Hello Folks,
This week I have been reminded how our plans do not always work out. Ruth and I have four grandchildren visiting with us and we had planned on going to Dollywood as a treat for them yesterday. As we drover the approximately 75 miles it began to rain and it was still raining, off and on, when we got there. We decided to go to a mall for a little diversion and to wait to see what would happen. Then we went to get some lunch at McDonald's and as we were there one of the my granddaughters became ill. We made a decision that we would come back home and, hopefully, Ruth will be able to take them on Friday. I cannot go on that day due to other commitments.
I wonder how many people are planning, consciously or unconsciously, to wait for a particular time or event before they turn to Christ. The question becomes what will happen to change that decision and will they ever reach the place that they will become a follower of Jesus. What a shame it would be to make all those plans and find yourself in an eternity without God saying, "But I was planning on turning to Jesus." That is why we are told that today is the day of salvation.
Next week I will be making a trip to Anderson, In for our annual General Assembly meeting and will also attend the Global Gathering. Pastor's Fellowship has introduced a Resolution on Christian Marriage and we will see if it will reach the floor or not. I never look forward to meetings but I do look forward to what God will do there. Over the next couple of weeks I will not be sending this blog out as I will be gone from my computer.
May the Lord bless you all,
HGRudd
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Hello Folks,
Yesterday was a full day for Ruth and I as we traveled to Florence, Ky where we met our oldest son, Bob, and our daughter, Debby, to pick up four of our grandchildren who will be staying with us about 2 weeks. Bailey is 15, Breanne is 14, Camryn is 13 and Landon is 6. It was a long day with us driving over 600 miles total but it wsa well worth it. To be able to have some of our grandchildren with us is a great joy for us. We have a few plans and they include a trip to Dollywood one day.
I became a Christian in March 1973 and there has been a lot of things that have changed in the church world in that 40 years. One of the most marked changes has been the way Sunday night Worship is being abandoned by the vast majority of Christian people. While I realize that there are numerous things that are in competition for that time and that Sunday night worship is not necessarily a biblical mandate it still confuses me some as to why this has taken place. As a pastor I work hard to prepare the same level of sermons that I preach on Sunday morning. Our worship pastor puts a great deal of effort in making sure that the singing and other aspects of worship are not at a lower level thank Sunday a.m. Yet it appears that people just do not want to come regardless of what you do.
One of things that I think I see taking place is that the older generation is dying off and they make up at least 60% of Sunday p.m. attendance. The younger generations appear to have no desire to be there. They are busy with ball, hiking, and family time. While are some very clear exceptions to this the trend appears to be clear to me. As I said it is confusing and I wonder if there is something that would be far more productive for the church? I mean if people were being saved at the ballgames and other events that many give themselves to that would cause me to say lets do more of them. But then again if we were seeing people saved in the p.m. services maybe there would be a greater desire for people to come.
I am just conflicted with all of this and was wondering what some of you think about this. Do you see the same trends? What are your thoughts concerning this issue? Let me know if you will I am really curious to find out some answer.
Have a great day,
H. G. Rudd
Yesterday was a full day for Ruth and I as we traveled to Florence, Ky where we met our oldest son, Bob, and our daughter, Debby, to pick up four of our grandchildren who will be staying with us about 2 weeks. Bailey is 15, Breanne is 14, Camryn is 13 and Landon is 6. It was a long day with us driving over 600 miles total but it wsa well worth it. To be able to have some of our grandchildren with us is a great joy for us. We have a few plans and they include a trip to Dollywood one day.
I became a Christian in March 1973 and there has been a lot of things that have changed in the church world in that 40 years. One of the most marked changes has been the way Sunday night Worship is being abandoned by the vast majority of Christian people. While I realize that there are numerous things that are in competition for that time and that Sunday night worship is not necessarily a biblical mandate it still confuses me some as to why this has taken place. As a pastor I work hard to prepare the same level of sermons that I preach on Sunday morning. Our worship pastor puts a great deal of effort in making sure that the singing and other aspects of worship are not at a lower level thank Sunday a.m. Yet it appears that people just do not want to come regardless of what you do.
One of things that I think I see taking place is that the older generation is dying off and they make up at least 60% of Sunday p.m. attendance. The younger generations appear to have no desire to be there. They are busy with ball, hiking, and family time. While are some very clear exceptions to this the trend appears to be clear to me. As I said it is confusing and I wonder if there is something that would be far more productive for the church? I mean if people were being saved at the ballgames and other events that many give themselves to that would cause me to say lets do more of them. But then again if we were seeing people saved in the p.m. services maybe there would be a greater desire for people to come.
