2025 - UNIVERSITY CHURCH OF CHRIST

Bulletin Articles - 2025

“The Elect”

Caleb Westbrook
21 Dec 2025

In the modern-day denominational world, many teach about the elect in accordance with Calvinism. This is to simply say, God chooses on an individual basis those who will be saved and are predestined to be part of the elect. According to this teaching, there is no free will involved in the salvation process. If you are one of the elect, God will “regenerate” your heart, at which point you will then, by no choice of your own, read the Gospel and believe in Jesus. There are several verses in the NT that speak about predestination, one of which being the following:Romans 8:29-30 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”It is the church that was predestined from the beginning to be saved. Jesus Christ is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev 13:8). He is the Savior of “His body,” which is the Church (Eph 1:22-23). The church is made up of people who were called by God through hearing and obeying the Gospel (Rom 10:16-17), and the gospel of Christ is the power to salvation “to everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16). In Matt 22:1-14, Jesus says “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.” Again, in John 5:40 Jesus says, “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” Repeatedly, Jesus talks about our free will choice to follow Him.Scripture teaches that God loves all of humanity, and desires that everyone be saved! 1 Timothy 2:4 tells us that “[God] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” John 3:16 tells us that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” With these two things true, it would be contrary to God’s nature to say He created a soul in a human being when it was conceived, knowing that He was not going to handpick that one for salvation. This belief must then mean that God either chooses to go against His love and desire, or that He cannot go against His love and desire, both of which have no merit.True biblical predestination is based on group characteristics, not on an individual basis. It is as easy as saying “everyone who shows up to the party in a blue shirt will receive $5.” Everyone who then decided to show up to the party in a blue shirt was predestined to receive $5, and everyone who did not wear the blue shirt would not receive $5. The beautiful thing about biblical predestination is that the $5 is available to all who will just wear the blue shirt!

“Six Ways Satan Gains the Advantage”

David Westbrook
14 Dec 2025

Ephesians 6:11“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”Whenever Christians fail to follow the Lord's guidance, they become more vulnerable to the devil's schemes. The devil knows he can't directly attack the Lord’s church because it will see his attack coming and stop it. Instead, he attacks the church from within. He targets her members one by one to do his dirty work.The following are six ways Satan gains the advantage in the Lord’s church.1. When congregations become polluted with worldliness.2. When her members are far to busy with other things.3. When congregations seek to attract people with glitter rather than the gospel.4. When “thus says the Lord” becomes radical and narrow-minded.5. When members fuss and fight over anything.(Such behavior does not belong in the Lord’s church).6. When members no longer have the spirit and attitude of Jesus Christ.2 Thessalonians 3:5“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”

“True Repentance”

Caleb Westbrook
7 Dec 2025

Repentance is much more than an emotion, or “feeling sorry.” Repentance is a decision to change your mind about sin, which results in a change of lifestyle. In fact, the Greek word for repentance used throughout the New Testament is “metanoia,” which literally means “a change of mind.” Paul compares godly sorrow to worldly sorrow by saying that “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 2:7.) Godly sorrow is a true and pure conviction that causes you to change your mind about sin, not just an emotion or a sense of “sad I got caught.”Once this decision is made, true repentance becomes a direction, not perfection. John the Baptist and Paul both said to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” and to “do works befitting of repentance” (Matthew 3:8 – Acts 26:20). Repentance isn’t a one-time event, but a lifelong commitment. In Romans 6, Paul says that when we were buried with Jesus Christ in baptism, we died to sin and should no longer live in it. Romans 6:12-13 says “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Paul warns us not to put ourselves around sinful situations, and to “abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22.) We know that we will still sin occasionally, but we cannot continue in it. Thankfully, 1 John 1:9 tells us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”So why is it that we often want to dance close to the fire? Why are there certain areas where we sometimes want to get as close to the sin line as we can? Have we died to sin if we want to get as close to it as possible without feeling like we are sinning? The truth is that you can be hurt by the heat emitted from the fire without ever touching the flame. True repentance is a realization of that truth, and a desire to stay as far away from it as possible.Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

“A Life Of Thanksgiving”

David Westbrook
23 Nov 2025

Prayer and thankfulness are often linked in Scripture: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Prayer is an expression of our gratitude to a gracious and giving God. Genuine prayers of thanksgiving to God will manifest in three categories of blessings.#1. We are thankful for what God “has” done for us. Our heavenly Father has given us life. He has provided everything we need to support it. “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). What is more important is that God has given us spiritual life. Let us never forget the sacrifice that was made for us to have it, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).#2. We are thankful for what God “is” doing for us. The providence of God is indescribable. What peace it gives all of us to know that we are under His watchful eye, “… I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Paul understood this as well, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (2 Timothy 4:16, 17).#3. We are thankful for what He “will” do for us. One day, we don’t know when, but the Lord is coming back for us, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). There is a place prepared for us in heaven that goes beyond human ability to comprehend.Brothers and sisters, we have everything to live for, and everything to die for! What reason could we possibly have for not living a life of thanksgiving?

“In Christ”

Caleb Westbrook
16 Nov 2025

To be in Christ means to be united with him. We know that this occurs by faith through baptism (Romans 6:3-5, Galatians 3:27), but sometimes when we talk about being in Christ, we forget some of the specific things that it entails. Consider a few of the blessings that scripture tells us we have when we are in Christ.All spiritual blessings – Ephesians 1:3Redemption and forgiveness of sins – Ephesians 1:7No condemnation – Romans 8:1Eternal life – Romans 6:23The love of God – Romans 8:39We are a new creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17Salvation – 2 Timothy 2:10Consider Paul’s words in Philippians 1:19-23. “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”Being in Christ means our identity is no longer defined by our sins or failures. Our identity is Christ and His righteousness. We now live our lives in such a way as to honor Christ in all that we do (Colossians 3:17) so that we can look forward to meeting Him in the clouds on that day! (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.) Being in Christ allows us to have the mindset that Paul had. While on earth, we know that good will come from our efforts, but we do not have to fear death because, just as Paul said, for someone who is in Christ to die is gain!

“Deception”

David Westbrook
9 Nov 2025

Deception’s grip on society is a dark cloud signaling a stormy future; for, wherever truth is abandoned, freedom is the first to fall (John 8:32).When truth takes a back seat to political ambitions—when honesty is no longer the best policy—when it is no longer a big deal to be caught in a lie—when a lie spoken loud enough and long enough is accepted as truth—when the line between truth and error becomes so blurry it is no longer clear—when moral relativity leads to a “my truth/your truth” mentality—we are in serious trouble.Don’t think that religiously-minded people are immune to lies and deception. Many “false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Some are motivated by an over-inflated opinion of their own importance, while others are driven by material gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5). But, ultimately, they are carrying out the will of their father, the devil, who is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). All liars will face “the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).When those, blinded by “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), confront the truth about Christ, they often feel bewildered and confused. Like Pilate, they may ask, “What is truth?” (John 13:38). Exposure to the truth is like stepping out of darkness into the light (Colossians 1:13). Christians are light-bearers who must not participate in deeds of darkness but expose them to the light (1 John 1:7; Ephesians 5:11).The church cannot effectively function as the body of Christ without a strong commitment from its members to walk in truth (3 John -: 3). “Laying aside falsehood," we are to “speak truth” to one another, “for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25). Only through the faithful pursuit of truth can we become lights in the great darkness that hovers over the world (Philippians 2:15).

“The Importance of Scripture”

Caleb Westbrook
2 Nov 2025

In every generation, God’s people have been called back to one unchanging foundation: His word. Scripture is not merely an ancient book of moral lessons — it is the living and active word of God (Hebrews 4:12). It speaks, convicts, comforts, and guides. Through it, we hear the voice of our Creator and can read everything we need to know about life and godliness.Paul stated that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). This means that if it is written in scripture, God wanted it there for our own sake. In a world full of traditions and emotions, the Bible remains the only infallible standard of truth. When we drift from it, our hearts drift too, but when we return to it, our hearts are restored —as many people can relate. Daily scripture reading is more than a habit — it is spiritual nourishment. Just as the body cannot thrive without food and water, the soul cannot grow without the word of God. It strengthens our faith and equips us to face the challenges of each day. If you currently aren’t reading your Bible often, try reading it every day for a week, and you will observe a very noticeable difference in your feelings and your outlook on life.Let’s be people who not only read the word but also live it. James tells us we should be doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22). Paul reminds us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16). We cannot be doers of the word or let it dwell in us richly if we are not reading the word! Let the scriptures shape your thoughts and be reflected in your speech and actions. This is how we are transformed by the renewing of our minds and not conformed to the world, as Paul states in Romans 12:2. When God’s word dwells richly in our hearts, we become a people transformed by divine truth.“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

“The Problem With “I Believe” ”

David Westbrook
26 Oct 2025

If you approached someone on the street and asked what one needs to do to be saved, they would probably answer, “I believe...” You could ask the same question to someone in the Lord’s church and get a similar response, “I believe...” You might wonder what’s wrong with this kind of statement. The problem is that it’s a very “denominational” statement. This kind of statement results from the many different religious beliefs in our society. That’s why we say “I believe...” to set ourselves apart from other religious groups, while those groups use similar statements to distinguish themselves. What kind of impression does this leave on a person? It suggests that we believe something different, but that our religious belief isn’t necessarily better than anyone else’s. Now, maybe we understand the issue: the phrase “I believe...” doesn’t really set us apart from anyone else, but rather groups us with all other religious groups in society.How can we fix this issue? The solution is quite simple. Instead of responding to a question with “I believe…”, we should say, “The Bible says…”. We give the same answer, but instead of presenting ourselves as “just another religious group,” we align ourselves with God’s word. This is exactly what we should do, since true faith and belief are based on the Word of God: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).Let’s ask ourselves this question: Were Stephen, Peter, and Paul sharing what they believed? Yes, of course they were, but the way they shared their beliefs is what’s important. They shifted the focus away from themselves by not saying, “I believe...” and placed it where it should be — on the Word of God!The next time someone asks us about “the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15), decide to share what that hope really is — not by saying, “I believe…” but by showing them “why” you believe it. It is rooted in God’s inspired Word!

