10:34-35).’”
As Christians, we are to be imitators of God. We are to love others selflessly like God loves us.
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:19-21).”
We are told to love everyone increasingly, and to be kind to all people, and to respect others (1 Thessalonians 3:11-12, 5:15, 1 Peter 2:17).
I don’t know what Jesus looked like while He was here on earth. But if He were born in Fort Gibson and looked like one of us (again, no matter what His skin color), would we have anything to do with him, even then? Would we want Him to listen to our music, or watch our favorite movies and TV shows? Would we want Him to listen to our jokes? Would we invite Him to be in on our conversations and business dealings? The answer may lie in just how much you have to do with Him now.
May we always remember and act on these words of Jesus spoken two-thousand years ago: “…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).”
Talking to Teenagers about Drinking and Drugs
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(for Fort Faith, March 4, 2008)
Our town is no stranger to tragedy: car crashes, train accidents. Fort Gibson has seen its share of tough times. And although natural death cannot always be prevented, the man-made variety can be. Such is the case with alcohol and drug related deaths. Fort Gibson police and school officials both tell me there has been a drug and alcohol problem among local teens for years, much like the national scene. They say this year is no different, except the biggest problem these days is that kids are stealing prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinets and passing them out to their friends. The sad thing is that only about ten-percent of these occurrences are being reported.
Occasionally, I am asked to teach a Bible class on the topic of alcohol, drugs, and teenagers. Aside from all of the other Biblical reasons not to drink alcohol when you’re a teenager is the fact that it’s a sin. And not only that, it’s a “willful sin.” Unless you’re at least 21-years old, the law of the land says you cannot lawfully drink alcohol. And, adults cannot legally purchase alcohol for anyone under the age of 21. As for illegal drugs and illegally obtained prescription drugs, do I really even need to go there?
Romans 13:1-7 says that we as Christians must submit to the governing authorities. Colossians 3:22-25 echoes this idea and says that we should obey authority and work as if working for the Lord. You see, if we choose to continue living in America we must go by the rules our governing bodies have created as long as those rules do not conflict with God’s rules. So, the issue of illegal drugs and teenage drinking should be a “no-brainer” since it’s a violation of both God’s law and government’s law.
Now, back to that idea of “sin” versus “willful sin.” An example of sin for a man might be the thoughts that come into his head after he accidentally sees a woman whose skirt is too high or the neckline too low. It becomes a willful sin when he chooses to take a second or third look at her in a lustful way. Willful sin for a woman could also include lust. It could also mean going to the mall knowing her checking account is too low, and then choosing to purchase a cute purse while knowing the check will bounce or at the very least she will not have money to buy groceries or diapers. I knew a young lady who couldn’t afford diapers, but managed to pay for a $300 tattoo and a monthly trip to the nail salon.
So, while Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 6:1 says that we should not intentionally sin just because we know that God’s grace saves us in the end. Yes, we all continue to sin simply because we are human and are not capable of being completely perfect. However, to use this as an excuse for willful sin puts us in grave danger since the Lord doesn’t listen to those who do evil (1 Peter 3:12).
We know from the story of the lost son (Luke 15:11) that our heavenly Father will always accept us back when we truly repent. We also know that God is patient and does not want anyone to perish, and wants us all to turn to Him (2 Peter 3:9). But make no mistake about it, God know your heart.
Nevertheless, there are consequences in this life, and in the life to come for those found intentionally not walking on God’s path. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
There’s no getting around it, teenage alcohol and illegal drug use are examples of willful sin, and in some cases with approval of parents. These behaviors can lead to lifetime chemical dependency, rape, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, death, and other tragic consequences such as car collisions with innocent victims.
But more importantly, even though nothing can separate us from the love of God that can only be found in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:28), we ourselves can turn our backs on God and choose to commit willful sin which results in spiritual death (Romans 8:13, Hebrews 3:12-13, James 5:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:12, 2 Timothy 2:16-18).
