CorkChristians.org

This used to be the Cork Church of Christ website during the time Doy Moyer was the minister. The church is located in Plant City, Florida. This happened to be the church's website when we attended the church.

Doy Moyer, who was the minister, eventually left, moving on to the Vestavia Church of Christ, which is located in Vestavia, Alabama. The CorkChristians.org's domain apparently expired and their website along with all information including the articles by the evangelist, Doy Moyer disappeared from the web. By that time we had moved again, this time to California. Occasionally I would check to see if a new website was built for our former church in Florida, but none was forth coming.

I was concerned because the site was down for so long, so I called on our good friend Bob Sakayama. He's the CEO of TNG Earthling, the NYC search consultancy, and he offered to restore the site for me if I would do some of the work. So I did and this site is now sponsored by me. I've applied for a grant from the Web Archive Project to cover the costs of keeping this restoration live for as long as possible. To be accepted the site must have historic or cultural significance and this site clearly does. Fingers crossed!

The Cork Church of Christ is still located in Plant City, Florida.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PAGE CONTAINS SELECTIVE ARCHIVED CONTENT FROM THE ORIGINAL SITE.

Since the site will not be exactly as you remember it, please be forgiving.

Pen Point Blogs

Come Away to a Secluded Place
September 16, 2012 7:36 am

Faith has many challenges. Striving to maintain a strong faith in the midst of a difficult world is one thing, but there will also be times that we do not fully understand how events or situations play into God's purposes. And I can just imagine that the disciples of Jesus felt that way occasionally.

Mark 6 records the death of John the Baptist. John had been such a strong, faithful servant of God. He had done everything God had asked of him. Then he gave his life. Imagine that you were one of the disciples hearing about this. Think of the questions you might have. How can this happen to John? How can God allow it happen? Is this what the kingdom of God really allows? Is this really what we were expecting? Could this kind of thing happen to us if we are faithful to the Lord's commands?

Little did they know at this point that this kind of thing is exactly what would happen to them. And yes, the kingdom of God does allow for it.

There is little doubt that the disciples had to do some changing in their views about the nature of God's kingdom. They will have to reconcile in their minds how God can be ruling over all, in charge of all, and yet how He allows the imprisonment and death of His servants. In truth, they should not have been all that surprised. The prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures endured similar mistreatment, persecution, and death. In one sense, John was simply following that same pattern. Still, it would have been a hard pill to swallow.

The work of the disciples was arduous. They faced rejection, difficulty, and personal discouragement. It would have been exciting at the same time. They were witnesses of great miracles. They were in the very presence of Jesus, God manifested in the flesh! And Jesus knew what they needed. He knew what they could take and when they needed rest.

Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while (Mark 6:31).

They came to Jesus and told them what they were doing and teaching. Because so many people were coming and going, the disciples hardly had time to eat. So now it was time to rest. They needed it. They needed some peace. They needed to regroup.

The world is busy, and if we let ourselves, we can get so caught up in what's going on in the world that barely take time to rest a while. This is not simply rest from hard physical labor. This is not just sitting down for ten minutes to eat. This is about taking real rest. Calm your mind. Think on God's peace and forgiveness. Get away from the hustle of the world and relax. The Lord knew the disciples needed it, and I believe He knows we need it today, too. Lest we overload ourselves with the cares and worries of this world (Luke 8:14), lest we become distracted, worried, and bothered about the lesser matters that may cause us to be choked (Luke 10:41), we need time to rest in order to refresh and regroup.

Of course, there is always the danger of going too far in the other direction. Too much rest may mean that we are just being lazy. For our present culture, the danger seems even more to be our distractions with the mundane, recreation and entertainment can become our gods. There is irony even in this, for while, on the one hand, the recreation and entertainment can be forms of getting away from the stresses of other aspects of life, these, in themselves can become the source of stress. Just see how adamant and stressed out sports fans can get about their teams! Yes, we even need rest away from this. I suppose it is a good thing that sports come in seasons so that there is a break.

But what I'm talking about here is much more peaceful and quiet. Get away from the crowds. Turn off the TV. Lower the volume of life. Go away to a secluded place, wherever that is for you, and rest once in a while. Read your Bible. Think about God. Pray. Let God's peace fill you up. Then, when you get back out into the world, you'll be more equipped mentally to deal with the pressures.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)

He Has Lost His Senses
August 11, 2012 11:02 pm

And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, He has lost His senses.' The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, He is possessed by Beelzebul,' and He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.' Mark 3:20-22

Do you notice a similarity in the responses of these two groups toward Jesus?

