The Son can make all things beautiful
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 6, 2010
This is my family’s inaugural year for growing corn. So far, we have yet to pick anything off the stalk. But at least we have stalks to pick from, I think.
We planted two small patches of the corn several weeks ago. The first is on the west side of my house where it’s shady in the morning and late afternoon. The second patch is behind the house where it’s sunny most of the day. It became apparent pretty quickly that the corn planted behind the house grew faster. In fact, it is now twice as tall as the other corn.
I couldn’t resist giving my youth group a tour of my little garden to demonstrate what happens when corn receives a lot of exposure to the sun versus when it doesn’t.
The apostle Paul addressed the issue of spiritual growth in regard to some Christians who thought they were better than others based on who baptized them. Paul said, “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” This passage teaches a couple of important lessons we need to remember:
1) Our job as Christians is to plant seed and water it. The seed may be the actual teaching of the Gospel story of Jesus, or it might be an act of kindness that leads to a teaching opportunity. You might be best at planting seed, while others may be better at watering or nurturing new Christians. As fellow workers with God (1 Cor. 3:9), every Christian has a unique God-given talent to use for the saving of lost souls.
2) In the end, it comes down to the relationship between an individual and God. He is the only one who can turn our efforts to save souls into something truly beautiful and life-changing. None of us on our own can force anyone to apply God’s word to their life as much as we try. All we can do is plant, water and wait for God to do his mighty work through the Son.
The wisest man who ever lived was Solomon. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 he said this about God: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
God is not a respecter of persons. All who draw near to the Son will grow in a relationship with God that will transform their lives forever.
Let God make you beautiful today. (end)
Trust is as easy as falling off a cliff
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 29, 2010
There’s nothing quite like walking off of a 40-feet high cliff backwards, even when multiple safety ropes and harnesses are present.
The rappelling trip I told you I was going on last week was successful, as evidenced by the fact that I am still alive to write about it. In the process, I learned a lot about rappelling, about myself, and even picked up a few great spiritual lessons along the way.
One of my friends, Rob, and his son Anthony were in charge of the trip. Rob made sure the equipment I was wearing was properly fastened. Anthony, a very close friend and former youth group member, was the belayer. That’s the guy who holds on to my back-up rope (belay line). That rope is then was fastened to him and tied to a huge rock. In addition, Anthony had another safety rope attaching him to a tree. He stood on the same ledge I was standing on as I leaned back to start my journey down the face of the cliff. And trust me, 40-feet looks A LOT higher from the top of the cliff than from the bottom.
After waiting nearly four hours in the heat for my turn to rappel, it didn’t take a lot of coaxing for me back down the cliff. Besides, I knew there were bottles of water and sandwiches waiting for me after it was over. But, just as I leaned backwards over the 40-feet of air with nothing at the bottom but rock, Anthony tripped over his safety line and fell flat on his back on the ledge I had just departed from. He quickly jumped to his feet. I must admit, this might have been very disturbing if I hadn’t already known just how many safety back-ups were in place.
Spiritual trust is kind of the same thing. It takes time to trust in God since we cannot see him. Trust only comes after we understand what we’ve been equipped with. We must learn how to use God’s blessings to experience joy in this life as we look forward to the life to come. Our equipment includes prayer and Bible study. And when we make the effort to see how God works successfully in people’s lives every day, we can’t help but grow in trust.
In rappelling, I had to trust that the anchor rock, two trees, the main line, the belay line, my harness, and Anthony’s harness were not all going to break at the same time. Seems easy until you get ready to test it out for real.
In the Christian life, we may start out giving God only a little bit of line to work with. But as we practice our faith everyday and honor God for the amazing things he continues to do, our trust grows. We are safe when we are anchored to the Rock. Besides, at the end of our spiritual journey there will a lot more than sandwiches and bottled water.
On a personal note, I am still afraid of heights. But after this experience, there are many other fears such as public speaking that are no longer near as big of a deal.
May God bless your spiritual walk as you learn to trust him with every part of your life. (end)
Welcome to my bulletin article site. What I do is minister to young Christians, their families, their friends, and others in the Fort Gibson, OK area. So check-in every now and then, and I'll try to have an encouraging word for you.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Trusting in the Lord is worth the effort
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 22, 2010
As I write this article, I am nervously preparing for a rappelling trip at Robber’s Cave near Wilburton with several other church members. I’ve never been rappelling. The only thing I know about it is that it involves a cliff, a rope, a good amount of trust, and a lot of butterflies in my stomach at this point.
There are a lot of spiritual parallels that could be drawn between rappelling and our trust in God. But since I’ve never been rappelling, I will save that for another day. I will, however, continue this line of thinking on the topic of trust.
I claim to trust in God. But, I will admit that saying it versus doing it are two totally different things. I was talking with my wife just this morning about the fact that I teach Bible classes on the topic of trusting God, even though I know deep inside how difficult it is to live it. In short, trusting God is easy when everything is going your way, and your map through life seems easy to follow. But that can change quickly when you come to life’s crossroads.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
That passage from Proverbs is very well known by those who study a lot of Bible. I hope you will take it to heart. It teaches us a great lesson about trusting God, even when we don’t understand his method in getting things done. It is nice to know that God has the ability to make our paths straight. This doesn’t mean our stairway to heaven won’t be without difficulty. It only means that if we stay the course, and stay faithful along the path, we will ultimately see the face of God and experience eternal life in heaven.
The next couple of verses, Proverbs 3:7-8, are great additions to these thoughts. “7. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
We often lean on our own understanding because we forget just how much God understands. Solomon spent a lifetime searching for wisdom, so he is definitely qualified to remind us of the downfall of considering our wisdom as greater than the Lord’s. Anyone who worries too much would likely give a quick amen to verse 8.
May we all learn to let go of worry, and trust in the Lord. May we all enjoy the daily spiritual refreshment that comes from trusting in Him. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 22, 2010
As I write this article, I am nervously preparing for a rappelling trip at Robber’s Cave near Wilburton with several other church members. I’ve never been rappelling. The only thing I know about it is that it involves a cliff, a rope, a good amount of trust, and a lot of butterflies in my stomach at this point.
There are a lot of spiritual parallels that could be drawn between rappelling and our trust in God. But since I’ve never been rappelling, I will save that for another day. I will, however, continue this line of thinking on the topic of trust.
I claim to trust in God. But, I will admit that saying it versus doing it are two totally different things. I was talking with my wife just this morning about the fact that I teach Bible classes on the topic of trusting God, even though I know deep inside how difficult it is to live it. In short, trusting God is easy when everything is going your way, and your map through life seems easy to follow. But that can change quickly when you come to life’s crossroads.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
That passage from Proverbs is very well known by those who study a lot of Bible. I hope you will take it to heart. It teaches us a great lesson about trusting God, even when we don’t understand his method in getting things done. It is nice to know that God has the ability to make our paths straight. This doesn’t mean our stairway to heaven won’t be without difficulty. It only means that if we stay the course, and stay faithful along the path, we will ultimately see the face of God and experience eternal life in heaven.
The next couple of verses, Proverbs 3:7-8, are great additions to these thoughts. “7. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
We often lean on our own understanding because we forget just how much God understands. Solomon spent a lifetime searching for wisdom, so he is definitely qualified to remind us of the downfall of considering our wisdom as greater than the Lord’s. Anyone who worries too much would likely give a quick amen to verse 8.
May we all learn to let go of worry, and trust in the Lord. May we all enjoy the daily spiritual refreshment that comes from trusting in Him. (end)
Friday, June 11, 2010
A Happy Father Accepts His God-Given Role
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 15, 2010
In today’s culture, we have all but made man into some sort of neutral human with no unique characteristics or role different from that of a woman. A lot of TV shows these days paint dads out to be the weakest member of the family, a buffoon, with no or very little leadership ability.
This is opposite to what God’s word teaches about man’s role in the family. And since the Bible has remained unchanged for thousands of years, the wise would come to the conclusion that scripture has it right, not Hollywood, not anyone else with a differing view. After all, even those who work in the entertainment industry are quick to poke fun at the rate of marriage failure among their peers. It doesn’t take much brain power to figure out that when man and woman both live by God’s rules, the family unit will stay intact.
God intends for man to be the head of the family, and to provide for his wife and children financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. This order is not a slam towards women by any stretch. It is simply the role of man. I’m not saying that it is wrong for a husband to earn a smaller paycheck than his wife. But he certainly needs to do his share in every way to provide security for his family, and his wife needs to help him with his responsibilities. There are many things a good wife can take responsibility for, just read Proverbs 31 on the wife of noble character. In my household, I consult with my wife and she consults with me on every major decision. We also talk about how our decisions might affect our family spiritually.
In Genesis 1:26 and 2:7 we’re told that God formed man in his own image from the dust of the ground. Later, Adam named the animals that were brought to him. But he found none to be a suitable helper. So God caused Adam to fall asleep. And while he was sleeping, God took one of man’s ribs, made a woman, and brought her to the man. Genesis 3:16 says that the husband will rule over his wife.
It is a delicate balance, but one that can be achieved. You see, while man was incomplete without woman, she was exactly what man needed to make him complete. They are dependent on each other as each one puts God first.
