Consider the following excerpts from Psa. 109 as if written from the perspective of Jesus on the night of his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion:

“For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.”

Consider these words as if they were a prayer against Judas Iscariot for his betrayal of Jesus:

“Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin! May his days be few; may another take his office! May the creditor seize all that he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil! May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation! For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death. He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!”  

Finally, consider these words as if they were from Jesus’ eternal perspective on the cross—knowing that the Lord’s will is being done in spite of the appearance of evil’s predominance:

“Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it! Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!”

These words, penned by King David over 700 years before Christ and Judas, give a clear understanding of God’s perspective on both good and evil. He always watches over his holy One and his saints. And, in His time, he will always punish evil.

- Dan Lankford

Everyone is surely aware of the national advertising campaign on television and radio that encourages the use of a “designated driver” and even advocates taking car keys away from a drunk person so that he won’t get behind the wheel. It features the catchy phrase – “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”

As a spin-off of that idea, you’ve probably also seen the bumper stickers that say, Friends don’t let friends drive Fords (or Chevys or Toyotas or whatever). Unless you work at one of those companies, it is likely that you smile when you see one of those bumper stickers.

One phrase is serious; one is intended to be humorous. Here’s an even more serious thought. A true friend would not even consider letting a close friend go to hell for eternity. Or would he?

Do you have friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, or fellow students that you have never talked to about their souls? These are people who will be lost if they don’t learn about Jesus and obey the gospel. You might be the only New Testament Christian with an opportunity to say something that could change their eternal destiny. Why haven’t you said something to them?

I realize that fear is a natural factor and that many of us are afraid of doing something that would make a friend mad at us. We like to avoid conflict and don’t want to hurt another person’s feelings.

But what is more important, staying comfortable and allowing your friend to go to hell forever or taking a chance and maybe seeing your friend eternally in heaven? Which option would be more important to a true friend? Which would God have you to do?

I know this isn’t easy for most of us. But isn’t it important enough to make it an urgent priority? Courage is not the absence of fear, but the determination to do what is right in spite of our fear.

Be a true friend to the lost people in your life. Friends don’t let friends go to hell.

--Roger Hillis

A bit of advice for Christian parents (self included): let's read the Bible to our kids and with our kids.

Somewhere along the line, many Christian parents got the idea that the best way to share the word of God with our children was to change it. So we eliminated details, we added artist renderings of the stories which are very often historically inaccurate, we inserted punchlines and jokes all along the way, and we only told them the Bible stories that have happy endings.

Let me be clear: I'm not necessarily opposed to all the things in that list individually. And I'm not necessarily opposed to the use of all children's Bibles.

But as Christian parents who value the words of God himself, let's be sure we are sharing the words of God himself with our children. When God commanded the Israelites to teach their children, he said, "these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deut. 6:6-7)  He intended them to share his very words with their children.

Islamic parents understand this as a crucial part of sharing their faith. Their children are taught the Quran from the time they can talk. Most devout parents read passages to them multiple times daily. And as a result, they have one of the highest retention rates of all faiths. In other words, children from devout Muslim households very often grow up to be devout Muslims. And when asked why, they frequently cite a strong attachment to their holy book and the god (Allah) it describes.

We must do the same. If our holy book truly is the words of God (and I believe it is), and if the God in it truly is the author and perfecter of our faith (and I believe he is), then we must share THAT with our children—even when it challenges them, when it seems to bore them, and when they don't seem to appreciate it. Certainly, a simplified version of God's word will be easier and more entertaining for a child. But it won't have the same life-shaping power as the Gospel itself. Let's not neglect to share the God-breated word with them. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb. 4:12)

- Dan Lankford, minister

Three times in the book of Genesis, Abraham rose early in the morning. In each case, he was seeking the will of God.

In Gen. 19:27, he rose early in the morning to see God's will accomplished against Sodom & Gomorrah.

In Gen. 21:14, he rose early in the morning to send Hagar & Ishmael on their way to make room for Isaac—the child of promise—to flourish.

And then in Gen. 22:3, Abraham rose early in the morning for what surely could have been the hardest thing he ever did in his life—the journey to where he would kill his own son.

From Abraham's example, I learn an important lesson about the vitality of a life that truly seeks God. When Abraham sought God, he sought him from dawn to dusk. On these days, even though it might be difficult, he began his day with a determination to see God's will done around him.

I want to encourage you to do two things. First, whenever you wake up, set your mind on the will of God first. Start with a focus on him before you give assent to anything else in the day. And second, try getting up an hour earlier than you have to [or staying up an hour later than you typically do (Psa. 119:62)] and giving the extra time to God. Pray, read your Bible, take a walk, or just meditate on who he is and who he calls you to be.

Let's all make a deliberate effort—to go out of our way—to seek the will of God.

- Dan Lankford, minister

The following are some important takeaways regarding preachers and preaching from men in the Bible who shared God's messages.

