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Life with the Philistines

PINKY-SWEAR

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. (Prov 20:7)

Hello all you folks out there in radio land. This is your announcer Herald Promulgate bringing you another adventure of Life with the Philistines, that normal family everybody loves to imitate. Let's look in on the Philistines and see what they're up to today, shall we?

In today's episode we find the Philistines at the local pet store:

"Oh Mommy, look! Look at the puppy. Can I have the puppy? Please? Can I? Huh? Please may I!"

"Billy, you know we don't have time to take care of a dog. They require lot of attention and care, especially when they're young like this one is. Besides...."

"You won't have to do anything Mommy. I'll take care of the doggy. I'll walk it and I'll feed it and I'll give it water and I'll....!"

"And just who's going to potty train the dog? Who's going to teach it not to climb on the furniture? Who's going to clean up it's mess and give it it's bath? I know who, it will be me. No Billy, a dog is out."

"You won't have to do those things Mommy. I'll do them. I promise."

"You'll take care of the dog? I can't imagine you taking care of a dog when you don't even take care of your room without being nagged. No Billy, it just won't....."

"I'll take care of it Mommy. And I'll take care of my room too. I promise. Please? Can I have it?"

"You promise to take care of the dog Billy? If you don't take care of it, back it comes to the store. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Mommy. And I promise to take care of the puppy. I cross my heart and hope to die if I tell a lie."

"You promise Billy? You wouldn't lie to me would you? It's a sin to tell a lie you know?"

"I'm not lying Mommy. I pinky-swear I'll take care of the puppy. Pinky-swear."

"All right Billy. Just as long as you do what you said. But I'm counting on you to keep your promise."

"Pinky-swear Mommy. I Pinky-swear."

"Billy, I had to clean up after your dog again and you haven't taken him for a walk for some time now. And what about that room you promised to keep clean without being told? Don't make me tell you again young man. Remember your promise."

"I just forgot Mommy. I'll take care of the dog, I promise."

"You know George, speaking of promises, I was talking to Mrs Goldberg yesterday and the subject of promises came up. She said she was feeling kind of guilty about a promise she made last year when her daughter was so terribly sick and it looked like she wasn't going to make it. She said she promised to give up her cigarettes and her coffee if God would heal her daughter. Well, that was a year ago and she still drinks coffee and she still smokes. And she said she still hasn't begun attending church regularly like she promised. She was asking me my opinion. I really didn't know what to tell her, but I said I'd ask your opinion about it. Do you have any thoughts on promises made to God?"

"Now Martha, you're making too big a deal of it. You know everyone promises anything when their under the gun. Your friend was under pressure to say or do anything to get her daughter healed. God knows that. He doesn't expect us to live up to promises made when we're experiencing intense emotion. God understands. He won't do anything about it."

"I guess you're right George. But still, there just seems to be something to this I'm missing. I don't know what it is, just something."

"Billy, you haven't been taking care of that dog like you promised. So like I told you I'd do, I had to take the dog to the dog pound. Don't get mad now. It's your own fault you don't have your pet anymore. Do you understand Billy? You're dog is gone."

"Ok Mommy. Can I go out and play?"

⁴When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. ⁵Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. ⁶Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? (Eccles 5:)

²¹When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. ²²But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. ²³That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. (Deut 23:)

⁷Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, ⁸This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ⁹But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:)

³⁴O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. ³⁵A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. ³⁶But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. ³⁷For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Mat 12:)