OF FOOLS, ATHEISTS AND INTELLECTS

Greetings A-Team Fans. In the words of Hannibal Smith..."I love it when a plan comes together."

THE A-TEAM was a T.V. show on the air from 1983 to 1987. It was about four Vietnam Vets...framed for a crime they didn't commit (robbed the Bank of Hanoi under direct orders). They help the innocent while on the run from the military.

The A-Team consists of (1) John "Hannibal" Smith the leader and master of disguise, played by George Peppard (2) Templeton "The Face" Peck the con man and ladies man played by Dirk Benedict (3) Hector "Howling Mad" Murdock the crazy pilot played by Dwight Schultz (4) And last but not least...
B.A. Baracus, the mechanic and muscle, played by Tyrese "Mr. T." Gibson.

The catch phrase of the show...made popular by Mr. T. was "I PITY THE FOOL." The good new for many A-Team fans...a movie is in the works. Get your PITY MONITOR READY!


FOOL DEFINED: (1) A person lacking in judgement or prudence (2) A retainer (person) kept in great households to provide casual entertainment and commonly dressed in motley with cap and bells and baubles (3) One who is victimized or made to appear foolish, a dupe (4) A harmlessly deranged person of one lacking in common powers of understanding.

"Carlyle said that men are mostly FOOLS. Christianity...with a surer and more revered realism...says that they are ALL FOOLS." (G.K. Chesteron)

"There are a good many FOOLS who call me a friend...and also a good many friends who call me a FOOL." (G.K. Chesterton)

"The [empty-headed] FOOL has said in his HEART there is NO God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds, there is none that does good or right." (Psalm 14:1/Romans 3:10 The Amplified Bible)

"The [empty-headed] FOOL has said in his HEART...There is NO God. Corrupt and evil are they, and doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good."
(Psalm 53:1 The Amplified Bible)

"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable so that he cannot escape the punishment imposed by the court (Exodus 20:13; Dueteronomy 5:17; Dueteronomy 16:18)...But I say to you that every one who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice [enmity of heart] against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insulting to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin...and whoevers says...YOU CURSED FOOOL!---You EMPTY-HEADED IDIOT! shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire." (Matthew 5:21-22)

Oooooooooh...ya gotta love that Jesus...with his peaceful, non-confrontational...politically and religiously correct message of hope.

The first couple of QUOTABLE QUOTES are from a man by the name of G.K. Chesterton. He was an author, poet, historian, Christian apologist, mystery writer, and intellectual...who ran around with...a contemporary of men like George Bernard Shaw...the playwright... J.M. Barrie...creator of Neverland, the Lost Boys and Peter Pan...H.G. Wells author of works that peered through the curtain of the future...and Clarence Darrow...debater and lawyer. One of Chesterton's collective works was a collection of murder mysteries investigated by a Catholic padre called FATHER BROWN.

"The Christian ideal has not been TRIED and found wanting....It has been FOUND DIFFICULT and left UNTRIED." (G.K. Chesterton) One last quote from Chesterton..."Fairy tales are more than true...NOT because the tell us dragons exists...but because they tell us THAT DRAGONS CAN BE BEATEN." (G.K. Chesteron)

The other quote is by someone who left a place of prestige to hang around with riff-raff, fools, and common folk. His name is JESUS. He places an ominous warning for using the word FOOL. The other quotes from Psalms...contrasts that there are FOOLS...and the criteria for someone being a FOOL is saying in their hearts....THERE IS NO GOD.

Well Rod...what's up with this Rambling? What triggered the ruminations about FOOLS? Well...I'm glad you asked. I have been hearing in the wind...about someone who has declared...that they have RESEARCHED the existence of God...and has determined that GOD DOES NOT EXIST!!! WOW!!!!!!!!! That is some heavy research. When someone has researched (reviewed all available material about God)... and has come to the final conclusion that there IS NO GOD...has got to have the intellect...the size of a billion computers...and the insight of Einstein extrapolated out to QUANTUM LEAPS. To make the statement THERE IS NO GOD...brings the INTELLECT...into the FOOL REALM. This is not an emotional statement that condemns one to hell...but a statement of fact, underscored in the Bible.