The first group is his own kinsmen. They said Jesus had lost His senses. He's gone crazy, we might say. This is one of those check points in historical authenticity, called the principle of embarrassment. If later Christians were just making this up, why would they make up the idea that Jesus' own family thought He was crazy? The best explanation for this account is that this is what happened. His family thought He had lost His senses.

The scribes from Jerusalem are the second group. Their response to Jesus was not all that different from what His kinsmen said. They upped the intensity, though. He is possessed by Beelzebul or an unclean spirit, they said (see also 3:30).

Why were so many talking of Jesus like this? Why would they think He had lost His mind or that He was possessed by the devil? Jesus was casting out demons. He was healing on the sabbath. Crowds were always around Him, pressing Him, making it difficult even to eat. They had seen nothing like this before. What else were they to think?

Remember that Mark's purpose is to demonstrate that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:1, 11). Looking at it from the outside, we know that the miracles and works of Jesus were intended to demonstrate that He is, indeed, the Son of God. But the people then weren't quite so sure yet. They weren't gullible afterall. They just didn't yet know how to process the idea that the Son of God had actually come into the world. It didn't make sense to them, so their response was to project their uncertainty back onto Jesus.

Three possibilities are before us in the text.

1. He is crazy.
2. He is possessed by the devil.
3. He is the Son of God.

Which is it? Jesus responded to the charges in a way that showed He was neither crazy nor possessed.

And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! But no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. (3:23-27)

Jesus' response was rational, showing that He had not lost His mind. It was logical, demonstrating that it would not make any sense to think that He was possessed by the devil. Why would the devil defeat himself? That's the last thing he would try to do.

Jesus then turned to show how foolish their claims were really were. Such ungodly claims carried great consequences: Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin because they were saying, He has an unclean spirit.' (3:28-30)

These were people who knew better. They saw the miracles, and they knew the only One powerful enough to do what Jesus was doing was God. But even knowing this, they accused Jesus of having an unclean spirit. This is why it was blasphemy, and once someone could see Jesus perform the miracles, know what the miracles implied, and then make such an accusation, their attitude would not permit forgiveness. What else could Jesus show them to prove that His identity? They were intent on rejecting Him. There was nothing else to do.

If Jesus was not crazy and did not have an unclean spirit, this leaves us with one option from the text: He is the Son of God! This was Mark's point all along.

Searching for Answers in a Broken World
July 22, 2012 8:16 am

The world is broken, and once again the evidence for this has shocked our nation. While a crowd was trying to enjoy a movie, a young, lost soul came into the auditorium with guns blasting. Dozens were shot; at least a dozen are dead from it. How can this happen?

What I notice anytime something like this happens is that people immediately start trying to figure out answers. Why did this happen? The media presents story after story about the shooter, trying to understand his background and what might have made him do this evil. Personally, I'd rather focus on the victims. Why make the madman so famous?

But here we are searching for answers. The truth is that such answers are likely multifaceted, yet not really all that complicated. I'm not talking about this from some pop-psychology point of view. I don't know what factors lead a young man like to this commit such evil. I'm talking about recognizing some of the following:

1. Sin has broken this world. When sin first entered the scene in Genesis 3, the consequences were immediately felt. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23), and death will continue in this world, by whatever means, so long as it stands.

2. People do commit evil. Sin has many faces, some fairly subtle and some not so subtle. When has there been a time since Adam and Eve that there haven't been evil people committing horrible atrocities? The Bible tells us of people like Cain, Ahab, Jezebel, Athaliah, Manasseh, Herod, and others who had no respect for God or man. History is filled with the violence of evil people whose personal ambitions were greater than their respect for human life. People commit evil, and they will continue to commit evil. It's hard to be surprised anymore.

3. The fact of moral evil underscores free will and responsibility. Actions do not occur in a vacuum, of course. This young man made a series of choices that culminated in the death of several. The movie didn't make him do it. No one was forcing his hand. He acted deliberately and willfully. The responsibility for this rests squarely on his shoulders. And this is important because our society has long been trying to avoid personal accountability. We don't accept the blame for anything. Yet if we follow such a course, we'll excuse the most heinous of crimes. From the beginning, the responsibility for sin rests with those who commit sin. That includes all of us.

