PEOPLE...NEED...THE...LORD: And So Do I

Greetings People...men...women...children...humans. Guess what...You Need the Lord.
Years ago when I went to Africa...heard a few things from the Lord. One thing was...no matter what happened...I was in God's place. I also saw the land mass of Africa from the airplane...and God kept speaking to me...that the brown, dried land was the condition of the land...the people...the world...and yes...me. It was a mixture of dried land...and lushness. I kept hearing that God's desire was to make the dry land wet. That green would overtake the brown, dried land...and the dried souls of mankind...including me.

Another thing that I could not shake throughout the trip...from before the start of the trip to now...was that...PEOPLE NEED THE LORD. I kept hearing that song...sung on a 700 Club commercial...by Dannibelle Hall...that PEOPLE NEED THE LORD. I also kept hearing Steve Green's (former lead singer for Whiteheart) version...that PEOPLE NEED THE LORD. I think that God was impressing me...that one of the things on the forefront of his heart was that...well...PEOPLE NEED THE LORD.


PEOPLE NEED THE LORD

Everyday...they pass me by
I can see it in their yes
Empty people filled with care Headed who knows where

NOTE: I see people everyday...passing them in elevators, at work, in their homes, at the malls, in the streets...people...who have needs, fears, anxieties.. who need the Lord.

On they go...through private pain
Living fear to fear
Laughter hides their silent cries
Only Jesus hears

NOTE: Oh how we try to cover up the need. We hold onto our fears, our pains, our anxiety...we hide behind laughter, sarcasm, bravado, alcohol, drugs, anger, work, success, money, good times, things... etc...hiding the NEED...but deep down inside...there is a vacuum...a hole... a void...that only the Lord can feel. There are people who are reading this right now...wondering how I know this. Because I was where you were back in 1970...just before I accepted Jesus.

PEOPLE NEED THE LORD
PEOPLE NEED THE LORD
At the end of broken dreams...He's the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize, people need the Lord.

NOTE: When we realize...they don't need religion...they don't need your denomination...they don't need your rules, regulations or condemnation when they don't measure up to your religion, rules, regulation. PEOPLE NEED THE LORD.

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What would be too great a cost
For sharing with one who's lost

NOTE: It all boils down to the fact that we are..."just a beggar...telling another beggar...where we found a piece of bread." (John Fischer). When we realize that it is not about us...but about the Lord...and His heartbeat is not condemnation...but salvation...then we will understand...that PEOPLE NEED THE LORD...and we just happen to be the representation of the LORD.
We are MINISTERS OF RECONCILIATION...NOT COUNTING THERE TRANSGRESSIONS AGAINST THEM...BUT RECONCILING THEM TO THE LORD...because...PEOPLE NEED THE LORD. (II Corinthians 5:17-21)

Through His Love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear
They must hear the Words of Life
Only we can share

NOTE: We are called to preach the Word (not just the hired help from the pulpit...but YOU... as you run across PEOPLE in your daily walk...and you realize they NEED THE LORD...and you just happen to be the conduit for the LORD.

PEOPLE NEED THE LORD...PEOPLE NEED THE LORD
At the end of BROKEN DREAMS...He's the open door
PEOPLE NEED THE LORD...PEOPLE NEED THE LORD
When will we realize that WE MUST GIVE OUR LIVES
For PEOPLE...NEED...THE LORD

NOTE: Look at the people around you as GOD NEEDERS...and we can give them WHO they need...not...dirty looks...not arrogance...not condemnation...but we are called to give them who they need...THE LORD.

Love and Needy Kisses
Rodney "I Need The Lord" Boyd

THE OUTLAW

Greetings fellow Chewers of the Cud. The saga continues. In 1968...I was a sophomore at Central High School...hiding out in my room. In my room...I had everything I needed. I had a radio...a T.V...my guitar...books (comic and other). It was in this room that I watched the Elvis Christmas special...later renamed...the 68 Comeback Special. I had a few friends...but was more and more...staying in my room. As mentioned in previous Ramblings...Dan Bogle and Bruce Fortner rescued me from my room by enlisting me to play in a band...later known as THE BLIND DISTORTION. 1969 brought a relationship with Brenda...which led to a relationship with Jesus.

I played my last gig with the Blind Distortion at the Moose Lodge...and then quit playing guitar...because that's what I thought I was suppose to do. I thought I would be limited to listen to bad singers sing old songs. I did write one song...called THE JESUS SONG...that was a peppy little ditty about Jesus...but other than that...no music...UNTIL...Larry Norman. He wrote songs like...WHY SHOULD THE DEVIL HAVE ALL THE GOOD MUSIC...and THE ROCK THAT DOESN'T ROLL...READER'S DIGEST...WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING...and many others.

One song...that became a favorite about Jesus was called THE OUTLAW. Jesus to the Jesus Freaks...was considered to be outside the mainstream...religious...church world...an OUTLAW. Of course He was not on the level of those outside of the LAW...but he was the fulfillment of the LAW.

The song THE OUTLAW...was an ode to who or what people thought Jesus was...outlaw, poet, politician, sorcerer. The question finally leaves us with the question...WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS WAS? This is the question we all have to answer...sooner or later...either now on planet earth or before the Father. You answer determines your destiny.

As mentioned in C.S. Lewis' book MERE CHRISTIANITY...the choice does not include a great teacher or a prophet...those are not options. As Lewis writes... the choices are...Jesus is either...a LUNATIC...a LIAR...or who He said He was... LORD.

THE OUTLAW (Larry Norman from Only Visiting This Planet)

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


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

Some say a POLITICIAN who spoke of being free
He was followed by the masses on the shores of Galilee
He spoke out against corruption and he bowed to now decree
And they feared his strength and power so they nailed him to a tree

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

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

Well...great song...makes you think. People have their own image about who Jesus is. There is nothing new under the sun...that same question was posed to the disciples..."Now when Jesus came into the district of Ceaserea Philippi...He began ASKING His disciples, saying...'WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT THE SON OF MAN IS?" (Matthew 16:13)

They answered....(1) John the Baptist (2) Elijah (3) Jeremiah (4) one of the prophets. (Matthew 16:14)

Jesus then brings the point home..."BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"
(Matthew 16:15)

At this point Peter stepped up to the plate and boldly declared..."THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD." (Matthew 16:16)

Jesus response to Peter's perspective of who Jesus was..."Blessed are you Simon Barjona...because FLESH AND BLOOD did not REVEAL this to you...but MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN." (Matthew 16:17)

Jesus then contrasts Peter's strong revelation from the Father...with Peter's weak name...reflective of his character. "And I also say to you that you are...peter (petros...little stone)...and upon this ROCK (petra...massive rock) I will build my church...and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it (the church). (Matthew 16:18) The church will not be built on an earthly man...but will be built on the DIVINE REVELATION that JESUS (God is Salvation/Immanuel/God with Us) is the CHRIST/MESSIAH (anointed with yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing, healing power of the Holy Spirit [Acts 10:39] )...the SON OF THE LIVING GOD (God in the flesh...in the beginning, with God...was God John 1:1). NOW THAT REVELATION IS THE ROCK THAT THE GATHERING OF THE SAINTS WILL BE BUILT ON...THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES REVELATION OF WHO HE IS...and who they are NOT. (Matthew 16:17)

Along with this revelation...there is not only the roots of the church...but authority of the church (not a building...but the people...who adhere to the revelation that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God). "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven , and whatever you shall loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well we know who Larry Norman said Jesus was...and we know what other people of Jesus' day said He was...and we know what Peter's impression of who Jesus was...and we know who Jesus knew He was (notice He did not refute Peter's revelation but underscored the accuracy of the revelation)...we know who C.S. Lewis reasoned that Jesus was and was not...BUT...the question is NOT who other people say Jesus was...BUT...WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS WAS...AND MORE IMPORTANT...WHO HE IS NOW. Your answer will set the course of your destiny.

