FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE

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

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays

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

THE FORMULA FOR LIFE: V=P-O

Welcome O Ye Believers in the D.B.R...N.M.N.L.
(Death, Burial, Resurrection...Nothing More... Nothing Less).

In this sick and dying world (in spite of all of the technological, medical, quasi-spiritual advancements)...we sure could use a FORMULA FOR LIFE. Many moons ago...we heard of a formula for life...that sticks with me to this day. It was given to us by a biochemist who was a believer in the Death, Burial, Resurrection. The formula: V=P-O (Vitality) equals (Potential) minus (Obstructions). His premise was...it you could remove the obstruction in our blood system...that was blocking your potential...you could reach maximum vitality. More to follow on that premise.

Huey Lewis and the News sang about that in their hit...I WANT A NEW DRUG...

"I want a new drug...one that won't make me sick...one that won't make me crash my car...or make me feel three feet thick...I want a new drug...one that won't hurt my head...one that won't make my mouth too dry...or make my eyes to red...one that won't make me nervous...wondering what to do...one that makes me feel like I feel when I'm with you...When I'm alone with you...."

The song continues as Huey lists the things about this new drug that would not spill, cost too much, come in a pill, won't go away, keep him up all night, won't make him sleep all day, that does what it should, won't make him feel too bad, won't make him feel too good, one with no doubt, one that won't make him talk too much...or make his face break out. OH IF SOMEONE COULD COME UP WITH A FORMULA...TO DEVELOP A DRUG...THAT WOULD GIVE US ALL THAT WE WANTED OR NEEDED.

Of course the problem with mankind mixing chemicals together to help alleviate pain and suffering in the world... is that nothing...can chemically touch our spirits and souls. We may help the body with a pill...or may not...but nothing can fill the emptiness of our voided God space deep within us.

Jerry Lewis in one of my favorite movies...THE NUTTY PROFESSOR...tried to mix an elixir that would take him from being a nerdish professor and ended up with his altar ego...Buddy Love...in a Jekyll and Hyde comedic experience. What started out as a noble scientific effort...resulted in tragic consequences.

I am reminded that I am always trying to come up with ways to bypass God's formula for my life...to make things easier...more palatable...where I can continue to do the things I do..(good, bad and ugly)...and not have to turn to God. The results are the same as The Nutty Professor's...but not as comedic.

VITALITY (God's Abundant Life) equals (=) POTENTIAL (What I can be in Him) minus (-) OBSTRUCTIONS (Sin).

For this formula to work...you must realize:

1-There is none righteous...no not one: (Romans 3:10)

2-All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God:

(Romans 3:23)

3-The wages of sin is death: (Romans 6:23)

4-It is appointed for men to die once...but after this judgement

(Hebrews 9:27)

5-Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12)

6-The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23)

7-Death, Burial, Resurrection (I Corinthians 15:1-5)

8-Confess, Believe, Be Saved (Romans 10:8-10)

9-God demonstrated His love toward us...in that while we were YET/STILL sinners...CHRIST DIED FOR US...as we are justified (just as if I'd never sinned) by His BLOOD...we are SAVED from wrath...through Him (Jesus) (Romans 5:8-9)

10-This salvation is not on the BASIS of DEEDS/WORKS that we do...but all that HE DID. (Titus 3:5/Ephesians 2:8-10/I Peter 3:18/II Corinthians 5:14-15)

11-When you are IN CHRIST you are NEW CREATIONS...OLD THINGS PASSED AWAY... BEHOLD NEW THINGS HAVE COME (II Corinthians 5:17)

12-IN CHRIST...you go from...there is none righteous not not one...to being THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST...IN GOD. (II Corinthians 5:21)

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

If we are satisfied with this life...and the man-made formula's that we concoct...the nothing I have said makes any sense...BUT...if we are really searching...and can't make it on our own...I have got the formula for you...D.B.R...N.M.N.L....DEATH (in our place)...BURIAL..and His RESURRECTION...NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS.

