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

D.B.R...HOAX OR FACT?

Greetings and salutation in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace, mercy, and peace from the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. In other words...Howdy Do.

Between 1969 and 1973...there was a group called Mason Profitt. This group were helping to forge a sound of music comprised of folk, country, rock and blues. It is said that they picked up where groups like the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield left off...and influenced groups like the Eagles and subsequent groups. At this time in our musical history people like Jackson Brown, Wayne Berry, The Eagles etc...were weaving colorful stories in their music.

After 5 albums The Talbot Brothers (Terry and John Michael)...the driving force of Mason Proffitt...left the band and began singing Christian music to reflect there deep faith in Jesus Christ.

Their album REBORN is a classic...again reflecting their faith. Terry and John recorded various solo projects throughout the years and then came together again to record THE PAINTER with the song Create In Me A Clean Heart (an accapella masterpiece).
John became a Monk and released multiple, multiple, multiple worship albums...Terry continued to release worship albums and teamed with Barry McGuire to record and tour.

You must be asking yourself..."Self...why is Rodney going on and on about the Talbot Brothers...and what does this have to do with the title of this Rambling...HOAX OR FACT?" Well...Self...I'm glad you asked. HE IS RISEN! This is not only a historical fact on the time-space continuum...but also the title of a song on John Michael Talbot's first solo project. Since April 4th 2010...we will be celebrating what is known as Easter (but really should be called Resurrection Day and not named after a fertility goddess whose egg fell in a river and rolled up on shore). Thank God that the blood of bulls, goats, turtle doves...and a cute fuzzy bunny rabbit was not crucified on the cross in place for my sins. Here is the song HE IS RISEN with a little Ruminator Commentary along the way.

HE IS RISEN (John Michael Talbot)

(Verse 1)
There's a Voice in the wind can you hear it? A Story echoes in the wind, can you hear it? It's an answer for prayer for peace come true...and it comes now from me to you...can you hear it?

NOTE: This story...extends as far back as God. The Old Testament echoes over and over again the story of Jesus...the Prince of Peace. From Genesis 3:15 where the prophecy of the conflict on the cross is first breathed...until the actual event the story reverberates throughout history. Can you hear it?



(Verse 2)

There was a Prophet in the land, do you remember? He said He was more than just a man, do you remember? He told of us a love that was so true...How it would last the ages through...do you remember?

NOTE: Jesus was a teacher, preacher, manifestation of God in the flesh, a prophet, the exact representation and radiance of God. Over and over and over again...He underscored that He was God In The Flesh...He was before Abraham...He was I AM. He expressed His love not necessarily by saying the words..."I love you."...but by demonstration. "He demonstrated His own love toward us...in that while we were YET sinners...Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

(Chorus)

Halle-lu, Halle-lu, He is LIVING...Halle-lu, Halle-lu...He is LIVING...Halle-lu, Halle-lu...He is LIVING

NOTE: Jesus was a historical figure...who was born a baby (by Virgin Birth)...grew up in the family of a carpenter...followed the Jewish customs...grew in wisdom and stature...and at 30 years old...ministered for 3 years teaching, proclaiming the Kingdom, and healing the sick. He was anointed with yoke breaking, burden lifting, oppression removing, healing power of the Holy Spirit and dynamic ability (Power/Dunamis)...and went about with this anointing doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil (little d)...for God was with Him. Jesus manifested...the will of God on earth as it was in Heaven...and destroyed the works of the devil.

(Verse 3)

But they took this Nazarene, can you hear them screamin'...they took this Man of Peace, in confusion they're screamin'...tearin' His clothes they stripped Him bare...They scourge His back 'til His skin did tear, hear them screamin'

NOTE: The passion of Christ was a bloody mess. They mocked Him, spit upon Him, tore His beard out with their hands, beat Him with a cat o nine tales (made up with bits of bone/metal), gave Him 39 lashes until the meat came off of His body...and then forced Him to carry His own means of death...the cross upon His back. You can almost hear the demons speak in their screams and see the hatred for the true Love.

