Posts by Cody Westbrook (Page 12)
A Hearing the Voice of Satan
What we hear, affects us. Adam and Eve sinned after listening to Satan. He spoke to them about something desirable, being as gods, (Gen. 3:5) and in their weakness they fell. Satan still speaks to us today through the evil things of this world that tempt us. Like Adam and Eve, heeding his voice results in our spiritual demise. Satan’s voice is deceptive. Jesus said, “…He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there…
A God-Honoring Marriage
“Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Ps. 34:3). This passage well summarizes the goal of a God-honoring marriage. God created woman because it was not good for the man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). Adam needed a helper who was fitting, or appropriate (Gen. 2:18). Therefore, God brought Adam and Even together as husband and wife. The covenant relationship of marriage is God’s way of meting a number of man’s needs–companionship, love, and…
The Fields are White… Are You Ready to Harvest?
The latest estimates are that the world’s population is approximately 7 billion. That is 7 billion souls who face the ultimate reality of sin and its consequences (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). 7 billion souls who will one day face the Lord in judgment (Heb. 9:27); 7 billion souls who are precious in the sight of God (2 Pet. 3:9) and stand in need of the soulsaving message of the gospel. What are you doing to reach them? Romans chapter 10 teaches…
I Want to be More Like Jesus
In John 8:29 Jesus said of himself, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” Such a sentiment not only captures the perfection of our Savior but sets the standard for His followers. Jesus is our perfect example. Peter wrote, For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps (1 Pet.…
On Yearbooks and Modesty
Recently a Florida high school caused quite a stir when the yearbook coordinator digitally edited 80 yearbook photos. The edited photos were only of females and were altered to add more clothing to chests and shoulders. The School District’s chief of Community Relations reported “The yearbook coordinator made the decision to edit the photos based on her assessment that the females were not in dress code.” Many students and parents were appalled that the changes were made without their knowledge…
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
Imitating the popular spirit of the day, many brethren have raised the “white flag” and refused to engage in any type of spiritual aggression at all. But, while Christianity is indeed a religion of peace and love, it is also one that includes warfare and combat—spiritually speaking. Paul’s charge to Timothy was to “fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12), and “war a good warfare” (1 Tim. 1:18). The clarion call to join the battle rings clearly throughout…
Thank You for Your Service
Another year of Camp Hensel has come and gone, and it was a success! For more than 50 years the Southwest congregation has conducted the Hensel camp session with the help of our sister congregations from near and far. In that time we have seen hundreds of campers and staff members whose lives have been forever changed because of their time at camp. Every year friendships are born, problems are solved, and the bonds of fellowship are strengthened. It is…
I Want to be Like Joshua
Christianity is not for the faint of heart. Yes, it is the greatest life that one could live, but it is also full of challenges from the opposition of the outside world. Paul said, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). How can we successfully overcome the challenges set before us? Consider the strength and courage of Joshua as a model. Four times in Joshua chapter one, Joshua is told…
The Christian’s Hope
To many the word “hope” is a synonym for “wish.” As such, hope has little to do with assurance or certainty and mostly deals in the realm of preference. Even Christians sometimes struggle to fully comprehend the biblical usage of the word “hope.” It is as if our hope is a type of appendix to our Christianity. We have the body of New Testament doctrine which instructs us regarding salvation and living a faithful life, and as an added bonus,…
117 Billion Gallons
117 billion gallons. That number represents the total storage capacity of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. It is also the total amount of alcohol that is consumed every year, globally. Put another way, the human body contains 5 liters of blood. 117 billion gallons is equal to the total bloodstream of 89 billion people, which is almost 10x the total world population. (Alcohol.org) Our world is drowning in an ocean of alcohol. Christians are to hate what…
The Problem With Complaining
If we are honest, we would all admit that we struggle with complaining from time to time. The bible identifies complaining as a worldly exercise and commands Christians to avoid it. Paul wrote, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14-15). The children of Israel stand as a perfect…
Bless the Lord!
Psalm 103:1 is an emphatic and imperative call to praise the Lord. The command implies affection and a sense of gratitude as well as effort and energy. To bless the Lord with all that is within me involves my entire being. Someone may casually remark that they do not get much out of worship. As this passage reveals, that is the case when one does not put enough into worship. The remainder of the psalm identifies a number of reasons…