THE EQUALIZER

Good Morning...Afternoon...Evening...depending on when you are Rambling.

Imagine picking up a copy of your newspaper and going to the want ads...and reading this..."Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer. 212 555-4200." Now if you had a problem and the odds were against you...you might be inclined to pick up the phone and call this ficticious telephone number. This was from a television show that ran from 1985-89 called THE EQUALIZER. It starred a British actor named Edward Woodard. He played a retired espionage agent named Robert McCall who goes into private investigation. He was known as a "CHAMPION OF THE UNDERDOG." He would take on cases where the courts and police had failed to BRING JUSTICE by CONVENTIONAL MEANS.

Woodard played a similar character in the U.K....a British spy called David Callan. Both characters were motivated by atoning for their past sins and make amends to ease their conscience of past deceitfulness. THE EQUALIZER is one of my favorite T.V. shows.

An EQUALIZER...is a tool used by sound engineers to bring BALANCE and quality to various aspects of recording. An equalizer can be used to adjust the tonal quality of music by adjusting the bass...the treble...bring in and out the highs and lows...take out missed notes...put in correct notes...lower the back up singers...accentuate the positive and dampen the negative...to the point that what was originally laid down in a recording session...may be totally different than the finished product. It can take the BAD.. EQUALIZE it...and make it GOOD.

In 1970...and even today in 2007...I need an EQUALIZER. I have tried the conventional methods. Multiple self-help gurus and methods. Self-realization bring you to the point that you REALIZE that your SELF is not so good. The concept of I'M OK...YOUR OK...becomes I'M NOT OK...AND YOU STINK. In the 60's the line of reason was peace, love, and rock and roll. Drugs...alcohol and sex were temporary numbing agents...fun while they lasted...but when you came down to reality...you are still faced with yourself...and LONLINESS. It's kind of like going to Hooters...and believing that the waitress is flashing her boobs and her smile at you for anything other than a tip. Here's your tip...WAKE UP! The concept of if you can't be with the one you love...honey love the one you're with...turned into social disease, unwanted pregnancy, and hate for "the man". I've quoted it before but the concept of FREE LOVE...ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE...LOVE IN... turned sour because the LOVE was based on what you could get...and once that changed...the LOVE changed. As Larry Norman wrote in his song READERS DIGEST..."The Beatles said all you need is love....and then the broke up."


GOT A PROBLEM? ODDS AGAINST YOU? CALL THE EQUALIZER! Call...Jeremiah 33:3 "CALL to Me...and I will answer you...and I will tell you great and might things, which you do not know." Call from anywhere in the world. It is long distance..unless you are in Jerusalem...where it is a local call. (sorry...old joke).

On one side...of the great chasm...is GOD...on the other side is YOU. On the you side is SIN...on the GOD side is RIGHTEOUSNESS. Sin puts us out of BALANCE...we need to be EQUALIZED.

EQUALIZER SCRIPTURES (with ruminating commentary in parenthesis)

"Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin (unbalance) entered into the world, and death through sin (cause and effect), and so death spread to all men...because all sinned." (Romans 5:12)

"As it is written, there is NONE (nada, zero, zilch, goose egg) righteous...not even one." (Romans 3:10)

"For ALL (from Rodney Boyd to Billy Graham to the Pope to Hitler) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

"For the WAGES (what I earn and deserve) of sin is DEATH...BUT the free gift (what I don't earn and don't deserve) of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once (not a cyclical, reincarnated Karma Karnival), and after this comes judgement. (based on what I deserve)" (Hebrews 9:27)

"For by GRACE have you been SAVED through FAITH and that not of YOURSELVES...it is the GIFT OF GOD...NOT as a result of WORKS (what you can do)...that no one should boast (say...I deserve salvation)" (Ephesians 2:8-10)

"He saved us...NOT on the BASIS of deeds that we have done in righteousness...BUT according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)

"But as many as RECEIVED (versus reject) Him...to them He gave the RIGHT to become children of God...even to those who BELIEVE in His name...who were born not of blood (natural birth)...nor of the will of man (self-realization)...BUT OF GOD (His plan=D.B.R.) (John 1:12)

