LAST DAZE...DIFFICULT TIMES...EQUIPPED

 Greeting Ye Dwellers in the Last Days...are ya ready?

Jesus...ministered the Will of God on planet Earth for three years under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and Power. (Acts 10:38)  He then allowed himself to be brutally beaten, mocked, scourged, and crucified in our place as the propitiation (the satisfactory substitute) for our sins.  He was then buried...and three days later...raised from the dead.  He met with His disciples and gave them instructions to go into Jerusalem and wait for the promise (The Holy Spirit).  They did...and He showed up in power (Acts 2).  When a crowd gathered to see what all the hoopla was about...Peter stood up and preached a powerful message with Joel 2:28-32 about what was going on...stating that..."This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel...and it shall be IN THE LAST DAYS..." (Acts 2:17)  He then listed what was happening and what was going to happen with the last thing being... "And it shall be that everyone who CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD...shall be SAVED." (Acts 2:21)

Picture #1 is one of a roaring lion.  Now, in Africa, I have seen fairly closeup a lion...and believe me when I tell you...it was NOT a comfortable place to be.  I was in a jeep...with a guide who had a gun...but just being in the presence of this beast was scary.  There are two lions we have imagery of that both can strike fear or faith in us.  One is our adversary..."Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary...the devil (little d) prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  The other Lion is known as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jesus with a big J).  "...Stop weeping...behold THE LION that is from THE TRIBE OF JUDAH...the ROOT OF DAVID...HAS OVERCOME so as to open the book and it's seven seals."  (Revelation 5:5)  One is backed by the spirit of fear...the other is back by The Holy Spirit...and makes us fear and tremble.  One is an adversary...the other is and Advocate.  One is a sin monger...the other is a Saviour. 

 This devil lion...is running rampant in what is known as the LAST DAYS...which can leave us in a DAZE.  "But realize this, that in the LAST DAYS...DIFFICULT TIMES will come."
(II Timothy 3:1)  Remember Peter preached that in the LAST DAYS...salvation will be available to everyone who CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD. 

Picture #2 is of Barry McGuire and his 1965 hit record...written by P.F. Sloan called EVE OF DESTRUCTION.  It speaks of a volatile world... that was sitting on the brink of destruction.  Barry is still around...still singing that song...and it is even more relevant as we come closer to the return of the Lion of The Tribe of Judah.  The need for SALVATION is still there...and the difficult times are getting more and more difficult. 

 In the II Timothy passage...it outlines what these LAST DIFFICULT DAYS will look like and the nature of certain people in those days...who are under the influence of the roaring, roaming lion on the prowl...seeking for someone to devour.

FOR MEN WILL BE (II Timothy 3:2-7)

1.  Lovers of self
2.  Lovers of money
3.  Boastful
4.  Arrogant
5.  Revilers
6.  Disobedient to parents
7.  Ungrateful
8.  Unholy
9.  Unloving
10.Irreconcilable
11.Malicious gossips
12.Without self-control
13.Brutal
14.  Haters of good
15.  Treacherous
16.  Reckless
17.  Conceited
18.  Lovers of pleasure rather than God
19.  Holding a FORM OF godliness...but DENY ITS POWER (avoid such men as these)
20.  Enter into households and captivate weak women weight down with sins
21.  Led on by various impulses
22.  Always learning but NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH
23.  Opposers of the truth
24.  Men of depraved minds
25.  Rejected as regards the faith
26.  They will not make further progress
27.  Their folly will be obvious to everyone

Well...that is a bleak look at the type of men that we will encounter in the LAST DAYS.  It does not seem very hopeful...and a little...no...very frightening.  II Timothy 3:9 has a contrasting view for us to walk in...as it starts with the word BUT.  In contrast to these MEN...we are to do and be something different.