Galatians 5:22 says, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Men in our culture today obviously should not take this as any kind of license for abusive behavior. But instead, real men should strive to love their families like Jesus loved us. This will make it possible for wives to truly submit to their husbands “as to the Lord.” Verse 25 makes the man’s job even clearer. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” This Father’s Day, may God bless every father with the desire to be the kind of dad he was intended to be. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
June 15, 2010
In today’s culture, we have all but made man into some sort of neutral human with no unique characteristics or role different from that of a woman. A lot of TV shows these days paint dads out to be the weakest member of the family, a buffoon, with no or very little leadership ability.
This is opposite to what God’s word teaches about man’s role in the family. And since the Bible has remained unchanged for thousands of years, the wise would come to the conclusion that scripture has it right, not Hollywood, not anyone else with a differing view. After all, even those who work in the entertainment industry are quick to poke fun at the rate of marriage failure among their peers. It doesn’t take much brain power to figure out that when man and woman both live by God’s rules, the family unit will stay intact.
God intends for man to be the head of the family, and to provide for his wife and children financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. This order is not a slam towards women by any stretch. It is simply the role of man. I’m not saying that it is wrong for a husband to earn a smaller paycheck than his wife. But he certainly needs to do his share in every way to provide security for his family, and his wife needs to help him with his responsibilities. There are many things a good wife can take responsibility for, just read Proverbs 31 on the wife of noble character. In my household, I consult with my wife and she consults with me on every major decision. We also talk about how our decisions might affect our family spiritually.
In Genesis 1:26 and 2:7 we’re told that God formed man in his own image from the dust of the ground. Later, Adam named the animals that were brought to him. But he found none to be a suitable helper. So God caused Adam to fall asleep. And while he was sleeping, God took one of man’s ribs, made a woman, and brought her to the man. Genesis 3:16 says that the husband will rule over his wife.
It is a delicate balance, but one that can be achieved. You see, while man was incomplete without woman, she was exactly what man needed to make him complete. They are dependent on each other as each one puts God first.
Galatians 5:22 says, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Men in our culture today obviously should not take this as any kind of license for abusive behavior. But instead, real men should strive to love their families like Jesus loved us. This will make it possible for wives to truly submit to their husbands “as to the Lord.” Verse 25 makes the man’s job even clearer. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” This Father’s Day, may God bless every father with the desire to be the kind of dad he was intended to be. (end)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Angels anyone? Spiritual warfare in Fort Gibson is very real
June 1, 2010
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Not many would dispute the fact that God is alive and well in Fort Gibson. He is our only hope, and is very active in our lives today. That statement is true whether anyone agrees. But when it comes to angels, the opinions vary greatly. Some people mistakenly place too much importance on angels which are only created beings not worthy of our worship. Man is only a little lower than them (Hebrews 2:7). However, other people ignore the importance of angels and their impact on our daily lives.
Hebrews 1:14 says they are “…ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” Just in case you’re looking for a little extra motivation in this life to obey the Bible, that would be a good one! People who are living in such a way to inherit eternal life in heaven also have the added benefit of being served by angels in this lifetime.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3 that we are to become like little children. Then in verse 10, Jesus says that the angels of those children always see the face of “my Father in heaven.”
That should be a great source of confidence for Christians. Just think, when we humble ourselves and take on childlike qualities such as purity and innocence, is it so far-fetched to think that we also have angels who help us every day and that are constantly able to see God?
In speaking of the Israelites, Daniel 12:1 refers to the archangel Michael as the “great prince” who protects your people. Michael is also mentioned in Jude 1:9 as disputing with the devil over the body of Moses which God had buried in a secret location. Maybe the devil wanted Moses’ body to be buried in a public grave so that it might become an object of idol worship. Nevertheless, it should be a faith-builder to know that angels are fighting spiritual battles behind the scenes on our behalf.
In 2 Kings 6:8-23, the Arameans were trying to invade Israel’s territory. But they were unsuccessful because the prophet Elisha kept warning the king of Israel about Aram’s strategies. So, the king of Aram sent an army at night to surround the city of Dothan where the prophet Elisha was staying. When morning came, Elisha’s servant was scared of what he saw. But Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
The Lord blinded the enemy, sent them in a different direction, fed them, spared their lives, and the Aram army ultimately stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
May we all be ever thankful to God for the angels and others in our lives who support us in our spiritual battles. (end)
June 1, 2010
by Barrett Vanlandingham
Not many would dispute the fact that God is alive and well in Fort Gibson. He is our only hope, and is very active in our lives today. That statement is true whether anyone agrees. But when it comes to angels, the opinions vary greatly. Some people mistakenly place too much importance on angels which are only created beings not worthy of our worship. Man is only a little lower than them (Hebrews 2:7). However, other people ignore the importance of angels and their impact on our daily lives.
Hebrews 1:14 says they are “…ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” Just in case you’re looking for a little extra motivation in this life to obey the Bible, that would be a good one! People who are living in such a way to inherit eternal life in heaven also have the added benefit of being served by angels in this lifetime.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3 that we are to become like little children. Then in verse 10, Jesus says that the angels of those children always see the face of “my Father in heaven.”
That should be a great source of confidence for Christians. Just think, when we humble ourselves and take on childlike qualities such as purity and innocence, is it so far-fetched to think that we also have angels who help us every day and that are constantly able to see God?
In speaking of the Israelites, Daniel 12:1 refers to the archangel Michael as the “great prince” who protects your people. Michael is also mentioned in Jude 1:9 as disputing with the devil over the body of Moses which God had buried in a secret location. Maybe the devil wanted Moses’ body to be buried in a public grave so that it might become an object of idol worship. Nevertheless, it should be a faith-builder to know that angels are fighting spiritual battles behind the scenes on our behalf.
In 2 Kings 6:8-23, the Arameans were trying to invade Israel’s territory. But they were unsuccessful because the prophet Elisha kept warning the king of Israel about Aram’s strategies. So, the king of Aram sent an army at night to surround the city of Dothan where the prophet Elisha was staying. When morning came, Elisha’s servant was scared of what he saw. But Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
The Lord blinded the enemy, sent them in a different direction, fed them, spared their lives, and the Aram army ultimately stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
May we all be ever thankful to God for the angels and others in our lives who support us in our spiritual battles. (end)
Friday, May 21, 2010
The older generation has much to offer
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 25, 2010
Try after try, I failed miserably at starting a campfire for my son and his friend over the weekend. My credibility as an outdoorsman was quickly going up in smoke. I was trying to make good use of a pile of green wood my good friend Curtis brought me a few days ago. I stacked small pieces of green wood on top of shredded paper. On top of that, bigger pieces of green wood. Eventually I found some old wood and piled that on top.
But after using up just about every piece of paper I could find along with one and a half containers of charcoal starter fluid, I realized what I had been doing wrong. In my efforts to impress my son with my campfire making abilities, I had underestimated the importance of stacking the older, cured wood underneath the newer green logs that had just been delivered, not the other way around. I thought that if I used enough shredded paper and charcoal starter fluid, surely the green wood would ignite. But my efforts were to no avail. By the time I got it figured out, I was almost out of paper and fluid.
I couldn’t help but think of how this applies spiritually. Sometimes, we underestimate the importance of the older generation, and how it provides a much needed foundation. Grandparents simply have more wisdom than those younger. This wisdom can be extremely valuable to those seeking to not repeat mistakes of generations past.
This reality is just as important for the older generation to be reminded of as it is for the younger generation to remember. Oftentimes, society gets it all backwards. Just like stacking green wood under the older cured wood doesn’t work very well, neither does trying to make important decisions in life without consulting those who’ve been around for a while.
“They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age... (Psalm 93:13-14)” Job 12:12 says, “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”
I took a break from writing to check on the boys and the campfire. Guess what? The old wood had burned out, but the fire was still very much burning. Why? Because the placement of the cured wood under the green wood gave the campfire just the start it needed to last.
The Bible sees the wisdom in honoring the elderly and placing them in positions of respect. So should we all. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 25, 2010
Try after try, I failed miserably at starting a campfire for my son and his friend over the weekend. My credibility as an outdoorsman was quickly going up in smoke. I was trying to make good use of a pile of green wood my good friend Curtis brought me a few days ago. I stacked small pieces of green wood on top of shredded paper. On top of that, bigger pieces of green wood. Eventually I found some old wood and piled that on top.
But after using up just about every piece of paper I could find along with one and a half containers of charcoal starter fluid, I realized what I had been doing wrong. In my efforts to impress my son with my campfire making abilities, I had underestimated the importance of stacking the older, cured wood underneath the newer green logs that had just been delivered, not the other way around. I thought that if I used enough shredded paper and charcoal starter fluid, surely the green wood would ignite. But my efforts were to no avail. By the time I got it figured out, I was almost out of paper and fluid.
I couldn’t help but think of how this applies spiritually. Sometimes, we underestimate the importance of the older generation, and how it provides a much needed foundation. Grandparents simply have more wisdom than those younger. This wisdom can be extremely valuable to those seeking to not repeat mistakes of generations past.
This reality is just as important for the older generation to be reminded of as it is for the younger generation to remember. Oftentimes, society gets it all backwards. Just like stacking green wood under the older cured wood doesn’t work very well, neither does trying to make important decisions in life without consulting those who’ve been around for a while.
“They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age... (Psalm 93:13-14)” Job 12:12 says, “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”
I took a break from writing to check on the boys and the campfire. Guess what? The old wood had burned out, but the fire was still very much burning. Why? Because the placement of the cured wood under the green wood gave the campfire just the start it needed to last.
The Bible sees the wisdom in honoring the elderly and placing them in positions of respect. So should we all. (end)
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Dancing in the Rain
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 18, 2010
With all of the storms we’ve had lately I couldn’t help but think of something I read the other day. It said, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Think about that one!
