Hello Folks,
Well, Ruth went to visit the kids for a week and I am having to make it on my own. My daughter bought a table that would not fit in their car so Ruth had to use my truck to deliver it this week. I do not like being without my truck but for my daughter I will suffer this week. Last night I had to cook my own dinner. I grilled out a steak and put some mac and cheese in the microwave and did pretty good with food. But I must admit that I miss having Ruth there with me--the house seems empty and I do not like not having her there. What I won't do for my daughter.
I wonder if God does not use the common things like my love for my daughter to remind us of His love for us? As Jesus said in Matt 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your Father which is is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? I personally find it amazing that God would bother to forgive a one such as I. You may deserve all that God would give you, even though I really doubt it, but I certainly do not! He has been so good to me that I could never express it clearly enough. Words fail me and my vocabulary is not large enough to be able to express it like it should be expressed. He certainly is a wonderful Father to me.
This next Sunday Charlotte McPherson will be speaking in our congregation. She works in Turkey and we have a wonderful relationship with her. Her insights into the Muslim world is something that will be of great benefit to us. She will be leading a conference at Pastor's Fellowship in Winchester, Ky on May 7-8 if you can be there it would be beneficial to you.
May the Lord bless you all.
HGRudd
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Hello Folks,
It seems to me that summer is coming upon us pretty quickly. I have been cutting grass for about a month or so now and all the other things that go along with law care have demanded my attention. I must admit that I really do not care for working in the yard, as most of you already know. But I am reminded that if I want my lawn to look halfway decent I must put time in it. Can we not see that same truth is valid for our spiritual life? Unless you and I put time and effort into it we will not grow spiritually and it is very possible that spiritual death would be the result.
Here are a few things that you might want to do to get started in your spiritual journey. First, read the bible--develop a plan to read the Bible through in a year. It would probably demand that you read about 4 pages a day depending on the number of pages divided by 365 days. Second, take some time to pray--do not plan an hour a day but do plan at least 5 minutes a day. Start somewhere and make it a specific time each day at a particular place. Third, go to church and worship with the family of God at least once a week, more if possible. Fourth, tell someone about what Jesus has done for you. If you would follow these four simple suggestions you would find that you are growing in your spiritual life for Christ.
I pray that God will bless you today and as you move forward in your life for Christ may your life bring glory to our Savior.
HGRudd
It seems to me that summer is coming upon us pretty quickly. I have been cutting grass for about a month or so now and all the other things that go along with law care have demanded my attention. I must admit that I really do not care for working in the yard, as most of you already know. But I am reminded that if I want my lawn to look halfway decent I must put time in it. Can we not see that same truth is valid for our spiritual life? Unless you and I put time and effort into it we will not grow spiritually and it is very possible that spiritual death would be the result.
Here are a few things that you might want to do to get started in your spiritual journey. First, read the bible--develop a plan to read the Bible through in a year. It would probably demand that you read about 4 pages a day depending on the number of pages divided by 365 days. Second, take some time to pray--do not plan an hour a day but do plan at least 5 minutes a day. Start somewhere and make it a specific time each day at a particular place. Third, go to church and worship with the family of God at least once a week, more if possible. Fourth, tell someone about what Jesus has done for you. If you would follow these four simple suggestions you would find that you are growing in your spiritual life for Christ.
I pray that God will bless you today and as you move forward in your life for Christ may your life bring glory to our Savior.
HGRudd
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Hello Folks,
I pray that you had a great Easter Sunday. One thing that has been on my mind is the question of how we measure a successful Sunday. Was it the music, the sermon, the attendance, the spirit of God in the worship, people being saved or sanctified, or what? What had to take place for us to consider it successful? As I look at what took place here this past Sunday I have to say that the music and drama presentation was phenomenal, the spirit of God was present and our attendance was very good. We even had one man make his way to an altar and the church family prayed with him. The sermon was preached from the depth of my heart and God seemed to me to be present. For me the only thing that makes a worship service successful is not all those things that I have listed but one simple issue and it is whether God was pleased. Now, I know that is a subjective measurement but it seems to me that God will enable us to know that He is pleased. I believe that God was pleased here this past Sunday a.m. and for that I am thankful.
This past Sunday I finished a 4 sermon series on The Blood and I have personally found it very interesting to prepare for it. The blood of Jesus was spilled out on Calvary for me and to think that it was more than mere O negative or positive captures my mind and heart. God in the Flesh allowed His royal blood to be poured out on the sacrificial cross of Calvary for anyone who would place their faith in Him. It cleanses and makes us whole and it is the only sacrifice that can take care of sin. Thanks be to God for the blood that makes me whole!
Celebrate with me the wondrous Resurrection of Jesus.
