FOR THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN ITALY

CAIN'S CHOICE

(Editorial)

A question reverberates in the vast echo of the human history: "Cain, where is your brother?" (Gen. 4:9). It is the voice of God Himself that interrogates Cain, who still has his hands stained with the Abel's blood. And Cain, perhaps hiding those hands of an assassin, answers with a lie: "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:9). From that time, at the sunrise of life, God continues to interrogate every man each day and to ask: "Where is your brother?" The answer has not changed. Just look around at what we see: egotism, abuse of office, violence, falsehood! This is the daily bread we eat. "But where is my brother?" someone could ask. Where is he among the crowd that runs non stop? Where is he on the most alienated job? Where is my brother in this chaos, in this Babylonia which obscures the consciences and extinguishes the desire to live? We can not blame those who are so absorbed by an alienated life that they don't see anything but themselves. We can not condemn the person who, in the jungle of existence, thinks how to save his skin. We must try to understand and offer an alternative. Humanity is not a home in this world. All cooperates towards loneliness, isolation, and depression. Nervous disorders increase and suicides are more frequent, even among the very young. It is exactly in the counties of the highest technology, like Switzerland and Japan, that the number of suicides is the absolute highest. To this condition, Cain's choice has carried us. It is the choice of of lying, of egotism, of indifference. But there exists an alternative. A place where man can acquire again value and dignity. A place where loneliness does not exist because one is among many, and all are brothers. A place where man can be a creature in God's image. This place is the church that Christ desired and for which He gave His blood. This the alternative to Cain's way. Also in the church there exist problems and not always is everyone in agreement. But in it, everyone is a guardian of his own brother. "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Cor. 12:26). In the church, man becomes a creature seen with his defects, his conflicts, his pains, his sins, his delusions, his hopes, his faith, his love. This is the plan the Father desired and Jesus Christ made a reality. In this church, to the question "Where is your brother?", everyone must answer: "Here he is, Lord, by my side; we are walking together and are striving to be good guardians of one another. We will share the bread of fellowship and we will drink the cup of love. But you, Lord, guard us and keep us far away from Cain's temptation. Help us to understand that our life can be constructive and full of meaning only if the interest we have in ourselves is joined to an interest that we have in others (see Romans 12). Is this a dream? A theory of the illuminated? We believe not and we want to demonstrate it with our faith and with our lives. Before us, we have two roads. One is broad and comfortable, paved with the slippery cement of sinister egotism which leads to the cut off of individualism and loneliness. The other road is much more narrow and impassable, but paved with the stones of love for our neighbor and illuminated by the light of unselfishness and constructive love. It is this second road that we have already begun to follow, supported by God's love and by an inflexible passion, pointed towards the "heavenly Jerusalem" (Rev. 21:9), where our existence as God's sons will be made a reality in the fullest way. (Vittorio Vitalone)

CODEX OF THE BIBLE (at Rossano)

This summer, for whoever decidees to pass their vacation in Calabria (a region in southern Italy), we advise you to go to Rossano to visit the Diocesano Museum where there is an interesting and unique codex of the Bible. The Purple Codex of Rossano is the dazzling literary gem of Calabria. By itself, it is a museum! We are talking about an evangeliarum of the 4th century, written in silver and gold on purple parchment of an illuminated color. The Codex includes all of the gospel of Matthew and that of Mark until verse 14 of chapter 16. The text is spread out over 188 parchment pages, written in silver Greek letters, with the exception of the first three lines of each Gospel which are written in gold letters, without accents, without breathings, without separation. The only sign of punctuation is the period. The beginning of each paragraph is indicated by an initial letter which is bigger. Furthermore, it is noted for the miniatures which adorn it: there are 15 full-page compositions, distinct from the text, which illustrate scenes from the gospels. Under each composition, there are representations of four prophets, who indicate with their right hands the verification of their prophesies.

