Hello Folks,
VBS and Father's Day is now over. There was a lot of work done by many different people in the effort to reach young people with the message of Jesus. There is no way I can name everyone so suffice it to say that I appreciate all of you who gave of your time and effort to live the message of Jesus in the ministry of VBS.
One of the things that we do in conjunction with VBS is to have the final service on Father's Day during our a.m. worship. We have the children go over some of the things that they did in VBS then we have worship and preaching. This is an effort to reach families that we might never have the opportunity to reach with the message of Jesus. Once again we had people come to our worship that we would never have enter our doors. We are thankful for those who made it possible.
Here is a question that some of you might want to ponder or even answer. As I look at the Church of God Reformation Movement it would appear that we have very few pastors who bother with the principles of discipleship. When I talk to them they have a wonderful heart to win the lost and I celebrate that with them. But when you ask if they are helping those people learn the other truths of the bible such as sanctification as a definite second work of grace, holy living, the truths of the Second Coming, and the fact that the Bible is God infallible and inerrant Word to us you begin to hear such things as "we do not deal with secondary issues." Are we not responsible for all the truth we have been given and are we not responible to give that truth to others?
Maybe I am just getting old and am struggling with all the changes in culture that are taking place. Or, mayble I think that I am the only one that is right and need an Elijah moment. Would you care to comment on this for me?
Bless you all,
Pastor H. G. Rudd
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Hello Folks,
My sister, Clistia and her husband Gary Hosbrook came in from Ohio to visit with us and it has been nice getting to spend some time with them. Gary and I played golf yesterday and then we sat around the house and visited. You may not know how good it is to spend time with the people you love that you do not get to see often but it has been great.
Last night, Clistia and I , came to the church to see how things were going for VBS that began yesterday evening. There were a number of children and workers here that were starting to get things moving. I watched as Bryon Trantham and Kristen Love began with a skit and, of course, it was classic Bryon. He is so gifted at comedy and drama that I stand amazed at him sometimes. It turned out that he had a great supporting cast with Kristen Love. I was suprised at her acting abilities as I had never thought about her in that kind of role. It looks like things will be going really good through the week.
I hope that you have been reading the Word of God and that God has been showing you some of the wonders of His Word. I find great joy in His Word and the wonderful things that He has to show us in it. Hos 3:2 is one such verse. I preached out of Hos 3:1-5 Sunday p.m. and find it amazing how God was showing us Jesus long before the New Testament was given to us. The thought that Hosea paid the equivalent amount of 30 pieces of silver to save a slave who had not asked for it remidned me of the price that was given to betray Jesus. That was the very price that God paid for me and you. Is it not amazing!!!!
I pray you have a great week.
Pastor H. G. Rudd
My sister, Clistia and her husband Gary Hosbrook came in from Ohio to visit with us and it has been nice getting to spend some time with them. Gary and I played golf yesterday and then we sat around the house and visited. You may not know how good it is to spend time with the people you love that you do not get to see often but it has been great.
Last night, Clistia and I , came to the church to see how things were going for VBS that began yesterday evening. There were a number of children and workers here that were starting to get things moving. I watched as Bryon Trantham and Kristen Love began with a skit and, of course, it was classic Bryon. He is so gifted at comedy and drama that I stand amazed at him sometimes. It turned out that he had a great supporting cast with Kristen Love. I was suprised at her acting abilities as I had never thought about her in that kind of role. It looks like things will be going really good through the week.
I hope that you have been reading the Word of God and that God has been showing you some of the wonders of His Word. I find great joy in His Word and the wonderful things that He has to show us in it. Hos 3:2 is one such verse. I preached out of Hos 3:1-5 Sunday p.m. and find it amazing how God was showing us Jesus long before the New Testament was given to us. The thought that Hosea paid the equivalent amount of 30 pieces of silver to save a slave who had not asked for it remidned me of the price that was given to betray Jesus. That was the very price that God paid for me and you. Is it not amazing!!!!
I pray you have a great week.
Pastor H. G. Rudd
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Hello Folks,
I have been reading a book titled: "The Riggle-Kesler Debate" which is an word for word reporting of a debate engaged in by H.M. Riggle, an early Church of God leader, and Elder B.E. Kessler, a leader of the Church of the Brethren. The debate took place in North Webster, In. from Sept 15-26, 1915. They held it in a large tent with an average attendance of 1200 people. This was a real debate with each person being given 30 minutes twice each night for a total of 2 hours. There were assigned subjects and moderators were present. This was not a time where the strongest voice or quickest wit could win but where a subject was dealt with in front of the entire audience.
