Hello Folks,
Over the next 7-8 weeks we will be hearing much about the Presidential election that is going to take place. It seems to me that whatever the outcome Christians have to ask themselves a very simple question and it is whether they have been faithful to God. I realize that in our lives we have a lot of other pressures on us and that our allegiance can be shaped by many other factors. What I would like to do is to bring to our minds that we should be voting Christian values.
I think that most of us have come to the place where politics, and often politicians, have become rather distasteful to us. It appears that many in positions of power are only interested in maintaining their positions thus they support the platform of their party more than they support their promises or their publicly stated values. So what is a Christian to do in cases like that? I think that most of us make the choice of voting for what we call "the lesser of the two evils."
Here is something that you might want to consider as a follower of Christ. What about voting your Christian values as best represented by the politican that is being voted on in this election. Who supports the most things, or the things of "higher value"? Since life is a basic value of Christians which one supports life from the "womb to the tomb?" Which politican supports biblical marriage? Which politican supports freedom of religion and our right to voice Jesus and biblical truth in the public arena?
God has placed us here at this time and place for "such a time as this." I wonder if we will be "weighed in the balances and found wanting?" I guess each one of us will answer to God for our actions, our voices, and our votes.
Have a Great Day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Hello Folks,
This past Sunday Phyllis Newby from Haiti preached in our a.m. worship. Whenever she is here I find myself thinking about the great sacrifice she has made to serve the Haitian people and God. I also think about the amazing fruit that has come from that ministry and sacrifice. She has served there now for over 40 years and God has used her for His glory. Two orphanages, one hospital, health clinics, 240 congregations of the Church of God, elementary and secondary schools as well as a school to train people in particular areas of skills and much more could be added. As she preached here she spoke about prayer and being empowered by the Spirit and I for one felt that God had spoken through her. Please pray for her as she returns to her ministry this week and ask God to continue to use this woman for His glory. Also pray that He will awaken us to be people of sacrifice and ministry so His message can be spread to our world.
Yesterday was my 61st birthday and I find myself wondering how much longer do I have in this world. How much more time will I be able to do the ministry that I have given over 32 years of my life to? I guess as a person sees their body deteriorate they begin to realize that their own life is limited and that there is always an end to what we do in this life. Yet I want to be used by God as long as He can use me. So I ask you to pray that I will give myself to Him to bring glory to His name and His church! Pray that I would continue to fight the fight of faith and that I would recognize temptation and flee from it. God is good and he has given me many wonderful things in my life so I ask that my life continue to be used for Him.
Bless you all,
HGRudd
This past Sunday Phyllis Newby from Haiti preached in our a.m. worship. Whenever she is here I find myself thinking about the great sacrifice she has made to serve the Haitian people and God. I also think about the amazing fruit that has come from that ministry and sacrifice. She has served there now for over 40 years and God has used her for His glory. Two orphanages, one hospital, health clinics, 240 congregations of the Church of God, elementary and secondary schools as well as a school to train people in particular areas of skills and much more could be added. As she preached here she spoke about prayer and being empowered by the Spirit and I for one felt that God had spoken through her. Please pray for her as she returns to her ministry this week and ask God to continue to use this woman for His glory. Also pray that He will awaken us to be people of sacrifice and ministry so His message can be spread to our world.
Yesterday was my 61st birthday and I find myself wondering how much longer do I have in this world. How much more time will I be able to do the ministry that I have given over 32 years of my life to? I guess as a person sees their body deteriorate they begin to realize that their own life is limited and that there is always an end to what we do in this life. Yet I want to be used by God as long as He can use me. So I ask you to pray that I will give myself to Him to bring glory to His name and His church! Pray that I would continue to fight the fight of faith and that I would recognize temptation and flee from it. God is good and he has given me many wonderful things in my life so I ask that my life continue to be used for Him.
Bless you all,
HGRudd
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Hello Folks,
This past week the Church of God Reformation Movement in Tennessee met for our annual State Assembly meeting. It was a time when I got to see friends that I had not seen in quite a while and also meet some new people who are doing ministry in Tennessee. David Sebastian, the Dean of the School of Theology at Anderson University was the speaker and he did an excellent job of preaching the Word. My heart was filled joy at hearing God's Word presented in such a fashion and I was challenged by the insight that was provided. I am thankful that God still speaks through His messengers and I pray that all who were there were helped through that time.
