Hello Folks,
Yesterday the International Convention for the Church of God Reformation Movement started in Oklahoma City. The change of locations has been much discussed and I guess we will see if it has helped improve attendance. It is my prayer that many will be able to attend and that God's will be done in all that takes place. While I will not be in attendance that does not mean that I am not wanting to see the best take place for the church! Much of what happens will be what we would consider the normal. The GA will meet, resolutions will be discussed and voted on, budget issues will be brought to the floor, information will be shared, worship will take be celebrated and I pray that God will speak in all of it. My heart desires to see real godly change take place and that the Holy Spirit will be very present in all that transpires.
While I do not know if this attempted change will be the beginning of the marvelous work of God among us I pray that will be the case. From what I have read in the early days of the Church of God Reformation Movement God's people prayed. They prayed for real change to encompass the congregations that had become accepting of falsehoods that only succeeded in holding people in bondage. They wanted His truth to prevail among all people and they felt that they were called by God to proclaim that truth and to practice that truth! I wonder if we ought not to pray that we would have the same Spirit to place such a fire in our hearts? I am not sure how everyone else feels about this but I for one am unhappy with merely waiting on Jesus to return. I want to "occupy" until He comes again and ends this old world.
I ask you to pray for the International Convention that will go through Thursday of this week. May the glory of God fall on that group and on us!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Hello Folks,
We had a team of 16 people go to Haiti and when they returned they brought with them a virus that is transmitted through mosquito's. It had some very undesirable symptoms and while it was not life threatening it was not very enjoyable. Of the 16 who went 13 of them came down with it. We had the Health Department checking on them and drawing blood from them as well as giving certain directions to them as well. Yet the ministry went on in Haiti and here! God used them to help the people of Haiti in their physical needs but also where their spiritual needs were concerned. I am thankful that there are people who will take the message of Christ to a world that desperately needs it even if there is risk involved.
This summer, if it be the Lord's will, I will be preaching two camp meetings and one revival. I ask you to pray that I would fulfill the will of God in these endeavors. There will be a lot of people who will sit in the seats and I need to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ clearly at each occasion. Pray that I know what God desires for me to preach and that I will fulfill His will in this. While I have certain ideas of what should be spoken it is my desire to only speak what He wants. So I ask you to please pray for me!
I would think that everyone of us will have challenges and opportunities presented to us through this summer. It is my prayer that you be used by God in each one of them. May the God of all ages stand with you and empower you to be His tool for His glory!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
We had a team of 16 people go to Haiti and when they returned they brought with them a virus that is transmitted through mosquito's. It had some very undesirable symptoms and while it was not life threatening it was not very enjoyable. Of the 16 who went 13 of them came down with it. We had the Health Department checking on them and drawing blood from them as well as giving certain directions to them as well. Yet the ministry went on in Haiti and here! God used them to help the people of Haiti in their physical needs but also where their spiritual needs were concerned. I am thankful that there are people who will take the message of Christ to a world that desperately needs it even if there is risk involved.
This summer, if it be the Lord's will, I will be preaching two camp meetings and one revival. I ask you to pray that I would fulfill the will of God in these endeavors. There will be a lot of people who will sit in the seats and I need to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ clearly at each occasion. Pray that I know what God desires for me to preach and that I will fulfill His will in this. While I have certain ideas of what should be spoken it is my desire to only speak what He wants. So I ask you to please pray for me!
I would think that everyone of us will have challenges and opportunities presented to us through this summer. It is my prayer that you be used by God in each one of them. May the God of all ages stand with you and empower you to be His tool for His glory!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Hello Folks,
I have been listening to a CD where Jim Cymbala was at the Cove in Ashville, North Carolina leading a conference. In that CD he said that 5 polling agencies have said that using the standards of Jesus being the only Savior and the Bible being our rule of faith that only 7.2? to 9% of the population in the U.S. are Christian. He brought up the thought that the U.S. can no longer claim to be Christian with those kinds of statistics. I would say that with the acceptance of pluralism by our educational and political class unless there is a great revival it will not get any better.
