Above the Sun: Hard work does not have to be discouraging

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 6, 2020 

            “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30).

            While Labor Day weekend celebrates the American worker, it does not celebrate job satisfaction. Surveys show more than half of those employed are not happy with their jobs. It is easy to become complacent, disengaged, or bored with a job if your reason for working is solely to live, pay bills, and invest. Those are all attached to worldly ways of thinking.

            Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote a lot about the multitude of dead ends that can be found under the sun, as he described it about 30 times in Ecclesiastes. It is no wonder that people who have an under the sun worldview on the job are not as happy as people who think above the sun.

            One of the job descriptions of being human is that we work. It was that way from the time God created Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:15), and the work only got harder after sin entered the world (Genesis 3:17-19). But that did nothing to diminish one of the main purposes for the creation of mankind. The apostle Paul told local church members “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).

            So, it should be no surprise that we just feel better when we are active. Beyond that, the attitude we have on the job is not only a blessing to our co-workers, but it also brings honor to God. Our attitude does not go unnoticed on earth or in heaven.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  (Colossians 3:23-24).

            Jesus told the parable of a rich man who was successful in a worldly way, and even had to tear down his barns and build bigger ones just to keep up with his crops. But because he was not rich toward God, everything including his life was taken from him (Luke 12:16-22).

            When we carry our Christian attitude into our job, people notice. This opens the door for conversations to be had about the joy and peace that can be found through Jesus Christ.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Don’t let yourself be bugged to death

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 30, 2020

            Lisa and I are trying our hand at growing pumpkins this summer, but we noticed lately that some of the leaves and stems are wilting. So, after some research, Lisa determined our pumpkin vines may be doubling as a hotel and restaurant for destructive  squash bugs. They are good hiders and they often lay eggs on the underside of the leaves of squash, pumpkins, gourds, melons, and cucumbers.

            Squash bugs and the devil have a lot in common. Just like bugs hide eggs that later hatch and destroy by piercing tender leaves and stems and sucking out the plant’s sap, Satan quietly sets traps in places you don’t even suspect.

            The apostle Paul warned us about being lax in watching out for the devil’s schemes. “And do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27).

            Why? Because if steps are not taken to get rid of the devil’s plan for your life, he’s ready to pounce, and not like Winnie the Pooh’s overly friendly buddy, Tigger. When Satan pounces, it’s for real, and the consequences can be eternal. In the book of James, the writer reminds us that God does not tempt us. We have a free will to say yes or no to Satan’s traps.

            “14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:14-15).

            So, off to the store she goes to purchase Sevin spray. I said, “Do you mean Sevin dust?  No, her source said the spray version is better at killing squash bugs because it gets up under the leaves better where they are hiding. That’s important because if you only look on the surface, you see what looks to be a healthy plant. By the time you find out otherwise it’s too late.

            For Christians who are trying to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ it is important to understand His will for us. This helps us spot things below the surface that bug us spiritually and are a danger to our souls (Hebrews 12:1-3). Prayer and Bible study help us target sin and temptation and replace them with good things.

            “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

            God’s word tells Christians to put to death our earthly nature such as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, filthy language and lying in exchange for true love, peace, and forgiving one another. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3).

            While I am not sure whether our experiment with squash bugs and Sevin spray will be successful, I do know following God’s word will grow our faith (Romans 10:17). Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Your forever home is not here

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 23, 2020 

            If you come into my house and the TV is on, there is a pretty good chance it will be on HGTV where someone is building or renovating what they hope will be their “forever home” or a home that is so perfect, they hope to stay there as long as they are living.

            I understand “forever home” so there is no judgment at all from me towards anyone who uses the term. We all say things we do not really mean when we think about it.

After a recent Bible study on the topic of control, it occurred to me that any notion of me or anyone else being able to control my earthly future would be misplaced. “Forever home” fits in that category since life itself is so unpredictable. People change jobs. People change goals. People change their minds. So, at the risk of sounding like a “Debbie downer” I just do not see how calling an earthly structure a “forever home” is realistic or even desirable.

The good news is that those who follow and put their hope in Jesus Christ do have a real “forever home” and the Bible says Jesus himself is the One building it for us. In a conversation Jesus was having with some of his closest followers just hours before the crucifixion, he said these words:

            “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).

            Two of my favorite songs are Jesus, You’re My Firm Foundation and This World Is Not My Home.  Hymnals and Christian radio are full of songs that encourage us to keep our eyes on Jesus because of the temporary nature of life on earth. Another song that comes to mind is Temporary Home co-written by Carrie Underwood. The chorus talks about “Windows and rooms that I'm passing through.”