4. Yet God is still there. Every time a moral tragedy like this occurs, the public discussions will virtually always turn to the question of God. As is to be expected, atheists will use the events to argue against God's existence, or at least against the idea of a God who is loving and powerful. Believers will turn to God to find comfort.

Just remember that if there is no God, then speaking of events like this as evil would be pointless. Without a standard by which to define evil, evil could not exist. People cannot miss a target that isn't there.

But the same divine standard showing that senseless acts of murder are evil also shows the evil of other actions. Part of our cultural problem lies right here. Our culture defends abortion on demand, sexual promiscuity of all kinds, lying, and other forms of sins, then balks at those who would call these things evil. We have denied the standard for so long that we cannot tell up from down. As in Isaiah's day, we call evil good and good evil (Isa 5:20). We support the teaching that God had nothing to do with our existence and that we are products of chance, accidental processes. We have taught that life has no ultimate purpose. Not understanding that ideas have consequences, we then wonder why people commit senseless acts of evil. I realize that different sins carry different kinds of consequences, and I'm not saying that because a person commits one type of sin that he will therefore commit all types of sin. But at the root of the problem is a disrespect for God and His standard. Once the Lordship of Jesus is denied, and no ultimate standard is accepted, then why should we be surprised when people do whatever they want? We can't pick and choose with God's will. The same standard that condemns murder also condemns fornication.

5. God has and will deal with all evil. The story of Scripture is the story of the cross, and the cross is God's ultimate answer to the problem of evil. He suffered more evil against Himself than we can begin to imagine. By His taking evil upon Himself, He has provided the greatest of answers to the problem. Christ is the answer. Through Him, evil has a day of reckoning. Through Him, the enemy of death is destroyed. Through Him, salvation from evil is secured.

Don't lose heart. We know there is evil in this world, but we know it because there is a God who gives us the ability to make choices. If we choose not to submit to the Lord, then we choose the same side that we have grown to detest. Don't choose the side of evil, then complain that there is evil in the world. Choose to follow the Lord so that you, by faith, will overcome the world, for whatever is born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).

The Father
June 17, 2012 8:02 am

Fathers without them, where would we be, right? But not everyone has the same experience when it comes to their fathers. Some have remained close to their fathers, others have been alienated from their fathers, and many have been raised without fathers at all. Consequently, how we identify with the concept of a heavenly Father, in Scripture, may also differ. The key, however, is not to try to equate the heavenly Father with your earthly father, but to understand the Father in heaven on His own terms, as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. The following is brief overview of some of the principles and ideas related to this.

God is not really referred to as Father in the early chapters of Scripture. He is, of course, the Father, since He is Creator (the originator, through whom all things are begotten). But the following passages clearly identify the Father/son relationship between Yahweh and Israel:

• Israel is My son, My firstborn (Ex 4:22-23).
• Is not He your Father who has bought you (Deut 32:6)
• But now, O LORD, You are our Father (Isa 64:8).
• Have you not just now called to Me, My Father, You are the friend of my youth?' (Jer 3:4)
• Out of Egypt I have called My son (Hos 11:1)
• A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect? says the LORD of hosts (Mal 1:6)

So even though we don't find them calling God Father often, God still expected them to think of Him as a Father who deserved honor and respect.

The New Testament concept of God as Father is even stronger. From Jesus' baptism, Jesus is identified as the beloved Son (Matt 3:17). You might notice in the Sermon on the Mount how Jesus uses the concept (Matt 5:16, 45, 48; 6:1-9, 14-18, 26, 32; 7:11, 21). Jesus continually refers to His Father, which is one of the issues that offended His detractors (John 5:17ff).

For us as Christians, we often think of God as our Father, and for good reason. We are tied to Him in intimate fellowship. He is our Father (1 Cor 1:3), through whom all things exist (1 Cor 8:6). He is the Father of mercies (2 Cor 1:3). Our relationship is set in these terms: I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty (2 Cor 6:18). He is the Father who has blessed us with ever spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3). So we bow our knees to the Father (Eph 3:14) who is over all (4:6).

