Hello Folks,
I was in Anderson, In yesterday. I had been invited to preach at the School of Theology Chapel service so Ruth and I drove up to my son, James' home and spent the night on Monday. We then drove the rest of the way on Tuesday and I was given the privilege to preaching the Word to a very diverse group of people. Of course, the students were there as well as the professors and leadership of the School of Theology. There were also retired pastors who live in the area and at least one current area pastor. The worship was good and those who were there were very receptive to the sermon. It was a blessing for me to be there and a joy to be able to declare God's Word to all of us who were in attendance.
Ruth and I got home last night about 9:30 p.m. after a rather long day but my heart is filled with joy because I have been called by Him to declare His truth! I was called by God to preach the gospel in January 1975, ordained by the Church of God Reformation Movement in Sept. 1978 and began my full-time pastoral ministry in July of 1980. Since that time God has provided me opportunities that I would have never guessed possible. Preaching at the School of Theology is one of those things that had never entered my mind. Who would believe that a person who came from the kind of background that I come from would have that privilege but I remember praying that God would use me all over the United States and the world to preach His Word. He has been faithful to me and the world can see how God takes someone who has little potential and gives them far more than they could have ever believed. Thanks be to Him and may He receive the praise.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Hello Folks,
Did any of you pay attention of the debate on Feb. 4, 2014 between Ken Ham, and Bill Nye's debate on the creation vs. evolution. Bill Nye approaches the subject with a particular philosophy called "the reasonable man" outlook. Ken Ham is an evangelical Christian who places trust in God's Word! It seems to me that this is the basic place that all bible believing Christians find themselves at in our world. We believe God and we believe that the evidence points to the very clear reality that design is seen very place you look. Yet many who call themselves scientist appear to close their eyes to such evidence and then declare that they are the "reasonable man". I wonder if it would not be more appropriate to call them the "unreasonable man". Yet our children and young adults are being fed a steady diet of evolution from textbooks and those who are teaching them. I would suggest that preachers ought to attempt to proclaim biblical truth concerning creation and refute the ideology of a materialistic society that is the major teacher of our children.
It was very interesting to me after the debate on Feb 13, 2014 at the worldviewchurch.org website there was an article by Darrow Miller where he quotes some evolutionist as saying that they "deliberately ignore the evidence". The amazing thing for me is that "scientist" would do such a thing but it is not amazing for those who are promoting an agenda that they are so committed to that they do not care about facts. I wonder who is more religious about the matter of beginnings the evolutionist or the creationist?
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Did any of you pay attention of the debate on Feb. 4, 2014 between Ken Ham, and Bill Nye's debate on the creation vs. evolution. Bill Nye approaches the subject with a particular philosophy called "the reasonable man" outlook. Ken Ham is an evangelical Christian who places trust in God's Word! It seems to me that this is the basic place that all bible believing Christians find themselves at in our world. We believe God and we believe that the evidence points to the very clear reality that design is seen very place you look. Yet many who call themselves scientist appear to close their eyes to such evidence and then declare that they are the "reasonable man". I wonder if it would not be more appropriate to call them the "unreasonable man". Yet our children and young adults are being fed a steady diet of evolution from textbooks and those who are teaching them. I would suggest that preachers ought to attempt to proclaim biblical truth concerning creation and refute the ideology of a materialistic society that is the major teacher of our children.
It was very interesting to me after the debate on Feb 13, 2014 at the worldviewchurch.org website there was an article by Darrow Miller where he quotes some evolutionist as saying that they "deliberately ignore the evidence". The amazing thing for me is that "scientist" would do such a thing but it is not amazing for those who are promoting an agenda that they are so committed to that they do not care about facts. I wonder who is more religious about the matter of beginnings the evolutionist or the creationist?
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Hello Folks,
This morning I had a conference call with the Advisory Board for the Church of God Bible Institute. The COGBI is offering its 5th class starting in March. There are currently 17 students signed up. For those of you who may not know what this is all about it is an effort to provide an affordable series of classes entirely on line taught from a historical Church of God perspective. Thus far we believe that it has done what we hoped it would which is to give individuals who either cannot afford, do not have the ability due to other responsibilities, or who just want to improve their understanding of biblical truth a place to accomplish this. While the Bible Institute is not accredited the instructors are very well credentialed with individuals who have Masters Degrees and some with Doctorates teaching. The student will obtain a certificate if they successfully complete the 2 year course. If you want to know more about it go to Greenevillefcog.org and you will see the Bible Institute area to click on and receive the information that might help.
