Above the Sun: Trials grow into blessings

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 12, 2020 

            With several dozen blooms on Lisa’s miniature pumpkin vines, I assured her we would have at least 40 little gourds at harvest time. 

            In the end, we wound up with just 22 tiny orange pumpkins that were anywhere from 1 and ½ inches in diameter to 3 inches. The harvest was colorful but smaller than what I was hoping for. Still, they made quite an impression on her 20 second graders after Lisa read to them “The Littlest Pumpkin” and then gave each student a little pumpkin.

            The book was about a little pumpkin that was overlooked at the grocery store by every customer all day because it was too little for anyone to carve it into a jack-o-lantern. Funny thing is, until I read the book later, I did not realize that my harvest expectations were similar to those of the littlest pumpkin. I wanted 40 pumpkins to grow, not 22.  And the little pumpkin in the book wanted to be purchased like all the other pumpkins, not left by itself when the store closed at the end of the day.

            The silver lining in the book was that after the store closed, the mice in the store gathered around, decorated for a fall party, and carved the littlest pumpkin into a glorious centerpiece. For the mice, this pumpkin was the perfect size. It made the party extra special since the mice would not have had a centerpiece if the little pumpkin had been purchased by a customer.

            The silver lining for what I thought was a failure of a crop was that even though I had hoped for 40 little pumpkins, we really only needed 20.  We got 22. That’s one for each child, one for Mrs. Vanlandingham, and one extra to give away to Lisa’s friend Linda who just celebrated two years of life after a massive stroke affected her entire right side. Linda is gaining strength but has a long way to go. Her perseverance is a huge inspiration to her church family and others who watched her go from eloquent-speaking English professor, to not being able to walk, speak, or even know her colors and numbers, to now re-gaining her vocabulary, communication skills, and physical strength.

            God used those pumpkin vines to grow the perfect number of pumpkins for His purpose. God is using Lisa’s friend Linda to inspire and encourage others in ways that none of us saw coming. God will also use the times we are living in now to help carve each of us into the best version of ourselves to the glory of God and for the saving of lost souls.

            “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

            “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Fall highlights God’s faithfulness

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 5, 2020 

            Here we go with cooler weather, shorter days, sounds of marching bands, and trees already giving hints that a spectacular fall is headed our way.

            You may already have noticed signs of the autumn season beginning to take center stage here in northeastern Oklahoma. God is amazing like that. Even with so many issues our world is faced with these days, our Creator faithfully allows the sun to rise and set, and allows the seasons to come and go. He continues to provide us with air to breathe, food to eat, and clothes to wear. He continues to give each of us opportunities to show love and help those who are less fortunate.

            The fall season is just one more way God shows us that He has not turned His back on us, and that He is still with us and cares deeply for us. Sometimes God just seems so far away and uninterested in the things that are important to us at the moment. In reality, it is usually us who are uninterested in the things that are important to Him, and it is us who have wandered away from Him, not the other way around.

            My son, Britton, wrote a song just a few months ago that talks about this very thing. You can hear Britton and his girlfriend Kaitlyn sing “Lift Him Up” by going to my new website: www.barrettvanlandingham.com and click on the “featured videos” link.

            Here are the lyrics: (verse 1) Far and away from my Savior. No direction to carry me through. Bewildered and feeling abandoned. It was me who was distant from You.

            (Pre-Chorus): God You had the perfect plan. You made me new, now I stand. (Chorus): Just to... lift Him up… I want to break out in song. He reigns now from above, the love I’ve sought all along. And in the wilderness, I will be His. I know I’ll always belong. His holiness is, my oasis, and in the midst I’m made strong.

            (verse 2) Now my life is so different. It's a journey of purpose and grace. Darkness still tries to pursue me. But I walk in the light of your face.

            (Bridge): Holy Father of us all. At Your feet now we will fall.

            I hope you enjoy Britton’s song as it expresses the beauty of God’s perfect plan. Even during seasons of darkness, we can still walk in the light of our Savior.

            “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9).

            Let this fall season serve as a beautiful reminder of God’s presence and His desire to have a close relationship with you. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Your neighbor’s nose knows

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 27, 2020 

            You can learn a lot about your neighbors even if you are trying to not be nosy.  For instance, if mine and Lisa’s evening walks are any indication, the neighbors within a mile radius of our house are passing the sniff test with flying colors!

            One of the games Lisa and I like to play while out walking is to try and guess the smell which most of the time is more of an aroma than an odor. We smell fire pits, charcoal grills, and freshly mown lawns. But one of our favorite smells is laundry sheets. Lisa can actually tell the difference among the different brands: Bounce, Snuggle, or Gain. I, on the other hand, am not quite as sniff savvy. But I like the smells just the same.

            “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7).

            From the time God brought Adam to life by breathing into his nose, the sense of smell has been an important part of our existence. Words such as fragrant, foul, aroma, and stench have been used in the Bible to describe our attitude towards each other and towards God. The fact that God actually associates these kinds of words with each of us should knock some sense into our scents. He knows when our attitude stinks and when we are a breath of fresh air to all those around. Your neighbors know it, too.