"But you followed my TEACHING (based on the Word)...CONDUCT...PURPOSE...FAITH... PATIENCE...LOVE...PERSEVERANCE... PERSECUTIONS...SUFFERINGS..." (II Timothy 3:10-11)

Paul states that he "endured, and OUT OF THEM ALL...the LORD DELIVERED ME!" (II Timothy 3:11) 

In these LAST DAYS...we have a promise of persecution...but also a promise of deliverance.  Evil men and imposters will proceed from BAD to WORSE...deceiving and being deceived. (II Timothy 3:13)

WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

"YOU however...CONTINUE in the things you have learned and become convinced of...knowing from whom you have learned them...and that from childhood you have known THE SACRED WRITINGS which are able to GIVE YOU WISDOM THAT LEADS TO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH...which is IN CHRIST JESUS." (II Timothy 3:14-15)

The answer to what are we to do...in the face of these evil men in difficult times...and the persecutions that we will endure...is to BE STRONG IN THE WORD OF GOD.  We must be EQUIPPED.

"All Scriptures are God breathed (inspired by God)...and profitable...for (1) teaching  (2) reproof
(3) correction (4) training in righteousness. (II Timothy 3:16)  What a great teaching model...as we are taught the Word of God...and then there is reproof for wrong answers...and then corrections to the right answers...and we are trained...by practice as we "discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness"
(I Timothy 4:7-16)  The purpose for this teaching, reproof, correction and training is that we will be: (1) adequate (2) equipped...FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. (II Timothy 3:17)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

I can't stress how important it is for you to be educated...schooled in the Word of God.  I am not talking about higher education...but HIGHER education...taught by the Spirit of God.  Don't wait until you need the Word to start reading the Word.

Love and Last Days Kisses
Rodney "Lovin' Me Some Word of God" Boyd

LITTLE FOXES...SPOILED VINEYARDS...SUDDEN DESTRUCTION

 Greetings and Salutations O Ye Vinedressers...how's your Vineyard doing? 

For our Ruminating purposes...we will be speaking of Vineyard...as your life.  We know that Jesus came to give LIFE...and that more ABUNDANTLY...aka ABUNDANT LIFE...and the devil (little d)...the thief (little t) came to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)  Many times we are going along...living our life...and SUDDENLY things start to fall apart...and we wonder to ourselves..."Self...how could this have happened so SUDDENLY?"  Of course if we would look back over things leading up to this SUDDEN DESTRUCTION or falling apart...we would see that it did not happen SUDDENLY...but GRADUALLY.

 "Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, while our vineyards are in blossom." (Song of Solomon 2:15)

"...it's the little foxes that spoils the vineyard." (Song of Solomons 2:15)

Of course...this is a song of lovers.  Out of the 1005 songs written by Solomon (See I King 4:32) This song is considered to be the best one.  This Song of Solomon..this Song of Songs is Solomon speaking of his love for the Shulammite woman and her responses to her lover.

The vineyard represents their lives while the blossoms represent their flourishing love and the little foxes represents the LITTLE THINGS...not the big things that comes in unnoticed...or ignored...that ruins the relationship...ruins the vineyard...ruins their lives.  Of course...this Song of Songs represents our relationship with our God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit...our spiritual vineyards and lives.   It is not the BIG THINGS that ruin our lives...it is the little foxes...the little things that spoil and destroy our ABUNDANT VINEYARDS.

I have an empathy for believers...who were once strong in the Lord...who once were faithful men and women of God...who were once one flesh in marriage...who were once in the midst of the battle with strong ministries...and then SUDDENLY they fall.  If does not matter if it is some "big time ministry" like Jim Baker or Jimmy Swaggart...or some little church where the pastor runs of with the secretary... or just your average everyday Joe and Jane.  The Word is very specific.."Therefore let him who thinks he STANDS...take heed lest he FALL." (II Corinthians 10:12)  Paul is speaking of spiritual people who were OVERTAKEN BY TEMPTATION...had a SPIRITUAL CONNECTION but were "LAID LOW IN THE WILDERNESS."  (II Corinthians 10:5)

NOTE:  There is great danger in looking down upon the fallen.  Paul covers this when he states..."Brethren...even if a man is CAUGHT in any trespass...you who are SPIRITUAL...RESTORE such a one IN A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS...looking to yourselves...LEST YOU TOO BE TEMPTED."  We can't be like the Pharisee to the Publican..."The Pharisee (religious person)...stood and was praying thus to himself (should have been praying to God), God, I thank Thee that I am not like OTHER PEOPLE, swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this Publican/Tax Gatherer." (Luke 18:11)  That is definitely NOT a "spirit of gentleness".

