LASCIVOUSNESS, LICENTIOUSNESS, AND LENT

Happy Resurrection Day friends. I just wanted to be the first say He Is Risen... He is Risen INDEED!!!!!! March 23, 2008 is when we celebrate what separates Christianity from all other philosophies, religions, and social groups.

We are entering into a season known as LENT. The time of the LENGHTENING OF THE SEASONS. What was once limited to the "high church"...nowadays is found in the "low church". The liturgical and the
non-liturgical...or evangelical churches... are using this season as a springboard into a concentrated time of reflection and focus of how we are living out our faith.

Lent is a 40 weekday journey (minus the Sundays) that is preceded by FAT TUESDAY...entered into with ASH WEDNESDAY...and concluded on RESURRECTION SUNDAY...aka Easter. Like Christmas...the CHRIST MASS... where Santa Claus becomes the reason for the season...so is RESURRECTION SUNDAY has the mixture of egg hunts, easter bunnies and baskets. Jesus died on the cross not an easter bunny.

Lent is a time of prayer, reflection...dare I say...rumination of our Christian walk...and a time to deal with the flesh...dealing with the nature of our carnality. Carnival literally means..."removal of flesh"...from the diet as a symbolic removal of the "flesh...sarx...carnality" in our lives. Of course we are suppose to do this on a daily basis 365 days a year...but 40 days is a good start to begin discipling the flesh.


Three days prior to Ash Wednesday is known as SHROVETIDE...ending on SHROVE TUESDAY (aka FAT TUESDAY). Shrove is an Old English word meaning "to repent". This is also know as MARDI GRAS. Mardi Gras has come to mean a time for debauchery...Laciviousness and Licentiousness...where it is the last chance your get to do what you want to do before entering into a 40 days season of denial of your flesh.

People usually choose to give up something for Lent. It could be anything from sweets, meat, cigarettes, cussing, caffiene, etc. It is not only a time for giving up something negative in our lives...but a time to add in something positive. You could give up carbonated drinks...and replace it with water...or give up sweets and replace it with veggies. Another tradition is the cutting of the King Cake... a cake with a toy baby representing the Baby Jesus...resulting in various benefits...including the privelege of buying next years king cake.

People use this time to let it all hang out. Bourbon Street will be crowded with excesses of wild, drunken revelry...promiscious sex..females who lift up their shirts to show their breast so horney men will through them cheap trinkets. It is like Esau selling his inheritance for a bowl of stew...instead of inheritance these ladies are selling their dignity for cheap beads. I know many mothers and fathers are proud of their sons and daughters.

LENT is a season of DISCIPLING THE FLESH.


Proverbs 29:18 states..."Where there is no VISION...the people PERISH, but happy is he who keeps the law." "Where there is no vision the people are UNRESTRAINED". Other version say...the people run wild, the people are uncontrolled, the people will be scattered, the people cast of RESTRAINT.

The Word of God gives us guidelines...and when we see the Word...it brings restraint in our lives. Without the restraint...the cause and effect is death... we perish...we wither on the vine.

Lasciviousness=Given to or expressing lust, lecherous, exciting sexual desires, salicious.

Licentiousness=Lacking moral discipling or ingnoring legal restraint, especially in sexualt content.

I have heard people say...and I have said it myself...that the Lord made me the way I am...and I am just naturally doing (fill in the blank). For example, when a girl walks by...and you start thinking certain things of what you would like to do to that girl...you excuse your behavior by saying, "The Lord made me this way so it is okay to lust after or make lewd comments."

We are called to DISCIPLINE THE FLESH...to RESTRAIN THE FLESH...to NOT LUST. Some would say...I am not committing adultery...but Jesus states if you think about you have committed the act. He was underscoring our inability to handle our flesh...and the need for a Saviour to help us.

In the book HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR FLESH...there is a saying that rings true. It states:

UNRESTRAINED THOUGHTS...PRODUCE UNRESRTAINED WORDS...RESULTING IN UNRESTRAINED ACTIONS.

The more you choose not to restrain your thoughts...the more what you are thinking will be manifested on your lips...and eventually wll result in your actions...what you do will be manifested...to the point of bringing you to the point of death (physical, emotional, spiritual).

When we are thinking with our flesh instead of with a renewed mind...the moment of pleasure that we derive from casting off our restraints....gives us pain for a lifetime. That's what I like about LENT...it gives me a time of recentering...refocusing...repristinating my relationship with God. I do it during the year...but sometimes it is like a roller coaster.

"Therefore, GIRED you MINDS for ACTION, keep SOBER in SPIRIT, FIX your hope completely on the GRACE to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do NOT BE CONFORMED to the former LUSTS which were yours in ignorance; but like the Holy One who called you, BE HOLYyourselves in ALL YOUR BEHAVIOR; becaue it is written, YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (I Peter 1:13-16)

The thing is...you CAN'T DO IT...but God can by THE HELPER...the Holy Spirit...who will help you "discipline your flesh...for the purpose of godliness." (I Timothy 4:8). This discipline is in the areas of your: speech (what you say), conduct (what you do), love (what moves you), faith (what you believe), and purity (what is your condition). All of this is disciplined...to show yourself...an example fo those who believe.

During this lenton season...let God put His finger on whatever needs to be changed in your life...yield your will to His will...have a change of heart, change of mind, change of attitude, change of direction (aka repentance/shrove)...and rise up anew.

Love and Lenton Kisses
Rodney "Thank You For Grace and Mercy" Boyd

WAXING NOSTALGIC

Hello all of you Jesus Freaks. I have been waxing nostalgic and tracing back the roots of who I am today. I know...I know...you can't live in the past. As long as you live in your past...your now will be stuck in neutral...and you can't move on into the future...HOWEVER...there is something about looking back to the various touchstones of your past...to encourage you to continue on in the faith.

The problem is when you try to recreate a moment...it is never as sweet as it was the first time. I remember many moons ago...as a little tyke...that I went to visit my cousins in Donelson Tennessee. They lived on a street called Templewood Court. It was a culdesac...that had a very steep hill leading to the bottom of the road. I remember we would get our bicycles to the top of the hill and going down the hill as fast as we could. It was like we were flying.

One time...I was flying down the hill....and the wind caught the bill of my baseball cap...and my cap flew off of my head. I reached up with both hands... caught the cap...put it back on my head...and grabbed the handles of my bike. That feeling was exhilarating. I was speeding down a hill...no hands...without wrecking. WOW!!! I wanted to experience that same feeling again...so...I went to the top of the hill...strategically place my hat on my head where the wind could catch it...and started my downhill ride. Everything was coming together. My hat flew off...I reached up to grab my hat with both hands...BUT at this point...the plan went awry. I did NOT catch my hat....I missed one of the handle bars...and my bike crashed on the cold, hard asphalt...and I went flying off into space...and crash landed. OUCH!!!! I could not RECREATE THE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.

So it is with my previous experiences that started in 1970...when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour...and as I began my journey that I am still on in 2008.

As in my non-Christian life...MUSIC was a big part of the SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE. Music has always had a place in my life. Certain songs evoke certain memories...good, bad, ugly. I remember the first time I heard TREAT ME NICE by Elvis..in my room on my phonograph. I remember as a little Church of Christ kid...leading a bunch of adults in the song...TRUST AND OBEY. I had no clue what I was doing...but I was up there moving my hands back in forth in 4/4 timing...trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

I remember the happy times in my home...when my dad would have few Miller's in him...and he would get mellow and frisky. He would bring out the record player...put on some Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Pete Fountain and dance around the living room with my mom. The music would stop when he would go from mellow to drunk and the arguing would start.

