TAKE ME BACK...TAKE ME BACK DEAR LORD

Howdy-do all of you pilgrims...how's the journey down the Mystery Highway (shameless plug for Phil Keaggy and Randy Stonehill's new release).

Sometimes we are so intense on our journey...for our search for the "deep things of God"...that we miss the fact...that like her journey to Oz...what she was looking for...would lead her BACK to where she began...HOME. A click of the heels of her ruby red slippers...that she had with her the entire journey through OZ...and on her lips the phrase..."there's no place like home...there's no place like home." She opens her eyes...and she is surrounded by her friends and family...what she was searching for all along. She was blinded to the fact by circumstances, situations, the mundane rut that she had been digging...when it was right before her very eyes...all the time.

Sometimes I wish I had a pair of ruby red slippers (to go with my alabaster complexion)...but no matter how many times I close my eyes...and click my heels...I open my eyes...and I am still stuck in OZ.

When I started out my journey of faith back in the fall of 1970...I had no idea how great the adventure would be...and I had no idea how complacent I could become with all of my pleasures, my life, my blessings, my trappings. Sometimes...I feel trapped in my life...and the joy that I once knew...the simplicity of my faith...the childlike anticipation of the next day...the pleasure of loving God seems to have been buried underneath this thing we call "the good life." I go to other countries...where they do not have an iota of what I've got...but they appear to have what I don't...a joy and faith in their God.

Back in the 70's...Andrea Crouch and the Disciples released their 6th album called TAKE ME BACK. The whole album was inspiring to me...especially the title track...TAKE ME BACK. I am listening to this song...as I write...and it takes me back...in my mind...to what I desire in 2009.

TAKE ME BACK (Andrae Crouch)
Take me back
Take me back dear Lord
To the place where I first received you
Take me back
Take me back
To the place where I first believed
I feel so far from you Lord...but I still hear you calling me
Those simple things that I once knew...the memories are drawing me
I must confess Lord...I've been blessed...but yet my soul is not satisfied
Renew my faith...Restore my joy
And dry my weeping eyes
I tried so hard to make it all alone
I need your help
Just TO MAKE IT HOME


This picture...with Bruce Fortner (lead singer in the band THE BLIND DISTORTION)...Debbie Pearson (Brenda's best friend during those days)...Brenda (the love of my life 39 years later) and a very dapper and stylish me...was one of our very first dates (a bonfire for the homecoming and brief meeting as Sir Pizza with a large hamburger/mushroom pizza...maybe two pieces eaten)...says it all...HOMECOMING.

The saying goes..."you can't go home." That is true...if you try to live in the past...you will never walk in the now...and will never experience you full future. The children of Israel tried to eat old manna...that turned bad. There are many aspects of my journey...my life...my experiences that I would not change...but that's not what I am talking about when I desire for the Lord to TAKE ME BACK.

What I am talking about...is getting back to the BASICS. Getting back to...as the Beatles sang...to where you once belonged. In the words of Wayne (the clown)...to a group of religious people who were trying to dominate and dictate his life by rules, regulations, etc..."You guys are making it too hard."

Complicated relationships...ecclesiastical gymnastics... a never ending subversive power struggle over who is right and who is wrong...growing pressures to perform and live up to expectations that can never be met (spiritually, physically, emotionally)...new and deep revelations...until the newer and deeper revelation is discovered....my church is better than your church (nana nana boo boo)...ball of confusion...and the band played on.

The ideal would be...to isolate, separate, segregate, abdicate...and become an island unto yourself...start a church where you are the only member...or at least only surround yourself with people that you like...or at the very least are CLONES...of you and speak your form of Christenese (I WANNA BE A CLONE...Steve Taylor style). Secluded monasteries...comfort of your home...cathedrals with the comfort of the rituals...charismatic, free wheeling rip roaring houses of worship...(fill in the blank). But this is not what I'm talking about. You have to live life among PEOPLE. Sometimes I feel like Barry McGuire did as he searched for truth in all of the religions...and came face to face with Jesus. His only problem was that he "dug this Jesus cat...but he could not stand His followers." As Pogo said..."we have met the enemy... and the enemy is us." Groucho Marx once stated...that...he "would not belong to a club that had him as a member."

Well...what's a guy gotta do...to GET BACK. The answer is found in the Book of Revelation.

