The devil can be a bit like the weather
by Barrett Vanlandingham
May 1, 2013

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, spring flowers have been blooming for over a month and a half now in Fort Gibson and elsewhere. During that time, we’ve experienced sunshine, snow, hail, high winds, clouds, and temperatures in the 80’s! 

Probably half the people on my block are either having their roof replaced, or need to because of the pounding we taken this spring.  For those of us who grew up in Oklahoma like I did, we know this is normal.  Others are no doubt quickly learning. We don’t always like this kind of normality, but hey, we just try to stay on top of things best we can and be prepared for the unexpected.

It’s a lot like doing battle with the devil, isn’t it? We never know exactly how he will tempt us, but we know without a doubt that he will strike and constantly changes strategies.

As Christians, we just have to stay ready for whatever is thrown our way. It has been this way since Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Eden when the only thing they had to worry about was staying away from the fruit of one particular tree.  You have to wonder how long it would have taken any of us to fall for the same lie Satan told them. 

After all, we too know there are certain things we need to stay away from.  But just like Adam and Eve listened to the devil’s twisted version of God’s instructions, we also can fall for the schemes of darkness if we get too close to the enemy.  That is why God uses the term “flee from” (not flirt with) when instructing us on how to deal with temptations and sin.

Today, preparedness for spiritual disaster begins with the Holy Spirit. He is our insurance policy.  He guides and comforts us.  He provides opportunities for us to grow in the Godly qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  Scripture tells us that as Christians, we need to not only take on these kinds of qualities, but grow in them to avoid becoming ineffective (2 Peter 1:7).

Keeping our hearts in tune with Jesus not only helps us grow spiritually, but also helps us explain to others about the hope we have because of Christ (1 Peter 3:15).  The Bible encourages Christians to boldly go about the work of the Lord (2 Timothy 1:7-14 and Romans 1:16).  When we use God’s word and his Holy Spirit as our guide, we should never be afraid of the uncertainties of life, or of being inadequate to talk with others about joys of living for Jesus.  It is truly an honor to serve the King.  Have a great week!

Jesus Christ brings light to a dark world

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 24, 2013

So what are we supposed to think and how are we supposed to feel about the last several days? Acts of terrorism at the Boston Marathon and an unrelated massive and deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in Waco have left an entire nation emotionally numb. And those are just a couple of things (yet very significant) that have captured our attention.

Those two examples do not even include things that happen every day in the lives of people everywhere, things that are not aired in the news, but may be just as devastating. One thing we do know is that Jesus knows exactly how we feel because he was tempted in every way that we are (Hebrews 4:15). One comforting thought is that our time here on earth is very short in comparison with the eternal life in heaven that we should be preparing for.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7-8).”

As Christians, we must not only keep our eyes focused on God, but also remember to encourage those around us to do the same. To do otherwise puts us at odds with the very one who loves us the most and gives us real hope. Being at odds with the Creator will not work for us today any better than it did for the Israelites in the Old Testament times who rejected Him and abandoned His commands in exchange for false gods. (1 Kings 18:18).

King Ahab of Israel was known as one who did more evil in the eyes of God than any other king before him. His reaction to God’s prophet Elijah is a prime example of how people have always reacted when they suffer the consequences of their own rebellion towards God. Ahab blamed Elijah for Israel’s troubles such as a three-year drought that had stricken the land.

Even today, people who distance themselves from God while embracing evil practices of the world often look for someone to blame besides themselves. Sometimes, unbelievers even blame Christians for their problems, especially when we try to bring the love of Christ and the light of God’s word into situations dominated by darkness. How much more calamity must our world endure before humanity chooses to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the son of God, and obey the will of God. That would not wipe out all problems. But it would cause people to understand the concept of true joy and hope in spite of very temporary trials.

Peter says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).” James says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

God bless you as you bring honor to him. Have a great week!

Temptations are real even if invisible

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 17, 2013

The day after I wrote last week’s article about the challenges of starting a spiritual fire with wet wood, God dropped another campfire-related lesson in my lap. Actually, unbeknownst to me, it floated in through my back window screen.

The Saturday night I built the campfire, I forgot to shut the back window I had opened earlier that evening for some fresh air. So, the night went on with smoke from the fire-pit slowly wafting its way past the window screen throughout the house. But because it happened little by little, my sense of smell didn’t pick up on it.

The next morning my family got ready for Sunday worship just like normal. But when we returned home for dinner, the entire house smelled like smoke! We couldn’t see any smoke, but it was obvious that smoke (and I mean a lot of it) had found its way into our house even though it was no longer visible.