Love and Outlaw Kisses
Rodney "I Choose The Christ, the Son of the Living God" Boyd

THE LONG AND WINDING...WAY

Greetings fellow sojourners...how's the WAY? This JOURNEY that we are on...is filled with turns, hills, valleys, detours, straight roads, adventure, joys... disappointments... HISappoinments...but it is worth it.

Back on May 23rd 1970...The Beatles had their last #1 single...THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD. "The long and winding road...that leads to your door..." It was performed in the movie LET IT BE...that chronicles the final day of breakup of the group that said..."all you need is love...and then they broke up." (Larry Norman) The controversy over the song was in the remixing of the song by Phil Spector without Paul's permission...adding strings, horns, female chorus etc. Phil applied that WALL OF SOUND that he was so famous for in the 60's. Many years later...a version closer to the original intention was released on the album LET IT BE...NAKED. I personally enjoyed both version. "...let me know the WAY." (The Long and Winding Road)

WAY: hodos' (hod-os')= a road by implication a PROGRESS (the ROUTE, act or distance)...figuratively a mode or means--journey, highway.

Jesus made a statement...that at the time was religiously incorrect...and if uttered in these days...would also be religiously incorrect as well as politically correct.

Jesus was talking to his boys...about where he was about to go...to prepare a place for them. There hearts were troubled...and Jesus was telling them to replace their troubled hearts with belief in God and Him. Good words for these troubled times. (John 14:1-3)

Jesus stated...YOU KNOW THE WAY...where I am going." (John 14:4). This statement brought up the question in Thomas' mind..."Lord, we do not know where Yo are going; how do we know THE WAY." (John 14:5) Jesus dropped the bomb (shot) heard around the world...that is still reverberating...

"Jesus said to him (Thomas)...I AM THE WAY...and THE TRUTH...and THE LIFE...NO ONE comes to the Father...but THROUGH ME." (John 14:6)

"...I am the ROAD/PROGRESS/ROUTE/JOURNEY/HIGHWAY....no one comes to the Father but THROUGH ME...JESUS...D.B.R...BLOOD....NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS.

Note that Jesus did not say that He was A WAY...A TRUTH...A LIFE. All roads may lead to Rome...but NOT to the Father. If you put THE FATHER in your SPIRITUAL GPS SYSTEM...it would not come up with various religious leaders, philosophies, cults, sects, etc...it would come up with JESUS. If you try to go any other way other than Jesus...you would hear...RECALCULATE.

"Every man's way is right in his own eyes...but the Lord weighs the heart... motives...and attitudes." (Proverbs 21:2)

"There is a way which seems right to a man...but its END is the WAY of death (destruction)." (Proverbs 14:12)

"There is a WAY which seems right to a man...but its end is the WAY of death (destruction)." (Proverbs 16:25)

Sometimes...it seems in our minds...that we are going down the RIGHT ROAD... the correct WAY...but when you place it on the Lord's scales...that weighs our motives and attitudes...we end up lost...circling the mountain again and again like the children of Israel in the wilderness.

During the late 60's and early 70's there was a revival going on among young people...that was dubbed by Time Magazine as THE JESUS MOVEMENT. Larry Norman who was with a rock and roll group called PEOPLE...had a #1 hit called I LOVE YOU (originally done by the Zombies). Larry dropped out at the pinnacle of success...and hit the streets to sing and witness for Jesus in L.A. The index finger...extending heavenward...was the battle cry for the movement...ONE WAY...ONE WAY TO HEAVEN...HOLD YOU FINGERS HIGH. The song speaks of the poet who wrote about two ROADS diverging...and taking the one LESS TRAVELED.

The ROAD less traveled that the Bible speaks of is the THE WAY.

One of the names of this "new religion"...that followed Jesus was called THE WAY.

Saul...latter to get saved and be called Paul...was breathing threats and murder against the DISCIPLES OF THE LORD (Acts 9:1) "And...asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus...so that if he found ANY BELONGING TO THE WAY...both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." (Acts 9:2)

It was around 10 years from the original event of the D.B.R. where these followers of the WAY...were first called CHRISTIANS in Antioch.
(Acts 11:26) They were still called followers of the WAY after being called CHRISTIANS..."But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of THE WAY before the multitude..." (Acts 19:9) "And about that time there arose no small disturbance concerning THE WAY." (Acts 19:23).

Paul testifying...spoke of his former way of life..."And I persecuted THIS WAY...to the death, binding and putting both men and women in prison..." (Acts 22:4)

"But this I admit to you...that according to THE WAY...which they call a sect...I DO SERVE THE GOD of our fathers, believing everything that is written in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets..." (Acts 24:14)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

This WAY...is motivated by LOVE. "And I show you a still more EXCELLENT WAY." (I Corinthians 12:31) Paul then proceeds to outline the nature and character of the LOVE (agape') that should rule all other loves (eros, phileo, storge')...because the GREATEST of faith, hope, and love...is THE EXCELLENT WAY.

This is the WAY...into the presence of the Father..."Since therefore brethren, we have confidence to ENTER the holy place...BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS..by a NEW AND LIVING WAY WHICH He (Jesus) inaugurated for us through THE VEIL...that is HIS FLESH...and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...havin our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water..." (Hebrews 10:19-22)

If you took a piece of paper and wrote on one side...YOUR WAY...and on the other side JESUS...you would probably come to the conclusion that your WAY was RIGHT...but...the END of the journey would be destruction. The END of the journey...through THE WAY...the TRUTH...and THE LIFE...is into the arms of the Father.

Enjoy the journey...and if you are going the wrong way...RECALCULATE.

Love and Traveling Kisses
Rodney "On The Road Again" Boyd

FOUNDATIONS: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Hello friends and neighbors from the hills of Tennessee to where you are this very minute. How's your FOUNDATION. If you have ever been good at anything...unless you were just a natural born talent...you started at the beginning. First steps...first attempts... first failures...first get up and try it again...UNTIL...one day...you begin to do whatever you are doing without even thinking about it. It has been said..."PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT"...and that is true with everything we do.

In the past Rambling I talked about my visions and dreams...karate in particular...but applicable to life in general. I remember back in 1973...Carl Douglas was singing that "everybody was Kung Fu Fighting...their fist were fast as lightning." Billy Jack was standing in front of Mr. Posner...and simply stating that he was going to take his foot and place it on the opposite side of his face...and there was nothing that he could do about it. Posner smugly said..."Is that right." Billy state that it was right...and then put a Hapkido kick knocking that smug look off of Posner's face. Caine...was consistently avoiding a fight in the old west...until...he was forced to put a Kung Fu whipping on those cowboys in the T.V. show Kung Fu. And of course....you had the Chinese Connection...the Big Boss...those Fist of Fury as the Dragon Entered in the form of Bruce Lee.

