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!

By: Gary L. Hutchens

​   As I write this article the 2020 national elections are still one week away.  Read that statement again.  Election day has not yet arrived!  I emphasize this fact to make it clear I am not pointing a finger at voters of any particular political party.  You will never see me promote any political party or candidate through bulletin articles I write, and certainly not from the pulpit or class lectern.  I am here addressing a situation I’ve been observing generally through much of this year and leading up to this election.

​By: Gary L. Hutchens

     Without question, the greatest blessing offered to mankind is eternal salvation.  While there is no way man can earn that blessing, it certainly cost God a great deal to offer it to man.  Sin separated man from God (Isa. 59:2).  The requirement of sin is death (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23).  But since God created man in His own image and gave him dominion over all else He had created on this earth (Gen. 1:26-28), there was no living thing on this earth that the death of which could suffice to cover for the guilt of man’s sin (Heb. 10:1).  And man, guilty in his own sin, certainly could never do anything to bring himself forgiveness.  God had to give up the life of His own Son on the cross to redeem man from the guilt of sin (Heb. 9:27-28).  Jesus died on the cross to pay the debt for man’s sin, a debt that man could never pay himself and a debt that Jesus certainly did not owe.  That is why He is our Savior!

By: Gary L. Hutchens

​   An old saying goes something like, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.”  There may be some truth to that, but it’s certainly not true in every case.  Many people have eaten contaminated food, not knowing it was contaminated, and got sick as a result.  In some cases people have died.  Not knowing it was tainted did not keep them from being hurt.