At first, I asked myself, “Why didn’t any of us smell anything this morning? Was the smell not there?” But it dawned on me that the smell of smoke had actually been there since the night before. The only thing that changed was that we left the house and breathed regular air for a few hours before coming back home to the invisible surprise.

This whole scenario reminds me of how the Satan works. Typically, a temptation doesn’t hit you head-on. It most often finds a way to attack your blindside, or maybe sneaks in when you are busy or stressed and off your spiritual game for some reason.

The temptation I hate the most is the one that takes place when my guard is down. Sometimes I feel spiritually comfortable and confident that the devil couldn’t get to me even if he tried. That should probably be my first clue that I need to watch out!

The apostle Paul said, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12. ESV).”

Many good Christians have fallen for that very reason. Little by little, pride (the bad kind) enters in to the picture. We may not even notice because it first appeared while we were doing a great job serving the Lord. We can put ourselves in danger if we think we are too strong and have too good of a relationship with God to fall for any schemes from the dark side. We can also allow ourselves to become too cozy with sin until we no longer sense it.

May you never get so used to the smell that you forget to shut your window. Have a great week!

Re-kindling a spiritual fire with wet wood takes patience

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 11, 2013

Late Friday night I was on my back porch enjoying some mild weather when I got the idea to start a fire. I didn’t think it was a bad idea, at least for about the first half hour of trying. The next hour, however, was just sheer stubbornness that I was not going to be outdone by a pile of inanimate objects posing as firewood.

There were many problems with my plan. First of all, I only had a couple of sticks of old wood and lots of green wood. Second, even the old wood didn’t want to catch fire because it had been soaked by the recent rains. And third, the lighter fluid I had sprayed on the wood was ineffective. It burned up into the night air before it could even get past the surface of the uncured logs stacked in the fire pit.

But after I realized what I was up against, I found some old newspapers and magazines I could part with. I wadded them up one page at a time and began to shove them under the logs in hopes that the fire would take right off. And there they were! FLAMES. But as soon as I stopped feeding them small handfuls of dry paper wads, the fire died back down almost to nothing. So I continued the process and occasionally re-positioned the wood for maximum airflow. One quick hour later, the fire began to burn on its own, a little. It took another half hour of constant attention before my Friday night production actually looked like a real campfire. I’m glad I wasn’t in a hurry!

Have you ever known anyone whose faith was immature or uncured? How about a “formerly” mature Christian, who let go of their Anchor when the storms of life blew in, and became spiritually waterlogged with a “don’t care” attitude? The weeks, months, and years of apathetic Christianity were too big of a challenge for the occasional half-hearted attempts to grow in faith, only to see it float away into the night air.

It is very easy to become impatient with our friends, family, and others when they fit this description, especially if you happen to be doing well spiritually. But take heart, your consistent love, attention, and prayer will eventually re-kindle the struggling Christian and even the non-Christian. This week, show someone how the warmth of Jesus has made a difference in your life. Have a great day!

The Bible says to serve God like a thief
by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 3, 2013

            It’s a strange thought at first.  But when you think about how thieves operate, it makes sense that the Bible would devote an entire parable to the idea of serving the Lord with at least as much effort as a dishonest person puts into getting ahead.

            In Luke 16:1-13 we are told the parable of the shrewd manager (aka: dishonest steward).  His master found out that he had been wasting his possessions, so the master was going to fire him.  The unrighteous manager was too ashamed to beg for a living, and was not strong enough to dig.  So he told one man who was in debt to the master to cut half off the bill before paying it. He told another debtor to cut twenty percent off his bill. This, he felt, would cause those people to welcome him into their houses after he lost his job. In the end, the dishonest servant got the majority of the debts repaid to his master, and even better, he probably got to hold on to his job!

            In this parable Jesus says, “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light (Luke 16:8).”

            So why in the world would the Bible include such a story?  As with all parables, they are not meant to be dissected to assign special meaning to every word, but rather take the overall meaning or point that Jesus is trying to make.

For Christians, there is a very good message that we can apply to our daily walk.  A thief is constantly scheming and thinking of strategies to rip people out of their hard earned possessions. They watch, wait, & listen for opportunities.  They network and get help from friends to accomplish their task.

Christians should be just as diligent in matters of spiritual warfare.  “Therefore be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).”

Jesus is definitely not telling us to be deceptive in winning souls and serving people for the wrong reasons.  In fact, Jesus warns strongly against those types of practices and against doing things for our own glory (ref: Matthew 6).

One thing you can be sure of is that the devil has a well thought out plan for your life.  Do you?  God does.  But just like the dishonest manager, Christians must be determined and persistent.  Constant prayer and trusting God with our decisions is a great place to start.  Daily Bible study provides a great foundation for your faith.  And finally, putting your faith into action will be encouraging to you, to others, and shows obedience to God.  Have a great week!

