The Herd and the Word

Happy Moo Years to you and yours. As I sit hear typing this Rambling...it is New Years Eve. We are on the cusp of new and exciting things as 2007 breaths in it's last dying gasp....and 2008 breaths in deep the breath of life.

Brenda, Phillip, and myself went to Famous Chinese Resteraunt for a Sunday lunch a couple of weeks ago...and when Brenda paid the bill...she came out with a nice, new, 2008 calendar...compliments of Famous Chinese. Brenda informed me...that she had been informed that 2008 is THE YEAR OF THE RAT. Yikes!!

I informed her that I am declaring it to be THE YEAR OF THE COW!! Of course I was kidding...but then it dawned on me...it really was the year of the cow...or at least in my Ruminator imagination it is. What do I mean by year of the cow? Am I talking about the elevation of the sacred cow to be worshipped along with golden calves? No...have you not HEARD about the HERD that gathers every Sunday Morning in Ruminator Central (the fellowship hall of Smyran Assembly)...where the Ruminators congregate as we MOO AND CHEW the CUD of the WORD OF GOD. When I delcare the year of the COW...what I am really saying is...that I am declaring THE YEAR OF THE WORD OF GOD. Of course...it is always the YEAR OF THE WORD....every year...but this year...EVEN MORE SO.

Yesterday's sermon by Pastor Ronnie Meek was great. Each year...we have sermons based around Advent, Christmas, Easter, etc. But you can count on a message to be preached every year...no matter what...a message encouraging us to READ THE WORD OF GOD for the coming year.

I really do believe that the devil (little d...he does not deserve capitalization)... truly counts on and desires for us NOT to read/listen/hear the WORD OF GOD. He knows that if we HEAR the WORD OF GOD...that FAITH will come... and we will not only HEAR it...but also RUMINATE/MEDITATE on it...and then DO IT. The little d will do anything that he can to steal the WORD from us... choke the WORD OUT by the cares of the world and lust for things...make it ineffective from the ROOTS UP. (See the Rambling on the Sower...or Read Mark 4).

Remember the HEARING of the Word...is more than those big old flappers attached to the side of your head...much like this dog has (those are some big ears). The auricles/pinna that you see on yours and others heads...are really just part of the ear system. They really are more of the collectors of sound versus the actual hearing.

THE HEARING PROCESS: (1) Sound is produced from a sound generator. The voice produces sound by the vocal folds that vibrates and travels through the resonating cavities....and is articulated by the tongue, lips, teeth, soft palate, etc (2) Sound travels out of the mouth... or from some other source...and travels through the air and are captured by the auricle/pinna/ears on the side of your head) (3) The sound travels down the ear canal and hits the tympanic membrane (aka the ear drum) and sets into motion 3 bones (mechanical motion).
(4) These bones are attached to the INNER EAR and the mechanical process sets into motion fluid in the inner ear (hydraulic motion).
(5) Fluid then goes around and back over and over again and snaps little tiny hairs (cillia) in the inner ear that sparks (electrical energy) set a various frequencies (6) This information is sent thorough the VIIIth Cranial Nerve/Acoustic Nerve (neural energy)...to the specific area of the brain that decodes and encodes information.

This is the PHYSICAL HEARING PROCESS. This is how we gather information and respond. In the area of FAITH...and FAITH coming by the hearing of the WORD...Jesus over and over again would say things like LET HIM WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR...HEAR. He is not talking about the flappers on the side of the head...or even the HEARING PROCESS...but actually LISTENING with the HEART versus the EARS OR EVEN THE BRAIN. We listen with our spirit (little s...human spirit) filtered through our RENEWED MINDS (with the washing of the water of the Word).


God's heartbeat has always been COMMUNICATING with his CREATION. The fall...as a result of disobedience gummed up the communication system... and added static...to where we could no longer communicate as we were designed. Jesus came and re-established the communication system...and tweeks the dial to get us on frequency.

Even now...there are things that will cause static...fear, doubt, unbelief, unforgiveness, anxiety, cares of the world, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, the boastful pride of life, etc.





One way to get back to basics is the WORD OF GOD.