“Treading Water in the Ocean”

Caleb Westbrook
19 Oct 2025

Often, it’s difficult to understand our relationship with God. Perhaps this is due to ignorance or simply a lack of confidence in His word. Many skeptics question the existence of God by asking, “How could a loving God send anyone to hell?” This is a legitimate question that deserves to be answered. In fact, it’s a question that I had for a long time, and a question that many Christians had or may even still have!The problem with this question is that its premises are false. First, it gives the false implication that God isn’t really loving and that He wants to send people to hell. God tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 that He is “…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”, and in 1 Timothy 2:4 that He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God makes it plain to us that He does not want a single soul in hell. Second, it falsely implies that God is the one who will send us to Hell. Consider the words of Jesus in John 3:17-18: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Paul says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, in Ephesians 2:1 that we were “dead in our trespasses and sins”, and in Romans 5:11 that “…through [Jesus Christ] we have now received the reconciliation.” We separated ourselves from God when we sinned.The simple answer to this question is that God doesn’t send people to hell; we all sent ourselves there from the minute we first sinned. Jesus clarifies to us that He was sent on a rescue mission because humanity was already under condemnation due to sin. Think of it this way: we were once together with God on a boat in the ocean. Then, despite God’s warning, we decided to jump off that boat and go for a swim, only to find ourselves treading water to the point of exhaustion. This would eventually lead to us drowning in the ocean unless someone saved us. Did God cause us to jump off the boat? Of course not. We did that to ourselves, and God immediately went into rescue mode, extending His hand to help us back up out of the water to save us from death and to put us back in the boat with Him. We do not save ourselves by grabbing God’s hand to get back into the boat; He is the one who saves us. However, if we do not grab God’s hand, we will surely drown in the ocean.

“How The Saints Will Judge”

David Westbrook
12 Oct 2025

In 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, Paul asks two questions to the saints at Corinth about their judgment of the world and angels. “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?” The common question is: “In what manner are saints to judge the world and angels?” My answer to the question may not be the only answer, but I believe it is worth considering.The context in the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 6 condemns the practice among the Corinthian congregation of taking each other to court before non-believing judges (or any other, for that matter – 1 Corinthians 6:6-7), when they should be settling their disputes among themselves by seeking the wisdom of the wise among them (1 Corinthians 6:5). To highlight the foolishness and inconsistency of this practice, Paul reminds them of the exalted status of the saints in “judging the world” (1 Corinthians 6:2) and in “judging angels” (1 Corinthians 6:3). How will this “judging” be carried out? Primarily, I believe it will be through the righteous conduct of the saint who embodies the righteousness of God. This is the standard of God’s truth that condemns or approves all righteousness. “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth… The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live” (Psalm 119:142, 144). It seems clear to me, at least, that as the saint exemplifies God’s standard, he or she demonstrates the standard of conduct which shall ultimately be the standard of all, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:1-4).

“Through Faith, or of Works?”

Caleb Westbrook
5 Oct 2025

One thing you will notice, the more you “test the spirits,” is that Satan has managed to deceive many into thinking that baptism is not an essential activity that must take place to be born again. There is an excuse or a different explanation for each verse that plainly states the importance of baptism. One such way that has been argued for a long time, and is perhaps the foundation of every errant teaching on baptism, is a misunderstanding of what the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The argument is simply this: “We are saved by grace through faith, not of works. Baptism is a work and therefore cannot save us.” This teaching comes from a gross misunderstanding of what faith and works are!In this verse, Paul refers to works of human achievement or effort, not obedient acts of faith. The Greek word he uses for “works” is “ergon,” which means “works, deeds, actions.” Paul frequently uses this word throughout Romans and Galatians to demonstrate works of the law, or human effort apart from faith. Ergon is used approximately 169 times in the New Testament and is NEVER used by Paul, or any other New Testament writer, to demonstrate baptism. In fact, there aren’t any pieces of scripture in the New Testament to suggest that baptism is a work. Consider Colossians 2:11-12. Paul says we are “…buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” The Greek word for working here is “energeias,” which means “working, activity, operative power, effectual energy.” Paul never uses this to demonstrate human effort, but always for God’s effective action. Notice that Paul says when we are baptized, it is through our faith in the working of God! Paul again makes this clear in Galatians 3:26-27: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”Paul’s consistent message is that salvation is not earned by human deeds (ergon -Eph 2:9) but is God’s powerful work (energia – Col 2:12) applied to us in union with Christ through faith, in baptism (Rom 6:3-5). It is God who washes our sins away with the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16) and adds us to the church (Acts 2:38-47). When we are baptized, it is because of our faith and trust in what God said He would do. It is an act of reception, not accomplishment. We are not being baptized as a work of human effort or achievement, as if to say God owes us salvation! Just as Noah was divinely warned by the grace of God and built an ark by faith (Heb 11:7), we are divinely called by the gospel of Jesus Christ and are baptized for the remission of our sins by faith. All of this is made possible by God’s grace.

“Endurance”

David Westbrook
28 Sep 2025

Nobody likes a quitter. From our youngest days, we have been taught to finish whatever we start. To see any task through to fruition is considered an act of nobility in any culture. It is even so in the body of Christ. Jesus said, "But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13). There are far too many who have begun the Christian race (1 Corinthians 9:24) only to turn back. "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Proving themselves unworthy of the crown of life (2 Timothy 4:6-8).The Hebrew writer rebuked and reminded his brethren of this problem in Hebrews 6:1-15 and 10:32-39. In those verses, the inspired writer tells us to "patiently endure" so that we might "obtain the promise." We are not told to be slothful, but through faith and patience, we shall inherit the promise of eternal life. "Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:35-39).The saddest of all sad things will be the person in the judgment who had once been a faithful child of God but passed away out of duty. The dog returned to its vomit, the sow to her wallow in the mire. Not a pretty picture. One of the most beautiful pictures, however, is the picture painted by a devoted Christian. As they grow older, they become more like Christ. Blazing down the final laps of life. Steadfast, loyal, enduring all the way! This is the Christian who can boldly say: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7, 8).If baptism puts a man into Christ, then endurance will put him into heaven. Paul provided a valuable recipe for success in endurance in his letter to the Philippians. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13, 14).Let's help each other to strive hard every day "to fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12), ever remaining "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

“Jesus Understands”

Caleb Westbrook
21 Sep 2025

There is an awful lot of evil in this world. Some of us are more exposed to it than others, but from time to time it has a way of showing its ugly head in a very public way. Not only is evil prevalent more and more in the world, but death, and the loss of our loved ones is something that we all must deal with at one point or another. Considering the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, as well as the passing of Chris McElyea, a very respected and loved husband, father, grandfather and Elder in the Lord’s Church, I want to offer some words of encouragement to those who may be discouraged by the evil and death we all must deal with. It has been weighing on my heart lately as I’m sure it has yours as well.John chapter 11 reveals the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus is aware that Lazarus is sick and is going to die, but He makes it clear that it is for a purpose, that the Son of God may be glorified. Jesus was going to use this as an opportunity to miraculously raise Lazarus from the dead, to show that Jesus was the Son of God. The chapter tells us that Jesus loved Lazarus, as well as his sisters, Mary and Martha. After Lazarus died, Jesus met with Mary, Martha, and friends of Lazarus who were all weeping, and He “groaned in the spirit and was troubled”. Jesus then wept. Despite knowing that Lazarus was in paradise and was better off than he was on earth, despite knowing that He had the power to raise him from the dead, which He was about to do, Jesus still cried over the loss of a friend who He loved. He cried for Mary and Martha because He knew how bad they were hurting from the loss of their brother. Jesus knows how it feels to die, and He knows how it feels when a loved one dies. In fact, Jesus knows this so much, that he voluntarily gave His life to defeat death for us. (1 Timothy 1:8-10)Jesus became like us in all ways, and He has compassion for us. Every sadness and every sorrow that we feel, He felt too. Hebrews 2:17 says “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Always remember that every seemingly bad thing we experience in this world, including death, is only temporary. Revelation 21:2-4 “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