"For Christ also died for sins...ONCE FOR ALL...the JUST (Jesus)...for the UNJUST (you and me)..IN ORDER (the reason for the D.B.R.)...that He might bring us to God ( THE EQUALIZER)..having been put to death in the flesh (the cross)...but made alive in the spirit (resurrection)." (I Peter 3:18)

"For the love of Christ controls us...having concluded this...that one died (Jesus) for all (the world)... therefore all died; and He (Jesus) died for all...that they who live should no longer live for themselves... but for Him who died...and rose again on their behalf (THE EQUALIZER)." (II Corinthians 2:14,15)

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord...and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead...you shall be saved...for with the heart man believes...resulting in righteousness...and with the mouth he confesses...resulting in salvation." (Romans 10:9,10)

"For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"So faith comes from hearing...and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:19)

"For God so loved the world (you and me) that He gave (a free, undeserved gift) His only begotten Son (Jesus)...that whosoever (it's a choice and open for anyone) believes in Him (the D.B.R.) should not perish (THE EQUALIZATION) but have everlasting life (versus death)." (John 3:16)

Well...these are just a few of the verses...that brought me to the point of EQUALIZATION. I was out of BALANCE...and needed an EQUALIZER...and that EQUALIZER is named JESUS. He HUNG in the BALANCE between heaven and earth...between the glory and the flame...between me and God...and EQUALIZED the ENMITY (being out of balance...enemies ) between me and God. It ain't ying and yang...but it is sinner to God.

Thanks for Rambling with me...I appreciate the kind words that you write back with. If I can ever be of assistance...I'm here for you.

Love and Equalized Kisses
Rod "Lovin' You" Boyd

READIN' ROD'S RECOMMENDED READING

Hello friends...read any good books lately? As a service to the readers of the Ruminator Ramblings...I like to recommend various things. Sometimes I may recommend an eatery...or a record (aka CD)...or something to read.

Today Readin' Rod would like to recommend a book by one of my favorite Bible teachers/speakers...Mr. Jack Hayford. Papa Jack is the senior pastor of the Church on the Way...a Foursquare church of Van Nuys, California. He writes books and songs...his most famous song being MAJESTY. I like the way Jack speaks...and I like the way he writes...because he writes like he speaks. He speaks with intelligence and style...but brings it down to a simple and practical level..and he writes the same way.

I am recommending a book by Mr. Hayford called PURSUING THE WILL OF GOD (Reflections and Meditations on the Life of Abraham). The book is only 178 pages...and it is an easy read...but for study purposes...get ready to hunker down...and dig deeply into the Word of God.

The premise of the book is that Abram...received a call from God... and in obedience Abram set off in obedience to follow the will of God. Abraham...the Father of Faith...of the Jews...and us. A cursory overview of the chapter headings reveals the theme of God in the life of Abraham...and the theme of God in the life of you and me.


Chapter 1: The Commitment to God's Will
Chapter 2: Muddling Your Way in the Will of God
Chapter 3: Settling Problems in the Will of God
Chapter 4: Warfare in the Will of God
Chapter 5: Learning to Walk in the Dark
Chapter 6: How to Deal with the Flesh
Chapter 7: Responding to God's Presence
Chapter 8: Faith Comes Out of Hiding
Chapter 9: The Power of Total Commitment
Chapter 10: The Ultimate in God's Will

Many people seek the WILL of God in their lives. Many people start off with a blazing desire to obey God...and fulfill His PURPOSES in their lives..but find themselves falling short. They live their live is SPIRITUAL LIMBO...as they are pulled between their will...and God's will. Bob Mumford (another favorite teacher/author) wrote about the WILL OF GOD..in His book THE KING AND YOU (wow...a double reading recommendation)...about the WILL OF GOD.

"We need to understand that there are two DIFFERENT words used in the Greek for our English word WILL, as it is used throughout Scripture. One is BOULEMA, the other is THELEMA. BOULEMA means...the eternal counsels of God which are unfolding through the ages---His purpose...His determination. it is going to be done whether you and I like it or not...God's intention WILL come to pass. However...THELEMA, which means GOD'S WISH or DESIRE...most often depends upon the RESPONSE of each individual for fulfillment."
(Bob Mumford: The King and You)

In Chapter one of PURSING THE WILL OF GOD...Mr. Hayford shows some interesting aspects of the WILL of God...and some misconceptions on the part of us...as we pursue His will.

