Hello Folks,
It appears to me that winter is getting closer all the time. The temperatures are getting cooler, the leaves are changing and Thanksgiving is only a month away. The signs of the times reveal that it will not be long before we have to get our winter coats out and turn the furnace on to keep warm. I, for one, do not look forward to cold weather. Yet I know that it comes every year and I will have to bear it again.
Every one of us have things we do not like but they still come into our lives. We do not like taxes, getting up early, cutting the grass, or whatever it is that you find distasteful yet we do them. Life is filled with some difficult and undesirable things but in the midst of them all there are also some wonderful things that come to pass. This past Sunday we enjoy baptizing 7 people, 2 adults and 5 children, who had made a commitment of faith to Jesus and wanted to be obedient to Him. All around us are difficulties yet God still gives us some of the most wonderful and joyful moments of our lives. It is good to see people say yes to the will and truth of God.
We also had visitors that would not have been here if they had not been invited to be part of the baptism service. In a world that is filled with all kinds of difficult moments we were allowed to see someone who had not been in church in years come and participate in worship. Maybe, just maybe, they will have their hearts changed because of that moment. Please pray for each one that was here.
May the Lord bless you and remember that in the times when things are not always what you want God gives us some wonderthing moments.
HGRudd
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Hello Folks,
This Saturday Ruth's mother, Daphene McCorkle, went home to be with the Lord. She had been in a semi-care facility for about 13 months and has been suffering from demensia for about 5 years. Ruth was called about 2:30 a.m. and told that her mother had been taken to the hospital complaining of pain and by 11:45 p.m. she had left this world. Her kidneys had failed and of course that was a life ending event for her. Her age was 87. Ruth and I are thankful that she was able to be with us that long yet we are also thankful that her physical suffering was short lived. I want to thank all of you for your prayers and kind words. The congregation here at Greeneville First Church of God has been exceedingly kind to us and we could not ask for any better care than they have given us. The funeral will be Wednesday 10-19-11 in West Union, Ohio where Daphene grew up and where Ruth's father is buried. Once again thanks to all of you for your kindness and prayers at this time.
Death is a reminder to all of us that life in this world is not something that is eternal. We all will die unless Jesus comes again before our physical death. Yet physical death is also something that allows us to go to be with the Lord and for that we should all be thankful. Because Jesus died for us and rose from the grave you and I can live forever through Jesus. Heaven is a place where we can enjoy all that God has prepared for us and where we can be in His presence forever. I praise Him for that!
As we look at this world that we live in and see people who are running from place to place do we not realize that many of them, maybe most of them, will not go to be with God after they die? Truly the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few! We must pray that the Lord will send forth laborers into the harvest and maybe that you and I could be those laborers.
Blessings to all of you.
HGRudd
This Saturday Ruth's mother, Daphene McCorkle, went home to be with the Lord. She had been in a semi-care facility for about 13 months and has been suffering from demensia for about 5 years. Ruth was called about 2:30 a.m. and told that her mother had been taken to the hospital complaining of pain and by 11:45 p.m. she had left this world. Her kidneys had failed and of course that was a life ending event for her. Her age was 87. Ruth and I are thankful that she was able to be with us that long yet we are also thankful that her physical suffering was short lived. I want to thank all of you for your prayers and kind words. The congregation here at Greeneville First Church of God has been exceedingly kind to us and we could not ask for any better care than they have given us. The funeral will be Wednesday 10-19-11 in West Union, Ohio where Daphene grew up and where Ruth's father is buried. Once again thanks to all of you for your kindness and prayers at this time.
Death is a reminder to all of us that life in this world is not something that is eternal. We all will die unless Jesus comes again before our physical death. Yet physical death is also something that allows us to go to be with the Lord and for that we should all be thankful. Because Jesus died for us and rose from the grave you and I can live forever through Jesus. Heaven is a place where we can enjoy all that God has prepared for us and where we can be in His presence forever. I praise Him for that!
As we look at this world that we live in and see people who are running from place to place do we not realize that many of them, maybe most of them, will not go to be with God after they die? Truly the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few! We must pray that the Lord will send forth laborers into the harvest and maybe that you and I could be those laborers.
Blessings to all of you.
HGRudd
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Hello Folks,
Last week I was in South Lebanon, Ohio where I preached a revival for our congregation there. It went from Sunday a.m. through Wednesday night. The congregation there is a small congregation but the folks there had a desire to worship God and were very receptive to the sermons. Yet that brings a question that I would like to present to you.
