Hello Folks,
Ruth and I got back last Tuesday after being in Pekin, Il preaching the Tri-County Holiness Crusade. This event has been going on for over 30 years and when I pastored the congregation in Pekin we were an active part of it. It is made up of the Church of God, Nazarenes, Free Methodists and Salvation Army who share common agreement on the doctrine of a definite second work of grace called sanctification. The attendance was pretty good and it was a joy for me to be there. We got to stay with our daugher, Debby, who had me painting again, and we saw our son Bob while there. On the way there and back we stopped and spent a night with our son, James, his wife Michele, Jordyn and Alexis. So you can see this trip served a two fold purpose. There is one thing that I galdly tell you and it is that I am glad to be back home here in Greeneville, Tn.
The sermons that I preached were all holiness oriented and we had some people make their way to an altar of prayer. It would appear to me from what I see while traveling that the message of holiness is not being preached on a consistent basis. The idea of sanctification as a definite second work of grace appears to have been shuffled to the side and some never take it out to proclaim it to those who sit in the pew. What a shame it is that some of our pastors and leaders have allowed holiness to be overwhelmed with a Calvinistic attiude of sinfulness as being the common and expected lifestyle of the believer. It seems to me that we will be held acocuntable for what we do and do not preach! As Jesus said, "For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required." (Luke 12:48 KJV)
Our grandchildren are quickly growing up and Ruth and I appear to be getting older. Funny how those things take place. Bailey is our oldest granddaugher at age thirteen and she must be about 5'6". Landon is our youngest grandchild and only grandson who is 4 years of age and loves to wrestle and argue. He must get all of that from his grandmother. This causes me to remember that my time left to do ministry is getting short so I ask you to pray that I will be use the time that God will allow me to have to fulfill the ministry that He has called me to do. Pray that I will be able to lead this congregation in a manner that is of benefit to the Kingdom and that will help these folks to grow in Jesus. I know that I need His help to accomplish this so please pray.
Yours In Christ,
HGRudd