THE OUTLAW: Who Do You Say He Is?

Hello all of you far out and groovy people..right on.

Back in the late 60's and early 70's...there was a movement among young people. Woodstock was a half a million strong with three days of love, peace, and rock and roll...translated...sex, doing what I want without being hassled...and well...rock and roll. Woodstock took place on the east coast...and a few months later...out in San Fransico...the Rolling Stones tried to re-create the mood with a free concert at the Altamont Freeway. The only problem is...it failed. The mixture of alcohol...drugs...free love...the Hells Angels...and Sympathy for the Devil proved to be a potent elixer for death. The Beatles had proclaimed that all you need is love...and then they broke up (Readers Digest by Larry Norman 1072). This was the climate of a new movement afoot called THE JESUS MOVEMENT.

Disillusioned "hippies"...still had an emptiness that "freedom" did not fill. This movement was based on a single man...who died 2000 years earlier...and rose from the dead. His name...Jesus. It was not an isolated incident...it was spreading like wildfire around the world.

An issue of Time Magazine had an issue back on Monday, June 21, 1971...called THE NEW REBEL CRY: JESUS IS COMING. They quoted from a newpaper called the Hollywood Free Press...the counterculture newspaper for the Jesus Movement. They quoted from a drawing of a wanted poster. I have a copy of the poster in my possession. As you can see in the picture... Jesus is WANTED...like a common criminal. The small print reads this way:

WANTED...JESUS CHRIST: Alias: The Messiah, the Son of God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, etc.

--Notorious leader of an underground liberation movement
--Wanted for the following charges:

PRACTICING MEDICINE, WINEMAKING, AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION WITHOUT A LICENSE

INTERFERING WITH BUSINESSMEN IN THE TEMPLE

ASSOCIATING WITH KNOWN CRIMINALS, RADICALS, SUBVERSIVES, PROSTITUTES AND STREET PEOPLE

CLAIMING TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE PEOPLE INTO GOD'S CHILDREN

APPEARANCE: Typical hippie type--long hair, beard, robe, sandals

--Hangs around slum areas, few rich friends, often sneaks out into the desert

BEWARE: This man is extremely dangerous. His insidiously inflammatory message is particularly dangerous to young people who haven't been taught to ignore him yet. He changes men and claims to set them free.

WARNING: HE IS STILL AT LARGE

There were many symbols of the movement. The uplifted hand with the index finger extended pointing to the sky with the cry ONE WAY was popular. Jesus hung up...for your hangups was a good one. When you would meet someone...you would say, "He is risen." They would respond back, "He is risen...indeed."



One of the voices of the movement was Larry Norman. Larry was in a group called PEOPLE on the Capitol label...who had a hit with a remake of the song I LOVE YOU. At the pinnacle of their success...Larry dropped out...and went to the streets with his guitar in hand...and began to witness to masses about JESUS. He had one song called THE OUTLAW.. that described what various people were saying about this Jesus. The song is found on his album ONLY VISITING THIS PLANET one the Verve Label (One of the early distributers of The Beatles).

THE OUTLAW (Words and Music by Larry Norman 1972)

Some say he was an outlaw, that he roamed across the land
With a band of unschooled ruffians and a few old fishermen
No one knew just where he came from or exactly what he'd done
But they said it must be something bad that kept him on the run

Some say he was a poet, that he'd stand upon the hill
And his voice could calm and angry crowd or make the waves stand still
That He spoke in many parables, that few could understand
But the people sat for hours just to listen to this man

Some say he was a sorcerer, a man of mystery
He could walk upon the water, he could make a blind man see
That he conjured wine at weddings and did tricks with fish and bread
That he talked of being born again and raised people from the dead

Some say a politician who spoke of being free
He was followed by the masses on the shores of galilee
He spoke out against corruption and he bowed to no decree
And they feared his strength and power so they nailed him to a tree

Some say he was the son of God, a man above all men
But he came to be a servant and to set us free from sin
And that's who I believe he was, cause that's who I believe
And I think we should get ready cause it's time for us to leave

MATTHEW 16:13-19 (The Burning Question)

God came on the scene in the form of a little baby...in a little town...in a little country. He grew up...was anointed by the Holy Spirit...and began to go about in all Galilee, (1) teaching in their synagogues (2) proclaiming the good news of the kingdom (3) healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness amoung the people. The news begin to spread along with the speculation. WHO IS THIS GUY? Is this not the carpenter's son? It was not long before...this mystery man would be upsetting the "religious" people. He began to make outrageous claims of being on the same level of God...and worse than that the He was God. It was not the good that got Jesus crucified...it was His CLAIMS to be God in the flesh.

"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He gegans asking His disciples saying...WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT THE SON OF MAN IS?" (Matthew 15:13)

NOTE: The question is still being asked...who do YOU...say that Jesus is?

"And they said...some say John the Baptist...some say Elijah...and others, Jeremiah...or one of the prophets." (Matthew 16:14)

NOTE: The answers were based on the peoples hope of a Messiah...or a prophet...but Jesus next statement cuts to the crux of the matter...

"He said to them...But...WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?" (Matthew 16:15)

NOTE: The question was posed to "them"...but Peter answered.

"And Simon Peter answered and said...THOU ARE THE CHRIST...THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD." (Matthew 16:16)

NOTE: Good answer.

"And Jesus answered and said to him...blessed are you Simon Barjona...because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 16:17)

NOTE: Peter...had a revelation. It was not his intellect that got him the answer. The Pharisees and Sadducees had intellect and reason. It was not his religion that got him the correct answer. The land was filled with "religious people".. .in an organized system of religion. It was not a flesh and blood issue. It was a revelation issue.

QUESTION: What has your flesh and blood been saying about Jesus? What has your intellect come up with? What has your keen sense of reason and common sense told you about Jesus? Has Jesus offended your sensibilities to the point that you can't hear Him whisper to you.

The cause and effect of the revelation to Peter wa blessing. Jesus then points out...that you are petros (little stone)...upon this PETRA (massive rock)...I will build My church. The church was built on the revelation...that was not of Peter's own fabrication...that JESUS IS THE CHRIST...THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.

NOTE: When someone has this type of revelation...the gates of Hell cannot stand against or overpower the church. Everytime we get away from that revelation...that JESUS IS THE CHRIST...THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD...the gate begin to get stronger against the church...the assembly of people who have the same revelation.

Some say He was an OUTLAW...who do you say He is?

Love and One Way Kisses
Rodney "Only Visiting This Planet" Boyd

THE NEVERTHELESS/MOREOVER PRINCIPLE

Greetings Word Lovers. 2006 is rapidly closing...and 2007 is quickly opening. Over the past year...many words have flooded my mind...and a good many of those words have escaped out of my mouth. Some of those words were positive affirmations...some were negative confessions. Some of the words were a healing ointment...others were sharp blasts from the gun of my tongue.

My words were in agreement with something...either a bad report or a good report...just like the 12 spies...in Numbers 13...who were spying out the LAND that God was GIVING THEM TO POSSESS. They were not spying out to land to see if there was a possiblity that they MIGHT possess it IF all the conditions were favorable and JUST RIGHT.

