Just finished a few unbelievable days in Vermont with my buddy Landon. He never ceases to bring clarity to my life. Then a little time with Steve and Chrissy in Boston to see what God is doing through them.
Now . . . on to Waco for the state tournament. More later!
Anyone out there have any good Landon Saunders memories?
Mike, this has nothing to do with your blog, but is there any chance I can get a copy of a sermon you preached in 1997 or so? I used to have it on tape and lent it to someone - but ever got it back. The sermon was called Worship and Community Building. You made us all vote for the song we wanted to sing. It was a great message!
Thanks for your blog and the work you do!
Mike–
Landon was the preacher at Minter Lane back when I was a little kid and I remember always going up to him and saying our names together in a way that only a 3 year old could… “Brandon-Landon, Brandon-Landon, Brandon-Landon…” What a great man. And what 30 something from Churches of Christ doesn’t remember the theme song to his film strips, “The Heart of the Fighter”?
Wondering if you got the clips I sent you, oh silent one.
I studied a book on missions by Landon Saunders when I was at Freed-Hardeman. I’m pretty sure he spoke in chapel as well.
Brandon - Sorry, have been on the road. Haven’t been at a good computer to download all of them. I did download Randy’s new one (”To the Least of These”) and love it! Can’t wait to hear the others.
Still catch myself humming The Heart of the Fighter theme every now and then … wonder if he realized it was that catchy?
Lots of great “Landon stories” in my memory all the way back to my student days at Harding! A number of personal memories of times with Landon when he was here or I was at one of his events, meetings, etc. I won’t go into the details, but simply say that Landon understands what it means to love humanity. He reveals the deep joy of God, the unrelenting love of God for people as people! I will always be in debt to Landon for so powerfully revealing this to me. Nothing better than people!
I ran into Landon back in the early 1970’s when he would come speak during our summer campaigns in St. Louis. His messages on the kingdom of God are still embedded in my journey of faith. He was a bit of a guru to many of us who were single, going to state schools, and who wanted to do something for the kingdom. His advice and mentoring was timeless.
Years later, when my daughter Hannah attended Lipscomb, she came home and told me about this wonderful guest speaker she had heard at Otter Creek. His name was “Landon Saunders”! Hearing her recount her experience validated that his messages are aimed at the heart of every believer for all times. He has richly blessed my life.
Bradford L. Stevens
St. Louis, MO
Brandon has already written my favorite story, but I shall never forget his “marketplace” teachings–so relevant and so spiritual. He (sorry, Tony) was my favorite Minter Lane preacher.
darn,
soo close to my home in NH. Next time come over for some homemade New England Clam Chowder
One of many Landon memories was the summer (had to be the ’80s) at his “Academy of Ideas” in Killington, VT. My roomate was Larry Fatheree, who died a short time later from a fast-moving brain tumor. Great week of lessons, discussions, playing, praying, Bible study and lots of laughter. Best Landon sermon (IMHO) was “Into all the World” at the 13-in-1 workshop at Harding in late ’70s or so.
I attended Minter Lane in the 1970’s when Landon preached there and he had a great influence on my life; he helped shape my faith as I reevaluated everything in those college years. I got to know him on trips with Stanley and Landon a few years later and his sense of humor is wonderful, as well as his passion.
The one series I would love to have of his was one he preached on the Cross, but I have not been able to find that one, nor do I have it on tape.
Does anyone have a link for sermons of Landon’s to purchase and download?
I have a favorite memory of Landon Saunders, but it requires that I must keep my name out of the blog to protect my mom, the preacher’s wife!
One time in the 1980s, before a Wednesday night Bible Class where the elders were showing the “Heart of the Fighter” films in the auditorium, my mother and I went out for Italian food; we ordered a carafe of red wine which was served with the breadsticks.
This was a popular, busy restaurant, and we hadn’t seen each other in ages so we didn’t realize that it was taking EXTRA long to get our meals. The waiter rushed over at one point and confessed that he had forgotten to put in our order, and that he would put a rush on our dinner. By this time, the wine and four breadsticks were long gone.
Well, since neither of us ever drink much alcohol and since we drank on empty stomachs and because our meals arrived so late that we didn’t get to finish them before church was about to start (we walked in late and sat in the back) apparently the wine took its toll on us. I was doing okay until Mom got the giggles. She finally wheezed out the words, “Look…at…Landon’s…HAIR!”
Apparently, his hair was cut shorter on one side than the other, and anytime he turned his head to address the other side of his audience, my mom would just dissolve into hysterical giggling. I couldn’t breathe because EVERYTHING is funnier in church and my mom, the preacher’s wife, was tipsy for the first time in her life.
My grandmother, who was sensibly seated in the first five rows of the auditorium, had turned around more than once to look accusingly at us for being late; before she could learn the real truth, I hustled Mom out to the parking lot to try to walk it off…
Now I *must* find a copy of the Heart of the Fighter series to see if my mom was right about that discount haircut…
Landon Saunders….. I was in his Freshman Bible class at ACU in the 70’s (I think he only taught one semester). Whereas most Bible classes were about facts and history and memorization, his was about APPLYING the Word to our lives. Made a powerful impact on my life. Our tests were about applying the Word to our life in particular. He always challenged us to think and to realize that Jesus was real.
It’s still the message I try to share today. Even though I grew up “in church”, Landon was one of the first people I ever saw “living” Jesus. He showed me what living the Word looked like.
And that wry grin of his….
I remember Landon from my childhood as well. I remember him speaking at my home congregation in Chelmsford, MA and the great opportunity my family had to have him over for dinner. I remember being awestruck by Landon and drawn to his stories. I remember his kind nature as well.
“The Heart of the Fighter” still rings in my ears too!
BTW…there was another great speaker I enjoyed from my time at Harding. He ranks up there with Landon. His name is Mike Cope!