My high school memories revolved around the music...as I joined a band called THE BLACK ROOM...and later we had a duel name...THE BLIND DISTORTION. These were great times of belonging...belonging to a group of people with the same interest...rock and roll. Learning bar chords and playing in the Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett...singing a soulful version of Summertime....and of course...John Lennon sang Blue Suede Shoes in Toronto...so I added that to our set...Blind Distortion Style. The pinnacle of our garage band success was playing the Senior Talent Show. The curtains opened on the stage...and we had walls of amps (some that did not even work) lined across the stage from one side to the other. If anything...it was impressive. We opened with She Came In Through The Bathroom Window....went into I Got a Line On You... Blue Suede Shoes...and ended with THE PUSHER by Steppenwolf. Rumours had spread through the school that we were going to sing THE PUSHER. This song was an anthem of proclaiming for God to damn the pusher man. We were going to push the boundaries of conventionality and cuss on stage. I never was popular in school...but when I sang Blue Suede Shoes and The Pusher...girls who NEVER said a word to me came up and talked to me.

Of course...one very important thing happened to me in connection with MUSIC. The lead singer for our band was Bruce Fortner. He was dating a girl named Debbie...and she would come to watch us practice in a garage. One day she brought along her best friend...Brenda Sue Williams. WOW!! I was in love. I believe as my memory recollects...she liked the lead guitar player (ain't that a crying shame)...my friend...Dan Bogle.

The boys in the band...who were bringing me out of my shy shell...tried to set me up with Brenda. Long story short...the rhythm guitar player won out over the lead guitar player.

In 1970...this cute little Independent Baptist girl...led this wayward Church of Christ boy to the Lord in her driveway. She led me through the Romans Road to Salvation...as she went through Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Romans, 6:23, Romans 10:6-17. She then led me through a Sinner's Prayer... and I was dramatically changed as I went from old man to new man...ala
II Corinthians 5:17.

By 1971...I was enrolled in Tennessee Temple Bible School...to get my Bachelors of Bible degree...become an evangelist...and save the world. The best laid plans of mice and men...are sometimes turned around by the plow of the farmer...and I became a Bible School dropout (that's another story). I came home...was baptized in the Holy Spirit...got married... and before I knew it...I was in a backslidden condition that was so bad...that I was face forward slidden...the mire and muck of sin. I was like a dog returning to his own vomit. I was sinning now...more than I was before I was a Christian.

The soundtrack of my life...now has multiple scratches and skips. I gave Gary Montgomery all of my Bible study tools (Greek Lexicon, Bible Handbooks, Concordances, etc). I told Gary that I did not need..or want these things any more. For a year or so...I wandered in the wilderness...sowing to the wind and reaping the whirlwind in my life. Many times during my wandering...I wanted to come back to him...but I was to ashamed...fearful that He would not want me back. One day...like the prodigal son who came to the end...face down in the pig pen eating pig food...I looked up to from where I came. I made a decision to RETURN TO MY FIRST LOVE...and to DO THE THINGS THAT I DID IN THE BEGINNING. I called Gary up...who had been praying for me with a group of people in houses...and he had my Bible study tools waiting for me. I started going back to church...started praying again...started studying the Bible again... started living again....started singing again.

MUSIC...JESUS MUSIC...had a great influence on me. The various people that you see in the collage are put a mere drop in the bucket of music that encouraged me to continue on...to not give up...to persevere...to press on in the Lord.

I have just taken about 20 songs that I wrote during the 70's and 80's that reflect my journey in the Lord. Some songs are gems...others are rough as a cob...but that's how my life has been. I plan on recording these songs...just so I will have them. I believe I'll call the CD...RUMINATOR UNPLUGGED...Music that Moooooooves me.

It's good to reflect...good to look back at the places where God moved on my behalf. The Bible calls these the places EBENEZERS. These were altars built...and used to look back and reflect that God met the need there...he will meet my needs NOW...and in the FUTURE. After all...Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Now there is music...music that not only crosses the horizontal...but transcends into the vertical...that forms linear lines of the cross. As I am sitting here...I am listening to THE FIVE BLIND BOYS FROM ALABAMA. They are singing Amazing Grace to the tune of THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN. Sweet...as the Risen Son has risen in my house.

Love and Nostalgic Kisses
Rodney "Pressing On" Boyd

LEAD ME ON

Hello Spirit Followers....or Flesh Followers. Bob Dylan had a great song on his album (vinyl with grooves)...SLOW TRAIN COMING. The song was...You've Got To Serve Somebody. The hook was...You've got to serve somebody..it may be the devil or it may be the Lord...but you got to serve somebody. The same thing goes for the flesh and Spirit. You got to be led by somebody...it may be the flesh...it may be the Spirit...but you got to be led by somebody.

Depending on the time of the day...I am led by one or the other. Over the years we have taught our son the principle of cause and effect. Do this...this happens...don't do this...this will or won't happen.

Take a look at our schematic of the Spirit. (you can click on it an it will enlarge).

1. You: This is "you".
2. The line going up from you: This is your life as you walk along...living life.
3. The bifurcation: This is the place of choice. It is the split in the road. It is as the poet has said
about the two roads diverged in the middle of the road...one is well travelled, the other the
less travelled road.
4. DESIRES/THE WORD: You choices are based on unrestrained desires. Remember that
unrestrained thoughts...produce unrestrained words...resulting in unrestrained actions. The
same principle goes for restrained thoughts. When we wash our minds...renew our minds
with the washing of the water of the Word...and base our choices on the Word versus our
unrestrained desires...it will determine which road we take.
5. FLESH/SPIRIT: Unrestrained desires chooses FLESH...restrained choices chooses SPIRIT.
6. FILL IN THE BLANK: You can place anything you want in to two places of choices. For our purposes we put ADULTERY on the flesh side...and FAITHFUL on the SPIRIT side. You can put in anything. For example: drunk on the flesh/sober on the Spirit.
7. CAUSE AND EFFECT: When you choose the flesh...the cause and effect is DEATH. Choose the Spirit side you get LIFE and PEACE.
It is what is mentioned in Deuteronomy about choices. Choose...curses or blessing, life or death.

Oh that I would be consistent in my choices.

Love and Choice Kisses
Rodney "Cause and Effect Boyd

JOSH

Hello friends. How's the world treating you? I get asked this all of the time. If life is going good...the response is usually pretty good. If life sucks...the response is some grumble, whine, or just a shake of the head.

Many moons ago...when I was a member of COURTSOUTH RACQUETBALL CLUB...there would be a man who came in who was a motivational speaker. He believed in the PMA (Postive Mental Attitude). I was ask him how he was doing and he would say...SUPER FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was at 6:00 A.M. Nobody is super fantastic at 6:00 A.M. in the morning. I was not going to let him out do me. One day...when he least expected...I asked him how he was doing and he gave me the obligatory SUPER FANTASTIC. All of his teeth were shining...he was shaking my hand vigorously...and then as he had me in his positive grip...he said, "How are you doing?" Instead of my obligatory..."O.K."...with all of the gusto that I could mutter...is blew him away with...."ASTRO DYNAMIC." BAM!!!!!! I trumped his super fantastic...with my ASTRO DYNAMIC.

