Posts by Southwest Church of Christ

As we approach the end of December, many begin to reflect on the year. Perhaps you do this as you prepare for your goals for the upcoming year. What went right? What went wrong? What do I want to do differently next year? Amongst all these questions of reflection, consider this question: “What if I did not spend so much time on my phone?” The average American spends 5 hours a day on their phone. To put this into perspective,…

I have been blessed to have received many wonderful gifts from friends and family members. But sometimes the gifts we receive are not useful, good for us, or right for us at the moment. The Hebrews writer made an interesting connection between God and our human fathers when he wrote, “God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (Heb. 12:7). In Luke 11:11 Jesus asked, “If a son asks for…

What’s the difference between a cow and a bison? This may seem like a silly question or the start to a joke, but the answer is fascinating. In the Northwest, ranchers deal with massive snowstorms that roll in each winter. These storms highlight a major difference between cows and bison. You see, when a snowstorm comes, cows will try to “outrun” the storm. In trying to run away from the storm, they often spend more time in the storm, and…

I love the song Take Time to Be Holy written by Williams Long Dunstaff and George C. Stebbins.. It indicates that time and effort must be offered on our part for holiness to be achieved. Of course man cannot save himself by works (Gal. 2:16). However, my obedience is necessary to have the faith and love required by God (Jn. 14:15; Jms. 2:17). Unfortunately, many spend their time in sinful worldliness instead of walking in God’s light. It’s as if…

When you think about interesting characters found in the pages of scripture, the queen of Sheba makes my list. While there are many things we do not know about the woman (including her name), there are a great number of lessons we can learn from her example. 1 Kings 10:1 says, “Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with difficult questions.” (NASB 95) Just…

We all want things to go well for the younger ones in the church. We look at our newborns and toddlers and think of the great potential they have. The elementary and preteen ages show us how quickly these little ones grow. Teenagers try our patience sometimes, but then astound us with flashes of incredible maturity. Even if I don’t have children of my own, I can help the young people in my home congregation. No matter what stage the…

Growing up, it did not rain much in our small, dusty town out in West Texas. Most of the time, everything was dry and dead… However, once or twice a year, we would get a massive storm that dumped rain on the parched land. This rain caused everything to grow EXTREMELY fast. What once was desolate would become green and lush (at least for a week or two). After these rains, my dad would tell us boys, “You better mow…

The wise know that there are times when they need the advice of knowledgable and mature Christians. “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” (Proverbs 1:5). God says we need advice, not only as individuals, but for the good of the whole society because “where no counsel is, the people fall” (Proverbs 11:14). However, we should not make the mistake in thinking that any advice will do. “The…

October 25th, 2025, is our last Sunday with the beloved Westbrook family. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when the people you are saying goodbye to have made such a meaningful impact on the congregation. For the past 10 years, the Westbrook family have labored for the Lord here at Southwest, leaving a footprint that will be seen even after they have moved. Cody’s preaching from the pulpit, teaching in the classroom, compassionate visits to homes and hospitals, and being…