Atheists...denies the existence of God...but God does not deny the existence of atheists. "For God so love the ATHEISTS that He gave His only begotten Son...that if the ATHEISTS believes in Him...should NOT PERISH (be a fool)...but have EVERLASTING LIFE...versus an existence of CAUSE and EFFECT." (John 3:16 The Ruminator Version) Ray Comfort has a book out called GOD DOESN'T BELIEVE IN ATHEISTS (Proof That The Atheist Doesn't Exist).

"For the wrath of God (who they don't believes exists)...is REVEALED (not by flesh and blood but by the Father)...from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men...who SUPPRESS THE TRUTH in unrighteousness...because that which is KNOWN ABOUT GOD...is EVIDENT...WITHIN THEM....for God (who they don't believes exists)...made it EVIDENT TO THEM. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes...His eternal power...and divine nature have BEEN CLEARLY SEEN....being UNDERSTOOD what through what has been made...so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. For even though THEY KNEW GOD....they DID NOT HONOR HIM AS GOD...or GIVE THANKS...but...they BECAME FUTILE in their SPECULATIONS...and their FOOLISH HEARTS was darkened."
(Romans 1:18-21)

QUESTION: What is the cause and effect of suppressing of the truth...lack of understanding....no excuses...non-honoring of God...thankless
futile speculations and foolish hearts?

ANSWER: "PROFESSING TO BE WISE....THEY BECAME FOOLS" (Romans 1:22) These people...KNOW THE TRUTH...but under the guise of intellectualism/humanism...the go from a position of WISDOM...down to the position of FOOLISH. They have SAID IN THEIR HEARTS THERE IS NO GOD. The cause and effect of saying in your heart there is NO GOD....FOOL! They have positioned themselves for a slide into the Valley of Hennum (Gehenna)...that Jesus compared a perpetual burning garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. You can debate the existence of Hell all day long...but that does not remove the stench of your smoldering soul.

NOTE: A FOOl may say in their hearts that there is NO GOD...but one thing is worse than a FOOL That would be a CHRISTIAN who lives AS IF there is NO GOD.

The next step for the FOOL...is to manifest their FOOLISHNESS in their actions and lifestyle. A FOOL will make very unwise decisions based on their FAULTY REASONING...and INTELLECTUAL FOIBLES. Christians and non-Christians make these decisions all the time in the FLESH and not in the SPIRIT. Romans continues....

"Professing to be wise...they became fools....and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore...God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and WORSHIPED and SERVED THE CREATURE rather than the CREATOR, who is blessed forever. Amen." For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural...and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire towards one another...men with men...committing indecent acts and receiving in their won persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to ACKNOWLEDGE GOD ANY LONGER (they once did)...God gave them over to a depraved mind...to do those things which are not proper being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice they are GOSSIPS, slanderers, HATERS OF GOD...insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING, untrustworthy, unloving unmerciful; and although THEY KNOW THE ORDINANCE OF GOD...that hose who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same...but also give hearty approval to those who PRACTICE THEM." (Romans 1:22-32)

This is the PORTRAIT OF AN INTELLECTUAL FOOL. Let's look at ANOTHER PORTRAIT.


Malcom and Alwyn...a duo from England...who were pioneers in the JESUS MOVEMENT MUSIC SCENE...has an album called FOOLS WISDOM. They sing of a GOOD TYPE OF FOOL.

