New Beginnings, Old Values
by Rusty Miller
When I was in elementary school, we used to talk about the year 2000 in ominous tones. We wondered what life would be like, if we lived that long (none of us could conceive of being as old as 40!). We thought we would live in bubble cities connected by monorail, and that space travel would be commonplace.
Finally, we are here, and the year 2000 does present a life radically different from that of 100 years ago, but not so radically different as we imagined. For the most part, the arbitrary turning of this particular calendar year has merely offered opportunities for people to take stock of their lives and maybe embark on something new.
You are looking at the fruits of our taking stock of Abundant Life. The new design, courtesy of our resident computer expert, Mark Roberts, represents an attempt on our part to present a more modern look. It is cleaner, easier on the eye, and is a significant departure from the classic style of the past seven years.
Inside however, you will find that the message has not changed, for more than anything else, man is still troubled by sin, and Christians are God's ambassadors to bring the gospel to a lost world (see 2 Cor. 5:20). In addition, Christians themselves need to be further built up in the faith, being strengthened for the daily battle against the forces of evil (see Eph. 6:10-16). These are the twin aims of the Westside Church of Christ and Abundant Life, and they have been since issue one.
Toward that end, there are some things to look for on these pages in the year 2000. First, look for more themed issues, with one topic unifying all the articles. Particularly handy will be an issue devoted to the lost, which you will be able to give to your friends outside Christ. It will be an attempt to break the ice, so that you can continue to study with them.
Second, a special issue in March will cover the topic ""Grace, Faith and Works."" These terms, which hold so much promise to Bible believers, have been so twisted by ungodly men as to have caused more division than possibly any other theme. We will seek in this issue to avoid name-calling and labeling, and to examine what the Bible truly says about these terms and our salvation.
Another change will be an issue tied better to our annual Youth Lectures in August, featuring articles by the men who are slated to speak at this event. This year's theme will be ""Demystifying the Book of Revelation.""
Finally, look for two new (sort of) writers. Beginning next month, Jerry Drew and Scott Eversole will alternate a page per month. Jerry and Scott are young men who have written for us before, and we look forward to the fresh outlook they bring to our pages.
New beginnings, old values. Both are necessary for the church to continue to grow.