Missionaries are also needed right here at home

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 5, 2016 

            At times, I have asked myself, “What is the difference between mission work and local work?”   Nothing really.  My church family supports two Honduran preachers who we refer to as our missionaries. But to them and anyone else in Honduras, they are just local ministers.  Likewise, no one here in the U.S. refers to local ministers as missionaries, even though we are definitely on a mission and are supported by a local church.

            Have you ever thought about why local Christians go on “mission trips”, especially to places where churches have already been established, and are meeting on a regular basis, while there is still so much work to be done here locally?  We go on “mission trips” because Jesus told His disciples, “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).”  This means to be Jesus where you are, in your region, and far away. We go to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to the lost, but also to encourage Christians in other cities and countries just like disciples did in the first century.

            There is another very important goal my church family has when it comes to sending our local members to other countries. It is to light a fire inside us, so when we get back, we will do better at seeking opportunities to serve here in the states and in our local area. I am always so encouraged when I see various church groups, as well as organizations and individuals doing service projects within our own community. It is needed and appreciated.

            This summer is my church family’s off year for doing a major mission trip. So, we found another fantastic opportunity, and it’s fairly close by. Hope Harbor Children’s Home near Claremore is dedicated to transforming the lives of at-risk teens and their families. If you live in Fort Gibson, you may have spotted the blue containers in the Church of Christ parking lot used to collect clothes that are hauled away to the Hope Harbor Thrift Store. Proceeds help defray the cost of the services provided by the children’s home. The public is encouraged to use these containers. Even the clothes that cannot be sold in the thrift store are loaded into a huge trailer and taken to a recycling site that pays by the pound.

            It’s a great way to apply James 1:27 which says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

            In June, I am taking my youth group on a three day mission trip to Hope Harbor to work at the thrift store sorting clothes, and to do some gravel work at the children’s home campus, and to weed and mulch their flower beds.

            If you have a group that would like to do some work at Hope Harbor, please call 918-343-0003. You can also find out more about their services at www.hopeharborinc.org

            Hope Harbor is just one of many great opportunities to carry out Christ’s mission of showing love through service to those who need it most. I encourage you to find an opportunity for “mission work” each day, no matter how big or small, to make a difference in someone’s life. Have a blessed week!

Weekly worship helps Christians stay strong

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 29, 2016

            Another Easter has come and gone, right along with the impressive totals posted on church attendance boards everywhere, at least until next year. Yes, there will be maybe one or two more big Sundays in 2016 for those churches that have special membership drives or a “Friends and Family Day.”  But for the most part, Easter Sunday is the big one. I pray that you were willing and able to worship over the weekend, and that your appetite for honoring God, and remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son increased.

            We know from scripture that church attendance is important. The writer of the book of Hebrews made that clear in a section of scripture that encourages Christians to draw near to our God who keeps His promises. The writer also speaks of the importance of consistent or regular fellowship with other worshippers in order to gain strength to do spiritual battle.

             “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25).”

            The Hebrew writer drives the point home by reminding us there is a lot riding on the strength we gain by coming together as worshippers of God. Christianity was never meant to be a solo act, but rather a team effort, where each member of the church body does its share of the work, and encourages the other team members to keep fighting the good fight. The singing praises and praying to God, the weekly taking of the Lord’s Supper, giving of your means, the Bible study, and fellowship are not only biblical, but they are spiritually powerful and beneficial to those who take part.  The Hebrew writer makes it clear that the most tragic consequence of all awaits those believers who choose to pull away from God’s family, and become spiritually bankrupt, unable to fight the devil.

            “26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries (Hebrews 10:26-27).”

            There are many other passages that teach that a Christian can fall away or lose their salvation if they trade in living a righteous life for an unrighteous life. Here are just a few: Romans 8:12-13, 2 Peter 3:17 & 2:20-21, Revelation 3:1-5, James 5:19-20, 1 Timothy 4:1, Galatians 5:4 & 6:7, 1 Corinthians 6:7-9 & 9:27 & 10:12, Matthew 13:37-42, and 1 John 1:7-10.  It is to our benefit to give and get as much help as possible to keep each other on track.

            Granted, sitting on a church pew every week and memorizing Bible verses doesn’t make someone a good Christian anymore than sitting in a henhouse and making clucking sounds makes me a chicken. Furthermore, scripture teaches that many who appear to be religious by all appearances, may not have a relationship with the Lord at all (ref: Matthew 7:21-23). God knows our hearts and motives. God also knows exactly how cunning the devil is when it comes to setting traps and snatching the souls of unsuspecting Christians and non-Christians alike. So as for me and my house, I am going to continue teaching and practicing faithful church attendance, to honor God, remember His Son, and to encourage others. After all, God really does know what He’s talking about.  Have a blessed week!

Time in God’s word can change your life

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 22, 2016

            Now that everyone’s back from spring break, it’s back to life as usual for Oklahoma students and their families. It’s always nice to take a break and go somewhere for a brief visit, even though most of us have no desire to actually stay there long-term. Thus, the old saying: “It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.”