Love and Nutty Professor Kisses

Rodney "Minus Obstructions of Sin by The Cross" Boyd

THE STUMBLING BLOCK

Hello believers. Everyone believes in something...even if it is nothing. An atheist believes in the great nothingness...the intellectual believes he has got it all figured out. The agnostic would like to believe but can't quite get there from here. Humanism believes...well...in humans. Liberals believe we owe it to everyone... while conservatives believe we owe it to ourselves. Religious people believe we must work our way to God by convincing Him that we are worthy. Hedonist believe in self-gratification is the ultimate belief. Inclusionist believes that all roads lead to heaven...Jesus believes that He is THE way...THE truth...and THE life...and that NO ONE comes to the Father but by/through HIM. The Welfare state believes that their hand is out...and you need to fill it. The non-Welfare state believes that you need to get off your good intentions and help yourself. Politico's believe that the politician has the solution...the non-politician believes that politics means poly=many...ticks=blood suckers. Many people believe Christianity is like a buffet table... and we pick what we want to believe and add to the table what we want on the menu.

In the words of Wayne Gregg..."You guys are making it too hard."


As we enter into the final days of this Lenten season...preparing for the grand entrance of Palm Sunday...that will quickly turn deadly as they mock, torture, flog to a bloody pulp, pull out his beard by their hands, grind long and sharp thorns into His brow, drive a spear into His side, and then wait as the agonizing death comes... and as He dies...and is buried...and is RAISED FROM THE DEAD...let's consider what the GOSPEL is...and what the GOSPEL is not.

Gospel simply means...the GOOD NEWS. It was something that Paul was not ashamed of...because it was the POWER OF GOD...for SALVATION...to the Jew first...and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

This good news...was good news about a KINGDOM...a place where there is a king...and kingdom principles rules. When Jesus went about...He (1) Taught in their synagogues (2) Proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom (3) Healed all manner of sickness and disease. (Matthew 4:23; 9:25; 11:5)...based on the anointing of the Holy Ghost and power...where 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)



The gnostics...anti-Christ/Anointing...the religious people of the day...all had their spin on this thing called the GOSPEL. The gnostic's believed: (1) Knowledge is superior to virtue (2)the non literal sense of Scripture is correct and can be understood ONLY by a select few (which you probably not) (3) evil in the world precludes God's being the only Creator (4) the INCARNATION (Jesus/God coming down in flesh form) is incredible because DEITY cannot unite itself with anything material such as a body (5) there is NO RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH. The ethical standards of many Gnostics were low. (Thanx and a Tip O' Da Hat to Ryrie Study Bible Notes to Ist John)

There ain't nothin' new under the sun...unless it is under THE SON. Gnosticism with deep roots in the spirit of anti-Christ...run deep in this world as they DENY THAT JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH. (Read Ist John to see how you can KNOW that you have eternal life.)

This thing called the CROSS stumbles up many an intellectual. "For the WORD OF THE CROSS...is to those who are PERISHING foolishness...but to us who are being SAVED it is the POWER OF GOD. (I Corinthians 1:18).
(Read I Corinthians 1:17-30 for full details of thes thing called THE SCANDILON...THE STUMBLING BLOCK.)

The gospel ain't WORKS...or DEEDS done in righteousness (See Titus 3:5 and Ephesians 2:8-10 and Galatians 3:1-5)...but that does not mean that you get to sit back on your best intentions...(Ephesians 2:10; James 1:19-27; James 2:14-26). Works don't save you...but you do get saved unto works. The GOSPEL ain't what you do or don't do. It ain't about how good you are or what you gave up or how much you gave to the poor.

Back to my friend Wayne Gregg...who told the Mormon council..."You guys are making it too hard."

