AMAZING...PREVENIENT...PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE...GRACE

Good morning...afternoon...
evening, whenever you happen to reading this Rambling in the stream of the time-space continuum.

We have a few things in common as human beings. We all have the same amount of TIME in a 24 hour day. We may clutter up the time frame with different stuff...but it is 24 hours a day...6o minutes in an hour....60 seconds in a minute. Another thing that we all have in common is the fact that we all have a PAST...we all have a PRESENT/NOW...and we all have a FUTURE. Those who had an encounter with Jesus Christ...our future is changed....our now has purpose...and our PAST has passed away.

"Therefore IF any man/woman is IN CHRIST...he/she is a NEW creation...the OLD things PASSED AWAY...behold...NEW THINGS have come." (II Corinthians 5:17)

The Apostle Paul had some insight into what happened around 2000 years ago on an old rugged cross...that affected his HAS BEEN STATUS...and set into motion his NOW.

"I HAVE BEEN (it's good to be a has been)...crucified (D.B.R.)...WITH CHRIST...and it is NO LONGER I who lives...BUT Christ LIVES IN ME...and the life which I NOW live....IN THE FLESH...I live BY FAITH in the Son of God (Jesus)...who loved me and delivered Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:20)


The first picture shows two men who had an encounter with Jesus on the ROAD TO EMMAUS. Jesus had died...He had been crucified, buried, and risen from the dead. There were rumours of Him being risen from the dead...so as they were walking down the road to Emmaus...they had a lot to talk about. It was at this point that they encountered the Risen Saviour. He walked with them...talked with them...taught them...broke bread with them...he stayed with them...all the while they had NO CLUE who they were talking to...until the breaking of the bread...and their eyes were OPENED...and they RECOGNIZED Him. At that point He disappeared from their sight (now they were walking by faith not by sight). They asked each other..."Were not our HEARTS BURNING WITHIN US...while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" They then got up and returned to Jerusalem at once...and found the eleven apostles and report to them that IT IS TRUE! The Lord HAS RISEN and has appeared to Simon." They then told what had happened on the way...and how Jesus WAS RECOGNIZED by them when He broke the BREAD. (Luke 24:13-35)

I said all that to say this...In this crazy road that we call life...we may be walking along...in our PRESENT...discussing and effected by things of the PAST...that will AFFECT the EFFECT of our FUTURE. The boys on the road to Emmaus...were headed in one direction (Emmaus)...but their course was altered (Jerusalem) by the encounter of their NOW.

A man named Saul had the same type of encounter...going in one direction (Damascus) for the purpose of killing Christians...but an encounter with a blinding light and Jesus...changed his course.
(Read Acts 7-9 for full details)

I was born on August 15th, 1951 in Allen Clinic on East Main Street in Murfreesboro Tennessee. From that point until the Fall of 1970...I experienced many different things in my life...some good...some bad... some ugly. Some things that I expereinced were a result of just living with Lonnie and Elizabeth Boyd...my Mom and Dad. Again...some good, some bad...some ugly. Other things I experienced were of my own choices...some good...some bad...some downright ugly. Other things I experienced were just my general life experiences by the people and situations and world events that I encountered. All of these things SHAPED who I was...and how I reacted/responded to people with who (or is that whom) I came into contact.

Many moons ago...I attended a 3 day weekend retreat called THE EMMAUS WALK. It was put on by the Methodist Church...and I was sponsered by Bruce Coble. It was three days of withdrawing from the world to encounter Jesus on a personal, intimate level as we met Him in the breaking of the bread (the Word and communion). It was a life-changing moment...and my heart ignited and has not been put out yet. WOW....talk about a hunka a hunk of buring love. One of the table lectures...where we would be sitting in a room at individual tables...while someone would come in an give a lecture on various topics. One of the topics that stuck out was PREVENIENT GRACE. I had heard of Amazing Grace...I had heard of saying grace before a meal...I new a girl named Grace...but had never heard of PREVENIENT GRACE.

A definition is taken from two Latin words meaning to come before. It means (1) going before, preceding (2) anticipating; expectant (3) the antecedant to human action. To me it means....God did not just start having an interest in me when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour in 1970. His touch in my life was pre-birth as He knew me in my mothers womb...and as I grew chronologically and physically...He had a great interest in me...and would be able to utilize my expereinces (the good, bad and ugly) for my future. When I LOOK BACK at events in my life...I can see God's hand there for me...waiting for me...to make a decision and choose to follow Him. Now that is AMAZING, PREVENIENT, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE GRACE. That does not mean that God orchestraed the bad and ugly in my life...but it does mean that as in Joseph's life...what his brothers meant for harm...GOD MEANT FOR GOOD....and that no matter what had happened....HE WAS IN GOD'S PLACE. (Read Genesis 37-50 for full details)

One prime example...at least to me...that really encourages me...is a man named WAYNE BERRY. Wayne is one of my pastors, friends, brothers (it is neat for an only child like me to have brothers and sisters)... who while he is a NEW CREATION IN CHRIST... definitely has a PAST laced with the GRACE of God. This picture is a picture of an album that Wayne recorded on RCA back in 1974...called HOME AT LAST. I was listening to it as I was driving down the road the other day...and I was reminded (not the first time I thought about it)...about the amazing, prevenient grace in Wayne's life. This was not a Christian album...it was not a Contempory Christian album...it was not even one of those albums recorded by a Christian with dual references to a girl friend and the Lord...depending on who was listening.
It was your basic 1974...folk/rock/southern/country rock tinged album...HOWEVER...as I'm listening...I could see it as a precursor to the NEW MAN.

It was a well produced album by Norbert Putnam...with all songs written by Wayne Berry...with the cream of the crop of musicians involved including Jim Gordon on drums...Jesse Ed Davis on guitar...
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter...Jackson Brown...Charley McCoy...Shane Keister and others.

One song...called ALL I NEEDED ...speaks to me of the longing for LOVE (a woman in the song...but I think one of those prevenient moments).

Lovers hurt each other they tell lies
They wind up LONELY then they wonder WHY
Friends forever is a dream
A token promise of a fairytale scened
And I've seen it all before
You don't have to show me the door
I know where I came in
I know you COULD HAVE BEEN....

To me...this kind of is like King David stating the problem...followed up by the solution. In this songs case it is a lament what coulda...shoulda been...

