Church of Christ, 660 North Lincoln Avenue, Manteca, Ca. 95336
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Light at the End of the Tunnel
Sometimes we think that our circumstances are so bad that we will not survive. We think the pain we feel is going to destroy us. And for some, the tragedy they face does over take them and they give up. This world is a rough place, it doesn’t matter who we are either. We could be born to wealthy parents or poor, we could be born on different parts of the Earth and still face trouble, pain and loss. But, for others, there is light at the end of the tunnel, well for those that are saved. The saved have the hope of salvation. I know these terms "saved" and "salvation" get used so much and in so many different ways that they seem to have lost their meaning in the general public. In reality these terms just might have the most important significance. Just think the saved know that the turmoil they face in this world is temporary and a heavenly home awaits them where there are no more tears. I know the feeling when your down and hurting, everything seems so dark and hopeless and I have faced those times as a non-Christian. I have also faced those times as a Christian and there is a world of difference. You are not alone in this world of hurt and pain, there are others that would like to comfort you and, of course, Jesus is the ultimate companion for the spiritually sick. Jesus said in Mark 2:17 "…They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Are you sick in this world or better yet are you sick of this world? Well there are answers and there is a light at the end of the darkness. We invite you to come study and worship with us at the Northside church of Christ here in Manteca, will you come?
by Elliot Hine
E Pluribus Unum
This Latin statement that is on our coinage, directly translated means "out of many, one." This has reference to the beginning of our nation, out of many nations we became one, the United States of America. That is what happened to the world when the church was established approximately two thousands years ago. There were many different people believing and practicing many different things, but when they entered the church they became one. They were not just one in the since of being in the same place, because the church was spread all over the world. They were not just one in the since of being called the same thing, Christians (Acts 11:26). They were not just one in all believing the same thing. They practiced the same things and taught the same things to new converts. These people were called out of the world to be part of the church, not part of a church. The difference being they were all of the same mind and same judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10). When did all of this oneness change? The change happened when man decided he could do it better than God. The divisions happened when man tried to improve upon God’s creation, the Church. So, how many churches did Christ die for? Just the one and only church, Christ’s church or the church of Christ. Let’s go back to the original church God created. Let’s put off man’s inventions and E Pluribus Unum, come out of many and be one in Christ Jesus.
by Elliot Hine