1. Age is not a factor: Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Haran in obedience to God
(Genesis 12:14)

2. Don't pull up short of God's destination for you: Abraham started out great guns on an 800 mile
journey to the land of Canaan...but stopped 300 miles of the journey and settled in at Haran. He
went 5/8ths of the way. Terah...Abrams father...died in Haran. It made me wonder...what is the
Haran in my life?

3. No one said it would be EASY: God called Abram...to a land...that was INHABITED by a group
of people called CANANNITES. Just because you are meeting opposition in your pursuit in the
will of God...does not mean that you are NOT in the WILL OF GOD...in the midst of trials, troubles,
and tribulations. "In the middle of that darkness and sin and chaos...God CALLED HIS MAN,
Abraham...WALKING IN THE LORD'S WILL...found himself squarely in the CENTER of a
culture that was an abomination to God." "God's will can lead us directly into some dark places,
heavy times, and difficult circumstances."

4. God calls us from our COMFORT ZONES: God's will...will at time...lead us from a place of
the familiar to a place of unknown.

5. When you are faced with hard times in your pursuit of the will...it is time to SEEK His face...and His
WILL with a RENEWED INTENSITY: It is a time of stretching...and that is not comfortable...but it is necessary. As Jack states: "the Lord will STRETCH you in the area where you find your SECURITY."

6. By FAITH: "By FAITH Abraham OBEYED when he was CALLED to GO out to the PLACE which he would RECEIVE as an inheritance. He WENT OUT...NOT KNOWING...WHERE HE WAS GOING." (Hebrews 11:8) Jack states: "I love that. He went out...not knowing where he was going. 'Where ya goin' Abraham? Don't know. Well...why are you doing it? Because THE LORD CALLED ME."

These are just a few of the BULLET POINTS in chapter 1.

If you are hungry to follow the WILL OF GOD...his eternal purposes for you...his wish and desire for you...God has placed it in your hands...as you OBEY.

Pursuing The Will Of God
Jack Hayford
ISBN 1-57673-079-4

I hope this review...wetted your appetite...and encourage you as you may be facing some CANANNITES as you pursue the will of God.

Love and Well Read Kisses
Rod "BOULEMA/THELEMA" Boyd

YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER

Howdy-do fellow travellers of the space-time continuum. How is your TODAY doing? Sometimes we get so anchored to our PAST... that our PRESENT is so affected that we can't envision a FUTURE.

If you don't mind...by a show of hands...how many use to watch The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show? Yes...I see that hand. On the show was a cartoon with Mr. Peabody and his assistant Sherman. They would set the controls on a machine called the WAY BACK MACHINE... that would transport them back into time at some historical event. They would then affect history by intervening with some famous figure who otherwise would have missed their moment of destiny... thus altering the course of history as we know it.

In previous Ramblings...I have voice my love for movies that deal with time travel. H.G. Wells with his classic The Time Machine is one of my favorites...as well as the movie of the same name. TRIVIA QUESTION: What horse owner was in this movie?

If only we could get in a machine...and go back and correct our foibles, mistakes, glitches...and change the course of our future. I've always said, "If I could live my life over...knowing what I know now, things would be different."...or would they. A lot of the premise of these time travelling movies is that now matter how hard you try to change the past...destiny steps in...and nothing changes. The course of history is set and we are merely along for the ride...like a roller coaster.

Various religions prescribe to the hope that if you do right...then the roll of the dice of Karma...will reincarnate yourself back to a higher state of being. If you do bad...your Instant Karma's gonna get you...and you will be reincarnated back as a flea in Uncle Abdul's armpit. Time Cop with Jean Claude Van Damme... Somewhere In Time with Christopher Reeves...Back To The Future with Michael J. Fox...multiple Twilight Zone episodes...The Time Tunnel and a plethera of other films and shows come to mind as some of my favorites. QUESTION: What is your favorite time travel movie/T.V. Show?