            It is our knowledge of the fact that life is short in this broken world that is one of our motivations to stay connected to the only One who can help us get to a better place, heaven, our real “forever home.” The apostle Paul told Christians in Ephesus that believers, no matter who they once were, are already part of something special and permanent.   

“You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit“ (Ephesians 2:19-22).

We cannot ask for a better “forever home” than one that includes eternal fellowship with Jesus and all the saved. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Temptation flies in the face of righteousness

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 16, 2020 

            As Lisa and I sat down to eat on the patio of a restaurant the other day, we couldn’t help but notice the high-powered oscillating fans almost blowing the food off our plates. I didn’t think things could get any worse. But after we asked the waiter turn off the fans so we could enjoy our meal, things did get worse, unless you like flies with your food. The longer we sat there with no fan to push them away, the more flies that seemed to find their way to my plate!

            This summer, we decided to declare war on flies and mosquitoes, and in the process, I noticed there are similarities in the way flying insects are attracted to things that will kill them, and the way humans are attracted to sin. Our most recent attempt has been a small plastic bag we purchased that comes with a horrible smelling object inside that smells even worse when you fill the bag with water.  Flies are attracted to the odor and find their way into the bag via a little trap-door in the top. Once the fly is inside, it cannot get back out. It dies a very slow death.  Very effective.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death."

We are attracted to sin because it looks pleasurable and even harmless on the surface. We misjudge how far is too far, and how much is too much. We ignore the Bible’s advice on steering clear of questionable influences, and next thing you know, we have fallen into sin along with lasting consequences. Temptation is patient with us. Temptation can work on us slowly, little by little. Even when we are in over our heads, we deny there is a problem until it is too late.

Some sins take a more direct approach like the purple zapper light or a fly swatter. Flying insects get too close and are either incinerated or swatted into oblivion. Other sins are almost invisible, kind of like bug spray or mosquito mist. We assume Satan is asleep or is no longer interested in stealing our soul. We become careless and begin to take part in things we used to avoid when we thought the devil was chasing us. Again, sin is patient. Satan sets the trap and waits for us to veer into an area that we have been warned about. But we become confident in ourselves and stop trusting in God’s warnings. Then just like a fly, well, you get the idea.

For me, the oscillating patio fan represents God and my church family. The fan had a noticeable presence that I thought I could live without until it was gone. I didn’t fully understand its purpose. Then, I realized just how important it was, just like we need to realize that being left alone in spiritual battle is a losing proposition. We need God and good Christian friends, so we do not become stagnant, and to encourage us to live pure lives as we influence others for Christ.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Please pray for our schools

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 9, 2020 

            With school starting in just a few days, it is important that we remember that prayer is the most powerful weapon we have against the forces of darkness. That is why prayer must be the first thing we do in spiritual warfare instead of only using it as a last resort.

            Paul told Christians in Ephesus to be strong against the devil’s schemes by putting on the full armor of God.

            “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).

            Paul’s strategy centers on correctly applying the truths of God’s word to our daily lives. He stresses such things as faith, peace, readiness, righteousness, and salvation.  He ends his letter by giving Christians something they can do right now to make a big difference in advancing the cause of Christ.

            “ ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,(Ephesians 6:18-20).

            There are a lot of things we as individuals feel helpless to fix on our own. But the Bible never says we should expect to change things by our own wisdom and power. Even when James 5:16 says a righteous person’s prayer is powerful, it is ultimately because of God’s power that anything gets accomplished.  2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us that God hears our prayers and will heal our land when we turn from wickedness and approach Him with a humble attitude.  And James 4:3 reminds us that we must approach God with the right motives, not selfishness.

            The start of any new school year marks another change in seasons that often brings a little bit of chaos into the lives of students and their families, and teachers and their families. The 2020-21 school year obviously has some unique challenges ahead that will likely bring about a wide range of stress. As such, it will be more important than ever to remember we serve a God who has unlimited love and power.

            “Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:24-27).

            Please pray peace, safety, and healing over our students, teachers, and staff this week and all year long as they go into uncharted territory. To God be the glory.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Jesus helps us maneuver the aisles of life

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 2, 2020 

            A week or two ago, my son Britton and I went to Keith Hardware in Fort Gibson to purchase a short extension cord with multiple plug-ins for my flowerbed lights and fountains. I stopped off at the front desk and asked Brenda where I could find one. Without hesitation, her eyes glanced up at the ceiling and she said, “Aisle 18!”  I was in and out in about five minutes. I am always impressed when this happens at any store because being able to give an answer indicates the person is serious about their job and has invested time memorizing or at least becoming familiar with where things are enough to answer questions.