            Odd to say, but the Bible is a vacation spot of sorts for many people. We go to and through its pages for a lot of different reasons. Some go there for comfort, or for a break from the stresses and worries of life. There are those who find themselves in a spiritual desert, searching for answers, hungering and thirsting for righteousness. They are drawn to God’s word. Then, just like Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, they “will be filled (Matthew 5:6)”, and “will be given (Matthew 6:33)” the things we need.

            In spite of Jesus’ promise, every single one of us who strives to be Christ-like still allow God’s teachings to take a back seat in our lives occasionally when it comes to our attitudes and what we do with our time. Even though the apostle Paul encourages us to spend time in God’s word, and to “Do your best” to handle God’s word correctly (2 Timothy 2:15), even Paul himself admits to making poor choices frequently.

            “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand… Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:21, 24-25).”

            Priority shifts can happen when we allow things like worry, stress, busy schedules, finances, and relationship problems to take over. When Satan can’t get us to stumble from that direction, he finds other ways such as tempting us to place more importance on our wives, husbands, children, friends, hobbies, and even our jobs than we place on God. That strategy is very effective, deceitful, and difficult to overcome because those are the things on earth we love the most. Any relationship or thing we love more than God is an idol. It is doomed to fail because God is no longer our priority and we become more influenced by created things rather than the Creator and His word. This was also a concern of Moses as he spoke to the nation of Israel regarding their love for God, and the importance of passing this love for God on to future generations.

            “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).”

            May God bless us all with wisdom to enjoy time with God in prayer, in His word, and to include God all the time in every part of our lives. Have a blessed week!

True success includes Godly values

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 15, 2016

            I honestly don’t think I’ve ever heard of a town with so many kids excelling in so many ways as I see in Fort Gibson these days. Our band, choir, FFA, academics, and sports teams are winning something everytime I turn around. But the thing I am most impressed with is that so many of our teachers and coaches place a tremendous amount of importance on promoting Christian character traits by their example. It seems to be working!

            In a public school setting, Christianity as a doctrine or preferred way of life cannot be taught verbally in the classroom and such by teachers. But certainly the fruit of the Spirit can be promoted by example.  “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (ref: Galatians 5:22-23)” are all positive qualities that would be hard to ignore by students and teachers alike when Christians walk in these ways. When given the opportunity, most people want to be associated with these traits. As beings made in God’s image, it’s just how we are wired.

            The writer of 1 John 4:18 reminds Christians that their walk needs to match their talk when it comes to responding to those in need, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

            The perfect message of loving God and loving others really cannot be ignored. Jesus says those are the greatest commands. When any of us obey God’s commands (ref: John 14:15, 23 and 1 John 5:3) in our attitudes, actions, and word choices, others take notice and want to experience that same joy.

            While earthly accomplishments are fun for a while, the apostle Paul, whose writings indicate he may have been a sports fan (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Philippians 3:13-14), reminds us all to keep our priorities in line, putting spiritual/eternal things first.           

            “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).”

            For Christians, there should be no separation when it comes to earthly accomplishments and spiritual ones. Our witness to others works best when the two are inseparable, when our daily lives, chores, hobbies, careers, and relationships include Jesus in every aspect. Paul agrees.

            “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).”

            If our actions or words are such that God cannot be glorified in our choices, then we should seriously re-consider our life plans. This week, let’s all pray for opportunities to teach someone about the love of Christ by the way we live. Blessings! 

Lights are meant to shine!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 8, 2016

            Blink, blink, blink. My office phone has a red light on it that flashes when I have messages in my voicemail. It’s really handy to have because even at a brief glance I know when someone has left a message. The only problem is that I keep my phone in the top left drawer of my desk, which shouldn’t be a problem as long as I keep the drawer pulled out where I can see my phone. But sometimes, I shove the drawer closed if I am looking for something in the drawer under it, and then forget to open the top drawer again. When that happens, I lose sight of my phone and any messages I may receive when I step into Dan’s office (our pulpit minister) to discuss a Bible verse, or when I run a really important errand like re-filling my coffee cup.

            The other day I was feeling a little down when I noticed my drawer was shut. So, I opened it, saw the flashing light, pushed the button, and listened to a very encouraging message I needed to hear from one of my readers. You see, even though I have a red flashing light to announce the arrival of what may be an important message, it does me no good at all if the light is tucked safely inside my desk drawer where I can’t see it. The same is true spiritually.

            The old song “This Little Light of Mine” has a verse that says, “Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m gonna let it shine.” Those lyrics come from the “Sermon on the Mount”  when Jesus said, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house (Matthew 5:15, KJV).”

            The word “bushel” means “basket.” Jesus is helping his disciples visualize how ridiculous it would be to hide your light under a basket, especially if it was needed to help people see what was going on around them. On many occasions, Jesus refers to himself as the Light. Here, and in the preceding verse, Jesus is reminding his disciples that as followers of his, their lives and message will bring light to an otherwise dark world if they are putting his words into practice.  In verse 14 Jesus tells his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14, ESV).”

