Nehemiah understands your challenges (Part 1 of 5 part series)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 2, 2009
Sometimes it’s easy to think that no one understands the challenges you are facing. But the Bible is full of people who have experienced everything you are going through in one form or another. That’s why it’s so important to read about the lives of Bible characters. They’ve been where you are.
Take Nehemiah for instance. 20 members of my youth group and 20 adults here at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ are going on a mission trip to Monterrey, Mexico June 13-19. We will be helping to construct a church building in the developing suburb of Santa Monica, Mexico. The more I thought about our trip, the more I began to relate with Nehemiah. In fact, every person going on this mission trip or any mission trip this summer should be able to relate with Nehemiah. He was a very well-respected man of God who definitely relates to anyone experiencing one of life’s valleys. He was an exiled Jew working as the cupbearer to the king in Susa (modern-day Iran) about 450 years before the time of Christ.
In this part one of a five part series on Nehemiah, we’re going to take a look at the problem he was facing and how similar this is to situations missionaries and others face today.
Let’s read Nehemiah 1:3. “They said to me, those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
The problem was that Jerusalem was the single most important place on earth for the Jews. Major cities were defined by their walls. Without walls and gates, Jerusalem lost its dignity and respect not only as the centerpiece of the Jewish nation, but also as a city. People would view it as only a common village, not a great city. Many Jews, especially those with power and influence had been driven out of Judah into Babylonian exile (modern-day Iraq). They were later taken over by the Medes and Persians (modern-day Iran) who began to let them go back home. That’s when Nehemiah’s brother along with some other men told him about the condition of their homeland. Broken down walls and burned gates only added insult to injury to the Jews.
Mexico has been in the news a lot recently because of violence involving drug cartels, and illness and deaths caused by the H1N1 virus (aka: swine flu). Christians hate to see the diminishing of God’s word being spread as the result of anything the devil can come up with. But the fact is, fear brought on by over-reaction and hyped-up media reports has resulted in the cancelation of a lot of mission trips into Mexico. This is bad for Christian brothers and sisters there who need our resources to help in the saving of lost souls. Changing Mexico from the inside out may be the only way to change the turmoil there.
We all face daily challenges and uncertainties. Maybe not actual broken down walls, but maybe broken down family lives, broken down communication lines, broken down self-image or reputation. Nehemiah sought the help of God when he was at his lowest. We will take a look at his reaction to bad news in part two. Have a great week!
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.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Make sure God has a place in your family this summer
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 26, 2009
Waking up this week probably seems a little sweeter for a lot of kids. No more school! On one hand, this could spell trouble if your kids have too much unsupervised or unplanned time. On the other hand, summer vacation can make for some great opportunities to spend more time with your family. After all, time during the school year is a precious commodity to say the least. As if homework doesn’t keep them busy enough, just add one or two extra-curricular activities and that can make for a very hectic schedule in need of a break!
Even in the summer, spending time with your kids can seem more challenging than it should. Sometimes, all I feel like doing is reclining in my chair in the living room. Some of that is okay. We all need a little “down time,” parents and children. But it is important to be aware of what your kids are up to. They need quality time with you. And if you’re too busy, they will find other things to occupy their time. Some of those things may be good, others not so much. And with the extra time on their hands that summer provides, it’s more important than ever to take advantage of all the great possibilities for good parenting. An investment in your kids over the summer could pay off in a big way in the fall when you have to once again compete for time with your family.
The Bible speaks of using our time wisely. The apostle Paul said, “Be very careful how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
It’s not an accident that Paul placed this scripture just before another lengthy passage regarding relationships between husbands and wives, children and parents. In Ephesians 6:1-4, Paul stresses the importance of children obeying their parents. But he also reminds parents, and in particular fathers, to not purposely irritate or annoy their kids to the extreme, but instead to raise their children in the Lord. This not only requires quality family time at home or even on vacations, but it also requires regular Bible study. This can be a challenge. But it’s one that can be overcome if the parent is setting the example by studying at home, in Bible class, and in worship service. You can also incorporate God into your conversations. It’s good to do anyway, but it also reminds your children of your priorities. If not now, in the end your children will thank you for making God part of your family, even during summer vacation. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 26, 2009
Waking up this week probably seems a little sweeter for a lot of kids. No more school! On one hand, this could spell trouble if your kids have too much unsupervised or unplanned time. On the other hand, summer vacation can make for some great opportunities to spend more time with your family. After all, time during the school year is a precious commodity to say the least. As if homework doesn’t keep them busy enough, just add one or two extra-curricular activities and that can make for a very hectic schedule in need of a break!
Even in the summer, spending time with your kids can seem more challenging than it should. Sometimes, all I feel like doing is reclining in my chair in the living room. Some of that is okay. We all need a little “down time,” parents and children. But it is important to be aware of what your kids are up to. They need quality time with you. And if you’re too busy, they will find other things to occupy their time. Some of those things may be good, others not so much. And with the extra time on their hands that summer provides, it’s more important than ever to take advantage of all the great possibilities for good parenting. An investment in your kids over the summer could pay off in a big way in the fall when you have to once again compete for time with your family.
The Bible speaks of using our time wisely. The apostle Paul said, “Be very careful how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
It’s not an accident that Paul placed this scripture just before another lengthy passage regarding relationships between husbands and wives, children and parents. In Ephesians 6:1-4, Paul stresses the importance of children obeying their parents. But he also reminds parents, and in particular fathers, to not purposely irritate or annoy their kids to the extreme, but instead to raise their children in the Lord. This not only requires quality family time at home or even on vacations, but it also requires regular Bible study. This can be a challenge. But it’s one that can be overcome if the parent is setting the example by studying at home, in Bible class, and in worship service. You can also incorporate God into your conversations. It’s good to do anyway, but it also reminds your children of your priorities. If not now, in the end your children will thank you for making God part of your family, even during summer vacation. (end)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Answers become clearer in the light
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 19, 2009
It was late last Tuesday night. My daughter was depending on me to fix the computer printer so she could finish a project. But after spending nearly an hour trying to get it to work, the printer was still chewing up page after page. Something was broken, I just knew it! Finally, I decided to just leave it alone, sleep on it, and give it another try later. The next morning, I opened the front of the printer and spotted something I hadn’t seen the night before. So I got my flashlight to investigate further. There it was! A tiny piece of paper wadded up and blocking an area that was difficult to see in dim lighting. It was nothing that a pair of tweezers and a little light on the subject couldn’t handle. Immediately, two things crossed my mind. First I thought, “I have found my next Fort Faith topic.” Second, “I can’t believe it took me so long to figure out that my trusty flashlight would have been a big help the night before.”
As a minister, I think a lot about the word “light” and how it has so many spiritual meanings. Romans 8:27 tells us that God searches our hearts. How is he able to do that, and how does he always find what he’s looking for? It’s simple! Just as scripture says, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). The writer goes on to say that in order for us to have fellowship with God and remain free from sin, we must walk in the light.
Many of life’s problems can be solved with light. Have you ever had someone approach you needing help with a personal crisis? And the more you listened, the more you realized that the solution was for them to stop walking in spiritual darkness.
How many times have you stubbed your toe as you walked across a dark room, and thought to yourself, “Ouch! I wish I had seen that!” Obviously, the best way to keep from stubbing your toe is to look where you’re going. And sometimes, that requires light. I remember as a young boy, walking across the cow pasture after dark, and almost always stepping in something the cows had left behind. That problem could have also been solved with light, not to mention the pile of dirty shoes that stayed on our back porch courtesy of the same problem, not using a light.
So how do we make sure we’re walking “in him”, in the light, where there is no darkness, and where we cannot be separated from the love of God? Romans 8:39 tells us we can find this assurance “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, and Romans 6:1-11 tell us that believers are “baptized into Christ Jesus.”
May God bless your spiritual journey as you remember that God rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6) (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 19, 2009
It was late last Tuesday night. My daughter was depending on me to fix the computer printer so she could finish a project. But after spending nearly an hour trying to get it to work, the printer was still chewing up page after page. Something was broken, I just knew it! Finally, I decided to just leave it alone, sleep on it, and give it another try later. The next morning, I opened the front of the printer and spotted something I hadn’t seen the night before. So I got my flashlight to investigate further. There it was! A tiny piece of paper wadded up and blocking an area that was difficult to see in dim lighting. It was nothing that a pair of tweezers and a little light on the subject couldn’t handle. Immediately, two things crossed my mind. First I thought, “I have found my next Fort Faith topic.” Second, “I can’t believe it took me so long to figure out that my trusty flashlight would have been a big help the night before.”
As a minister, I think a lot about the word “light” and how it has so many spiritual meanings. Romans 8:27 tells us that God searches our hearts. How is he able to do that, and how does he always find what he’s looking for? It’s simple! Just as scripture says, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). The writer goes on to say that in order for us to have fellowship with God and remain free from sin, we must walk in the light.
Many of life’s problems can be solved with light. Have you ever had someone approach you needing help with a personal crisis? And the more you listened, the more you realized that the solution was for them to stop walking in spiritual darkness.
How many times have you stubbed your toe as you walked across a dark room, and thought to yourself, “Ouch! I wish I had seen that!” Obviously, the best way to keep from stubbing your toe is to look where you’re going. And sometimes, that requires light. I remember as a young boy, walking across the cow pasture after dark, and almost always stepping in something the cows had left behind. That problem could have also been solved with light, not to mention the pile of dirty shoes that stayed on our back porch courtesy of the same problem, not using a light.
So how do we make sure we’re walking “in him”, in the light, where there is no darkness, and where we cannot be separated from the love of God? Romans 8:39 tells us we can find this assurance “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, and Romans 6:1-11 tell us that believers are “baptized into Christ Jesus.”
May God bless your spiritual journey as you remember that God rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6) (end)
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Sonshine and reign will help you grow
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 12, 2009
The grass in my backyard could definitely stand to be mowed. The weeds appear to be plotting a takeover. The problem is that the rain has made the ground too soggy to walk on without making deep footprints. Therefore, mowing lately has been next to impossible.
Spiritually speaking, we all know people who need to cut some things out of their lives before the weeds of sin choke them out. The only problem is that just like my backyard, people who are deep into sin often need a little “Sonshine” from someone who cares before they will let you help them with their problem. If you try to barge-in too fast, you might not be very effective because their life is just too weighed down with sin. Overly ambitious soul-savers can sometimes leave deep footprints on people that look worse than the battered sinner they had set out to save.
It is very important to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and both parts of that verse are equally important. Yes, we must speak the truth in our efforts to inform someone that they are in spiritual danger. But we must make sure that we talk to people in a way that is perceived as a loving attitude just like Jesus had. We can never put enough emphasis on letting the love of Christ show through us. That’s why the greatest commandments are to love God and then love your neighbor.
One more thing to remember about soul saving is that if you convince someone to cut a particular sin out of their life, they are going to need something positive to replace it with. This is a fact that cannot be underplayed whether you’re talking about yard work, or self-improvement. Read what Jesus had to say about this.
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” (Matthew 11:24-26)
The best kind of rain is that of Jesus “reigning” in our lives. You see, as long as God’s Son shines in your heart, there will be no room for weeds to grow. Have a blessed day! (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 12, 2009
The grass in my backyard could definitely stand to be mowed. The weeds appear to be plotting a takeover. The problem is that the rain has made the ground too soggy to walk on without making deep footprints. Therefore, mowing lately has been next to impossible.