The resurrection of Christ is still a big deal

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 27, 2013

Mark 16:1-6 says, “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

What a wonderfully mind-blowing story! Imagine Jesus waking in the grave, as the Spirit of God rolled the stone away from the tomb. The risen Christ, experiencing the warmth of sunshine on his face and resurrected body after three days of separation from his father. Death was now defeated. The prophecies fulfilled.

Obviously, the resurrection of Jesus is just one of the things people think about at Easter. But the fact that there is an empty grave brings countless blessings for which we can be thankful, not the least of which is our hope of a life in heaven.

As I think about some of my fondest Easter memories, everything from coloring and hunting eggs as a kid, to seeing everyone all dressed up for Easter worship services come to mind. But I think the blessing of family during any holiday always ranks at the top of things for which to be thankful.

No matter what Easter means to you, all good things are made possible because of God’s love, mercy, and grace whether we realize it or not. The fact that Jesus came from heaven to earth to live as one of us gives him a unique perspective.

Jesus has always gone to the extremes to show his love for us. And even after dying on a cross, he chose to keep the scars in his hands, feet, and side after the resurrection. He would use these battle wounds to convince a doubting Thomas that this was indeed a face-to-face encounter with the Messiah. Thomas certainly experienced life differently from that day forward, as did dozens of other people Jesus appeared to including a crowd of 500 (1 Corinthians 15:6). Even today, we can experience a new life in Christ (Romans 6:1-11 & 2 Corinthians 5:17).

I pray that you have a happy Easter and much joy everyday because of a risen Savior.

A partnership with God is unstoppable

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 20, 2013

One of the most famous verses Paul ever wrote is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV)

Many of you have probably already seen spring break photos of friends headed to the slopes for a little snow skiing. The last time I tried it was several years ago. It was fun. You could even say that I felt unstoppable that day. But that feeling soon ended when I fell down a slope and wondered if I would ever stop sliding. Eventually, I did, but carried with me a few more bruises, aches, and pains than I started with.

I had a similar experience in college when I tried bodysurfing for the first time at Laguna Beach, California. I had everything under control. But evidently, I did not seek enough instruction before jumping in to the ocean. I found myself under a wave (yes, under the water) that spun me head over heels repeatedly, pummeling me against a thankfully sandy ocean floor until I was able to drag myself back onto the beach to recover.

My experiences with God’s creation, in particular with snow covered mountains and the ocean, still bring to mind the word “unstoppable”, but not necessarily in a good way.

Thank goodness, the same God who created nature for us to enjoy and yes, challenge sometimes unsuccessfully, is the same God who really can lead us on an unstoppable, joyous, and victorious journey even when our earthly circumstances are less than desirable.

In about 450 B.C. after Nehemiah successfully organized the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem which lay in ruin thanks to the Babylonians, Nehemiah told the people, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh. 8:10).”

Those words must have rang true for the Jews who were present. They had not only just finished the wall in spite of enemies who were trying to distract them from their work, but the Jews had also just been let out of Babylonian captivity, and were getting to hear the word of the Lord being read by Ezra and Nehemiah.

“And all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground (Neh. 8:6).”

Remember, whether in good times or bad, going through life with God on your side always results in the best possible outcome both here and the life to come. Have a blessed week!

Jesus is the Key to Life

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 13, 2013

A few days ago I had one of those days where nothing seemed to go my way. I had a long list of things I needed to get done, but somehow other things kept getting in the way.

At one point I accidentally locked the key to church’s storage building inside it because I had put my key chain in a “safe place” while I was rummaging around and I didn’t want to lose my keys. I guess I should have left them in my pocket.

I wouldn’t have been in the storage building in the first place, but I needed an extension cord for a charger to revive the battery in the church bus. It had gone dead because the bus’s wheelchair lift slipped out and caused a warning light to stay on for days which drained the battery the day before I had to leave on a weekend trip with my youth group! Yes, that was a run-on sentence. But that’s kind of how my day went, on and on and on.

As I stood there outside the door unable to get in the building and unable to drive my car, it became clear to me again just how important it is to have the right key.

Life can be challenging enough without those unexpected hurdles, locked doors, worries, and uncertainties. In a conversation between Jesus and the man who would go down in history as “doubting Thomas”, Jesus offers reassurance.

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:5-6)

Jesus is the Key to our salvation. In the book of Revelation, John wrote the words of Jesus, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

Keys are symbolic of power and authority. Jesus had the ability to defeat death because He is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus is our key, and if we hold on to Him, we will defeat death and experience life everlasting.