"We are FOOLS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE...but you are prudent in Christ...We are WEAK...but you are strong...you are distinguished...but we are without honor."
(I Corinthians 4:10 NASB)

"Let no man DECEIVE himself...if ANY MAN among you THINKS....that he is WISE in this age...let him BECOME FOOLISH that he may become WISE. For the WISDOM of this world is FOOLISHNESS BEFORE GOD...for it is written...He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness...and again the Lord knows the REASONING of the wise...THAT THEY ARE USELESS."
(I Corinthians 3:18-20 NASB)

"For the Word of the CROSS (D.B.R.) is to those who are PERISHING...
FOOLISHNESS...but to those of us who are being SAVED it is the POWER OF GOD. For it is written...I will destroy the WISDOM OF THE WISE...and the CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I will set aside." (I Corinthians 1:18-19 NASB)

NOTE: Read I Corinthians chapters 1 and 2 for contrast between wisdom and foolishness. Also read the book of PRO-VERBS (Positive-Action) for insight in the contrasts between fools and the wise.

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

"You've got to love some body...it may be the devil...it may be the Lord...but you got to love somebody." (Bob Dylan)


FOOLS WISDOM

I got my self some wisdom from a leather bound book
I got myself some wisdom when I took a second look
I opened up the pages and what did I find
A black and white PORTRAIT
Of a Saviour whose a friend of mine
Heeeyyy....Hey What a daaay...
Fooooooolls Wisdom

FINAL THOUGHTS....FINALLY!!!

God is NOT afraid of our doubts and questions. If someone can talk you out of your FAITH...then your faith was a STRAW MAN in the first place. Over the years...I have doubted...and acted on my doubts...and reaped what I sowed. God allowed me to WALK AWAY... because He desires true lovers...not robots. He gave us volition...free choice. In Romans we see that God gave them over to their desires...and let them worship whoever they wished to worship. He will let a married man have sex outside of marriage as a whoremonger in heat for a whore. He will let you harbor bitterness and resentment until it consumes you. He will allow you to pursue sexual deviance and let you call it gay. He will allow you to eat until you explode. He will allow you to choose curses and deaths or blessings and life. He will let you RESEARCH all of the man made intellectual concepts of God...and allow you to come to the conclusion that GOD DOES NOT EXISTS. He will allow you to be a FOOL...either a FOOL FOR CHRIST...or A FOOL FOR YOURSELF. I am a FOOL for CHRIST...tell me WHOSE FOOL YOU ARE.

Love and Fool for Christ Kisses
Rodney "Ain't Gonna Commit Intellectual Suicide" Boyd

GOD'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Greetings and Salutations in these perilous financial times. Depending on when your read this...the roller coaster economy could be at a high or a low. Hang on to your hats.

QUESTION: What does BUDDY HOLLY have to do with the ECONOMY?

AN EVEN BIGGER QUESTION: Were these two studs separated at birth?

Buddy Holly...a scrawny, bespectacled kid...saw Elvis Presley in concert in Lubbock Texas...and decided at that point...that is what he wanted to do. In a short time span...Buddy was appearing with Elvis in concert...playing his Texas version of rock and roll with his Fender guitar...and the Crickets...which included a young Waylon Jennings. History shows that Buddy Holly...J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson...Ritchie Valens...and Roger Peterson (the pilot) died in a plane crash after a concert. Jennings missed the flight as he yielded his seat to the Big Bopper because Richardson had the flu and asked Jennings for his seat. Later in the 70's Don McClean would proclaim that day as...THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED.

THE QUESTION STILL REMAINS: What does BUDDY HOLLY have to do with the ECONOMY?

The answer to this...and even more exciting questions will be answered later.

Anybody with a pulse...knows that these ain't THE GOOD OLD DAYS. Wall Street is reeling from fierce blows and seems to be down for the count. Our collage shows (1) A Wall Street street sign (2) A young George Bailey wishing he had a million dollars...HOT DOG! (3) Scrooge McDuck swimming in his vault of loot (4) Fort Knox...the federal reserve with gold O' plenty.