The purposes of God can...and will be thwarted little by little until SUDDENLY...BAM...DESTRUCTION COMES UPON US. In the book of Pro-Verbs (Pro=postive Verbs= positive action)...the book of Positive Action...we see an example of when suddenness was not so sudden.

PRO-VERBS 7:6-27

The Proverbist was looking out the window through his lattice and saw among the youthful naive...a young man...who was lacking sense.  He sees this young man PASSING BY the street NEAR her (the adulteress/harlot).  This was little fox #1.  Then he TAKES THE WAY TO HER HOUSE.  This is little fox #2.  In the middle of the night and in the darkness...the woman COMES TO MET HIM.  This is little fox #3. 

HARLOT DESCRIPTION:  (1) dressed like a harlot (2) cunning in heart (3) boisterous (4) rebellious (5) her feet does not remain at home (6) she is in the streets, in the squares, and lurks by every corner.

As the little foxes nibble away...as he passes near the street near her...takes the way to her house...she comes to meet him...LOOK OUT...."So she seizes him and kisses him...aka little fox #4.  She then reasons and justifies her actions and his behavior...letting him know she has paid her vows (religious duty) , she had come out to meet him to seek out his presence earnestly (stroke his ego)...spread her couch with covering of colored lines of Egypt, and sprinkled her bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Now that the bait is set...it is time to pull in the hook.  "Come and let us drink our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with caresses...aka little fox #5.  Then she removes the danger factor by letting him know that her man is not at home and is on a journey and will not be back for a while...aka little fox #6. 

With her MANY PERSUASIONS (little foxes) she ENTICES him with here flattering lips and she seduces him.   Temptation is an ENTICEMENT... but not necessarily to pull you INTO something...but to pull you AWAY from who you really are. 

Now here is the kicker..."SUDDENLY he follows her...as an ox goes to the slaughter...or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, until an arrow pierces through his liver, as a bird hastens to the snare SO...he does not know that IT WILL COST HIM HIS LIFE." (Pro-Verbs 7:22-23)

The act of following her may have been SUDDEN...but what leads up to the SUDDEN DESTRUCTION was not necessarily so SUDDENLY.  It was progressively plotted out...starting with little fox #1.  If he had NIPPED IT IN THE BUD...in the beginning...he would not be trapped in a SPOILED VINEYARD/LIFE.

Well the PRO-VERBIST...the Father's advice to the son is this..."Now therefore my sons...(1) listen to me (2) pay attention to the words of my mouth (3) don't not LET your heart turn aside to her ways

This Pro-Verb ends with a warning of not dealing the "little foxes"...(1) many are the victims she has cast down  (2)  numerous are all her slain (3)  her house is the way to Sheol/grave (4) descending to the chambers of death.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

We must crucify the flesh...we must die daily...we must repent of our sins...and not let or allow the little things to bring us to the point of SUDDEN DESTRUCTION.

Love and Foxes Free Kisses
Rodney "Living the Vineyard Life" Boyd

PLANS AND SCHEMES

Greetings and Salutations O Ye True Believers. 

