What is a vow? In English, a vow is a solemn promise by which a person binds himself to the substance of the promise – an action, a conduct or a condition (Merriam-Webster). In short, a vow is a binding promise; it is a declaration of a promise. A vow is a stronger form of answering in the affirmative (yes) or in the negative (no). A vow involves a commitment. In Hebrew, the word translated “vow” means “a thing promised” (Strong’s). In Greek, the word translated “vow” means “a wish, expressed as a petition to God” whereby a person obligates himself. The first occurrence of the word “vow” in the Bible illustrates the nature of a vow. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord  shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” (Genesis 28:20-22 NKJV). Later, God acknowledged the vow Jacob had made and directed him back to his family (Genesis 31:13). Evidently, the vow was acceptable to God – not only the substance of the vow, but the act of making a vow itself. Furthermore and still later, vows were accommodated under Judaism into that …

Countless millions across the globe and throughout history have asked the question, “What must I do to be saved?” The Bible says in John 14:6 that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus. The vast majority of people on earth believe that all we have to do to go to heaven is to believe in Jesus. However, the Bible says that if we want to go to heaven, we have to obey the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). Christ is coming back, Paul says, and will take vengeance on those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the Gospel. This means, then, that if you know God and do not obey the Gospel, you will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction. The next question should be, “What is the Gospel?” This is a critical question to ask because it has to be obeyed to go to heaven. The Gospel can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and it is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. How can we be obedient to the death, burial and resurrection? Paul addressed this in Romans 6:1-4. We are united with Christ in the likeness of His death through baptism. If we want to go to heaven, we must obey the Gospel, which means submitting ourselves to be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

I like camouflage. It doesn’t matter if it is shirts, shoes, hats, coats, socks, you name it and if it is camouflage I will wear it. (I don’t have a camo tie though; I will have to work on that, but I do have camouflage curtains! The window wears them, not me). I have liked camouflage stuff ever since I was a kid. I can remember wearing camouflage to school, church, and sometimes I would even wear it to go hunting. The main purpose for camouflage is for hiding. Hunters and soldiers use camouflage to blend into their surroundings. This is one of the reasons I always liked wearing camouflage because it helped in hiding. One of my all-time favorite games is Hide and Seek. It was fun being hidden and trying to outwit the other kids that were playing the game. However, hiding is not always fun. In fact, many like to put on “spiritual camouflage” and try to hide from God. Remember Adam and Eve. After partaking of the forbidden fruit, they hid from God, and they even tried to use camouflage. When they realized that they were naked, they covered their bodies with leaves (Genesis 3:7-8). Achan took some of the forbidden valuables from Jericho and hid them under his tent. Yet, he was found out too. He and his family were all put to death for his sin (Joshua 7:19-25). Then there are those today who try to “camouflage” or hide from God. They show up …

You may have heard the expression, “You’ve got to give the Devil his due.” When that is said, it probably means different things to different people. Mark Twain said it meant, “Something can be said for the devil, seeing as how he has managed to influence about 99% of all the people on earth.” Mr. Clemens (Mark Twain) was telling us that Satan should be credited for all the evil and sin in this world. There’s no debate there! There are many questions about the Devil that come up now and then, not the least of which is: Where did he come from? We, of course, have to go to the sacred Scriptures for the answer to that question. We may determine that Satan was a part of creation since God created all things by the Lord Jesus including all the host of heaven (Nehemiah 9:6; Colossians 1:15-17). He would be of the order of angelic, spirit beings. There are three kinds of beings: divine beings; angelic, spirit beings; and human beings. Satan is not divine since he is subject to God (Job 1:12). He is not human since he was able to come into the presence of God when the sons of God presented themselves before God. Further evidence that Satan is not human is seen in the fact that he engaged in a slanderous dialogue with God regarding Job (Job 1:6-12). From this we may ascertain that he was of the angelic order of beings. The Scripture tells us …

