Hello Folks,
I am always a little bit surprised when I have preached on the Second Coming to have people respond in such a positive way. It seems to me that I have preached on the subject so many times that everyone should already have complete understanding on it but that is never the case. Of course, I must remember that there are people who are newer to the congregation and there are some who were not in church the last time I preached about the subject. But this is such a good time to deal with the Second Coming due to the movie that is coming out with Nicholas Cage called "Left Behind." While it is nothing more than a remake of a 2000 film which used the Left Behind series book to proclaim their viewpoints.
Is it not strange that people are so anxious to have some kind of spectacular science fiction type event take place that they run to these movies and books to satisfy their thirst for such things. I wonder if people would bother to look at the word of God to find out what He has to say about such things. Is it not funny that people talk about a seven year tribulation when the bible never gives us a plain statement of such a thing? Is it not funny that people talk about a secret rapture when the bible never gives us a plain statement of such a thing? We do have very plain statements that when the end comes people will be doing the normal things of life and that they will be surprised. That is why we are live life ready for His coming!
Well, let me give you a review about the "Left Behind" movie! It is filled with some wonderful cinematography and the special effects are amazing. This fictional account is well acted and produced at an extremely high level but it is nothing more than mere fiction. It is a repeat of other writers material dating back at least until 1970 when Hal Lindsey wrote his best seller "Late Great Planet Earth." I have never seen the movie and do not plan on ever seeing it! I know the real outcome of the Coming of Jesus and it is not planes falling out of the sky and everyone crying out that we are left behind. It is judgment and eternity--are you ready?
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Hello Folks,
I wonder what it is that moves people to have a commitment and desire to serve God? As I look at our world I see some people who have a great desire to reach others for Christ but most of what I see is, at best, a general lack of concern for God or His Church. I guess I probably measure both of these things together--the desire to serve God and the desire to serve His Church. Of course, there is the great matter of whether you can serve God without have a love for His Church?
As a pastor it is very hard for me to watch as commitment to the local congregation seems to be dwindle but commitment to sports, work, and a variety of other things seems to grow. I ask myself if I think that way simply because I am a pastor and get much of my sense of success from my ministry. Is that fair if that is the case? Would I think the same way if I spent all week working hard and just did not have the energy to give to the local congregation from my life? Should I expect more than just Sunday morning attendance? Is the church of today moving from a group of people who meet "much...more, as ye see the day approaching." (HEB 10:25)
Just this past week the Supreme Court let stand the lower courts opinion that same-sex marriage is legal in certain states, about 30 of them will be effected. The moral fabric of our nation has been changing and at this time it would seem that the Church should be an anchor for all. But when there is little if any commitment to the Church I wonder what that will mean for our nation, or what it has meant for our nation.
Maybe this is nothing more than the concerns of a man who is growing older. I pray that is the case. I know that God's Church will always exist because it is God's Church. But I do wonder what it will mean for our Movement and our nation.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I wonder what it is that moves people to have a commitment and desire to serve God? As I look at our world I see some people who have a great desire to reach others for Christ but most of what I see is, at best, a general lack of concern for God or His Church. I guess I probably measure both of these things together--the desire to serve God and the desire to serve His Church. Of course, there is the great matter of whether you can serve God without have a love for His Church?
As a pastor it is very hard for me to watch as commitment to the local congregation seems to be dwindle but commitment to sports, work, and a variety of other things seems to grow. I ask myself if I think that way simply because I am a pastor and get much of my sense of success from my ministry. Is that fair if that is the case? Would I think the same way if I spent all week working hard and just did not have the energy to give to the local congregation from my life? Should I expect more than just Sunday morning attendance? Is the church of today moving from a group of people who meet "much...more, as ye see the day approaching." (HEB 10:25)
Just this past week the Supreme Court let stand the lower courts opinion that same-sex marriage is legal in certain states, about 30 of them will be effected. The moral fabric of our nation has been changing and at this time it would seem that the Church should be an anchor for all. But when there is little if any commitment to the Church I wonder what that will mean for our nation, or what it has meant for our nation.