There are various times in my life when I had to come to grips with the fact that there were no short cuts to becoming good at anything. When I was a student (no matter what grade), I always dreaded when a teacher would call on me to answer a question if I did not know the answer. Many times, it was because I had not studied.

When I was a young television news reporter at KTUL-TV in Tulsa, I always dreaded those instances I had to give a report on topics when I was not fully informed or prepared. As time went on, I learned the value of asking lots of questions, listening to the answers, and being diligent in my research. I learned how to do my job!  Eventually, I moved to WVVA-TV in West Virginia and after a while I was awarded the title of Investigative New Reporter of the Year.

Several years later, when I was called into youth ministry, I was often afraid I might not be able to correctly answer someone’s question about the Bible or about life and how God’s word applies to it. The Bible tells the story of a challenge Jesus faced involving an encounter with Satan.

            In Matthew 4, after Jesus was baptized by his cousin John the Baptist, Jesus spent time fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry. After 40 days, the devil came to tempt Him, unsuccessfully, even though Jesus must have felt weakened physically from fasting. Each time the devil made a suggestion as to something Jesus could do to make himself happier, Jesus, without hesitation, started His response with the words “It is written.”  This is important, not just because it showed Jesus had knowledge of scripture, but because it showed what happens when anyone prayerfully and intentionally allows God and His word to guide their path. Jesus, as a young boy, had spent so much time in scripture, as did all Jewish boys, it was imprinted on His heart, ready for when He needed to give an answer.

            As He grew, life on earth was not easy for Jesus. We should not expect to have it any better (John 15:20). It takes determination to maneuver the aisles of life with all its many shelves and products to choose from. Someday, we will answer directly to God for how we lived life. The good news is that because Jesus was successful in overcoming the world (John 16:33), His followers can know we have a reward (1 John 5:13). We can rest assured that eternal life in heaven will be worth the tough choices we must deal with while walking His path (1 John 1:7).

Have a great week!

Above the Sun: A safe path still needs light

by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 26, 2020 

            As we were taking a moonlight stroll down Fort Gibson’s new sidewalk, my wife stopped in her tracks, pointed ahead, and said, “There’s a... there’s a... SNAKE.”

            Lisa must have eagle eyes because it was dark, the snake was 20 yards away, and there was just enough light coming from the nearest streetlamp that we could barely see a reflection bouncing off the low-lying visitor that appeared to be 5 or 6 feet long. With a meandering slither, it slowly left the scene, as if to say, “I’m leaving, but I will be back.” We continued our walk at a little faster pace until we got past where our not so little friend had been enjoying the heat of the concrete.

I think it was probably a harmless black snake. But I do not know for sure since even though we were walking on a safe new straight flat surface, it was dark outside, and we really could not see for sure what was ahead. The scenario got me to thinking about the Christian journey and the false sense of security we can have when we pick and choose verses out of the Bible to justify how we want to live, and the assume our spiritual journey is still headed in the right direction.

The Bible uses a lot of words and phrases to describe the choices we make that affect our eternal destiny: Narrow is the way that leads to life, broad is the road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14), He will make your path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6), The blood of Jesus purifies us from sin when we walk in the light (1 John 1:7), Do not swerve to the right or to the left (Proverbs 4:27), A way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12), Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105), You make known to me the path of light (Psalm 16:11), My feet have followed closely his steps (Job 23:11), I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).

            In the case of my snake story, I did not consider the fact that a safe walking surface also depends on adequate lighting to see potential danger. In our Christian journey, it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of security just because we read the Bible regularly and worship each week. Those things are important, but if we forget to apply God’s word to our heart in the way we live our lives and the way we treat other people, we fall short of enjoying the beautiful life God intended for us.

            “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).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Challenges can lead to good things

by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 19, 2020

            As I sit by my window watching a much-needed afternoon rain, I couldn’t help but think about that old Tom T. Hall song: I love little baby ducks, old pickup trucks, slow-moving trains and rain. I love little country streams, sleep without dreams, Sunday school in May and hay. And I love you, too.