Spiritually speaking, we all know people who need to cut some things out of their lives before the weeds of sin choke them out. The only problem is that just like my backyard, people who are deep into sin often need a little “Sonshine” from someone who cares before they will let you help them with their problem. If you try to barge-in too fast, you might not be very effective because their life is just too weighed down with sin. Overly ambitious soul-savers can sometimes leave deep footprints on people that look worse than the battered sinner they had set out to save.
It is very important to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and both parts of that verse are equally important. Yes, we must speak the truth in our efforts to inform someone that they are in spiritual danger. But we must make sure that we talk to people in a way that is perceived as a loving attitude just like Jesus had. We can never put enough emphasis on letting the love of Christ show through us. That’s why the greatest commandments are to love God and then love your neighbor.
One more thing to remember about soul saving is that if you convince someone to cut a particular sin out of their life, they are going to need something positive to replace it with. This is a fact that cannot be underplayed whether you’re talking about yard work, or self-improvement. Read what Jesus had to say about this.
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” (Matthew 11:24-26)
The best kind of rain is that of Jesus “reigning” in our lives. You see, as long as God’s Son shines in your heart, there will be no room for weeds to grow. Have a blessed day! (end)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Swimming through life is easier with a Heavenly Partner
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 3, 2009
My 10-year old son told me a few weeks ago just how much he hated swim class. He said, “The water is too cold and it’s just too far to swim to the other end of the pool.” The water was actually 80-degrees. But because the kids take a nice hot shower before they jump in the pool, of course, the water feels cold. As for the distance? Well, 25 meters is 25 meters hot or cold. I told him, “Son, you are going to swim to the other end of the pool if I have to jump in the pool and swim with you!” I showed up to his next swim class with my swimsuit on (under my clothes) just in case I had to make good on my threat. It was amazing to see such quick improvement. I guess the thought of your dad jumping into the pool during fourth grade swim class was a pretty good motivator. Luckily, just my presence was enough to persuade him to try harder. The next week I showed up again at swim class, and then the next day I came to his swim meet. Each time he swam much better.
Spiritually speaking, our journey in this life often seems uncomfortable. Sometimes our walk seems long and tiresome. Our Heavenly Father knows this and so does his Son. That’s why he sent his Holy Spirit to dwell inside every Christian (Acts 2:38) after we are immersed (baptized) into Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). We are never told that living the Christian life will be easy. In fact, we are told just the opposite (John 15:18-21). James 1:2 tells us trials must come so that we may grow to maturity in our faith. But make no mistake about it, the Holy Spirit is with us every step of the way, so it should be no surprise that he can show us how to escape temptations (1 Cor. 10:13). He will also show us the way to heaven unless we prevent him from doing his job by quenching the Spirit’s fire (1 Thes. 5:19).
When it comes down to it, Paul said it just right. “38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).” That’s great news!
But still, you must follow the steps of Jesus to get to the finish line. The fact is, the only one who can steal your salvation is you by letting go of the Holy Spirit’s hand, so to speak. You are the one who can put out the Spirit’s fire. You are also the one who can turn your back on the Lord and follow the road that leads to spiritual death (James 1:13 and Hebrews 10:26).
Yes, swimming through life can be tough. But choosing to keep God’s Spirit with you all the way will most certainly put you on the path to eternal victory. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 3, 2009
My 10-year old son told me a few weeks ago just how much he hated swim class. He said, “The water is too cold and it’s just too far to swim to the other end of the pool.” The water was actually 80-degrees. But because the kids take a nice hot shower before they jump in the pool, of course, the water feels cold. As for the distance? Well, 25 meters is 25 meters hot or cold. I told him, “Son, you are going to swim to the other end of the pool if I have to jump in the pool and swim with you!” I showed up to his next swim class with my swimsuit on (under my clothes) just in case I had to make good on my threat. It was amazing to see such quick improvement. I guess the thought of your dad jumping into the pool during fourth grade swim class was a pretty good motivator. Luckily, just my presence was enough to persuade him to try harder. The next week I showed up again at swim class, and then the next day I came to his swim meet. Each time he swam much better.
Spiritually speaking, our journey in this life often seems uncomfortable. Sometimes our walk seems long and tiresome. Our Heavenly Father knows this and so does his Son. That’s why he sent his Holy Spirit to dwell inside every Christian (Acts 2:38) after we are immersed (baptized) into Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). We are never told that living the Christian life will be easy. In fact, we are told just the opposite (John 15:18-21). James 1:2 tells us trials must come so that we may grow to maturity in our faith. But make no mistake about it, the Holy Spirit is with us every step of the way, so it should be no surprise that he can show us how to escape temptations (1 Cor. 10:13). He will also show us the way to heaven unless we prevent him from doing his job by quenching the Spirit’s fire (1 Thes. 5:19).
When it comes down to it, Paul said it just right. “38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).” That’s great news!
But still, you must follow the steps of Jesus to get to the finish line. The fact is, the only one who can steal your salvation is you by letting go of the Holy Spirit’s hand, so to speak. You are the one who can put out the Spirit’s fire. You are also the one who can turn your back on the Lord and follow the road that leads to spiritual death (James 1:13 and Hebrews 10:26).
Yes, swimming through life can be tough. But choosing to keep God’s Spirit with you all the way will most certainly put you on the path to eternal victory. (end)
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Lord Loves the Taste of Righteousness
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 28, 2009
David was known for his tasteful acts of righteousness, at least until after he became King of Israel. And even then, he found his way back to God.
This is the fifth and final part of my series on Psalm 34 which centers around verse eight: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” We will take a look at the proof that being righteous really did make a difference for David and others.
Psalm 34:15-22 says, “15. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16. the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; 20. he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22. The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.”
Up until this point, David had taken care of sheep, slain lions and bears, killed a giant, won many victories for King Saul and God’s people, and had endured much jealousy from his brothers. And now, with Saul still trying to kill David who was best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan, David knows without a doubt that God’s eyes and ears are paying attention to his needs, and that God sees him as a righteous man.
Time after time, David had seen the Lord turn his face away from those who practiced evil ways. This resulted in evil people making bad decisions that only hurt themselves even more.
David is writing to assure the downcast and brokenhearted that God will not ignore those who take refuge in him.
During some of my darkest moments in life, I have come to realize that maybe I shouldn’t be so focused on how to change a situation I have no control over. I have often found that difficulties provide wonderful opportunities for me to drawer nearer to God and let him be in charge of areas in my life that I previously wanted to control. The burden lifted. Hebrews 4:15 assures us that Jesus understands our struggles.
May we all carry out the Lord’s will as we are given opportunity, and let God handle the outcome. He will make a difference in you and those around you. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 28, 2009
David was known for his tasteful acts of righteousness, at least until after he became King of Israel. And even then, he found his way back to God.
This is the fifth and final part of my series on Psalm 34 which centers around verse eight: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” We will take a look at the proof that being righteous really did make a difference for David and others.
Psalm 34:15-22 says, “15. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16. the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; 20. he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22. The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.”
Up until this point, David had taken care of sheep, slain lions and bears, killed a giant, won many victories for King Saul and God’s people, and had endured much jealousy from his brothers. And now, with Saul still trying to kill David who was best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan, David knows without a doubt that God’s eyes and ears are paying attention to his needs, and that God sees him as a righteous man.
Time after time, David had seen the Lord turn his face away from those who practiced evil ways. This resulted in evil people making bad decisions that only hurt themselves even more.
David is writing to assure the downcast and brokenhearted that God will not ignore those who take refuge in him.
During some of my darkest moments in life, I have come to realize that maybe I shouldn’t be so focused on how to change a situation I have no control over. I have often found that difficulties provide wonderful opportunities for me to drawer nearer to God and let him be in charge of areas in my life that I previously wanted to control. The burden lifted. Hebrews 4:15 assures us that Jesus understands our struggles.
May we all carry out the Lord’s will as we are given opportunity, and let God handle the outcome. He will make a difference in you and those around you. (end)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Pass the Peace, Please
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 21, 2009
David knew the taste of a peaceful life even when times were tough.
The most recognizable part of David’s Psalm 34 is verse 8. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” But since I focused on it earlier, I’m moving on to verses 11-14 for part four of this five part series. Let’s read David’s words and look for his recipe for avoiding evil.
“11. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13. keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
By this point in David’s life, which you can read about in 1 Samuel chapters 16-21, he had learned a lot about the advantages of serving the Lord. So, when he says, “Listen to me,” it’s not because he just likes hearing himself talk. He actually wants to tell us something we need to hear. He knew firsthand of life’s distractions. That’s why he said, “Come, my children” which implies action or urgency. Remember when David “ran” to the battle line to fight Goliath? David now wants us pay attention to an important lesson.
David knew whatever words he spoke, he would have to defend them to his family, to King Saul, to his best friend Jonathan, and most importantly to God. He loved life and learned through experience what it took to see “many good days.” Pure speech was at the top of his list of advice for enjoying a good quality of life. Look where threats against God’s people landed Goliath. Dead! Look at the predicament David wound up in because of lusting for Bathsheba and then the deception that followed. Lives lost! About a thousand years later in the New Testament, Jesus said, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36).” That should give each of us reason to think before we speak. Most of us wouldn’t have near as many “I wish I hadn’t said that” moments if we were to remember those very important words of Jesus that not only lead to peace for those around us, but peace for ourselves.
David ends his thoughts in verse 14 by giving us two extremes, one to avoid, and one to pursue. The prize of turning from evil and doing good is obtained through seeking peace. It is once again no surprise that the pursuit of another “fruit of the Spirit” (ref: Galatians 5:22-23) is the answer to life’s problems. In fact, the best spiritual meals can be had only when you’re in a right relationship with God. We must make it a point to be at His supper table everyday and say, “Pass the peace, please!” It’s part of a spiritual food group that we must have in order to exercise our Christianity to the fullest. In other words, how can we possibly win souls for Christ if we ourselves are in spiritual turmoil. Have a blessed and peaceful week! (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 21, 2009
David knew the taste of a peaceful life even when times were tough.
The most recognizable part of David’s Psalm 34 is verse 8. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” But since I focused on it earlier, I’m moving on to verses 11-14 for part four of this five part series. Let’s read David’s words and look for his recipe for avoiding evil.
“11. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13. keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
By this point in David’s life, which you can read about in 1 Samuel chapters 16-21, he had learned a lot about the advantages of serving the Lord. So, when he says, “Listen to me,” it’s not because he just likes hearing himself talk. He actually wants to tell us something we need to hear. He knew firsthand of life’s distractions. That’s why he said, “Come, my children” which implies action or urgency. Remember when David “ran” to the battle line to fight Goliath? David now wants us pay attention to an important lesson.
David knew whatever words he spoke, he would have to defend them to his family, to King Saul, to his best friend Jonathan, and most importantly to God. He loved life and learned through experience what it took to see “many good days.” Pure speech was at the top of his list of advice for enjoying a good quality of life. Look where threats against God’s people landed Goliath. Dead! Look at the predicament David wound up in because of lusting for Bathsheba and then the deception that followed. Lives lost! About a thousand years later in the New Testament, Jesus said, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36).” That should give each of us reason to think before we speak. Most of us wouldn’t have near as many “I wish I hadn’t said that” moments if we were to remember those very important words of Jesus that not only lead to peace for those around us, but peace for ourselves.
