Hello Folks,
Ruth and I returned from Coshocton, Ohio where I preached a revival last week. The church there is rather small about 65 in attendance but they support the revival really well and their hearts were filled up with the wonders of God. It was a pleasure being there and getting to minister. I think that Ruth must have sun in every service along with Pam Childers, the pastor's wife.
While I was there I got to see an old friend Duke Young. He and I ran around together when I was a teenager before I entered the Army. While he is not a Christian we had conversation about God and how his life had changed. He was well on his way to becoming an alcoholic, if he was not already one, but stopped drinking 29 years ago, he is 63 now. I ask you to pray for my friend because he needs Jesus in his life even if he does not think that to be the case.
This past week-end we had Dr. Rhonda Gibbs in our congregation. She spoke to our youth on Saturday and then preached in both our worship services here on Sunday. She also led in some leadership training. Dr. Rhonda was a joy to have here and I believe that God used her greatly. In our p.m. worship almost the entire congregation was at the altar praying and seeking God for our prayer lives.
Next week I will be in Kentucky on Nov. 5-6 in a Pastor's Fellowship Steering Committee meeting and ask you to pray that we hear from God in our time together. I believe that we in the Church of God are at a pivotal time as a movement. We will be making decisions that can have a great impact in the lives of many of our pastors and other leaders. If we are not faithful to the Word of God then there is little, if anything, that we can do to build the Kingdom. We will be considering what the theme for our May 6-7, 2013 Pastor's Fellowship meeting will be about, dealing with issues concerning conferences that will take place during that time, as well as other concerns that are in our hearts. Pray that we hear from God so we can do His will.
Maybe some of you have concerns for the Church of God Reformation Movement and would like to give your thoughts to me. I would be happy to take them to the meeting and present them if at all possible. Let me know.
May He bless you,
HGRudd
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Hello Folks,
The past two nights I have attended the Reformation Rally at Horse Creek Church of God here in the Greeneville, Tn area. The sermons were Spirit filled and the attendance was good. As I sat and listened to what was being said I was thinking that the messages are still needed in my life. The thought that the battle over sin is still taking place in my life and that I still desire to see people saved rose in my heart and mind. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by all that takes place in the life of the church that the grind of the everyday can cause me to lose sight of the real call of God on my life. It is easy to do what is needed and fail to do what is important! I am thankful that God used Bill Neece and Darryl Allen to remind me of the real battle and the real goal.
Have you ever wondered what God is waiting to do in your life and in your ministry? Are we not called by God to engage in battle with the enemy and to stand as warriors for Him in this world? It seems to me that I see many, myself included, are merely waiting for next Sunday. Is it not true that the real battle is engaged every moment of every day? Do we not see a world that is lost and headed for hell or have we become so innoculated sitting in our office or doing the normal of our day that we no longer are invovled in the warfare? It is not just about singing the songs, preaching the sermons and teaching the lessons but it is about men, women and young people who are swamped with the difficulties of the moment and the horrors of sin. Can we not at least tell them about the Savior who makes a person brand new in Him?
I pray that I will be a real warrior who is involved in the warfare for souls and that I will not merely sit back and wait for heaven.
Have a Great Day,
HGRudd
The past two nights I have attended the Reformation Rally at Horse Creek Church of God here in the Greeneville, Tn area. The sermons were Spirit filled and the attendance was good. As I sat and listened to what was being said I was thinking that the messages are still needed in my life. The thought that the battle over sin is still taking place in my life and that I still desire to see people saved rose in my heart and mind. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by all that takes place in the life of the church that the grind of the everyday can cause me to lose sight of the real call of God on my life. It is easy to do what is needed and fail to do what is important! I am thankful that God used Bill Neece and Darryl Allen to remind me of the real battle and the real goal.