As I closed the door to the storage building, I quickly realized I had made the mistake of turning loose of my keys, and also the mistake of putting a separation (a locked door) between me and something I desperately needed. This was an inconvenient lesson to learn, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

I pray that today finds you holding on to Jesus, the Key who opens the door to joy in this life and the life to come (ref: 2 Peter 1:5-11 and 1 Timothy 4:8). Have a blessed week!

Our time is really God’s time

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 6, 2013

20 years seems like a long time, that is, until your first-born child turns twenty! Then you’re wondering where all that time went. Our daughter Ashton turned the big two-zero this past Sunday while away at Oklahoma Christian University. She is now preparing for a mission trip into Anahuac, Mexico where she and several others will work at a children’s home during spring break. This summer, she will be doing a youth ministry internship at Crosstown Church of Christ in Tulsa. Okay, Okay! Enough bragging about my kid!

Anyway, an important birthday is just one of dozens of time-based milestones we all cross in this life. Last Saturday, two of my former youth group members, Brady West and Katie Coombes, took marriage vows with their sweethearts (not each other). While at one of the weddings, I met an old college friend who not only has three adult children now, but also just became a grandfather! Every so many years I just shake my head at how fast time flies.

By the way, remember to set your clocks forward one hour for Daylight Savings Time before you go to sleep Saturday night, March 9.

The Bible has a lot to say about time, but more importantly how we should use it. One of my favorite passages comes from the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:15-20.

He says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We have a lot to accomplish during our time here. Trusting God is a great place to start. But we must also follow through in obedience to Him, keeping our minds pure (ref: Philippians 4:8). This is of highest importance since Christ will judge us according to how we have spent our time (ref: 2 Cor. 5:10). But it is only because of what Jesus has done that any of us has the assurance of salvation. Are you willing to give Christ ALL of your time? I pray that your answer is yes. Have a great week!

Jesus wants your burdens

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 27, 2013

By the time you read this, Lord willing, I will have already sung at an elderly friend’s funeral on Wednesday, gone through a colonoscopy Thursday, gotten the results, recovered, reported for jury duty Friday morning, and attended a weekend youth rally in Arkansas! FUN, FUN (at least the rally part). Yes I know that’s a lot to cram into the second half of my week, but I am not going to complain, considering I talk to people every week who have it much worse.

I have written many articles and lessons on the topics of worry, stress, fear, and giving it over to God. But at this moment I find myself guilty of not approaching any of these topics the right way in my personal life. Please forgive me if you think this makes me a hypocrite? Hopefully, it makes me human.

Fear of the unknown is something we all have to deal with. Even Jesus, though He was God in the flesh, was only made perfect through suffering (Heb. 2:10). He not only understands us better because of His suffering, but His acts of self-sacrifice also satisfy our human need to feel that Jesus has been in our shoes.

Certainly, Jesus could have used His supernatural ability to empathize with us. But He knew we would view that as taking the easy way out. So, He was tempted in every way, and in His weakest moment even pleaded with His Father to change His mind about the cross.

Jesus wanted mankind to know without a doubt that He was sincere in His love for us. He wanted us to be confident He understands our struggles enough to show us mercy (Hebrews 4:15-16). His life here on earth was the ultimate act of compassion, and simply put, He doesn’t want us to worry, period! (Matthew 6:25-34) He simply wants us to be compelled enough by His love to choose Him (2 Corinthians 5:14). Jesus will do the rest.

The apostle Paul said it well when he compared our earthly body to a temporary tent that we will eventually exchange for a heavenly dwelling (2 Cor. 5:1-5). I appreciate mature Christians who not only understand that this world is not our home, but our bodies are not ours to keep. They are only a tool to do the Lord’s work for a short while (Matt. 28:18-20).

May God bless us all with peace as we strive to unload our burdens at the feet of Jesus (Matt. 11:28), who promises to give us rest in our time of need. Have a great week!

There is a cure for spiritual bacteria
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 20, 2013

            As I stood in the church kitchen the other morning waiting for my coffee to brew, the hand sanitizer dispenser on the wall caught my eye and I had the irresistible urge to sanitize my hands! Why is that?  I didn’t feel that way 20 years ago.

            Ironically, our society has become less tolerant of germs in recent years while becoming more tolerant of sin.  Why do so many no longer feel just as strongly about clean souls as we do clean hands, especially if doing so will prevent us from becoming spiritually sick?

            The idea of having spiritually clean hands is not a new one.  About 3000 years ago in Psalm 24:3-4, David says, “Who may ascend to the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?”

David answers that question by saying, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.”

In other words, the person or generation who is committed only to God, and trusts only in Him is the one who David says “…will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior (Ps 23:5-6).”