David ends his thoughts in verse 14 by giving us two extremes, one to avoid, and one to pursue. The prize of turning from evil and doing good is obtained through seeking peace. It is once again no surprise that the pursuit of another “fruit of the Spirit” (ref: Galatians 5:22-23) is the answer to life’s problems. In fact, the best spiritual meals can be had only when you’re in a right relationship with God. We must make it a point to be at His supper table everyday and say, “Pass the peace, please!” It’s part of a spiritual food group that we must have in order to exercise our Christianity to the fullest. In other words, how can we possibly win souls for Christ if we ourselves are in spiritual turmoil. Have a blessed and peaceful week! (end)
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
The ancient recipe for victory is still tasty today
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 14, 2009
I pray that you are enjoying my series titled “Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).” For me, it’s been very exciting and encouraging to look back three-thousand years at the life of David before he became King of Israel.
Last week, we looked at how incredible it was that David praised God continually during such a difficult and stressful period of his life. The pressure was on from King Saul. He had it out for David and wanted him dead, mainly because Saul was jealous of David’s many victories. Everytime David turned around, Saul was trying to pin him to the wall with a spear! Kind of makes the idea of being on “pins and needles” a little more inviting, strangely enough.
This week, let’s pick out four actions in David’s life that led to so many victories.
Let’s read Psalm 34:4-7. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
Did you catch those? David did these four things: 1. Sought the Lord. 2. Looked to God. 3. Called out to God 4. Feared God.
Those four things resulted in an unbeatable recipe for David. For every action of David, there was a reaction from God. 1. Seeking the Lord led to an answer of being delivered from his fears. 2. Looking to God made David radiant and without shame. 3. Despite just how poor of a situation he was in, he called to God who heard and saved David from his troubles. 4. David respected or feared the Lord which resulted in God drawing close to David and delivering him.
This theme was carried into the New Testament in a number of places. James 4:2-3 comes to mind. The writer says, “…You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” We’re also told in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek God first and his righteousness, he will provide us with everything we need.
God knew David’s heart and blessed him greatly because of it. David humbled himself before the Lord and acknowledged God’s power as the reason for his success. God also knows our heart. The fact is, none of us would even have air to breathe if it weren’t for God having created it. Everything and everyone had to have been created at some point. David knew the origin of his strength and his victories, and he wasn’t too proud to let everyone know about his God. May we all be drawn closer to God as the taste of the Lord becomes sweeter and sweeter with each spiritual victory. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 14, 2009
I pray that you are enjoying my series titled “Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).” For me, it’s been very exciting and encouraging to look back three-thousand years at the life of David before he became King of Israel.
Last week, we looked at how incredible it was that David praised God continually during such a difficult and stressful period of his life. The pressure was on from King Saul. He had it out for David and wanted him dead, mainly because Saul was jealous of David’s many victories. Everytime David turned around, Saul was trying to pin him to the wall with a spear! Kind of makes the idea of being on “pins and needles” a little more inviting, strangely enough.
This week, let’s pick out four actions in David’s life that led to so many victories.
Let’s read Psalm 34:4-7. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
Did you catch those? David did these four things: 1. Sought the Lord. 2. Looked to God. 3. Called out to God 4. Feared God.
Those four things resulted in an unbeatable recipe for David. For every action of David, there was a reaction from God. 1. Seeking the Lord led to an answer of being delivered from his fears. 2. Looking to God made David radiant and without shame. 3. Despite just how poor of a situation he was in, he called to God who heard and saved David from his troubles. 4. David respected or feared the Lord which resulted in God drawing close to David and delivering him.
This theme was carried into the New Testament in a number of places. James 4:2-3 comes to mind. The writer says, “…You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” We’re also told in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek God first and his righteousness, he will provide us with everything we need.
God knew David’s heart and blessed him greatly because of it. David humbled himself before the Lord and acknowledged God’s power as the reason for his success. God also knows our heart. The fact is, none of us would even have air to breathe if it weren’t for God having created it. Everything and everyone had to have been created at some point. David knew the origin of his strength and his victories, and he wasn’t too proud to let everyone know about his God. May we all be drawn closer to God as the taste of the Lord becomes sweeter and sweeter with each spiritual victory. (end)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The taste of praise is sweet
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 7, 2009
David enjoyed the taste of praise in times of happiness and joy, as well as in times of fear and anxiety. In last week’s article, I marveled at David’s ability to praise God even when he was on the run from King Saul who was trying to kill him. David somehow was able to take shelter under God and write an amazing poem of praise that we call Psalm 34. In the middle of it David said, “:08 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
The first three verses of Psalm 34 are just as incredible. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”
It’s easy to feel confident in our faith when life’s recipe is mixed just right. But when any of the ingredients for having a happy life is missing, we sometimes struggle spiritually.
We pray to God during the tough times, but do we praise him like David did? How could David have been so spiritually connected during such a difficult and stressful time? I believe the answer lies in his heart. 1 Samuel 13:14 says that David was a man after God’s own heart.
The fact is, David knew that tough times would come and go. But his experience had already shown him that siding with God could allow him to accomplish things that would have seemed impossible to most people. Despite the fact that David was described as “only a boy” (1 Sam. 17:33), he was said to have slain tens of thousands during times of war in comparison to Saul’s thousands. This should have been no shock since the “Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (1 Sam. 16:13) from the day that Samuel anointed David to replace Saul as king.
In Psalm 34:2, David knew that the afflicted would be encouraged by hearing the Lord’s praise which was always on his lips. And why wouldn’t their spirits be lifted and hopes restored? After all, they were hearing about a God who worked in uncommon ways through a very common young man, and there were many witnesses to back up his story.
David is simply saying that praising the Lord continually made a big difference in his life and it can in yours too.
Barrett Vanlandingham can be reached at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ. ftgcoc_barrett@sbcglobal.nets or 478-2222.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 7, 2009
David enjoyed the taste of praise in times of happiness and joy, as well as in times of fear and anxiety. In last week’s article, I marveled at David’s ability to praise God even when he was on the run from King Saul who was trying to kill him. David somehow was able to take shelter under God and write an amazing poem of praise that we call Psalm 34. In the middle of it David said, “:08 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
The first three verses of Psalm 34 are just as incredible. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”
It’s easy to feel confident in our faith when life’s recipe is mixed just right. But when any of the ingredients for having a happy life is missing, we sometimes struggle spiritually.
We pray to God during the tough times, but do we praise him like David did? How could David have been so spiritually connected during such a difficult and stressful time? I believe the answer lies in his heart. 1 Samuel 13:14 says that David was a man after God’s own heart.
The fact is, David knew that tough times would come and go. But his experience had already shown him that siding with God could allow him to accomplish things that would have seemed impossible to most people. Despite the fact that David was described as “only a boy” (1 Sam. 17:33), he was said to have slain tens of thousands during times of war in comparison to Saul’s thousands. This should have been no shock since the “Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (1 Sam. 16:13) from the day that Samuel anointed David to replace Saul as king.
In Psalm 34:2, David knew that the afflicted would be encouraged by hearing the Lord’s praise which was always on his lips. And why wouldn’t their spirits be lifted and hopes restored? After all, they were hearing about a God who worked in uncommon ways through a very common young man, and there were many witnesses to back up his story.
David is simply saying that praising the Lord continually made a big difference in his life and it can in yours too.
Barrett Vanlandingham can be reached at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ. ftgcoc_barrett@sbcglobal.nets or 478-2222.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Lord tastes good in times of joy and stress
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 31, 2009
Anyone who’s been to a summer church camp I’ve directed knows I like my theme titles to rhyme with the year. I’ve been working on a series of lessons for this summer titled “Tasting Fine in 2009.” It’s based on Psalm 34:8 which says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
David is the writer of the 34th Psalm. He wrote it as he was being forced to flee his country because Saul (King if Israel) was trying to kill him. He was so scared that he acted like a madman and let saliva run down his beard so that Achish (King of Gath) would let him go (1 Samuel 21:10-15).
But even in the middle of all this, David managed to praise God with such clarity of mind. In fact, each verse of the Psalm 34 poem begins with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is pretty impressive for someone who was on the run, afraid for his life, and struggling with feelings of insecurity. David trusted God, but it’s only natural for someone to feel uneasy when someone’s chasing you.
The fact is, David was definitely qualified to say that the Lord tasted good. Why? Because time after time, God helped David overcome King Saul’s efforts to kill him (1 Sam. 18:12 & 23:14). The Lord even blessed David with a best friend (Jonathan) who was the son of Saul! Can you imagine being best friends with someone whose dad was always trying to kill you? No thanks! But God had a plan that involved putting David in the right place at the right time. Sometimes we wonder why God allows things to happen as they do. It’s okay to wonder. But it’s more important to trust God even when we don’t fully understand how his plan needs to be carried out.
In David’s lifetime, he knew the negative consequences of excluding God from his decisions such as the time he lusted after Bathsheba. He also knew the blessings of taking refuge in the Lord such as the time God helped David kill Goliath. We all have giants to deal with, don’t we?
This idea of taking refuge in the Lord was important for David, and it is just as important for us today. Our world is full of distractions, and we need time alone with the Lord to revive. God desires a relationship with us. But we need a relationship with him. Have you tasted the Lord lately? (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 31, 2009
Anyone who’s been to a summer church camp I’ve directed knows I like my theme titles to rhyme with the year. I’ve been working on a series of lessons for this summer titled “Tasting Fine in 2009.” It’s based on Psalm 34:8 which says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
David is the writer of the 34th Psalm. He wrote it as he was being forced to flee his country because Saul (King if Israel) was trying to kill him. He was so scared that he acted like a madman and let saliva run down his beard so that Achish (King of Gath) would let him go (1 Samuel 21:10-15).
But even in the middle of all this, David managed to praise God with such clarity of mind. In fact, each verse of the Psalm 34 poem begins with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is pretty impressive for someone who was on the run, afraid for his life, and struggling with feelings of insecurity. David trusted God, but it’s only natural for someone to feel uneasy when someone’s chasing you.
The fact is, David was definitely qualified to say that the Lord tasted good. Why? Because time after time, God helped David overcome King Saul’s efforts to kill him (1 Sam. 18:12 & 23:14). The Lord even blessed David with a best friend (Jonathan) who was the son of Saul! Can you imagine being best friends with someone whose dad was always trying to kill you? No thanks! But God had a plan that involved putting David in the right place at the right time. Sometimes we wonder why God allows things to happen as they do. It’s okay to wonder. But it’s more important to trust God even when we don’t fully understand how his plan needs to be carried out.
In David’s lifetime, he knew the negative consequences of excluding God from his decisions such as the time he lusted after Bathsheba. He also knew the blessings of taking refuge in the Lord such as the time God helped David kill Goliath. We all have giants to deal with, don’t we?
This idea of taking refuge in the Lord was important for David, and it is just as important for us today. Our world is full of distractions, and we need time alone with the Lord to revive. God desires a relationship with us. But we need a relationship with him. Have you tasted the Lord lately? (end)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Christians need to hit the Book more
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 24, 2009
A slow decline in the number of people committed to basic Bible principles continues to produce some startling statistics. The latest Barna Group Survey says only one-percent of the youngest adult generation has a biblical worldview.