Students are told by sin-loving peers that they are missing out by not getting drunk, attending wild parties, dancing, frequenting public beaches and having sex. Young adults are made to feel that they are missing out if they don’t barhop and bed-hop. Sinners just can’t see how a Christian could enjoy life without imbibing deeply at sin’s fountain. On the other hand, Christians see that sinners are the ones who are missing out. The best life and the most enjoyable times come to those who have learned God’s secret to abundant living (John 10:10; 1 Peter 3:11). Paul wrote of the prior sinful lives of some Christians, contrasting their present state with their former one. The contrast was significant and all in favor of their new world. Paul said, “At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace” (Ephesians 2:12-14). From Ephesians 2:12, what is a sinner missing out on? A sinner is without Christ. He is a sheep without the Shepherd (Luke 15:1-7), a traveler without a way (John 14:6) and a hungry man without bread (John 6:41). He is a weary pilgrim without a place to rest (Matthew 11:28-30), a soldier without a captain (Hebrews 2:10), a branch without a vine (John 15:1-7) and …

In the study of every species of every kind in the world, from the one-celled amoeba to the most complex creature on earth – man, thousands of thousands, every part of every creature, whether an eye or leg, or other part, from the smallest to the greatest demonstrates design or purpose, which demands a designer, which demands intelligence, leads us always back to God. In this brief article let us consider: The Honeybee This insect has been called the “Masterpiece of Creation.” A colony or hive may number from 10,000 to 70,000 or more. Each hive has three types – the queen, drones (males) and underdeveloped females, which are the workers. The purpose of the queen is not to rule the hive, but to produce young bees. She is the only fully developed female bee in the hive. In her lifetime, she may lay as many as one million eggs. She may lay as many as 1,500 a day in summer to replace dead bees and enlarge the colony. The eggs hatch within three days. She lays unfertilized eggs in certain cells and fertilized eggs in others, the former to produce males and the latter females. After mating, the queen carries the male sperm in her body. If a female bee is desired, the queen presses the sac and fertilizes the egg to be deposited in a certain cell. If a male is desired she does not press the sac to fertilize the egg and deposits it in an entirely …

“…Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10 NKJV). These were the words the angels used to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the field. The word “gospel” is from the Greek word “euagglion.” “Eu” means “good,” and “aggelos” means “to announce.” This was indeed good news to those who were watching for the coming of the Messiah. The good news is seen in the fact that Jesus would save people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). It is called the Gospel of peace in Romans 10:15. In 2 Timothy 1:10 Paul spoke of God’s purpose, which was planned before time began, and “…has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” The good news for mankind is found in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). His sinless life, His sacrificial death and His return from the grave to live for eternity is the one and only hope that mankind has in this world. It is only through Him that we have the promise of God for eternal life. John said, “And this is the promise that He [God] has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25). There is no partiality in this, but all of every nation who fear God and work righteousness are accepted by Him (Acts 10:34-35). The writer of …

The word “ashamed” must have great significance for it is found in our English Bibles one hundred and twenty-two times with some twenty-six occurrences in the New Testament. The word is used by Jesus and the apostle Paul more than any other speaker or writer in the New Testament. In this brief article only two of those instances will be noted in a superficial way. In Romans 1:16 Paul, by the Spirit’s inspiration wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Used here in the negative, the great and loving apostle declared that he was not ashamed of the glorious Gospel – God’s power to save mankind. The word “ashamed” comes from epaischunŏmai and means, as Strong pointed out, “a feeling of shame arising from something that was done.” It is a self-humiliation resulting from something done. For example, a Christian, meaning no harm, may repeat something he has heard about a brother or sister without investigating to see if the “gossip” is true. He may say, “Oh, I feel so ashamed for taking part in the spreading of such a rumor.” Paul emphasized that he preached with no sense of humiliation or embarrassment because what he preached was the Gospel of Christ. What he was repeating was not gossip; it was the soul-saving Gospel. It was not some tale that might hurt someone or their reputation. …

I never cease to be absolutely amazed at what those of the Restoration Movement just prior to my generation were able to glean from the Scriptures – even without the aid of the internet, 109 versions and perversions (not counting true translations) for comparison, no televangelists and very few seminars. Some even learned from Greek/Hebrew and possibly from the old worn out KJV that this generation just cannot seem to understand! I just ran across this article, and at first perusing, thought, “How Crazy!” However, on a second and third consideration, it is truly the best thought that I have ever heard on the great “I Am.” The Foreknowledge of “I Am” Most of us are aware of, and perhaps have meditated upon, the answer God gave to Moses in Exodus 3:14 when Moses wanted to know what he should say when he was asked who had sent him. Part of the verse reads, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, ‘I AM hath sent me unto you.’” We have probably come to the conclusion that regardless of what other wonderful things may be involved in that answer, it suggests that God is eternal – timeless. There is neither past nor future with God, but everything is now. He can thus “declare the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). It has long been a problem for philosophers, theologians and even for brilliant Christian scholars to explain how that if God foreknew that a thing would happen and thus it had …