I am just conflicted with all of this and was wondering what some of you think about this. Do you see the same trends? What are your thoughts concerning this issue? Let me know if you will I am really curious to find out some answer.
Have a great day,
H. G. Rudd
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Hello Folks,
This summer has a lot of activities in it. We will have an all church visitation of seniors where we are asking all of those who can to come and help us give care to our seniors on June 10-11, 13 at 6:30 p.m., four of my grandchildren are due to come and visit June 9-June 22, Anderson Camp meeting, the Global Gathering, is June 20 through June 25, on July 7 we will have a celebration worship service at Locust Springs to celebrate their 20th year of ministry and our nations 4th of July celebration, our VBS on July 22-26, East Tennessee Camp meeting from July 28 through August 4, then I will be preaching the Missouri State Camp meeting August 5-11. That is a pretty busy summer especially when you take into account all the other "normal" things that will take place here. I ask you to pray for the congregation and the pastoral staff as we will are involved in all the ministry that comes to us in that time.
I am sure that many of you have a multitude of things planned for this summer. Vacations, family gatherings, church activities and numerous other events that will arise. In the midst of all of that I pray that we all will keep in mind that we are servants of the most High God and that His Son Jesus Christ died for us so we could live for Him and share His message with others. May we always keep balance where our livs are concerned. God wants us to care for our families but He does not want us to forget that we are participants in the ministry that He has called us to fulfill. It is easy to get so wrapped in all that we have to do that we forget the Person who has made it all possible for us.
May this summer be filled with the joy and wonders of God for you and yours! Prais His name.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
This summer has a lot of activities in it. We will have an all church visitation of seniors where we are asking all of those who can to come and help us give care to our seniors on June 10-11, 13 at 6:30 p.m., four of my grandchildren are due to come and visit June 9-June 22, Anderson Camp meeting, the Global Gathering, is June 20 through June 25, on July 7 we will have a celebration worship service at Locust Springs to celebrate their 20th year of ministry and our nations 4th of July celebration, our VBS on July 22-26, East Tennessee Camp meeting from July 28 through August 4, then I will be preaching the Missouri State Camp meeting August 5-11. That is a pretty busy summer especially when you take into account all the other "normal" things that will take place here. I ask you to pray for the congregation and the pastoral staff as we will are involved in all the ministry that comes to us in that time.
I am sure that many of you have a multitude of things planned for this summer. Vacations, family gatherings, church activities and numerous other events that will arise. In the midst of all of that I pray that we all will keep in mind that we are servants of the most High God and that His Son Jesus Christ died for us so we could live for Him and share His message with others. May we always keep balance where our livs are concerned. God wants us to care for our families but He does not want us to forget that we are participants in the ministry that He has called us to fulfill. It is easy to get so wrapped in all that we have to do that we forget the Person who has made it all possible for us.
May this summer be filled with the joy and wonders of God for you and yours! Prais His name.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Hello Folks,
I missed you folks last weeks as Ruth and I were in Ohio preaching a revival. This revival was something that was special to us as we got to see our Pastors. Vernon B. Collins and his good wife Bea have been part of our lives for a very long time. Bro. Collins is now 93 years of age and his health is not the best but he was at every service. He is walking with a cane and needed a wheel chair to get up the ramp into the church building but he was there supporting the worship as well as testifying to the wonders of God in his life. Ruth and I have been blessed by God to be given such wonderful examples in the faith.
Not only did we get to see Bro. and Sis. Collins but we got to see a great number of people who we have been privileged to know through the years. We saw family members, both of my sisters attended the revival for at least one service, and numerous cousins who I had not seen in years were there. There were 4 other area churches that the pastor or some of their congregation attended and gave their support to the revival. But one of the most important things was a young man was saved during that time. God is good all the time to us!
The congregation here has the joy of sending a young couple to do ministry in Texas. They will go to serve with UTRI a group that serves the Hispanic community in Mexico. Steve and Nicki will take their children, leave their jobs, and go to a new place because they believe that they are being called by God. I ask you to pray for them as they answer their call to move to a different level of ministry.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I missed you folks last weeks as Ruth and I were in Ohio preaching a revival. This revival was something that was special to us as we got to see our Pastors. Vernon B. Collins and his good wife Bea have been part of our lives for a very long time. Bro. Collins is now 93 years of age and his health is not the best but he was at every service. He is walking with a cane and needed a wheel chair to get up the ramp into the church building but he was there supporting the worship as well as testifying to the wonders of God in his life. Ruth and I have been blessed by God to be given such wonderful examples in the faith.
