Ruminator Ramblings

LIFESTYLES OF LIFE

2012-01-12T04:29:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Lifers.

In prison jargon...a LIFER is someone who is "in for LIFE." This thing called life is measured in terms of TIME.

All us are LIFERS...from the moment we come out of the womb...into this world and we begin to inhale oxygen... and exhale our breath. We are here from the CRADLE...to the GRAVE. We are all born into this world...born into different families...born into different socio-economic status'...born into different countries...born into individualized sets of situations and circumstances. Of course after the grave we enter into a new dimension of life called ETERNAL LIFE...the question then arises...where will we spend this life.

God had a few thoughts on this thing called life. In the book of Deuteronomy He offers choices.

"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, by LOVING the Lord your God, by OBEYING His voice, and by HOLDING FAST to Him; for this is YOUR LIFE and the LENGTH OF YOUR DAYS... that you may LIVE IN THE LAND which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

Jesus had a few things to say about this thing called LIFE...and our relationship to it...and Him.

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have LIFE, and might have it ABUNDANTLY. I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His LIFE for the sheep."
(John 10:10-11)

Wow...not just LIFE...which in itself is wonderful...but ABUNDANT LIFE! Back in the 60's...getting high was all the rage. Smoking weed...popping pills...shooting stuff into bodies...all with the purpose of "getting high"...and enjoying this thing we call LIFE. Of course the high...eventually would end...we would come crashing back down to the reality of this thing called LIFE...and have to get high again. Some would avoid various chemicals or substances...for a "NATURAL HIGH". Smoke or ingest "natural" substances such as marijuana or mushrooms or such. There was a musical about God's Son back in those days called NATURAL HIGH. Other songs spoke of "Jesus took me higher...than I've ever been before."

I found out that fact in 1970 when I repented of my sins...asked Jesus to save me...believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead...and confessed it with my mouth. I began to experience this thing called ABUNDANT LIFE. I was now...not just living life by breathing in and breathing out...all the while hating myself, my circumstances, and all that entails. I went from being paranoid...to being at peace. I went from fearing the future...to living live in the NOW... knowing that I had a future. There was joy in my heart where once there was despair. I was now LIVING LIFE... an not just playing the game of life...or eating a bowl of life.

Jesus said it all when He stated..."I Am the way...the truth... and the LIFE...no man comes to the Father but through me." (John 14:6)

Love and Living Kisses
Rodney "I've Got A Life...And I'm Gonna Live It" Boyd

CORAZON del FUEGO (The Heart of the Fire)

2011-11-02T04:19:00.000-07:00

Greetings Mates.

Periodically I like to drag out this Rambling...to reignite the fire within me. This is simply the story on the lable of this fine hot sauce called CAPTAIN RODNEY'S HOT SAUCE...Pirates Gold...Corazon del Fuego...Heart of the Fire.

"For generations...explorers have searched for the fabled Corazon del Fuego, the heart of the fire. Captain Rodney has discovered the secrets of the heart, and for a price...he might be willing to share them with you. Using the famous Jamacian Scotch Bonnet Pepper and his own blend of spices, the Captain has captured and bottled the vey ESSENCE of fire. Not a sauce for the faint of heart, only the bravest can enter the HEART OF FIRE...the CORAZON del FUEGO. Signed...Captain Rodney Pirate Retired."

Whenever I read this story...I am reminded of the two disciples (one of them named Cleopas) walking on the road to Emmaus after the death of Jesus. Jesus appears to them.

"And it came about that when He had reclined at table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it He began giving it to them. And their EYES WERE OPENED and they RECOGNIZED HIM and He vanished from their sight."

What an opportunity we have...every time we approach the communion table...the table of remembrance...to have our eyes freshly opened to recognize Him once more as we walk in this fallen world.

THE EMMAUS CORAZON del FUEGO

"And they said to one another...Were not our HEARTS BURNING WITHIN US...while He was speaking to us on the road, whle He was explaining the Scriptures to us."

Walking with Jesus...communion with Him...Scriptures explained...eyes opened...recogntion of Him...Corazon del Fuego...Hearts of Fire. This is where we and they get/got the revelation that
"THE LORD HAS REALLY RISEN..." (Luke 24:34)

May the Lord do all of this as you walk with Him daily.

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

Love and Burning Kisses
Rodney "The Lord Has really Risen" Boyd

SIN, FLESH, AND FREEDOM

2011-11-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Freedom Friends.

Have you tried over and over and over again...to break the power of sin and the flesh in your life? I have...and always come back to the pig pen and vomit of the dog. I then walk in the condemnation and discouragement of who I am versus who I want to be. Can I get an AMEN...or an OH ME?

"For what I am doing...I do not understand. For what I WILL to DO...that I DO not PRACTICE; but what I HATE, that I DO." (Romans 7:15)

If you are like me...you start off with good intentions that turns into failed contentions. Romans 7:16-21 identifies the problem as SIN. There is a WAR that is WARRING within us between "the law in my members, warring against the law in my mind..and bringing me into CAPTIVITY to the LAW OF SIN which is in my members." (Romans 7:22--23)

The conclusive thought process is..."O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24) That is the question that I constantly ask myself...especially when I am in the middle of failure...again.

ANSWER: I thank God--through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! So than, with the mind I myself serve the law of God...but with the flesh...the law of sin." (Romans 7:25)

KEY TO VICTORY: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are IN CHRIST JESUS...who do not WALK according to the FLESH...but (walk) ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT." (Romans 8:1)

The devil (little d) condemns...the Lord edifies. "For the law of the SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS...has made me FREE from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)

NOTE: Read the rest of chapter 8 to see how to become MORE THAN CONQUERORS.

A great companion chapter to Romans chapters 6-7 is Galatians 5-6.

We are called to STAND FAST therefore in the LIBERTY/FREEDOM by which Christ Jesus has MADE US FREE...and do not be ENTANGLED AGAIN...with a YOKE OF BONDAGE/SLAVERY. (Galatians 5:1)

Just because you call yourself a Christian...or are actually a Christian...does not mean an automatic pass for freedom. You CAN...and WILL BE bound again by sin and the flesh...if you ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN.

I speak from personal experience. I was saved in the fall of 1970...baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1972...and backslid into more sin than I did before I was saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit. It all happened because I did not follow the recommendations in Galatians 5.

NOTE: Be sure to note...that I had CHOICES to make. I CHOSE sin and the flesh over freedom and peace. The Lord never promised to deliver us from our friends...only our enemies...and as long as whatever you are doing that violates the principles of God are you FRIENDS...you will always...be caught between the the Spirit and the flesh...between freedom and bondage.

If you are going to answer God's CALLING in your life...you must really understand what His calling is for you. "For you, brethren..HAVE BEEN CALLED TO FREEDOM...only do not USE FREEDOM...as an OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLESH...but through LOVE...SERVE...ONE ANOTHER." (Galatians 5:13)

When we walk in sin and in flesh...we do not love (1) The Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (2) Love our neighbor (anyone other than you...including family, co-workers, friends, etc) (3) Love yourself. and we do not serve. We love ourselves more than anyone...and become bound instead of free.

"I say then...WALK IN THE SPIRIT...and you shall NOT FULFILL the LUST OF THE FLESH." (Galatians 5:16) It is obvious to me...that if I am fulfilling the lust of the flesh...I am NOT walking in the Spirit.

The solution...is found at the Cross Of Christ...and by FAITH...accepting what I can't do. Galatians 2:20...is manifested as I am faced with choices of sin and flesh. " And those who are Christ's have CRUCIFIED THE FLESH...with its passions and desires. If we LIVE IN THE SPIRIT...let us also WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Let us NOT become CONCEITED, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:24-26)

NOTE: It is easy for me to pontificate about this...but I know it is the truth. I struggle all the time with sin and flesh...but find that the more I am focused on the Word, focused on the Lord, focused on the Spirit...focused on crucifying my flesh with it's passions and desires...versus focusing on my failures and the devil's lies...I am quicker to REPENT (have a change of mind, change of attitude, change of direction...moving towards the Lord and away from sin and things of the flesh.) Acts 3:19 becomes evident as I RETURN and REPENT...and experience REFRESHING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. The neat thing is...the Lord will LET/ALLOW me to do whatever I want to do. I have found this...the quicker I get to the bottom of the pig pen...and quit digging below ground level...and look up to the Father waiting for me...the quicker I can dine on the fatted calf...versus dog vomit.

Love and Repentant Kisses
Rodney "Thanks Be To Christ Jesus" Boyd

TOP TEN REASONS I'M BETTER THAN YOU

2011-11-01T03:54:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salutations to all of you who are NOT ME. It's good to be ME... and NOT YOU.

NOTE: You may or may not see the picture here. As wonderful as I am, I can't figure out why sometimes my pictures appear and sometimes they don't.

WARNING: This Rambling is written with tongue placed firmly in my cheek... because I DON'T think I AM better than you...but I see so many people who think that they ARE better than YOU...so I thought...that since I AM better than THEM...that I would point MY finger at THEM to protect and defend YOU.

With that said...here are THE TOP TEN REASONS THAT i AM BETTER THAN YOU.

#10 It is a scientific fact that within my gray matter...the electrical synapses are so charged with electricity and spark...that my mind could power an entire city. No...really!

#9 Someone once asked me..."You don't think that your fecal matter stinks?" My answer to them..."No...it doesn't. Mine smells like a field of wild flowers."

#8 I am edumacated.

#7 When the good Lord was passing out books...I told Him I am smart enough...give me looks...and the rest is history.

#6 I am so theologically correct...that you could bind the Ruminator Ramblings in leather...gold line the pages...and call it BIBLE PART TWO...aka N.R.V. (New Rodney Version)

#5 There is no need for you to read the Bible...I will tell you what to think, feel, say, and how to act to line up with my perception of how Christianity SHOULD be.

#4 I don't smoke, drink, chew, cuss, fuss, do drugs, smoke, gossip, wear my hair to long, wear saggy pants to reveal my butt crack (just say no to crack), (fill in the blank with anything that YOU DO).

#3 I DO pray in public, give money to the needy, attend church on a regular basis, attend Sunday School (especially the Ruminator Sunday School Class), sing as loudly as I can to drown you out, give tithes and offerings, (fill in the blank with any religious thing that YOU DON'T DO).

#2 The next time you need a standard, guideline, or a calibration point to gauge your life by... call 1-800-Rodney. If you get a busy signal...call again and realize...I am in big demand.

and the #1 reason that I'm better than you...

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

BONUS REASON

Why do you think people warm up their voices for singing by saying ME ME ME? Because they are thinking about ME, ME, ME.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well there ya go. Of course...It's ALL ABOUT HIM BABY...ALL ABOUT HIM...and not me.

Love and Humble Kisses
rodney "it's all about JESUS" boyd

THE KOINE KONNECTION

2011-10-31T03:22:00.000-07:00

Greetings HuMANity and HuWOMANity... HuPERSONity.

NOTE: Koine is a Greek word meaning..."common". It is applied to the Greek language as opposed to the "classical" Greek language. The Bible is written in the "koine/common" Greek language (for the common
person)...and the root of words like fellowship, communication, communion (a common connection).

Today it was reported that planet earth was blessed with more people...to the number of over seven billion people. Of course if that troubles you...the options are that you could give up your place on earth...or you could find some non-productive people and eliminate their position. The Twilight Zone had an episode where they would eliminate the "obsolete"...which sounded like a pretty good idea until you realized that you were considered "obsolete".

This old world is filled with human beings who all have a couple of things in common (koine). (1) They were created by a Creator (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:5-7; Genesis 2:20-25 (2) They are a spirit, with a soul encased in a body (I Thessalonians 5:23). Of course depending on your mind set...this Creator/creation things is a load of hooey and you would more likely subscribe to a cosmic accident..from goo to you by way of the zoo (aka evolution).

As people we have these things in common (koine)...but we have so many things NOT in common.

Man...wo-man...hu-mans are made up of spirit, soul, body (I Thessalonian 5:23).

1. body/soma: (flesh, blood, bones, internal organs (brain, heart, liver, lungs, etc.)

2. soul/psyche: mind (our thinking component), will/volition (our choosing component), emotions (our feeling component)

3. spirit/pneuma: our human component of connection to God.

As common as these three things are to the 7 + Billion people on the 3rd Rock from the Sun...the swirling terrestrial ball, the Ball of Confusion, Planet Earth...we are as individual as the fingerprints on the tips of our fingers. When John wrote John 3:16 (which was really not broken down into chapter and verse when it was written)...he was speaking of God's love for the individual spirits, souls, and and bodies on Earth.

In my profession of Speech-Language Pathology...we study the development of language. One aspect of this study (also studied in other studies of human development) we have a concept called "nature verses nurture." We study the dynamic of whether we are born with everything we need for human development...or are we born with a clean slate and as we progress chronologically does our experience write on the slate and develop who we turn out to be?

My perspective is...and has always been...we are a combo package. We have everything we need to develop...but outside sources...aka our environment...develops and shapes WHO WE ARE...as INDIVIDUALS. This includes the (1) the good (2) the bad (3) the ugly of humanity. To add to the mix...we are born into sin... needing a Saviour. "Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin...and thus death spread to ALL men (us) because all have sinned." (Romans 5:12) The concept of a SOUL MAN...has been regulated to the African-American population...but since we all have a SOUL...it applies to all mankind. Our 7 billion souls...with our 7 billion experiences...results in 7 billion cause and effects in our lives.

The idea of Christianity versus other religions, sects, cults...is the concept of God reaching out and connecting with mankind...versus man trying to connect to God on their level. "Let this mind be in you which was ALSO in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God...did not consider it robbery to be equal with God...BUT made Himself of no reputation...taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the LIKENESS OF MEN. " (Philippians 2:5-7)

What does all of this have to do with anything? Well...It should impact the way that I look at, view, and yes even judge other human beings. Sometimes we Christians tend to get "saved from our sins"...and tend to forget where we came from... and think that our "fecal matter does not stink."
We forget that we are merely "one beggar telling another beggar where we found a piece of bread." (John Fischer from the album Dark Horse)

Everyone that we come into contact with has a story. Everyone has different experiences that shape the way the react to different stimuli. Everyone has habits (good or bad), mindsets, thought processes that manifests in their actions. This is not only true with non-believers in the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus the Christ...BUT also with those who claim the title "Christians".

When we realize that "He (Jesus) died for ALL, (Christians and non-Christians) that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." (II Corinthians 5:15-16)

"For God so loved the SEVEN BILLION HUMAN BEINGS...in the world...that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus)...that whosoever of the SEVEN BILLION HUMAN BEINGS...believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Well...if all of this is true...how does that affect the way I view and treat and love mankind?

"Therefore (because of what we read in II Corinthians 5:14-15)...from now on...we regard NO ONE according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." (II Corinthians 5:16)

As a NEW CREATION (II Corinthians 5:17)...I must begin to look at people with NEW EYES. It is when I begin to do this...I can become a MINISTER OF RECONCILIATION.
(II Corinthians 5:17-21)

We are called to be "ministers of reconciliation"...like God reconciled us to Him through Jesus Christ...and gave us this same ministry. (II Corinthians 5:18).

MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION DEFINED (II Corinthians 5:19)

1. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself
2. God was NOT counting/imputing their trespasses to them
3. God committed to us the WORD OF RECONCILIATION

It is so easy to count 7 billion trespasses against them...when we think we don't have anything in KOINE/COMMON. 7 billion differences...but 7 billion common things. We need the Lord. We need a Saviour. We need the Holy Spirit. We need to have a relationship with our Creator.

This was made possible by the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.

Love and Reconciled Kisses
Rodney "Believing" Boyd

MAKER OF THE TREES

2011-10-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Hello friends...

TREES by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair
Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who intimately lives with rain
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree.

Trees are every changing as the seasons are every changing. At times they are full of life with leaves, and buds, and birds...but then with a change in the season...the become dormant, leafless, alone and dark. The first picture was taken at one of my patients house...and it was mammoth. Standing at the base of the tree and looking up was like looking up at a skyscraper reaching to the sky...disappearing into the clouds...leaving me with a slight stagger as my head tilted back. The second picture is a picture of a tree in my front yard...and each year explodes from naked branches to a covering of life that makes me just sit back and wonder.

The third picture is that same tree in the second picture...but with the sun glowing in the back ground giving it a surreal...almost burning bush type of feel to it. These trees are like fingerprints...so similar...but each one...and individual character in the novel of God's creation...much like us as human beings.

In our spiritual walk...trees play an important part in our death and our lives.

Trees were...created by God..."in the beginning". When man was given free reign in the garden...with conditions.

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, From any TREE of the garden you may eat freely; but from the TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

Of course...man and woman ate...and we fell from grace and entered into the process of physical death and separation from God. The downfall of mankind was in the shadow of disobedience at the tree.

Mankind needed a way back...as Joni Mitchell's song Woodstock...sung by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young..."we've got to get ourselves...back to the garden." Of course...no man...wo-man's...hu-man's efforts can ever get us back to that garden experience. The fall came from disobedience... the restoration must come from obedience...and that restoration would come at the point of a tree.

"For the love of Christ controls us...having concluded this...that one died (Jesus) for all (us)...therefore all (us) died; and He died (Jesus) for all (us) so that they who live (us) might no longer live for themselves, (us) but for Him (Jesus) who DIED and ROSE again on their (us) behalf."
(II Corinthians 5:14-15)

This death...took place on a tree.

"And He Himself bore our sins in his body on the TREE/CROSS...so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness...for BY HIS WOUNDS YOU WERE HEALED." (I Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:4,11)

Physical, spiritual, emotional, healing was procured on the tree.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Phil Keaggy took a poem by F.W. Pitt called MAKER OF THE UNIVERSE that he found in a devotional called THE CONTINUAL BURNT OFFERING... put together by H.A. Ironside. The poem speaks of how the things of the universe created by the Creator...were used to kill Him as he became a sacrifice in our place. If you get a chance...listen to Phil's song.

MAKER OF THE UNIVERSE (F.W. Pitt)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love and Growing Kisses
Rodney "A Poem As Lovely As A Tree" Boyd

Mysterian of the Question Mark

2011-10-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings Oh Ye Questioners....Riddle me this?

Back in the 60's...I was delighted to see on T.V. my favorite comic book character come to life...on the T.V. show BATMAN. The Batman was not a superhero in the sense of other superheroes like Superman. He was a mere mortal...a Dark Detective...who had to use his mind and his mortal brawn to fight crime. he had a nifty utility belt...a lab in the Batcave...a Batarang to aid him in his battle for truth, justice, and the Gotham way.

The 60's television show lightened up the Dark Knight...and was played for laughs. It was fun and campy and that was O.K with me. The Batman fought an array of villains including villains like the Joker...The Penquin...Catwoman...King Tut... and my favorite...THE RIDDLER played by comedian and impressionist Frank Gorshin. The Riddler pushed The Batman to his mental limits as he left riddles for them to deduce where the next crime would take place. The large "?" on his costume says it all.

Questions are the hallmark for learning. When we stop asking questions...we stop learning. A child learns about life...in their formative years...by asking questions. Of course...their main question drives the adults crazy. What is that question? I'm glad you asked. That question is WHY? No matter what you say...the question is why?

STATEMENT: "Son...don't do that."
QUESTION: "Why?"
ANSWER: "Because I said so."
QUESTION: "Why?"
ANSWER: "Because that's the way it is."
QUESTION: "Why?"
ANSWER: "Because you will hurt yourself."
QUESTION: "Why?"
The adult probably is questioning himself..."Did I give birth to Question Mark and the Mysterians?" Of course...the answers might need to be a little more definitive than..."Because I said so."

Interrogative speech...are what as known as "The W Questions + How" Who, What, When, Where, Why and How...are the core of Inductive Bible Study. Kay Arthur...of Precept Ministries...really opened my eyes to this type of study. Whenever I am writing a Bible study, I take a verse...and then expand it by asking the W and H questions. The Bible...many times becomes it's own commentary.

Take John 3:16 for example:

1. Who? For God
2. What? So loved
3. Who? The world (the people not the dirt ball)
4. What? That He gave (sacrificed)
5. Who? His only begotten Son (aka Jesus)
6. Who? That whosoever (of the world)
7. How? Would believe
8. What? Would not perish
9. Why? But have eternal life.

WHO? You
WHAT? Need a Saviour
WHEN? Now
WHERE? At your computer screen as you read this.
WHY? To reconnect with God
HOW? Repent of your sins, believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, confess with you mouth Jesus is Lord.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well...that's the prerogative of your interrogative. Any questions?

Love and Questioning Kisses
Rodney "Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How" Boyd

THE COBLE STYLE: (Lifestyle...Calling...Purpose)

2011-10-25T19:08:00.000-07:00

Greetings...are you living your life...with style?

"Therefore if there is any ENCOURAGEMENT IN CHRIST...if there is any CONSOLATION OF LOVE...if there is any FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT...if there is any AFFECTION AND COMPASSION...make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining in the same love, united in spirit intent on one purpose...Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with HUMILITY OF MIND...regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests...but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:1-4)

Well...that's a pretty tall order. The standard is high. I know in my flesh...in my self...I cannot do it. I must have an example of someone..that I can imitate. Now Gayle Erwin...who wrote the book on servanthood...literally...and the books on the Spririt and the Father...with The Spirit Style...The Father Style...and the one that started it all...The Jesus Style...lays out a convincing edict to love the Father...flow in the Spirit...and serve like Jesus.

Paul was pretty adamant...in Philippians 4..that we are to be anxious for nothing...that we are to pray...supplicate...and thank Him before we see any answers to our prayers. Paul then encourages us to LET/ALLOW our minds to dwell on
"whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report/repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise."
(Philippians 4:8)

Again...this is a pretty tall order...if only we could see someone living the example.

Again...Paul tells us..."The things you have (1) learned (2) received (3) heard
(4) seen in ME (Paul...a human being).. PRACTICE THESE THINGS."
(Philippians 4:9) The cause and effect will be the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

Now...at the risk of embarrassing...or lifting up a human being...let me introduce you to Bruce Coble. If Bruce should happen to read this...he will of course deny what I am saying...because that's how he rolls....BUT...I think there is a validity to...finding an example...and practicing what the example does.

Of course JESUS is our ultimate example....but we are called to observe His followers...and imitate the JESUS IN THEM.

"For you have been CALLED for this PURPOSE..."
(I Peter 2:21) Many people are looking for a "calling" that they can live out in their walk with the Lord. Many people are looking for a "purpose"...that will give them a reason for living and feeling of self satisfaction. Well...hang on... here is the calling and purpose rolled into one.

"...since Christ also suffered for you...LEAVING YOU AN EXAMPLE...to FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS." ( I Peter 2:21)

1. Who committed no sin
2. Nor was any deceit found in His mouth
3. While being reviled...He did not revile in return
4. While suffering...He uttered no threats...BUT...kept
ENTRUSTING HIMSELF TO HIM WHO JUDGES RIGHTEOUSLY.

For years I have watch Bruce...live the life...aka lifestyle. In season...out of season. Is Bruce perfect? No! Does he sin...make mistakes...blow it? All the time! But does he keep going back to the cross...receive forgiveness...continue to walk and serve the Lord by serving the "least of these"? Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss!

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

I could think of a lot worse people to imitate their faith. The next time you are at a cover dish dinner on the grounds...follow Bruce around...and welcome to the end of the line.

Love and Serving Kisses
Rodney "Imitating Jesus" Boyd

CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD

2011-10-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

Greetings Prayer Warriors...or Casual Conversationalists...talked to God lately?

God loves to communicate with you...and wants you to communicate with Him. That is called interpersonal relationship. In the natural...when you have conversation with someone...you think a thought...take in a breath...exhale that breath...and begin to move your articulators...that takes the sound generated by the vocal folds...and you direct your words towards someone you want to hear what you have to say.

In turn...that person...receives your words...encodes and decodes...and responds back in like kind. You then receive what they said...and respond...and so on and so on and so on. This is called a conversation....where two people communicate thoughts.

In the spiritual...between you and God...there is not much difference...except you are talking to the Creator of the universe and he is responding back to you.

"Now I lay me down to sleep...I pray the Lord my soul to keep...If I should die before I wake...I pray the Lord my soul to take." Wow...what a ghastly prayer. I think I would be like my son Phillip in this picture...and be cutting my eyes over if that was the only prayer that we taught him.

