Old Dr. Ruckman Never Changed: 2000s "Shortie" Compilation vs. Robert Breaker

Thank you to Brother Don Nesbitt, the Lord's bloodhound for sounding the alarm about Robert Breaker. His youtube handle is @w46try7.

Dr. Peter Ruckman preached the Sinner's Prayer in the 2000s, just as he did in every decade prior. Robert Breaker (The Cloud Church) claims that the 'Young Ruckman' (1950s-1980s) opposed the Sinner's Prayer and that 'Hylesism' only corrupted him later. This compilation proves that narrative is false.

To be objectively fair, Robert Breaker is deeply contradictory regarding the timeline of this alleged 'corruption.' In one breath, he claims the Ruckman he knew (1995-1998) never preached the prayer. In the next breath, he claims the Sinner's Prayer was already 'getting into the church' while he was a student.

This video, ironically titled 'The Shortie' (despite being over an hour long), is just a small sample of the overwhelming evidence from the 2000s showing Dr. Ruckman never changed his doctrine on salvation, confession, and the blood.

This video is best experienced by watching the compilations from the previous decades first, and then watching this one to see what Dr. Ruckman "changed in." Hint: He did not.

Thank you to Brother Don Nes for alerting us and providing clips, and to Brother Water in the Wilderness for all of the other clips.

[00:00 - 00:20] On-Screen Text

“Why are you doing this? You proved he taught sinner’s prayer from the 1950s to the 1990s.”

Because Breaker’s young and old myth Ruckman thrives on ambiguity. The more there is of Dr. Ruckman preaching sinner’s prayers from the 1950s to his death in the 2010s, then the less Breaker can claim there was a young and old Dr. Ruckman.

[00:21 - 00:34] On-Screen Text

I want you to watch this video and remember everything Dr. Ruckman said in the past about sinner’s prayers being a necessary requirement for salvation and tell me, has anything changed from the 1950s onward?

[00:35 - 00:37] On-Screen Text

If you’re confused what Breaker believes.

[00:37 - 01:25] Video Segment - November 6, 2025

Robert Breaker:

... is to confess with their mouth that the Lord is Jesus, or Jesus is Lord. Wouldn’t that be Israel? So when I read Romans 10, I see Jews asking Paul, “Hey, what about Israel?” And he says, “Well, if a guy is a Jew and he has confessed that Jesus is his Lord, that Jesus is his Messiah, and if he believes that God hath raised him from the dead, well then he can be saved.”

Joseph Gonazlez:

Right.

Robert Breaker:

So if he believes in who and what, then he’ll be saved.

Joseph Gonazlez:

Right.

Robert Breaker:

I don’t think he’s telling you you have to do both, and that you have to say with the mouth or you’re not saved.

Joseph Gonazlez:

Right, right, right.

Robert Breaker:

If he’s saying you have to believe from your heart in something and say it with your mouth at the same time, then that would be a faith plus works gospel.

Joseph Gonazlez:

Right.

Robert Breaker:

And that would nullify what Jesus did, because it’s not just what he did... it’s what you say, which would be a work.

[01:25 - 01:40] Video Segment - Feb 10, 2025

Preacher:

Now, I know he changed. I know you can go online, hear him saying it differently. I know, because some of other stuff got into the church, the one-two-three repeat after me, the other gospel. But that’s not what he was like in the beginning. That’s not the man my dad knew. That’s not who I knew that I heard preaching the gospel.

[01:41 - 01:57] On-Screen Text

Breaker believes confession OF ANY FORM TO BE SAVED is a work, EVEN IF IT IS BELIEF and confession as the two sole conditions to get saved.

And Breaker believes if you do that, a sinner’s prayer to get saved, you are lost and on your way to hell, and you weren’t saved “the Biblical way.”

[01:58 - 02:10] On-Screen Text

To debunk any allegations that I am cherry picking what Dr. Ruckman said, this is a 19 minute unedited clip.

(Unedited/no cuts)

[02:11 - 22:11] Dr. Ruckman Preaching - June 10, 2003

Dr. Ruckman:

... my story. Laughing at that. Well, I don’t know. Said, “Would you like to know him?” And I said, “I don’t know.” He said, “Would you be willing to ask him to save you?” I said, “I guess so.” He said, “Come here.” He’d been witnessing to me for about two months... taken from across the Judson Creek. But then my role... By the way, I set up a booth and set up all that stuff years ago.

I went back to the record room and took out a Bible and said, “Do you believe this is the word of God?” And I said, “Yeah, that’s it.” And I wouldn’t have said that otherwise. But last time overseas in the Philippines, my company commander pulled a Bible on me and he said, “Ruckman, you’ve been reading this stuff. Let me read you something out of this.” I said, “Oh, put that away.

That’s a lot of bologna.” I called it “pigmey.” A preacher in front of me...

fine, fine. From Germany. And I said, “That’s it.” And he said, “You mean a sinner?” I said, “Yeah, I’m a sinner.” “Do you mean Christ died for sinners?” I said, “Well, I guess he did.” I wasn’t trying to be funny. I didn’t know. I know the priest said he did, but I didn’t know if the priest was lying or not.

He said, “You believe he can save a sinner?” I said, “He saved a finer than me.”

He said, “Would you ask him to save you?” I said, “Sure.” So I took his hand and he said, “Now in your own words, ask Christ to save you.” I didn’t know how I was going to pray when he said that. [laughter] Because any guy that came up where I came up... Oh, he showed you... uh at full letter words, 2-3-4 letter words. And these guys you work with during the daytime and cuss all day, all day, and all that stuff, they don’t even know what they’re saying, honest to God. In the sequence, ‘blank’ this, ‘blank’ that, ‘blank’ that, ‘blank’. And that’s why I’m lost, I don’t know them.

I took him by the hand, he said, “Now just in your own words ask Christ to save you.” So I didn’t know how to pray. And I didn’t. I mean, you know, Hail Mary, Our Father, and help him in, he didn’t kill him in the football game, that’s my story. I didn’t know how to pray. And he said, “Just in your own words,” he said, “Ask Christ to save you.” So I bowed my head and I said, “Lord, I’m a blankety-blank sinner and I’m going to hell sure as blankety-blank if something don’t happen pretty blankety-blank quick.” [laughter] I’m not cussing, that’s what I said. God, pull the end of it, he said, “God save my soul for Christ’s sake, Amen.”

And I looked up at him and I said, “What are you laughing at?” He said, “Nothing.” He said, “You’re GD right I’m going to pray.” [laughter] And I DID, see? I wasn’t trying to be smart, I meant it. And he said, “If you meant that prayer, you’re saved.” I said, “I don’t feel any different.” He said, “You’re not supposed to feel any different.” I said, “How do I know I’m saved?” He said, “You just know, you just know.” I said, “No I don’t.” He said, “Yes you do.” I said, “I do not.” He said, “You do so.” I said, “I DO NOT!” [laughter]

And he reached, pulled out a Bible, handed it to me and he said, “Read it.” And I read it. It said, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” God said there you know you have it. Now you know it, don’t you? I looked at that thing and I said, “Well, uh... Well, uh, I guess I do.” He said, “Is that to say yes or no?” And I said, “No.” He said, “Do you know?” I said, “Well, well...” I never had that confession on mind. I never had... I’ve never had any choir line behind me while I go and think of something to say and listen to 2 seconds. But that guy had me up a tree, boy. I’d been drunk on a hard place. I thought about setting myself a fire with wine because I didn’t feel like I was loved. And I said, “Well,” and he said, “You don’t think God’s a liar, do you?” I said, “No, no, God... God ain’t no liar.” “Well, God said that you know you’re saved. Now do you know it?” I said, “Well, uh... Yeah, I know.” And I felt like I was lying when I said it. [laughter]

But, boy, next... year for 27 years, standing out there, boy, am I... first time for 27 years, first time I thought of being in the United States, 27 years I can’t even count ’em. They’d say, “This is I, 131, I’m unhurtful.” That black blood... You didn’t have the same view standard as me. Now, some of you folks got to set 4 or 5 standards before you come, I think you’re probably just stupid to be frank with you. [laughter] I mean, I’m just telling you straight, but if you came through a hurricane first, you’d know some good if you saw it. Yeah.