            What beautiful and simple lyrics that remind us to stop and smell the roses, and to show love towards one another. For all of the trouble our country has experienced in the last four months, you just cannot ignore the fact that many good things have come out of it, too. 1) We’ve been reminded that inappropriate words and actions can be hurtful to others. 2) We’ve been reminded that each person’s freedom ends where another person’s begins. 3) We’ve been reminded that patience, respect, and cooperation can go a long way in getting along with others. 4) We’ve been reminded that even though we all want good health and happiness, there are many different opinions on how to get there. 5) We’ve been reminded that time alone is great for self-reflection and re-centering our lives on the things that are most important to us. 6) We’ve been reminded that even with so many things being taken away and so many cultural changes, we are capable of accomplishing so much more than we ever thought possible before we were forced to think outside of the box. 7) And finally, we’ve been reminded that while some people do not appreciate being reminded of anything, other people do.

            That being said, my good friend Jim recently posted these words I could not resist passing along to you. It is a simple message that Jim gave his 21-year old son during a late-night conversation. Jim’s son, who is getting ready to move out, had questions about the Who’s, the Why’s, and the Where’s of life. Here were Jim’s answers: “Who am I? I am child of God, created in his image. Why am I here? To know God, love God and make Him known to my fellow man through God’s love. Where am I going? To be with my God without end. Everything else is details navigated and defined by the above.”

            Thanks be to God who has blessed us with time to think about the Who’s, the Why’s, and the Where’s of life. May we choose wisely how we walk our faith journey. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Boring days are filled with opportunity

by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 12, 2020 

            Tah-Dah!  Today is “Paper Bag Day.” On July 12, 1852, American schoolteacher Francis Wolle invented the first machine to mass-produce paper bags.

            If you are saying to yourself, “That’s interesting, but paper bags have nothing to do with a faith-based newspaper column that encourages ‘above the sun’ thinking,” you would be correct.

            The reason I used that little known fact as my opening sentence was to illustrate that some days are just very average, nothing really exciting or unique about them. Judging from the trivia I found on the internet, July 12 is one of those ho-hum days in history.

There may be some of you who became a Christian on July 12 or re-dedicated your life to Christ on July 12. But I am guessing that spiritually speaking, July 12 represents a fairly average day in most of our lives. For me personally, I am okay with having a day where no news is good news. But for many Christians, having a boring day spiritually is a real downer, so to speak, completely unacceptable. For some of us, if we do not experience a spiritual breakthrough or have an incredible mountain-top moment often enough, our faith begins to dip, and our attitude begins to slip.

The purpose of this article today is to remind us that if we do not have an earth-shattering spiritual moment every day, that is not a bad thing. Maybe having a boring day is God’s way of encouraging you to do something you have not had time to do lately, like study God’s word, pray, or go strike up a conversation with a neighbor who could really use some human interaction. A boring day also gives us time to relax, reflect, re-evaluate, make new life strategies, go on a fast from tv and radio, or a social media fast. A boring day can be a valuable tool in helping you re-fill your cup.

Noah didn’t get to build an ark and survive a worldwide flood every year. Abraham didn’t have a direct encounter with an angel every day. Balaam’s donkey did not speak to him every day.  Peter did not walk on the water every time he had a conversation with Jesus. And Lazarus did not rise from his grave every time he died.

Most days are just not that big of a deal by the world’s standards. And most days are not even that big of a deal spiritually, at least on the surface, in that we do not experience multiple “wow moments” each week, month, or year. But that does not mean God cannot be seen working in our lives, our communities, and in nature every single day, and that IS a big deal. God created the human heart to beat over 100,000 times in one day and about 35-40 million times in a year! The question is, what will we do to honor God with the beats we’ve been given?

Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Blessings are ahead

by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 5, 2020

Today was supposed to be my youth group’s session at Burnt Cabin Christian Camp. But for the first time since the camp opened in 1959, the entire summer camp schedule was canceled because of the threat of Covid-19. Right now, young people of all ages are wondering why a stupid virus had to come along and ruin their life.

            To so many of you who are reading this, a summer without church camp is unthinkable. After all, camp is where lives are changed. Young people re-commit to their faith journey. Others hear the Gospel story of Jesus and are saved for the very first time. It is where lasting friendships and special memories are made in packed cafeterias, bunkhouses, Bible classes, and worship spaces. But not this year.

On the surface, we may view all of this as nothing but a disruption to our lives. The exciting part of all this is the fact that history is dotted with adverse circumstances that God used to accomplish something positive. More than likely, you can think of bad things that have happened in your own life that later resulted in something you consider to be a blessing. As I’ve mentioned before, the apostle Paul wrote about this kind of scenario in Romans 8:28. Christians are not exempt from trials in their life, but have the assurance that God uses these bumps in the road and even tragic events to make a positive impact on someone who needs it.

