In Memory of My Mom

The Date is May 26th, 2016 and it is the 2 month anniversary of my mom's death and her passing from the hardships of this life into the heavenly glories waiting all those in Christ. As I was thinking about writing an update for the blog about what has been going on over the past few weeks with our family and Hearts Redeemed Ministry, I decided to rather include the talk I gave at my mom's funeral. I have decided to do this because I do not only want to remember the joy I have when I think of my mom and how much she loved her family, but I also want to share with you the reason why our family is living and ministering full-time in Thailand. It is the hope found solely in the gospel of Christ which is able to comfort and help those who are dying or have lost someone to death. The reality is that all of us fall into those categories because we are all dying and those around us are dying as well. Death will come for all, but only those in Christ will overcome the horrors of death with the hope of heaven. So as you read through the talk I shared during my mom's funereal 2 months ago, please take some time and reflect on your life and look to Christ, for it is in Him alone that those who are facing the hurts of death, can find hope in the eternal joy and peace given only in the life of Christ. (In the printable newsletters tag, there is a short family and ministry update from the past few weeks)

Greetings: Welcome to the memorial service of Dorothy Lucinda Rutledge who has blessed all of our lives in more ways than we can list and will be greatly missed. On behalf of her family I would like to thank you for your gifts of kindness and condolences which you have offered during this difficult time and we want you to know that we will be eternally thankful for your love for us and most importantly your love for our friend, our sister, wife, mother and grandmother Dorothy. We are grieved at her passing but we are also grateful that she is in heaven where the pains of this world can no longer burden her. 

Eulogy:

Dorothy Lucinda Dillon was born on September 28th, 1948 in Pocatello, Idaho. She was the youngest child of Paul & Mary Elizabeth Dillon, her siblings are Teresa, Margaret, James, and George. Dorothy graduated from Pocatello High School in 1966 and went on to complete her nursing education at St. Anthony Mercy Hospital in 1968. She married Kyle Leslie Rutledge on June 7th, 1969, at Pocatello, Idaho and moved to the Wood River Valley. Dorothy worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse over the years in Sun Valley and Hailey, Idaho. She and Kyle had four children, Catherine, Daniel, Dawna and Joseph and 8 grandchildren. In 2000 Dorothy and Kyle left the Wood River Valley and after a couple years in Pocatello, they moved to Caldwell. Dorothy and Kyle enjoyed traveling to Thailand to visit three of their children and grandchildren. Dorothy enjoyed nursing, Women’s Aglow Fellowship, camping, sewing, flowers, praying and giving words of encouragement, teaching her grandchildren to bake & how to be great crafters. She loved her Lord, her husband, her family and her friends.

Introduction: Charles Spurgeon said, “A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”

This morning we would like to take some time to remember and reflect on the precious life of my mother who lived her days her on earth with a great love for God and a genuine love for others. I was grateful that I was able to spend the last few days of my mom’s life with her, and was humbled to see that even in the most painful times during her fight with MRSA, she still was more concerned for the care of others than for her own comfort. For those who know my mom can also attest to her faithful love for others which was only possible because of her firm love for God.

As a family we are going to offer those who too have been touched by my mom’s love an opportunity to share briefly your memories of my mom and also any words of comfort you would like to share with her family during this time of mourning. Before I invite others to share though, I would like to take some time and reflect on some truths which my mom taught us kids not only during her life but also during her final hours before her death. I cling to these truths and daily seek to share these truths with others, because they are not only life giving but also lasting as they are recorded for us in God’s perfect Word, the Bible.

I want to begin by reading 1Thessalonians 4:13-5:3. In this we see three truths which not only my mom lived out in her life, but also are truths which God has written for our instruction and warning. Those truths are that the Hurt and Horror of Death are real for all of us. But the second truth is that there is also Hope and Help offered in the Life of Christ. The third truth is that we all must Hurry because He is calling. Let’s take a few minutes and look at these three truths in light of not only my mom’s death, but also the way she lived her life.

The Hurt and Horror of Death: In verse 13 we read, “…so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope,” This does not say that we do not grieve those who die, because we see in John 11:33-35 that Jesus wept.  “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept.” Also in Romans 12:15 we are told to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” When someone dies, it is not only ok to weep, but it is a key part of the grieving process which is helpful for hurting hearts which are healing.

There is a hurting which accompanies death and it is alright for us to care and cry for those who have died. It was both my mom and dad who taught me that it was ok to weep for those who have passed; I can still remember watching my mom cry on the phone and offer comfort to her sister following the passing of my cousin. I am grateful that my mom taught me about the hurt of death and during the last few hours we spent with her before her passing, I saw the tears in her eyes as she too wept knowing that soon she would leaving us. Death hurts and it is right to grieve and as Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 tells us, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.”  My mom also taught me that there is a Horror of Death, and that horror is that we all will die one day. Death is not racist, sexist; it does not care if you are rice or poor, young or old, or even healthy or sick. Death is coming for all of us and none of us know the day or way in which we will pass, but we all know that we will die. The Bible tells us why death is a certainty for all of us, in Romans 6:23 it says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Therefore those who sin will die, but what about those who have not sinned? In Psalm 14:1-3 we read, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.” Also Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. Since we all are sinners, there is Horror in the certainty of death because following death is judgement. Hebrews 9:27 warns, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” and also 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us that, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” That is the Horror of death, not that it is coming for all of us but that following our death, we must face the righteous judgement of God for all of our deeds, and as Isaiah 64:6 says, “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” So even our best deeds are worthless in light of Gods holiness and in light of that death is truly the ultimate Horror show, for all of us are guilty and all of us will not only die but face judgement for our sins.