I just began my ninth year in full-time youth ministry here in Fort Gibson. During that time, I have met some incredible people who amaze me with the amount of joy they have in their hearts despite difficult physical circumstances. I’ve been able to have close friendships with people who have poor hearing, poor eye-sight, no legs, disabled legs, no arms, partial arms, bad hearts, bad lungs, mental disabilities, no teeth, and no hair! And yet, these individuals continue to inspire people around them because they refuse to be defined by what they do not have.
How in the world can a person put a smile on their face everyday even when it takes ten times as much effort to do normal tasks? The answer is actually not of this world. As I write, tears of gratitude fill my eyes as I think about how God is able to provide each of us with an abundant life in spite of earthly sorrows.
In Philippians 3:20-21, the apostle Paul reminds us to not set our minds on things of this earth. He says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Now there’s something worth looking forward to! No more aches, no more pains. And let’s not forget that Jesus was no stranger to either of those. But in heaven, our bodies will become like Jesus’ body.
The psalmist David exalted the Lord God with these words, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever (Ps. 30:11-12).”
Through the eyes of the world, the storms of life are only something to be endured. But God’s love gives us hope and assurance, and teaches us the joy of embracing life’s trials.
Jesus, the Great Shepherd, said this regarding his sheep, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).”
May God bless you this week as you choose to dance for the One who truly reigns!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 18, 2010
With all of the storms we’ve had lately I couldn’t help but think of something I read the other day. It said, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Think about that one!
I just began my ninth year in full-time youth ministry here in Fort Gibson. During that time, I have met some incredible people who amaze me with the amount of joy they have in their hearts despite difficult physical circumstances. I’ve been able to have close friendships with people who have poor hearing, poor eye-sight, no legs, disabled legs, no arms, partial arms, bad hearts, bad lungs, mental disabilities, no teeth, and no hair! And yet, these individuals continue to inspire people around them because they refuse to be defined by what they do not have.
How in the world can a person put a smile on their face everyday even when it takes ten times as much effort to do normal tasks? The answer is actually not of this world. As I write, tears of gratitude fill my eyes as I think about how God is able to provide each of us with an abundant life in spite of earthly sorrows.
In Philippians 3:20-21, the apostle Paul reminds us to not set our minds on things of this earth. He says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Now there’s something worth looking forward to! No more aches, no more pains. And let’s not forget that Jesus was no stranger to either of those. But in heaven, our bodies will become like Jesus’ body.
The psalmist David exalted the Lord God with these words, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever (Ps. 30:11-12).”
Through the eyes of the world, the storms of life are only something to be endured. But God’s love gives us hope and assurance, and teaches us the joy of embracing life’s trials.
Jesus, the Great Shepherd, said this regarding his sheep, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).”
May God bless you this week as you choose to dance for the One who truly reigns!
Friday, May 07, 2010
Christian image problems can be solved one person at a time
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 11, 2010
A recent survey of people who are outside of Christianity suggests those of us who wear the name Christian have our work cut out for us.
According to a book titled “UnChristian” by the Barna Group’s David Kinnaman, there are six common points of skepticism and objections raised by people outside of Christianity. Kinnaman has interviewed thousands of people to discover trends in religion over the years. But until a couple of years ago he never really wanted to write a book. It was this study that compelled him to share his findings in a book. His title “UnChristian” sums up most of his discoveries regarding outsiders’ opinions of Christians. He uses the term outsider to describe those who are atheist, agnostic, those of a religion other than Christianity, and unchurched adults.
Kinnaman lists their views of Christians as follows while admitting that these criticisms are sometimes meant to “push our buttons.”
1) Hypocritical. Outsiders feel that we Christians say one thing and do another. They are also skeptical of our morally superior attitudes, and feel that Christians think the church is only a place for “virtuous and morally pure people.”
2) Too focused on getting converts. Outsiders wonder if we genuinely care about them. They feel like targets rather than people.
3) Antihomosexual. Outsiders say that Christians are bigoted and show disdain for gays and lesbians.
4) Sheltered. Christians Are thought of as old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. Outsiders say we do not respond to reality in appropriately complex ways, and not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people’s lives.
5) Too political. Overly motivated by a political agenda.
6) Judgmental. Outsiders think of Christians as quick to judge others. They doubt we love others as we say we do.
Another interesting thing that came out of the study was that most outsiders opinions of Christianity is not based on what they see in TV and movies, but instead on personal contact with those of the Christian faith. What makes this fact encouraging is that Christians, not Hollywood, are apparently in control of what non-Christians think of us.
Improving the image of Christians can happen, but not by media coverage or political campaigns, but rather one person at a time. May God bless each of us with even one opportunity this week to show the love of Christ to an outsider. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 11, 2010
A recent survey of people who are outside of Christianity suggests those of us who wear the name Christian have our work cut out for us.
According to a book titled “UnChristian” by the Barna Group’s David Kinnaman, there are six common points of skepticism and objections raised by people outside of Christianity. Kinnaman has interviewed thousands of people to discover trends in religion over the years. But until a couple of years ago he never really wanted to write a book. It was this study that compelled him to share his findings in a book. His title “UnChristian” sums up most of his discoveries regarding outsiders’ opinions of Christians. He uses the term outsider to describe those who are atheist, agnostic, those of a religion other than Christianity, and unchurched adults.
Kinnaman lists their views of Christians as follows while admitting that these criticisms are sometimes meant to “push our buttons.”
1) Hypocritical. Outsiders feel that we Christians say one thing and do another. They are also skeptical of our morally superior attitudes, and feel that Christians think the church is only a place for “virtuous and morally pure people.”
2) Too focused on getting converts. Outsiders wonder if we genuinely care about them. They feel like targets rather than people.
3) Antihomosexual. Outsiders say that Christians are bigoted and show disdain for gays and lesbians.
4) Sheltered. Christians Are thought of as old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. Outsiders say we do not respond to reality in appropriately complex ways, and not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people’s lives.
5) Too political. Overly motivated by a political agenda.
6) Judgmental. Outsiders think of Christians as quick to judge others. They doubt we love others as we say we do.
Another interesting thing that came out of the study was that most outsiders opinions of Christianity is not based on what they see in TV and movies, but instead on personal contact with those of the Christian faith. What makes this fact encouraging is that Christians, not Hollywood, are apparently in control of what non-Christians think of us.
Improving the image of Christians can happen, but not by media coverage or political campaigns, but rather one person at a time. May God bless each of us with even one opportunity this week to show the love of Christ to an outsider. (end)
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Knowing Jesus is a two-way street
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 4, 2010
In last week’s article, I still wasn’t sure whether I would take my son, Britton, and his friend Teddy camping over the weekend for his 12th birthday. Well, we decided against it and I’m glad we did because a pretty good rain did in fact come in overnight. So, we went skating in Tahlequah instead.
I sat on a bench against the wall at the skating rink while Britton and Teddy were on the skate floor with about 200 other sweaty little kids. All of the sudden, my two skated over to me, out of breath, laughing their heads off. Teddy said that some girl skated up to Britton and said, “Hey, Courtney wants to know if you want to go out with her?” I thought, “This should be interesting!” Britton responded to her by saying, “I don’t even know who she is!” So, all parties went their separate directions. The little girl had to break the news to Courtney that the boy she didn’t know wouldn’t go out with the girl he didn’t know.
I have now told that story no less than a dozen times since last week, and so as I thought of what message I wanted to bring you this week, of course it was one of my top three choices.
Spiritually speaking, this story will play out on the Final Day many times over. For we all know that the road and gate into heaven is narrow and only a few will find it, while the road and gate into everlasting destruction is wide and many will be on that path (Matt 7:13-14).
Many times we hear people say they know Jesus. But as I’ve stated before, it is more important for Jesus to know us. The Bible points out that the devil and demons know exactly who Jesus is. Scripture also points out that on that final day many will say Lord, Lord, and tell of the deeds they did in Jesus’ name, and He will say, “I never knew you.” (Matt 7:21-23)
But how could that happen? Doesn’t Jesus know everyone? Of course He does in some sense. He knows who the devil is, so I’m reasonably certain he knows the rest of us. I think of it in these terms. The door that we open to follow Jesus is like a door of recognition. When we choose to keep the door open, he knows us and welcomes us into his arms. But when we close the door on him, he cannot see us. We in effect cause Jesus to not recognize us as one of his children anymore. It would be as if he never knew us.
When you’re sins are washed away in baptism, Jesus forgets everything wrong you ever did. It’s as if he never knew of your sin. And not only that, if you continue to walk his righteous path, his blood from the cross continually cleanses you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). For those times you intentionally sin, Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 17:3 to forgive wrongs as a sinner repents. 1 John 1:9 says that Jesus forgives our sins as we confess. Jesus doesn’t remember the sins he has already forgiven, not even one.
Everyone has an appointment to kneel before the Father and praise him (Rom 14:10-12). For some, this will be a celebration like none other. But for most, this will be the worst day ever. For it is then that the sheep and the goats will be parted. The sheep who have followed the Great Shepherd will follow him into that blessed home of eternal paradise. However, the goats that refused to obey his will when they had a chance will be doomed into eternal punishment as they hear, “I never knew you.”
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 4, 2010
In last week’s article, I still wasn’t sure whether I would take my son, Britton, and his friend Teddy camping over the weekend for his 12th birthday. Well, we decided against it and I’m glad we did because a pretty good rain did in fact come in overnight. So, we went skating in Tahlequah instead.