At “Kids Camp” (for younger children) we play a game called First Century Christian. Teams play a sort of hide and go seek game where Roman soldiers try to find your group of Christians to take them to jail. For the kids, it is a chance to tell the soldiers about Jesus and why they should become a Christian. If the soldiers don’t buy your sales pitch, your team goes to jail where they get a second chance by telling the jailer about Jesus. Teams try so hard to not be found, but when they are found, the kids learn about the blessing of getting out of your comfort zone, telling someone the story of Jesus, and playing a part in their salvation.

We get used to things being a certain way. But trials do come, whether it is Covid-19, the 2019 flood, the ice-storm of 2007, or something else. The mountain-top peaks of life do not last forever. We all must walk through the valleys. The only question is whether we will choose to go through them alone, or with Jesus and church family. We often feel helpless when we face trials we cannot seem to solve ourselves. But that is when God does His best work. Remember what the Lord told Paul: “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It all starts with trusting in the One who can heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

It some ways it would be nice to know what lies ahead. But whatever the case, we can know that God is with us (Romans 8:31) in this life and the life to come.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Freedom in Christ cost more than we realize

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 28, 2020

            Sometimes I wonder what the conversation was like for God, His son, and the Holy Spirit when they came to the conclusion that things on earth had become so messed up that only one solution could fix it.

            For instance, how did they decide which one of them would put on flesh and come to earth to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Well, in this instance, the decision must have been painfully obvious, as only one of them was able to help us best understand the true meaning of sacrifice.

Most dads I know would not even consider letting their son die in place of someone else, especially if the dad was available and willing to do the dying. That is human wisdom. The difference in this case is that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all God.

Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Peter 1:2 and Revelation 1:4-5 all point to there being one Godhead shared by three. They are a three in one God. Jesus himself stated that he and the Father are one (John 10:30).

They were all willing to live as a perfect human example and die for us. But it makes sense that they chose God the Son, since it would be considerably easier for humanity to grasp God’s sorrow in allowing His only son to die for the sins of a broken and hopeless world of sinners.

It was always God the Son who played the part of the action figure. Jesus was the one who created everything at God’s command (John 1:1-18, Colossians 1:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Hebrews 1:2-3). Jesus was the one who came to earth in human form to save us. And it will be Jesus who returns in the clouds to bring His faithful home (Hebrews 9:28, Luke 21:25-28).

There are three things we need to take from this: 1) Without hope, we were enslaved by sin, and in need of a Savior. 2) As Creator, Jesus was that sinless Savior, and His blood was superior to that of bulls and goats.  3) Jesus is God. Therefore, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each felt every bit of pain and humiliation that Jesus felt during the trial, scourging, and crucifixion to free those who believe in Him from the burden of sin.

The apostle Paul summed up the believer’s response in this way: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Jesus himself gave us these words of confidence: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Have a blessed week!

Above the Sun: God gave dads important jobs to do

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 21, 2020

            When I was a kid and would get up in the middle of the night to get a drink, I would often catch my dad still up because he got off work late. He would be sitting in his chair next to a table lamp, feet propped up, studying to teach a Sunday morning Bible class a few hours later that morning. I thought to myself, “That does not look like fun.” Then, I would crawl back into bed until it was time to get up and get ready for church. Somehow, my dad still managed to be clean shaven, Brut 33 applied, dressed and ready before the rest of us. He took Paul’s words to heart in every way.

            “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).

            Years later, after I was in the working world, I often found myself up late on Saturday nights and into the early morning hours studying for a Bible class I had signed up to teach. I had intended to spread my study time out over a few days earlier in the week. But things got in the way. So, there I was, doing the same thing I remembered dad doing. I knew it was possible because I had seen him do it. And no, it was not anymore “fun” than I remembered it looked like when I saw dad staying up late.

Eventually, I figured out that dad was not studying in the middle of the night because it was fun. He was doing it because of his commitment to God and family and to those he might have the chance to influence for the cause of Christ. Dad worked hard to make a good living for us. But it was his work for the Lord that was the real treasure. Jesus spoke about this in His famed Sermon on the Mount.

            19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

            22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

            24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:19-24).

            Because my dad chose to put God first, everything else fell into place. Mom and us kids always had a roof over our head and food on the table. And no matter how tired he was from work, he always made sure we made it to church on time to be fed spiritually, and he always made sure the same lessons we learned at church were applied at home.