All that I ever NEEDED
All that I ever KNEW
All that I evere DREAMED of or HOPED for
ALL I NEEDED WAS YOU.

Sure...a song bemoaning lost love...but in my prevenient mind set...I see the cry of Wayne for intimacy with God.

There were many other songs that spoke to me like this one...like Black Magic Gun (the devil made that deadly thing...and you know I do not lie...I don't beleive in fortune...but I DO BELIEVE IN SIN)...Another Lifetime (There is more to life than dreamin'...there is moe to love than makin' it...there is more to you than meets the eye)...Welcome Home...(Welcome home, body and sould...welcome home, we all gotta go...welcome home, father and son...welcome home YOU CAN HEAR THE RIVER RUN)

How did that PREVENIENT GRACE...play out from 1974 to 2007. Well...Wayne may had a foundation like a lot of us had...with early, childhood church experiences...that call out to us from our sin enclosed souls...but whenever he met Jesus on a personal level... the impact of his PAST experiences...solidify and gives him a tenacity and passion of faith that is evident today. When I listen to his songs of yesteryear with a vaugness...is now upfront and vertical (towards the Father) and pours out to us on the horizontal plane (as a source of encouragement...prodding...teaching). Thank you Wayne...for letting the Amazing Grace be evident in your life.

Pre-1970...I was a mess. But in 1970...I became a NEW CREATION IN CHRIST...the OLD things past away behold NEW THINGS HAVE COME...and are still coming.

What the devil meant for harm pre-1970...God meant for GOOD. Am I not in GOD'S PLACE?

What about you? What has the devil been using in your life as a point of condemnation? What past event...good, bad or ugly...has the devil accused you with to the point of throwing up your hands and crying NO MAS. Use those things as a stepping stone instead of a mill stone to reveal the mercy and grace of God to the world...and throw your hands up in PRAISE TO HIM...after all...ALL I EVER NEEDED WAS YOU (Lord).

Love and BRAND NEW KISSES
Rodney "Decoloros" Boyd

ROCK SOLID ON THE SOLID ROCK

Howdy Friends and Neighbors...how's your house holding up? Are you nice and toasty and secure ...as the storm rages...or are you like Popeye the Sailor Man...exclaiming...."Whoa...well blow me down"? Hmmm...I wonder if Popeye anoints with Olive Oyl?

In our last Rambling...we saw that God's church...ecclesia... the gathering of D.B.R. believers...would be built on the heavenly revelation that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. The little stone (Peter) in contrast to the massive rock Petra was the basis for foundation, authority, and the key to victory as the gates of Hades would not be able to prevail against the church...the ecclesia...the gathering of believers in the D.B.R. (Matthew 16:13-18)

The secret for a well built structure is a GOOD FOUNDATION. Many a house that looked good on the surface...when put to the test of the storm...was revealed to have a poor foundation.

FOUNDATION: (1) a founding or being founded=to lay the base of; set for support; to begin to build or organize; bring into being (2) establishment (3) the base on which something rests; the supporting part of a wall, house, etc. usually of masonry, concrete, etc, and at least partically underground (4) the fundamental principle on which something is founded; BASIS.

We are talking about earthly foundations...but as always we related it to the Kingdom of God. The word KINGDOM is from a Greek word...BASILEIA...denoting sovereignety, royal power, dominion. This word is rooted in the word basis....which means footing. A strong footing is a sure foundation. When you go through BASIC training...you lay a foundation for survival.

In this old terrestrial ball...3rd Rock from the sun...good old mother earth...we face many disasters. Earthquakes, storms, floods, hurricanes, tornados, drought, tsunamis, not to mention evil men and demonic attacks.

Recently the focus was on NEW ORLEANS...when the Hurricane blew in...levees broke...streets flood in a city that was built below sea level. The storm was not a surprise...it was predicted...expected...but the devestation was not anticipated.

It's interesting that the City of New Orleans...with it's rich tradition of culture, music, food, heritage, religion...is also a city with rampant sin, debachery, witchcraft, voodoo, crime, corruption and cold cathedrals. The foundations of the city ...are weakened with SIN...but instead of pointing at New Orleans...the pointing finger of our righeous hand...needs to realize that there are three fingers of the hand pointing back to us. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

MATTHEW 7:24-27
This is a story of contrasts. It speaks of two types of people...two types of houses...two types of foundation...and ONE type of storm coming against BOTH.

When Jesus was teaching about LOVE...he says to love you enemies...pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. Then He states, "...for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:45-48) The weather elements are the same for Billy Graham and Adolph Hilter.

The difference is PREPARATION OF THE FOUNDATION... and how the house is BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION. Two things...foundation...and building of the house.

Fast forward from Matthew 7:24-29. Jesus is still teaching in reference to those who say they are followers..but don't live the life of a follower. "Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in your name cast our demons, and in Your name perform many miracles...and then I will declare to them, I never knew you..depart from me who PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS." Sobering words...and only God will be able to separate who is practicing truth versus a lie. Verse 24 then starts with the word THEREFORE:

NOTE: The Therefore Principle...is used to connect a previous thought. A good rule of thumb is when you see the word therefore...to look back at what was just written...and see what it's there for. Well...
This THEREFORE kicks off the story of the two people...the two houses...the two foundations...the one storm...in connection with the true LORDSHIP OF JESUS. Of course...the foundation is the heavenly revelation that Jesus is the Christ...the living Son of God.

The key is that EVERYONE (just/unjust) has the same opportunity...to HEAR THE WORDS OF CHRIST. NOTE: Usually at this point the non-believer loves to drudge up some point about...what about the people in the deepest, darkest, parts of the world...that have never heard...what is God going to do about them. Don't worry...God will handled them...the question is not about them...but about YOU. You are the one HEARING now...what are you gonna do.

The WISE MAN...who hears the WORD...and ACTS UPON THEM...is the one who BUILDS his house on a ROCK. (1) The rain descended (the same one that comes to the foolish man) (2) the floods came (3) the winds blew (4) the flood and wind burst against the house (5) YET it did not fall...for it had been FOUNDED UPON THE ROCK (The Solid Rock).

THE FOOLISH MAN...hears the WORD...and DOES NOT ACT UPON THEM. (1) The rain descended
(2)the floods came (3) the floods burst against the house (4) the house fell (5) great was it's fall (6) it was built on SAND

It is all based on OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD.