All of these represent our POINTS OF TRUST for our financial future. Each one is as fragile as the other...and the stock market is up and down almost as much as our emotions are...and are subject to a crash along with our emotions.

FEAR is the master of a lot of peoples fate...and sometimes drives them to the point of hopelessness...that brings them to the END OF THEIR ROPES... literally as the either jump out of buildings...hang themselves...or shoot themselves in despair.

If hope is defined as CONFIDENT EXPECTATION...then hopelessness must be defined as WAVERING EXPECTATION OF THE WORST.

It was only a few weeks ago...when oil/gas shortages sent gas prices flaring and flaring tempers at the gas pumps...where people would get into verbal arguments...and actual fist fights...as each one would HORDE gas..."just in case".

Now...gas appears to be on the way down...emotions are subsiding...until the next spike in price. What is the answer to our fragile situation? GOD'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM. To some it is "hiding your head in the sand"....and "avoiding reality". To others...it is WALKING BY FAITH instead of CRAWLING BY FEAR. Whenever I go to the gas pump... I always...always...always...quote Philippians 4:19. If God can supply gas to me at 36 cents a gallon...is it not reasonable that He can supply my need for gas at $5.00 a gallon?

NOTE: Read the entire 4th chapter of Philippians for how to deal with anxiety, and the secret to walk in Philippians 4:19.

The BASIS for GOD'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM is found in Philippians 4:19"

"And my GOD will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS." (The Amplified Bible)

Note...that it is not...WASHINGTON will supply my every WELFARE need...according to how much we can TAX the people. As I have heard from others..."Let them tax me...you can't get blood from a turnip."

With Philippians 4:19...as the BASIS for GOD'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM...let us look as some of the PRECEPTS of this SYSTEM.


In the original Garden...that would be the Garden of Eden...NOT...the Woodstock attempt at getting back to the Garden...there was NO LACK. There was abundance and provision...until DISOBEDIENCE entered in...along with THE CURSE...which included POVERTY (Genesis 1-4; Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Galatians 3:13) POVERTY IS A CURSE...JUST LIKE SICKNESS IS A CURSE. if poverty and sickness are a blessing...then quit trying to get out of the blessing by going to the doctor or working to bring in a paycheck. NOTE: Living a FRUGAL life is not the same thing as being under the OPPRESSION of POVERTY.

The elder Elder...John wrote a brief letter to the beloved Gaius...and opened with a prayer: "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in EVERY way...and [that your body] may keep well...even as {I know] your soul keeps well and prospers." (John 3 The Amplified Bible).

NOTE: Proponents who attempt to distance themselves from the prosperity teachers...will emphasize that this is ONLY (1) a way of opening a letter (2) John was only talking about spiritual prosperity. I personally think it is a balanced prayer to PROSPER (have more than enough to meet your need and enough to pour out to others)...in the spirit/soul, body, and financial. As I search the Word...it does not negate having stuff. Of course...as Philippians 4 states... "God will meet your NEEDS"....not your GREEDS. God is a gracious God...but He is also a CONDITIONAL GOD.

Another aspect of GOD'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM is found in the teaching of Jesus found in Luke 6. The context of this section...is Jesus being accused of being unlawful by the Pharisees (religious people...not spiritual people). Jesus entered into discussion with them...which included a discussion about healing. They were filled with RAGE...and began to discuss how to handle Jesus. Jesus went off to pray...and then came to teach the people what is known as the BEATITUDES (these BE the ATTITUDES...that we should BE having). Jesus then began to teach about RECIPROCITY. This included...how to love your enemies, how to bless those who curse you, how to deal with those who mistreat you...how to walk in the art of giving...and to treat men as you want to be treated. He explained that if you do good to those who do good to you...what credit is that to you. Even sinners do the same thing. He then gets into lending to those whom you expect something back in return. What credit is that to you. Even sinners do the same thing. The Jesus added the word BUT...which let them know that he was going to CONTRAST how NOT to do it...with HOW to do it. (Luke 6:27-34)

"But love your enemies...and do good...and lend...expecting NOTHING in return...and your reward will be great...and you will be sons of the Most High...for He Himself is kind to UNGRATEFUL AND EVIL MEN. Be merciful, just as your Fatter is merciful. And do not pass judgement and you will not be judged; and do not condemn and you shall not be condemned...pardon and you will be pardoned."
(Luke 6:35-37)

Now...Jesus brings in the main thought about all of this...which is based on love and faith...not fear and hoarding.