I sat on a bench against the wall at the skating rink while Britton and Teddy were on the skate floor with about 200 other sweaty little kids. All of the sudden, my two skated over to me, out of breath, laughing their heads off. Teddy said that some girl skated up to Britton and said, “Hey, Courtney wants to know if you want to go out with her?” I thought, “This should be interesting!” Britton responded to her by saying, “I don’t even know who she is!” So, all parties went their separate directions. The little girl had to break the news to Courtney that the boy she didn’t know wouldn’t go out with the girl he didn’t know.
I have now told that story no less than a dozen times since last week, and so as I thought of what message I wanted to bring you this week, of course it was one of my top three choices.
Spiritually speaking, this story will play out on the Final Day many times over. For we all know that the road and gate into heaven is narrow and only a few will find it, while the road and gate into everlasting destruction is wide and many will be on that path (Matt 7:13-14).
Many times we hear people say they know Jesus. But as I’ve stated before, it is more important for Jesus to know us. The Bible points out that the devil and demons know exactly who Jesus is. Scripture also points out that on that final day many will say Lord, Lord, and tell of the deeds they did in Jesus’ name, and He will say, “I never knew you.” (Matt 7:21-23)
But how could that happen? Doesn’t Jesus know everyone? Of course He does in some sense. He knows who the devil is, so I’m reasonably certain he knows the rest of us. I think of it in these terms. The door that we open to follow Jesus is like a door of recognition. When we choose to keep the door open, he knows us and welcomes us into his arms. But when we close the door on him, he cannot see us. We in effect cause Jesus to not recognize us as one of his children anymore. It would be as if he never knew us.
When you’re sins are washed away in baptism, Jesus forgets everything wrong you ever did. It’s as if he never knew of your sin. And not only that, if you continue to walk his righteous path, his blood from the cross continually cleanses you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). For those times you intentionally sin, Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 17:3 to forgive wrongs as a sinner repents. 1 John 1:9 says that Jesus forgives our sins as we confess. Jesus doesn’t remember the sins he has already forgiven, not even one.
Everyone has an appointment to kneel before the Father and praise him (Rom 14:10-12). For some, this will be a celebration like none other. But for most, this will be the worst day ever. For it is then that the sheep and the goats will be parted. The sheep who have followed the Great Shepherd will follow him into that blessed home of eternal paradise. However, the goats that refused to obey his will when they had a chance will be doomed into eternal punishment as they hear, “I never knew you.”
Friday, April 23, 2010
Rain is an inconvenient necessity
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 27, 2010
As I was trying to decide whether to go camping over the weekend for my son’s birthday, the major question in my mind was “Is it going to rain?” The only reason it seemed like a big deal was because we were going to be sleeping in a tent! What to do? What to do? Overnight in a tent was Britton’s only birthday request and the rain clouds had been overhead all day as I was trying to decide a course of action.
As a youth minister, I teach kids to trust God with their choices even though it’s hard to understand why rain falls on the just and the unjust. We all know God is going to return one day to bring his faithful home to reign with him forever. What we don’t know is when that is going to happen. I try to explain to young people (and older ones too) that the best thing to do is to live everyday as if it were your last. This way, if tomorrow turns out to be Judgment Day, hey, you’re good to go! Or if you lose their life in an accident, you’re still going to be okay. Not that you can describe life in heaven as “okay” but you understand what I mean.
I realize this may be a drab topic for some to come to grips with, but it is important to be prepared to meet God face to face. Everyone will have that opportunity one day.
Noah was a preacher of righteousness who worked on building an ark for 100 years! It’s going to rain! It’s going to rain! What a message to have to preach to such a corrupt generation of people, and worse yet, they had never seen rain!
But as Genesis 7:11-12 states, “…on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.” Then verse 24 says that the waters flooded the earth for 150 days.
Well, as I write this article on Friday afternoon I still don’t know for sure if it’s going to rain on my son’s camping trip. But even if it does, the only thing we will suffer is some minor inconvenience. However, in the days of Noah there was so much rain that only eight people (Noah’s family) were saved!
1 Peter 3:21 says, “…this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also…not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Scripture promises that the earth will never flood again as in the days of Noah, but the earth will burn. So, the next time you see the five day outlook, think about God’s eternal forecast. Your obedience to Him can make all the difference as to the level of your spiritual rain gage. Will God find your well-spring running over, or drained by obedience to the world? Have a Spirit-led week!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 27, 2010
As I was trying to decide whether to go camping over the weekend for my son’s birthday, the major question in my mind was “Is it going to rain?” The only reason it seemed like a big deal was because we were going to be sleeping in a tent! What to do? What to do? Overnight in a tent was Britton’s only birthday request and the rain clouds had been overhead all day as I was trying to decide a course of action.
As a youth minister, I teach kids to trust God with their choices even though it’s hard to understand why rain falls on the just and the unjust. We all know God is going to return one day to bring his faithful home to reign with him forever. What we don’t know is when that is going to happen. I try to explain to young people (and older ones too) that the best thing to do is to live everyday as if it were your last. This way, if tomorrow turns out to be Judgment Day, hey, you’re good to go! Or if you lose their life in an accident, you’re still going to be okay. Not that you can describe life in heaven as “okay” but you understand what I mean.
I realize this may be a drab topic for some to come to grips with, but it is important to be prepared to meet God face to face. Everyone will have that opportunity one day.
Noah was a preacher of righteousness who worked on building an ark for 100 years! It’s going to rain! It’s going to rain! What a message to have to preach to such a corrupt generation of people, and worse yet, they had never seen rain!
But as Genesis 7:11-12 states, “…on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.” Then verse 24 says that the waters flooded the earth for 150 days.
Well, as I write this article on Friday afternoon I still don’t know for sure if it’s going to rain on my son’s camping trip. But even if it does, the only thing we will suffer is some minor inconvenience. However, in the days of Noah there was so much rain that only eight people (Noah’s family) were saved!
1 Peter 3:21 says, “…this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also…not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Scripture promises that the earth will never flood again as in the days of Noah, but the earth will burn. So, the next time you see the five day outlook, think about God’s eternal forecast. Your obedience to Him can make all the difference as to the level of your spiritual rain gage. Will God find your well-spring running over, or drained by obedience to the world? Have a Spirit-led week!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Being added to the Church is God's job
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 20, 2010
Occasionally, I hear someone talking about which church they decided to join. This subject always gets my attention since Jesus died for only one church. Which one? Well, we can only assume that he died for the one described in the New Testament of the Bible. I will leave the line-drawing among denominations to God, as to which ones He approves of, and which ones he disapproves of. Our God is sovereign, and really doesn’t need any help from any of us deciding this issue. All we can do is trust fully that God’s inspired word, the Bible, accurately describes the things we need to know about what is pleasing to our Creator, compassion being right at the top.
Beyond that, I will say this: In Acts 2, Peter preached the first Gospel sermon. He told thousands who were present that they really had crucified the son of God, and that they needed to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. Acts 2:41 says, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
This is the first example of a group of people in the New Testament gathering as common believers in Christ. The next few verses tell of the fellowship and worship that took place when the believers were together. Then the writer says, “…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Other New Testament passages pinpoint the elements of what Christians do when they gather such as prayer, singing, Bible study, giving, and encouraging.
So, is it possible to join a church? According to scripture, the answer has to be no. God is the one who adds us to his church when we obey his plan of salvation. When we are baptized, we do not join a particular denomination of the Lord’s church located in a particular town. Neither are we voted in by existing members. We are actually added to the Lord’s church, the global church, the only church, by guess who? The Lord, God himself!
So, what do we do with the fact that there are many different places of worship that do things so differently, even right here in Fort Gibson? Well, there are obviously going to be personality differences and cultural differences in how worship is “done.” We must all be careful about rushing to judgment regarding the rightness or wrongness of traditions in worship, unless they contradict clear Bible teaching on the matter.
As for this word “join,” it is important for Christians to identify themselves, or place membership with a local body of believers so they can encourage and build one another up (Hebrews 10:25). It is only human nature to try harder at anything when you are being held accountable for your actions. Meeting together gives us the opportunity to see close up what our Christian family is struggling with. It would be easy to let each other slip through the cracks spiritually if our only interaction was through the internet.
May God bless you richly in your spiritual journey as you reap the rewards of seeking His face (Heb. 11:6), and letting Him add you to His number.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 20, 2010
Occasionally, I hear someone talking about which church they decided to join. This subject always gets my attention since Jesus died for only one church. Which one? Well, we can only assume that he died for the one described in the New Testament of the Bible. I will leave the line-drawing among denominations to God, as to which ones He approves of, and which ones he disapproves of. Our God is sovereign, and really doesn’t need any help from any of us deciding this issue. All we can do is trust fully that God’s inspired word, the Bible, accurately describes the things we need to know about what is pleasing to our Creator, compassion being right at the top.
Beyond that, I will say this: In Acts 2, Peter preached the first Gospel sermon. He told thousands who were present that they really had crucified the son of God, and that they needed to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. Acts 2:41 says, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
This is the first example of a group of people in the New Testament gathering as common believers in Christ. The next few verses tell of the fellowship and worship that took place when the believers were together. Then the writer says, “…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Other New Testament passages pinpoint the elements of what Christians do when they gather such as prayer, singing, Bible study, giving, and encouraging.