"If you abide in Me (Jesus)...and and My (Jesus) words abide in you...ask whatever you wish and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:7)

"If you love me...you will obey what I command." (John 14:15)

"He who has My (Jesus) commandments and keeps them...he it is who loves Me (Jesus) will be loved by My (Jesus) Father and I (Jesus) will love him and will manifest, reveal disclose Myself (Jesus) to him." (John 14:21)

"I (Jesus) am the vine...you are the branches; he who abides in Me (Jesus) and I (Jesus) in him...he bears much fruit; for apart from Me (Jesus)...YOU CAN DO NOTHING.

God initiates the love (He first loved us)....the revelation is from the Father (not flesh and blood)...even in our obedience we can't do it apart from Him...including building our house to stand against the storm.

My hope is built,,,On nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus's name
On Christ the SOLID ROCK I stand
All other ground is SINKING SAND
All other ground is SINKING SAND

(The Solid Rock: Edward Moore and William Bradbury)

NOTE: Jesus can take my righeousMESS...and make it His rightousNESS.

I've checked the Heavenly Weather Channel...the STORM, WINDS, and FLOOD are on their way. How's your FOUNDATION?

Love and Rock Solid Kisses
Rodney "No Sand Castles" Boyd

THE ROCK THAT DOESN'T ROLL

Greetings ROCK AND ROLL FANS. In the 1950's...there was a movie starring Glenn Ford called THE BLACKBOARD JUNGLE. It was the story of youth and their conflicts....the setting inner city school. It was a celluloid expression of the angst of the times. The movie was not what captures the attention of the world though...it was the rimshot of the drum and the driving beat of the song ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK...sung by an aging ex-country/western/swing band with a pudgy looking man with a spit curl swirling down his forehead... BILL HAILEY...and the COMETS. In England...the Teddy Boys (hoodlums) were ripping up the seats in the theaters...thus the debate of the evils of rock and roll continued. The evil "jungle beat"...was being taken into "white America" and corrupting the morals of the world.

In the late 60's and early 70's (pre-CCM aka Contemporary Christian Music)...there was a movement called THE JESUS MOVEMENT that swept the world. As with most revivals...the cobwebs of the religious establishment were shaken off...as young people pressed into Jesus. The phenomenon of this movment (which I was a part of)...was the music. They (we) took the music of the times...and put our message to it. Larry Norman the poet lauerete of the Jesus Movement declared WOWIE ZOWIE HE SAVED MY SOUL...HE'S THE ROCK THAT DOESN'T ROLL...and why should the devil have all the good music. After all... "they nailed Him to the cross...they laid Him in the ground...but they should've known you CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN.

One group that took it to the next level was a group called PETRA. The leader was a guy named BOB HARTMAN...who would take scriputures from his Bible studies...and rock out with Biblical Principles that...for me...were points of encouragement...challenge...proclamation for the Kingdom of God. The word PETRA...means MASSIVE ROCK. Bob and the boys...wanted to take the message of hope and salvation...and crank it up with MASSIVE ROCK AND ROLL...to get the attention of people who would never, ever, set their foots into a church.

PETRA...was actually a physical location. The town lies in a basin surrounded by mountains. It is a mass of ROCK with tombs and churches carved out of the massive rock...and difficulty to get to. Petra...the rock group...were eluding not only to a rock city...or a rock beat...but something deeper than that.

They were refering to a couple of things. They were referring to the FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH...that would separate ALL "religions" from Christianity.

Foundations of a house must be built on solid ground/rock...or else...when the storms come...the foundation shifts...the house falls. There are many fallen faith houses in the world today. Here are a few verses that speak of the building process in our spiritual walk. (Thanks and a Tip O Da Hat to Derek Prince for direction)

"For we are God's fellow workers; YOU are God's field....God's BUILDING. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a WISE MASTER BUILDER...I laid a FOUNDATION...and another is BUILDING on it. BUT let each man be careful how he BUILDS UPON IT. For no man can LAY A FOUNDATION other than the one which is LAID...which is JESUS CHRIST." (I Corinthians 3:9-11)

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of GOD'S HOUSEHOLD, having been BUILT upon the FOUNDATIONS of the apostles and prophets, CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF being the CORNER STONE, in whom the whole BUILDING, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being BUILT TOGETHER into a DWELLING of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22)

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace...which is able to BUILD YOU UP and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." (Acts 20:32)

BACK TO THE ROCK OF AGES (A hymn about Him)

We sing of the Rock of ages...cleft for me...let me hid myself in Thee....let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flowed...be of sin the double cure, save from the wrath and make me pure... (Augustus M. Toplady and Thomas Hastings). The CLEFT of the ROCK...was a place that God placed Moses...as God past by...to protect Moses from being destroyed by being in the PURE PRESENCE of God. "Then moses said...I pray The , show me Thy glory. And He said I Myself will make al lMy goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the NAME OF THE LORD before you; an dI will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion. But He said, You CANNOT SEE MY FACE...for no man can see me and live. Then the Lord said, Behold, there is a PLACE BY ME, and you shall STAND there ON THE ROCK..and it will comea bout while My glory is pasing by, that I will put you in the CLEFT OF THE ROCK...and COVER you with MY HAND until I have passed by. The I will take my Hand anway an dyou shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen." (Exodus 33:18-23)

Many focus on the fact that Moses could not look into the direct presence of God...but I see the concern of God for Moses and provision for a place of protection. It's like we cannot survive direct contact with full force generated electricity in our homes. We must step it down by means of a TRANSFORMER. Our transformer is JESUS...the cleft...the rock.

I AM PETRAFIED

Bob Hartman...and his band Petra...based the band and his/their lives on Matthew 16:13-18...and everyone who "claims" to a Christian...a follower of Jesus...more than just a religious zealot...MUST filter their faith through this passage. Everyone MUST answer this simple question that was posed to Peter...and has reverberated down to June 19 2007...and will echo until He returns.

QUESTION (Matthew 16:13) "Who do people say that the Son of man is?" Jesus asking Peter for the pulse of the populous. ANSWER: (Matthew 16:14) Some say John the Baptist,; and others Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah or one of the propehts."

Now the question is reposed...to Peter...but the question is for YOU.

"And He said to them...but WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?" Be careful. Don't come up with a flesh and blood answer like the previous polling. Let's see what Peter came up with.

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

Good answer Peter...I believe you qualify to go to the bonus round.