Jesus did ask His disciples..."Could you not WATCH and PRAY?"

We tried to teach our son that prayer is not some mystical formula to manipulate God into giving us something...or a tool to get God to love us anymore... or a merit badge of prayer that proves to others how spiritual we are.

We tried to live our faith out loud...with part of the process being...talking to God as a friend. Talking to God as our Saviour and not just a good buddy. Talking to God as if He really does exist and that our prayers are not just futile exercises in psychological mumbo jumbo.

We pray by FAITH...the substance of things confidently expected...the evidence of things not seen or revealed to the senses...but perceived as reality. (Hebrews 11:1)

We pray to please Him by FAITH...as we (1) come to Him (2) Believe that He exists (3) Believe that He is a rewarder (4) diligently seek Him (5) Not just passively inquire of Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

We pray as we abide in, continue in, dwell in Him... knowing that we can ask whatever we wish and it shall be done. (John 15:7)

We pray...to our Father who is in heaven...by his Holy name...and pray that His kingdom, his rule, his realm would come and be manifested on planet Earth as it is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Some would ask..."How long do we pray?" My answer would be...until you get the answer...until you have peace... until you die. Never give up. Get tenacious in your prayers. Pray without ceasing. Pray (talk to God)...Supplicate (get humble and specific with God)... and Thank Him (before you see any answers).

Between the POINT OF PRAYER (request) .........and THE POINT OF PROVISION (the answer)...there is a land called THE LAND OF NITTY GRITTY... where you walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT (II Corinthians 5:7)

This is a time to keep your focus...surround yourself with like believers...who believe that the Word of God is true...and reality is real...but truth (the Word of God John 17:17) TRUMPS REALITY. As we pray...we do not deny reality...but we do deny realities right to rule us.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Think a thought...take a breath...release that breath and formulate your words on your lips and direct your words to God. Congratulations...you have just prayed and initiated a CONVERSATION WITH GOD.

Love
Rodney

FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE

2011-10-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salutations Oh Ye Breathers of Oxygen....if you are reading this...you are not in a grave...yet.

They say the only thing that is a sure thing...is taxes...and death...and depending on the tax code...that is a moving target.

When I turned 60 years old back on August 15th 2011...I thought about how if I live to be 120 years old...then I am now...middle aged. But I get the feeling that I am actually closer to the downhill slide...that will result in my upward call in Christ...when I will be absence from my body...and present with the Lord.

It seems that more and more of my friends are assuming room temperature. Of course as a believer in the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus (aka D.B.R... nothing more...nothing less)...we have this hope...confident expectation... Christ in you...the Hope of Glory.

It's pretty amazing how we can go from one minute...the walking dead...to the next minute the walking life. This happened to me in the fall of 1970...when at one moment I was eating an onion ring in my car at Shoney's with Brenda... and then in the next moment...I was in her driveway at 426 Fourth Avenue...becoming a "new creation in Christ." (II Corinthians 5:17)

At that critical point in my life...I went from being an insecure, paranoid, addicted, 19 year old...to a secure, fear free, non-bound 19 year old...with a future and a hope.

As a child of the 50's/60's I had bought into the flower power, free love, rock and roll, love, sex, rock and roll, if it feels good do it...mentality...but did not realize, that the more I did what I wanted...the more bound I became...as a slave to my passions.

As the song said..."I was looking for love in all the wrong place." When I would get drunk...or high as a result of either drugs...or sniffing some sort of chemical or gasoline...or you would have sex and the sense of love would be fleeting as soon as the orgasmic experience was over...I would be left with a void within... that I tried to fill over and over again...but to none avail.

Religion was a bust...intellectualism was unfulling..pleasure was not very pleasing. When I confessed my sins and need for a Saviour and asked Jesus into my heart....that was the only thing for me that made a difference. I needed a perfect Saviour for my imperfect life...I found that JESUS...HUNG UP...FOR MY HANGUPS...and boy did I have hangups.

Since 1970...my whole life...the past...the present...and my future have become clear. I see where I was...I see where I am...and I see where I am going. I saw that "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

I began to see the grace of God...in my life...from the time of conception and the time of birth...to the time of me being "born again". Romans 8:28 became real to me..."We know that ALL THINGS (good, bad, ugly) work together for GOOD to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." I realized that I was called...and I had a purpose in my life.

One day...I will be laid to rest...and I will be in the present of my Lord. Until then..I hope to be "pleasing to Him"..."therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home (here on planet earth) or absent (died and in heaven)...to be PLEASING TO HIM." (II Corinthians 5:9)

Of course...to do this...I must continue to WALK BY FAITH and not by things REVEALED TO THE SENSES. (Hebrews 11:1) I must continue to (1) come to Him (2) and believe that He is (3) believe that He is a rewarder (4) diligently seek Him and not just passively inquire of Him. (Hebrew 11:6)

FINAL THOUGHT...FINALLY

Well...I need to write this for myself...but if it encourage you in some way...so be it. Write me and let me know.

Love and Living Kisses
Rodney "Still Kicking" Boyd

HELP...I NEED SOMEBODY (From Ichabod to Ebenezer)

2011-10-22T05:51:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow needers of HELP...can ya lend a helpin' hand?

Many years ago...I went to the Princess Theater...to watch The Beatles in their first movie...called A HARD DAYS NIGHT. It was an interesting night eating buttered popcorn, eating Milk Duds, drinking an orange soda...and watching... not the movie...but the crowd scream to the point of where you could not hear the movie. Their follow up movie...in color...was HELP.

HELP: "Help, I need somebody...Help, not just anybody, Help, you know I need someone...Heeeeelp!" It is still a great song. Years later...Ringo would lament on the Sgt. Peppers album..."I need a little HELP from my friends."

In my Christian walk...I have found that more than once...I have needed HELP to recover from my own self...as I have chosen to go against the principles of God...and do my own thing. Thank God...for the blood of Jesus...the Word of God...the Holy Spirit (aka the Paracletos...the one called along side to HELP... the HELPER)

In my last Ruminator Rambling...called HAND TO THE PLOW (again and once more)... we spoke of not looking back as we follow Jesus...proclaiming the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost...aka The Kingdom. We were encouraged by Jesus in Luke 9:62..."No one, after putting his HAND TO THE PLOW...and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." While we are encouraged not to LOOK BACK...there is a time when LOOKING BACK could be not only beneficial...but needed. I am not talking about looking back and longing for the "good old days...but looking back to the source of help...realizing that the same help back then will be, and is available in the NOW. NOTE: One is an Ichabod...the other is an Ebenezer. Both fictional characters...and both defining our spiritual condition.

"Whenever crime was running rampant in Gotham City...the police and Commissioner Gorden would shine the BATLIGHT...as a cry for HELP from the Caped Crusader...The Batman. Bruce Wayne would see it... and he would spring into action along with his ward Dick Grayson... and emerge costumed and out of the Batcave to fight evil and injustice. From the comics to the 1940's serials to the camp T.V. show and the various incarnations in the movies...The Batman remains one of my favorite fictional characters...because...he would HELP the HELPLESS.

The saying is...sticks and STONES may break my bones... but WORDS will never hurt me." Nice sentiment...but wrong. Words depending on who is throwing them... and the intent behind their throwing can heal or kill.

Jesus is called the ROCK...a place of stability in a shaking world. The cross is called the scandilon...the ROCK OF OFFENSE...causing people to stumble over the simplicity of the cross. Jesus spoke of people who were STONE tossers of condemnation to throw STONES...if you had no sin. Jesus called Peter...petros (little stone)....but called his revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the living Son of God as a petra (massive ROCK)...and that the church would be built on the that REVELATION ROCK...not on the little stone.

Of course little David...defeated giant Goliath...with a smooth STONE flung from a sling. David had five smooth stones...and only needed one...giving him 4 more left...for any other giants that he may face. NOTE: Just my perspective on future giants).

Now...onto the STONE...that we can LOOK BACK TO...in time of need. Of course the ROCK that we can always...and always should look to...is THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION....JESUS...THE CHRIST...GOD WITH US...EMMANUEL.

There is a ROCK/STONE found in I Samuel 7:1-17...that became a reminder of how the Lord HELPED THEM...in there time of battle with the Philistines. "Then Samuel too a STONE and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it EBENEZER...saying thus far the Lord has HELPED US." The word EBENEZER literally means...STONE OF HELP.

In contrast to the EBENEZER (stone of help)...there is ICHABOD (no glory...the glory has departed). This is found in I Samuel 4:1-22...and is in reference to the loss of the ark which meant to them...the "absence of glory in Israel". "And she called the boy ICHABOD...saying...The glory has departed from Israel...because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband. She said...the glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken." (I Samuel 4:21-23)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well...if you are going to look back...look back to the EBENEZER...and not the ICHABOD. One reminds you that He helped you there...He can help you again...but if you try to live on past victories....you will find the glory to be departed. Keep you hand to the plow...don't look back... but at the same time...return to the first love of your life...and do the things that you first did... (Revelation 2:1-7)

Love and Non-Scrooge Kisses
Rodney "Help Found" Boyd

HAND TO THE PLOW (Again...Once More)

2011-10-22T04:22:00.000-07:00

Greetings Oh Ye Plowers of the Sod...

Years ago...I wrote a Rambling with this title...but...it rises up within me again...to encourage myself and others...to keep focus on the task at hand...and NOT LOOK BACK...but KEEP OUR HANDS TO THE PLOW.

This first picture is one of me...in my backyard many moons ago...preparing to plant a gigantic garden...with some friends. Smack dab in the center is my dad, Lonnie Boyd...supervising his son. Well..."Green Acres is the place to be...farm living is the life for me...". Not really...but I like the concept.

As you great the rows for the planting...unless you are in a creative mode...they should be straight rows. To till a straight row...whether by a gas operated tiller...or by a plow pulled by a mules...if you don't keep you eyes ahead...you will end up with crooked rows.

The second photo was a place called Readyville Mill...where we went to eat a fine breakfast and listened to a little music. I couldn't pass up the photo opportunity.

Someone once told Jesus..."I will follow You wherever You go." Have you ever made that declaration to the Lord? I know I have...multiple times over the past 41 years. Jesus responded to this person..."The foxes have holes and the birds of the hair have nests...but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." The implication is...if you are going to follow Him...you will not be settled in an earthly home...but on the go.

Jesus said to another..."Follow Me." A simple invitation...requiring a simple answer of yes Lord. But the person said..."Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." Seems to be a reasonable request...but Jesus responded back..."Allow/Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you..(1) go (2) and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Wow...Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead...but you follow the living Lord.

NOTE: Following Jesus is an active participation in proclamation of the Kingdom of God...the proclamation of (1) righteousness (2) peace (3) joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).

Another also said..."I will follow you Lord; BUT FIRST...permit me to say goodbye to those at home." Another seemingly reasonable request. But Jesus said to him..."No one...after putting his hand to the plow and looking back...is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62...to read the full account go to Luke 9:57-62)

NOTE: In Jesus' teaching on provision...He tells us to "SEEK FIRST...(1) the Kingdom (2) and His righteousness..." with the cause and effect being..."and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33...read Matthew 6:25-34 for the teaching on anxiety and provision)

The third photo is a picture of dry, untilled land...that represents my sometimes dried, fallow ground..that needs a touch of the Master's plow.

The group Fireworks (with Marty McCall, Gary Pigg, Gwen Moore) had a song...called DON'T LOOK BACK. It starts of..."I should be a pillar of salt... I've LOOKED BACK so many times..."This is a reference to the Sodom and Gomorrah incident where judgement was rained down upon the area...and God's deliverance of Lot...his wife and family. For full details read Genesis 19. God's instructions were "...escape for your life! DO NOT LOOK BACK /BEHIND YOU..." (Genesis 19:17) Pretty simple...like the don't eat from the tree command to Adam and Eve. "But his wife...from behind him...LOOKED BACK...and she became a pillar of salt." I don't know what this pillar of salt was....either salt engulfing her and making her look like a pillar or turned into salt from the inside out...but one thing I do know...IT AIN'T GOOD.

One of my favorite albums (secular or Christian) is by Paul Clark called HAND TO THE PLOW. The cover is a picture of Paul's grandfather plowing. Unlike the staged pictures of me working...this picture was the real deal.

HAND TO THE PLOW

I've felt the pressures of temptation
I've heard the breathing lies of accusation
I know the world can be distracting
But if I keep one foot there I'm just acting
Well I can't think of a reason
Why I should look back
And I don't intend to start now
Gonna set my face like flint to Jesus and His Word
Yes, I'm keeping my HAND TO THE PLOW

I've felt the weight of condemnation
And how the devil twists my situation
My brother if you feel defeated
Let me remind you friend that you've been cheated
Well I can't think of a reason..why I should look back
And I don't intend to start now
Gonna SET MY FACE LIKE FLINT TO JESUS AND HIS WORD
Yes...I'M KEEPING MY HAND TO THE PLOW.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well...I hope this encourage you...who maybe are about to give up. I know that I fall into times of wondering if it is all worth it...this following Jesus thing...and sometimes I look around me and behind me...and see how seemingly...people who are not believers...have it better than me...BUT...I get my eyes on Jesus...the author and finisher of my faith...and keep my eyes on the prize...that upward call of God...and I continue on.

The author of Hebrews exhorts us..."and let us consider how to STIMULATE/PROVOKE one another to love and good deeds...not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some...but ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER...and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Love and Plowed Kisses
Rodney "Ain't Looking Back" Boyd

LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS (INTERESTING...PERILOUS) TIME

2011-09-10T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hello friends..."May you live in NON-INTERESTING TIMES." (misquote of a Chinese curse) The quote is actually "May you live in INTERESTING TIMES."

However the saying is quoted or misquoted...the times are at the very least dangerous and perilous. Of course as King Solomon observed,
"That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done...and there is NOTHING NEW under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9) The only thing new is if THE SON is in you.

"But know this, that in the last days PERILOUS/TIMES OF STRESS will come." (I Timothy 3:1)

PERILOUS: capepos (khal-ep-oss)= harsh, savage, difficult, dangerous, painful, fierce, grievous, hard to deal with. The word describes a society that is barren of virtue but abounding with vices."
(Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat to The Spirit Filled Bible Word Wealth)

Paul describes these dangerous/perilous times in I Timothy 3:2-5..."For men will be:
(1) lovers of themselves (2) lovers of money (3) boasters (4) proud
(5) blasphemers (6) disobedient to parents (7) unthankful
(8) unholy (9) unloving (10) unforgiving/irreconcilable (11) slanderer (12) without self-control (13) brutal (14) despisers of good
(15) traitors (16) headstrong (16) haughty (17) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (18) having a form of godliness but denying it's power.

I would say that those times would be DANGEROUS...INTERESTING...PERILOUS times. Of course this book was written in A.D. 66/67...but it sure does look like A.D. 2011 to me. Many would say...well those times have always been this way...and that it only looks worse because of telecommunications and internet access...along with 24 hour news coverage. Also it is said that those "religious nuts" only use these scare tactics to get your money.

Maybe so...but I beg to differ. There is a reported time...called THE LAST DAYS...when Jesus is returning...and it appears to me that we are in those LAST DAYS. It is also reported that Jesus will be returning in Acts 1:9-11...and until then we are called to be witnesses...Acts 1:8)

There are a couple of Bruce Cockburn songs that really point me to the return...and how to respond to the PERILOUS/DANGEROUS TIMES.

The first one is LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS TIME. You can go to You Tube and watch Bruce sing this song. A couple of lines in the song again really touch my heart. "These fragile bodies of touch and taste...this vibrant skin...this hair like lace...SPIRITS OPEN TO THE THRUST OF GRACE...never a breath you can afford to wast...when you're lovers in a dangerous time." Another line really touches me..."But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight...got to KICK AT THE DARKNESS...'til it bleeds daylight."

As I am writing this...the next song that I was going to reference came up on my player called PACING THE CAGE. "Sometimes the best map will not guide you...you can't see what's round the bend...sometimes the road leads through dark places...sometimes the darkness is your friend...Today these eyes scan BLEACHED-OUT LAND...for the COMING OF THE OUTBOUND STAGE...pacing the cage."

Bob Dylan told us..."the times they are a changing." The question is...what are you going to do as the times change from "the good old days."...to these dangerous, interesting, perilous times?

NOTE: To those who went through bad times...the good old days...may not have been so good...unless you were of another class or color.

Jesus spoke often of his death, his burial, his Resurrection and the fact that we would be hated because we named Him as Lord...and that we would have TRIBULATION in this world. "These things have I spoken to you, that IN ME you may have PEACE. In the world you WILL have TRIBULATION...but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." This does not mean that we hide our hands in the sand and avoid or deny the perilous world or the CREEPS (those who creep in)...but we put on the whole armour of God and fight the enemy...that is NOT flesh and blood (people) but the spirits behind the people. (Ephesians 6:1-1-20)

Love and Kickin' Kisses
Rodney "Breaking The Curse" Boyd

THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

2011-08-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all the Skinny Minnies and Franky Fatties out there.
How's the battle going?

For years...I could eat anything that I wanted to eat...and never gain weight. When I first met the lovely Ms Brenda Williams, I weighed in at 131 pounds of pure, rippling bone. I went away to Bible School in Chattanooga...and over period of time of eating, sleeping and no exercise gained upward...to the point of when I got married...I weighed 175 pounds. I began to take karate at Bushido School of Karate...taking Wado Ryu Karate (where there was no air conditioner and classes went for 2 hours) and lost down to 160 pounds...which were probably beaten out of me.

Marriage was good (and still is after 39 years)...but after eating the goddess's cooking...I gained up to 195 pounds. I remember standing in a locker room at Courtsouth Racquetball Court...and the scales tipping at 195...and one of my racquetball partners told me that I better stop eating now...because before I knew it I would be over 200 pounds. I told him..."that will never happen." Well...if those words were meant to be prophetic...I guess I would have to be stoned...because before I new it...I hit a new high in the weight
department.

I tipped the scales at 323 pounds. I quit weighing after that... so I do not really know how much weight I actually gained.

The picture with my lab coat is probably at my heaviest. I remind myself of balloon in the Macy Day Thanksgiving Parade. I am smiling in the picture...but I am not happy. Oh... I was "jolly" and to be honest...until I saw this picture...I did not realize how much weight I had gained. I was either in self denial or oblivious to the fact. Maybe I was like a vampire who avoided mirrors.

It was at this point that I made some choices. I helped spearhead a Weight Watchers group at work at Southern Hills. I would send out a newsletter (hmmm...imagine that) over the hospital system about weight loss, life, etc.

I began the slow process of losing weight...feeling better.. clothes getting loser...and enjoying the compliments from people who said they noticed the weight loss. I did not feel as bloated as I did...and could watch the Macy Day Thanksgiving Day Parade without wincing.

At the same time I began to take karate again. With the combination Weight Watchers...and karate...I continued to lose weight.

Over the years...I dropped in and out of Weight Watchers... attempted other things from juice to fasting, to low carbs to high carbs etc...but nothing worked like Weight Watchers for me. I am currently back at Weight Watchers...and continuing to take Karate at Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate. I have been back for 10 years now.

I still Battle The Bulge. Currently I am weighing in at 260 pounds...with a goal to lose another 60. The process is slow ( I like that) but steady. I have gone from pant size of 56 to size 46...and can squeeze into size 44 if I hold my breath.

I am turning 60 years old in a few days...and I sure don't feel like 60...unless you consider my knees and shoulders...quick to fall down and slow to get up....BUT...I am still kicking.

NOTE: I will be OK...if a leprechaun attacks me.

You may be asking yourself..."Self...why is Rodney sharing these thoughts and these pictures?"
Well...I am glad you asked that question.

I am making a public declaration to you, the Lord, demonic forces, and my soul (me, myself, and I)...that I am not giving up. I am in a process and the process ain't over yet. I am in a physical battle...that I belief for me has deep roots in the spiritual realm. I have found that if I have a LARGE GOAL...I must set SMALLER GOALS...as I move forward in the journey. That's what I did with karate...with the BLACK BELT as my large goal...but progressive, individual goals/belt ranks...taking me towards the prize. So it is with my weight. Smaller goals have brought me to the current weight (with some set backs...and regroupings)...and from my 60th birthday...until Thanksgiving is my next touchstone.

"All things are lawful for me, but ALL THINGS ARE NOT PROFITABLE/HELPFUL. All things are lawful for me...BUT...I WILL NOT BE MASTERED/BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER OF ANYTHING." (I Corinthians 6:12)

"Everything is permissible for me--allowable and lawful; but not all things are helpful--good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things. Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under the power." (I Corinthians 6:12 The Amplified Bible)

"And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through--that is separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God--may your (1) spirit and (2) soul and (3) body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah. (I Thessalonians 5:23)

Hey God loves me no matter what I weigh...but He really is concerned if I am being mastered in any area of who I am...spirit, soul, or body. Even a skinny person can be addicted to food or booze just as much as a fatty. My prayer for myself...Lord... bless me indeed...in all areas of my life...spiritual, physical, emotional. I WILL NOT BE MASTERED BY ANYTHING...especially FOOD. Lord...I do need your help. May THE HELPER...the Holy Spirit lead me along the "weigh" : )

Love and God Pleasing Kisses
Rodney "Not As Large As I Use To Be" Boyd.

AUGUST 15TH 1951...BLAST OFF!!!!

2011-08-10T04:37:00.000-07:00

Greetings friends,

Since 1951...60 years have passed on the time-space continuum. That's right... this year on August 15th...I will enter that time honored club...of those who have become...60 years OLD.

I don't feel 60 years old. Wait a minute (touching my arm)...no...I don't feel 60 years old. I look in the mirror...and although there are a few lines here and there on the old mug...and there are hints of gray hair around the temples and other areas on my head...I don't THINK I look 60 years old (maybe 59). When I am out on the dojo floor and kicking and punching with younger people...I don't feel as if I am 60 years old. Of course when I go home and every part of my body is aching and stiffening up...I feel 160 years old.

I started out at a very young age. As the story goes...I was born in Murfreesboro Tennessee at a place called Allen's Clinic...on East Main Street. I really have no recollection...just word of mouth from my mother. From day #1...I was her precious baby boy.

My life was filled with good, bad, ugly times...as my soul (mind, free will, and emotions)...were molded and shaped by my experiences. In the study of human development it is thought that we are either blank slates and what happens to us determines who we are...or we have everything in us genetically and left on our own we become who we are... from looks to attitude to intellect to language development.

As a Speech-Language Pathologist... I tend to believe both...nature and nurture. There are things that have been with me from the earliest day... and there are things that are ever changing...as I allow things into my melon (aka brain) via the eye-gate, ear-gate, and any other gate where I can ingest information (touch, smell, etc). From 1951 to 1970...I had a roller coaster emotional life. As stated...there were good times, bad times, and ugly times. Some of the good, bad and ugly times were just things that happened in school, in my family, in interpersonal relationships as my friends good, bad and ugly experiences rubbed of on me.

In the fall of 1970 (when I was 19 years old)...there was a shift in my development...as I made a conscious decision to become a follower of Jesus the Christ with His Anointing (yoke breaking, burden lifting, devil oppression removing healing power of the Holy Ghost).

I became a NEW creation...the OLD things passed away...and new things came...and have been coming ever since.

NOTE: Chronologically I am 60 years old...but Spiritualogically I am really only 41 years if you calculate that I became a new man in 1970.

Looking back...I have accomplished more than I ever thought that I would have accomplished. My life is one of grace (unmerited favor and divine influence within manifested without) and mercy (not getting what I deserved).

The day Brenda Sue Williams came into my life...was life changing. Not only did she love me...agreed to become my wife...she led me to the Lord. She has stuck beside me in good, bad, and ugly times...and has been a rock in our marriage. My son Phillip has been a joy and source of encouragement to me/us for the past 22 years. Walking with the Lord since 1970 has been interesting journey (that continues even as I write)...as He has been faithful to me...even when I have not been faithful. There is a verse in Psalms that really has and is coming true in my life..."Delight yourself in the Lord...and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) This is surely true as He has planted desires within me...and has brought them to flourition.