From Noah: do not judge the success of your work by the positive results and happy hearers you garner. Preach as God would have you no matter what (Gen. 6-7, 2 Pet. 2:5).

From Samuel: a whole life—by a series of daily decisions—of faithfully preaching the word leads to a legacy of integrity and leadership.

From Jonah: the word of God will work even if the attitude of your heart is lousy. So above all else, when you preach, preach the word and let it work in people's lives (Jonah 3:1-4:1).

From Jeremiah: if the attitude of your heart is right, you will have to preach the word. When it's tough, when it's heavy, and when it's controversial, you will still be compelled to preach it (Jer. 20:7-9).

From Stephen: do not be afraid to preach what some people need to hear, even when it's something the hearers should already know (Acts 7:12-53)

From Peter: take advantage of opportunities to teach about Christ when they happen (Acts 2:12-14).

From Paul: keep the focus on Christ above all else (1 Cor. 15:3-8).

From Apollos: be willing to admit when your understanding is incomplete or even flat-out wrong. Be prepared to be taught a more accurate way (Acts 18:24).

From Phillip: people whom you never expected will respond well to your messages... Thank God for that! (Acts 8:9-13)

And from the Holy Spirit of God: "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." (2 Tim. 4:1-2)

- Dan Lankford, minister

This past week, I read an essay which presented a contrast between some of Christianity’s character truths which are traditionally understood as feminine (gentleness, caring, meekness, etc.) with the traditionally understood virtues of manhood from virtually every culture in history (toughness, dependability, struggle to overcome, etc.). 

The essay was exploring answers to the question, “Is Christianity an inherently feminine religion?” And the writer’s conclusion was correct: Christianity does call us to uphold the finest examples of gentleness, caring, and meekness; AND it calls us to uphold the finest examples of toughness, dependability, and the struggle to overcome. 

Christianity, it seems then, teaches each gender to fulfill the very best of its own created nature. While some of the characteristics may seem, at first glance, to be mutually exclusive (toughness & gentleness, for example), the single religion of Christianity purports to teach them all simultaneously. How is this possible?

The answer to that question goes back to what the Bible teaches about origins. “God created man in his own image... male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). Since the whole of humanity is made in the image of God, it naturally follows that the whole of image of God should be able to be seen in us. Just as any invention bears the fingerprints of its designer, humankind bears the fingerprints of our divine Designer. And so our very natures as men and as women are hard-wired in by the Almighty.

This means that we are all responsible for giving the BEST exhibition of our respective natures. Women who truly seek God will strive to be the finest example of God’s nature created within them. Men who truly seek God will strive to be the finest example of God’s nature created within them. Is Christianity a feminine religion? It is not that alone. It is a religion for both men and women who are made in the image of God to fulfill the best of their God-given natures by his power. Do you want to be a godly and feminine woman? Strive to be the kind of woman God calls you to be. Do you want to be a godly and masculine man? Strive to be the kind of man God calls you to be.

- Dan Lankford, minister

A psychology professor did a series of experiments in efforts to better understand typical human behavior in matters requiring integrity.

He began by conducting a non-scientific experiment in several dorms on a college campus. In the communal refrigerators of some of the dorms, he placed a six-pack of Coke. In other dorm fridges, he left a plate with six $1 bills on it. The Cokes and dollars were nearly equivalent in value, yet within 72 hours, all of the sodas had disappeared but none of the dollar bills had been touched. The students could have easily grabbed a buck and then used it to get a Coke at a nearby machine. But they didn’t. Why? Because taking a dollar – money in its raw form – feels like stealing, while taking a Coke – a step removed from the money – feels more okay. The professor, in his conclusions drawn from the experiment, compared this to the way many people wouldn’t think twice about taking a ream of paper from work, but wouldn’t dream of grabbing $3.50 from the office’s petty cash box.

He followed this informal trial with a whole series of more scientific trials (which you can read about in this article) which led him to determine that we are more likely to do something which is against our values (in Christians' cases, the truth of God's word) if there are more steps involved in the process between the commission of the act/sin and the consequences we believe we'll receive for it.

Does that land close to home for you? Are there things in your life that you know, "I shouldn't do that," but you find yourself doing it again and again because it seems the consequences are so far removed from the sin?

Solomon noted that this is common human tendency: "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil." (Eccl. 8:11)  We have a real tendency to sacrifice our integrity when it seems it will cost us nothing to do so.

And yet, as disciples of Jesus, we must overcome this tendency. Because we understand that every sin does have immediate consequences—it breaks the heart of God and rejects the sacrifice of Christ (Heb. 10:29ff). He is aware of our every move and thought (Heb. 13:5), and he feels the sting of every sin. And as his children, we would do especially well to remember that there is an immediate reason to resist sin every time we possibly can. We would do well to remember that every decision—no matter how insignificant the theft of a soda may seem—matters before God our Maker and Judge.

Every decision is an opportunity to either hurt him and then justify ourselves... or to live for his glory, even when he alone will see it!