"And Jesus answered and said to Him, blessed are you Simaon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 16:17). NOTE: Revelation is never based on your on smarts...it is from the Father (Read I Corinthians chapter 2)

NOW...comes to where Bob Hartman and the boys...get their inspiration for the ROCK group.

"And I also say to you that you are PETER (petros) [small stone...piece of the rock] and UPON THIS ROCK (petra) [massive rock]...I will BUILD my church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it."
(Matthew 16:18) Verses 19 speak of the KEYS (authority) OF THE KINGDOM...for binding and loosing heavnly things to earth.

NOTE: The church was not BUILT on peter/petros/little stone...but in CONTRAST...the church is built on the God given revelation about the PETRA...the MASSIVE ROCK...that JESUS IS THE CHRIST...THE ANOINTED ONE...WITH HIS ANOINTING. It is not built on your abilities...your goodness...your holiness...your anything. It is all about JESUS.

When Jesus was going away to prepare a place for us...Thomas wanted to know where he was going...and how they could KNOW the way. Jesus made it very clear that ALL ROADS MAY LEAD TO ROME...but NOT all roads lead to the FATHER.

"Jesus said to him, I am THE way (not A way)...THE truth (not A truth), and THE life (not A life)...NO ONE (nada, zilch, zero, zip) comes to the Father but THROUGH ME (not through keeping 60% of the 10 commandments...not through attending church...not through doing good works through various social, political, fraternal organizations)...not by giving up smoking, drinking, cussing, illicit sex/fornication, gluttony, murder, gossip, etc)...and not by cleaning up your act).

According to Derek Prince in his book The Spirit Filled Believer's Handbook...when we are CONFRONTED BY JESUS...and we are ASKED THE QUESTION...WHO DO YOU SAY I AM...there are four stages of this confrontation.

(1) Direct , personal confrontation of Christ (2) Direct , spiritual revelation of Christ (3) Personal acknowledgement of Christ (4) Open and Personal confession of Christ [about the D.B.R...NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS]

I would add a 5th...walking out the confession. Everyone has the question posed to them. Many have a revelation that Jesus is the Christ the living Son of God...Some may even acknowedge it...and some may verbally say it...but living it like you believe it is where I fall short so many times.

O.K....it's time for the lightning round...are you ready for your question?

WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

Love and Pertrafied Kisses
"Rodney "Aaaaaadriiiiiaaaaaaan" Boyd

P.S. The Adrian reference is to the movie ROCKy. Sorry

THE REFRESHING

Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh...how refreshing. I don't know about you...but on a hot summer day...when the sun is beating down upon your brow....every inch of your body is covered with sweat... your mouth is dry and feels as parched as a desert during a dry spell....I need REFRESHING. Why? Because I am no longer FRESH. This of course applies to my physical being...but...it also applies to my spiritual being.

FRESH: (1) recently produced, obtained, or grown; newly made (fresh coffee) (2) having ORIGINAL strength, vigor, quality, tast, etc. (not salted, preserved, pickled, spoiled, rotten, stale, worn, soilded, faded)
(3) no known before; new, recent (4) original, spontaneous, and stimulating, (5) cool and refreshing; invigorating (6) brisk; strong; said of the wind

REFRESH: (1) to make FRESH by cooling, wetting, etc [rains refreshing parched plants] (2) to make feel cooler, stronger, more energetic than before, as by food, drink, or sleep (3) to replensish, as by new supplies; renew (4) to revive or stimulate (5) to become FRESH AGAIN; revive


QUESTION (for everyone except Wayne Berry): Who is the KING OF ROCK AND ROLL? Did you say Elvis Presley? Good guess...but WRONG.

A lot of you seasoned Ruminators know that my Dad...influenced me greatly by letting me listen to a broad range of musical styles. Glenn Miller (Tuxedo Junction), Woody Herman(Woodchoppers Ball), Pete Fountain (Licorice Stick), Brook Benton and Dinah Washington (Rockin' Good Way, Baby, You Got What It Takes), were just a few of the musical styles I would enjoy. Of course, I was only six years old when I was listening to this mish-mash of music. In 1957, while my little playmates were grooving to Mary Had A Little Lamb...I was rocking with the warden in the county jail... doing the JAILHOUSE ROCK with the "King of Rock and Roll". From 1957 until 1967...I listened to, read about, watched movies by ELVIS. In 1967...in Nashville TN...at RCA Recording Studio...Studio B...I met Elvis. What was an abstract experience for years...became a concrete reality...I was finally in the PRESENCE OF THE KING. It was an electrifying, surreal expereince. After it was over...and the KING went into the studio to record...on the way home in a car with my friends...I BROKE DOWN AND BEGAN TO WEEP. Why? I was in the presence of someone that I idolized and worshipped from AFAR...and I had been one foot away from him...even to the point of touching his...blue suede boot.

Back to the original question...who is the KING OF ROCK AND ROLL? No...it was not ELVIS...but it was CHUCK BERRY.

Say WHAT?!? That's right...Chuck Berry. He had the moves...the lyrical content...the guitar riffs...the sensuality...he had it all... except in 1955...you could not declare a black man KING of anything. Elvis...was next in line.

What does all of this have to do with THE REFRESHING. You've got me. It's nothing but another cheap trick to talk about JESUS.


Jesus is the "KING OF KINGS...THE LORD OF LORDS." (I Timothy 6:15). Over my 55+ years... I have been in the PRESENCE of many people. Some famous...some infamous. I've knelt at the feet of Elvis (actually I dropped my pen and picked it up...and while I was down there...I touched boots)...I been prayed for by the "spiritual gurus of the preaching circuit...I've had brushes with a presidential wannabe and rock stars (Johnny Rivers). I've met a man who was a gourment chef, artist, and master of horror...Mr. Vincent Price. I've met Phil Keaggy (my favorite guitar player multiple times...BUT none compares with being in the PRESENCE of the KING OF KINGS...and the LORD OF LORDS...Jesus the Christ...the Anointed One.

Every other brush with greatness...were fantastic experiences...but not one of them left me REFRESHED. To be honest with you...after the intial experience...there was a sense of emptiness...BUT with JESUS...I always come away REFRESHED.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible (and I've got a lot of em)...is found in Acts 3:19.