When I started my karate journey back in 1973...I wanted to do the big kicks....BUT...every class we did basic punches...basic blocks...basic front kicks...over and over...up and down the floor...back and forth...night after night. We would then take all of those BASIC moves into one kata (forms)...and go over and over with the FIRST BASIC KATA (20 moves of combined basic moves). When were we going to learn how to beat someone up with a double spinning reverse Kung Pow KICK? One day...we took a field trip to Madison Tennessee where Sensei Cecil T. Patterson (head of the United Eastern Wado Kai Federation under the direction of Master Hironori Otsuka) was heading up a BLACK BELT CLASS. All right...now we we were going to see some ACTION. This is what I had been waiting for....maybe not me doing it...but I was going to see the real deal. I remember how impressed I was to see a floor with nothing but BLACK BELTS. I was salivating with anticipation as they lined up (like we did in our school)...bowed in (like we did in our school)...and then proceeded to to the same...basic kicks, punches, and blocks and kata (that we did at our school). NOW WAIT A MINUTE. Didn't they already LEARN that stuff. Why were they going over those KARATE BABY STEPS AGAIN? ANSWER: Because you never get away from the BASICS...the FOUNDATION.

The first photo is on the wall at Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate. It is there to remind us...it is all about FOUNDATIONS. Everything we learn rises and falls of the BASICS. Get the BASICS down...and everything else will fall into place. If you try the TECHNIQUE without proper STANCES and proper POSTURE...you get sloppy, ineffective TECHNIQUE. You can also have proper grounding with your stances...but if you are leaned over...looking down at the ground...shoulders too high/tense/tight with no relaxation...that will also throw off your technique. But with proper alignment....from top to bottom....you are able to execute with precision. NOTE: I am still learning new things from the FIRST BASIC KATA. When the current master of our style (Wado Ryu) came over from Japan and held a seminar at our school...he spent over an hour...leading us through junzuki...a BASIC moving forward punch. We had learned this at White Belt...and we were still learning in advanced classes. For more information about Wado Ryu Karate or Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate go to:

www.bskonline.com



This same principle applies in our Christian walk. We want the fireworks...the hoopla...the miracles...the big stuff. We want the DEEP THINGS OF GOD....we want the MEAT OF THE WORD. We even get frustrated and church hop...going from church to church...because we don't feel we are getting what we need. We develop and arrogance towards those who are walking out their faith...daily...doing the basics.

RECOMMENDED READING: The Spirit-Filled Believer's Handbook by Derek Prince. This is a series formerly know as THE FOUNDATION SERIES. It is based on the ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES about Christ found in Hebrews 6:1-2...the BASICS...the MILK OF THE WORD.

The writer of Hebrews has indicated that many have become DULL OF HEARING. The expectation was that these believers...by this time...should be TEACHERS...but they had need for someone to teach them the ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD. (Hebrews 5:12). The writer underscores this by saying that they have come to need MILK...and not the MEAT or SOLID FOOD. (Hebrews 5:12). Everyone who partakes ONLY of MILK is not accustomed to the WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS....for he is a babe. (Hebrews 5:13) The next verse starts with the word BUT (in contrast to baby milk drinkers)...MEAT/SOLID FOOD is for the MATURE...who because of PRACTICE have their SENSES TRAINED to discern good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13-14) The writer then starts chapter 6 with the word THEREFORE (in reference to what we just read...always see what therefore is there for by referring back to what was just said). LEAVING the elementary teaching about the Christ let us PRESS on to MATURITY...not laying again a FOUNDATIONS OF:

1. Repentance from dead works
2. Faith towards God
3. Doctrine/instruction about washings/baptisms (plural)
4. Laying on of hands
5. Resurrection of the dead
6. Eternal judgement

WOW....these are the basics...the milk...and we are to LEAVE THESE? Something does not jive with me. Well...I personally don't believe that the writer means that we are just to leave these things in the dust...since we have learned everything we know that we need to know about them...much like we learn the BASICS in karate...but we never...ever...leave them...BUT build on them...they are the foundational moves...so are these 6 things the FOUNDATIONAL MOVES FOR US.

Hmmmm...MILK...versus....MEAT. I remember one time...the disciples came to Jesus who was ministering to the woman at the well...and they tried to get Him to EAT SOME FOOD...EAT SOME MEAT (sorry PETA). Jesus declared what MEAT WAS..when He stated...

"My MEAT/FOOD is to (1) DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME...and to...(2) ACCOMPLISH HIS WORK.

I believe...that the MILK is the BASICS....the MEAT...is OBEDIENCE as we DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENDS US...and we ACCOMPLISH HIS WORKS. We don't discarded the milk...and we don't only just drink the milk (constantly just read about it)...but we DO the MILK...and it becomes the MEAT. For example...the MILK would be to forgive those who do you wrong...bless those who curse you...and those who despitefully use you. The MEAT is to FORGIVE. I constantly go back to REPENTANCE (having a change of heart, mind, attitude, direction)...I constantly direct my faith towards God...I constantly go back to the day I went under the waters as a watergrave where my old man lays and I was raised to walk in newness of life...I constantly flow in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a witness to the power of God in my life...I lay my hands on many people as I identify with what they are going through and identify that His touch can heal them of depression, oppression, possession...I constantly look back to His Resurrection with great hope of my Resurrection...and I know that I will experience and eternal judgement based on things I do...for rewards...and based on Jesus the only way that I can escape judgement of my sins. I DON'T DO AWAY WITH THESE THINGS....I build my life on them...and live life based on them.

Of course anyone who reads these Ramblings knows that we always get back to the ULTIMATE BASICS...the D. B.R....NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS. We are always rooted and grounded to the mercy and grace of the bloody cross...as the DEATH (in our place)...the BURIAL (laid to rest)...and Resurrection
(because He was raised...I'm raised)...NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS (I can not bring anything to the table except that I accept and received what satisfies God.). That is the nature of PROPITIATION (the substitute and satisfaction of the D.B.R.

This is based on grace (unmerited favor, free gift, the divine touch in my heart manifested in my life) and not based on anything that I have done in righteousness (Titus 3:5/Ephesians 2:8-10)

This is the nature of the GOSPEL/GOOD NEWS:

"Now I make known to you, brethren...the GOSPEL which I PREACHED to you...which you also RECEIVED , in which also you STAND...by which also you are SAVED...if you HOLD FAST the word which I preached to you as of first importance what I also receive (1) that Christ died for you according to the Scriptures (2) and that He was buried (3) that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY...

Well...there ya have it...THE BASICS. Whether you are doing triple spinning back kick...or just walking out your faith...it is all about the BASICS.

To be MATURE...to dine at the table with a big juicy RIB EYE...THE MEAT OF THE WORD....you have to be able...to DO THE MILK. Never thing you are so MATURE...that you can by-pass things like making Christ the Center of your live...not reading the Word of God...not praying...not obeying the Word...not having fellowship with other believers and not sharing your faith.

You may think you are walking in the DEEP...but you are treading in the SHALLOW END OF THE POOL.