The language of adoption is also used in Scripture. Note particularly Galatians 3:23-4:7. Having been brought out of sin and baptized into Christ, we are adopted as sons and made heirs of His inheritance. So we may cry out, Abba, Father! Surely this hightlights for us the close relationship we are to have with God. He is not aloof, standing off in the distance. He is, rather, pictured as a loving Father who runs to those who return to Him (cf. Luke 15:20). God be praised for being such a Father who blesses us beyond measure to call us His sons and daughters through Christ!

The fact that God is our Father means that we have responsibilities toward Him as sons and daughters. Primarily, we are to honor God (cf. Mal 1:6). Being a son or daughter is not just about receiving an inheritance, but is also about showing due honor and representing the Father's name properly. Remember Jesus' words: But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven (Matt 5:44-45). Being children of God, we must do all we can to represent Him with honor and not to bring reproach upon Him and the rest of the family. Being God's children is a responsibility as well as a blessing.

So much more could be said, of course. For now, understand that no matter what your experience has been with an earthly father, you can know that we have a Father in heaven who reaches out to us, makes us His own people, and blesses us as His children. See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1).

Progress and Standards
June 14, 2012 3:52 pm

Those who speak of progress (politically and socially) are often (not always) the ones who also claim to be atheistic or agnostic. But they have a problem. Progress implies movement toward a goal or standard that is better or even perfect. Now what standard is that? Without God, who defines such a standard to which all of us should be moving closer? Is that standard based merely on human wisdom and achievement? Is it based on mere preference? True progress can only take place when a real standard exists, and when we understand clearly what that standard is. A real standard cannot be based whim, preference, or because we say so dictums.

Grace Through Faith
June 9, 2012 3:35 pm

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8-9)

One of the fundamental truths about salvation is that we don't earn it. Salvation is not as a result of our works (as if we do a bunch of things and the result is that we are saved). If salvation is earned, then grace is nullified.

Most are aware of the controversy surrounding faith vs. works. Some think that since salvation is by grace, then works have absolutely nothing to do with salvation. I've seen and heard statements to this effect: salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone. Yes, it is in Christ only. But does no one see an inherent problem with saying faith alone and grace alone? Which is it? By faith? or By grace? The answer is both. By faith through grace. Why not just use the words of Scripture? Faith without grace grants us nothing; grace without faith is a spurned offer. Neither are alone.

There is a difference between saying that one is not saved as a result of works, on the one hand, and that works have nothing to do with salvation on the other hand. The first simply recognizes that the works in themselves are not what saves. The latter de-emphasizes the significance of the works that God Himself has assigned. If doing the will of God has nothing to do with salvation, then what in the world did Jesus mean in Matthew 7:21? Doing the will of God may not be what causes our salvation, but it is certainly connected to our salvation.

While I've heard it argued, I have not really met the person who believes, in the fullest sense, that all one needs is mentally to have faith and then do absolutely nothing about it. The same one who argues against the necessity of baptism will turn around and argue the necessity of confessing Jesus. Yet they stand or fall together as doing the will of God. If confession and repentance are necessary by the authority of God, so is baptism. None of these actions are what directly cause our salvation in some meritorious sense, but this does not make them unnecessary. The connection between baptism and salvation is not getting wet or physically clean, but in the appeal to God for a good conscience, which itself is tied to the blood of Christ (1 Pet 3:21; Heb 9:14; Matt 26:28; Acts 2:38). We've earned nothing. Yet in doing the will of God, we receive what God, by His grace has promised: forgiveness. Thus while grace is free, it certainly is not cheap. A great price has been paid by none other than God Himself. To diminish the works that God has tied to grace is to diminish His grace. This does not make grace something to be earned (a contradiction), but it does make grace something that should never be taken for granted.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).

God is the only one who can set the parameters of His own grace. If we try to change those terms, then it is no longer God's grace we are seeking. If we think that grace is somehow a license to do our own will, then we must think again (see Rom 6:1-2 and Jude 4). We are saved by God's grace. Make no mistake about that. Yet it is that same God of grace who instructs us to do His will. We've earned nothing. We must be grateful for all God has done. But do not mistake that for thinking that we need not obey Him, for He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation (Heb 5:9). By faith does not imply merit, but it surely does imply action. (5/12)

The Value of a Memorial
June 9, 2012 8:12 am

There is a reason for Memorial Day, and it is not foremost for the purpose of BBQing. While that sounds overly simple, the irony is that we sometimes forget the reason for memorials. In America, Memorial Day is there for giving due honor and respect to those who have given their lives for the freedoms we continue to enjoy. That's not something we should ever forget.