The church of Ephesus..."I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not and you found them to be false, and you have perseverance and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown weary." (Revelations 2:2-3) SO FAR...SO GOOD.

"But I have this against you...that you have LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE." (Revelation 3:4)

WOW...you can be doing all the right stuff...working hard...and even be doing it...for MY NAMES SAKE...but still...be missing the mark. The key is in the next verse...

"Remember, therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you die AT FIRST..." (Revelations 2:5) NOTE: The cause and effect would be removal of their lamp stand unless they repent.

1. Remember: Conjure up the images of where you use to be.
2. Repent: Change of heart, mind, direction. Do a 180 back to "where you once believed."
3. Do the deeds you did at first: Get back to the basics

This of course can apply to our interpersonal relationships...back in our "dating days"...but especially our spiritual early days. Sure...we are called to progress...to mature...BUT...that does not mean that we have GROWN SO MATURE...that you can't go back to the BASICS.

1. Read the Word of God
2. Act as if what you just said was true NOTE: I see people all of the time who thing they have matured beyond the Bible. They called
it an antiquated book for ignorant, superstitious people who have no intellectual credence or open mind to reality. Why is it that those
consider themselves so open minded and intellectual...love to put down anyone with a different opinion (Christian and non-Christian)?
3. Spend time with the one you love...in prayer (not just asking) but intimate conversation.
4. Praise Him. Have some rejoice time.
5. Worship Him. Have some time face forward in front of Him
6. Obey Him. As you hear His voice...rise up...and do what He said.
7. Thank Him. Thanksgiving before you see anything you have asked for. Thanking Him just to be thanking Him
8. Develop a MIND SET ON HIM...with the cause and effect...PERFECT PEACE
9. Allow your mind to be dwelling on the true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good report, excellence.
10. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength...and love your neighbor as yourself.
11. Fellowship...get together with other believers...and have a little KOINONIA TIME...around the Son.
12. Share your faith...don't hold it it and let it stagnate...don't just soak in the Word of God...release it and don't experience the SPIRITUAL
SPONGE BLUES (for those who were there back in the day)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

At the same time that you get back...to where you first believed...where you first received...PRESS ON TOWARD THE HIGH MARK OF THE CALLING OF GOD.

Love and First Love Kisses
Rodney "Take Me Back Lord" Boyd

GET BACK TO WHERE YOU ONCE BELONGED

Howdy-do Buckaroos...where are you? Oh...you may be in Montana (shout out to Pat and Charlotte)...you may be in Tanzania (shout out to John...yeessssss!)...
you may be in Kenya on the shores of Lake Victoria (shout out to Don and Nancy)...you may be in Peru (shout out to Ron and Annette)...you may be in America (shout out to....well...you know who you are).

The question is...WHERE ARE YOU? The other question is...ARE YOU WHERE YOU ONCE BELONGED? The Beatles last live concert was on the rooftop of their recording studio. The album was the last released (Let It Be) but was not the last recorded (Abby Road). The movie was a chronicle of the breakup of the Beatles...in a last attempt (led by Paul) to get back to their roots.

Periodically...I find myself asking myself those questions about location in my Christian journey/walk. Am I progressing...regressing...possessing...obsessing?

In an ever changing world...I feel like I am teetering on the brink of an abyss...
without a safety net. It makes me think of the album by The 77's...PING PONG OVER THE ABYSS. With all of the world events swirling around me...I feel like I am out of control. Everything seems so complicated. I long for the GOOD OLD DAYS. Sometimes I long for the BAD OLD DAYS before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.

"Get back...Get back...Get back to where you once belonged." (The Beatles: Get Back)

"Take me back...Take me back dear Lord...to the place...where I first believed you." (Andrea Crouch: Take Me Back)

Gotta gotta get back...gotta gotta get back...(Wayne Cochran: Going Back To Miami)

"Having Jesus for my FIRST LOVE makes the darkest day shine...He has filled me with His Spirit...and I'll love Him until the end of time...and that's a long time." (Joe English: First Love) NOTE: Joe played with Paul McCartney and Wings during their hayday...and played with a rock jazz group called SEA LEVEL with former Allman Band members...and then became a Christian and added a groove to Christian music.

QUESTION: Where are you? Are you where you once belonged?
NOTE: I am not talking about maturing in the faith...but talking about BASIC ROOTS.