“Dealing With Grief”

David Westbrook
14 Sep 2025

In the 1994 film “Forrest Gump,” the main character deals with his grief over losing a friend by recalling something his mother told him: “Death is just a part of life.” In a way, that is true. All of us are, in the words of the Hebrews writer, “destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). However, death is not a natural part of the world God created. It entered the world because of the Fall. In this deeper sense, death is an enemy and an intruder. One reason Christ came was to defeat death (1 Corinthians 15:26). The grief we experience when a loved one or close friend passes is a sign that this is not how things are meant to be.Upon hearing of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, David composes a lament to express his grief. He also urges the entire community to learn this lament as a proper way to mourn their king’s loss (2 Samuel 1:18). David does not avoid facing the reality of death or the sorrow it causes.Three times in this haunting poem, David declares, “How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19, 25, 27). This serves as both a reminder of Saul’s strength in battle and his judgment. David despises the idea that Saul’s death would be celebrated by the Philistines (2 Samuel 1:20). Their celebration would intensify the sense of loss felt by the nation.David especially laments the death of his friend Jonathan. They had a close and deep friendship. Even though Jonathan was the crown prince, he was willing to give the crown to David. He recognized God’s unique calling on David’s life. Yet, he also remained loyal to his father and died at his side (2 Samuel 1:23). David could hardly contain his grief (2 Samuel 1:26).Grief and mourning are natural responses to death. We don't need to deny our feelings. Even as we mourn, we can trust in what Christ has done to conquer death. As Jesus told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“Perfect Love Casts Out Fear”

Caleb Westbrook
7 Sep 2025

From time to time, it is good to reevaluate our motivation. Why are we doing what we are doing? What is it that makes us want to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ? Sadly, for myself and many others, an honest evaluation sometimes boils down to a strong fear of being lost for eternity. Perhaps it is the result of too much focus on “hell, fire, and brimstone” and not enough focus on “grace and love.” While there is a healthy balance between the two, leaning too far in one direction can be detrimental.Certainly, it is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 11:31), but our fear of being lost for eternity should not be our primary motivation. Our motivation for being faithful should primarily be our love for God! Are there any earthly relationships we can think of that are healthy when they are based on fear and not love? Of course not! Neither is a relationship with God healthy when it is based on fear and not love. Consider John’s words.1 John 4:17-19 “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.The Bible is a beautiful love story. It demonstrates God’s sacrificial love for us and how that was displayed on the cross. The Son, Jesus, became a human just like you and me. He ate, drank, laughed, cried, became angry, and was even tempted with sin just like we are. Imagine the physical pain you would feel upon being tortured and crucified the way He did. He felt that. He was terrified. Yet, just as Jesus said, “greater love hath no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus did not do what He did for us so that we would be fearful of the day of judgment. He did what He did so that “we may have boldness in the day of judgment.”1 John 4:9-10 - “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”God wants us to be bold and confident in the day of judgment. His perfect love should cast out the fear that we have!

“I Shall Not Be Moved”

David Westbrook
7 Sep 2025

Adversity is a constant presence in life. While its form may change and its impact may vary, it always remains, lurking in the shadows, ready to strike and bring misery at a moment's notice. It tests marriages as couples are forced to confront differences and overcome selfishness. It challenges congregations, whether through doctrinal conflicts or moral failures. It also tests individuals, bringing health issues, grief, financial troubles, and personal conflicts, all aimed at stirring internal struggles, doubt, anger, and depression.Life doesn't always go your way. In fact, it rarely does completely. There is nearly always some lingering issue that demands attention and distracts from the many blessings God gives. This is how the world works. It is a world in conflict. It is a world of conflict. And we are living in it. Therefore, facing adversity, keeping it in perspective, and overcoming it are essential for success in life.David understood adversity, even as king. He knew how deep it can plunge a man, but he also recognized that life and joy exist beyond pain and heartache. Although he wrote many Psalms amid difficulties and under great stress, Psalm 62 reveals the calm that is possible-even when facing adversity-when trusting God guides behavior. Satan uses problems to try to shift us from faith to doubt, from peace to agitation, and from trust to fear. He seeks to siege the soul to force surrender, but the key to surviving is not giving in but looking up (Psalm 62: 1, 2).We must strengthen our faith to stay centered and resilient despite the challenges we encounter, so we never yield to Satan’s pressure but stand up for God confidently, trusting that He will ultimately deliver us from trials. Standing firm in the face of adversity involves recognizing the world and its solutions as spiritual attacks for what they are. Therefore, God’s people persevere, embracing hardship rather than compromising the cause (Psalm 62:8).In David’s repetition, we can hear the reply to his detractors and to Satan himself:“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved” (Psalm 62:5, 6). We need not turn to worldly allies or answers; we have no need to consult worldly experts or opinions, for in God we have the only ally we need. The faith of the weak crumbles at the slightest challenge from worldly assertions, but the faithful know that God alone offers true strength, real refuge, and genuine hope (Psalm 62:7). With this knowledge, we can face adversity with the calm confidence that God deserves our trust “at all times,” including during life’s challenges, and that when we pour out our hearts to Him in prayer, He not only listens but also provides a shelter for our hearts (Psalm 62:8).Men cannot guarantee what they often believe. They rely on their power, wealth, and themselves. These are truly unworthy of trust (Psalm 62:9, 10). The divine Word, once spoken, carries more weight than any speech man can give, because God alone can fulfill every promise made—without exception (Psalm 62:11). One promise worth our attention every time life challenges us is that our choices, our actions, and our trust make a difference with God.He is a God of mercy and care, and the determination to do His will in the face of adversity will be rewarded (Psalm 62:12).

“A Christian’s Checklist”

Caleb Westbrook
7 Sep 2025

In his second letter, Peter warns Christians about false teachers who have “forsaken the right way and gone astray”, who “speak with great swelling words of emptiness, and allure…the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error”, and described them as untaught and unstable people that when “…some things are hard to understand, twist to their own destruction…”. Consider Peter’s advice to us regarding these false teachers.2 Peter 3:17-18 “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”To not be one of those who have gone astray and been allured back into the world, Peter tells us to grow in grace and knowledge! How do we do that? Of course, there are many ways to answer that question, but Peter provided a checklist for us to follow, allowing us to determine whether we are growing or not.2 Peter 1:5-11 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”Where are you? Do you have faith, but lack virtue? Start there! Perhaps you’re very knowledgeable in scripture, but you have a serious lack of self-control when it comes to certain sins; then start there! Grow yourself in one and then add the next. Since Peter, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote these words, it is a safe bet that it is God’s will for you to grow in all these areas. I’m confident in saying that wherever we lack, if we ask God for help, we will see growth.

“By This All Will Know”

David Westbrook
17 Aug 2025

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus pointed out a key mark of discipleship. He issued what He called a new commandment. It is a command to love one another. Jesus said that by doing this, everyone would recognize His disciples. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34, 35).Love is not unfamiliar to the Bible. The Old Testament instructed God's people to love, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:18). So, this isn’t just another commandment Jesus gives His disciples in John 13:34, 35. It seems to me that Jesus is calling His disciples to a higher standard of love.Let's notice carefully exactly what Jesus says in verse 34, "… as I have loved you, that you also love one another." So, this is patterned after the Lord's love for us. Am I being too bold by saying this is a sacrificial love? Before you answer that, consider the following verses. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends" (John 15:13); "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him" (1 John 3:16-18); "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Ephesians 5:1, 2).We see this love demonstrated in Acts 2: 44, 45, "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need." I actually witnessed this type of love by the brethren once. They left their families late in the evening on a holiday to go and help a brother in need. A love like this is visible and easily seen: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). This kind of love goes beyond the four walls of the church building.One of the ways we show our discipleship and faithfulness is stated in the following verse: "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31, 32). But the world doesn’t care one whit for doctrine. Most have no idea what that even is. The Lord has given us a way to let the world know that we are different. It is a powerful and persuasive tool. It is the sacrificial love that we have for one another, just as Christ has for us.

