FULL CIRCLE: THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY BORN AGAIN LIFE

 Greetings and Salutations O Ye Mooers...Chewers...and Doers of the Cud of the Word of God. 

Where did you begin...where are you at...and where are you going?  My journey...or for a more Bible sounding word...my sojourn began back in 1970...when I asked my girlfriend (now my wife of 41 years)..."What do I have to do to get saved?"  She led me to the Lord and I stepped into the space time continuum of eternal life.

Along the way on this sojourn...I discovered some music...that would be traveling along with me from then unto now.  Some called it Jesus Music, Jesus Rock, God Rock, CCM, Contemporary Christian Music.  For me it was THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY BORN AGAIN LIFE.

Along the way...I have been blessed with music that was culturally relevant, sonically pleasing, and spiritually uplifting and convicting at the same time.  One of the pioneers of this genre' of music was...and still is...JERRY BRYANT.  Jerry currently has a show called FULL CIRCLE (Classic JESUS Music with Jerry Bryant).  Here is a snippet from his website that gives a little thumbnail sketch of his history.

"FULL CIRCLE is a one-hour weekly Jesus Music show featuring classic music, artist interviews, ministry and lots of memories. FULL CIRCLE is hosted by JESUS SOLID ROCK’s Jerry Bryant who pioneered one of the earliest and longest-running Jesus Music syndication.  Jerry was part of the early Jesus Movement of the 70s!   His JESUS SOLID ROCK concerts in Carbondale, Illinois helped usher in early CCM to the Mid-west. In 1978, Jerry became pastor of the Last Days Community in Woodland Hills, California with Keith and Melody Green, then moved to Lindale, Texas and worked with the AGAPE FORCE.  Jerry ended up back in Carbondale, Illinois and continued with his radio show and concerts before moving to Nashville in 1993. After an extended absence from radio, he’s back doing what he loves to do: radio!
On FULL CIRCLE you’ll hear fresh interviews from Matthew Ward (2nd Chapter of Acts), Randy Thomas (Sweet Comfort Band), Sandy Brock (Servant), Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, Melody Green, Scott Wesley Brown, Mylon LeFevre and a whole lot more plus great Classic Jesus music from Love Song, Larry Norman, Keith Green, Kelly Willard and so many more!
We’ll take old and new fans of Contemporary Christian Music back to where it all began!"

NOTE:  Back in the day...when there were no radio show stations dedicated to this type of music...you had to catch it when you could...by listening to syndicated radio shows.  Shows like The Scott Ross Show, Make a Joyful Noise with Paul Baker, Powerline...and Jesus Solid Rock with Jerry Bryant.  Later on in the Nashville are....for thirty years Brian Mason was on for three hours on a Sunday morning...but for the most part...I would find myself trying to tune on various radios and listen to Jesus Music through the static.  Thank God for these pioneers.

NOTE:  You can follow this link and begin to enjoy to ROOTS of Jesus Music.

http://www.fullcirclejesusmusic.com/


The name of the show FULL CIRCLE was originally a song that Phil Keaggy wrote for Nedra Ross (wife of Scott Ross...and singer in the band Ronnie and the Ronettes.  Read the book Scott Free by Scott Ross for full details.)  Phil record the song on his Town To Town Album...and this is the one you will hear for the theme song of the show.  Here are the original lyrics by Phil Keaggy:

FULL CIRCLE
Looking back I can say
That I'm glad I've come this way.
There's no doubt that I've got more
Than I've ever had before.
You took my hand and led me
Out of darkness, oh yes.

Full circle, I have come,
You can ask me where I come from
And when I tell you that it's no lie
I've come full circle in my life.

I could hear your records play
Around the world and in the States.
And those days were like a dream,
At times you're up then down it seems.
Will this last, what will be
My life tomorrow, oh no.

Full circle, I have come,
You can ask me where I come from
And when I tell you that it's no lie
I've come full circle in my life.

With one touch of His hand
I was made a newborn man.
What I had gained I left behind
It's drifting further back in time, bye bye.
You took my hand and led me
Out of darkness, oh yes.

Full circle, I have come,
You can ask me where I come from
And when I tell you that it's no lie
I've come full circle in my life.

Last night I went to a benefit concert put together by Brian Mason...and it was a bunch of the "Old CCM Dudes"...playing for around three hours...and it was like a flashback to the early days...but STILL with a FRESHNESS and a VIBRANCY for 2013.  It spoke of the faithfulness of God.   Here is a partial list of those who participated:  Phil Keaggy, Petra, Farrell & Farrell, Kenny Marks, Jim Cole, Rick Cua, Morgan Cryar, Michael Omartian, Gordon Kennedy, Rob Frazier, Tim Archer, Mike Pachelli and others.

As I go to various concerts...from Phil Keaggy to Bruce Cockburn...to Daniel Amos to The Lost Dogs...I can count on running into JERRY BRYANT.  I am honored to know Jerry...and I count him among THE RUMINATORS.  He is a man who has a passion for the Lord...the music...and people. 

The Ruminator Sunday School Class sponsored and episode of FULL CIRCLE.  You can listen to it by going to EPISODE 51 and it is entitled WELCOME HOME TO JESUS.  It is well worth the listen.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

In closing I want to give a Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat to Jerry Bryant for his faithfulness to the Lord...and as a keeper of the roots...to encourage us to take a stand in the now as we progress into the future.  Also...Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat for encouraging me at the concert...to KEEP ON RUMINATING and to NOT COMPROMISE in the Ramblings.


FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY...NO REALLY...THIS TIME I MEAN IT

At the benefit concert...where the "older saints"...who were once the YOUNG LIONS...Rick Cua brought the WORD OF GOD to the table.  One of the passages that he shared was from THE FAT PART OF THE BOOK (aka Old Testament0...and it SHOUTED OUT LOUD in my spirit.

"The righteous man will FLOURISH (sprout) like the palm tree...He will GROW like a cedar in Lebanon...PLANTED in the house of the Lord...they will FLOURISH in the courts of our God...they will STILL YIELD (thrive) FRUIT...IN OLD AGE.  The shall be FULL OF SAP and VERY GREEN.  To declare that the Lord is upright...HE IS MY ROCK...and there is no unrighteousness IN HIM." (Deuteronomy 92:12-15)

Love and Full Circle Kisses
Rodney "Lovin' Me Some Jesus Music" Boyd