God has used many of my experiences...good, bad, and ugly...in my life and desires of my heart. I have been blessed to have been married for 39 years to Brenda, been a dad for 22 years to Phillip, been blessed to be a teacher of the Word of God in some form since 1970 (currently at Springhouse Worship and Arts Center for the past 20+ years), been to various countries for missions/teaching/building opportunities (Mexico, Peru, Africa, Guatemala), became a Speech Language Pathologist with a Masters in Education (after I was a very poor student, failing the 6th grade, and hill and valley high school experiences), becoming a Black Belt in Wado Ryu karate (in my 50's...and still kicking at 60) and able to write Bible Studies, blogs, books, and recored an album called RUMINATOR UNPLUGGED.

As I look at my past...and walk in my now...with an eye to the future...I can join with Paul and say this...of all the things that I grasp and hold...of everything I have experienced in 60 years.

"But whatever former things I had that might have been gainst to me, I have come to consider as (one combined) loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore I count EVERYTHING as loss COMPARED to the possesion of the priceless privilege--the over whelmeing preciousness, the surpassing worth and supreme advantage--of KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD...and of progressively becoming MORE DEEPLY and INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH HIM, of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be MERE RUBBISH (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) CHRIST, THE ANOINTED ONE." (Philippians 3:7-8 The Amplified Bible)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well...if I live to be 120 years old...I am considered to be middle aged. Whatever the length of my days here on planet Earth...I look forward to continued adventures, continued open doors, continued opportunities to serve and encourage people.

Love and Life Lovin' Kisses
Rodney "60 And Counting" Boyd

THE CASM (Chasm) OF SAR

2011-07-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

Greetings all of you sarcastic people...and you know who you are.

I know who you are...because I are one. There are many questions about this Casm (chasm) of Sar. Is it a sin? Should we Christians use it? Was it used by Jesus? Was it used by God? Did Paul, Moses, Isaiah...via God use sarcasm as a tool to drive a spiritual point home. "Give me that old sarcastic spirit...If it was good enough for Paul...then it's good enough for me." Is it okay to hurt someone with sarcasm if the end justifies the means...or would that be meany?

Throughout the Bible...there are may forms of figures of speech utilized to present the truth in a way that we can relate to and understand. Some of the more common figures of speech includes:

1. Metaphor: implied comparison between two things which are different.

2. Simile: expressed comparison of two different things or ideas that uses the words like, as, as, so is, and/or such as.

3. Hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration for effect or emphasis.

4. Metonymy: when the name of one object or concept is used for that of another to which it is related.

5. Synecdoche: another figure of association where the whole can refer to the part of the part to the whole.

6. Personification: when an object is given characteristics or attributes that belong to people.

7. Irony: a statement which says the opposite of what is meant. Irony is used for emphasis or effect.

NOTE: Sarcasm is a "form of irony" in which apparent praise conceals another, scornful meaning. For example, a sarcastic remark directed at a person who consistently arrives fifteen minutes late for appointments might be, "Oh, you've arrived exactly on time!" (said with sneer on face or in voice). (Dictionary.com)

On top of all of these there are puns, parables, allegory's, types, symbols, satire and sarcasm.

NOTE: Many times there will be an overriding of each of these and could be hard to distinguish the differences.

NOTE: Thanx And A Tip O' Da Hat to notes from The International Inductive Study Bible from Kay Arthur (Precepts Ministries).

I have been known to use satire, puns, and sarcasm on more than one occasion in more than one blog or teaching to get a point across.

SARCASM DEFINED

1. Harsh or bitter derision or irony
2. A sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remarks
3. Latin to rend (flesh), sneer
4. Bitterness, ridicule, jeer

"Sarcasm? Not a fruit of the Spirit." (Joel Osechle)

"Sarcasm is a tool wielded that cover ups our own insecurities while revealing someone elses insecurities." (R.L.B.)

The various tools of the tongue will either heal of destroy but rarely both. Tools or instruments are extensions of the people who wield these things. If you take a sharp scalpel...you have a cold, inanimate object that is very sharp. In the hands of a caring, compassionate servant who has taken the Hippocratic Oath to heal...this extension of the surgeon's hands...the scalpel becomes a tool for cutting, repairing, removing, etc. In the hands of someone like Jack The Ripper...the tool/instrument now becomes an extension of the hands of someone who is bitter, angry, filled with rage...and becomes a tool of destruction and death.

It's all about the motive and attitude of the heart.

"And do not present your members as instruments/weapons of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments or weapons of righteousness of God." (Romans 6:13)

To often...I have fallen into the CHASM of Sar...as I used what I thought was humor to drive a point home...when all the while the sarcastic humor was a cover for my true feelings. I remember once a good brother in the Lord called me on my motive for doing something...and immediately I went into a defensive mode and began wielding my instrument of sarcastic words. It escalated into a near shouting match...in church. The good news is...I tracked him down and asked for forgiveness...he did...and to this day we are still in love.

I was reading an article on sarcasm...and I cannot find the author...but the bullet points were:

1. Sarcasm is a lie and not the language of the Kingdom
2. Sarcasm fosters insecurity
3. Sarcasm interferes with authentic community
4. Sarcasm discourages inquisitiveness
5. Sarcasm interferes with good leadership
6. Sarcasm undermines true humor
7. Sarcasm is the language of bullies

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

I am not saying that satire, humor, wit, puns, irony, etc. can't be used to disarm the listener and allow a point to be driven home...but the attitude of the heart is the motivator. If I have to use humor to put down someone...so I can be lifted up...then I have missed the point.

"Let/don't allow no foul or polluting language, nor evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth; but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as it is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, (do not offend, or vex, or sadden Him) by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption--of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequence of evil. Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:29-32 The Amplified Bible)

Love and Guarded Kisses
Rodney "Bit In The Mouth" Boyd

39 And Counting

2011-07-13T04:59:00.000-07:00

Greetings O Ye Love Birds...

July 14th...will be our 39th wedding anniversary. We got married in 1972...but we met in 1968...in a garage on Nancy Avenue in Murfreesboro Tennessee...during a Sunday afternoon band practice of The Blind Distortion. Of course it was love at first sight...on my part....but it didn't take to long to "woo her with my charms." (Earnest T. Bass)

NOTE: The first picture is one of our first dates (the first was after a homecoming bonfire...and then we went to eat at Sir Pizza...where we ordered a large half hamburger...half mushroom pizza...and ate a total of two slices).

In honor of the re-release of MOO GOT MAIL ( a collection of Ruminator Ramblings)...here is a reprint of the August 16th 2003 Ruminator Rambling called THE ART OF MARRIAGE.

THE ART OF MARRIAGE

Hello fellow Ruminators...chewers of the cud... the bovinian meditators of the Word. July 14th, 1972. This is a date on the time-space continuum that drastically changed my life. This was my last day of being a single young man...my wedding day. Brenda Sue Williams...was the lucky girl who was about to become married to her hunny bunny...her sugar booger...dare I say...her stud muffin.

We met in 1968 in a garage on a Sunday afternoon. I remember it as if it was yesterday. I was in a rockin' little band called THE BLIND DISTORTION. I looked every inch the rock n' roller...NOT!!! It was 131 pounds soaking wet...while everyone else had their hair combed down in the finest summer of love fashion...I still had my hair greased back like an Elvis Presley wannabe...I wore a pair of thick, black glasses (I looked like a bad impression of Buddy Holly)...and my clothes came from Pigg and Parsons (the clothing shop of the frat boys at that time). The guys in the band were trying to do a major make over in my life...so they let me play in their band and gave me tips on how to change my image.

Brenda (or as I like to refer to her as "the goddess"...was best friends of the lead singer's girlfriend. They dropped in to check out our practice session. Of course...she did not gravitate to me...but more to the lead guitar player (ain't that how it always is).

Let me compress the years: (1) Courtship (2) Talking about marriage (3) She tells me that I will be going to hell (as I was about to take a bite into a Shoney's Onion Ring) (4) She leads me to the Lord in her driveway at 426 4th Avenue (5) Long distant courtship as I went to Tennessee Temple Bible School in Chattanooga (6) July 14, 1972 at 6:30 P.M (7) Started out life as husband and wife (8) 39 years later to now in 2011. NOTE: If you get married at 6:00...you are on the DOWNSWING...at 6:30 you are on the UPSWING. Don't ask me...I Just showed up when I was told.

The question is..."How did we survive 39 years? Obviously she did not marry a perfect man (I know it's hard to believe...but it's true)...and although she is known as "the goddess"...she does have a few minor flaws (BUT even her flaws border on perfection). Here are a few (just a few) of the things that we have done to survive being married.

DISCLAIMER: We don't claim perfection. We have had our share of ups and downs...arguments...times of frustrations...stubborn stand offs...etc. Just because we are Christians, DOES NOT MEAN...that hard times, temptations, frustrations, inconsistencies, don't hit us in the face like anybody else. Christians have marital difficulties like anyone else...it rains on the just and the unjust. We don't always do these things right...but when we get off track...and it gets unbearable...we always return to these things/principles.

1. FOUNDATION: Our foundation is solid. Matthew 7:24-27. We made the decision...the choice to have our foundation solid on the rock. We knew the storms would come and we did not want a house/home built on sand.

2. THE BUILDER: We contracted an expert to build our house. Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house... they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain." We could throw up a physical building, but it would not last. Lord Help us build our house/home. By the way...He also is great with remodeling.

3. THE DECISION OF SERVICE: Bod Dylan had a great son on his album Slow Train Coming.. and it rang true with us..."You Got To Serve Somebody..it may be the devil...it may be the Lord...but ya got to serve somebody." Joshua 24:15..."but as for me and my house...we will serve the Lord."

4. MORNING COFFEE: Men...pay attention. Every morning (except for a few exceptions)...I get up, make the coffee, let Brenda sleep, and then bring her a cup of coffee (maybe with something sweet to eat) and I gently shake her and say..."It's time to get up." The only coffee connection that I could find in the Bible was from Jill Coble...proof that man is suppose to be the one who has coffee duties is found in the book of HEbrews (sorry).

5. THE SHE'S NOT MY SUBMISSIVE SERVANT PRINCIPLE: Benny Sumrall taught me this principle years ago...I had to not only look at Brenda as my wife...mother of our child...but as a Covenant Woman...a daughter of God...a handmaid of the Lord...a sister in Jesus. A fellow-heir of the grace of life. This principle is found in (I Peter 3:7). In Acts chapter 2, where the Holy Spirit fell on people...some of these people were women. God can speak to Brenda (and does) just as well as he speaks to me (maybe even better)...which leads me to the next principle.

NOTE: Men...if you do not get this principle down...your prayers WILL BE HINDERED.

6. THE HELPER CONNECTION: Adam was a lump of mud with the breath of God blown into him. He was alone. God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone...so He took a rib...formed a woman to be his help meet/helpmate/helper. In the Bible the Holy Spirit is called The Helper. I don't think that it is too far of a stretch to equate my wife...with the Holy Spirit. She is a comfort, speaks wisdom into me, if I listen to her guidance I avoid all kinds of trouble. Check out Genesis 1-3 and John 14-16.

7. THE SUNDOWN SYNDROME: Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry and yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger...and do not give the devil an opportunity." Resolve the anger issues as soon as possible and don't let it fester overnight like an infected wound or ingrown hair." Deal with it.

8. LOVE STORY (The Sorry Excuse): When we were dating (I was in Bible School) and Brenda was back home in Murfreesboro, on of the movies out was LOVE STORY. There was a line in that movie that was the catch phrase of the day. It was..."Love, means NEVER having to say YOU'RE SORRY." That sounded so good...so in one of y love letters to Brenda...i wrote it at the end of the letter. Oooooh Well! That was the wrong thing to write. In Hollywood that may be OK...but in real life...learning how to say your sorry and meant it...can end a lot of tension.

9. STICKS AND STONES AND WORDS: Sticks and stones CAN break my bones...but words can never hurt me. Bull...oney!!! Words CAN hurt...words can goo deep...words are weapons. We have to be careful what we say in the heat of an argument. The words that we say to one another in private and the words that we say to one another in public...and the words that we say to someone else about each other...can have an effect physically, emotionally, spiritually. Oral Roberts wife Evelyn states that in all their years of marriage...he has never said a negative word about her in public. I know men and women who constantly talked about their wives/husbands to others. There appears to be no privacy about anything and they degrade them publicly aka NO RESPECT. Ephesians 4:29 states..."Let/allow no unwholesome word proceed form your mouth, but only such a word that is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear [especially your wives...my words].

10. MURDER: We heard Billy Graham's wife make a statement and we decided that would be good rule to follow. She said, "In all our years of marriage the word divorce has never come up...murder has...but never divorce." We PURPOSED to one another not to divorce...and by the grace of God...so far, so good.

NOTE: We know people...have relatives...have friends ...have brothers and sisters in the Lord who have been divorced...and they are no less Christians than we are. Things happen that get out of control...but God can take anything and redeem it.

11. THE PLAN (Ephesians 5:15-33): We try to stick as close to God's plan as possible. Many people stumble over this, especially in this world of independence and being your own man and being a man of the world...and the proliferation of media that constantly bombard us with the exact opposite of what God wants...however...we have found that this works. it is not a matter of a second class woman submitting to a first class man. It is (speaking from a man's point of view)...the man loving the woman like Christ loved the church. That means that if I a really going to love Brenda...so that she will have someone that she is willing to submit to...then I am going to have to stretch out my arms...and be willing to die (to my own will and self)...and live to serve my wife."

NOTE: I don't have this perfected yet...but continue to work on it.

Well...there ya go boys and girls. These are just a FEW of the principles that we have distilled down to what works for us as we walk out this thing called THE ART OF MARRIAGE.

Love and Kisses (holy ones that is)
Rodney

THE OPPORTUNITY: Faith Fruit or Flesh Deeds

2011-07-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Free People...are ya still FREE?!?

You may be asking yourself..."Self...why is Rod asking if I am still FREE?" Well...I'm glad you asked yourself that question. Here's my answer....because...I know what it is like to be set free from my sins...and return to them like a dog returns to his own vomit. I know what it is like to be a prodigal son...who had FREEDOM lavished upon him...only to be lavish in my squandering of grace...and have nothing but HOG FOOD. I know from very personal experience of going from FREEDOM back into the BONDAGE that I was set FREE from...by MY OWN CHOICE...and I see the same thing happen over and over again...to young believers who allow the little foxes to spoil their vineyard.

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you...but you were WASHED, but you were SANCTIFIED, but you were JUSTIFIED in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and in the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD." (I Corinthians 9-11)

Paul is writing a letter of correction to the church in Corinth. They had a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He starts of the letter by praising them..."I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus...that in EVERYTHING you were enriched in Him, in all speech and in all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was CONFIRMED IN YOU...so that you are NOT LACKING in any gift, awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also CONFIRM you to the end, blameless in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 1:4-9)

These people were FREE...but they were slowly sliding into BONDAGE again...and Paul is writing a warning and correction. They were ALLOWING thing within the body at Corinth... that was not BENEFICIAL FOR THEM.

Paul wrote another letter to the church in Galatia...about FREEDOM and BONDAGE.

"It was for FREEDOM that Christ SET US FREE...therefore KEEP STANDING FIRM...and do not be SUBJECT AGAIN to a YOKE OF SLAVERY." (Galatians 5:1)

Here is a picture from the movie BRAVEHEART...where William Wallace leads the people with the cry of FREEDOM.

The church in Galatia were allowing things back into the grace that they had in the D.B.R....Death, Burial, Resurrection of Jesus only...by allowing things to be added back into the mix. Some of the things were not necessarily bad things...but when you add anything to unmerited favor aka grace...then the allowed things become NOT BENEFICIAL.

"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."
(Galatians 5:13)

If you don't deal with the little things...they can turn into the big things...and before you know it...you are back in a worse state than you were before you started. Check out the deeds of the flesh...that we as believers are capable of doing...if we all our FREEDOM...to turn into AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLESH (Galatians 5:19-21)

Again...as someone who has fallen...to the level of the pig sty and dog vomit...I know whereof I speak...and I see the same thing happen over and over to other believers...especially to the young lions and lionesses who are transitioning from child to adulthood... and they think that their chronological age...must mean they can do "adult things". Some of these "adult things" may be allowable...but they are not "beneficial."

NOTE: This is not limited to by young people...old people...doing "adult things" get bound again also.

Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat to my son Phillip for the cross artwork.

"All things are lawful for me...BUT...not all things are profitable/beneficial all things are lawful for me...BUT... I WILL NOT BE MASTERED BY ANYTHING." (I Corinthians 6:12)

FREE INDEED (Janny Grein)

"I was bound by the forces of evil
Lived on lies and the love I could steal...until I was told...that I could be set free...then He came and He told me He loved me...and I knew it was true when He touched me...through it all..I have been set free. I've been set free, free indeed...I got nothing that's binding on me...Oh Lord I'm free, free indeed...your love has set me free."

"But I say, walk and live habitually in the (Holy) Spirit--responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh--of human nature without God." (Galatians 5:16 The Amplified Bible)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

When you begin to write things like this...there will be those who will think...or some even say..."Who do you think you are to tell me how to live?" Or they will begin to misquote..."Judge not...lest you be judge." Or they will begin speaking about specks and 2 x4 in my eyes. Or they will ask..."Who died and made you the spiritual sheriff over me?"

Well...I always filter these things through my experience...so I won't be pontificated about something I don't know about. If I truly love you...ya gotta expect that I will try to restore you in the spirit of gentleness. (Galatians 6:1-5) If you received a box of rattlesnakes...and I knew what was in the box...don't you think I would do everything I could...to stop you from opening the box...and placing your hands in there to get snake bit?

I'm just saying...don't let your freedom turn back into bondage. I have been there and back... and it is fun for a season...but reaping is harsh.

Love and Loving Kisses
Rodney "Sheriff Elderodo" Boyd

FOOLS WISDOM (Whose Fool Are You?)

2011-07-08T05:13:00.000-07:00

Greetings Fools.

We are all FOOLS...in one way or another.

"The FOOL has said in his own heart that there is no God." (Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1)

"We are FOOLS FOR CHRIST'S sake..." (I Corinthians 4:10)

"I am a FOOL for Christ...tell me...whose fool you are?" (Gary S. Paxton)

FOOLS WISDOM (Malcom and Alywn)
Got myself some wisdom from a leather back book
Got myself a Saviour when I took a second look
I opened up the pages and what did I find
A black and white portrait of a king who's a friend of mine
Funny how when you think you're right, everybody else must be wrong
Till a someone with with fools wisdom somehow comes along
His voice was strange and the words he said I didn't quiet understand
But I knew that he was speaking right by the leather back book in his hand
Hey Hey...what a day...fools wisdom

The picture here is the first Bible that I owned after I became a Christian in the fall of 1970. It was the biggest, thickest, blackest Bible I could find at the time...and I wore it out. Many hours of digging for gold with tears of joy and sadness...as I mined the Word of God...for Fools Wisdom.

This picture is taken in the Ruminator Sunday School class of one of the mooers and chewers of the cud of the Word of God. Bible out...pen in hand...ready to hear from God. We are a CLASSROOM FULL OF FOOLS...who do NOT say in our hearts that there is no God...but we declare and proclaim within our hearts THERE IS A GOD...and He is speaking to us through the leather backed book in our hands. He speaks from His throne on high...and from the altar within us on our hearts.

"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart." (Deuteronomy 6:4-6) This is known as The Shema...Judaism's basic confession of faith. When Jesus was quizzed on what commandment was the foremost of all...He quoted The Shema..."Jesus answered, the foremost is Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord...and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this...You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18)

When we look at one of the earliest Christian books was written...Jame a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ...wrote to the twelve tribes who were dispersed abroad...underscored the fact of the One God..."You believe that God is ONE. You do well...the demons ALSO believe, and shudder." (James 1:1, 19) What we must do with this FOOLS WISDOM...is not just believe it...(this is the starting point)...but with this FOOLS WISDOM... it must bring us to the point of "ACTING THE FOOL."

"But are you willing to recognize you foolish fellow...that FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS USELESS (dead)." (James 2:20) What separates demons from true fools...is not just believing something..but acting as if it is true.

Hey...Hey...what a day...Foooooooool's Wisdom

Love and Foolish Kisses
Rodney "A Fool For Christ" Boyd

WHY I DO THE THINGS THAT I DO

2011-07-02T04:52:00.001-07:00

Greetings and Salutation O Ye Friends, Neighbors, and Enemies...you know who you are.

WHY? You may be asking yourself that question...I find myself asking myself WHY all of the time. WHY do things happen? WHY do I have to be in the position that I am in today? WHY DO I DO THE THINGS THAT I DO?

This first picture is a collage of various personification of myself throughout the years. Some funny...some serious but all reflecting me doing something at some point in the time-space continuum of my life.

"I've proven who I am so many times...the magnetic strip's worn thin...and each time I was someone else...and every one was taken in...Powers chatter in high places...stir up eddies in the dust of rage...set me...to pacing the cage." (Pacing The Cage by Bruce Cockburn on the album Charity Of The Night)

A big driving force in WHY I do the things I do...is my family. Brenda and Phillip are my incentives to get up in the morning and trudge off to a job that I am really not that thrilled about trudging off to...so I can bring in money...to live in the lifestyle we are accustomed to. Eating, clothing, housing are great motivators.

"Do not worry then, saying...what will we eat...or what will we eat...or what will we drink...or what will we wear for clothing? For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things...for your heavenly Father KNOWS that you NEED all these things. BUT...SEEK FIRST (1st) HIS KINGDOM...and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS...and all these THINGS will be added to you. So...DO NOT WORRY about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:31-34)

NOTE: This is not an edict to never plan or budget...there are plenty of references to work hard and plan...but we must always NEVER WORRY...and lay our plans on the altar...and let God breath life on them.

For the past 41 years...I have in some form or fashion...been teaching the WORD OF GOD. I have been blessed to be able to share the Word...at The Springhouse Worship and Arts Center (formerly Smyrna Assembly of God) in the Ruminator Sunday School Class...and periodically on Wednesday night. Also...for the past 30 plus years I have been writing in the form of Bible study workbooks...and blogs (Ruminator Ramblings)...and was blessed last year to record a CD of old songs I wrote in the 70's. (Ruminator Unplugged). WHY? Why expend that much energy into these things? WHY gather together with other believers (church)? WHY tithe...give offerings...go to other countries to teach? I could think of a lot of other things to do and a lot other places I could funnel my money.

"I never knew what you wanted...so I gave you everything. All that I could pillage...all the spells that I could sing. It's as if the thing were written in the constitution of the age...Sooner or later you'll wind up...pacing the cage." (Pacing The Cage by Bruce Cockburn from Charity Of The Night).

The bottom line...for the WHY in what I do...is that I love the Lord my God...with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength...and love my neighbor (and enemies..my addition) as myself. (Luke 10:27;
Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30)

Another burning WHY question that I ask myself all of the time...WHY ME LORD? Kris Kristofferson got it right with this song. WHY ME...? There are visions, dreams, writings, books, desires, music swirling in my head...and I am thinking...I can't even live the life I live now.

"For what I am doing...I do not understand; for I am NOT practicing what I would like to do...but I am doing the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15)

I am so aware of my failures and my capabilities...that sometimes I am paralyzed with fear and guilt about standing before people and opening my mouth.

"But if I do the very thing I do not want to do...I agree with the Law...confessing that the Law is good. So...NOW...no longer am I the one doing it...but SIN which dwells in me. But I know that NOTHING good dwells in me...THAT IS...in my FLESH...for the WILLING is present in me... but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want..I do not do...but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want ...I am no longer the one doing it...but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me...the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the INNER MAN...but I see a different law in the MEMBERS OF MY BODY...WAGING WAR against the law of my MIND and making me a prisoner of THE LAW OF SIN which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will SET ME FREE from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:16-24)

NOTE: The theological debate is...is this Paul speaking about pre-conversion...or is he speaking about his post conversion state. I relate to both sides...because I struggle with the WHY of why I do the things (negative) that I do...knowing better. Then I get all guilty and condemned and fearful for doing anything for God. Well which ever side the theologians pontificate about...thank God...Paul answer the question in verse 25.

"Thanks be to GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! So then...on the one hand...I myself with my mind am serving the law of God...but on the other...with my flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7:25) NOTE: Read Romans 8 for the mindset that will set us free from death and bring us to a place of life and peace.