“Faith Comes By Hearing”

Caleb Westbrook
10 Aug 2025

I understand that we experience various levels of maturity throughout our lives. Some mature through certain stages quickly, while some take a little longer to figure things out. When I think about the friends I have had in the past and the relationships I’ve had with people, I am grateful. The choices we make in life lead us to where we are, and by God’s grace, here I am.However, I am also ashamed. I am ashamed for all the years that I spent with good friends laughing and talking about anything and everything under the sun, except for the Gospel. I think about all the times that I could have preached the Gospel to my peers, but I did not. I did not study enough and was not confident in what I knew. I did not think it was that important because we were younger and life went on forever. I was more concerned about maintaining those friendships and did not want to put the relationships in jeopardy. The song “You Never Mentioned Him To Me” tugs at my heart and brings about feelings of guilt that will probably never go away. Can you relate?We cannot do anything about the past except learn from it. Read what Paul said in Romans 10 and replace “they” with someone you know and replace “a preacher” with yourself.Romans 10:14,17 “How then shall they (my family and friends) call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they (my family and friends) believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they (my family and friends) hear without a preacher? (me sharing the gospel with them). So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”Think about the relationships you currently have with people who have not obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you do not share the Gospel with them, how are they going to hear it? The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God to bring salvation to anyone who will believe it. But they must hear it first!

“Am I A Child?”

David Westbrook
3 Aug 2025

Children are truly a blessing from God. They are innocent, untouched by evil, and trust wholeheartedly. Despite discipline, children cling to their parents, recognizing their parents’ unwavering love. The Lord tells us we must be like children to enter heaven (Mark 10:13-16). Children will forsake everything for their parents. They love their parents for no reason other than pure love. They cling to their parents, willing to give up the affections of others just for a hug from Mom or Dad. They are eager to do anything for their parents. They might even share a bite of their cookie or a drink from their cup. When they do wrong, they’re quick to cry out of sorrow at their parents’ disapproval. Christ says, "Such is the kingdom of God." If we are not willing to be like children to be Christians, we won’t enter heaven (Mark 10:15). How can I become "as a little child"?As a little child, there must be someone greater than self that we want to serve. That someone is our Father and Lord in heaven. “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:2-5).We must humble ourselves like a little child to please Him. We can’t please Him unless we are converted and become as a little child. Unless we become like a little child, we cannot enter heaven.

“I Am Not Ashamed”

Caleb Westbrook
27 Jul 2025

Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”Paul was no stranger to making bold statements, but his words in Romans 1:16-17 should be a foundation for every Christian. The righteousness of God is revealed to us in that even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus Christ did this to be the propitiation for our sins! (1 John 4:10). He loves us and provides a way to eternal life.This is the news, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes! We have that power in our hands and in our hearts every second of every day. We have the cure for death and the gift of eternal life. We have the answers for the hope that lies within us (1 Peter 3:15), but what do we do with it? If we had the cure for cancer, would we keep it to ourselves? Would conversations come up around our friends who were struggling with cancer, or knew someone who was, and we not tell them that we have the cure? Certainly not! How many earthly friends do we have that we have not shared the gospel with? How many times has the topic of religion come up amongst other people, and we have shied away from that conversation because we don’t want any contention amongst friends?My brothers and sisters, we have all been ashamed of the gospel at times. We all have that cure for eternal death, yet we have shied away from sharing it with others for fear of confrontation or a loss of a relationship. Jesus told us that the gospel would disrupt relationships, but He warned us not to put those relationships ahead of Him; otherwise, we are not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:34-39). We must overcome those fears and truly be unashamed of the gospel of Christ!

“Ignoring The Bees”

David Westbrook
20 Jul 2025

“Shark week,” which is actually “shark month,” runs from July 2 to the 30th. Some of my family and their close friends recently went on a vacation to the coast. Before they left, another very concerned family member warned, “Watch Out For Sharks!” As for me, I’ve never actually seen a shark while playing (certainly not swimming) in the ocean. I’ve never heard the music that plays in the background when a shark is near, either (“Jaws” taught me to listen for that). Which, as I understand it, is a good thing. Once you hear the music, it's usually too late.We’ve been warned to watch out for sharks, but no one ever mentions, “Watch out for the jellyfish.” The fact is, jellyfish are much more dangerous. Each year, they kill more people than sharks do.My wife and I enjoy taking walks in our neighborhood. No one has ever said, “Watch out for the bees?” Did you know that bees kill more people each year than sharks and jellyfish combined?We often worry about sharks (whether we go near the water or not) because they are big and scary. We tend to overlook other threats because they don’t seem as intimidating on their own.Don’t underestimate the small things in life; ignoring them can be dangerous. Every good marriage, every good employee, and every successful business succeeds because they’ve learned to pay attention to the little things.Jesus spoke of a servant who was given some money to manage, and because he managed it well, he was rewarded by his lord. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21).Our biggest wins and losses in life come from mastering the seemingly minor details.For example: Reading a few verses from Scripture and spending some time in prayer each day might not seem important to some, but its long-term impact is revolutionary. Making the effort to bite your tongue might seem unimportant, but in the long run, it could save a relationship. Giving a customer a little more attention might not seem like a big deal, but it could lead to our next promotion.Don’t focus more on the sharks than they deserve, especially if it means ignoring the jellyfish and bees. It’s the small things that hold us back, and the small things that move us forward.They are our biggest threat and our strongest asset.

“Suffering & Trials”

David Westbrook
13 Jul 2025

Suffering and trials are a necessary part of life. There is an absolute certainty that all will suffer in this life. It is also an absolute certainty that the righteous shall be victorious. 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us of that.One of my instructors in school, Brother Randall Morris, made an excellent point when he said, "Joy in the midst of trials begins with what we know." In regards to joy, it needs to be understood that the text says "all joy," not some joy (James 1:2). Understanding what is meant by "all joy" requires knowledge (James 1:3). This is a knowledge of what the pain and suffering will accomplish, not simply focusing on the pain at the time. As we suffer in the present, consider the future. Gloom and despair now but glory and joy in the future.Brother Randall Morris brought out another interesting point in his lectures. People will do anything to avoid pain. For the Christian, wisdom and discipline come into play on this point. If one suffers for a foolish and sinful reason, one deserves what one gets. In that state of mind, avoiding pain and suffering seems only reasonable. Suffering for Christ, however, brings about a whole new realm of thought. There is a blessing to be had if it is suffered through and endured with patience, "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11, 12). All Christians will suffer for the cause of Christ. This is a Biblical fact that cannot be denied. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).There is an example in the book of Esther that proves a valuable point. "Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom… " (Esther 3:6). Every Jew in the kingdom followed Mordecai's example, "… with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes" (Esther 4:3). These poor people were about to be murdered and had no idea how to stop it. We see a different response to suffering in chapter eight and verse eleven: "By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather and protect their lives-to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions." They now have aplan, a way of fighting back. The point is this: New Testament Christians also have a plan, a way of overcoming suffering and trials. We fight back through a knowledge of God that is based on facts. This knowledge assures us that our trials and sufferings are for a reason. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holt Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:1-6).

“His Power Is Made Perfect In Weakness”

Caleb Westbrook
6 Jul 2025

1 Corinthians 12:9 – “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…”Often, we are less forgiving of ourselves than God is. Many of us struggle with various sins and temptations daily and begin to convince ourselves that we will never be able to overcome or be good enough for heaven. No matter what you are going through, God tells us that we aren’t going through anything that other people haven’t gone through and that there will always be a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).Think about some of the people we read about in the Bible and the issues that they had. David committed adultery with another mans wife and she became pregnant. After failing to conjure up a scheme to cover that up, he had that man, Uriah, killed. How did God feel about David? David was described by God as “a man after My own heart…” (Acts 13:22). Likewise, Saul of Tarsus (later known as the Apostle Paul), was a murderer and the biggest persecutor of the early Christians. He “made havoc of the church”, murdering and putting Christians in prison (Acts 8:3 – Acts 9:1). Paul described himself as the “chief of sinners”. Despite this, Paul was God’s chosen vessel to spread the gospel (Acts 9:15). This person who murdered and imprisoned Christians went on to write the majority of the New Testament that we read today.These are only two examples out of many we can read throughout scripture. The comforting conclusion we come to is that it does not matter what you’ve done in your past. It does not matter what sins you are currently struggling with. None of us will ever be “good enough”. We have the blood of Christ that washed us of those sins when we obeyed the gospel! What matters is your faithfulness, your willingness to repent and overcome sin, and your effort to walk in the light! (2 Cor 7:10 – Hebrews 10:26 - 1 John 1:7-10)

“Why Was The Bible Written?”

David Westbrook
22 Jun 2025

That's an honest question. Though there is no single answer to it, the Bible testifies of itself regarding why it was written and given to man. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments" (Psalm 119:105, 106). Obviously, it was written to bring light to man. When you think of light, think of knowledge. "How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets" (Ephesians 3:3-5). When you think of revelation, think of that which has been revealed. What does the Bible reveal to man? Let's look at some things.First, the Bible reveals things to us about God. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). Compare that thought with the following Psalm, "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). Now, consider the world in which you live. Did it all come about by chance, or is there intelligent design behind all of this?Speaking of nature, the Bible also reveals the nature of God. We can begin this thought with a simple verse: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). This verse reveals many aspects of God, showcasing His holiness, faithfulness, truthfulness, and power.Because these traits belong to God, He has revealed certain things about man that he needs to understand about himself. "So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27). Now, let's couple that thought with the following from the New Testament. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). Man is not like an animal. He doesn’t survive only on instinct. Man has intellect, emotions, self-will, and a soul. Because of that, God has revealed through His word the things that man must know. Since man is self-willed, possessing the ability to make decisions for himself, he is free to reject any and all information that has been revealed. But that does not change the nature of God. He must, by His very nature, reveal to man what sin is.As we consider sin, we should understand that man has no way of knowing what sin is on his own. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20). God has very clearly revealed what sin is and its consequences. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). God is just. He has revealed to man, through His word, who his savior is. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2:9).God has revealed His saving grace to us through His word. I conclude with one final plea from the Apostle Paul. "We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1, 2).