My past (YESTERDAY)...my present (TODAY)...and my future (FOREVER)... are covered...by JESUS...and I don't need a machine to take me back to change anything.

"Jesus Christ is the same YESTERDAY and TODAY, yes and FOREVER."
(Hebrews 13:8) The means of the change is our old friend D.B.R...NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS. That's right...we are back to the CROSS...the DEATH...the BURIAL...the RESURRECTION...NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS.

By his vicarious propitiary substitute...he deals with who we were...with his death...he deals with our old nature, who we are...and with his resurrection he deals with who we are in him now and in the future. By his cross...by his mercy...by his grace...he deals with our sin nature...our sins that are outworkings of our sin nature...and brings conforms us into His image by a moment by moment proces where the inward change is manifested into outward revelation. Ultimately...he is coming back to seal our future with Him.
(I Corinthians 15:1-8)

"And we KNOW that God causes ALL THINGS (the good, the bad the ugly...and the past, the present and future)...to work together for GOOD...to those who love God...to those who are CALLED according to HIS PURPOSE." (Romans 8:29)

"Therefore if ANY MAN/WOMAN is IN CHRIST(who is the same yesterday, today, forever)...he is a NEW CREATURE...the OLD things passed away...behold NEW THINGS have come (are constantly coming)." (II Corinthians 5:17)

Lord...thank you for saving me...forgiving...of my past...and Lord...thank you for daily bearing my burdens and giving me the means for receiving forgiveness everytime I blow it by confession, repenting and your BLOOD...Lord...thank you for leading me into your will and preparing me for your return.

Love and Timely Kisses
Rod "On Time" Boyd

It is WELL with my soul

Greetings Oh Ye Thirsty Ones...have you been drawing from the WELL? Well.........have ya?

In our last Rambling...we observed the woman at the WELL...and saw how she went from relating to a natural WELL...and experienced the supernatural WELL...that will NEVER run dry. In my profession... I work with people who have swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)...and a lot of times I see people who enter the hospital with what is known as FAILURE TO THRIVE. One aspect is malnourishment with noted, unexplained weight loss. Another aspect of failure to thrive...is DEHYDRATION. This is manifested in decreased toxin output...skin that when you pinch it together...stays together. The solution is to help the patient to RE-HYDRATE. This can be done by I.V. fluids and determining the swallowing problem and helping to correct the oral intake process.

In the spiritual...we become DEHYDRATED...and become spiritually failing to thrive because of decrease of intake of the bread of the Word of God...and lack of spiritual water intake. As we ruminated on in the last Rambling...this is because we keep drawing from a WELL...that does not satisfy. Dottie Rambo (pre-Sylvester Stallone Rambo)...wrote a song called FILL MY CUP LORD. It starts of with..."Like the woman at the WELL...I was thirsting...for things that could not satisfy..." Jesus spoke of a WELL where she would not have to trudge down daily...and physically draw water. The correlation was...she does not have to worship in a mountain...or worship in Jerusalem...BUT her spiritual, refreshing, hydrating connection was in her spirit (little s...her human spirit). This is the place...where the WELL is located. (Read John 4 for details of this Samaritan woman's encounter with the WATER-GIVER.)



Another encounter with WATER...is found in John 7:1-42. The scenerio begins at the Feast of Tabernacles...the feast of the Jews that was at hand. Jesus was doing what he had been doing ever since he was anointed by the Holy Spirit...as He went about, teaching, proclaiming the Gospel and the Kingdom, and doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil...for God was with Him. (Acts 10:48; Matthew 4:23-25; Luke 4:15-21)

On the LAST day of the great feast...Jesus stood up and cried out, saying, "If any man is THIRSTY...let Him come to Me...and DRINK." (John 7:37). NOTE: You can bring a horse to water...but you can't make him drink...and the same is true for us...you can come to Jesus...but if you don't drink...all you have experience is a superficial meeting with Him. Many people know ABOUT Jesus...but they have not experience...or drank of Jesus.