(Verse 4)

And the hammer it did fall to the tree as they nailed Him...And the hammer it did fall to the tree as they nailed Him...In sorrow and pain His blood was shed, For peace He wore a crown of thorns on His head...as they're screamin'

NOTE: In Talbot's song...when he sang and the hammer it did fall...you hear a hard drum beat and the rap of a fist on a guitar...giving the somber sound of nails being driven through His hands...and his feet. He was CRUCIFIED...reserved for rabble rouser, political rebels, and thief's. He was crucified on the equivalent of a modern day electric chair...to die. He was placed between two thieves...one who mocked and the other who asked for mercy. They came to break His legs...but He was already dead...and they thrust a spear in His side...and a mixture of blood and water (fluid from around His heart)...flowed. Water and Blood...He died of a broken heart. The thing is...NOBODY...Jews or Gentile killed Jesus. We did not take His life from Him...He gave it willingly.



(Verse 5)

When they laid Him in His grave, thought it was over...When they laid Him ins His grave they thought themselves that much bolder...BUT when they turned and they looked...he was alive and well...come back from the dead, conquered the gates of hell..NOW HE IS RISEN...NOW HE IS RISEN.

(Chorus)

Halle-lu...Halle-lu...HE IS LIVING
Halle-lu...Halle-lu...HE IS LIVING
Halle-lu...Halle-lu...HE IS LIVING

WOW! As I am writing this Rambling...just coming off of the season of Lent...chills are going up and down my spine...when I realize what my Lord and Saviour did for me. He became the propitiation...the substitute...the satisfaction for my sins.

Do a cursory survey of graves of political leaders, religious leaders, movie stars, recording artists and you will come up with graves full of rotting flesh, corpses, bleached bones, dust to dust and ashes to ashes. The word OCCUPIED would be written on their tombs and graves. On Jesus' tomb...VACANCY is written. Check out Confucius's' grave...no confusion...Confucious bones...check out Buddah's tomb...Buddah Bones...check out Mohammed's grave...Islamic Koranic bones...George Washington's grave...bones, wig, wooden teeth. Elvis's shrine...bones that are ALL SHOOK UP. Even Napoleon's grave has bones-a-part.

But this thing called the HOAX OR FACT...is the birthplace of Christianity (followers as we know it). The tomb is empty...He is not there...He has risen...HE HAS RISEN INDEED.

Oh I know...I know...you can't force anyone to believe this stuff...but I do. I know that the Death, Burial, and Resurrection...D.B.R...nothing more...nothing less...is real in my life. I can't see the wind...or the air that I breath...but that does not stop me from breathing in deep and living...or feeling or seeing the effect of the blowing wind. So it is in my life...since 1970...when I first received Jesus...when I heard the truth...the Gospel...and faith came...and I believed in my heart...and I confessed with my heart and righteousness and salvation became alive in me... I am still standing in the Lord. If you believe this...finish this sentence/declaration and send it back to me...HE IS RISEN....

Love and Saved By Grace Kisses
Rodney "D.B.R...Nothing More...Nothing Less" Boyd (aka A Fool For Christ...tell me whose Fool you are)

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WILDERNESS

Greetings Sojourners...how's the sojourn? Does this thing called the wilderness appear to be your FINAL DESTINATION? Are you stalled out in the dry places? Have you set up camp in the valley...of the shadow... of death...and you are fearing evil all over the place?

Well...there is hope (confident expectation). Your time in this thing called the wilderness is temporal... time sensitive...temporary.

When Jesus...had been dipped into the Jordan River by John the Dipper...and He came up out of the waters...the heavens were opened... a dove descended down and lighted on Him...and a voice out of the heavens affirmed pleasure in the Son's obedience. "This is My (the Father's) beloved Son (Jesus...in whom I AM WELL PLEASED." (Matthew 3:15-17)

At the point of Jesus' spiritual high...came a crashing low. Jesus was led up by the Spirit INTO THE WILDERNESS. The purpose...TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. It was in this dry, barren, lonely place...that Jesus would rely on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God...to met the challenge. The good news is...that JESUS DID NOT STAY IN THE WILDERNESS. It was merely a stopping point...on the journey into His ministry.