The trouble is you haven’t had enough mud and sewage and garbage yet to satisfy you. That’s the problem.

Audience:

Right.

Dr. Ruckman:

I didn’t need to stand and say, “Yes, sir.” “I’m in line.” “I’m down there.” Hey, a 12-year-old girl came down. You think she’d been like...

[laughter] I had a black shirt, yellow necktie. And a mustache. [laughter] Weighing 185 lb, 28 inch waistline, so mean I didn’t love myself. [laughter] I could have a guy... I could have a guy 6 ft 2 jump up and down on my belly with boots and no cussing or anything. [laughter] Four cigars in this pocket, four cigars in that pocket. And this is telling you real simple, see? Whosoever will, let him come.

Now they’re singing, you know... “Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love, the fellowship of kindred minds.” I’m standing there, shaking hands, shake his hand, glad to meet you. If you told me some of those old women were talking about each other and the kids were necking up there in the park, and the deacons were stealing money, I’d have believed every bit of it!

[laughter] Liberal and able. [laughter] I just came out of a night so black, everything else is pretty, you know.

And when they finished that thing, that night, the bus didn’t run that night, went out too far in the country, so I hitched a ride... I didn’t have any car at that time. Hitch-hiked. Caught a bus back to Pensacola, after walking 5 miles and nobody picked me up, about that time an old truck came along again, fine bunch of Christians, and gave me a ride home. Was it a Christian? It was fine, it was a Christian, might as well be a ride home. Yeah, praise God, praise God, yeah.

And about that time, at the car stop right behind me, a guy said, “Hey, you want a lift?” I had that apron on out here, Sunday morning. I done had a whole...

one, and I decided to run a couple of blocks down the highway in the... in the rain, gas station, you know what, [laughter] and I came around there, I had my suit on and everything, and beginning to get soaked, no umbrella. And half the building down there don’t have any awning on. And I’d begin to trot toward the hotel and praying, “God help... God stop the rain, God give me a little bit of soaking wet,” “It don’t mind me anyhow,” I wish... soaking wet, but that’s beside the point. [laughter]

And I said, “God give me help,” and a car stopped right in front of me, and the guy said, “Are you going to church?” And I said, “Yeah.” She said, “Well, get in.” I guess the Christian woman in the back... just happened to come out of a driveway there, going to Pentecostal or something. God remembered that here I’m out there walking home at... [laughter] “Are you all right?” I said, “Yeah, I’m all right.” So that guy and his wife, they’d been at church, and they’re coming back from church. And, uh, I sat in the back seat, and they said, “We’re a church of 90, so you’ll accept Christ as your savior.” I said, “Yeah, I’ll do that.” They said, “You never went to a altar?” I said, “No, I just won’t.” I didn’t know... I said, “Preacher,” stuck in the ground, I don’t remember it.

And I I’m looking out the window like this, into this dark night, and I’m thinking, “You’re getting shot at.” Best thing you ever do, got your car, you got your family with you, nobody’s shooting at you, that’s what you’re thinking.

And he kept on talking, he’s talking, and he said, “Yes, sir, that’s a... that’s the rightest thing a man can do, you’re doing the right thing in life.” His wife said, “Amen, you certainly did, young man.” I said, “Yeah, yeah, I suppose so.”

I mean, I set myself in a... [laughter] I didn’t have a job, I had no work to do, all kind of stuff, and he said... What I’m going on thinking, he says, “You know,” he said, “I never had a mother or father.” “I was raised in an orphanage.” And he said, “I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior when I was 11 years old, and ever since then, I’ve been just happy as a lark,” he said.

[laughter] “Ooh!” [laughter]

I said, “Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!” [laughter] I got back to my old flat there, you know, went into that bit of canvas spilling, and I got in there in the dark, and that devil worked me over again. “Crazy Ruckman, out here at night, not saved. What do you mean saved? What do you mean saved? You can’t do it. You’ll be back where you were before long. What do you mean saved, all that stuff? You can’t do it. Your family’s all... What about your family?” And the Lord said, “When the Holy Spirit witnesses, it’s never this... startling, loud thing like you’d hear at a line meeting, or a microphone, it’s always still and quiet. The wisdom from... from above is first pure, then peaceable, full of good fruits.” And I’m kneeling there, and the Lord says, “It’s all right, now, Pete. It’s all right now.” I try to work myself up. “You’re a cook, running out with this Bible stuff, getting fanatic. You better see a psychiatrist in the morning.” [laughter] And the Holy Spirit says, “It’s all right, Pete. It’s all right now. It’s all right now.” Bringing peace to my tall soul, boy.

Audience:

Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

And let me tell you, I knew I was saved then. I had absolute assurance I was saved. Well, it’s 54 years now.

Audience:

Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

But the Lord’s telling me, “It’s all right now, Pete. It’s all right now.” Oh, somebody saw, “You’re just tripping, man. You’re... you’ve got to... you’ve got a cut drink, man. You’re fancy...” But he saved... it’s like taking a trip on drugs. I said, “Brother, then I got the best trip in the world, you ever saw.” [laughter] “And I got mine, free, and it’s kept lasting 54 years, and it didn’t cost a penny.” [laughter] [applause]

All right, he said, “I’m all right.” And I said, “All right, then, thank God for verse 20, I think it’s verse 20.” ‘And he arose.’ See that verse? ‘And he arose.’ Thank God for that verse! He didn’t sit there and die in his stumps.

Audience:

Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

I’m going to say something in favor of this young man, I’m not afraid of... of... complimenting him, because in the Bible, it’s all backwards.

In the Bible, actually, in the... in the... in the world, actually, the hero...

and that’s the... the hero’s girlfriend and the love triangle, you see? But the hero of this story is not the young man. It’s the old man. It’s the father. But you, the hero always has to be a young man. Karate kicking, punching, killing, 408AK47, all that kind of young... [laughter] In that mind, well, that’s not... that’s not comedy, unprecedented, conceited, bomb! Yeah. Well, I’ll say one thing for him. When that young kid said he’s going to do something, he didn’t waste all day. He got it done. That young fellow said, “I’m going out to a far country,” off he went. “I’m going to live like the devil,” he did. “I will arise and go to my father,” he gets up! [laughter] I like that boy! He got up, got off the stump.

I know men like I say in Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, been sitting on that stump there for 40, 50, 60 years and haven’t got up yet! [laughter] Thank God he got up! And as soon as he got up, don’t you know what happened?

Don’t you know what happened? You probably wouldn’t know unless you’ve been saved late in life. Now, if you’re saved after 30 or 40 or 50, you know what I’m getting ready to say, but if you’re saved young, you wouldn’t understand this.

You don’t have to get up.

Well, he took about three steps, and one of his old buddies showed up. Old buddy-buddy. He’s going, “Right there.” And he said, “Hey man, where are you going?” “Well, I’m going back home.” “You’re never going to make it.” “300 miles, you’re going to walk? You’re never going to make it.” “Well, I may be a fool, I’m ashamed, I’m hungry, I’m sick and tired of this hog slop.”

He took a few more steps, and one of his old lovers showed up and said, “You know, the old man with a guitar, you ain’t getting back, you know that, don’t you?” “Well, that may be, I may be turned back.” [smacks lips] Red on a gray coat, cassette, whiskey, and corn at the columnists. “I’m going.”