Jesus was saying...come to the source. This was not the first time he spoke like this...remember the woman at the well. Jesus then based His teaching on the Word of God when he stated..."He who BELIEVES in me...AS THE SCRIPTURE SAID...'From his INNERMOST BEING shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER." (John 7:38; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 55:1; Isaiah 58:11) NOTE: This is the location of the WELL...that is the conduit for the OUTFLOW of LIVING WATERS...not just a trickle...not just a drip...not just barely enough...but an endless supply.

NOTE: To BELIEVE...is not just the assimilation of facts. It is not just an acknowledgement that the historical record is true. It is not a belief in some doctrinal creed that you have been taught from the cradle roll. It is a matter of FAITH. "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality---faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.
(Hebrews 11:1 The Amplified Bible). The word BELIEVE means to trust, clings to, relies on. This is the type of BELIEVER who has access to these RIVERS OF LIVING WATERS...flowing freely out of the INNERMOST BEING (spirit) The BIG S (Holy Spirit) flow out of the little s (human spirit).

There was a song that we use to sing that was written in 1969... called THERE IS A RIVER..."There is a RIVER...that flows from deep within...there is a fountain...that frees the soul from sin...come to these WATERS...there is a vast supply...there is a RIVER..that never shall run dry."

Jesus makes no bones about what He is referring to when he speaks of LIVING WATER. He defines what LIVING WATER IS..."But this He spoke of THE SPIRIT...whom those who BELEIVE in Him were to RECEIVE....for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:39)

The cause and effect of Jesus' teaching was not unity. It was not peaceful. It was not all inclusive. It was disturbing. Some considered Him a prophet...some saying that he is the Christ/Messiah (the one coming to free them from the tyranny of the world system and Roman rule)...others question that the Christ couldn't come from Galille (can any good thing come from Galilee?)...wan't He suppose to come from Bethlehem (and He did). (John 7:40-42).

The cause and effect of Jesus being on the scene was DIVISION (much like today). "So there arose a DIVISION in the multitude BECAUSE OF HIM. And some wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him." (John 7:43-44) This thing escalated to the point of there being a split within the officers...Pharisees to the point of them wondering if anyone among them has beleived..."No one of the rulers or Pharisees has BELIEVED IN HIM...has he?" (John 7:48) Nicodemaus (read John 3:1-16)...and reason with them on the basis of the Law...to the point that they questioned Nick..."You are not also from Galilee...are you?"
(John 7:49-52)

The question remains...where do you stand...on the side of Jesus...or the side of the Pharisees. Do you want to remain thristy...or quenched. Are you satisfied with MAN MADE WELLS...or SPIRITUAL WELLS OF LIVING WATERS.

Belly up to the WELL boys...and gals...and DRINK UP.

Love and Rivers of Kisses
Rod "Deep Waters" Boyd

THE WELL...THE RIVER...and YOU

Hello thirsty people. WELL? Just before Elvis would sing Blue Suede Shoes on the album...Elvis Live at the International Hotel...he would tease the audience by singing...Well, well, well. weeeeeeeeell...Well, well, well....
Well it's one for the money...two for the show...three to get ready now go cat go...

Todays, Rambling deals with a WELL....that transcends the momentary rendition of an old song. Jesus was always taking the opportunity of whatever was available to draw people into a conversation and then turn it back to the Father's will. Jesus was passing through Samaria...and entered into a city called Sycar. He was in a parcel of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. At that place there was a well...known as JACOB'S WELL. Jesus was tired from his journey...and sat down by the well. NOTE: Jesus was not Super-Saint...or a Bionic Savior....he was God incarnated into flesh...and he became tired. He would be hungry...he would be physically thirsty...like you and me.

A WOMAN....of Samaria...came to the WELL...to draw WATER. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a DRINK." His travelling companions had gone into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman...was a little surprised that He was asking her for a drink. Why? Well...(1) Because she was a woman
(2) Because she was a Samaritan (3) Because He was a Jew.