You may be asking yourself...why does Rod have these pictures of this flamboyant...overdressed...over styled hair yahoo? I'm glad you asked yourself this question.

This is Mr. Wayne Cochran? Wayne Cochran...aka THE WHITE KNIGHT OF SOUL...was a rock and roller from the 50's, 60's and 70's. His big song that he wrote was LAST KISS...recorded by Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers. Wayne was discovered by Jackie Gleason who T.V. show was filmed in Miami Florida. Wayne had a hit with the song GOING BACK TO MIAMI. Wayne also wrote the song C.C. RIDER (big song for Elvis...and a movie with Joe Namath was based on the song...also recorded by multiple artists including Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels). NOTE: The C.C. in C.C. Rider stands for Wayne's Band...
Cochran's Circuit Riders. Wayne is also noted for his HAIR. He brought the POMPADOUR to new heights. Take a ruler to Elvis' Pompadour and then measures Wayne's. And the last bit of trivia for you Trivial Pursuit Vault... Wayne was responsible for Elvis' costumes during the Vegas/70's touring years.

Another question...why am I saying all of this about Wayne Cochran..and what does this have to do about GETTING BACK TO WHERE YOU ONCE BELONGED?

In 1981...Wayne along with his wife Monica became a BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN. Since that time he has been ministering Jesus to people who would never set there foot in the door of our comfortable seeker friendly sanctuaries. He has been ministering out of the North Miami Christian Center and is a Harley riding pastor. WAYNE GOT BACK...TO WHERE HE ONCE BELONGED. So many of us take sojourns into the land of sin...I know I have.

As I started this Rambling out...I need roots...grounding...security...a place where things make sense to me. My answer always come back to the basics.

"I know you are enduing patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary...BUT I have this [one charge to make] against you...that you have LEFT [abandoned] THE LOVE THAT YOU HAD AT FIRST---you have deserted [Me]...your FIRST LOVE." (Revelation 2:3,4)

YIKES...the message was for the church of Ephesus...but it penetrates my heart. What could the solution possibly be. The problem is...I appear to be doing all the right things...but my MOTIVE is skewed. I am running on automatic pilot versus love. What is the answer?

"REMEMBER then from what heights you have fallen. REPENT--change the inner man to meet God's will---and DO the works you did previously [when FIRST YOU KNEW THE LORD]. Or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you CHANGE YOUR MIND.... and REPENT." (Revelation 2:5)

THE FORMULA FOR RESTORED LOVE

1. Remember (ruminate)
2. Repent (change)
3. Redo (implemented action)

I think back to 1968 when Brenda Sue Williams walked in a garage on a sunny Sunday afternoon to listen to THE BLIND DISTORTION practice. Immediately...I was in love...she wasn't. But...I was persistent...like a fly buzzing around sugar...and eventually wore down her resistance. NOTE: Today this would be called stalking. Once she allowed me to date her...I was consumed with sending her love notes, calling her, going out with her, spending time with her...even to the point of going to church with her. I lavished her with gifts...and would be the first thing on my lips when I talked to other people. Today...I still love her with a passion...give her coffee in the mornings along with cookies or muffins, or whatever is around the house. I love being with her...love to hear her voice over the phone during the day.
Sometimes...we have to REMEMBER...CHANGE...AND REDO those FIRST THINGS...to keep the fires of romance burning. NOTE: Men, do you need to REPENT.

There is a a great teaching series by Derek Prince called the FOUNDATIONS SERIES. It is currently out in book form as THE SPIRIT FILLED BELIEVER'S HANDBOOK...and in workbook form called SELF-STUDY BIBLE COURSE These are Ruminatin' Rod's Recommend Reading.

They are based on FOUNDATIONAL principles/teachings that are found in Hebrews 5:11-6:3) They are considered the MILK OF THE WORD...and are expected to be mastered...and then taught to others. The MEAT would be DOING the MILK. Jesus told His disciples that "My MEAT is to DO the WILL of Him who sent me...and to accomplish His works" (John 4:34)

When you read about the BASIC...the ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES...you see that the way to walk in the MEAT vs. the MILK...is by PRACTICE. We become mature by practicing the basics.

"But solid food/meat is for the mature who BECAUSE OF PRACTICE have their SENSES trained to discern good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY!!!!!!