The picture see...is one of the star pupils in the RUMINATOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. His name is Josh. Locally...many people have seen Josh in the news...and knows the story of his troubles..family, physical, emotional, financial, etc. In the face of all of the crud (Christianese for crap)...that he has been through...Josh is one of the most positive people that I know. NOTE: He is a teenager...he has his moments like all of us...he ain't perfect....however...what separates the P.M.A. of others...is his F.A.I.T.H. (faith) in the D.B.R. (death, burial, resurrection of Jesus).

Josh continues to need our prayers. He is currently dealing with a bad case of stomach flu. He is not able to keep foods down. He is losing body mass. His current heart medicine is not working. He may have to go back on previous heart medicine that impacted kidney function. He needs a kidney transplant. He may not be a candidate for this transplant secondary to medication difficulties. There are problems with absorption of food resulting in the body mass loss. What would you be saying?

I watch Josh as he dances on the Men's Dance team at church. I see him in the Ruminator Sunday School Class, faithfully...even when he is not feeling well. I watch him worship God with a passion. I've prayed for him when he has problems. I hear reports of his faith from others as he reveals that if he dies...he is ready. What would you be saying?

He is surrounded by fantastic family support...a loving church family...he has support from where he works...BUT he needs our prayers. We may be SUPER FANTASTIC...or ASTRO DYNAMIC...but my friend Josh...is FAITHFUL...in the good times and in the bad times.


Rodney

THE BOSS

Hello friends and neighbors...whose your Boss? Someone say..."I am my OWN boss."

The boss in the traditional meaning would be the one who is your employer while you are the employed. There may be a chain of command and you have multiple bosses...that leads down to the one over you.

In the Greek language...there is a word...called KURIOS (koo-ree-os). It means
(1) supreme (2) supreme in authority (3) controller (4) Mr. (5) Master
(5) Lord (6)Sir...and by extension for our purposes...BOSS.

In our little collage, we have various pictures of various incarnations of the idea of BOSS. We have Jimmy Reed, the old Bluesman...who wrote the song BIG BOSS MAN. This was also recorded by Elvis...Bill Cosby...and multiple other singers. Bruce Springsteen is known as THE BOSS. Then there is Tony Danza who begs the question...Who's The Boss. Of course, who can forget that southern huckster...the Mayor of Hazzard County...BOSS Hogg.

The ultimate boss...is JESUS CHRIST. Jesus is BOSS...or at least he should be... and at some point...He WILL BE...whether you like it or not.



"Therefore [because He stooped so low], God has HIGHLY EXALTED Him and has freely bestowed on Him the NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME...That in (at) the NAME OF JESUS...every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10,11 The Amplified Bible)

Jesus is known by many names and as many things. To some....His name (along with God's name) is nothing more that a foul curse word used to (1) impress people with a limited vocabulary (2) make their mothers proud (3) show the world that they are adults (4) a sign of respect to believers everywhere.

JESUS: God is salvation
CHRIST: Anointed one, anointed with yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing power of the Holy Spirit
LORD: Supremacy, supreme in authority, controller, Mr., Master, Sir, LORD.

He is known as the NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES. A name is simply and agreed upon code that something is called something. A noun can be a person, place or thing. Whatever you can place a name on...JESUS' name is ABOVE that name. Name a denomination, world religion, human philosophy...and the name of Jesus is above that name. The name fear, sickness, disease, cancer, debt, poverty, depression are all descriptive names to describe something...but the NAME OF JESUS IS BOSS OVER THOSE NAMES.


C.S. Lewis wrote a book in 1943 called Mere Christianity. It is a systematic apologia (defense) for this thing called Christianity. Lewis who has written classic books from the Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Space Trilogy, The Pilgrim's Regress...lays out a reasoned thought process for following Jesus Christ as Lord. Usually, any cult, heresy, religion, atheist, agnostic, non-religious, non (supposedly hypocrite)...will attack JESUS. If you disavow the leader of the revolt...you crush the revolt.

Lewis expounds..."I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him...'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must NOT say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. he would either be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the devil of hell. You must MAKE YOUR CHOICE. Either this man was and is, the SON OF GOD; or else a mad man or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and CALL HIM LORD AND GOD. But let us NOT come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. HE HAS NOT LEFT THAT OPEN TO US. He did not intend to." (C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity [Book 2 What Christians Believe: The Shocking Alternative])

Many people call Jesus a prophet, a teacher, a great moral man. As Larry Norman wrote in his song THE OUTLAW....he was known as a poet, sorcerer, politician. He is know as a teacher in the Koran...but underscored that he was a bastard...since the virgin birth was an impossibility. Peter was asked by Jesus..."Who do people say I am?" Peter layed out the thought process of the masses...John the Baptist, Elijah, some other prophet. Jesus gets specific with Peter...and He gets specific with us/you also...WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? Peter's response was...Thou are the Christ, the Living Son of God. God answer Peter!!!

I guess the question is...Who did Jesus think He was?!? "Jesus said to him (Thomas), I am the way, the truth, the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6)

Peter and the boys (aka apostles) were speaking to the people. They had healed a lame man...and news was spreading. As they were speaking to the people...the priests, captain of the temple guard, the Sadducees came upon them. The ones in authority (the ones who thought they were the boss)...were being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming IN JESUS THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. (Acts 4:1-2) They put them in jail...as those who heard the message BELIEVED...and around 5000 were SAVED. Peter and the boys were placed in the center as they quizzed them...BY WHAT POWER, OR IN WHAT NAME HAVE YOU DONE THIS? (Acts 4:4-7) Peter's answer: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers and elders of the people...if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man...as to how this man has been made well...let it be known to all of you...and to all the people of Israel...that BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THE NAZARENE...whom you crucified...whom GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD...by this NAME...this man stands here before you in good health.
(Acts 4:8-10)

The bottom line of Peter's apologia (defense)..."And there is SALVATION in NO ONE ELSE...for there is NO OTHER NAME...under heaven that has been given among men... by which WE MUST BE SAVED." (Acts 4:12)

"...which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and the only Sovereign, the KING of kings...and the LORD of lords..." (I Timothy 6:15)

"These will wage ware against the LAMB (Jesus)...and the LAMB (Jesus) will overcome them, because He is LORD of lords and KING of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." (Revelation 17:14)

"And on His (Jesus') robe and on His thigh He has a NAME written...KING of kings...and LORD of lords." (Revelation 19:16)

Now...the fact is that JESUS IS LORD...but the question is...who do you say He is?

"Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."
(Matthew 7:21-23) It is more than JUST SAYING the word LORD. When the Lord speaks...we do.

Love and Kurios Kisses
Rodney "JESUS IS LORD" Boyd

THE FLESH FIGHTER PRINCIPLE

Hello Sunshine. Are you at the end of your rope? Have you failed again? Have you lost your temper to the point of yelling at your family, your dog, and even at yourself? Have you been around that mountain of the sin that so easily besets you so many times that they have carved your face in it and called Mount (fill in your with your name and the word more...ie. Mount Rodmore? Do the deeds of flesh control you instead of you controlling the deeds? Is that what's bothering you boopie?

WELL NEVER FEAR..HELP IS HERE. THERE IS HOPE...AS LONG AS YOU ARE BREATHING...SO NEVER GIVE UP...NEVER GIVE UP...NEVER GIVE UP THAT SHIP!!!!

Some of you recognize the parody of that old commercial...some wonder what's going on...but the bottom line is...you have taken the test...and come up lacking. You have tested yourself to see if you are in the faith...and the early reported Poll results have shown that the mountain wins.

Fear not...there is help. As you do not give up...as you wrap your hands around the pelican that is attempting to swallow you alive...as you begin to speak to that mountain instead of going around it for 40+ years...as you raise up your weapons and declare FREEEEEEEEEEDOM....God will met you.