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the WORD OF GOD shall stand FOREVER." (Isaiah 40:8)

If you have a heartbeat for the WORD OF GOD...and would like to delve more into the WORD....this is an open invitation to come to THE RUMINATOR'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS every Sunday at Smyrna Assembly. We meet at 9:00 for food, fun, and fellowship...and break the BREAD of the WORD.

Also...if you are in the area...for the next 3 months on Wednesday night...we will be studying....THE BAPTISM IN/WITH/OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: A STUDY OF RELEASE..

If you can't make the classes...keep your eyes open for further RAMBLINGS


Love and Moo Year Kisses
Rodney "Lovin' the Word" Boyd

THE MAKER OF THE UNIVERSE

Good Christmas morning dear friends. I pray that as you wake up to the rustling of gifts being unwrapped, the smell of coffee and bacon wafting through the house, the cries of joy as what someone has been wanting has appeared...that you would remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON...the entrance of the Saviour of the world...via a little baby.

I went outside last night...after the last family member left our house. We had a house full of laughing adults, screaming and hyperactive kids, deep fried Cajun Turkey, deep fried hot wings, and a plethora of food that was fit for a king. It felt good to leave the house...that still reverberated with the noise of the evening...and walk out into the still, cool, calm night.

I was soaking in the peaceful feeling as I decompressed from the busyness of the season...and looked up and saw twinkling stars...and a large, bright, full moon. I was overwhelmed by the beauty...and began to reflect back in time of the various skies that I have observed over the past few years. I remembered the first mission trip that we took to Mexico at the Rio Bravo Orphanage...and how in the midst of the poverty...the sky was rich with scattered diamonds. I recalled the Amazon River that swept throughout Peru...and the lushness of the rain forest...and how as I lay under an open hut...the canopy of stars...that seemed to engulf the entire landscape. I can remember watching one shooting star after another as if it was a private fireworks demonstration for me. I can still sense the palpable sensation of being in the middle of an African night, listening to the animals sing their lullaby to us as I drifted off to sleep in a place thousands of miles away from where I was standing last night...but the same sky...the same moon...the same sense of awe was in Rockvale Tennessee as it was in Mexico, Peru, and Africa.

The first picture that you see in today's Rambling...is of Phil Keaggy. Phil has always had a special place in my life...in that this humble troubadour...points me to the Father with his music. As I write this Rambling...I am listening to an album by Phil...called Way Back Home. It is a personal look at Phil's life and his trust in an awesome God.

One song that he wrote was taken from a poem that he found in a devotional collection by H.A. Ironside...that was first released in 1941. The devotional is called THE CONTINUAL BURNT OFFERING...and is" based on Exodus 29:42... that speaks of a "continual burnt offering" which was ever to be ascending to God from the brazen altar, where the people drew near to meet with the Lord as worshippers, to offer their praises and thanksgiving. Morning by morning and evening by evening a new burnt offering was placed on the altar that there might be NO INTERRUPTION in that which was intended to set forth the adoration of Israel to Him who had redeemed them." (H.A. Ironside 1941)

The poem that Phil set to music was by F.W. Pitt...called Maker of the Universe.

It speaks of the Maker...the creator of the Universe...who created the very things that were used to kill His Son.

The Maker of the Universe
As Man, for man was made a curse
The claims of Law which He had made
Unto the uttermost He paid

His holy fingers made the bough
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow
The nails that pierced His hands were minded
In secret places He designed

He made the forest whence there sprung
The trees on which His body hung
He died upon a cross of wood
Yet made the hill on which it stood

The sky that darkened o'er His head
By Him above the earth was spread
The sun that hid from Him it's face
By His decree was poised in space

The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God
The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made

The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years
But a new glory crowns His brow
And every knee to Him shall bow.

Elvis Presley...a talented...fallable...rock and roll singer...had deep roots in gospel music. No matter how high he rose in the eyes of the world...and no matter how far he fell...he always was comforted in his tortured mind by gospel music...much like King Saul with the harp of David. He would surround himself with gospel singers...and on tour would stop the adoration of Elvis...the King of Rock and Roll...and let the gospel singers focus on the King of Kings...including King Elvis. One song that he would love to have sung was...HOW GREAT THOU ART.

