AMBITION AND ATTITUDE

Howdy do all of you ambitious people. How's your dream and vision factor going for ya? Are you reaching your goals? Are your plans coming to pass? Is your life turning out like ya dreamed it would be? Did you think that you would be where you are at now...back when you envisioned your life?

Most likely...things have shifted and changed as you walk out your life in this crazy, ever-shifting thing that we call life. Oh...there are AMBITIOUS people who may have come out of the womb with a DayTimer in their hands...and knew exactly what they wanted out of life...and their entire life was on course (by their making...or their parents shaping exactly who they wanted them to be)...but that was not me.

When I was in Guatemala a while back...Bruce Coble and I were teaching at the Open Doors Ministry International (O.D.M.I.) School for pastors/missionaries. We tag team taught during our stay. I taught on the Holy Spirit and Bruce taught on the character of God. NOTE: It is dangerous to be moving in the gifts of the Spirit without the fruit of the Spirit in your lives (See I Corinthians). The first picture you see is the board when Bruce was teaching...with the bottom line of what we must have when we are "walking by faith" and "being led by the Spirit"...is found in the THEREFORE...at the bottom of the board..."OUR AMBITION IS TO PLEASE HIM." (II Corinthians 5:9)

This thing called ambition can be a good, driving force as you try to accomplish your visions, dreams, plans, and goals...OR...it can be a detriment...as you strive and strive trying to bring to pass things out of your control...or try to push your way to the top as you win the rat race. Of course when you win the RAT RACE...that makes you the #1 Rat.

Rick Nelson (formerly know as Ricky Nelson) at the hit Garden Party when he came to the conclusion that, "ya can't please everyone...so ya got to please yourself." This thing called ambition goes hand in hand with attitude and the combination is usually wrapped up in pleasure. What and who you chose to please will be motivation for what you accomplish.

Check out my doggie Sweetie. She is a Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzu were breed to sit at the feet of emperors/kings...to bring pleasure. Well, she sure has brought pleasure to me, Brenda, and Phillip over the years. It seems as if...her ambition was to bring pleasure to us...but I have a sneaking suspicion that her ambition was to get a dog biscuit. In actuality she has trained me to give her a biscuit as she performs her little dance...or tricks. I do know this...she sure brings me pleasure as she settles down...and either is in my arms or at my feet. Whether she knows it or not...she has it made. We will PROVIDE her everything she needs for shelter, comfort, food, play, etc.

As I am writing this Rambling...I am listening to Phil Keaggy's album THE SONG WITHIN. From talking to Phil...listening to him in interviews...reading articles about him...and listening to his music....the driving force in his music is not JUST the expression of the sounds in his head...but the impression of God on his heart. He has AMBITION... not to become a famous guitarist...but he has the ATTITUDE to please His God. That's why at the peak of success with the group Glass Harp... Phil chose to leave the group and pursue God's desires for him. I like this photo of Phil that I took of him playing with a group called the Faux Brummels. It shows a man enjoying the music...in the groove...but transcending the music into pleasing God. This should be the ATTITUDE of everything we do and say.

"And WHATEVER you do in word or deed, DO ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
(Colossians 3:17)

"WHATEVER you do, do your work heartily/from the soul, AS FOR THE LORD, rather than for men." (Colossians 3:23) Why? "...knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. IT IS THE LORD CHRIST WHOM YOU SERVE." (Colossians 3:24)

When whom you serve...is not yourself...or your boss...or your commander-in chief...or anyone else other than the Lord...your ATTITUDE will change...and your AMBITION will turn into pleasing Him verses pleasing yourself. When your plans blow up in your face...or your visions and dreams fall short of what you expected...your attitude...will be YES LORD. You will be able to GIVE THANKS in everything (the good, the bad, the ugly)...knowing that God is working out ALL THINGS for your good...because you
(1) you love Him (2) you are called (3) your calling is according to HIS PURPOSE...not yours.
(Romans 8:28)