Love and BASIC KISSES
Rodney "Hmmm...How Did He Do That Kick" Boyd

DREAMS AND VISIONS: The Journey

Hello fellow visionaries and dreamers...had any fulfillment's lately? Sometimes our dreams and visions tend to dissipate into the daylight when we wake up and we rub them out of our eyes like the crust in the corner of our optical orifices.

"For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day (9:00 in the morning)..but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth MY SPIRIT upon ALL MANKIND (not just "Christians or Jews"....and your young men shall see VISIONS...and your old men shall dream dreams....even upon My bond slaves...BOTH MEN AND WOMEN...I will in those days pour forth of my Spirit...." (Acts 2:15-18)

VISION: The act of gazing, an inspired appearance, sight

DREAM: Seen in sleep, vision in a dream

Of course the above passage is Peter's explanation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a room full of men and women (around 120) in the Upper Room. He is quoting from the Old Testament Passage found in Joel 2:28-32. Today the great debate is...does God still speak and move in visions and dreams or have these thing passed away along with the last apostle or the official canonization of the Bible. Well...I am not going to be speaking about that during this Rambling...but am going to be talking about our everyday...human...visions and dreams. I feel the same principles that applies to the spiritual aspects of our lives (and yes...I believe those things are still active today including, miracles, healing, spiritual gifts, etc).

In a world of CAN'T DO...I believe that we CAN DO...especially when your CAN'T DO's are filtered through the yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing, healing power of the ANOINTED ONE and His Holy Spirit ANOINTING...CHRIST.

"I have strength for ALL THINGS in Christ Who empowers me--I am ready for ANYTHING and EQUAL TO ANYTHING...THROUGH HIM who INFUSES INNER STRENGTH into me, [that is...I am self-sufficient IN CHRIST'S SUFFICIENCY]. (Philippians 4:13


Back in the mid-60's I had the seed of a dream planted in me...by watching a movie starring Peter Lorre. The movie was part of series from the 40's called MR. MOTO. He was an unassuming character who solved mysteries and used ju jitsu...to fight his opponents. That sparked something in me that was fanned over the years...and burst into flames in 1973. I to was unassuming...a skinny kid who was a little...well...a lot geeky...may I dare say...strange. I can remember on day at Mitchell Neilson school when I was in the 6th grade...as we were standing in a hall way waiting to go to gym...that a friend was clowning around and picking on me. He was tall...hovering over me...and before I knew it...I had grabbed his arm...and did a hip throw that I had seen in a Mr. Moto movie. The people around me were shocked...my friend was shocked...and most of all I was shocked. Remember...I had no martial arts training...just a skinny kid with a dream. I would watch those movies...see Elvis karate chopping in his movies...and reading various books...all the while never having an outlet or a place to go to practice these things...except in the backyard.

Fast forward to 1972. I got saved, been away to a Bible School, dropped out of that Bible School, came home to Murfreesboro, got married, got a job in a factory, fell away from the Lord...and ended up in front of the factory I worked at getting attacked by a tall, redneck (the bad kind) because of my stupidity. I got out of the car and tried to reason with him...but he could not be reasoned with...go figure. I was block punches...the best I could...and got my little finger dislocated (oh if I had only kept my fist closed)...and countered with a punch that knocked him down. His friend who was standing behind me backed up and through up his hands and said, "I'm not going to fool with you." Little did he know...it was a lucky punch. There were cheers from my co-workers as my Goliath went down. SHOCK!!! He got up...went to his car...and his girlfriend yelled, "Get out of here...he's coming for a gun." I hopped in my little green Vega...stalled it out a couple of times (like Marty McFly in Back To The Future)...and then it started. Looking in the rear view mirror I saw this guy chasing my car with a tire iron in his hand.

Fast forward to 1973...I saw an advertisement for a karate class held at Crichlow school basement...for $15.00 a month...no contract. What caught my eyes was a familiar name...NEWTON HARRIS. I knew him through some older childhood acquaintances. I joined up with a couple of friends...and began to fulfill me dreams from childhood. Over a period of time...married life, school, finances...took over and I ended up dropping out. NOTE: It was during this time that I met a kid in class by the name of BILL TAYLOR. I remember sparring with Him...and blocking one of his kicks...and an electrical shot of pain went up my arm. Little did I know that our paths would intersect later in life....MUCH LATER.

Fast forward to when I turned 48 years old. Periodically I would tell my wife...that one day I would start back again in karate...and specifically Wado Ryu Karate. I would run my First Basic Kata sporadically over the years...just to make sure I remembered it...and I did.
I had a DREAM...a VISION of a DESIRE planted in childhood, watered in adulthood...BUT seemed to have stalled and died...EXCEPT...I kept the dream alive by watching karate movies, thinking about it...and SPEAKING IT. One day...I took my young son Phillip to a Wado Ryu tournament in Columbia. It was intoxicating watching up from the bleachers....seeing the uniforms, the katas, the sparring, etc. I remember vividly turning to my son...and telling him..."One day I will be down there son." He agreed with me (where two are agreed).
I went home and told my wife that when I TURNED 50 YEARS OLD I WAS GOING TO START BACK TAKING KARATE. She smiled and agreed...did not through water on my dream.

Fast forward two years later...we stopped at Quizno's on Broad Street to get some lunch...and ran into Mr. Bill Taylor...now the owner of Bushido School of Karate. I talked to him about my visions and dreams...and then I said...."I feel that I am to old to start taking karate again...I am now 50 years old." Maybe I thought he would agree with me and give me an excuse for not fulfilling my dream...BUT...he did not. He said that there was a woman at the school who was..I believe he said 75...who just got her Black Belt. Then he laid the ball in my court..."What's your excuse?" I went down to the school and signed up...an older, overweight, out of shape, karate wannabe.

I started in 2001...and you would think the rest is history. No...the journey just began. For the next 6 years...I experienced the joy of dreams and visions revitalized...and the pain of the process. Over those years...I watched younger students...more flexible...faster...kicking higher....etc...start the same time as me and bypass me. But with the help of my instructors...a grit and determination... lots of prayer...I moved forward one belt at a time. The goal never was the yellow, orange, blue, purple, green, brown belts...it was always...the Black Belt.
Over and over again I was told that the only way that I would not get a Black Belt was IF I DID NOT COME TO CLASS.

Through out the journey...many times...I wanted to quit. I would come to class sometimes...just going through the motions. One hallmark day was when I was called into the office...and received a classic Mr. Bill Taylor "butt chewing". He did not mince words about my commitment to the goal. It was at that point that I took it up notch...started attending even more classes...and pushed through. The results were...I took the endurance exam...came out the other side worn out...but survived...and then took the Federation exam.

Even at this point there were obstacles. NOTE: In our spiritual journey...the same things happen to us...to keep us from our destiny..but we must PERSEVERE WITH THE CAN DO ATTITUDE. A couple of weeks before the exam...I was kicked in my knee in class (It was already hurting)...and during a kata (Pinan NiDan)...I ripped my right rotator cuff to where I could not lift up my right arm past belt level). Lots of i anti-inflammatory drugs, heat and ice....and rest were the order.

Prior to the exam...I was limping around...and I told Mr. Taylor. His words of advice..."Don't let them see you limp in there." Also prior to the exam...I saw a familiar face...Mr. Newton Harris...my original instructor...who heard I was testing and wanted to be there. I was coming full circle with my vision and dream.