It seems to me that the first century church lived in a world that was slanted even more against them. The Roman government did not accept them with open arms, the religious world (both Jew and Pagan) were in opposition to them, they had no wealth and no military power. Yet they were used by God to turn their world upside down. Can we in the church world of today be used by God to facilitate such a change? The answer is yes! But it means that we in the church must be men and women who have one message and that is Jesus for our world. While we should be concerned about politics and the opposition that we face the one thing that we should consider the most is who is our Savior! Is God leading us in our lives? If He is then we need not fear who is against us neither should we be overly concerned with who is for us as long as He is with us!
Do we see our time here as being lived in a world of great restraints or do we see it as a time of great opportunity? I ask you to pray for me that I might be the man God would use in this world for Him! I will pray that you will be the man or woman that He would also use in this world.
Have a great day.
HGRudd
I have been listening to a CD where Jim Cymbala was at the Cove in Ashville, North Carolina leading a conference. In that CD he said that 5 polling agencies have said that using the standards of Jesus being the only Savior and the Bible being our rule of faith that only 7.2? to 9% of the population in the U.S. are Christian. He brought up the thought that the U.S. can no longer claim to be Christian with those kinds of statistics. I would say that with the acceptance of pluralism by our educational and political class unless there is a great revival it will not get any better.
It seems to me that the first century church lived in a world that was slanted even more against them. The Roman government did not accept them with open arms, the religious world (both Jew and Pagan) were in opposition to them, they had no wealth and no military power. Yet they were used by God to turn their world upside down. Can we in the church world of today be used by God to facilitate such a change? The answer is yes! But it means that we in the church must be men and women who have one message and that is Jesus for our world. While we should be concerned about politics and the opposition that we face the one thing that we should consider the most is who is our Savior! Is God leading us in our lives? If He is then we need not fear who is against us neither should we be overly concerned with who is for us as long as He is with us!
Do we see our time here as being lived in a world of great restraints or do we see it as a time of great opportunity? I ask you to pray for me that I might be the man God would use in this world for Him! I will pray that you will be the man or woman that He would also use in this world.
Have a great day.
HGRudd
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Hello Folks,
I have some questions in my mind and sometimes I wonder if they are shaped by my desire to have good numbers in church? Maybe you can help me on this and tell me what you think.
There is a fundamental shift that is catching up to our community here in Greeneville, Tennessee. It seems that Sunday p.m. is something that is of little if any value to people in our day. Over the past 5 years I have seen a marked change in what people do where Sunday is concerned. It seems that family gatherings and any kind of activity takes precedence over the church? Now, the question is whether it really matters? We know that God did not tell us to go to church on Sunday a.m. and p.m. Could it be that we are just slow in catching up to what really matters in life? Or could it be that we are selling the next generation's spiritual life for ballgames and hotdogs? Does it seem to you that the 40 something's and younger are treating church as something that is nice but not a necessity? In my mind church cannot be separated from Christ since He is the Bridegroom and the church is the Bride? Can we be people of God without placing value on what he places value? Am I putting my measurements on people rather than putting God's measurements on them?
This is the struggle that I am having. What about you? Is it an issue where you are at? Do you see this as a cultural thing? Do you see people making God of less concern in their lives due to them making the church of less concern? Let me know what you think.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I have some questions in my mind and sometimes I wonder if they are shaped by my desire to have good numbers in church? Maybe you can help me on this and tell me what you think.
There is a fundamental shift that is catching up to our community here in Greeneville, Tennessee. It seems that Sunday p.m. is something that is of little if any value to people in our day. Over the past 5 years I have seen a marked change in what people do where Sunday is concerned. It seems that family gatherings and any kind of activity takes precedence over the church? Now, the question is whether it really matters? We know that God did not tell us to go to church on Sunday a.m. and p.m. Could it be that we are just slow in catching up to what really matters in life? Or could it be that we are selling the next generation's spiritual life for ballgames and hotdogs? Does it seem to you that the 40 something's and younger are treating church as something that is nice but not a necessity? In my mind church cannot be separated from Christ since He is the Bridegroom and the church is the Bride? Can we be people of God without placing value on what he places value? Am I putting my measurements on people rather than putting God's measurements on them?
This is the struggle that I am having. What about you? Is it an issue where you are at? Do you see this as a cultural thing? Do you see people making God of less concern in their lives due to them making the church of less concern? Let me know what you think.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
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