Noteworthy News

(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Plan to attach 'suspenders' to Pisa tower delayed by rain

Copyright © 1998 Nando Media; Copyright © 1998 The Associated Press

PISA, Italy (December 11, 1998 08:39 a.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) -- Heavy rain Friday delayed the first steps in a plan to attach steel "suspenders" to the Leaning Tower in the latest effort to prevent the gravity-defying monument from toppling.

The engineer overseeing the work, Paolo Heiniger, said two sets of 2-inch-thick cables had been moved to the base of the 12th-century tower but could not be raised higher along the edifice until the weather improved. The project has run into several obstacles that have delayed its start for months. Heiniger said he hoped the cables would be in place by the end of the month. The 340-foot-long cables will be attached to anchors placed behind the tower and connected to the monument at a height of 86 feet. Heiniger said the cables would serve as a precaution against any possible movement of the tower when work begins in 1999 to straighten it.

That plan calls for removal of some soil from underneath one side of the tower to allow it to settle better and sit one-half degree straighter. It now leans six degrees or 13 feet off the perpendicular. If the soil removal appears to endanger stability, the "suspenders" would be pulled tight to hold up the tower. Heiniger said the chances of this happening were minimal. If all goes well, the braces will be removed.

Construction of the 180-foot high tower began in 1173. The soil underneath it gave way when it was just 34 feet high, causing it to start leaning, but architects managed to complete it in 1350. The tower was closed to tourists in 1990 for fear it might fall over. After the closure, several steel bands were placed around the tower to act as a kind of girdle. (Edited for length, jrp)

Commentary

Just a few observations (perhaps you can add to this list):

1) The best laid plans of men are subject to forces beyond our control (Eccl. 9:11-12).

2) Nothing on this earth will last forever (Psa. 102:25-27; Heb. 1:10-12).

3) Every feat of man will finally decay, crumble and collapse -- including man (Gen. 3:17-19; Eccl. 12:1-8).

4) Man’s ability to design, construct and repair ought to convince man that the Universe has a Designer (Gen. 1).

Assignments (December 13, 1998)

Announcements: Rick Holt

Opening Prayer: Rick Holt / Jess Bass

Closing Prayer: Ed DeWisp. / Loren Parker

Song Leader: Dan Head / Gary Bass

Scripture Reading: W. Holt / Shane Bass

Lord’s Supper: C Fair / R Hollister / J Price

Building Cleanup: Price

T HE SPIRIT’S SWORD

“And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17)

The Northside church of Christ

Meeting at the North Bellingham Grange Hall · 5201 Northwest Road · Bellingham, WA

Visit our Web Sites: http://www.davisinet.com/northsidecofc

http://www2.fortunecity.com/millennium/zebedee/348

Volume II, No. 43 December 13, 1998

How To Tell When You Are Getting Weak

1. When you had rather stay home than assemble with the saints.

2. When you had rather watch TV than visit the sick (or weak) and teach the lost.

3. When you had rather read a magazine or the daily paper than the Bible or religious material.

4. When you find a political speech inspiring but a gospel sermon boring.

5. When you pray for the preacher by sleep through his sermons.

6. When you thank God for the elders but refuse to cooperate with them.

7. When you talk long and loud about what the church should do, but never do your part in what is being done now.

8. When you sing with your lips what you don’t really mean in your heart.

9. When you look upon spiritual work as a chore rather than a privilege.

10. When you are offended by an article like this.

BUILD FOR THE FUTURE

-(Caprock Church Bulletin, 1991)

STEPPING STONES OF HOPE

Joe R. Price

Hope is a trait which energizes actions and endures through trials. Why does the farmer plow his fields from sunrise to sundown during the blistering hot summer? Because he hopes for the harvest (1 Cor. 9:10).

Hope combines one’s desire and expectation, and thereby produces a powerful force for to influence faith and righteous living. Unfortunately, hope is often misplaced in the lives of many people. Many folks put their hope in the wrong things. They hope in money, as if that will solve their problems. It will not (Eccl. 2:8, 10-11; Matt. 6:19-21, 24; 1 Tim. 6:6-10). Others hope in their wisdom or power (1 Cor. 1:18-25). Others hope in their fame. Some put their hope in their own strength, or that of others (Jer. 17:5). None of these things give true hope, for the Bible teaches us that we can expect none of these things to assure us of heaven.

The Christian rejoices in the hope of eternal life which he or she has found in Christ (Rom. 5:2; 12:12; Col. 1:27). We were “saved in hope” (Rom. 8:24). The gospel called us to a living hope of eternal life (Eph. 4:4; Titus 1:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:3). Christ is our “hope of glory” -- He is the source and the culmination of our hope of living in the future glories of heaven (Col. 3:4; Heb. 6:19-20).