This last picture is a picture of me, Bruce Coble, and Don Richards in Kenya, Africa. Don and His wife Nancy...have followed the Lord...seeking to please Him for many years. Their ambition has led them on an adventure...where many lives have been changed because of that desire to please Him. They have not become rich and famous...but they have pleased God...and He has met their needs over the years. Bruce and I have been able to encourage many over the globe as we desire to please God and go to places such as Peru where Ron and Annette Theisen have laid down their lives to go down the Amazon to share Christ...and Kirk and Diana DeVenny have lived in Guatemala for the past 20 years to go into darkened corners to share His light.

But the neat thing is...that WHEREVER you are...and WHOEVER you work for...or WHATEVER you do...you can be a God Pleaser by having as your AMBITION...to please Him. (II Corinthians 5:9)

"Therefore, whether we are AT HOME [on earth away from Him], or AWAY FROM HOME (and with Him], we are constantly AMBITIOUS and STRIVE EARNESTLY...to be WELL-PLEASING TO HIM."
(II Corinthians 5:9 The Amplified Bible)

And that brings us back to picture #1...to (1) walk by faith (2) led by the Spirit...our AMBITION must be to please Him.

"But without faith it is impossible to PLEASE and BE SATISFACTORY to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)...[not just passively inquire]" Hebrews 11:6 The Amplified Bible (I commented on the passively inquiring part).

FINAL THOUGHTS FINALLY...NO REALLY...FINAL

The only way that you can shift your ambition to Him...is determined by the controlling factor. What drives you...what motivates you...will determine what your ambition will be...which is hinged on your attitude.

"For the LOVE OF CHRIST controls us...having concluded this...that one died for all (Jesus)...therefore, all died (you, me, the world)...and He died (Jesus) for all (us)...that they who live...SHOULD NO LONGER LIVE FOR THEMSELVES (ambition), BUT (in contrast to living for yourself)...for HIM WHO DIED AND ROSE AGAIN ON THEIR BEHALF (aka D.B.R...Death, Burial, Resurrection...nothing more, nothing less)." (II Corinthians 5:14-15 New American Standard Bible...Ruminator Style)

Love and Ambitious Kisses
Rodney "Yes, Lord" Boyd

HOW TO DEEP FRY A TURKEY AND IMPROVE MY WIFE'S PRAYER LIFE

Greetings and Gobble Gobble. It is the week before Thanksgiving... that time of giving thanks...and the time of repenting and asking for forgiveness for willingly indulging in the sin of gluttony.

Over the past few years...I have been practicing the ART OF DEEP FRYING TURKEY. Many people wonder...how can I deep fry a turkey? Well here is a little primer on how to deep fry a turkey...and how to improve your wife's prayer life.

I have learned from my mistake (singular)...when I had a minor grass fire under the pot...that...as most legends...turned into a roaring inferno that engulfed the community of Rockvale Tennesse.

Many moons ago...I filled my pot with fresh peanut oil...and I deemed it necessary that I needed a little more oil to cover the bird. Brenda...my lovely wife of 37 year (not counting the four years that we dated)...came out side and said..."Rodney...don't add any more oil...that is plenty." She then went outside. In the meanwhile my testosterone kicked in and I said to myself..."Self...what does a woman know about deep frying turkey's...so I added more oil (without telling Brenda). I heated up the oil to around 375 degrees (knowing that the bird will drop the temperature to a desired 325 degrees). As I dropped the bird (injected with Cajun seasonings and rubbed down with a dry rub) into the boiling cauldron...and all was well...until...the oil began to overflow (because there was to much oil in the pot). As the oil overflowed...it touched the flame....with the cause and effect of a small grass fire ensuing. Also, the hose to the propane tank caught on fire...which I easily put out. NOTE: It did not burn all the way through but did melt...resulting in having to get another cooker from my friend Doug Steckbeck).