Through the nights that I spent at that congregation I noticed that there no other pastors or members of other congregations attended in support even though there are a multitude of other congregations within a short distance. There could be numerous reasons for that such as a failure to communicate to the other congregations. But it seems to me that wherever I go that there is very little support from other congregations and that is even true here in Greeneville. It would appear to me that there is little, if any, practical application of unity being applied among our congregations today. Of course, I could be using the wrong measurements but there appears to be little effort to support each other in anything.
Let me give you another example of this thought. During the East Tennessee Summer Camp Meeting the largest attendance was 524 with the average nightly attendance being 334. According to the yearbook the seven congregations of Greene county have a combine average attendance of 1151 and that does not include any of the other approximately 21 congregations of the Church of God in East Tennessee.
This leads me to the question of whether we really want to be together as congregations? It appears from this that either the idea of unity is lost to us or we must find some other ways to express it. Could it be that people see these times of joint worship as nothing more than a night off from church? I realize that people are extremely busy but does that simply reveal a shift to being a society of people who want a "form of godliness" that takes place on Sunday a.m. only?
I heard a CD of Albert Mohler the other day and he said: "Wealth brings more opportunities for unfaithfulness." Is that where we are at as a nation, as a Movement, and as a congregation? You tell me.
H. Gerald Rudd
Last week I was in South Lebanon, Ohio where I preached a revival for our congregation there. It went from Sunday a.m. through Wednesday night. The congregation there is a small congregation but the folks there had a desire to worship God and were very receptive to the sermons. Yet that brings a question that I would like to present to you.
Through the nights that I spent at that congregation I noticed that there no other pastors or members of other congregations attended in support even though there are a multitude of other congregations within a short distance. There could be numerous reasons for that such as a failure to communicate to the other congregations. But it seems to me that wherever I go that there is very little support from other congregations and that is even true here in Greeneville. It would appear to me that there is little, if any, practical application of unity being applied among our congregations today. Of course, I could be using the wrong measurements but there appears to be little effort to support each other in anything.
Let me give you another example of this thought. During the East Tennessee Summer Camp Meeting the largest attendance was 524 with the average nightly attendance being 334. According to the yearbook the seven congregations of Greene county have a combine average attendance of 1151 and that does not include any of the other approximately 21 congregations of the Church of God in East Tennessee.
This leads me to the question of whether we really want to be together as congregations? It appears from this that either the idea of unity is lost to us or we must find some other ways to express it. Could it be that people see these times of joint worship as nothing more than a night off from church? I realize that people are extremely busy but does that simply reveal a shift to being a society of people who want a "form of godliness" that takes place on Sunday a.m. only?
I heard a CD of Albert Mohler the other day and he said: "Wealth brings more opportunities for unfaithfulness." Is that where we are at as a nation, as a Movement, and as a congregation? You tell me.
H. Gerald Rudd
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Hello Folks,
Some of you may have heard about or, even, have read the book "Radical" by David Platt and I would encourage you to get it and read it if you would like to be challenged about what it means to be the church. Sometimes I find that the demands of our society and my own desires to be "successful" might cause me to miss the real needs of the local congregation. We are so conditioned to make sure we have a good "show" and "performance" that we often forget that we are supposed to make disciples. I wonder if we miss out on that one issue if God will say "well done" or if he will say "depart from me." Could it be that we in the American church are so caught up in teh giltz and glamour of being the "big" church in town that we fail actually fail to be the church?
Here is a challenge for you and me. Look at your own life and ask if you have made any disciples and if you are currently making disciples. If we cannot say yes to that I wonder if we can stand before God and be satisfied with our lives. I realize that some of us would say that we are preaching the Word and that we are guiding the Church which are undoubtedly correct things to do. But if we are not making disciples does that not mean we are failing to fulfill Matt 28:18-20? If we fail at that I wonder if our "works" will withstand the fire.
It is my prayer that I make disciples for Jesus. If I fail at that it would appear to me that I fail at one thing that is more important than anything else that we might do. What do you think of this?
HGRudd
Some of you may have heard about or, even, have read the book "Radical" by David Platt and I would encourage you to get it and read it if you would like to be challenged about what it means to be the church. Sometimes I find that the demands of our society and my own desires to be "successful" might cause me to miss the real needs of the local congregation. We are so conditioned to make sure we have a good "show" and "performance" that we often forget that we are supposed to make disciples. I wonder if we miss out on that one issue if God will say "well done" or if he will say "depart from me." Could it be that we in the American church are so caught up in teh giltz and glamour of being the "big" church in town that we fail actually fail to be the church?