No...they were sent in to see if what God had promised was not TRUE. They were also to be aware that there was opposition to the promise... but the reality...the positive...the good report was that they COULD TAKE THE LAND...that was already GIVEN TO THEM. The problem...was WORDS...in the form of a BAD REPORT. The were done in by the word NEVERTHELESS.

The 12 were selected and sent...the mission was accomplished...tangible evidence was brought back (in the form of grapes)...and the report of the mission was given.

"When they returned from spying out the land...at the end of forty days...they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to ALL the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; and they BROUGHT BACK WORD TO THEM and to ALL THE CONGREGATION...and showed them the fruit of the land. Thus they TOLD him and SAID...we went in to the land where you sent us; and it CERTAINLY DOES flow with mik and honey...and THIS IS ITS FRUIT."
(Numbers 13:25-27)

So far...so good. It is the next word that is crucial to the success or failure of their mission. The word? NEVERTHELESS. What the word nevertheless is saying is...Everything that God says about the promised land that he has already given us is true...but we choose to believe the enemy instead of God

"NEVERTHELESS...the people who live in the land are strong and the cities are fortified and very large." (Numbers 13:28)

The next word is another word that added to the nevertheless. That word was MOREOVER. Morever meant that not only is everything that we just negatively said is true...there is more to it. "MOREOVER... we saw the descendants of ANAK there...Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country...and the Cannanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.." (Numbers 13:29)

The CAUSE AND EFFECT of the negative report was FEAR...and caused an uproar of the people....to the point that Caleb...had to quiet the people. To counter the negative...the BAD REPORT ...Caleb spoke forth a positive word...a GOOD REPORT..."WE SHOULD BY ALL MEANS GO UP AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THE IT (the land) FOR WE SHALL SURELY OVERCOME IT." (Numbers 13:30)

The counterpoint to the positive was another negative word...

"But the men who had gone up with him said...we are NOT ABLE...to go up against the PEOPLE for they are too strong for us...so they gave out to the sons of Israel...A BAD REPORT of the land which they spied out SAYING The land through which we have gone, in spying it out...is a land that DEVOURS its inhabitants; and all the people whome we saw in it are MEN OF GREAT SIZE. There we also saw the Nephilim...the SONS OF ANAK are part of the Nephilim....and WE BECAME like GRASSHOPPERS in our OWN SIGHT...and so we were IN THEIR SIGHT." (Numbers 13:31-33)

Two people...Joshua and Caleb...lined up with the WORD OF GOD...10 lined up with THEIR FEARS...what they saw...what they imagined...what they SPOKE FORTH. They both lined up with WORDS...with two different MINDSETS. One mindset saw POSSESSION..of promised land...the other mindset saw being possessed...by what they feard. One mindset was in AGREEMENT WITH THE WORD OF GOD...the other mindset was in AGREEMENT with their fears. Verse 33 is the telling part of it...the 10 became like grasshoppers in their OWN SIGHT...and how they saw themselves...based on their fears...SO WE WERE IN THEIR (the enemy's) SIGHT.

The question is...what are you SPEAKING? Are you speaking out of fear...of your perceived reality...or are you SPEAKING words of faith based on the WORD OF GOD...or are you SPEAKING words of doubt and unbelief based on your fear and perception of how you...and your enemies see you?

What the ten SAW...was reality...but what they SPOKE was not. What the two SAW...was the same thing the ten saw...but they choose to SPEAK something different...the choose to speak truth instead of reality. It was not a denial of the reality...but faith. Truth trumps reality everytime.

This year...2007...is the YEAR OF THE WORD. This is the year to read the Word...hear the Word...believe the Word...speak forth the Word...and act on the Word. Take the NEVERTHELESS and the MOREOVER...that lines up with the negative...and turn it around for the positive. When reality screams...the economy is falling apart...the world is crumbling...my job is a dead end...my health is failing...DON'T DENY THE REALITY....but begin to read the Word of God and begin to CONFESS....begin to speak forth....NEVERTHELESS...my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus and MOREOVER...I will cast all my anxiety on Him for He cares for me...and as for me and my house we WILL SERVE THE LORD.

Love and GOOD REPORT KISSES
Rodney "Declaring the Year of the Word" Boyd

THE HOUND

Hello friends and neighbors...woof, woof...or in the words of The British Bulldog...grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...mate.

One of Elvis' big hits was a cover of a song by Big Mamma Thorton...Hound Dog. Steve Allen tried to calm down The Pelvis...by dressing him up in a tuxedo with no movement...and sing to a real hound dog.



Duane Chapman...Dog The Bounty Hunter... is always on the prowl...tracking down crack heads...meth users...bail jumpers. The team consisting of his sons Leland, Duane Lee, wife Beth, and Tim "Youngblood" Chapman, pursue the bad guys...and pray for them... and give them words of hope and encouragement...after they have intimidated them, thrown them to the ground, handcuffed them...and then turned them.





Sherlock Holmes and Watson...were pursuing the Hound of The Baskervilles...the legend that was manifesting itself...striking fear into the hearts as it roamed across the moors...howling it's howl of death. As our sleuths were pursing... the were becoming the pursued... because the HOUND is relentless.

Of course in the end...the hound was the fabricated tool to accomplish dasterdly deeds. What was feared would be shadows and trickery.


In 1980...the Christian Rock group DANIEL AMOS...released a cutting edge album called HORRENDOUS DISK. They had deviated from their country rock...and created an album with a zing. On this album was a song called THE HOUND OF HEAVEN. It went a little something...like this:

He got lost...among the stars
Hollywood flash...cash..mansions and cars
Deep sea diver...lear jet flyer...will this thing go to the moon?
Give me elbow room...and for heaven's sake TAKE THIS ACHING AWAY

You can't run...you can't hide from the HOUND OF HEAVEN
You're free to choose...can you refuse
THE SEEKER OF SOULS

The Motown group THE TEMPTATIONS...had already warned us in their song...BALL OF CONFUSION... that You can run...run...run...but you sure can't hide.

Daniel Amos' inspiration for their song about the pursing HOUND...came from a poem by FRANCIS THOMPSON...called THE HOUND OF HEAVEN. Mr. Thompson was a former opium addict who understood what it was to be hounded...by (1) addiction (2) the one who could free you from addictions.

The first few lines states:

I fled Him...down the nights and donw the days...I fled Him...down the arches of the years...I fled Him...down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind; and in the midst of tears I hid from Him...and under running laughter....

The HOUND OF HEAVEN is a metaphor for the pursuit of God...the tracking of Jesus...the HOUNDING of the Holy Spirit...who never forces us to succumb against our volition (free will)...but is ever in pursuit. He never gives up. Jesus came in pursuit all the way from His heavanly glory...down to earth in the form of incarnated God...in the form of a baby. The true meaning of Christmas is the HOUND OF HEAVEN...in the manager along with sheep and cows.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh how I ran from the hound over the years. Hiding out beneath the callous, rough exterior of arrogance...hiding out in the guise of a jokster, making light of everything to hid the hurt...hiding out in the sarcastic, cutting edge of my tongue as I cut everyone down in my sight to take the emphasis off of my fears and inadequacies. I hid as I point out all of the inconsistencies of organized religion and the hype of the hypocrite. I ran as I became numb with the drug of choice, or snorted the latest chemical...or anesthisized myself with food, alchohol, good works...anything so I would not here the running footsteps behind me or the breath of the HOUND down my neck.