As I was turned off the gas...and took the pan that I was going to put the turkey in...and beat out the small...minuscule grass fire...I heard a voice from behind me, saying, "Rodney,
whatcha doin'?" It was the head of security at Southern Hills...my friend Chris Cotton...with his daughter who had just arrived.

NOTE: Before I got back to Southern Hills the following Monday...word had spread like WILDFIRE...that I burned down Rockvale...with full fire engine coming out. True...a fire engine did come by my house...but it was on the way to another fire down the road. There were pictures of me standing in front of a raging forest fire posted around the hospital...a CD was waiting for me with songs that mentioned the word fire...and someone rewrote Johnny Cash's RING OF FIRE...to tell the story of the Fried Turkey Fire of Rockvale.

As you can tell from the picture of Brenda...Alison Payne and Garratt Payne...Brenda's prayer life had greatly improved as she watched the next year's dipping of the bird...was taking place. Apparently her prayers were answered...since there have been no more fires since that one, small, minute incident. NOTE: Not picture is my turkey frying buddy...Chip "El Presidente" Payne.

Now...we make and take all precautions to insure now flaming grass. As you can see...we wear the proper fireman's gear (provided by Derek Rhodes...aka...The British Bulldog). I also wrapped the propane hose with foil...to retard potential overflow...and of course...a fire extinguisher is handy.

I also have trained my son in the Art of SAFE Deep Frying Turkey. As the Scriptures tell us...Train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it...especially in the ways of the turkey fryer.

Now...here is the proper way to deep fry a turkey. (1) Inject the bird with desired seasonings (2) Pour fresh peanut oil into the pot (3) LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE (4) Heat the oil to 375 degrees (5) Put on all protective clothing...or at least...fire resistant gloves (6) Have all equipment ready for any emergency (7) slowly baptizo...dip the bird SLOWLY into the boiling cauldron. (8) unhook gently and place lid on pot.(9) Cook the bird for 3 minutes per pound (10) Do not leave the pot unattended (11) Monitor heat control and adjust accordingly (11) When time is up...look in pot...if the bird with legs sticking up is floating...it is time to pull the bird out (12) take the Golden Bird into the kitchen...let people ooh and aah...and begin to pick and eat before it is cut. (13) Serve your guest and let them ooh and aah about how delicious, moist, and favorable is the turkey tastes.

Well...there you have it. You have deep fried the turkey... you have bonded with your son...your wife's prayer life has improved...the house has not burned down...the grass is not singed...your friends have been satisfied...and no wild, malicious stories have been spread about you burning down the world.

THIS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT HOW TO DEEP FRY A TURKEY AND IMPROVE YOUR WIFE'S PRAYER LIFE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

THE DEEP FRIED TURKEY ASSOCIATION (Rockvale Chapter)...and THE RUMINATOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS...MEETING EVERY SUNDAY AT SMYRNA ASSEMBLY (S.A.) at 9:00 A.M. Sunday Mornings in RUMINATOR CENTRAL (aka The Fellowship Hall).

Final thoughts...finally...no really...finally.

The only thing that would be better than deep fried turkey would be deep fried SPAM...a delightful blend of spices and ham. (No flavor injection necessary)

Love and Deep Fried Kisses
Rodney "Burning Lips" Boyd

PRAY FOR MY FRIEND

This is a prayer request to pray for my friend Parke Parham. He was recently in a traffic accident where his van smashed into a trailer. He had multiple injuries...and recently came off of the ventilator and now is in rehab for his hand/hip/legs etc. At one point there was no hope...but now... he is making a remarkable recovery.

He is currently at Vanderbilt Hosptial and continues to need prayers for recovery. Thank you very much.

Rodney

THE ART OF REI-SPECT

Greetings O Ye Fans of Soul Music. Here's a question for ya. What does Otis Redding...Aretha Franklin...Ray Charles and Grand Master Hironori Otsuka have in common? That's right...three African American singers of soul and a skinny Oriental man. Well...the answer is RESPECT.