Got any PLANS?  Well...God does...for you...AND...the devil (little d) has schemes against you.  The first picture is of THE A TEAM...a team of former commando special forces branded as renegades who turned into mercenaries with a heart.  They were led by John "Hannibal" Smith whose catch phrase was..."I love it when a PLAN comes together."  Well...so do I...and when God puts a PLAN together...how can the SCHEMES of the devil (little d) stand against us.  We can circumvent God's PLAN for us by disobedience and rebellion...much in the same way that the Word of God (as powerful as it is) can be stolen by the devil, scorched by the heat of the world, and choked out by anxiety, worries and cares. (See Mark 4).  

"For I know the THOUGHTS and PLANS that I have for you, says the Lord, THOUGHTS and PLANS for welfare and peace, and NOT FOR EVIL...to give you HOPE in your FINAL OUTCOME." (Jeremiah 29:11 The Amplified Bible)

THOUGHTS/PLANS:  machasabah (makh-ash-aw- baw)= A contrivance, intention, plan (whether bad= a plot or good=advice), curious work, imagination, purpose, thought.
The thoughts and plans of God would be the WILL of God...His wishes and desires for us...but many times His will is hinged on our choices and obedience to His Word.  I know that I have circumvented God's plans for me many times because of my lust of my flesh, the lust of my eyes and the my boastful pride of life.  The same stuff that Adam and Eve listened to and disobeyed...that resulted of being kicked out of their garden apartment (for their own protection).

Jesus was faced with the same temptations that Adam and Eve and me an you are tempted with...but He chose to rely on the Word of God...the Spirit of God...and the Authority of God to deal with the devil (little d).  (Read Matthew 4 and Luke 4 for details)

Ephesians 6:11 speaks of "schemes of the devil."  "Put on God's whole armor--the armor of a heavy-armed soldier, which God supplies--that you may be able to successfully to stand up against [all] the STRATEGIES and the DECEITS of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11 The Amplified Bible)

SCHEMES:  methodeai (meth-od-i-ah)=traveling over; travesty; trickery, wiles, lie in wait

Temptations...schemes...wiles...lying in wait for you...is not designed to pull you into or entice you into something bad for you...BUT as Larry Napier states..."Temptation is designed to pull you away from who you really are."  Disobedience will bring your down...Obedience will bring you revelation, disclosure, and manifestation of God's plans and purposes in your life.  "He who has My commandments...and keeps them...He it is who loves Me...and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love him...and will manifest Myself to him." (John 14:21)

To be able to stand against the SCHEMES of the devil a good source to help you...the source that Jesus used was THE MANUFACTURER'S HANDBOOK..aka The Bible.  The Bible is the written manifesto of THE PLAN and WILL OF GOD for not only you but also for MANKIND.  Scriptures are very beneficial for equipping, prosperity and success.  "All SCRIPTURE is inspired (God breathed) by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17)  Equipping of the saints is hinged on the Word of God in our lives.  In the  book of Joshua we see..."This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall MEDITATE on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8)   

If you are like John "Hannibal" Smith...and you love it when a PLAN comes together...especially when it is GOD'S PLAN for us...and you choose to stand against THE SCHEMES of the devil (little d)...then get into the MANUFACTURER'S HANDBOOK...find out the will of God...so you will recognize the SCHEMES...and know what to do when the tempter comes to pull you away from who your really are in the Lord.  

Love and Well Planned Kisses

Rodney "Loving When A Plan Comes Together" Boyd             

THE ART OF TOTAL DETOXIFICATION (spirit, soul, & body)

 Greetings and Salutations O Ye Human Beings.

How ya doing?  Are you feeling good?  Are you sick and tired of being SICK...and TIRED?  Do you sit around and wonder, "Why does everything happen to me?"  Is Mr. Arther Itis your personal friend? Are headaches, aches, pains, any any other disease or sickness...your personal cross to bear?  Who or What is the culprit that cause you to FEEL bad?  Do you think you are healthy because you FEEL good?  Of course we are talking about the condition of our bodies...but this idea carries over to how you feeling in your soul (mind,will, emotions) and how are you feeling in your spirit (the core of who you are)?  Sometimes (not all of the time) the body may have more visible indicators of how we are doing...but not always...because there can be overt (what you see) and covert (what you can't see).  The soul and the spirit can be hidden more effectively by jokes, smiles, and the guise of spirituality.