Where could I go to escape the love of this HOUND?

"Who shall separate you from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, For thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. BUT in ALL these things...we OVERWHELMINGLY CONQUER (more than conquerers) through HIM who LOVED US. For I am convinced that neithe (1) death (2) nor life (3) no angels (4) no principalities (5) no things present
(6) nor things to come (7) nor powers (8) nor height (9) nor depth
(10) nor any other created thing...shall separate us from the love of God...which is IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD" (Romans 8:35-39)

He was pursuing me...I found Him...but he was not the one who was lost. It really is true...you can't run...you can't hide...from the HOUND OF HEAVEN.

Mooey CHRISTmas
Rodney "Do you hear the Laugh of Love" Boyd

IT'S A WONDERFUL ZOE

Seasons Greetings...all of you ZOE LOVERS. It really is a wonderful ZOE.

QUESTION: What does Noel Paul Stookey (and Paul from Peter Paul and Mary)...Wayne Berry (Creative Arts Pastor as S.A.)...and Rodney Boyd (me) have in common?

ANSWER: They all are over 50 years of age. They all play guitar. They all "love rock and roll music". They all love Jesus Christ with a passion. They all love the movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

ZOE: Greek for life: English for words like zoo and zoology. It is used in the New Testament of life as a principle, life in the absolute sense, life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself (John 5:26), and which the Son manifested in the world (I John 1:2). "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy...I (Jesus) came that they might have ZOE...and might have it (ZOE) ABUNDANTLY." (John 10:10)

BIOS: Greek for life: English for geginning. Use in three respects. (1)of the period or duration of life ie. the time past of our life. (2) MANNER of life in regard to it's moral conduct (3) the means of life, livelihood, maintenance, living.

NOTE: While ZOE is life intensive...BIOS is live extensive. ZOE does not possess. Zoe is the nobler word expressing as it continually does, all the highest and best which the saints possess in God.

Thanx and a Tip O' Da Hat to Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words for the definitions. I only know a little Greek...and his name is Aristotle.

The movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE...is one of those slices of Americana life....from Frank Capra. In this season of the hubbub, the hoopla, the hoi-paloy...milling shoppers' shivering spending glow...things somehow become a little more clear. When I coing home from work...I sometimes go the backroads. There is a hill called Windrow Hill that I have to go down to get to my house. As I travel up the hill...the road begins to curve to the right...and suddenly...I am at the crest of the hill... ready for my descent to the waiting arms of my family. What always strikes me...especially during this time of the year...is how CLEAR everything is ...with the cold, crisp, winter air...with the leaves off of the trees...and at night. It strikes me how CLEAR everything is wehn I look out over the city of Mufreesboro. I am at a vantage point where the Johnnie Nash principle comes into play as I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW.

I can see the light stretching out over the city for miles and miles. I realize how the lights represent every aspect of the city and the surrounding area. It represents commerce, activity...and most of all PEOPLE...with lives...with BIOS...and I wonder about their ZOE.

One thing that brings me back to some perspective in my life is the movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. To some a smaltzy...false view of life.. but to me I personally like a a little smaltz in my life. Could ya pass the SMALTZ and PEPPA please. The movie first appeared in 1946...and was not a smash...but over the years...it has become a tradition. It stars Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, and Gloria Graham (along with many others).

NOTE: This movie is not the ZOE in my life. That would be Jesus...but Hollywood...once again...unwittingly... has become a tool that points me back to my Lord.

The opening sequence alone is worth the price of admission. It starts off with prayers ascending from the lips...and hearts of the people of Bedford Falls for a man in trouble...named George Bailey. The lights of the town are about become personified. Here's how it starts in a book that was adapted formt he movie:

"Like most miracles...it started with a PRAYER. One prayer, then another, and another, and another. The prayers from Bedford Falls that night...went up for a man...George Bailey."

From Gower's Drugstore: "I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him dear Father."

From Martini's bar and restaurant: "Joseph, Jesus and Mary, help my friend Mr. Bailey."

A mother's prayer: "Help my son George tonight..."

And the cop on the beat: "He never things about himself God...that's why he's in trouble."

From Bedford Falls Garage: "George is a good guy...give him a break God.

And from a near by house, George's home, a young wife's voice: "I love him, dear Lord...watch over him tonight."

Then a little girl's voice: "Please God...somethings the matter with Daddy."

NOTE: This is from Ruminatin' Rod...not the book. In the movie...as these prayers are going forth from the mouths of these people...the camera begins to pan upward...as if the prayers are ascending up into the air...and suddenly the stars begin to twinkle as there starts a conversation between some angels...or as the book puts it..."celestial dialougue." Now back to the book.

"Hello Joseph. Trouble? Yes, Franklin. Looks like we'll have to send someone down. A lot of people are ASKING FOR HELP for a man named George Bailey. George Bailey? Yes, tonight's HIS CRUCIAL NIGHT. Your're right. We'll have to send someone down immediately. Whose turn is it."

NOTE: At this point they send for a clockmaker named Clarence who they say has the "IQ of a rabbit...but the faith of a child...simple" Clarence arrives for his orders. Back to the book.

"Your sent for me sir? Yes Clarence, Franklin said. A man down on earth NEEDS our HELP. Splendid! Clarence exclaimed...is he sick. No, worse, Franklin explained. HE'S DISCOURAGED. At exactly 10:45 P.M. that man will be thinking seriously of throwing away God's greatest gift. Oh dear...dear...Clarence cried...HIS LIFE!" (zoe/bios)

NOTE: That sets the tone for the movie. The rest of the movie traces Georges life, his circumstances that seem to not be connected...and then a major event that sends him to the point of HOPELESSNESS. it then picks up with the intervention of Clarence. The bottom line is when George comes to the realization that...thoughout his life...he has touched people...and he is able to see what LIFE would have been like if he had not been born...and how peoples lives would have been altered...for the WORSE...if he was not around.
It is a great movie that helps me to refocus on living my life out for the Lord. Being obedient to Him...and hopefully allowing Him to touch others through me...and as He states in the Gospels...when you do something to the least of these...you do it to Him.

BUT...what God places in my mind about this movie...is not only...realizing that we do count in this life...BUT...what would this world be like...IF JESUS CHRIST DID NOT EXIST. What if the Word...who was in the beginning...who was with God...who WAS GOD...and who BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US (John 1:1-14/I Cor. 14:1-5). What if in 1970...when I was depressed and overwhelmed with hopeless... with suicidal thoguths...when I was drinking to excess to numb my emotions in the guise of being social (but in reality a social drunk)...taking drugs...sniffing various chemicals...thinking only about myself to the point of being paranoid...WHAT IF...Brenda never was a Christian...because there never was a Christ...so she never would have led me to the Lord...because there was no Lord to be led to...you get the idea.