As I stood outside of my house on the Eve of the birth of my Saviour...I was soaking in the grandeur of the heavens...and echoing...HOW GREAT THOU ART.

Oh Lord my God...when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made....

"For God so loved the WORLD...that he GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish, but have everlasting/eternal life."
(John 3:16) That would be you. He loved you so much...that He allowed His son to be crucified in your place...with the very things that He had created.

Some say that they can't believe in someone...or something that they cannot SEE. Of course...that does not stop them from believing in the air that they breath...because they experience the effect of said air.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who SUPPRESS the truth in unrighteousness...because that which is KNOWN ABOUT GOD...is EVIDENT within them; for God made it evident TO THEM. For since the CREATION OF THE WORLD...His INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES...His ETERNAL POWER...and DIVINE NATURE...have been CLEARLY SEEN...being understood through what HAS BEEN MADE...so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE." (Romans 1:18-20)

This Christmas season would be a good time...to lay aside the masks that we were in denial of who He is...go outside of the hustle and bustle of this crazy world...look up in the created sky...and breath deep the breath of God. There are no more excuses. The maker of the universe took time to leave his throne to come down on your level...so He could raise you up to His level. OH LORD MY GOD...HOW GREAT THOU ART.

Love and Kisses of the Wonders of His Love
Rodney "One Of The Loved" Boyd

OF SOWERS,SEEDS,AND SOIL

Salutations Oh Ye Saints and Sinners. I find myself falling in both categories at times...that would make me a Sainner.

Jesus was a wonderful teacher who would relate spiritual truths of The Kingdom with comparisons that the common man could relate to. He used what was known as parables. One of the parables used was known as The Parable Of The Sower. His disciples came to Him after he had taught a group using the Parable of the Sower. They began asking Him about the parables. "He was saying to them, To you has been given the MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD; but to those who are OUTSIDE get everything in PARABLES." (Mark 4:10-11) Jesus then gave the reason, why He spoke in parables..."IN ORDER that while seeing, they may see and NOT perceive...and while hearing, they may hear and NOT understand lest they return again and be forgiven."
(Mark 4:12) That on the surface is an odd statement...but the things... the mysteries of the Kingdom of God...are not toys to be played with and then discarded...they are not like pearls that are cast before swine...where the swine turn around and run you down. They (mysteries of the Kingdom) are for those who are sincere in their faith. Those who will hunger and thirst for the things of God.

Jesus then questions them..."Do you not UNDERSTAND THIS PARABLE? And how will you UNDERSTAND ALL THE PARABLES?"
(Mark 4:13) Remember...Jesus spoke in many parables. He implies here that the key to understanding them lies with understanding this parable. Let's take a look and see what's to understand...so we can unlock other KINGDOM PARABLES.

The first character is the SOWER. The sower is the one who goes out into the fields...and BROADCASTS, scatters...SOWS this thing called the SEED.

Jesus begins to speak of the things that would HINDER the seed from PRODUCING what it was designed to grow.

He mentions 4 types of SOIL.

(1) Packed Soil/The Road (2) Rocky or Stony soil (3) Thorny soil (good soil). Each of the 3 soils had a quality about them that would hinder the seed from doing what it was designed to do...produce. The GOOD SOIL would produce.

In Jesus' explanation of the parable He identifies the various components.

1. The Sower: This could be the Father, the one who speaks the Word.

2. The Soil: This is the heart of the one who receives the Word.

3. The Seed: This is the Word of God
I have often wondered why there would be such an attack on the SEED/WORD in the life of the believer. It is amazing to me...that as powerful as the WORD is...that it can be made of none effect in our lives. The mustard seed...the smallest seed...can be planted and a tree can grow to house birds of the air.
Our faith only has to be the size of a grain of mustard seed...but even that can be hindered. Why is there so much OPPOSITION of the SEED/WORD being planted in the SOIL/HEART. Because FAITH comes by HEARING...and HEARING by the WORD OF GOD. The reason for the opposition is the devil knows that if the WORD/SEED is planted in our SOIL/HEART...the FAITH COMES...and if we are men and women of FAITH...we are a tremendous THREAT to the kingdom of the devil. We will become men and women of FAITH that will PRODUCE/BE CARRIERS of the KINGDOM OF GOD (righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost)...here on earth as it is in heaven...and the gates of hell shall not prevail. No seed...No faith...No threat.