Any Bible student should be familiar with the concept of a memorial. For example, we might recall the following memorials:

• God's name (Ex 3:15).
• The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex 12:13-14).
• The Stones in the Priest's Ephod (Ex 28:12, 29; 39:7).
• Various offerings (Lev 2:9, 16; 5:12; 6:15; 24:7; Num 5:15, 18, 26).
• Spoils of War (against Midian, Num 31:54).
• Stones piled upon crossing the Jordan River (Josh 4).
• Prayers (Acts 10:4).

Christians also recognize the memorial known as the Lord's Supper: Do this in remembrance of Me, said Jesus (Luke 22:19). Through this act, we remember what Jesus did for us; we are reminded indeed why we are Christians.

What is the value of a memorial? This is not meant to be a psychological explanation, but I do think there are a few important matters to keep in mind. As you think about these, make the primary application to Jesus and our need to remember Him who gave His life for us.

A memorial is a way to remember the significance of an event or person. It pays respect to and gives honor for the people and events that help shape who we are as a culture. As Christians, we are our own unique culture, shaped by the Person of Jesus and the events of the cross.

A memorial is a way to keep a continual connection to the persons and events associated with it. This includes both the ones who are initially involved and those who participate in the memorial. A memorial is a form of communion. The Lord's Supper is a fellowship with both Christ and His people (1 Cor 10:16). This creates a unity in the culture, an overarching idea that binds the community together as they participate in a common remembrance.

A memorial is a statement to others, a proclamation of why the persons and events are so important. There is a need to talk it up and tell the story of what happened. This is beneficial not only for the ones remembering, but so that others may also learn. Partaking of the Lord's Supper is a proclamation of the death of Jesus (1 Cor 11:26). We make a statement about our beliefs and convictions when we partake in the memorial.

A memorial is also for posterity's sake. The children need to learn the story, so a memorial is a way to preserve the persons and events for future generations (note how this is specifically given as a reason in Josh 4:6; see also Deut 6:6-9 and the idea of the signs). In America, we want our children to know of the sacrifices made by generations before so that they can enjoy the freedoms they now have. More importantly, in taking the Lord's Supper, our children learn the importance of the death of Christ (if properly respected and told).

While some may pass off memorials as superficial, the fact is that we all need them to keep before us what is truly important. Forgetting would be the greatest tragedy of all. As Winston Churchill said about his country's perseverance in war:

What kind of people do they think we are? Is it possible they do not realize that we shall never cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson which they and the world will never forget?

May Christians have such tenacity as they live out their convictions and strive to tell the story of Jesus to a lost world!

Repent and Confess
April 22, 2012 7:26 am

Repentance and confession are fundamental to the Christian's relationship to God. These are not merely one time steps in a plan of salvation, but are necessary components in an ongoing fellowship in which God's grace grants forgiveness and hope. They are responses to the recognition of at least two vital facts: 1) the problem of sin as it relates to God's nature, and 2) the Lordship of Jesus over our lives. There is a connection between the two.

Repentance

To repent is to turn away from something wrong and to turn toward what is right. It is corrective action. Inherent in the concept of repentance is a recognition of sin in one's life. If we never see that we are sinners, then we will never see the need to repent. This was a basic problem with the Pharisees, as Jesus pointed out (Matt 9:10-13). Because the Pharisees didn't know they were sick, they didn't realize how much they needed a physician. Repentance starts with an awareness of sin. From here, we see:

a. Repentance is an intentional decision of the mind. Until we decide to change in obedience to the command (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31), we will continue to do wrong.

b. Repentance comes from the heart. One can change for the wrong reasons, in which case true repentance has not occurred. Sorrow is tied to repentance, but there are different types of sorrow. Godly sorrow is what God looks for (see 2 Cor 7:8-11). The heart, as well as the mind, is affected.

c. Repentance is seen in the change of action. John's message was, bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt 3:8). Paul preached that the Gentiles should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance (Acts 26:20). Saul and David make a good case study. Both engaged in terrible sins. Both recognized this and confessed that they were guilty. But the real difference came in how they acted afterward. Saul continued in his sins, and even become more and more twisted and hardened. David repented and showed by his continual devotion to God that he meant it. Perhaps this is why he was a man after God's heart. God doesn't want us merely to say we are guilty. He wants us to show Him that will love and serve Him with the whole heart. Because of this, we see that repentance is not a one time act for salvation, but continual course correction through a life of service to God.