Perhaps this is what the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote to young Timothy.  “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger or disputing (1 Tim. 2:8)”

In context, Paul encourages us to pray for kings and other authority figures, Jews and Gentiles.  He reminds us that the Good News of Jesus Christ should be preached to all people.  This would be important so that everyone, no matter what their nationality or social class, can lives truly peaceful lives and communicate with God (hands raised or not), knowing they have been made holy or set apart for service in His kingdom.

This is something that would have been impossible without Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, who continually washes our sins away.  Baptism is mentioned over and over in the New Testament as the moment at which our sins are washed away or forgiven (Acts 22:16 and Acts 2:38).  Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, something all true believers in Christ must take part in so as to “live a new life” of obedience (Romans 6:3-5 and James 2:26).

As ethyl alcohol is to hand sanitizer, the active ingredient spiritually for having clean hands and a pure heart is belief in Jesus Christ (John 1:12 and 3:16) as the son of God whose grace (Romans 3:24) makes our salvation possible.  Have a great week!

God’s perfect love is for all

by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 13, 2013

Ahhh, Valentine’s Day! It’s a time when we show special appreciation for our loved ones. A box of chocolates, a bouquet of flowers, dinner or movie, or maybe a special gift are all very thoughtful.

But believe it or not, such impressive acts hardly register on the Richter scale of love in comparison to the most important kind of love, God’s love. Can you even imagine the amount of love our heavenly Father must have for us? He spells it out in scripture over and over again.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

And although many of the words of prophets like Jeremiah were often meant for a specific time-frame or people, the message often applies to all of those who make God their “Number One”.

Listen to what else God said to Jeremiah in 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

God uses the same idea in speaking of Christians in the first century. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

In Luke 12:6-7, Jesus reassures His followers that they have no reason to fear anyone who might harm them because of their loyalty to Him. In fact, Jesus reminded them, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

In our culture, people lie about a lot of things. Words are cheap. People will say whatever they think you want to hear, just so they can forged a cheap and shallow relationship that may benefit them financially or otherwise. It may sound like love. But oftentimes it’s a lie. This is in stark contrast to God’s love which is not just words He sent down from on high.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love is found in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39) and there is no way to the Father except through the Son (John 14:6). If you haven’t been clothed in Christ through baptism (Galatians 3:27), why not be baptized today (Romans 6:3-4)? It’s a gift of love that will last an eternity for those who remain faithful til the end. Have a blessed week!

It is important to share what we learn from the Bible
by Barrett Vanlandingham
February 6, 2013

            The people of Fort Gibson have always been gracious of my efforts to convey the truth of God’s word in my Fort Faith column.  But it is also exciting to hear from those of you who read my column in other papers besides the Fort Gibson Times. 

Comments from people in Stillwater, Norman, Durant and readers worldwide of various online publications are getting back to me.  I always love to hear from you, both when we agree and disagree.  Feel free to call or e-mail.  I learn a lot from the feedback, and it actually helps me focus my studies on areas that may need a little more of my attention.  None of us “preacher types” has everything figured out.

I think most of you would agree, it is always humbling and challenging to compare your biblical views with what the Bible actually says.  For me, just about the time I feel like I have a pretty good handle on all things religious (I know that sounds bad), it’s like God opens my eyes to things I hadn’t noticed before.  Even 91-year old Clarence Huggins, one of the sweetest and best Christian men I know, once told me he learns something new everytime he reads the Bible.

Growing up, I mistakenly thought there were two of every animal that entered Noah’s ark.  And while it is true that for each male animal there was also a mate, it is also true that there were actually seven pairs of every clean animal (such as livestock, sheep, and deer), seven pairs of every kind of bird, but only two of every unclean animal (such as camels, mice, hawks, pigs, horses, dogs, and cats).

By the way, I know what some of you are probably thinking.  “Who cares exactly how many animals were on the ark, and how does this knowledge help me or anyone else honor God and eventually go to heaven!?”  I couldn’t agree more.  But it is important to realize that if Noah felt that God’s instructions on numbers of animals, and how to build the ark were important, we should also listen closely to God’s word and obey even the things we consider to be “small” details.  Noah listened and obeyed. And look how things turned out for him. Pretty good, huh?

In our culture of Christian music artists, religious t-shirts and jewelry, and motivational Youtube videos, it is easy to get so comfortable in our relationship with God that we forget the importance of obedience to everything God commands (Matthew 28:18-20).

 It is AWESOME to experience God’s love and blessed assurance in our daily lives.  But it is also important for us to take seriously our responsibility to model God’s commands, and preach the good news to all, especially the poor (Luke 4:18), and above all, love God, and love others.  Remember to pray always, and have a great week!

The after-life is not a complete mystery
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 30, 2013

            Hebrews 9:27-28 says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (ESV).”