1. Otis Redding: In 1965 he wrote and recorded the song Respect.

2. Aretha Franklin: In 1967 she recorded Otis Redding's song Respect...and made it her own signature song.

3. Ray Charles: I don't know if he ever recorded the song Respect...but he should have if he didn't. Actually I just needed someone with the name Ray...to fit in with what I wanted to write.

4. Grand Master Hironori Ostsuka: Developed a style of karate in 1934 called Wado Ryu. Wado Ryu means the study of the Way of Peace and Harmony. This style is a mixture of karate and ju-jitsu. While peace and harmony may seem contrary to karate...they have more in common than you would think.

Way back in 1972...when I was 21 years old...I was attacked on the side of the road... by an angry man. As he was swinging away with his clenched fists...and I was blocking away as best as I could...I got in a lucky punch and he fell like Goliath did when David slung his stone. I turned around...and his friend threw up his hands and said that he was not going to bother me. There was NO peace and harmony in my life on that day. Later on in that year...I ran across a small ad in the Daily News Journal announcing a karate class starting and the cost was $15.00 a month. It was taught by someone I knew named Newton Harris...the school was Bushido School of Karate. The style of karate was Wado Ryu. We met in Cricholow School basement...and later on Vine Street in Murfreesboro. I took for a couple of years and then because of various reasons...dropped out. Later on...many years later...in 2001....when I turned 50 years old...I started karate again (see previous Ramblings for full details of this event).

I told my son (Phillip)...and my wife (Brenda)...that when I turned 50 I would start taking karate again. This was when I was in my 40's. Brenda and I stopped at Quizno's for lunch...and ran into Mr. Bill Taylor...who now owned Bushido School of Karate. I met Mr. Taylor back in 1973 at the Vine Street School...and sparred with him...back in the day of NO sparring equipment. I still have vivid memories of blocking one of Mr. Taylor's kicks...and the pain shooting up my arm. I told Mr. Taylor that I was thinking of returning to the school...but I thought I was a little old to start up again. He told me of a 76 year old woman who had her black belt...and then asked me..."What's your excuse?" I had none. Oh...by the way...that lady...Mrs. Coleman...is still kicking...and every once in a while...she is kicking at me....what an honor.

You may be asking your self..."Self...what does this have to do with Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Hironori Otsuka?" I'm glad you asked. REI-SPECT. Rei is pronounced RAY (thus the inclusion of Ray Charles).

When I started back...I received my Student Guide for Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate. It outlines the program...gives the rules of the school, policies and procedures...and various bits of information about how to attain your black belt. Part of the book was BELT CURRICULUM. It outlined the various techniques that you would learn on your journey from White Belt to Black Belt.

The WHITE BELT CURRICULUM had five things that we would learn including how to do a front punch from a horse stance, how to do a front kick, and how to do a high block...BUT...the very first two things we learned were...(1) How to BOW (rei) (2) Why do we BOW (rei).

In the second collage you will see a pyramid shape with three words...that outlines...the proper way to approach what we learn...with the bottom being the foundation...before you get to the top. They are:
(1) Stances (2) Posture (3) Technique. Before you get to the fancy kicks...ya gotta get the basic stances... and in between that...ya gotta know how to hold your body upright, head up, eyes on the target, etc. There is one move...that needs to be the CORNERSTONE of the karate experience...and dare I say... our LIFE experience. That would be REI-SPECT.

We were taught the MECHANICS of the bow which included: (1) feet together at the heels with toes pointing to right and left at 45 degree angle (2) Arms/hands relaxed pointing down with hands open... not in fist (3) looking forward (4) At the command...REI...we bow (5) Slight bow at the waist (6) head and eyes up focusing on what's ahead. (7) return back to the upright, attention stance.

It does not take long to master the mechanics of the bow. The next step in the White Belt Curriculum is WHY do we BOW? In an age where RESPECT is a lost art...it is sometimes a process for us to truly understand why we bow/rei. I coined the term REI-SPECT because it speaks to me of the WHY we rei.