One of things I am attempting this year is to move our congregation into ministry through truth! It seems to me that we have a lot of people in our world that want to do good things and I am thankful for them. But many of them do what they do for different reasons that have nothing to do with the message of the gospel or to bring honor to God. I pray that this year in our congregation that we will see men and women investing themselves into God-honoring ministry! If that is not done then we will simply be good people doing good things but never be God's people doing God's things!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
This morning I had a conference call with the Advisory Board for the Church of God Bible Institute. The COGBI is offering its 5th class starting in March. There are currently 17 students signed up. For those of you who may not know what this is all about it is an effort to provide an affordable series of classes entirely on line taught from a historical Church of God perspective. Thus far we believe that it has done what we hoped it would which is to give individuals who either cannot afford, do not have the ability due to other responsibilities, or who just want to improve their understanding of biblical truth a place to accomplish this. While the Bible Institute is not accredited the instructors are very well credentialed with individuals who have Masters Degrees and some with Doctorates teaching. The student will obtain a certificate if they successfully complete the 2 year course. If you want to know more about it go to Greenevillefcog.org and you will see the Bible Institute area to click on and receive the information that might help.
One of things I am attempting this year is to move our congregation into ministry through truth! It seems to me that we have a lot of people in our world that want to do good things and I am thankful for them. But many of them do what they do for different reasons that have nothing to do with the message of the gospel or to bring honor to God. I pray that this year in our congregation that we will see men and women investing themselves into God-honoring ministry! If that is not done then we will simply be good people doing good things but never be God's people doing God's things!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
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
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
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Hello Folks,
This past Saturday we had a very cold and snowy day. Ruth and I did not leave the house at all other than to go to the mailbox. It carried over to the Sunday morning and here in East Tennessee it meant that 89 congregations did not have services. If you were to see some of the roads around here you would understand a little bit better about the reluctance to get out. We went ahead and had worship both in the a.m. and p.m. While our attendance in the a.m. was drastically effected we still spent our time in worship and celebration and I was thankful that I could be here. It is a real joy for me to be able to worship our Savior with those who were able to make it here. I pray that regardless of the weather where you are at that you were able to lift your voices in praise to our Savior. There is no one else like Him and he deserves all the praise we can give Him.
Yesterday I went to the VA for my regular check up and the doctors say that I am doing just fine! It was a 5 hour event for me as I drove to Johnson City, about 35 miles, to see the doctors. At 62 years of age I must give thanks to God for allowing me to have the health that I am blessed with. There are times when I see people who are much younger than I am and observe that they have very poor health. I am not sure why God has allowed me so much good in my life but I certainly thank Him for what He has given to me.
I guess I feel that today I must thank Him for all that He has made possible for me. The Psalmist said PSA 66:16b I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I must agree with the writer! While I have good health, a wonderful family, great joy as a pastor, the greatest thing He has done for me is what he has done for my soul. It seems to me that all those who have been forgiven and made whole by the Savior should say to those around them "let me tell you what God has done for me." Praise Him!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
This past Saturday we had a very cold and snowy day. Ruth and I did not leave the house at all other than to go to the mailbox. It carried over to the Sunday morning and here in East Tennessee it meant that 89 congregations did not have services. If you were to see some of the roads around here you would understand a little bit better about the reluctance to get out. We went ahead and had worship both in the a.m. and p.m. While our attendance in the a.m. was drastically effected we still spent our time in worship and celebration and I was thankful that I could be here. It is a real joy for me to be able to worship our Savior with those who were able to make it here. I pray that regardless of the weather where you are at that you were able to lift your voices in praise to our Savior. There is no one else like Him and he deserves all the praise we can give Him.
Yesterday I went to the VA for my regular check up and the doctors say that I am doing just fine! It was a 5 hour event for me as I drove to Johnson City, about 35 miles, to see the doctors. At 62 years of age I must give thanks to God for allowing me to have the health that I am blessed with. There are times when I see people who are much younger than I am and observe that they have very poor health. I am not sure why God has allowed me so much good in my life but I certainly thank Him for what He has given to me.