My mom was the one who taught me many things; she taught me how to read and write, she taught me how to cook, how to wash dishes, how to do my own laundry, and even how to clean the bathroom. She taught me many other things but the most important thing she taught me was that death is final and something to fear if you were not saved into Christ and His perfect life. She was the one who sat with me and explained the Gospel to me and how God offered hope for not only the hurt but also the horror of death.

That brings us to the second truth which is that there is Hope and Help in the Life of Christ who not only comforts those who are grieving but also has conquered the grave and the power of death. In 1 Peter 1:3-5 we read, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Also in Romans 8:10-11 there is the hope that, “If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” And Jesus Himself assures us in John 14:1-6, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

There is hope found in the Gospel and the Life of Christ that the Grave can be overcome and the power of death broken. Those who are in Christ do not need to fear death, but rather rejoice in their passing from the temporal pain of earth to the eternal promises of heaven. Revelation 21:3-4 paints a picture of that heavenly paradise. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’”

My mom as I said was the one who kneeled with me as I confessed my sins and admitted my need for a savior. She was the one who prayed with me as I accepted Christ’s atonement for my wickedness and asked for God’s forgiveness for my wrong thoughts, words, and actions committed against Him and others. It was my mom who hugged me and welcomed me into the family of God and also the one who helped me walk according to God’s commands by providing ways for me to learn about the Bible, praying for me and my siblings that we would live out the teachings of the Bible, and proving to be an example of someone who loved God and loved others. This is the best gift my mom has ever given me, a hope for a new life in Christ and help in living out that life for God’s glory. It has been almost 40 years since that day when I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and since then my mom has always been there to pray for me and provide opportunities for us to share the great news of the gospel with others.

Even during her last moments here on earth, we were able to pray together and witness to the medical staff who were attending her of the power and promise of a new life found in Christ alone. We grieve her death, but we are also rejoicing that her struggle here on earth is done and that one day all who are in Christ will join her in Heaven and celebrate the victory over death and pain because of the Hope and Help of the perfect life of Jesus Christ which we celebrated this past Sunday on Easter. As 2 Timothy 1:10 says, “but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

The third truth which I learned from my mom as she lived her life as a follower of Christ and also during her last moments here with us is that those who do not have a saving relationship with God through Christ must HURRY because your days are numbered and death is coming quickly. There is nothing certain in this world, we can make plans but no one knows for sure what each day has to offer. In James 4: 14-17 we are warned, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Death is like a thief which comes when no one is expecting and will leave before anyone is alert to his presence. Tomorrow is not granted to us and so let us not wait to turn to God and find assurance in the hope of a new life offered only in Christ. Our plans for these 2 months in the States did not include speaking at my mom’s funeral. We had planned to visit friends and supporters, and to also spend lots of time with my family, but all those plans changed last week when my mother was admitted into the hospital one last time. I did not know my mom was going to die and neither did she. So I urge you to please HURRY and turn to God and find the comfort of the victory of death found only in the life of Christ. John 3:16-17 are verses we are familiar with but it is there to show us why Christ came to this earth, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”  Christ came to live and die for us so that we would not have to perish under the penalty of sin, and so that we can experience the gift of eternal life. Christ Himself says in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Do you believe this? He is calling to you and wants you to receive the gift of life which is found in Him alone. John 5:24-25 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” Christ is the only way to heaven, Jesus claims this in John 14:6 where he says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Jesus is not only the way to heaven but He is calling you to join Him and those who do go to Him will not be turned away and will find rest for their weary souls, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

My mom taught me the importance of turning to Christ and trusting in His life so that I can live mine with the promise of peace with God and the assurance of life after death. Throughout my life I have been blessed to travel the world and share the message of the gospel to countless people from different tongues, tribes, and nations, but it was my mom who first demonstrated for me the importance of sharing the gospel and even though she never went to as many countries as I have, she still faithfully prayed for and proclaimed the message of hope with those who God brought into her life. She spent years praying for family, friends, work mates, neighbors, and even her grandchildren. Praying that they would receive the gift of the new life in Christ and live without a fear of death and judgement. She lived her life telling people to hurry and come to God because He is calling, and she spent her last waking moments here on earth doing the same. The last night I spent with her before she passed, she kept on saying “Hurry, hurry, hurry”. When I asked why I needed to hurry, she told me the names of some people close to her heart who she was pleading with to hurry and turn to Christ because she wanted to see them again in Heaven. My heart rejoiced to hear my mom, lying on her death bed, still faithfully praying for and proclaiming the gospel to those still lost in their sins.

Today as we celebrate the life of my mom and also mourn her death, I want us all to take a moment and reflect upon our own lives. Are we sure that we will see tomorrow, or will death come as a thief tonight and steal away our breath. If we did die, are we prepared to face the judgement of the Holy God? Would we be found righteous and holy and welcomed into His Kingdom to enjoy an eternity with no tears, pain, guilt, and death? Or would we be found sinful and guilty and therefor cast out into outer darkness where there will be weeping, pain, and gnashing of teeth for all of eternity? I know my mom would call out to you if she could, to Hurry, turn to Christ and live.