As disciples/believers...we have the ability and authority to deal with the things that would pollute our soil and make it GOOD SOIL

In the parable...the soil types are defined:

1. Beside the road: The seed/word is sown...the birds..aka the devil. The devil comes and snatches the word heard immediately.

2. Rocky/Stony: The seed/word is sown...the word is heard and immediately received with joy...but it has NO FIRM ROOT in themselves and AFFLICTIONS/PERSECUTIONS arise because of the word...and they immediately FALL AWAY.

3. Among the Thorns: The seed/word is sown...the word is heard...and the WORRIES OF THE WORLD and the DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES and the DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS enter in...and CHOKE the WORD ...and it (the Word) becomes UNFRUITFUL.

The final SOIL is GOOD SOIL. Of course the good soil is free of packed ground, rock, thorny soil. In Luke 8...the good soil is defined as..." the ones who have heard the word/seed...in an HONEST...and GOOD HEART...and HOLD FAST...and BEAR FRUIT...with PERSEVERANCE. (Luke 8:15)

In Psalm 37:3...we are encouraged to...in the face of evildoers and wrongdoers...to trust in the Lord...do good...and CULTIVATE faithfulness. The word cultivate means to feed securely or feed on His faithfulness. In our soil we need to cultivate...weed out thorns, pick out rocks, shew away birds, and fertilize our soil (1) be honest (2) hold fast (3) persevere. This will insure GOOD SOIL...that will produce 30 fold, 60 fold, and 100 fold.

In John 15...we are encouraged to keep hooked into the branch (Jesus) and the branches (us) will BEAR FRUIT. The amount will be dependent on how we allow the vine dresser (The Father) as He takes away...lifts us up out of the mud...washes us off...ties us closer to the branch...and prunes us (cuts away the useless stuff). The amount of fruit production is (1) No fruit (2) Some fruit (3) More fruit (4) Much fruit. Much like our parable of the sower/seed/soil...Fruit production/crop production is the WILL OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.

I recently was going through some rough times mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I wrote Bruce Coble...and vented...and he called me...and did the Bruce thing (aka encouragement). In the encouragement...he pointed me back to the Word of God...and specifically told me to read Mark 4... and then asked me to tell him...which soil did I think that I was. I ask you the same question. Whatever you are going through...what soil are you. Do you need to cultivate the soil...and then PERSEVERE.


Love and "Happy Fruit/Crop Bearing" Kisses
Rodney "Fertilized" Boyd

HO HO HOLY NIGHT

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays to one and all. Is your Christmas experience seeming to be a little frazzled like Art Carney on an episode of The Twilight Zone.? Has all of the JOY gone out of your WORLD? Is your SILENT night as NOISY as a gift buying FRENZY at a last minute buying spree where there are 500 people standing in line for 1 Wi?

In this politically correct charged world...where Kwanzaa is elevated to Christmas status... PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN...rests with mankind's ability to get along. The problem is...that on planet earth...the world revolves around individual, ego centric, It's All About Me Baby mentality...and not the REASON FOR THE SEASON.

When you pull off the mangy fake beard...peel away the facade of fuzzy feelings...look below the surface of the Jingle Bells that are really the bells of the CASH REGISTER jingling as people buy gifts for people they don't like anyway...and you strip away the false sentiments of well wishers who wish you would go away....what do you have?

You have a whole in the soul that can only be filled with God. It's kinda like eating everything in sight...and still come up hungry. Nothing satisfies that craving that you have...but at least your are full.