            That’s pretty straight forward!  From this passage, we know that someday: 1) Jesus is not going to bear the consequences of mankind’s sin anymore.  2) We’re all going to die once.  3)  We’re all going to be judged.  4)  Some people will be saved. 

            But where do we go after death?  Scripture points to what could be described as a waiting place called Hades (New Testament Greek word) or Sheol (Old Testament Hebrew word). Within the waiting place, one side is described as torment, the other as paradise.

Both are written about in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (ref: Luke 16:19-31).  We can tell a few things about what this after-life place is like because of a conversation between the rich man who was in torment, and Abraham and Lazarus who were in paradise.  They could talk but they could not cross from one side to the other.  Also, the rich man was not allowed to communicate with his five living brothers to warn them about the reality of torment.

In Matthew 24:36-51 and chapter 25 Jesus tells several stories and parables to illustrate that our fate is set after we die, since there is nothing more we can do to obey the Master.

The final judgment or the second coming involves something much different than the waiting place scenario.  It is described as a day, not days, and not an on-going process as people die, but rather a day in which no one knows the day or the hour (ref: Matthew 24:36). It is a day in which Jesus will return to bring his faithful home to heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God.”  Paul goes on to say that those who are already dead in Christ will rise first, followed by the saved who are still living.  We can presume that Judgment Day has not already happened since we are still doing spiritual battle, not to mention the fact that we have not yet heard the trumpet call of God!!

             The apostle Paul says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).”

            People have a lot of questions about the specifics of Christ’s return, exactly how He will carry out Judgment Day, and exactly what heaven will be like.  But the fact that there are a lot of things we simply do not know should have no bearing on how we prepare ourselves to meet our Maker face to face.   Have a great week!

Mountaintop experiences don’t come along everyday
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 23, 2013

            The other day a high school boy texted me to say that he was trying to be more Christ-like, but that no one seemed to notice his efforts.  He added that it is discouraging when you are doing your best to make a difference and spread the love of God and nobody acknowledges it.  He basically wanted some ideas for things he could do that would cause people to say, “Wow, God is good!”  He said that he wanted to be out of the ordinary, an exception, and to know clearly his purpose.  Obviously, this young man has a good heart for doing the Lord’s work, and I told him so.

But the one thing I think a lot of us forget is that those “Wow moments” are not really everyday occurrences.  Even in Bible times, the mountaintop experiences only happened now then, maybe only once in a lifetime.  The rest of the time we just live our lives as God wants us to, being willing vessels for him, being prepared to take advantage of those opportunities when God calls us.

Think about it.  Noah lived to be 950 years old!  Granted, he spent a hundred years building an ark.  But there was only one flood.  So he lived over 800 years with no other major events that the Holy Spirit felt worthy recording in the Bible.  It was the same with other people we read about in God’s word.

1) Elijah only had one showdown on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal.  2) Moses was 80 before he led the children of Israel out of Egypt and experienced many of God’s miracles such as the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.  3) Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den just once (and he was also in his eighties).  4) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown in the furnace only once.  5) God asked Abraham once to sacrifice his son Isaac, and then sent an angel to stop him.  6) Peter got to walk on water just once.  7) And John’s vision that resulted in the book of Revelation was also a once in a lifetime thing.

But when all of these stories (and many more) are included in one Bible, it is easy for us today to draw the wrong conclusion that incredible miracles used to happen at the top of every hour!  God knows his people have always had trouble with patience and faith. 

That is probably why He included reminder passages for us to read such as “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31), and “There is a time for everything” (Ecclesiates 3:1), and “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise” (2 Peter 3:8-9), and “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

God doesn’t perform on command like we sometimes pray that he will. But he does provide each of us everyday with more than enough evidence to continue a faithful journey with Him.  Just remember, God knows exactly what we need, and when we need it.  We just have to be prepared to serve.  The “wow moments” will come.  Have a blessed week!

It’s not too late to cook up a spiritual strategy for 2013!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 16, 2013 

It’s just hard to beat a good biscuit!  A few days ago, preacher Dan and I hosted the monthly area ministers’ breakfast, which gave us the chance to show off our sweet cooking skills.

Between the two of us we managed to come up with gravy and a triple batch of homemade biscuits (my grandma’s recipe handed down through my mom), and Dan’s scrambled eggs and smoked, sweet Arkansas bacon.

If Jesus’ mother, Mary, made biscuits half as good as my mom and grandma, I can totally understand why the temptation to turn stones into bread was a worthy enough story to include in the Bible!   After all, can you imagine what must have been going through Jesus’ mind as he was tempted to whip up some piping hot comfort food, probably to taste just like his mom’s? This, after forty days of fasting and going toe to toe with the devil and some cleverly devised temptations just before Jesus’ earthly ministry began.