My mom has taught me so many things and I am grateful for her love for me and our family, and am also amazed at the way she loved her friends, family, and neighbors. But it is her love for God which not only helped changed my life but I trust will change yours as well. I will miss my mom and I will grieve her death, but I will not lose hope because I still carry with me the memories I have of our time spent together here on earth and also the promise that one day, when my days are through here, then I too will cross over from the temporary pains of this world to the eternal joys of heaven where I will be reunited with my mom and also with my savior and creator. Today if you have doubts or fears for your future, please do not leave without turning to Christ for help. I know that if my mom was here, she too would tell you, “HURRY because He is calling”.

Closing: Thank you for your willingness to come and join with our family as we grieve the passing of my mom and remember the joy she has brought to our lives through her love for others and her love for God. At this time I would like to close with another quote from Charles Spurgeon and then offer an opportunity for anyone else who would like to share with us some memories of Dorothy Lucinda Rutledge.

Spurgeon said, “There is an essential difference between the decease of the godly and the death of the ungodly. Death comes to the ungodly man as a penal infliction, but to the righteous as a summons to his Father's palace. To the sinner it is an execution, to the saint an undressing from his sins and infirmities. Death to the wicked is the King of terrors. Death to the saint is the end of terrors, the commencement of glory.”

Times of Excitement and Exhaustion

"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands." Psalm 90:17

    Time is ticking away and the days are counting down to our family's upcoming furlough to the States. We are now less than 4 weeks (25 days) away from our departure date and even though our home is filled with excitement for the upcoming trip, we are also fighting off exhaustion as we continue to complete all the necessary preparations for the 2 months we will be spending in America. We ask you to please continue to lift us up in your prayers as our family is working to not only get everything packed and ready for our trip but also are busy prepping our house and ministry responsibilities so that they will be taken care of while we are away. On top of preparing things here in Thailand, we are also working on arranging necessary logistics for our stay in the States. That includes contacting and arranging times and locations to connect with family, friends, supporters and church bodies who have faithfully followed and invested in our family and ministry through the years. It has been challenging in contacting people because there is always the uncertainty of if they received our email or Facebook message, especially if we have not heard a reply from them. This is another area in which you can help our family by taking a few moments to email us or message us on Facebook and let us know if you would like to schedule a time to visit together. We would like to meet with as many people as possible during our short stay in the States and so in order to do that we are trying to schedule before hand as many times to connect with others as possible. Our current travel schedule looks like this, and if you live in any of the areas we will be visiting and would like to visit with our family, then please email me at dan.rutledge@gmail.com or heartsredeemed@gmail.com ASAP. (You can also connect with me through Facebook or this blog).

The Rutledge Family (Tentative) Travel Schedule for 2016

March 5th leave Thailand and arrive in Boise, Idaho on March 6th at 8PM. (We have a 6 hour layover in Seattle, if anyone would like to meet us near the airport for lunch, we would be willing or should I say thankful to get out of the airport for a bit and stretch our legs).

March 7th to March 12th: Rest and recovery time for Mam and the kids as I will be attending the Shepherd's conference in California from the 8th until the 12th. 

Sunday March 13th. Our first Sunday in the States and still open. We would like to visit your church and also share about our ministry if you would be interested. So please contact me if you would like us to possibly visit and share with your church body. (This Sunday we are not sure where we will be at exactly, most likely in the Boise area but are waiting for confirmation).

March 14th to March 28th. In the Boise area and willing to meet with individuals, families, small group Bible studies, youth groups, mission boards, pastors, and even church bodies during this time to share about the ministry here and how God is working through Biblical counseling and discipleship here in Southeast Asia for His glory and the growth of His church.

March 28th -April 4th. In the Twin Falls area. Again willing to connect with anyone who would like to visit together. 

April 4th -April 26th in the Pocatello Area (Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, Salt Lake City, etc.). We are really looking forward to this part of the trip since it will provide a special opportunity for the kids to visit with some of their friends from our time of living in the States 3 years ago. 

April 26th - May 2nd In the Wood River Valley (Carey, Fairfield, Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, and Sun Valley:) 

May 2nd Back to Boise and then onto California sometime that week with the goal of arriving in California on the 5th of May to prep for my graduation ceremony on the 6th. Then on the 10th of May we fly back to Thailand because the kids start school on the 16th of May. 

(During our stay in different locations, Mam is willing to not only cook Thai food for any who would enjoy it but also teach and train any who would be interested in learning. These Thai meal times can be in the context of a single family, a small group of friends, a bible study group, or even a church body. If you would be interested in hosting or participating in one of these Thai meals, then please let me know soon. Mam has prepared new dishes to share with those lucky enough to taste them.)

     That is our tentative travel schedule and so if you would like to schedule a time to connect with our family, then please contact me as soon as possible. We are planning on being in the States a total of 9 Sundays, and we would like to visit with as many churches as we can during our time in hopes of sharing about God's work here in Thailand and how they can pray and partner with us as we continue to minister here full-time through our work with Hearts Redeemed Ministries. The good news for you is that there are 8 of the 9 Sundays still open, since we have not had anyone confirm yet, but that means the bad news for us is that we are still in need of trying to firm up dates and locations for those Sundays. Please pray for us and that we will be diligent in searching but also patient in waiting for the response from the different church bodies.   

     This short trip to the States is not only for our family's summer vacation, but it is for the purpose of: 

1) Visiting with my parents and siblings as we evaluate and plan together ways to help care for my parents (especially my mom and her current health problems) for the next few years. I ask you to pray for my mom as she is still in a full-time care unit and they are not sure if she will be able to return home anytime in the near future. So that is stressful for her, scary for my dad, and something us kids want to discuss and workout together while I am in the States. Also it has been 3 years since my kids last visited their grandma and so we are trying to give them time to spend with her as much as possible during this visit because we are not guaranteed another chance to visit her the next time we come back to visit.  