"GIVE...and [gifts] will be given you...good measure...pressed down...shaken together...running over will they (men) pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others--it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38 The Amplified Bible)

NOTE: If you take a bushel basket....and pour in or fill it will a good measure...that is fair...BUT...God does not stop there. You then press it down...to make room for MORE. Then you sake it together to make sure everything is settled so MORE can be placed in. And then.... you continue to pour in to the very top of the basket...BUT you don't stop there...you KEEP ON POURING IN...until...IT BEGINS TO OVERFLOW. Now...that is PROVISION. Now...that is the HEARTBEAT OF GOD'S ECONOMY.


But what do you do...when it looks like there is no provision? What do you do when it looks like Wall Street is crashing and burning.? What do you do when the gas lines are circling the block...and there are fist fights at the pumps and gas is $10.00 a gallon? I'm glad you asked. YOU WALK BY FAITH...NOT BY SIGHT. (II Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; Habakkuk 2:4)

"Behold the PROUD...his soul is not straight or right within him; but the rigidly just and the uncompromisingly righteous man shall LIVE BY HIS FAITH and in hi faithfulness." Habakkuk 2:4)

Pride short circuits...GOD'S ECONOMY SYSTEM for you individually. His ECONOMY SYSTEM is alive and well...but your access has been hindered. You have to HUMBLE YOURSELF...walk by FAITH...and not by FEAR.

NOTE: There is NO SHORTAGE in God's riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Here is what you do between the point of prayer...and the point of provision as you WALK BY FAITH.

"Though the fig tree DOES NOT blossom...and there BE NO fruit on the vines... [though] the product of the olive FAIL...and the fields YIELD NO food... though the flock be CUT OFF from the fold...and there BE NO cattle in the stalls...YET..." (Habakkuk 3:17)

ENTER THE YET PRINCIPLE OF GOD'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM

In contrast to what YOU SEE...the word YET...transitions us to the ANSWER. So far we have seen the PROBLEM. Now we see what ACTION that we take BY FAITH.

YET:



1. I will: This is our free will. We make a choice to do what is needed.
2. Rejoice in the Lord: Praise is in order...even if the circumstances, situations, economy does not warrant it. You are not rejoicing in
you circumstance...but IN THE LORD. It is like the verse in I Thessalonians 5:18..."In EVERYTHING give thanks...for this is God's
will for you in Christ Jesus." EVERYTHING that comes down the pike IS NOT God's will for you...BUT you giving THANKS to God
in the midst of EVERYTHING...IS God's will for you....so REJOICE.
3. I will EXULT in the VICTORIOUS GOD OF MY MY SALVATION. Exulting is not just a passive, quiet response to something. It
is a demonstrative demonstration of exuberance. Jump up...spin around...get clamorously foolish...RAVE ON. Again...it is not for
the bad stuff/times you are going through...but in response to the answerer of your prayers...the God of your salvation...and that
God ain't congress....or a presidential candidate...or a religious leader.

NOW....we begin to make FAITH DECLARATIONS:

1. The Lord God is my strength (Philippians 4:19)
2. The Lord God is my personal bravery.
3. The Lord God is my invincible army
4. He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me WALK [not to stand still in TERROR...but to WALK] and makes SPIRITUAL
PROGRESS upon my high places [of TROUBLE, SUFFERING, OR RESPONSIBILITY].

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY!