Confession

Confession is outward admission. At its heart, confession means to agree with something. The question is, what exactly are we agreeing with?

1. We confess our guilt of sin. This is where confession is first tied to repentance. If we are repenting, then we are recognizing that we are guilty of sin of which we must repent. So there is an inherent confession of sin built into the concept of repentance. This, as Christians ought to know, becomes part of our ongoing relationship with God (1 John 1:9; Jas 5:16).

2. Just as fundamental is our confession of the Lordship of Jesus. Once again, this is not a mere step to be done once in order to be saved, but actually becomes a way of life. To be sure, we confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord, which is also based in the heart (Rom 10:9-10). This confession is an extension of the fact that we are sanctified Christ as Lord in our hearts and are thus ready to defend our hope (1 Pet 3:15). Confessing Jesus before men (Matt 10:32-33) is a lifetime process and is born out in the way we live. Herein is the real tie to repentance. Bearing fruit appropriate to repentance means living a life of confession to the world that Jesus is our Lord, and no other has such a claim to our hearts and lives.

Repentance and confession are intertwined in a way of living before both God and men. Are we so living?

Failure of Philosophy
March 28, 2012 11:00 am

So much of philosophy fails because of roots in a system that begin in the acceptance of 1) non-intelligence as an ultimate foundation, and 2) the non-certainty of truth. People who accept these premises have given up any right to tell others how they ought to think, for their own thinking is also subject to the two premises. Philosophy, so rooted, becomes self-defeating.

Don't Touch
March 26, 2012 8:38 am

The command not to touch something is associated with holiness, and it worked in at least two ways: 1) Don't touch what is holy, lest it be defiled (e.g., Num 4:15) ; 2) Don't touch what is unclean, lest you be defiled (e.g., Lev. 11:8; Isa 52:11). A holy object or place, as defined by God, may be that way because it is a representation of God Himself. For example, when Israel came to Mt. Sinai, they were not to touch it (Exo 19:12-13). God was about to meet with Moses (vs. 18). Uzzah died when he grabbed hold of the Ark of the Covenant (2 Sam 6). So with that in mind, I am intrigued by Eve's understanding of her relationship to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil: You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die (Gen 3:3). Sometimes we assume simply that the tree was there to test whether or not they would obey God. But I submit, though it is not explicitly stated, that maybe a better understanding is that the tree was itself a manifestation of God's presence. It was holy. Therefore, to reach out and touch it, and then even to eat from it, was a grasping after godhood. It wasn't just a matter of putting an arbitrary tree in the garden to see if they would obey. It was God showing His presence among them, and they disrespected God's holiness and glory by touching and eating from what was to be holy to them. Verse 5 seems to confirm this, as Adam and Eve's grasp at godhood was essentially a denial of God's authority over them. To paraphrase the idea: You don't need God telling you what to do. You can be your own God. You can determine right and wrong for yourself. And so it is with all of us. We choose God's authority or our own. We attempt to grasp at godhood ourselves or we submit to the real God of heaven and earth.

More Background On CorkChristians.org

 

One of the defining characteristics of CorkChristians.org was its clear presentation of conservative Church of Christ doctrine. The website repeatedly emphasized that the congregation sought to be Christians only and not part of any denominational hierarchy. This independent identity is central to many Churches of Christ and shaped nearly every section of the website.

The site strongly emphasized biblical authority as the sole guide for faith and practice. Rather than relying on creeds, councils, or denominational traditions, the church taught that Scripture alone should determine worship, doctrine, and congregational structure. This Bible only approach is deeply rooted in the Restoration Movement tradition that emerged in the United States during the 19th century.

The congregation also highlighted simplicity in worship. Visitors were told to expect uncomplicated services centered around congregational singing, prayer, preaching, communion, and biblical teaching. Instrumental music was intentionally excluded from worship services, reflecting the longstanding acapella tradition within Churches of Christ.