Have you ever wondered what God is waiting to do in your life and in your ministry? Are we not called by God to engage in battle with the enemy and to stand as warriors for Him in this world? It seems to me that I see many, myself included, are merely waiting for next Sunday. Is it not true that the real battle is engaged every moment of every day? Do we not see a world that is lost and headed for hell or have we become so innoculated sitting in our office or doing the normal of our day that we no longer are invovled in the warfare? It is not just about singing the songs, preaching the sermons and teaching the lessons but it is about men, women and young people who are swamped with the difficulties of the moment and the horrors of sin. Can we not at least tell them about the Savior who makes a person brand new in Him?
I pray that I will be a real warrior who is involved in the warfare for souls and that I will not merely sit back and wait for heaven.
Have a Great Day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Hello Folks,
I want to thank all of the folks of this congregation and others who have shown their apprecation during this month of Pastor Appreciation. Last Sunday night after our worship we had a time of celebration and eating as a church family. During that time folks gave the pastoral staff cards of appreciation and expressed their appreciation verbally. I want to thank all of you for making me realize once again how blessed I am to be here as your pastor. Please pray thta I hear the voice of God and give the kind of leadership that is needed for our congregation in the year to come. Unless God builds the house we all labor in vain.
It has been my joy to be a full time pastor in the Church of God since 1980. Over 32 years of my life has been lived serving the church and I must say that it has been very gratifying for me. Yet in that time I believe that I have seen some massive changes in the complexion of the landscape in the church. It seems to me that as a Movement the Church of God has been confronted with a decided turn from much of the message that helped shape who we are. Many pastors, and congregations, have isolated themselves from each other. There are organizations within the Church of God that are clearly able to stand without the help of national ministry. It is also true that some of our largest congregations can subsists without national ministries being a part of what they do. Local pastors and congregations give little support to each other and fail to show any sign of the unity that we proclaim. Could this be indication that some of us have fallen into a post-movement mentality? While there is much call for accountability and the removal of congregational autonomy do we really think that any of our congregations or pastors are really going to accept the authority of a State Minister or National Leader over them? Would there not just a mass exodus from the Movement and numerous independent congregations? Would the effort of the removal of autonomy not merely produce a much higher level of autonomy? Those who are attempting to bring a greater accountability into place ought to consider what the possible outcome might be.
Yet the real question that must be asked is what does God's Word say about this issue. Do we see in God's Word an organization that gives rules and regulations as well as expectations to local congregations? Do we see congregations that are independent of each other and move to their own desires without consideration of the rest of the body? I would suggest that there is a biblical standard of mutual accountability that reveals dependence on each other as well as the ability to do what is needed in the local situation without using a "one size fits all" mentality.
This makes me wonder what is coming for the Church of God Reformation Movement. If Jesus tarries what will the next 10 years produce? Could it be that pastors and congregations will have a very difficult decision to make? One thing is sure--unless more or our pastors show up for the General Assembly a smaller amount of individuals will be making decisions that effect the entire body.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I want to thank all of the folks of this congregation and others who have shown their apprecation during this month of Pastor Appreciation. Last Sunday night after our worship we had a time of celebration and eating as a church family. During that time folks gave the pastoral staff cards of appreciation and expressed their appreciation verbally. I want to thank all of you for making me realize once again how blessed I am to be here as your pastor. Please pray thta I hear the voice of God and give the kind of leadership that is needed for our congregation in the year to come. Unless God builds the house we all labor in vain.
It has been my joy to be a full time pastor in the Church of God since 1980. Over 32 years of my life has been lived serving the church and I must say that it has been very gratifying for me. Yet in that time I believe that I have seen some massive changes in the complexion of the landscape in the church. It seems to me that as a Movement the Church of God has been confronted with a decided turn from much of the message that helped shape who we are. Many pastors, and congregations, have isolated themselves from each other. There are organizations within the Church of God that are clearly able to stand without the help of national ministry. It is also true that some of our largest congregations can subsists without national ministries being a part of what they do. Local pastors and congregations give little support to each other and fail to show any sign of the unity that we proclaim. Could this be indication that some of us have fallen into a post-movement mentality? While there is much call for accountability and the removal of congregational autonomy do we really think that any of our congregations or pastors are really going to accept the authority of a State Minister or National Leader over them? Would there not just a mass exodus from the Movement and numerous independent congregations? Would the effort of the removal of autonomy not merely produce a much higher level of autonomy? Those who are attempting to bring a greater accountability into place ought to consider what the possible outcome might be.