Maybe this is nothing more than the concerns of a man who is growing older. I pray that is the case. I know that God's Church will always exist because it is God's Church. But I do wonder what it will mean for our Movement and our nation.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Hello Folks,
I was just reading about a resurgence in Calvinism at least here in America. One author maintained that it was a backlash to the Emergent Church viewpoint that is moving through evangelical church groups. The Emergent Church maintains that theology is basically what you think it is--this may be a rather broad statement so please understand there can be some variety in that viewpoint. The resurgence in Calvinism is especially concentrating on predestination. With those two "bookends" of belief it is an interesting question, at least to me, as to where the Church of God Reformation Movement fits. Certainly we are not followers of predestination. Could it be that we have some of our pastors and educators who are moving closer to an Emergent viewpoint?
I am not for sure about this but it certainly seems that we are moving away from sanctification as definite second work of grace and casting aside holiness as it has been understood in the Holiness Movement. One factor that stands out to me very clearly is that question on alcohol consumption. With leaders and pastors who are fearful of angering the 20-30 year old demographic it appears that we are telling them that alcohol is acceptable as long as you do not get drunk. Social drinking is becoming acceptable in our circles and the thought that it might be wrong is cast aside. For the pastors who believe that it is wrong but they do not want to address it they should be ashamed! Our silence might be a very large factor in why the message of holiness is not being heard.
Let me give you something that might be of far greater importance where these issues are concerned. Does anyone care anymore?
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I was just reading about a resurgence in Calvinism at least here in America. One author maintained that it was a backlash to the Emergent Church viewpoint that is moving through evangelical church groups. The Emergent Church maintains that theology is basically what you think it is--this may be a rather broad statement so please understand there can be some variety in that viewpoint. The resurgence in Calvinism is especially concentrating on predestination. With those two "bookends" of belief it is an interesting question, at least to me, as to where the Church of God Reformation Movement fits. Certainly we are not followers of predestination. Could it be that we have some of our pastors and educators who are moving closer to an Emergent viewpoint?
I am not for sure about this but it certainly seems that we are moving away from sanctification as definite second work of grace and casting aside holiness as it has been understood in the Holiness Movement. One factor that stands out to me very clearly is that question on alcohol consumption. With leaders and pastors who are fearful of angering the 20-30 year old demographic it appears that we are telling them that alcohol is acceptable as long as you do not get drunk. Social drinking is becoming acceptable in our circles and the thought that it might be wrong is cast aside. For the pastors who believe that it is wrong but they do not want to address it they should be ashamed! Our silence might be a very large factor in why the message of holiness is not being heard.
Let me give you something that might be of far greater importance where these issues are concerned. Does anyone care anymore?
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Hello Folks,
Every day we get up and face what God brings to us. This is not a matter of happenstance but the desire of God to use us in His Kingdom. I wonder how He wants to use you and me today? Could it be that some of us miss the hand of God in our lives due to the fact that we are so intent in do what we have planned for that day? Maybe God wants to do more than we could have ever imagined in our lives if we would just pay attention to Him. What about you and I spending this day simply looking for the opportunities that God will bring to us! If we do that would our lives and our world see changes take place that are planned by God for us? If we do not I wonder if would miss some of the plans that God has for us?
Last Friday night I watched a local football game that a couple of the young men in our church were involved in and it was a very exciting game. One of the things that must take place for victory to be achieved is for the players to pay attention to the coaches. They all have been assigned certain responsibilities and for a play to work as it is planned everyone of them must do what they are supposed to do. Is this not also true for the church? Are we not part of the body of Christ if we are followers of Jesus and are we not told that we He places us in the body as He sees fit? When a local congregation fails to fulfill the desired plan that God has for it could it be that individual members are refusing to fulfill the plan that God has for them? I pray that I would fulfill His desire!
Have great day,
HGRudd
Every day we get up and face what God brings to us. This is not a matter of happenstance but the desire of God to use us in His Kingdom. I wonder how He wants to use you and me today? Could it be that some of us miss the hand of God in our lives due to the fact that we are so intent in do what we have planned for that day? Maybe God wants to do more than we could have ever imagined in our lives if we would just pay attention to Him. What about you and I spending this day simply looking for the opportunities that God will bring to us! If we do that would our lives and our world see changes take place that are planned by God for us? If we do not I wonder if would miss some of the plans that God has for us?