So, is it possible to join a church? According to scripture, the answer has to be no. God is the one who adds us to his church when we obey his plan of salvation. When we are baptized, we do not join a particular denomination of the Lord’s church located in a particular town. Neither are we voted in by existing members. We are actually added to the Lord’s church, the global church, the only church, by guess who? The Lord, God himself!
So, what do we do with the fact that there are many different places of worship that do things so differently, even right here in Fort Gibson? Well, there are obviously going to be personality differences and cultural differences in how worship is “done.” We must all be careful about rushing to judgment regarding the rightness or wrongness of traditions in worship, unless they contradict clear Bible teaching on the matter.
As for this word “join,” it is important for Christians to identify themselves, or place membership with a local body of believers so they can encourage and build one another up (Hebrews 10:25). It is only human nature to try harder at anything when you are being held accountable for your actions. Meeting together gives us the opportunity to see close up what our Christian family is struggling with. It would be easy to let each other slip through the cracks spiritually if our only interaction was through the internet.
May God bless you richly in your spiritual journey as you reap the rewards of seeking His face (Heb. 11:6), and letting Him add you to His number.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Fine tuning your spiritual walk
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 13, 2010
Have you ever known the answer to a problem in your life but just couldn’t get motivated to do anything about it? If you’re alive at all, the answer to that is a definite yes.
As Christians, this is one of the biggest dilemmas we deal with. We are not short on good advice, knowledge about spiritual things, or good information on Christian living. Our generation has access to more information than any other generation in history. Books, TV, radio, computer, the list goes on of ways we receive helpful information. So, the problem is not access to good ideas. The problem is the same as it has been since the beginning of time. Mankind, simply put, is stubborn and selfish. We do what satisfies our own wants because we are rarely compelled by what someone else wants.
So, how do we fix this in the spiritual sense? After all, we exist to serve Jesus Christ, right? Why is it so hard to put our own fleshly desires aside, and follow God’s will instead?
I believe that if we are to be successfully compelled into living a righteous life, we have to understand that we as Christians are “called” to a higher standard than the world. But as with anything we are compelled to do, I believe two things must take place: 1) There has to be a sense of urgency. 2) There has to be a sense of loyalty.
Those two factors must work hand in hand if you are to reach that higher standard you’re hoping to achieve. But just how does something get high enough on your priority list for you to have that sense of urgency and loyalty?
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Simply put, understanding Christ’s role in your salvation is a sure fire way to not only explain to others why you have hope, but it also helps us to stay faithful and obedient to him. One day, Christ will judge us according to what we have done on earth. We don’t know when that day will be. That should provide us with some sense of urgency. As for loyalty, the four Gospels clearly state the extreme measures Jesus was willing to go through for us, so that we could one day stand before him with confidence.
May God bless you this week with a greater sense of urgency to be Jesus to a lost and hurting world, and to feel that sense of loyalty that could only be brought-on by someone who gave everything for you.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 13, 2010
Have you ever known the answer to a problem in your life but just couldn’t get motivated to do anything about it? If you’re alive at all, the answer to that is a definite yes.
As Christians, this is one of the biggest dilemmas we deal with. We are not short on good advice, knowledge about spiritual things, or good information on Christian living. Our generation has access to more information than any other generation in history. Books, TV, radio, computer, the list goes on of ways we receive helpful information. So, the problem is not access to good ideas. The problem is the same as it has been since the beginning of time. Mankind, simply put, is stubborn and selfish. We do what satisfies our own wants because we are rarely compelled by what someone else wants.
So, how do we fix this in the spiritual sense? After all, we exist to serve Jesus Christ, right? Why is it so hard to put our own fleshly desires aside, and follow God’s will instead?
I believe that if we are to be successfully compelled into living a righteous life, we have to understand that we as Christians are “called” to a higher standard than the world. But as with anything we are compelled to do, I believe two things must take place: 1) There has to be a sense of urgency. 2) There has to be a sense of loyalty.
Those two factors must work hand in hand if you are to reach that higher standard you’re hoping to achieve. But just how does something get high enough on your priority list for you to have that sense of urgency and loyalty?
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Simply put, understanding Christ’s role in your salvation is a sure fire way to not only explain to others why you have hope, but it also helps us to stay faithful and obedient to him. One day, Christ will judge us according to what we have done on earth. We don’t know when that day will be. That should provide us with some sense of urgency. As for loyalty, the four Gospels clearly state the extreme measures Jesus was willing to go through for us, so that we could one day stand before him with confidence.
May God bless you this week with a greater sense of urgency to be Jesus to a lost and hurting world, and to feel that sense of loyalty that could only be brought-on by someone who gave everything for you.
Friday, April 02, 2010
The Sunday after Easter also tells a story
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 6, 2010
I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter weekend. Family meals, egg hunting, and religious gatherings are all hallmarks of this very special holiday. But every year it causes me to wonder how church buildings everywhere can be so packed on one Sunday, and not so much the very next week and the weeks following.
It’s almost as if some of us believe we get extra points for attending worship on one Sunday over another. We’re all guilty of this mindset to some extent, aren’t we? What I mean is that the majority of Christians would not even consider missing Easter Sunday. But for some reason the majority also don’t place as much emphasis on other Sundays or other church meeting times such as Wednesday night Bible studies and such decided by church leadership.
Have you ever made an excuse for not attending church by saying that you were just too busy, only to be told by someone that Jesus wasn’t too busy to die for you but he did anyway? That could be more than a little embarrassing, couldn’t it? I actually know someone who that happened to recently. Ouch! Lesson learned.
None of us can really say that the Bible doesn’t back frequent meeting times. Acts chapter 2 tells us that the early church met every day. So we shouldn’t think meeting once a week or even two and three times a week is overdoing it.
Everytime Christians come together in the name of Jesus is special, no matter what day. But Sundays are especially important because the New Testament places so much importance on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). How often does the first day of the week come around? Every week. This is the day early Christians came together to take the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-29). The unleavened bread represents the body of Jesus, while the fruit of the vine represent his blood. Even today, during these Sunday gatherings we are to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It’s the day Christians set aside a portion of their income for the work of the church (1 Cor. 16). We also know that Christians prayed, studied, and sang to God when they came together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us that Christians shouldn’t neglect assemblies because this fellowship is how we can encourage each other toward love and good deeds.
Bottom line? Jesus died and rose (Matt. 28:6) for mankind to save us from our sins (Rom. 5:8, John 3:16). If we choose to accept this gift by obeying his plan of salvation (Matt. 10:32, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:1-10), we have a very bright future! Now THAT is the Bible’s Gospel message, worth hearing Easter Sunday and any other day of the year. Have an awesome week because Jesus loves you. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 6, 2010
I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter weekend. Family meals, egg hunting, and religious gatherings are all hallmarks of this very special holiday. But every year it causes me to wonder how church buildings everywhere can be so packed on one Sunday, and not so much the very next week and the weeks following.
It’s almost as if some of us believe we get extra points for attending worship on one Sunday over another. We’re all guilty of this mindset to some extent, aren’t we? What I mean is that the majority of Christians would not even consider missing Easter Sunday. But for some reason the majority also don’t place as much emphasis on other Sundays or other church meeting times such as Wednesday night Bible studies and such decided by church leadership.
Have you ever made an excuse for not attending church by saying that you were just too busy, only to be told by someone that Jesus wasn’t too busy to die for you but he did anyway? That could be more than a little embarrassing, couldn’t it? I actually know someone who that happened to recently. Ouch! Lesson learned.
None of us can really say that the Bible doesn’t back frequent meeting times. Acts chapter 2 tells us that the early church met every day. So we shouldn’t think meeting once a week or even two and three times a week is overdoing it.
Everytime Christians come together in the name of Jesus is special, no matter what day. But Sundays are especially important because the New Testament places so much importance on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). How often does the first day of the week come around? Every week. This is the day early Christians came together to take the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-29). The unleavened bread represents the body of Jesus, while the fruit of the vine represent his blood. Even today, during these Sunday gatherings we are to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It’s the day Christians set aside a portion of their income for the work of the church (1 Cor. 16). We also know that Christians prayed, studied, and sang to God when they came together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us that Christians shouldn’t neglect assemblies because this fellowship is how we can encourage each other toward love and good deeds.
Bottom line? Jesus died and rose (Matt. 28:6) for mankind to save us from our sins (Rom. 5:8, John 3:16). If we choose to accept this gift by obeying his plan of salvation (Matt. 10:32, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:1-10), we have a very bright future! Now THAT is the Bible’s Gospel message, worth hearing Easter Sunday and any other day of the year. Have an awesome week because Jesus loves you. (end)
Friday, March 26, 2010
Spring into a new season of faith
By Barrett Vanlandingham
March 30, 2010
My daughter, Gracie, brought home a bouquet of wild yellow daffodils a few days ago she picked from the field that sits between the Christian Church and the Church of Christ. The flowers are in a clear vase sitting on my supper table as I write. It’s heart-warming to imagine that those flowers were planted years ago when a house still stood there on the old Wallace and Ludy Huggins place across from the high school gymnasium. And even though all those years have passed and no one lives there anymore, the flowers are no doubt as beautiful today as they were back then. You can drive by and see for yourself. And the smell, as Gracie says, is wonderful. I have to agree.
It’s truly amazing to experience the beauty of God’s creation in something as simple as a yellow flower with a tender green stem that reappears year after year. After all, I can’t even create a dandelion or a blade of grass. Isn’t it fascinating that God spoke into existence every petal and every leaf we see. If that weren’t enough, He also thought into existence every vibrant stroke of color and every dull shade too which provides the perfect compliment.