H.M Riggle on the night of Sept. 17th in that debate said this: "If you are a tarue Christain and belong to the Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical or any other institution, you are my brother. Through salvation we all belong to the one fold. It is that extra soceity, inot which you have been led without Scriptural authority, that I oppose. The institutions of men that have scattered and divided the peole of God."
It would appear to me that in our day we want to emphasize the idea of "we reach our hands in fellowship to every blood washed one" but that we no longer want to declare the freedom from mans control that God calls us from.--"Come out of her my people" REV 18:4. It seems that many merely want to preach the portion of truth that suits them best and leave out the things that are difficult. I wonder what God has to say about that? Maybe part of the problem is that many of those who should lead the church body have failed to see the truth of the Word? I wonder what God will say to us if we neglect to preach all the truth?
This is just something that has come to my mind and I thought I would share it with you.
May He Bless You,
HGRudd
I have been reading a book titled: "The Riggle-Kesler Debate" which is an word for word reporting of a debate engaged in by H.M. Riggle, an early Church of God leader, and Elder B.E. Kessler, a leader of the Church of the Brethren. The debate took place in North Webster, In. from Sept 15-26, 1915. They held it in a large tent with an average attendance of 1200 people. This was a real debate with each person being given 30 minutes twice each night for a total of 2 hours. There were assigned subjects and moderators were present. This was not a time where the strongest voice or quickest wit could win but where a subject was dealt with in front of the entire audience.
H.M Riggle on the night of Sept. 17th in that debate said this: "If you are a tarue Christain and belong to the Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical or any other institution, you are my brother. Through salvation we all belong to the one fold. It is that extra soceity, inot which you have been led without Scriptural authority, that I oppose. The institutions of men that have scattered and divided the peole of God."
It would appear to me that in our day we want to emphasize the idea of "we reach our hands in fellowship to every blood washed one" but that we no longer want to declare the freedom from mans control that God calls us from.--"Come out of her my people" REV 18:4. It seems that many merely want to preach the portion of truth that suits them best and leave out the things that are difficult. I wonder what God has to say about that? Maybe part of the problem is that many of those who should lead the church body have failed to see the truth of the Word? I wonder what God will say to us if we neglect to preach all the truth?
This is just something that has come to my mind and I thought I would share it with you.
May He Bless You,
HGRudd
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Hello Folks,
I had a very good week-end. On Saturday I took two of my granddaughers, Jordyn and Alexis, out to breakfast at Waffle House and then went to Andrew Johnson Memorial Graveyard and saw all the military graves decorated for Memorial Day. We then went to Locust Springs where they spent a couple of hours having fun on the water slide. Finally, we went to Keith and Pam Hope's for a cook-out where a number of our church folks met and had a wonderful time. Great time and great fellowship. James and Michele, my son and daughter-in-law were at the house when we got back and I finished the day with them.
On Sunday I baptized four people with one of them being my granddaughter, Jordyn, who is 11 and lives in Indiana. She wanted me to baptize her so we did just that. We also baptized four other people, another 11 year old and 2 adults who have great testimonies. They were both unchurched and have been saved within the last 6 weeks. Then our worship continue and God came to be among us here and the presence of the Holy Ghost was very real.
Then came Memorial Day and I spent all morning doing some things I like and even went into the afternoon hours. At 3:30 p.m. Ruth and I went to Keith and Pam Hope's home, Virginia Waddell also helped this event to come about, where we had another cook-out with a number of folks from the church family there. We went home at about 7 p.m. and took it easy the rest of the night.
This was a great week-end even though we always have a number of people taking advantage of the long week-end and going somewhere. I pray that they had a wonderful time of rest and good family time. I also pray that they had as good a time in worship as we did here.
May the Lord bless you all,
HGRudd
I had a very good week-end. On Saturday I took two of my granddaughers, Jordyn and Alexis, out to breakfast at Waffle House and then went to Andrew Johnson Memorial Graveyard and saw all the military graves decorated for Memorial Day. We then went to Locust Springs where they spent a couple of hours having fun on the water slide. Finally, we went to Keith and Pam Hope's for a cook-out where a number of our church folks met and had a wonderful time. Great time and great fellowship. James and Michele, my son and daughter-in-law were at the house when we got back and I finished the day with them.