 This Rambling started out as a Facebook post where I stated in my status..."I need a total DETOX in my life...on a regular basis as I detox...remove things in my spirit, soul, and body.  Bad stuff in affects how I live my life.  Some of the stuff is just by living in this fallen and nitty gritty world...other things I put in myself by CHOICE."

Brenda and I are on a journey of trying to live a more healthy lifestyle.  Part of the process is detoxification of our bodies.  We have started eating differently and increasing working out, watching what we put in our bodies by eating more organically grown foods without the pesticides and herbicides on them,  avoiding meat injected with hormone and antibiotics, getting off of sugar and caffeine, drink more water (not straight out of the tap), getting adjustment from Dr. Peter Camilio at Revolution Chiropractics...and working out with his brother Stephen in the MAX T-3 workouts.  Also Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat to the entire staff at Revolution.  It is a process and a journey and we are not 100% yet on any of it...but step by step...getting there.

 Part of the journey it DETOXIFICATION where we take supplements...including the DAILY DETOX.  The process is that the toxins in our cells (either by just living life or by self-infliction by what we eat and drink) are collected...and then released  out of our bodies. 

I have stopped eating at every fast food place daily...and stopped going into every convenience market along the way and fill up not only with gas...but diet soda, candy, potato chips, Slim Jims, etc.  The cause and effect of these various changes in my life is feeling better, losing weight (that is not my goal), and not spending $8.00 to $10.00 a day on junk.  By the way...weight wise...I have lost from 280 pounds down to 254 pounds.

NOW...while my body is VERY important to me...and my health (the older I get) is increasing in my priorities...it still does not take priority of my spiritual life (soul and spirit).  NOTE:  It is hard to separate my body life and my spiritual life.  Jesus is Lord over all of me...and if I can't physical do what the Lord wants...then I am in trouble.  With that said...I must DISCIPLINE myself for the purpose of godliness (I Timothy 4:7).  Bodily discipline is only of LITTLE PROFIT...but godliness is PROFITABLE for ALL THINGS, since it holds promise for the PRESENT LIFE and also for THE LIFE TO COME. (I Timothy 4:8)

The DETOX that I need for my SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE is in the area of (1) speech (what I think and say) (2) conduct (what I do)  (3) love (what motivates me (4) faith (what I believe)
(5) purity (what I allow into my spirit and soul).  Just like there are things that I have to do to DETOX my body...there are THINGS that I must do to DISCIPLINE/DETOX my spiritual life.  These things include (1) Give attention to the public reading of Scripture (2) Give attention to exhortation (3) Give attention to teaching (4) Don't neglect the spiritual gift within me (5) Take pains with these things
(6) Be absorbed in these things (7) Pay close attention to myself ((8) Pay close attention to my teaching
(9) Persevere in these things (I Timothy 4:13-16)  NOTE: These things are written to Paul's son in the faith...but I really think they can apply to us also.

Of course the ULTIMATE DETOXIFICATION...is the DETOXIFICATION OF SIN in our lives.  This comes from (1) The Blood of Jesus shed on the cross for our sins (2) The light of God (3) Repentance with a change of mind, heart, attitude and direction. (4) D.B.R...DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION OF JESUS...NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS (5) The Holy Spirit and Power/Dunamis (dynamic ability)/Exousia (delegated authority) (See John 1:5-John 2:2)

"So REPENT--change your mind and your purpose; turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased [blotted out, wiped clean], that TIMES OF REFRESHING--of RECOVERING from the effects of heat, of REVIVING with FRESH AIR--may come from THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD." (Acts 3:19)

Well...there ya go...The Art of DETOXIFICATION (spirit, soul, and body).

Love and Detoxified Kisses
Rodney "Living Da Life" Boyd

THE RACE

Greetings O Ye Long Distance Runners...how's the race?

"Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (see Hebrews 11) [who have borne testimony of the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every ENCUMBRANCE-- unnecessary weight--and that SIN which so readily (deftly and cleverly) CLINGS TO and ENTANGLES us, and let us RUN with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.  Looking away (from all that will  DISTRACT)...to JESUS, Who is the Leader and the SOURCE of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also it's FINISHER [bringing it to maturity and perfection].  He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him...ENDURED THE CROSS, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2 The Amplified Bible).

Our first picture is that of Eric Liddle...runner in the 1924  Olympics in Paris, subject of the movie and missionary to China gave the secret to his success.  "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast.  And when I run, I feel his pleasure."  He also stated, "The SECRET OF MY SUCCESS over the 400 meters is that...I ran the fist 200 AS HARD AS I COULD..and then the second 200 (with God's help)...I RAN HARDER."

 In a world of FAST FOOD THEOLOGY and TV MENTALITY...where you can "have it your way" because "you deserve a break today", sometimes we get a tad impatient when our life issues are not resolved on our time table or if our prayers are not answered in a timely manner and to our satisfaction.  He is the KING of kings...but he ain't your own personal Burger King.

The second picture is a picture of me running in the Philadelphia Marathon.  Actually the marathon was routed by my hotel in Philly...and I had Brenda snap a quick impromptu photo op.  Actually I never moved one inch from where the picture was taken.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of those who have run this race of faith...and now looks down upon us as we continue in this long distance run.  Have you ever been in the middle of this race...and find yourself TRIPPED UP...STUMBLING...or even FALLING FLAT ON YOUR FACE?  I have.  When we have those moments...it is easy to blame the devil, point the finger at someone else, moan and groan about hypocrites...but what we need to do...is realize...that the ENCUMBRANCES...and THE SIN that so easily besets us...is us. 

Jesus ENDURED THE CROSS...the point of death...dying to Himself...and living unto the Father.  He kept his eyes on the prize...of the JOY SET BEFORE HIM.  We are called to that cross also.

"And He summoned the multitude with His disciples and said to them...If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him (1) deny himself (2) and take up his cross  (3) and follow Me.  For whosoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? "(Mark 8:34-36)

Paul talked about this dying process..."...I die daily" (I Corinthians 15:31)  Paul also spoke of "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" in the areas of speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.  These are the areas of entanglement, encumbrance, stumbling.  The word discipline means to exercise, train, practice, discipline yourself NAKED...with no garments to trip you up as you run the race.

Run the race until He comes back again to collect His saints.  Don't give up...pace yourself...remove those things that you KNOW that trip you up...the SIN that so easily besets you.  Only you know what that is...so be honest...repent, confess it, and run forgiven.

Love and Long Distance Kisses

Rodney "Chariots of Fire In The Lord" Boyd

JUST MY IMAGINATION

 Greetings O Ye Thinkers and Dreamers...what's on your MIND?

That little thing house within your cranium...sitting atop your body...is an amazing and mysterious thing.  Since the beginning of time...people have pondered, studied, pontificated, worshipped, and proclaimed man's...wo-man's...the hu-man's POTENTIAL.   The first picture we see is of Napoleon Hill who wrote about the human potential in his classic THINK AND GROW RICH. His most famous quote from the book is..."Whatever the MIND of man can CONCEIVE and BELIEVE...it can ACHIEVE." 

Of course many Christians point their finger and poo-poo at this...but I think it is a true observation.  There is nothing new under the sun...including the human potential.  I like reading about the positive things from those positive thinkers...because I think they have tapped into Biblical principles.  The only problem...well maybe not the only problem...but one of the problems with the "positive thinkers" many times give a nod to God...or some sort of cosmic entity, but they miss the Lordship of Jesus.  But as the saying goes..."don't throw the baby out with the bath water.  The truth is the truth...even if it is uttered by someone who is wrong.