Get back...get back....get back to where you once belonged...gotta gotta gotta get back...take me back to the place where I first believed....having Jesus for my FIRST LOVE.

Get back...to reading the Word...praying to God...fellowshipping with fellow believers...and get back to sharing your faith. Get back to loving God with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength...and love your neighbor as yourself.

Love and FIRST THING KISSES
Rodney "Still in love with Brenda...and most of Jesus." Boyd

THANKFUL FOR ...CRAAAAAAAAWFISH

Greetings fellow Cajuns and Cajun wannabes. Why is the man in the first picture smiling. It could be that he is watching the LSU baseball team playing on a T.V. in front of him. It could be he thinking about his new recording project that sounds fantastic. It could be the various successful showcases of his band that has been taking place. But none of these events compares with the sweet joy as he is partaking of that sweet meat...Mr. Crawfish at the Annual Legendre Crawfish Boil.

In the third collage that you see...there is a collection of pictures from the boil... and pictures from my favorite Elvis Presley movie...KING CREOLE. This movie opens up with a song...that Elvis sings with KITTY WHITE. This is one of the first...rare...duets that Elvis sings with a female. In Viva Las Vegas he sings with Ann Margaret.

This song is sung in a type of CALL AND RESPONSE song (music of the church)...as Kitty pushes a cart down Bourbon Street in the morning. She is selling her wares of CRAWFISH in the French Quarters. Elvis is getting up...getting dressed and they begin to sing.

Craaaaaaaaaaaaaawfish.....Craaaaaaaaaawwwwwfiiish...See I got em...see the size...stripped and cleaned...before your eyes...sweeeeet meeaat look...fresh and ready to cook. Craaaaaaaaaaaaawfish....Craaaaaaaaaaawfish.

Well I went to the bayou just last night...there was no moon but the stars were bright...put a big long hook...on a big long pole...and I pulled Mr. Crawfish out of his whole...Craaaaaaaawwfish....Craaaaaaaawfish.

Now take Mr. Crawfish in your hand...He's gonna look good in your frying pan...
If you fry him crisp or you boil him right...he'll be sweeter than sugar when you take a bite...Crawwwwwwwwfish....Craaawwwwfish.

The best part of this Crawfish boil is not...sitting around talking with friends... and smelling the sweet aroma of the boiling of spices, potatoes, corn, garlic cloves, corn and of course crawfish. The best part of the boil is not getting a large platter full of the cajun feast...sitting down and begin to pulling off the tails, sucking the heads of the crawfish, eating the sweet meat. The best part is not taking a break and then starting all over again...with the juices dripping down your face and arms as you take a break to wipe your mouth and drink a cool drink. What could be the best part of this event?



The best part of the event for old Ramblin' Rod...is getting together with my son...and taking our annual picture of a son and his dad...sucking the head of the crawfish. It is especially meaningful...since he graduated from high school... has been living at Wherry Housing while interning for Community Servants...and working at UPS at night. I don't get to see him as much as I use to...and just to hear his voice or see him for a moment is a treat.

Sometimes...we don't miss the ones we love until they are not around as much. Sure...this is part of life...and as our kids spread their wings to soar into adulthood...it hurts...BUT...we have to cherish the moments together. I think I have a little taste of how God must feel when we don't call or check in on a regular basis. Sometimes as we grow in the Lord....we tend to drift a little in our independence. We tend NOT to read the Word as much as we did when we first came to know Him. Our prayers are not as consistent. We tend to become more self-reliant rather than come to Him. In Revelation....we are encouraged to RETURN TO OUR FIRST love...and do the things that we did when we first met Him. It is getting back to the basics of life....reading the Word, praying to Him, having intimate conversations with Him. When we do things like this... it makes the simple pleasures of life so much better. When my relationship with God is good...little things like a Crawfish Boil, a night out to a concert, a look of love from your wife, a simple song, a picture with your son...becomes so much sweeter.

Lord...your Word says, "In EVERYTHING give thanks...for this is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus." (I Thessalonians 5:18) In EVERYTHING...means everything...including the crawfish boil. If I could learn the lesson of being thankful in the little things...and in the everythings...life would be good.

Love and Cajun...Spicy...Kisses
Rodney "King Creole Boyd"

P.S. The King of Kings...is the King of kings...including king creole.