On Sunday I baptized four people with one of them being my granddaughter, Jordyn, who is 11 and lives in Indiana. She wanted me to baptize her so we did just that. We also baptized four other people, another 11 year old and 2 adults who have great testimonies. They were both unchurched and have been saved within the last 6 weeks. Then our worship continue and God came to be among us here and the presence of the Holy Ghost was very real.
Then came Memorial Day and I spent all morning doing some things I like and even went into the afternoon hours. At 3:30 p.m. Ruth and I went to Keith and Pam Hope's home, Virginia Waddell also helped this event to come about, where we had another cook-out with a number of folks from the church family there. We went home at about 7 p.m. and took it easy the rest of the night.
This was a great week-end even though we always have a number of people taking advantage of the long week-end and going somewhere. I pray that they had a wonderful time of rest and good family time. I also pray that they had as good a time in worship as we did here.
May the Lord bless you all,
HGRudd
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hello Folks,
There has been much going on in our congregation and community over the past few weeks. The tornado's that hit our area were very devastating destroying and damage over 100 homes. Many who attend this congregation have given numerous hours to help their neighbors in a time of great difficulty. Just the people who have worked at "The Oaks" a Free Will Baptism ministry that was providing cooked meals for the community have amassed a large amount of hours. It is my understanding that just there they serve 12000 meals as of 5-13-11 and have given over 2800 volunteer hours. On top of that many of you gave of your time and your sweat to help. Just this past week-end Anita Miller, our youth pastor, took 15 youth out and helped a familiy clean up their yard and surrounding area. Many may not realize this but our congregation is filled with amazing people. What a joy it is to be part of this local church family.
From May 15-18, 2011 I preached a revival at Troy, Ohio at the chaurch of God congregation there. While it is a smaller congregation it still had a wonderful spirit and the people showed up with great enthusiasm and joy. It was my privilege to worship with them and I pray that they wee blessed by God. As an added blessing for me while I was there I got to viist with both of my sisters and some of my nieces and nehpews and their children.
I ask you to pray for my sister Carolyn who has a benign tumor in her brain. Along with that she has a variety of other illnesses that could be life threatening. She only weights about 90 pounds and looks like she has been through a prolonged sickness. On top of that she needs a Savior! Please pray that her heart would be open to the Savior and that she would coem to the place of salvation.
May God bless you all,
HGRudd
There has been much going on in our congregation and community over the past few weeks. The tornado's that hit our area were very devastating destroying and damage over 100 homes. Many who attend this congregation have given numerous hours to help their neighbors in a time of great difficulty. Just the people who have worked at "The Oaks" a Free Will Baptism ministry that was providing cooked meals for the community have amassed a large amount of hours. It is my understanding that just there they serve 12000 meals as of 5-13-11 and have given over 2800 volunteer hours. On top of that many of you gave of your time and your sweat to help. Just this past week-end Anita Miller, our youth pastor, took 15 youth out and helped a familiy clean up their yard and surrounding area. Many may not realize this but our congregation is filled with amazing people. What a joy it is to be part of this local church family.
From May 15-18, 2011 I preached a revival at Troy, Ohio at the chaurch of God congregation there. While it is a smaller congregation it still had a wonderful spirit and the people showed up with great enthusiasm and joy. It was my privilege to worship with them and I pray that they wee blessed by God. As an added blessing for me while I was there I got to viist with both of my sisters and some of my nieces and nehpews and their children.
I ask you to pray for my sister Carolyn who has a benign tumor in her brain. Along with that she has a variety of other illnesses that could be life threatening. She only weights about 90 pounds and looks like she has been through a prolonged sickness. On top of that she needs a Savior! Please pray that her heart would be open to the Savior and that she would coem to the place of salvation.
May God bless you all,
HGRudd
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Hello Folks,
The work in Camp Creek and adjourning areas continues after the tornado. There are still many people who have not recovered from the destruction of their homes and deaths in their families. I ask you to pray for them as they continue to deal with all that these kinds of issues entail. I am also thankful for the many who are still giving of themselves to provide meals and labor. A lot of folks from this congregation are still doing all they can to make a difference in our community and I praise the Lord for their willingness to help.