If there was no Christ...no Brenda...no Rodney...you would be reading somethings else. HOWEVER...there was a Jesus...who was born on what we now call CHRISTMAS day...and He grew up to become the Savior of the world...and in obedience lowered Himself to the point of death on a cross...so that Brenda could lead me to the Lord...and I could accpet what Jesus did with the Death, Burial and Resurrection (nothing more, nothing less)...I I could be changed...from an OLD CREATION to a NEW CREATION IN CHRIST...and I would no longer serve myself...but serve Him...to please Him (II Corinthians 5:7-21...and Hebrews 11:6). I am a better man because of what Jesus did...and this world is better of with the NEW ME verses the OLD ME...and I am better off with the NEW YOU versus the OLD YOU.

It really is a WONDEFUL ZOE...IF....

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays

Rodney "Pass the SMALTZ please" Boyd

THE QUIZ

Tell me the connection betwen Gilligan and Frank Faylen (the taxi driver in the movie).

What movie was Clarence the angel in that was advertised on th movie marquee of the movie theater?

What T.V. show did Bert the Cop star in in the 50's/60's?

What movie did Bert the Cop play a priest?

When Uncle Billy exited off screen...and you heard a crash with Uncle Billy exclaiming I'm Alright...I'm Alright...what really happened?

What ominous object is seen on Mr. Potters desk?

What three things did Mary and George give the Martinez' when they moved into their new home?

What was the angelic rank of Clarence?

What was Mary and George's song?

Which ear did Mr. Gower smack and become George's bad ear?

What Little Rascal...opened up the swimming pool floor with a key?

What is your favorite Christmas Movie or Song?

Write me back...and let me know.

THE HOLY GHOST EMISSIONS TEST 2006

Good Morning Braniacs...it's TEST TIME! We have been talking about CALIBRATION....TESTING OURSELVES TO SEE IF WE ARE IN THE FAITH...EXAMINING OURSELVES...RECOGNIZING OURSELVES...THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU...UNLESS YOU FAIL THE TEST. (II Corinthians 13:5) In preparation for the test...take some time and (1) present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice (2) do not be conformed to this world (fit into it's mold/mindset) (3) be transformed, changed, metamophised by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. (Romans 12:1-2)

We are called to STUDY to show Thyself approved...unto God...a workman that needeth not to be ashamed...rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15).

IT'S TEST TIME

Rate yourself with the rating scale:

1=Never
2=Sometimes
3=Occasional
4=Frequently
5=Always
Answer with your first instinct and don't try to reason or justify yourself.


HOLY GHOST EMISSIONS TEST (2006)
(I Peter 1:13-I Peter 3:12)

__Mind girded for action
__Sober in your spirit
__Hope fixed completely on the grace to be brough at the revelation of Jesus Christ
__Not conformed to your former lusts
__Holy in all your behavior
__Purified your soul for a sincere love of the brethren
__Conducting yourselves in fear from your time of stay on the earth
__Fervently loving one another from the heart
__Have put aside all malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy and all slander
__Longing for the pure milk of the Word
__Abstaining from the fleshly lusts which wage war against your soul
__Keeping your behavior excellent among the Gentiles
__Your good deeds are observable for the slandering evildoers to see
__Submitted to every human institution ie. king, governor, etc.
__Doing right
__Acting as free men

TEST BREAK: How are you doing so far. Do you feel like Einstein or Alfred? Take a deep breath...and continue.

__Not using freedom as a covering for evil
__Honoring all men
__Loving the brotherhood
__Fearing God
__Using your freedom as a bondslave (willing servant)
__Submissive to UNREASONABLE masters
__Bearing up under sorrows when suffering UNJUSTLY
__Patiently enduring suffering even when you DON'T deserve it
__Follwing in the example/steps of Jesus
__Not committing sin
__No deceit found in your outh
__Not reviling in return when reviled
__Not uttering threats when suffering
__Continuing to entrust yourself to God in the face of UNDESERVED THREATS
__Letting your behavior be your witness to lost loved ones or co-workers
__Behavior is observable to be chaste and respectful
__Letting the hidden person of the heart speak
__Living with your wife in an UNDERSTANDING WAY
__Granting your wife HONOR as a FELLOW-HEIR of the grace of life
__Prayers NOT hindered as a result of not following the last two items
__You are letting (allowing) all to be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, humble in spirit
__You are NOT returning evil for evil or insult for insult
__You ARE giving a blessing when you are given evil or an insult
__You are inheriting a blessing (this is what the very purpose that you were called)
__You are REFRAINING your TONGUE from evil and your lips from speaking guile
__You are seeking peace and pursuing it

YIKES!!!!!!!! Can it be that I am not as perfect as I thought I was? What BOOGERHEAD thought up this test? How could I fall so short of the glory of God? (Romans 3:23)

Well....there you have it.. Are you glad that it is not a PASS/FAIL test...but just QUIZ that old Rod made up? Are you not glad that rod is not GOD? Don't get discouraged if your rating is LOW...just say Lord...here are my strengths...and here are my weakensses...now BLESS THIS MESS...MERCY...HELP ME.

If we would periodically take an inventory...self-check...calibrate with the standard (the Word of God)...and then fine tune...re-adjust...re-calibrate our spiritual lives...we might avoid alot of the pitfalls that we either blame on the devil...or wonder why everything always happens to me.

NEXT TIME: It's A Wonderful SOZO

Love and A+ Kisses
Rod "Does Someone Have a #2 Pencil" Boyd

THIS IS A TEST...IT'S ONLY A TEST...IN THE CASE..OF A REAL EMERGENCY...YOU WILL BE INSTRUCTED...

Greetings and Saluatations to all. Have you failed a test lately? Are you bummed out? Well...just because you failed a test...does not mean that you are a failure. In our last Rambling... we talked about how we need to be periodically CALIBRATED... to make sure we are UP TO STANDARD...for the maximum operating potential. We do it with cars...oxygen equipment...physical checkups...why not our SPIRITUAL LIFE.

"Caaaaaalibraaation come on let's calibrate and have a good time"
(Sung to the tune of Celebration by Kool and the Gang)

"Calibrate...Calibrate...dance to the music" (Sung to the tune of Celebrate by Three Dog Night)

"We gotta Calibrate this heartbeat." (Sung to the tune of Celebrate This Heartbeat by Randy Stonehill)

When you are sitting back enjoying an evening of T.V...when you least expect it...a testing of the Emergency Broadcasting System comes on to check the system. A loud noise comes on...the picture changes to something other than your favorite sit-com...and an ominous voice proclaims that...THIS IS A TEST... IT IS ONLY A TEST...IN THE CASE OF A REAL EMERGENCY YOU WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO TURN TO SOME FREQUENCY ON YOUR RADIO. Then after 60 seconds...you return to your regular programming. I know I feel safer.

