Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A Geek with a Bible - Article 2 - "Exact Copy"

"EXACT COPY"

In the Holiday 2009 issue of MaximumPC, they ran an article entitled "Rip Archival-Quality MP3s from Audio CDs." In this article, they explain how to use two different programs (LAME + Exact Audio Copy) work together to create top-quality MP3s from audio CDs. These programs will even create copies of CDs that are highly scratched. This makes it possible to take a CD that would normally be useless and enjoy it once again.

As I was contemplating this article, I realized that as Christians we need to be doing in our religious lives the exact same thing these programs do. When you look at the New Testament, it is quite apparent that the Bible sets forth the pattern for how Christians are to live and specifically how they are to worship. If we follow the pattern of the New Testament today, then we will create an exact copy of the first century Church. If the first century Church, as established by the Apostles, was pleasing to God in the form we find it in the New Testament, then by creating an exact copy of that form today we create a church that is pleasing to God.
Some people say that the New Testament is not a pattern for what the Church should be today. If that is true, then we must ask, "What should the church look like?" And “How will we know if what we have created is pleasing to God?”

It is true that the New Testament contains a pattern. It is also true that the New Testament teaches that the pattern contained within it is as applicable to Christians today as it was to the Church in the first century. But even if it didn't, there would be no better way to ensure that we are pleasing to God than to create a copy of what was pleasing to God in the New Testament.

What then was pleasing to God?
  • It was a church with only one head, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5).
  • A church that was led by qualified shepherds (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1; 1 Peter 5; Acts 20).
  • A church that contained qualified servants (1 Timothy 3).
  • A church made up of baptized believers (Mark 16; Matthew 28; Acts 2; 1 Peter 3).
  • A church that worshiped in spirit and in truth (John 4; 1 Corinthians 11; Acts 20; 1 Corinthians 16; Ephesians 5; Hebrews 13).
  • A church that loved one another as themselves (1 John 4).
  • A church that accomplished its mission (Acts 2-5).
  • A church made up of sanctified people who are seeking to purify their lives (Jude 1; 1 Peter 1; Revelation 22).

The question each of us has to ask is, “does the church that I attend meet this description?”
~Aaron Cozort

Access the programs mentioned in this article here: LAME (http://www.rarewares.org | http://lame.sourceforge.net) Exact Audio Copy (http://www.exactaudiocopy.de).

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Testing AV from PolishingthePulpit.com

If you haven't spent some time at PTPs website watching and listening to the lessons they have there, you're missing a wealth of information.

Here is a lesson done by Dan Winkler at the Jacksonville Church of Christ in Alabama.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

THE PARADIGM IS ABOUT TO SHIFT

Friends,

Glenn Beck of late has spent much time saying, "the paradigm is about to shift" in America.

Whether you agree with him in his political views or not, I think most of us agree--Congress does not REPRESENT America anymore!
I have been active with a group for a few months whose desire is to change that--GOOOH (Get Out Of Our House - pronounced "go" - www.goooh.com).
I have personally meet Tim Cox the founder of this organization.

They have 1 main goal:
1.) Replace EVERY member of the 435 members of House of Rep's with a TRUE Representative OF the People, BY the People.

They have 2 main demands:
1.) Those nominated for office through the goooh PROCESS all sign a legally binding Q & A as to how they will vote on issues if sent to Washington and can only change that agreement with consent of goooh members in their district.
2.) The institution of a 2-term limit for all members of the House of Rep's.

Here's the PARADIGM SHIFT - Until now, we (GOOOH) have been working virtually alone. No Longer!!! As of this week, the leadership of the Constitution Party has asked all of their members to support GOOOH! (press release below)
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goooh-endorsed-by-constitution-party-89599557.html
PLEASE, go to www.GOOOH.com and check out this true opportunity to take America back!
One personal note: Isn't it time we got some TRUE NT Christian's into Washington?! (Pro. 14:34a)

In Christ,

Aaron

If you have any questions concerning GOOOH, please contact me!