After I left home and even at times left God, I always knew he prayed I would not only come back home to visit him and mom, but that I would come back to God. That’s what Christian dads do. And even though not every dad is a Christian, we serve a God who sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17), prays over us (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34), and never gives up on us (2 Peter 3:9, Psalm 86:15, Revelation 3:20).  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: We must spread the love of Christ

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 14, 2020

            Jesus knew what He was doing when He gave “love your neighbor” the title of “greatest command” in Mark 12:28-34 and Matthew 22:34-39.

            There is no greater solution to the world’s problems than showing all people the sacrificial kind of love Jesus was talking about. In fact, He even placed loving your neighbor on the same level as loving God. This was an important statement for Jesus to make because for thousands of years God-respecting people have failed time and time again in demonstrating what it really means to love God. This disconnect is written about dozens of times in both in the Old and New Testaments.

            Speaking through His O.T. prophet Isaiah, God showed His disgust with the offerings, assemblies, and prayers of those who went through the motions of honoring God even as they ignored the needs of people among them who were less fortunate.

            “Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow. Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword” (Isaiah 1:16-20).

            Bad attitudes are very much like bad apples. If left alone, they can spoil the whole basketful. As with any disobedience to God, refusing to have your neighbor’s best interest at heart affects all of us in some way. We have all crossed paths with someone who took their frustration out on us based on what someone else did to them earlier that day.  Likewise, being determined to love others as Jesus showed us how to love really does have a ripple effect that has been proven to make a positive difference. It is rarely easy to be nice to someone who is not acting right. But Christians must remember that our actions and words must reflect the love of God.

            “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20).

            The job of every Christian to spread the love of God and tell the story of Jesus is more important today than ever before. There can be no bench-sitters, no one watching from the sidelines. We must all do what we can in our own little circles of influence to make a difference in the hearts of present and future generations. What a world it would be if we all heeded the words of God’s prophet Micah:

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

Have a great week!

Above the Sun: The anticipation is almost too much!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

June 7, 2020

            Remember when you were a kid and couldn’t wait to see everyone on the first day of school, but at the same time were a little stressed because you hadn’t seen them in so long? That’s kind of how I feel about coming back together as a church family. Excited and a little uneasy all at the same time.

            It will no doubt be amazing to see and visit and worship with everyone back in the church building setting again. The fellowship of Christians to encourage and build up one another is one of the most important strategies God gives us to stay strong and grow spiritually. A Christian’s faith influences every minute of our lives. So, the fact that most churches have not met in person since mid-March really has been a significant change.

The online worship times at my church are always helpful and inspiring. This is true even for the Lord’s Supper since we all get to take communion at the same time to remember the Lord’s death instead of waiting for the tray to be passed. This prolonged way of life hopefully has reminded us that the church is not a building, it is us. We should always worship God with every part of our lives wherever we are.

Sheltering has reminded me that if I am going to stay strong spiritually and grow in my faith, I must do a better job of holding myself accountable in all areas. I enjoy watching sports, and I also enjoy watching houses and yards be renovated and upgraded. But watching someone else do those things never seems to make me, my house, or my yard look any better. The same is true whether I am worshiping in person with my church family or at home or on the road. Sheltering has taught me that online worship or worshiping with my family or a small group can be just as impactful as when we meet at the building if I put forth effort and take it seriously, becoming more intentional about the way I honor God and remember what His son did for us and the hope it brings.

And while it is true that you get out of it what you put into it, I think most of us figured out very quickly there is just something very special about being able to come together in person as a church family. In fact, knowing how quickly life can change has likely altered how we approach an average day. Things have changed. That’s okay. We can take comfort in the truth that Christians are part of a kingdom that will never end. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: There is a link between Bible study and encouragement

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 31, 2020

           

            During tough times, most of us look for ways to feel better. For some, this means browsing for good deals online. Others might look for ways to give their yard or flowerbeds a fresh new look. New furniture is always nice. Listening to positive music or motivational speakers online can be encouraging. A friend or family member who always seems to know just the right thing to say is also a very good thing. One proven remedy is thousands of years old and is stated by the apostle Paul.

            “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

            It is funny how easy it is to overlook some of the best solutions for a bad day (or a bad life). In this verse, Paul connects what is written in the Bible with encouragement. When you get down to it, encouragement is something that brings about hope. Sometimes I pray that God gives us something to smile about today. I guess what I am really asking is for God to provide something encouraging to me so that I can feel a sense of well-placed hope. God provides us plenty to smile about if we look in the right places. The best place to start is where God has spoken through the writers of the Bible. Then, after gaining knowledge of His word we must apply it. This takes endurance. Hope is the result.      