IT'S TEST TIME!!!! "TEST yourselves to see if you are IN THE FAITH; EXAMINE yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that JESUS CHRIST is in you...unless you FAIL THE TEST. (II Corinthians 13:5)

If only I had examined myself...I could have avoided years of heartache... not only for myself...but for all the people that I touch in my life. (more of this to follow in future Ramblings about It's A Wonderful Sozo)

Every year we have to go to the Emissions Testing Center...to have our cars tested to make sure that we have the proper amount of pollutants coming out of our tailpipes. It is a PASS/FAIL system. If you pass...you can get your care registration...if you fail...TRY AGAIN. Yo then take your car to a mechanic who will TWEEK you care and you go back and hopefully you will PASS...or you will go onto the interstate...and drive 120 MPH with the hopes that something will jar loose and you can pass. Of course you risk the chance of being pulled over by the police for going 120 MPH...and paying a hefty fine on top of your emissions check.

Back in the 50's and 60's...we would have Atomic Bomb Test Drills...when we would receive a signal...and we would crawl under our desk in a ball in the case of an attack. This was pre-911 attack and never dreamed that a test like this would be needed.

In previous Ramblings...Pre-Blog... I have written about how important it is for us to test ourselves to see if we are IN THE FAITH...versus...being OUT OF THE FAITH. I sent out the HOLY GHOST EMISSIONS TEST 2000. It is time for the revised HOLY GHOST EMISSIONS TEST 2006 (almost 2007).

Before you take the test UNDERSTAND THIS...it is only a test...in the case of a real spiritual emergency...you will be instructed to run to the Lord as quickly as you can.

DISCLAIMER AND WARNINGS

1. This is not desinged to make you feel BAD about where you in your
walk with the Lord.

2. There is none righteous...no not one (Romans 3:10)

3. It is only an indicator that points out areas where we need to tighten
up our walk.

4. You...in your own flesh...can't do it. You need the help of the Holy
Spirit.

5. I personally am perfect and came out with 100% on the test. There is
no need for you to write me and point out my shortcomings.

DISCLAIMERS AND WARNINGS #2

Keep in mind that the ONLY WAY that you could possibly DO any of thes things found in the check list would to: (1) Be Super-Saint...able to leap tall sins with a single bound...specially endowed with powers to be perfect far beyond those of normal men/women. (2) Step out in FAITH...and if you blow it, lean heavily on the GRACE and MERCY of God. After all that's how you ENTERED/STARTED this thing in the first place...by FAITH...are you so FOOLISH to think that you can FINISH IT by WORKS? (Galatians 3:1-5)

TEST MATERIALS

This test is taken from I Peter 1:13 through I Peter 3:12. It is a powerful testament to the PROACTIVE stance that we take as believers. This checklit is taken from these verses as ACTION VERBS..that are the RESPONSIBILITY of the BELEIVER (that would be you and me) to DO.

There was...and still is...an expectation that the believers...were to live differently than the use to live before they made Jesus Lord of their lives.
The Holy Spirit is the Helper...we are the DOERS...as we read the Word and step out to DO...the Holy Spirit will come along side to HELP. In the words of the Beatles...HELP...I need somebody...HELP...not just anybody...HELP...you know I need someone...HEEELP!!!

If we fall...get forgiveness an continue on until He comes again.

NEXT TIME: THE HOLY GHOST EMISSIONS TEST 2006

Love and Well Tested Kisses (no toxins)

Rodney "Tested and Tried" Boyd

THE CALIBRATION CONNECTION

Greetings Oh Ye Calibrated Ones...how's your settings.

CALIBRATE: (1) To ascertain the caliber of (2) to determine, rectify, or mark the graduations of (as a thermometer tube) (3) to standardize (as a measuring instrument) by determining the DEVIATION from a STANDARD so as to ASCERTAIN the proper CORRECTION factors (4) to ADJUST precisely for a particular FUNCTION (5) to measure precisely; especially: to measure against a STANDARD

CALIBRATION: (1) the act of calibrating (2) the state of being of being calibrated (3) a set of graduations to indicate value or positions.

Have you been SPIRITUALLY CALIBRATED lately? As we walk out this thing we call FAITH...sometimes we find ourselves getting off the path. Sometimes we slowly drift away from our faith as we slowly become accustomed to the old ways of our lives. We don't realize it is happening but we tend to let our guard down...and before we know it...we are back in the same mess of a life than before we were Christians. Readers of the Ramblings....know well the trials and tribulations of ole Rod...who ended up in a worse condition before I was a Christian. I did not wake up one day...and say to myself..."Rod...I think today...I will ruin my life. Rod.. today is the first day of the rest of my life...so I think I want the rest of my life to suck. Rod...I remember how much fun it was to be so out of control of my life...that my friends would pee in my toilet...while my head was in it and let me continue to puke in the toilet while they did not flush." No it was not an immediate thing...this FAITH FAILURE...that happened to me in 1972...just two years after my life changing salvation experience. It was a gradual process. It is like cooking a frog. I was walking out FROG FAITH. If you want to cook a frog...DO NOT drop a live frog into a bubbling, boiling, hot pot of water. WHY? Because the frog will hop immediately out of the DEATH POT. What you need to DO is to put the frog in nice, comfortable cold water...let him acclimate...and then slowly turn up the heat...and before he realizes that he is FROG STEW....he becomes an entree at the New Orleans manner...hmmm taste like chicken.

The same thing for the Christian. It is as it says in the Song of Solomon... the little foxes that spoils the vineyard. It is like Jill Coble...one of the Chief Ruminators...when she was slowly edging down to the edge of the Amazon River...to join us for a swim...and as she got closer to the edge... the slippier it got...and she was in the Amazon with the rest of us pirannahs before we knew it.

What is the dividing line between FAITH... and FAILURE for the believer?

THE CALIBRATION CONNECTION. We need to consistently take our SPIRITUAL TEMPERATURE...to see if we are up to the STANDARD. There are companies in the world that make big bucks...making sure equipment is up to standard. They provide in-house laboratories where PRIMARY and WORKING STANDARDS are ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. I must say that I do not ROUTIENLY MAINTAIN my walk with the Lord like I need.

The scope of CALIBRATION SERVICES provideds CERTIFIED CALIBRATION for the following categories of electronic test and measurement equipment: amplifiers, attntuators, audio analyzers, avionics test equipment, communications service monitors, counters, logic analyzers, meters, network analyzers, oscilloscopes, power meters, power supplies, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, thermometers.

A certificate of calibration is provided with each calibration.

In the next few Ramblings...we will take a look at what we can utilize for our SPIRITUAL CALIBRATION SERVICES...so that we can become certified.

Love and Kisses
Rod "Some Say Truly Certifiable" Boyd

ROCKIN' ROD'S RECORD REVIEW

Ho Ho Ho...lets rock around that ole Christmas Tree. Tis da season to place that needle on the old vinyl grooves and get into the spirt of the season...and one of the best projects that I could recommend is Bruce Cockburn's CHRISTMAS. This is not your run of the mill smaltzy album that every singer known to mankind has put out. It has a flavor of its own...that is mighty tasty to the seasonal palate.