            Even in broad daylight, our world is full of darkness. The only bright or flashing lights most people see these days are not coming from Jesus or from his followers, but rather from video games, television, internet, casinos, sports stadiums, or possibly from emergency responders who see close-up the consequences of too many Jesus followers being afraid to shine their light into the darkness. The people we come in contact with on a daily basis need to see our lives as Christians reflecting the light of Christ. Only then can those living in darkness see the joys found in walking in the light, and then make the choice to walk there too.

            We must remember the words of Paul:  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16, NIV).”

            Strangely enough, it wasn’t until Paul was struck blind by a bright light that he was able to see the importance of committing his life to following Jesus the Light, and sharing Good News of Jesus with others.

            This week, I pray that God will show you a specific area of darkness in which to shine the light of Christ. God bless you!

Following Jesus involves more than just wearing His name

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 1, 2016

            “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32, NIV).”

            So, I guess the question is this: Are you choosing to hold to the teachings of Jesus Christ? If not, you are living way beneath your potential. You are living as a slave to the ways of this world. You are not living the ultimate life of freedom found only in Christ. In fact, Jesus does not even consider those who are disobedient to his word, to be Christians. Ouch! Does this mean we are not allowed to make mistakes without surrendering our disciple card? Of course not! We would not need a Savior if we were perfect. Jesus knows that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” He simply wants to remind those who bear His name, to take seriously our Christian journey. He knows the difference between our choosing to sin (willful sin), versus just sinning out of ignorance or sinning because of human weakness. In short, Jesus knows our hearts and our minds.

            You see, after Jesus died on the cross, resurrected from the tomb, and ascended back to his Father, something very special happened. God’s Holy Spirit came to this earth as Jesus promised (ref: John 16:7-15), and worked through believers to build and grow Christ’s church, not churches (ref: Matthew 16:18). The church is that part of God’s kingdom that continues to grow as the Lord adds baptized believers “to their number daily those who were being saved (ref: Acts 2:38-47).” The New Testament refers to the church as the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). The apostle Paul says, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25-27).”

That process of building God’s kingdom with Jesus as its chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:13-20) is still happening today, and according to the prophet Daniel, it is a kingdom that will never be destroyed (ref: Daniel 2:44, 7:14). That’s the Lord’s church I fervently pray and have faith that I am a part of. To be clear, I am not talking about labels on church signs, since labels do not always determine how a body of believers functions. I am talking about the Lord’s one and only church. But considering there are thousands upon thousands of manmade denominations, or variations of the Lord’s body (the church) to be a member of today, how are we to know which one we should choose to fellowship? Which group of believers should we worship with on the first day of the week? Jesus says the answer is simple. It’s the one that holds to his teaching, the one he died for, those he says are “really my disciples.”

            May God bless all individuals and groups who bear the name of Christ, with the sincere desire, wisdom, confidence, perseverance, and love for God, to conform to His will, and no one else’s. Have a great week! 

Christians must fan the flame of God

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 23, 2016

Beautiful pink sunsets and vibrant growth in our prairies and pastures are a couple of benefits to the recent grass fires in our part of the state. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of curses to add to those blessings when fire is mixed with Oklahoma’s wild winds known for “sweeping down the plain!”  The smoke and danger to lives and property are always of grave concern.

There are two Bible passages that come to mind when I think about Oklahoma grassfires driven by strong winds. One is found in the book of James 3 where the writer reminds Christians about the dangers of letting their speech go unchecked:

“The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell (James 3:5-6, NIV).” 

The ability to communicate with others is a tremendous blessing, whether it is verbal, written, or any other way. But just like a prairie fire set in the wrong place and with no guidance or accountability, the words we choose to say will most certainly cause great amounts of damage.

On the other hand, just like a fire that is well-managed, the words that come from our mouths will most certainly be a tremendous blessing to all those around. When this happens, no one gets burned. Not only that, but the Lord’s kingdom grows and becomes more vibrant with new souls experiencing the joys of walking in the light and love of the Jesus Christ.

The second passage comes from the apostle Paul who once gave Timothy, his younger brother in the faith, this very important advice:  “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God (2 Timothy 1:6, ESV).”

It appears that even though Timothy was blessed with knowing the life-saving news of Jesus Christ, evidently Paul thought he wasn’t communicating this message effectively to bless the lives of others.

Let God’s Holy Spirit work in your life to fan your flame, and to bring souls to Him. Have a blessed week!

Jesus is still the real deal!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 16, 2016

            When I wrote this article last Friday morning, February 12^th, the weather forecast called for 65-degrees and sunny skies for today, Tuesday the 16th!  But I know this is Oklahoma, and things can change quickly where the weather is concerned.             Just about everything I can think of is susceptible to change. This world is full of uncertainty and distrust.