At our school..."karate begins and ends with respect." This is especially good for the young ones who are developing their life...and for us older ones...who may have become jaded and hardened by life.

We learn to respect from the moment we enter the dojo (karate building)...in the dojo dressing rooms... on the dojo floor. We bow when we enter the dojo floor...we bow to start out class with a series of three bows....to the front (Shomeni Rei) to respect our country, the country our style originated from, and the originator of our style of karate. We then bow to our instructor in gratitude for teaching us (Sensi/Senpai Rei) and then we bow to each other (Otagani Rei) as we begin to work with each other to learn...not defeat each other. We then bow prior to starting techniques...bow when we end techniques...and bow when we spar/fight (kumite') as we practice the techniques that we have learned. We then end class by repeating the three bows we did at the first of class....and then bow in succession to the ranks of belts as they leave the floor...turning and bowing again as we leave the dojo floor...and it is all about REI-SPECT.

To me...the REI...having REI-SPECT...is the most important karate move that I have ever learned... and am still learning everyday...on and off of the dojo floor.

NOTE: This is not some religious ritual...but basic life skills.

In my Christian walk...I relate the REI-SPECT...to GRACE. The word grace is from the Greek word Charis (Ca-reece)...which means favor, gift, free gift, unmerited favor. The best definition is found in Strong's Concordance...meaning...the divine influence in the heart...manifested in the life of the believer.

It is an inside out job...and not something that we can get our little hands on to manipulate. It is a God thang...that starts on the inside as I yield my life to Him...and what He does to me on the inside...will be manifested on the outside. With bowing/rei...we can learn all of the mechanics of rei....but that will not change what is on the inside. Over the years at karate...I am learning more and more what it means to RESPECT those that I come into contact with...by practice and repetition. Jesus said, "You shall LOVE the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength...and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Before you manifest His love with your strength...it is an inside out job in your heart, soul, and mind... and then it will be effective to your neighbor...but it starts with you...loving Him so you can love yourself. Then you can effectively love your neighbor.

Final thoughts...finally.

I love Wado Ryu...the way of harmony and peace...but the only way to true harmony with my God...and true peace (rest, wholeness) is through the cross of Jesus. Because of His Death (in my place as a substitution and propititation [satisfaction)for my sins), His Burial (representing the finality the work), and His Resurrection (raised from the dead)...D.B.R...NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS. "He saved us...not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness...but according to His mercy...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)

"Therefore (since Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross) also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name (Jesus) that at the name of Jesus every kneee should REI, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth and that every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God, the Father." (Philippians 2:8-10)

Love and Very Rei-spectful Kisses
Rodney "Peace and Harmony" Boyd

DRY EYES...OLD FAITH...HARD HEART...COLD PRAYERS

Hello friends...how are your eyes, faith, heart and prayers doing? Is your fairytale world not panning out like you expected? Did you start out in your faith blazing...and now you are smoldering? Have you lost the joy of your salvation and replaced it with the despair of your fears? Well... welcome to my world.

Our first collage is from the classic movie...IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. It is a wonderful tale of how circumstances, choices, obstacles, people can...if we let them...dictate our joy level. Our lives can either be a Bedford Falls existence...or a Pottersville Hell. Does your life reflect the emptiness of Mr. Gower...George Bailey...and the citizens of Potterville? NOTE: Do get the full effect of this Ramblings...go rent you It's A Wonderful Life...pop some corn...and enjoy the movie.

I can remember moment that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour...it was like a release from prison...like a long,slow rain after a long, hard drought ...like a rough, hard piece of leather soften by oil. The problem was...after a period of time...a few years later...I began to feel the prison walls close in again...I felt the the drought returning...I felt the leather stiffening up again. It was not something that happen immediately...but it was a slow process...and then suddenly... I could not figure out what was wrong with me. Actually...I was wondering...what was wrong with everyone else...except me. After all...ya gotta blame someone for the way you feel. All I know is this...I was dry, empty, and my prayers seemed to leave my lips...hit the ceiling...and drop back on top of me...unanswered.