            If anyone would understand what it is like to experience physical or social distancing from those we love, it would be the apostle Paul. He wrote letters to the church in Thessalonica for the very purpose of encouraging new Christians after his visit to them had been cut short by persecution.

            “17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20).

            Though Paul was not able to visit them, he wrote and even sent Timothy who was evidently a lesser known evangelist than Paul to “to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials” (1 Thessalonians 3:2-3).

            And so to you I say the same with these thoughts rooted in His word: Stay strong in the faith. Be encouraged that God is in control. He rewards His faithful, and He makes all things beautiful in its time.

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Even Paul learned to be an encourager

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 24, 2020

            You have probably heard someone talk about the fact that their mouth is always getting them into trouble.

Yes, it is hard to be an encourager all the time. But we can all improve, and in doing so we can make a huge difference in the lives of the friends, family, co-workers, and others we interact with. In writing to the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul gave us all some good guidelines for what we choose to say.

            “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

            Paul knew firsthand the benefits of encouragement. A Christian brother named Barnabas helped him in the beginning stages of his ministry to gain credibility among those who knew Paul in his former life as a persecutor of Christians. Having Barnabas as an encouraging friend evidently rubbed off on Paul since the New Testament is full of examples of Paul encouraging new Christians.

            In Acts 13:42-43 Paul and Barnabas had spent a Saturday at a Jewish synagogue teaching Jewish history and explaining to them how it was fulfilled in the good news of Jesus Christ. As they left, they encouraged the Jews to continue in the grace of God. The people invited Paul and Barnabas to come back the next week.

            In Acts 15 the mentor of encouragement, Barnabas, left with Mark to go on a missionary journey. Paul went with Silas and put his newfound encouragement skills to work. Luke tells us that Paul went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. That’s in stark contrast to the description we read of Paul the persecutor in the earlier chapters of Acts. It is hard to imagine that someone who was once a persecutor of Christians would later write nearly half of the New Testament books! Who knows just how big of a role Barnabas’s encouragement played in helping Paul reach his full potential as an evangelist and writer? Just think how different our world would be if we all followed the example of Barnabas!

            Even while Paul was in chains, he still managed to write letters that would encourage new Christians to choose words carefully. “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:5-6).

            Some people are better at encouraging others through talking, some with writing, and some through acts of kindness. The best thing about telling or showing people Jesus Christ and His love for us is that the message speaks for itself, loud and clear, and brings hope to communities and nations like nothing else can.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Encouraging others is worth the effort

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 17, 2020

            Even if you have a hard time putting a proper definition with the word encouragement, we all know what it feels like to be encouraged, and what it feels like to encourage someone else.

            For several weeks now, my Sunday morning online youth Bible class has focused on the topic of encouragement. And as expected, I always feel better just minutes after class starts, even if it is taking place through the Zoom app on my cell phone or computer. The fact that I can see and hear from my students is a huge blessing to me, and I hope it is to them, too. Learning how to think outside the box to encourage others is one big blessing that has come from the culture we’re living in right now.

            We are encouraged in two ways: by what we do and what others do. We are finding out that it is just as important to be a giver as a receiver of encouragement even though some people are simply better at being an encourager.  The fact is, the Holy Spirit has gifted some people with an extra measure of the ability to encourage. That is why you just feel encouraged when you are in the presence of people who possess this very special gift of being an encourager.

            In Romans 6, the apostle Paul says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” So, no matter what the Holy Spirit has gifted you with, whether it is teaching, giving, helping, mercy, discernment or whatever, it is important to use that gift to build up others. God wants us to encourage others even if that is not our gift.

Paul told the early Christians to “encourage one another and build each other up” and that encouragement along with unity and peace will result in a closer relationship with the God of love and peace (2 Corinthians 13:11).

In Hebrews 3:13, the writer says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

The Hebrew writer also says that meeting together and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ helps us all stay strong in the faith (10:23-24).

If we daily strive to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love to our faith journey (2 Peter 1:8), we cannot help but be more effective in encouraging others in their spiritual walk.

May God bless each of us this week with opportunities to be an encourager.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Happy Mother’s Day!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 10, 2020

            Hello and I hope everyone is doing fine on this Mother’s Day. It is during times like these that moms have a tremendous amount to do with how the rest of us view what’s going on in the world. In spite of so many uncertainties, mothers continue doing what they do best which is to simply be a good woman, a task that brings countless blessings to all those closest to them, and to many others. Sounds simple on the surface, but in Proverbs 31:10-31 the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, reveals some of the wisdom he gained in his search for a good woman among his 700 wives and 300 concubines.