NOTE: Jews had nothing to do with the Samaritans. According to the notes in the Ryrie Study Bible..."The Samaritans were descendants of colonists whom the Assyrian kings planted in Palestine after the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 721 B.C. They were DESPISED by the Jews because of their mixed Gentile blood and their different worship, which centered at Mt. Gerizim." (For full details read John 4:1-34) It has been said that the Jews would cross over the river and travel around Samaria and cross back over when they were past Samaria. Jesus transcended "organized religion"...and walked into the heart of where religious people would not go...and then dialouge with an unclean Samaritan...who also happend to be a woman. He killed two religious birds with one stone.

Jesus seizes the moment before Carpe' Diem became a popular concept...and uses the well as the focal point of connecting with the woman. He states..."If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you...GIVE ME A DRINK...you wold have asked Him...and He would have given you LIVING WATER." (John 4:10) Jesus was connecting in the SPIRITUAL...she was still thinking in the NATURAL. She concludes: (1) He had nothing to draw the water with (2) the well is deep (beyond human capabilities) (3) Compares him to Jacob...who supplied water for the people, Jacob himself, his sons and his cattle. (John 4:11,12)

Jesus then lays out another conversational hook to draw her in a little more. "Jesus answered and said to her...everyone who DRINKS of this WATER shall THIRST again; BUT...whoever DRINKS of the WATER that I shall give him...SHALL NEVER THRIST; but the WATER that I shall give him shall BECOME in him a WELL of WATER springing up into eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

The woman...is still thinking on the natural level. She reasons with her mind...(1) Give me this water
(2) I will not be physically thirsty (3) I will not have to come all the way her to draw water. Her mind is still fixed on her rut of a life...truding everyday to JACOB'S WELL...to draw water. Maybe she had in mind some sort of aqueduct system that will take the well water and pipe it into her house.

Jesus now take it to the next level to shake her out of her natural thinking by telling her to, "God, call your husband, and come here." Jesus is moving in the gifts of the living water with a word of knowledge and a word of wisdom. She indicates, "I have no husband." Jesus counters with, "You have well said, I have no husband...for you have had five husbands; and the one whom you now have is not your husband...this you have said truly." (John 4:16-18) What's a woman to do when she was caught in her past..."Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet." She know that there may be something more to this encounter than just a thirsty traveller.

This Samaritan woman now does what most people do when they are face to face with truth...she tried to get "religious" on Him. She tries to enter into a conversation about worship...as she is living in sin. "Our fathers (old time religion)...worshiped in this mountain...and you people (the Jews) say that in Jerusalem is the place where men out to worship." (John 4:19-20)

Jesus re-establishes where true worshipers will worship. It would not be in Samaria...or Jerusalem. It would be...and NOW IS...(1) in spirit (2) in truth. God is seeking such people to BE worshipers.
(John 4:22,23). Some peopel say that to worship in spirit is to worship with a proper attitude. I believe it speaks of a SPECIFIC PLACE...where worship takes place....deep in the human spirit....as God's Holy Spirit dwells within.

The woman...knows that a MESSIAH...A CHRIST...AN ANOINTED ONE...will be coming...who would declare all things to them. Jesus then makes a statement...that would constantly have the "religious" community up in arms. He said, "I WHO SPEAK TO YOU AM HE."

At this point...she did something that is the breaking of the past in her life...she LEFT HER WATERPOT. The WATERPOT represents the housing of the OLD WATER. She begins to seek confirmation from others about the MESSIAH. The cause and effect were others were COMING TO HIM. (John 4:28-30)

Right in the middle of the revival...the boys come back and tried to get Jesus to eat. He sates that He had food to eat that they did not know about. The disciples...as usual...were scratching their heads...and wondering to one another..."No one brought Him anything to eat...did he?" (John 4:32-33)

Jesus...defines his food/meat..."My food/meat is to DO THE WILL of Him who sent me and to ACCOMPLISH HIS WORKS." (John 4:24)

The cause and effect that began with one Samaritan woman...now spread...and many believed.
(John 4:39-41)

The believers now declared that it was, "No longer becasue of what you said that we believed...for we have HEARD FOR OURSELVES...and KNOW that this One is indeed the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD."
(John 4:40-42)

The question is...ARE YOU THIRSTY...or are you satisfied with truding to a man made well...to draw some water that quenches for the moment.? Are you ready to trade in your natural WATERPOT...for a spiritual WELL. If you are satisfied with your old ways...then drink on...if you are not satisfied...then listen to what the Samaritan woman as said...and then hear for yourself... and KNOW Jesus as the SAVIOR...not only of the world...but for you specifically. Contact me if you want to know more.