Here is a challenge for you and me. Look at your own life and ask if you have made any disciples and if you are currently making disciples. If we cannot say yes to that I wonder if we can stand before God and be satisfied with our lives. I realize that some of us would say that we are preaching the Word and that we are guiding the Church which are undoubtedly correct things to do. But if we are not making disciples does that not mean we are failing to fulfill Matt 28:18-20? If we fail at that I wonder if our "works" will withstand the fire.
It is my prayer that I make disciples for Jesus. If I fail at that it would appear to me that I fail at one thing that is more important than anything else that we might do. What do you think of this?
HGRudd
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Hello Folks,
This morning I came to my office and received the report on what is taking place after a couple of weeks of Christian Learning for Christing Living or CL4CL. We had a total of 161 peple sign up for it and int he first two weeks of it 138 of those people actually have attended. This is a very good turn out in my mind as it is not unusual for people to say that they will attend and sometimes only about 50% of them actually make it. I am praying that these classes will enable people to grow in Jesus and that the impact of it will be amazing in thelives of individuals as well as the congregation as whole.
At the beginning of the month I started a series in the Sunday a.m. worship on the names of God. The study for those sermons have been very helpful to me individually and I pray that they will have real impact upon the people who are here. I pray that we will learn more of who God is and how we can have real relationship with Him. It seems to me that many people want to have God do things for them but they are not actually seeking to know Him. What would our congregation look like if we really learned what God is like and attempted to know Him more?
I want to thank you all for your cards, e-mails, facebook entries, and personal wishes on my 60th birthday. I have to admit that I find myself with a few more aches and that my body continues to deteriorate. Now, do not misunderstand I think I am in pretty good health and I get along pretty good but it is obvious to me that I am not 30 anymore. Thanks to all of you for helping me enjoy my birthday with food, gifts and celebration. Your kindness is a great joy to me. God has been good to me by allowing me to be part of your lives.
Yours In Christ,
H. G. Rudd
This morning I came to my office and received the report on what is taking place after a couple of weeks of Christian Learning for Christing Living or CL4CL. We had a total of 161 peple sign up for it and int he first two weeks of it 138 of those people actually have attended. This is a very good turn out in my mind as it is not unusual for people to say that they will attend and sometimes only about 50% of them actually make it. I am praying that these classes will enable people to grow in Jesus and that the impact of it will be amazing in thelives of individuals as well as the congregation as whole.
At the beginning of the month I started a series in the Sunday a.m. worship on the names of God. The study for those sermons have been very helpful to me individually and I pray that they will have real impact upon the people who are here. I pray that we will learn more of who God is and how we can have real relationship with Him. It seems to me that many people want to have God do things for them but they are not actually seeking to know Him. What would our congregation look like if we really learned what God is like and attempted to know Him more?
I want to thank you all for your cards, e-mails, facebook entries, and personal wishes on my 60th birthday. I have to admit that I find myself with a few more aches and that my body continues to deteriorate. Now, do not misunderstand I think I am in pretty good health and I get along pretty good but it is obvious to me that I am not 30 anymore. Thanks to all of you for helping me enjoy my birthday with food, gifts and celebration. Your kindness is a great joy to me. God has been good to me by allowing me to be part of your lives.
Yours In Christ,
H. G. Rudd
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Hello Folks,
This past week Ruth and I went to the State Minister's Meeting at Hermitage Church of God near Nashville. It was one of the best State Minister Meeting's that I have ever been to in 36 years of preaching and 31 years of full-time pastoral ministry. Arlo Newell was the speaker and God used him wonderfully to declare the truth of God about the call of ministry and the preaching of the Word. Brother Newell is 85 years of age and except for looking a little frail God used him powerfully during that time. I am thankful that I got to be there to hear him and to have my own heart renewed.
This coming Saturday I will turn 60 years of age if the Lord is willing to allow me to live until then. I would have never thought that I would get to be this old but the Lord has given me pretty good health and I give Him praise for the joys that He has allowed me. Over 31 years ago I left my job at General Motors and took my first pastorate in Pekin, Il. Then in 2001 I became the pastor of Greeneville First Church of God. There have been great times of joy for me as a senior pastor and I could never thank God enough for giving me this great honor of allowing me to serve His church.