A man had just been healed that had been lame from his mother's womb. For years people had carried him along...set him down a the Gate called Beautiful...and he would beg for alms. Peter and John passed on Jesus to him...and he was healed. Peter took the opportunity to proclaim the fact that it was Jesus who healed and not them. He then underscored what had happened..."And on the basis of FAITH in His NAME...it is the NAME OF JESUS which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the FAITH which comes through Him (Jesus) has givne him this perfect health in the PRESENCE of you all." (Acts 3:16)

Peter then underscores how they can enter into this experience...
"Repent therefore and return, that you sins may be wiped away, in order that times of REFRESHING may come from THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD." (Acts 3:19)

REFRESHING...does not come from being in the presence of Elvis, Chuck Berry, Billy Graham, or any other earthly king or idol (American or otherwise). REFRESHING comes from the PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

QUESTION: How can I get into the presence of the Lord?

1. Repent (change of heart, mind, attitude, direction)
2. Return (via the door=Jesus=D.B.R...Death, Burial, Resurrection)

Are ya feeling a little parched in your soul?

Drink up.

Love
Rodney

RODE HARD AND PUT UP WET

Good Morning...or is it the Morning After. Do you ever wake up feeling like Keith Richards on a bad day? Nothing is going your way...and you feel like you have been RODE HARD AND PUT UP WET.

I have!!! Back in to old days...that would be B.C...before Christ...There were more of those days. The phrase RODE HARD AND PUT UP WET..."refers to riding a horse HARD to exhaustion and putting him up WET, rather than brushing him off and cooling him down. The phrase implies that an emergency occurred, and that once the horse had responded beyond normal EXPECTATIONS...it was ABANDONED. As currently used, it means that something was USED VERY HARD...to accomplish an objective...and then THROWN ASIDE because it was NO LONGER IMMEDIATELY USEFUL." Now...do feel as if you've been RODE HARD AND PUT UP WET? We usually think of it in terms of someone who has had a ROUGH LIFE...a life of excessive partying...too much of a good or bad thing.

Kenneth Copeland played in a trilogy of movies
a character named Witchita Slim. The first movie was called THE GUNSLINGER. He was an ex-gang member who got saved in prison...renounced his association with his old gang...and was going to be made a U.S. Marshal. Before this could take place...his old gang rode into town to rob the bank.
As he was attempting to stop the bank robbery... he was hit over the head...captured by his old gang...and then, because of a case of amnesia...he could not remember who he was. The old gang took advantage of this and convinced him that he was still a member of the gang. They took him on a series of bank robberies...and became know again as an outlaw. The problem was that something inside of him was telling him that he was not a criminal...and that something was different in him...from what the old gang was telling him. He kept reading a New Testament that a young boy had given him...
especially a passage underlined..."Therefore if any man is IN CHRIST... he is a NEW CREATION...the OLD things passed away...behold NEW THINGS have come." (II Corninthians 5:17) The gang leaded told Sticks Callahan (the dynamite man)..."We've got to get that Bible away from him. The more he reads it...the more he finds out WHO HE REALLY IS." Eventually...they get captured...and Witchita is lead into a courtroom. Those who knew him previously were shocked at how bad he looked since he was riding with the old gang. Miss Lana the storekeeper...quoted Proverbs13:15..."Good understanding giveth favore, but THE WAY OF THE TRANSGESSOR IS HARD." (Check out the movie for the ending).


What Miss Lana expressed is what we see on the surface of a lot of our famous...or infamous ICONS. We tend to look at someone on the outward and point out how life has not been good to them. We comment on how the outward appearance looks like they have been RODE HARD AND PUT UP WET. It is a fact that the physical impact of living a hard life of drinking, smoking, womanizing, mananizing, drugs, late nights, can impact the physical life. Laying out in the sun can make skin like leather...but hard living can...make the inside crumble also. Overeating can impact the body...just as much as drinking.
Elvis was a pretty man...but in the end he was pretty bloated. The lifestyle...took its toll on him.
Excessive eating, drugging, was hard on the King.
For some...they use the person up...until they do not satisfy them any more. Thin Elvis is good... fat Elvis is bad. Ride that horse to the point of exhaustion...and then throw them aside when they are no longer immediately useful.


There was a man...who at one point was heir to the political world. A man who could do no wrong. A man who was hailed as a hero as he went about...doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). A man...who poured out his love for 3 years... and then literally poured out His blood...His sweat...and His tears long before a progressive jazz/rock fusion group captured that name..BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS. Jesus was RODE HARD...and literally PUT UP ON A CROSS WET...in place of you and me. He was used up...abandoned...thrown aside...because he was no longer IMMEDIATELY USEFUL. Between the point of being RODE HARD AND PUT UP WET (Jesus hung UP for our hang UPS)...and the point of RESURRECTION...Jesus' usefulness appeared to be apparant...but he became the propitiation...the substitute...the satisfaction to God for our sins. The D.B.R....the DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION...became the catylyst for taking us old transgessors...that have been riding the HARD WAY...and taking us old abandoned...discarded rejects of society...and has taken us into the STABLE OF LIFE...and has cooled us down...given us water...brushed us down...and instead of abandonment...has adopted us into the family of God. I may still look rough on the outside...but my inside is RODE EASY...AND PUT UP DRY.

Love and YipeeKiYa Kisses
Rodney "New Creation In Christ" Boyd

GOOD GRIEF

Greetings all of you ALIVE people. If you are reading this Rambling...in all likelyhood...you are breathing in...and breathing out on a regular rhythm pattern. I bet...that most likely... somewhere along the way...you have lost a loved one...be it a pet, relative, close friend, or some famous icon that you have worshipped from afar. You probably have gone through or are going through the process known as GRIEF. People who surround you...people who either love you.. or know you...have empathy, sympathy, relate to you...and are either trying to walk on eggshells around you...giving you space to grieve...offering words of encouragment...or they are dishing out tough love...and telling you to get over it...or relating to you by stating that they "know what you are going through." Adults...who have lost loved ones are in a postition where they have to put on a stiff upper lip...to be the strong ones...to set the example for the younger ones...and all the while are crumbling inside with either guilt, sorrow, or what is known as EMOTIONAL LABILITY...where they swing from one emotional gamit to another... from deep weeping to maniacal laughter. HEY...welcome to the world of NORMAL.

Webster's Dictionary defines grief as: (1) intense emotional suffering caused by loss, disaster, misfortune, etc; acute sorrow, deep sadness (2) a cause or the subject of such suffering (3) a hardship, suffering or pain.

