David Bragg

    Under normal circumstances most people who profess to believe in God would probably not hesitate in answering the above question with a resounding YES! But what about when life takes us into difficult circumstances?

    On April 16, 2017 Robert Godwin Sr., 74, was approached by a stranger on the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. Within seconds not only was Godwin killed but the crime was brazenly streamed live over Facebook. In the aftermath of this shocking crime Anderson Cooper interviewed members of the Godwin family on CNN. At a time in which most people would be focused on retaliation and vengeance, viewers saw something altogether unexpected. Godwin’s daughter, Tonya, made this proclamation on national television: “Each one of us forgives the killer … (my father) taught us about God, how to fear God, how to love God and how to forgive” (www.huffpost.com).

    It is easy to trust God when all is good and life is going our way. But can you fully trust God when your heart is broken, and you feel like your life is collapsing all around you? Hopefully none of us will ever be in the situation that Robert Godwin’s family found themselves in, but when we face whatever hardships are bound to come our way, may we always be able to place our unwavering trust in God.

David Bragg

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” These were the first recorded words of Jesus (Luke 2:49). His last recorded words before ascending to heaven are also enlightening:

“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:46-49).

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by Hugh Fulford

From the very beginning of the effort to restore original New Testament Christianity, churches of Christ have stood opposed to the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship. This is the case because the churches of Christ in New Testament times did not use instrumental music in their worship. There is no passage in the New Testament that authorizes the use of instruments in worship, and there is no example of instrumental music being used by the early congregations. The music of the church for the first several centuries after its establishment was strictly a cappella (vocal only). (See Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 13:15; et al).

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