This past week I was able to be part of the Pastor's Fellowship again. I hve been attending there since 1980 and find it to be a place where the traditional message of the Church of God is still being preached. This has always been of great joy for me and I find it to be a spiritual blessing in my life. While I was there I saw three of the past pastor's of this congregation: Charles Heater, Leroy Oesch and Darryl Sovine. I am thankful for the way all three of them invested their lives into this congregation and I am a director recipient of their efforts. I pray that God would continue to bless and use them.
You may not know it but a young lady in our congregation, Danielle Ricker, has been ranked #1 in the nation in the Walking Horse Youth 121-17 catagory. She won 13 of the competitions she entered and came in second in the other two. I would like to congratulate her on her wonderful success. I pray that God will use her to bring glory to Him through her endeavors.
Blessings to all,
Pastor H. G. Rudd
The work in Camp Creek and adjourning areas continues after the tornado. There are still many people who have not recovered from the destruction of their homes and deaths in their families. I ask you to pray for them as they continue to deal with all that these kinds of issues entail. I am also thankful for the many who are still giving of themselves to provide meals and labor. A lot of folks from this congregation are still doing all they can to make a difference in our community and I praise the Lord for their willingness to help.
This past week I was able to be part of the Pastor's Fellowship again. I hve been attending there since 1980 and find it to be a place where the traditional message of the Church of God is still being preached. This has always been of great joy for me and I find it to be a spiritual blessing in my life. While I was there I saw three of the past pastor's of this congregation: Charles Heater, Leroy Oesch and Darryl Sovine. I am thankful for the way all three of them invested their lives into this congregation and I am a director recipient of their efforts. I pray that God would continue to bless and use them.
You may not know it but a young lady in our congregation, Danielle Ricker, has been ranked #1 in the nation in the Walking Horse Youth 121-17 catagory. She won 13 of the competitions she entered and came in second in the other two. I would like to congratulate her on her wonderful success. I pray that God will use her to bring glory to Him through her endeavors.
Blessings to all,
Pastor H. G. Rudd
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Hello Folks,
I got back in town yesterday afternoon after being at Pastor's Fellowship in Winchester, Ky. I have been attending there since 1980 and have only missed 2 years that I can remember. This event has filled my heart with great joy over the years and has helped me to grow up in Jesus. This year is no different even though there were different preachers and themes. What a joy to be with my brothers and sisters at that place.
Last Sunday night we dismissed our worship with the directive that all of you that could should go out into the community to help the tornado victims and at least 100 of you did exactly that. What an amazing group of people you are! God has allowed me the joy of being your pastor and of seeing your efforts to be ambassadors for Jesus in the community. Some still out there today helping in many different ways.
Something else that you should know about is that we took up a food offering to help The Oaks, a Free Will Baptist ministry, to purchase food to provide meals for those who were effected by the tornado. We have sent them $2715.10 for that purpose. We also took up our normal "Other's Offering" and designated it all to go to help the tornado victims. Today a local business gave us a $500.00 and with that we have a total of $3866.35 to help families who are dealing with their losses due to the tornado. You folks are just wonderful and I am thankful for you.
Continue praying for the needs in this community. I pray that He will bless you all.
Pastor H. G. Rudd
I got back in town yesterday afternoon after being at Pastor's Fellowship in Winchester, Ky. I have been attending there since 1980 and have only missed 2 years that I can remember. This event has filled my heart with great joy over the years and has helped me to grow up in Jesus. This year is no different even though there were different preachers and themes. What a joy to be with my brothers and sisters at that place.
Last Sunday night we dismissed our worship with the directive that all of you that could should go out into the community to help the tornado victims and at least 100 of you did exactly that. What an amazing group of people you are! God has allowed me the joy of being your pastor and of seeing your efforts to be ambassadors for Jesus in the community. Some still out there today helping in many different ways.
Something else that you should know about is that we took up a food offering to help The Oaks, a Free Will Baptist ministry, to purchase food to provide meals for those who were effected by the tornado. We have sent them $2715.10 for that purpose. We also took up our normal "Other's Offering" and designated it all to go to help the tornado victims. Today a local business gave us a $500.00 and with that we have a total of $3866.35 to help families who are dealing with their losses due to the tornado. You folks are just wonderful and I am thankful for you.
Continue praying for the needs in this community. I pray that He will bless you all.
Pastor H. G. Rudd
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)