This season...feed the SPIRITUAL HUNGER with THE REASON FOR THE SEASON... the coming of the SALVATION FOR THE WORLD...a small, insignificant country...in the dark of the night...in the anything but SILENT NIGHT...in an animal stall filled with smells of manure instead of the smell of a goose cooking wafting from the kitchen into your warm living room.


When I was growing up...I would put on Elvis' Christmas Album...and crank it up. It was a mixture of traditional Christmas Carols, secular Christmas songs, and rootsy, blues songs. The big controversy in 1957-58 was people were shocked when Elvis sang the Bing Crosby classic...White Christmas. Elvis would draw out the word I and make it a multi-syllabic word. The vocal inflections would slid in an out of range and people went nuts.

Well it's Christmas time pretty baby and the snow is falling on the ground
Well it's Christmas time pretty baby and the snow is falling on the ground
You be a real good little girl...Santa Claus is back in town

Hang up your pretty stockin's...turn out the lights
Santa Claus is coming down your chimney tonight

Ain't got no slay with reindeer...no sack on my back
You gonna see me coming...in a big black Cadillac

It's Christmas time pretty baby and the snow is falling on the ground
You be a real good little girl...Santa Claus is back in town.

NOTE: To a seven year old boy...that was what Christmas was about...good music...a mysterious Santa Clause...and getting stuff. Aaaah...it's all about the children.

In 1976...a guy named Randy Stonehill but out an album on the SOLID ROCK label called WELCOME TO PARADISE. The album (vinyl with grooves) had two sides. Side 1: Paradise Lost (sorrow and sadness...) Side 2: Paradise Regained (...turn into gladness). It was a classic Christian rock genre'...with innovated lyrics and chord structures. Some considered it...and others like it... to be too rock for the church and to religious for the world. Songs like King of Hearts, Lung Cancer, and First Prayer were powerful reflections on the world and the hunger for God.

It also has one of my favorite Christmas Songs called CHRISTMAS SONG FOR ALL YEAR LONG...and it goes a little something like this:

I wonder if this Christmas...they'll begin to understand
The Jesus that they celebrate...is much more than a man
But the way the world is I don't see...how people can deny
The only way to save us was for Jesus Christ to die

(Chorus)
And I know, that if Saint Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven..when they nailed Him to the tree

But most of all the children...they're the ones I hope will learn
That Jesus is our Savior...and he's going to return
And Christmas isn't just a day...AND ALL DAYS AREN'T THE SAME
Perhaps they'' think about the word and see IT SPELLS HIS NAME

(Chorus)

And I know that if Saint Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven...mankind was forgiven
We were all forgiven...when they nailed him to the tree...
So Merry Christmas...Merry Christmas...
I wonder if this Christmas...they'll begin to understand.

NOTE: If you have been thinking about the word CHRISTMAS...and see that it spells His name...then check out Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke chapters 1 and 2 for details of Jesus the Christ (anointed one with the yoke breaking, burden lifting, oppression removing power)...birth.

There is only one thing worse that edging the birth of Jesus out of Christmas...and that is to keep him a little baby. He grew up...he ministered under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and manifested the will of God on earth as it is in heaven...and died on the cross in our place, shed his blood for the remission of our sins...was buried stone cold dead...and raised from the dead. His first advent was for this purpose...and there is a 2nd advent...HE'S COMING BACK. I hope you will not be putting your trust and faith in myths, fables, lies.

Have your self a Mooey Little CHRISTmas and Happy HOLY-days.

Love and Seasonal Kisses
Rodney "Santa Bows At The Foot Of The Cross" Boyd

HAVE YOURSELF A MOOEY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

HO HO HO...HOSANNA ..blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord (John 12:13). This was the cry that went out for Jesus as he triumphantly entered in...just before everyone deserted Him (the Ho Ho...I through in). In a politically correct world...we would say...HA HA HA....or HE HE HE.

Do you have the Christmas funk...or are you riding the crest of the holiday wave? What's a cow to do...if they are not "feeling" the Christmas Spirit?

Our last Rambling spoke about getting back to the REASON FOR THE SEASON...and it ain't new toys...it is the collective celebration by those who believe in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus the Anointed one, who was anointed with the yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing power of the Holy Ghost. That's right...I'm talking about the one who would shift the cultural, shape history, change the life of millions....making entrance onto the 3rd Rock From The Sun...via a VIRGIN BIRTH.