We can rationalize all we want. One thing is for sure: If you never start drinking or taking drugs, you will never have to quit. Just how close to the edge are you willing to go, and is it really worth the eternal risk?
Complaining: What a way to waste a good life!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith, February 19, 2008)
A man came into my office with a smile and I asked him, “What do you think should be the topic of my article?” Without hesitation, his smile turned to a frown as he said, “Complaining!” “Too many people complain about EVERYTHING!” he said. “Just the thought of a complainer is enough to turn a good day into a bad one.”
The Bible says quite a lot about this negative quality of complaining possessed by so many people these days (and apparently even in the first century and before). The Apostle Paul talked about it in the book of Philippians 2:14-15.
He said, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe…”
What’s he talking about? The entire second chapter of Philippians is a note of encouragement to the local church. Paul is reminding them and us to imitate the humility of Christ, to stay away from selfish ambition, and to know that God is working in us as we work out our own salvation. And then he immediately tells us that if we’re going to represent God like Paul does, we need to have a good attitude even when things don’t go our way. He says, “So you too should be glad and rejoice.” Scripture tells us that Paul was beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, and needy. But because he was looking beyond his present circumstances, he was able to remain joyful and not turn into a habitual complainer. If Paul was able to keep from complaining, well, you get the picture.
Two chapters later in 4:8 Paul tells us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”
That description of a Christian hardly resembles that of a complainer. Paul goes on to say in the next verse that if we think on positive things and put them into practice, “the God of peace will be with you.” That’s one big reason to dwell on the positive.
Here’s another reason: Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us to “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” The writer is simply saying to not waste your time with things that are unproductive (like complaining) when there are so many other positive things you could be doing.
A few verses earlier in 4:29 Paul says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” He even says in verses 31-32 to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every kind of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Now there’s a slice of reality. Jesus could have seen the world’s behavior as an opportunity to grumble or complain, or just destroy it immediately. But instead, He chose to come to this Earth to show us how to live, and how to get to Heaven. He demonstrated the heart of a servant in everything from washing his disciples’ feet, to even submitting to His Father’s will of becoming the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind. And He did it without grumbling or complaining.
May God bless you as you bring honor and glory to Him with your positive attitude.
Prayer: It’s Not Only A Good Habit
It’s a Command Worth Obeying
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(Fort Faith-February 12, 2008)
When you think about all the privileges we have in this life, what comes to mind? Freedom of religion? Freedom of expression? Freedom of family and friends? These are all wonderful things to be able to enjoy. But did you ever think about just how incredible of a gift it truly is to be able to pray to the Creator Himself? Did you ever think about just how awesome it is to be able to approach God with your thoughts, concerns, and thankfulness? Most of us will never meet a President, a King, or a Prime Minister. But have you ever thought about the fact that we all have the opportunity to meet with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of the Universe, the God who fashioned each of us in His own image?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
You may be thinking, “What in the world would I say to God all day long everyday?” Something tells me that today’s fast paced, high stressed culture may not be all that different from what a lot of people experienced in the first century. The Apostle Paul knew that well. He encouraged Christians in Thessalonica to focus on their blessings. That message applies to us today as well.
The writers of the Psalms must have spent much time contemplating the privilege of getting into the mind of God and communicating with Him. It was no doubt important during the days of so many false gods to have as much time alone with God as possible and to stay in His word.
Psalm 1 says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
It has been said that it takes 21 days to make a habit. My challenge to each of us is this: Talk to God continuously for 21 days, not just when you wake up, not just when you go to sleep, not just at meal time, and not just when you have a crisis. Talk to Him continually. Ask His advice on everything. Thank Him for everything. Express your joy to Him in everything. See if it changes how you approach life. See if praying continually helps your behavior while watching a basketball game, or while you’re conversing with a restaurant worker. See if having a prayerful attitude gives you more patience in your homelife. Just like holding hands with your wife while arguing is next to impossible, so is misbehaving while talking to God.