I guess what really causes me to ponder God’s power is that He not only created the simple as well as the complex things we enjoy, He also designed a way for all living things to stay alive for a period of time. We don’t always agree with God on what that period of time should be. But as God reminded Job so long ago, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? (Job 38:4,19)”
I think I can safely say that would be a great big NO for all of us. And yet, we worry, fuss and fret over so many things when we really just need to enjoy even the “smallest” of blessings.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (Matthew 6:28-30)”
Despite the oddity of the last day of winter hitting 70-something degrees and the first day of spring dropping into the 30’s, the sun still rises and sets every day. The seasons still change (eventually), and springtime still makes us feel like breathing in deeply to experience that invisible quality that God so freely gives through nature. Praise Him! Praise Him! Have a great week, and know that our God is alive this spring and always! (end)
By Barrett Vanlandingham
March 30, 2010
My daughter, Gracie, brought home a bouquet of wild yellow daffodils a few days ago she picked from the field that sits between the Christian Church and the Church of Christ. The flowers are in a clear vase sitting on my supper table as I write. It’s heart-warming to imagine that those flowers were planted years ago when a house still stood there on the old Wallace and Ludy Huggins place across from the high school gymnasium. And even though all those years have passed and no one lives there anymore, the flowers are no doubt as beautiful today as they were back then. You can drive by and see for yourself. And the smell, as Gracie says, is wonderful. I have to agree.
It’s truly amazing to experience the beauty of God’s creation in something as simple as a yellow flower with a tender green stem that reappears year after year. After all, I can’t even create a dandelion or a blade of grass. Isn’t it fascinating that God spoke into existence every petal and every leaf we see. If that weren’t enough, He also thought into existence every vibrant stroke of color and every dull shade too which provides the perfect compliment.
I guess what really causes me to ponder God’s power is that He not only created the simple as well as the complex things we enjoy, He also designed a way for all living things to stay alive for a period of time. We don’t always agree with God on what that period of time should be. But as God reminded Job so long ago, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? (Job 38:4,19)”
I think I can safely say that would be a great big NO for all of us. And yet, we worry, fuss and fret over so many things when we really just need to enjoy even the “smallest” of blessings.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (Matthew 6:28-30)”
Despite the oddity of the last day of winter hitting 70-something degrees and the first day of spring dropping into the 30’s, the sun still rises and sets every day. The seasons still change (eventually), and springtime still makes us feel like breathing in deeply to experience that invisible quality that God so freely gives through nature. Praise Him! Praise Him! Have a great week, and know that our God is alive this spring and always! (end)
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
God rules in the kingdoms of men
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 23, 2010
One of the most difficult ideas to comprehend in the Bible is that of God being in control of everything. The reason this is hard to accept is because of all the bad things we see happening to people and places here on earth.
The Old Testament tells the story of how Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar came to understand this in a very personal, even humorous way. You see, even though the king had come to a point in life where he realized that the God of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was greater than the other gods, he still didn’t realize the full extent of God’s power in regard to nations and governments.
In Daniel 4:24-37, King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, or shall I say nightmare, was fulfilled as he walked on the roof of his royal palace. He said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” God’s voice then reminded him of the dream. Then, the king was driven away from the people for seven years, he lived with wild animals, he ate grass like cattle, and was drenched with dew until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. But at the end of that time, he raised his eyes towards heaven, his sanity was restored, and he praised the God of heaven.
Wow! That’s a tough way to learn a lesson. But if he was as hard-headed as some of us can be today, maybe extreme measures were needed to help the king see the blessings of honoring God with his life. This holds true today, even when you’re being pressured by family, friends, or co-workers to make bad choices. It’s best to live God’s way.
God does in fact rule in the kingdoms of men. Yes, it’s true. Even when we don’t agree with evils that take place in governments of various nations, we must remember that God is ultimately in control. He uses the good and bad decisions of mankind to bring about his will in our lives. Just ask Joseph! He saved his family and much of the known world from famine because he was in the right place at the right time, even though he was sold into slavery along the way. And when mankind chooses evil leaders, and even when an evil power overthrows an existing government and does harm to innocent people, God is still in control.
The Old Testament is full of examples of how innocent people paid severe consequences because of the rebellion of their family members and even ancestors before them. Just one look at the stories of the children of Israel will remind you of this (Exodus 32:27-28 and 34:7).
Let’s pray this week that we all get better at honoring God with our lives and trusting him with the outcome, even when daily occurrences often don’t make sense. In the end, God will reward those who have been faithful to him despite the consequences of living in a broken world. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 23, 2010
One of the most difficult ideas to comprehend in the Bible is that of God being in control of everything. The reason this is hard to accept is because of all the bad things we see happening to people and places here on earth.
The Old Testament tells the story of how Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar came to understand this in a very personal, even humorous way. You see, even though the king had come to a point in life where he realized that the God of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was greater than the other gods, he still didn’t realize the full extent of God’s power in regard to nations and governments.
In Daniel 4:24-37, King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, or shall I say nightmare, was fulfilled as he walked on the roof of his royal palace. He said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” God’s voice then reminded him of the dream. Then, the king was driven away from the people for seven years, he lived with wild animals, he ate grass like cattle, and was drenched with dew until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. But at the end of that time, he raised his eyes towards heaven, his sanity was restored, and he praised the God of heaven.
Wow! That’s a tough way to learn a lesson. But if he was as hard-headed as some of us can be today, maybe extreme measures were needed to help the king see the blessings of honoring God with his life. This holds true today, even when you’re being pressured by family, friends, or co-workers to make bad choices. It’s best to live God’s way.
God does in fact rule in the kingdoms of men. Yes, it’s true. Even when we don’t agree with evils that take place in governments of various nations, we must remember that God is ultimately in control. He uses the good and bad decisions of mankind to bring about his will in our lives. Just ask Joseph! He saved his family and much of the known world from famine because he was in the right place at the right time, even though he was sold into slavery along the way. And when mankind chooses evil leaders, and even when an evil power overthrows an existing government and does harm to innocent people, God is still in control.
The Old Testament is full of examples of how innocent people paid severe consequences because of the rebellion of their family members and even ancestors before them. Just one look at the stories of the children of Israel will remind you of this (Exodus 32:27-28 and 34:7).
Let’s pray this week that we all get better at honoring God with our lives and trusting him with the outcome, even when daily occurrences often don’t make sense. In the end, God will reward those who have been faithful to him despite the consequences of living in a broken world. (end)
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Lessons can be learned one cup at a time
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 16, 2010
This week, my eyes were drawn to a caption on the Folgers Coffee can I was finishing off that said, “Makes 380 cups!” I thought to myself, “Surely I didn’t drink 380 cups!” Well, after doing some thinking I came to the conclusion I probably drank at least 300 of those cups anyway. But how in the world does one person drink that much coffee? I looked on the side of the can where it tells the net weight of the contents inside. It said 48-ounces (of ground coffee)! And that’s before it was brewed into the 380 cups of eight ounces each.
I began to think, “Wow, if I would read just one verse of my Bible for every ounce of coffee I drink per day, I wonder how long it would take me to read all 8000 verses of the New Testament, or all 23,000 verses of the Old Testament?” The answer? At 32 verses (that’s four eight ounce cups of coffee) per day, it would take me 718 days to finish the Old Testament. It would take only 250 days to complete the New Testament.
These thoughts continued to filter through my mind. That’s when it occurred to me that if I can gradually drink 1000 eight ounce cups of coffee in 250 days without even thinking about it, then just imagine what terror the devil could wreak little by little if allowed to operate without resistance.
Yes I know that took me a while to waft around to my point. But the fact is, end results (good or bad) are often eye-openers even though the process has been percolating right under our nose for long periods of time.
Jesus and the New Testament writers taught the same thing two-thousand years ago. That message is simply this: Lookout! The devil is sneaky. The thing is, if Satan drove up and parked in your driveway with a truckload of temptations, it would be very easy to say, “No!” But cowards don’t typically operate that way, do they?
The good news is that no matter what the devil tempts us with, the Lord always provides us with a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). An even better thought may be that when we set our minds on walking God’s path, we are less likely to even need a way of escape since saying “yes” to God’s way shuts out other options which are really not options at all.
May God bless you this week as you honor him little by little, more and more, minute by minute, and day by day. Smile, Jesus loves you. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 16, 2010
This week, my eyes were drawn to a caption on the Folgers Coffee can I was finishing off that said, “Makes 380 cups!” I thought to myself, “Surely I didn’t drink 380 cups!” Well, after doing some thinking I came to the conclusion I probably drank at least 300 of those cups anyway. But how in the world does one person drink that much coffee? I looked on the side of the can where it tells the net weight of the contents inside. It said 48-ounces (of ground coffee)! And that’s before it was brewed into the 380 cups of eight ounces each.
I began to think, “Wow, if I would read just one verse of my Bible for every ounce of coffee I drink per day, I wonder how long it would take me to read all 8000 verses of the New Testament, or all 23,000 verses of the Old Testament?” The answer? At 32 verses (that’s four eight ounce cups of coffee) per day, it would take me 718 days to finish the Old Testament. It would take only 250 days to complete the New Testament.
These thoughts continued to filter through my mind. That’s when it occurred to me that if I can gradually drink 1000 eight ounce cups of coffee in 250 days without even thinking about it, then just imagine what terror the devil could wreak little by little if allowed to operate without resistance.