There is someone who will never let you down, and that is Jesus Christ. Our Lord’s teachings have stood the test of time where others’ teachings have failed.  He only preached for about three and a half years and yet his words, his life, and his fulfillment of dozens of Old Testament prophecies have made a mark on history and on mankind like none other. Think about this quote credited to Australian philanthropist Henry G. Bosch:

            “Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only three. Yet the influence of Christ's three-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him.”  Bosch continued, “Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.”

            Last week, a teenager in my Wednesday night class asked how to respond to someone who wants to know why anyone would become a Christian. I told him that I believe we can trust that Jesus Christ actually existed. We also know for sure that Christian and non-Christian teachers, historians, philosophers, and government leaders in the first, second, and third centuries wrote about Jesus Christ, and about those Christians who followed him, and about the great miracles he performed, the death he died, and the resurrection on the third day. Some of those writers loved Jesus, and some hated him. But the fact is, they still wrote about him. It is that man, Jesus of Nazareth, who claimed to be the Son of God. His teachings have changed people’s lives for the better for the last 2000 years.

First and second century historians (Julius Africanus, Thallus, and Phlegon) confirm the darkness that took place in the middle of the day during the Passover when Jesus was crucified, and also the earthquake that shook the earth. Second century writer Tertullian also said that the Roman archives confirm the supernatural darkness.  Let’s not forget that the most accurate history book of all times is still the Bible, which also records the darkness and earthquake that took place at the crucifixion, as well as the many other amazing stories of Jesus’ life.

In a world where trustworthiness is getting harder to come by, the facts about the life of Christ as our loving Savior and the effect He still has on the world today continue to prove He is worthy of our trust and devotion. God bless you!

The Gospel story is worth your time

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 9, 2016

            When I see an ad that says “1/2 Price!!” it definitely gets my attention. So, when a pharmacist told me I could go online to the manufacturer’s website to find a coupon, I eagerly searched and found a “1/2 off” coupon for my prescription. I was excited to say the least, especially since the standard price was nearly $120 (per month) after insurance. I took the coupon to the pharmacy that gave me the tip, and they said, “Yep, the coupon is valid. You’re going to save half!”  I said, “Great!  But I wish I had known about it three years ago.”

            The fact is, I could have known, but I simply didn’t put in the effort to find out. No one else told me the coupon was even available, nor did anyone know I even needed a good deal on a prescription. As a consequence of not using a coupon, I have been paying about $55 more every six weeks than I should have. Ouch!

            Spiritually, most of us probably know of people who are in desperate need of a good deal. But often, those who need Jesus either don’t know that’s what they’re missing, or they don’t know where to start, or they’re embarrassed to ask. The Bible says that Jesus came to earth, showed us how to live as humble servants, died for all, rose on the third day, and will be coming back to bring his faithful home to heaven. In the meantime, he has left his Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11) to guide and comfort those who are willing to trust and obey. We benefit both in this life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).

            In the case of the coupon, it really is up to each consumer to be our own advocate in order to avoid paying higher prices. But in the case of a friend or neighbor or acquaintance in need of Jesus, that is the responsibility of every Christian. One of the most quoted, but least applied passages of scripture in the Bible is known as the Great Commission. Jesus spoke it to His disciples just before He ascended back to His Father in heaven.

            “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).”         

            Followers of Jesus Christ (disciples) each carry a bagful of seed to sow wherever we go. It’s called the Gospel story, the Good News. Most of us have multiple opportunities daily to reach people characterized as either good soil, rocky ground, hard path, or thorn-infested places (Matthew 13).  Christians have the exciting privilege of telling others about Jesus and what He has done for us (Matthew 10:32). The special qualities the Holy Spirit brings into our lives (Galatians 5:22-23) of every baptized believer (Acts 2:38) cannot be ignored by anyone.

            In Isaiah 55:11, the prophet says that God’s word never returns empty. But it’s our job to make sure God’s word gets to those who need it most. If you don’t know who that is, just pray about, and the Spirit of God will open doors of opportunity at just the perfect time. The results will be appreciated more than any coupon. May God bless your efforts to make a difference in someone’s life this week by letting Christ work in you (Ephesians 2:10). Have a great week!

People of faith experience less stress

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 2, 2016

           Last Sunday after evening worship, my youth group met at mine and Lisa’s friends’ house for what we call a devotional.  David and Sara Perry provided the hospitality, the grilled hamburgers, peanut butter cookies and chocolate cake, and the 30 teens who showed up brought some serious appetites, their beautiful voices for praise, and some amazing insight that should be very encouraging for the older generation.

            I asked several of them beforehand to answer (in front of everyone) the question of three reasons why they have hope. Their answers with very little time to think about it were simply heart-warming.  One student said she has hope because God has a long history of choosing imperfect people to lead others in His path. Another said, “Hey, if David was known as a man after God’s own heart even though he messed up a LOT, maybe I have a chance!”  Another talked about the support he receives by being a part of a church family who places their hope in God. Another said he was encouraged by the examples of older Christians, “not just the really old ones, but also those in their 20’s and 30’s who are staying faithful to God.”  One by one, each of the teens expressed their feelings of why they have hope. It all came back to their relationship with God, their church family, and the way they see God working in their lives and the lives of others.

