2009-11-20T09:31:09-05:00 GCI info@gospel.com http://www.gospel.com/feeds/topics/john http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/the-light-that-weathers-all-your-storms-5964 2009-11-20T09:31:09-05:00 I know a relationship with Jesus can weather every storm. He's loved and sustained us through losing a baby, through financial crises, through all the struggles of parenting, through major medical battles, and at the casket of so many we've loved. Jesus has never abandoned, never let down anyone who's put their life in His hands. He is the one certain light that your heart needs. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/orphan-no-more-5960 2009-11-13T09:10:21-05:00 We make a lot of mistakes for love. And no matter how close our family or friends may be, there's still that unexplainable loneliness deep down inside. It's cosmic loneliness. We're lonely for God. Maybe we're even pretty religious but we're still missing the only love relationship that can satisfy the heart of a spiritual orphan. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-relationships/waiting-for-your-father-5951 2009-11-02T09:23:19-05:00 The problem is that God is sinless and holy totally perfect. And you and I, on the other hand, have a lifetime of sinning; of doing it our way instead of God's way. You can't get into His family unless something is done about your sin, and something has been done. In fact, God did it. That's how much He loves you and He does not want to lose you. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-most-important-relationship/the-trouble-with-lifes-great-catches-5950 2009-10-30T09:15:25-05:00 We have tried to fill a God-sized hole with things and people that can't begin to take His place. If we live like this, we'll live without peace and without meaning. If we die like this, we'll spend eternity without God and His love. He didn't leave us separated from Him. He pursued us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to sacrifice His life for yours and mine; to take the rap for all our sin, that defiant self-rule of our lives. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-personal-power/the-only-applause-that-matters-5943 2009-10-21T09:49:14-05:00 Who are you living to please: the boss, the pastor, your family, your friends, the church, some guy or girl, the community? They didn't die for you. Their rewards don't hold a candle to His. The early church leader, Stephen, knew that. He had stood up for the truth on the streets of Jerusalem and the crowd was not applauding. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-personal-power/the-incredible-shrinking-me-5933 2009-10-07T09:31:12-05:00 If you can surrender the control and the credit, you are ready for the incredible shrinking you. Our lives become more incredible than we could ever have imagined as our ego and our interests and our self-reliance begin to recede, and our lives become more about Jesus than ever before. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/fixing-the-fixed-ignoring-the-broken-2576 2009-10-02T11:15:32-05:00 Harvest is urgent business. If the harvest workers don't get busy, and act quickly the harvest will die. And so will it be said there were people around us ready for Jesus - we weren't ready to go to them - they won't be ready for eternity. That'll be true unless we move beyond just fixing those who are already fixed - and start working on the ones who are broken! http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-most-important-relationship/the-greatest-miracle-known-to-man-5930 2009-10-02T09:10:40-05:00 Jesus, this name you have to believe in, means "Jehovah saves." So when you "believe in His name," you're telling Jesus that you're taking Him as your personal Rescuer from the death penalty for your sins, because He's the only One who died for them. Which brings us to the eternal life-or-death question: has there been a time when you've done that? http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/leading-them-out-of-the-cage-3532 2009-09-22T09:42:37-05:00 A person who has tasted something better has to go into that cage where they are and help them get out. Someone has to say, "Follow me to something better." It might mean some pain, some risk - but you could be the one God is calling to go into that cage and lead them out. Let God use you to display the awesome power of one changed life! http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-most-important-relationship/choosing-life-3524 2009-09-22T09:36:45-05:00 If you're trusting in anything else to get you to heaven - your goodness, your religion, your reputation, your knowledge about Jesus - you will never go there. It's all about Jesus and whether or not you've abandoned all other hopes and made Him your only hope.