What could I possibly do to restore the joy of my salvation... to be refreshed...to do what the Beatles sang about...to Get Back...to where I once belonged.

I chose...and it is a choice...to RUN....run away...as far as I could from the people who loved me, to the people who would speak truth to me, to a place that was more empty, more dry, more cold than where I was in the first place. I surrounded myself with people who would pander to my pity rather than speak the truth in love...with the cause and effect was a journey deeper in to despair.

NOTE: This is a water tank from Kenya Africa....for fresh water in a dry, polluted land. In the first collage you see the woman at the well...where Jesus told her that she would never thirst again...because the well...is within when you have Jesus in your heart. Jesus spoke later about rivers of living water flowing out of your innermost being/belly...with those flowing waters being the Holy Spirit. There may be something in our lives damming the flow of waters...but when we repent...times of refreshing will start to flow again.

When things are dry, old, hard, and cold...what can be done? I can't speak for anyone else...but only speak from my personal experience...I have to apply the Acts 3:19 Principle.

"Repent (change of mind, attitude, direction) and return (to my first love) that your sins may be wiped away (the thing that breaks our connection)...in order (cause and effect) that TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME (aaaaaaaaaaaaaah) may come from THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD."
(Acts 3:19)

Keith Green had a great song from back in 1978...that is still fresh and alive in 2009...called MY EYES ARE DRY. If you are at a place where you are dry and crusty, where what once was vibrant faith, where you heart is hard and stiff to the people you love and your prayers are cold as last night fire...think about what Keith was singing (even better if you can find a copy of the song).

MY EYES ARE DRY

My eyes are DRY...my faith is OLD...my heart is HARD...my prayers are COLD
And I know how I ought to be...alive to You...and dead to me
But what can be done...for an old heart like mine...soften it up with oil and wine
The oil is You and Your Spirit of Love...please wash me anew
In the Wine of Your Blood

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; BUT if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from ALL sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins; He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:6-9)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

I have found that I can choose to walk away from God...and I also can choose to return. I can choose life and blessing...I can choose curse and death.

My eyes are now wet with tears of repentance and joy...my faith is fresh and alive...my heart is softened and pliable and usable for the Father...and my prayers pierce the heavens and are now effectual and fervent.

Love and Refreshed Kisses
Rodney "The Ball Is In Your Court" Boyd

GPS: God's Protective System...versus...RPS: Rodney's Prodigal System

Hello fellow Sojourners...how's the journey? When I went to work for Gentiva Home Health...Brenda bought me a GPS... system. It has been the gift that keeps on giving. It is an amazing piece of technology...that leads me and guides me along the twisting and convoluted highways and by-ways of Tennessee. I have found that when I don't second guess what the lovely lady who lives inside the box tells me...that more often than not...I reach my destination. I also have been down roads that I have always wondered where they led... and still end up at my destination. Even when I am faced with a detour in the road...I am lead around the way...and still come out at my desired destination. The children of Israel... the Prodigal Son...The church at Corinth...the Gnostics... Judiazers...any one who wanders away from the path...could all have benefited from one these handy dandy guidance system....but wait...they did have a guidance system...called the GPS...God's Protective System.

NOTE: When I choose to go my own way...the voice of the lady...gets testy...and she says with an exasperated voice...recalculate. Sometimes she tells me to make a U-Turn...turn around...go the other way. That is what we call in Christianese...repentance. Repentance is a change...a U-Turn of direction, mind, heart, attitude...and go back towards God.

Sometimes you just pray for a sign from God if you are going the wrong way. If only there was a sign that said..."Rodney...STOP!" Since 1970...when I first turned my life over to God...I have travelled many roads...some good, some bad, some ugly. I have gotten off the path...and found myself wondering...how did I get here.