            It should be no surprise, but in a quick internet search I found survey after survey showing that people who place a high importance on the practice of faith and church attendance have lower stress levels, less depression, shorter hospital stays, longer lives, and happier lives than those who are less involved in church activities.  Even children of parents who attend church more often are reportedly less likely to be lonely or depressed.

            The surveys and articles I read were only a couple of years to several years old. But there are other articles, or letters I should say, that were written 2000 years ago that say basically the same thing. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew includes several verses that are devoted to telling people they have nothing to worry about as long as they are seeking God first (Matthew 6:25-34).

            The apostle Peter encourages his readers to give God their stress, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).”

            We already know that Jesus was a fan of meeting with fellow God followers each Sabbath.  In Luke 4:16, the writer says that Jesus “went into the synagogue, as was his custom.”  The important work Jesus had to carry out benefitted greatly by the frequency of time he spent in fellowship, worship, the reading of God’s word, and prayer. A Christian’s work today also requires this type of commitment that not only relieves stress, but provides hope. Have a blessed week!

The Christian Walk is not meant to be a run

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 26, 2015

            When we read inspirational stories from the Bible, it is easy to get the idea that maybe we’re doing something wrong in regards to our Christian walk, otherwise exciting things would be happening all the time. There’s a temptation to compare ourselves to the Bible’s spiritual highlight reel, and then come to the conclusion that our spiritual walk is more like a crawl in comparison to what we read.

            Think about these stories: 1) Noah building an ark to save his family from the flood, 2) God testing Abraham’s faith by asking him to use Isaac as a sacrifice, 3) God asking Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery, 4) Elijah calling down fire from above to prove his God was real, and that Baal was a false god.

            The fact is, there’s a reason why those of us who follow Jesus refer to it as the Christian walk, instead of the Christian run. It’s a long journey. Yes, there are times when we must “flee”. Paul urges Christians to “flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18).”  He also tells Timothy to remind God’s people to “flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (2 Timothy 2:22).”  At one point, Paul even compares the Christian journey to a race (1 Cor. 9:24). Still, disciples of Christ must learn to walk first, not run. And even then, we must pace ourselves so that we do no become weary in well-doing (Galatians 6:9).

            The Holy Spirit inspired writers to record the incredible miracles we read about. But there was not a huge flood every year, and we have no reason to think that God required Abraham to prove his faith every day at an altar, or that Moses crossed the Red Sea every day, or that Elijah had a monthly showdown on Mount Carmel with hundreds of false prophets.

            Great men and women of the Bible had lives just like you and me. They didn’t have mountaintop moments and huge spiritual battles every day, and neither do we. God has never expected his followers to experience their spiritual journey in a dead sprint all the time. Even Jesus had to withdraw to quiet places to be alone and talk to His Father.

            This past weekend I took 41 teens and chaperons to Arlington for a youth rally with over 4000 more teens where the theme was “Walk”.  The message was basically that even though we often fail, and think we should be a several more miles into our journey than we are, we must remember that being a follower of Jesus means that we take steps, not leaps, towards our goal. It is important to practice trusting God every day with the little things in life. This builds our faith so that when the huge challenges come along, it is easier to trust God. It worked for Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and many others we read about in the Bible. 

            Remember Paul’s message to Christians in Corinth:  “For we WALK by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV).”  This week, think about these two questions:  What is the step God is asking you to take?  What’s holding you back from taking it?

            Have a blessed week!

God is still watching out for you

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 19, 2016

            It is so nice when encouragement comes along unexpectedly. I was studying to teach a middle school Bible class a few days ago when I ran across a thought that just really made me feel good about life and faith, so pretty much everything.

            The study material I was reading from said that in the first century, the Jews used the terminology “the Word” to refer to God expressing Himself. The apostle John used the term “the Word” to describe Jesus and define Jesus as the One who was not only with God in the beginning, but actually was God, not just a part of God, or related to God, but that Jesus is God just like the Holy Spirit is God.

            “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3).”  These thoughts are echoed in Colossians 1:15-17.

            The rest of the chapter makes it crystal clear that John’s use of the term “the Word” meant “Jesus”. 

            Some people may wonder why this information should be so encouraging to Christians and really all of humankind. The reason is that the idea of God expressing Himself through Jesus is just one more puzzle piece that helps us understand our Savior a little better. We already knew from Genesis 1:26 that it wasn’t just God the Father by Himself there at the time of creation.  Genesis 1:2 says the Spirit was also there, and both John and Paul state that Jesus was not only there, but that He was the One doing the actual creating. This is totally consistent with the idea that God expressed Himself through Jesus (the Word). It is also interesting that in my Spanish Bible, “the Word” is translated “el Verbo” or in English, “the Verb”.