NEXT TIME: THE WELL EXPLOSION

Love and Quenched Kisses
Rodney "Well, Well, Well, Well, Well, Weeeeell" Boyd

YOU SAY YA WANT A RESOLUTION REVOLUTION

Happy Moo Year to all of you Chewers of the Cud. How is your new year so far? Have you already fallen off the wagon like Otis Campbell on a weekend drunk. Why can't Barney just leave you and your cow alone? It's your life...and you're gonna live it. You have heard of the proverbial "monkey on your back".. but what about the Otis on your back. Check out that Ruminator's expression as Otis gets reprimanded once more for another weekend of yielding to temptation and slip back into his old ways.

Each New Year we make a RESOLUTION...where we RESOLVE to do better...to change...to quit something and start something...out with the old...in with the new. We make
promises...declarations... confessions to ourselves...others.. God...our dog...the mirror...anyone who will listen in hopes that by getting it out there in the open... we will tend to keep our word to someone. As soon as we slip, stumble, fall, fail, go off the deep end, fall off the wagon...we immediately come under the CLOUD OF CONDEMNATION...as everyone from our husbands, wives, circle of friends, the devil and even the image of ourselves in the mirror...screams out...."NOTHING HAS CHANGED"!!!!!! What's a man/woman to do?

RESOLUTION: (1) the act or process of resolving something or breaking it up into its constituent part or elements (2) a resolving or determining; deciding, the thing determined upon; decision as to future action; resolve (3) A resolute quality of mind (4) a formal statement of opinion or determination adopted by an assembly or other formal group. (5) a solving, as of a puzzle, or answering, as a question; solution.

RESOLVE: (1) to break up into separate, constituent elements or parts; analyze (2) to change or transform (3) to cause a person to decide ormake up his mind (4) to reach as a decision on or intention, determine how to go

It seems that this thing called a RESOLUTION...where we RESOLVE to do something is merely the BEGINNING of what you have analyzed and determined what you want to do or change in your life. When you RESOLVE to quit something...ie. smoking...and you start off great guns by throwing you tobacco stash away...but within 48 hours you are going back to the store...or into your secret stash...and smoke away...the tendency is to say that we have BROKEN OUR RESOLUTION...so we might as well...GIVE UP TOTALLY. Not so! The resolution is the verbalization of the analysis of what we want or need to change in our lives. The next step to accomplish that GOAL...is what is known as THE PROCESS. There is: (1) the analysis (2) the statement of desired goal
(3) the declaration of the LONG TERM GOAL (based upon our resolution and analysis) (4) the SHORT TERM GOALS (the steps that you need to get to the LONG TERM GOAL...aka DESIRED RESULT.

What we usually fail at is NOT our New Years Resolutions....but the SHORT TERM GOALS. This is not the end of the world...or for that matter THE END OF OUR RESOLUTIONS. We need a RESOLUTION REVOLUTION

THE SPEECH PATHOLOGIST IN ME

In Speech Pathology...when I am working with a patient and I (1) evaluate the patient (2) analyze the evaluation (3) Set the LONG TERM GOALS (4) Determine a series of SHORT TERM GOALS, I begin therapy. I always underline and reinforce with the patient and their family members that we are beginning a journey...and that there will be times of great joy as we reach certain goals...and there will be times of discouragement when those goals are not met....BUT that does not mean that if we blow it in one area of a short term goal...that we might as well give up and quit therapy. I always ask them..."Do you know how to EAT AN ELEPHANT?" Usually, the looked at me with a question in their eyes and answers NO...HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT? The answer is ONE BITE AT A TIME. If you try to eat the entire elephant (long term goal or desire result of a resolution)...you will get discouraged and overwhelmed at the enormity of the task. That's why we make short term, obtainable goals...and work our way to the LONG TERM GOAL... the DESIRED RESULT...THE PRIZE...THE NEW YEARS RESOLUTION.