Not everybody will enjoy this project. My friend the British Bulldog (woof, woof) has given it an emphatic three fingers down...and has declared that this is the worst Christmas album known in the free world...and beyond. NOTE: Don't worry Red...CLR is alive and well. He has placed the CD in his microwave and made the sparks fly as it has curled up into a nice ashtray. Oh well...as Rick Nelson said in his classic GARDEN PARTY..."You can't please everyone...so you got to please yourself.".

Cockburn has taken traditional...and non-traditional songs from the Original Latin title of O Com, All Ye Faithful...entitled Adeste Fidelis...to the racous Early On One Christmas Morn...recored by The Cottentop Mountain Sanctified Singers in 1929...to the Spanish composition in the villanciao genre' from the 16th century of Riu Riu Chiu (that translate to "one born today is actually his mother's father...and the one who created her is said to be her son.) Now this is what I called ecclectic.

One of my favorite songs is GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN... commonly misquoted as God rest ye, Merry Gentlemen. The emphasis is on how the gentlemen should rest...and that would be MERRY.

NOTE: Years ago...a bunch of manly men...including Ole Rockin' Rod... performed a dance at our church using Cockburn's God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen as our music. On Wednesday nights at Smyrna Assembly... Claudia Peterson...leader/servant of Praise In Motion...has a class for the guys...on dance. If you have a dance in your heart and skip in your step... come on...and DANCE.

I guess what may throw people off is that all of these songs are not joyous even to the point of being morose...but when you think about how the birth was the entrance way for the suffering Messiah...the twinge of prophetic sadness is the precursor of the joy to come...much like Jesus did...

"Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us...let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entagles us...and let us run with the endurance the race that is set before us...fixing our eyes on JESUS...the author and perfecter of faith...who for the JOY SET BEFORE HIM...endured the cross...despising the shame.. and has sat down at the right hand of God. For consider Him (Jesus) who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself...so that you may not grow WEARY...and LOSE HEART." (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Soooooooooo....put on your favorite Christmas music...get the warm fuzzys going...get in the "Christmas Spirit"...but don't overlook this gem in the midst of the hoopla...BRUCE COCKBURN CHRISTMAS.

This is Rockin' Rod...spinning the platters that and playing the tunes...that I want to hear. Keep your ears open...and you lips smiling until next time.

Love and Ecclectic Kisses
Rocking "55 and Still Rockin" Rod

ELEMENTARY MY DEAR WATSON

Greetings all of you spiritual sleuths...the games afoot. My Canadian friend Red... loves Sherlock Holmes...and so do I . I tend to like the Basil Rathbone version from the old movies. Even though Watson is seen more as bumbling, comic relief...versus the more intellectual chronicler of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes...this is my choice of the genre'.

Holmes approaches the mysteries from deductive reasoning. Deducing is tracing the course or derivation of and to infer by logical reasoning; reason out or conclude from known facts or general priniciples. (Websters) Inductive reasoning is a study method where something is observed...interpreted...and then applied. In our quest for the things of God...we meld both of these methods of reasoning to come to a conclusion...Elementary my dear seeker of the truth.


Although Holmes is the primary genius of the search for truth...he had a faithful companion who went with him on the adventures. We as believers need each other as we become pilgrims. The disciples were sent out two by two...as a cord bound together...strengthened.

As you read the Word...ask: who, what, when, where, why, how questions.

(1) Observation...helps us to take a passage, verse, chapter...and see what it PRECISELY SAYS. (2) Interpretation...answers the questions...what does it mean. (3) Application...answers the question...what does it mean to me...PERSONALLY. How can I take these truths and make them practical for MY LIFE. As these three keys come into alignment...the tumblers click and we are transformed and develop a meaningful relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

NOTE: Precept Ministries and Kay Arthur are excellent resources for Inductive Bible Study materials.

Now...the SEARCH is on. Not only are you to search...but God is also searching...seeking... and when to two find each other...LOOK OUT.

"As for you,, my son Solomon...know the God of your father and served Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord SEARCHES all hearts, and understand every INTENT of the thoughts. If you SEEK Him, He will LET you FIND Him, but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." (I Chronicles 28:9) It starts with the attitude factore...(1) know (2) serve (3) whole heart (4) willing mind.

Notice that the Lord is SEARCHING...and Solomon is to SEEK Him. The Lord understands the INTENTIONS...INTENT of true seekers and not those who are playing games. God will allow true seekers to find Him. Those who play the game...rejection. NOTE: Don't worry...if you are still concerned...his mercy and grace is still extended. I played games...and even returned to my old ways...and God welcomed me back with open arms. There is still time.

Another aspect of this seeking/searching...is the willingness to allow God a peek into our secret place. He wants an invitation from us..."SEARCH me...O God...and KNOW my anxious THOUGHTS...and see if there be any HURFUL WAY in me...and LEAD ME...in the EVERLASTING WAY.
(Psalm 139:23) What are your anxious thoughts....what are your hurtful ways in you. Do you want to wallow in those ways...or do you want to be LEAD out into the everlasting way? As with everything in the kindgom... God will allow you to do what you want to do...ie. choose life...choose death...choose blessing...choose curse. Some may say...Who would choose death or curse...but the sad fact is...that we do it everyday...and wonder WHY is my life such a mess...or why am I feeling so depressed.

The answers to His truths...are found in His Word. The Word of God is like a stream filled with gold nuggets for the taking...we just have to get in the stream...and begin to pan...filter out the junk...and get the nuggets.

"And you do not have His word abiding in you...for you do not believe Him whom He sent...You SEARCH the Scriptures...because you think that in them you have eternal life...and it is these that bear witness of Me...and you are unwilling to come to Me...that you may have life."
(John 5:38-40) The search is on...but search with right attitude...

The games afoot Watson...The Hound of Heaven is on the prowl...You can't run...you can't hide from the Hound of Heaven.

Love and Elementary Kisses
Rod "Searching and Seeking" Boyd

MERRY CHRISTmas and HAPPY HOLYdays

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays. In a politically correct charged world...and a world that is overwhelmed by the greedy commercialization of the season...I want to offer to you the REASON for the SEASON. It's not all for the children...but for the world.

Christmas...is the celebration of the entrance of the Savior of the world. God chose to use a small town...in a small country...through improbable circumstances and situations to allow a KING to be born in a very unkingly like place.

I personally like the trappings of Christmas. I like the songs...the movies...the gift giving...the tree trimming...the feast...the peace on earth good will towards men attitude that some people adopt at least once a year. I love a sip of egg nog...lights on the tree...candy canes...a bowl of mixed nuts and a nutcracker close by...the tensil, wreaths, presents under the tree, the joy on the face of a child, the mystery, the feeling...yes and even the old fat, jolly, Santa Claus (really a representation of St. Nicholas).

It is sad that a few non-believers...in the incarnation of God in the flesh...Jesus the living Word...would try to X out Christ (XMAS).

NOTE: XMAS is not in reality taking Christ out of the Word. The X is the first letter of Christ in the Greek language...but for many...it does X out Christ out of the name of the Christ Mass.