Last Friday night I watched a local football game that a couple of the young men in our church were involved in and it was a very exciting game. One of the things that must take place for victory to be achieved is for the players to pay attention to the coaches. They all have been assigned certain responsibilities and for a play to work as it is planned everyone of them must do what they are supposed to do. Is this not also true for the church? Are we not part of the body of Christ if we are followers of Jesus and are we not told that we He places us in the body as He sees fit? When a local congregation fails to fulfill the desired plan that God has for it could it be that individual members are refusing to fulfill the plan that God has for them? I pray that I would fulfill His desire!
Have great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Hello Folks,
Just this past Saturday our youth Sunday School class sponsored an outreach. They washed cars for free, gave hot dogs and bibles away. They had a lot of cars stop and the approximately 35 people who washed cars were busy. We had families helping with small children as well as some of our older adults. I am not sure how many people stopped for the free car wash and hotdogs but many of them were curious about the congregation and willing received the material that was given. What a joy it is to have people who are willing to do what they can in an effort to present Christ to our world.
I wonder how many of us are willing to wash cars or do something that is inconvenient for us in an effort to let our world know that there is a Savior who came so all of us could be saved? Is that not the crux of the issue for us as followers of Jesus? We may be willing to go to church but are we willing to try to reach people outside of our doors. What opportunities could be given us if we were willing to be inconvenienced? Maybe we could feed a family that said they were hungry like the folks did here this past Saturday. Maybe we could get folks to tart thinking about their need of Christ like some of them did this past Saturday. Maybe we could intersect with someone who really did not attend church and finally admitted that they only went every now and then. Could it be possible that a car wash will be used by God to help people to consider their eternity?
Well, maybe this week you and I could decide that we will watch for someone that God will bring our way for us to witness to about Jesus. Or, maybe we could find some way to witness to someone by our actions toward them. What about it will you watch for someone that you could share Christ with?
Have a great one,
HGRudd
Just this past Saturday our youth Sunday School class sponsored an outreach. They washed cars for free, gave hot dogs and bibles away. They had a lot of cars stop and the approximately 35 people who washed cars were busy. We had families helping with small children as well as some of our older adults. I am not sure how many people stopped for the free car wash and hotdogs but many of them were curious about the congregation and willing received the material that was given. What a joy it is to have people who are willing to do what they can in an effort to present Christ to our world.
I wonder how many of us are willing to wash cars or do something that is inconvenient for us in an effort to let our world know that there is a Savior who came so all of us could be saved? Is that not the crux of the issue for us as followers of Jesus? We may be willing to go to church but are we willing to try to reach people outside of our doors. What opportunities could be given us if we were willing to be inconvenienced? Maybe we could feed a family that said they were hungry like the folks did here this past Saturday. Maybe we could get folks to tart thinking about their need of Christ like some of them did this past Saturday. Maybe we could intersect with someone who really did not attend church and finally admitted that they only went every now and then. Could it be possible that a car wash will be used by God to help people to consider their eternity?
Well, maybe this week you and I could decide that we will watch for someone that God will bring our way for us to witness to about Jesus. Or, maybe we could find some way to witness to someone by our actions toward them. What about it will you watch for someone that you could share Christ with?
Have a great one,
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Hello Folks,
I must celebrate that there are times when it is a great joy to be able to point to the efforts of God's people to reach into the world. This can be done in numerous ways. There are times when personal evangelism is the means by which the church attempts this then there are various ways that they attempt to do this as a body. This past Sunday in our congregation I saw people who were willing to make a step of faith by committing to God through Faith Promise. Charles Heater was our special speaker and God used him to point people to the needs of those around us and to our responsibility toward them. At the end of the day our folks promised to give $27,735 to missions and to believe that God would give them the amount of their pledge through the year. There will be people in Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Nicaragua who will have their needs met because this congregation has placed trust in God to use them as a conduit to provide the resources these folks need. I am thankful for the willingness of people who sit in our pews to be used by God.