"TO A PETAL"

Perhaps it is because you do not appreciate, or it is because you are alone, or it is because you believe that you don't have anything. But also, every time you prick, you win ... You fear not to have the strength and, also finding it, you think that there is no reason to live ... But also, you know that life is ONE and it is a GIFT! There is someone above who picks you by hand and cries when you say, "I want to die." There is a GOD who has died for you and will not permit you to be a FLOWER! So then, tomorrow, when you awake, look around yourself and tell me if it is not very grand that which God has done. There will no longer be any drugs to keep you imprisoned if you ask help and when you recognize that God has always been with you, YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ALONE. (The youth group who attended the lectureship at S.Severa '97)

SHORT NEWS ITEMS

PADUA - On May 10th, there was a gospel meeting on the theme: "The Family and Society: The Crisis of the Family in the Modern Society". The preacher was Bro. Carl Mitchell, psychologist and professor at Harding University.

FLORENCE - God willing, from September to December '97, Don and Joyce Shakelford will be in Italy and will reside at Harding University. U.S.A.--Shawn and Donna Daggett, who worked as missionaries in Bergamo, wrote us to thank us for the news which they received from Italy by means of CHIESEinFORMA.

--Mark Woodward, director of the "Let's Start Talking" program, congratulated the CHIESEinFORMA for the news and information which it provided him.

GERMANY - Thanks to God, Bro. Paul Robison communicated to us three addresses of churches of Christ in the area where GianPaolo Fascella lives. The closest is: Church of Christ - Emsterstr, 58/A - 5800 Hagen (Philip Nilan, ph. 2331-57899).

CONGRATULATIONS!

FLORENCE - To Jay and Alicia Walls was born their first son, Jonathan Alan Walls. "Whenever a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a child has been born into the world" (John 16:21).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - To James and Piera Young (and their family) for the marriage of their son, Stephen. "And he answered and said, "Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh'?" (Matthew 19:4-5).

NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS

VICENZA - On Saturday, May 24th, there was a gospel meeting at the Church of Christ in Via Leva' degli Angeli, with discussion which followed, on the theme: "The World Needs Jesus." The preacher was Bro. Silvio Caddeo, who works as an evangelist of the Gospel in Canada. Silvio, from Vicenza, has been a missionary in Canada for several years, and also now in the Ukraine. Many of the readers of CHIESEinFORMA remember him with affection for the evangelistic work which he and his wife did in the past in Italy. From among the many good works which they did, there is a magazine entitled: "The Christian Woman", written primarily for female readers. (Dan Reed)

ROME - Viale Jonio Church of Christ Also this year, the Lord has greatly blessed the 17th lectureship which was held at S.Severa from May 16-18. About 200 brothers and sisters were present from about 30 Italian congregations (from Veneto in the north to Sicily in the south). The topic, DISCIPLESHIP, was addressed and developed with spirituality by all the preachers. Their messages became a springboard for much reflection on the part of all present. Cassette tapes of the messages are available and will be sent freely to whomever asks for them. By next Fall, we hope to have available a syllabus. A "Thanks!" to all the preachers, but above all to Bro. Italo Minestroni, who, with his presence, his example, and his messages, showed us a living illustration of what it means to be a disciple. As usual, the work of those who organized this lectureship was tiring, but we were contented and satisfied to have been among "a multitude keeping festival" (Psalm 42:4) and we are immensely happy at the news that several young people, who were present and stimulated by the lectureship, have decided to become disciples of Christ. (Giancarlo Balboni)

PRATO - On Sunday, May 25th, SARA BRANDIMONTE desired to be baptized, to be joined to Christ. Sunday, June 1st, ANTONIETTA MAGNANIMO asked to begin her new life in Christ by being baptized for the remission of her sins. The congregation at Prato rejoices for all these souls that the Lord has added to His church. "And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly ..." (Acts 6:7). The young people of Prato would like to begin an exchange of news with young people of other congregations, with the purpose of planning activities associated with the furtherance of the progress of the Kingdom of God, like, for example, the proposal made at S.Severa to have an evangelistic group ready for the Jubilee of 2000. (Orfeo Magnanimo)

PATERNO' - Sister Graziella Spampinato telephoned us to ask us to pray for the congregation at Paterno' and to urge that there be a greater contact with her congregation. Graziella would like for someone to come and visit the congregation every now and then.