The website carefully explained why instruments were not used. According to the church's teaching, the New Testament authorizes singing but does not authorize instrumental accompaniment in Christian worship. The site argued that early Christians worshipped without instruments for centuries and that modern instrumental worship represented a later development in church history.

This doctrinal clarity gave the site a very specific audience. It appealed especially to:

• Members of Churches of Christ
• Individuals studying Restoration Movement theology
• Christians seeking conservative biblical interpretation
• People interested in acapella worship traditions
• Readers looking for detailed Bible-study material

Doy Moyer and His Influence

A major reason CorkChristians.org became memorable to former visitors was the work of minister and writer Doy Moyer. During his time in Plant City, Moyer contributed numerous articles, essays, and reflections that blended biblical exposition, apologetics, philosophy, and cultural commentary.

Moyer later became associated with the Vestavia Church of Christ in Alabama, but many readers continued to remember his earlier work hosted on CorkChristians.org.

His writings stood out because they combined:

• Detailed biblical references
• Philosophical reasoning
• Commentary on contemporary moral issues
• Historical analysis
• Practical Christian application

Rather than relying on emotionalism or entertainment-driven ministry, the articles emphasized intellectual engagement with Scripture. This appealed strongly to readers who valued serious Bible study.

Many archived writings on the site addressed topics such as:

• Grace and salvation
• Repentance and confession
• Moral responsibility
• The existence of evil
• Worship practices
• Christian identity
• The role of faith in modern culture
• The relationship between free will and sin

The writing style itself reflected broader Church of Christ traditions emphasizing rational study and textual analysis. Sermons and articles often followed a structured, evidence-based approach grounded heavily in chapter-and-verse references.

The Pen Point Blogs Section

One of the most substantial parts of the archived site was the Pen Point Blogs collection. These entries functioned almost like devotional essays mixed with theological editorials.

Several recurring themes appeared throughout the blog archive.

Faith During Suffering

Posts discussing tragedy and suffering examined how Christians should respond to evil in the world. One article referencing a mass shooting argued that moral evil points toward the reality of free will and ultimately toward the need for God's moral standard.

Rather than approaching such events politically, the writing framed them spiritually and philosophically. Readers were encouraged to see suffering through the lens of Scripture and redemption.

Rest and Spiritual Reflection

Another notable theme involved spiritual exhaustion and the need for quiet reflection. Articles encouraged readers to step away from distractions, entertainment, and busyness in order to focus on prayer, Bible reading, and spiritual renewal.

This emphasis on simplicity and contemplation reflected a broader concern within conservative Christian circles about modern culture becoming overly distracting and spiritually fragmented.

Grace, Faith, and Obedience

Several essays addressed theological debates surrounding grace and works. The articles repeatedly argued that salvation comes by God's grace while also insisting that obedience and faithful living remain essential parts of Christian discipleship.

These discussions reflected long-standing theological conversations within Churches of Christ, particularly surrounding baptism, repentance, and the role of obedience in salvation.

God as Father

The site also contained deeply pastoral writings discussing the concept of God as Father. These articles explored biblical language concerning adoption, divine love, and spiritual family relationships.

The tone in these pieces was often gentler and more devotional compared to the more argumentative apologetics-focused writings elsewhere on the site.

Website Design and Early Internet Culture

From a technical standpoint, CorkChristians.org reflected the design philosophy of early independent religious websites.

The original site likely featured:

• Simple HTML layouts
• Minimal graphics
• Static navigation menus
• Text-heavy pages
• Limited multimedia
• Scripture-centered content
• Few commercial elements

Unlike modern church websites filled with streaming video, social-media integration, animated graphics, and online donation systems, CorkChristians.org represented an earlier internet era focused primarily on information and teaching.

This simplicity actually contributed to the authenticity of the site. Visitors generally encountered:

• Direct doctrinal explanations
• Long-form articles
• Basic church information
• Sermon archives
• Study materials

The absence of aggressive branding or marketing gave the site a sincere and grassroots feel.

Digital Disappearance and Restoration

One of the most interesting aspects of CorkChristians.org is the story of its disappearance and later restoration.

Like countless early internet websites, the domain eventually expired. When that happened, years of articles, essays, and congregational history effectively vanished from public access. This is an increasingly common problem across the internet, especially among small organizations lacking technical infrastructure or long-term archival planning.