            “10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

Here’s a link to a song I wrote recently about my wife of noble character, Lisa. Big thanks to my audio engineer son, Britton Vann Music, for recording, co-producing, and mixing me.  https://youtu.be/DoZ4WBxOoHQ

I hope you enjoy it.  Have a good week!

Above the Sun: He makes beautiful things

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 3, 2020

            As a writer, I try to be creative. But as a handyman, let’s just say I’m lacking a little in that area. I usually have to hire everything done. Thankfully, I have a good woman who brings out the best in me. I found that to be true this past week when together we made something pretty neat out of  junk destined for the garbage.

My son Britton and I cleared some imposing tree roots and dug a small hole in the flowerbed next to our back porch. Next, to line the hole and hold water, I repurposed an old plastic tub that had been a cat litter box and a dog watering dish (not at the same time). Then, Lisa found an old window screen to lay across the water tub to keep out debris. Next, she found a rusty old iron grate from our seriously incapacitated charcoal grill that she cleaned up and painted and laid across the tub.

We combined all of that with a bag of river rocks on top of the grate, a small water pump inside the tub, and on top of the rocks, a small concrete bird bath with a hole in the bottom of the bowl to connect a little hose to the pump. Plug in the pump, and wah la! The delicate sound of a trickling fountain! We had been talking about doing this for years, and finally got around to it. I guess like many of you, the temporary “shelter in place” resulted in getting a few things done around the house.

God is the Master at making something beautiful out of stuff we either take for granted or things we rarely perceive as valuable. In northeastern Oklahoma, we experience breathtaking sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, fog, cloud formations, rolling hills, trees, flowers, lakes, and streams every single day. He also puts people in our lives who bring us laughter and fill us with joy. He is the One who created the human spirit, hope, determination, and love.

As our Creator, He is plenty capable of turning things around for us in spite of the messes we get ourselves into, even when we question our self-worth. It is important for us to remember He has a plan for each and every one of us. But to experience a beautiful life with Him, we must let go of our plan, and exchange it for His. Only then will we find out the extent of His creativity to make a beautiful life for us, and the contentment that can be found in being a committed child of God.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Have a great week!

Above the Sun: You don’t have to look far to make a big difference

by Barrett Vanlandingham

April 26, 2020

            Have you ever had one of those moments when you realized the solution to your problem was right in front of you all the time? That is a lesson that Jesus taught his disciples long ago, and it still applies to us today.

            “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

            During the forty days after Jesus’ resurrection, he knew his followers needed some reassurance and direction. Like sheep without a shepherd, he knew they would scatter. But with one last bit of instruction, he knew that for the kingdom’s sake, scattering would turn out to be a very good thing with the right experiences and knowledge under their belts. He told them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit that his Father promised and would reveal at a gathering known as Pentecost when Peter preached the first gospel sermon.

            Sometimes, we get so busy with figuring out everything on our own that we forget to listen for God’s instructions that are right in front of us. Okay, Covid-19 has disrupted our lives. So, what do we do? Jesus already provided that answer, and I believe God is using our current crisis to help all of humanity push reset and go back to the basics. We may not all be geographically situated to make a difference in Jerusalem where the disciples were 2000 years ago, but we can pay more attention to what’s going on locally, right around us, and among those we love most. What a once in a lifetime opportunity we have been given to re-think our priorities, examine what’s going on under our own roof, and be given time to make a new game plan going forward.

            In witnessing “going back to the basics” in Fort Gibson and across the country, I have been hearing a lot about families spending more time together. I have seen churches drastically increase their knowledge and use of technology to reach their membership. Other churches have conducted old fashioned drive-in movie style worship services with people sitting in their cars listening to loudspeakers or low power FM radio signals. I’ve seen people outside of Harps Grocery talking from a distance with the enthusiasm that comes from being separated from other humans for too long. I’ve seen Fort Gibson’s downtown shops bring merchandise outside so people can shop from their cars. I’ve seen and heard of neighbors checking on neighbors more often than before. Beyond that, volunteers and companies are getting creative in producing hand sanitizer and facemasks for those who need it most.

            The pandemic may have thrown a wrench in our old way of life, but there’s been a lot of good from it, too. Let’s pray we’re smart enough to learn some things from all of this that will make us better human beings in our homes, in our communities and beyond as our new normal slowly begins to take shape.  Have a great week!