Hello Folks,
Just this past Sunday we celebrated Easter--Resurrection Sunday. Of course, if we understand the biblical message correctly everyday is a day of celebrating the Resurrection! What an amazing message we have to give to our world. I realize that there are many who are opposed to this marvelous truth but that does not change the fact of the resurrection! While many have attempted to make it a myth or fairy tale that is promoted by foolish followers of Jesus we still proclaim quite loudly, "HE IS RISEN". The reason other religions must oppose the resurrection is if it is true they must admit that their founders have far less to offer our world than Jesus! They just do not stack up against Him! Just think of it with me for a moment! This Jesus could not be held in the Tomb, Satan could not enslave Him, and the stone was rolled away for all the world to see! HE IS RISEN! Praise be to Jesus who is the Risen Savior!
I was also blessed to have my Son, James, his wife, Michele, and their girls, Jordyn and Alexis, with us in worship for Easter. Those of you who have your children with you all the time do not know what a blessing that is for Ruth and myself. While we did not the rest of our family with us we were able to enjoy their presence with us. God has been so good to me. I believe that you could say the same thing if you would look at things from a perspective of what has been given to you.
May your day be blessed,
HGRudd
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Hello Folks,
There are times when I feel as if I see God's people fulfilling the biblical message of reaching and serving others as God intended. While I certainly do not always get everything right it sure seemed to me that I saw people fulfilling the biblical idea of living out the message this past week. On Sunday at 3 p.m. about 80-90 of our folks of all ages met here at church to get their assignments to help others. I watched as they left the parking lot and I must say that my heart was thrilled to see people wanting to serve others. They drove to the homes of a number of seniors in our congregation and community to help them get some spring cleaning, inside and outside, done that they would not be able to do themselves. We then came back about 6 p.m. along with some of those seniors and had a "picnic" and fellowship together.
There are also a couple of men in our congregation who have recently retired and they have been visiting people in the home, hospital and nursing homes. Here are a couple of fellows who have worked their entire life and came to the place where they are supposed to take it easy and they see it as freedom to do ministry. They give care and support to folks who often are forgotten and lonely at this time in their lives and these fellows walk in, talk to them, and pray with them. I am thankful for people who do not think that retirement is about them just resting and going places but it about being given freedom to reach people for the Savior!
God is certainly good to us and I am thankful for His gift to me of being a pastor at this congregation.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
There are times when I feel as if I see God's people fulfilling the biblical message of reaching and serving others as God intended. While I certainly do not always get everything right it sure seemed to me that I saw people fulfilling the biblical idea of living out the message this past week. On Sunday at 3 p.m. about 80-90 of our folks of all ages met here at church to get their assignments to help others. I watched as they left the parking lot and I must say that my heart was thrilled to see people wanting to serve others. They drove to the homes of a number of seniors in our congregation and community to help them get some spring cleaning, inside and outside, done that they would not be able to do themselves. We then came back about 6 p.m. along with some of those seniors and had a "picnic" and fellowship together.
There are also a couple of men in our congregation who have recently retired and they have been visiting people in the home, hospital and nursing homes. Here are a couple of fellows who have worked their entire life and came to the place where they are supposed to take it easy and they see it as freedom to do ministry. They give care and support to folks who often are forgotten and lonely at this time in their lives and these fellows walk in, talk to them, and pray with them. I am thankful for people who do not think that retirement is about them just resting and going places but it about being given freedom to reach people for the Savior!
God is certainly good to us and I am thankful for His gift to me of being a pastor at this congregation.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Hello Folks,
I have been swamped this week with a variety of things so I have been slow on getting this blog out and to those of you who read this I apologize for not having it where you can read it sooner. Last Friday night our college and youth agers worked together with the Fire to provide a time of worship and prayer for the congregation. I want you to know that this was one of the best times I have had in my person worship in a very long time. It was such a time of refreshing that I just cannot overstate how important it was for me to be there. I want to thank those who made it work so wonderfully! There were a number of them so I will not mention names due to the distinct possibility of missing someone but they were all used of God.