- Dan Lankford, minister

(A note of special thanks is due to my own father, Jarell Lankford, for his absolute integrity shown to us in all matters like this. For a long time, I couldn't understand why he NEVER used company vehicles for personal purposes, NEVER printed personal documents on the church copier, and NEVER kept someone's tools more than one day past its usefulness to him. I understand now. And I appreciate your example, dad.)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” 

(Rom. 8:31)

That question, all by itself, may be one of the most reassuring sentences in the whole New Testament. It reminds us of God’s protection, of the value he’s placed on us, and of the eternal hope we have against the devil and the world.

But the reality is… anyone can still be against us as Christians.

ISIS is a radical Islamic group who are especially against Christians. Our culture’s naturalistic, secularized values system is set against Christians in many quadrants. And closer to home, many believers throughout the history of the faith have had family or fellow church members against them. And those even overlook the biggest threat which is “against us.” The devil himself is against us to destroy us (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8).

Yet, even while there are many who can still be against us, the question is really asking: “If God is for us, who can be against us that actually matters?” And the answer to that: NOBODY. God’s promise to be with us absolutely trumps the power of anything else that would attempt to take us down. 

Let secular agendas come. Let persecution come. Let famine come. Let betrayals come. Let threats come. Let suffering come. Let the future come. Let death come. Let the devil himself be against us. In all of it, the Lord is with us. And no level of opposition matters against him.

- Dan Lankford, minister

The early-1900’s President, Woodrow Wilson, was praised in his day for making short speeches on the floor of Congress. And yet, they were still full of powerful ideas and solid leadership.

A friend asked him, “How long does it take you to prepare one of your speeches?” President Wilson—who did write his own speeches—responded: “That depends on the length of the speech. If it is a ten-minute speech it takes me all of two weeks to prepare it; if it is a half-hour speech it takes me a week; if I can talk as long as I want… I am ready now.”

When studying the gospels, it has often struck me as odd that all the writers seem so economical in their accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In his whole 28 chapters, Matthew devotes just half of ch. 27 and half of ch. 28 to the greatest events in human history. Luke—who writes the longest account of Jesus’ life—gives less than 45 verses to the whole ordeal from crucifixion to resurrection. And even of the cross itself, in Luke 23:33, he only says, “they crucified him.”

And yet, although it might seem as though they have sort of glossed over the most powerful and important events in history, the rest of the New Testament plainly shows that they haven’t! Because the rest of the New Testament is based primarily on these succinctly recorded events. All faith, all hope, and all the best kinds of love… All of them are based in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Those three short days are God’s short, but powerful speech—they are the Gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ. And in spite of its brevity, that Gospel’s power comes largely down to the length of time it took to prepare. Just as a great, short speech will often take LOTS of preparation work and time, God’s brief execution of the Good News that can save all mankind took over two millennia to prepare.

For more than two thousand years, God moved with relentless determination toward one terminal event. He moved mountains and shook nations to make this one event happen…

…at just the perfect time.
…in just the perfect place.
…among just the perfect people.
…and with just the perfect results.

You can’t help but be impressed by the fact that God’s Gospel—for all of its eternal and universal scale—is an essentially simple and succinct idea accessible to everyone. That Jesus Christ—the son of God—came to earth in the flesh, lived a life free from sin, died as a sacrifice to atone for your sin, and was raised to defeat death forever for you. And he offers you eternal life with God in Heaven.

Do you want that?

There is more good news that he offers the way to receive it. And, like the Gospel itself, it’s a simple and succinct transaction: the act of baptism.

The time required to be baptized is very little, and the spectacle may seem underwhelming to many. But with the proper preparation done—with the heart softened by the good news of Jesus—baptism is the most powerful transaction for a person with faith in God.

Do you want to do that? Contact us, and we'll be glad to baptize you into Christ and share our walk of discipleship with you!

- Dan Lankford, minister

The title above is the definition of the word specious. It is a word which can be used to describe several common philosophies on life:

• A specious philosophy: “If you want to be happy in your marriage, you’re going to have to train—and usually demand—your spouse to give you what you need. You’ll have to be the boss.”
  • The Spirit says: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord… Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Eph. 5:22, 25)
• A specious philosophy: “If you don’t hold onto every penny that you get, you’ll be broke and unhappy. Hoard all forms of wealth, and keep them all to yourself.”
  • The Spirit says (in a passage where he wasn’t only talking about church contributions): “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:6-7)
• A specious philosophy: “People will know you’re a person of strong faith by the ways you mostly point out others’ mistakes in their attempts to live rightly before God.”
  • The Spirit says: “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father,” and “by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Matt. 5:16 and John 13:35)

There could obviously many more of these contrasts. One of Satan's best tools is to make that which is obviously harmful appear to be a good idea. One of the many great blessings available to those who love God with the whole mind (Matt. 22:37) is the ability to understand the real problems of Satan's specious arguments and the real blessings of God's perfect plan!

- Dan Lankford, minister