After the fall...as a result of A&E's disobedience in the garden (Genesis 3:1-24)  NOTE:  This is the first mention of a car in the Bible...where God DROVE them out of the garden (Genesis 3:24)  Sorry.

In Genesis 11 we see that the whole earth was "ONE LIP" or "used the same LANGUAGE and the same WORDS." (Genesis 11:1)  These dwellers and settlers in the land of Shinar...spoke in this "ONE LIP" to one another...and said..."Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly."  They used these burnt bricks for stone and used tar for mortar. (Genesis 11:1) 

NOTE:  Stone was the natural...burnt bricks was the unnatural choice for building material.  They then spoke to each other in this LIP LANGUAGE and said, "Come, let US build for OURSELVES a city and a tower whose top will reach into the heaven, and let US make for OURSELVES A NAME; lest we be scattered over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:4) 

NOTE:  So far...there is no mention of God...only US and THEMSELVES.  The wanted a NAME for THEMSELVES.  There reasoning seems logical..."lest we be scattered over the face of the whole earth."  This was what they FEAR.  The tower was not one for worship of their creator...but for SELF-PRESERVATION.

The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the "sons of men" had built.  The Lord's perspective on what He saw was..."Behold, they are ONE PEOPLE...and they all have THE SAME LANGUAGE.  And this is what they began to do, and now...NOTHING WHICH THEY PURPOSE (IMAGINE) TO DO WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM." (Genesis 11:6)

NOTE:  This oneness is not necessarily a bad thing...but when God is not the focus...and the focus is based on human intent and fear for self preservation...it is.  The HUMAN POTENTIAL was limitless.  If they (the human mind) could CONCEIVE IT...and the human mind could BELIEVE IT...the human potential was...they could ACHIEVE IT.   We will look later at how this MIND POTENTIAL can be used for the Lord.

The Lord decided that this IMAGINED PURPOSE of these people was a dangerous thing...so He

(1) confused their language (2) made it where they could not understand one another's speech (3) and then scattered them abroad over the face of the earth. 

NOTE:  Notice that the thing they FEARED...being a SCATTERED people...was exactly what happened to them.  Job voiced this thing called fear..."For what I FEAR comes upon me...and what I DREAD befalls me.  I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, and I am not at rest, but turmoil comes." (Job 3:25-26)  Why do you think Jesus spoke the words "FEAR NOT"  when they were either faced with troubles?  The unknown or our IMAGINATIONS running wild...makes us fear...and do irrational things or makes us try to elevate ourselves to save ourselves.

 The SPIRIT OF GOD was given to a man named Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah (Praise).  The Lord told Moses..."I have filled him with the SPIRIT OF GOD in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of CRAFTSMANSHIP...to make ARTISTIC DESIGNS for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship." (Exodus 31:1-5) 

Walt Disney was a visionary to make people happy.  In his mind...he had imagination...and expressed what was in his mind in art, music, various lands in Disneyland. Those working for him would be called not engineers... but IMAGINEERS.  I love Disney World...but realize that it is merely a fake world compared to the Kingdom of God.

John Lennon was a dreamer...and according to his song IMAGINE...he was "not the only one."  He dreamed of a world of peace...and where the "world could be as one."  The only problem with this IMAGINED world of John is that it is to close to the land of Shinar...where everyone had ONE lip...ONE language...ONE word...and ONE PURPOSE...to create a name for themselves.  People are still attempting to unite this chaotic world...but we continue to be scattered over and over again.  You can imagine "there is no heaven...it's easy if you try...no hell below us... above us only sky"...but no matter how hard you try to imagine it...reality there is a heaven...there is a hell.

How can we harness this thing called the MIND...with all of it's IMAGINATIONS?  We see in I Corinthians chapter 2 verse 16..."For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?  But WE HAVE...the MIND of CHRIST."

"Unrestrained THOUGHTS (what we think)...produces unrestrained WORDS (what we say)...resulting in unrestrained ACTIONS (what we do)." (Unknown).