            The fact that God expressed Himself through Jesus is very encouraging because it was God’s Son, Jesus, who came to this earth to find out what life is like for us, to give us a living, breathing example of how God wants us to live our lives, and to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Scripture says that the blood of bulls and goats could not save us, but only the blood of God in the flesh, Jesus, “the Word”, “el Verbo”, the perfect sacrifice. Then, when Jesus ascended back to the Father, He sent His Holy Spirit to be our Comforter, our Advocate, and to continue making sure the Heavenly Father understands us, to this very day (Romans 8:26-27).

            In my times of spiritual struggle, I find encouragement in the fact that God knows exactly how we feel. It wasn’t a disconnected Jesus who came here, but rather God, expressing Himself through Jesus, “the Word”.   And because of that, the Bible says that we can confidently take our fears, failures, bad days, and any other kind of day to God in prayer, knowing He understands, and knowing He has provided a way to heaven for those who are willing to trust Him and obey His word. Have a great week!

God is faithful to his children

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 12, 2016

            Every parent I know, myself included, has had days when they wondered what planet their offspring was living on at the moment. Most children have thought the same about their parents. We all have those challenging days, weeks, or even years. But the Bible’s most famous psalmist appears to have had way more than his share of tough days, though many of those were self-inflicted.

            King David’s own son, Absalom, even tried to kill him and take his throne after underhandedly turning many of the Israelites against the king, convincing them that only he understood their challenges and could provide justice in their favor. In fear for his life, King David fled Jerusalem for a time. In the end, David’s armies were victorious over the thousands of Israelites who had turned their allegiances away from him in favor of his son. Absalom wound up being killed by one of David’s generals in spite of orders to treat Absalom gently. It was the conspiracy by David’s son, and God’s righting of the situation that compelled David to compose what we know as Psalm 3:1-4. He wrote,

            “O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill.”

            In just these few verses, it is easy to see the anguish David was feeling as he was dealing with the disloyalty of the Israelites, the loss of his throne, the loss of a relationship with his son, and the death of a son.        With the piling up of all those negatives, it must have been difficult for David to defend his beliefs that God could save him. It is very possible that David felt guilt that his own poor decision making might actually be the reason Absalom was so rebellious. After all, David took no action when one of his other sons, Amnon, raped Tamar (Amnon’s half-sister). So, it wound up being Absalom who had Amnon killed for committing the crime against Tamar. That was the beginning of the breaking down of David and Absalom’s relationship.

            Even though David often acted wrongly, he knew that getting back on track with a faithful God was his only hope, whether the consequences were the result of a rebellious son, or the result of bad parenting. In our lives today, it is still easy to lay blame on someone else when things go badly for us.  

            One lesson we can learn from David is that our God is faithful, and will always lift us from the depths of despair when we cry out to Him. Lesson number two is that we are never too far away from God to ask Him for help.  He will always take us back even if there are consequences to pay this side of heaven. We all make mistakes. The only thing we can do is ask God’s forgiveness, and commit to serving God wholeheartedly starting right now. Have a blessed week!

Go with God in 2016

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 5, 2016

            Surprise, surprise!  I have already made my first mistake of 2016. You would think a simple task such as putting the correct date on a newspaper column, or at least the right year, would not be that difficult. But it seems that just about every New Year I manage to label my “Fort Faith” column with the previous year. I usually make the correction before emailing it to the Muskogee Phoenix for publication in the Fort Gibson news section, so it’s not that big of a deal, and it’s not exactly sin or anything, but it does remind me that humans make mistakes.

            So, if this minister cannot even get the date right on my first article of the year, how in the world can I expect to do things right with regard to the bigger things in life, such as battling temptation and staying strong in spiritual warfare? As a minister, it is common for young people (and older people, too) to approach me, expressing frustration because they can’t seem to overcome a particular temptation.

            The apostle Paul reminds us that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” So, we already know it would be impossible for any of us to keep from sinning, even though it’s only the first week of a New Year.  I guess the question is what are we going to do about it?

            Well, if you’re singer/songwriter Amy Grant, you record a song telling Christians “Don't try so hard. God gives you grace and you can't earn it. Don't think that you're not worth it because you are. He gave you His love and He's not leaving, gave you His Son so you'd believe it. You're lovely even with your scars. Don't try so hard.”

            Let me just say I’ve been an Amy Grant fan for a long time. And even though most of those lyrics are right on target, the phrase “Don’t try so hard” goes directly against God’s inspired word. Paul told Christians in Rome. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer (Romans 6:1-2).”

            Dedicated disciples of Jesus must understand that spiritual warfare is a very real thing with a very real opponent, and must be approached in the most sober-minded of ways. The Bible never says it’s okay to knowingly fall into the devil’s traps. We often do this unknowingly, and that’s what God’s grace is for, not so we can spit in God’s eye and expect Him to reward us.

            Paul told the early church, “Do not give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).”  And later he says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).”

            So, it is important to know who your opponent is, and pinpoint where the devil and his dark forces are likely to strike in your life, seek support from your brothers and sisters in Christ, and then PRAY about it.

            “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).”

            James also says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:7-8).”