This is just scratching the surface of GOD'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM. Read Philippians 4:10-19 for THE SECRET of GOD'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

OH BY THE WAY:

You did not think I forgot the original question...did ya?

QUESTION: What does BUDDY HOLLY have to do with the ECONOMY?

ANSWER: RAVE ON!

One of Buddy Holly's last hits...before the plane crash was RAVE ON.

Little thing you say and do
Make me want to be with you
RAVE ON, This crazy feeling
And I know it's go me reeling
When you say I LOVE YOU...RAVE ON

The word RAVE means:

1. To talk wildly , as in delirium
2. To talk or write with EXTRAVAGANT enthusiasm
3. An extravagantly enthusiastic appraisal or review of something
4. Chiefly a British slang word...A boisterous party

This is the nature of what we are to do when were EXULT in the VICTORIOUS GOD OF OUR SALVATION in this economic mess.

Love and Rave On Kisses
Rodney "Where Did You Get Those Glasses" Boyd

YES MASTER

Greetings O Ye Rock Em, Sock Em Ruminators. I want each of you to repeat after me...YES MASTER. Now...say it again...but say it in a monotone, submissive voice...YESSS MASTER. Now...say it again after I give you a command. Go to your banks...withdraw a $100.00bill...place it in an envelope.. address it to me...put a stamp on the envelope...and mail it to me now.
Your response: YESSSS MASTER.

The good news is that we are not hyp-mo-tized...or drug induced Zombies...or programmed ROBOTS. We have been created (if you subscribe to that notion) with what is known as VOLITION. Aaaaaaaaah Sweet Volition. NO...I did not say Sweet Videlia ..but Sweet Volition. Volition is merely...the concept of FREE WILL. To be...or not to be that is the question. We have talked many times about our abilities to CHOOSE...life/death...blessing/curse...obey/disobey...
yes/no.

I love science fiction stories...and movies. Robots are central characters in the stories and moves...from CP3O, R2D2, Robbie the Robot(in the classic Sci-Fi movie Forbidden Planet)...and of course Robbie the Robot refurbished in the T.V. show...LOST IN SPACE, etc. Issac Asimov introduced robots with his science fiction short stories. The word ROBOTICS was 1st used in Asimov's 1949 story LIAR!. In 1950 he published 9 short stories that were connective by a narrative device of a story teller. Part of those short stories was one called I, ROBOT...which was seen on the T.V. show THE OUTER LIMITS...and later in the movie I, ROBOT with Will Smith in 2004. Asimov introduced what is known as the THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS (that go awry when the created robots...develop human emotions and volition. DANGER...DANGER WILL ROBISON (Lost in Space reference).

THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS

1. A robot MAY NOT INJURE a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot MUST OBEY ORDERS given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law.

3. A robot MUST PROTECT its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the 1st or 2nd law.

Good laws to live by...if you are a ROBOT. Instead of I, ROBOT...we are I, HUMAN.

Man...Wo-man...Man/Woman-kind...were CREATED with the capacity to worship, fellowship, love, commune...and CHOOSE.

In the book of Genesis (beginnings)...we see an overview of creation by the Creator...with Genesis 1:1-25 God SPEAKING into existence various things from light to animals...with his assertion that what He had CREATED was GOOD. Then in verse 26 we see God saying..."Let US make man in OUR image according to OUR likeness...." He goes on to say, "...and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over ALL the earth, and over every CREEPING THING (including creepy serpents) that CREEPS (authority over the creeps). Verse 27 continues with a description of the creation process..."And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him: male and female He created THEM.

NOTE: That this authority for the created beings was given to MALE and FEMALE.

Verse 28 continues..."And God BLESSED them (male and female) and God said to THEM (male and female), be fruitful and multiply (and God was not talking about mathematics)...and fill the earth (with the cause and effect of the multiplication process)...and subdue it (utilize the delegated authority)...and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Verse 29-30 continues on with what God had given man and woman...male and female. In the end...in verse 31..."And God saw all that He had made...and behold, IT WAS VERY GOOD..."