I believe that Napoleon Hill was right ...to a point.  Whatever the (renewed) mind of man can CONCEIVE (imagine)...the mind of man can BELIEVE (have faith in God)...and it (the renewed mind submitted to Christ) can ACHIEVE.  Oh...the man without Christ can conceive, believe and achieve...and good things may come out of it...but the life will be scattered.  God's purpose in our lives is creativity...for worship of Him...and not worshiping at the ALTAR OF HUMANISM.

Love and Imagined Kisses
Rodney "Dreamer" Boyd

THE GRAND DESIGN

Greetings and Salutations Oh Ye Tempted...

 Temptation is defined in various dictionaries as:


1. the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.
2. something that tempts, entices, or allures.
3. the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.

Strong's Concordance defines the Greek word:

TEMPTATION:  peirasmos (pi-ras-mos')=From G3985; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity: - temptation, X try.  G3985:  peirazō

(pi-rad'-zo)=From G3984; to test (objectively), that is, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: - assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.  G3984:  peira (pi'-rah)=(through the idea of piercing); a test, that is, attempt, experience: - assaying, trial.

 Many times...as a Christian...I have been TEMPTED... and feel so weak, vulnerable, and as if I was a failure.  In Paul Clark's song HAND TO THE PLOW...one of the first lines states:

"I've felt the pressure of TEMPTATION, how the devil twists my situation."

Over the years...I have come to learn that being tempted is not a sign of my weakness...but a sign of the Lord being strong in me.  If you are being tempted...the devil knows that you are a threat to his dark kingdom.

Larry Napier once stated many years ago and it still rings true to me today..."Temptation is NOT designed to pull you INTO something...but it is designed to pull you AWAY from who you really are."  Sure the side effect is pulling you into something (adultery, drugs, gluttony, etc)... but the GRAND DESIGN by the devil is to distract you from your true purpose in live...TO PLEASE GOD.

"Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created." (Revelation 4:11)

 On this BALL OF CONFUSION (aka planet earth, the terrestrial ball, 3rd Rock From The Sun)...The TEMPTATIONS put their musical finger on the problems of this world.

As we see in the first picture...Jesus was tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)  If Jesus was tempted...do you think that the devil will have any consideration for you...and give us a free pass. 

"Therefore, He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He (Jesus) might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For since He (Jesus)
 Himself was TEMPTED in that which He has suffered, He (Jesus) is able to come to the aid of those (that would be you and me) who are TEMPTED." (Hebrews 2:17-18)

The devil tried to distract and pull Jesus away from His purpose on planet earth.  The question is...how can we resist this demonic temptation (that will use our fleshly lusts)?  Well...the same way that Jesus dealt with the devil.

Jesus used...(1) The Word of God (2) The Holy Spirit of God (3) The Authority of God.  Read the Matthew, Mark and Luke passages to see Jesus in action.

What really matters...is how did this temptation model turn out in the end?

1.  "Then the devil LEFT Him and behold angels came and began to minister to Him." (Matthew 4:10)

2.  "And he was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were MINISTERING to Him." (Mark 1:13)

3.  "And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.  And Jesus returend to Galilee  IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT..." (Luke 4:13-14)

Well...your Heavenly Father has a GRAND DESIGN for you...based on Christ in you...the hope of glory...BUT the devil...the liar and father of lies...the stealer, the killer, the destroyer...the tempter...also has a GRAND DESIGN (well orchestrated schemes...Ephesians 6:11-13) to TEMPT you and pull you away from who you really are. 

We are called to join the REISTANCE FORCE.  The first step to join is to humble yourself and then the rest falls into place.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the might hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But RESIST him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." (I Peter 5:6-9)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

If you are goint to be a disciple of Jesus...a follower of your Lord...then we must follow and imitate His methods.  One of the things we follow Him in...is to learn the ways of dealing with TEMPTATION.

Love and Power In The Spirit Kisses
Rodney "Member of the Reisistance Force" Boyd