The desire for your vineyard...is to replace rotten fruit of the deeds of the flesh with plump, luscious, plentiful, baskets full of the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.

"It was for FREEDOM that CHRIST (the anointed one, anointed with yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing power of the Holy Spirit) set us FREE; therefore KEEP STANDING FIRM and DO NOT BE SUBJECT AGAIN to a YOKE OF SLAVERY." (Galatians 5:1)

Remember that we started out his series with a TEST.

"TEST YOURSELVES to see IF you are in THE FAITH...EXAMINE YOURSELVES! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is IN YOU--unless indeed you fail the test." (II Corinthians 13:5)

"Rodney...I'm glad God does not grade me on a curve...but on a cross."
(Bruce Coble)

Let it be know...that everything...anything we get from God...or any position, relationship, test...is based on His mercy and grace. Grace is unmerited favor, free gift, divine influence in the heart manifested in the life.

The question is..."How can I maintain this thing called FREEDOM."

Jesus said in John 15:7 "If you abide(continue) in Me...and My words abide (continue) in you, ask whatever you wish and it shall be done unto you." This statement comes in a teaching about Jesus being the Vine and we are the branches and that apart from Him we can do nothing. It is a teaching about FRUIT PRODUCTION. The answer to your TEST RESULTS...is your relationship with THE VINE. Growth of fruit is based on where you are rooted...and how we...with the help of the Holy Spirit...cultivate the vineyard.

The fruit of the Spirit...is manifested in our lives. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness Gentleness and Self-Control. Each aspect...each characteristic...as they grow in us...replaces those deeds of the flesh, where we so often fail the test.

The deeds of the flesh...are evident. They are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. The warning: Those who PRACTICE such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21) The kingdom of God being defined as righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17)

Paul laid out the groundwork for PASSING THE TEST. "I have been crucified WITH Christ, and it is no longer I who lives...but CHRIST LIVES IN ME...and the life that I NOW LIVE...I live by FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD...who loved me and delivered Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20). It's all about Him baby, it's all about Him.

"For you were CALLED TO FREEDOM, brethren; only do not turn your freedom INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLESH...but through LOVE... SERVE ONE ANOTHER."

NOTE: There is a direct link to closing the door on the opportunity for the flesh... by manifesting your faith (that works through love/Gal. 5:6)...by laying down your life and serving others. It's hard to walk in the flesh when you are serving Jesus by serving others.

Paul gives us another key to passing the test..."But I say...WALK BY THE SPIRIT...and you will NOT carry out the DESIRE OF THE FLESH."
Galatians 5:16)

Here's the PROBLEM..."For the FLESH sets its desire against the SPIRIT and the SPIRIT against the FLESH....for these are in OPPOSITION TO ONE ANOTHER...so that you MAY NOT do the things that you PLEASE."
(Galatians5:17) Remember Romans 7 where Paul talks about the conflict of wanna do versus the don't do. His solution in that scenario was THANKS BE TO CHRIST JESUS.

There is something that WE DO. First we have FAITH...not in our faith...but in Jesus...who was the exact representation of the Father. Faith in the D.B.R....and the Galatians 2:20 Principle. But faith without works is dead...so we are involved in the process. "Now those who belong to Christ (that would be you)...have crucified the FLESH with it's passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24) That does not mean that we have to whip up on ourselves and suffer...but it does mean that BY FAITH...we die daily to our deeds of the flesh (I Corinthians 15:31).

"If we live by the Spirit...let us WALK by the SPIRIT. A walk is our life...our patterns...our lifestyle.

When you TEST YOURSELF to see if you are in the faith. When you examine yourself...and find your self lacking...or failing the test...John has some good advice. "...walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to FORGIVE us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:7-10) We are encouraged NOT TO SIN (or be entangled to the deeds of the flesh)...but then quickly points out that IF we do sin...we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous...and He Himself is the PROPITIATION (substitute/satisfaction) for our sins, and not only ours, but also for those of the whole world." (I John 2:1,2).

Well...thanks for hanging in there for this series on THE TEST. I hope it challenged you to live the life...and at the same time see that you really can't live the life except through Him. "If then you have been raised up with Christ, KEEP SEEKING the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. SET YOUR MIND on the things above, not on the things that are on EARTH. For you have died and your life is HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. When Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."
(Colossians 3:1-4)

Love and A+ Kisses
Rodney "Graded On The Cross" Boyd

GRADED ON A CROSS...NOT A CURVE

Good Morning Students...I have you tests graded.

In our last Rambling...or as some have called them...Rumblings...we were encouraged to TEST OURSELVES TO SEE IF WE ARE IN THE FAITH. That faith...that we are to be in...is not faith in ourselves...not faith in religion...not faith in our good works. It is not even faith in Doris Day (see teacher at the blackboard)...where she teaches Doris Day Faith. NOTE: Doris Day Faith is where she sings...Que Sera Sera...WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE...the futures not ours to see Que Sera Sera. It is a faith that just lays back and accepts anything that comes down the pike as God's will. No...our faith is in God Himself...based on the fact that he is not a liar, not a trickster, not someone who gleefully delights in our FAILURES...in our tests.

Paul lets us know that there are indicators...that will let us know if we are NOT in the faith...by the manifestation of the DEEDS OF THE FLESH. I personally come up short every time I take the test...and I need help.

II Timothy 3:16,17 speaks of the importance of the Scriptures and their profitability for us. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for
(1) teaching (2) reproof (3) correction (4) training. These are all for righteousness in our lives so that we will be adequate...EQUIPPED for every GOOD WORK." We are taught...but then we are graded. Again...I come up short on the grading system. If we just get our papers back...and see how we failed...we would be in poor shape. We go beyond the reproof...and on to correction of where we failed...and then get trained by practice with a tutor...a Helper (aka the Holy Spirit).


The question is..."What do I do NOW?" On one hand we see in the word that we are to grade ourselves...judge ourselves...discipline ourselves...AND ON THE OTHER HAND...we see that we CAN'T DO anything...so why try. Of course...if we say we have FAITH...we are encouraged to show our WORKS...because FAITH without WORKS (corresponding actions) is considered to be DEAD in the waters. For the rest of the Ramblings...we want to see how we can WORK OUT OUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling.

"For by GRACE you have been saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT of God; NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS...that no one should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Grace means: (1) favor (2) gift (3) free gift (4) unmerited favor (5) the divine influence in the heart, manifested in the life. We cannot do anything to deserve the love that he pours out on us..we only accept what He accepts. We cannot be graded ON THE CURVE...we can only be graded on THE CROSS (thanks to Bruce Coble for that word).

"He SAVES US....NOT on the basis of DEEDS which WE have DONE in righteousness...but according to His MERCY...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)

The basis...the roots of our salvation...is from the INSIDE OUT...and not from the OUTSIDE IN. It is not based on what WE DO...but what HE HAS DONE.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should WALK IN THEM." (Ephesians 2:10)

We are not to WORK to get good...but if we have been saved...we are called to WORK. In Philippians 2:12...Paul encourages us..."So then my beloved, just as you have always obeyed not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and tremblings; for it is GOD who is AT WORK IN YOU...both to will and to WORK for His good pleasure."

NOTE: This not you developing your own salvation plan. That has already been worked out...it's called D.B.R...death, burial, resurrection, nothing more...nothing less. You working out your own salvation...is you listening to God...doing what he says...and TEST YOURSELF... DISCIPLINE YOURSELF...JUDGE YOURSELF...and take control of the DEEDS OF THE FLESH...so that you can WALK in the Freedom of your salvation...and not be trapped again in the YOKE OF SLAVERY.