That means only one-percent of America’s 18-23 year olds believe the following:
1. Moral truth exists.
2. The Bible is completely accurate in all the principles it teaches.
3. Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
4. A person cannot earn their way into Heaven by good works.
5. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
6. God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator who still rules the universe today.
What is scary about that percentage is that less than three years ago, another survey of the millennial (teenage) generation revealed only four-percent of that age group is committed to basic Bible principles. What’s worse is that this Millennial Generation is the biggest-ever group of teenagers in American history.
65-percent of the World War II generation said they were committed to basic Bible principles. 35-percent of the Baby Boomers said they were committed to basic Bible principles. 16-percent of Generation X said they were committed to basic Bible principles.
Now, imagine how the problems we face in our society today will be handled when the Millennial Generation is in the driver’s seat instead of the Baby Boomers.
Another Barna Group Survey cited in the Christian Post suggests that even though most Americans consider themselves to be of the Christian faith and say they know the content of the Bible, less than one out of ten Americans demonstrate such knowledge by their actions.
In an article for the Christian Science Monitor, Michael Spencer wrote, “We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught.” He goes on to say that we’ve spent billions in the name of religion, and have produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Spencer says, “Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community.” He says, “Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.”
Only when we model the love of Jesus Christ and apply his teachings will our friends, neighbors, and families take our commitment to God seriously. That will change more lives than any amount of political grandstanding and protesting issues in the name of religion.
Bottom line? Deuteronomy 6:4-9 had it right all along. God’s people must do a better job at studying and understanding their Bibles and following through with application, and teaching their children to do the same. It is imperative that we know exactly what we are commanded to do. And it is equally important that we take seriously our responsibility to obey the Bible’s teachings. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 24, 2009
A slow decline in the number of people committed to basic Bible principles continues to produce some startling statistics. The latest Barna Group Survey says only one-percent of the youngest adult generation has a biblical worldview.
That means only one-percent of America’s 18-23 year olds believe the following:
1. Moral truth exists.
2. The Bible is completely accurate in all the principles it teaches.
3. Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
4. A person cannot earn their way into Heaven by good works.
5. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
6. God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator who still rules the universe today.
What is scary about that percentage is that less than three years ago, another survey of the millennial (teenage) generation revealed only four-percent of that age group is committed to basic Bible principles. What’s worse is that this Millennial Generation is the biggest-ever group of teenagers in American history.
65-percent of the World War II generation said they were committed to basic Bible principles. 35-percent of the Baby Boomers said they were committed to basic Bible principles. 16-percent of Generation X said they were committed to basic Bible principles.
Now, imagine how the problems we face in our society today will be handled when the Millennial Generation is in the driver’s seat instead of the Baby Boomers.
Another Barna Group Survey cited in the Christian Post suggests that even though most Americans consider themselves to be of the Christian faith and say they know the content of the Bible, less than one out of ten Americans demonstrate such knowledge by their actions.
In an article for the Christian Science Monitor, Michael Spencer wrote, “We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught.” He goes on to say that we’ve spent billions in the name of religion, and have produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Spencer says, “Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community.” He says, “Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.”
Only when we model the love of Jesus Christ and apply his teachings will our friends, neighbors, and families take our commitment to God seriously. That will change more lives than any amount of political grandstanding and protesting issues in the name of religion.
Bottom line? Deuteronomy 6:4-9 had it right all along. God’s people must do a better job at studying and understanding their Bibles and following through with application, and teaching their children to do the same. It is imperative that we know exactly what we are commanded to do. And it is equally important that we take seriously our responsibility to obey the Bible’s teachings. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Spiritual Lessons from Driver’s Test
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 17, 2009
As I sat there as a nervous dad in the Driver’s License Examiner waiting room Friday, I couldn’t help but feel a certain amount of apprehension for my 16-year old daughter. I thought to myself, “She’s only had her permit for six months. Is she ready to take that final step?” At any moment now, it would be her turn to get behind the wheel of my Jeep with the officer sitting next to her. Would she pass the test? I hoped so. But regardless, there was nothing else I could do to help her now. The training period was over. The officer read my daughter’s name loudly from the sign-in clip board. Her time had come, and off they went! Within 15 minutes, they returned. She had passed the test!
Spiritually speaking, there are some definite parallels to what parents go through in raising their children in the Lord. We train and train, but ultimately it is the child who has to decide whether to apply God’s word to their life. Eventually, they have to be tested for themselves away from their parents. That is the point at which a parent learns the meaning of “giving it over to God.”
Prayer is powerful. And beyond that, there is nothing else you can do to shelter your children from physical, emotional, or spiritual harm. It’s between them and God. But let me say again, “Prayer is powerful.” Prayer must be our first line of action, not a last resort.
So, as soon as we pulled into the driveway with her license in hand, I felt the urge to pray. I prayed for her, I prayed over “Herbert” (my 1982 Ford F-150 she will be driving), and I prayed for all the drivers on the road. Before she could even get into the pickup, I’m pretty sure I had wiped enough tears from my eyes to at least wash the hood. However, I restrained myself.
I wouldn’t have wanted the neighbors to think I wasn’t handling things well.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
I have no doubt that my daughter is developing her own relationship with God. But just like the driver’s test, she will stand before God one day and answer for herself. We all will. The good news is that for Christians, Jesus has already passed the test for us. We just have to follow the narrow road that leads to him (Matthew 7:13-14). (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 17, 2009
As I sat there as a nervous dad in the Driver’s License Examiner waiting room Friday, I couldn’t help but feel a certain amount of apprehension for my 16-year old daughter. I thought to myself, “She’s only had her permit for six months. Is she ready to take that final step?” At any moment now, it would be her turn to get behind the wheel of my Jeep with the officer sitting next to her. Would she pass the test? I hoped so. But regardless, there was nothing else I could do to help her now. The training period was over. The officer read my daughter’s name loudly from the sign-in clip board. Her time had come, and off they went! Within 15 minutes, they returned. She had passed the test!
Spiritually speaking, there are some definite parallels to what parents go through in raising their children in the Lord. We train and train, but ultimately it is the child who has to decide whether to apply God’s word to their life. Eventually, they have to be tested for themselves away from their parents. That is the point at which a parent learns the meaning of “giving it over to God.”
Prayer is powerful. And beyond that, there is nothing else you can do to shelter your children from physical, emotional, or spiritual harm. It’s between them and God. But let me say again, “Prayer is powerful.” Prayer must be our first line of action, not a last resort.
So, as soon as we pulled into the driveway with her license in hand, I felt the urge to pray. I prayed for her, I prayed over “Herbert” (my 1982 Ford F-150 she will be driving), and I prayed for all the drivers on the road. Before she could even get into the pickup, I’m pretty sure I had wiped enough tears from my eyes to at least wash the hood. However, I restrained myself.
I wouldn’t have wanted the neighbors to think I wasn’t handling things well.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
I have no doubt that my daughter is developing her own relationship with God. But just like the driver’s test, she will stand before God one day and answer for herself. We all will. The good news is that for Christians, Jesus has already passed the test for us. We just have to follow the narrow road that leads to him (Matthew 7:13-14). (end)
Monday, March 09, 2009
The Most Misunderstood Part of God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 3, 2009
Maybe it’s because we are human, but it seems most Christians have an easier time understanding the idea of God the Father and God the Son than God the Holy Spirit.
But it is important for every Christian to spend time thinking about the Spirit and His work in the Bible and in us. Why? It’s because the Holy Spirit is that part of God who is actually closest to us.
In fact, according the scripture, if the Spirit had a physical address, it would probably read something like “Every Baptized Believer Avenue.”
You can read about that in Acts 2:38. That’s where Peter just finished preaching the first Gospel sermon. The people were deeply grieved, realizing they had just crucified the Son of God. So they asked, “What shall we do?” That’s when Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
God’s word reaffirms this truth many times in the New Testament. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 tells us that God “…anointed us, and set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Paul is simply saying that every Christian has a covenant or an agreement with God of the blessing of heaven. And to prove God means what he says, he sent his Holy Spirit to dwell inside us. The Holy Spirit makes his home in our body, our temple (2 Cor. 6:16 and 1 Cor. 3:16) when we obey his word. Part of that obedience is being baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
In John 14:15-17a, Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.”
Jesus said those words to let his disciples know that after he would be crucified, raised on the third day, and then go back to his heavenly Father, he would be sending that other part of God to guide them.
Jesus reaffirms this thought in some of the final words he would say to his disciples. It’s recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 after Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. “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.”
So what has the Holy Spirit done for us? The Spirit is what enabled Jesus and his disciples in the first century to do miracles to convince people that Jesus' message was true. Then, the Spirit made sure these events and other words of the Bible were written down accurately over the course of 1500 years, by 40 writers on three different continents. We can take a book of the Bible dating back over two-thousand years, and it will read the same as a new copy today (ref: 2 Peter 1:20-21).
So what does the Holy Spirit do for us today?
1. He gives us a way of escape in temptations (1 Cor. 10:13).
2. He gives us inner strength (Ephesians 3:16).
3. He communicates our prayers to God when we are not sure of what to ask (Romans 8:26-27).
4. He transforms us into the likeness of Jesus (2 Cor 3:17-18).
5. He leads us to partake in that wonderful fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
May God bless us all as we take confidence in knowing the power that is available to each of us who has made our bodies a home for God’s Holy Spirit. (end)
Cow Lips and Christianity Have Something in Common
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 24, 2009
Interesting things always happen when you take God’s work into a mission field. This time in Monterrey, Mexico was no different. One of the local elders of a Monterrey Church of Christ has a taco stand where we ate breakfast one morning which was a first for me. We didn’t find out until afterwards that the tasty soft tacos were 100-percent cow lips! They call it barbecoa. If it hadn’t tasted so incredibly good, I would be saying, “YUK” right about now. I guess that was a small sacrifice to encourage a brother in Christ.
I can’t help but be more appreciative of life here in Northeastern Oklahoma everytime I take a trip across the Rio Grande. Ten of us from the Fort Gibson Church of Christ made the journey into Monterrey last week on a short term mission trip to continue construction on a new church building near there. The Fort Gibson Church of Christ purchased the land about a year and a half ago in the fast-growing suburb of Santa Monica. The foundation is finished, most of the walls are up, and now work on the floor, ceiling, and roof will take place soon. The 10-thousand square foot building will seat as many as 400 people, and will provide classroom space. Right now, the 60 members are meeting in a small building about the size of a garage.
While there are obviously some cultural differences between the U.S. and Mexico based on economics, politics, and tradition, there are more similarities than differences. And the desire to worship God seems just as strong there as it does here.
Jeri Collins, Glen and Robin Elliott, Everett Laney, Kenny Lashley, Dan Rouse, myself, and three others from the Sand Springs Church of Christ made the February 14-20 trip.
Despite the news reports of increased danger in Mexico, our group never felt in danger while we were there. Project Director Rick Owens has built over a hundred church buildings in the past 20-years with volunteer help, mostly teenagers who come in to help week after week. And not even once has there been an instance of violence aimed at any of the church groups, and no serious injuries. That’s impressive considering there have been literally thousands of teenage and adult groups make the trip over the years to dig foundations, lay block, mix and pour cement, and put up roof supports.