2) Attend my graduation ceremony for the completion of the Masters of Biblical Counseling program I have been working on the past 4 years. Originally it was planned that my parents would be joining us for the ceremony in California but due to my mom's current health problems, they will not be able to make the trip. But Mam and the kids are still excited to visit California and see me walk in the graduation ceremony. (They also would like to possibly visit Disneyland during our time there, but we will wait on that and see if we will have enough finances to cover a day visiting with Micky and his friends)

3) Visit with as many family, friends, current supporters, and supporting churches for the purpose of updating them on how God is using their financial gifts to help connect the hearts and homes of Southeast Asia with the redeeming truths of God's Word. We are grateful for everyone who gives financially to help support our family which allows us to serve in full-time ministry here in Thailand.

4) Connect with and invite others to join our support team as we are in need of increasing our support level to cover our day to day living expenses for our family and the ministry costs of Hearts Redeemed Ministry. In order to do this, it requires us being able to meet with people who would like to hear about our ministry work here and also how they can help. 

Those are our four main goals of this upcoming trip, but there are other necessary things which need to be accomplished during our short time.

1)Updating my Drivers license

2) Purchasing quality clothes for our growing children. (Socks and Pants are the two most needed items for all of our kids and me as well) 

3) Purchasing medical supplies which are not available in Thailand (Children's pepto, deodorant, etc)

4) Fellowship with like minded believers. Sometimes on the mission field it can become a lonely place as you are surrounded by people but very few of them you are able to communicate with a deep friendship and ministering level.) So for me especially I am looking forward to being able to sit down for a cup of coffee and a warm piece of pie and discuss the principles of Sanctification with a fellow brother in Christ. Also being able to attend a church where the Word of God is faithfully preached and there is child care so that your wife can attend service with me instead of having to lead Sunday School every Sunday. 

5) REST and RELAXATION. I know that the next two month will not be too restful as we will be traveling a lot, but at least in America the freeways are wide and almost everyone drives in their own lane, so even driving in the States is more relaxing than driving here in Thailand. 

     These are some of the goals we have for our upcoming trip and we wanted to share them with you so that you could pray for us as we plan and also maybe offer to help meet some of the needs to help us complete these goals. One of the main needs is our financial support. God has been faithful and over the past year our monthly goal of $2,500 has been reached almost ever month throughout the year. But due to increase in educational expenses for our children and also living expenses for our family we are aiming to increase our support to $3,000 monthly. So if you could please pray that God will enable us to connect with those who would like to partner with our family and support us financially so that we can continue to serve the churches and families here in Southeast Asia through the ministries of biblical counseling and discipleship. 

     It is time to bring this blog to a close, and I urge you to continue to look for further post in the near future as we update you with more details on our upcoming trip to the States as well as current happenings in our ministry work here. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I trust that it will encourage you and also excite you as the time when we will visit face to face quickly draws near. God bless and thank you for your faithfulness in serving our family through your prayers and support. We are eternally grateful for you and are thankful we can partner together to bring the life changing truths of the gospel to the hearts and homes of Southeast Asia for God's glory and the growth of His church.

Your fellow servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Dan, Mam, Gracie, Joy, Hope, and Kyle Rutledge

Titus 2:11-14

COMING SOON!!!!!!

     Greetings from Thailand, where our family is beginning preparations for our upcoming visit to the States. It is hard to believe that in less than 8 weeks, we will be boarding a plane which will carry us to Idaho where we will be able to reconnect with our family, friends, and faithful supporters. Even though the time allotted for visiting with everyone will be short, we are still grateful for this upcoming trip. 8 weeks may seem like a long time from now, but those days and weeks will pass quickly and before we know it, the time for our departure will suddenly be upon us. So in order to help prepare as much as we can before March 5th, I wanted to share with you our tentative schedule of dates and locations where we will be visiting during our travels. I mention that the schedule is tentative because there are still many details we need to work out before we can set a firm plan. This is where your help will be greatly appreciated, since a lot of our plans will revolve around the desires of those who would like to meet with our family and hear about the work of Hearts Redeemed Ministry. We desire to meet with as many people as possible during the 9 weeks we are in the States, and in order to do that we need to begin arranging meeting times and locations as soon as possible so that we can firm up our travel destinations and dates. As of now our current schedule includes our arrival in Boise, Idaho on March 6th  and then our family leaving from LAX heading to Thailand on May 10th. So from the 7th of March to the 2nd of May we will be in Idaho and would like to begin scheduling time to visit with not only our family but also our friends, supporters, and local church bodies. So if you or your church would like to arrange a time to meet together, then please email me at dan.rutledge@gmail.com or heartsredeemed@gmail.com as soon as you can. Also we are in need of some people to serve as contacts in the different locations we are currently planning on visiting. Currently we are looking at spending time visiting the Boise area, the Twin Falls area, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and Salt Lake area, and also the Wood River Valley. So if you live in any of those areas and would be willing to help serve as a contact person for us, then please let me know. Also if you live in any of those areas and would like to try and schedule a time to visit together, then please email me soon. Finally, if you live anywhere outside of those areas, and would possibly like to meet together, than please contact us and we will see if it is possible this trip to connect. Over the weeks leading up to our departure I will be updating information on plans and travel locations, as well as speaking times if you would like to come hear about the work of Hearts Redeemed Ministry and how you can be a part of connecting the hearts and homes of Southeast Asia with the redeeming truths of God's Word through the ministries of biblical counseling and discipleship. So be sure to keep an eye on the this blog and also our Hearts Redeemed Ministry page on Facebook. You can check it out at https://www.facebook.com/heartsredeemed/. 