"For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son...that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

"Now I make known to you...brethren...the GOSPEL which I preached to you...which also you RECEIVED...in which also you STAND...by which also you are SAVED...IF...you HOLD FAST the word which I preached to you, unless you BELIEVED in vain. For I delivered to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE...what I also received that...(1) Christ DIED for our sins (2) He was BURIED (3) He was RAISED on the 3rd day. (I Corinthians 1-4) This was witnessed by Cephas/Peter, the twelve, to more than 500 brethren, to James, to all the apostles...and last of all to Paul.

All of this was based on GRACE. Grace is: (1) favor (2) unmerited favor (3) free gift (4) the divine influence in the heart manifested in the life of the believer. Grace is always and inside out working that changes you...never you changing hoping it will change the inside. It is like religion that is always reaching up to God...while Christianity is God reaching down to man.

"FOR CHRIST ALSO DIED FOR SINS ONCE FOR ALL, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD, HAVING BEEN PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH, BUT MADE ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT." (I Peter 3:18)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

CALL: He is Risen
RESPONSE: He is Risen...INDEED!!!!

Love and non-ashamed kisses
Rodney "Don't Stumble Over The Stone" Boyd

A CROSS WORD

Hello fellow believers in the D.B.R. For those new to the Ramblings...the D.B.R...means...DEATH...BURIAL...RESURRECTION...NOTHING MORE... NOTHING LESS.

For us who truly believe this...we have heard the word of Christ...faith came... and we believed it in our hearts (not just an assimilation of historical facts)... and with this thing that we have heard about the D.B.R., has dropped from our heads into our heart...and we CONFESS this with our mouth. Confession (homolegos=homo/same legos/word)...is where we come into agreement with what God thinks about the matter...and we speak it. (Romans 10:10-19)

As believers...we are called to be WITNESSES of this event that was historical in nature...really HIStory. One of the ways that we like to be a witness...is carry around a large Bible...with gold trim...leather bound...with our name engraved in gold on the cover. Another good way to witness for the Lord is to plaster your car with Christian bumper stickers. This especially works well if you have a HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS bumper sticker...and when someone HONKS at you in rush hour traffic...and you don't flip the the bird...or try to cut them off in traffic. Nothing says Jesus like confrontation.

The #1 way that we tend to witness our faith...is to wear "Christian Jewelry". The CROSS worn around the neck is an especially visible witness. There are many styles of this witness that have been created from jewel encrusted...the simple but stylish gold cross...to the humble Popsicle stick. Back in 1970...I had a friend who made these Popsicle stick cross and attached them to yarn to wear around your neck. Be sure to wash the Popsicle stick before you assemble NOTE: This method of witnessing is especially effective if you are a lady...and you wear a low cut dress so that when the unsuspecting males eyes are drawn to the cleavage...they can see your cross and be convicted.

Of course...the cross was a symbol of what Jesus went through in our place. He was the sacrificial lamb...the propitiation...the substitute... the satisfaction for God...the tool for redemption as the shedding of blood was poured out on the cross for our sins. If Jesus came in 2008... we could have been wearing a gold electric chair around our necks...or a nice silver firing squad. The cross was the method that the Romans choose for cruel and unusual punishment reserved for political prisoners...murders...thieves...reprobates...and the SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD. Some has said that a more appropriate symbol of our faith should be an EMPTY TOMB on a chain.

Faith comes by hearing...and hearing by the word of Christ...not the latest slogan...bumper sticker...fad...blog. I remember in the early 70's...that the bumper sticker was the witness of choice for me. IN CASE OF RAPTURE...GRAB THE WHEEL...I'M OUTTA HEAR. I use to go to a little coffee house on the corner of 16th and Grand...next to Belmont Church...called KOINONIA. This was the place that you could get the latest Christian Rock album (before it became C.C.M...Contemporary Christian Music). You could buy Jesus Belt Buckles...posters...books...jewelry...and on Saturday nights...sit on a floor with a couple of hundred Jesus People...and listen to Christian Rock...from young teenage girl named Amy Grant...Don Fransico...Dogwood..Bethren... and a rockin' trio named HOSANNA (me, Tom Rutherford, and Mark Webster).