Over the past couple of weeks I believe God has been doing a great work here at Greeneville First Church of God. We have had great worship and really good altar response. I also know that often things happen in the pews and it seems to me that everyone that had a spiritual breakthrough did not go to the altar but met with God in the pew. Keep praying for us to move forward in reaching people for Christ as a congregation and individuals as we go out into our community. I am thankful that God is allowing me to be part of what is happening here at this time.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I have been swamped this week with a variety of things so I have been slow on getting this blog out and to those of you who read this I apologize for not having it where you can read it sooner. Last Friday night our college and youth agers worked together with the Fire to provide a time of worship and prayer for the congregation. I want you to know that this was one of the best times I have had in my person worship in a very long time. It was such a time of refreshing that I just cannot overstate how important it was for me to be there. I want to thank those who made it work so wonderfully! There were a number of them so I will not mention names due to the distinct possibility of missing someone but they were all used of God.
Over the past couple of weeks I believe God has been doing a great work here at Greeneville First Church of God. We have had great worship and really good altar response. I also know that often things happen in the pews and it seems to me that everyone that had a spiritual breakthrough did not go to the altar but met with God in the pew. Keep praying for us to move forward in reaching people for Christ as a congregation and individuals as we go out into our community. I am thankful that God is allowing me to be part of what is happening here at this time.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Hello Folks,
My youngest son has been in town with his two daughters and we have had a really good time with them. James and I have turkey hunted together and while we did not get any game I had a good time just being with my son. He is out today with a fellow in the congregation and I hope that they are more successful than I was with him. My granddaughters have been a real joy, they are aged 11 and 14 and possibly they giggle more than anyone I have ever seen. These girls are very involved in softball and while they have been here they have gone to a couple of UT softball games. Last Saturday I went with them to some special training they went to in Knoxville and got to watch them as they practiced their respective positions and as they had hitting practice. Those are the things we miss being so far away from them. It is amazing how much they have grown up over these past 12 years that we have been in Tennessee.
On May 5-6 we will be at Pastor's Fellowship in Winchester, Ky. It is a time of year that I look forward to as it provides me with spiritual refreshing and challenges. The joy of hearing 400-600 pastors and others singing the songs of the Church and of praise to our God fills my heart with great joy. Getting to see men and women I have known for years is something that also fills me up with great thanks. I have been greatly blessed by being part of this fellowship over the years. The first I went was in May of 1980 right before I took my first pastorate. I have only missed 2-3 of these events though the years and am so thankful that I have heard the Holy Spirit filled preachers that have influenced my life and ministry as they have. If you can come I would encourage you to go! It is certainly worth it!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
My youngest son has been in town with his two daughters and we have had a really good time with them. James and I have turkey hunted together and while we did not get any game I had a good time just being with my son. He is out today with a fellow in the congregation and I hope that they are more successful than I was with him. My granddaughters have been a real joy, they are aged 11 and 14 and possibly they giggle more than anyone I have ever seen. These girls are very involved in softball and while they have been here they have gone to a couple of UT softball games. Last Saturday I went with them to some special training they went to in Knoxville and got to watch them as they practiced their respective positions and as they had hitting practice. Those are the things we miss being so far away from them. It is amazing how much they have grown up over these past 12 years that we have been in Tennessee.
On May 5-6 we will be at Pastor's Fellowship in Winchester, Ky. It is a time of year that I look forward to as it provides me with spiritual refreshing and challenges. The joy of hearing 400-600 pastors and others singing the songs of the Church and of praise to our God fills my heart with great joy. Getting to see men and women I have known for years is something that also fills me up with great thanks. I have been greatly blessed by being part of this fellowship over the years. The first I went was in May of 1980 right before I took my first pastorate. I have only missed 2-3 of these events though the years and am so thankful that I have heard the Holy Spirit filled preachers that have influenced my life and ministry as they have. If you can come I would encourage you to go! It is certainly worth it!
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
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
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
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