“Why Can’t We Sin?”

Caleb Westbrook
15 Jun 2025

Have you ever wondered why it is that we cannot sin? Or why is it that God has considered some things sinful and some things good? After all, most things that are sinful bring pleasure to us! (Hebrews 11:25) Many bible skeptics would claim that God sits on his throne as a sort of evil dictator, and this is why they refuse to acknowledge Him. I believe the answer to these questions is rooted in love!Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”God loves us and wants us to be saved. Sin doesn’t only have spiritual consequences, but real-world consequences as well. Consider the complications that come from things like adultery, murder, stealing, and lying. Why is it that God has determined these things are sinful and we should not do them? Because He loves us and wants to protect us from the real-life (and spiritual life) consequences of those sins! Simply put, committing “sin” is breaking the rules that are made. (1 John 3:4). Consider the rules parents set for their children. This is done out of love to keep their children safe and free from danger! We do not want to see anything bad happen to our children! In like manner, God doesn’t want to see bad things happen to us! God desires that all men everywhere be saved!2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”We need to change our perspective on sin from just being rules we don’t like, to rules God gives us out of love! God is not a dictator giving us unfair commands. When we sin, God grieves! (Genesis 6:6)

“How Do We Know That Jesus Lived?”

Caleb Westbrook
8 Jun 2025

The whole of Christianity fully depends on whether Jesus Christ really did live, die on the cross, and rise from the grave. Paul says that if Christ was not raised from the dead, then our faith is in vain, we are still in our sins, and we should be the most pitied people. (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). Of course, the Bible says that all these things are true, and we know that the Bible is the inspired word of God, but is it possible to verify the events of Jesus Christ outside of the bible? The answer is undoubtedly “yes”. There are plenty of ancient, non-Christian historians that wrote of Jesus and the things he did.Consider the words that the ancient Jewish historian Josephus wrote in his writing, Antiquities of the Jews (ca. AD 93)“At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. His conduct was good, and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.”Josephus is only one of many ancient historians who documents the life of Jesus. It is very comforting that we can look back at historical documents and see them being compatible with what the New Testament teaches. Many people are willing to die for something they don’t know is a lie, but nobody would die for something they do know is a lie. If the apostles had not seen Jesus risen from the dead, it would not make sense for them to have given their lives in defense of the gospel!Acts 2:22-24 - “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

“Which One Would You Choose?”

David Westbrook
1 Jun 2025

1. Denominational Teaching – Many Bodies or churches.Bible Teaching – One body or church (Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:4).2. Denominational Teaching – Founded by men.Bible Teaching – Founded by Christ (Matthew 16:18).3. Denominational Teaching – Human Heads.Bible Teaching – Christ the head (Ephesians 1:22-23).4. Denominational Teaching – Human Creeds.Bible Teaching – Bible as only creed (2 Timothy 3:16-17).5. Denominational Teaching – Wear human names.Bible Teaching – Glory to God in the name Christian (1 Peter 4:16).6. Denominational Teaching – Follow men.Bible Teaching – Following men is condemned (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).7. Denominational Teaching – A multiplicity of churches.Bible Teaching – Only one church mentioned in the Bible (Matthew 16:18; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:4).8. Denominational Teaching – You join a denomination.Bible Teaching – God adds you to His church (Acts 2:47).9. Denominational Teaching – Denominations preach many gospels.Bible Teaching – If any man preach any other gospel, he is condemned (Gal. 1:8-9).10. Denominational Teaching – Rewrite creeds and church laws often.Bible Teaching – Bible remains the same (Matthew 24:35).11) Denominational Teaching – Many faiths.Bible Teaching – “One faith” (Ephesians 4:5).12. Denominational Teaching – Many baptisms.Bible Teaching – “One baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).13. Denominational Teaching – Claim to be abiding in branches of the church.Bible Teaching – Jesus said, “Abide in me, the true vine (John 15:1-6).14. Denominational Teaching – Walk by different rules.Bible Teaching – “Walk by the same rule” (Philippians 3:16).15. Denominational Teaching – Thank God in their prayers for so many churches.Bible Teaching – Jesus prayed for oneness (John 17:20-21).16. Denominational Teaching – Claim doctrine is inconsequential.Bible Teaching – Take heed unto doctrine and others to save self and others (1 Timothy 4:16).17. Denominational Teaching – Membership in denominations not essential to salvation.Bible Teaching – Membership in Christ’s church is essential to salvation (Ephesians 5:23).Looking at the above comparisons, which teaching should we adhere to today – Denominational Teaching or Bible Teaching? The answer should be crystal clear!

“The Moral Argument For The Existence Of God”

Caleb Westbrook
25 May 2025

In his debate over “Does the God of the Bible Exist?” with Kyle Butt (Apologetics Press), Dan Barker, one of the most well-known atheist activists in the world, stated that there are no objective moral values and that we make values based on what we need to survive. Dan went on to say that we are all situational ethicists, which brings the question: Does objective morality exist? The answer to that question is yes! People understand that things like murder, and rape are objectively immoral. If something is objectively right or wrong, then it is universally right or wrong without deviation. If something is subjectively wrong, then it is up to each person’s feelings whether something is right or wrong.Consider Adolf Hitler. During the Holocaust, approximately 6 million Jews were murdered. Here are a few beliefs Hitler had toward the Jews, and what he used to justify his actions.responsible for Germany's defeat in WWIresponsible for Germany's economic problems, like high unemploymentresponsible for the lack of morality in modern societyracially inferior to 'Aryans' (non-Jews)Under the atheistic view of morality, one cannot fully and completely say that what Hitler did was wrong. Subjectively, Hitler did what he thought was best for his country. He was simply being a situational ethicist, consistent with what Dan Barker believes we all are. We know that what Hitler did is objectively morally wrong. There is no moral justification for murdering 6 million people.If there is a law, then there must be a law giver. That perfect and divine lawgiver is God. If God does not exist, then there are no objective moral standards. However, there are objective moral standards. Therefore, we know that God exists!

“Unanswered Prayer”

David Westbrook
18 May 2025

An explanation we often hear for unanswered prayers is that the person praying did not have enough faith. But Jesus said in Luke 17:6 that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey us. In other words, the effectiveness of our prayers doesn’t depend on “how much” faith we have, but on whether or not we even have any faith at all.Luke recounts the story of a Roman centurion who had “great faith” (Luke 7:9). His faith was initially expressed through an appeal to Jesus to heal his dying servant (Luke 7:1-3). Then it was expressed as an acknowledgment that Jesus could heal his servant at any time, anywhere, without even being present, just by saying the word (Luke 7:7).Some seemingly unanswered prayers are actually instances where God has lovingly overruled our wishes. He knows that what we have asked for is not the best. It may also be that our timing does not align with His timing, or He may have a far greater purpose in mind (Romans 8:28).Let us remember that even Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42)

“What about the Pope?”

Caleb Westbrook
11 May 2025

The Catholic church is currently undergoing its process of selecting a new Pope. In Catholicism, the Pope is “the highest honor a member of the clergy can receive”. “The Pope rules the Catholic church in a very similar way to a king would a country, and he is the head of state for the Vatican City.” How does this process take place, you may ask. According to the website, vaticannews.va, there are 133 Cardinal electors who cast votes for who they believe the next Pope should be. There must be a two-thirds majority to be elected Pope, meaning at least 89 of the possible 133 votes. “Once a Pope is elected, he will be led to the "Room of Tears", a small room next to the Sistine Chapel where he dons the white papal vestments for the first time”. There are a lot more details in the process, but this is, in a nutshell, how it works. Sounds like a political election, right?How does this compare with the Bible? Well, even a basic knowledge of scripture will lead you to see that this entire process is based on Catholic tradition and cannot be found in scripture. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the head of the church, which is his body (Ephesians 5:23). We, being Christians, are the individual members of that body, i.e. the hand, the foot, the toes, the organs etc. (1 Corinthians 12:12) I believe the Bible compares the structure of the church to our physical body for a specific reason. The human body cannot operate without the head. Our brains control everything about our bodies, including regulating senses, emotions, thoughts, memories, and even controls process we don’t think about such as breathing and heart rate. Even so, the body cannot lose its head, and then simply pick another head. If the head is removed, the body dies! It stands to reason that the church is, and always will be, led by Jesus Christ. There are no new rules or policies by which the church is supposed to be organized and operated. There is one body, the church (Romans 12:5) and there is one head to that body, its Leader, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23) and that will never change!