I remember one night going to Koinonia...seeing a Volkswagen bug...plastered with Jesus Bumper Stickers. You could not see a piece of metal on the body of that but. Now...that's witnessing.

I happen to like the crosses...the bumper stickers..the buttons...the belt buckles (I may have to wear mine to church Sunday)...but I find myself sometimes... focusing more on the stuff...than the Lord. It is like someone who knows about Jesus...instead of knowing Jesus. Speaking of slogans...I also like CHURCH SIGNS. I saw one today...that said..."NO JESUS...NO PEACE...KNOW JESUS... KNOW PEACE. Hey...JESUS HUNG UP FOR OUR HANGUPS. And it does not get any better than GODISNOWHERE. Any Ruminator worth his/her salt knows that ...it either says GOD IS NO WHERE....or GOD IS NOW HERE...depending on how you look at it.

What got me thinking about this Rambling? I was listening to a Larry Norman album (vinyl with grooves)...ONLY VISITING THIS PLANET. Larry had left a band (People)...who had a million seller called I LOVE YOU. He left Capitol records...and took his music to the streets...singing to people who would never darken the doors of a pristine church. He witnessed the OLD FASHION WAY... he told them about Jesus. As I listened to the song I WISHED WE'D ALL BEEN READY...about Jeus coming back...and many friends, loved ones, will be LEFT BEHIND. I remember having a dream, where a friend of mine...was left on the ground...as I slowly was being raptured (snatched away). I could see the fear, hurt, unbelief in his eyes...as he reached up and tried to grab me...to go up with me. He said, "Why didn't you tell me." The tradgedy is...I DID...many times. There are so many people on planet earth...that I love...who have hardened their hearts...and are hiding behind there fear...and their pride. My heart aches for them as I write this Rambling. At times...I sit in silence...praying and their faces come before me...and I weep.

Like the apostle Paul stated...For I am NOT ASHAMED of the Death, Burial, Resurrection of Christ...for in it...the Death, Burial, Resurrection of Christ is the POWER OF GOD...for SALVATION...to the Jews first...and then the rest of us knuckleheads. (Romans 1:16...The R.R.T.=Ruminator's Rough Translation)

Gold crosses...O.K...bumper sticker...sure....but Lord I want to go beyond the glitz...and go for the guts. There are SO MANY PEOPLE out there...who are living there lives on automatic pilot...accepting whatever comes down the pike as there lot in life. They numb themselves to the pain of life (if you call this living) with booze, drugs, hedonistic lifestyles...to the point that they think that what they are living is NORMAL. After all...if you can hide behind a mask of laughter, anger, bravado...no one will know that you are crying on the inside. Remember that John Lennon song that we have mention in past Ramblings...sometimes you can't hide...WHEN YOU ARE CRIPPLED INSIDE


"For God SO LOVED (fill in the blank with your name)...that He gave His only begotten Son...that when (fill in the blank with your name) believes in Him (the D.B.R.)...should not perish...but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 R.R.T)

Takes some time and look at the collage of Jesus pictures. Be sure to click on it and enlarge it. Each picture cries out...Jesus Loves You. Each picture is an expression of God's love for you. Other religions have nice philosophies...wonderful expressions of ritualistic attempts to get God to love them...BUT...Christianity is the only one...that the leader allowed himself to be crucified...IN OUR PLACE. The graves of other spiritual/religious leaders...have one thing in common...BONES...decayed flesh...NO RESURRECTION. JESUS HUNG UP FOR OUR HANGUPS...and is the ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF LOVE FOR YOU...and me.

HE IS RISEN...HE IS RISEN INDEED.

Love and Crosswise Kisses
Rodney "I Wished We'd All Been Ready" Boyd