Now...don't sit there and Bah Humbug this miracle. No one was more surprised and had more questions than the virgin girl herself. Mary was minding her own business...planning out her life with Joseph...when in the words of Gomer Pyle...SHAZAM!!!!! An angel by the name of GABRIEL...rolled into a city in Galilee called NAZARETH. The question would be posed at a later date..."Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" The answer is a resounding YES!!!!

Out of IMPOSSIBILITY...would rise the POSSIBILITY. Gabe made the announcement to Mary by announcing..."Hail, FAVORED ONE! The LORD is with you." (Luke 1:28). Mary...like most of us when the Lord is dealing with us...was at perfect peace and did not give it another thought. WRONG...I was just seeing if you were awake. She did like we would do...she (1) Was greatly troubled (2) Kept pondering what was just said. (Luke1:29) The angel spoke to relieve the emotion that was welling up within her..."Do not be AFRAID, Mary; for you have found FAVOR with God. Gabe then lays out the plan: (1) You will conceive in your womb (2) You will bear a son (3) You shall name Him Jesus (4) He will be great (5) He will be called the Son of the Most High (6) The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David (7) He will reign over the house of Jacob forever (8) His Kingdom will have no end. (Luke1:30-33)

Mary once again responded with the same thing that we would do. She asked no questions about anything. WRONG...you were asleep again. She had questions. She asked, "How can this be since I am a VIRGIN." (Luke 1:34). Mary was approaching this thing from LOGIC. MARY'S LOGIC: (a) How will this happen (b) I am a virgin (c) I am not married as of yet only betrothed (d) There is no way that there is a union between my egg and Joseph's seed. Gabriel did not Poo-Poo her questions or dismiss her as just being a woman who could not understand manly things. He answered her question straight forward. (1) The Holy Spirit will come upon you (2)The power of the Most high will overshadow you (3) For that REASON the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God (verses the son of Joseph).
Gabe continued to speak of God moving in the situation by telling her that here relative Elizabeth...has also conceived a son in her old age and she who was called BARREN..is now in her 6th month. (Luke 1:35-36)
NOTE: One was impregnated with human seed...the other would be impregnated with Holy seed. Both were a supernatural turn of events.

The BOTTOM LINE on this birthing business was..."FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD." (Luke 1:37) After hearing the promise, ascertaining the facts, weighing the issues of possibility versus impossibility...Mary comes to a conclusion. I'm convinced that if Mary came to the conclusion that this angelic being was lying, blow smoke, was demonic...she would have made a different statement that she said...and that statement reverberates throughout the hall of history to this very moment on December 11, 20o7. It also stand an example of what we should be saying when we are faced with IMPOSSIBILITIES in our lives Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord (not the bondslave of Gabriel)..BE IT DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD (the angel's word was actually the Words of the Lord...the angel was just a mouthpiece, delivering the news). (Luke 1:38). The angel then departed (Gabe's work was done at this point).



What does this have to do with the CHRISTMAS SPIRIT..that you may or may not have? EVERYTHING. If you need a BOOST in your "CHRISTMAS SPIRIT"...I would invite you...if you are in the Smyrna or surrounding area... to PRIME YOUR CHRISTMAS PUMP...by joining us a Smyrna Assembly Church for some PRIME PRIMING. We have 3 special things as GIFTS TO THE COMMUNITY...that will bring FOCUS to your life...and repristinate your REASON FOR THE SEASON.

1. LET THERE BE LIGHT: A Christmas Celebration featuring the Worship Art Department. Two opportunities (December 15, 16 at 7:00 P.M.) Check out that guy in the phone booth. He is CALLING on the name of the Lord.

2. CANDLES BY CANDLELIGHT: Singing CAROLS with meaning that will take
you beyond White or Blue Christmas...beyond mean Grinches...beyond...
chestnuts roasting on open fires rocking around Christmas trees to the jingle
rhythms of rocking bells. You will open up the RICH wealth of how a man or
really REST...MERRY...or how we can have JOY in this WORLD with CURSE REMOVAL. This will take place on December 19th at 7:00.

3. CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP: I have experienced at least 19 years of
these Christmas Day Worship services....after all it is the REASON FOR
THE SEASON. It is an opportunity to break away from the hoopla of
torn wrapping paper, discarded toys, and the other stuff...and FOCUS
together with believers in the D.B.R....on the FIRST ADVENT...now with
an eye on His SECOND ADVENT.

2008 is quickly coming down upon us...some facing it with fear others with anticipation. I know for one thing...that as I am faced with the IMPOSSIBILITIES OF LIFE...I serve a POSSIBILITY PRODUCING GOD that can take the good, the bad, and the ugly...and cause ALL things to work for my good. (Romans 8:28).

I stand with Mary...as I look at the WORD OF GOD (written and spoken to me specifically)...BE IT DONE TO ME...ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.


Love and HA, HA, HAlelujah Kisses
Rodney "Bah Humbug On The True Humbug...the devil" Boyd

DA CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

Seasons Greetings, Happy Holiday, Have A Nice Day, Merry Lukewarm Wishes!!! Do you have the Christmas Spirit yet? I asked that question to somebody the other day...and their response was, "NO". I asked them, "Why not?" Their responses was, I don't know...I just don't feel IT yet."

That got me to ruminatin'...what is the IT...that they are trying to experience? What is this elusive FEELING...the IT...that we have experienced during previous Decembers...that we have not got YET? Is there something that we can do to ourselves to crank up that spirit. Can we manipulate our emotions to FEEL the spirit? Even with all of these things that once brought joy...we come up empty...we just don't have that good old Christmas Spirit yet.

Our feelings are based on previous experience...of Christmas past. Every one's soul (mind, will and emotions) have the imprint of what Christmas means to us. It could be the anticipation of Santa coming, the smell of various foods that have been cooked, the gathering of family members, the deluge of holiday shows/specials on T.V., the sounds of Jingle Bell Rock, Blue Christmas, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree....or hit list of your favorite secular (godless) Christmas songs, the sound of the bell of the Salvation Army soliciting donations for the poor and homeless (thus relieving the guilt that we have for hoarding our money all year long). Maybe if this global warming thing was not messing up the weather patterns and sending 60 degree weather with rain instead of the White Christmas that I am dreaming about. HO HO HO...or as the political correct version is now...HA HA HA.

Santa Claus has become almost on the same level as some of our concepts of God...as the Christmas Slot Machine. Instead of pulling the lever by prayer... during this season...we pull the lever by sitting on the lap of Santa...and wishing for what we want. We have taken...a Saint....aka Nicholas...and made him the Sugar Daddy for little children everywhere.

I actually...enjoy the various trappings of Christmas...BUT...the various trappings still leaves me empty. What can someone do to recapture...that FEELING of the SPIRIT of CHRISTMAS?

Hmmmmm...maybe if we... as the Beatles waxed poetic.. GET BACK TO WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED.

We...or at least I have at times...have got away for the true REASON FOR THE SEASON. We have de-Christed Christmas (Christ-mass)...and filled it with winter festivals, multiple celebrations lumped in with the birth of the Savior of the World, lowered the bar of expectations by sentimental hogwash, greed, watered down saints in red suits and white beards...and generally edged out the advent of the coming saviour.

Hey...December 25th...probably ain't the actual birthday of Jesus... but it is a time of celebration of who would become the source of peace on earth, good will towards men. It is the entrance of God into planet earth for the precise purpose of becoming the substitute for our sins, and to be the exact representation of God and His will for the world. This baby would grow up...and then go about, do good and heal all who were oppressed by the devil...for God was with Him.

He is still with us...and as we take time to focus on this day and season of His birth...try not to get lost in the trappings as you search for the true meaning of Christmas. It has been said that WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM...and WISE WOMEN too.

Merry CHRIST-mas and Happy HOLY-days.

Love and Beyond Mistletoe Kisses
Rodney "HO HO HO...HOSANNA" Boyd