“My Way or God’s Way?”

David Westbrook
4 May 2025

Following the death of Frank Sinatra, many people referred to his life by the title of one of his songs, My Way. Perhaps the song did characterize his life, but if so, it is unfortunate. Although most people want to take their own path and have control over everything they do, they often forget that doing things my way will never be as important as doing things God’s way.God promised Abram an heir and a great nation as a legacy; however, Sarai decided that this promise was not going to come through her so she gave her handmaid, Hagar, to Abram to be another wife. “ Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So, Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go into my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai” (Genesis 16:1, 2). When Hagar conceived, she looked down upon Sarai, and Sarai asked Abram for permission to deal harshly with Hagar. “So, Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence” (Genesis 16:6). The point is this, after trying to do things her way, Sarai had made herself (as well as Abram and Hagar) miserable in the process (Genesis 16).People have not changed. They know that God has commanded worship but fail to abide by the biblical authority to do things God’s way. We often get very excited over a new idea, so excited we fail to consider whether or not it is indeed God’s way. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverb 16:25).

“Remaining Unafraid”

David Westbrook
27 Apr 2025

In our public prayers, we often thank God for living in a country where we can worship Him without fear of reprisal or molestation. Indeed, this kind of prayer is approved explicitly in Scripture: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).We should be grateful to our heavenly Father that we can assemble to worship Him in an environment where we are not threatened by civil authorities. It is therefore right that we pray in this regard, so we might continue to enjoy this blessing.But just for a moment, let us suppose that we didn’t have this privilege. What if we suddenly lost the ability to worship without being threatened or persecuted? What if it meant that we might be arrested, jailed, tortured, or even put to death for expressing our faith and for worshiping God according to His instructions? Would we be deterred from worshiping our heavenly Father under these conditions?What would we do if such were the case today? If the police seized us on the way to worship, bound us in handcuffs, and presented us to a judge who ordered us never to speak of Christ to anyone again, how would our behavior change? If we risked a beating by participating in worship services or Bible studies, where would we be on Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday evening?Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, three men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to renounce their allegiance to the true and living God by worshiping a gold statue erected by King Nebuchadnezzar. The legal penalty for disobedience was by cremation in a furnace. The three men’s reply to Nebuchadnezzar was bold, courageous, and to the point:“If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18). Would we take that bold and courageous a stance?In the face of abuse and imprisonment, the apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Later, while facing execution, Paul affirmed: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Their courage in these circumstances was the kind of courage that enabled them to sing and pray even while shackled in a dungeon (Acts 16:24-25), and their faithfulness to the Lord is an example to us today. Paul also warned Timothy, "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).Brethren, if our persecution should ever take the form the apostles faced, would we remain steadfast and unafraid?

“Observing Religious Holidays”

David Westbrook
20 Apr 2025

As we study the Bible, we see that God never commands us to observe a religious holiday. Our responsibility is to honor Christ as we worship Him “in spirit and in truth” upon the first day of the week (John 4:24; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:19). Nothing in the New Testament authorizes celebrations, masses, or special services concerning the resurrection of Christ. In fact, Paul warned people against establishing special “holy days” without Biblical authority: “You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain” (Galatians 4:10, 11).As Christians, we know that we must remember Christ every day of the year, and not just once or twice a year. We do this by following His example that has been left for us (1 Peter 2:21, 22). We remember Christ with every deed that we do in life, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). We honor and remember Jesus Christ every first day of the week, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).I intend to explain this in detail in our A.M. Worship service. This is a good time to invite family members and friends who do not understand.

“Guilt”

David Westbrook
13 Apr 2025

The word “guilt” is a Bible word appearing in both the Old and New Testaments. It refers to the sense of having done something wrong. It can be used to describe one who is guilty before God as well as being guilty or ashamed before a community of people. Feelings of guilt are the reactions of a tender heart that recognizes it has offended God and/or someone else.The keys to dealing with one’s guilt involve these steps: (1) Determining whether or not one’s action violates the word of God (sometimes a person is unjustly condemned for righteous behavior). (2) When one realizes he has sinned against God and/or a brother, he should repent and seek God and the brother’s forgiveness (Acts 2:21-42; Genesis 50:17). Sometimes a person allows his feelings of guilt to overwhelm him, making him feel like he is carrying the heavy burden of sin all by himself. To such a person, Jesus lovingly said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). Why should one suffer under the guilt of his sin, which can harden one’s heart, dulling one's sensitivity toward sin? Jesus sacrificed Himself on Calvary so that sinners like you and me can be cleansed from our sin and restored to a right relationship with God.

“Motivation”

David Westbrook
6 Apr 2025

What are we motivated by? What motivates us to do what we do? According to the online etymology dictionary, the term “motivate” means “to stimulate toward action.” An online dictionary defines the term as, “to provide with a motive or motives; incite; impel.”Through simple observation, there is no question that money is the motivating factor for most people in the world (Matthew 26:14-16; James 5:1-4). Some individuals are motivated by fame and acclaim — a desire to be popular in the eyes of others (John 12:42-43; John 5:44). Others are driven by a desire for pleasure, in whatever form it may take (James 5:5; Job 21:7, 13; Ecclesiastes 2:1-11).If we drive on the freeways of our nation for very long, we’ll see that most folks have a selfish motivating desire to be “first” in getting to their destination, no matter if it endangers them or others along the way. This mindset holds true in the corporate world as well — a desire to reach the top of the promotional ladder, regardless of who gets hurt in the process.What stimulates or motivates us as Christians to do what we do? It’s certainly not because we are motivated by any of the above-listed factors. Most of us will never attain worldly riches in preaching and teaching the gospel (cf. Acts 3:6; James 2:5), nor will we ever be popular in the eyes of men (Matthew 10:22; Luke 21:17; cf. 2 Timothy 4:16).Have we ever considered the idea that our motivation for doing anything must stem from our love for the Lord and an inward desire to do His will? (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:36-38; Matthew 7:21). We work for the Lord, simply for the sheer enjoyment of doing so — not from any worldly stimulation or motivation. Paul even took pleasure in infirmities, because the motivating factor in his life, was his love for Christ and the salvation of precious souls (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Romans 10:1; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 – and note in vs. 18 that he preached the gospel “without charge“ – monetary gain wasn‘t his motivation).Brethren, we need to develop the mindset of doing the Lord’s work, simply because we take pleasure in doing so. If we can attain this mindset, we won’t have to be prodded to attend the assembly, nor will we have to be prodded to give, or study our Bibles. We won’t have to be prodded to endure those “long” forty-five-minute sermons. We won’t even have to be prodded to teach others the saving gospel of Christ. What greater motivating factor could there be in life than this? (Matthew 6:19-21; Philippians 3:1-8).

“Showing Respect”

David Westbrook
30 Mar 2025

In Asia, children are taught respect by giving objects to their parents and elders with both hands. It is also considered impolite to use only one hand to hand over a business card to someone. To show respect in China, a businessman should use both hands to give a business card to a personIn 1 Chronicles 13:1-14, we see the importance of showing respect to God. David had good intentions when he decided to bring the ark back to Jerusalem. During the process, however, Uzzah reached out to touch the ark in an attempt to prevent it from falling off the cart. God struck him dead (1 Chronicles 13:10). David was stunned and upset by God’s anger. Why did the Lord respond so severely?David came to realize that what he wanted to do for God had to be done with respect for Him and His specific instructions. God had commanded that the ark be carried by the sons of Kohath on poles, not on a cart, and that no one was to touch it (Exodus 25:14-15; Numbers 3:30-31; Numbers 4:15).What David learned is something we, too, must take to heart. Showing respect for God means knowing what He wants us to do and then obeying Him completely (Genesis 6:13-22). To please the Lord, we must do His work His way. We respect God when we obey His will, as stated in Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

“We Become What We Hate”

David Westbrook
23 Mar 2025

Cody WestbrookThe Irish philosopher, George William Russell, once said, “By intensity of hatred nations create in themselves the characters they imagine in their enemies.” He recognized the ironic tendency in nations to adopt, over time, the characteristics of their adversaries, which they focused all their energy on avoiding. Interestingly, that phenomenon often proves true in individuals as well. One who consumes himself with the determination not to become like his parent will often, unintentionally, become like that parent. Why is that?Solomon wrote, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Pro. 23:7). The state of our heart – our thoughts – will determine our words, actions, and even our personality. This is why the Bible emphasizes protecting our heart (Pro. 4:23) and filling it with that which is holy and good (Phil. 4:8). If our heart is monopolized by disgust for the undesirable, where can the good be found? If a man constantly thinks about the negative characteristics of a father he refuses to become, how can he think about the good man he aspires to be?Scripture teaches that our primary focus should be on who we aspire to be, not who we aspire to avoid. “Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children” (Eph. 5:1). “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). It is true that we are to “abhor what is evil” (Rom. 12:9) and separate ourselves from all that is unholy (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1) but we do that because we want to be like Jesus, and Jesus hates what is evil and separates Himself from all that is unholy. Following His example (1 Peter 2:21) compels us to pursue holiness, righteousness, and all that is God-like. Hating and avoiding all that is ungodly will flow naturally from it.In short, it is a matter of perspective. One who spends all his energy on identifying and avoiding the negative misses the positive because he never learns to identify it. We become what we hate because we have no idea who we love.

