Sound Teaching  This is the teaching site of the West Side church of Christ in Fort Worth, TX. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials were written and prepared by Stan Cox |
By Stan Cox, on August 23rd, 2011
In a recent story that appeared in the New York Times titled The Two-Minus-One Pregnancy, Ruth Padawer profiled a 45 year old pregnant woman who had chosen to “reduce” the fetuses in her womb from two to one. Following is a quote from that profile:
She was 45 and pregnant after six years of fertility bills, ovulation injections, donor eggs and disappointment — and yet here she was, 14 weeks into her pregnancy, choosing to extinguish one of two healthy fetuses, almost as if having half an abortion. As the doctor inserted the needle into Jenny’s abdomen, aiming at one of the fetuses, Jenny tried not to flinch, caught between intense relief and intense guilt.
Continue reading » In the News: A New Euphemism for Abortion
By Stan Cox, on July 30th, 2011
 British singer Amy Winehouse died on July 23, 2011. Winehouse was a talented performer with a distinctive voice and style, who died following a history of drug abuse, at the age of 27.
Her death is one in a long line of untimely deaths of celebrities and performers. In fact, the age of 27 seems to be significant, as singers Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Janice Joplin all died at that age as well. All were heavy drug users, and Hendrix and Joplin died of drug overdoses. Cobain committed suicide.
Continue reading » In the News: Another Rock Star Dies
By Stan Cox, on June 8th, 2011
Occasionally I receive a bulletin called Preacher Talk written by Cecil May Jr. May is, I believe, the President of Faulkner University in Montgomery, AL, and a long time preacher among the institutional churches. He is a good writer, and wrote the following short article titled, Selective Preaching, in the May 2011 issue.
Continue reading » In the News: On “Selective Preaching”
By Stan Cox, on June 1st, 2011
I remember when researchers supposedly discovered what was claimed to be a “gay gene.” It was all over the news, and trumpeted to such an extent by homosexual activists that it is now commonly believed that homosexuals “do not choose” their lifestyle.
Of course, it wasn’t true. As the researcher who supposedly discovered the “gay gene” noted, “Homosexuality is not purely genetic… environmental factors play a role. There is not a single master gene that makes people gay….I don’t think we will ever be able to predict who will be gay” (Dean Hamer).
Continue reading » In the News: One Point Four Percent
By Stan Cox, on May 26th, 2011
A week ago yesterday, the 89 year old radio evangelist Harold Camping was proven to be a false teacher… again.
His prediction that Christians would be raptured on May 21st, 2011 did not come true. Actually, that was a second false prediction, as he initially had claimed September 6, 1994 as being the date of the rapture. He later claimed a mathematical error to be the problem when it did not happen, but in the weeks leading up to May 21st, declared with 100% certainty that his math was now correct, and his interpretation sure.
Continue reading » In the News: May 21, 2011 (The Aftermath)
By Stan Cox, on May 19th, 2011
 Bus bench, Colorado City, CO According to Premillenialist and radio personality Harold Camping, the rapture was supposed to take place on May 21st, and the final judgment will occur on October 21st of this same year.
Read the following from the first page of the “We Can Know” website:
“This web site serves as an introduction and portal to four faithful ministries which are teaching that WE CAN KNOW from the Bible alone that the date of the rapture of believers will take place on May 21, 2011 and that God will destroy this world on October 21, 2011.”
Also
“Learn about the Biblical Timeline of History, the correct method of Bible interpretation, the End of the Church Age and God’s command to believers that they must depart out of the churches. Study the proofs that God has so graciously given in His Word showing us that these dates are 100% accurate and beyond dispute.”
We have studied our Bible, and are not surprised to be alive and here on May 22nd. The reason we are not surprised is that the Bible does not teach the doctrine of the rapture, and the Bible does not contain a timeline indicating that “we can know” the time our Lord will return in judgment upon the earth.
Continue reading » In the News: May 21, 2011 (Yesterday)
By Stan Cox, on May 11th, 2011
A recent article at the Fox News website reports that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has voted to ratify a proposal that will eradicate the requirement of unmarried clergy to remain celibate. (To read the article, click here).
There is a lot wrong with that sentence, including the idea that a church can vote to make any doctrinal change, the concept of a clergy/laity distinction, and the idea that it is acceptable for a professed Christian to engage in the act of fornication.
