ANATOMY OF A RUMINATOR

Greeting O Ye Cud Chewers. If you are receiving this...you most likely are a RUMINATOR. A ruminator is someone who chews on the Word of God like a cow (a ruminant) chews the cud. A little while back...I began teaching a class at Smyrna Assembly on THE TOPICAL MEMORY SYSTEM. This was systematic memory course where we memorized verses of Scripture that were arranged in various topics. You can get the system at your Christian book stores. It is a system designed by THE NAVIGATORS...and found at NAVPRESS.

One of the verses was found in the first section called the WHEEL One of the spokes in THE WHEEL was for THE WORD. It was Joshua 1:8.

"This book of the law...shall not depart from your MOUTH...but you shall MEDITATE on it day and night...so that you may be careful to DO according to all that is written in it...for then you will make your way prosperous...and then you will have success." (Joshua 1:8).

The word MEDITATE...is from the Hebrew word...hagah (haw-gaw)...which means to murmur (in pleasure or anger)...by implication to ponder, imagine, mediate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, utter, study, talk.

I began to think about this verse and started "ruminating" about how the verse links...the MOUTH...and MEDITATION...and DOING with the cause and effect being Biblical prosperity (having enough to meet your needs and an overflow to help others) and Biblical success (accomplishing the purposes of God in your life). The LATIN word of meditation is RUMINATE. A quick study shows that a RUMINANT is an animal (cow, sheep, etc)...that has four chambers in the stomach that chewed food passes through and is regurgitated back into the MOUTH in the form of a CUD...that is viewed as standing in a field...contemplating life while chewing away. That is what we do in the RUMINATOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS...and the premise for these RAMBLINGS. The COW has become symbolic of moooooooooooving in the Spirit as we study the Word of God. Many members of the HERD have passed through over the years. Always remember this...once a Ruminator...always a Ruminator.

Last Sunday...a fellow chewer of the CUD/WORD OF GOD...Saint John...my Key man...passed on something he found in his files...called
THE DEFINITION OF A COW (A Big City Boy Describes A Cow). The author is unknown but was a found in the September issue of the 1977 American Red Angus magazine.

DEFINITION OF A COW

"A cow is a completely automatic milk manufacturing machine. It is encased in untanned leather and mounted on four vertical, movable supports, one on each corner. The front end contains the cutting and grinding mechanism, as well as the headlights, air inlet, and exhaust, a bumper and foghorn. At the rear is the dispensing apparatus and an automatic fly swatter. The central portion consists of four fermentation and storage tanks connected in series by an intricate network of flexible plumbing. This section also contains the heating plant complete with automatic temperature controls, pumping station and main ventilation system. The waste disposal apparatus is located at the rear of this central section. In brief, the externally visible features are: two lookers, two hookers, for stand uppers, four hanger-downers, and a swishy-wishy. There is a similar machine known as a bull, which should not be confused with a cow. It produces no milk but has other interesting uses."

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY!!!!

Moo to you.

Love and Bovinian Kisses
Rodney "Chewing the Cud" Boyd

RUMINATOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Hello Fellow Chewers of the Cud of the Word...whatcha' doin' this weekend?

I would like to recommend...taking time out of your busy schedule (and if you don't take it...your time will be filled with something)...and CELEBRATE at Smyrna Assembly with A WORSHIP ARTS WEEKEND.

You have chewed on...thought about...pondered on...RUMINATED the Word of God...but you still feel pulled down. What's UP with the feeling of being PULLED DOWN?

I have found that...just like earth has a GRAVITATIONAL PULL...so does walking out the Kingdom on planet earth. Sometimes the things of this earth...the drama of life...the pull of this world...keeps us from RISING UP. Just like a rocket...with it's boosters...and massive power of thrust...breaks the bonds of the GRAVITATIONAL PULL...so it is with the pull of this world that KEEPS US DOWN...we need something to BREAK THE PULL. That is one of the things that this weekend will help you accomplish. It's like the old song says...

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the THINGS OF EARTH
Will grow strangely DIM
In the light of His GLORY and GRACE


Praise helps to break the pull...and positions us into a place of kissing towards our object of worth (worshipping the King).