     In addition to updates on our travel schedule, we will be listing specific needs which we are looking for people to help meet so that our family will be able to successfully visit as many people and places as possible during our short visit. Currently the two greatest needs are for transportation and housing for our family during our travels. We are looking for a vehicle to use during our time in the States which will help make it possible for us to drive to most of our destinations and also save money on the cost of renting a vehicle. So if you have a vehicle which can sit at least 6 people, and you would be willing to let us borrow it during part of or all of our time in the States, then please email me ASAP. Another need of ours is for housing in some of the different locations where we are traveling. We are in need of lodging during our time spent in the Boise area, the Wood River Valley, the Salt Lake Area and also the LA area during the week we are in California for my graduation at the end of our time in the States. So if you have a house with an extra room or some extra couches and would not mind hosting a crazy bunch from Thailand, then please let me know. We enjoy staying with others, as it gives us a chance to connect and fellowship together, but I also understand adding 6 new guests to your normal routine is a lot, so please let us know if you would like to host us or have an empty house which we can stay in for a few weeks. The benefit of hosting us is always an opportunity to enjoy and learn how to make some of Mam's amazing Thai food (hint, hint, hint). Would you please join with our family as we pray for these two specific needs as well as other ones which I will update in the upcoming weeks. 

      For now this is enough information and I just wanted to thank you all for taking the time to read this blog post. If you would not mind, after you have read this, would you please contact me with a short message if you are going to continue to follow the updates on this blog as we share about details of our upcoming trip. We want to make sure as many people who would like to read about our upcoming plans for our time in the States are receiving our updates. So if you would please email me at dan.rutledge@gmail.com or heartsredeemed@gmail.com or like and comment on our Facebook page?

      Thank you for taking the time to read this and I ask you to please pray for our family as we work extra hard to prepare for our upcoming travels as well as keep up on our daily responsibilities here in Thailand. I also ask you to please be in prayer for my family as my mom has been in the hospital now for over a week. She is suffering from a MRSA infection as well as some other serous health problems. The doctors told my dad that they do not know when or if she will fully recover and that she will have to spend maybe up to 2 months in the hospital and even after that she may have to be placed in a full-time care facility. This is hard news for all of us and especially as we are preparing to come back with the kids having lots of plans to spend time with Grammy. So please pray for wisdom for my sisters as they are in the States helping my parents during this time, Also pray for my brother and I as we are here in Thailand, praying that we will be able to make it back in time to spend time with my mom in case her condition does not improve. Also pray for wisdom and finances as we look at how to provide the best care for my mom both currently and in the future. Most importantly pray for my dad as this is extra hard on him and that he will turn to God and find the hope and strength to trust in God's sovereign and loving plan. I will update you on the status of my mom's health as well in upcoming post, but for now, please pray for her as well as all those who love her.

I look forward to counting down the days to our departure, and also to hearing back from you as we arrange times to connect together during our times in the States. 

God bless and may you continually hold to the true hope promised only in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

"Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand."  Proverbs 19:21

Classes, Counseling, and Change:

Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thanksgiving in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Greetings from Thailand where life has been busy but blessed and we are grateful for the work God is doing in and through our family for His glory. I can hardly believe it is already July and time seems to be flying by faster and faster every year. I wanted to take some time to update you on what our family has been doing over the past few months and the work we have been a part of through Hearts Redeemed Ministries. I have been meaning to send this update for some time now, but there always seems to be something that comes up which prevents me from completing it. I guess Bruce Lee was right when he said, “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” So today, Lord willing, I will complete this update and get it sent out to our family, friends, and faithful supporters. Thank you for your patience and your prayers and I hope that you are encouraged by the reports of God’s working in the hearts of the Thai people through the truths of Scripture and the ministry of the local church.

Classes:

It is July and for the first time in 3 years I find myself at home with my family instead of in a classroom in California. It seems strange to not be preparing for a trip to the States and making sure I have all my homework ready for my weeks of study. I do miss the fellowship and the teaching I was blessed to experience during my times on campus, but I am grateful that my schooling in completed and that I can spend this time with my family and not have to leave them alone for four weeks every year. Yes, you read that correctly, I have completed my Master’s degree in Biblical counseling and am now able to focus full time on ministry and family without having to worry about homework assignments and test preparations. It was a wonderful experience and I am so thankful that I was able to take part in the MABC program from the Master’s College. I was not only able to learn more about the Bible and the ministry of biblical counseling and discipleship, I was also able to mature in my spiritual life and become a better husband, father, and follower of Christ. I highly recommend the SIP program offered through the Master’s College for anyone who desires to mature in their faith and also minister more effective to the body of Christ. You can check out more information at http://www.masters.edu/academics/graduate/mabc/

Gracie, Joy, Hope, and Kyle in their new school uniforms.