"You think I built this for me? You think I built this for me? This isn't mine...it's Yours, It's really for You...I didn't build this for me." (I Did Not Build This For Me...by Daniel Amos... about WHY people do things for God)

Well...whether I am clowning around...teaching the Word of God...going to work...singing a song...being a dad...being a husband...writing a Rambling...the driving force is love for the Lord.
I am an imperfect man...serving a perfect God. Jesus hung up for my hang ups...and I have plenty. As I bide my time on planet earth...just visiting...this world is not my home...I am just passing through...with my eyes on the sky...waiting for His return...but occupying until He does.

"Sometimes the best map will not guide you...you can't see what's around the bend...sometimes the road leads through dark places...sometimes the darkness is your friend...today these eyes scan bleached- out land...for the COMING OF THE OUTBOUND STAGE...pacing the cage... pacing the cage." (Pacing The Cage by Bruce Cockburn from Charity Of The Night)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY. No really FINALLY!

Why do I do the things that I do?

"Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul) as [something DONE] FOR THE LORD and not for men...knowing (with all certainty) that it is from the Lord [and not from men[ that you will receive the inheritance which is your {real} reward. [The One Whom]you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ, The Messiah." (Colossians 3:23-24 The Amplified Bible)

THE BRIAN MASON SHOW (End of an Era...Beginning of a Destiny)

2011-06-17T04:32:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Lovers of Contemporary Christian Music.

I became a believer in the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ in the fall of 1970. At that time I was a young man...in a band called THE BLIND DISTORTION...and music was my life and passion. When I became a follower of Jesus...I thought my love for music was over. I quit the band, burned my albums, and went away to Bible School. Little did I know that there were rumblings across the world of the Jesus Movement...with what was filled with people known as Jesus Freaks...playing Jesus music (not to be called CCM until later).

Once I heard music...that was not limited to organ and off key singing... (I have since come to love the music of the church...and it ain't as off key as I once thought)...I was excited. I could pick up my guitar again...and rock about The Rock.

Back in 1970...there was no Christian Radio...no venue to listen to this music called Jesus music. Then I found various syndicated shows that were broadcast around the nation... but sometimes it was hard to find them. Shows like MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE with Paul Baker...JESUS SOLID ROCK with Jerry Bryant...THE ROCK THAT DOESN'T ROLL (can't remember this guys name)...THE SCOTT ROSS SHOW (Scott Ross)...THE LARRY BLACK SHOW (Larry Black taking Scott Ross' place). I remember tuning in my radio dial...trying to find these various shows...but the static...at times...presented a problem...but my hunger for this type of music helped me to endure the static...just to hear this style of music and the D.J. patter.

Then in 1980...there was a major breakthrough in NASHVILLE TN. On May 4th, 1980...on WSM-FM radio... a new show was premiered...that was (1) local (2) no static. THE BRIAN MASON SHOW was born...playing music about being born again. It started out as a 30 minute show...but expanded...by popular demand to 1 hour.

Since 1980...there has been 1500 plus shows...and I have listened to the majority of them.

In February 1983 WSM had a format change...and Brian was off...and back on again at WLAC... where he stayed for 15 years...and then another format change in 1998...Brian landed at MIX 92.9. The show has gone from the early days of 30 minutes to now where Brian is on from 6:00 to 10:00. Over the years...Brian has been on radio, TV (who can forget watching Christian music videos with Brian)...emceeing various shows...shared a dressing room with Andy Griffith, gave Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, Mary) and toy hammer...and has been pivotal in many new artists...becoming major artists. The beauty of THE BRIAN MASON SHOW...is music, interviews, access to the people we love to listen to, putting a human face on the voices that we hear.

I have had the honor of meeting Brian...having lunch with him occasionally...and counting him as a friend. Oh we are not best buddies...but I do fell a kinship with Brian in his love for Jesus...CCM...and of course Phil Keaggy. Brian's music, interviews, laughter, have been a source of encouragement for me in times of troubles, despair, good times, bad times...and has always reminded me of the reason for the music and the reason for living.

Well...on June 26th, 2011...the last BRIAN MASON SHOW will be broadcast...as Brian will be retiring the show. I say retiring the show...because Brian is not retiring from life. This is merely the transition from what God had him do for the past 31 years...to the next phase of whatever it is that God has for him.

This is BITTERSWEET for me (and of course...it is all about me). I am rejoicing at the next step in Brian's journey...BUT...what am I going to do on Sunday Mornings. I guess I could read the Bible...pray...which I do while I am listening to Brian...BUT...who can I blame now for being late to Sunday School...as I sit out in my car...listening to the interviews...or trying to win a CD by being the 6 or 7th caller?

These last two shows of course will be good...with June 19th show with Phil Keaggy (and who knows who else)...and the final show...with Gary Chapman...who was the first guest on the show many years ago.

When a T.V. show comes to an end...they either abruptly end it with all the lose ends dangling... or they wrap it up...tying up all the lose ends. Well...we will be able to tie up a few loose ends on June 26th...the LAST SHOW. A few of Brian's friends will be having a Goodbye Celebration and Reception on June 26, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at Woodmont Hills Church at 3710 Franklin Road in Nashville, TN 37204. I will be there...and hope to meet other Brian Mason friends there also.

Well...I would say good-bye Brian...BUT...I don't plan to not see Brian any longer. We will have lunch...we will bump into each other at concerts...we will talk on the telephone.

Be sure to check out the BRIAN MASON SHOW website at http://www.brianmason.com/

Brian Mason...if you are reading this Ruminator Rambling...I love and appreciate you.

Love and Contemporary Music Kisses
Rodney "Bittersweet" Boyd

THE JOURNEY

2011-04-15T04:22:00.000-07:00

Greetings fellow sojourners... "How blessed is the man whose strength is in You. In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength Every one of them before God in Zion." (Psalm 84:5-7 NASB) "Blessed--happy, fortunate [to be envied]--is the man whose strength is in You; in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the valley of weeping they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools\ with blessings. They go from strength to strength--increasing in victorious power; each of them appears before God in Zion." (Psalm 84:5-7 The Amplified Bible) In 2001 I made a journey to Kenya Africa with a group of people led by Bruce Coble. We were hosted by Don and Nancy Richards...at a Youth With a Mission Discipleship Training School. I had the honor of teaching a class over the time we were there and to encourage Don and Nancy and the staff. One thing Bruce encouraged us in...that the gift that we brought was not money, teaching or encouragement alone...but a big part of the gift...was the JOURNEY itself. The time, money, and sacrifice that it took to get there meant a lot to the people. We were able to minister in a building where...that when we returned a few years later...was not there any longer. What happened? TERMITES! Now being an ex-Orkin pest control service technician...I knew the power of termites...and I had seen the size of the termite hills... gigantic. What I found interesting was what was left of the wood...from the previous journey...was used to build a bridge (which you see in the photos). As we are on our journey...there will be hardships...setbacks...interruptions to what we thought was our itinerary. But if we remain faithful... and go with the flow of the Holy Spirit... we will be exactly where we need to be on our JOURNEY. As we yield to God...we will be blessed, happy, fortunate and envied...because our strength is not found in our concepts of how the journey should be...but our strength is in HIM. Our hearts are SET on the destination. But along the way...we must learn the JOY OF THE JOURNEY (as the Michael Card song says). In our hearts are the HIGHWAYS TO ZION...our destination...BUT...as we pass through the valley of weeping...the weeping can turn into a PLACE OF SPRINGS...POOLS OF BLESSINGS. We can be refreshed...going from strength to strength...increasing in victorious power...when at long last...we will appear before our God in Zion. We have what is known as ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS (Ecclesiastes 3:11)...which caps off the thought that there is an appointed time for everything...a time for every event under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11) When you are walking in a love, calling and purpose of God...you can know that on your journey...ALL THINGS (the good, the bad, and the ugly) work together for good to those who LOVE God...and are CALLED...according to HIS PURPOSE (not our purpose). We can be confident that in the places of bitterness and tears...there will be strength. "He gives STRENGTH to the WEARY...and to him who lacks MIGHT...He INCREASES POWER. Though youths grow weary and tired...and vigorous young men stumble badly...YET those who wait for the Lord...will GAIN NEW STRENGTH...they will MOUNT UP with wings of eagles...they will RUN and NOT GET TIRED...they will WALK and NOT BECOME WEARY." (Isaiah 4-:29-31) FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY As the song by Dogwood says..."keep on walkin'...you don't know how far you've come...keep on walkin'...for all you know it may be done...and the Father...might be standing up right now...to give the call...to end it all...KEEP ON WALKIN'." Love and Travelled Kisses Rodney "Blessed On The Journey" Boyd

ENDTIME BLUES...IF YA DON'T KNOW JESUS

2011-03-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings O Ye Lovers In A Dangerous Time.

"Don't the hours grow shorter as the days go by...You never get to stop and open your eyes...One day you're waiting for the SKY TO FALL...and next your dazzled by the beauty of it all...When you're lovers in a dangerous time...lovers in a dangerous time." (Lovers In A Dangerous Time by Bruce Cockburn)

I have been blessed to record some songs that I wrote many years ago... and collected as a CD collection called RUMINATOR UNPLUGGED. These were songs that were birthed during a time called "The Jesus Movement". One recurring theme in the 70's was the RETURN OF JESUS....END TIMES. Book's like THE LATE GREAT PLANET EARTH by Hal Lindsay were all the rage... while preachers like Jack Van Impe outlined the endtimes in minute detail. For years people have been setting dates and times on the return of Jesus...using twisted Scriptures to prove their point. Cults even point out that Jesus returned already and we missed it because it was an invisible return. They even gave multiple times and dates after it didn't happen before the settled on the invisible return theory. On the Ruminator Unplugged there is a song that I wrote called END TIME BLUES (If You Don't Know Jesus). I guess the thought process was to "scare the hell out of you...and...scare the heaven into you." The song was a driving rocker...that compared what I was reading in the newspaper...and what I was reading in the Bible...and they looked amazingly similar.

People are living these days in HIGH ANXIETY...as talk of the EVE OF DESTRUCTION persists. Fear, despair, and a sense of hopelessness permeates society...OR...people are in denial...and just continue to live life as status quo.

END TIME BLUES (If You Don't Know Jesus)

I was reading the paper the other day
Man, it really was strange
I thought I was readin' my Bible
My comprehension was way out of range
I couldn't believe some of the things I read
It was enough to make you think
Of how it could be the end of time
And we're sittin' right on the brink

Now let me tell you just what I read
And you sit back and digest it in your head

There were earthquakes, famines, wars and rumours of war, pestilence and violence and murders by the score...Now that was what the paper had to say...now let me read from the Bible written yesterday

It was talkin' about Jesus coming again
He was comin' to get the saints that were freed from their sin
And He told of some signs that could let you know it could be soon
So you listen for the trumpet and you will hear that Holy Tune

There were earthquakes, famines, wars and rumours of war, pestilence and violence and murders by the score
But no man knows the hour or the day
But you can tell the signs of the season this way
He's coming back..He's coming back...will you be ready...He's coming ba..

NOTE: Originally in the band Hosanna...the song had a harmonica part...and the ending was an Elvis like finish..."I said He's coming back...coming back..for me and you." On the CD...Shane Atkinson who produced it...cut off the last word...as if He came back. I still get chills when I listen to it.

Well...that song was a true reflection of the "signs of the times" then...and even more now.

It appears that things are increasing with an intensity. Some who try to downplay the COMING OF THE LORD would say...that these things have always been happening...and the advent of the Internet and 24/7 news merely makes it "appear" like there are more of these signs. I remember my Uncle Neal tell me the same thing back in 1970 when I was witnessing to him...as he used that as an excuse for not accepting Jesus.

Of course there is nothing new under the sun...(unless you are under the Son...then you are a new creation in Christ).

After Jesus had been crucified, died, buried and raised from the dead (aka D.B.R...Death, Burial, Resurrection... nothing more...nothing less)...He was meeting with the disciples and giving them the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth). After He had finished...He left.

"And after He had said these things, He was LIFTED UP while they were looking on...and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said...Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, WILL COME IN JUST THE SAME WAY AS YOU HAVE WATCHED HIM GO INTO HEAVEN." (Acts 1:9-11)

Jesus spoke of the end times...in Matthew 24-25 when followers came to Him privately, saying..."Tell us...WHEN will THESE THINGS (see Matthew (23)...HAPPEN...and WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING...AND THE END OF THE AGE? (Matthew 24:3)

Just a few of the SIGNS includes:

1. Misleaders coming and saying "I am the Christ"
2. You will hear of wars and rumours of war (don't be frightened, these things must take place..
but that is NOT the end).
3. Nation will rise up against nation
4. Kingdom will rise up against Kingdom
5. In various/different/divers places there will be famines
6. In various/different/divers places there will be earthquakes

NOTE: All these things are merely the BEGINNING OF BIRTH PANGS

7. They will deliver you to tribulation
8. They will kill you
9. You will be hated by all nations...because of the name of Jesus
10.Many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another
11.Many false prophets will arise and mislead many
12.People's love will grow cold because of lawlessness

NOTE: Violating God's law

13.The one who endures to the END will be saved
14. This gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the WHOLE WORLD as a testimony to
ALL NATIONS...and THEN...the END WILL COME

These are just a few of the signs of His coming and the end.

Jesus then begins to tell them what happens AFTER all of these things comes to an end.

"But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN...will appear in the SKY..and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. And He will send forth His angels with a great TRUMPET and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the SKY to the other." (Matthew 24:29-31)

Jesus then goes into PARABLE MODE...to illustrate what He just spoke of and the need to BE READY. (Matthew 24:32-Matthew 25:46)

"Therefore BE ON THE ALERT for you DO NOT KNOW WHICH DAY YOUR LORD IS COMING..." (Matthew 24:42)

Paul underscored the return...in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and I Thessalonians 5:1-11. Of course the Bible is filled with many other words on the end times.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

I don't know when He is going to return...but it sure looks close. NOTE: I have a few copies left of RUMINATOR UNPLUGGED. Let me know if you would like a copy...then you can hear END TIME BLUES (If You Don't Know Jesus)

Love and End Time Kisses
Rodney "Be Ready" Boyd

BIRTH: The Art of Dealing With The Flesh and Spirit

2011-03-10T04:29:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salutations at the beginning of Lent. Is it almost over? Oh...it's only been two days. Lord...HELP!

On August 15th 2011...I will be celebrating my day of birth. I will be 60 years old. If I live to be 120 years old...I would be considered to be middle aged. I've got a feeling...that I am over the middle aged mark at this point in the game. My friend...Chip Payne...recently celebrated his 5oth birthday...and it dawned on me...that when he turns 60 years old...I will be 70 years old. That just AIN'T right.

Back on August 15th 1951...my mother Elizabeth Boyd gave birth to a boy at Allen Clinic in Murfreesboro Tennessee.

NOTE: At this point...let us focus on picture #1 and all join in with a collective Awwwwwwww....how cute.

This birth was the result of the union of Lonnie and Elizabeth Boyd 9 months earlier...and the cause and effect was pregnancy...and the culmination of BIRTH. Flesh (human beings)...gave birth to flesh (another human being). This does follow the Biblical principle...John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh...is...flesh..."

For the next 19 years...I went from a bouncing baby boy...to a skipping skinny kid. My life was shaped by my environment including my parent's values... my friend's peer pressure...the good, the bad, the ugly...religious upbringing...my free will and choices I made based on my flesh (not my body...but my nature).

In the fall of 1970...I was a paranoid, addicted, selfish, individual (who followed the crowd like a lemming running over a cliff). Why is it that we want to be individuals...and then dress, walk, talk, act like everyone else?

In the fall of 1970 Brenda led me to the Lord...and I accepted Jesus as my Saviour...and boy did I need saving. At that point on the space-time continuum, I went from being born the first time...in the flesh...to being BORN AGAIN...in the Spirit. I had received a divine touch here on planet Earth... and John 3:3...and began to see the kingdom of God. "Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly...I say to you...unless on is BORN AGAIN...he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). I went from being born of the flesh...because flesh gives birth to flesh...to being BORN TWICE...where "that which is born of the Spirit (big S) is spirit (little s).

I could NOT change myself. I personally needed a divine touch. As of this writing it is March 10th 2011. I was born again in the fall of 1970. I wish that I could tell you that...I matured spiritually from then to now on a regular, consistent basis...but I can't. I have had many HILLS...and VALLEYS. I have been on the MOUNTAIN TOP (great spiritual times) and I have been in the depths of the VALLEYS (in the lowlands and dark times).

I have walked in the Spirit and experience life and peace...and I have walked in the flesh and experienced death (a disconnect from His presence). I can't blame God, people, situations and circumstances for my flesh walk. I can't even blame the devil..."The devil made me do it."

The same principle of my natural birth back in 1951...was...and sometimes still is in 2011... flesh gives birth to flesh.

"It was for FREEDOM that Christ set us FREE...therefore...KEEP STANDING FIRM and do not BE SUBJECT AGAIN to a YOKE OF SLAVERY. (Galatians 5:1)

NOTE: A great warning written to believers who had been BORN AGAIN.

"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." (Galatians 5:13)

NOTE: Spirit walk can turn into flesh walk by a turning. It is not our calling to walk in bondage...but to walk in freedom.

"But I say...WALK BY THE SPIRIT...and you WILL NOT carry out the DESIRE OF THE FLESH. For the FLESH sets it's 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." (Galatians 5:16)

NOTE: Paul is writing to believers...who are struggling with the things of the flesh and Spirit.

That speaks to me of my struggles over the years. When I WALK in the FLESH...versus WALKING IN THE SPIRIT...flesh gives birth to flesh...versus...Spirit giving birth to spirit.

I will either be in the flesh...and the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)...OR be in the Spirit and having growth with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)

The way that this GROWTH PROCESS takes place in my life...is by death. "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus (that would be me and you via being BORN AGAIN)...have CRUCIFIED THE FLESH...with its PASSIONS and DESIRES." (Galatians 5:24) Once the flesh crucifixion takes place...then we must LIVE AND WALK BY THE SPIRIT. "If we LIVE by the SPIRIT...let us ALSO...WALK BY THE SPIRIT."

The way that we crucify the FLESH...is to IDENTIFY with the work that Jesus did...that we could NOT 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 in the flesh (physical body)...I live BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD...who loved me and delivered Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:20).

We crucify our flesh and walk in the Spirit by faith in what HE DID...not what we do. Paul stated that "...I die daily..." speaking not of him dying for his own sin...but again...accepting what Jesus did in Galatians 2:20.

Paul questions some people who started out in the Spirit...but now were trying for perfection in the flesh.

"You foolish Galatians...who has bewitched you before whose eyes JESUS CHRIST...was publicly portrayed as CRUCIFIED? This is the only thing I want to find out from you...did you RECEIVE THE SPIRIT by the works of the Law...or by HEARING WITH FAITH? Are you so foolish? Having BEGUN BY THE SPIRIT...are you now being PERFECTED BY THE FLESH? Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? So then...does He who PROVIDES YOU WITH THE SPIRIT and WORKS MIRACLES among you...do it by the WORKS OF THE LAW...or by HEARING WITH FAITH?" (Galatians 3:1-5)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Flesh gives birth to flesh...Spirit gives birth to spirit. During this Lent season...this is my primary desire...to SAY NO TO THE FLESH...AND SAY YES TO THE SPIRIT...in my spirit, my soul, and my body. The flesh must get into line with the Spirit...and this time is where..with the HELP OF THE HELPER (The Holy Spirit)...I can discipline myself for the purpose of godliness. (I Timothy 4:8-16)

Love and Spirit-Filled Kisses
Rodney "Change My Heart O God" Boyd

SUPPLY AND STRENGTH (How to Deal With Shortage)

2011-03-08T05:59:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salutations O Ye...Non-Worriers.

NOTE: If you are choosing NOT to worry and TRUST GOD...write me and let me know.

In a world that is coming apart at the seams....where on the surface it seems as if there are great SHORTAGES around the world of everything from oil to intelligence...we have got some choices to make. To WORRY...or NOT TO WORRY...that is the question?!? The answer is NOT TO WORRY...BUT TO TRUST...not in governments, jobs, people...but GOD.

Of course I had to include the picture that is in my office at home...that I gaze on everyday... of the mascot of Mad Magazine...the "What--Me Worry" kid...Alfred E. Newman. Now...old Al is considered to be a simpleton...who is not smart enough to worry. Well...that may be... but as a believer in the Living God...who is the SOURCE of my SUPPLY...I believe...that I am called NOT TO WORRY...but to TRUST.

As I wrote on my Facebook status this morning..."If you can trust God when gas is $1.50 a gallon...why can't you trust God at $4.00 a gallon? He's the same God...is He not?"

No...I am not talking about hiding our heads in the sand of religion...go into mass denial of a problem existing...BUT...I am talking about WALKING BY FAITH...AND NOT THOSE THINGS REVEALED TO THE SENSES. (Hebrews 11:1).

"Anxiety and Worry is the indicator that I do not trust God...or think God is big enough to handle whatever my circumstance, situation, condition is that I am going through." (R.L.B.)

It is easy to trust God when all is well...when I have a job...when the political climate is perfect, when Wall Street is stable, when world conditions are peaceful, when I have no sickness screaming in my body, I have insurance and access to my credit cards (making the minimum payments)....etc, etc, etc. It's like a miracle...everyone wants to see a miracle in their lives...not realizing that the condition for a miracle...ain't fun.

Well...Mr. Smart Guy...Mr. Holier Than Thou...Mr. Hypocrite...if I am not suppose to be ANXIOUS and WORRY...what other options do I have?

Oh...I don't know....maybe TRUST GOD! I like what Jesus said to Peter and the boys when they saw that the tree that He had cursed had died from the roots up. "HAVE FAITH IN GOD...CONTINUALLY." (Mark 11:22 The Amplified Bible). Then Jesus launched into a teaching session on PRAYER and FAITH...how we believe and how we talk. (See Mark 11:12-26 for full details.)

The word CONTINUALLY...speaks to me...of never giving up...in the good times, in the bad times, in the ugly times. It is the word that Romans 8:28 is based on..."We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] ALL THINGS (the good, bad, ugly) work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." (Romans 8:28 The Amplified Bible...with my good, bad, ugly added).

There are two verses that I love that speaks of STRENGTH and SUPPLY... and they are both NOT based on me.

"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 The Amplified Bible) I love that phrase...self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency because it focus on what HE can do...NOT on what I can do.

The other verse that speaks to me is about SUPPLY is..."And MY GOD...will liberally SUPPLY (fill to the full) your every NEED (not greed) according to His riches in glory IN CHRIST JESUS." (Philippians 4:19 The Amplified Bible...with "not greed" added by me.)

On of the compound names of God...is Jehovah-Jireh...I AM THE GOD OF SUPPLY.

Either HE IS...or HE AIN'T. It is like that word GODISNOWHERE...either it is GOD IS NO WHERE...OR GOD IS NOW HERE. It all depends on how you view it.

It is all about our WALK. We either are going to WALK BY FAITH...or walk by doubt, fear, unbelief, fear, worry, anxiety, what we see, what our senses tell us.

"Now FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation , the title-deed) of the THINGS [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] DO NOT SEE...and the conviction of their reality--FAITH PERCEIVING as REAL FACT what is NOT REVEALED TO THE SENSES." (Hebrews 11:1 The Amplified Bible)

"For we walk by faith...[that is, we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] NOT BY SIGHT OR APPEARANCE."
(II Corinthians 5:7)

"But without FAITH it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out."
(Hebrews 11:6 The Amplified Bible)

"For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith--disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith. As it is written the Man who through faith is just and upright and shall LIVE...and SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (ROMANS 1:17)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

There may be shortages in the economy...but their AIN'T no shortage in God. Maybe the question should not be..."What...Me Worry?...but What...Me Trust God?" That answer would be a resounding...YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love and Supplied Kisses
Rodney "Trusting God In The Good, Bad, and Ugly) Boyd

THE LENGTHENING OF SEASONS

2011-03-04T03:34:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Sojourners...

"Craaaaaaaawfish....Craaawfish...see I got em...see the size...stripped and cleaned...before your eyes....swwwweeet meat...fresh and ready to eat." (Crawfish from the movie King Creole). Here is one of my favorite pictures with my boy Phillip...sucking the heads of the crawfish...aaaaaaaah
"sweet meat...fresh and ready to eat."