A cursory view of the Old and New Testament with the Hebrew and Greek words for grief give a multiplicity of colours to the word GRIEF. To me...it really spoke of the complexity of this emotion called GRIEF. Here are some of the meanings in no specific order: bitterness, trouble, vexation, anger, indignation, provocation, sorrow, spite, wrath, a stumbling block, anguish, affliction, pain, sorrow, suffering (physical or mental), adversity, to be rubbed or worn, weak, malady, anxiety, calamity. Any of this sound familiar to you.

I Thessalonians 5:23 breaks down the makeup of man as spirit (pneuma), soul (sookay or psyche), and body. Grief can affect all of these areas. The soul...with it's make up of mind (what we think), volition (free will to choose), and emotions (the reflection of inward feelings)...is a God thing. Tear ducts are very useful tools to express joy and sorrow. Have you ever laughed until you brought tears to your eyes. Aaaaaaaaaaah what a great emotion. Have you ever had a "good cry"...and when you were all cried out you felt a little better.

I remember when I was in graduate school...over a two year period, my mother died, my father died, my mother-in-law died, and my uncle died. The dying part was precipitated by extended sickness and multiple trips to hospitals. I would get paged in class and have to go to the hospital and be with my Dad. THANK GOD FOR BRENDA WHO WAS A ROCK IN THIS TIME.

During the initial time of death, funerals, burial, etc....there was a PEACE that passed understanding (Philippians 4:4-9). Many non-believers...and some believers...would pass on their wisdom about how I was in shock (and I may have been)...but reality would set in at some point. Now...I ain't no supersaint...and I did shed tears...BUT there is something about having a HOPE (confident expectation) that transcended the momentary loss of loved ones. The Holy Spirit is the great Helper...that helps us through the hard times.

I like this quote from Diane McKendree..."If you love deeply, you will grieve deeply. If you deny your grief, you deny the reality of the love you felt."

I remember when my dog Roxie was run over in front of my house. WOW...I was overwhelmed. I could not stop crying. I was sitting in a meeting at Messick Homecare...with an insurance agent named Edwin. Right in the middle of our meeting I broke down and began to weep. I had to explain that my dog just died that morning. I was blessed because he was a Christian...and he prayed for me...but that dog was precious to me. How much more a friend or a family member.

When my Dad died...it was bittersweet. For most of my life...we were in constant arguments about one thing or another. But for the last few years of his life...he became a changed man. My son Phillip was a big part of the change... as he made up for a lot of stuff that happened between us as he expressed love for Phillip. When Dad died...I was at bedside with him...and as he was struggling to stay here on earth...I was able to whisper into his ears that it is O.K. to move on...and that Mom was waiting for him and we will be there soon. A peace converged in the room...he quit the struggled...took one last breath and eased into the presence of God. I am crying tears as I right this...because I still miss my Dad...and my Mom...and my Mother-In-Law...and my Uncle.

When my Dad first died...I did not shed a lot of tears. The shocking, comfort or the Holy Spirit was helping me...but at one point (really more than one point)...I would pull over to the side of the road when I least expected it...I would break down with weeping and sobbing. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah sweet release. Over a period of time...there are less tears...and more memories (good ones).

I really don't know how people who don't know the Lord get by...but they do. Some (Christians included)...deal with grief by denial, develop a hard shell, become isolated, live overwhelmed the rest of their lives, cover up with laughter, numb themselves with drugs, alcohol, sex, multiple relationships.... always running but never coming to an END of the grief. Coming to an end of the GRIEF is not a denial of the love for the individual...but it is getting on with life.

Moses is a great example of this. In Deuteronomy 34:7-8...it lays out how Moses dies...people grieve...but the grieving came to an END. If the grieving does not come to an END...then we live in a constant state of misery.

"Although Moses was one hindred and twenty years old when he DIED...his ey was not dim, nor his vigor abated. So the sons of Israel WEPT FOR MOSES in the plains of MOAB thirty days; then the DAYS OF WEEPING and MOURNING for Moses CAME TO AN END." (Deuteronoym 34:7,8)

Sometimes we love to stay in MOAB as we hold onto the past...but God has river for us to cross and a LAND for us to posess. One is the past...the other is our future...and as long as we stay in mourning...stay in grief...we can never step into the next chapter of our lives.

How long is our mourning period? For the followers of Moses...it was 30 days...for us...who knows...but rest assured...there will be a time for it to END. The end of mourning...grief...but NOT for the end of our love for the departed. As I've shared in each funeral...hold on to the good memories...and go on with life.

Now...as a RUMINATOR...the chewing of the Word is of vital importance to overcome...go through the grieving process (everybody is at different levels of the process)...THE WORD OF GOD...and the MEDITATION of the WORD OF GOD...will get us through.

For me...personally...Anxiety, worry, tension is BUSTED by Philipians 4:6-9)...where I chose to (1) rejoice in the Lord always (2) made a choice not to be anxious for anything but in everything do 3 things. (a) pray (b) supplicate (c) thank Him in the midst of what I was going through

The cause and effect of doing these thingswas PEACE THAT PASSESS UNDERSTANDING/COMPREHENSION. This peace guarded my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. I then would let my MIND DWELL on whatever was (1) pure (2) lovely (3) good report (4) excellence (5) anything worthy of praise. I did not DENY what I was going through or even my grief...but I would not DWELL on the negative. Was I 100% in this thing? NO...but I transitioned from overwhelming grief...to moving on.

I would meditate...chew...ruminate...on THE WORD OF GOD...

"Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be Thou my HELPER...Thous has TURNED for ME my MOURNING in to DANCING; Thou hast LOOSED my SACKCLOTH...and girded me with GLADNESS, that my SOUL may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will (my choice) GIVE THANKS to The forever." (Psalm 30:10-12)

NOTE: There will be a TURNING POINT in your grieving...but that turning is hinged on your choice...to praise and thank Him in the midst of the process.