The "tempter" (little t)...tempted Jesus. Temptation is not designed to pull us into something as much as it is designed to pull us away from who we really are. Jesus met each temptation with the Word of God...quoting the Old Testament...which at that time was not old...but THE Testament. It seems that these temptations mirrored Adam and Eve's temptation...the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life...and mirrors what we go through. (Matthew 4:1-9) At the end...Jesus told the tempter (aka satan...little s) where to go. "GO satan!) Matthew 4:10) The reaction of little s/t..."...the devil left Him..." (Matthew 4:11)

The cause and effect of this thing called the wilderness experience...after 40 days of relying on the Spirit and the Word..."And Jesus returned to Galilee in the POWER OF THE SPIRIT...and new about Him spread through all the surrounding district." (Luke 4:14)

From that point Jesus began to preach and say..."Repent (change of heart, mind, attitude, direction)...for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus began to (1) teaching in their synagogues (2) proclaiming the good news/gospel of the kingdom (3) healing every kind of sickness among the people. This was His M.O...modus operandi.

IF Jesus camped in the wilderness...and did not come out the other side...of His experience...He could not do what He was sent to do. So it is with us. There may be TIMES OF TESTING (T.O.T.)...but the expectation in these times of weakness...that we come out FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT...walking in the authority over the tempter/satan...and proclaim the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

In this time of Lent...I am drawing away...for time alone...not in the Wilderness...but in the Presence of the Lord. I have great expectancy to come out the other side of these 40 days... FULL OF THE SPIRIT...knowing my authority...receiving a touch in my spirit (intimacy with God), my soul (mind/what I think....will/choices of my free will....and emotions/feeling control).

FINAL THOUGHT FINALLY...AT LEAST UNTIL AFTER RESURRECTION DAY (aka Easter)

I will be praying for you during this time...among other things.

Love and Fat Tuesday Kisses
Rodney "See Ya On The Other Side" 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

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

Greetings and Salutations Oh Ye Fellow Chewers of the Cud.

Step with me back into the stream of the time-space continuum. Strap yourselves into the H.G. Wells time machine...set the clock for 33 A.D...get Mr. Peabody and his human assistant Sherman to set the controls for the WayBack Machine...and find yourself in a time where the Romans rule the politico...and Pharisees and Sadducee's rule the religious.

For three years there was a prophet...a teacher...an outlaw, who walked the dusty roads of Israel...doing three things. He would: (1) Teach (2) Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God (3) Heal the sick. Jesus the Christ went about doing good and healing all who were OPPRESSED by the devil (little d) for God was with Him (Acts 10:38). After all that was His name...Immanuel...God with us (Matthew 1:23).

For three years you could see the WILL OF GOD...on earth as it is heaven...by seeing what Jesus did. "In the beginning was the Word/Jesus...and the Word/Jesus was with God...and the Word/Jesus WAS God. (John 1:1). This Jesus the exact representation and radiance of the Father (Hebrews 1:1-3)

What was the only logical thing to do to God in the flesh...who came to do good and heal all who were oppressed by the devil...by destroying the works of the devil...and giving life and that more abundantly. Answer the question below:

A. Build Him a throne and worship Him
B. Elected Him the highest political office possible
C. Start a cult and overthrow the religious/politico powers
D. Beat Him, Mock Him, Torture Him, Nail Him to a cross, Kill Him


There has been a CRIME committed...and the evidence appears to have been tampered with...causing some confusion about who the real criminal really is. We need to call in The Crime Scene Investigation Team and pull in the evidence...and see WHO ARE YOU...who who, who who.

The religious element of the day had incited a riot against this guy called Jesus. They convinced the political leaders to bring charges against Him, put Him through interrogations, beatings, shame, and eventually death.

Jesus spoke about these things with His followers..."And He began to teach them that the Son of Man (that would be Jesus) must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and BE KILLED, and after three days RISE AGAIN." (Matthew 8:31)

This was NOT good news for the followers...of who they thought was going to rise up as the powerful Messiah...and overthrow Roman tyranny.

The crime that we speak of...was not who killed the Christ. We know who killed the Christ...and it was NOT the Jews. No one TOOK His life...He gave it willingly. Jesus died no the cross willingly...becoming the substitute for the Jews, the Greeks, the Gentiles, the niggers, the honky soda crackers, the religious people, the nappy headed ho's, the straight haired Aryans, the whores, the whore mongers, the homosexual sodomites, the heterosexual fornicators, the illegal street drug users, the prescription drug users....(fill in the blank of anyone else in the world...good, bad or ugly).