Two more steps, “Hey man, what about that blonde and that brunette you said you were going to buy a mic for?” “Oh, you take ’em, I ain’t got time for ’em no more.”

Couple more steps, “Hey man, how about that Mercedes Benz you said, ‘I can’t make the payments, you make the payments.’” And he walked on, after all, by the time he picked up that pink, and he walked about two miles, he had blisters, and he walked three miles, and the blood began to squirt off him on the highway where he, he didn’t care. He going home!

Audience:

Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

You know why some of you folks don’t get off the pig, and go home?

You got a taste for hog slop, that’s your problem. [laughter] You get tired of eating the slop of this world, and you get hungry for God, and not some table manners with Christ.

Audience:

Amen!

Dr. Ruckman:

You’ll probably get a taste for it. Yeah, that’s what, that’s the problem.

Audience:

Right.

Dr. Ruckman:

I preached one time down in Mobile, Alabama, and got the invitation, and big, old boy, about 6 ft 6, farm boy, and he’d done the condition of the whole service, this thing here, and when we got to the invitation, he reached across the seat in front of him, hit his buddy on the back, knocked him over two pews, [laughter] and he said, “Sam,” he said, “I’m going down there and get some of the real stuff!” Down he went. [laughter] Down he went. You can’t, you can’t move a man for God when he gets hungry for God.

And the trouble is you folks, a lot of you, are not hungry. You’re satisfied with pig slop. That’s your problem. You like it. Yeah. Not a bit of it.

[laughter]

All right, let’s get back to the wedding. Keep on reading. ‘He arose, and came to his father.’ ‘And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”’ And he didn’t get to finish it. He was going to say, “Make me as one of thy hired servants.” And his daddy wouldn’t let him.

The daddy said, “Shh. Don’t tell me about the rest of it.” ‘And he said, “Bring forth the best robe, put it on him; put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”’

And that last verse down there, ‘And they began to be merry.’ Did it say they finished, though? When did they finish? They never did! [laughter] When you come home and trust Christ as your savior, that Almighty Spirit of God, you up there cross the sky... ... and sit down on a bench in heaven... ... that’s where you belong!

Now notice it said he, ‘saw him, had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.’ Now what does that mean? That means the old man saw the boy coming before the boy saw the old man. That means the old man was waiting for him. [laughter] And who was he waiting for him? He was waiting for him because you don’t find that guy overnight. And you take that, when you, when you, when you, you got to visualize these things, I got to visualizing, and then I’ve got to get the picture right all the time. When I see this, this scene, why, I see these old antebellum homes down South, in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, on a plantation, on a porch. This old guy going to go out and sit on the porch...

... look out in the evening through the top of the trees. The old man’s waiting for him, the old man waiting for him every day, and week, waiting for him, and praying, praying all the time, off the porch at night, his wife said, “Will you ever come to bed, that boy’s no good anyhow, and some kind of black bedbug, or somewhere, quit your worrying yourself to death against the trees.”

Old man walked the porch at night, “God, bring him back, God, keep him alive, God, bring him back, I know he’s young, he’s so stupid,” [laughter] “wasted his money on the devil, get him back, oh God, have mercy on him, God, you know where he is tonight,” all that stuff for days and days and days. And then in my mind’s eye, I see my fan out on that porch, porch roof of those antebellum homes, looking out across that plantation, on about, close to sundown. Looks out across there and a colored man comes up and says, “Boss, is the missus got supper ready, better come on in.” He said, “Look out down there, Ben.” He said, “Is that somebody coming?” Said, “The missus said it’s on the table.” “Look on in, look on in.” He’s just watching that sun go down there, over there. Sunset. And the colored man said, “Boss, that ain’t nobody, that’s an old man over there, old man yonder.” “Yeah, I know you’re... you’re right, but I was... watching the sun shine on that... that tree now, that lane.”

And then about that time he saw something coming down the lane, a tall man, and he got up, and he fell down, and he said, “Yonder he comes!” “And broke his neck, and down the steps he went to him.” You know what I’m talking about?

Audience:

Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

If you start to listen to all these right, left-wingers, whatever’s preaching there, yeah, right, standard. The Lord is more anxious to get you right than you are to get right.

Audience:

Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

That’s what kind of a God you’re dealing with. It’s a great... I mean, this great big BANG out in some place, got to invent hydrogen atoms and stuff, and carry on the galaxies and star clusters, that ain’t the God of that Bible. The God of that Bible, he was back in the farthest star in the universe making new galaxies, and saw you hit his way, he’d run to meet you, he’d beat you there!

Audience:

Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

Yeah, 1.29 is it, I thought kind of. Wham! Read it. ‘And the... and the elder son was in the field...’ and the elder son was in the field and how...

how was he in the field? He comes home and says, “Father, I realize that under the... uh... tension and stress of our age, I’ve developed a justified, innate potentiality and capacity, and such an un-handled way has overcome the influences...” “Shut your mouth!” [laughter] I mean, I’m going to send for some cuss medicine, couldn’t get the price, I’ve tried. Preacher’s ain’t funny like that. And who is this? You come to God like a pauper, you go in like a prince.

When you come to God like a prince, you go in like a pauper with a broken heart.

Don’t go, don’t, don’t straddle that stuff. You want to get a blessing? You come to God and say, “Look...” “... I’m dirty.” [laughter] “I got this stuff on me, I can’t get clean.” “I’m ragged.” “Pick me up.” “I’m sick.” “Black as coal.” “Put some scriptures and take the damnation down where you want to...” “... for God’s sake, save me and take me in like I am.”

Audience:

Right.

Dr. Ruckman:

And you come to him like that, brother, you’ll slide off the border of heaven and take the road right to the throne of Jesus Christ, and you’ll have that board on the front of the room.

Audience:

Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

Yeah, you’ll get up, you’ll get up a whole lot of blessings, full.

You come to God like a prince, you go away like a beggar. You come to God like a beggar, you go away like a prince, that’s all there is to that. ‘For this my son was lost, and is found; he was dead, and is alive. And they began to be merry.’

[21:21 - 22:10] Dr. Ruckman Sermon Excerpt 2

Dr. Ruckman:

And the Lord said, “You go down the aisle, on your knees, and find... and find Christ.” And I started in, and the devil said, “Oh, you sleep it off, you’ll be all right in the morning, go on.” And I started back again.

About the fourth time, I went back up the steps, and went in that church, and got down on my knees there at the altar. I was there, I timed it later, it was 20 minutes, not a man, woman, or child put a foot in that building all the time I was there. And I prayed, and I didn’t know how to pray. I was going to the Catholic church, you know, and I knew how to flip the beads, Hail Mary, and all that business, and Our Father, but I didn’t know how to pray.

Now, kneeling there, I don’t... I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I think I said something like this: I said, “God, I’m up... I’m up to here. I’ve had enough. I just had enough. I want to come home. I don’t know where home is.

I never had a home. I never did. I came up like a wild dog on the streets.” And I said, “I never had a home, I don’t even know where home is.” But I said, “I’ve been shot at, and cussed, and kicked, and I’m... I’m cold, and I’m tired, and I’m worn out. I... I don’t know anything about... about any men, or any women, or any art, or any music, I’m tired of travel, I’m tired of this life, I’m sick up to here with it.” I said, “For God’s sake, will you take me back where I was supposed to be?”

Now, while I was kneeling there, they began a choir practice back in the back room. Now, I’d been a radio disc jockey, so on Sunday, we played some hymns on the radio, and I... and then I remembered the words of one of them. And it said, “Should my tears forever flow, should my zeal no languor know, all for sin could not atone, thou must save, and thou alone. In my hand no price I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.” And I knew what that meant, “simply to thy cross I cling.” I heard ’em sing it, I got up and went back to... out down the street, and went home and flopped down in the bed, went to sleep, got up at 5 o’clock in the morning, opened the radio station, got to warm up the transmitter, get it on at 6:00, and I went down there and walked down the street of, uh, Pensa- Pensacola about 5:00... about 5:30 in the morning, going down through there, and all of a sudden, I begin to hear these bells ringing.