The key word is NEW YEARS resolution...not ONE MONTH resolution. If you fall of the horse...and light up a stogie...eat another entire chocolate cream pie...get behind in the reading of your ONE YEAR BIBLE...lose your temper (again)...SO WHAT? As one of my favorite Bible teachers... Jack Hayford states..."DEAL WITH IT AND BE DONE WITH IT." Stop whining...stop feeling sorry for yourself...stop assuming that just because you lost a battle...that you lost the war...cancel the PITY PARTY...cancel that call to 911 for your waaaaambulance and get back on the horse...and PROCEED. As Randy Matthews sings about on his Eyes To The Sky album..."forget the mistakes...LEARN THE LESSONS." Go back to the POINT OF BREAKDOWN in the process....AND start again. How long to we do this? As long as it takes. One hour...one day...one month...one year... infinity. DON'T GIVE UP!! You will either consider it an EXERCISE IN FUTILITY...or a STRENGTHENING EXERCISE.

The RESOLUTION...the analysis the LONG TERM GOAL has not changed...you simply make an adjustment at the short term goal level....AND CONTINUE ON...because you have NOT FAILED. The only failure is when you QUIT.


I gave up on Chrisitanity..or I gave upon my participation in Christianity...in 1972. I got SAVED...gave my life to the Lord...made DECLARATION of the resolution...the analysis of my need for a Saviour in 1970. I made bold statements...made bold decisions, and made bold actions to back up my bold RESOLUTION...and did pretty good for two years. I dropped out of that hip and happening garage band...THE BLIND DISTORTION...got rid of many of the old habits and trappings of my old life...went away to an Independent Baptist Bible College in Chattanooga Tennessee to get my Bachelors of Bible and become an evangelist. Within 2 years I was smoking more dope...sniffing various chemicals...doing more ungodly things than before I was a Christian. I had FAILED in what I declared and tried to live out. For two years...my mind set was..."I failed...I might as well go back to my OLD WAYS...and not try to live the NEW WAY." It was like a New Years Resolution on Steroids....when you fail and fall...you fail and fall hard...and there will always be someone there with a safety net...to pull out from under you and point the finger of accusation of how you failed.

NOTE: It makes people feel good about themselves when you fail...because now they have an excuse for why they failed. With the emphasis on your derailed resolution...they can blame failure on the fact that nobody can keep a resolution. Light one up and cut me another piece of pie.

The little man praying is the Reverend Will B. Dunn...one of the characters in my favorite cartoon...KUDZU. It represents to me...the ways that I personally get back on the horse after falling off of my RESOLUTION RIDE. I plan to approach my resolutions the same way I approach my sins. The Christian Rock group Petra...has an album called THIS MEANS WAR. One of the songs is GET ON YOUR KNEES AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN. This speaks of the way that you win the RESOLUTION REVOLUTION...prayer.

STATEMENT OF THE STANDARD

"And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and IN HIM there is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5)

STATMENT OF THE PROBLEM

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness...we lie and do not practice the truth." (I John 1:6)

STATEMENT OF THE SOLUTION

"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." (I John 1:7)

STATEMENT OF RATIONALIZATION OF OUR SINS

"If we say that WE HAVE NO SIN...we are DECEIVING ourselves...and the truth is not in us." (I John 1:8)

STATEMENT OF THE SOLUTION (Part 2)

"If we CONFESS (say the same thing God says about the light revealed sin) our sins...HE (not me...not we)...is faithful and righteous to FORGIVE us our sins...and to CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness."
(I John 1:9)

Well...this is Ol' (not old) Ruminatin' Rod...wishing all of you a Happy MOO Year. My prayer for you is Joshua 1:8 and Proverbs 3:1-10...and that you will moo and chew on the Word of God...you will ruminate and hawgaw...and that the cause and effect that you will:

1. MAKE YOUR WAY PROSPEROUS: Have enough to met your needs and desires...with an overflow to met the needs of others.

2. THEN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD SUCCESS: You will accomplish the purposes of God in your life and that whatever you put you hand to...you will accomplish as you walk in the favor of God and of man.

Love and Moo Year Kisses
Rodney "Resolution Revolution Man" Boyd