Transformative PowerFerdinand SandersI have wondered what it actually means when someone says things like, “I give you my word” or “I swear on my life?” Am I the only one whose radar goes off when people have to tack on some additional arbitrary credibility to their words? Growing up, my father climbed the sales ladder in the automotive industry and valued a solid answer (even if the answer was “I...  Read More

Out of Our ControlRich SawickiToday we are going to talk about taking oaths. When I hear this it sounds very formal to me, but it was a custom back in the day to give your word as a verbal contract. Some oaths you have heard or said yourself, might sound something like this:• I swear to God• I swear on my kids• I swear on my grandmother’s graveWhen people say these things it is usually because the...  Read More

TruthfulJosh Thayer“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot ...  Read More

I PromiseMitchell HolmesStart by reading Matthew 5:33-37.Oaths are a funny thing. We often feel that when someone says that they swear to something, it means that it carries more weight. It makes sense, right? When someone says, “I will get this done for you by 3:00, I swear!” it seems to convey that they have a true intention to complete the task by that designated time. We feel as if their oath ...  Read More

Human Oaths Versus God's PromisesSydney KimballIn my experience, many of us pray the same way. What I mean by this is that we have a set structure as to how we talk to God. The Bible instructs us to always be in thanksgiving and I believe, for that very reason, many of us choose to start our prayers with that exact heart posture. Now, we may thank God for what He has done for us, what He has given...  Read More

The Moon and the StarsMark PittengerIn 1994 there was a country song released by John Michael Montgomery titled, “I Swear.” Later, in the summer of that same year, it was also released as an R&B song by a group known as All-4-One. The lyrics were the same, just the genre of the music was different. The lyrics of the chorus start out:And I swear by the moon and the stars in the skies,I’ll be there....  Read More

Love and RespectJustin DeanAs we continue through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we come to a section where Jesus decides to address divorce. Matthew 5:31-32 says, “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a di...  Read More

Pursuit of HolinessPastor Patrick Rowland“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32This is the second reference to adultery made by Jesus in six straight ve...  Read More

Little MomentsCathy StoryDuring this recent season, my husband and I have had the privilege of participating in a marriage Growth Community. We were grateful for the number of couples wanting and willing to set aside time in their weekly schedules to build, strengthen, and remold areas of their marriages. From couples preparing to enter into marriage, to couples with more than 30 years together, t...  Read More

Ray of HopeAdam Moore“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Mathew 5:31-32There are fewer things in life that I have been as passionate about as the topic of divorce. I...  Read More

Hold FastJeannie Yates“Red rover, red rover, send Jeannie right over!”Do you remember playing that game in elementary school? Each team forms a line, holds hands, and faces the other team across the field. They take turns calling for someone to run over to try and break through their line by running as hard and as fast as they can through the clasped hands. If you break through the line you get to...  Read More

Stone HeartJosh Thayer“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32  You started at the altar, staring into each other’s eyes with overwhelming feelings of lov...  Read More