Every year congregations all across the U.S. and the world have "Annual Business Meetings". It would seem that most folks do not believe that it is needed due to the fact that most of them do not bother to attend. There is a sense in which I understand because we should be people who are saying that we trust God to perform His glories as He will. Yet there is a need for financial transparency that will allow anyone who desires to see where money is used and whether the leadership is being faithful. I wish I could figure a better way to give this information allowing people to give input rather than having a business meeting. Until then I will keep attempting to provide all the information that I can to the congregation and look forward to the way we invest our resources in the Kingdom.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I must celebrate that there are times when it is a great joy to be able to point to the efforts of God's people to reach into the world. This can be done in numerous ways. There are times when personal evangelism is the means by which the church attempts this then there are various ways that they attempt to do this as a body. This past Sunday in our congregation I saw people who were willing to make a step of faith by committing to God through Faith Promise. Charles Heater was our special speaker and God used him to point people to the needs of those around us and to our responsibility toward them. At the end of the day our folks promised to give $27,735 to missions and to believe that God would give them the amount of their pledge through the year. There will be people in Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Nicaragua who will have their needs met because this congregation has placed trust in God to use them as a conduit to provide the resources these folks need. I am thankful for the willingness of people who sit in our pews to be used by God.
Every year congregations all across the U.S. and the world have "Annual Business Meetings". It would seem that most folks do not believe that it is needed due to the fact that most of them do not bother to attend. There is a sense in which I understand because we should be people who are saying that we trust God to perform His glories as He will. Yet there is a need for financial transparency that will allow anyone who desires to see where money is used and whether the leadership is being faithful. I wish I could figure a better way to give this information allowing people to give input rather than having a business meeting. Until then I will keep attempting to provide all the information that I can to the congregation and look forward to the way we invest our resources in the Kingdom.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Hello Folks,
I returned this past Saturday from preaching at the Whitehall camp meeting in Pennsylvania this past week. What a joy it was to be there. The people were open and kind to me as well as wanting to seek the Lord in our time together. The leadership and pastors treated me as if I were one of their family and gave me great cooperation in all that I did. I pray that God spoke to hearts and that people were able to hear from God.
Ruth and I drove home on Saturday and then preached our regular worship services this past Sunday. I must admit that I am tired but also have to admit that I found it a great honor and joy to get to proclaim the gospel of Christ as frequently as I did. We live in a world where people are presented all kinds of options where religion is concerned and we must lift up Jesus as often as possible. It might be in a church building or it might be at the gas station as you wait in line. Is there a greater message than Jesus' saving grace? I would contend there is not! No one can proclaim a Savior like Jesus except Christian folks! Praise be to Him!
We are coming to a close where summer is concerned. Two of my grand daughters started back to school on July 29 while the area schools started back last week. It seems to me that time moves at a blur and if we are not careful we will miss out on what God has for us! I pray that all of us will have our hearts open to what He has for us and for the opportunities that He provides us to speak about Jesus to those we come into contact with in our life. May He bless you all.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I returned this past Saturday from preaching at the Whitehall camp meeting in Pennsylvania this past week. What a joy it was to be there. The people were open and kind to me as well as wanting to seek the Lord in our time together. The leadership and pastors treated me as if I were one of their family and gave me great cooperation in all that I did. I pray that God spoke to hearts and that people were able to hear from God.
Ruth and I drove home on Saturday and then preached our regular worship services this past Sunday. I must admit that I am tired but also have to admit that I found it a great honor and joy to get to proclaim the gospel of Christ as frequently as I did. We live in a world where people are presented all kinds of options where religion is concerned and we must lift up Jesus as often as possible. It might be in a church building or it might be at the gas station as you wait in line. Is there a greater message than Jesus' saving grace? I would contend there is not! No one can proclaim a Savior like Jesus except Christian folks! Praise be to Him!
We are coming to a close where summer is concerned. Two of my grand daughters started back to school on July 29 while the area schools started back last week. It seems to me that time moves at a blur and if we are not careful we will miss out on what God has for us! I pray that all of us will have our hearts open to what He has for us and for the opportunities that He provides us to speak about Jesus to those we come into contact with in our life. May He bless you all.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
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