Well...I gave it all...passed the exam...received the belt...and NOW was ready to BEGIN TO LEARN. My only problem...I had a torn ACL, torn meniscus...crud in the knee...and arthritis in the knee. That put a crimp in my continuation. Compound that by a fall down some stairs at one of my patent's house with damage to both of the rotator cuffs...and another roadblock. WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Perseverance...I will not give up. I still have a dream...and I HAVE STRENGTH FOR ALL THINGS IN CHRIST WHO EMPOWERS ME-- I AM READY FOR ANYTHING AND EQUAL TO ANYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO INFUSES INNER STRENGTH INTO ME...[THAT IS I AM SUFFICIENT IN CHRIST'S SUFFICIENCY]. (Philippians 4:13)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

During the journey...I have had many people as sources of encouragement. The same is true for my spiritual journey. You got to have others on this journey with you.

Number one encourager is Brenda...my wife...and then my son Phillip. I draw on them constantly. At the school...Mr. Bill Taylor who gave me no room for excuses to fail...only reasons for success. Mr. Mike Wilson...who is responsible for drawing me back from the edge of quitting and convinced me many times that I can do it. Mr. Lane Womack...who pushed me to my known limits and help me to go beyond them. Mrs. Betty Coleman...the lady who age has no hold on her. Mr. Ned Coleman...who infused in me the spirit of Wado...and constantly went over and over and over a Black Belt exam. By the time I got to the exam...I had been through it so many times there were no surprises. Ms Karen Wilson...a lady of perseverance and passion who always had a kind word. To Joe Maxwell who took me through those early belts and gave me a great foundation. To Steve Holt who gave me a passion for kata. Mr. Bill Herzer who bought the school from Newton Harris...and always, always encourages me to RELAX. To Newton Harris...who was at the beginning of the journey...thanks for being there. To all of my fellow karatekas....who were and still are on the journey...and last but not least...my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...who allowed me to fulfill dreams and vision...and learn lessons in karate that apply to my spiritual walk.

Love and Mr. Moto Kisses
Rodney "Now I'm Ready To Learn" Boyd

MEMOIR OF A LOVE STORY

Hello Love Birds...and you know who you are. This MEMOIR is not restricted to me...but is being told over and over again...with lovers throughout the ages. It just so happens...that this is our story...Brenda Sue Williams and Rodney Lewis Boyd. It is a story of how two lives intersect...and their lives are changed as the course of events becomes the catalyst for destiny. This is a snippet of our story.

A MEMOIR is defined as a record of events written by a person with intimate knowledge of them based on personal observation. In other words...I have lived it up close and personal. Adam KNEW Eve...in an up close, personal and intimate way...physically, emotionally, and spiritually...and we are called to know our husbands and wives that way...and we are called to KNOW GOD close up and personal...so we can BE A WITNESS...have a personal observation of WHO and WHAT we believe. Here is our MEMOIR.

I can remember the first time I laid my bespectacled eyes on Brenda...as she walked into a garage on Nancy Avenue...on a Sunday afternoon...where that hot and rocking band THE BLIND DISTORTION (aka The Black Room)...were practicing. Dan Bogle (lead guitar), Bruce Fortner (lead singer), Jimmy Barrett (drummer...it was his garage) and James Satterwhite (bass) and last but not least Rockin' Rod (rhythm guitar).

I was rather reclusive until Dan Bogle and Bruce Fortner got me out of my room...and in the band...and into life. Bruce was dating Debbie Pearson...Brenda's best friend. For me...it was love at first sight...not for Brenda. She liked the lead guitar guy...nobody likes the rhythm guitar player. Anyway...the forces of friends began to try to set us up. Homecoming at Central High School was fast approaching...and Brenda needed a date...an apparently everyone else thought that I needed a date also.

I attempted to make contact with Brenda...by calling her multiple times...but every time I called her...she was at church (she was a good little Independent Baptist girl). I remember standing at a pay phone and getting the news that she was at church...AGAIN...and telling Dan...and his response...d--n Boyd...what are you trying to do...date a missionary?" Well...I persevered...and we had our first get together at the bonfire for the homecoming...and then a second date at SIR PIZZA...where I was introduced to mushrooms (not the psychedelic kind). Then it was time to go to the homecoming dance.

I was...and still am shy...especially in new situations...so the challenge was to get me to talk. We were going to double date with Bruce and Debbie...and Bruce contrived some openings for me to be part of the conversation. He told me to just talk about what I liked and knew about. Well...at that time it was when Paul McCartney was supposedly dead and there were multiple clues found on the Beatles albums. I knew about all of the clues...SO...we stashed some albums in the back seat...and Bruce said..."Rodney...why don't you tell us about Paul McCartney being dead." I reached around behind us...and got all of the albums and began to expound on all of the clues. YIKES...poor Brenda Sue...trapped in the backseat with a nerd. Well....one thing led to another...and Brenda saw beyond my nerdiness....and we became a couple.

We continued to date...going to dances...many concerts (Tom Jones, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Count Basie (all in the round at one show)...Three Dog Night, The Allman Brothers (with Barry Oakley and not Dwayne) and a bunch of others. The Barn Theater...with my mega-zit showing etc.

I made a tactical error...when I started going to church with Brenda. My thought was...that although I was a heathen...and my heathen powers were stronger than spiritual forces...that I could endure anything...as long as I could have a little more time with Brenda. As Huey Lewis and the News sings..."THAT'S THE POWER OF LOVE." The problem was that I miscalculated the POWER OF THE GOSPEL...D.B.R...nothing more...nothing less. I did not take into account that as I sat there in the service...no matter how I tried to put on the tough rock and roll persona...that I was hearing THE WORD OF GOD...and that FAITH WAS COMING.

One eventful day...Brenda and I were sitting at Shoney's in Murfreesboro (in the day when they had curb side service where you could stay in your car, listen to music, talk and watch cars circling Shoneys)...and we were talking about getting married. I had made the statement to Brenda that when...not if...but when we get married, we can raise the children in any religion that she wanted...because I was a heathen and I could adjust to any religion. WOW...I really was open minded....BUT the Baptist rose up in Brenda...and she said..."well.. that's fine...but when me and the children die...we will go to heaven...and you will go to hell and we will be separated." She dropped this GOSPEL BOMB on me in the middle of me taking a bite of those famous Shoney's Onion Rings. It hit me...that she was right. My life was a mess...I needed a Saviour...and that Saviour was not my music, drugs, paint thinners (that I was addicted to)...or anything else here on earth. I needed some H.H. (Heaven Help). I took her home...to 426 4th Avenue...and turned to her and asked here..."What do I have to do to be saved?" Being the good little Baptist girl that she was....she led me down the Romans Road to Salvation. She told me that:

a. There is none righteous no not one (Romans 3:10)
b. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 6:23)
c. Death via sin was passed to all men because of what Adam did (Romans 5:12)
d. The wages (what I earn) of sin is death BUT...the free gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23)
e. God demonstrated His Love for me in that while I was YET a sinner...Christ died for me (Romans 5:8)
f. I had to confess (say the same thing God says) with my mouth JESUS AS LORD...AND believe IN MY HEART ....that God HAS
RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. The cause and effect of me doing that...RODNEY BOYD SHALL BE SAVED (Romans 10:9)
g. When I believe with my heart it results in righteousness...and when I confess with my mouth it results in salvation (Romans 10:10)
h. I would not be disappointed if I did this (Romans10:11)
i. If I CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD...I WILL BE SAVED (Romans 10:13)
j. FAITH CAME BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD (Romans 10:17)


This was the defining moment of our relationship. It changed the course of our history together. We met in 1969...got married in 1972 (6:30 P.M. on the upswing of the clock)...and 37 years have passed. A lot of STUFF (some good, some bad, some ugly) have transpired.. BUT God has used it all...and it all has worked for good for us because we love the Lord and we have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:2)

Over the next few years...there have been many touchstones...Ebenezers...where God has moved in our lives....and we can look back with confidence that IF God moved in our lives...at those places...He will move again.