There are so many acts of violence. Why? There is an answer in the pages of Proverbs at chapter 13, verse 10: “Only by pride cometh contention.” This truism claims pride as a chief element in fighting, contention and violence. Whenever individuals have pride wrapped up in the heart, there is going to be resistance to anyone who interferes. What replaces unhealthy pride? Some pride – self-appreciation – gets us to take baths and brush our teeth. The unhealthy excess of pride causes one to be so possessive and controlling of others that violence may erupt. Jesus’s Golden Rule should replace excessive pride. Do only to others what you wish them to do to you (Matthew 7:12). Hurting others will come to an end; shouting and kicking others will cease; striking and challenging others will not be chosen when we ‘do as we would have them do’ to us. Report violence to authorities, police, sheriff and parents so they can act within the law to protect you from the violence of others.

All members are joined together in one body by the Spirit. All members submit to the Headship of Christ and yield their personal preferences to His will. All members are given opportunities for unique interpersonal relationships with one another. All members share a common bond that is most uncommon. All members are daily developing even more into the image of Christ. All members supply what is needed to every other member without demanding something in return. All members care equally about the welfare of all other members. All members recognize their need for each other. All members participate toward the designed function of the body. All members cooperate with each other to get a task completed. All members of the body are willing to make personal sacrifices to advance the mission of the body. All members suffer and rejoice with those who suffer or rejoice. All members contribute toward the growth and edification of the body.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews exhorted: “Make straight paths for your feet…” (Hebrews 12:13). This is good advice in any spiritual context. One needs to go straight intellectually. He must make a diligent effort to learn the will of God as reveal in His Word – the Bible. After learning it, he must apply it by loving it and obeying it. Mind, not emotion, is what must guide one in his search to be pleasing to God. One must go straight morally. One’s speech must be morally pure. Vulgar and profane speech is a sign of ignorance and extremely poor manners. Our minds must be pure, untainted by vile movies, music and magazines. Honesty and integrity should always be our guide in our dealings with our fellow man. Then, one must go straight religiously. To do so he must make sure that all teachings and actions are authorized by the Scriptures. He must preach and teach truth, and he must live by that truth. Are you making straight paths for your feet, or are you traveling the broad way that leads to eternal destruction?

I have been racking my brain, my memory concerning how we Americans thought in the 1940’s into the middle 1960’s. You see, these years were my youthful years since I was born in 1932. I turned eighteen years old in November 1950. I enlisted in the Regular Army in March 1951. I spent twelve years on active duty, five years serving overseas. Thinking about this period reminded me that overall Americans thought alike. It was a period of God, country, apple pie and Mom. Americanism was understood throughout the USA – North, South, East and West. By the middle 1960’s things started to change. Movies, music and even the appearance of some people started to change. As an example, younger men let their hair grow to a girlish style. Movie musicals that were part of the family entertainment throughout the 1930’s until the early 1960’s, a period of thirty plus years, almost completely stopped. There was a time past when even the smallest child could go to the local movie house and have no fear of gratuitous nudity and vulgar speech. Have we lost our sense of right and wrong and an understanding of disgracefulness? The truth is that a large portion of our population no longer thinks alike. Were we in time past perfect people? No, there have always been strange, unconventional and reprobate people. Presently, we do not think alike any longer. Our mooring, our Christian heritage has sadly drifted away. We are now living in a morally decaying …

Some people have attributed the Bible with contradictions, when in reality the writer was looking at something from two different perspectives. For example, Paul encouraged the brethren of the churches in Galatia, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Paul was thinking of those times when we need each other’s help and support, and what it means to know there are brothers and sisters in Christ who care and are willing to help us through difficult times. When we face temptations, or become discouraged with the situations we face in life, it helps to know others have similar struggles and can support us through such. Compare what Paul said to the Thessalonians, “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). However, this in no way contradicts what he wrote just a few verses later in Galatians: “For each one will bear his own load” (Galatians 6:5). While we can help support others in difficult times, and receive help from others ourselves, in the final analysis, we must choose how we each live, and we will answer for the choices we make. There are times when we all need encouragement, when our load or burden in life is beyond what we normally deal, and it helps to have someone walk with us. However, we each have to live our lives every day, and only you can decide what you must do, and you …