Not everyone is able to make a trip across the border or overseas on a mission trip. But everyone can help support those who do. May God bless you as you consider ways of taking the message of Jesus into the world (Matthew 28:18-20). (end)
Outstretched
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 3, 2009
“With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, His love endures forever.” Those few words penned by the writer of the 136th Psalm should provide more comfort and present more challenges to Christians than the longest sermon ever preached.
How many times have we asked, “Where was God?” The fact is, the world used to be a near perfect place. That is, until sin entered, and Adam and Eve chose to follow the advice of the devil in the Garden of Eden. That’s the point at which mankind began to value created things more than the Creator. The world had become a broken place, full of tragedy and natural consequences.
As time passed, people became used to dealing with life outside of the garden, and began to feel that the world was a pretty good place to live as long as things were going their way. In other words, the “norm” for life on earth became defined as pretty good except for when bad things would happen.
So, when bad things would happen as a result of not living in a near perfect place, people began to look for someone to blame. Too often, that someone was God. It’s the same today.
We forget that we only have ourselves to blame for the world we live in. You see, in reality life on earth is a lot more work than it was when Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden. We need to cherish every blessing we receive as something special, not as something God owes us. The blessings should be looked at as the exception, not the rule. After all, does any of us really want from God what we deserve?
A youth minister friend of mine, Tom, was very angry with God because his dad developed a brain aneurism three days before Tom’s wedding. He survived the ordeal but Tom’s faith was shaken to the point of considering leaving his job and quitting the church. He was given the opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip to Africa. He went even though his heart was not in it. His job there was to play with children and sing to them while the more experienced missionaries were to have Bible studies with the kids’ parents. Tom found out that most of the children had aids and probably would not live long. The kids he thought were nine or ten, were actually malnourished teenagers. Tom became tired of singing to the children, so he asked them to sing something for him. They began to sing words that when translated are “Holy is the Lord.” One little four-year old boy had polio, but was still walking with leg-braces. And as soon as the singing began, the little boy outstretched his arms to heaven and sang with all his might, “Holy is the Lord.” That child knew more about the meaning of life in his four short years than most of us who’ve lived a lot longer.
Tom could no longer be angry with God for allowing his dad to suffer. The little boy had taught him the lesson that we all have the privilege of praising God for as long or as short a time as we have on earth.
God’s hand is outstretched to us. His love never fades. But we must also outstretch to God. For we did not create ourselves nor any of our blessings. We all understand the concept of being forgiven, yet still having to suffer consequences. Well, that’s a pretty good description of life on earth. We are forgiven because of God’s grace that provides us a way to do his will and reap the reward of heaven. That doesn’t mean bad things will never happen to us or those we love while we live here. We can be sure of that.
May God give us the confidence and understanding to reach out to God and praise his dear name even in times of crisis. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 3, 2009
Maybe it’s because we are human, but it seems most Christians have an easier time understanding the idea of God the Father and God the Son than God the Holy Spirit.
But it is important for every Christian to spend time thinking about the Spirit and His work in the Bible and in us. Why? It’s because the Holy Spirit is that part of God who is actually closest to us.
In fact, according the scripture, if the Spirit had a physical address, it would probably read something like “Every Baptized Believer Avenue.”
You can read about that in Acts 2:38. That’s where Peter just finished preaching the first Gospel sermon. The people were deeply grieved, realizing they had just crucified the Son of God. So they asked, “What shall we do?” That’s when Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
God’s word reaffirms this truth many times in the New Testament. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 tells us that God “…anointed us, and set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Paul is simply saying that every Christian has a covenant or an agreement with God of the blessing of heaven. And to prove God means what he says, he sent his Holy Spirit to dwell inside us. The Holy Spirit makes his home in our body, our temple (2 Cor. 6:16 and 1 Cor. 3:16) when we obey his word. Part of that obedience is being baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
In John 14:15-17a, Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.”
Jesus said those words to let his disciples know that after he would be crucified, raised on the third day, and then go back to his heavenly Father, he would be sending that other part of God to guide them.
Jesus reaffirms this thought in some of the final words he would say to his disciples. It’s recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 after Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. “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.”
So what has the Holy Spirit done for us? The Spirit is what enabled Jesus and his disciples in the first century to do miracles to convince people that Jesus' message was true. Then, the Spirit made sure these events and other words of the Bible were written down accurately over the course of 1500 years, by 40 writers on three different continents. We can take a book of the Bible dating back over two-thousand years, and it will read the same as a new copy today (ref: 2 Peter 1:20-21).
So what does the Holy Spirit do for us today?
1. He gives us a way of escape in temptations (1 Cor. 10:13).
2. He gives us inner strength (Ephesians 3:16).
3. He communicates our prayers to God when we are not sure of what to ask (Romans 8:26-27).
4. He transforms us into the likeness of Jesus (2 Cor 3:17-18).
5. He leads us to partake in that wonderful fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
May God bless us all as we take confidence in knowing the power that is available to each of us who has made our bodies a home for God’s Holy Spirit. (end)
Cow Lips and Christianity Have Something in Common
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 24, 2009
Interesting things always happen when you take God’s work into a mission field. This time in Monterrey, Mexico was no different. One of the local elders of a Monterrey Church of Christ has a taco stand where we ate breakfast one morning which was a first for me. We didn’t find out until afterwards that the tasty soft tacos were 100-percent cow lips! They call it barbecoa. If it hadn’t tasted so incredibly good, I would be saying, “YUK” right about now. I guess that was a small sacrifice to encourage a brother in Christ.
I can’t help but be more appreciative of life here in Northeastern Oklahoma everytime I take a trip across the Rio Grande. Ten of us from the Fort Gibson Church of Christ made the journey into Monterrey last week on a short term mission trip to continue construction on a new church building near there. The Fort Gibson Church of Christ purchased the land about a year and a half ago in the fast-growing suburb of Santa Monica. The foundation is finished, most of the walls are up, and now work on the floor, ceiling, and roof will take place soon. The 10-thousand square foot building will seat as many as 400 people, and will provide classroom space. Right now, the 60 members are meeting in a small building about the size of a garage.
While there are obviously some cultural differences between the U.S. and Mexico based on economics, politics, and tradition, there are more similarities than differences. And the desire to worship God seems just as strong there as it does here.
Jeri Collins, Glen and Robin Elliott, Everett Laney, Kenny Lashley, Dan Rouse, myself, and three others from the Sand Springs Church of Christ made the February 14-20 trip.
Despite the news reports of increased danger in Mexico, our group never felt in danger while we were there. Project Director Rick Owens has built over a hundred church buildings in the past 20-years with volunteer help, mostly teenagers who come in to help week after week. And not even once has there been an instance of violence aimed at any of the church groups, and no serious injuries. That’s impressive considering there have been literally thousands of teenage and adult groups make the trip over the years to dig foundations, lay block, mix and pour cement, and put up roof supports.
Not everyone is able to make a trip across the border or overseas on a mission trip. But everyone can help support those who do. May God bless you as you consider ways of taking the message of Jesus into the world (Matthew 28:18-20). (end)
Outstretched
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 3, 2009
“With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, His love endures forever.” Those few words penned by the writer of the 136th Psalm should provide more comfort and present more challenges to Christians than the longest sermon ever preached.
How many times have we asked, “Where was God?” The fact is, the world used to be a near perfect place. That is, until sin entered, and Adam and Eve chose to follow the advice of the devil in the Garden of Eden. That’s the point at which mankind began to value created things more than the Creator. The world had become a broken place, full of tragedy and natural consequences.
As time passed, people became used to dealing with life outside of the garden, and began to feel that the world was a pretty good place to live as long as things were going their way. In other words, the “norm” for life on earth became defined as pretty good except for when bad things would happen.
So, when bad things would happen as a result of not living in a near perfect place, people began to look for someone to blame. Too often, that someone was God. It’s the same today.
We forget that we only have ourselves to blame for the world we live in. You see, in reality life on earth is a lot more work than it was when Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden. We need to cherish every blessing we receive as something special, not as something God owes us. The blessings should be looked at as the exception, not the rule. After all, does any of us really want from God what we deserve?
A youth minister friend of mine, Tom, was very angry with God because his dad developed a brain aneurism three days before Tom’s wedding. He survived the ordeal but Tom’s faith was shaken to the point of considering leaving his job and quitting the church. He was given the opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip to Africa. He went even though his heart was not in it. His job there was to play with children and sing to them while the more experienced missionaries were to have Bible studies with the kids’ parents. Tom found out that most of the children had aids and probably would not live long. The kids he thought were nine or ten, were actually malnourished teenagers. Tom became tired of singing to the children, so he asked them to sing something for him. They began to sing words that when translated are “Holy is the Lord.” One little four-year old boy had polio, but was still walking with leg-braces. And as soon as the singing began, the little boy outstretched his arms to heaven and sang with all his might, “Holy is the Lord.” That child knew more about the meaning of life in his four short years than most of us who’ve lived a lot longer.
Tom could no longer be angry with God for allowing his dad to suffer. The little boy had taught him the lesson that we all have the privilege of praising God for as long or as short a time as we have on earth.
God’s hand is outstretched to us. His love never fades. But we must also outstretch to God. For we did not create ourselves nor any of our blessings. We all understand the concept of being forgiven, yet still having to suffer consequences. Well, that’s a pretty good description of life on earth. We are forgiven because of God’s grace that provides us a way to do his will and reap the reward of heaven. That doesn’t mean bad things will never happen to us or those we love while we live here. We can be sure of that.
May God give us the confidence and understanding to reach out to God and praise his dear name even in times of crisis. (end)
Monday, February 09, 2009
Christian Clubs Flourish at School
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 10, 2009
Alpha and Omega, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Kids for Christ, and Teens for Christ. Faith-based organizations are flourishing among students at Fort Gibson schools. At a time when so many people in our nation are trying to squelch Christianity and any public mention of God, it is very encouraging to see pockets of dedicated Jesus followers refusing to take their eyes off the prize. Fort Gibson Schools is one of those places.
I should mention at this point that even though I attend and participate in some of these organizations, I do not speak for them, the school, or the sponsors.
That being said, one of the highlights of my week is attending “Teens for Christ” at the Middle School. Students fill the library every Friday morning for a half-hour before school starts. They sing songs of faith and praise, pray, read the Bible, hear lessons, watch videos, and many times enjoy dramatic presentations or other talents performed by students.
Sponsors Beverly Rowan and Teresa Minor do an awesome job of encouraging students to take their faith into all aspects of their lives. Guest speakers and students share their faith in Jesus. They focus primarily on what we can all do to grow spiritually and to bring Jesus to the lost.
There are about as many different ideas on various doctrinal matters as there are kids and guest speakers in attendance. But somehow, the common belief and message that Jesus is God’s son and our only hope gives students a unified core to begin with. Leaders are encouraged to keep the message non-denominational for the short time we meet. It’s a method that strives for unity and a starting point for kids to do their own study and as the apostle Paul put it best: to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).” Students often talk with each other about Bible-related things during the school day, partly because of faith-based organizations in the schools. It’s hard to have anything against that considering all the things they could be spending their time talking about.