NOTE: No...your eyes don't deceive you...that is a picture on my shirt... that world famous rock group PINK FLOYD...the barber that is.

For those who don't know...my favorite Elvis Presley movie is KING CREOLE (1958) adapted from the Harold Robbins book A STONE FOR DANNY FISHER.

The opening for King Creole is set in the French Quarters in the early morning...with the sellers of various foods...pushing their carts...crying out what they have to sell. Craaaaaawfish is being shouted out. Elvis leaning on the balcony...joins in and sings along with them. Ms Kitty White is one of the first females to share vocals with Elvis. It was more a call and response more than a duet.

Elvis plays Danny Fisher...a kid who works in the clubs at night...and goes to high school by day...and is getting ready to graduate...until he has a run in with some local gang members in the club...and Maxy Field's (Walter Matthau) girlfriend...played by Carolyn Jones (Morticia Addams of the Addams Family). The picture in the lower right hand corner is Elvis/Danny singing..."If your lookin' for trouble...you came to the right place...if you're looking for trouble...just look right at my face...I was born standing up...and talkin' back...my daddy was a green-eyed mountain jack...I'm evil...my middle name is misery...well I'm evil...so don't ya mess around with me." (Trouble Lieber and Stoller).
Well...you may be asking yourself "Self......what does any of this have to do with the "lengthening of seasons" Well I'm glad you asked. NEW ORLEANS....the place where the world is looking at as the season of Lent is fast approaching. March 8th, FAT TUESDAY...the day before Ash Wednesday..the kick off for a forty day sojourn into LENT. The word LENT means the "lengthening of seasons."...and is the sojourn into a time of preparation, prayer, penitence, alms giving, and self-denial for a 46 day time frame in the space time continuum...where the end will be Easter (Resurrection Day). It reflects the time when Jesus went into the wilderness prior to His public ministry began as He was tempted by the devil (little d). He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights...prior to this temptation.

NOTE: The common thought about temptation is something that you are pulled INTO...but temptation is really designed not to pull you into something (although that would be one of the causes and effects)...BUT...temptation is designed to PULL YOU AWAY FROM WHO YOU REALLY ARE...AND YOUR PURPOSE/DESTINY. (Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat To Larry Napier)

I like the season of Lent...because it is a set aside time of self reflection. it is a time for a more intense time of disciplining my self for "the purpose of godliness" in the areas of my speech, my conduct, my faith, my love, my purity. (I Timothy 4:8-16)

Oh I know...I know...this is what I should be doing 365 days a year... 24/7. But there are times...seasons... when you just have to draw away from the crowds, the voices, the hoopla, the hoi polli...and press into HIS PRESENCE...to clear the cobwebs out of your spiritual head...to clean out the build of of cerumum (ear wax), wipe out the sleep (crud) from your eyes...so think, hear and see things from a God Perspective, instead of being overwhelmed by the world in the Land Of Nitty Gritty.

Part of the process is to give up something during this time as a symbolic representation of dying to the flesh. The day prior to Ash Wednesday...aka Mardi Gras...Shrove Tuesday (pancake Tuesday), Carnival (Farewell To Meat)...the LAST FLING...has turned into a time for debauchery before the 40 days of denial.

For me...there are multiple things that I will be giving up...during this time (known only to me and God). I usually seek God in the areas of my spirit (little s), my soul (mind, will, emotions) and my body (flesh, blood, bones).

The time frame for LENT differs from Western to Eastern church culture. For me...I will be utilizing the 40 days...with 6 days off from what is given up...on Sundays. The 6 days of rest from the other days represents mini-Easter/Resurrection days.

DISCLAIMER: Fear not...I am not advocating rules, regulations, holidays, special foods, etc. as something that will get God to love me more. It is just a personal time for me...to remove the distractions and things that leech onto me throughout my walk.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY...NO REALLY...FINALLY

See ya the other side of Lent...HE IS RISEN...HE IS RISEN INDEED...EVEN DURING LENT.

Love and Craaaawfish Kisses
Rodney "Lengthening Of Seasons" Boyd

AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE PART TWO

2011-02-23T04:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings Warriors...O Ye Wrestlers for the Lord...Karatekas of the Spirit... Contenders for the Faith.

NOTE: Our first picture...we see our friends..."On a mission from God." They are in a place called WAR West Virginia. Note...that this is a staged photo op... where Mr. Hart...has the gawgeous Mrs. Hart in a head lock. In real life...I have a feeling that it might be a reversed situation.

Well...in our last Rambling...we discovered that we are Amphibious beings... between the Glory and the flame...walking out our faith in the Land of Nitty Gritty. We are IN the world...but not OF it. Whether we acknowledge it or not... we are in WAR.

"For we are not WRESTLING with flesh and blood--contending only with physical opponents--but against the despotism's, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness IN THE HEAVENLY (supernatural sphere). (Ephesians 6:12 The Amplified Bible)

NOTE: In this next picture...we see that age is NOT an issue in the fight. Here we have Ms Betty Coleman who is a third degree black belt and just happens to be 80+ years old. On the receiving end of her fist...is my jaw.

One of the keys to Spiritual Warfare...is the need for PREPARATION. If you just go out swinging without preparation...you may get in some lucky punches...but the end most likely will be... a lost battle.

In The Book of Joshua...we see God speaking to Joshua and Joshua passing on the command to his men..."Pass through the camp, and command the people..PREPARE YOUR PROVISIONS... for within THREE DAYS yo shall pass over this Jordan...to GO IN TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND...which the LORD YOU GOD IS GIVING YOU TO POSSESS." (Joshua 1:11).

They were NOT suppose to just cross over and possess the land...there was a PREPARATION. Without the PREPARATION...there would be NO POSSESSION. Note also that the Lord was giving the land to be possessed...but the STILL HAD TO POSSESS IT...from inhabitants of the land...the enemy...the resistance forces.

Since 1970...I had instilled within me...that The Word of God...is imperative in my life.

NOTE: This picture is the first Bible that I bought for myself. When I thumb through it...I see place along the early part of my journey underlined...with notes written out to the side...worn pages from multiple readings. Some say the B.I.B.L.E. means Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

One of the best PREPARATIONS for this WAR is to RENEW your mind with the Word of God. We see that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for (1) teaching [facts presented] (2) reproof [pointing out where we got the teaching wrong]
(3) correction [by practice] (4) for training in righteousness [although we are righteous by nothing we can do...we work out our salvation by training].
(II Timothy 3:16) QUESTION: Why is the Word of God so important? ANSWER: "That the ma of God may be adequate...equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:17)

A companion PREPARATION FACTOR for the WAR is...THE BAPTISM IN/OF/WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. "But you shall receive POWER/DUNAMIS/DYNAMIC ABILITY--ability, efficiency and might--when THE HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you...and you shall BE my witnesses (not necessarily witness...but will actually BE a witness by what you say and do) in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends--the very bounds/boundaries--of the earth." Acts 1:8)

COMMERCIAL BREAK: Starting on Wednesday night, March 2nd 2011, at Springhouse Worship and Arts Center...we will start a class called THE BAPTISM IN/OF/WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (Have You Received Since You Believed?) For more information you can contact me at 415-7577. Check our our website at www.ruminators.net

We see that we are in WAR...and there must be PREPARATION for WAR. We need (1) renewed minds with the Word of God (2) The Holy Spirit as our POWER SOURCE (3) we need to IDENTIFY THE ENEMY. (4) Fight the enemy in proper order. Let's check out Ephesians 6:10-20 for the WAR PLANS.

NOTE: This last picture is a picture of me in my Black Belt exam. It represents YEARS OF PREPARATION and blood (mine) sweat (mine) and tears (also mine). If I would only prepare myself in my spirit...in training and being prepared for the spiritual attacks...Oh how the kingdom would flourish.

1. Be strong IN THE LORD.

NOTE: Where we draw our strength from will determine how we fight.

2. Be strong IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT.

NOTE: Do not rely on your might, you talent, your ability for strength.

3. PUT ON the the FULL (not partial) armour of the Lord.

NOTE: In our preparation...don't go out partially prepared.

4. THAT

NOTE: The reason for putting on the FULL ARMOUR

5. You may be ABLE TO STAND firm against the SCHEMES of the devil (little d)

NOTE: There are well orchestrated schemes by the stealer, killer, destroyer, liar, accuser...aka devil, d-evil, satan, the dragon, the serpent, prince of the power of the air

6. For our STRUGGLE is NOT against FLESH and BLOOD, but the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

NOTE: We tend to focus on what we SEE and expend all of our energy in the battle against manifestations of the problem BEFORE we cut at the ROOT of the enemy. When we become weary..the enemy can then waltz in and take us out...and I don't mean for dinner.

NOTE TO THE NOTE: The battlefield is identified...the heavenlies. The battlefield is also identified in Philippians 4:6-8 as the heart and the mind...where peace stands as guard.

7. THEREFORE

NOTE: Therefore...refers to the previous verses...and we need to see what they are THERE FOR...because that effects and is the reason what the next verses talk about.

8. Take up...put on...the FULL ARMOR OF GOD.

NOTE: The first notice to put on the full armor of God is that you may be able to STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil (not turn tail and run). The second notice to put on the full armour of God is what is underscored next.

9. That you may RESIST IN THE EVIL DAY.

NOTE: Again...we are NOT running away from the battle...but fully armoured up and prepared to STAND and RESIST. We are the RESISTANCE FORCE for the KINGDOM OF GOD...for righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

10. And having done EVERYTHING

NOTE: We give it all we got...and do everything that can possibly be done.

11. TO STAND FIRM

NOTE: Once you have done everything...this is NOT the time to LET DOWN YOUR GUARD. Keep on STANDING FIRM.

NOTE TO THE NOTE: We have talked before of the place between the point of prayer and the point of provision...as the LAND OF NITTY GRITTY. This is where you need to take your STAND OF FAITH. "Faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] DO NOT SEE and the conviction of their REALITY--faith PERCEIVING as REAL FACT...what is NOT REVEALED TO THE SENSES." (Hebrews 11:1 The Amplified Bible)

We see in Ephesians 6:14-17 a listing of the armour and weaponry and it's meaning. We have at our access: (1) girded loins/truth (2) breastplate/righteousness (3) the footwear/Gospel of peace (4) shield/faith (5) /helmet/salvation (6) sword of the Spirit/the Word of God.

Being fully armoured...fighting the true enemy (and then we may engage on earth)...we are called to:

"PRAY at ALL TIMES--on every occasion, in every season--IN THE SPiRIT, with ALL[MANNER OF] PRAYER and ENTREATY. To that end...KEEP ALERT and WATCH...with STRONG PURPOSE and PERSEVERANCE...INTERCEDING in behalf of ALL SAINTS (God's consecrated people. (Ephesians 6:18)

When we pray, entreat, intercede...as part of our warfare...we open the door for freedom...for the saints to open their mouths, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news...the gospel. They will be able to do it boldly and courageously...as they OUGHT TO DO. (Ephesians 6:19-20)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Amphibious Warfare is where you are able to fight on two levels. Start in the heavenlies... and then when He speaks to you...strategically strike on planet earth..as we bring His will...His kingdom on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN.

Love and Armoured Kisses
Rodney "Rumbling Rod" Boyd

AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE (Part One)

2011-02-19T04:44:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Amphibious Beings...how's it hopping? "Froggy went a courtin'."

AMPHIBIOUS: (1) living or able to live both on land and in water; belonging to both land and water.
(2) capable of operating on both land and water; amphibious vehicles
(3) of or pertaining to military operations by both land and naval forces against the same object, especially to a military attack by troops landed by naval ships.
(4) combining two qualities, kinds, traits, etc. of or having a mixed or twofold nature.

The first picture/collage is a collection of fighters, warriors, defenders of the weak...with the battles taking place with some on planet earth...while others practice KNEEOLOGY and fight first in the heavens...and then on planet earth. NOTE: The smiling, baldhead man...is my pastor's dad...Mr. Harvey Meek...a true warrior of the Kingdom...now in the presence of the Father.

This picture is a group of fighting Missionaires (including my wife Brenda in the far right hand corner of the ring) in a little place called WAR West Virginia.

Years ago...Brenda and Me (or is that Brenda and I...I/Me can never remember)...were at a retreat called CFO (along with Gary and Rena next to Brenda in the picture). CFO stood for CAMP FARTHEST OUT...and it was. At this place called CFO there was an old man by the name of Glenn Ellis who was a naturist...and would take us on walks in the woods and walk and talk about the Creative God and how we could see Him everywhere we looked.

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal POWER and GODHEAD/DIVINE NATURE, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)

At one point Glenn made a comment of how we were really amphibious beings...living here on planet earth, and seated with Christ in heavenly places. The saying is...derived from Scriptures is that we are IN this world...but NOT OF IT. Randy Stonehill had an album a few years ago called BETWEEN THE GLORY AND THE FLAME..speaking of our walk on this 3rd Rock from the sun...as we walk out our faith. Petra had an album called NOT OF THIS WORLD (II Peter 2:11; John 15:18-19; John 16:33; Matthew 16:18; John 14:3) In the Ruminator Sunday School Class we call this THE LAND OF NITTY GRITTY...where we walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT or THINGS REVEALED TO THE SENSES. This is the place where real stuff happens to both Christians and non-Christians alike. This is the battlefield where things are manifested like sickness, death, dying, pain, suffering, economic roller coasters, wars and rumours of wars, political upheaval, selfishness, hedonism, overt and covert sins, transgressions, and iniquities....and the devil (ruler of earth and prince of the power of the air).

As AMPHIBIOUS BEINGS...we are CALLED as emissaries of the KINGDOM OF GOD...where we continue with the commission of Jesus and pray down the Kingdom of God on earth as it is heaven. We are ministers of reconciliation, envoys, ambassadors...representing God and his will, wishes and desires. For this to take place...we are fighting in two locations...we are trained or organized to fight on both land and sea...on earth and in the heavens...but before the first blow is struck on earth...we must fight in the heavens. If we don't...we will be wearing ourselves out...by fighting the wrong enemy...flesh and blood.

At Bushido School of Karate...run by Sensei Bill Taylor...we are trained to fight, defend, and deal with the enemy. In Wado Ryu (our style of karate) there are no wasted movements, but subtle shiftings, twists, turns. On thing Mr. Taylor tells us...that "FIGHTING IS A GAME OF ADJUSTMENTS." If you don't adjust...and try to fight with a mind set on one way...then you will lose. A fight that starts out on your feet can easily end up on the ground...and if you are fighting with a standing mindset...you lose. You must ADJUST to the attack of the enemy... to be able to defend appropriately.

We are at WAR...that takes place in the heavenlies...and is manifested on earth. Two places of battle...but NEVER FEAR...we are AMPHIBIOUS (A.B.). We are on a mission (Go-Mission) from God...Spiritual Operations (S.O.) have been...and continually are being trained and organized to fight.

In Wado Ryu karate...everything begins and ends with respect...or as I like to call it...REI-spect. Rei simply means to bow. We can either bow standing or down on our knees... in preparation for our workout. In the kingdom of God...I like to call this KNEEOLOGY.

NOTE: In my 10+ years...I have never been taught, encouraged, forced to bow down and worship or pledge my allegiance to any man or deity. I bend my knee to NO human, false God, demon. The bow is a sign of REI-spect.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Next time we will be looking at the (1) battlefield (2) enemy (3) armour (4) weapons
(5) schemes (6) how to counter the schemes

Love and Amphibious Kisses
Rodney "Let's Get Ready To Ruuuuuuummmmmmmmmbbbbllle" Boyd

THE WONDER OF BRENDA

2011-02-14T03:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Hallmark Card Day...will you be my Valentine? I'm not the obligatory return card...just because your mother made you buy me one...but will you be my Valentine?

Oh I know...hearts, arrows, candy, Saint Valentine, cards with mushy sentiment, chocolates, expensive gifts, going out to eat...all the trappings of a programmed people.

Some live for this day...while others loathe this day. Those who have someone put the day on a pedestal...while those who are alone...avoid the day like a plague.

I remember the day that Brenda Sue Williams walked into my life on a Sunday afternoon in 1969...in a garage on Nancy Avenue in Murfreesboro Tennessee, as the band I was in...THE BLIND DISTORTION (aka THE BLACK ROOM)...was practicing. Here we are in 2011...still together...still in love.

Valentine's Day is merely one day...another day...that I get to express my love to the woman that God has place in my life.

While February 14th is just another day...like the 364 that precedes it...I appreciate the special quality of this day to focus on L.O.V.E.

"Love me tender...love me true...never let me go...I will spend my life with you and I love you so..." (Elvis Presley)

"I will spend my whole life through...loving you...yes loving you." (Elvis Presley)

"She loves you yeah yeah" (The Beatles)

"Love, love me do...you know I love you...I'll always be true...so pleeasse, love me do...oh yeah...love me do." (The Beatles)

Back on June 15 1959 there was a song released by Ray Peterson...called The Wonder of You. Ray...who had a 4 octave voice range...had hits like Tell Laura I Love Her, Corrina Corrina, Goodnight My Love and others. I had the honor of getting to know Ray and his lovely wife Claudia through church. Ray past away on 1/25/05...and Claudia leads the worship dance team (Praise In Motion) as Springhouse Worship and Arts Center. Elvis Presley asked Ray if he could record The Wonder of You...and Ray responded in the affirmative...after all you are Elvis...to which Elvis responded..."You're Ray Peterson."

NOTE: If you get a chance...check out the album...THE OTHER SIDE OF RAY PETERSON...in my opinion...far superior to his "big hits".

NOTE: Ray was also a true RUMINATOR attending THE RUMINATOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. He would come in...kiss me on the cheek...call me a sweetheart...and then open up his Bible and moo and chew on the Cud of the Word of God. I miss Ray.

Ray once told me (an others)...that he sings The Wonder of You as a worship song unto the author of love.

THE WONDER OF YOU (Baker Knight)

When no one else can understand me
When everything I do is wrong
You give me hope and consolation
You gave me strength to carry on

And you try to show...your love for me
(Elvis version: And you're always there to lend a hand)
In everything you do
That's the wonder....the wonder of you

And when you smile the world is brighter
You touch my hand and I'm a king
Your kiss to me is worth a fortune
Your love for me is everything

I guess I'll never know the reason why
You love me like you do
That's the wonder...the wonder of you

I guess I'll never know...the reason why...you love me like you do...That's the wonder...the wonder of you.

When I hear the song THE WONDER OF YOU...of course I think of Ray, Elvis, and the Lord...but I always, always, always, think of Brenda.

NOTE: Brenda and Phillip got to go down to Florida and went to the Yankee Training Camp one year...and also was able to go to a Ray Peterson concert...that was fantastic.

Well...I have said all of the above to say this.

"God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were YET sinners...Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:8)

"For God so loved the world that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal..everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. IN this is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." (I John 4:7-12)

In the fall of 1970...Brenda Sue Williams introduced Rodney Lewis Boyd to the Author of Love. I remember like it was yesterday...when we were parked in her driveway at 426 4th Avenue Murfreesboro Tennesse..."What do I have to do to be saved." Her good Baptist girl instincts kicked in...and she led me down the Romans Road to Salvation...and I accepted the Lord...I received the Lord into my life...and my life has never been the same. I walked the aisle at church next Sunday...got baptized...and the rest is HIStory in our lives.

Brenda has stuck by, supported me, prayed for me, lifted me up, encouraged me...and still does to this day...as I stumble along on this journey...seeking God's will. That's why the song THE WONDER OF YOU...always makes me think about Brenda.

Valentines Day may be just another day....but it is a special day...like everyday is a day that we should be loving the Lord...but Sunday is a special day...to gather together and celebrate.

I love you Brenda.

Love and Wonder Kisses
Rodney "Loves St. Brenda" Boyd

23: (The Cud of Psalm 23)

2011-02-08T04:28:00.000-08:00

Greetings...he said with a sheepish grin. How's the flock. Oh I know...you're thinking that maybe...there should be a reference to a cow...since this is a Ruminator Rambling....an extension of The Ruminator Sunday School Class...where we be mooin' and a chewin' on the Word of God...like a cow chews the cud....like the ruminant they are. Well...BAAAAAAAAAAA. Some would say that maybe a sheep would have been more Biblical...since...after all...the children of Israel did worship a GOLDEN CALF. Well...BAAAAAAAAAA.

"For every beast of the forest is MINE, and the CATTLE on a thousand hills." (Psalm 50:10) MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

But for this Rambling....we look at the Shepherd...and the sheep.

In these six short verses...there are 17 references to ME/I. There are 12 references to the Lord. So what we have here is a song sung to the plucked psaltry...akd PSALM...about a relationship between...
ME (the sheep)-------->and--------->THE LORD...(our Shepherd)

O.K....O.K....let me get this out of the way. The first picture is a reference to ME being in the Bible. "Your ROD and Your Staff...they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4) I had no idea that I was in the Bible. I am YOUR Rod...I am HIS Staff. NOTE: Be sure to see the tongue faced firmly in my cheek before you write back with a stinging rebuke for being so arrogant) : )

1. The Lord is MY Shepherd: Insert your name where it says my. Make this one personal...because it is personal. It is not just a relationship between sheep and shepherds...or between David and God...but it is an intimate relationship between YOU and GOD.

2. I shall NOT want: If you are in the throes of WANTING...check out your relationship with the Shepherd...or check out you checklist of your wants. "My God shall supply all your NEEDS (not your greeds) according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (and their ain't no shortage in Christ Jesus). (Philippians 4:19) NOTE: As I am writing this...I am listening to and recording the album REAL TO REEL by Noel Paul Stookey (yes...Paul, of Peter, Paul and Mary). The first song is 23rd Psalm. He adapted and arranged this Public Domain Foundation song back in 1977. I have since adapted and arranged it adding in Isaiah 40:31 and Amazing Grace)

3. He makes me to lie down in green pastures (pastures of tender grass). We are now talking about what we "SHALL NOT WANT"...that our shepherd will provide. I don't know about you...but I go and go and go and go and go...until my body finally screams out...REST!
When I lay down...I can almost hear my body release with an audible...aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh. Well our Shepherd...knows that we need REST...and he makes us lie down in a place of tender grass. Sure...grass is good for eating...as we chew...process...digest...regurgitate and begin to chew on the cud...BUT...I see a tender place to rest...not on hard, dirty, muddy soil...but tender grass.

NOTE: The picture of the man jumping for joy with guitar (a 2nd cousin to the Psaltery/Lute twice removed on it's mamma's side)...is Phil Keaggy from his album WHAT A DAY. Wouldn't you leap, jump, cavort, rave on if you realized your needs were met? I would.

4. He leads me beside still waters: Sheep...are...well...they/we...are sheepish. If the waters were RUSHING...it would be hard to take a long, leisurely, drink of cool, clear...water, water, water. NOTE: To be sure...there is a place for rushing, mighty waters in the life of the believer. Rivers of Living (lively) waters will be flowing of us as the inside wells of salvation overflows... speaking of the Holy Spirit. But WATER represents...not only the Holy Spirit but also The Word of God...and we drink deep of the Words of The Shepherd. We become RENEWED by the washing of the water of the Word.

5. He restores my soul: Oh for the restoration of our minds, our will....choices we make and our emotions. The Rolling Stones sang about an Emotional Rescue...but they have no clue about true rescue that we have because of our Shepherd restoring the totality of who we are...our souls. "The Kingdom of God is not meat nor drink...but (1) righteousness (right standing) (2) peace (wholeness/rest (3) joy (emotional overflow)...IN THE HOLY GHOST."
(Romans 14:17)

6. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake: As one of His children... as one of the heirs of salvation...as one of His namesake...we have a promise of being led down a path. Everyone is being led down a path. Those who don't have the sheep's best interest at heart will lead us down paths of destruction. But our Shepherd...who loves us...has our best interests at heart...leads us down a path of right standing...RIGHTousness...NOT WRONGeousness. NOTE: Dogwood (the group not the tree) has a song called REMEMBER WHOSE CHILD YOU ARE. We need to remember that we are His NAMESAKE...and when we take those paths of WRONGeousness (aka unrighteousness)...we smear His name in the mud... and their ain't nothing worse than a muddy sheep over all of that white as snow wool.