"IO CREDO NELLA VITA!" (I Believe in Life!) by Keith Robinson

This is a tract giving the witness of a brother who has passed through suffering and pain without renouncing his faith in God. You can ask for this work from the editor of CHIESEinFORMA and it will be sent without cost.

CHIESEinFORMA has been translated into English by Bro. Paul Robison and is distributed by e-mail to more than 200 addresses of brethren and churches in the U.S.A.. For more information, make your request to: Paolo Di Luca E-mail: p.diluca@aurora.it

CD and AUDIO CASSETTE

The chorus of the Church of Christ in Glasgow, Scotland, has produced a new album of hymns of praise to the Lord entitled: MIRACLE OF BIRTH. The songs are sung "a cappella" (voices only). Buying a CD (Lire 28,000 or $17.50) or a casette (Lire 14,000 or $8.75), for yourself or for evangelistic purposes, you will receive not only the English texts but also a translation into Italian. All the profits from the sales will be given to the British Bible School, which also supports financially some of the young people who desire to study the Word of God there. For more information: Maurizio Pezzanera - tel. 051/6951427.

BOOKS

HAROLD FOWLER, author of one of the most famous commentaries on the Gospels published in the U.S.A. by College Press, has produced in the Italian language three commentaries: ATTI DEGLI APOSTOLI (ACTS OF THE APOSTLES), pp. 556, Lire 44,000 or $27.00. They are two commentaries in one, both written by members of the church of Christ: J. W. McGarvey and B. W. Johnson. The editor has enriched the commentaries with several comments inserted as footnotes. This basic commentary can be very useful for congregational Bible studies. EBREI (HEBREWS), pp. 200, Lire 26,500 or $16.00. For the modern Christian, there are many implications from this book which can encourage disciples from a Jewish background. The comments in this letter help us to rediscover the supremacy of Jesus of Nazareth, the permanance of His position in God's plan, the danger of giving in to the temptation of abandoning the Christian faith, and the urgent need to encourage one another.

APOCALISSE (REVELATION), pp. 331, Lire 32,000 or $19.50. This commentary is the transcription of a study by Glen Bourn on Revelation. The editor has also enriched the text with his comments, given verse by verse. The editor finds in the Old Testament precious literary key to this mysterious and interesting book in the Word of God. Send your requests to: Harold Fowler - Via de Magistris, 3 - 62024 Matelica (MC) - Italy.

BOOKS RECEIVED

We thank the publisher, Biblos, for sending us the following books:

- Panorama dei libri dell'A.T. (Panorama of the O.T. books), Stan Davie, pp.208

- L'Ecclesiaste (Ecclesiastes), Remo Dosi, pp.191

- Commentario Biblico, 1+2 Tessalonicesi, (Biblical Commentary: 1+2 Thessalonians), pp.180

- L'Agendario, il libro del 97 (Agenda, the book of '97)

- Un prete fra la Bibbia e le dottrine del Vaticano, (A Priest Between the Bible and the Doctrine of the Vatican), Gregor Dalliard, pp.85

- Morire a vent'anni (To Die at Twenty Years Old), pp.114

HYMNS OF PRAISE TO THE LORD

There are available three new texts of hymns for praise to the Lord: "L'esempio di Gesu'" (The Example of Jesus), "Canta amen!" (Sing Amen!) e "Soffia su me o Dio" (Breath on me, O God). Whoever would like copies can ask for them at La Scuola Biblica (The Florence Bible School) - Via A. Spadini, 24 - 50018 Scandicci (FI) - Italy.