Romans 8:26 says, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Talking to God continually will obviously take lots of practice. There will likely be many times you will get side-tracked and forget to include Him in your thoughts. But just like any other goal worthy of accomplishing, having a good relationship with God is worth the effort.
Christian Leadership
There is enough work for all men and women to do.
But there are defined roles even in spite of political correctness.
by Barrett Vanlandingham (Fort Faith, February 5, 2008)
I recently fielded a concern from someone who took exception to my use of the phrase “Christian leadership” when referring to spiritual responsibilities of men and women, boys and girls. The person was afraid that I was violating the Bible’s commands, in particular, the sections that deal with women’s roles in the church.
Let me first say that if it were not for Godly women, there would be a lot fewer Godly men to lead Christian familes, and to lead churches. I am so thankful for my mother and for all the women who taught me in the ways of the Lord starting at a very young age. Even as I matured, I learned so much from them by the way they conducted themselves and continued to exhibit the Spiritual fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
It is possible for families to serve God with a woman as the spiritual leader, but how much more effective is God’s word when the husband also places God as his top priority? The fact is, God created everything with purpose and order. And when we are in step with God's purpose, things always work much more smoothly than when we allow culture to dictate order and morality.
When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-16), He showed us how to lead others to Christ through serving.
In reading Biblical examples of women who took the lead in various circumstances, it is easy to conclude a few simple things about women in the Bible: They not only took seriously their feminine and submissive roles as wives and nurturing mothers, but they also possessed great leadership skills and were encouraged to use them.
In fact, the role of a Christian woman, wife, or mother requires great leadership skills and wisdom. Proverbs 31 says that the wife of noble character is worth far more than rubies. It goes on to describe her as having a good reputation for making wise household and business decisions for her family. Titus 2 says that older women are to teach the younger women in the ways of God. The book of Judges tells of a female judge named Deborah. The prophetess Miriam led a group of women in song after the Pharaoh’s army drowned in the Red Sea that Moses and the Israelites had just crossed. Esther saved God’s people from destruction by risking her own life by approaching the King on their behalf. The Apostle Paul wrote about Timothy’s sincere faith that was passed down from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. In Acts 18:26, we’re told of a great preacher named Apollos who apparently didn’t have his facts straight until Priscilla and her husband Aquila invited him to their home and taught him the “way of God more adequately.”
It would be difficult to count the number of instances in the Bible where women took-on extremely important leadership roles in furthering the cause of Christ or helping God’s people accomplish certain tasks.
This does not mean that it would be appropriate for a woman to go against 1 Timothy 2:11-15 or 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 which require submission to the man’s role during a worship service that includes men and women. Conversely, it would also be inappropriate for a man to barge in to a situation that requires leadership skills possessed by a woman. Men who have tried this would know all too well.
It is just as important today as it was in Bible times for men and women of all ages to recognize the urgency of using our God-given talents to carry out His will. Men are to lead in worship, as well as be spiritual leaders in the church and at home. The overseers or elders of a congregation are to be the husband of one wife, manage his own family well, and possess Godly qualities listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-9. That being said, men and women are to share in Godly responsibilities as Bible history points out time and time again.
1 Corinthians 11:11 says, “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of women.” Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
In a marriage, when men shirk their responsibilities as spiritual leaders, the entire family suffers. When women fail spiritually, the same is true: the children and the husband are adversely affected.
As for spiritual leadership in general, Christian men and women, boys and girls are all called to lead through service, the same way Jesus did. We are all called to teach the world everything God has commanded (ref: Matthew 28:18-20). Not everyone has to do the same exact job, but every job leads towards the same goal and is of equal importance in the church (ref: Romans 12:4). As the Apostle Paul said, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?... As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (ref: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
May God bless each of us as we bring honor to Him with whatever talent God has given us and expects us to use in accordance with His plan.
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