Looking back...in retrospective...there are many things that kept us together.

1. I'm a stud muffin (just kidding about that). I am more of a chunk than a hunk.
2. I make her laugh and she makes me laugh.
3. Brenda practices the Ruth Graham principle of marriage...in all of our years we have never
thought about divorce. We have thought about MURDER a few times...but not divorce.
4. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit. We both experienced a new dimension of moving in the
Spirit...and the Spirit moving through us.
5. JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LORD. We stay routed and grounded in the Cross of Jesus... the
blood of Jesus...the D.B.R. of Jesus.
6. Forgiveness. Ya gotta learn to forgive
7. The Word of God. We keep renewing our minds to the washing of the water of the Word.
8. Perseverance.

Well...that is just a little snapshot of how God took a boy and a girl...who grew up in the same town...put them together...and kept them together.

LOVE MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Many relationships are based on either...LUST (a selfish taking for themselves)...or based on LOVE. There are multiple words for this thing called LOVE in the Greek language. They are ALL GOOD. (1) phileo=a brotherly love....for one another...mankind (ie the city of Phileo Love Philadelphia) (2) Storge'=a familial love...a motherly love...a strong love
(3) eros=a sensual...not necessarily sexual love. I believe this can range from I love hot dogs to I love wife (physically and emotionally).

All of these loves are good, wonderful, needed...BUT...if these loves are not under girded and ruled by AGAPE' LOVE...once the feeling and emotion is gone out of these other loves...what was considered to be love CRUMBLES.

Read I Corinthians 13 for the characteristics of AGAPE LOVE...for God so AGAPED...that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

After 37 years...the various loves are still intact...because the agape' that we have for the Lord...is the Cornerstone for our love for one another.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY!

Baby...God ain't through with us yet.

Love and Anniversary Kisses
Rodney "I Am A Blessed Man" Boyd

TOP TEN REASONS IT'S O.K. FOR ME TO BE HOLIER THAN THOU

Greetings and Salutations all of you "other people". Welcome to MY world. It really is hard to be humble when you are...well...ME...and I know that you agree with ME. When I get up to sing before MY public...I warm up my running a few scales...like...ME, ME, ME....ME, ME, ME. By the way...don't I Iook pretty in pink as my alter ego...CAPTAIN LOVE?

DISCLAIMER: For the uninformed...this Rambling is a tongue in cheek look at attitudes.

In this world we live..and die in...everybody seems to be dying...well at least the famous people are dying...or should I say infamous? It seems that when those who live the lifestyles of the rich and famous pass away...they become magnetic fodder for opinions of the non-rich and famous...and those rich and famous who have not died yet. Michael Jackson, Steve McNair, Elvis Presley, Adolph Hitler, Martin Luther King, and anyone else that you can think to list...all have something in common with Rodney Boyd. They all put their tights on...one leg at a time. Well...I do perform a triple spin and land in them...but other than that we are all the same. At this time...I would like to present the TOP TEN REASONS WHY IT'S O.K. FOR ME TO BE HOLIER...THAN THOU (that would be you). The opinions run the gamut from...Michael Jackson is the Messiah to Michael Jackson is the scum of the earth...or Steve McNair is a saint...just look at his good works and his love for children and charities...to...Steve McNair is a thug of a football player on the same level as Pac Man Jones...who is an adulterer...a fornicator...BUT man can he play football. Emotions run from devastation that our icons have passed away and now we need to immortalize them...to gleefully glad that they are dead with no sorrow or remorse for our emotions. Let's forget these people for a while and focus on ME.

#10 Because I am ME...nuff said.

# 9 For God so loved Rod...that He gave His only begotten Son...if Rod believes Rod shall not perish...but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 Rod Style). The rest of you will have to fend for yourselves.

# 8 On the surface...I am a nice guy. There is no need to scratch beneath the surface...all you need to know is that I am a nice guy.

# 7 Hey...I am a Christan. Thank God I am not like these other yahoos.

# 6 I don't commit sins like homosexuality, fornication, adultery, stealing, getting high, getting drunk, looking at pornography, child molestation, lust, smokin' and drinkin' and chewin'...and hangin' 'round women that be doin'. NOTE: It's always easier to point to what other people are doing...to distract away from what I am doing.

# 5 I am a legend in My Own MIND.

#4 I do good works on a regular basis...more than ye all.

# 3 My denomination is far superior to your denomination.

#2 At least I am not one of those godless, mumbo-jumbo religions. I follow Jesus not man made rituals.

AND THE # 1 REASON IT'S O.K. FOR ME TO BE HOLIER THAN THOU....

IT'S ALL ABOUT ME BABY...IT'S ALL ABOUT ME.

Well...how stupid is that list. What can we do...to combat the arrogance and stupidity of us thinking that we are better...superior to anyone else? Well... if we are going to be a follower of Jesus...we might as well follow Him...and act like Him.

Paul lays it out...that "...there is NONE righteous...NO NOT ONE. (Romans 3:10)...He follows that thought up with "...for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

God's heartbeat was...and is for the WORLD...not just Christians. "For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son...that WHOSOEVER believes in Him would have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Why did God send Jesus into the world. John 3:17 lays out the reasoning behind God's actions. "For God did NOT send the Son into the world to JUDGE the world...but that the world should BE SAVED THROUGH HIM." He continues... "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already...because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God...and this is the judgment...that the light is come into the world...and MEN LOVED THE DARKNESS...rather than THE LIGHT...for their DEEDS WERE EVIL. For everyone who is EVIL hates the LIGHT...and does not come to the light...lest his DEEDS SHOULD BE EXPOSED...but he who PRACTICES the truth comes to the light...that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:18-21)

The problem is...even though Jesus did not come into the world to judge...we feel that once we have been cleaned up by grace (unmerited favor, free gift, the divine influence in the heart...manifested in our lives)...that we can now take out our fingers...and begin to point out and judge others who are NOT LIKE US. We develop a hard-nosed...holier than thou attitude...that makes it very hard for us to LOVE THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD...who really do need a Saviour.

We like the idea that we are AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST...and MINISTER'S OF RECONCILIATION...but we really don't know what that is. We think our job is to expose everybody's sin...and take a record and account for all the bad stuff they are doing...keep an account/tally of their sins...SO they will know they are sinners and then...we invite them to church....but clean up your act first...and then we will love you.

II CORINTHIANS 5 is a great chapter that defines what are attitudes should be towards the lost.