What got me to thinking about this Rambling...and there is always something that sets me off...was reading about the Parable of the Lost Son...aka...the Parable of the Prodigal Son. What could have saved the son from heartache to learn such a valuable lesson. Well...a GPS would have been helpful...or a STOP sign that said Prodigal Drive...STOP... or even Robbie the Robot from the movie Forbidden Planet...and the T.V. show Lost In Space...with his arms flailing about and crying out..."Warning, Warning..Will Robinson.

Luke 15 starts off the scene that led to Jesus teaching about (1) lost sheep (2) lost coins (3) lost sons (4) poor stewards

"Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes complained, saying, This Man receives sinners and eats with them."
(Luke 15:1,2) It appears that the Pharisees were the 99 sheep, the 9 coins, and the elder brother...while the tax collectors and sinners...were the lost sheep, lost coin, and the prodigal son. (Thanks and a Tip O Da Hat to my notes in the Spirit Filled Bible for the Pharisee comparisons.)


The cause and effect of Jesus sharing these four parables...reflective of the hearts of the Pharisees...was this..."Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things and they DERIDED Him." (Luke 16:14) What ticked them off was that Jesus exposed their hearts...and who was their master. NOTE: Make note to self...never deride Jesus.

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other...You CANNOT serve God and mammon...money...riches...things... stuff." (Luke 16:13)

NOTE: The picture of the long and winding road was on the way to one of my patient's house...and the road seemed to go on forever...never being able to see where I was going...never knowing if I would ever arrive at my desired destination.

NOTE: I always thought about the word prodigal in a negative view...but it is not necessarily negative.

Prodigal: (1) wastefully or recklessly extravagant (2) giving or yielding profusely, lavish (3) lavishly abundant. We can squander our inheritance by wasting or being recklessly extravagant..or we can see the wonderfully prodigal nature of God as He is lavishly abundantly giving out more than we can conceive or contain. In the case of the son...he was on the wrong side of prodigalism. He needed guidance. His guidance system...his flesh...led him to a low place.

"And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with the prodigal/wasteful life." (Luke 15:13) Oh how many years I wasted, how many gifts, talents, finances, I wasted by not yielding to God's GPS...but followed the RPS (Rod's Prodigal System).

After the prodigal son experienced famine, want, false friends who he joined with, swine, no one giving him anything...he CAME TO HIMSELF. Once he came to himself...he made choices...when he said I WILL arise and go to my Father...and I WILL say..."Father I have sinned against heaven and before you." This is where the prodigal heard the voice...RECALCULATE...and MAKE A U-TURN...and he did. He repented...had a change of mind, change of attitude and a change of direction...from pig pen to the Father's house. (Luke 15:14-18, 21) NOTE: The repentant prodigal...did not feel worthy to be a son... but the Father had other ideas.

The return was one of joy (for everyone except the son who had stayed/Pharisee). As the prodigal approached...no longer a prodigal (we tend to attach that label on him even when he changed his ways)...the Father saw him from far away...and the Father had compassion and ran to him...and fell on his neck and kissed him...and brought out the best robe, a ring of restoration, and sandals on his weary feet that were weary from the journey in his personal wilderness. And then...he killed the fatted calf...ate and were merry. There was JOY IN THE HOUSE with the return of the repristinated son. I like the term..."they began to make merry." (Luke 15:20-24)

The rest of the parable deals with the attitude of the older son...who stayed...who had Pharisee mentality...against tax collectors...sinners... and of course sibling prodigals.

NOTE: The last picture is one of us in Nairobi Kenya at a local eatery called CARNIVORES...where we chowed down on Zebra (pronounced Zeb...not Zeeb...ra, camel, the fatted warthog, and other grilled meats. I'm the one with the Hawaiian shirt with my face in the food and back to the camera. We were "making merry" just before we flew back home.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

God has a GPS for our lives....as we travel on our sojourns in the Kingdom. We have access to the Word of God, the Spirit of God, godly counsel of brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, the prophetic words (that will always line up with the Word of God...and will confirm what He is speaking to you).