Not only did we get to see Bro. and Sis. Collins but we got to see a great number of people who we have been privileged to know through the years. We saw family members, both of my sisters attended the revival for at least one service, and numerous cousins who I had not seen in years were there. There were 4 other area churches that the pastor or some of their congregation attended and gave their support to the revival. But one of the most important things was a young man was saved during that time. God is good all the time to us!
The congregation here has the joy of sending a young couple to do ministry in Texas. They will go to serve with UTRI a group that serves the Hispanic community in Mexico. Steve and Nicki will take their children, leave their jobs, and go to a new place because they believe that they are being called by God. I ask you to pray for them as they answer their call to move to a different level of ministry.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Hello Folks,
One of my responsibilities is serving on the Pastoral Ministry Team for the State Ministries of Tennessee. It used to be called the credentials committtee which means I am part of a team that deals with such issues as congregation recognitiion, credentialing of ministers, dealing with the church fights and problems, as well as confronting any problems that arise in the life of a pastor. Most of the time serving in this capacity has some very good things take place. It is a joy to see a person come and tell us about their call into ministry, their faith walk, what they believe, and to look at papers sent by those who agree with their calling. But I also must say that there are times when we are called to deal with certain issues that are just not fun. When there are hurts that exist in the life of an individual or congregation because of words spoken and actions taken that are viewed as harmful to those around them it is difficul to deal with those things. Attempting to be grace giving and loving while at the same time confronting wrong is not an easy task. It would be so much easier to let others handle this but I have been assigned this for my life at this time. Pray that I would be a man who fulfills his ministry to suit the Savior.
As I sit here writing this I hear the voices of some of the folks who are part of this congregation and I think about the fact that God has called me here to serve them. The challenges of pastoring are great but the rewards are amazing. What a joy it is for me to be allowed to know these individuals who make up this congregation and to celebrate their joys as well as be with them in their sorrows. One of the most important things for me to remember as a pastor is that these people have given me their love and I am able to give them mine. Thank God for His grace and His willingness to allow me to be here with them.
Have a great one,
HGRudd
One of my responsibilities is serving on the Pastoral Ministry Team for the State Ministries of Tennessee. It used to be called the credentials committtee which means I am part of a team that deals with such issues as congregation recognitiion, credentialing of ministers, dealing with the church fights and problems, as well as confronting any problems that arise in the life of a pastor. Most of the time serving in this capacity has some very good things take place. It is a joy to see a person come and tell us about their call into ministry, their faith walk, what they believe, and to look at papers sent by those who agree with their calling. But I also must say that there are times when we are called to deal with certain issues that are just not fun. When there are hurts that exist in the life of an individual or congregation because of words spoken and actions taken that are viewed as harmful to those around them it is difficul to deal with those things. Attempting to be grace giving and loving while at the same time confronting wrong is not an easy task. It would be so much easier to let others handle this but I have been assigned this for my life at this time. Pray that I would be a man who fulfills his ministry to suit the Savior.
As I sit here writing this I hear the voices of some of the folks who are part of this congregation and I think about the fact that God has called me here to serve them. The challenges of pastoring are great but the rewards are amazing. What a joy it is for me to be allowed to know these individuals who make up this congregation and to celebrate their joys as well as be with them in their sorrows. One of the most important things for me to remember as a pastor is that these people have given me their love and I am able to give them mine. Thank God for His grace and His willingness to allow me to be here with them.
Have a great one,
HGRudd
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Hello Folks,
I got back from Pastor's Fellowship 2013 at Winchester, Ky late last night. Ruth and I look forward to getting to be at the Fellowship every year. We have attended since 1980 and have only missed 2 of them in that time. Through the years it has served as a time when we can go and have our spirits renewed and our hearts filled with the wonders of God's truth. This year was no different! The preaching was spirit filled as well as the singing. The different individuals who preached brought their personalities and methods of presentation with them when they stepped into the pulpit. But you could also see that they had prepared and that God blessed them as they preached the Word. What a joy it was to hear such people as Arlo Newell, Bill Neece, Charles Heater, Darryl Allen, Bill Means, and Dave Hall who have been used powerfully of God in the past. Then to hear Rick Hays and Ray Wyant who I had never heard before was a joy for my heart. God used these individuals to fill me up. On top of that the fellowship with friends of the past and people who I had met for the first time was a real blessing. I pray that you will consider attending this event, it is for anyone who would show up, next year the first Monday and Tuesday of May at Winchester, Ky First Church of God.
