Hello Folks,
     Our area congregations have been involved in a Winter Camp Meeting with Evangelist Richard Bradley preaching the four nights.  On Super Bowl Sunday Night we had a pretty good attendance, a guess would be about 400, and an excellent worship led by Dale Gruver.  The Choir from our congregation sang and once again they did an excellent job.  It is a real pleasure for me to listen to them as they lift their voices to the King!  Last night Bro Bradley preaching on "Lowering the Bar" from 2 Kings 16 when he removed the Laver from off the God ordained position and put it on the floor.  What a challenge it was to consider whether I as a pastor have lowered the bar that God has set up!  His message of holiness and unity is of the utmost importance and unless we preach that those truths, along with the rest of them, we fail to be the leaders God would have us to be!  I ask each of you to consider this same question for your life.  Have you lowered the bar in how you raise your children, what you will do in your life, how you hold God's Word, and whether you are simply making application of God's truth. 
     One of the great challenges I have faced as a pastor is the desire to grow the congregation.  I have watched as people have attended and then dropped out after I have preached a sermon concerning a doctrinal issue that they do not agree with.  If I would simply not say anything about tongues, the second coming, free will, or holiness I know that they just might stay with us.  But that is where we all must make up our minds whether we are about building the congregation or building God's church!  It would seem to me that pastors, preachers and teachers have the responsibility of declaring truth regardless of whether it is well received or not!  We belong to God and the only concern we should have is whether God is pleased with us.  Now, I realize that we should be wise about how we say things and not to attempt to reject those who do not agree but it still is demanded from us that we preach the Word!  I pray that we do exactly that!


Have a Great Day,


HGRudd