Yet the real question that must be asked is what does God's Word say about this issue. Do we see in God's Word an organization that gives rules and regulations as well as expectations to local congregations? Do we see congregations that are independent of each other and move to their own desires without consideration of the rest of the body? I would suggest that there is a biblical standard of mutual accountability that reveals dependence on each other as well as the ability to do what is needed in the local situation without using a "one size fits all" mentality.
This makes me wonder what is coming for the Church of God Reformation Movement. If Jesus tarries what will the next 10 years produce? Could it be that pastors and congregations will have a very difficult decision to make? One thing is sure--unless more or our pastors show up for the General Assembly a smaller amount of individuals will be making decisions that effect the entire body.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Hello Folks,
It will not be long before the elections of 2012 will take place and, in my opinion, will determine exactly what our nation and the church will face in the future. I often wonder why it is that Christian people do not vote Christian values. What is it that causes good Christians to close their eyes to such obvious anti-Christian behavior in our politicians and the policies of our government? How can Christians voite for politicians who support abortion and infanticide as well as a homosexual agenda.
Just for an example did you know that in the next couple of weeks some of our schools here in East Tennessee will be having a day where the homosexual agenda will be promoted? One of the schools in White Pines, two in Newport, and one in Happy Valley all will either have their "MIT" which is an acrostic for Mixing It Up. That is an effort to promote the homosexual lifestyle in our schools. How is it that Christian parents are not up in arms over it?
Has our great nation lost the warfare with a socialist agenda and given up the basics of our individual freedom in hopes of having the government take money from one group of people to give it to another group of people? Can Christians condone such an action when the bible promotes a work ethic that is being cast aside? I realize that many of us would help those who are in need but it is very difficult to give to those who simply will not put forth effort to take care of their own needs.
Well, when election day comes we will find out if Christians will vote Christian values or will they vote for politicians who support party politics that are in complete opposition to them. I wonder what we will say when we stand before God and He asks why we allowed the murders of babies and the promoters of homosexuality to become our national leaders?
Pray for our nation,
HGRudd
It will not be long before the elections of 2012 will take place and, in my opinion, will determine exactly what our nation and the church will face in the future. I often wonder why it is that Christian people do not vote Christian values. What is it that causes good Christians to close their eyes to such obvious anti-Christian behavior in our politicians and the policies of our government? How can Christians voite for politicians who support abortion and infanticide as well as a homosexual agenda.
Just for an example did you know that in the next couple of weeks some of our schools here in East Tennessee will be having a day where the homosexual agenda will be promoted? One of the schools in White Pines, two in Newport, and one in Happy Valley all will either have their "MIT" which is an acrostic for Mixing It Up. That is an effort to promote the homosexual lifestyle in our schools. How is it that Christian parents are not up in arms over it?
Has our great nation lost the warfare with a socialist agenda and given up the basics of our individual freedom in hopes of having the government take money from one group of people to give it to another group of people? Can Christians condone such an action when the bible promotes a work ethic that is being cast aside? I realize that many of us would help those who are in need but it is very difficult to give to those who simply will not put forth effort to take care of their own needs.
Well, when election day comes we will find out if Christians will vote Christian values or will they vote for politicians who support party politics that are in complete opposition to them. I wonder what we will say when we stand before God and He asks why we allowed the murders of babies and the promoters of homosexuality to become our national leaders?
Pray for our nation,
HGRudd
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