We also presented an amended Credentials Manual 2011 for approval by the state ministers. There were a couple things that I noted. First, that the greater majority probably never read the manual so they did not know what they were approving. Second, that those who were there were placing their future in the hands of those who were making the presentation. I think I understand the trust that is given to each other but I wonder if it is wise. It may be that a person can have the best of intent and be absolutely wrong or they may not have considered what could be in the future. I just wonder how many state assemblies have approved the 2011 Credentials Manual without having read it and if they would be happy if they would consider the implications of what it states. Oh, Church of God will look less and less like the body of people who saw the Church as a glorious organism that was brought into being through the blood of Jesus or will we wind up being another organization that is strangled by a structure that began with good intents but ended up as "lords" over the body of Christ?
May the Lord bless you all.
HGRudd
This past week the Church of God Reformation Movement in Tennessee met for our annual State Assembly meeting. It was a time when I got to see friends that I had not seen in quite a while and also meet some new people who are doing ministry in Tennessee. David Sebastian, the Dean of the School of Theology at Anderson University was the speaker and he did an excellent job of preaching the Word. My heart was filled joy at hearing God's Word presented in such a fashion and I was challenged by the insight that was provided. I am thankful that God still speaks through His messengers and I pray that all who were there were helped through that time.
We also presented an amended Credentials Manual 2011 for approval by the state ministers. There were a couple things that I noted. First, that the greater majority probably never read the manual so they did not know what they were approving. Second, that those who were there were placing their future in the hands of those who were making the presentation. I think I understand the trust that is given to each other but I wonder if it is wise. It may be that a person can have the best of intent and be absolutely wrong or they may not have considered what could be in the future. I just wonder how many state assemblies have approved the 2011 Credentials Manual without having read it and if they would be happy if they would consider the implications of what it states. Oh, Church of God will look less and less like the body of people who saw the Church as a glorious organism that was brought into being through the blood of Jesus or will we wind up being another organization that is strangled by a structure that began with good intents but ended up as "lords" over the body of Christ?
May the Lord bless you all.
HGRudd
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Hello Folks,
Two Sunday nights ago I started a series on the Beatitudes and have found them to be very interesting, at least for me. One of the tidbits that I came across was the thought that the term blessed could be translated as "Oh the bliss" so in Matt 5:3 it would read "Oh the bliss of the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It is seen as a present reality rather than just a future hope. Jesus is actually giving to us the message that we are kings in His kingdom and it is our bliss to currently be participants and recipients of His wonderful grace. Oh the bliss of the person who walks in the kingdom of God.
One of the questions that is circulating among pastors is who will be the new General Director of the Church of God Reformation Movement. There is a committee in place that is working on this providing the right answer to this question. They have interviewed numerous leaders and groups within the church as well as providing a questionaire for anyone to answer that would so desire to do so. While I have no doubt about the good intents and the tremendous efforts that are in place to do this right I am also convinced that unless the church prays we will not see the right results. Man's efforts are expected and needed but only God can place someone in the body where He would have them to be. I ask you to pray concerning this issue.
Recently I received a call from someone about an individual who had used my name as a reference. It was an interesting conversation and during that time I had found that the leadership of the local congregation had given permission to their state ministries to make the final decision of who would be their pastor. I wonder if this is a good precedent to set into place. Is this the method that God would have us use where the governance of the local church body is concerned? I realize that many are calling for the end of the autonomy of the local congregation but I would warn each of us to be gravely concerned about what we allow to take the place of autonomy. I wonder what we will look like in a couple of generations?
Have a great day,
H. G. Rudd
Two Sunday nights ago I started a series on the Beatitudes and have found them to be very interesting, at least for me. One of the tidbits that I came across was the thought that the term blessed could be translated as "Oh the bliss" so in Matt 5:3 it would read "Oh the bliss of the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It is seen as a present reality rather than just a future hope. Jesus is actually giving to us the message that we are kings in His kingdom and it is our bliss to currently be participants and recipients of His wonderful grace. Oh the bliss of the person who walks in the kingdom of God.
One of the questions that is circulating among pastors is who will be the new General Director of the Church of God Reformation Movement. There is a committee in place that is working on this providing the right answer to this question. They have interviewed numerous leaders and groups within the church as well as providing a questionaire for anyone to answer that would so desire to do so. While I have no doubt about the good intents and the tremendous efforts that are in place to do this right I am also convinced that unless the church prays we will not see the right results. Man's efforts are expected and needed but only God can place someone in the body where He would have them to be. I ask you to pray concerning this issue.
Recently I received a call from someone about an individual who had used my name as a reference. It was an interesting conversation and during that time I had found that the leadership of the local congregation had given permission to their state ministries to make the final decision of who would be their pastor. I wonder if this is a good precedent to set into place. Is this the method that God would have us use where the governance of the local church body is concerned? I realize that many are calling for the end of the autonomy of the local congregation but I would warn each of us to be gravely concerned about what we allow to take the place of autonomy. I wonder what we will look like in a couple of generations?
Have a great day,
H. G. Rudd
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