This past Sunday p.m. after our worship the congregation here helped me to celebrate my birthday and my 10th year as the pastor here. What wonderful time it was and you should have seen all the deserts that were prepared. I would not be able to eat them all in two weeks of nohting but deserts. But most of all the kindness and love that this congregation has shown me cannot be measured. For that I am extremely thankful to them and to my Savior who gave Himself for me. If the Lord is willing and the congregation agrees I am willing to say here until it is time for me to give way to the next leader God would send this way. Pray that I be sensitive to God's voice in all of this.
May He bless you all.
H. G. Rudd
This past week Ruth and I went to the State Minister's Meeting at Hermitage Church of God near Nashville. It was one of the best State Minister Meeting's that I have ever been to in 36 years of preaching and 31 years of full-time pastoral ministry. Arlo Newell was the speaker and God used him wonderfully to declare the truth of God about the call of ministry and the preaching of the Word. Brother Newell is 85 years of age and except for looking a little frail God used him powerfully during that time. I am thankful that I got to be there to hear him and to have my own heart renewed.
This coming Saturday I will turn 60 years of age if the Lord is willing to allow me to live until then. I would have never thought that I would get to be this old but the Lord has given me pretty good health and I give Him praise for the joys that He has allowed me. Over 31 years ago I left my job at General Motors and took my first pastorate in Pekin, Il. Then in 2001 I became the pastor of Greeneville First Church of God. There have been great times of joy for me as a senior pastor and I could never thank God enough for giving me this great honor of allowing me to serve His church.
This past Sunday p.m. after our worship the congregation here helped me to celebrate my birthday and my 10th year as the pastor here. What wonderful time it was and you should have seen all the deserts that were prepared. I would not be able to eat them all in two weeks of nohting but deserts. But most of all the kindness and love that this congregation has shown me cannot be measured. For that I am extremely thankful to them and to my Savior who gave Himself for me. If the Lord is willing and the congregation agrees I am willing to say here until it is time for me to give way to the next leader God would send this way. Pray that I be sensitive to God's voice in all of this.
May He bless you all.
H. G. Rudd
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Hello Folks,
Labor Day is over and everyone is probably back to work today. I pray that you all had a great 3 day week-end and enjoyed your family. I also pray that you were with your spiritual family over this holiday. It is suprising to me how many people decide that on long week-end that they should skip out on worshiping with the family of God and giving praise to the Savior. Maybe I am rather old fashioned where this is concerned and I also realize that there may be times when you cannot go to worship but if you can why would you not go? If we do an honest evaluation of our holidays I wonder if we actually leave God out of them? Just something to think about.
Our new effort called Christian Learning for Christian Living, or CL4CL has started and we have 156 people signed up for it. There are 46 youth signed up and even though we have some adults who have signed up for more than one there are about 90-100 adults that are going to start the effort of learning so they can be more capable to serve the Savior. Pray that this will enable all of us to be more capable to serve the One who gave Himself for us.
This week Ruth and I will go to Nashville for our State Ministers meeting. While we will only stay one night we will get to hear one of the individuals that we both think is one of the best preachers in the Church of God Reformation Movement--Arlo Newell. Brother Newell has been a wonderful brother to me through the years and has given of himself to help give guidance and counsel when I have needed it. Pray that God will use him powerfully for the Kingdom this week.
Well, may this week be filled with the joy of God for your life.
HGRudd
Labor Day is over and everyone is probably back to work today. I pray that you all had a great 3 day week-end and enjoyed your family. I also pray that you were with your spiritual family over this holiday. It is suprising to me how many people decide that on long week-end that they should skip out on worshiping with the family of God and giving praise to the Savior. Maybe I am rather old fashioned where this is concerned and I also realize that there may be times when you cannot go to worship but if you can why would you not go? If we do an honest evaluation of our holidays I wonder if we actually leave God out of them? Just something to think about.
Our new effort called Christian Learning for Christian Living, or CL4CL has started and we have 156 people signed up for it. There are 46 youth signed up and even though we have some adults who have signed up for more than one there are about 90-100 adults that are going to start the effort of learning so they can be more capable to serve the Savior. Pray that this will enable all of us to be more capable to serve the One who gave Himself for us.
This week Ruth and I will go to Nashville for our State Ministers meeting. While we will only stay one night we will get to hear one of the individuals that we both think is one of the best preachers in the Church of God Reformation Movement--Arlo Newell. Brother Newell has been a wonderful brother to me through the years and has given of himself to help give guidance and counsel when I have needed it. Pray that God will use him powerfully for the Kingdom this week.
Well, may this week be filled with the joy of God for your life.
HGRudd
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