O.K. You have TESTED YOURSELF...and you found yourself coming up short. WHAT DO YOU DO? The answer is found in the same Book...that the deeds of the flesh are found. Galatians. The people of Galatia were SET FREE from the bondages of rules, regulations, religion, works, etc. There were a group of people trying to entangle them back into adding to the D.B.R. It would be
D.B.R. plus Circumcision=Salvation. D.B.R. plus eating/not eating certain types of food=salvation. D.B.R. plus keeping certain religious holidays=salvation. Paul keeps bringing it back to what HE DID versus what WE DO.

"I have been CRUCIFIED with Christ; and it is NO LONGER i who live...but CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I NOW LIVE (2008) I live by FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD...who loved me, and delivered himself up for me. I do not NULLIFY the GRACE OF GOD; for if RIGHTEOUSNESS comes through the LAW, the Christ died NEEDLESSLY." (Galatians 2:20,21)

In Chapter 3 of Galatians...Paul wants to know who has bewitched them about Jesus and these WORKS. He asks a series of questions that clarify...that how we started...is how we are to finish...and not somewhere in the middle of the process...begin to DO IT OURSELVES.

QUESTION #1: Did you RECEIVE the Spirit by the WORKS OF THE LAW...or by HEARING WITH FAITH?
ANSWER #1: Hearing by faith

QUESTION #2: Are you so foolish? Having BEGUN by the SPIRIT, are you NOW...being PERFECTED BY THE FLESH?
ANSWER #2: No.

QUESTION #3: Did you suffer so many things in vain?
ANSWER #3: No

QUESTION #4: Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, DO IT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW or by HEARING WITH FAITH?
ANSWER #4: Hearing with faith.

What then is the FORMULA...than we can use to CORRECT OUR FAILURES. What can WE DO...to WALK OUT...and to WORK OUT our SALVATION?

It was for FREEDOM that CHRIST set us FREE. We are called to KEEP STANDING FIRM...and we are called to NOT BE SUBJECT AGAIN TO A YOKE OF SLAVERY. This warning and encouragement...would not be relevant...if it was NOT possible for believers in the D.B.R...to be subject again to the YOKE that we were set free from as we fail the test.

Paul writes about his in Romans 7:15-25. He talks about doing the things he does not want to do...and not doing the things that he wants to do...he speaks of a war raging with the INNER MAN...and the OUTER MAN...and concludes that he is a WRETCHED MAN...who cries to be set free form the body of this death.

His conclusion...is THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

In the next Rambling...the conclusion of this 3 part series...we will see what PAUL'S solution for DEALING WITH THE FLESH...AND THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH...so that we do not get entangled with YOKE.

Remember that the word CHRIST mean the Anointed One...who is ANOINTED with:

(1) Yoke destroying (2) Burden Lifting (3) Oppression Removing power.


Love and Cross Graded Kisses
Rodney "Freeeeeeeeeddddddddddddooooooooommmmmm" Boyd

TEST TIME

Greetings fellow TEST TAKERS.

Back in the day...when I would strap on my guitar...crank up the amp to 10 and begin to play before some rowdy fraternity boys and sorority girls...before we played we had to have a SOUND CHECK. Of course the name of the band...represented the quality of music that we were attempting to create...THE BLIND DISTORTION.

I would walk up to the microphone...tap it gently with my finger to see if it was on...and then say..."Testing...testing...1,2,3...testing." Or I would say..."Testing...check..check...money orders...cash...check." At Woodstock...Crosby Stills Nash would start of by saying "Testing, 1,2,3...hike." The bottom line is...before you commenced the show...you needed to test the sound system.

Testing is a part of life. In school we enter into the Testing Zone...by sitting in a class... absorb voluminous amounts of information...and then take a test...not necessarily on the material...but a test of our retention abilities. For me, the testing preparation was to cram the night...or even the day of the test...and regurgitate information on a sheet paper...to be forgotten before I walked out of the classroom.

Radio and Television have test patterns...tests for the Emergency Broadcasting System (with a shrill warning sound) where they informed us...that this was a test...it's only a test...in the case of a real emergency we should turn to a certain frequency for more instructions. In school in the 50's we would go through fire drills...where we would at the least expected moment hear a fire alarm...and we would PRACTICE lining up in an orderly manner and march outside until the all clear was sounded. We would also be tested for our reaction to an Atomic Bomb being dropped on America. SIDE NOTE: My Dad use to pronounce it Atomic Bum. I used to make him mad when I asked responded..."Atomic Bum...what is that a Nuclear Hobo?" When the alarm sounded for the drill for the Atomic Bomb...we were instructed to climb under our wooden desks and cover our heads. I guess the desks were lead lined and reinforced with steel.

We are instructed to also have an Emergency Spiritual Broadcasting System. We are instructed to tune in to frequency of WGOD...77777.

"TEST YOURSELVES...to see if you are IN THE FAITH; EXAMINE YOURSELVES! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is IN YOU --unless you FAIL THE TEST."
(II CORINTHIANS 13:5)

Paul is not talking about testing yourselves to see if you had accepted Jesus as your Saviour. Paul had written a letter of correction to this group of believers at the church (gathering) in Corinth. They were believers...who lacked no spiritual gifts and were anticipating the return of Jesus...BUT they had ISSUES that Paul spent a lot of time correcting. They were factions, gossipers, greedy, self-centered, getting drunk at the Lord's Supper (kinda hard to do on Welch's Grape Juice), eating and drinking up all the food at the COVER DISH...so the people in the back of the line did not get anything, immorality with sex with a mother-in-law, and out of order services.

Paul was coming to them for a 3rd time...and he was encouraging them...to TEST THEMSELVES to see if they were IN THE FAITH...before he got there. Paul was expecting...there relationship with Jesus Christ...their belief of the D.B.R. to be manifested BY THEIR ACTIONS. They were to test certain areas of their lives....and see if it lined up with a STANDARD. The standard is the means by which we CALIBRATE. If we don't line up with the CALIBRATION...there will be no CELEBRATION.

The areas that needed to be TESTED...are found in II Corinthians 12:20,21. A companion list may be found in Galatians 5:19-21 (aka deeds of the flesh).


"For I am not afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps...there may be: NOTE: There are 11 areas that were/possible to be found among those who claim they believe in the DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION of Jesus.

1. Debates/Strife= a quarrel, wrangling, contention, debate, striving, variance.
Are you always stirring things up? Can you ever be wrong? Can you ever yield your right to be right?

2. Envyings/Jealousy= heat, zeal, jealousy, malice, fervent mind, indignation, to be hot, to be boiling or glowing.
Are you a hot head.? Do people situations push your buttons? Notice how something you envy after or some one you are jealous of is rooted in anger...because they have and you do not have.

3. Wrath/Angry Tempers= Passion...as if breathing hard, fierceness, indignation (see envyings/jealousy), wrath, to breath hard, blow, smoke, immolate (slaughter for any purpose), kill, slay, to sacrifice.
Again...are you a hot head? Do you get so angry that you see red...and begin huffing and puffing? Are you willing to slaughter and sacrifice someone to appease your wrath?

4. Strifes/Disputes=Intrigue, factions, contention, strife, to stimulate.
Do you like to stoke the fire? Do you like to gather around you groups of like mind and complain about others? Do you like to stimulate/provoke controversy within your church?