While Genesis 1:1-31 gives a broadbrush overview of creation in a 7 day thumbnail sketch...Genesis 2:7-25 zeros into the specifics of the creation of man/woman, male/female, husband/wife.

In Genesis 2:7...we see the first case of CPR...jumpstarting a lump of clay..."Then the Lord God formed man of DUST...from the ground...and BREATHED into his nostrils...THE BREATH OF LIFE...and man BECAME (cause and effect) a LIVING BEING/SOUL." Later on we see the first surgery performed with anesthesia as God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept...and then He took one of his ribs (pre Famous Daves) and closed up the flesh at that place. And the Lord God FASHIONED (1st fashion show) into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man and brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:21-22)

NOTE: Remember that woman was not an after thought. She was in the original plan of creation...in the image of God...and was to have authority and dominion over earth as was man.

Then the union of man (Ish) and wo-man (Isshah)...became bone of my nones and flesh of may flesh...and for this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his WIFE and they shall become ONE FLESH. (Genesis 2:23)

Well Mr. Ruminator...what does all this mean? Well...Mr. and Mrs. and Miss and Ms Ruminators and Ruminettes...it's like Pastor Bruce Coble says..."we are just lumps of clay filled with the glory of God."

We are NOT robots. We have a divine link with the CREATOR of the universe. What gives value to a container...is not the container...it is what is IN the container that gives it value.

We are lumps of clay...with the breath of the creator of the universe...that was set into motion in the Garden...and continues to breath... until he stops it.

Part of the VOLITIONAL PROCESS that we have...is found in the song HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the POTTER...I am the CLAY
Mold me and make me...after Thy will
While I am waiting...Yielded and still

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way
SEARCH me and TRY me...MASTER today!
Whiter than snow, Lord...wash me just now
As in Thy presence Humbly I bow

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary...Help me , I pray
Power all power...surely is Thine
Touch me and heal me...Saviour divine

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway!
Fill with thy Spirit...surely is Thine
Till all shall see
Christ only, always...LIVING IN ME!

This song penned by Adelaide Pollard and George Stebbins...with a copyright in 1907...still rings true to me in 2008.

YES MASTER....I choose to obey and yield to your desires.

Love and non-robotic kisses
Rodney "I, RODNEY" Boyd

AT THE TIME...IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA!?!?

Greetings and Saluations all of you deep thinkers. Thought and good thoughts lately?

Many moons ago...when the lovely Brenda and I were first married...we use to make trips to Chattanooga (yes Mr and Mrs. Hart...you heard right...Chattannoga). It was a lovely trip...with 106 miles of beautiful scenery... from Murfreesboro along I-24, up Mont Eagle Mountain...down across Nickajack Dam....rolling around Moccasin Bend Mental Institution... into the town of Chattanooga. Once on the way home...we were driving along, enjoying the company of each other, soaking in the scenery...when we heard a rattling. "Hmmm...wonder what that is honey bunch. I don't know sugar lump...maybe we should stop the car and see."

Of course...being the manly man that I am...the provider of my woman... I pulled over the side of the road...boldly got out of my car...and began looking over the situation about which I knew nothing about. I got down on my hands and knees looking under the car from the rear end...and noticed a pipe protruding out (aka the tailpipe...aka the exhaust). In my MIND...I reasoned...I wonder if that pipe is loose and that is what is making the rattling noise? In next logically thought out that if it is loose that I should shake it just to make sure. It did not factor into the equation that we had driven 50 or more miles...and that the tailpipe just might be slightly HOT. I reached up...as Sweet Brenda Sue was sitting in the car...admiring her manly man as he took authority to solve our problem...and took my five fingertips and grapped hold of the HOT PIPE. Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course instead of instantly letting go at the first signs of pain...my fingers reflexively gripped the hot tailpipe tighter. Long story, short (I know...too late)...we went into a local truck stop looking for medical aid. Let's just say there were a bunch of burly truck drivers...sassy waitresses ala Flo on the T.V. show ALICE...all looking at a scrawny kid who was grapping hot tailpipes. AT THE TIME...IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA.


