What Does the Bible Say About Taking Oaths?
The Old Testament talks about taking vows to God, promising a certain action or sacrifice that the person is then required to fulfill. The verses discussing these vows emphasize the importance of keeping your promises--after all, you’re promising something to God! You...
Leave Your Gift at the Altar to Repair a Relationship
At some point, every one of us has held a grudge or remained angry at a brother or sister in Christ for petty reasons or for far longer than necessary. Our reasons vary, but the underlying issue is the same. God recognizes this and, based on Jesus’ words in Matthew...
Fathers, Do Not Provoke Your Children: What It Means
Ephesians 5-6 contains instructions and wisdom for husbands, wives, children, and other people in the home and society at large. While plenty of these passages receive lots of attention, one that’s often overlooked is Paul’s admonition to fathers: “Fathers, do not...
Showing God’s Love Through a Strong Marriage
The institute of marriage is one of the first things God established after creation. Though the tradition has undergone plenty of good and bad changes throughout the years, the underlying principle is still there. A couple gets married to show they’re committed to...
Cultivating a Healthy Relationship with God
You’ve likely heard the common Christian saying, “It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship.” While the exact truth of this statement is up for debate, the truth is that the entire story of the Bible is God reaching down to form relationships with us. He wants us to...
Our Heavenly Father vs. Our Earthly Fathers
The Bible refers to God as our Father many times. While this title is often used in prayer and teaching, some Christians struggle to perceive God as Father. After all, our concept of fatherhood comes from flawed, human parents. How can we think of God as our perfect...
How God Speaks to Us Now
A common Christian buzzword is “hearing from God” or “listening for the still, small voice.” Part of the common nature of this buzzword could be due to misunderstanding the context of certain Bible verses. However, whether the idea of a still, small voice is...
Working on Restoring Your Faith
Some of us have had bad experiences in the church, others may have questions about our faith, and still others may have just gotten tired of the whole thing. But whatever the case, it’s never too late to come back to God. The question is simply how to do that. A...
Letter from Our Pastor Regarding COVID-19
ORBC Family, On Thursday, Lania and I traveled to Waco to watch Carson and his Oak Ridge High School teammates compete in a golf tournament. That afternoon we received word of Judge Keough's disaster declaration regarding COVID-19. Soon after, CISD administration...
Struggling with Hard Questions About the Bible
In many ways, the Bible is a straightforward book that follows a straightforward story about God reaching down to His creation. But portions of the Bible are confusing or even potentially offensive to some people, and so many different interpretations or explanations...