5. Backbiters/Slanderers= defamation (defaming someones character), evil speaking, backbiting (takes place behind the back of the one you are talking about), talkative against.
This is akin to the backstabbers. They smile at you to your face...but once your back is turned...they start gnawing on your back like a werewolf at a human buffet.

6. Whisperers/Gossips=A slanderer, secret detraction, to utter an untruth (or partial truth...or even the truth behind the back), attempt to deceive by falsehood, lie.
Psst...have you heard. Pssst...we need to pray for so and so. Psst...Can you believe what sister so and so got caught at? Pssst...thank God I'm not like..."


7. Swellings/Arrogance= inflation, haughtiness, blowing (full of hot air), to inflate, make proud, puffed up.
The best way to make someone small is to inflate yourself out of proportion. The Pharisee said, "I thank God I am not like them" The publican said, "Lord be merciful to me a sinner." John the Baptist put it like this..."He must increase, I must decrease."

8. Tumults/Disturbances= instability, disorder, commotion, confusion, inconstant, unstable.
Do you keep things stirred up in yours and others lives? Do you thrive on constant drama? Is your life hallmarked by confusion? Are you unstable in all your ways as you are constantly tossed to and fro by every wave of life?

9. Uncleanness/Impurity=impurity physically or morally, foul, unclean, lewd, demonic
Do you need to be cleaned up? Are you opening up your life to demon activity? Are you allowing the Lord of the Flies...to lay maggots in your life?

10. Fornication/Immorality= We get this from the Greek word for pornography. Harlotry, incest, adultery, idolatry, indulge in unlawful lust.
Are you hooked on sex? Can you take your eyes off of the female/male anatomy? Is your life consumed with thoughts of who you would like to have sex with...in your imagination or in reality? Do you think the ADULT in adultery means that it is OK...for you to fornicate because you are an ADULT and you can do what you like?

11. Lasciviousness/Sensuality= licentiousness, filthy, wantonness, unrestrained.
Unrestrained thoughts, produce unrestrained words, resulting in unrestrained actions. Are you out of control? Have you practice filthy acts for so long...that now they seem normal? Is your volition (free will) making all the wrong choices?

WOW...what a list. According to Jesus...you don't even have to do these things..you just have to thing them...and you become guilty as if you had done them. For some that means...well since I've thought them...and it's like I already have done them...I might as well carry out the dead. I know one guy who states...if God did not want me to lust after women...he would not have made me this way....so he is only doing what comes naturally. Well...he is half right...he is doing what comes naturally...but we are called to RESTRAIN our UNRESTRAINT.

Well...did you pass the test? Did you get an A+ or an F-?

Next time...we see what we are to do with the results of our TEST if we find out that we are NOT in the FAITH.

DESPAIR NOT...THERE IS HOPE.

Love and Tested Kisses
Rodney "Teacher, Do You Grade On A Curve" Boyd

THE MIND SET PRINCIPLE

Hello friends and neighbors...what's your mind set? What is shaking you up? What is rocking your world? Is it REAL...or is it IMAGINED?

Have you tried hiding behind a mask like the family in the top left hand corner of our first picture? Are you closing your eyes...hoping that what is bothering you will go away? Are you in a constant struggle with the monsters inside? Are you running from place to place trying to find someone who will help you, like Earl Holliman did in the Twilight Zone episode called WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

There is no doubt that this spinning planet is spinning out of our control. Peace in the Middle East...financial stability...job security...family harmony...faithful spouses...children safe from predators....inner peace...good self-esteem...political protectors...are what we desire. What we imagine...is based on what we see and hear...and as we allow our minds to dwell on CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, radio, television, newspapers, Internet, blogs...we become like our family in the first collage. The masks we wear...the things we think...we turn into those images.

Is there anything that we can do...or are we limited to our fears. Is there any proactive stance that we can do as our imaginations run rampant through the gyriand sulci (hills and valleys of the brain) in our convoluted grey matter...aka BRAIN?

THERE IS HOPE (confident expectation)...but the answer...the solution will not come if you just sit back and do nothing.

II Corinthians 10:3-6 speaks of the attack...and speaks of the defense. To fight off the things that are happening in the physical reality...we must attack the root in the spiritual reality.

"For though we walk in the flesh...we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare ARE NOT flesh, but divinely powerful for the DESTRUCTION OF FORTRESSES (pulling down of STRONGHOLDS). We are destroying SPECULATIONS/IMAGINATIONS and every lofty thing raise up against the knowledge of God, and we are TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE...to the OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST (the Anointed one and His anointing to destroy yokes, lift burdens, remove oppression), and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete." (II Cor. 10:3-6)

There are TOWERS...some man-made...some God made. In our pictures of towers...we see the Sears Tower...the Tower of Babel...Ancient towers...and a representation of the Lord's STRONG TOWER.

A STRONG TOWER is something that can be very protective of the attack against us...or something that HOLDS us STRONGLY...in the grip of fear.

Proverbs 18:10 states, "The NAME OF THE LORD...is a STRONG TOWER; the righteous runs into IT (the name of the Lord)...and IS SAFE."


The STRONGHOLDS...the IMAGINATIONS...take place in our noggins...the old grey matter..our thinkers...our brains. As we feed in the junk of the world... and then allow our MINDS to DWELL on what is happening...and then let our imaginations run wild about what MIGHT HAPPEN...then we become CAPTIVE to our THOUGHTS.

My old homiletics teacher back at Tennessee Temple Bible School...used to call us young preacher boys. He was a crusty, old, white haired saint...who had a rough exterior...and I suppose a heart of gold, although I never saw it. He once had me stand up to pray before my Old Testament Survey class...and immediately had me sit down after the first word of my prayer...because I was chewing gum. He said things to us with a sneer in his voice..."You young preacher boys have minds like cement...well mixed and thoroughly set." "You young preacher boys have minds like steel traps...SHUT TIGHT." He was trying to get us to open our minds out of the status quo...to think outside of the box.

We have to take control of our imaginations and mind sets. Romans 8 talks about MIND SETS...and the cause and effect of our MIND SETS. "For those who are according to the FLESH...SET THEIR MINDS on the THINGS OF THE FLESH...but those who are according to the SPIRIT...the THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. For the MIND SET on the FLESH is DEATH...but the MIND SET on the SPIRIT...is LIFE and PEACE...because the MIND SET on the FLESH is HOSTILE towards God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so...and those who are in the FLESH cannot PLEASE GOD." (Romans 8:5-8)

How can we deal with our MIND SETS...our IMAGINATIONS...our STRONG HOLDS? It starts with the realization that we have been given the authority (exousia...delegated authority) and the power (dunamis...dynamic ability) over our thoughts...but if we don't take a proactive stance...we will be overwhelmed with our thoughts...and be like Job...where what we fear has come upon us.

We need a good old fashion BRAINWASHING. No...not tortured and broken down by waterboarding or some other technique to break us down...but taking what is dirty and cleaning it up.

The first step is to apply Romans 12:1,2..."I urge you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual/reasoning service of worship. And do not be CONFORMED (squeezed into a box) to this world...but be TRANSFORMED (metamorphosed) by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND...that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

For 19 years...my mind had been filled with good, bad, and ugly stuff. I was shaped by what I thought. When I became a Christian in 1970...I became a NEW CREATION IN CHRIST (II Corinthians 5:17)...the old things passed away and the new things had come...HOWEVER...my MIND STILL HAD OLD THOUGHTS AND INFLUENCES that needed to be WASHED...RENEWED. I needed a little rub-a-dub-dub...with the WASHING OF THE WATER OF THE WORD. Even with a good BRAINWASHING...I am still subject to the junk of the world...and it can get dirty again...so I need a brain washing more than just one time...I need to read/wash in the WORD OF GOD all of the time.

