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

TOP TEN REASONS ROD DOES NOT NEED GOD IN 2009

Greetings all ye who deem themselves to be self-sufficient. Here it is...2009... another year where we can survive on our own. No need for God...since we consider ourselves to be gods. We are the master of our fates...our destiny is in our hands...the world (the corporate and personal0 is just fine. With that in mind...here they are....THE TOP TEN REASONS....ROD...DOES NOT NEED GOD IN 2009.

DISCLAIMER: For those unaware....this is a tongue in cheek poke at those who think it is all about...them.

So.............with out further adue...let us proceed.

This was originally posted to my wall on FACEBOOK.



#10 I subscribe to the BOOT STRAP THEOLOGY...where I pull up MY OWN boot straps...so I don't owe nuttin' to nobody...including God. I am a self-made man.

#9 I am a follower of Frank Sinatra...so let's all turn to page 245 in our ME BOOKS...and sing all three verses of I DID IT MYYYYYYYYYYYYYY WAY.

#8 Jesus may be Lord, MASTER and Saviour...but I've got MASTERcard, Discover, and American Express to meet my needs according to the debt cycle of the world. I am my Lord/Boss/One in control... Master...and Saviour of myself.

#7 When you are as intellectual as I am...you don't need God. After all...I have come to the conclusion that THERE IS NO GOD...so I can't need help from what is not real. NOTE: Atheist...intellectuals...and agnostics..."spiritual" people may not believe in God...but God sure does believe in them...enough to allow His Son to die on a cross in their place.

#6 I don't really need God...because I've got all my ducks in a row with my 401K, stocks, investments, etc. After all...WALL STREET IS LORD...and as long as WALL STREET is stable...I don't need God.

#5 I will need God...when the world gets bad enough. So far...so good. NOTE: Sometimes you got to stink enough...where even you can't stand your funky smell.




NOTE: We are have way to the # 1 reason. Let's here a word from our sponsor...the RUMINATORS. If you are in the Smyrna and surrounding area...stop by on Wednesday nights...for a JOURNEY through the ONE YEAR BIBLE...RUMINATOR STYLE. Email me for more information. And now back to our exciting adventure of TOP TEN REASONS ROD DOES NOT NEED GOD IN 2009.

#4 Why do I need God...I've got a wife who tells me what to do. Instead of saying YES LORD...all I have to do is say YES DEAR.

# 3 God is for sinners...and I don't sin. My armpits don't stink either. I am a pristine individual...PRAISE ROD.

EMERGENCY SPIRITUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM: Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.... this is a test...it is only a test...in the event of a real SPIRITUAL CRISIS...you would have been notified to fall on your knees and repent of your self-sufficiency.
#2 God is for losers...and I am a WINNER...or that's what all the positive thinker gurus tell me. All I have to do is awaken the giant within me...confess over and over that I am all I need...become a magnet for good things...do good works...and all of my needs will be met according to the riches in myself.


COMMERCIAL BREAK: Are you tired of being tempted...enticed to evil...pulled away from who you really are? Are you weary of trying to do the right thing... and still missing the mark. Are you fed up with walking in the flesh and experiencing the same old habits and being tied up and bound again, and again, and again? Is that what's troubling you Boopie? Well.........HAVE I GOT A CLASS FOR YOU. On Sunday mornings at Smyrna Assembly at 9:00 CST...you can join the rest of the HERD....for the new teaching series called HOW TO DEAL WITH TEMPTATION, SIN and the FLESH. If you can't make it...you can email Ramblin' Rod and request a copy of the workbook...that will be sent to you via email attachment...for the low, low price of FREE.

And now...we return for the conclusion of TOP TEN REASONS ROD DOES NOT NEED GOD IN 2009.

And the #1 reason...Rod does not need God in 2009.....

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

See ya next time...for the TOP TEN REASONS.......

Love and RodMEy Kisses
Rodney "As The Deer Panteth For The Waters So My Soul Thirsts After Thee" Boyd

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

THE CHUMP TO CHAMP CONNECTION

Greetings fellow Chumps....or is that Champs. It's like the difference between the good looking, muscular, bronzed keg-packed ideal of a real man...and me. One is a HUNK...the other is a CHUNK. I'll let you be the judge.

In the movie O Brother Where Art Thou?...you had three escapees from a road gang in Mississippi who were on an ODDESSY in search of a TREASURE. This movie is loosely based on the writings of Homer...as they encounter various things that keep them from accomplishing their goal.

The treasure seekers (which turned out to be a hoax) consisted of Pete Hogwallop, Delmar O'Donnell, and their leader Ulysses Everett McGill.

At one point in their journey...they encountered a church singing and walking into the water to be baptized...dipped wholly into the waters of the river. They were singing and being dipped. Delmar...surprises Pete and Everett as he runs into the waters to be baptized. Pete also joins the baptism but Everett...who considers himself an intellectual and above religious superstition. The times for this baptism was in Mississippi during the Great Depression of 1937. Here's Everett's observation on the event:




EVERETT: Well, I guess HARD TIMES FLUSH THE CHUMPS. Everybody's looking for ANSWERS. (He then asks Pete where Delmar is going as Delmar runs into the waters)

PETE: Well I'll be an S.O.B...Delmar's been SAVED!

DELMAR: Well that's it boys. I've been REDEEMED. The preacher's done warshed away all my sins and transgressions. It's the straight and narrow from here on out, and heaven everlasting's my reward.

EVERETT: Delmar...what are you talking about? We've got BIGGER FISH TO FRY.

DELMAR: The preacher says all my sins are warshed away...including that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo.

EVERETT: I thought you said you was Innocent of those charges?

