(Disclaimer: Some articles and links to articles published in this ezine may contain false doctrine. They are included due to some valuable content. The fact that they are printed here does not mean that we accept or endorse their doctrine. All writings of men, including ours, should be carefully compared to the New Testament writings.)



Visit the new Piedmont, Alabama church of Christ website at: www.piedmontcoc.org

We go from one feeble attempt to another from those people who would do anything under the sun to be able to justify their desire not to be responsible to a higher power. We now have a documentary film in the making to show that they have discovered the bones of Jesus buried along with parents Joseph & Mary, Mary Magdalene, and a son, Judah. These are probably some of the people who have, in the past, denied that Jesus ever lived. Scientists and archaeologists have almost all denied that the find has anything to do with Jesus of Nazareth. Following is a quote from One News Now

The TV special airing Sunday was executive-produced by Hollywood director James Cameron (Titanic, True Lies, The Terminator ) and directed by documentary filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici (The Exodus Decoded, James: Brother of Jesus), whose work includes a number of films about controversies in Jewish history.

While Cameron is best known for his fictional films, his collaboration with Jacobovici is being touted as a feature documentary that makes a strong case, allegedly based on scientific analysis of ancient artifacts, for the notion that the two-millennia-old "Tomb of the Ten Ossuaries" actually belonged to the family of Jesus of Nazareth.

I could go on and tell you most of what I have read about this farce, but I'll link to three good coverages of it so that you can read it for yourself.

Anniston Star of February 25, 2007 Speak Out Column
Re: “Religion and truth” (Speak Out, Feb. 20)

Science and religion are entirely different concepts. All claims of science are tentative and aren’t based on unquestioned dogma. Creationism insists that the universe and all Its content were divinely created, but fails to present one shred of empirical evidence to support this claim.

The evolutionist asks, “How did we get here?” Scientists then develop hypotheses offering a possible answer based on observations of data. Hypotheses are questioned by the scientific community, with data doubted, checked and discussed. Any plausible idea is considered. Nothing in science is etched in stone, including the theory of evolution.

While the scientist delves into the unknown to find answers, the creationist makes the statement, “In the beginning God…,”and then gropes to find supporting evidence . In creation “science”, all data not supporting the dogma are rejected. Creationists state that the creation model points to a creator, but what is the “evidence?” What does the data tell us about this creator? Science is based on empirical evidence, not wishful thinking that a conjecture is true.
David N. Miles
Orange Beach

"I will never be an old man. To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am"...Francis Bacon

"Objects we ardently pursue bring little happiness when gained; most of our pleasures come from unexpected sources"...Herbert Spencer

It is not uncommon to hear a brother mention in his prayer that “we are thankful to be able to come out to God’s house and worship.” Also, you will hear from time to time a member of the church referring to that part of the building where the assembly of worship is conducted as being the ‘sanctuary’. If you were to bring someone to visit our buildings, most likely the person would refer to the place of worship as being “a beautiful sanctuary.” To some degree, most of us have been affected by Judaism or Catholicism whether we realize it or not.

The Lord God had Moses to erect the tabernacle. This portable tent of meeting was to be the center of worship until many years later when Solomon would build the temple in the city of Jerusalem. In Exodus 25:8, we read that the purpose of such a place was “that I may dwell among them.” In this verse, the whole of the tabernacle was referred to as the “sanctuary.” However, in Exodus 25:22, we learn that it was at the mercy-seat between the two cherubim, atop the Ark of the Covenant and located in the Most Holy Place that God said, “I will commune with thee.” In short, the sanctuary, whether speaking of the tabernacle as a whole or the Most Holy Place, was a dwelling place of the presence of the Almighty God.

In contrast, the place of worship in the Christian age is of no significance. Jesus taught the Samaritan woman that it would not matter where one worshiped God (whether in the mountains or in Jerusalem) as long as such was done “in spirit and truth” (John 4:20-24). Paul declared that the “Lord of heaven and earth dwells not in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24). The Lord’s called out congregation is never a place but always a people. The church is “a spiritual house”, not a physical building, “to offer up spiritual sacrifices” (I Peter 2:5). Again, Paul wrote in I Corinthians 3:16 that “You (Christians) are a temple (sanctuary) of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Therefore God’s sanctuary today is His kingdom, the church, and not where the saints meet to worship.

(Raymond Elliott, a dear friend and humble servant of our Lord, works with the Prattville church of Christ, in Prattville, Alabama (where he served as minister for over 17 years) doing "fill in" speaking and he also does much writing and conducts gospel meetings throughout the year)

Most of us read recently where one of the large congregations was adding a contemporary worship service on Saturday night, with instrumental music and the Lord's supper. This is going about as far astray of authorization from our Lord as you can get. First of all, it is on a day not authorized. Secondly, it is to have unauthorized instrumental music, and thirdly, to have the Lord's supper anytime except the first day of the week is unauthorized.

Why put forth any effort to worship whatsoever? If one can ignore the pattern laid out in the scriptures, why can we not ignore the command altogether? I promise you, it would be just as acceptable. We have an example in Acts 20:7 "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" which proves to us which day the disciples came together to observe the Lord's supper. Also, the verse preceding the one above, said that he waited seven days for the event. Then in verse 16, it tells us that Paul was in a big hurry to get to Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost.

This is a perfect illustration of the time that first century Christians met for worship and to partake of the Lord's supper. Some may venture the opinion that perhaps this congregation meets after 6:00 P.M. which is the beginning of a new day under the Jewish traditions of time. We are not Jews, nor do we live under their methods of accounting time.

If we are to do all things in the name of the Lord (Colossians 3:17) which is to say, by His authority, we will meet on the first day of each week, we will partake of His supper on the first day of each week and we will exclude any activities from our worship that are not authorized by Him.

What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant? – George Carlin

Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. – Henry David Thoreau

There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed. – Mohandas K. Gandhi

Two Frogs were neighbors. One inhabited a deep pond, far removed from public view; the other lived in a gully containing little water, and traversed by a country road. The Frog that lived in the pond warned his friend to change his residence and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that he would enjoy greater safety from danger and more abundant food. The other refused, saying that he felt it so very hard to leave a place to which he had become accustomed. A few days afterwards a heavy wagon passed through the gully and crushed him to death under its wheels.

A willful man will have his way to his own hurt...Aesop