The next thing that we can do...is found in where we started this thing...II Corinthians 10:3-6.

1. Realize that we may be in the flesh (flesh, blood, bones)...but we don't fight according to flesh (flesh, blood, bones)
2. Realize we are in a war (not just physical...but a spiritual war)
3. Realize we have weapons of warfare
4. Realize that our weapons are not M-16 or Atom Bombs (of the flesh)
5. Realize that our weapons are DIVINELY POWERFUL
6. Realize that our weapons are designed to DESTROY FORTRESSES...to PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS (things that have a strong hold on us)
7. Realize that our weapons are designed to DESTROY EVERY LOFT THING raised up against the knowledge of God.
8. Realize that with these weapons were are TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
9. We bring these speculations, thoughts, lofty things, strongholds to OBEDIENCE of CHRIST (yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing power) Acts 10:38

The MIND SET...is not a one time event. We must DWELL...spend time...on WHATEVER:

1. Is TRUE
2. Is HONORABLE
3. Is RIGHT
4. Is a GOOD REPORT (versus a constant barrage of bad reports)
5. Is EXCELLENT
6. Is WORTHY OF PRAISE

We are told in Phillipians 4:8...that we are to let/allow our MINDS to DWELL ON THESE THINGS...versus letting/allowing your mind dwell speculations, strongholds, imaginations. The cause and effect is PEACE THAT PASSES ALL COMPREHENSION and/or UNDERSTANDING. Paul then encourages us to take the things you have learned, received, heard, and seen in him...to PRACTICE THESE THINGS...with again, the cause and effect...THE GOD OF PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU. (Phillipians 4:8,9)

One last thought on STRONGHOLDS and peace found in Isaiah 26:1-4:

"In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a STRONG CITY...He sets up WALLS and RAMPARTS for SECURITY, Open the gates, that the RIGHTEOUS NATION...may ENTER, the one that remains FAITHFUL...the STEADFAST of MIND...THOU WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE...because he TRUSTS IN THEE. Trust in the LORD forever, for in God the Lord, we have an EVERLASTING ROCK."

Love and Peaceful Kisses
Rod "Rod Lassos The Moon" Boyd

IT'S A GAS...MAN..THE WORD ON THE WORD

Hello friends and neighbors. Are you running on empty? Are you running on fumes. ? Do you need to pull in and gas up...so you can continue on your journey? Have I got a WORD for you!

In the Bible...it is filled with WORDS. The Bible...aka The WORD of God...was written in the Hebrew language...Aramaic...the koine' (common) Greek language versus the Classical Greek language. Koine'...is the language of the COMMON MAN/WOMAN. Unlike English...the Bible has many meanings for one WORD. For example...the word LOVE...in English...can be used for the love of a wife, the love of your dog, the love of hot dogs, the erotic love, the love a baby, etc.

In the Koine' Greek language...phileo is a brotherly type of love for mankind (ie. Philadelphia)...storge' is a family type of love that a mother would have for a child...eros is a sensual (not necessarily a sexual love)...and agape' a God type of love described in I Corinthians 13...and John 3:16.

Another such case is the word...WORD. Two of the words for WORD is LOGOS... and the other is RHEMA. Both are of value...both are expressed... both are found throughout the New Testament. Sometimes they are used interchangeable.

I use to work at a sign company...along with Gary Montgomery. We would make those signs that you see high above the interstate...lighting the night sky like fluorescent false stars hanging in the created heavens. We made the EXXON signs that took the place of the old ESSO signs. The SIGNS were known as the LOGO for the company. The LOGO...represents the product, the company, the business...with hopes of notifying people that at that location...a certain product was available. It was not necessarily the product...but was notifying you that IF you CHOSE to pull in and experience the product...you could.

To me...this is like the word...LOGOS. In John 1:1...it reads "in the beginning was the LOGOS/WORD...and the LOGOS/WORD was with God...and the LOGOS/WORD was God." In verse 14...we see that "the LOGOS/WORD was made/became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, as glory as of the ONLY BEGOTTEN FROM THE FATHER, full of grace and truth." Of course...the LOGOS/WORD was JESUS. According to Hebrews 1:3..."And He is the RADIANCE of His glory...and the EXACT REPRESENTATION of HIS NATURE... and He upholds all thing by the WORD (rhema) of His power. when He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..." So the LOGOS...lets you know what is available and represents that product. If you want to see the WILL OF GOD in a matter...LOOK AT JESUS. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...and see the LOGOS for 3 years manifesting...Thy WILL (wish, desire) being done on EARTH...as it IS in HEAVEN.

The next word for WORD...is the word RHEMA. The idea of RHEMA...is the specific, verbal expression of the LOGOS. Jesus ...the LOGOS...utilized the RHEMA. Those who had ears to hear....experienced the RHEMA. The RHEMA...manifested itself in ACTION.

Words in the physical...are thoughts expressed. Until the thoughts are expressed...either by writing, signing, sung, or SPOKEN...they are just thoughts.

THE PHYSICAL ACT of speaking is a very synergistic experience.

1. We think a thought.
2. A signal sets things into motion.
3. We breath in a breath.
4. That breath passes through the open vocal folds and draws them together.
5. As you breath out...the vocal folds are broken apart and begin to vibrate
6. The vocal folds begin a rocking back and forth and closing process to keep the vibration going.
7. The sound/buzz begins to travel through the resonating cavities (throat, nose, mouth, etc)
This in combination with the frequency of your vocal folds and the thickness of folds helps to
determine your specific sound quality)
8. You begin to form the thoughts on your articulators (teeth, lips, tongue, hard and soft palate)
9. Your WORDS leave your mouth.
10.The words travel from your mouth to someones ears...and they decode and encode a
response.
11.This happens back and forth and is interpersonal communication.


In the SPIRITUAL...God speaks...man hears...man speaks the Word of God...people hear...faith comes...people believe...people confess (come into agreement with the Word)... people act on the Word.

Romans 10 speaks of this process...as we see that the RIGHTEOUSNESS based on FAITH... SPEAKS thus. Righteousness has a language. It speaks words. It is based on faith. (Romans 10:6) We don't talk about going up to heaven or down into the abyss to bring Christ into a situation. (Romans 10:6,7) Well...what does righteousness based on faith SAY?

"The WORD is near you, in your MOUTH...and in your HEART...that is...THE WORD OF FAITH...which we are PREACHING." (Romans 10:8) What do we do with this WORD OF FAITH in our MOUTHS?

"That if you CONFESS (homo-legos...same word)...with your MOUTH...JESUS AS LORD..
and BELIEVE in your HEART that God RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD...you shall be SAVED." (Romans 10:9) Well how does this work?

"For with the HEART...man BELIEVES...resulting in RIGHTEOUSNESS (cause and effect of heart belief)...and with the MOUTH...he CONFESSES...resulting in SALVATION (cause and effect)." (Romans 10:10) Will I be disappointed if I do this?

"For the Scripture says, Whoever BELIEVES in Him will NOT be disappointed." (Romans 10"11) Is this just for a few people?

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is LORD OF ALL..abounding in riches for all who CALL UPON HIM." (Romans 10:12) What kind of guarantee can I get?