Nobody ringing any bells in Pensacola at 5:

30 in the morning, these church bells going “dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong,” and this choir! Like a million voices singing, they’re singing “Hallelujah, praise the Lord!” I’m going down that street like a drunken man, man, I’m going down there, [laughter] this stuff rattling in my head, I’ve never heard it since! I heard it about 10 minutes, that was the end of it. I haven’t heard it in 50 years! You say, “What was it?” I ain’t got an idea in the world! [laughter] But something went... something went, boy! [laughter]

I got down to this radio station, I got to the radio station, boy, about 10 o’clock in the morning, in comes Hugh Pyle, and Hugh Pyle was a Baptist pastor at Brent Baptist Church, and he’s about 35 years old, looked like he was about 15. [laughter] And he came there and sat down and began to preach, and the Lord said, “Now, you see that fellow? Said, you check him when he comes out.” I said, “Oh, he don’t know nothing, he don’t know nothing.” Lord said, “If you don’t think that’s a man, just check him when he comes out, that’s a man.” I looked at him, I said, “That thing, man, he never drank nothing stronger than buttermilk, what could he know about anything?” I was 27, looked like I was 50, I mean, like really! You ever talk to Hugh Pyle, he’ll tell you so, but that fellow was young and living right, and Lord said, “You check him when he comes out.” So I said, “Okay, I’ll check him when he comes out.”

And Hugh Pyle came up, walked by the door, as he walked by the door, I said, “Hi, preacher, what do you know?” He said, “I know the Lord Jesus Christ, what do you know?” That was a nasty turn of events! [laughter] I liked to swallow my stogie, and I said, “Well, I don’t know him.” [laughter] Said, “Would you like to know him?” And I said, “Sure,” and he said, “What are you waiting for?” Well, that seemed like kind of a dumb thing to me, I only had a college education, I’ve been over the Orient, studied Buddhism under Suzuki, attained Prajna, Samadhi they call it, Nirvana, and the other ones, Zen, Zen, I’ve studied the Shastras, the Puranas, the Bhagavad Gita, the Kama Sutra, the Avesta, the Zend-Avesta, and the Tripitaka, all that junk! [applause] And got nowhere!

And he says, “What are you waiting for?” I said, “Beats the fire out of me, I don’t know!” [laughter] And he took me back in the record room, and he took out a Bible, and he said, “You believe this is the word of God?” With the King James Bible. And I said, “Yep, that’s it.” I haven’t changed any, if you took out one right now and took out a Bible and said, “This is the Bible, God’s word,” I’d say, “Yep, that’s it.” I didn’t move an inch! Talk about stubborn! [laughter]

And he said, “You believe you’re a sinner?” I said, “Oh, yeah, I know I’m a sinner.” “You believe Christ died for sinners?” I said, “I guess he did.” Now, I wasn’t trying to be smart, they told me that, but I don’t know whether I believe... I didn’t... there was nothing real about this, I’ve never heard the gospel! And he said, “You believe he died for sinners?” I said, “I guess he did.” He said, “You believe he can save a sinner?” I said, “Beats the blankety-blank out of me.” [laughter] And he said, “Would you be willing to ask him to save you?” I said, “Sure.” He said, “Take my hand.” I took his hand. He said, “Now, in your own words, ask Christ to save you.” Now, if he’d known how I was going to pray, he might not have said that! [laughter] But you guys that work out in the world, you know how it is, you know how it is.

Now, my background was a lifeguard, and a disc jockey, and a dance band drummer, and a bartender, now, don’t you know I didn’t talk like Lady Esther? [laughter] And you get to talking those four-letter words, and it just comes, half the time, you don’t know what you’re saying, you’re just used to talking that way, you guys know how it is. And so I... I closed my eyes, and cussed all through the prayer! [laughter] And I wasn’t trying to be smart, I just, that’s the way I talk. I said, “God, I’m a blankety-blank sinner, and I’m going to hell sure as blankety-blank if something don’t happen pretty blankety-blank... [laughter] ... soon.” And I said, “God, save my blankety-blank soul for Christ’s sake, Amen.”

And I looked up at him, he was smiling, I said, “What are you laughing at?” He said, “Nothing.” [laughter] He said, “Did you mean that prayer?” I said, “You’re GD right I meant that prayer!” [laughter] And I DID, see? I didn’t... I wasn’t trying to show off, I DID, see? And he said, “Well, if you meant that prayer, you’re saved.”

[27:22 - 30:10] Dr. Ruckman Sermon Excerpt 3

Dr. Ruckman:

I got down to my room pretty early, about 27 years old, read checking him like I told you a couple times, and I got along in there and I felt like I had enough and couldn’t have no more if I can’t... can’t stand it no more, I got to get out of here, and I’m drunk, praying in an empty church at night, saying, “God, I’m getting shot at and cussed and kicked around here, and I... I’ve had all I can stand, I’d rather... I’m... I’m not interested in women anymore, I’m not interested in men, I’m not interested in art, I’m not interested in music, or sports, or education, I’m up to here!” I said, “I’m tired, I’m worn out, I... I want to come home, and I’m dying to go home.” How was that going to happen, man? From wherever I came from, I got to get back there some way. Life won’t help me.

So, hello, they said hello, I said, “I’m about to check out.” How much do you know, preacher? So, uh, you can’t get no more in here. So, why not? Said, cost too much, you couldn’t afford it. I said, “You name any price, I’ll pay any price, I got to... I got... did I get out of here? I don’t want to go to hell, give me a room up there.” And he said, uh, “You can’t afford it.” And I said, “Well, how much does it cost?” He said, “$150 billion.” Something like that, I said. Said, “12 apples.” [laughter] He said, “12 apples.” I said, “Well, you might as well not give me any.” [laughter]

And he said... he said, “12 apples,” he said, “you see, uh, you can’t...” I said, “Can’t... can’t you give it, give me in some way?” He said, “Well, I’ll talk to the boss.” And he put his personal hold, [laughter] and he gets hold of the boss, and they say something, I don’t know what they say, “He’s coming back home, he want to come back home,” he said, “Well, the boss said there is one chance, but you wouldn’t take it,” so I said, “Yes, I would.” He said, “Well, this chance I can get you in up here, but I don’t think you’ll accept what the condition is.” I said, “Man, you name the conditions! I don’t care, whatever, if I can make it, I’ll make it!”

And so, “The boss says if he gets you in up here, there’s just one catch.” I said, “What’s that?” He said, “You can’t pay for it, you’ll have to get it free.” [laughter] And I said, “Man, put it through!”

Audience:

Amen. Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

And I got it!

Audience:

Amen. Yeah.

Dr. Ruckman:

You say how? FREE!

Audience:

Amen. Amen.

Dr. Ruckman:

“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Audience:

Amen.

[30:11 - 34:44] Dr. Ruckman Sermon Excerpt 4

Dr. Ruckman:

broadcast, Sunday morning, about 10:00, in came this little preacher, country preacher, Hugh Pyle. He’d be about my size, short fellow, tall fellow, he’s about my size, and, uh, skinny, baby-faced, he was 33 years old, looked like he was about 15. [laughter] He’s sitting down, getting ready to preach, and I’m at that console there, 185 lb, 28 inch waistline, hand-to-hand combat for Philippines, groups, Filipino, strokes for years and years, I’m sitting back there with my cigar, black shirt, yellow necktie, [laughter] sports suit, man, I’m sitting there watching him, you know, and the Lord said, “Now, that’s a man.” “You think that’s a man, you just check him when he comes out.” I said, “Oh, I know sissies, man.” [laughter] “Never had nothing stronger than buttermilk, he don’t know nothing.” Lord said, “That’s a man, if you think he’s a man, just check him when he comes out.” I said, “He’s a man.” “Sissy.” “Of course you’ll check him.” I said, “Okay, I’ll check him.”