This year Brother Bill Neece had to preach sitting down but God still filled him up with the Spirit. Brother Neece has some kind of lung disease that is affecting his ability to breathe if he exerts himself. But what a sermon! The anointing of God was present and as he preached my heart was filled with joy of being a follow of Christ. In the next few days the sermons will be placed on the Greeneville First Church of God website and you can listen to all eight sermons. You would be blessed if you would listen to them. If you want to purchase a set of CD's or DVD's e-mail me and I will get you and address to contact.
May He bless you all today,
HGRudd
I got back from Pastor's Fellowship 2013 at Winchester, Ky late last night. Ruth and I look forward to getting to be at the Fellowship every year. We have attended since 1980 and have only missed 2 of them in that time. Through the years it has served as a time when we can go and have our spirits renewed and our hearts filled with the wonders of God's truth. This year was no different! The preaching was spirit filled as well as the singing. The different individuals who preached brought their personalities and methods of presentation with them when they stepped into the pulpit. But you could also see that they had prepared and that God blessed them as they preached the Word. What a joy it was to hear such people as Arlo Newell, Bill Neece, Charles Heater, Darryl Allen, Bill Means, and Dave Hall who have been used powerfully of God in the past. Then to hear Rick Hays and Ray Wyant who I had never heard before was a joy for my heart. God used these individuals to fill me up. On top of that the fellowship with friends of the past and people who I had met for the first time was a real blessing. I pray that you will consider attending this event, it is for anyone who would show up, next year the first Monday and Tuesday of May at Winchester, Ky First Church of God.
This year Brother Bill Neece had to preach sitting down but God still filled him up with the Spirit. Brother Neece has some kind of lung disease that is affecting his ability to breathe if he exerts himself. But what a sermon! The anointing of God was present and as he preached my heart was filled with joy of being a follow of Christ. In the next few days the sermons will be placed on the Greeneville First Church of God website and you can listen to all eight sermons. You would be blessed if you would listen to them. If you want to purchase a set of CD's or DVD's e-mail me and I will get you and address to contact.
May He bless you all today,
HGRudd
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Hello Folks,
After almost 2 weeks of being sick I think I am back to being about as normal as I can get. With a severe sinus infection and some asthma mixed in I was beginning if I was going to recover. But my good wife, Ruth, did her best to take care of me, and the saints of God were praying for my recovery I have turned the corner. Even though I was out of the pulpit one Sunday this past week I was able to preach again.
Ruth and I were talking about how as we get older our body seems to have so many more aches and pains. But that reminded me that this body is only a temporary place for the real me to live. God made this body with a distinct design to be limited in years yet He has promised me a new body that will be fashioned like the glorious body of Jesus. The longer I live the more I am made aware of my limitations both in time and abilities. But the longer I live the more I am made aware that there is more coming! The future for the follower of Jesus Christ has eternity written all over it. I am thankful that I know this life is not all there is!
On May 6-7 Pastor's Fellowship will be taking place in Winchester, Ky and it is one of the joys of year. To be able to go and hear the anointed preaching that takes place there is a great joy. This year I look forward to hearing people like Arlo Newell and Bill Neece among others as they proclaim the truth that surrounds revival. If you cannot come at least order the CD's or DVD's and have the opportunity to hear the truth preached.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
After almost 2 weeks of being sick I think I am back to being about as normal as I can get. With a severe sinus infection and some asthma mixed in I was beginning if I was going to recover. But my good wife, Ruth, did her best to take care of me, and the saints of God were praying for my recovery I have turned the corner. Even though I was out of the pulpit one Sunday this past week I was able to preach again.
Ruth and I were talking about how as we get older our body seems to have so many more aches and pains. But that reminded me that this body is only a temporary place for the real me to live. God made this body with a distinct design to be limited in years yet He has promised me a new body that will be fashioned like the glorious body of Jesus. The longer I live the more I am made aware of my limitations both in time and abilities. But the longer I live the more I am made aware that there is more coming! The future for the follower of Jesus Christ has eternity written all over it. I am thankful that I know this life is not all there is!
On May 6-7 Pastor's Fellowship will be taking place in Winchester, Ky and it is one of the joys of year. To be able to go and hear the anointed preaching that takes place there is a great joy. This year I look forward to hearing people like Arlo Newell and Bill Neece among others as they proclaim the truth that surrounds revival. If you cannot come at least order the CD's or DVD's and have the opportunity to hear the truth preached.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
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