Hello Folks,
     It is good to be back and settled in here in Greeneville.  Ruth and I were in Anderson, In for the Global Gathering and General Assembly Meeting.  There was some really good preaching even though I did not get to hear much of it as we arrived on Monday and left on Wednesday.  On Tuesday Ruth became sick and I had to tend to her and finally took her the hospital where they treated her for a viral infection.  After GA on Wednesday we left for Illinois and decided to just come home after church on Sunday.  We arrived back here late Sunday night.  Ruth is much better now even though she is still not fully recovered.
     This past Sunday we celebrated Independence Day out at Locust Springs.  We had hamburgers, hotdogs and the ladies carried in covered dishes.  Then Paul and Kattia Jones along with their daughter, Tabitha, were with us and Paul and Kattia spoke at our worship services.  Jeff Melton led us in songs and after dark we had a fireworks display.  It was a great time with the folks of the church family and many people worked very hard to enable this celebration to take place.  Locust Springs Christian Retreat Center also celebrated their 20th year of existence and shared that at least 200 people have come to the Lord while using the facilities out there.  It was a great day in the Lord!
     The General Assembly was rather disappointing to me.  Our new General Director, Jim Lyons, spoke and did a very good job.  He is an excellent communicator and I do believe that he will be able to give direction to the ministry through our national ministries I must say that I am praying that he will also provide a strong stance on the traditional message of the Church of God Reformation Movement.  Time will answer that question.  The GA decided to send a resolution on Christian Marriage back to be reworked.  As I sat there what I seemed to hear was a call for us to use language that is more agreeable with the times.  I wonder if it was a matter of political correctness as it seemed that the language they had a problem with was the biblical quotes that were used.  I may be wrong, and hope that I am, but the question is what will be next?  Where will we do and what will we wind up with in the long run.  I am very conflicted on this issue and wait with great anticipation to see what the decisions our GA will make.  I also wonder what all the pastors, ministers and others who can help make those decisions left it up to about 500 people to make the decisions?  Time always answers the questions that we have.

Lord bless you all,

H G Rudd