            The apostle Paul said, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

            Parents understand what it is to burst with pride when we see our children exhibit selflessness or accomplish a noble task. Now imagine how God felt when He watched His son humble Himself even to the point of death (Philippians 2:8) for a bunch of people who didn’t even know they needed Jesus to save them. His humble attitude of love, compassion, determination, and grace under pressure was received by God as an offering that He recognized as fragrant and special, a perfect offering that nobody else could give. As Christians, this is how we are to be among our friends, co-workers, classmates, and anyone else we’re around. We are to be so wrapped up in Jesus that we smell like Him, Christlike, whether our example is accepted or rejected.        

            “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

            In a world that is full of messes, God wants us to be different, fragrant, the aroma of Christ. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Catchy labels do not define good religion and ice-cream

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 20, 2020 

            When I saw the words “peanut butter chocolate” through the glass door in the freezer section at the grocery store, that was all it took for me to grab two pints of ice-cream as I headed to the checkout line. I felt so smart because I didn’t even have to go off my low sugar, low carb diet!  This was special “keto” ice-cream I am actually allowed to eat.

This was going to be the perfect ending to my day since this was the first time I had found “legal” ice-cream since I started my diet a year and 4 months ago. I got home, ate supper, and rushed to grab my low carb, low sugar treat out of the freezer. But when I took the lid off and tried to spoon some out, it was hard as a rock! I finally managed to get a serving into a small bowl and begin what I hoped would be a marvelous experience. I took my first bite, letting the texture and taste sink in. My hopes were dashed. It was the worst tasting so-called ice-cream I have ever experienced. The consistency and taste reminded me of old ice-cream that had slightly melted and was stuck back in the fridge for about a year or two until it almost turned into powdery ice crystals. Once again, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

When it comes to matters of faith, there are so many things in life that mirror the scenario I just told you about. Just like with diets, it pays to ask credible sources and consult God’s word on any major life changes you are getting ready to dive into. The terms “Christian, Christian faith, Christian journey, Christian life, Christian music, Christian t-shirts” and so on bring to mind certain expectations that involve things Jesus taught about life, doctrine, morals, and salvation. Someone who is new in their faith may hear certain words linked to Christianity and automatically think he or she is headed in the right direction. But that is often not so.

The apostle Paul addressed this issue to Christians in Galatia, some of whom had begun to fall away from the truth they had been taught. “6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7).

Paul also wrote to Christians in Corinth, reminding them of the Israelites in Moses’ time who experienced God in some amazing ways, yet still chose to turn their backs on Him. This resulted in tragic consequences that Paul said we should learn from.

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Corinthians 10:6).

“12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).

As my good friend and family minister Steve Parker reminded me the other day, even though God’s love is unconditional, salvation is not. God will love people who wind up in hell just as much as those who go to heaven. 

Ice-cream may not have anything to do with my eternal destiny, but as is the case with ice-cream, there are some things in your faith journey you just can’t leave out.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: We already have the answers to life’s problems

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 13, 2020 

            Boy was I surprised last Thursday when I was informed I had shipped a 75 inch television, at a cost of nearly $2000, to someone with my same name in Pennsylvania!

            It was actually a fraudulent e-mail I received from someone pretending to be from “Amazon.com.”  It looked very official at first glance with a colorful “Amazon” logo and a fake “Shipping Confirmation Order # 402-3268049-8740387.”

The scam e-mail said:  “We thought you'd like to know that Your order has been dispatched. If you did not place this order please call us on (844)-903-2957 to report this to our fraud protection team. Your Orders on Amazon.com. We hope to see you again soon!”

Besides the fact that I immediately checked my Amazon account for some peace of mind, I also checked the wording of the e-mail, kind of bizarre. It did not take but a few seconds to spot several mistakes in grammar, punctuation, random capitalizations, and general misuse of the English language. I underlined a few of them.

Unfortunately, the devil is a much better liar than the con behind the e-mail. Still, the same principles apply when it comes to making any decision, large or small. As Christians, we are in a daily battle with the “Father of Lies.” And even though Satan has a lot more experience than we do at this game, our Heavenly Father is the greatest Warrior we could possibly have on our side (Exodus 15:3). He is patient with us and does not want any of us to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

God is many things the devil is not. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present. God has given us His holy word and His Holy Spirit to guide us through life in all matters of decision-making. We do not have to know every trick in the devil’s book of deception. The only answers we need to know are the time-tested ancient words God has already spoken. About 3000 years ago, Solomon spoke these God-inspired words:

“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way” (Proverbs 4:14-15).

2000 years ago, the apostle Paul reminded young Timothy to teach this:

“Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness’” (2 Timothy 2:19).

If we know what God expects of us, anything outside of that is sin or at the very least dangerous territory. Christians are advised to avoid both. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

We all know life is just hard sometimes. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus and model our lives after Him, we come to realize most of the problems we’re faced with do not seem near as difficult to solve.  Have a great week!

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!