HGRudd
I pray that you had a great Easter Sunday. One thing that has been on my mind is the question of how we measure a successful Sunday. Was it the music, the sermon, the attendance, the spirit of God in the worship, people being saved or sanctified, or what? What had to take place for us to consider it successful? As I look at what took place here this past Sunday I have to say that the music and drama presentation was phenomenal, the spirit of God was present and our attendance was very good. We even had one man make his way to an altar and the church family prayed with him. The sermon was preached from the depth of my heart and God seemed to me to be present. For me the only thing that makes a worship service successful is not all those things that I have listed but one simple issue and it is whether God was pleased. Now, I know that is a subjective measurement but it seems to me that God will enable us to know that He is pleased. I believe that God was pleased here this past Sunday a.m. and for that I am thankful.
This past Sunday I finished a 4 sermon series on The Blood and I have personally found it very interesting to prepare for it. The blood of Jesus was spilled out on Calvary for me and to think that it was more than mere O negative or positive captures my mind and heart. God in the Flesh allowed His royal blood to be poured out on the sacrificial cross of Calvary for anyone who would place their faith in Him. It cleanses and makes us whole and it is the only sacrifice that can take care of sin. Thanks be to God for the blood that makes me whole!
Celebrate with me the wondrous Resurrection of Jesus.
HGRudd
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Hello Folks,
This coming Sunday we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. This entire week is a time when we will attempt to consider what it all means to us. On Wednesday here at Greeneville First Church of God we will participate in a Communion and a Foottwashing service. Hopefully we will consider that Jesus came to this world on our behalf and He served us so we ought to serve each other. Then Friday is Good Friday because it is the day that Jesus suffered on Calvary for us! His death was an amazing act of sacrifice that both He and our Heavenly Father engaged in on our behalf. But Sunday we will be able to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus which tells us that we can be raised from the spiritual death that sin brings! Jesus conquered death and hell and we can have victory over them through Him. Praise be to God for Resurrection Sunday.
This week I have my youngest son, James, and his two daughters visiting as well as my daughter Debby, her husband Tom, and their two children visiting as well. What a wonderful week it is for me to get to see them and listen to them laugh and talk. James and I are hunting turkey some of this week and the rest of the time Jackie McCrary is taking him out. He wears me out but it is still a wonderful time to be together and I thank God for allowing me this time.
I pray you have a great week.
HGRudd
This coming Sunday we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. This entire week is a time when we will attempt to consider what it all means to us. On Wednesday here at Greeneville First Church of God we will participate in a Communion and a Foottwashing service. Hopefully we will consider that Jesus came to this world on our behalf and He served us so we ought to serve each other. Then Friday is Good Friday because it is the day that Jesus suffered on Calvary for us! His death was an amazing act of sacrifice that both He and our Heavenly Father engaged in on our behalf. But Sunday we will be able to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus which tells us that we can be raised from the spiritual death that sin brings! Jesus conquered death and hell and we can have victory over them through Him. Praise be to God for Resurrection Sunday.
This week I have my youngest son, James, and his two daughters visiting as well as my daughter Debby, her husband Tom, and their two children visiting as well. What a wonderful week it is for me to get to see them and listen to them laugh and talk. James and I are hunting turkey some of this week and the rest of the time Jackie McCrary is taking him out. He wears me out but it is still a wonderful time to be together and I thank God for allowing me this time.
I pray you have a great week.
HGRudd
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Hello Folks,
It is easy in the life of a congregation to not see all that takes place to keep things going smoothly. Let me give you just a few items that you might not ever think about. Robert Crum and Jerry Hartsell give joint leadership to our ushers. They make sure we have enough ushers, that doors are locked at the appropriate time, if someone is sick they get help, if there is anything that I need such as water they make sure it is in place. They make sure things go smoothly and most of us just do not realize what they do.
Then there are the people who spend time to count the offering. There are a number of people who are willing to give of their time and effort to make sure the offering is counted so the rest of the process can be fulfilled. These people give up the time they could have been with their family to help us have a good accountability process in place for the funds that are given for the ministry.
The list could go on--Greeters, nursery workers, wee church, Junior Church, choir members, and the folks who operate our multi-media equipment all give of themselves every Sunday to the rest of us. I for one am very thankful for them. While they may often be unnamed or work behind the scenes they are just as important to what takes place as the rest of us are! I pray that more and more people would give of themselves to help the ministry take place here.
HGRudd
It is easy in the life of a congregation to not see all that takes place to keep things going smoothly. Let me give you just a few items that you might not ever think about. Robert Crum and Jerry Hartsell give joint leadership to our ushers. They make sure we have enough ushers, that doors are locked at the appropriate time, if someone is sick they get help, if there is anything that I need such as water they make sure it is in place. They make sure things go smoothly and most of us just do not realize what they do.
Then there are the people who spend time to count the offering. There are a number of people who are willing to give of their time and effort to make sure the offering is counted so the rest of the process can be fulfilled. These people give up the time they could have been with their family to help us have a good accountability process in place for the funds that are given for the ministry.
The list could go on--Greeters, nursery workers, wee church, Junior Church, choir members, and the folks who operate our multi-media equipment all give of themselves every Sunday to the rest of us. I for one am very thankful for them. While they may often be unnamed or work behind the scenes they are just as important to what takes place as the rest of us are! I pray that more and more people would give of themselves to help the ministry take place here.