From a purely secular point of view...the merchants had better bring Christ back into Christmas...because Hannaka and Kwanza...or any other "holiday" you want to throw in...will not translate in to cash flow.

Back in the early days of the JESUS MOVEMENT (late 60's and early 70's)...there was guy named RANDY STONEHILL who had a song called CHRISTMAS SONG FOR ALL YEAR 'ROUND. If you get a chance... give it a listen. It expresses the sentiment of this Rambling. Hey...come on over to the house for a cup of nog...and we'll give it a listen.

CHRISTMAS SONG FOR ALL YEAR ROUND

I wonder if this Christmas...they'll begin to understand

The Jesus that they celebrate is much more than a man

Cause the way the world is I don't see how people can deny

The only way to save us was for Jesus Christ to die

And I know that if Saint Nicholas was here...he would agree

That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me

They led him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary

And mankind was forgiven...when they nailed Him to a tree

But most of all the children...they're the ones I hope will learn

That Jesus is our Saviour and He's going to return

And Christmas isn't just a day...and all days aren't the same

Perphaps they''' think about the word and see it spells His name

So Merry Christmas...Merry Christmas...Merry Christmas

I wonder if this Christmas...they'll begin to understand?

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays to you and yours.

Love and HOLY Kisses

Rodney "Ho Ho Holydays" Boyd

WHAT IS A MAN?

Greetings from the land where...according to the Three Stooges... MEN are MEN...and the WO-MEN are glad of it. Woo, Woo, Woo...me, me, me...sointanly. Some would say that if you look up the word man in the dictionary..you would find a picture of John Wayne...or at the very least Clint Eastwood.

Webster's Dictionary defines man as: (1) a human being; person; specifically-- (a) a primate having an erect stance, an apposable thumb, the ability to make and use specialized tool, articulate speech, and a highly developed brain with the faculty of abstract thought: the only living species of a worldwide family (b) any member of several extinct species of this family, as Neanderthal man. (2) the human race; mankind (3) an adult male human being (4) a husband or lover (5) A person with qualities conventionally regarded as MANLY such as strength, courage, etc. (6) An adult male, sometimes a boy (6) Synonym: see The RuMANator/Rodney Boyd.

In I Thessalonians 5:23...we see that man seems to be comprised of:

(a) spirit [pneuma-breath] (b) soul [psyche-mind, volition, emotions]
(c) body [soma-flesh, blood, bones, etc.]

Ben Kinchlow writes on the back of Ed Cole's book...MAXIMIZED MANHOOD..."Being a MALE is a matter of birth. Being a MAN is a matter of choice." NOTE: There are a lot of 21 + males...who have not yet chosen to be a MAN. Chronologically they may be categorized as MAN...but emotionally, spiritually...they are little babies.

Everyone has their own concept of what a man is and what a man is not. The picture with this Rambling use to be found on the back pages of comic books to entice skinny, scrawny little boys (like I use to be)...to become a MAN...by bulking up their muscles. This was before the phrase "six pack" was coined in reference to rippling abs. Now instead of a 6 pack we either have...or are working on a "KEG". Instead of a HUNK... we become CHUNKS...like a chunk of coal...with a diamond forming under pressure. WHAT IS A MAN?

Hollywood...would have us believe...that a man is a good looking, rugged, suave, debonier, cigarette smoking, lady-killing man in the form of John Wayne...Humphrey Bogart...Clark Gable...Gary Cooper...or now days...George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Johnny Deep, etc. Here are a few concepts of what a man is that I gleaned from the MAN IN THE STREET. These are someone's opinion...and does not reflect the writer of this Rambling.

POLL OF MEN/MALES AT MY WORK

NOTE: This poll may be skewed by boys trying to be funny...but some...are sincere.

1. "You ain't a man...until you had a woman."
2. "When you can hold you liquor."
3. "What do you say to a woman with two black eyes? Nothing...you
already told her twice."
4. "When you are financially secure..and can support your woman."
5. "When you have fathered a child."
6. "When you have your situation at home under control."
7. "When the woman...submits to me."
8. "It's based on the size of your physical anatomy."
9. "When you can please a women...then you are a man."
10. "When you treat a woman like a queen."

There are all kinds of reasons that males think they are men.

YOU MAY THINK YOU'RE A MAN IF:

You go to Hooters and you think that the waitress is really interested in you instead of a tip. NOTE: They don't show cleavage and smile and laugh at your inane leering jokes...because the like you.

You call a 900 number...and the voice on the other end tells you things you want to here. NOTE: 1-900-Give Me Your Money

You go out and get drunk with the boys. NOTE: women and children can get drunk just like a man. Stupidity is not limited to gender or chronological age.

You can hold your liquor...or maybe how long you can drink without liver damage. NOTE: Otis the drunk on Andy Griffith is funny...real life drunks are not. Drunks are funny until they start beating a woman...or abusing verbally and emotionally. NOTE to the NOTE: Some men like to use intimidation to get people to sumbit, back down...or place them under control.

If you can father a child. Funny how fathering is downgraded as the act of reproduction. NOTE: A boy...coming of age can send sperm down for egg contact.

If you take a Biblical Principle like a wife submitting to her husband...and rationalize that as the reason you run your home with an iron fist. NOTE: You conveniently look over the command in the same passage for you to love your wife like CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH. Christ...laid out his arms and allowed nails to be driven through His hands. Are you arms stretched out for your wife? Have you died to yourself...so you can live for Him...by loving her?

If you make lots and lots of money. NOTE: Money can't buy happiness...but it can make misery and lonliness comfortable.

If you are really smart with lots of degrees. NOTE: You can go to your college and go to your school...but if you don't know Jesus...you're and educated fool. (Demonination Blues)

If you look at pornography and appreciated the beauty of the naked body.
NOTE: Preteens can log on to a porn site and lust just as good as MAN.

NOTE to the NOTE: I have heard men say...that if God did not want me to look and lust after women...then He would not have created me this way. I'm just doing what comes naturally. Question: Does that same logic go for beastiality, pedophiles...serial killers? If I am angry...and I murder you...can I say...Well if God did not want me to get angry and kill someone...then He would not have created me with a temper?

THE BIBLICAL PATTERN OF A MAN

"Then God said, 'Let us make MAN in OUR image, according to OUR likeness; let THEM have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created MAN in His OWN image; in the image of GOD He created him; MALE and FEMALE He created THEM." (Genesis 1:27,28) NOTE: This image...was from the IMAGination of God.

"And the Lord God formed a MAN of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life (1st CPR) and MAN became a LIVING BEING/SOUL." (Genesis 2:7)

"...But for Adam there was not found a HELPER comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from MAN he made into a WOMAN, and He brought her to MAN. And Adam said, 'This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called WOMAN because she was taken out of MAN. Therefore a MAN shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his WIFE, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the MAN and his WIFE, and were not ashamed." (Genesis 2:20-25)

If we believe the Biblical account of the ROOTS of MAN...then we see that man/woman is a created being...with the original jump start of life being the rushing wind of the breath of God inflating our lungs. We see that we were created in His image out of lumps of formed dust/clay. We see that woman was comparable to MAN...and was a HELP not a hindrance...and we see that BOTH of them were given dominion over creation.