7. Yea (yes indeedy)...though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...I will fear no evil: Hey...this path of RIGHTEOUSNESS...that we are being LED on BY THE SHEPHERD... may lead through VALLEYS...where there are SHADOWS of DEATH. The first thing you need to remember...that even though there are shadows in this world...shadows can only mean that there is a LIGHT. We must keep on walking...THROUGH the valley...don't set up camp and dwell there forever. Jesus was led...by the HOLY SPIRIT...into the wilderness (a lonely place) to be tempted by the devil. Jesus in the physical was depleted of ability...but he was repleted with the Word of God, The Spirit of God, and the Authority of God to face the temptation. The two fold aspect of these valleys....is devil temptation (designed to pull us away from who we really are)...and God testing (to strengthen us as we press into Him). Jesus CAME OUT the other side of the wilderness experience...returning being ministered to by angels...and be IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (devil 0 God 1). In the valley of the shadow of death... be sure to come out the other side.

8. I will fear no evil...for You are with me: In the valley of the shadow of death...or for that matter whatever you are going through right now...you will have every opportunity to fear...BUT...He speaks..."Fear not." NOTE: In the Ruminator Sunday School Class...we have been studying Psalm 27...the question is...with the Lord as our LIGHT and SALVATION... "whom shall I fear." The expected answer...is NO ONE! I asked the class...what would Jesus say to you...IF He was here with you today...in your situation, circumstance, sickness, financial difficulty? The answer was..."Fear Not." I had the class close their eyes...and I walked around and touched various people and spoke calmly..."fear not." Then I had the class...with their eyes still closed...touch the person/persons around them...and speak..."fear not" to them...because... it is a fact that Jesus...by the Holy Spirit in us...is still speaking. We are the BODY OF CHRIST... the hands of Christ...the extension of Christ...so there is no need for fear...He is with us.

He is with you. He has a ROD (not me) used to prod us along as we need to keep on moving... and a STAFF with a crook...to pull us back for potential danger...or if we swerve off the path of righteousness. Be glad that I am not the shepherd...I would be beating you with the rod...and yanking out of anger with the staff. Our Shepherd...uses these tools to COMFORT us...in times of shadows of death...because...He has NOT turned-tail and run away from the evil...but is RIGHT THERE WITH US.

9. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: The table represents a place of worship. The table represents a place of eating, food, fellowship. The table represents a place for us to recline and relax. The table is promised IN THE WILDERNESS. When we...as sheep DON'T believe that God can prepare a table in the wilderness...it angers God.

"Yes, they spoke AGAINST God: They said, can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?" (Psalm 78:19-20) The expected answer is a RESOUNDING YES!!!! If He can do it in a wilderness experience....He can do it in a Death Valley experience surrounded by enemies.

10. You ANOINT my head with OIL: Oil was used to keep the flies away. The OIL is symbolic of the Holy Spirit in our lives...as the lord of the flies...beelzebulb tries to distract us. Anointing...is the pouring out...the rubbing into...the smearing on of nard, ointment, oil. It is used of consecration, prayers for the sick, etc. "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with (1) The Holy Spirit (2) power/dunimas/dynamic ability...and how He went about (1) doing good (2) healing ALL who were oppressed by the devil (little d) for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) Note: Sickness/Disease are considered to be oppression by the devil... NOT blessing from God.

11. My cup runneth over: This is like the Luke 6:38 verse for me..."Give...and it shall be given unto you...(1) good measure (2) pressed down (3) shaken together (4) running over...shall men give unto your bosom. As Ed Ames sang..."my cup runneth over with love." As Dottie Rambo requested in song..."Fill my cup Lord...I lift it up Lord..." His heartbeat is not TRICKLE DOWN blessings. His Shepherds heartbeat at the table prepared before our enemies is OVERFLOW. We are not like the Syrophonecian woman who begged for healing crumbs from the table like a dog. We have access to the whole table...prepared before our enemies.

12. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: I would be remiss if I did not say..."Don't call me Shirley." (Leslie Neilson in Airplane). Also I would be remiss if I did not point out that Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy has got our back in the valley. The bottom line...we leave a trail of goodness and mercy where ever we go.

13. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life...FOREVER: Dwelling is taking up residence in. Brenda and I have been in our current house going on 23 years. We are in the process of getting the house ready for our retirement (where I can lay downs Speech Therapy/Tent Making) and pursue my passion of writing, teaching, guitar/worship...and we can travel on missions. We plan to (unless the Lord changes the plans) to dwell within the household of the Boyd's forever. There is a permanency in the KINGDOM...when the Lord is your SHEPHERD.

Well...there ya go...that enough CUD for ya?

Love and Sheepish Kisses
Rodney "Rod and Staff" Boyd

SEED THIEVES

2011-02-03T03:49:00.000-08:00

Greetings Seed Planters and Harvest Reapers...how's da crop?

Last night in the HEALING 101 class, we were talking about renewing the mind...changing the way we view and think about healing...by renewing our minds with the washing of the water of the Word of God. Part of the lesson was based out of Pro-Verbs (Positive-Action) 4:20-27

We were seeing how there was a need to give attention, incline our ears, keep our eyes focused and keep the WORDS and SAYINGS of the father. The cause and effect of doing this would be (1) life (2) health/medicine to all their flesh (3) issues of life springing out of the heart.

In Pro-Verbs 4:21,23 that we are to KEEP these WORDS/SAYINGS in our HEARTS and to KEEP them with ALL DILIGENCE.

KEEP: Shamar (shaw-mar)= A primitive root; properly to HEDGE ABOUT (as with thorns), that is GUARD; to PROTECT, ATTEND, PRESERVE.

In Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15 is what is known as the Parable Of The Sower/Seed/Soil. The common thread throughout the parable is the sower...is sowing the seed...into the soil. What changes is the condition of the soil. There is (1) soil by the wayside (2) soil with stony ground
(3) soil with thorns (4) good soil.

In each soil...the SEED was the target of difficulties in TAKING ROOT.

NOTE: This picture is of one of my favorite albums by Barry McGuire (Eve of Destruction)...SEEDS.

Jesus identifies the SOIL...as our HEARTS. The SEED is identified as THE WORD OF GOD.

Jesus identifies the SEED THEIVES as: (1) birds=satan (2) scorching sun= tribulation, persecution (3) thorns= the cares of this world; the deceitfulness of riches, the desire for other things.

These identified thieves...either steal, cause to stumble, and chokes out the SEED/WORD. The cause and effect of all of these thieves...there is NO ROOT...and NO FRUITFUL PRODUCTION.

WHY? Why would these thieves want to steal this seed, scorch this seed, choke this seed. Well...if the SEED is THE WORD...and...FAITH comes by hearing...and hearing by the WORD OF GOD...IF the seed is stolen, scorched, choked out...then FAITH won't come...and without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD. (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:6; II Corinthians 5:7; Romans 1:12; Romans 1:17; Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:38; Galatians 3:11; Galatians 5:6)

IF you want good fruit production and harvest...you need to KEEP...GUARD...CULTIVATE the HEART/SOIL and the SEED/WORD. The GOOD SOIL...are those who (1)heard the word (2) heard with a noble and good heart (3) keep the word (4) bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15) The cause and effect is bearing and yielding a crop that (1) sprang up (2) increased (3) produced 30, 60, 100 fold.

That's WHY it is so important to hide the WORD/SEED in our HEARTS/SOIL...and then GUARD IT...KEEP IT...DILIGENTLY SEED A HEDGE OF THORNS around it...so the SEED THIEVES can't get in...and steak, scorch, and choke the WORD making it of no effect in our lives.

One good way to do this is the TOPICAL MEMORY SYSTEM...by THE NAVIGATORS, where you can systematically memorize/store the Word of God in a renewed mind, and store it in your hearts.

FINAL THOUGHT...FINALLY

"How can a young man keep his way pure...by keeping it ACCORDING TO THY WORD...Thy WORD have I HID/TREASURED in my HEART/SOIL...that I might not SIN AGAINST THEE" (Psalm 119:9,11)

"My son...GIVE ATTENTION to my WORDS...INCLINE your ear to my SAYINGS. Do not LET/ALLOW them (words and sayings) DEPART from your eyes. KEEP (guard) THEM (words and sayings) in the midst of your HEART/SOIL. For they (words and sayings) are LIFE to those who find them and HEALTH/MEDICINE to all their flesh. KEEP (guard) them (words and sayings) WITH ALL DILIGENCE...for out of it (HEART/SOIL) spring/flows the ISSUES OF LIFE." (Pro-Verbs 4:1-23)

Love and Protective Kisses
Rodney "The Farmer In The Dell" Boyd

THE LORD... LIGHT...AND SALVATION (Who's Da Boss?)

2011-01-26T04:08:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends.

Are you in the dark...or are you in the light? Well...in a world that appears to be overwhelmed by darkness, there is a light dawning...and within the dawning light...there is salvation.

"The Lord is my light...and my salvation." (Psalm 27:1)

LORD: 'adon (ah-done)= owner, master, lord, sir, the one in control. The primary meaning is master. Adonai (ah-do-ni) is used of the glorious Lord in all His powers and attributes.

The bottom line is that Lord means BOSS. Now...to some...Bruce Springsteen is THE BOSS...Jimmy Reed the old blues man would sing about BIG BOSS MAN...later covered by the King of Rock and Roll...Elvis... and in Hazzard County...the Big Boss... is literally BIG...as a Hogg... BOSS HOGG.

But the true BOSS...is THE LORD... JESUS IS BOSS. Jesus is...the one in control...LORD.

This is the one you want in control when darkness overwhelms you.

In Psalm 27...the word LORD (Boss) appears a total of 12 times. The words He/His/You/Your that appears as a reference to the LORD...appears 12 more times...so you have at least a total of 24 times where the LORD is directly or indirectly spoken of within 14 verses. Ya kinda get the idea that THE LORD is the focus of our SALVATION.

We have a need for SALVATION... because we are surrounded by ENEMIES. There are (1) evildoers
(2) adversaries (3) enemies. (Psalms 27:2) They attempt to bring dread, devour my flesh, war against us, bring fear, have a desire against us, give a false witness against us, and breath out violence against us...bringing us to despair. (Psalm 27:1-13)

This thing called SALVATION is more than our understanding of "FIRE INSURANCE"...avoiding a place called Hell...that we fear. Salvation is a very real thing that can be applied to every area of our lives. I don't know about you...but I need SALVATION to avoid hell...and get into heaven...BUT until the glory train comes...I need SALVATION to get me through my everyday nitty gritty life. Once you get SAVED...the enemy does NOT just throw up his hands and think..."well...I lost another one." NO...he will intensify the attacks on us.

Remember 24 times...the LORD is the focus of our salvation.

SALVATION: Hebrew: yesha=liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety. In the Greek=soteria/soterion=soundness, prosperity, rescuing, releasing, deliverance, liberation, freedom.

LIGHT: ore=illumination, luminary, bright, clean, glorious, set on fire, shine.

IF the Lord is your LIGHT and your SALVATION...here is the big question. WHOM SHALL I FEAR?

The answer is NO...BODY...NO THANG...NUTTIN' HONEY...ZIP, ZILCH, NADA, ZERO!!!!! We can't deny the reality of the ENEMY...because they are REAL....but our LORD...is "REALER". Now I know that "REALER"... may not be a REAL word...BUT...it is NOW...REALLY!!

What we MUST do...is when the (1) evildoers (2) adversaries (3) enemies (a host) begins to encamp and war against us (Psalm 27:2-3)...we MUST begin to see things through the OPEN EYES OF FAITH.

The perfect picture of this look into the invisible...is found in II Kings 6:1-33. The King of Syria was warring against Israel. Elisha warned the king of Israel that the Syrians are coming and to avoid going to a certain place. The King of Syria's heart was enraged...and plotted to get Elisha. The King of Syria sent (1) horses (2) chariots (3) and a great army AT NIGHT...and surrounded the city. (II Kings 6:8-14)

NOTE: We are in a war...the devil is out to get us...and at times...it appears that we are surrounded...and fear begins to creep in because of the enemy.

The servant of Elisha...rose up early in the morning...and SAW with his physical eyes...the army, horse, and chariots...CIRCLING THE CITY. He cried out to his MASTER (lord and boss)...WHAT SHALL WE DO? (II Kings 6:15)

NOTE: Elisha's answer to the question...DO...NOT...FEAR.

Elisha told his servant to NOT FEAR. Why? Why not fear? In the natural...there was reason for fear. Here is Elisha's answer for not fearing. "FOR THOSE WHO ARE WITH US...ARE MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE WITH THEM." (II Kings 6: Say what??????? The servant could not SEE IT. All he could see is surrounding enemies, adversaries, evildoers.

QUESTION: What are you seeing...in your situations, circumstances...nitty gritty life? QUESTION #2 Are you afraid?
ANSWER: FEAR NOT.

Elisha then prayed...that the eyes of his servant would be OPENED. The cause and effect of Elisha's prayer...the Lord OPENED the servant's eyes and he SAW. What He saw was TRUTH... and truth...trumped reality. The truth was...the mountain was full of HORSES and CHARIOTS OF FIRES...all around Elisha.

You can check out the rest of this reality in II Kings 6...but suffice to say...PSALM 27 becomes real...when the eyes of our faith are open to why we should NOT fear...because...

"THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION...WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE DEFENSE OF MY LIFE...WHOM SHALL I DREAD? (Psalm 27:1)

Love and Enlightened Kisses
Rodney "Waiting For The Lord" Boyd

HASHBROWN THEOLOGY

2011-01-19T03:44:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salutations all of you hashbrown lovers...and you know who you are.

It's late night...and you have been out and about doing your thang... and as you are on the way home...you look over to the love of your life in the passenger seat...and tenderly say to her..."Are you hungry?"

She responds back..."Not really but I could eat something." Then she tacks on..."I'll just take a couple of bites of yours...we can share."

Well...you look for something that is open...and can't find anyplace open at whatever ungodly hour it is...until you see in the distance that familiar icon...glowing in the darkened sky...WAFFLE HOUSE.

You pull into the crowed parking lot... and realize that your inner craving is having an argument with you. On one shoulder is the good craving who implores you to go home and drink some water and go to bed. On the other shoulder...wearing the black trunks...is your evil craving telling you that you deserve it.

Ladies and gentlemen...welcome to the match of the century...Rodney "The Heavyweight" Boyd versus The Waffle House menu....Let's get ready to Ruuuuuummmmbbbbblllle!!!!!

I love to at at the WAFFLE HOUSE (in moderation)...especially the HASHBROWNS. There are at least...according to the menu...

1,572,864 ways to order the hashbrowns. I don't know if that is true...but some of the ways you can order them are:
1. Smothered=onions
2. Covered=cheese
3. Chunked=hickory smoked ham
4. Topped=chili
5. Diced=tomatoes
6. Peppered=jalapeno
7. Capped=mushrooms
8. Scattered=All The Way

What go me thinking about Waffle House Hashbrowns? I was reading Psalm 32 a while back and saw ho David was asking God to deal with his transgression, sin, iniquity and deceit. David wanted God to deal with his SIN...his SCATTERED (All The Way) LIFE. David needed JOY and Psalm 32 was a Psalm of Contemplation. David's sin was heavy upon him with his vitality drained. Combine this Psalm with Psalm 51 (A Prayer Of Repentance) and you have a man poised for repentance.

In these two Psalms...David needed his HASHBROWNS OF SIN...to be dealt with. Unlike the HASHBROWNS combinations a the W.H., there are not 1,572,864 ways to deal with your sins... there is only ONE WAY...by the BLOOD OF JESUS. With that said...here is what David desired:

1. Transgression=forgiven and blotted out
2. Sin=covered and cleansed and hide Your face from my sins
3. Iniquity=not impute/taken into account and washed thoroughly and blot out all my
iniquities
4. Purge and cleanse
5. Wash whiter than snow
6. Make me hear joy and gladness
7. Broken bones rejoice
8. God's face hidden from sins
9. Iniquities blotted out
10. A clean heart created
11. A steadfast spirit renewed within
12. Not cast away from His presence
13. Holy Spirit not taken away
14. Restoration of the joy of salvation
15. Upheld by His generous Spirit
16. Delivered from guilt of bloodshed
17. Praise coming forth from open lips and mouth

God does NOT desire sacrifice (what we can do)...or delight in burnt offerings (what we can do) but the sacrifices that God does desire and delight in...are (1) a broken spirit (2) a broken and contrite heart. God does not despise these things.

Now at the Waffle House...you sit down at the counter or one of their ultra small booths...and the waitress comes over...and says..."What'll ya have...honey?" You then place your order. Now before someone writes me and lets me know that God is not a waitress at Waffle House...please understand that my analogies always break down somewhere along the line....BUT here is the way that he ordered (respectfully requested) for God to deal with his sin, transgression, iniquity.

1. Acknowledge the sin to God
2. Don't hide your iniquity from Him (as if you could)
3. Confess (come into agreement with God...say the same thing God says) transgression to
the Lord)
4. Acknowledge the transgressions
5. Realize that against God and God alone have you sinned

Here is what is delivered to you when you REPENT (change of heart, mind, attitude, direction) and are not just SORRY that you got caught and/or are reaping what you sowed.

1. Purged and cleansed
2. Washed whiter than snow
3. Hearing joy and gladness so broken bones rejoice
4. God's face his from his sins
5. Clean heart created
6. Steadfast spirit renewed within
7. Not cast away from His presence
8. Holy Spirit not taken from him
9. Restored joy of salvation
10.Upheld by His generous Spirit
11.Deliverance from the guilt of bloodshed
12.Tongue singing aloud of His righteousness
13.Lips and Mouth showing forth His praise

In all of this...God does not desire or delight in:

1. Sacrifice (my efforts)
2. Burnt offerings (my efforts)

The sacrifices that God DOES desire and does not despise:

1. A broken spirit (heart of repentance)
2. A broken and contrite heart (repentance)

Well...there ya go. HASHBROWN THEOLOGY is an earthly way to ineffectively describe the wonderful power, love, forgiveness, grace, peace and mercy of God towards us as sinners. The bottom line is...when God does it...He does it right. He SCATTERS ALL THE WAY WITH HIS PROVISION FOR OUR LIVES...but that's for another time.

"Therefore if ANY man...wo-man...hu-man is IN CHRIST...they are NEW CREATIONS...the OLD THINGS passed away...behold NEW THINGS are constantly coming."
(II Corinthians 5:17)

Love and SCATTERED ALL THE WAY Kisses
Rodney "I luvs me some Waffle House Hashbrowns" Boyd

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays

2010-12-25T03:55:00.000-08:00

Ho Ho Ho...Hosanna...Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays to one and all.

In light of the reason for the season...this poor Twilight Zone Santa...has been rode hard and hung up wet. Art Carney really is more than just a comedic actor...he bring meat to the table in roles like this.

TWAS THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS REVISED (With No Apologies To Clement Clarke Stone)

It Twas the night before CHRISTmas...And all through the world...all the people were frantic...
their minds in a swirl...the traditions were hanging by human standards with care...except for the reason for the season..as the nativity scenes were bare...The people were nestled in their comfort zoned beds...with political sugar plums...dancing and marching in their heads. And mamma in her kerchief...and me in my cap...had just settled in...with a separation of church and state slap. When out in the marketplace...there arose such a clatter...I sprang from my complacency to see what was the matter. Away to the window...I ran like a flash...ripped off my blinders and turned away from my cash. The moon on the front lawn...midst the new fallen snow...revealed something shocking...something I sure did need to know. What to my wondering eyes I did see...a manger with shepherds and animals...and a baby I did see. But the next thing I saw...took my breath away in such a fright...I saw Santa Claus...kneeling with tears in his eyes...Oh what a sight! As Saint Nick worshipped the reason for the season...knowing that this was so right...that the world had lost sight of the heavenly light. Tears did flow down...his jolly old red cheeks...and cried out thank you Lord for this ultimate gift...for the baby that would grow into a man...who would die on a cross...as part of God's plan. Then Santa began to lift up his hands...and praise God with joy...as he began to understand...about this little baby boy...that Jesus was not just born as a baby and quit...but grew up to be buried and raised from the dead..to give the devil a fit. And because He was raised...D.B.R was His call...Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays...to one and to all.

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman...and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise and tread your head under foot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel." (Genesis 3:15)

The serpent...devil...accuser of the brethren...the liar and father of lies was cursed for the part that he played in the fall of mankind (Genesis 3:1-24)...and Genesis 3:15 is a prophetic look forward to Jesus dying on the cross. The devil is being put on notice...his future. This picture is from the Paul McCartney project... RUN dEVIL RUN...a great little rocker...with a great message of what happens when Jesus comes on the scene.

RUN dEVIL RUN

Run devil Run
The angel's having fun
Making winners out of sinners
Better leave before he's done
When he gets through...he'll be coming after you
Listen what I'm saying to you...run
Run devil Run

Ya gotta wonder that when Jesus was RAISED FROM THE DEAD...triumphing of death...that if the words of Genesis 3:15 were remembered?

Of course we are in the midst of the season where we are celebrating the entrance of this devil buster into planet earth. Where God comes in the flesh...in the form of the weakest human being...a baby.

"In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and the Word (Jesus) was with God...and the Word (Jesus) was God. "(John 1:1)

"And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His (Jesus') glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

"By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH is of God...and every spirit that DOES NOT CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH is NOT of God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist (anti-anointed one and anti-anointing), which you have heard was coming and is NOW already in the world. (I John 4:2-3)

Of course...this little baby...that we celebrate on Decemeber 25th...every year...the one that the spirit of antichrist is trying to legislate out of existence...and put it on the same level as other humanistic days...did not stay a little baby. The baby grew in wisdom and stature...to 12/13 years old...and then the next time we see Him...He is a 30 year old man. For the next three years this man...with the anointing of God upon Him...went about...doing good and healing ALL who were oppressed by the devil...for God was with Him...to preach and proclaim the kingdom (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:1-3; Acts 10:38)...and manifest the will of God on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). At the end of three years...He started his journey for the real reason for the season...to die in our place...to be buried...and to be raised from the dead...aka the Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-3).

Now wonder the devil wants to negate the birth of Jesus. If he can distract from the birth of a baby to a virgin...by introducing a fat, jolly, man who is a mixture of fact and myth...he can convince us that this Jesus is also a myth.

"But if there is NO resurrection of the dead, then Christ is NOT risen. And if Christ is NOT risen...the our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that HE RAISED UP CHRIST, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ...we are of all men most pitiable. BUT NOW...CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD...and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
(I Corinthians 15:13-20)

FINAL WORDS...FINALLY

We want to wish each and everyone of you a Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays...as you put to rest another year...and get ready for the next year closer to His return. Brenda and I really do appreciate all of you.

Love and Resurrected Kisses
Rodney "Celebrating CHRISTmas" Boyd

IT'S AN AWFUL, BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, LIFE

2010-12-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

Greetings O Ye Fans of Life. Is your life WONDERFUL...full of WONDER, or is your life full of hopelessness, a constant stream of disappointments, and one dream after dream short circuited by situations, circumstances and derailments?

GODISNOWHERE. As you view this phrase...you will either see GOD IS NO WHERE...or you will see GOD IS NOW HERE. It all depends on your point of view. How you view what is happening in your life...will determine how you will deal with your life.

As I do a voyeuristic journey in Facebook...looking at pictures...reading comments...you can get a limited feel about your "friends" views of life. Some are positive, upbeat, lovin' life...while others whine, complain, grouse, about every little thing in their lives...and I am sure...a lot of it is warranted. As noted in the title of this Rambling..."IT'S AN AWFUL, BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL LIFE..I have added the words AWFUL and BEAUTIFUL. One of my favorite songs is by Darryl Worley...whose song AWFUL, BEAUTIFUL LIFE has the line..."I love this crazy tragic...sometimes almost magic...awful, beautiful life." Add in the title from the movie It's A Wonderful Life...and you have an interesting perspective...that depending on how you view GODISNOWHERE...will as we said...will determine on how you deal with life.