He comes up and walks by the door there, at the radio station, I said, “Hi, preacher, what do you know?” And he looked me right in the face and says, “I know the Lord Jesus Christ, what do you know?”

Audience:

Amen. [laughter]

Dr. Ruckman:

Hi! I liked to swallow that cigar! I didn’t know what to say, and I said, “Well, I don’t know him.” He said, “Would you like to know him?” And I said, “Sure,” and he said, “Well, what are you waiting for?” That’s a dumb thing to say, you know, “What are you waiting for?” I’m 27, I’ve been around the world, I’ve been studying Buddhism under Suzuki in Japan, I’ve read the Shastras, and the Puranas, and the Bhagavad Gita, and the Zend-Avesta, and the Tripitaka, and the Triple Basket, and sat cross-legged, Nirvana, Samadhi, and the enlightenment, and through the Quran, and through Confucius, and Golden Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, “What do you mean, what are you waiting for?” I said, “Beats the fire out of me.” [laughter] He says, “Come here.”

Took me back in the record room, takes out a Bible, and he said, “You believe this is the word of God?” I’ve been reading it 3 months, I said, “Yep, that’s it. That’s it.” If he’d got me any other time, it wouldn’t have been that way.

My company commander pulled a Bible on me out in the Philippines one time, he said, “Ruckman, you’ve been reading this stuff, let me read you something out of this.” I said, “Oh, put that away, put that away, put that away, I call that book pigmey.” You see all those little pigmey books? Yeah. He’s got me so I’m an old Baptist, steal a Bible! [laughter] You ever hear that pigmey, boy?

[laughter] I got to reading that thing, and I said, “Yeah, that’s it.” He said, “You believe you’re a sinner?” I said, “Oh, yeah, I know I’m a sinner.” “You believe Christ died for sinners?” I said, “I guess he did.” “So maybe he died for you?” I said, “I guess so.” I... I wasn’t trying to be smart, I didn’t know!

I’ve been taught that, but I didn’t know, I said, “Yeah, I guess so.” “You believe he can save a sinner?” I said, “Beats the... blankety-blank out of me.”

He said, “Would you ask him to save you?” I said, “Sure.” He said, “Take my hand.” So I took his hand, I took his hand, he said, “Now, bow your head and ask Christ to save you.”

And I bowed my head and said, “How do I do that?” He said, “You pray.” I said, “I don’t know how to pray.” I DIDN’T know how to pray, I knew Hail Mary, Our Father, Quittle the Beak, that’s all, Hail Mary, Our Father. He said, “Well, just in your own words ask Christ to save you.” Now, if he’d known how I was going to pray, he wouldn’t have said that! [laughter] He said, “In your own words.” And I’ll tell you, brother, when you come as a bartender, a lifeguard, a dance band drummer, a GI, hand-to-hand, your speech is... you know, it’s not exactly, you know, white... so... [laughter] And I wasn’t trying to be smart, you guys, you work out in the world, you know how they talk, pulling the load all day long, half those bums don’t know what they’re saying, they don’t, they just can talk like that. I hadn’t shaved in almost a year before I quit, talk like... I know it was wrong, man, just, you know, the way you talk.

I thank God for some old boy that got saved full of it, and he said, “Ruckman, that language has got to go!” [laughter] I said, “What language?” “Oh, you’ve just been saying so-and-so.” “I didn’t say that!” “Yes, you did!” “I hell I did!” [laughter] But he said, “In your own words.” So I took him by the hand, I... and I cussed all through the prayer. [laughter] I... I said, “Lord, I’m a blankety-blank sinner, and I’m going to hell sure as blankety-blank if something don’t happen pretty blankety-blank quick,” [laughter] “soon.” And I said, “God, save my blankety-blank soul for Christ’s sake, Amen.”

I looked up at him, he was smiling, I said, “What you... what you smiling at?”

[laughter] And he said, “Did you mean that prayer?” I said, “You’re blankety-blank...” [laughter] “You’re blankety-blank right I meant that prayer!”

And I meant it, honestly to God, I wasn’t trying to be smart, I meant the prayer! And I thank God I had a preacher that had some common sense, didn’t argue about language, he just said, “Well, if you meant that prayer, you’re saved.” I said, “I don’t feel any different.” “You’re not supposed to feel any different.” I said, “Well, how do I know I’m saved?” And he said, “You just know.” And I said, “No, I don’t.” “Yes, you do.” I said, “I do not.” He said, “You do so.” I said, “I do not either.” [laughter] ‘getting kind of hairy there for a minute,’ [laughter] and... and he reached in his, uh, pocket, pulled out a Bible and made me read it. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know ye have eternal life.” [applause]

God said there you know, now, do you know or don’t you? Now, I read that thing, I said, “Well... Well, do you know or don’t you?” “Well, yeah, I guess I do.” He said, “The sake yes or no?” I said, “Well, no.” “Do you know?” Oh, man, he had me between a rock and a hard place, I didn’t know what to say, I thought if I said yes, I’d be lying, I said yes, because I didn’t feel anything, see? And I said, “Well, uh... uh...” And he said, “ You don’t think God’s a liar, do you?”

I said, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no!” [laughter] That’s what I’ve been through, brother. “No, no, no, he ain’t a liar.” Said, “Well, he says you know you’re saved, now do you know or don’t you?” I felt like I was lying, so I said, “Well, okay, I know.” But I said that to get him off my back, you know, I didn’t know, I, but I had to, I couldn’t say anything. Let me tell you, when Ruckman can’t give a smart answer in less than two seconds, things are hard! [laughter] But I couldn’t answer him, I... he had me boxed. And I said, “Okay, I know.”

Now, I didn’t know, but, boy, let me tell you, a week later, I went out of that church, first Independent Baptist church I’ve been in in my life, all he had was a college education, sitting over about the fourth row, but I had the first gospel sermon I ever heard in my life, 1949, giving the invitation, and, boy, honey, you didn’t have to sing two stanzas for me. [laughter] Maybe you... might have been raised... you came out of what I came out of, boy, you know a good thing when you saw it. I’m standing there, just as I am, a lost man, they’d never got to the first stanza, I’m gone! And when him and I hit that aisle, and I had the witness of the Spirit bright and clear, Lord said, “Saved!” “It’s all right now, Pete.” And that night, I got saved... 12-year-old girl got saved with me. [applause] You think we didn’t make a pair? [laughter] Black shirt, yellow necktie, sports suit, and mustache, and four cigars! [laughter] I just bought 4 more packs, you know, [laughter] and I’m standing there, I hear this 12-year-old girl down there getting saved, you know, saints from the Bible, shaking their hands, you know, and they’re singing, “Blessed be the tie that binds...”

[laughter] Yeah, amen, amen, yeah, that’s right. It’s good. You... you don’t know what it’s like, uh, to come out of the place I came out of, and... get...

the gentle... hand of God make you, get... YES!

Audience:

Amen!

Dr. Ruckman:

... spared...

Audience:

Amen!

Dr. Ruckman:

... and he come through that thing, and then... we’re taught how to walk in the paths... of good men.

Audience:

Amen! Amen! Amen! Hallelujah! Amen! Come on.