If you don't believe the Biblical account...then we were part of a cosmic accident...a product of the BIG BANG...from goo to you by way of the zoo...and that the dynamic difference between man and woman and animal is probably an evolutionary roll of the dice. I don't know what takes more faith...believing in God as a Creator...or look around you and explaine it by a THEORY of evolution. Hmmmmmmm...big band...slime in the ocean...crawl up on shore...sprout arms and legs...climb up into a tree...hang by the tail...tail falls off...fall to ground...stand up erect...walk around...sprout bosoms or male anatomy...have sex...BAM...man and woman.

Soooooooooo....what is a man...are you a man....ladies do you have a man. I'm curious...what is your definition of a MAN.

Love and Manly Kisses
Rod "Man By Choice" Boyd

MORNING HOMOLOGEO

Good Morning SONshine....Good Morning GLORY....Cock-a-doodle-do.

Rise and shine...the sun is coming over the mountain...it's time to open up those peepers...and greet the new day. Many people WAKE UP...in many different ways. Some slowly enter the new day...others are shot out of their slumber like a human cannonball in a three ring circus. BOOM!!

I have found...that if I take a little time to wash my BRAIN...that's right I mean BRAINWASH myself...my day goes better. As Barry McGuire states in the album TO THE BRIDE...his brain needed washing.

I like to get into my shower...turn on the hot water...let it steam up the place and let the cleansing waters come cascading down upon my head to wash away the cobwebs of the night.as I read a laminated sheet of verses. I like to start off my day with what I call MORNING HOMOLOGEO...or MORNING HOMO (same) LEGO ( to speak)...in the Greek language...to SPEAK the same thing....or WORD. It means to assent, accord, agree with, confess, declare.

I have a laminated list of scriptures that I speak forth in the mist of the hot water...that I like to SPEAK...ASSENT...ACCORD...AGREE WITH... CONFESS...DECLARE...SPEAK THE SAME THING THAT GOD SPEAKS ABOUT ME...AND FOR ME. I like to not only quote the verse...but also PRAY the verse. I pray the WILL of God into my life. It changes my perspective as the world...the circumstances...the negative... the media...other people...who want me to revel in their morose view of life...in an attempt to cope in this de-evolutionary descent into oblivion.

Psalm 118:24

"This is the day which the Lord has made...let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Lord I thank you that at this point in time...on Decemeber 7, 2006...you have made another day...another opportunity for me to trust in you. I choose...by my choice...to rejoice and be glad in all that you do in my life...TODAY!!

Psalm 69:19 "Blessed be the Lord...who DAILY bears our burden."

Lord...thank you that you are the BURDEN BEARER. You say to cast my anxieties on you...because you CARE for me (I Peter 5:7). You bore my burdens/griefs on the cross(Isaiah 53:4-6)...you bore my burdens on December 6th, 2006 (yesterday)...and you will bear my burdens on December 8th 2006 and beyond. The world feeds me daily worry, fear, anxiety and unbelief...and you DAILY feed me FAITH, PEACE, BELIEF, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY.

Luke 18:13: "...God, be merciful to me...a sinner."

Lord...I don't want justice in my life...I want mercy. I don't want to toot my own horn in the public forum...about how great I am...I want to humble myself before you...knowing that as I do this...you will lift me up at the proper time (I Peter 5:6). Without Jesus...I am nothing...with Jesus...I am a new creation in Christ and the righteousness of God in Christ....by your MERCY. (II Cornithians 5:13-21)

Lamentations 3:22-23 "The steadfast love of the Lord (the Lord's lovingkindnesses) never ceases...His mercies (compassions) never comes to and end (never fails)...they (steadfast love/lovingkindnesses/mercies/ compassions)...are new EVERY MORNING (daily)...GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS."

Lord...thank you for the MORNING MERCY. I need it...every day that I breathe a breath. Thank you Lord for being faithful...when I am not. Thank you for mercy...and not justice.

I John 1:7 "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."

Lord...as I stand in your search light...I see my sin...and I CONFESS...say the same word that You say about me...I am a SINNER. Now that I have identified my specific sins...that I have committed...I ask that you apply your blood...that represents you taking my place...and I thank you that I am cleansed from all unrighteousness...because of you...not because of me.

Hebrews 10:19: "Since therefore...brethren...we have confidence to enter the Holy place...by the BLOOD OF JESUS...by a new and living way...which He inaugurated for us through the veil, tht is His FLESH."

Lord...thank you...for allowing you body to be hung on a cross...beaten... disfigured...in my place. I deserve to be hung on a cross...for my sins...but you became the substitute...the satisfaction...the propitiation for my sins. (I Peter 3:18/Isaiah 53:6/I John 2:2)

I John 1:9: "If we CONFESS our sins...He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Lord...I come into agreement with what you say. I call my sins...sin. Not my little foibles...mistakes...problems...but SIN. I confess...that you are faithful...I confess that you are just...I confess that you forgive my sins...I confess that you have cleansed me from all unrighteousness. Thank you Lord.

Well...that is a pretty good start to the day...He is Lord...and I am not.

Now...this is either and exercise in futility...or a creation of my own to convince myself that I'm O.K....or a giant crutch that I use to cope with this world...OR....it is the truth. I'm going for the truth.

Love and Forgiven Kisses
Rod "The Confessor" Boyd

THE RIGHT STUFF

Greeting and Salutations Oh Ye Cud Chewers,

I have mention before in past Ramblings...how my Dad would be trying to get his point across...and he would end his reasonings with the phrase... "Am I RIGHT or wrong?" He was trying to underscore the fact that he was RIGHT...and I was wrong. Of course being the teenager that I was...I would respond emphatically..."WRONG!!!!!" Ronnie Dove...singer in the 60's with songs like Kiss Away...had one of my favorite songs...RIGHT OR WRONG. Dat's Right!

In my Christian walk...I try to be in the RIGHT versus being in the WRONG. As a teacher I like to break things down into nice, teachable formulas...realizing that in reality the formula may be reversed, out of order...or even not valid. With that in mind...here's how I see the RIGHT PRINCIPLE.

God speaks......faith comes....I hear. Once I hear the word...and my mind becomes renewed by the washing of the water of the Word...I begin to THINK RIGHT....I then begin to SPEAK RIGHT....that brings me to the point of DOING RIGHT. To me this is my faith in ACTION. I may be naive...but I would rather be walking in the right than the wrong. My brother in the Lord...Vance Akin the III...once responded to someone who told him that he was crazy because of his faith in the Lord. Vance responded..."I would rather be CRAZY the way I am...than SANE the way you are."

This goes in line with UNRESTRAINED THOUGHTS (what we think)....produces UNRESTRAINED WORDS (what we say)...resulting in UNRESTRAINED ACTIONS (what we do). Hmmm ....right thoughts...right words....right actions. I like it!!!

Lord...help me restrain the wrong...and release the right in my life.

Love and Right Kisses
Rod "Am I Right Or Wrong" Boyd