The crime that needs to be investigated with the looking glass of Sherlock...is WHO MOVED THE STONE...WHO STOLE THE BODY...WHO PERPETRATED THE HOAX OF RESURRECTION...WHO DECEIVED MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE MILLENNIUM ABOUT THIS PERSON CALLED JESUS CHRIST??????

The hallmark of Christianity...is not mere historical fact...or some device device of literature that was dreamed up to manipulate and control the populace.

No...this thing called Christianity is rooted in history...stretching with outreached arms to WHOSOEVER BELIEVES. The fingerprint on the tomb is the fingerprint of God Himself.

This thing called Christianity is nothing but a mere religious system standing next to every other religious system...with ONE TWIST. The EMPTY TOMB. If there is no empty tomb...if there are plots to steal the body to make it look like a dead man was raised...if there was some kind of SWOONING...where Jesus did not really die...but just fainted on the cross....if there was lies and deceptions perpetrated by the ultimate con man...Jesus to convince people to follow Him...if there was the ravings of a lunatic or a mad man on the level of Hitler or Charles Manson...then following Jesus is a waste of time.

What separates the men from the boys...the women from the girls...the facts from the fiction...is THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

RISEN CHRIST=LIFE ...NO RISEN CHRIST= A nice little story




A cursory glance at various tombs and graves reveals:

1. Lonnie Boyd's grave (my dad): decaying body and bones
2. George Washington's grave: decayed body/bones wooden teeth, wig.
3. Abraham Lincoln: Long legged bones
4. Unknown soldier's grave: Unknown bones.

NOTE: Even Napoleon's...Bones-apart.

5. Jesus' Tomb: No bones. Why? HE IS RISEN...HE IS RISEN INDEED!

To some Jesus was known as a good person...to some a great teacher...to some as a nut...but to others Jesus is known as THE DECEIVER.

"On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together to PILATE...saying...Sir, we REMEMBER while He (Jesus) was STILL ALIVE, how that DECEIVER said AFTER THREE DAYS I WILL RISE. Therefore (because of what the deceiver said)...command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest HIS DISCIPLES come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people...HE HAS RISEN from the dead. So the LAST DECEPTION WILL BE WORSE THAN THE FIRST. Pilate said to them...you have a guarded; go your way, make it as secure as you know how. So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard."
(Matthew 2762-66) Well...the rest is His Story (history).

Mary Magdalen...and the other Mary went to the tomb...only to find an angel...a rolled back stone...shaking guards.and an empty tomb.

"But the angel answered and said to the women. Do not be afraid for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for HE IS RISEN...AS HE SAID. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. An GO QUICKLY...and TELL HIS DISCIPLES...that HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD..." (Matthew 28:5-7)

Well...either you believe it or you don't. You either live your life as if it is true...or live like it's not. I for one...choose in 1970 to believe it...and live as if HE IS RISEN. I either made the greatest mistake of my life and wasted my life...or I invested my life with the biggest payoff to come. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...trading misery, guilt, shame, destructive habits, momentary pleasures for peace, love, freedom, a restful mind.

(I Corinthians 15:1-8)
"Moreover brethren, I DECLARE to you the GOSPEL...which I PREACHED to you...which also you RECEIVED...and in which you STAND, by which also by which also you are SAVED, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you (about the DBR)...unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received that:

1. Christ died for our sins according to Scriptures
2. And that He was buried
3. and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures

D=DEATH
B=BURIAL
R=RESURRECTION

NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS.

For more information to tickle your intellectual funny bone read:

EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT (Volumes 1 & 2)--Josh McDowell
A READY DEFENSE-Josh McDowell
THE CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY-Lee Strobel
WHO MOVED THE STONE-Frank Morison
MERE CHRISTIANITY-C.S. Lewis
JESUS OUTSIDE THE NEW TESTAMENT-F.F. Bruce
KNOW WHAT AND WHY YOU BELIEVE- Paul Little
YOUTH AFLAME-Winkey Pratney
RENEWAL THEOLOGY-J. Rodman Williams
THE SPIRIT FILLED BELIEVERS HANDBOOK-Derek Prince

Happy Resurrection Day

Love and Risen Kisses
Rodney "I Believe" Boyd