Yes I know that took me a while to waft around to my point. But the fact is, end results (good or bad) are often eye-openers even though the process has been percolating right under our nose for long periods of time.
Jesus and the New Testament writers taught the same thing two-thousand years ago. That message is simply this: Lookout! The devil is sneaky. The thing is, if Satan drove up and parked in your driveway with a truckload of temptations, it would be very easy to say, “No!” But cowards don’t typically operate that way, do they?
The good news is that no matter what the devil tempts us with, the Lord always provides us with a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). An even better thought may be that when we set our minds on walking God’s path, we are less likely to even need a way of escape since saying “yes” to God’s way shuts out other options which are really not options at all.
May God bless you this week as you honor him little by little, more and more, minute by minute, and day by day. Smile, Jesus loves you. (end)
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Spend quality time with those you love
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 9, 2010
Wasn’t Saturday just a beautiful weather day? Well that night my daughters were out of town, my wife was at work, and my 11-year old son said, “Hey dad, can we have some of that real tough steak like we had that one time?” I thought to myself, “Everyone’s gone but me and my son, we can have anything we want for dinner, and he wants a tough steak?!” What’s the deal?!
And then I realized exactly where he was coming from. Last summer, my family had one of the best family nights we ever had, and I happened to grill steak that night. And when I say grill, I mean grilled and grilled. I must have gotten sidetracked or something because those steaks were the worst I’ve ever grilled, no fault of the steak. It was simply (as they say) operator error. But hey, the weather was mild, everyone was in a good mood, and the peach tea and corn on the cob were great. All in all, it was a very special evening, and it didn’t even matter that the steak was a little past, well, a lot past well done.
For most of us, spending quality time with those we love ranks right at the top of the most important things in life. And as my son proved to me, it really doesn’t even matter if the steak resembles flavored shoe leather.
The best relationship building has nothing to do with how much money you spend on someone. It doesn’t even matter if your plans for a perfect day turn out nothing like you planned. As for me, sometimes it seems the harder I try to force a plan to succeed, the worse things turn out.
The thing I like the most about any surprise, good or bad, regarding relationships, is that I’m reminded I’m not in control of everything, or anything for that matter. That may seem like a bad thing at first. But then I come to the realization that we’re all in trouble if there’s not someone smarter than me in charge. In fact, for those times when it seems God reminds me of who’s really in charge, it always turns out to be a faith-building experience. In the end, I am always reminded that putting my faith and trust in God instead of self is always the better option.
Spending quality time with those you love is a worthy and admirable goal. But saving room for God’s guidance in all of your relationships whether personal, professional, family, or friends, will bless your life in more ways than you can imagine. You will soon understand that many of those so-called coincidences may not be chance at all, but rather God working in your life. Have a great week! (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 9, 2010
Wasn’t Saturday just a beautiful weather day? Well that night my daughters were out of town, my wife was at work, and my 11-year old son said, “Hey dad, can we have some of that real tough steak like we had that one time?” I thought to myself, “Everyone’s gone but me and my son, we can have anything we want for dinner, and he wants a tough steak?!” What’s the deal?!
And then I realized exactly where he was coming from. Last summer, my family had one of the best family nights we ever had, and I happened to grill steak that night. And when I say grill, I mean grilled and grilled. I must have gotten sidetracked or something because those steaks were the worst I’ve ever grilled, no fault of the steak. It was simply (as they say) operator error. But hey, the weather was mild, everyone was in a good mood, and the peach tea and corn on the cob were great. All in all, it was a very special evening, and it didn’t even matter that the steak was a little past, well, a lot past well done.
For most of us, spending quality time with those we love ranks right at the top of the most important things in life. And as my son proved to me, it really doesn’t even matter if the steak resembles flavored shoe leather.
The best relationship building has nothing to do with how much money you spend on someone. It doesn’t even matter if your plans for a perfect day turn out nothing like you planned. As for me, sometimes it seems the harder I try to force a plan to succeed, the worse things turn out.
The thing I like the most about any surprise, good or bad, regarding relationships, is that I’m reminded I’m not in control of everything, or anything for that matter. That may seem like a bad thing at first. But then I come to the realization that we’re all in trouble if there’s not someone smarter than me in charge. In fact, for those times when it seems God reminds me of who’s really in charge, it always turns out to be a faith-building experience. In the end, I am always reminded that putting my faith and trust in God instead of self is always the better option.
Spending quality time with those you love is a worthy and admirable goal. But saving room for God’s guidance in all of your relationships whether personal, professional, family, or friends, will bless your life in more ways than you can imagine. You will soon understand that many of those so-called coincidences may not be chance at all, but rather God working in your life. Have a great week! (end)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Disappointments do not get the last word
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 2, 2010
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Now that is a BIG promise. But as life’s disappointments come our way, it’s hard to believe God’s assurances sometimes, isn’t it? Especially when we see our younger generation being deceived and conditioned to think that the world’s ways are normal.
One of the most disappointing things I experience in youth ministry here in Fort Gibson is when kids get old enough to want to experience the dark side. It happens every year as children I have known since they were little seem to grow up overnight and want to test the waters of sin. This is always painful to witness because it seems there is very little I can do about it. I used to blame it on myself for not being able to stop them. But a friend once reminded me that when someone, even an adolescent, chooses darkness over light, the problem is really between them and God, not me and them. Nevertheless, the scenario is always more heartbreaking for us as parents and youth workers when our children are involved. It’s hard to keep from taking it personally, isn’t it?
I know a lot of parents, ministers, and youth workers in Fort Gibson from many religious denominations. They work very hard at teaching the younger generation the dangers of flirting with Satan and dabbling in his wicked schemes. But even those who try the hardest cannot expect children to not struggle with negative peer pressure, one of the devil’s most effective weapons. The devil is a COWARD who preys on the weakest link, especially when the strongest links are holding tightly to God’s unchanging hand. In other words, if Satan cannot sway the spiritual leader of a family, he will certainly try to tempt our children.
This dark fact does not mean we have to like it, put up with it, or buckle under. It just means we as parents, youth workers, and mentors must stay the course. We must fight for our children’s souls just like so many other spiritual warriors have also done for so many years. This doesn’t mean we’re going to win every battle. It does mean, however, we will win in the long run and so will our children. They may suffer lifelong consequences for making bad decisions, but the important thing is that they do not lose their soul for eternity. The Bible assures us that our efforts will not go unnoticed by our heavenly Father. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 2, 2010
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Now that is a BIG promise. But as life’s disappointments come our way, it’s hard to believe God’s assurances sometimes, isn’t it? Especially when we see our younger generation being deceived and conditioned to think that the world’s ways are normal.
One of the most disappointing things I experience in youth ministry here in Fort Gibson is when kids get old enough to want to experience the dark side. It happens every year as children I have known since they were little seem to grow up overnight and want to test the waters of sin. This is always painful to witness because it seems there is very little I can do about it. I used to blame it on myself for not being able to stop them. But a friend once reminded me that when someone, even an adolescent, chooses darkness over light, the problem is really between them and God, not me and them. Nevertheless, the scenario is always more heartbreaking for us as parents and youth workers when our children are involved. It’s hard to keep from taking it personally, isn’t it?
I know a lot of parents, ministers, and youth workers in Fort Gibson from many religious denominations. They work very hard at teaching the younger generation the dangers of flirting with Satan and dabbling in his wicked schemes. But even those who try the hardest cannot expect children to not struggle with negative peer pressure, one of the devil’s most effective weapons. The devil is a COWARD who preys on the weakest link, especially when the strongest links are holding tightly to God’s unchanging hand. In other words, if Satan cannot sway the spiritual leader of a family, he will certainly try to tempt our children.
This dark fact does not mean we have to like it, put up with it, or buckle under. It just means we as parents, youth workers, and mentors must stay the course. We must fight for our children’s souls just like so many other spiritual warriors have also done for so many years. This doesn’t mean we’re going to win every battle. It does mean, however, we will win in the long run and so will our children. They may suffer lifelong consequences for making bad decisions, but the important thing is that they do not lose their soul for eternity. The Bible assures us that our efforts will not go unnoticed by our heavenly Father. (end)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
God’s blessings are such a joy
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 23, 2010
I was blessed again this week. This time with a letter I received from an elderly but very energetic widow lady named Susie from Wagoner.
I met Susie about three years ago when I brought a group of Fort Gibson teenagers to her house along with a few others who were assigned to me at a nearby teen leadership conference. We were supposed to pick up limbs that had fallen in Susie’s yard during an ice storm. But when we arrived, someone else had already picked up the limbs.
So, we stayed anyway and visited with Susie and her daughter-in-law for about an hour. You talk about a God thing. We just thought we were going to be the ones giving the blessing. As it turned out, she spoke with our kids, especially the girls about making life decisions and dealing with the consequences. We took a group picture with her and sent it with a letter back to her in the mail. No big deal, right? That was three years ago.
But this week when I received her letter, it could not have come at a better time. I have been planning several youth projects. And you know what that feels like when your plate is a little too full? Well, that’s how I was feeling, a little bogged down.
Susie wrote just to say that she had been thinking about us, and she wanted to encourage our church youth to keep their mind on God. She also said she’s been sick lately and wanted our prayers.
I found Susie’s phone number and gave her a call a few days ago. She said it still makes her feel good to look at the picture we sent, and to think about our visit. She said she has been diagnosed with cancer but that she rebuked it and has given it over to God. She continues to deliver food to the less fortunate in her community as a volunteer. She knows God will take care of her.