Love and Directed Kisses
Rodney "Recalculating" Boyd

THE BALLAD OF VINNIE

Greetings all of you rock n' rollers...thank ya...thank ya very much.

Many moons ago...when I was in that rockin' little band... Hosanna...I wrote a song...called The Ballad Of Vinnie. It was actually not a ballad...but a tasty little rocker telling the story of a young punk who thought that he was living the life... until he met Jesus. Over the years...the presentation evolved from band to...comic presentation.

Picture if you will...a mild mannered Speech Pathologist... in a white lab coat...relaying to a crowd the technical aspects of being a Speech Pathologist. As he drones on...out of nowhere comes the sounds of the 2001 A Space Oddessy theme appears. As the theme progress...there begins a transformation...from a mild manner Speech Pathologist...into Vinnie. An obscure brief case now becomes the focal point of what is happening...as it is dramatically opened in time to the pounding drums of the theme. Suddenly...a lovely assistant appears to hold a mirror as a handful of Brylcreame (a little dab will do ya)...is spread throughout his hair...and he combs it back into a greasers delight hair-do. A blue jean jacket is placed on his body...collar up...and silken scarfs (really polyester)...and a guitar is draped across his shoulders. By this time the 2001 Space Oddessy theme has turned into a rock and roll rhythm as the intro to C.C. Rider (Cochran's Circuit Riders)...and the transformation is complete. The music is potted down (tech term for turning down the volume as it fades to no sound). People are screaming...women are fainting...men are amazed....and people are crying out..."Oooooooh Elvis."

The young man steps up to the microphone as says..."Thank ya...thank ya very much." and then he launches in to a rousing version of Blue Suede Shoes. After the crowd reaction dies down...the young man speaks..."My name is not Elvis...I am Elvis' 5th cousin...twice removed on my mama's side...Vinnie.

Vinnie launches into the song...his story of a transformation... that is more dramatic than any theatrics of some Speech Pathologist.

THE BALLAD OF VINNIE

I use to rock n' roll... you know I'd do the stroll...long about Saturday night
You know I'd feel so fine...when I drank my wine
And I'd always end up in a fight
You know the women were there...Well I had a flair
And I never was alone
But why the emptiness...I feel like a mess
And there is a hollow feeling in my soul

NOTE: The first verse outlines the condition of Vinnie pre-Jesus

NOTE TO THE NOTE: The Elvis picture was Elvis at Stokely Athletic Center in Knoxville Tennessee circa 1972.

Then I was blinded by the light...you know I fell on my knees...in God's sight
I said forgive my sins...and please come in...Lord Jesus show the way

NOTE: This is Vinnie's dramatic conversion experience

Now I'm a child of the King...He gave me His ring...and killed the fatted calf
You are the Shepherd...I am the sheep...Lord lead me by your rod and staff
I'm anointed with oil...now I never will spoil...cause I'm living under God's grace
I'm a royal priest to say the least...Jesus is running my race

NOTE: Living in sin...saved by grace...positioned in Christ.

I was blinded by the light...I fell on my knees in God's sight
I said forgive my sins...please come in
Lord Jesus lead the way...Lord Jesus lead the way...Lord Jesus lead the way......

NOTE: Time for a big Elvis ending...

I said Lord Jesus...please lead...lead the waaaaaaaaaaaaaay...Oh yeah

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well there ya have it...the curtain pulled back and look in the past of how Vinnie came into being. Sure... the collage shows a rubber Elvis head instead of Brylcream (less messy and easier to clean up)...it's been 30 years since Vinnie first made an appearance...but he can still ROCK...because he is still standing on THE ROCK.

Love and Rockin' Kisses
Rodney "Go Vinnie Go" Boyd

P.S.

Thanks Joel Oschele (spelled with love...even if it is wrong)for the use of the jaundice Elvis mask.