“Are We Instruments of Destiny?”

David Westbrook
16 Mar 2025

In looking at history, we see that great events have occurred around some persons of great influence, i.e., Douglas MacArthur, Winston Churchill, Ronald Regan, and Donald Trump. In times of great national distress, it is nothing short of providential that certain people have been placed in certain places with certain qualifications, i.e., George W. Bush and 9-11 attacks.As Christians, our influence also has far-reaching results (1 Thessalonians 1). We may not even realize the small part that we play in the process, but to the extent that we influence history, we are instruments of destiny.A case in point is the providence found in the history of Esther. At the beginning of the history, we see the wife of King Xerxes (Vashti) being ousted because of her stubbornness and refusal to attend a royal banquet (Esther 1). Because her defiance was looked upon as a threat to the king’s supremacy and authority, a decree was put out against her, and fair young virgins were sought to replace her. The king was smitten with Esther’s beauty and, as a result, was made queen in place of Vashti (Esther 2).Esther disclosed a plot to exterminate all of the Jews and assassinate King Xerxes (Esther 2:21-23; Esther 3). Because of her position as queen, Esther was able to spare her people from disaster. However, there was a real danger that she herself might not survive when her real identity as a Jewess was discovered (Esther 4).When Esther’s relative, Mordecai, saw her unique position as queen, he urged her to reveal the plot to the king. He challenged her with the same haunting question which now lays claim to us:"… Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”(Ester 4:14).As lights shining in a world of spiritual darkness (Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 2:14-16), are we not instruments of destiny? (Matthew 28:19-20).

“Choices”

David Westbrook
9 Mar 2025

Near the close of the book of Leviticus, the Lord presents a choice to the people of Israel. They could acknowledge and hold to Him as the only true God and keep His statutes or follow the rest of the nations into idolatry and disobedience (Leviticus 26:1, 2). If they obeyed, God promised them rain and food, peace and safety, victory and bounty (Leviticus 26:3-8). He promised to dwell with them and have a special relationship with them as His people (Leviticus 26:9-13). However, if they disobeyed, He promised that disease, defeat, hunger and sorrow, captivity, and fear would surely follow them (Leviticus 26:14-39). Yet, God also promised to redeem them again if they confess and repent (Leviticus 26:40-46).As most of us know, Israel chose to disobey, and they suffered all of these things. They suffered these things to some degree under the judges, to a greater degree during the time of the kings, in a most pronounced way during the captivity of Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon, and then completely in 70 A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem (this was the second time the temple was wiped out, some nations just don’t get it). We need to realize that God did not send all of these things at once; they occurred naturally over many years because of the bad choices the nation of Israel made, just exactly as God said they would. When we, individually or as a nation, reject God’s will, we must accept the consequences we created for ourselves. There are times when we suffer because of someone else’s bad choices. However, more often than not, we have problems in our lives because of our own failure to follow God’s will. We all have choices to make (individually and as a nation). When we make the wrong choice, do not be surprised at the consequences.

“Manna & Bread”

David Westbrook
2 Mar 2025

When Jesus was challenged to prove Himself by transforming stones into something to satisfy His hunger, He replied by quoting the Old Testament text (Deuteronomy 8:3), where God had taught that there were more important things for a person to think about than where his next meal might come from. In its original context, Moses exhorted Israel to remain faithful to God after entering Canaan, the promised land. He said they ought to remember their wilderness wandering, a time when they would have starved to death if God had not provided the miraculous “manna” for them.Moses said God had allowed the children of Israel to suffer hardships in the wilderness and had provided manna for them that they had never known, “that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:1-3). By putting them for forty years in a position of utter physical dependence upon Him, God was teaching Israel that they were dependent upon Him spiritually. By recognizing the origin of the bread, they needed to live temporally; Israel was to have learned that they needed the “bread” of God’s truth more than they needed food for the body.Today, we need the warning of Paul to the Corinthians, “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). The words of the familiar song Live for Jesus say it well: “Live for Jesus, O my brother, His disciple ever be; render not to any other, what alone the Lord’s should be.”

“Someone Sees You”

David Westbrook
23 Feb 2025

One of the things I like to do in my spare time is read poetry and folktales. There are many good lessons to be learned from them. They also help me with my vocabulary. In my line of work, proper speech is a necessity and takes years to perfect. Have you ever read the folktale "Someone Sees You?" Here it is as recorded in The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett."Once upon a time, a man decided to sneak into his neighbor's field and steal some wheat. "If I just take a little from each field, no one will notice," he told himself, “ but it will add up to a nice pile of wheat for me." So, he waited for the darkness of night, when thick clouds lay over the moon, he crept out of his house. He took his youngest daughter with him. "Daughter," he whispered, "you must stand guard and call out if anyone sees me." The man walked into the first field to begin reaping, and before long, the child called out, "Father, someone sees you!" The man looked all around but saw no one, so he gathered his stolen wheat and moved on to the second field. "Father, someone sees you!" The child cried again. The man stopped and looked all around, but once again, he saw no one. He gathered more wheat and moved to the third field. A little while passed, and the daughter cried out, "Father, someone sees you!" Once more, the man stopped and looked in every direction, but he saw no one at all, so he bundled his wheat and crept into the last field. "Father, someone sees you!" The child cried again. The man stopped his reaping, looked all around, and once again saw no one. "Why in the world do you keep saying someone sees me?" he angrily asked his daughter. "I've looked everywhere and I can see no one." "Father," murmured the child, "Someone sees you from above!"(The Book of Virtues, p. 604).Interesting what we can learn from a fable isn’t it? Let us remember that our deeds are never completely unseen. Consider the following Scriptures:"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverb 15:3)."O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether" (Psalm 139:1-4)"For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

“How Do We Do It All?”

David Westbrook
16 Feb 2025

The question is asked, with all of life’s demands (i.e., God, work, home, and recreation), how do we balance it all, keep up with it all, and do it all? It is a good question and a question that we need to consider from time to time. I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on the subject of “time management.” Many have written books on the subject and provided valuable insight in that regard. However, I do want to set forth some biblical principles that help us as we struggle to keep our lives in balance with all of the things we daily have to do.First, we must recognize that we can’t “do it all.” A lot of times, we set unreasonable expectations for ourselves. As a result, we end up trying to do too much with too little time and resources. While it is often difficult, it is no sin to say “no” to someone’s request for your time. God never commanded us to do “everything.” What God did command is that if you say you will do something, then keep your word and do it (Matthew 5:37). This isn’t always easy for us to do either, and sometimes we commit to things to which we should have said no. In such situations, we simply must apologize and move on.Second, we need to prioritize our activities. Of course, God always demands to be first in the decisions we make in our lives (Matthew 6:33, 22:37). Everything we say and do should be done with the goal of seeking Him in mind. If we do that, then God sets certain priorities for us. God expects us to show love for the church (Hebrews 13:1). God expects us to love our families (Ephesians 5:25, 6:4, Titus 2:4, 5). God expects us to provide for our families (1 Timothy 5:8). God expects us to behave appropriately with our employers (Ephesians 6:5). God expects us to show respect toward our nation and her leaders (1 Peter 2:17) and to love our fellow man (Matthew 22:39). God helps us prioritize, if we will let Him lead us.Third, we need to set reasonable, accomplishable, yet challenging goals. For example, it would be unreasonable to say that with a handful of people, we are going to knock on every door in Texas in a day. Setting unreasonable goals tends to discourage instead of encourage. However, we should not set goals that are so simplistic and accomplishable that we never grow in our involvement with the church. We need to have goals that we can accomplish with the talents we collectively possess, but that also challenge those talents. In the parable of the talents, each was given according to their ability, yet it was still a challenge (Matthew 25:15).Fourth, focus on one task at a time instead of the whole project. The old adage, “How do you eat an elephant?” is appropriate. The answer: “One bite at a time.” When you look at a project as a whole, it often appears like it will never get done. The more we focus upon that, the more we get discouraged in working on the project. Instead, we need to break down the project into tasks and focus on the singular items one at a time. Before we know it, the entire project will be complete. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 that we have enough worries simply trying to keep up with the things that we need to do today. And that’s precisely what we should do: take one day at a time.Finally, there’s a song from the movie Mary Poppins that we should consider as well. “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” When we find ourselves with tasks that we don’t want to do or tasks that are difficult either physically or emotionally, we should seek to see the good that will come from doing such tasks and then focus on the good, not the bad. We can always rejoice in the fact that we are seeking to serve God in everything we do and not man. Glorifying God in our lives should be an overriding cause for us to be happy doing the distasteful things of life (1 Corinthians 10:31).This doesn’t exhaust the subject, but it gives us some principles to consider as we seek to be pleasing to God and influential for good to our fellow man. Let us then round out each of these scriptural truths with prayer on our part for wisdom to apply each of these principles appropriately each day.