Dr. Ruckman:

Because all of my life, I’ve been a bad man. And I’m standing there shaking the hand of the saints, I think I’m shaking the hand of angels. Honest to God, man, if you’ve told me some of those old women were talking marriage, each other, [laughter] I’d think... I’d think it was the deacon was stealing money out of the plate, [laughter] and the young people necking in cars out in the park, I’ve been with the kids, man! [laughter] I thought I was shaking hand with angels. Too bad, too bad you have to live on, ain’t it? [laughter]

And after that thing was over, I went home, started home that night, half places way out in the country, out by myself, my family was gone then, man, I was by myself there, two suits of clothes, three changes of underwear, came in the case of beer a day, I’d had it. And I walked home that night, going down the highway, nobody give me a ride, bus stopped running, 5 o’clock, I’m walking in the dark, and old man was telling me, “Well, you didn’t get saved, you just came out of the dark, comic cated yourself, who are you trying to kid, Ruckman? You... you didn’t get religion, you know?” “Yeah.” “Un-fine bunch of Christians, nobody offer a ride home, Christian, yeah, Christian, a bunch of church people, you know, nobody even offer you a ride home, yeah, yeah, yeah, all that stuff.”

Which I’m used to, that’s my normal level of life. [laughter]

I’m going along like that, and about [rattling sound] a car stops by me. The guy says, “You want a ride?” I said, “Yeah, thank you.” Got in the car, man and his wife, and they’d been to church. And we’re driving along in the dark, and looking out there at the... trees passing by, about 5 miles back to town, this fellow’s driving, “You know what I’m thinking?” He’s just talking, just driving, like he says, He said, “You know, son, I’m an orphan.” [laughter] “I never had a mother or daddy,” he said, “I was raised in an orphan’s home.” “Do you know I accepted Christ as my savior when I was 10 years old, and ever since then, I’ve been just happy as a lark, sitting in the sun.” [laughter] [laughter] You talk about shutting a guy’s mouth, boy! [laughter]

I said, “Shut up, I’ll shut up, I’ll shut up!” [laughter] I got home and got out to home, as a flat, one room in an empty flat, and I got in there and got on my knees, going to bed at night, kneeling there at night, spirit visited with that old still small voice I talked about. Said, “Now, Pete.” “Times go by.” “Now, read.” “Mark, black leather cover, black cover.” You get the picture? [applause] You’re saved, but... not put in for... blood in the face, or anything, trying to learn how to pray, read this book.

[34:49 - 38:56] Dr. Ruckman Sermon Excerpt 5

Dr. Ruckman:

and... I... I’ll just... I’ll just... I’ll just recall one. I recall one down in South Alabama with an old farmer down there, about 55 years old, might’ve been 60, I don’t know, he’s older than me. And, uh, he married a Christian woman, she’d been praying for him for years, he was a sot drunk, would never come to church. And some of the guys down that road down there, one Sunday, meeting, they said, “You know the preacher down at that church, he draws pictures. You go see that pole?” “Oh, old rednecks and all.” “You see that pole?” “If he saw somebody walking, boy, he can draw them pictures and preach at the same time.” “I might... I might make it this Sunday.”

And that Saturday before that Sunday, he was out on the back porch, watching...

drawing a storm, a thunder shower came up, lightning all over the place. And he sat on the back porch, sat there, and about that time, a bolt of lightning came down, hit that tin roof, you know what tin roof? Smacking like hand grenades.

[laughter] I’m talking about sitting down there kicking in that back set, Bud Light in his nose, Bud Light in his hair, and farm mud, and she came out to the back porch and by the time she’d known, found he was dead. I’ve been with him for something like 55 years, and said, “Oh yeah, I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it, I got my mind made up, and I’m going to do it, I’m ready.” And the Lord said, “I’m not.”

I’d be in that. Amen. Right. One of the things you decide, but you’re going to get right, for all you know, you’re on the side of the first obstacle you got, is God, how about that? You may have decided, “Yeah, I’ve had enough of you,”

and I say, “Do I?” I’m the one that IS, I can’t say, I don’t know. I just know that, uh, some people make up their mind to get saved, and made up their mind too late.

I have a friend named Monk Parker, who’s dead now, and he’s a... road bum for years, they called him Monk Parker, Monk Parker was a man’s man, he... he’d been stripped by the other, could kick an animal with one hand, and Monk Parker was preaching off and on down there in Town Hall, down there near Anderson somewhere, and had a tent meeting up there, and, uh, one day he was preaching down the street, on the side there, and, uh, came out across the street and walked into a drug store to get something, and a young man came in that drug store, pushed Monk over in the window, on that front... glass front, and, uh, Monk said, didn’t say anything, just got brushed himself off, said, “Excuse me,”

when he walked in the store, and he came back out, this young fellow’s smacking him again, and Monk said, “You did that on purpose,” and the kid said, “What of it?” And he said, “Well,” he said, “you... you... you got... some coming.” And the young fellow said, “Well, you lay it on then, if you can.” He said, “I would like to lay it on, but I’m a saved man, I’m a born-again Christian preacher, and I can’t smack you, but I sure feel like it.” [laughter]

He said, “You take off your Christianity for about 5 seconds, we’ll see what kind of man you are.” And Monk said, “I can’t do that,” and the son of a... he said, “I know you.” “I see who you are now, you’re that guy in the tent, you’re deacon down at the church down there, with old... old, about 70-year-old white hair, he’s been praying for you every night.” “The soul-choke, so...” And he just dropped his head, he said, “Well, yeah.” And Monk said, “You know what you need to do, you go down there and get saved.” And that young fellow said, “Well, I’m... sorry for what I did, I’ll be short on you right now, and... I’m lost, but I... I don’t feel like...” He said, “You got enough of that.” He said, “A guy as good as that, you’re the baddest man in the world in this town, and you know it, don’t you?” “Yeah, yeah, he’s good.” “Well, go... go to this stuff, I’m going to set back in this drug store, and you get saved.” He said, “I’ll... I’ll tell you what, I’ll... I’ll come down on the... on the... on tomorrow night, I’ll be down there.” He said, “Maybe you won’t live until tomorrow night.” He said, “I’ll be down tomorrow night.” And he said, “Maybe you won’t be here tomorrow night.” And that young fellow said, “You think you’re lying?” “No, I ain’t saying you’re lying, it’s just, man, I mean, you know what’s wrong.” And the kid said, “I’ll shut up, I’ll be there tomorrow night, I’ll be there tomorrow night,” walked off.

And Monk went back to his... hotel that night, South Alabama, North Alabama town, where he got back in there, he’d been there two hours, hotel clerk, and they said, “You got a telephone, I don’t know what it is,” and they said, “Preacher, uh... a fellow come down here and said he’s been calling your name, wants you to come down, it’s the young man here, we got... we got the doctor down here, he’s dying, and don’t think they can live, fell off of the... off of their cliff, and everything.” And he said, “You... you better come down quick.”

He said he’s only about two blocks, you know, whole hotel, and where he was rooming, they dragged this kid in off a boxcar, and he just broke all the pews he was lying on, iron bed there, I listen... bleeding, holding on, letting go, holding on, letting go, Monk got right down there by his chair and he said, “God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son,” the kid said...

[screams/groans] ... blankety-blank, blank, blank, POP! [applause]

There you go. Want to cussing God? God said that young fellow, right now, that kid said, “I’ll be there tomorrow.” God said, “You ain’t got tomorrow.”

[38:57 - 43:44] Dr. Ruckman Sermon Excerpt 6

Dr. Ruckman:

I had a fellow call me up... in Panama City, about two years ago, when the body ain’t quiet, he’s been calling about three or four months. I found out later who he was... didn’t matter, you know, I guess that... color of fellowship, had a heavy... gut-fall voice... you know, standard-type voice.

First time he phoned up, he said, ‘Father, I got to talk to you.’ He said, ‘You know who... who’s eating now.’ I didn’t know who he was either, I mean, I’m a father, I got... CAN candidate 14 years, you know. [laughter]

And he said, ‘Father, so I got a problem.’ I said, ‘What is it?’ He said, ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I’m going to hell.’ I said, ‘Well, I know you phone every week, but I can’t give you any name, phone yes, he said, ‘I... I did, but, uh...