It is strange to think, but the same tempter that approached Jesus in the desert nearly 2000 years ago is the same devil we will do battle with in 2013. Satan is more equipped to deliver harm than any opponent in any boxing ring or bowl game.  That’s a scary thought!

Last year was such a great year for our church family in so many ways. Maybe it was for yours, too.  Praise be to God!  And with many plans in the works for 2013, I am certain Satan is going to be gunning for us as much this year as ever.  Satan hates it when Christians succeed.

But here’s the deal.  The same spiritual weapons Jesus had available to him in the desert are the same weapons we can arm ourselves with today.  Jesus made God’s word an inseparable part of who he was. That is why he was able to answer the devil’s temptations everytime with the phrase “It is written”. We can do that, too. When we read the Bible, God’s word is also written in our hearts.  Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).”  Constant prayer and guidance from God’s Holy Spirit are also an important part of this recipe.

One of the great things about having a Savior who was tempted in every way (Heb. 4:15) is that we can trust that his inspired word (2 Tim. 3:16-17) gives us everything we need to know about living righteously.  So as much as I love a good biscuit, in 2013 it should probably be my consumption of Jesus, the Bread of Life that sees an increase.  How about you? Have a great week!

There are no victimless sins
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 9, 2013

            Our culture has bought into the lie that whatever sin a person commits, privately or otherwise, only affects them.  This has never been true.

            In 1 Samuel 21 we are told the story of the shepherd boy turned decorated war hero David who also worked as harp player for King Saul.  His job was to play the harp anytime King Saul was upset about something so he would calm down.  And although David did his job masterfully, King Saul became increasingly jealous of the fact that so many people were fans of David.  They would sing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

            Occasionally, Saul would become so incensed he would throw a spear at David, even while he was playing the harp!  How would you like to have a job where you boss was always trying to kill you? 

Well, David eventually had enough. But instead of taking vengeance on God’s anointed king, he ran away with no food or weapons to a town called Nob.  Ahimelech the priest lived there, and when he saw David approaching, he trembled and asked why David was wandering around by himself.   This is where David made a crucial mistake.  He told Ahimelech that King Saul had sent him on a secret mission and that David was supposed to meet his men later at a certain place.  Ahimelech gave him some bread and Goliath’s sword, and David left.

In reality, there were no orders from King Saul, no secret mission, and no meeting with his men.  It was all a lie, probably to save face after running away.  But David’s lie would come back to haunt many innocent, unsuspecting people in the town of Nob.

The king’s chief shepherd, Doeg the Edomite, told Saul about the exchange he had seen between Ahimelech the priest and David.  Saul was so angry he sent Doeg to kill all 85 priests in Nob including Ahimelech, also every man, woman, child, and infant, as well as all the sheep, cattle, and donkeys (ref: 1 Sam. 22:18-19). This all happened as the result of a single lie from the mouth of David.  

Every decision we make has a consequence, either good or bad.  The writer of James 3:16-17 says that the world’s idea of wisdom results in envy, selfish ambition, disorder, and every evil practice.  “But wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure.”  The apostle Paul says we need to keep our minds on things that are pure in order to enjoy the peace of God (ref: Phil 4:8).  You see, when our minds are on evil, even secretly, there are negative consequences that steal our time away from teaching the lost about the love of Christ.  May we all strive to have purity in everything we say, do, and think.  Have a great week!

Christians can make a difference in 2013
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 2, 2013

            Happy New Year, everyone!  I pray that we all do our best to make 2013 truly a new year, not only in name, but also a year of spiritual revival.              The Lord’s church plays an important role in making our community a great place to live.  But it is important for us to remember that the church is not brick and mortar.  The church is the body of Christ.  The apostle Paul wrote about Jesus and Christians (the body) in this way, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:17).”

            Scripture also says that Christ feeds and cares for his body of which we are members (ref: Ephesians 5:30).   But how do we become members of Christ’s body?  In writing to the church in Corinth (several years after Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension), Paul says, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).”

            Peter, James, and Paul were among those apostles who knew very well what it meant to make a fresh start.  During a Jewish Feast known as Pentecost (that for Christians also marks the beginning of the church), Peter told a crowd of thousands, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).”   This echoes the words of Jesus from the book of John 3:3-5.

In the book of Acts, Luke wrote that a disciple named Ananias had a vision in which the Lord told him to tell Paul to “be baptized and wash your sins away (Acts 9:18, 22:14-16)”.  In Acts 9:15 and 22:15, the Lord reveals that Paul was to preach to all people, Gentiles, their kings, the people of Israel (Jews).

