Hello Folks,
In the congregation I pastor I have a retired pastor and his wife who are from another faith group who have become part of what we are doing as a congregation. They are extremely committed to doing ministry even though they have some physical restrictions that keep them from doing all that they would like. Yet they are very supportive of the ministry and of myself as the senior pastor of this congregation. I also have some retired pastors from Church of God congregations that are just as supportive and active in ministry. It is truly a blessing from God to have people like that in this congregation. While I hope to continue pastoring for some time it is my desire that when I reach retirement, if I reach it, that I would give the same kind of support to my pastor and congregation. What a joy it is to have people who give me such an example to follow.
That makes me wonder what kind of example each one of us give to our children, grandchildren, and others for them to follow. Could it be that there are people whose actions and attitudes are not good because they have been following our examples? That is something that must be considered by all of us! I see fathers and mothers whose actions are filled with things that I find to be questionable at best and they do even seem to consider that their children are acting just like they are acting. Parents do you want your children to have your habits, taken on your actions, use the same language that you use and become the same kind of person that you have been? That is something that should be asked by all of us!
May the joy of the Lord be in your life today.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Hello Folks,
I pray that all is well with all of you. Just today one of my staff members talked to me about the "twitter" account issues. Now, so you will know I do Facebook, email, and I blog here but that is about all. I do not do twitter or any other form of social media. But he was telling me of someone who was blogging using an assumed name and wanting to challenge leadership. What a struggle that is for someone to defend themselves against an unnamed and unknown source who can make any claim, whether it is true or not. It would seem to me that we would be far better to follow the biblical example of going to the person first, then taking someone with us, and then calling on the church to make a decision. While someone might be correct in their accusations it just might be that their method of attempting to settle them is something far less than correct. I personally have not followed this twitter battle and I really do not want to be involved in it there must be a better way, a biblical manner, to face such differences. Could it be that someone just might not like the decision of the church and wants to bring an issue up again even though it has been settled? I do not know but I ask you to think about these things when you are on the social media and ask yourself as to whether you would want those who are angry at you to treat you in such a manner? Just a thought.
Stan Toler led a conference, called The Vibrant Church, here at Greeneville First Church of God this past Saturday and did a wonderful job. I have never been in any other conference that has given such practical handles for a pastor or other leadership in the church to plan and progress in ministry. If you ever have an opportunity to attend any of his conferences I would highly recommend it. Pastors you will never find someone who is more generous with his materials than Stan Toler and he comes from a Wesleyan background. He has served as a Pastor who has led 3 different congregations to over 1000 in attendance. He also served as the General Superintendent in the Nazarene Church. His spirit is wonderful and He is empowered by God to present the material that he has to the local congregation.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I pray that all is well with all of you. Just today one of my staff members talked to me about the "twitter" account issues. Now, so you will know I do Facebook, email, and I blog here but that is about all. I do not do twitter or any other form of social media. But he was telling me of someone who was blogging using an assumed name and wanting to challenge leadership. What a struggle that is for someone to defend themselves against an unnamed and unknown source who can make any claim, whether it is true or not. It would seem to me that we would be far better to follow the biblical example of going to the person first, then taking someone with us, and then calling on the church to make a decision. While someone might be correct in their accusations it just might be that their method of attempting to settle them is something far less than correct. I personally have not followed this twitter battle and I really do not want to be involved in it there must be a better way, a biblical manner, to face such differences. Could it be that someone just might not like the decision of the church and wants to bring an issue up again even though it has been settled? I do not know but I ask you to think about these things when you are on the social media and ask yourself as to whether you would want those who are angry at you to treat you in such a manner? Just a thought.
Stan Toler led a conference, called The Vibrant Church, here at Greeneville First Church of God this past Saturday and did a wonderful job. I have never been in any other conference that has given such practical handles for a pastor or other leadership in the church to plan and progress in ministry. If you ever have an opportunity to attend any of his conferences I would highly recommend it. Pastors you will never find someone who is more generous with his materials than Stan Toler and he comes from a Wesleyan background. He has served as a Pastor who has led 3 different congregations to over 1000 in attendance. He also served as the General Superintendent in the Nazarene Church. His spirit is wonderful and He is empowered by God to present the material that he has to the local congregation.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Hello Folks,
This past week Ruth and I went to Birmingham, Al to attend the Mid-Year Leadership meeting of the National Assn. of the Church of God. I must tell you that it was a great time of refreshing. We were able to stay Tuesday and Wednesday. The services were filled with great worship and powerful preaching. Pastor James Marshall preached on Tuesday night and the presence of God was among us. Dr. James Earl Massey preached on Wednesday night and God continued working through the messages. As Brother Massey said: "It is not over until it is over" and went on to remind us that we are in the battle until it is finished and it is not finished as long as we are in this world. I guess I needed that reminder for my life as it was of great impact in my thinking. If you wanted that sermon you might be able to get it through Charles Myricks who is the Chief Operating/Development Officer or Miki Merritt who is the Presiding Elder of the National Association. I know that it was recorded and offered for those who were there. Dr. Cheryl Sanders and Dr. Diana Swoope were the speakers on Thursday but unfortunately I had to come back that morning and did not get to hear them.
The sermon topic of "it's not over until it's over" was of great importance for the followers of Jesus as it seems that some of us would like to stop and take it easy. We have fought the fight and we are just tired about 20-30 years of ministry and we want to have someone else take over the leadership. My friend, should we not remember that we are to complete the race? Should we not be committed to fighting the fight until it is really over? Maybe you need to just consider that it is not over until it is over and not turn aside or look for others to take your place! We are engaged in this warfare until it is over and God will use us for His glory if we will continue the race!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
This past week Ruth and I went to Birmingham, Al to attend the Mid-Year Leadership meeting of the National Assn. of the Church of God. I must tell you that it was a great time of refreshing. We were able to stay Tuesday and Wednesday. The services were filled with great worship and powerful preaching. Pastor James Marshall preached on Tuesday night and the presence of God was among us. Dr. James Earl Massey preached on Wednesday night and God continued working through the messages. As Brother Massey said: "It is not over until it is over" and went on to remind us that we are in the battle until it is finished and it is not finished as long as we are in this world. I guess I needed that reminder for my life as it was of great impact in my thinking. If you wanted that sermon you might be able to get it through Charles Myricks who is the Chief Operating/Development Officer or Miki Merritt who is the Presiding Elder of the National Association. I know that it was recorded and offered for those who were there. Dr. Cheryl Sanders and Dr. Diana Swoope were the speakers on Thursday but unfortunately I had to come back that morning and did not get to hear them.
The sermon topic of "it's not over until it's over" was of great importance for the followers of Jesus as it seems that some of us would like to stop and take it easy. We have fought the fight and we are just tired about 20-30 years of ministry and we want to have someone else take over the leadership. My friend, should we not remember that we are to complete the race? Should we not be committed to fighting the fight until it is really over? Maybe you need to just consider that it is not over until it is over and not turn aside or look for others to take your place! We are engaged in this warfare until it is over and God will use us for His glory if we will continue the race!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)