"Now...all these things are from God...who RECONCILED us to Himself through CHRIST (yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing, healing power of the Holy Spirit Acts 10:39)...and gave us the MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION." (II Corinthians 5:18)

Verse 19 defines what the MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION IS..."namely that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself...NOT COUNTING THEIR TRESPASSES AGAINST THEM, AND He has committed to us THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION. Therefore...we are AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though God were entreating through us...we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God...He made Him who knew no sin to BE SIN ON OUR BEHALF that we MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." (II Corinthians 19-21)

NOTE: We always like to say...well...I don't hate the sinner...I hate the sin. (insert Bronx cheer here). In our finite minds...we can't separate the two.

To get to II Corinthians 5:18-21...we have to pass through II Corinthians 5:14-17:

1. The LOVE of Christ has to control us
2. WE must come to the conclusion that one died (Jesus) for ALL (not just Christians or repentant sinners)
3. Because He died...ALL DIED (Galatians 2:20) The work of the cross is all inclusive...however there are requirements.
4. He (Jesus) died for all. WHY? That they who live should no longer LIVE FOR THEMSELVES...but for HIM WHO DIED AND ROSE
AGAIN ON THEIR BEHALF.
5. THEREFORE: This refers to the previous verses and sets the tone for what follows
6. FROM NOW ON...we recognize NO MAN ACCORDING TO THE FLESH. I think this means that I will no longer look at anyone through my fleshly, earthly, judgmental eyes and that I will no longer look on what I see on the surface. I begin to look on man/woman/human through the eyes of God...and do not COUNT THEIR TRESPASSES AGAINST THEM.
7. THEREFORE...refers to what we just read...IF ANY MAN IS IN CHRIST...he is a NEW CREATION...the old things passed away...behold NEW THINGS HAVE COME.

NOTE: For those who are about to have a conniption cow....We don't just blindly close our eyes to peoples sins...but we do begin to DEMONSTRATE GOD'S LOVE TO THEM...the same way that GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US...in that while we were YET SINNERS...CHRIST DIE FOR US. (Romans 5:8)

Galatians speaks to those who continue to practice the deeds of the flesh...how they will reap the flesh...BUT we are called to RESTORE THEM "Brethren...even if a man is CAUGHT (gotcha) in ANY trespass...you who are spiritual (not holier than thou)...RESTORE such a one in a SPIRIT/ATTITUDE OF GENTLENESS...looking to yourselves, lest you too be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well...this issue will not be resolved for everyone. People will continue to sin (Christians and non-christians alike). People will continue to feel superior to those who are doing the sins that they are not doing. People will continue to count peoples trespasses against them and judge them. People will still witness to the sinner hating the sin...and the fact that they are doing the sin...BUT maybe, just maybe, we will begin to have a GOD'S EYE VIEW...love them...present the gospel...the DBR...the Death, Burial, Resurrection...nothing more, nothing less and allow people to make their choice...and let God deal with them.

Love and Very Non-Judgemental Kisses
Rodney "Have Mercy On Me Lord" Boyd

Chaos and Clutter

Hello neat freaks...how's your clutter? Oh you may say..."Rodo...I'm a neat freak...I have no chaos and clutter in my life." Hmmmmm...maybe...on the outside...but how is the inside of your life? For me personally...when my outside is cluttered....usually I have chaos and clutter on the inside...BUT sometimes... when everything looks cool, calm, collected...with no chaos and clutter...I'm a wreck on the inside. Notice the first collage. This is a picture of my office. It is a "HOT MESS". Be sure to click on the collage to get the full blown effect of my clutter.

Over the last 37 years of marriage and prior to that 4 years of courtship...I have gone from watching manly movies...to watching the Home and Garden network... the Style channel...the Cooking Network...thanks to Brenda. Give the woman control of the T.V. channel...and she controls the world. I have found that I enjoy watching shows about first time home buyers...cake designers... fashion interventions and the like. Forgive me John Wayne...for I have sinned. One show that we watch is a show called CLEAN HOUSE. This show is where they find messy, cluttered homes...do a yard sale...and revamp the house. Nicey Nash, Trish Shure, Mark Brunette, and the "Go to guy" (can't remember his name)...come in and deal with all of the "mayhem and foolishness" of the clutter...with some psuedo-pop-psychology about why the people live in a mess.

A couple of years ago...a missionary to Guatemala...came and spoke to our church. Kirk Devenny is always a powerful voice in a chaotic world. During prayer time...Kirk prayed for me and Brenda...and spoke a prophetic word...for us to clear out the CLUTTER IN OUR LIVES. He was speaking of the physical clutter and the spiritual clutter in our lives.

We recently had a yard sale...where we cleared out our shed...of clutter. We would literally open the door to the shed...and you were met with STUFF. It was a modern Fibber and McGee closet where Fibber would open the door each show (on their radio show)...and you would hear the clutter from the closet fall all around and on him...burying him under the clutter. NOTE: I love old time radio.

Well...that was our shed. On my vacation...after a couple of days in Chattanooga...we spent it...in the hot, humid days clearing out the clutter and then selling the clutter. We even had a a pile of trash to be taken away to the dump...that people were buying out of...YIKES. One man's trash...really is another man's treasure.

The thing about CLUTTER that turns into CHAOS...it does not happen overnight. I don't wake up one morning...and say...I think I will incapacitate my life with clutter. I think I will hoard things to the point of chaos. It is a progressive ignoring of my mess...that one day overtakes me like THE BLOB (the movie with Steve McQueen and Anita Courset/Helen Crump). It starts out small and then overtakes...until it consumes you. What to do...what to do?


It all starts with a CHOICE. God does not violate our will...our volition...our free choices. He will allow us to have CLUTTER and CHAOS in our life if we want it. He will allow us to succumb to temptation...sin...and walk in the flesh if we desire it. That's not His heartbeat for us...it is not His will for us...BUT...we have the gift of CHOICE.

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you LIFE and DEATH...the BLESSING and the CURSE. So CHOOSE LIFE in order that you may LIVE... you and your descendants." (Deuteronomy 30:19) NOTE: Choose order or choose chaos... choose clutter...or choose room.

"Now, therefore...fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, CHOOSE for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living...BUT as for me and my house...WE WILL SERVE THE LORD." (Joshua 24:14,15)

I find myself serving the god of CLUTTER. Not just my junk...but CLUTTERING my mind with everything from the world, fear, doubt, unbelief, negativity, the "I Can't" mentality.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY...

What to do...what to do? I'm glad you asked...I have got to clear the CLUTTER OF MY MIND. I need to RENEW MY MIND....I need to quit CONFORMING to the mold of the world mindset...and be TRANSFORMED in the RENEWING MY MIND. (Romans 12:1,2) I need to develop a new MINDSET...that will give me life and peace versus death. (Romans 8:5-8) I need to do like Bob Dylan...I've got to CHANGE MY WAY OF THINKING...FIND MYSELF A BRAND NEW SET OF RULES. (Bob Dylan Slow Train Coming). I not only have to change my thinking...I've got to change my speaking...and change my doing. I need restraint so I can be free.

UNRESTRAINED THOUGHT (what I think)...produces in UNRESTRAINED WORDS (what I say)...resulting in UNRESTRAINED ACTIONS (what I do). Also...like the people on the show CLEAN HOUSE needs help...so do I. I need the HELPER...THE PARACLETOS... THE ONE CALLED ALONG SIDE TO HELP...the HOLY SPIRIT to HELP in this DECLUTTERING OF MY physical...and my spiritual life.