It is not unusual to be challenged today by someone who has either been brought up to disbelieve or has had bad experiences in life. He or she may ask the Christian to “prove to me there is a God!” Of course, “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18). Neither has anyone tasted, touched or smelled Him. Some in the Old Testament heard Him, but none of us has. We cannot isolate God in a test tube or examine Him under a microscope. We must use some other means to show God is. The Creation Proves There Is a God The greatest evidence of God’s existence is found in His creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Creation exhibits a design that must be the work of a designer. Most have no trouble understanding that any house, or other structure, had a designer or architect, who drew up a plan for its construction. In the same way, the world around us displays a design that denies an origin of mere chance. Bert Thompson and Wayne Jackson, in their book A Study Course in Christian Evidences, on page 25, wrote, Did you realize, for example, that the human body is composed of multiplied trillions of cells? In the nucelus [sic] of each cell, hundreds of thousands of genes are present. Each gene consists of a complex chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA has a complicated code for the mapping out …

An American preacher told of being on a mission trip to the island of Tobago where, in a worship service, a woman requested the song, “Count Your Blessings.” She did so by raising a hand without fingers and speaking from a face with neither nose nor ears. She was a member of the leper colony where the service was being held (Rowell 206). Erma Bombeck once wrote in the October 1992 edition of Redbook: “An estimated 1.5 million people are living today after bouts with breast cancer. Every time I forget to feel grateful to be among them, I hear the voice of an eight-year-old named Christina, who had cancer of the nervous system. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought long and hard and finally said, ‘I don’t know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!’ The kid is right.” Have you counted your blessings recently? Are you thankful? In the United States, we have an annual holiday – Thanksgiving. Yet, thanksgiving should be something we do every day. The Amplified Bible [more nearly a commentary than a Bible translation, Editor] gives this reading of 1 Thessalonians 5:18. “Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].” Did you catch that? “No matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks.” …

God has promised to use His Word in the lives of those who hear it. Incredible things will happen when we use God’s Word, the Bible, in soul-winning, discipleship and spiritual growth. Thus, the Word of God is like… The Bible is like seed (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23). A wise old professor of Biology stood in front of his class of eager students. The professor held a little brown seed in his hand. Quietly he spoke to his class. “I know the exact composition of this seed; it is made up of nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. I know the exact proportions, and I can make a seed that will look exactly like it. However, if I plant my seed, it will come to nothing; its elements will simply be absorbed into the soil. However, if I plant this seed, the one that God made, it will become a plant, because it contains something that mine doesn’t – life!“ The Bible is a hammer (Jeremiah 23:29). God’s Word, like a hammer, breaks in pieces stubborn rocks of resistance. These rocks could be mental lusts, sinful habits and different kinds of weaknesses. We apply God’s Word to get delivered from such things in our lives. The Bible is like a fire (Jeremiah 23:29). God’s Word, like fire, illuminates, comforts, penetrates, purifies and even destroys. The hammer is symbolic of our hard hearts being broken into small parts so the fire can melt the wickedness away and give us a purification that only God can …

The way to heaven is straight and narrow (Matthew 7:13-14), but wrong ways may seem right to those who do not know or believe the truth (Proverbs 14:12; 21:2; 28:26). However, there is a way revealed in the Bible that is right and cannot be wrong.  It is also the way of peace and unity (John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Romans 14:9). It cannot be wrong to accept the Bible as an infallible and all-sufficient guide in all matters of religion (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:3). Faith in Christ as the Son of God cannot be wrong (Matthew 16:13-18; Acts 2:36-41). In addition, it cannot be wrong for sinners to repent of all sins (2 Peter 3:9; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Acts 3:19; 17:30). It cannot be wrong to be baptized upon a confession of faith in Christ to become simply a member of the Lord’s church (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-39; 2:37-41, 47; 22:16; Mark 16:15-16). It cannot be wrong to baptize penitent believers instead of unbelieving infants (Acts 2:36-41). It cannot be wrong for proper subjects to be immersed – buried and raised – in baptism (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:38-39). It cannot be wrong to wear the name of Christ, the name “Christian” rather than some sectarian name (1 Peter 4:14-16; Acts 11:26; 26:28; James 2:7). It cannot be wrong to obey Christ in all things (Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 John 2:3-4; Luke 6:46). Faithful attendance at all services of the church cannot be wrong (Hebrews 10:25; …