“My Eyes Bring Suffering To My Soul”

David Westbrook
9 Feb 2025

There are many reasons why people weep. Some because of calamity, others because they have been done wrong, some because they are happy, and some because people have been good to them and they don’t feel they deserve it. Jeremiah, as we all know, is known as the weeping prophet. I can assure you it was not because people liked him. "My enemies without cause hunted me down like a bird. They silenced my life in the pit and threw stones at me. The waters flowed over my head; I said, “I am cut off!” (Lamentations 3:52-54). Jeremiah wept because he was grieved to his soul over the lost Southern tribes who were going into Babylonian captivity. "My eyes overflow with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. My eyes flow and do not cease, without interruption, till the Lord from heaven looks down and sees. My eyes bring suffering to my soul because of all the daughters of my city" (Lamentations 3:48-51). In the same sense, do we grieve and weep for the lost of our own nation?When we see the multitudes around us like lost sheep without a shepherd, does it bring a tear to our eyes? Is there any compassion? Has it even crossed our mind? It certainly moved the Lord! "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:35, 36). The Apostle Paul had the same compassion for his people, "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:1-3).We must always strive to have a tender heart. We must never allow ourselves to become so calloused we can no longer shed a tear. Compassion and tenderheartedness are a way of life for the New Testament Christian. "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). We are supposed to have one mind in Jesus Christ, "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous" (1 Peter 3:8). But how can we have one mind without compassion?Whether we shed tears of joy or tears of sorrow, let us weep together for the good of all. "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26).

“If I Find It, Should I Keep It?”

David Westbrook
2 Feb 2025

A familiar phrase, especially among our young people, is: "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers." However, Moses' second reading of the law says something quite the contrary. "You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother's, which he has lost and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself" (Deuteronomy 22:1-3).Finders have a moral obligation to help restore what another has lost. Rather than keeping what belongs to another or even just ignoring it, under the law, the people were to protect another person's property until it could be restored to them. We find this very practical and loving concept wrapped in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). Isn't it interesting that Jesus echoed the same statement, "Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).How far we are willing to go to restore another's loss says something about the extent of our love for others because it indicates how much we think in terms of what we would appreciate. Society is growing so inconsiderate that most people have little patience for others' faults while expecting others to give them great latitude concerning their own. Christians ought to demand better of themselves. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another," "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends" (John 13:34, 35; 15:13).

“When The Perfect Comes”

David Westbrook
26 Jan 2025

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 can cause a degree of difficulty.In context, beginning back in chapter 12, Paul is having a discussion concerning spiritual gifts. This discussion continues through chapter 14. Paul makes a clear point in verse 8 that there will come a time when spiritual gifts will no longer be needed. He consolidates all spiritual gifts into three categories: "prophecies, tongues, and knowledge."(1 Corinthians 13:8). I believe we all have a proper understanding of this, the problem arises with verse 10. "But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away" (1 Corinthians 13:10).What exactly is the "perfect?" There are many different viewpoints. Some say that the "perfect" refers to Jesus Christ, while others believe it is the state of existence that will come when the church enters heaven. Still others affirm that Christian maturity, or love is "that which is perfect." There is another view to consider also, and that is the view that the "perfect" is in reference to the word of God. We will now discuss this view.Paul sets forth a very crucial point in verse 8, "Love never fails." He says this in comparison with something that will eventually fail, "prophecies, tongues, knowledge" (This is not personal knowledge of the word of God. In context, it can only mean the gift of knowledge). Since the text is dealing with spiritual gifts, we must conclude, then, that the phrase "that which is in part will be done away" refers to spiritual gifts. The question to answer now is, what were spiritual gifts for? We all know the answer to this, they were given to confirm the WORD of God. God's word was being delivered day-by-day and bit-by-bit through the Apostles and whoever else the spiritual gifts were given to. Everyone, thus endowed with spiritual gifts, did their part toward the full compilation of God's word. Everything pointing toward the unity of faith the Apostle Paul wrote about. "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).Paul completes his thought, referring to the "perfect," the full, the complete. The partial revelation of God's will gives way to the complete and perfect revelation. One day, the letters will all be written. One day they will be assimilated into what we refer to as the New Testament. The Christians in Paul's day (ours as well) needed to understand that their spiritual gifts were only temporary. They were needed when the will of God had not yet been fully given to men; they were in support of, or in confirmation of, the proclaimed word when it existed only in part. Just as scaffolding is needed and serves its purpose while a structure is under construction, its purpose is no longer needed once the building is completed. Spiritual gifts served a temporary, confirming purpose. "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen" "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?" (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3, 4). When partial revelation ended, so did the supportive spiritual gifts, that theScriptures might stand as a full, complete, final, and all-sufficient guide for mankind (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

“Truths Worth Knowing”

David Westbrook
19 Jan 2025

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). It seems evident to me that the majority of the world is searching for truth. In order to gain the truth that we are searching for, we must be willing to put forth some real effort. Therefore, we must study (2 Timothy 2:15; John 5:39). The Bereans understood quite well what it meant to search for truth. "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). As we study the truth, I would like us to consider some truths worth knowing. It is evident that there are many truths that will not affect our lives if we never know them. However, there are also many truths that produce significant changes in our lives when we come to an understanding of them. These are truths that are worth knowing.It is worth knowing how to come to Christ. Of all of the truths that I know, this is the one that has the most incredible value. The plan of salvation is, without doubt, worth knowing. Whether we choose to be obedient to it is a different subject all to gather. Faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (Acts 17:30), confession (Romans 10:9, 10), baptism (Acts 2:38). Sense it is only through Christ that we obtain salvation; it is well worth knowing what is involved in coming to Him. "Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).It is worth knowing why Christ was manifested. Manifested simply means revealed. In having this knowledge of the reason for the revealing of the Son of God, we are encouraged to follow Him closer. "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). As we daily face the trials of the Christian life, it is worth knowing that Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan. These "works of the devil" include his plans, purpose, design, schemes, aims, and ends, which he hopes to accomplish. It is worth knowing that Jesus was not manifested to start a fan club, build hospitals, or many other things but to seek and save the lost. Since that includes each one of us, we should deem it worth knowing that Jesus came to save us.When we consider all these things that are worth knowing, it's hard to imagine people actually wanting to be ignorant of them. Unfortunately, that is the truth of the matter.

“God Finishes What He Begins”

David Westbrook
12 Jan 2025

If we are honest, we will all admit that we often fail to finish what we begin. We are prone to set goals and cast them aside at the halfway point. We begin projects and let them sit idle for weeks hoping to finish them at some point in the future. We often look back on these unfinished plans with regret. “If only I had set aside a little time each day, this would be finished by now,” we say to ourselves. The power to see things through is a virtue that we would all do well to pursue.In contrast, we serve a God who always finishes what He starts. Paul identified this truth in Philippians 1:6 when he said, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” To be confident involves certainty. The work they had begun is in reference to verse 5–their fellowship with Paul in the gospel, and completion refers to bringing a thing to a successful finish. Thus, Paul was absolutely certain that God would continue to bless the Philippian saint’s efforts in the gospel until the coming of the Lord.This passage brings several important principles to light. First, we must remember that the work of the gospel is not really our work but God’s. He works with us (Phil. 1:6), and He works in us (Phil. 2:13). Therefore, we must have faith in Him to bless our efforts. Second, God never gives up. As long as this world stands, God will continue to work and bless the efforts of the faithful. Finally, as we contemplate the work we do in the kingdom on both the congregational and individual levels, let us do so with the same level of assurance and dedication seen in Paul and in our God. He always finishes what He begins, and so should we.

“2025, The Year of No Violins”

David Westbrook
5 Jan 2025

Our dealings with everyday life are all based on perception. Usually, when things are good, we thank God for them. When things are bad, we ask for God’s help, “Holy Father, please get us through this with the least amount of pain.” We certainly need to thank God every day for the good things in life, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). With that stated, I also believe that many of us would do well to rethink our perception of bad times. With many, when the slightest little thing goes south, the violins begin to play. And oh, what a pity party it is!A clear statement is made by Jesus in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus makes no bones about where peace is to be found, “in Me.” He also makes no bones about our lives on this earth, “in the world you will have tribulation.” Tribulation means “grievous trouble, severe trial or suffering,” but what many in the church define as tribulation does not in any way fit that definition. Yet, the violins continue to play.If we fall apart over the little things in life, how will we do when real tribulation comes? Let’s put the violins away and save the pity party for another day when it is needed. Let’s learn and grow from the little troubles in life so we can help ourselves and others when the significant trials come (and they will come). The Lord has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). I leave you with the words of James. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).