"For WHOEVER...will CALL upon the name of the Lord...WILL BE SAVED." (Romans 10:13) What place is WORD OF GOD in all of this?

"How then shall they call upon Him in whom they HAVE NOT BELIEVED? And how shall they believe in Him whom they HAVE NOT HEARD? And how shall they HEAR without a PREACHER? And how shall they PREACH unless they are SENT? Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who BRING GLAD TIDING OF GOOD THINGS. However, they did not all HEED the GLAD TIDINGS; for Isaiah says, LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" So...what is the cause and effect of this preaching of the Word?

"So...FAITH...comes from HEARING...and HEARING...by the WORD (rhema) OF CHRIST." (Romans 10:17)

Remember the LOGO of the gas station...that is LIFTED in the dark night...to let weary travellers know where to find fuel, food, rest, and relief. They have to choose to pull in...and experience the the product. They go from logos...to rhema.

Jesus is...the LOGOS...WORD of God. The LOGOS is the exact representation of God.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness...even so must he SON OF MAN (Jesus) be LIFTED UP...that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish...but have eternal life. 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 3:14-16)

"And I, if I be LIFTED UP...from the earth...will DRAW all mean to Myself. But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die." (John 12:32,33)

In this cold, dark, weary world...do you see the light beckoning you to pull in and to be refreshed. Do you see Him lifted up...representing the yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing, soul saving, power of God? Or are you full and satisfied with you life as it is....the status quo is O.K. with you? Be careful...this may be your last chance to fill 'er up.





Love and Full Service Kisses
Rodney "Full Tank" Boyd

I AM GRUMBLER

Greetings fellow travellers...how's your mouth? In the south...we have certain Southernisms that we say without thinking. When we go to an eatery...when the waitress asks us what we want to drink...we automatically ask for SWEET TEA. If you go up to Pittsburgh and ask for sweet tea...the waitress will give you a look and then inform you that you are not down south. If you want sweet tea... then sweeten it yourself. Another thing we do...is when we say something (either on purpose or by mistake)...we will drawl out..."Well...hush my mouth."

The other day I went to see the new Will Smith movie I AM LEGEND. Old time readers of the Ruminator Ramblings will remember a series that I did about CHRISTIAN VAMPIRES AND ZOMBIES...and the things that correlated with the movie THE LAST MAN ON EARTH...that we can use to combat the old nature/flesh in our lives as...the old man rises up again to recapture us.

The movie I AM LEGEND is based on a book by Richard Matheson (whose stories were featured on the Twilight Zone). The first movie was with Vincent Price called THE LAST MAN ON EARTH...the next remake was with Charlton Heston called THE OMEGA MAN...and now the Fresh Prince of Belaire...Will Smith is in I AM LEGEND.

I said all of that to say this...I...Rodney Boyd...am starring in a new movie...soon to be released to all churches....called...I AM GRUMBLER.

It's the story of a man...who was delivered from the DOMAIN OF DARKNESS...and transferred to the KINGDOM OF HIS BELOVED SON (Colossians 1:13). It's the story of a NEW CREATION IN CHRIST...whose OLD THINGS have passed away...and NEW THINGS HAVE COME. ( II Corinthians 5:17). It's the story of a man who was SET FREE...but has allowed the YOKE OF SLAVERY to take hold again. It's the story of a man who had all the spiritual blessings at his disposal...but was LAID LOW IN THE WILDERNESS and let TEMPTATION OVERTAKE him. (I Corinthians 10:1-14) It's a story of the world, the flesh, and the devil...as our HERO...fights back the DEEDS OF THE FLESH. His main downfall...
he is MURMURER...A GRUMBLER...A COMPLAINER. As a result he opened up the door for the DESTROYER (I Corinthians 10:10)

All is NOT lost...our hero is standing, putting up a fight...and implementing the blood of Jesus, the light, garlic (offensive to the flesh), and the cross...and mirrors...and is one by one...putting to death the old things that rise up...as he practices what Paul taught...to crucify the flesh and die to self daily. (Galatians 2:20/I Corinthians 15:31)

Hopefully...the struggles of our hero...will be an example for us to follow. (I Corinthians 10:6,11)

Notice the Zombie arm that is reaching in to grab Vincent Price. For our purposes...let's put a name on that arm reaching out to grab you...as GRUMBLING.

I am writing this...because...I find myself...mouthing my way into an early grave. I grumble, complain, gripe, grouse, murmur, etc. I do this grumbling to God, other people, my wife, myself...and usually anyone in earshot that shows any interest in my mouth. Never mind...that it offends God and violates the principles of life and death in my mouth. Joyce Myer has a great book entitled... ME AND MY BIG MOUTH (The Problem Is Under Your Nose).

The Bible is filled with warnings about this Zombie. One such warning is found in Jude 1:16 (There is only one chapter in Jude...so you could say Jude 16).

"These GRUMBLERS, finding FAULT, following after their OWN LUSTS; the SPEAK ARROGANTLY, FLATTERING people for the sake of GAINING AN ADVANTAGE."

I looked at 13 various translations and broke down the various words used to describe aspects of these types of people. As I read these words...it is like using a mirror (used in the movies to reveal and repulse the creatures...as they see who they really are). The Word of God is described as a mirror (James 1:23-25)

JUDE 1:16 BREAKDOWN

1. Grumblers, complainers, murmurers, trouble makers

2. Finding fault, find fault, complainers, full of complaint, ever bemoaning their lot

3. Following after their own lusts, desires, walking after their own lusts, ever desiring change, going after evil pleasures, lives guided by evil passions

4. They speak arrogantly, say arrogant things, their mouths speaketh great swelling words, speak proud things, and their mouth doth speak great swellings

At this point...I begin to rationalize my GRUMBLING...by reasoning out that...I am only speaking the truth...I am only telling it like it is....I am right and the ones that I am talking about are wrong.
That does not negate the fact that the responsibility for what I speak...is mine. What can I do to combat this old nature and flesh that is manifesting itself ON MY LIPS? I'm glad you asked.

Of course the blood of Jesus, the Cross, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, the breath of death to some, the breath of life to others...Galatians 2:20/Colossians 3:1-4/Colossians 1:27./Romans 6:1-14/Galatians 5 and 6...etc.

One of the BEST DEFENSES against the ZOMBIE OF GRUMBLING is found in the book of
PRO-VERBS (that would be PRO=POSITIVE....VERBS=ACTION). I have to take POSITIVE ACTION against the flesh. If I do NOTHING...the FLESH will run rampant.

PROVERBS 30:32,33

THE PROBLEM: If you have been FOOLISH in EXALTING YOURSELF...or if you have PLOTTED EVIL
THE SOLUTION: PUT YOUR HAND ON YOUR MOUTH (the sight of the release of the grumbling...which is really in the heart)
CAUSE AND EFFECT: For the CHURNING of milk PRODUCES butter...and the PRESSING of the nose BRINGS FORTH blood
COMPARISON: So the CHURNING of ANGER..PRODUCES...STRIFE

The MOUTH...is the ...CHURN
The ANGER/COMPLAINING is the milk
The CHURNING in THE MOUTH...is the talking
The END RESULT produced...is STRIFE.

Lord...I have a change of heart, mind, direction, attitude, and action...of my GRUMBLING. I ask for forgiveness for SPEAKING MY MIND...versus SPEAKING YOU MIND. Thank you for your blood and the ability to identify with dying on the cross with you and the ability to choose to die to myself daily. In the name of Jesus...Amen (so be it).

Love and Non-Grumbling Kisses
Rodney "Well Hush My Mouth" Boyd