By: Gary L. Hutches

​     Life is full of ups and downs.  If we made a list of all of the positive things in our life, all of the blessings, that list would almost certainly far exceed a similar list of all of the negative things in our life.  Despite that fact, we tend to focus more on the downs than on the ups, more on the negatives than on the positives.  It would be a good exercise in self examination to try to figure out why this is the case.

By: Gary L. Hutchens

​   This is probably the strangest time any of us have experienced in our lives.  Everyday, throughout the day we hear reports on how many more people have tested positive for the corona virus, how many more people have been hospitalized and how many more people have died, in this country and around the world.

​By: Gary L. Hutchens

   Most of us were probably instructed by our parents to “Be considerate of others.”  The inspiration for that instruction did not originate with Mom and Dad.  The principle comes from God’s word and is referred to as “The Golden Rule”:  “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31).  We paraphrase it by saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

By: Gary L. Hutchens

Psalm 46:1-3  “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling."

From The Elders​

​   We are facing an unprecedented upheaval of our normal lifestyles and routines due to the spreading of the Corona virus across our nation.  Let’s all be reassured that God is still watching over us, He still loves us and He will care for us.  And, He will see us through this, as He sees us through all other challenges in life.

By: Gary L. Hutchens

​     The opening verses of the tenth chapter of Acts give a rather glowing description of a man named Cornelius.  The first verse notes that Cornelius was a ranking officer, a Centurian, in the Roman army at Caesarea.  The second verse describes him as, “A devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”  The next four verses depict Cornelius seeing an angel in a vision in answer to his prayers.  The angel gave Cornelius instructions to send to the city of Joppa for Simon Peter in order that Peter could come to Cornelius’ home and teach him and his household the gospel.  The rest of the chapter deals with God preparing Peter for the mission, the messengers from Cornelius traveling to Joppa, Peter entering the home of Cornelius, Cornelius recounting his vision for Peter, Peter teaching those of Cornelius’ household the gospel, and their obedient reaction to that teaching, culminating in their being baptized.  Now, back to verse two…

By: Gary L. Hutchens

​   James wrote, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17).  James could not have been much clearer- not doing what we know we should do can constitute sin!  Such sins are called sins of omission.  Why did James include that verse in his letter?  Because James was writing God’s word (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and God guided him to write exactly what He wanted James to write (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

By: Gary L. Hutchens

​   Have you ever heard the statement “He’s doing God’s work in the devil’s kitchen!”?  It’s an expression referring somebody doing something considered to be good in a very difficult, even hostile environment.  Though it naturally sounds like a reference to some spiritual work, it is probably used most often in reference to non-spiritual matters.  But for the purpose of this article let’s consider how this statement aptly describes doing the Lord’s work in this world.

By: Gary L. Hutchens

​   “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10).  What a passage of scripture- what a promise from God!  Fear is common to humanity; it’s a reality of life in this world.  Yet God’s word repeatedly admonishes against fear, encourages us to not be fearful, assures us that we need not fear as long as we walk faithfully with God.

By: Gary L. Hutchens

   Paul spent considerable time in his first letter to the Corinthians trying to help them correct their attitude pertaining to miraculous gifts.  He gave a great deal of specific attention to their apparent misuse of the gift of “tongues” (languages).  He emphasized that what was said and done in the assembly needed to be edifying for those gathered, and in order for it to be edifying it had to be intelligible.  He illustrated the point by noting that a soldier blowing a trumpet to call an army to battle needed to blow the right notes so the other soldiers would know what was being signaled: “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?"