As we are talking on the subject of schooling, there have been some other changes for our family in this area. This year, after much prayer and consideration, Mam and I decided to move our kids to a new school which is located nearby our home. It was a difficult decision mainly because they would have to move from a Christian Thai school to a Buddhist public school, and they would have to say goodbye to their friends which they had made over the past two years at their old school. The reason for the move was because the cost of the Christian Thai school was getting too expensive and the cost in finances and time to transport the kids to and from school every day was also too high. An average day at their old school would include everyone waking up at 6 AM and then leaving the house at 7 AM so that we could arrive at school after the 30 to 40 minute drive before they had to line up for classes at 7:45 AM. Then we would pick them up at 4:30 PM and drive back home arriving around 5 to 5:30 PM. Following an hour of homework, chores, dinner, and shower, it was 8:30 and time for everyone to get to bed. This left no time to truly enjoy activities as a family. Their new school has a more affordable tuition which we can pay and is located 5 minutes from our home. It also starts classes at 8:30 and is done by 4:00 so we have plenty of time to do family activities in the evening and for the kids to play and exercise after their chores and homework are complete. Their new school is also located on the campus of one of the universities we are ministering at, and so that makes it convenient for Mam and I to not only take our kids to school but also connect with college students who are attending our church. The kids have enjoyed their new school and are making new friends and for that we are grateful. Please pray especially for Gracie as she has always had a hard time making friends and talking to new people. She is doing better but still struggles with this and we are helping her talk more and more with her teachers and her classmates. Thankfully, her teachers are very patient with her and her classmates are kind as well. Gracie is making progress and for that we are thankful but please continue to pray for her to overcome her fear and begin talking and also for Mam and I to be wise and patient as we help her to be obedient to us, respectful to teachers and classmates and most importantly glorifying to God by talking to others. Joy, Hope, and Kyle love their new school and already are making friends and enjoying the extra time in the evening to play and exercise.

Counseling:

Some of the attendees at the introduction to
 Biblical Counseling Seminar
 

Even though I have just completed my biblical counseling degree in May, since we have been back in Thailand, counseling has been the main focus of our ministry. I along with the help of Mam have been offering pre-marriage counseling and discipleship to young college couples who attend our church here. We have been a part in helping prepare the couple as well as their wedding for 4 couples already and there are 4 more couples currently getting ready to begin meeting with us as they are looking at getting married later this year. We have also been able to help minister to the missionary community here in Chiang Rai and other cities in Northern Thailand. Our goal was to come and minister to the Thai families and churches through the ministry of biblical counseling and discipleship, but over the past year I have found myself counseling many missionary families who are experiencing difficulties in their ministries, their families, and even their personal life. It has been a blessing to be able to help serve fellow missionaries and also local Thai singles, couples, families, and churches with the truths of God’s Word. But during my times of counseling I have seen that there is a great need to not only counsel others, but also to train them how to counsel, mainly since I am not able physically to meet with everyone who has been seeking out help. So by God’s grace, Mam and I were able to connect with a local foundation here which has a heart to counsel others and begin a training session for those in the community who want to learn about and begin using biblical counseling to help their friends, family, church, and community. In April we held an introductory all day seminar on the ministry of biblical counseling and we had close to 30 people attended. Then in May we held our first of 12 one day sessions training in biblical counseling. There were 27 people who came and during the second session we held last month there were 23 people. Praise God because these are men and women who are Thai and Akha who are serving as pastors, pastor wives, ministry leaders, orphanage staff, and other ministries not only here in Thailand but also across the border into Myanmar and Laos.

Some of the students celebrating the completion of their
homework from the first training session we had in May.

Enjoying lunch together during the seminar.

            It has been such a great blessing to be able to share what I have learned through my schooling with others who are eager to not only learn God’s Word but to also live it out in their daily life and lead others to the sufficient truths of the Bible. The challenge has been trying to fit 4 years of schooling into 12 one day seminars and to also translate all that material into the Thai and Akha languages so that those attending can understand it. Thankfully, a friend of ours who is a local pastor has been able to help translate the material for us. There is a huge need for biblical truth within the local church here in Thailand and thankfully there are people wanting to not only learn more of the Bible but also begin ministering those truths of Scripture with others through the ministry of biblical counseling and discipleship. Please continue to pray for this training time. We are having our third training session the first week of next month and will be looking at biblical conflict resolution and peacemaking and how to help those who are in conflict with others. (Husband/Wife, Parent/Child, Employer/Employee, church members/staff, classmates, roommates, ministry partners, etc.) The local foundation who we are partnering with has also asked us to begin doing some training across the border in Myanmar, so we are looking at that for next year.

Changes and Conclusion:

There is still so much more to share but I will post that later this month since I am working on trying to keep these posts short. But before I go I just wanted to update you on some changes which we are trying to make in regards our contact with our supporters and friends. I am currently working on a new email way to send out newsletters and so shortly you may be receiving an invite, so if you would like to receive our updates via email, then please email me at heartsredeemed@gmail.com with the current email address you would like us to contact you with. Also if there are other ways which are more effective in contacting you, then please let us know so that we can make sure that we are connecting you with our ministry and family updates. Also I will be posting these updates on our family’s ministry blog which is http://rutledgereview.blogspot.com/. You can check it out to find ministry updates, prayer requests, pictures, praise reports, and also information on how to support our ministry financially and other ways. This blog will be specifically focused on our family and ministry here in Thailand through Hearts Redeemed Ministries. I will be starting another blog soon dealing with biblical counseling and discipleship topics for those interested in reading. It will be focused on how God’s Word instructs us on daily living and how God uses the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the church to help sanctify us and use our life to glorify His name and grow His church. So keep an eye out for that new blog which I hope to have started next month.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update and I pray that you not only found in informative but also encouraging. God is always present and always working and we are grateful that He has enabled us to not only know Him but to also be used by Him to help others come to a saving knowledge of His goodness and His glory.