"So shall My WORD be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will GO OUT WITH JOY...and be LED FORTH WITH PEACE...The mountains and the hills will break forth into SHOUTS OF JOY before you, and all the trees of the field will CLAP THEIR HANDS. Instead of thorn bush the cypress will come up; and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up; and it will be a MEMORIAL to the Lord, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off." (Isaiah 55:11-13)

NOTE: I don't want to settle for thorns and nettles. I want to move on to cypress and myrtle. There will be a sweet MEMORIAL to the Lord as I remember how he brought me through the grieving process.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me...because the Lord has anointed me...to bring good news to the afflicted...He has sent me to bind up the BROKENHEARTED...to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to prisoners...to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord...and the day of vengance of our Lord...to COMFORT all who MOURN....to grant thouse who mourn in Zion...giving them a garland instead of ashes...the oil of GLADNESS...instead of mourning...the MANTLE OF PRAISE...instead of a spirit of fainting...SO they will be called oaks of righteousness...the PLANTING of the Lord...the He may be glorified. THEN they will REBUILD THE ANCIENT RUINS....they will RAISE UP THE FORMER DEVASTATIONS...and they will REPAIR THE RUINED CITIES...the DESOLATIONS OF MANY GENERATIONS..."
(Isaiah 61:1-4)

NOTE: Oh how sweet the Lord was to Israel...who constantly did not deserve his grace and mercy and compassion...and Oh how sweet the Lord is to you and may...as he deals with our broken hearts, frees us, speaks forth favor in our lives, gives gladness versus mourning, gives the mantle or ability to praise instead of fainting...plants us, rebuilds our ruins, raises up our devastations, repairs our ruined cities and the cause and effect of desolations of many generations he repairs. This may be historical prophecy for a nation...but I held onto it during my grieving process...knowing that restoration would come.

I hope this blessed you and will help you realize...that you are not crazy for grieving...but realizing that your MOAB is coming to an end...and it is time to cross on over into your PROMISED LAND.

Love and Sweet Canadian Kisses
Rodney "The Big Cry Baby" Boyd

THE STUMBLING BLOCK

Greetings and Foolish/Wise Salutations to you and yours. Which category to think you are in... the numbskull or the intellectual? Do you relish in the age of wisdom...or do you languish in the Year of the Idiot? Do you blindly accept every concept that comes down the pike or do you intellectually nitpick every premise until you reason away your life? Is knowledge king...or have you committed intellectual suicide in your quest for the things of God?

I find myself twixt the two...but I'm leaning more to the fool side than the wise. This thing called THE GOSPEL trips me up with its simplicity. The apostle Paul (formerly the Christian hater Saul)...who went from a intellectually righteous persecuter of the church to once was blind but now he sees supporter of Christ...puts it this way..."For I am NOT ASHAMED of the gospel, for it is the power of God, for salvation, to EVERYONE who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (gentile)." (Romans 1:16) Paul begins to lay out in Romans...a theology about FAITH. Not the watered down tool of manipulation that men use to convince God to give them a cadillac while men of the cloth pick their pockets...but a FAITH in the D.B.R....death, burial, resurrection of JESUS. He writes about RIGHTEOUSNESS versus UNRIGHTEOUSNESS....and how to switch from Romans 3:10 to Romans 1:17...to the place of II Corinthians 5:21. The place where we go from there is NONE righteous no not one...to the righteous WALK by faith...to we are the righteousness of God IN CHRIST.

The stumbling block...the scandalon...to this transition is the WISDOM of God versus the WISDOM of the world. In I Corinthians...Paul is writing to a church in Corinth...who were NOT lacking in any gift...and were awaiting eagerly the revelation of Jesus (when he returns). The problem with this group of BELEIVERS in the D.B.R. was that they had a few issues. They were divided over who was the best teacher to follow (Paul, Apollos, Cephas/Peter, or even full of pride about the fact that they listened to Jesus). They were getting drunk at the Lord's Supper, eating up all the food at the dinner on the ground before everyone had a chance to get some, having sex with their mother-in-laws (and not rebuking that behavior), services out of order, etc.

Paul brings them back to the simplicity of the CROSS. "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to PREACH THE GOSPEL (D.B.R.)...not in CLEVERNESS/WISDOM of speech, that the CROSS OF CHRIST should not be mand void. For the WORD OF THE CROSS is to those who are perishing...FOOLISHNESS...but to us who are being saved it is the POWER OF GOD. For it is written (Isaiah 29:14) I will destroy the WISDOM of theWISE...and the CLEVERNESS of the CLEVER I will set aside." Where is the WISE MAN? Where is the SCRIBE? Where is the DEBATER of this age? Has not God made FOOLISH the WISDOM of the WORLD?
(I Corinthians 1:17-20) The wisdom...cleverness all destroyed and set aside. The debater made to look foolish by simplicity.

I find it interesting that in this day and age...where INTELLECTUAL pursuits reign as king... and HUMAN REASON...is queen...that the world in NOT getting better and better...but appears to be on a downhill slide. You cannot come to know God through the wisdom of world. They did not in Paul's day...and not much has changed in 2007. As the song states, "You can go to your college...you can go to your schools...but if you don't know Jesus you're and educated fool." (Denomination Blues). Paul continues..."For since in the WISDOM OF GOD...the world through it's wisdom...did NOT come to know God, God was well-pleased through the FOOLISHNESS of the MESSAGE preached (D.B.R.) to SAVE those who BELIEVED. (I Corinthians 1:21)


"For indeed Jews ask for SIGNS/ATTESTING MIRACLES (the fireworks)...and the Greeks search for WIDSOM (intellectual reasoning)...BUT (in contrast to the fireworks and reasoning) we preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED/D.B.R...to the Jews a STUMBLING BLOCK...to the gentiles FOOLISHNESS... BUT (in contrast to the stumbling fools) to those who are called...both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST THE POWER OF GOD AND THE WISDOM OF GOD. (I Corinthians 1:22-24). Remember how we started off with Romans 1:16...with Paul not being ashamed of the good news about the D.B.R. of Jesus, because it was the DUNAMIS...POWER...ABILITY of God for SALVATION to the Jew first and then also to the Greek/Gentile. WHY? Why did God make it this way? After all...he did create the mind and the ability to reason...and give us VOLITION...the ability to make free choices based on our reasoning. Why does the CROSS to trip us up? "BECAUSE...the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the wakness of God is stronger than men." (I Corinthians 1:25) "God has chosen the FOOLISH things of the world to shame the wise....and God has chosen the WEAK things of the world to shame the things which are strong...and the base (lower) things of the world and the desposed, God has chosen, the things that are not...that He might NULLIFY the things that are." (I Corinthians 1:27,28). WE MUST ENTER INTO THE NULLIFICATION PROCESS...BEFORE WE CAN ENTER INTO HIS SALVATION. The problem is we resist the nullification...because our mind and emotions cry out...THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE. WHY, WHY, WHY WOULD GOD DO THIS TO US? "That no man should BOAST before God. But by HIS DOING you are in Christ (not by your wisdom or your ability)...who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption...that, just as it is written (Jeremiah 9:23)..."Let Him who boasts, boast in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:29-31)

PROBLEM #1 The simplicity of the D.B.R. is a stumbling block to the intellectual.