Fast forward from 1972 to 1989. I had seen some cooking show...where the chef was caramalizing sugar. He went on and on describing how the aroma was intoxicating and the taste was woooooooonderful!
Sooooooo...I got out my pan... melted butter...but in the sugar...and sure enough, he was not lying. The smell of that caramalized sugar was wafting up my nostrils like a sweet ambrosia dripping on the tongue of a thirsty soul. Again...my brain shifted into gear...thinking...I need to have a taste of that....just a taste. Control central of my brain set into motion the the arm and the index finger of my body as I reached in ever so carefully...so as not to burn myself...and dipped the tip of my finger into the caramalized temptress. Immediately...my finger tip sent a signal to my brain...Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikesss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I quickly removed my finger...and instictively...like the instincts of a well trained Ninja...place the hot glob of sweetness into my mouth to cool down my finger...not realizing that now...my tongue would be sending another signal to my brain....Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes!!!!!!!! Now I was in pain in two locations. AT THE TIME...IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA!?!?


There are two verses found in the book of PROVERBS...or as I like to call it...the book of PRO-VERBS...a collection of PRO (positive) VERBS (action) to live out our lives in this land that we call NITTY GRITTY...where stuff happens. It teaches us not only how rough life is...but how we can avoid some of the pitfalls of life...so we do not have to suffer needlessly. God's has got the cure...but sometimes...a lot of the times...we do not want the solution. Why? It might infringe upon our "fun". There was an old commercial for Excedrin headache medication...when a kindly...gentle....old lady was asking her daughter if she could help her with something. The daughter...who had a headache...snapped the old lady's head off by yelling..."MOTHER...I WOULD RATHER DO IT MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!! I do the same thing with God...because at the time IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way which seems right toa man, but its end is the way of death." God underscores this again in Proverbs 16:25, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

The Amplified Bible puts it this way..."There is a way which seems right to a man...and appears straight before him, but at the end of it are the ways of death."

The Message Bible says, "There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; LOOK AGAIN---it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people APPEAR to be having a good time, but all that laughter will END IN HEARTBREAK."

There once was an angel...who was the head worshipper in the house of God. He desired the worship that was being given to God...and hatched a scheme to take over. He convinced a third of the heavnely host to join him...and the cause and effect was that he was cast out of heaven along with a third of the heavenly host. To Lucifer...AT THE TIME ...IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

Everybody...reaches up...at times and grabs the TAILPIPE OF LIFE...dips our fingertip into the CARAMLIZED SUGAR OF OUR MUNDANE EXISTENCE. SMART people do STUPID things all of the time. We do it so often...that our stupidity becomes the standard for what we measure other peoples actions by...and when they fail to reach our standard...we look at them and go..."DUH!" We also do what at the time...seems right... that our senses become dulled to the voice of God...and we DO WHAT WE WANT...no matter the consequences....to ourselves or to others. We become mockers of what is right and justifiers of what is wrong. (Read Romans 1-3)

There needs to be a reaching out and touching with our fingertips alright...and NOT like my stupid blunders. We need to reach out and touch the fingertip of the Creator. As the Ralph Carmichel classic songs says..."Reach out to Jesus...He's reaching out to you."

A the fingertip of God is the fingerprint of God (I really don't know for sure if God has a fingerprint...but it sounds good). He has transferred his fingerprint to our finger tip...and now whereever we go and whatever we touch in his name...we leave His fingerprint. Don't burn the fingertip and mess up the fingerprint with what AT THE TIME....SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

NEXT TIME: THE FINGERPRINT

Love and Caramalized Kisses
Rod "Yiiiiiiiiiiiikes!" Boyd