May we all pray that God continues to work in our school system even as the world increasingly tries to turn the younger generation away from Him. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 10, 2009
Alpha and Omega, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Kids for Christ, and Teens for Christ. Faith-based organizations are flourishing among students at Fort Gibson schools. At a time when so many people in our nation are trying to squelch Christianity and any public mention of God, it is very encouraging to see pockets of dedicated Jesus followers refusing to take their eyes off the prize. Fort Gibson Schools is one of those places.
I should mention at this point that even though I attend and participate in some of these organizations, I do not speak for them, the school, or the sponsors.
That being said, one of the highlights of my week is attending “Teens for Christ” at the Middle School. Students fill the library every Friday morning for a half-hour before school starts. They sing songs of faith and praise, pray, read the Bible, hear lessons, watch videos, and many times enjoy dramatic presentations or other talents performed by students.
Sponsors Beverly Rowan and Teresa Minor do an awesome job of encouraging students to take their faith into all aspects of their lives. Guest speakers and students share their faith in Jesus. They focus primarily on what we can all do to grow spiritually and to bring Jesus to the lost.
There are about as many different ideas on various doctrinal matters as there are kids and guest speakers in attendance. But somehow, the common belief and message that Jesus is God’s son and our only hope gives students a unified core to begin with. Leaders are encouraged to keep the message non-denominational for the short time we meet. It’s a method that strives for unity and a starting point for kids to do their own study and as the apostle Paul put it best: to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).” Students often talk with each other about Bible-related things during the school day, partly because of faith-based organizations in the schools. It’s hard to have anything against that considering all the things they could be spending their time talking about.
May we all pray that God continues to work in our school system even as the world increasingly tries to turn the younger generation away from Him. (end)
God’s Well-Spring Flows into New Wineskins
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 17, 2009
A couple of weeks ago, my church family shared in the joy of seeing two young men from my youth group, Lane and Tony, be baptized and added to the Lord’s number (Acts 2: 41, 47). What a thrill it was to see these two young souls put on Christ in baptism (Romans 6:1-11 and Galatians 3:26-27).
For new Christians and for any of us older ones, the challenge is how to not become jaded by the world, but instead stay fresh and open to God’s will in our lives.
With the memory of being tempted in the desert for 40 days and nights probably still on his mind, Jesus teaches a lesson to a wide audience of disciples, skeptics, and accusers. The setting was at a great banquet held for Jesus by Levi (AKA: Matthew). I believe the lesson was that of consuming God’s will into your life in new and fresh ways everyday through a relationship with Jesus. Luke 5:36-39 is certainly one of the most powerful parables for this in the New Testament.
This passage takes place just after Jesus started his ministry. He began to do miracles so that people would believe his message. He chose his first disciples. And then while at dinner, the very legalistic Pharisees and teachers of the Old Testament law began to compare Jesus’ ministry with that of John the Baptist. They criticized Jesus’ disciples for eating and drinking at times when followers of John and followers of the Pharisees would have fasted and prayed. This gave Jesus the opportunity to further explain his deity by introducing himself as the bridegroom. He said the bridegroom would eventually be taken away from his guests, and at that time they should fast and pray, but not while he was with them.
Then, Jesus said, “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘the old is better (Luke 5:36-39).’”
What a tremendous challenge! The fact is, the Gospel message of Jesus is no less powerful and life-changing today than it was on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22-41). That’s when Peter preached the first Gospel sermon and about three-thousand people were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.
God’s word assures that Jesus’ blood continually cleanses Christians from their sins (1 John 1:7). But what is our end of the bargain? This same passage says we must “walk in the light, as he is in the light” so that we can continue to have that fellowship with our Savior. In other words, we become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We become a new wineskin of sorts that is capable of drinking in and storing a new way of life that is made possible through Jesus Christ.
May God bless us with the desire to never become old stagnant wineskins incapable of letting God’s will flow through our lives. But instead, may we all desire to be new wineskins with a continual thirst for more of God’s well-spring of life. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 17, 2009
A couple of weeks ago, my church family shared in the joy of seeing two young men from my youth group, Lane and Tony, be baptized and added to the Lord’s number (Acts 2: 41, 47). What a thrill it was to see these two young souls put on Christ in baptism (Romans 6:1-11 and Galatians 3:26-27).
For new Christians and for any of us older ones, the challenge is how to not become jaded by the world, but instead stay fresh and open to God’s will in our lives.
With the memory of being tempted in the desert for 40 days and nights probably still on his mind, Jesus teaches a lesson to a wide audience of disciples, skeptics, and accusers. The setting was at a great banquet held for Jesus by Levi (AKA: Matthew). I believe the lesson was that of consuming God’s will into your life in new and fresh ways everyday through a relationship with Jesus. Luke 5:36-39 is certainly one of the most powerful parables for this in the New Testament.
This passage takes place just after Jesus started his ministry. He began to do miracles so that people would believe his message. He chose his first disciples. And then while at dinner, the very legalistic Pharisees and teachers of the Old Testament law began to compare Jesus’ ministry with that of John the Baptist. They criticized Jesus’ disciples for eating and drinking at times when followers of John and followers of the Pharisees would have fasted and prayed. This gave Jesus the opportunity to further explain his deity by introducing himself as the bridegroom. He said the bridegroom would eventually be taken away from his guests, and at that time they should fast and pray, but not while he was with them.
Then, Jesus said, “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘the old is better (Luke 5:36-39).’”
What a tremendous challenge! The fact is, the Gospel message of Jesus is no less powerful and life-changing today than it was on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22-41). That’s when Peter preached the first Gospel sermon and about three-thousand people were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.
God’s word assures that Jesus’ blood continually cleanses Christians from their sins (1 John 1:7). But what is our end of the bargain? This same passage says we must “walk in the light, as he is in the light” so that we can continue to have that fellowship with our Savior. In other words, we become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We become a new wineskin of sorts that is capable of drinking in and storing a new way of life that is made possible through Jesus Christ.
May God bless us with the desire to never become old stagnant wineskins incapable of letting God’s will flow through our lives. But instead, may we all desire to be new wineskins with a continual thirst for more of God’s well-spring of life. (end)
Friday, January 23, 2009
A crowded throne can make you feel the squeeze
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 27, 2009
I ran across a YouTube video on the internet that perfectly illustrates the struggle Christians face everyday in deciding who’s in charge of their life.
In case you want to look at it yourself, the name of it is “The Stool.” I know, it’s not an attractive title. Nonetheless, it’s a skit that centers around a conversation between Jesus and a Christian. We’ll call her Chris for short. She decides to give Jesus a chair to sit on. They agree that whoever is sitting on the chair gets to make all the decisions for her. Chris soon finds herself in an uncomfortable situation when friends come along and try to talk her into participating in sinful activities. Everytime she can’t make up her mind about what to do, she finds herself trying to make room to sit on the chair that she already gave to Jesus. Sometimes, Jesus would get squeezed half-way off the chair, and sometimes, he wound up all the way off because Chris was taking up all the room. This led to some very pointed discussion between the two as Jesus was trying to make decisions for Chris who kept forgetting who was in charge of her life. She eventually stated that she couldn’t make up her mind. To which, Jesus replied, “You just did.”
Does this sound familiar to you? It’s not a bad idea to frequently ask yourself, Who is sitting on the chair of my life?”
In the New Testament, John writes what he saw in a vision of heaven. It was a celebration like none other.
“…Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being (Revelation 4:8-9)."
We serve a God who is worthy of our praise, and is worthy to sit on the throne. In reality, there is nothing we can do to knock Jesus off His throne. However, we do oftentimes prove by our actions that we “think” we can take his place on the throne, a notion that could not be further from the truth, nor would we ever really want to take his place. Think about it, if we place ourselves on the throne, who would we to turn to in times of trouble?
May we pray fervently for the will to keep Jesus on the throne of our life, and have faith enough to never try to push him out of his role as Savior. (end)
The Greatest Commandments
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 20, 2009
Did you ever wonder exactly what God expects from us? One time, a group of so-called religious men who were always trying to trip-up Jesus asked him a question. They wanted to know which was the greatest commandment of them all. Jesus responded with this quote found in Mark’s Gospel account.
“30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
One might ask, “How could this be? How could over 600 Jewish laws be boiled down to only two?”
The answer is found in Matthew’s account of this Q & A session when he says,. “40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40)
So, what exactly does that mean? Well, if you think about it, it makes sense what Jesus was talking about. He’s saying that if you’re fully submitting to God’s will in every part of your life, you really don’t have to worry about whether you’re going to break the rest of those 600-plus rules.
You see, when we tell God that we love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, that means we will do anything to keep from disappointing him. Under the Old Testament Law, the large number of rules alone made it next to impossible to get it right. So, the only thing they could do was to check the rules off their list as they completed each good deed or avoided violating a particular law.
So, when Jesus came along and became the perfect sacrifice, there was no longer a need to follow a religion of checklists including animal sacrifices. Besides, it was never meant to be permanent, but simply a “schoolmaster” to bring us to a new and better covenant.
In the New Testament, Jesus over and over stresses the importance of treating other people with respect, kindness, compassion, and sacrificial love. In the form of a human, Jesus now knew firsthand what our struggles were like. Perhaps, that’s why he also told us to love our neighbor, and said there are no laws more important than loving God and loving others.
That part about these two commandments being what the law and prophets hang on is just that. No matter what rule we can think of, we will always be pleasing to God as long as we give God the sacrificial love that he gives us. The Bible also mentions the impossibility of loving a God we haven’t seen while treating those we have seen with hatred (1 John 4:16-21).
May God give each of us the burning desire to love others the way he loves each of us, thereby finding true joy in what will certainly become an abundant life (John 10:10).
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 27, 2009
I ran across a YouTube video on the internet that perfectly illustrates the struggle Christians face everyday in deciding who’s in charge of their life.
In case you want to look at it yourself, the name of it is “The Stool.” I know, it’s not an attractive title. Nonetheless, it’s a skit that centers around a conversation between Jesus and a Christian. We’ll call her Chris for short. She decides to give Jesus a chair to sit on. They agree that whoever is sitting on the chair gets to make all the decisions for her. Chris soon finds herself in an uncomfortable situation when friends come along and try to talk her into participating in sinful activities. Everytime she can’t make up her mind about what to do, she finds herself trying to make room to sit on the chair that she already gave to Jesus. Sometimes, Jesus would get squeezed half-way off the chair, and sometimes, he wound up all the way off because Chris was taking up all the room. This led to some very pointed discussion between the two as Jesus was trying to make decisions for Chris who kept forgetting who was in charge of her life. She eventually stated that she couldn’t make up her mind. To which, Jesus replied, “You just did.”
Does this sound familiar to you? It’s not a bad idea to frequently ask yourself, Who is sitting on the chair of my life?”
In the New Testament, John writes what he saw in a vision of heaven. It was a celebration like none other.
“…Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being (Revelation 4:8-9)."
We serve a God who is worthy of our praise, and is worthy to sit on the throne. In reality, there is nothing we can do to knock Jesus off His throne. However, we do oftentimes prove by our actions that we “think” we can take his place on the throne, a notion that could not be further from the truth, nor would we ever really want to take his place. Think about it, if we place ourselves on the throne, who would we to turn to in times of trouble?