PROBLEM #2 Many intellectuals are truly seeking truth...but the stumbling block becomes Christians who do not live their lives as if Jesus is their Lord. It is one thing to be turned off by the D.B.R...it is quiet another thing to be turned of by OBNOXIOUS SAINTS.

PROBLEM #3 Non-Christians who use the "They are nothing but hypocrites" excuse for not becoming a Christian. When I first became a Christian...one of my friends played this card...when I tried to share my new found faith. He said..."Boyd...you're nothing but a hypocrite." That devestated me...until the Lord revealed to me that a hypocrite is someone who wears a mask and tries to portray themselves as something they are not. I was someone who admitted that I was a sinner and that I needed a Saviour. I was a beggar trying to tell another beggar where I found a piece of bread....BUT my friend was wearing a mask...and not admitting he needed help. His pride pushed him away from the truth. Paul Little in his book KNOW WHAT/WHY YOU BELIEVE...wrote that he went to a university...the seat of intellectualism...and answered all the questions the students had about Christianity. When then asked them if they would like to receive Jesus...they told him NO. When asked why...they indicated that they were not ready to give up their lifestyle of drinking, sex, fun, etc. It was not a matter of intellectualism...but a matter of SIN.

What is the GOSPEL? I'm glad you asked. Paul lays it out in I Cornithians 15:1-4. Some call this passage THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL.

"Now I make known to you brethren, the GOSPEL which I PREACHED to you, which also you RECEIVED, in which also you STAND, by which also you are SAVED...IF you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you BELIEVED in vain." (I Corinthians 15:1,2)

NOTE: Here's the process...(1) Gospel preached (2) You receive (3) You believe (4) You Stand (5) You hold fast the D.B.R. (6) You are saved.

"For I delivered to you of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:3,4)

NOW...I am not saying that as followers of the Christ of the D.B.R...that we must commit INTELLECTUAL SUICIDE. We surely must have a foundation for what we believe...and are ready to share it with those who ask..."but sanctify Chrst as Lord in your hearts, always BEING READY...to make a DEFENSE (apologia...not apologizing but defending) to every one...who ASKS you to give an account for the HOPE that is inyou...yet with GENTLNESS and REVERENCE (not with arrogance and an air of superiority)." (I Peter 3:15)

As Paul defended his faith to Agrippa...about the D.B.R...(not church doctrine)...Festus (not of Gunsmoke fame)...siad that Paul was out of his mind and that Paul's great learning (he was an intellecual before conversinon) was driving him mad. Paul retorted that he was NOT out of his mind...but was uttering words of "sober truth". Paul then turns it back to King Aggripa (who was losing his agrippa on the matter) when he admitted that he was ALMOST PERSUADED to become a Christian. (Acts 26:22-28).

Paul considered his credentials ((1) circumcised the eight day (religious from birth) (2) of the nation of Israel (right nationality)
(3) of the tribe of Benjamin (heritage not hate) (4) as to the Law...a Pharisee (the king of jot and tittle) (5) as to zeal...a persecutor of the church (killed with gusto in what he believed) (6) as to righteousness in the Law...blameless (pride in the fact of perfection)...BUT (in contrast to his right standing)...WHATEVER TINGS WERE GAIN T OME, THOSE THING I HAVE COUNTED AS LOSS FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST. (Philippians 3:4-7) Paul went an extra step in his intellectual, religious, heritage comparison to Christ when he said, "More than that...I count all things to be LOSS in view of the surpassing value of KNOWING CHRIST...MY LORD...for whom I have suffered the loss of all things...and count them but RUBBISH/DUNG in order that I may GAIN CHRIST." (Phillipians 3:8)

The intellectual...wise...clever...can never know this...because of the value that they place on their reason. We (Christians also as the hold on to their spirituality) must come to the place of RUBBISH/DUNG...if we want to KNOW...AND GAIN CHRIST.

Well...that was a long one...but I needed to hear it. Lord forgive me for elevating my thoughts above your thoughts. Forgive me for reasoning out how you need to move in my life...and how you need to answer my prayers. Forgive me for being complacent in my comfort zone.

RECOMMENDED RUMINATOR READING

Here are a few things that will help to stimulate your intellect...

1. www. epecho.net Great website that helps you to think through (and adjust) your believe system as needed. Remember that if you go back and read all the parts of your Bible that you have not underlined...you may change your theology. They are currently studying the book I SOLD MY SOUL ON E-BAY. A perspective of Churchianity from an atheist.

2. The Purple Book: Biblical Foundations fo Building Strong Disciples. This is a great workbook.

3. The Spirit-Filled Believer's Handbook by Derek Prince. Great book for a study of the elementary principles of Christ...and the transition from milk to meat.

4. The Case for Faith...and The Case for Christ by Lee Stroble. This is a Journalist's investigation of the toughests objections to Christianity and a personal investigation for the evidence of Jesus.

5. Know What You Believe and Know Who You Believe by Paul Little. Practical insight into sharing your faith. from this Inter-Varsity speaker.

6. Evidence That Demands a Verdict (Volumes 1 and 2) This is where I first saw GODISNOWHERE. He is either NO where or NOW here. It all depends on how you look at it.

7. A Ready Defense by Josh McDowell This is over 60 "lines of defense" for Christianity.

8. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Jesus is either a liar...a lunatic on the same level as a poached egg...or Lord (who He said He was).

9. Renewal Theology (3 volumes) by J. Rodman Williams Great systematic theology book from a Charismatic perspective.

10. The Jesus Style by Gayle Erwin. The roots of servanthood as we attempt to imitate Christ.

Thanks to all of you Ruminator's who hung in there...not only for this long rambling...but hanging in there all of these years. I would love to hear from you...if you are out there.

Love and Thought Provoking Kisses
Rodney "Simple Minded" Boyd