            It is unrealistic and unbiblical to think any of us can keep from stumbling spiritually in this New Year or any other year. But we serve an amazing God who knows our heart, and will continue to forgive those who are clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:26-27), covered by his blood, as we do our best to walk by faith in his light (1 John 1:7).  After that, it really is God’s grace (and not our works) that will make the difference. Have a great week!

Saying good-bye to your burdens is easier with God’s help

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 29, 2015

            As we close in on the end of 2015, it is not only time to say good-bye to this past year, but also hello to a new year of our Lord, 2016.

            There will be new opportunities (as there are each year), to replace failure with success, to replace a bad attitude with a good one, to replace a lax attitude in your work or personal life with one that shows you care for the people around you. Even one little change can make a huge difference in the way we approach life and the joy we receive while living it.

            The prophet Jeremiah wrote down these words of hope (600-550 B.C.) from God to those exiles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem to Babylon, “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).”

            Christians must remember that each of these positive changes are made possible by the Creator Himself. However, it will be your choice as to whether you continue allowing that one (or more) negative thing in your life to keep eating away at you, or let God help you say good-bye to the burdens, worries, and concerns of 2015 in exchange for the joy of the Lord.

            In the New Testament book of John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly (to the full).”

            You see, God has designed great things for you in your life. The only question is whether you will let God lead you in that direction.

            The apostle Paul says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).”

            We’ve all heard of millionaires and billionaires who were anything but happy people, or at the very least, figured out that happiness doesn’t come from money. In fact, many of them give tons of money to charities because they understand that true joy does not come from personal accomplishments as much as it does from sharing your accomplishments in some way with other people.

            So, I encourage you to pick one person out each week. Make it your goal to put a smile on that person’s face, or make their day better in some way. Pray for that person, and see how God not only blesses them, but you, too.  You might not be at a place in your life where you can help hundreds or thousands of people everyday with your new attitude. But maybe that’s not God’s plan for you.  Maybe God has just one person in mind for you to help. Then, what if that person turns out to be the one to do something BIG. Besides, even making a difference in one person’s life is a BIG deal whether anyone else knows about it or not.

            I am sure the apostles and those early disciples of Jesus had no idea that the persecution they went through for the cause of Christ would eventually result in people around the world knowing the story of Jesus, and receiving salvation because of it.

            Decide today to serve someone as Jesus served, and to tell His story in 2016. It will make a difference in their life and yours in the coming year and beyond. Remember Jesus’ words in the book of Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Have a blessed week!

What I told my kids about Santa and Jesus

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 22, 2015

            Christmas was coming soon, and my son, Britton, was just a small child at the time. We had been on a roll several nights in a row talking about all kinds of things at bedtime such as Santa, elves, reindeer, presents, and so on.

            But one night he asked me if Jesus was real. I said, “Of course, he’s real.”  Britton countered, “Is Jesus real in the same way Santa is real?”

             I thought to myself, “O boy! This is one of those conversations I am not quite ready to have!”  After all, any time the topic of Santa’s realness had come up in the past with Ashton and Gracie, Lisa and I always just grinned and said, “If you don’t believe in Santa in this house, he won’t bring you any presents.”

            I am certain the girls had it figured out, but they went along with our answer just for fun. It was kind of an unspoken rule to not let the cat out of the Christmas stocking, so to speak, so that Britton wouldn’t know.

            Well, that response bought us a few years, until Britton just had to bring Jesus into the conversation!    He finally said, “Is Santa real in a make-believe fairy-tale kind of way, and not in the same way Jesus is real?”  I responded, “Yeah, that’s about the size of it.”  He said, “Okay, that’s kind of what I was thinking. I just wanted to make sure.”  I told him that Santa stories are just for fun at Christmas time, but that Jesus is very real, and that He is actually God’s son who came to earth to save us and make it possible for us to go to heaven someday.

            The fact is, bringing Jesus into any conversation changes everything. For Christians, Jesus should already heavily influence everything we say, do, and think. Our friends, co-workers, family, and everyone else should be able to understand clearly by the way we live our lives that Jesus Christ is not only real, but He is our only hope of eternal salvation, and is the reason for true love, peace, and joy here on earth.

            For over 3000 years, the content of the Bible’s Old Testament has been protected by Jewish scribes. They carefully made and passed down handwritten copies for future generations. For instance, the Dead Sea Scrolls date back to 200 years before Jesus was born. The scrolls, discovered in the 1940’s, contained multiple copies of the Old Testament that are identical to what we have today, 2200 years after the scrolls were copied.

            Dozens of Old Testament prophecies about Jesus came true in the New Testament just in the details of how and where he was born. 2700 years ago (about 700 B.C.), the prophet Isaiah wrote, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).”