I don’t feel like I’m saved.’ I said, ‘You pray over this telephone, ask Christ to save you.’ What’s wrong with that? Well, that guy’s on the phone, ‘I... I didn’t... I didn’t do the right thing,’ I said, ‘All right, let’s... let’s get it settled this time.’ So he had prayed over the telephone, received Christ again.

And then, how much? About two months later, calls up again. This time he’s getting really, really, really, really mad, because he said, ‘Father, I... I got... I got something bothering me.’ Lord, he said, ‘I’m going to hell.’ I said, ‘How... how many times you phoned, I can’t even count ’em.’ ‘Oh, yeah,’ he said, ‘I... I did, but, uh, I don’t feel like I’m saved.’ I said, ‘You pray over this telephone, ask Christ to save you.’ What’s wrong with that? Well, that guy... I said, ‘Man, I said... you put phone down, lie... God said, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” now, if you call upon him, you’re saved, or you’re a liar, or he’s a liar, WHICH?’

He said, ‘Preacher, I’m telling you, I’m sick.’ I said, ‘Well, so’m I, I’m getting sick.’ [laughter] Well, yeah, man, yeah, no, well, yeah, you know, you got to... you got to hit... till you get ’em to quit, you know, and I said, ‘Something happen,’ he said, ‘but... but this one thing, you know, preachers, cold blood.’ And, uh, I know I got... I know... I know a whole lot of hit men, he’s calling name, when you’re saying anything else, but he said, ‘this...

this... these people,’ he said, ‘I... I see the faces at night, I can’t sleep.’

I said, ‘I’ve told you the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” If the blood of Christ can’t save you from murder, it can’t save you for two minutes, that’s it!’ Listen! The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from WHAT? ALL. Say it again. ALL. Say it again. ALL. Say it loud.

ALL. Amen!

Now, what does that mean? ALL. Yeah, that reaches all, every... [applause] ... and cleanseth from ALL sin, all means ALL! It’s not just the sins that YOU don’t commit. You know what I mean, young man? I don’t know, that... that...

that... that early... that early so-and-so, saved...

[43:45 - 45:30] On-Screen Text

And how do you access the blood? How did Dr. Ruckman access the blood?

[45:31 - 49:43] Dr. Ruckman Sermon Excerpt 7

Dr. Ruckman:

boils were breaking out all over my face. To shave, it’s about 6:00 in the evening, slept all that day, and I... I’d given up beer for Lent, [laughter] you know, I’m going... gone back on it. And I looked in there, breaking out, and, you know, a fellow lived like I lived, I mean, boy, you can’t be sure of nothing. And I looked in that mirror, and the Lord said I was smite thee with the... [laughter] Oh, yeah, man, for real. That’s how I learned my Bible, that’s my Bible school, see? [laughter] You’ll never talk me out of that book.

Audience:

Amen!

Dr. Ruckman:

That thing lead me around like a horse on a bridle, man. I look in there, ‘I’ll smite thee with...’ ‘the sole of thy foot unto thy head, the sole of thy... the sores and blemishes, and thou shalt...’ ‘The Lord God Almighty smites.’ Boy, I dropped that razor in the basin, ran back in the room, living in a flop house, you know, ten cents a bed, a candle stick, and I went back there, and knelt down by that bed there in the dark, and... the Lord said, ‘You’re going to hell.’ He didn’t say, ‘Hey, you’re zinger.’ [laughter]

And I knelt there on my knees, and got thinking about what I’d done, where I’d been, what I’d said, and I said, ‘Yes, sir, Peter, old boy, if ever a man going to make hell, you’re going to make it. You’re a candidate. You’re just as good as there.’ And the Lord said, ‘Do you want to find Christ tonight?’ Talk to me!

Job says, ‘I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.’

I had... didn’t know anything about the Bible, all I got from it was thunder and lightning stood down to a fine poison, [laughter] and he’s saying, ‘You want to find Christ tonight, you’re never going to find him,’ and I ran out in the street.

And next when I thought about finding Christ, I thought of a church. And so I ran down the street in the rain, didn’t bother to tie my shoes, two days of no shave, shirt unbuttoned, and I ran down the street in rain and turned the corner, just such rain in the rain and lightning there, and in Florida, we have rain like you have there, except, well, you got about... you got about 7 inches in 7 days, I think. Down there, you get about 7 inches in about 24 hours.

[laughter]

It was just beginning to rain, I turned the corner, and here’s a church, Christian Missionary Alliance, and a big sign on it, and it said, ‘God Loves You. Christian Missionary Alliance.’ And I go up to that thing, and the boys start the service, and I poke my head around to see ’em singing there, and he said, ‘Now, you go around there, get on your knees and find Christ.’ And I started, and the devil said, ‘Why, you don’t have to find Christ, you’re not going to hell, look here, God is love.’ ‘God wouldn’t send anybody to hell, you’re all right, go on by.’ I went by, ran down the street to the Catholic church, and it was locked. I went up the top of the street, the right, uh, church, and it was open, Methodist church, but nobody was in it. They were having a choir practice in the back room, but there was no service.

And I walked up there and stood, I was a sight, boy, I was 27 years old, 5 ft 8, 185 lb, so mean I didn’t love myself, I could take one of the guys your size, or your size, you could jump up and down on my belly with boots, I wouldn’t even burp, [laughter] and just mean as the devil, and stood half dressed down there, half drunk, looking down there. And the Lord said, ‘Go in there and find Christ.’ I went up to the vestibule and started in, the auditorium lit up and nobody in it, and the devil said, ‘Oh, you’re losing your mind like your brother, you need to see a doctor in the morning, go on, sleep it off.’ I... I... I know these voices now, I didn’t... I hadn’t heard them before, but I studied Zen, I knew the conscious, the subconscious, the sub-sub-mind, I’d never heard this stuff before, [laughter] it wasn’t me talking to myself.

And I started back down the steps, and the Lord said, ‘If you don’t find him tonight, you’re never going to find him.’ I went back up, the man at that aisle, it was about twice as long as this one, looked like it was 500 yards long, [laughter] and I started again, the Lord said, uh, uh... devil said, ‘Forget it, uh, see a doctor in the morning, you’ll be all right.’ And I started down the steps, and then for no reason, I turned around, went back up the steps, and went in there, and went down that aisle, got on my knees, I timed it later, I was there 20 minutes. In the 20 minutes I was kneeling there at the altar, nobody poked a nose in that building.

And back in the back room, they were singing. And I was a disc jockey, so I played Sunday Christian music on the radio station on Sunday morning, and I knew some of the hymns, I’ve heard ’em. And I knew what they were singing. And I was kneeling there, and trying to pray, I didn’t know how to pray. Uh, I never prayed, I’d say prayed, I said, ‘God, I’m... I’m worn out, I... I’m tired of this, I’m come... I... I don’t even know where home is, I never had a home.’ I never did either. Left at 18, never lived in my own house till I was 30. And I said, ‘I don’t even know where home is,’ but I said, ‘I’m tired, I’m just fed up to here, I’ve been shot at and cussed and lied about and cheated, and I’m just worn out, I... I... would you please take me back wherever I came from?’ I said I don’t know how to pray, I don’t know how to pray for salvation.

And while I was kneeling there praying, they began to sing, and you know what they sang? They sang, ‘Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee;

let the water and the blood from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure. Should my tears forever flow, should they know languor know, all for sin could not atone, thou must save and thou alone, in my hand no price I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.’