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done wrong in the past, God’s grace is extended to everyone.  Prison ministry volunteers at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ take this seriously.  In 2012, they baptized 162 inmates who were willing to obey God’s plan of salvation!

            Good New Year’s resolutions are nothing but unreachable goals if they are not based on a credible plan and followed through.  This is also true for spiritual matters.  In 2 Kings 5 we are told of a leper named Naaman.  The prophet Elisha told him to dip in the Jordan River seven times to cure his leprosy.  Naaman thought this was a bad idea and figured there must be a better way to be cured.  But in the end, Naaman obeyed the Lord’s prophet, and guess what?  It worked!  You see, even if Naaman had believed the prophet’s words, but did not follow through in obedience, then his cure would certainly have been in jeopardy.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says….  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead (James 1:22 and 2:26).”     

So yes, God’s amazing grace is our lifeline to salvation (not our works), but scripture makes it clear that we must reach out in obedience and take hold of it.  God bless you in 2013 as you strive to spread his light and love to a lost world (ref: Matthew 28:19-20).

           

Being a Christian is about much more than wearing a label
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 26, 2012

Now that winter is officially here as of December 21, we will definitely see some changes in the weather. Obviously, the drop in temperature and chances of snow do not happen because of the label of winter, but rather because God created this season to be this way.

God also created a plan for Christians to follow. But just like the seasons, Christians do not change their behavior just because they have a new label. People change in response to their realization of the depth of the love of Jesus.

In 2 Corinthians 5:14 the apostle Paul says, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”

Paul further explains that Christians are not to live for themselves, but instead for Jesus whose selfless act on the cross gives us hope today.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Paul explained this concept of self-sacrifice repeatedly to new Christians in the first century. His message to the church in Galatia echoed his letter to the Corinthians.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).”

So what does this mean to us as Christians? We have a lot of work to do. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

There are people (yes, even here in Fort Gibson) who will never know about the love of Christ unless you show it to them through your attitude. Yes, inviting someone to a worship service is a good thing. But perhaps the best way to introduce lost souls to Jesus Christ is to be a light to those around you the same way Jesus became a light to the world.

Christ’s love is available for all people. And it is Christians whose job it is to plant seed. You may never know the impact of a kind word or a good deed. But in a world where Godless people continue to make decisions contrary to God’s will, it is becoming more and more important for Christians (starting with me) to get out of our pews, out of our comfort zones, and share God’s love to those who many may have written off as unreachable.

May God bless us all this week in spite of our unworthiness, to humbly wear the name Christian as we put our faith into action. Have a great week!

God goes with us through life’s valleys
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 19, 2012

            As a minister, I have a lot of opportunities to be in the presence of those who are experiencing life’s tremendous joys such as a wedding or the birth of a baby, and the dreaded valleys of life that we all have to deal with sooner or later.  The past several days have been a valley for me and my family.

            As my sister, Patti, reached across the countertop in my parents’ kitchen during a recent visit, I noticed a bruise on each of her hands.  I asked her if everything was alright, not expecting what she told me since she has always been in good health.  She looked straight at me and said, “No, everything is not alright.”  The IV bruises on her hands were only the beginning of a story that would change everything for me and the rest of our family.

            For months, Patti has been craving ice.  When her daughter (my niece), who is an RN, found out, she said that craving ice is a symptom of low iron!  And while low iron can be caused by a number of things, Patti had tests done and found out only a few days ago some very bad news.  She has stage four colon cancer that has spread through her bloodstream to her liver.  At age 52 and no other outward symptoms, Patti and our entire family are still in shock.

            Patti is a wonderful wife, mom, and grandma, a dedicated Christian and Bible class teacher, and a very talented CPA in the accounting firm where she is also a partner.  She has always been very determined and driven in accomplishing her goals. The battle of overcoming colon cancer will be no different for her.  Patti will continue giving God the glory as the Holy Spirit, who dwells in her body, guides and comforts her each step of the way!  

            “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).”

Patti asked me to pray for healing and for the decisions she will have to make regarding treatment options.  I am calling for all of you prayer warriors to help me in this.  Patti will appreciate it.  Some of you are no doubt in one of life’s lows, so just know that I am also praying for you, and am calling for anyone reading this article in the paper or online to do the same. 

God hasn’t done any miracles lately (that we know of) such as parting the Red Sea.  Those were done so that people back then and today would believe in the truth of his message.  But we know he still causes the sun to rise and set.  He holds the universe together.  I would say that’s a miracle! He also still causes rulers to rise and fall.  He rewards those who earnestly seek him.  He provides for our every need, and he still has compassion for those who need his healing.  Glory to God forever!  Remember to pray always, and have a blessed week!