            Yes, the prophecy came true! Today, Christians still celebrate the coming of Christ. Yes, we love to tell the story of the baby Jesus prophesied hundreds of years earlier. But more importantly, Christians take joy in spreading the word that Jesus grew into a man, was baptized, received God’s Spirit, began His ministry, and was tempted in every way possible. He died on the cross for the sins of humanity, resurrected on the 3^rd day, and has gone to prepare a place for those who choose to become his disciples and obey His word. Now that’s a Christ for masses to celebrate. So, Merry Christmas and have a blessed week!

True disciples must represent Christ all the time

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 15, 2015

            He was a wirey, 4-feet tall, very energetic 7^th grade boy with an ornery grin, lots of cute freckles, and a mind full of imaginative ways to have fun and no apparent inhibitions to hold him back. He would be a challenge for any youth chaperon, anywhere.  But last weekend I had the honor of having this kid at my fall youth retreat!  Other than the fact he was seen crawling around on the roof of the camp’s two-story lodge, and later, running through the girls’ dorm (thank goodness no one was in there), then throwing handfuls of cookies into the boys’ bathroom showers and wet floor where he had evidently been having a water fight, I can barely begin to describe the amount of chaos that sweet child was able to pull off in only a matter of minutes! It was a little bit like trying to catch a squirrel. As wild as that scene may sound to you (and me), it really happened. 

            It occurs to me, though, that God might just feel the same about people like me and you as I felt about “squirrel boy”.  Even as adult Christians, our spiritual lives can be a total mess, our witness in the community can be rendered ineffective by the way we present ourselves as Jesus’ disciples when we think no one is paying attention. Unless we are committed to drawing people closer to God every hour of every day in the way speak, act, and think, we leave unguarded opportunities for the devil to set traps in our lives and gain footholds (Ephesians 4:27). If we’re not careful, we can cause spiritual destruction everywhere we go: sporting events, restaurants, around total strangers, and among those we know the best. In spite of the fact God completely understands us, I wonder if He ever just shakes his head in disbelief when he sees the amount of damage we’re inflicting on the cause of Christ.

            While I was at camp over the weekend, Lisa and I were about to sit down at a long cafeteria style table across from each other to eat lunch when she noticed a cup sitting on the table. She asked some campers eating nearby if this spot was taken. They said it wasn’t. But Lisa responded in her usual thoughtful way, “I can move to another spot if this one’s taken.” So I said in my sleep-deprived tone, “Sit down! No one’s sitting there.”  An adult chaperon from another town (actually a close buddy of mine) said to her, “Does he always speak to you that way?”  Lisa (the good sport) responded jokingly with her best fake Brooklyn accent, “Yeah, what’s it to ya? That’s just the way we talk! Mind ya own business.”  While everything turned out okay in that instance, it was a good reminder to me that people are listening to the way I speak to my wife. And more importantly, Lisa is listening to the way I address her. And most importantly, God is listening.

            Paul told the church in Ephesus, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 4:32-5:2).”

            Paul’s words are timeless and are just as significant today as back then. Always remember to represent Christ to those you don’t know, and those you do. Have a blessed week!

A Christian’s spiritual brew must be ready to serve

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 8, 2015

            “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33).”

            I wouldn’t be writing on this particular topic if I were not such a tight wad when it comes to getting every last drop of goodness out of my Keurig coffee pot. It’s not actually mine. It’s the community Keurig in the church secretary’s office. I use washable/re-fillable K-Cups so I can brew whatever kind of coffee I want (by the cup). My dream!

            Nevertheless, I re-discovered something the other day I should have already known. There are two buttons with pictures on them. One shows a larger cup. The other pictures a smaller cup. You’re supposed to push one or the other depending on how much coffee you want.

            My goal was to be able to push the large coffee button twice!  So, to make sure it didn’t overflow, I used a short oversized non-insulated plastic container that would fit under the spout. This way I could have more to drink (even though it’s a little watered down).  When it finished brewing, I poured some of it into a smaller insulated mug.  Aahh, the temperature and taste were to my liking. I had come up with the perfect solution to getting the most coffee per K-Cup.

            Here’s the problem: by the time I drank enough hot coffee from my insulated mug to need a re-fill, the coffee in the original non-insulated container was barely lukewarm! It’s one thing to have slightly watered down coffee. It’s an entirely different and much worse thing for it to also be lukewarm.  Gross! But what a great object lesson!

            It really is important to surround or insulate yourself with Godly people. When we slack on church attendance, or even when we never miss, but tend to hang out with non-Christians all the other days of the week, we put our spiritual lives in jeopardy. The Bible warns about becoming lukewarm Christians (Revelation 3:16). This is why God’s word places so much emphasis on being careful about who you choose as your closest allies. The apostle Paul said,

            “14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (1 Corinthians 6:14-16).’”

            God wants his children to spend some time with non-believers since without this interaction, the lost might never get into a relationship with Christ. But dedicated disciples will do what it takes to be renewed and restored daily to keep their own cup full of hot coffee (so to speak). This means fellowshipping often with committed Christians, spending time in God’s word, continually talking to God, and striving daily to walk in God’s light. When you do those things, your spiritual brew will stay insulated and ready to serve others when opportunities arise.

            Have a blessed week!