Your fellow servants in the Lord

Dan, Mam, Gracie, Joy, Hope, and Kyle Rutledge

Titus 2:11-14       

Grateful for God's Goodness

Greetings once again from Thailand. I am excited to share with you some highlights and pictures from the past few months. Since our last post, God has been doing some amazing things here and we are grateful for the opportunity our family has to play a small part in the wonderful workings of God. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and so I decided to help keep this post short by posting a lot of pictures which will we hope will help you gain a greater understanding of what our family has been involved with over the past few months.
The first set of pictures are from the month of August in which we celebrated Kyle's 4th birthday and also the opening of the school year for the university students. Our church held a three day camp at the start of school and the theme verse was from Philippians 1:6 which says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." This verse was chosen because we wanted to focus on the sanctifying work of Christ in the lives of the students and that He Who saved them by His grace, is also the one Who is sanctifying them and will not stop until He has completed His work. During the camp we had over 100 students attend and we closed the camp with the celebration of 5 students demonstrating their commitment to the lordship of Christ through their public display of baptism. The day of the baptism it rained non stop, but we were all able to rejoice in this special day with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Following a very busy August, the month of September was filled with lots of school work for me and the kids. I was working hard to finish up a few research papers for my classes and the kids were busy preparing for end of the semester testing. We were all busy with school, but we were also keeping active in ministry with the local church and the college students which attend there. For me this included meeting weekly for discipleship and biblical training with the four interns who are currently working at the church. I also was continuing my preaching once a month as well as teaching an adult Sunday school class every Sunday before worship service. On top of these opportunities to serve the church, I was also leading two small group Bible studies for the college students.

Mam was also busy serving the church, as she is leading the children's church every Sunday and is currently training some of the young ladies in the church to help teach the children during different Sundays of each month. The month of September flew by, and I am guessing that is because of the blessing of being busy serving the Lord and the local church body. On top of all these opportunities to serve with the church, I was also busy putting into practice the truths I have been learning during my studies by offering biblical counsel to some missionaries who were seeking help and hope during their trials. I am grateful that I have been able to serve them and am also grateful that as a family we are able to minister to the Thai and missionary community with the redeeming truths of God's Word. The following pictures are from one of our small group Bible studies which we have on Thursday night.

Now that we are in the month of October, our family is finally finding some time to rest and relax together. The children are out of school for two weeks, and I have completed all my class work and am able to rest until my last project for my Masters degree is to begin in November. Lord willing I should be finished with my degree in biblical counseling in March 2015. Our whole family is counting down the months to that completion date, especially Mam who is excited to have her husband back and not have to share him with late night homework assignments anymore. Someone asked if I would consider going on for my Doctorate, to which I calmly looked at my wife and assured them that a Masters degree was enough for now. I am ready to be done with schooling and to be able to focus full-time on family and ministry.

During this break in our lives, we were able to take a couple of days and get away for a short vacation as a family. It was a very relaxing time of just hanging out in the hotel and also letting the kids do some fun events. We went ice-skating, to the night safari zoo and kids play area. Kyle really enjoyed the zoo, since this was his first time ever going here in Thailand. He ran from animal to animal and had so much fun. It was such a blessing to be able to rest as a family and we wish we could have stayed longer than 2 days but due to lack of finances we had to come back home. We have had fun here at home though as well. We are playing UNO at night as well as reading lots of books. There are bike rides and walks with the dogs. It has been so nice just to relax as a family and reconnect with each other once again. Next week school starts again for the kids and so we are trying to enjoy every day off with them as much as we can.

Even though the kids are out of school, our ministry with the church and biblical counseling are still going. This Sunday I will be preaching and so I have been spending time preparing for not only that Sunday morning service but also the Adult Sunday school class I will be teaching before and also the small group Bible study I will be teaching that afternoon. For one Sunday a month I end up having to teach or preach around 5 hours and that is in the Thai language, so needless to say, on those days I am truly wiped and ready to rest in the evening. Even though it is hard work, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the body of Christ by instructing them in the Word of God.
Please continue to remember our family in your prayers as we finish up the month of October and get ready for the busy months of November and December. Already there are multiple Thanksgiving and Christmas outreaches scheduled for our church, and we are excited for the chance to use these two months to share with others the joy of Christ and the blessings of being thankful. Please also pray for our ministry in offering biblical counseling not only for the missionary community but also among the Thai believers. Starting in November Mam and I will be doing pre-marital counseling with a young lady from our church and her fiance from China. It should be interesting, but we are grateful to offer this young couple the truths of God's Word upon which they can build their marriage upon. Another prayer request is in regards to our families finances. The past few months, our financial support has been low, but by God's grace we have been able to pay for all our needs and even have some extra money to help out others and spend time away as a family. The concern I have is that if our support does not pick up, then come the New Year, I may have to look for part time work to help cover our living expenses. I am not concerned about having to work, but rather that it takes me away from other things, such as ministry, schooling, and family. For almost 19 years I have been blessed to be able to serve in full-time ministry and live by the faithful giving of so many wonderful people. Both as a single and now as a family of six, every month God has faithfully provided for all of our needs through the gifts of our supporters. So I am thankful for the past 18 years I have been able serve in full-time ministry and I am asking God to grant us many more years of full-time ministry for Him. So please pray that our financial needs will be provided for and that we will have wisdom as we evaluate and make plans for the year 2015. (Information about ways to help support our family is located on the side bar of this post).
Thank you for your willingness to take time to read this post and also for all of your prayers. If you would please take a moment and email me at dan.rutledge@gmail.com and let me know if this post was both informative and encouraging to you. Thank you and God bless you.

Here are some pictures from our family's 2 day vacation last week.