I guess I feel that today I must thank Him for all that He has made possible for me. The Psalmist said PSA 66:16b I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I must agree with the writer! While I have good health, a wonderful family, great joy as a pastor, the greatest thing He has done for me is what he has done for my soul. It seems to me that all those who have been forgiven and made whole by the Savior should say to those around them "let me tell you what God has done for me." Praise Him!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Hello Folks,
All around us are people who live with a false sense of what it means to be a Christian. There is so much "grace lite" going around that many think that God is agreeable with individuals living a sinful life. The struggle that I have is to declare the biblical idea of Holiness without making it sound as if God does not want anyone to have fun in life. But it also is difficult because if you are not careful people seem to think that as a Christian they can commit sin because God's grace has paid for all their future sins already. The only think I know to do is to continue to preach the Word of God which has been given to us that we may become mature followers of Jesus Christ.
Along with this false understanding of grace there is also a viewpoint that declares if you do not accept a person's actions that you are rejecting them. It is as if the younger generations cannot conceive that you can disagree with a certain lifestyle and still love the person. Once again all we can do is to present the biblical truth that has been given to us and pray that people will have ears to hear what God has to say.
I am thankful that He has called me to preach the gospel because the truth of God is amazing! When I finally heard the message of Christ and my own sinfulness I was gloriously made into a child of God through a new birth. That story never grows old to me and I pray that I will be able to proclaim it as long as I have breath in my body. May He be praised in my life.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
All around us are people who live with a false sense of what it means to be a Christian. There is so much "grace lite" going around that many think that God is agreeable with individuals living a sinful life. The struggle that I have is to declare the biblical idea of Holiness without making it sound as if God does not want anyone to have fun in life. But it also is difficult because if you are not careful people seem to think that as a Christian they can commit sin because God's grace has paid for all their future sins already. The only think I know to do is to continue to preach the Word of God which has been given to us that we may become mature followers of Jesus Christ.
Along with this false understanding of grace there is also a viewpoint that declares if you do not accept a person's actions that you are rejecting them. It is as if the younger generations cannot conceive that you can disagree with a certain lifestyle and still love the person. Once again all we can do is to present the biblical truth that has been given to us and pray that people will have ears to hear what God has to say.
I am thankful that He has called me to preach the gospel because the truth of God is amazing! When I finally heard the message of Christ and my own sinfulness I was gloriously made into a child of God through a new birth. That story never grows old to me and I pray that I will be able to proclaim it as long as I have breath in my body. May He be praised in my life.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Hello Folks,
I am not sure how every pastor feels but there are times when I feel that the issues that I am confronted with are just overwhelming. It is not unusual for me to have people come to me about he problems that they have in their lives. If it were just things like making choices about jobs or colleges that would not be so bad. But it is usually things like family issues that are devastating to the marriage and the entire family unit. Then the fact that so many young people seem to think that just because you do not accept the lifestyles of everyone you are narrow and bigoted. It is as if there can be no objections to lifestyles (sinfulness). They appear to think that there should be no standards, or at least no standards that does not fit their thinking.
As a pastor I have found that everyone will not agree with your thinking or your reasoning and that they will disagree very strongly at times. I am not sure that is the issue for me or whether it is that people just do not appear to want to live according to all the biblical directives that we have. I must admit that when these things take place especially with people you have loved and cared for, in some cases for years, that it does hurt. God never promised that we would not have problems and hurts as His followers and sometimes the rejection of people to truth of the gospel must hurt Him more than it does me.
This is probably nothing more than a preacher feeling the pressure of being a pastor. I am thankful though that more often than not being a pastor is filled with great joy. What a wonderful group of people I pastor and what a pleasure it is to be here!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I am not sure how every pastor feels but there are times when I feel that the issues that I am confronted with are just overwhelming. It is not unusual for me to have people come to me about he problems that they have in their lives. If it were just things like making choices about jobs or colleges that would not be so bad. But it is usually things like family issues that are devastating to the marriage and the entire family unit. Then the fact that so many young people seem to think that just because you do not accept the lifestyles of everyone you are narrow and bigoted. It is as if there can be no objections to lifestyles (sinfulness). They appear to think that there should be no standards, or at least no standards that does not fit their thinking.
As a pastor I have found that everyone will not agree with your thinking or your reasoning and that they will disagree very strongly at times. I am not sure that is the issue for me or whether it is that people just do not appear to want to live according to all the biblical directives that we have. I must admit that when these things take place especially with people you have loved and cared for, in some cases for years, that it does hurt. God never promised that we would not have problems and hurts as His followers and sometimes the rejection of people to truth of the gospel must hurt Him more than it does me.
This is probably nothing more than a preacher feeling the pressure of being a pastor. I am thankful though that more often than not being a pastor is filled with great joy. What a wonderful group of people I pastor and what a pleasure it is to be here!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
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