DELMAR: Well...I was lyin'. And the preacher says that that sin's been warshed away too. Neither God nor man's got nothin' on me now. C'MON IN BOYS...THE WATER IS FINE.

Another viewpoint by Everett as he pontificates on spiritual things is:

EVERETT: Baptism! You two are just dumber than a bag of hammers. Well, any human being will CAST ABOUT in a MOMENT OF STRESS. No, the fact is...they're flooding this valley so they can hydroelectric up the whole durn state. Yes sir...the South is gonna change. Everything's gonna be put on electricity and run on a paying basis. Out with the OLD SPIRITUAL MUMBO JUMBO...the SUPERSTITIONS...the BACKWARD WAYS. We're gonna see a brave new world where they run everybody with a wire and hook us all up to a grid. Yes sire...a veritable AGE OF REASON. Like the one they had in France. Not a moment too soon.

In their travels they run across a young black man (at that time a colored)...named Tommy Johnson (based on real life blues man Robert Johnson who wrote the song Crossroads Blues made famous by Eric Clapton and Cream). Tommy had just sold his soul to the devil:

TOMMY: I had to be up a that there CROSSROADS last midnight, to sell my soul to the devil.

EVERETT: Well...ain't it a small world...SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING. Pete and Delmar just BEEN BAPTIZED and SAVED. I guess I'm the only one that remains UNAFFILIATED.

PETE: I've always wondered...what's the devil look like?

EVERETT: Well...there are all manner of lesser imps and demons, Pete, but the great satan hisself is red and scaly with a bifurcated tail, and he carries a hay fork.

TOMMY: Oh, no. NO, sir. He's white, as white as you folks, with empty eyes and a big hollow voice. He loves to travel around with a mean old hound. That's right.

EVERETT: What'd you SELL YOU SOUL FOR Tommy?

TOMMY: Well...he taught me how to play this here guitar real good.

DELMAR: Oh, son...for that...you sold your EVERLASTIN' SOUL?

TOMMY: Well..I wasn't usin' it.

What got me to ruminating about his rambling...was the phrase...HARD TIMES FLUSH THE CHUMPS. A CHUMP is defined as:

1. A stupid person; a dolt
2. A short, thick piece of wood (think blockhead)
3. The thick, blunt end of anything
4. The head
5. Crazy (off one's chump)

NOTE: I have a friend who has gone on to be with the Lord...who responded to someone calling him CRAZY..."I would rather be crazy the way I am...than sane the way you are."

6. A person who is GULLIBLE and EASY to take advantage of.
7. The thick end as the chump end of a joint of meat ie. chump chop
8. Insignificant, insultingly small ie. chump change.

Ulyssess Everett McGill is not alone in his assessment of people who choose to become Christians. Christians are viewed as stupid, ignorant, weak, gullible, blockheads, meatheads, dolts, crazy, insignificant, insulting small...in the eyes of NON-CHRISTIANS. They don't mind if you are a Christian...BUT heaven forbid that you bring your Christianity out of the four walls of your Chump Church building...and mention it in a conversation. Those who view us a CHUMPS...don't mind talking about how drunk they got the night before...or who they have been sleeping with...or yada yada, bla bla, woop woop....but don't mention Jesus. It's O.K. if you mention God...or the man upstairs...or the Good Lord....but when you start talking that Jesus crap...you have entered into the realm of OFFENDING.

NOTE: Not all non-Christians are like this...but there are militant Christian haters out there.

I am a proud CHUMP. As Paul said...I am NOT ASHAMED of the Gospel of Christ...for it is the POWER OF GOD...for SALVATION to everyone who BELIEVES...to the Jew first...and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) Gospel=Good News=Death, Burial, Resurrection... nothing more...nothing less.

"For God so love the CHUMPS...that He gave His only begotten Son...that whatever CHUMP believes in Him...the CHUMP shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16...Ruminator Style)

It appears to be God's Modus Operandi...to use the CHUMPS.

"But we preach Christ crucified to the Jews a STUMBLING BLOCK and to the Greeks FOOLISHNESS...but to those who are called, to the Jews and Greeks, CHRIST...THE POWER OF GOD...and the WISDOM OF GOD. Because the FOOLISHNESS OF GOD...is wiser than men...and the WEAKNESS OF GOD is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that NOT MANY WISE according to the flesh...not many MIGHTY...not many NOBLE are called. BUT...............................................................

GOD HAS CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO PUT TO SHAME THE WISE, AND GOD HAS CHOSEN THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD TO PUT TO SHAME THE THINGS WHICH ARE MIGHTY...AND THE BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED...God has chosen...and the things which are not...to bring to nothing the things that are...that NO FLESH...should glory in His presence. But of Him you ARE IN CHRIST JESUS...who became FOR US wisdom from God...and righteousness...and sanctification....and redemption...that as it is written...HE WHO GLORIES...LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD."
(I Corinthians 1:23-31)

Only CHUMPS can experience this. Non-Chumps are too smart...too strong...too prideful to experience the foolishness of God.

NOTE: I have been educated with and undergraduate degree and a Master's degree in Education....but like the Apostel Paul...I count all things that I have gained as loss compared to KNOWING HIM. As the song DENOMINATION BLUES declares..."You can go to your college...you can go to your schools...but if you don't know Jesus...you're an EDUCATED FOOL...that's all...I tell you that's all...you better know Jesus...I tell ya that's all."

The last picture collage that you see...are Delmar...and Rodney...saying...COME ON IN BOYS...and GIRLS...THE WATER IS FINE. If you need refreshing from the HARD TIMES...if you need relief from the casting around in the MOMENTS OF STRESS. The next two pictures in the collage are a few of my CHUMP FRIENDS...and I have many.

Love and Chump Kisses
Rodney "The Water Really Is Fine" Boyd