May we pray fervently for the will to keep Jesus on the throne of our life, and have faith enough to never try to push him out of his role as Savior. (end)
The Greatest Commandments
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 20, 2009
Did you ever wonder exactly what God expects from us? One time, a group of so-called religious men who were always trying to trip-up Jesus asked him a question. They wanted to know which was the greatest commandment of them all. Jesus responded with this quote found in Mark’s Gospel account.
“30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
One might ask, “How could this be? How could over 600 Jewish laws be boiled down to only two?”
The answer is found in Matthew’s account of this Q & A session when he says,. “40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40)
So, what exactly does that mean? Well, if you think about it, it makes sense what Jesus was talking about. He’s saying that if you’re fully submitting to God’s will in every part of your life, you really don’t have to worry about whether you’re going to break the rest of those 600-plus rules.
You see, when we tell God that we love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, that means we will do anything to keep from disappointing him. Under the Old Testament Law, the large number of rules alone made it next to impossible to get it right. So, the only thing they could do was to check the rules off their list as they completed each good deed or avoided violating a particular law.
So, when Jesus came along and became the perfect sacrifice, there was no longer a need to follow a religion of checklists including animal sacrifices. Besides, it was never meant to be permanent, but simply a “schoolmaster” to bring us to a new and better covenant.
In the New Testament, Jesus over and over stresses the importance of treating other people with respect, kindness, compassion, and sacrificial love. In the form of a human, Jesus now knew firsthand what our struggles were like. Perhaps, that’s why he also told us to love our neighbor, and said there are no laws more important than loving God and loving others.
That part about these two commandments being what the law and prophets hang on is just that. No matter what rule we can think of, we will always be pleasing to God as long as we give God the sacrificial love that he gives us. The Bible also mentions the impossibility of loving a God we haven’t seen while treating those we have seen with hatred (1 John 4:16-21).
May God give each of us the burning desire to love others the way he loves each of us, thereby finding true joy in what will certainly become an abundant life (John 10:10).
Friday, January 09, 2009
How to say “I love you!”
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 13, 2009
So why doesn’t she seem to appreciate the flowers I get her? Why doesn’t he seem to appreciate me doing the dishes and cleaning the house? Why don’t my children seem appreciative of all the gifts I give them?
I suppose if you were to stack together all the books ever written about relationships, you couldn’t find a room big enough to house them. Author Gary Chapman has penned a series of books on the “Love Languages” of adults, young children, and teenagers. The book “The Love Dare” by Alex and Stephen Kendrick was featured in “Fireproof,” a recent movie focusing how to fireproof your marriage.
I remember how shocked I was the first time I found out that men and women actually have differing ways of what makes them feel loved. Children also have their own ideas of what makes them feel loved. Beyond that, not even all men, all women, or all children have the same love languages.
Some people feel loved when they receive gifts. Others feel loved when they hear the words “I love you.” Still others feel loved when they receive help with household chores or other duties. And others feel love when physical romance is present.
A mix-up can occur when someone assumes what makes them feel loved is what they need to do to make someone else feel loved. If the recipient of the effort has a different love language, the result may be frustration instead of the desired effect of feeling loved.
So what do you do? Well, you can start by asking your loved one what it is that makes them feel loved. But it is important that you establish that what you’re asking is “What makes you feel loved?” Not, “What makes you feel happy at the moment?”
A child may say at first that a new MP3 player or the latest cell phone would make them feel loved. But if you talk with them more you might find out they feel loved when a parent spends time with them, listens to them, provides a home cooked meal, or makes sure they get to school and other activities and back home safely.
A spouse may like a nice gift. Who doesn’t? But they may truly feel loved when they know you’re sacrificing your wants and even time for the overall security or good of the family. If the other spouse is paying attention, they will reward the sacrifices by responding to the other’s love language. Simple respect and appreciation for each other’s needs and each other’s efforts will go a long way towards preventing feelings of resentment. Not only that, but showing appreciation with your actions to back up your words may actually translate to the best “I love you” of all.
With February 14th only a month a way, this would be a great time to start thinking of how to make this year’s Valentine’s Day the best ever. If you’re looking for different outcomes this year in any of your relationships, it will be worth your time to invest some thought and prayer into changing your method. One of the best lines in the recent movie “Fireproof” comes after the husband spends 40 days doing one nice thing per day for his spouse regardless of her reaction in order to save their marriage. Eventually, he won her over and made the statement, “God has given me a love for you I never had before.”
May God bless you all year long as you heed Jesus’ words. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Even if you had no other reading material for advice in your relationships, John 13:34 would be a great place to start. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 13, 2009
So why doesn’t she seem to appreciate the flowers I get her? Why doesn’t he seem to appreciate me doing the dishes and cleaning the house? Why don’t my children seem appreciative of all the gifts I give them?
I suppose if you were to stack together all the books ever written about relationships, you couldn’t find a room big enough to house them. Author Gary Chapman has penned a series of books on the “Love Languages” of adults, young children, and teenagers. The book “The Love Dare” by Alex and Stephen Kendrick was featured in “Fireproof,” a recent movie focusing how to fireproof your marriage.
I remember how shocked I was the first time I found out that men and women actually have differing ways of what makes them feel loved. Children also have their own ideas of what makes them feel loved. Beyond that, not even all men, all women, or all children have the same love languages.
Some people feel loved when they receive gifts. Others feel loved when they hear the words “I love you.” Still others feel loved when they receive help with household chores or other duties. And others feel love when physical romance is present.
A mix-up can occur when someone assumes what makes them feel loved is what they need to do to make someone else feel loved. If the recipient of the effort has a different love language, the result may be frustration instead of the desired effect of feeling loved.
So what do you do? Well, you can start by asking your loved one what it is that makes them feel loved. But it is important that you establish that what you’re asking is “What makes you feel loved?” Not, “What makes you feel happy at the moment?”
A child may say at first that a new MP3 player or the latest cell phone would make them feel loved. But if you talk with them more you might find out they feel loved when a parent spends time with them, listens to them, provides a home cooked meal, or makes sure they get to school and other activities and back home safely.
A spouse may like a nice gift. Who doesn’t? But they may truly feel loved when they know you’re sacrificing your wants and even time for the overall security or good of the family. If the other spouse is paying attention, they will reward the sacrifices by responding to the other’s love language. Simple respect and appreciation for each other’s needs and each other’s efforts will go a long way towards preventing feelings of resentment. Not only that, but showing appreciation with your actions to back up your words may actually translate to the best “I love you” of all.
With February 14th only a month a way, this would be a great time to start thinking of how to make this year’s Valentine’s Day the best ever. If you’re looking for different outcomes this year in any of your relationships, it will be worth your time to invest some thought and prayer into changing your method. One of the best lines in the recent movie “Fireproof” comes after the husband spends 40 days doing one nice thing per day for his spouse regardless of her reaction in order to save their marriage. Eventually, he won her over and made the statement, “God has given me a love for you I never had before.”
May God bless you all year long as you heed Jesus’ words. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Even if you had no other reading material for advice in your relationships, John 13:34 would be a great place to start. (end)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Make 2009 a Re-New Year
Your Relationship with Jesus Is Most Important
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 6, 2009
You would be hard pressed to find an issue that means more to the average person than having quality relationships. More than money, more than popularity, good relationships are a top priority for most people. So, why do so many relationships get into trouble? Why do best friends turn into enemies? Why do marriages fail? Why do neighbors and families feud? The answer simply put is this: Not enough Jesus!
You see, while it is certainly a good thing to desire good relationships over so many other things that the world has to offer, those relationships must still take their proper place under your relationship with Jesus.
Do you remember the story of the wise man building his house on the rock, and do you remember what happened when the foolish man built his house on the sand? The rains came, and while the wise man’s house stood firm, the foolish man’s house fell with a great crash (Matthew 7:24-27).
For Christians, Jesus is our Rock (with a capital R). So when 2009 threatens to blow you away with busy-ness, just remember who comes first. If the answer for you is your spouse, children, or friends, or worse yet, money which is the root of all evil, 2009 or any other year will most likely be a rocky one (with a little r). The fact is that we are all human, and so we tend to put faith and trust in things we can see. But Christians and everyone else need to be reminded that our love and faith should be directed towards God through Jesus (John 14:6, Romans 6:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21). If you do this, he will make sure you still have plenty left for those people in your life who mean so much to you.
The Bible is full of stories that remind us of what God can do when we put our trust in him. In 2 Kings 4, there was a poor man and woman who revered God. The husband died and his creditors were going to take her sons as slaves to repay her husband’s debt. She told her story to Elisha who was a prophet of God. And since she had nothing in her house “except a little oil,” Elisha told the woman to ask her neighbors for empty jars. Then he told her to pour oil into each of the jars until they were full. After all the jars were full, she asked her son to bring her another jar. But since there were no more jars left, her original supply of oil stopped flowing. Then Elisha told the woman to sell the oil and pay her debts. God knows our needs.
Isn’t that an amazing story? The devil wants us to think that if we consistently do God’s will, that somehow our relationships will suffer. Parents are tempted to think that if they bring their kids to church too often, their kids will turn away from God. Women and especially teenage girls often think that if they don’t “give in” to their boyfriend’s desire for the kind of romance that is supposed to take place inside of marriage, that the man or boy will toss them aside. The examples could go on. The point is that when we give all we have (no matter the amount) to God in regards to our faith, love, and talents, God can and will do mighty things. Remember the story of the five loaves and two fish Jesus used to feed the five-thousand?
May God bless you in the New Year as you renew your strength by putting your hope in the Lord (Isaiah 40:31) (end).
Your Relationship with Jesus Is Most Important
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 6, 2009
You would be hard pressed to find an issue that means more to the average person than having quality relationships. More than money, more than popularity, good relationships are a top priority for most people. So, why do so many relationships get into trouble? Why do best friends turn into enemies? Why do marriages fail? Why do neighbors and families feud? The answer simply put is this: Not enough Jesus!
You see, while it is certainly a good thing to desire good relationships over so many other things that the world has to offer, those relationships must still take their proper place under your relationship with Jesus.
Do you remember the story of the wise man building his house on the rock, and do you remember what happened when the foolish man built his house on the sand? The rains came, and while the wise man’s house stood firm, the foolish man’s house fell with a great crash (Matthew 7:24-27).
For Christians, Jesus is our Rock (with a capital R). So when 2009 threatens to blow you away with busy-ness, just remember who comes first. If the answer for you is your spouse, children, or friends, or worse yet, money which is the root of all evil, 2009 or any other year will most likely be a rocky one (with a little r). The fact is that we are all human, and so we tend to put faith and trust in things we can see. But Christians and everyone else need to be reminded that our love and faith should be directed towards God through Jesus (John 14:6, Romans 6:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21). If you do this, he will make sure you still have plenty left for those people in your life who mean so much to you.
The Bible is full of stories that remind us of what God can do when we put our trust in him. In 2 Kings 4, there was a poor man and woman who revered God. The husband died and his creditors were going to take her sons as slaves to repay her husband’s debt. She told her story to Elisha who was a prophet of God. And since she had nothing in her house “except a little oil,” Elisha told the woman to ask her neighbors for empty jars. Then he told her to pour oil into each of the jars until they were full. After all the jars were full, she asked her son to bring her another jar. But since there were no more jars left, her original supply of oil stopped flowing. Then Elisha told the woman to sell the oil and pay her debts. God knows our needs.