Love and Uncluttered Kisses
Rodney "Clutter...What Clutter" Boyd

GOOD FOR THE MIND, VOLITION, AND EMOTIONS

Good Morning Sonshine...made any good confessions lately? People confess all kinds of things...they go to their priest and confess their dirty deeds in hope of forgiveness...or they confess to some person about something they have done in hopes of clearing their conscience. If you were involved in the Charis-maniac movement you may have been sucked into using confession as a tool of manipulation as you tried to manipulated God in to either giving you whatever you wanted...or by multiple confessions (saying the same thing over and over again) tried to enter into a new level of grace where God would love you more than the other guy and answer your prayers first. Hmmm...multiple confessions over and over and over again...sounds a little bit like "vain repetition". NOTE: I am a Charis-maniac...but consider myself to be a balanced maniac.

It seems that this thing called CONFESSION...is a negative concept...however...confession is simply saying the SAME WORD...that God says about a situation. We either say the SAME WORD that God says...come into agreement with God...OR...we say the SAME WORD that the devil (little d) says about situations, circumstances. One CONFESSION will bring FAITH...believe...peace...and the other will bring anxiety, worry, tension, fear, unbelief. It really is NOT the CONFESSION...but WHO you are coming into agreement with that determines the state of your SOUL...your mind (what you think), you volition (your free will and choices)...and your emotions (the barometer of your life).

NOTE: If you click on the picture...it will enlarge an you will get a bigger perspective of MORNING CONFESSIONS.

I typed these up once...and laminated them...and put them in my shower...so as I would rub a dub dub the outer man...I could rub a dub dub my inner man. Confessions, professions, declarations....speaking to myself much like the Psalmist commands his soul to bless the Lord and to not forget any of God's benefits (Psalm 103: The Benefit Package)...is what I like to do.

MORNING CONFESSIONS

Psalm 118:24: Everyday...is a new day. The sun rises...the sun sets...the sun rises again. NEW DAYS...are perfect for starting over. This Psalm is a great Messianic Psalm about the day of salvation as the D.B.R. became a reality and changed our days forever. For those new to the Ramblings...D=Death B=Burial R=Resurrection...nothing more...nothing less.

Psalm 68:19: We love to get stuff daily. We love our daily emails...our daily coffee...our daily newspapers...but we have a DAILY BURDEN BEARER. This helps to take the load off of us...so we can function during the day. We are called to CAST our anxieties on Him...because He cares for us. Isaiah 53 speaks about Him BEARING OUR SHAMES, PAINS, SICKNESS, DISEASE, SIN...BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.

Luke 18:13: "...God be merciful to me...a sinner." This is the attitude that we must come to God with...so He can help us. Yes...I know that we used to be a sinner...there is none righteous...no not one...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10, 23)... but when we entered into the D.B.R...we became THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD...IN CHRIST. (II Corinthians 5:21...however...we have to adopt that humble attitude if we want to be lifted up.

Lamentations 3:22,23: Everything is hinged on the STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD. If it was hinged on our STEADFASTNESS... we would never experience his mercy and love. The good news is...THEY (steadfast love, loving kindness, mercy, compassions) are NEW EVERY MORNING.

I John 1:7: We need a little DAILY LIGHT in our lives. Walking in the LIGHT...is standing before God...with His searchlight on us...and what needs to be dealt with is revealed. Jesus is in the LIGHT...and is CLEAN...no sin. It is like cleaning/mopping a floor or sweeping a rug...in the dark. You will miss things...but turn on the LIGHT...and you can deal with what needs to be dealt with on your floor. The same thing is true for us...get in the light...see what needs to be dealt with...and deal with it. The way we deal with it...is wash it with the BLOOD OF JESUS...and enter into FELLOWSHIP (koinonia...sharing life in the Son) with one another.

Hebrews 10:19: This thing called THE BLOOD OF JESUS...that was poured out as He was beaten, mutilated, scourged, pierced...in His Passion...and then nailed to a cross and a spear thrust into His side...is the only thing that can cleanse us from our sins. We can have CONFIDENCE to enter the holy place...by the BLOOD OF JESUS. Without the BLOOD OF JESUS...you simply have a religious ritual of works as you try to get to a new level of consciousness. Jesus said...I AM...the (1) way (2) truth (3) life...NO MAN comes to the Father (the holy place) except through ME. (John 14:6)

I John 1:9: God is (1) faithful (2) righteous/just (3) will forgive our sins (4) cleanse us from all unrighteousness...BUT all of this good stuff is hinged on OUR MOUTHS...our CONFESSION...as we HOMO (same)-LEGOS (word)...say the same word that God says. We must call sin what it is...sin...and then...confess the solution to sin...Jesus' D.B.R....the bloody way to God.

Romans 10:9,10: Your MOUTH...is the key to salvation. You must CONFESS...Jesus as Lord. You must BELIEVE in your heart that GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. The cause and effect of doing this is...YOU SHALL BE SAVED. Salvation results from the BELIEVING HEART...and with the CONFESSING mouth...salvation results. NOTE: It is NEVER based on what you do. Titus 3:5 "He SAVED 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." Ephesians 2:8,9..."For by GRACE (unmerited favor, free gift, divine influence in your heart manifested in your life)...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." (See also Galatians 3:1-6) There will be plenty of WORKS TO DO...but not to get us saved. (Ephesians 2:10)...after all faith without works/corresponding actions is dead. (James 2:14-26).

Mark 11:22: The bottom line is to HAVE FAITH IN GOD...CONSTANTLY...not faith in your faith...not faith in your works,...not faith in your politics...not faith in your denomination...not faith in one world government...not faith in Wall Street...not faith in the Euro...not faith in anything EXCEPT faith in JESUS (God is Salvation) the CHRIST (anointed one...anointed with the yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing, healing power of the Holy Spirit...Acts 10:38) The Amplified points out that this faith that we are to have...is not of the Roller Coaster Variety (R.C.V.)...but CONSTANTLY...in season, out of season...in the good, the bad and the ugly.

As my good brother Isidro Soriano points out...ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER...but the qualifier is...those who (1) love the Lord (2) those who are called according to His purposes. (Romans 8:28). It does not say...ALL THINGS ARE THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU...SO JUST ACCEPT ANYTHING THAT COMES DOWN THE PIKE AS GOD'S WILL. That is on the level of karma...if it happens it happens. God is bigger than karma. We are to pray down God's will on earth...as it is in HEAVEN...and their ain't no (that's right I said ain't no)... sickness, disease, poverty, etc in heaven and I don't accept that as the norm here on earth. As we have faith in God constantly here on planet earth...let us daily...take territory for HIS KINGDOM.


FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well...it all starts with each new morning as we COME INTO AGREEMENT with God...with our MOUTHS. What's on your LIPS. Whatever is on your lips is in your heart that has been filtered through your mind. Remember...

UNRESTRAINED THOUGHTS (what we think ) produces UNRESTRAINED WORDS (what we say/confess)...resulting in UNRESTRAINED ACTIONS (what we do).

Love and Confessed Kisses
Rodney "This Is Another Day...That He Has Made...I WILL (by Choice) Rejoice in It" Boyd