4Winds: 2012

Monday, December 31, 2012

Frank Mendoza - A Devoted Husband - Gone, but never forgotten

Frank Mendoza passed away this past Thursday.

Seems to me we are losing way too many good men!

My brother, Joel Rutherford, wrote this about Frank:

I want to honor my stepdad - Francisco 'Frank' Rosendo Mendoza. He died on Thursday, December 27, at the age of 85. Although married to my mom for over twenty years, close to half that time was while she had Alzheimer's.

Frank was an artist, a WWII Navy veteran (served on the USS Goodhue transport ship and came under kamikaze attack), and worked his way from grunt laborer to Plant Manager at Oklahoma Steel Castings (dirty, hot, dangerous labor).

His greatest act, IMO, was how loving and gentle he was with my Mama. Through her confusion and irrationality and fear, he always called her 'Baby' and caressed her face. For the last three years, he fed her baby food in a hospital bed in the middle of their living room. His own health suffered greatly due to keeping his vow of 'for better or worse, in sickness and in health'.

Thankful! - I could not have asked for anybody to have loved my mom more.

Joel, I could not say it better!

I would add that for the last 7 or 8 years of the 16 years or more that my mom was alive, although she was unable to respond or maybe even understand, Frank would every night just before he went to sleep, look mom right in the face, and tell her "You are Jean Mendoza. I am your husband, Frank. We have been married ... (exactly how many years, months and days up till that time) ... and I love you." Then he would give her a little kiss.

I pray God would make me and more men that kind of husband to their wives!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Well Done! James K Rutherford 06-06-1930 to 11-14-2012

My Dad, James K Rutherford, preacher, evangelist, soul-winner, church planter, stepped across into heaven tonight.

Dad was 82 years old and had suffered from Alzheimer's for the last few years. He was confined to a care facility for the last year, and couldn't really communicate for the last 4 or 5 months. So, while I will miss my Dad so very much, I can rejoice in the blessing it was that he has turned in that tattered tent his earthly body had become for a glorious mansion in heaven!

Dad was unquestionably one of the great preachers of his generation! He had the ability to touch people in a way so few preachers, especially today, are able to do. In fact, one of the greatest compliments my Dad ever paid me was telling me I, too, had that ability to touch people when I preach.

Dad was one of the smartest and funniest people I have ever known. He always encouraged me! I remember as a boy, him telling me more than once that I was so much smarter and had far more potential then he. I don't really believe that, but it was so encouraging!

Dad preached for more than 60 years and Dad made an eternal difference for 1000s of people, so I know many were waiting today to give him a hug and a "thank you" for it was because of Dad they were in heaven to meet him today!

I lost my father-in-law, Joe Hambrick (Papa Joe) a little more than 18 months ago. He was a great, great man, as well - very, very smart - and a really funny guy! And a great soul winner in his own right!

The world is far more rich, because of the lives of these two men! Tonight, I so very much miss them both, but know there is a special place in heaven for each of them - and I find myself looking forward to heaven just a little bit more!

Love you, Dad! Miss you, Joe!

Love In Christ Jesus!

Jim

A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church in Langley, OK - probably this Saturday afternoon.

A picture from my Dad's retirement from the ministry a few years ago. Me - Uncle Shan Rutherford (youngest of the brothers, preaches in Greenwood, Indiana) - Dad (World's Greatest Father) - Uncle Dean (middle brother, Outreach/Evangelism Pastor in Clovis, California - my Brother Joel (preaches in Langley, Oklahoma.)

Another Genuine Hero - Joe Hambrick - Sheila's Dad - He was the World's Greatest Father-in-Law!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Interview for Praise the Lord on TBN

Pastor Jim Rutherford - with Pastor Melvin Cooper TBN - August 31 2012 from Jim Rutherford on Vimeo.

Check out this interview I did with Pastor Melvin Cooper for a segment of Praise the Lord on TBN! I talk about God's Shining Light Church & Wings of Freedom and all the amazing things God is doing in and through both!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Keeping Romance Alive

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

A little fun video/cartoon Sheila made and sent me! Just one of the ways we both work to keep the romance alive in our marriage! Send a card, send flowers, text a love note, etc. to your spouse! Keep romance alive!

How to Find Jesus

GOD LOVES YOU AND WANT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU!

The BIBLE says… "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV).
"This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he wants everyone to be saved and to come to understand the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4, NASB).

OUR DILEMMA
The problem is that people choose to disobey God and go their own way. This results in separation from God. The BIBLE says… "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NIV).

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2, NIV).

CHRIST’S DELIVERANCE
God sent His Son to make the way for you and I to come back to God. Christ did this by paying the penalty for our sins when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. The BIBLE says… "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV).

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…" (1 Timothy 2:5, NIV).

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NIV).

YOUR DECISION
You take the step to come into relationship with God, to become a Child of God, when confess Christ as Savior and Lord. The BIBLE says… "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12, NIV).

"That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9, NIV).

HOW TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD

A. Admit that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness.

B. Believe that Jesus died for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead.

C. Confess Jesus as your Savior and Lord (use the suggested confession of faith below).

"God, I admit that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness. I believe that Jesus is the Christ, your living Son. I want to turn from my sins, to be forgiven of my sins and to accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you, God. Amen."

Decide to follow Jesus for the rest of your life.
An example of this would be to get baptized right away.

Why Be Baptized?

1. To follow the EXAMPLE set by Jesus.
"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan" (Mark 1:9, NIV).

2. Because Jesus COMMANDED it.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
(Matthew 28:19-20, NIV).

3. It DEMONSTRATES belief in action.
"…many…who heard him believed and were baptized" (Acts 18:8, NIV).

4. It ILLUSTRATES what saves us.
"Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:3-4, NIV).

Key Scriptures to Read Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:26-27

If you have failed in following Christ and you are sorry and ready to come back to Him, what must you do?

1. Confess your sins (1 John 1:9)

2. Surrender your life to Christ in the following areas:

Read your Bible daily (Colossians 3:16; Psalm 119:11).
Pray daily (Philippians 4:6, 7; 1 Peter 5:7).
Attend church weekly (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 20:7).
Become part of a Bible study fellowship (Acts 2:46, 47).
Find an area in which to serve (1 Peter 4:10, 11; Romans 12:4-8).

3. Rely daily on the power of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-25).

As you begin to grow closer to God, you will begin to see the fruit of the Spirit being developed in your life (Galatians 5:22-23).

Perhaps you can identify one or more aspects of the fruit of the Spirit which are lacking in your life. Are you ready to ask God to work in you to help you grow toward Christ-likeness? If so, you may want to pray the following prayer or a similar one:

"Heavenly Father, I want to be like Jesus. I commit myself to you and ask you to work in my life to develop the fruit of the Spirit so I may become more mature in my faith."