Well...Tis Da Season...when one of my favorite movies is dragged out of the CHRIST-mas closet and makes it's rounds on T.V...IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

The movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE originally had it's roots in a short story called THE GREATEST GIFT by Philip Van Doren Stern...that he made into a Christmas Card and sent to 200 friends and family members in 1943. Though a series of events...THE GREATEST GIFT fell into the hands of Frank Capra...who saw the potential to make a movie. It was made into a movie in 1946 that was initially considered a box office flop...even though it received 5 Oscar nominations (no wins). It became a Christmas Classic and is a personal favorite of Wayne "Zuzu's Petals" Berry.
NOTE: Have yourself a Berry Berry CHRIST-mas.

The liner notes in the IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A NOVEL states:

"Here is the timeless tale of George Bailey, a small town nobody who wants to make a difference without realizing that he already has...In its poignant and sensitive way....IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE encourages us to asks the question...what would life have been like wif we hadn't been born? During one CRISIS FILLED night, in the little town of Bedford Falls, circa 1945, George Bailey--father, husband, and president of the Bailey Building and Loan--facing the prospect of scandal ad ruin, finds out. With the not -quiet an angel Clarence (Angel 2nd class...no wings)...at his side to show him...George is given a gift anyone might wish for...to see the world as if he had never lived in it. As if he had never met his wife, saved his family's business, rescued his brother from drowning, or single-handed freed his lovely town from the greed and selfishness of a rich, old man (Mr. Potter).

George Bailey received a gift of a different perspective on his life.

George went from having dreams of a life...with constant interruptions and distractions where he becomes trapped in his not so wonderful life... to the point of despair and hopelessness...to the point of suicidal ideations...to the intervention by an angel...that was moved into motion by the prayers of those who loved George Bailey...to the point of reaching bottom...and crying out to God. The cause and effect of all of this was restoration to his family...and the realization that as Clarence wrote him..."Dear George...Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings! Love Clarence."

Well...what a wonderful movie...with wonderful thoughts. Oh if we could only see beyond where we are...to see who we are in Him. Oh if we could only see smack dab in the middle of stuff that is happening to us...that God causes ALL THINGS (the good, the bad, and the ugly), to WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD...to him/her who (1) loves the Lord (2) are called according to HIS PURPOSE. (Romans 8:28) If we could only see...as Phil Keaggy's song off of his LOVE BROKE THROUGH album..."DISappointment...HISappointment."

GODISNOWHERE. Depending on how you view it...this AWFUL, BEAUTIFUL WONDERFUL LIFE...can be lived to the fullest in the moment...even when bad is surrounding us. As I tell my patients when they don't FEEL...or SEE any improvement..."You are to close to your situation... and you can't see the progress that you are making." Family, friends, and in my case the Speech Pathologist...sees from a different perspective.

Love and Wonderful Life Kisses
Rodney "God is NOW Here" Boyd

FULL OF IT: The Art of Giving Thanks

2010-11-24T04:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving O Ye Chewers of the Cud.

In the words of my friend Ivette...my Cuban-American friend....FELIZ DAI DE ACIONDE GRACIAS...Happy Thanksgiving.

(Sung to the tune of Deck The Halls)
"Tis da season to pig out...gobble gobble gob..gob gob gob gob...people gather with their favorites...gobble gobble gob...gob gob gob gob..now we don our stretchy clothing... gobble gobble gob...gob gob gob gob...coma from a tryptophan overdose..GOBBLE GOBBLE GOB...GOB GOB GOB GOB.

Thanksgiving defined in its simplicity is...the giving of thanks. Every year... one time a week...we gather together with friends and family for a day of eating. Some may take time to reflect on what they are thankful for...but most...eat, drink, watch football, and unbutton their pants...and sleep.

NOTE: A combination of an amino acid...tryptophans (C11H12N2O2)... lots of food filled with carbohydrates and alcohol...lulls us into this wonderful state of suspended animation...aka...sleep.

A couple of definitions from a Hebrew and Greek perspective gives some insight into what TRUE THANKSGIVING should be like...not just one day a year...but 365 days a year.

PICTURE #1 is a Cajun injected, deep fried turkey at one of the previous gatherings at the Boyd Household. PICTURE #2 is Phil Keaggy from the What A Day album...with arms stretched out in joyous giving of thanks.

PICTURE #3 is me with my arms stretch out in Kenya with arms wide open in thanksgiving.

TODAH: (to-dow): An extension of the hand, adoration, specifically a choir of worshippers--confession (sacrifice of) praise, thanks (giving, offering)

EUCHARISTA (you-kar-is-tee-ah): gratitude, grateful language to God as an act of worship, thankfulness (FULL OF THANKS)

When you combine the Hebrew and the Greek meanings of thanksgiving... you have an extension of the hand and mouth with the language and action of worship...as you are FULL OF THANKS.

PICTURE #4 Delmar (in O Bother Where Art Thou)...as he comes out of the baptismal waters...and declares... "come on in boys...the water is fine."

The outstretched arms...the open hands...can be acts of surrender... acts of receiving...acts of throwing/tossing our offerings. When we are FULL OF IT...thanksgiving that is...to make room for more...we need to give out to God what we got. When we hold onto what we are thankful for...we may be FULL OF IT...but we must make room for more.

FINAL THOUGHTS...THANKFULLY FINAL

This Rambling has merely scratched the surface about thanksgiving...but this year...maybe we can use this ONE day out of 365 days...as a launching pad for BEING FULL OF THANKS...for the next 354 on a daily basis. If we would have THANKS on our lips...everyday...there may not be room for the negative stuff we throw out throughout the year.

"In EVERYTHING give THANKS...for this (the giving of thanks IN everything) is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus." (I Thessalonians 5:18)

"Finally, brethren...whatever is true..whatever is honorable...whatever is right...whatever is pure....whatever is lovely...whatever is of good repute/report...IF there is any excellence and IF anything worthy of praise, let/allow your ind to DWELL ON THESE THINGS (ruminate)." (Philippians 4:8)

"Where you're dwelling...will be telling." (Unknown)

"Unrestrained thoughts (what you think)...produces unrestrained words (what you say)... resulting in unrestrained actions (what you do)." (Unknown)

So...renew your mind with the Word...store thankfulness in your heart...stretch out your arms... open your mouth...and let the treasure of thankfulness flow.

Love and Very Thankful Kisses
Rodney "FULL OF IT" Boyd

TOP TEN REASONS AND ROADBLOCKS TO BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

2010-11-11T03:56:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and neighbors....

I became a follower of Jesus Christ (aka...a Christian) back in the fall of 1970. To some this would be a good thing...to others it would be something to endure...to others it would be an act of intellectual suicide. For me it was life.

I was 19 years old...confuse, paranoid, depressed, impressionable, rebellious, independent, a LEMMING (thinking that I was an independent thinker... but really running over the edge of the cliff with the rest of the independent thinkers). I considered myself at that time to enlightened and free. That was the era of FREE LOVE...where free meant NO RESTRAINTS...FREE to do whatever you wanted to do...as long as you did not hurt anyone...but of course since I was NOT an island unto myself...my actions always affected someone...BUT in my free and selfish state of mind...it really did not matter because IT WAS ALL ABOUT ME BABY...ALL...ABOUT...ME.
The anthem was IF YOU CAN'T BE WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE...HONEY LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH.

Even back then (pre-fall of 1970)...I had the spark of a writer in me (or so I thought). I would write stories about Jesus and His band of merry men who were really not merry...but gay...homosexuals... sodomites...as they travelled around the country side giving themselves holy kisses. I found myself become more and more CYNICAL of ORGANIZED RELIGION...and about life in general. Remember... I had grown up in "THE CHURCH."

I was in a band at the time (The Blind Distortion) ...and we were practicing across from the church that is famous for putting on the Bethlehem Market place. It was a Sunday night (I had long ago quit going to church)... and we were rockin' and rollin'. Someone from the church came over and demanded that we stop the loud noise. My response...as they turned around to go back to church...play a rock and roll version of bringing in the sheaves. Boy...was I open minded passing around some of that free love mentality.

This was in the time when JESUS and "spirituality" were in vogue. ON the radio...you were encouraged to "put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water"...as George Harrison was singing to his "sweet Lord" (who happened to be Krishna)...while Ocean was taking "one toke over the line Sweet Jesus"...and Judy Collins was singing about His "Amazing Grace" (along with every drunk at Willie Nelson's Picnic)...and the Beatles were having visions of Mother Mary who told us it would be alright if we would "let it be". The radio air waves were charged with this religious fervor. The Edwin Hawkins singers were singing "Oh Happy Day...since Jesus washed my sins away"...as Norman Greenbaum (a Jewish rocker) was singing about "the Spirit in the sky" and informed us that he "never was a sinner...I never sinned...I've got a friend in Jesus"...and The Lord's prayer was in the Top Ten and Jesus Christ was a Superstar on Broadway and on the radio. In the Weber and Rice play...Mary Magdalene informed us that she was confused about her love relationship with Jesus...because she did not know how to love him...and Judas was just a misunderstood disciple. Another Broadway show told us to take it..."Day by Day...and to pray three things...as the Byrds and later on the Doobie Brothers (as they toked their doobies) proclaimed that JESUS WAS JUST ALRIGHT WITH ME.

Remember...this was not church and Christians singing about God and Jesus...it was your average everyday, recording artists. This was the atmosphere...that the JESUS MOVEMENT (Jesus moving among people) was birthed within. It was your average everyday hippie...accepting Jesus...becoming BORN AGAIN (a phrase found in John 3:3) and brought to the forefront by Jimmy Carter...the President of the United States...and later by a book by Chuck Colson...the Richard Nixon head henchman).

Lots of people were making decisions to accept Jesus and become a follower...or NOT accept Jesus...because they were open minded...intellectually superior than those weak minded fools. Lots of people had reasons and excuses for NOT becoming a Christian...and it was not limited to the 1970's or even the 1960's. From the time that Peter preached his first sermon after Pentecost...people have made the choice...and people have their reasons and excuses...their ROADBLOCKS FOR NOT BECOMING A CHRISTIAN.

With all that said....here are THE TOP TEN ROADBLOCKS TO BECOMING A CHRISTIAN.

NOTE: These were reasons and rationalizations that I used over the years. Others may have their own top ten lists.

#10 It would be crimp in my lifestyle. It's kinda hard to get drunk, do drugs, have sex with a male or female or both, watch pornography, cuss, commit adultery (fill in the blank of your favorite sin)...when you are suppose to ACT (definition of a hypocrite) like "A CHRISTIAN".

#9 I'm not WORTHY to be a Christian...so I will clean my act up first and then become a Christian. NOTE: Of course the self cleansing never takes place...because the more I try to clean...the dirtier I become.

#8 I keep 6 out of 10 of the Ten Commandments..and I'm pretty sure that is good enough to get me into heaven (if heaven really does exist).

#7 My sweet, dear, old Grandmother Boyd was a Christian...and she was praying me in before she died...and she told me this many times. I know that God will answer her prayers and I will slid on in...on her prayers.

#6 I like that Jesus do...he's just alright with me...but it's His followers that I can't stand. if I've got to be like THEM...then I would just as soon go to HELL. NOTE: This is usually followed by "I don't like ORGANIZED RELIGION".

#5 Until I have every answer to ever secret of the universe...or at lease to where all of my questions about God are answered...I WILL NOT BELIEVE. And even if I do have all the answers...I may or may not become a Christian...after all...it is very inconvenient and might disturb my free loving, free thinking lifestyle.

#4 I refuse to become a LEMMING like those people who watch the "T.V. Christians"...and send my money to those big haired, tear crying, charlatans. I am too WORLD SAVVY to be taken in by them.

#3 Christianity is an insult to my INTELLECTUAL PROWESS. I refuse to commit intellectual suicide for a fairy tale about some poor Jew...who thought He was God's Son...and allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross...to become a substitute for my sins...die on that cross...and then was buried..and three days later...rose from the dead. NOTE: This is also known as D.B.R... Death, Burial Resurrection...nothing more...nothing less. I would rather teach my kids that a bunny rabbit came in the middle of the night and left a bunch of candy and eggs or that a fat man in a red suit infiltrates our home in the middle of the night leaving gifts and eating cookies. At least those are more credible than that Jesus thing. After all...it is all about the children...isn't that what Easter and Christmas is all about?

#2 One word...HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!!!!! I refuse to become a HYPOCRITE like them. I would rather be a HYPOCRITE like other people. They say one thing and live another. They act like a saint one day a week and live life like hell the other six. They dress up in their fine clothes...while the rest of the world suffers. They are nothing but a club for the rich. The preacher makes more money than some of the people in his congregation. Some of those deacons are driving better cars than I am. All they want is MY MONEY. They want to tell me what sinner I am...and then do the same thing they condemn me about. Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Eddie Long, John Welsey Fletcher, those pedophile priests, Tammy Faye Bakker, Benny Hin (fill in the blank of whatever current religious person that failed to ACT like a Christan). Of course the ratio of believers who never steal, lie, cheat, commit adultery, etc... is NEVER taken into consideration. The bulk of the New Testament is written to "believers" who were still sinning and not ACTING LIKE A CHRISTIAN...and had to be corrected. Consider the church of Corinth...who lacked in none of the spiritual gifts, eagerly waiting for the coming of Jesus, were selfish, divisive, getting drunk at the Lord's supper, having sex with their mother in laws, not being considerate at the cover dish and eating up all the food, out of control...you know...HYPOCRITES. NOTE: I glad that the Bible was written to cover up the sins and fault of those HYPOCRITES...oh yeah...it didn't.

AND THE #1 REASON AND ROADBLOCK TO BECOMING A CHRISTIAN:

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

Well...that's a few of the reasons and roadblocks that I HAVE USED in the past...and sometimes still use. you probably have your own...or have heard others.

COMMERICAL BREAK

Has God been speaking to you about getting connect with the church again? Have all your reasons and roadblocks and excuses for not being a Christian left you feeling just as empty as before. I would like to invite you to ease back into a new life...by attending the Ruminator Sunday School Class...meeting every Sunday Morning at 9:00 A.M. at SPRINGHOUSE WORSHIP AND ARTS CENTER. We meet in the Fellowship hall for food, fun, laughter...and then at 9:30...we begin to chew on the Cud of the Word of God.

Love and Removed Roadblocks Kisses
Rodney "Reasons No More" Boyd

WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT...STUFF HAPPENS.

2010-11-10T05:09:00.000-08:00

Hello Ye Ole Cud Chewers. Stuff Happenin'?

I found a copy of a collection of Ruminator Ramblings today...called MOO GOT MAIL (Ruminations From The Rambling Ruminator). As I was thumbing (or would that be hoofing) through the book...my eyes caught a Rambling that I wrote back on 10/1/2003 08:23 A.M. In light of many, many people that I talk to...who are going through STUFF in the lives...I thought I would drag out this old chestnut...dust it off...revamp it...add some pictures (those old Ramblings had no pictures)...and let it escape once again. So hold on...here's hopin'.

DERAILED AND DESPERATE...HOW DID I GET HERE...HANGING FROM THIS HIGH WIRE...BY THE TATTERS OF MY FAITH...SOMETIMES A WIND COMES OUT OF NOWHERE...AND KNOCKS YOU OFF YOUR FEET AND LOOK...SEE MY TEARS...THEY FILL THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY...THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY...SOMETIMES A WIND COMES OUT OF NOWHERE...AND KNOCKS YOU SIDEWAYS...AND LOOK...SEE MY TEARS...THEY FILL THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY...THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY. (Bruce Cockburn "The Whole Night Sky" from the album The Charity of Night)

This is one of my favorite albums in general...and one of my favorite Cockburn (Co-burn) albums. The song quoted here...really speaks to my situations...that I go through...and many of the people that I talk to...and currently...many of my Facebook friends that they post about. Some (me at times) grumble and complain about the STUFF that is happening...others roll over and play dead... others run away from God...while others press into God.

Have you ever been standing in the field...chewing your cud...ruminating away...the sun is shining...the birds are singing...an occasional human being drives by and bellows at you with a moo and laughs as their car speeds on by...and you just keep on chewing that cud...when all of a sudden...BAM...your world falls apart. Your peace is dissipated...your world is rocked...your COMFORT ZONE...suddenly becomes and uncomfortable WAR ZONE?

I mean...there are times when all is right with the world (at least in your private, personal world)...where God is on His throne and you have enough money to meet your needs and an overflow to help out others (true Biblical prosperity).

NOTE: It's pretty easy to believe in healing when you are well. It's pretty easy to trust God for your finances...when you have money in the bank...a job that pays well...401 K...insurance and credit cards to back you up. I mean...why would you need THE Master...when your master is your MasterCard?

One of the phrases in the Bruce Cockburn song that appears three times ( I didn't write all the verses) is SOMETIMES A WIND COMES OUT OF NOWHERE. The word NOWHERE is what takes us by surprise. When I entered my first karate tournament in 2002...I was very nervous. I had been practicing in class...advanced in the ranks...felt pretty good about my abilities for an overweight...at the time 51 year old man. I entered two areas of competition..(1) Kata (no contact in this one...just running my various moves) (2) Kumite (free style sparring). There were rules...referees..my opponent...and Ruminatin' Rod. My expectation was that the referees would enforce the rules and Old Rod would be O.K. Someone forgot to tell my opponent and the referee.

We face off...bowed to each other (out of mutual REI-spect) and BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOMETIMES A WIND (or a fist) COMES OUT OF NOWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My opponent (see the picture of me and him hugging)...who was a lean, young, mean, fighting machine...looking every inch the spitting image like Major Payne (the Damon Wayans character)...came forward (out of nowhere)...and hit me square on the nose...which happened to be attached to my face). It knocked me back...stung...my head got woozy...my knees wobbly...and I looked over to the ref with the expectancy of him calling a foul and deducting a point. To my surprise...he did none of that...and motioned for us to continue fighting. Long story mad short (oops...to late for that)..OK..long story made even longer..this guy..out of 14 fighters WON...AND I came in 4th place.

My lovely wife Brenda...documented the exact point of contact on my nose...on film...and my son gave me words of advise after the event...when he lovingly told me..."Dad...next time duck." I learned a valuable lesson that day...PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS PLAY BY MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE RULES. Neither does satan...(little s...he does not deserve capitalization)...and neither does the world.

NOTE: A year later...Major Payne...came to a seminar at our school...Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate...and came up to me. He said he wanted to apologize for hitting me in the face...he has felt bad about it for a year. Then we took the picture you now see. Of course after the photo op...I place a ureken across the bridge of his nose. (Just kiddin')

We live in a fallen world where the curse is rampant, there is a devil (little d..he does not deserve capitalization)...who is out to steal, kill and destroy you. Little d is out to accuse you before God...the heavenlies...your brethren and sistern...and even yourself. And when the fallen world...the curse...the devil does not get you...we then pull a Barney Fife and shoot ourself in the foot...by LETTING OUR GUARD DOWN...and ALLOWING STUFF into our lives...OUT OF NOWHERE. Bumper sticker wisdom states that "s*** happens. The sanitized version is STUFF HAPPENS....but I saw a bumper sticker from All Saints Episcopal church that states GRACE HAPPENS. Each one is true...it's how we DEAL WITH IT...that will determine if we STAY KNOCKED DOWN and OUT...or will we RECOVER and CONTINUE ON.

Sensei Bill Taylor has a quote..."Fighting is a game of adjustments." This is so true. If you don't adjust...you will be trying to to a front kick while you are face down in the ground. You must adjust the fight...or you will lose the fight.

This picture is found on the wall at the Broad Street location of Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate...and it really is W.O.A.W. (Wisdom On A Wall) It shows the progression of how we should learn things...(1) Stances are the number on foundation. If you don't have a good foundation...you will have ineffective techniques (2) Posture is next. If you are running your techniques with your head looking down...you will miss the moves of your opponents. If your core is bent over your power will be depleted. I your knee is not positioned high for the kick...it will follow the path of where it is pointed...and that is not good if you want to hit the head...and your need is pointed lower. (3) Technique will be executed more strategically precise...when stance and posture are correct.

So it is when SOMETIMES A WIND COMES OF NOWHERE. You need to know how to adjust in the spiritual...because your emotional...and you physical will follow suit.

In Josh McDowell's book EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT...he put a little thing that stuck with for years....

GODISNOWHERE

NOTE: Read the above phrase...then write down what you see...and say out loud what you wrote down. There were TWO CHOICES:

(1) God is NO where...OR... (2) God is NOW here

Two perspectives...two views...two interpretations...ALL DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

In the Book of the Cud (for Ruminators...that is the Word of God)...we are extolled and encouraged to be ready...stand our ground...keep our guard up...keep our lamps filled with oil and the wicks trimmed...live in expectancy. Expectancy that there ARE enemies...that there are lands to be taken...that there will be opposition...that we can be laid low in the wilderness...that we can stumble...that we can be taken by the very thing that we correct others in...that temptation can not only pull us into something...but that it really pulls us away from who we really are. Expectancy that we can be more than conquerors...the head not the tail...blessed not cursed....blessed beyond the curse for His promises are sure.

Do bad things happen to TRUE BELIEVERS? Do bad things happen to FAITH PEOPLE? Do the winds come out of NOWHERE and knock us off our feet and knocks us sideways...catching us by surprise? Do the fighters and referees always play by the rules..and do you sometimes get hit square in the face? Do the fighters in the street play by the rules and regulations?

The answer is...YES...STUFF...UNFAIR...UNEXPECTED STUFF HAPPENS...and NO...LIFE IS NOT FAIR...but HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT (His favor, gift, divine influence in our heart manifested in our lives)...because in the midst of the NOWHERE WINDS....is His NOW HERE PRESENCE and HELP.

NOTE: You may be doing ALL THE RIGHT THINGS...and still STUFF HAPPENS. It is not a badge of your spiritual maturity...or a gauge of your faith if STUFF (good or bad) HAPPENS TO YOU. If could mean that you are SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS WILL AND WALKING LIKE YOU SHOULD BE WALKING...walking by FAITH...and not by SIGHT (II Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1, 6)

Here' some STUFF to do...whole you are in the midst of your STUFF:

1. Test yourself to see i you are still in the faith (II Corinthians 13:5)
2. If there is SIN in your life...deal with it (by repentance and confession) and be done with it
(I John 1:5-10)
3. If there is a devil trying to pull you into something and away from who you really are...then
RESIST him. (Matthew 4:1-11; I Peter 5:5-11)
4. If our are LAID LOW in the wilderness...do a temptation check. (I Corinthians 10:13)
5. Realize who is the enemy. (Ephesians 6:10-12
6. Join the RESISTANCE FORCE (I Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 6:13)
7. After the first wave of attack of STUFF...don't let you GUARD down. (Ephesians 6:13-14)
8. Get on your armour and be ready for the battle (Ephesians 6:13-17)
9. Pray (Ephesians 6:18-19)
10.Prepared yourself for the battle BEFORE the battle. (Joshua 1:1-18)

Well...that is it. I don't know about you...but I needed that. If you needed that...let me know.

Love and DUCK DAD Kisses
Rodney "His Grace Is Really Sufficient" Boyd

DOUBT and FEAR: The Makings of Walking By Faith

2010-11-08T04:31:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Fraidy Cats.. how is you DOUBT FACTOR. Are your FEARS fueling your DOUBTS? Well...here is a word of encouragement for you...BE A FRAYED KNOT.

"Fear ye NOT." (Jesus: Matthew 10:31)

"Sometimes I'm nuttin but A FRAYED KNOT... even though being told...BE AFRAID NOT." (Unknown)

Our friend the Cowardly Lion...in the Wizard of Oz...was a afraid of his own shadow...which led to his doubt about who he really was...The King of The Forest. He ran into Dorothy, The Scarecrow, and The Tin Woodman...who gave him hope that his courage could be restored to him by the Wizard of Oz. Of course...he found out that he had the COURAGE POTENTIAL all along. Fear and Doubt can paralyze us...and distracts us from what is in us all along. It is like TEMPTATION...that is designed not to pull us into something...but to PULL US AWAY FROM WHO WE REALLY ARE. (Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat To Larry Napier).

If the tempter (little t)...aka the devil (little d)...can place doubt and fear in our minds...he becomes the controller (little c) in our lives.

"Fear, doubt, unbelief, anxiety, worry, tension...will either be our tombstone...OR the stepping stone to trusting our God." (R.L.B.)

We must "BE ON THE ALERT". When we let our guard down...in comes the doubt and fear.

"Be of sober spirit...be on the alert. Your adversary (little a)...the devil (little d) prowls about like a roaring lion...seeking someone to devour."