Hope for our Hearts

Greetings everyone, I trust you are doing well. I would like to thank you for all of your prayers during this time I am away from my family. I am really looking forward to being reunited with them next week. 5 weeks is just too long to be away from your loved ones. I am grateful for the time I did get to spend in the States and the chance to study here at the Master's College as well as spend time visiting with family, friends and supporters. I have posted our latest newsletter in the page above (Printable PDF versions of the newsletter) The latest issues is titled Hope for our Hearts and is a short update of what God is doing in our family and the ministry there in Thailand. Please feel free to print it off and share with your friends and family. Thank you for your prayers and please know that you are in our prayers often. God bless
The Rutledge Family.

Striving According To His Power Colossians 1:28-29

Happy Mid-year from the Rutledge Family, we are eternally grateful for all your prayers and financial support which makes it possible for us to live and minister full time here in Chiang Rai, Thailand. During the past 7 months since our last newsletter, God has been so good and our family would like to share with you 7 of the highlights of what God has been doing through the work of Hearts Redeemed Ministry. We know that nothing which has been accomplished could have happened apart from God and so we want to give all praise to Him, Who has strengthened us through His Spirit and enabled us to continue striving according to His power as we proclaim His gospel for His glory.

The first highlight we would like to share with you is the wonderful opportunity of being able to partner with a local Thai church in ministering to university students and young singles. Our goal with Heart Redeemed Ministries was to work with families within the local church to help strengthen their walk with Christ and also their witness for Him. The benefit of working with college students before they get married is to help lay a biblical foundation upon which they can build their future marriage upon. During the past year, we have been able to provide biblical teaching and discipleship through; Sunday morning preaching, Adult Sunday School Classes, Evening Life Group Bible Studies for men and for women, One on one discipleship and counseling, and even a couples class we held after Sunday morning service. Thankfully we have already begun to see some fruit from our time with the college singles, and we give all praise to God for the way He has been working in their hearts through His Word. There were two weddings over the past 7 months which Mam and I were blessed to be able to help provide pre-marital counseling for both the couples.

The second highlight deals with our children and the why that they are adjusting to a new culture through the help of God’s grace. It was slow at first, but once everyone got started their Thai language took off and now they are all fluent in Thai. Even little Kyle who started school in May, is speaking Thai. This is a huge answer to prayer, because I was not sure how they would adjust, but God has been gracious and we are thankful for their willingness to serve with us here in Thailand. They miss the States and are looking forward to coming back and visit soon, maybe when I graduate next spring.

The third highlight has to be the fruits which we are already seeing God produce through my studies and practice of biblical counseling. I have been humbled to see how the truths of God’s Word is able to change lives stuck in serious struggles and sins. Over the past 7 months I have been able to offer biblical counsel to Thai college students, Thai couples getting ready for marriage, Thai families struggling with choices, a married couple from Brazil, other missionaries from the States, and even members from Mam’s family. I am still working on my studies and am in my last session of classes, but I am amazed at how the skills I have been able to learn, God is using to minister to others.

The fourth highlight comes in the completion of one year back in Thailand. We arrived in Thailand in April 2013, with lots’ of dreams but even more questions. God as always was faithful and provided everything we needed for our families relocation back to Thailand. We are grateful for the house we are renting and the wonderful Thai neighbors who we have become good friends with. We are also grateful for my truck, which even though took some repairs over the past year, has continued to run faithfully and has been a great tool not only for transporting our family but also serving others in the body of Christ. I use it to pick up college students for church on Sunday, we have used it for outreaches in villages, and lot’s of other outings. God is gracious and we are grateful for a house to sleep in, a truck to drive, food to eat, and a chance to live and serve in Thailand full-time. We have been here one year, and we are trusting God to enable us to remain serving Him here in Thailand for many more years to come.

The fifth highlight is how God has been gracious with our schooling. I say our schooling because I am busy studying for my Masters in Biblical Counseling and all of our kids are now attending school. Gracie is in 4th grade, Joy is in 2nd, Hope is in 1st, and Kyle is in the first year of kindergarten. They start school here at age three and have three years of kindergarten before 1st grade. Oh and they go all day long, with a nap after lunch of course. So everyone is in school except for Mam, and she is enjoying her days free from kids and sticky fingers. She does miss them though and is always excited to pick them up from school and help them with their homework. God has been good, and we are grateful for the chance to grow in knowledge, I am especially grateful that my classes are coming to a close soon. I am taking my last four classes right now, and then after I write my thesis, I will be able to graduate. It has been lot’s of hard work but am so glad that I took the program I did and am excited to see how God is going work through what I have learned for His glory.

The sixth highlight has to be our health. God is so gracious and even though we live in a third world country, we have rarely had any major sicknesses. We are so thankful for God’s hand of protection over our family this past year and we trust that He will continue to provide protection and patience to help us deal with any health issues He brings our way in the future.

The seventh highlight is all of you who take the time to read our newsletters, pray for our family, give of your finances, and encourage us through your emails. We know that our family would not be able to live and minister here full time if not for the work of God in our lives through the faithful prayers and support from people like you. Our family would once again like to say thank you for all you have done to bless us throughout our years on the mission field. We remember you often in our prayers and thank God for the way He works through you to encourage and provide for our family.

Thank you for your willingness to partner the Rutledge Family and Hearts Redeemed Ministries as we continue striving through His power to connect the hearts of the Thai people with the redeeming truths of God’s Word.

Happy Mid-Year and God bless from:

Dan, Mam, Gracie, Joy, Hope, and Kyle Rutledge