The restoration effort became significant because it reflected a growing awareness that even small websites can hold cultural and historical value.

According to archived explanations connected with the restored site, a former attendee became concerned about the disappearance and sought help restoring the website. Assistance reportedly came from Bob Sakayama, CEO of TNG Earthling, who helped support the recovery effort.

The restored version emphasized that:

• Only selective archived content was available
• The site would not perfectly match the original
• Preservation was the primary goal
• The content possessed historical and cultural significance

This restoration transformed the website from merely an active church homepage into something closer to a digital archive project.

Historical and Cultural Significance

At first glance, a small church website from Florida might not appear historically important. However, CorkChristians.org reflects several broader developments in American religious and internet history.

Early Religious Internet Adoption

The site represents how local congregations began adapting to the internet during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Small churches increasingly recognized that websites could extend outreach beyond physical geography.

For isolated believers or travelers searching for congregations with similar beliefs, sites like CorkChristians.org became important discovery tools.

Preservation of Independent Religious Voices

Unlike major denominational publishing houses, smaller congregations often lack institutional archiving systems. When websites disappear, entire bodies of teaching can vanish permanently.

The restoration of CorkChristians.org highlights growing recognition that local religious content deserves preservation alongside larger institutional archives.

Reflection of Restoration Movement Theology

The site also serves as a snapshot of conservative Church of Christ thought during a particular era. Future researchers examining:

• American evangelicalism
• Restoration Movement history
• Digital religion
• Conservative Protestant theology
• Internet ministry

may find archived sites like CorkChristians.org surprisingly valuable.

Audience and Readership

The original readership likely included several overlapping groups:

• Local congregation members
• Visitors seeking worship information
• Bible students
• Members of Churches of Christ nationwide
• Readers interested in apologetics
• Former attendees maintaining connections after relocating

Because the articles were publicly accessible online, the audience extended far beyond Plant City itself.

Search engines during the early 2000s often rewarded detailed text-rich content. As a result, doctrinal articles and sermon essays could attract visitors from across the United States and internationally.

The writing style especially appealed to readers seeking:

• Verse-by-verse reasoning
• Scriptural debate
• Intellectual engagement with faith
• Conservative theological positions
• Non-denominational Restoration Movement teachings

Relationship to Modern Church Websites

Comparing CorkChristians.org to modern ministry websites reveals major shifts in religious communication online.

Today many churches focus heavily on:

• Livestreaming
• Social media branding
• Podcasting
• Visual design
• Marketing strategies
• Mobile optimization
• Video-first engagement

CorkChristians.org belonged to an earlier era when the internet functioned more like a digital library than a multimedia broadcasting platform.

Its emphasis remained overwhelmingly textual and educational. Long-form reading mattered more than rapid engagement metrics.

Ironically, this older style now gives the archived content lasting value because it preserves detailed theological writing rather than short-form promotional material.

The Importance of Web Archiving

The story of CorkChristians.org also underscores the importance of web preservation organizations such as the Internet Archive and related archival initiatives.

Many early websites disappear due to:

• Domain expiration
• Hosting shutdowns
• Software incompatibility
• Financial limitations
• Organizational decline
• Lack of backups

Without archiving efforts, enormous portions of internet history vanish permanently.

Religious websites are particularly vulnerable because many are maintained by volunteers or small congregations with limited technical expertise.

The restoration of CorkChristians.org therefore reflects a broader cultural effort to preserve:

• Independent publishing
• Local religious history
• Early internet culture
• Grassroots theological writing
• Community memory

Lasting Legacy

Though never a major commercial website or nationally famous ministry platform, CorkChristians.org left a lasting impression on former members and readers because of its sincerity, theological depth, and educational focus.

The site captured a specific moment in internet history when small churches began embracing digital communication while still maintaining deeply traditional religious identities.

Today, the archived material offers insight into:

• Conservative Church of Christ doctrine
• Early online ministry
• Rural Florida church culture
• Independent Christian publishing
• The fragility of digital history

Its restoration also demonstrates how personal relationships and community memory can motivate preservation projects long after an original website disappears.

In many ways, CorkChristians.org represents thousands of similar small religious websites that once flourished during the early web era. Most are now gone entirely. The survival of this one, even partially, provides an unusually detailed look into the beliefs, priorities, and communication style of a local congregation navigating the transition into the digital age.

CorkChristians.org