The lion roars...intimidating whomever will be intimidated...and then go for the weakest link. The one who prowls about seeking someone to devour... who roars like a lion...is an intimidator (little i).

We are called to RESIST him...FIRM IN YOUR FAITH (not loose and sloppy in our faith..but FIRM in your faith).

"But RESIST him (little h) FIRM IN YOUR FAITH...knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." (I Peter 5:9)

Whether you are in Guatemala (like Kirk and Diana)...or in Peru (like Ron and Annette )...or in Kenya Africa (like Don and Nancy )...or in Rio Bravo...(like Ray and Leah)...and many, many more around the world...you have the same experiences of the roaring lion (little r.l.) There are...and will be many opportunities to fear and doubt.

Yesterday at Springhouse Worship and Arts Center... Pastor Ronnie Meek gave a great word on "Doubting Thomas"...and how...just because we have doubts and fears...does not mean we are any less men and women of faith. For us to have faith...means that doubts must be real....for something to have faith real in our lives. I have often said...that just because you are going through something...does not mean that you are NOT walking by faith...or OUT of the will of God. Most likely...you are SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WILL OF GOD...where you have to trust in God and God alone.

Fear and Doubt are not to be grasped...but should be WHY you are pressing into the Lord even more.

"Now FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for (confidently expect)...being the proof of things [we] DO NOT SEE and the conviction of THEIR REALITY--faith perceiving as REAL FACT what is NOT REVEALED to the senses." (Hebrews 11:1 The Amplified Bible)

When we begin to walk in this FAITH...in the face of DOUBT and FEAR...we begin to PLEASE GOD.

"But without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) BELIEVE that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)." (Hebrews 11:6)

I like that idea...of in the face of doubt and fear...that I am not just sitting around...accepting whatever comes down the pike as the will of God...but earnestly and diligently SEEKING HIM OUT...and by doing that...I have entered into the POSSIBILITY of pleasing Him as I face the IMPOSSIBILITIES of life.

Many of you may or may not know that I like Old Time Radio. I listen to the various shows including comedies, variety, drama, mysteries, etc. One of my favorites is THE SHADOW.

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men...The Shadow knows." (The Shadow...aka Lamont Cranston)

"The weed of crime bears bitter fruit...crime does not pay...The Shadow knows." (The Shadow..aka Lamont Cranston)

The Shadow strikes fear in the hearts of the bad guys...like Batman...who adopted the symbol of the creature that strikes fear in Bruce Wayne's heart...a bat.

Many times...we have to face the things that strikes fear and doubt in our heart. The Shadow may know a lot about evil in hearts...but God...know our hearts, our minds, our will, our emotions, intentions of the heart.

(Hebrews 4:12)

Frank Gorshin is the personification of Batman's nemesis...THE RIDDLER. The Riddler wrecks havoc on Gotham City with crime...bring fear and doubt to the citizens hearts... all the while...leaving clues for Batman to follows...with riddles. The giant question mark...is his symbol.

In Mark 11:22-26...Jesus has been teaching on prayer, faith, authority, walking by faith and not by sight, the power of the spoken word and the power of forgiveness. Jesus tells us that as we pray..."and does NOT DOUBT at all in his heart...but BELIEVES..that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."

Sometimes...as we go into hyperspace with our faith...we tend to forget to do the basics. We get so wrapped up with confession, not doubting, believing (on what our prayers are focused on), forgiving...that we forget the main ingredient in our prayers.

"In the morning when they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree (that Jesus had cursed previously) was withered (completely) away to IT'S ROOTS (below the level of vision when first spoken). And Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! The fig tree which you doomed has withered away.!" (Mark 11:20-21)

Now...here is what we tend to miss in the formula..."And Jesus replying said to them, HAVE FAITH IN GOD...CONSTANTLY." (Mark 11:22)

Doubt and fear are real. We do not disclaim their reality...but as we say in the Ruminator Sunday School Class..."We do not doubt (fill in the blank) their reality...but we do deny their right to rule our lives...because TRUTH (the Word of God) TRUMPS reality." (R.L.B.)

My lovely wife, friend, helper...Brenda reminded my what Steve Burkett's father told me a while back...in reference to fear.

FEAR is nothing but F=false E=evidence A=appearing R=real.

You will either be A Frayed Knot...OR Afraid Not.

Lover and Non-Frayed Kisses

Rodney "Believing" Boyd

THE REFRESHING

2010-11-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings dry and thirsty friends. How do you quench your thirst.

I know that when I work out in my karate class...I am a mass of sweat. If you come up to me and slap me on my back...you would (1) knock me down and (2) get splashed with the residue sweat. After a strong workout...there is nothing quiet so good as a long drink of Power-Aid or water. I can almost feel the regenerating liquid course through my body... and restoring and refreshing me back to vitality.

In this world that we live and breath in...sometimes the things of life overwhelm us and depletes us from strength, vigor, vitality, and our potential. We need to be refreshed, renewed, revitalized, and rehydrated.

When you become dehydrated in the physical...and in the spiritual...you simply go through the motion of life. Purpose, drive, potential, motivation is either put on automatic pilot...or put in neutral.

Weather has been know to be a factor in our emotional state of being. Paul Williams song...recorded by The Carpenters (one of my favorite groups)...RAINY DAYS AND MONDAY'S...says it all...they always GET ME DOWN. We enter into a FUNK...that is not the upbeat sounds of FUNKY. We get the blues, the blahs, the pity party mindset, the why does everything happen to me mentality, the throw up the hands and why try syndrome.

What to do...what to do? Well...you can either lay around in depression... or you can press in to the Lord...and drink from the Latter Rains.

One of the first things to focus on...is that even in the dark...even with surrounding clouds...there is the sun. The sun will rise...the clouds will part. Shadows are overwhelming until you realize that the shadows...are only possible by the light.

"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime...Weeping may endure/last for the moment/night...but a shout of joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

"You got to kick at the darkness...until it bleeds daylight." (Bruce Cockburn from Lovers In A Dangerous Time)

What kicked off this Rambling was watching and listening to Paul Clark and Phil Keaggy do a live version of a song from the 1974 album...COME INTO HIS PRESENCE...called Latter Rain. I started thinking of His Latter Rain (Reign) in these last days...and felt his refreshing, renewing, cleansing... washing over the dry, dusty, weary, parts of myself... and new strength and renewal being infused with my physical body...and my spirit (little s)...as the Holy Spirit (Big S) that dwells within my human spirit (little s) began to stir. We are encouraged not to QUENCH THE SPIRIT among other thing in I Thessalonians 5:19). In this passage (I Thessalonians 5:16-22) we are encouraged to: (1) Rejoice always (2) Pray without ceasing (3) In everything (good, bad and ugly) give thanks...for this (the giving of thanks in everything) is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (4) Do not quench the Spirit (5) Do not despise prophetic utterances (6) Examine everything carefully (7) Hold fast to that which is good (8) Abstain from every form of evil

It seems that when I am dehydrated...I tend to NOT do the things that I need to be doing that will rehydrate me. For example...if I am dehydrated...the answer is to QUENCH my thirst...by drinking in liquids. In the Spirit...we are called NOT to QUENCH the Spirit. Always be thirsty for the Spirit...and the things of God.

Paul encourages us in Galatians..."And let us NOT LOSE HEART in doing good, for in due time we shall reap IF we do not GROW WEARY." (Galatians 5:9)

"Even though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death...I fear no evil...for Thou ART with me."
(Psalm 23:4)

NOTE: For those at Springhouse Worship and ART Center...this verse may be the stamp of approval on recapturing the ARTS...as Thou ART with me?!? That joke was a work of ART...hmmm...maybe ART should have left it alone.

Our Shepherd is the Shepherd of REFRESHING.

"They Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want...He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside, still/quiet waters. He restores my soul (mind, will, emotions, totality of who I am) He guides m in the paths of righteousness for His names sake." (Psalm 23:1-3) With this understanding of our Shepherd...we can walk in the shadows with confidence that we will come out the other side with oil anointed heads, cups running over, tables in the PRESENCE of our enemies...with (1) Goodness (2) Mercy/Lovingkindness following us all the days of our lives... and the understanding that we will DWELL in the house of the Lord forever.

NOTE: Actually...Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy will be following us...or should ART leave this one alone also? "Surely...goodness and mercy..."

FINAL THOUGHTS FINALLY

There is a way...to enter into REFRESHING...that also has "R's" in the words.

"REPENT...therefore and RETURN...that your sins may be wiped away...IN ORDER that times of REFRESHING my come...from THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD" (Acts 3:19)

Whenever I am overwhelmed by life...I tend to act as if GOD is either NOT THERE...or He is NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE MY PROBLEMS. I do need to REPENT (have a change of heart, change of mind, change of attitude, change of direction.)...and RETURN back to my FIRST LOVE...and do the things that I did when I first met Him. (Revelation 2:5)

The CAUSE AND EFFECT of this REPENTING AND RETURNING...is REFRESHING...because I have RETURNED to be in the PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love and Refreshed Kisses
Rodney "Repristinated" Boyd

PRAYER ACCESS: Showers Of Blessings

2010-11-02T04:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings Prayer Warriors...how's your prayer life?

Years ago...at Second Touch Coffee House in Columbia Tennessee...the Mule Day Parade was over...and people were streaming by the Coffee House and one of the guys working there was asking people... "Parade over?" The phrase had a double meaning...as he asked would you like to be..."Prayed over?" He actually had a few takers of the prayer.

Prayer is either the psychological gymnastics of a desperate people who have invented a Deity to invoke prayers to...to ease their guilty conscience and confusion about life...OR...it is a direct connection to the Creator of the universe...whose heart is moved by his creation coming to him.

I love the first picture of my son Phillip...saying a prayer...practicing what Jesus wanted the disciples to do...to WATCH...and PRAY. As you check out the photo...let us have a collective..."Awwwwwwwww."

Many people approach the Creator of the universe many different ways. The other day...I went into my shower...standing there with the hot water cascading on my head...and I began to prayer..."Father...I come to you...in the name of Jesus..."

It dawned on me that this is the standard formula that I use whenever I pray my prayers.

Of course...God can hear you if your back is against the wall in the face of another impossibility in your life... and all you can do to enter His presence is open your mouth and scream out:

HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He can also hear you when you are at your weakest moments...with no strength to barely get out of bed...and eek out a weak...heeelllp. I am always encouraged when I read the incident of the children of Israel...who were in bondage in Egypt...under the hand of the tasks masters...via the rule of the Pharaoh...as they "sighed/groaned because of the bondage...and they cried out; and their cry for HELP because of their bondage ROSE UP TO GOD...SO God HEARD their GROANING...and GOD REMEMBERED His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, ad Jacob. And God SAW the sons of Israel...and God TOOK NOTICE of them." (Exodus 2:23-25)

Prayers can be prayers of blessings...like Bruce Coble prayers over the people of Kenya...or prayers of practical needs...or prayers of desperation...or just intimate conversation with God...not asking for anything.

Now...back to me...praying in my shower. I love my Prayer Shower...kinda like a Prayer Closet with running water. "Father...I come to you...in the name of Jesus..." I began to think in terms of teaching...and breaking down this beginning to my prayers.

1. Father: Jesus taught His disciples to pray that way in what has become known as "The Lord's Prayer." Jesus said...pray this way..."OUR FATHER...who art in heaven..."I began to think how my Dad...passed away...but I still have a Father. I have a Father who cares for me....who has interest in what is going on in my life...and wants me to come to Him. I recently was working with a patient who happened to be of the Jewish faith. I noticed that his child would talk to him...by calling him "ABBA." I asked her about the name Abba...and she told me it was a term of endearment...and at the same time a term of respect. Whenever she would call him Abba...he would give her his attention...and respond appropriately to her. So does our ABBA FATHER.

2. I: Not only is the Creator of the universe...OUR ABBA FATHER...He is MY ABBA FATHER.
When Jesus was quizzing the boys about who other people were saying that He was...they responded by saying...some say you are John the Baptist, others, Jeremiah/Isaiah or one of the prophets. Jesus said...Who do YOU say I am? Peter responds...You are the Christ...the living Son of God. We are all...individually faced with that question...WHO DO YOU SAY I AM. I am the one coming in...via my prayers into His presence.

3. COME TO YOU: I may want Him to come down to my level...but really...before He comes down...I come to Him. He has already come down in the form of Jesus..."In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...and we beheld His glory as that of the only begotten Son of God." (John 1:1; 14) Now because Jesus came down...and experienced the D.B.R. (Death, Burial, Resurrection...nothing more.. nothing less)...we have access...the right to enter into His presence. As we choose to enter in...this PLEASES God...because we are entering by FAITH...and "Without faith...it is impossible to PLEASE Him... for he who COMES TO GOD...must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY SEEK Him (not those who passively inquire)." (Hebrews 11:6). So...I alert Him that I am coming in...Father...I COME to you....

4. IN THE NAME: A NAME...is a point of IDENTIFICATION. The identification is what you know about the one who is named what they are named. Jabez...whose name meant pain... called upon the GOD OF ISRAEL..because he knew that that name...the God of Israel...represented what he needed...ANSWERED PRAYER. He could have called on many polytheistic gods...who could do nothing for him...but he called on the GOD OF ISRAEL...the ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD...who had MANY NAMES to identify His character and dynamic ability. Just the compound names alone...like Jehovah-Shalom (I Am your peace)...
Jehovah-Raphe (I Am your healer)...Jehovah-Jireh (I Am your provider)...all speaks of the nature and character of the God...who is OUR...and MY Father...and who I can come into his presence. The access...is by the NAME of someone.

5. JESUS: Jesus...God is Salvation...Emmanuel...God with us...is the KEY of access into the presence of God...because that name...the name above all names...the only name by which all men may be saved...the name that represents the way, the truth, the life...and the fact that no man COMES to the Father except by Him...is the name that I speak forth to start my prayers. (Philippians 2:9-11; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

This access into the Father's presence...is by the blood of Jesus. "Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, b a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through THE VEIL...that is...HIS FLESH (D.B.R.)." (Hebrews 10:19-20)

Once I am into His presence...I can have conversation with my Father...with expectancy that He will speak to me...give me insight and wisdom...answer my prayers...etc.

NOTE: Don't be like Jimmy Stewart...in the movie...It's A Wonderful Life...as George Bailey... (see the last photo) and wait until your back is against the wall...before you pray. The opening of the movie...is a wonderful scene of people praying for George Bailey...as you see the prayers leaving planet earth up into the heavenlies...with the cause and effect of things set into motion for the answer.
Just like when the children of Israel prayed...and their deliverer and deliverance was already set into motion...so was in the movie. The answer was on its way...when George could not see an answer...and it even got worse before it got better (but that's for another time...another Rambling).

FINAL THOUGHT FINALLY...NO REALLY...FINALLY...

I am getting ready to get in the shower...and on purpose....to pray. Father...I come to you...in the name of Jesus.

Love and Showers of Blessings Kisses
Rodney "Talking To Abba Father" Boyd

SWEETIE OUR DOG

2010-10-22T04:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salutations Pet Lovers.

NOTE: Be sure to click on the collages to get the full blown picture.

Today at 4:45 A.M. our dog Sweetie passed away in my arms. She was a little over 15 years old...that would be 105 in dog years...and was a treasure and joy in our lives.

Brenda brought this little bundle of fur home from her hairdressers one day...and I thought...what kind of dog has she brought home. Up to this point...we had two other dogs...one a German Shepherd named Bogart... and a black Lab named Roxie. Now here it was with a little mini-me bear looking thing called a Shih tzu. My first problem was how to pronounce the name of this animal without sounding like I was cussing at someone named Sue. Ya gotta have the right emphasis on the name with proper intonation.

Immediately we looked at her and said that she was a sweetie...and thus the name Sweetie. Phillip was just starting kindergarten when we first got her...and made it all the way through his college years.

Sweetie was an odd little dog. I use to call her my cat dog...because...she acted more like a cat than dog at times. When you would put your hands under the covers in bed...and move your hand around...she would pounce on the hand and follow it everywhere that you would move it. Then she would start scratching at the hand. When you called her...at times she would ignore you and come when she was ready. In the mornings when she would wake up...she would bark for me to come in to take her outside...and as I approached her... she would stretch out as elongated as she could and again move her front paws in a scratching motion...and wait for me to give her the morning massage. Oh she had me trained well.

Brenda took her to obedience school and was the main trainer of tricks. Sweetie would sit...shake hands...play dead when you shot her with your fingers...and then roll over before you would give her a treat. In her later years she would not wait for the commands but just run quickly through the tricks just to get us to hurry up and give her the treat. Eventually she trained us to the point of bypassing all tricks and just give her the treat.

Phillip would love to pick on her...play with her feet...wrestle with her...as she growled...and played back...and then he would cradle her in his arms and tenderly rub her belly. When he would stop rubbing the belly...she would take her two little paws...and grab at our fingers to continue on with the rubbing.

For years...we would open our house to anyone who did not have a place to go for Thanksgiving (for whatever reason)...and Sweetie was ready to greet whoever came over...and wait for any morsel of food to drop. This dog was really thankful...for Thanksgiving.

As she got older...she began to have health problems...poor eyesight, hearing going, arthritis, possible tumor/lung caner...breathing difficulties...but she would always respond to medical treatment at the Animal Care Veterinary Hospital. This is a great group of people who really do "care" about your animals/pets.

In the past few weeks...she has been not eating as much, loosing weight, breathing heavier (due to medications), and more lethargic. Of course we would take her to the vets...and spend more money on her than we would our own health care (or at least it seemed like it)...and Brenda and I would look at each other and agree...that it was worth the output...we do love her.

Last night...Sweetie was more restless than normal...breathing heavy...but not in pain. We were up and down most of the night with her...and I would pick her up and let her lay close to my side and that would seem to ease her for a couple of ours until around 3:00. I got up with her... took her out...she just stood around and I picked her up and brought her back in...and she then had difficulty standing. I picked her up...Brenda got Phillip up...and I just sat in the chair in my office holding her...rocking her...petting her. She was not in any observable pain until about 40 minutes before the passing...but...as I whispered into her ear, prayed for her, prayed for us...the heavy breathing ceased, she rested...and breathed her last breath. Our Sweetie was at rest.

Me, Brenda, and Phillip said around and remembered the good times from beginning to end with her. I personally ended up in my shower weeping...and casting my cares on the the God of ALL comfort...which includes even in these time with our dog.

Many years ago...during a two year period...while I was in graduate school...my Mom died, my Uncle died, Brenda's Mom died, and My Father died. Part of living is dying...and the hurt, the pain, the grief is there. My God got us through those hard times...and even now...when I think of them...I tear up...but the grief does not overwhelm me. God is the God of ALL comfort. He is concerned with the biggest concerns to our dogs passing away. I know that dogs...are not human...but they touch our human emotions.

Thank you for reading this Rambling and allowing me to release my emotions via my fingertips.

I pray...that no matter what you are going through...the good, the bad and the ugly...that Romans 8:28 will become very real in your lives.

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor], ALL THINGS (mine: the good, the bad, and the ugly) work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." (Romans 8:28 The Amplified Bible)

Love and Tender Hearted Kisses
Rodney, Brenda, and Phillip

THE HELPER...HELP...I NEED SOMEBODY

2010-09-25T06:17:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salutations...O Ye Mooers and Chewers of the Cud of the Word of God. Do ya ever feel as if you are in this thing called life...all alone? Do ya think that if you just had someone beside you...that you could make it?

It is a little known fact...that I...Rodney Lewis Boyd... am the President of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Fan Club...Rockvale Chapter. In my chapter are three members...Me...Brenda...and Phillip. This is NO JOKE. I even have a certificate issued by the AGSRW National Chapter....suitable for framing. The name of the Chapters are based on a line from the show...for example a chapter may be named SHAZAM or HE'S A NUT. Our Chapter is called JUST A BED AND A BIBLE taken from the comment from Brisco Darling when the hotel clerk asked him.."Can I get you anything else Mr. Darling?" Brisco looked at him and said..."Just a bed and a Bible."

I said all of that to say this...I love the Andy Griffith Show...and this first picture is a great one. There Barney Fife is...trying to modernize the Mayberry Sheriff Department's fleet with a motorcycle with a sidecar. He wanted to take Andy for a ride...and of course...as the Barney took off... the sidecar was not attached and left Andy sitting there by himself to the joy of the surrounding men and women. The question is...what does that have to do with THE HELPER...HELP I NEED SOMEBODY? I'm glad you asked...you did ask...didn't you?

As I walk around in this flesh tent that I call a body...sometimes it seems as if I am all alone in a crowd. If I could just have someone like Andy that could ride along with me in the sidecar. For the past 40 or so years...Brenda has been my HELPER (we've been married for 38 years...but we have been together for 41 years). "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be ALONE; for I will make him an help meet (helper) for him." (Genesis 2:18) Well, for Adam that was Eve...for me...it is Brenda...and for those who know me...and those who know Brenda...I NEEDED...and still do NEED HELP.

In the Bible...someone else is called THE HELPER. That would be THE HOLY SPIRIT. "And I (Jesus) will pray the Father, and He will give you another (one of the same kind) HELPER that He (The Helper) may abide with you forever." (John 14:16) "But when THE HELPER comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH who proceeds from the Father...He will testify of Me."

This Person...THE HELPER...is sent by Jesus via the Father to us to HELP.

The Greek word for HELPER is parakletos (par-ak-lay-toss): From para...beside...and kaleo...to call...hence CALLED TO ONES SIDE. The word signifies an intercessor, comforter, helper, advocate, coundselor. In non-biblical literature, parakletos, had the technical meaning of an attorney who appears in court in another's behalf. The Holy Spirit leads believers to a greater apprehension of gospel truths. In addition to general help and guidance. He gives the strength to endure the hostility of the world system." (Thanks and a Tip O Da Hat to The Spirit Filled Bible and Strong's Concordance)

NOTE: I always find it interesting that the Holy Spirit is called the HELPER...and the woman is called the HELP MEET (helper). I know that when I listen to the Holy Spirit...my life flows easier...and when I listen to Brenda...my life flows easier.

My problem is when I have Andy in the side car (one called along SIDE to HELP)...I pull away and leave my HELP behind. I am just speeding away...travelling along life's highway...thinking I have got it all together...but in reality...I am out there by myself...because of my pride.

NOTE: In the Ruminator Sunday School Class...we talk about why things happen to us in this world. There are many reasons from living in a cursed and fallen world, schemes of the devil, general testing from God...but one of the reasons is what we call THE BARNEY FIFE SYNDROME. This is where Andy told Barney NOT to put the bullet in his gun...but keep it in his shirt pocket...but Barney put it in the gun anyway...and the gun accidentally goes off. If only I would listen to the Holy Spirit...THE HELPER... (or even Brenda)...there would be less accidents brought on myself.

"You can't run...you can't hide from the HOUND OF HEAVEN. This is a line from a Daniel Amos song off of their album classic...HORRENDOUS DISC.

"He got lost among the stars...Hollywood flash, cash, mansions, and cars...deep sea divers, Lear Jet flyers, this thing go to the moon?...oh yeah...give me elbow room, but take this aching away...you can't run, you can't hide from the HOUND OF HEAVEN...you're free to choose, to refuse THE SEEKER OF SOULS." (Hound of Heaven by Daniel Amos)

Wow...what a song...what a thought...what a truth.

The phrase is taken from an old poem (the poet escapes my memory as of this writing)...and speaks of the pursuit of the Holy Spirit...who is as tenacious as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES...in the Sherlock Holmes story.

In the words of THE TEMPTATIONS in their classic song BALL OF CONFUSION... "You can run, run, run...but you sure can't hide."

"Let him who has ears to hear...hear."

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen...who is even at the right hand of God, who also MAKES INTERCESSION for us. Who shall separate us from the LOVE OF CHRIST? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35) NOTE: The expected answer is no one.

"For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things prsent nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY...NO REALLY...FINALLY.

All I know is this...I NEED HELP. Help...I need somebody...Help...not just anybody...Help...you know I need someone...HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLPPP!!!!! (Thanks and a Tip O Da Hat to The Beatles). For me...I have found...that my relationship with God...with access by the blood of Jesus...is deepened with my intimacy with THE HELPER.

Love and Helped Kisses

Rodney "I Need The Helper" Boyd