[applause]

And for 20 minutes, I got up and walked out. What happened? Nothing. I went home, went to sleep like a log. [laughter] Got up the next morning, started to turn on the station, get down there at 5 o’clock, get the transmitters warmed up before you go on the air at 6:00, and I’m walking those empty streets of Pensacola at 5:30 in the morning, no car, I didn’t have a car till I was 28. I’m going down... going down there with the, and I’m going down the street, going to get me some coffee, the coffee shop before opening the, the studio, and I hear this choir singing. It sound like a million voices, and they’re, they’re singing, ‘Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,’ like the church bells! You think I... I thought I was going nuts, man! [laughter] Backs in the belfry! [laughter]

I, I heard this, bell going ‘dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong,’ there’s no churches in Pensacola ringing bells at 5:30 in the morning, man! And I was going down the street like this, you know, just like this! [laughter] Anybody see me thought I was losing my mind, man. And that stuff went on for about 5 minutes, and quit. I never heard it again. I never heard it again.

But I got in the radio station, open the radio station, when I open the radio station, about 10 o’clock in the morning, in comes a little Baptist preacher.

He’s, uh, well, he, it turns out he was, he’s 4 years older than I am. At that time I was 27, so he was 31, he looked like he was 15 years old. And his name was Hugh Pyle. And he went in and sat on the Sunday morning broadcast, and started going on the Sunday morning board... uh, Monday morning broadcast, and I looked through the pane there, looking out while I’m smoking my cigar, preacher forgive me every time I go there and take the lessons, [laughter] I looked through there and I saw him, uh, on, uh, I first time I ever really listened to him, I just put him on hold on, uh, monitor, turned it off when he got through, and he was there usually, and the Lord said, ‘Now, you talk to that fellow when he comes out.’

Now, looking at him, I said, ‘Oh, he ain’t nothing, that... that sissy never drank nothing stronger than buttermilk.’ [laughter] And the Lord said, ‘Now, that’s a man, if you don’t think that’s a man, just check him when he comes out.’ ‘Oh, he’s a sissy, I don’t want nothing with him.’ Lord said, ‘Just check him when he comes out.’ I said, ‘Okay, I will.’ So I waited for him, pretty soon he walked out, walked by the door, and I said, ‘Hi, preacher, what do you know?’

And he turned right around and said, ‘I know the Lord Jesus Christ, what do you know?’ [laughter] That was a nasty turn of events, man! I liked to swallow my cigar! [laughter] And I said, ‘Well, I don’t know him.’ He says, ‘Would you like to know him?’ I said, ‘Sure.’

I’ve been... I’ve been going to this stuff, the Catholic church, put the ashes on my forehead, take the palm leaf home on Sunday, and ‘Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,’

the Angelus, getting nowhere! And I said, ‘Yeah, sure.’ He said, ‘Well, come here.’ Took me back in the back room, took out a King James Bible out of his pocket, said, ‘You believe this is the word of God?’ [laughter] I didn’t say bologna that time. [laughter] [applause] I said, ‘Yeah, that’s it.’

He said, ‘You believe you’re a sinner?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I know I’m a sinner.’

Said, ‘You believe Christ died for sinners?’ I said, ‘I guess he did.’ And I wasn’t being smart, the Catholic church said he did, so I believed he did, but I never even thought about it. And he said, ‘You believe he could save a sinner?’

I said, ‘Beats the... fire out of me, I don’t know.’ He said, uh, ‘Would you ask him to save you?’ I said, ‘Sure.’ He said, ‘Okay, take my hand.’ I took his hand. Now I took his hand, and he said, ‘Now, bow your head and pray.’ And I said, ‘I don’t know how to pray.’

And I DIDN’T know... now, I knew, you know, ‘Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done,’ flip the beads, you know, ‘give us this day...’ all that stuff, but I didn’t know how to pray. And he said, ‘Well, just in your own words, ask Christ to save you.’ Now, if he’d known how I was going to pray, he wouldn’t have said that! [laughter] But a guy came up like I did, no incubator baby, you know, hot house plant, you know how guys talk out in the world, [laughter] I mean, some of you guys have been construction men, in screwdermen, commercial fishing, you know how they talk, it ain’t like Lady Esther. [laughter]

And, of course, I didn’t know, I didn’t know one word from another, four-letter words like any other word. He said, ‘In your own words.’ So I took his hand and I prayed, and I cussed all through the prayer, the whole prayer. I said, ‘God, I’m going to hell sure as blankety-blank if something don’t happen pretty blankety-blank quick.’ [laughter] And I said, ‘God, please save my blankety-blank soul for Christ’s sake, Amen.’ When I finished and looked up at him, he was smiling, I said, ‘What you... what you smiling at?’ [laughter] And he said, ‘Did you mean that prayer?’ I said, ‘You’re blankety-blank...’

[laughter] ‘You’re blankety-blank right I meant that prayer!’ And I DID, see?

[laughter]

And he said, ‘Well, you’re saved.’ I said, ‘I don’t feel any different.’ ‘You’re not supposed to feel any different.’ I said, ‘Well, how do I know I’m saved?’

And he said, ‘You just know.’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t.’ He said, ‘Yes, you do.’

I said, ‘I do not.’ He said, ‘You do so.’ I said, ‘I do not either.’ [laughter] ‘getting kind of hairy there for a minute,’ [laughter] and... and he reached in his, uh, pocket, pulled out a Bible and made me read it. ‘These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know ye have eternal life.’ [applause]

God said there you know, now, do you know, or don’t you? Boy, man, he had me between a rock and a hard place, because I didn’t feel like I was saved, I thought I’d lie if I said I was saved! I said, ‘Well, uh... well, okay, I guess I do.’ So he said, ‘What do you mean guess? Do you say guess or no?’ [laughter] That... that guy gave me a... when you can keep my mouth shut more than 3 seconds, you’ve done a miracle! [laughter] But, brother, I couldn’t answer that guy. He had me between a rock and a hard place. I said, ‘Well, uh... uh...’ And he said, ‘You don’t think God’s a liar, do you?’ [laughter] ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no!’ [laughter] That’s what I’ve been through, brother. ‘No, no, he ain’t a liar.’ Said, ‘Well, he says you know you’re saved. Now do you know, or don’t you?’ And I felt like I was lying, so I said, ‘Well, okay, I know.’ I didn’t think I was telling the truth, I didn’t know nothing, man! [laughter] I said, ‘Okay, I know.’

And he said, ‘Will you be ashamed to confess Christ publicly?’ I said, ‘No.’

Said, ‘Well, come out, uh, my church next Saturday night, Youth for Christ, make a public confession.’ I said, ‘I’ll be there.’ And I was there.

[49:45 - 50:18] On-Screen Text

You have witnessed Dr. Ruckman be a young man in...

And nowhere within that time, outside of cherry-picked clips and quotes by Breaker, did Dr. Ruckman say confession is a work that is not required for salvation.

He always endorsed belief and confession as the two requirements for salvation.

[50:19 - 51:18] Video Segment - Repeat from 00:37

Robert Breaker:

... is to confess with their mouth that the Lord is Jesus, or Jesus is Lord. Wouldn’t that be Israel? So when I read Romans 10, I see Jews asking Paul, “Hey, what about Israel?” And he says, “Well, if a guy is a Jew and he has confessed that Jesus is his Lord, that Jesus is his Messiah, and if he believes that God hath raised him from the dead, well then he can be saved.”

Joseph Gonazlez:

Right.

Robert Breaker:

So if he believes in who and what, then he’ll be saved.

Joseph Gonazlez:

Right.

Robert Breaker:

I don’t think he’s telling you you have to do both, and that you have to say with the mouth or you’re not saved.

Joseph Gonazlez:

Right, right, right.

Robert Breaker:

If he’s saying you have to believe from your heart in something and say it with your mouth at the same time, then that would be a faith plus works gospel.

Joseph Gonazlez:

Right.

Robert Breaker:

And that would nullify what Jesus did, because it’s not just what he did... it’s what you say, which would be a work.

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