Isn’t that an amazing story? The devil wants us to think that if we consistently do God’s will, that somehow our relationships will suffer. Parents are tempted to think that if they bring their kids to church too often, their kids will turn away from God. Women and especially teenage girls often think that if they don’t “give in” to their boyfriend’s desire for the kind of romance that is supposed to take place inside of marriage, that the man or boy will toss them aside. The examples could go on. The point is that when we give all we have (no matter the amount) to God in regards to our faith, love, and talents, God can and will do mighty things. Remember the story of the five loaves and two fish Jesus used to feed the five-thousand?
May God bless you in the New Year as you renew your strength by putting your hope in the Lord (Isaiah 40:31) (end).
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Why I Trust in Jesus
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 30, 2008
As we begin a new year, it's only fitting to re-evaluate our lives. We need to take inventory of where we stand spiritually to see if we're coming up short of where we should be.
For me, it seemed most important to begin with the basics. The question of "Why do I trust in Jesus?" After all, if I'm going to base my life on him, and profess to dedicate every waking moment to imitating him, this question must be answered firmly.
Here are three main reasons I believe we can all trust in Jesus.
1) Jesus gives us purpose of existence. He gives us reason to wake up, to live, and to be joyful. Sadly, there are many people who feel they have no reason for their existence. When they get up in the morning, the only reason they have to get out of bed is to go to work, school, run errands, eat, pay bills, go to one kind of practice or another, or do a hobby. If that's their only motivations for starting the day, it's no wonder there are so many crabby people out there with pinchers ready to inflict pain on anyone who dares to cross them. But hallelujah! Jesus gives us all the reason we need to wake-up, get on with our day, and be joyful. Just think of all the earthly gifts he has blessed us with such as laughter, memory, even forgetfulness, loyalty, love, friends and family, and forgiveness, understanding, and patience from both. And how about eternal gifts such as forgiveness of sins, love, joy, peace, and citizenship in heaven. Just think about the impact Jesus Christ has had on humanity since the day he arrived! Just think about the way so many people's lives have changed for the better because of him.
2) Jesus gives us opportunity to make a real difference. Just think about the opportunities we have with our families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors including the ones on our block and those who wait on our tables. Ask any restaurant worker and they will probably tell you that "church people" are among the most rude and worst tippers they see all week. If we approached our heavenly goals the same as we approach ball games and other earthly passions where there's a time clock and a winner and loser involved, something tells me we would all have a more urgent mindset when it comes to winning souls including our own. After all, when it's all said and done and we're all standing before God on Judgement Day, do you really think anyone's going to be impressed with your earthly popularity, or how much money you had, or how talented you were? No, at least if your emphasis on those things outweighed your focus on spiritual things. How would you feel on Judgement Day if you were a non-believer, and you came to the realization that a so-called Christian didn't tell about Jesus because they were afraid to lose their popularity? On the other hand, just imagine the great rejoicing that will most certainly take place as a result of brave Christians stepping out of their comfort zones to save someone's soul.
3) Jesus gives us more than enough to believe in, to talk and write about, and even to die for. Let's face it. To the human mind, living the Christian life involves risk. For two-thousand years now, people have believed that Jesus is God's son, they've written thousands and thousands of books and articles about him, and they've been willing to suffer persecution for his sake. Christians and even atheists have written about him, and studied and debated about him. Ancient writers, theologians, historians, and philosophers outside of the Bible have also written about Jesus. They've quoted from the New Testament and have listed books of the Bible in their own writings dating back to between 100-400 A.D. It seems like someone would have been able to find even a shred of proof that Jesus was not the son of God if it were at all possible. The fact is, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. Jesus is the son of God. He came here for one purpose, to save our souls.
May God bless you with renewed confidence in your trust of Jesus the Christ. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 30, 2008
As we begin a new year, it's only fitting to re-evaluate our lives. We need to take inventory of where we stand spiritually to see if we're coming up short of where we should be.
For me, it seemed most important to begin with the basics. The question of "Why do I trust in Jesus?" After all, if I'm going to base my life on him, and profess to dedicate every waking moment to imitating him, this question must be answered firmly.
Here are three main reasons I believe we can all trust in Jesus.
1) Jesus gives us purpose of existence. He gives us reason to wake up, to live, and to be joyful. Sadly, there are many people who feel they have no reason for their existence. When they get up in the morning, the only reason they have to get out of bed is to go to work, school, run errands, eat, pay bills, go to one kind of practice or another, or do a hobby. If that's their only motivations for starting the day, it's no wonder there are so many crabby people out there with pinchers ready to inflict pain on anyone who dares to cross them. But hallelujah! Jesus gives us all the reason we need to wake-up, get on with our day, and be joyful. Just think of all the earthly gifts he has blessed us with such as laughter, memory, even forgetfulness, loyalty, love, friends and family, and forgiveness, understanding, and patience from both. And how about eternal gifts such as forgiveness of sins, love, joy, peace, and citizenship in heaven. Just think about the impact Jesus Christ has had on humanity since the day he arrived! Just think about the way so many people's lives have changed for the better because of him.
2) Jesus gives us opportunity to make a real difference. Just think about the opportunities we have with our families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors including the ones on our block and those who wait on our tables. Ask any restaurant worker and they will probably tell you that "church people" are among the most rude and worst tippers they see all week. If we approached our heavenly goals the same as we approach ball games and other earthly passions where there's a time clock and a winner and loser involved, something tells me we would all have a more urgent mindset when it comes to winning souls including our own. After all, when it's all said and done and we're all standing before God on Judgement Day, do you really think anyone's going to be impressed with your earthly popularity, or how much money you had, or how talented you were? No, at least if your emphasis on those things outweighed your focus on spiritual things. How would you feel on Judgement Day if you were a non-believer, and you came to the realization that a so-called Christian didn't tell about Jesus because they were afraid to lose their popularity? On the other hand, just imagine the great rejoicing that will most certainly take place as a result of brave Christians stepping out of their comfort zones to save someone's soul.
3) Jesus gives us more than enough to believe in, to talk and write about, and even to die for. Let's face it. To the human mind, living the Christian life involves risk. For two-thousand years now, people have believed that Jesus is God's son, they've written thousands and thousands of books and articles about him, and they've been willing to suffer persecution for his sake. Christians and even atheists have written about him, and studied and debated about him. Ancient writers, theologians, historians, and philosophers outside of the Bible have also written about Jesus. They've quoted from the New Testament and have listed books of the Bible in their own writings dating back to between 100-400 A.D. It seems like someone would have been able to find even a shred of proof that Jesus was not the son of God if it were at all possible. The fact is, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. Jesus is the son of God. He came here for one purpose, to save our souls.
May God bless you with renewed confidence in your trust of Jesus the Christ. (end)
Monday, December 08, 2008
The Christmas Grinch takes many forms
But joy can still be found
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(December 9, 2008)
Aahh, the holidays! Here in Fort Gibson, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the song goes. But with reports of break-ins, and even theft of mail as thieves look for cash and gift cards, this is one kind of Christmas Grinch that can make it difficult to find joy in December.
One might try finding joy in advertisements that push buying merchandise and not having to pay for it until 2010. But that’s just another Christmas Grinch that fools cash-strapped customers into the inevitable. They find themselves living under the dark cloud of debt, dreading their future of paying high interest rates for something they can’t afford.
The Christmas Grinch also strikes by inserting stress and lack of patience into shopping trips, family relationships, even things that are supposed to be fun like holiday parties, Christmas plays, musicals, caroling for the elderly, and oh yes, getting your taxes in order.
Or how many people have purchased computers, internet, and cell phones for Christmas to unite the family only to find out these are the gifts the Christmas Grinch tries to use year round to divide your family?
So, how do you prevent the Christmas Grinch from turning December into the most wonderful time of the year to be in a bad mood?
You might start by thinking about the joy you will bring to others because of your sacrifices. Then, diving into crowded stores and street traffic becomes purpose driven. For instance, our church is just one of thousands across the nation purchasing clothes and toys for needy children. This is something that everyone from civic groups to biker clubs and knitting clubs take part in every year.
As with any good deed, Satan always tries to find a way to turn it into a negative. That’s the devil’s job, and he’s very good at it. The thing we as followers of Jesus Christ must remember is that the battle has already been won. If you are a child of God, you’re going to heaven. How many will you take with you? The devil can deal out some very severe blows to our spiritual walk. But Jesus assures us that for every temptation we encounter, there is a way out so that we can stand up under the pressure (1 Corinthians 10:13). As long as we are on this earth, we will face temptation. The only question is whether you will choose to face it with Jesus’ help, or without it.
The fact that we have the Spirit of Jesus Christ himself working in our favor gives us confidence to ask the question, “Who could possibly be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
We should never be so naive as to think the world’s ways are not against us (John 15:18-21). We know that to be false. However, anyone who opposes the Lord will eventually find themselves without hope. Eventually, everyone will bow before God and confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10 and Romans 14:11).
May God give you true joy this holiday season in spite of the devil, the Christmas Grinch, or whoever else is working against your efforts to bring honor to the Lord. (end)
But joy can still be found
by Barrett Vanlandingham
(December 9, 2008)
Aahh, the holidays! Here in Fort Gibson, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the song goes. But with reports of break-ins, and even theft of mail as thieves look for cash and gift cards, this is one kind of Christmas Grinch that can make it difficult to find joy in December.
One might try finding joy in advertisements that push buying merchandise and not having to pay for it until 2010. But that’s just another Christmas Grinch that fools cash-strapped customers into the inevitable. They find themselves living under the dark cloud of debt, dreading their future of paying high interest rates for something they can’t afford.
The Christmas Grinch also strikes by inserting stress and lack of patience into shopping trips, family relationships, even things that are supposed to be fun like holiday parties, Christmas plays, musicals, caroling for the elderly, and oh yes, getting your taxes in order.
Or how many people have purchased computers, internet, and cell phones for Christmas to unite the family only to find out these are the gifts the Christmas Grinch tries to use year round to divide your family?
So, how do you prevent the Christmas Grinch from turning December into the most wonderful time of the year to be in a bad mood?
You might start by thinking about the joy you will bring to others because of your sacrifices. Then, diving into crowded stores and street traffic becomes purpose driven. For instance, our church is just one of thousands across the nation purchasing clothes and toys for needy children. This is something that everyone from civic groups to biker clubs and knitting clubs take part in every year.
As with any good deed, Satan always tries to find a way to turn it into a negative. That’s the devil’s job, and he’s very good at it. The thing we as followers of Jesus Christ must remember is that the battle has already been won. If you are a child of God, you’re going to heaven. How many will you take with you? The devil can deal out some very severe blows to our spiritual walk. But Jesus assures us that for every temptation we encounter, there is a way out so that we can stand up under the pressure (1 Corinthians 10:13). As long as we are on this earth, we will face temptation. The only question is whether you will choose to face it with Jesus’ help, or without it.
The fact that we have the Spirit of Jesus Christ himself working in our favor gives us confidence to ask the question, “Who could possibly be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
We should never be so naive as to think the world’s ways are not against us (John 15:18-21). We know that to be false. However, anyone who opposes the Lord will eventually find themselves without hope. Eventually, everyone will bow before God and confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10 and Romans 14:11).
May God give you true joy this holiday season in spite of the devil, the Christmas Grinch, or whoever else is working against your efforts to bring honor to the Lord. (end)
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