|
By: Gary L. Hutchens In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul penned a magnificent text of scripture on The Mind Of Christ (Phlp. 2:1-8). In the first four verses of the text he listed character traits that ought to exemplify a Christian’s life. In the last three verses he gave examples of the mindset displayed by Christ in His coming to this earth, living as a man and going to the cross to offer His life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Perhaps most intriguing is verse five, right in the middle of the text, in which Paul admonished, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We are to have the mind of Christ!
By: Gary L. Hutchens I usually devote a bulletin article near the beginning of most every year to review the year past and look forward to the year ahead. I’ve described it as Looking Through The Rearview Mirror And The Windshield. I typically review attendance figures, outreach ministries and baptisms, comparing the hard statistics from the year gone by with those of the year or two before that. Needless to say, the COVID pandemic eliminated the possibility of doing such an analysis.
By: Gary L. Hutchens This is probably the strangest beginning of a new year that any of us has ever experienced. We’ve just come through the strangest ten months any of us has ever experienced, and the source of that strangeness, the COVID 19 virus, is still with us and seems to be going strong. What is your outlook for this year? A more focused question, How Are You Planning To Serve The Lord This Year?
By: Gary L. Hutchens As we enter into a new year, there’s a question that should be up front in everybody’s mind: “How’s My Relationship With God?” At about this time every year people consider the status of their lives. They reflect on what happened to them last year, the state of their right now, and they look ahead to what is realistically appearing before them on the horizon.
By: Gary L. Hutchens “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2).
By: Gary L. Hutchens A previous article looked at the reality of discouragement and why people become discouraged. Numerous factors can contribute to discouragement: illness, physical problems, financial difficulties, relational problems, even the weather… People can also become discouraged due to failure to accomplish or achieve some goal. But, as noted, those are simply contributing factors, vehicles on which discouragement hitches a ride.
By: Gary L. Hutchens The story goes that the devil decided to retire (now, wouldn’t that be great news!), and he had a “Going Out Of Business Sale.” All of the tools of his trade were openly displayed and priced on row after row of tables. One tool, however, was set off to itself under a glass case. It was more worn than most of the other tools, and it was considerably more expensive. A small labeling card was set in front of it with one word printed thereon- DISCOURAGEMENT!
By: Gary L. Hutchens Jeremiah prophesied during a time when Israel was on the precipice of disaster due to her own wickedness. Over and over Jeremiah proclaimed God’s call for the nation to repent and be reconciled to Him, or else God would destroy them as a nation, allowing their enemies to conquer them and take them captive into a foreign land. Jeremiah found few receptive ears to his continual warnings.
By: Gary L. Hutchens This Thursday is, of course, Thanksgiving Day. What a great day, and what a great purpose behind it! A day when families typically get together and enjoy one another’s company around a special meal. A day when people are more easy with one another, nicer. A day when people think about their blessings and the Giver of those blessings. A day when people take time to pray and give thanks for what they have.
By: Gary L. Hutchens National election day is past. Candidates were elected to public offices all across the nation. We were told this election would be the most important election in many years for the future of our nation. But that assessment has been made in regard to many such elections over the past several decades. Politics!
|
AuthorGary L. Hutchens Categories
All
Archive
November 2020
|