Now I realize once again that in the midst of a very busy world, true Christianity really boils down to a few very simple things. And none of them involves stressing out about planning projects! God, "Forgive me for too often only thinking of myself." So I’m asking you to pause for just a moment and say a prayer of healing for Susie and anyone else who is special to you.
James 5:15 says, “A prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.”
Of course, we all know that God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we would like. But we know he can, he has, he will, and we know that the Bible says“…God works for the good of those who love him… (Romans 8:28)” Just remember Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding…”
Have a great week! (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 23, 2010
I was blessed again this week. This time with a letter I received from an elderly but very energetic widow lady named Susie from Wagoner.
I met Susie about three years ago when I brought a group of Fort Gibson teenagers to her house along with a few others who were assigned to me at a nearby teen leadership conference. We were supposed to pick up limbs that had fallen in Susie’s yard during an ice storm. But when we arrived, someone else had already picked up the limbs.
So, we stayed anyway and visited with Susie and her daughter-in-law for about an hour. You talk about a God thing. We just thought we were going to be the ones giving the blessing. As it turned out, she spoke with our kids, especially the girls about making life decisions and dealing with the consequences. We took a group picture with her and sent it with a letter back to her in the mail. No big deal, right? That was three years ago.
But this week when I received her letter, it could not have come at a better time. I have been planning several youth projects. And you know what that feels like when your plate is a little too full? Well, that’s how I was feeling, a little bogged down.
Susie wrote just to say that she had been thinking about us, and she wanted to encourage our church youth to keep their mind on God. She also said she’s been sick lately and wanted our prayers.
I found Susie’s phone number and gave her a call a few days ago. She said it still makes her feel good to look at the picture we sent, and to think about our visit. She said she has been diagnosed with cancer but that she rebuked it and has given it over to God. She continues to deliver food to the less fortunate in her community as a volunteer. She knows God will take care of her.
Now I realize once again that in the midst of a very busy world, true Christianity really boils down to a few very simple things. And none of them involves stressing out about planning projects! God, "Forgive me for too often only thinking of myself." So I’m asking you to pause for just a moment and say a prayer of healing for Susie and anyone else who is special to you.
James 5:15 says, “A prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.”
Of course, we all know that God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we would like. But we know he can, he has, he will, and we know that the Bible says“…God works for the good of those who love him… (Romans 8:28)” Just remember Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding…”
Have a great week! (end)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Mission work can be right under your nose
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 16, 2010
There’s nothing quite like coming back home. Last week, I returned from a mission trip to a growing community just outside of Monterrey, Mexico called Santa Monica. I’ve written about my trips there before. 14 of us made the weeklong trek across the border.
Our job this time was to place rebar on the second story roof of the Bible class wing of the new church building Fort Gibson Church of Christ is helping to construct. Then, we poured concrete on top of that to finish it off. We also installed windows and a front door to the building.
All of this travel, hard work, and expense was simply to provide the Mexican people in that area a central place to worship God and have Bible classes. We’re going again with a student group in June.
One night during our mission team’s Bible study time, our missions deacon Glen Elliott mentioned something very profound. He said that even though what we are doing for Mexico is important, we must continually challenge ourselves to put the same kind of effort into winning souls in Fort Gibson.
This very strategy was also taught by Jesus in the book of Acts 1:8 when he said, “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In this passage Jesus is telling his disciples to start teaching the Gospel story where they were at the time, and then branch out to other places. This is important for us to remember today as well. Yes, it can be much more intimidating to try to win souls in your own town. The Bible speaks of that too. Nevertheless, you must try. It’s the method that makes the most sense. That’s why even in mission work the goal is to train local people to reach out to their own people.
The fact is, we all like a good challenge. It keeps us fresh, on our toes so to speak. But the biggest challenge may not be in the far away mission field. It might be right under our nose, right here in Fort Gibson. And can you think of a challenge that will impact our day to day lives any more than teaching about Jesus in our own community? We all have so little to lose and so much to gain by witnessing to the people we see everyday.
Please pray today that God will soften hearts here in our town, give us fields that are ready to harvest, and give us the confidence to boldly teach others through God’s word and by our Christian example. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 16, 2010
There’s nothing quite like coming back home. Last week, I returned from a mission trip to a growing community just outside of Monterrey, Mexico called Santa Monica. I’ve written about my trips there before. 14 of us made the weeklong trek across the border.
Our job this time was to place rebar on the second story roof of the Bible class wing of the new church building Fort Gibson Church of Christ is helping to construct. Then, we poured concrete on top of that to finish it off. We also installed windows and a front door to the building.
All of this travel, hard work, and expense was simply to provide the Mexican people in that area a central place to worship God and have Bible classes. We’re going again with a student group in June.
One night during our mission team’s Bible study time, our missions deacon Glen Elliott mentioned something very profound. He said that even though what we are doing for Mexico is important, we must continually challenge ourselves to put the same kind of effort into winning souls in Fort Gibson.
This very strategy was also taught by Jesus in the book of Acts 1:8 when he said, “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In this passage Jesus is telling his disciples to start teaching the Gospel story where they were at the time, and then branch out to other places. This is important for us to remember today as well. Yes, it can be much more intimidating to try to win souls in your own town. The Bible speaks of that too. Nevertheless, you must try. It’s the method that makes the most sense. That’s why even in mission work the goal is to train local people to reach out to their own people.
The fact is, we all like a good challenge. It keeps us fresh, on our toes so to speak. But the biggest challenge may not be in the far away mission field. It might be right under our nose, right here in Fort Gibson. And can you think of a challenge that will impact our day to day lives any more than teaching about Jesus in our own community? We all have so little to lose and so much to gain by witnessing to the people we see everyday.
Please pray today that God will soften hearts here in our town, give us fields that are ready to harvest, and give us the confidence to boldly teach others through God’s word and by our Christian example. (end)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Sowing seeds may be more effective than you think
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 9, 2010
We’ve all heard the saying, “You reap what you sow.” A lot of times, it’s used to mean something bad is happening because of something someone did or didn’t do. But occasionally it’s nice to see that phrase being played out in a positive way.
The other day, Debbie Edwards visited our church, and in fact decided to put on Christ in baptism! After services that day, she told me a part of the reason she chose our church was because our youth group visited her house a few years ago and prayed with her. She smiled and said, “See, you never know what an impact you might have on someone. That seed your youth sowed by coming to my house lay dormant for years.”
We had been going door to door asking people if they had anything they wanted us to pray about. Debbie’s house was just one of several places we stopped to pray. That was probably about four years ago.
But just a few days ago Debbie almost had a serious car accident. She was having a serious dizzy spell brought on by a condition she has been diagnosed with called Meneire’s Syndrome. Somehow she managed to park her car on the side of the highway without incident. She feels certain that God had a hand in this since she can’t even walk, much less drive when her condition worsens like this.
Debbie decided that now was the time to turn her life completely over to Christ. She called the church office, not knowing that the person who would answer the phone already knew her. It was Janet Strain, our secretary. Janet used to work at the cable TV office several years ago and Debbie was a customer. Janet had invited her to a Ladies’ Day and also brought a group of teenage girls to Debbie’s house to deliver her some muffins. Another seed planted!
A couple of weeks ago our preacher, Dan Rouse, visited with Debbie and baptized her.
In retrospect, she said she had thought about turning in to the church many times over the years but just never did.
Stories like Debbie’s should encourage us all to continue sowing seeds of righteousness. We don’t always see immediate results; in fact, most of the time we don’t. But God is faithful.
I just wonder how many other seeds have been sown that are waiting to sprout like Debbie. Exciting to think about, isn’t it? May we all look for more opportunities to sow seeds, and then trust that God will bring about the harvest. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 9, 2010
We’ve all heard the saying, “You reap what you sow.” A lot of times, it’s used to mean something bad is happening because of something someone did or didn’t do. But occasionally it’s nice to see that phrase being played out in a positive way.
The other day, Debbie Edwards visited our church, and in fact decided to put on Christ in baptism! After services that day, she told me a part of the reason she chose our church was because our youth group visited her house a few years ago and prayed with her. She smiled and said, “See, you never know what an impact you might have on someone. That seed your youth sowed by coming to my house lay dormant for years.”
We had been going door to door asking people if they had anything they wanted us to pray about. Debbie’s house was just one of several places we stopped to pray. That was probably about four years ago.
But just a few days ago Debbie almost had a serious car accident. She was having a serious dizzy spell brought on by a condition she has been diagnosed with called Meneire’s Syndrome. Somehow she managed to park her car on the side of the highway without incident. She feels certain that God had a hand in this since she can’t even walk, much less drive when her condition worsens like this.
Debbie decided that now was the time to turn her life completely over to Christ. She called the church office, not knowing that the person who would answer the phone already knew her. It was Janet Strain, our secretary. Janet used to work at the cable TV office several years ago and Debbie was a customer. Janet had invited her to a Ladies’ Day and also brought a group of teenage girls to Debbie’s house to deliver her some muffins. Another seed planted!
A couple of weeks ago our preacher, Dan Rouse, visited with Debbie and baptized her.
In retrospect, she said she had thought about turning in to the church many times over the years but just never did.
Stories like Debbie’s should encourage us all to continue sowing seeds of righteousness. We don’t always see immediate results; in fact, most of the time we don’t. But God is faithful.
I just wonder how many other seeds have been sown that are waiting to sprout like Debbie. Exciting to think about, isn’t it? May we all look for more opportunities to sow seeds, and then trust that God will bring about the harvest. (end)
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