Continue reading » In the News: Submitting to the Lordship of Jesus
By Stan Cox, on April 16th, 2011
A few days ago MSNBC carried a discussion between Time Magazine’s World Editor, Bobby Ghosh and MSNBC show host Chuck Todd.
Ghosh, who was apparently being presented as some type of expert on the matter, was quoted as saying that the Koran is held by Muslims to be more sacred than Christians regard their Bible to be. Note the dialogue:
Continue reading » In the News: The Difference – Christians VS Muslims
By Stan Cox, on April 1st, 2011
I came across a rather peculiar story last Thursday, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The title of the article, a short blurb from the Associated Press, Abortions based on fetus’s race barred.
The article states:
Gov. Jan Brewer has signed what is likely the first legislation in the nation to ban abortions over ethnicity.
The law makes it a Class 3 felony to knowingly perform or provide financing for an abortion sought because of the rae or sex of the fetus or a parent’s race. The maximum punishment is 3 1/2 years in prison.
This is one of the most bizarre stories I have read in a while. Of course, I am certainly in favor of banning abortions, for whatever reason, but for the life of me I can’t imagine the practicality of this law.
Continue reading » In the News: Partial Ban on Abortions – Arizona
By Stan Cox, on March 10th, 2011
 Last week some anonymous former and present homosexual students at Harding University released a “manifesto” on a website, and passed out hard copies at certain locations on campus. The University responded by blocking the website from the University network, and releasing a statement from school President David B. Burks, who said:
“Harding University holds to the biblical principle that sexual relationships are unacceptable to God outside the context of marriage. Sexual immorality in any form will result in suspension from the university.”
The statement accurately reflects what the Bible teaches on the subject of sexuality. The Hebrew writer wrote, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).
Continue reading » In the News: The State of the Gay
By Stan Cox, on February 18th, 2011
On February 15, 2011 the Christian Chronicle noted on its blog that Texas Ranger baseball player Josh Hamilton had visited Lubbock Christian University on the previous day.
The blog entry contains a video, and text from the local newspaper, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. The title of the blog post is: At Lubbock Christian University, baseball star Josh Hamilton discusses his faith. The Journal reported that during the 90 minute conversation, “the main narrative thread of the evening was the Hamilton couple’s struggles with Josh Hamilton’s drug abuse and the couple’s Christian faith.” (http://tinyurl.com/47s3qh3)
Continue reading » In the News: Nicer Than God?
By Stan Cox, on January 19th, 2011
Jesus told his disciples in John 5:18, 20, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you…” 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
In the last week there were two news releases that pointed out the hatred the world has for Jesus, (and God, cf. John 15:23). This hate is seen in reaction to those who purport to be his followers. (Note: I am not saying that their claim to be Christians is legitimate, only that they are perceived to be by the world).
Continue reading » In the News: Prejudice Against Christ
By Stan Cox, on November 10th, 2010
(Image: 45 year old Asia Bibi of Pakistan)
Consider the unfairness of the following scenario. You are a single member of a minority religious group, working at your job as a farmhand in a field. You are asked by your supervisor to go and fetch water for the other workers. You do as asked, but when you bring the water, your fellow workers refuse to drink it, calling the water unclean because you are the one who fetched it. A few days later you are set upon by a mob, still angry over the initial incident. The authorities are called, and they take you away for your own protection. Later, some in the mob claim that you are guilty of blasphemy against their religion. So, the authorities arrest you, and imprison you on that charge. You go to court, and though no evidence is presented to show the charge is true, you are nevertheless found guilty and sentenced to death. You are married, and have five children.
Continue reading » In the News: Death Sentence for Blasphemy
By Stan Cox, on November 4th, 2010
No doubt many of you voted in the mid-term elections on Tuesday. The day marked a pretty impressive political victory for the Republican party, which made significant gains in both houses of congress, in state legislatures, and in governorships across the nation.
It is not our place or purpose to comment on the election results. I have my opinions (and I feel free to posit them privately). However, there are a couple of thoughts that arise in observation of the events of the day. These thoughts have a spiritual application that is appropriate for this space.
Continue reading » In the News: Mid-Term Elections
By Stan Cox, on September 26th, 2010
On September 21, 2010 the web site Our Amazing Planet published an article which reported on a recent study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Focusing on a particular location on the Red Sea, scientists have come to the conclusion that ideal storm conditions, consisting mainly of a strong east wind blowing at least 63 mph, could have reproduced the scenario described in Exodus 14. The text says:
Continue reading » In the News: Mother Earth? Or Jehovah?
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