Often to helps to look to the past to help strengthen our hope of the future. Romans 15:4 says this is exactly why we should learn the Old Testament scriptures: Events recorded in the OT teach us to have hope. They were written so we can learn and live in the patience and comfort of faith. Here are just a few OT scriptures which teach lessons of hope from which we gain hope for our lives:

1. Genesis 3:15 - The hope of victory over Satan and sin is predicted.

2. Judges 7 - Hope is sustained as we see Gideon and his 300 men defeat the massive army of Midian. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 Jno. 5:4). This is our hope (desire + expectation)!

3. 1 Samuel 17 - David’s faith in God when he faced Goliath comforts us in hope as we face the giant opponents to truth and godliness of our day.

4. Psalms 16:8-11 - We are comforted to know that David’s hope for the future was not in vain -- God fulfilled His promises to David through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:25-32, 34-36).

5. 1 Kings 18:20-40 - The dramatic display of God’s presence and power at Mt. Carmel confirms that our hope in the living God is properly placed.

6. Ezek. 37:1-14 - The valley of dry bones which, in Ezekiel’s vision, return to life gave Israelites hope as they endured Babylonian exile. God turns death into life -- what joyous hope!

7. See Hebrews 11 for many more OT people whose faith and hope give us great comfort.

The Christian’s hope is sure and steadfast, an anchor that secures us during life’s storms, safely mooring us to God’s grace through our faith (Heb. 6:19-20; Rom. 5:1-2). Truly, “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God!”

O Come All Ye Faithful? (Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:20-23) Notes

Is the religious observance of Christ's birth authorized by God?

I. BASIS FOR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE OF CHRIST'S BIRTH: MAN OR GOD?

A. The Bible Does Not Reveal The Date Of Christ's Birth - Matt. 2:1; Lk. 2:1, 8.

1. Days of Herod the Great (37-4 BC) & Caesar Augustus (27 BC-14 AD).

2. "No sufficient data, however, exists for the determination of the month or day of the event"

(The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia Of Religious Knowledge, Reprint 1977, III:47). (Deut. 29:29)

B. There Is No Biblical Authorization For The Celebration Of Christ's Birth.

C. The Religious Celebration Of Christ's Birth Is Based Upon Human Authority, Not

Divine Authority - Matt. 21:23; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Col. 3:17; 2 Jno. 9-11; Gal. 1:8-9.

II. THE ORIGIN OF CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

A. Definition Of "Christmas" - "Mass Of Christ” - Created To Counter Pagan Festivals.

1. Roman Saturnalia (Dec. 17-24) - Honored Saturnus, a pagan god.

2. Roman feast of Mithrand, the Sun god (Dec. 25).

B. The Festival Of The Birth Of Christ Began In Post-Apostolic Times - "There is no evidence

of the existence of a Feast of the Nativity before the 4th century." (Encycl. Of Religion & Ethics, III:601)

-Liberius, Bishop of Rome, declared that December 25 be celebrated as Christ's birthday in 354 AD.

III. WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN TO DO?

A. He Cannot Participate In The Religious Additions Of Men - 2 Jno. 9-11; Gal. 4:8-11.

B. Use The Opportunities Of The Season To Explain Why You Do Not Celebrate

Christmas As The Birthday Of Christ - Matt. 5:13-16 (v. 11-12).

C. A Christian Can Observe The Christmas Holiday Non-Religiously - Acts 16:1-3; Rom. 14:5, 23.

The Life Of Jesus (Part 4): His Baptism (Scripture Reading: Matt. 3:13-17)

I. THE EVENTS OF JESUS' BAPTISM - Matt. 3:1-17.

II. WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED BY JOHN?

A. Some Things For Which He Was Not Baptized (Sin; Ordination) - 1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 5:5-6.

B. To Fulfill All Righteousness - Matt. 3:15; Lk. 3:2-3; Matt. 21:25; Psa. 40:7-8; Lk. 7:30.

C. It Occasioned His Anointing With The Holy Spirit - Matt. 3:16-17; Acts 10:38; Isa. 42:1; 61:1-2.

D. To Manifest Himself To Israel - Jno. 1:31-34.

III. LESSONS FROM CHRIST'S BAPTISM.

A. Obedience Before Convenience - Matt. 3:13.

B. What Baptism Is: Immersion - Mk. 1:10; Jno. 3:23.

C. The Necessity Of Baptism - cf. Matt. 3:15; Mk. 1:4; Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16; Acts 10:48.

D. Baptism Provides a New Beginning - Jno. 3:3, 5; Gal. 3:27; 2 Cor. 5:17.

E. The Importance Of Obedience - Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9.