HGRudd
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Hello Folks,
This past Sunday was one of those days that it seemed as if God were speaking in our midst. Our Sunday a.m. was blessed by the presence of God and all that took place seemed to have the amazing presence of God on it. The sermon was on The Blood of the Passover Lamb--it is the beginning of a series that will last through Easter on the blood. Next Sunday I will preach on The Blood Sacrifice and I pray that God will use that sermon as well. If you want to listen to it you can go to our website and listen to it there.
On Sunday p.m. we had Reggie Dabbs preach with the Master's Commission presenting drama in his sermon. He is going to be preaching at the State Youth Convention this coming week-end and throughout this week he will be at 5 high shools in our area. On Wednesday night he will be preaching at a rally for students of our county. Please pray that God will use him during that time. Sunday p.m. was well attended with many visitor's and God used him to bring the message of the Savior to those present.
I am thankful for your youth and our youth ministry. Anita Miller and her volunteer staff work extremely hard for those young people and it seems to me that we see some wonderful things taking place in that ministry. Those congregations that do not have such a dedicated group of people investing their lives in young people are sadly lacking. We are very blessed by God to have this type of ministry here.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
This past Sunday was one of those days that it seemed as if God were speaking in our midst. Our Sunday a.m. was blessed by the presence of God and all that took place seemed to have the amazing presence of God on it. The sermon was on The Blood of the Passover Lamb--it is the beginning of a series that will last through Easter on the blood. Next Sunday I will preach on The Blood Sacrifice and I pray that God will use that sermon as well. If you want to listen to it you can go to our website and listen to it there.
On Sunday p.m. we had Reggie Dabbs preach with the Master's Commission presenting drama in his sermon. He is going to be preaching at the State Youth Convention this coming week-end and throughout this week he will be at 5 high shools in our area. On Wednesday night he will be preaching at a rally for students of our county. Please pray that God will use him during that time. Sunday p.m. was well attended with many visitor's and God used him to bring the message of the Savior to those present.
I am thankful for your youth and our youth ministry. Anita Miller and her volunteer staff work extremely hard for those young people and it seems to me that we see some wonderful things taking place in that ministry. Those congregations that do not have such a dedicated group of people investing their lives in young people are sadly lacking. We are very blessed by God to have this type of ministry here.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Hello Folks,
Over the past few weeks I have been preaching a series of sermons in our Sunday p.m. worship through the Psalms. I started with Psalm 50 and am currently as Psalm 57. I find that the Psalms seem to speak to me about the heart of the person that is writing. When David writes he wraps it in the events of his life and how God has taken care of Him in it and how he will give praise to God. I wonder if you and I could just look at out lives in wrapped up in the reality that God delivers us from our circumstances if we would not be people of praise to Him? Here is a suggestion: look for something to give praise to God fr today.
It is with grea anticipation that I am waiting for Turkey Season to open up at the end of this month. I really enjoy getting to be outsde and to merely watch all that God has made. Of course, I also enjoy the fact that my youngest son, James, is planning on coming in to hunt with me. We have done this for about 10 years now and I am thankful that God has made that possible for me. I praise Him for giving me the opportunity to spend that time with my son. It is always a time of fun and laughter plus he is bringing his two girls in to be with us at the same time so that is a real bonus.
Easter is not far off and this coming Sunday morning I will begin a four sermon series on the blood. This Sunday it will be on the blood of the Passover Lamb. The message of the blood of the Lamb is something that is absolutely amazing when you consider that it is that very blood that is able to cleanse us and make us whole. I look forward to the next four Sundays as we attempt to lift up the Lamb of God.
Have a great one,
HGRudd
Over the past few weeks I have been preaching a series of sermons in our Sunday p.m. worship through the Psalms. I started with Psalm 50 and am currently as Psalm 57. I find that the Psalms seem to speak to me about the heart of the person that is writing. When David writes he wraps it in the events of his life and how God has taken care of Him in it and how he will give praise to God. I wonder if you and I could just look at out lives in wrapped up in the reality that God delivers us from our circumstances if we would not be people of praise to Him? Here is a suggestion: look for something to give praise to God fr today.
It is with grea anticipation that I am waiting for Turkey Season to open up at the end of this month. I really enjoy getting to be outsde and to merely watch all that God has made. Of course, I also enjoy the fact that my youngest son, James, is planning on coming in to hunt with me. We have done this for about 10 years now and I am thankful that God has made that possible for me. I praise Him for giving me the opportunity to spend that time with my son. It is always a time of fun and laughter plus he is bringing his two girls in to be with us at the same time so that is a real bonus.
Easter is not far off and this coming Sunday morning I will begin a four sermon series on the blood. This Sunday it will be on the blood of the Passover Lamb. The message of the blood of the Lamb is something that is absolutely amazing when you consider that it is that very blood that is able to cleanse us and make us whole. I look forward to the next four Sundays as we attempt to lift up the Lamb of God.
Have a great one,
HGRudd
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