Love and UPlifting Kisses
Rodney "We Have Lift-Off" Boyd

THE NAME DROPPER

Hello to everyone who has a NAME. Did I ever tell you that I once met Johnny Rivers (Secret Agent Man), Arte Johnson (of Laugh In fame), Sherry Lewis (along with Lamb Chop), Vincent Price (lecturing on gourmet cooking and art), Ray Peterson (Tell Laura I Love Her)...and oh yes..I met ELVIS PRESLEY at RCA Recording Studio back in 1967. I can tell you are impressed by all of the names that I have just DROPPED on you. My Pastor...Ronnie Meek is quick to tell you if you ask him, "Whatcha know?"...he will respond back, "It's not WHAT you know...It's WHO you know." Of course...he is talking about KNOWING JESUS that will make the difference.

As you look at the first picture...realize that if you know Rodney Boyd...you will be comforted. Not only me...but I am backed up by people who work for me in the comforting business...and I can back that up Biblically. In Psalm 23:4... it is stated...Thy ROD and Thy STAFF, the comfort me. Sorry...I dropped my own name...and it broke.

When Jesus' disciples asked the Master to teach them to pray...he responded with what we have termed...THE LORD'S PRAYER. He shows us how to direct our prayers to the One who can answer our prayers...and the location of the Prayer Answerer. Then He makes the declaration that..."Hallowed, revered, holy BE YOUR NAME.

Now a name...is our point of IDENTIFICATION...that we know who is who and what is what. When you say ELVIS...you are most likely going to think PRESLEY...or even COSTELLO. When you think RODNEY...depending on your experience...you will either think DANGERFIELD...KING...or possibly BOYD. You have an image in your minds...of looks, characteristics, character, memories (good, bad, or ugly). The NAME evokes something in us that either brings us comfort, pleasure, disgust, assurance, etc. Again...a name is the point of IDENTIFICATION...that we base our reactions, responses, our interaction with that NAMED INDIVIDUAL.

JABEZ...is a name that literally means PAIN... because of his mother's identification with the PAIN that she suffered with JABEZ in childbirth. As you read the Prayer of Jabez (that was an actual prayer before it was a best seller written by Bruce Wilkerson)...you see that JABEZ rose above his NAME...and was more favored/blessed than his brothers. (I Chronicles 4: 9,10)

Sometimes we are limited by our vocabulary...which limits our ability to express ourselves. When we take a NAME...and limit it to mean one thing...then we must come up with other names or words for our point of identification or need. GOD cannot be boxed in with ONE NAME.

There are MANY NAMES to describe the ONE GOD. It is not like Greek or Roman Mythology where you have MULTIPLE gods...but there are many facets to God's character...that appear to line up with our many facets of NEEDS.

In the Old Testament...God is referred to as JEHOVAH/YAWHEH. He revealed Himself to Moses as I AM. When Pharaoh asked who sent Moses...Moses was to declare that I AM has sent him. I AM...THAT I AM. There are what is known as the COMPOUND NAMES of God...that reveals the nature and character of God...where we can use as POINTS OF IDENTIFICATION for our needs.

For example...if you needed healing in your life...you would be able to call upon...JEHOVAH-RAPHA (The Lord That Heals). If you needed someone with a ROD and STAFF to COMFORT you...you would call upon JEHOVAH-RAAH (The Lord Is My Shepherd). If you need provision in your life (when the bill collector is breathing down your nose or there is a shift in your job status, etc)...you would need to be down on your needs praying to JEHOVAH-JIREH (The Lord Will Provide).

Remember...we are not praying to POLYTHEISTIC BEINGS...many gods
BUT we are praying to ONE GOD...with many aspects. If you needed healing...you would not pray for JEHOVAH-SIDKENU (the Lord my Righteousness)...because you need a touch from JEHOVAH-RAPHA (the Lord that HEALS).

NOTE: In your time of need...God is not waiting until you get the proper NAME in order...so He will know how to respond to your prayer. If you got down on your knees....and screamed out HEEELLLLLLLLP!!!!...He is a big enough God to know what you need. This Rambling is just to let you know...that God is not limited by one name...that we tag Him with. His nature, character, ability, overflows in to a multiplicity of points of identification for us. He is known as Elohim (the Creator), El Roi (the God who sees), El Shaddai (The All Sufficient One), Jehovah Y' shua (The Lord My Savior), Adonia (The Lord My Master), Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord My Banner, Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies), Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord is Peace), and the bottom line name for me... is JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH (The Lord is THERE). Whatever you need... HE IS THERE.

Of course we know that the exact representation of the Father God and the Fathers will on earth as it is in heaven (check out the gospels and see Jesus as he manifests the will of God)... is His Son Jesus the Christ...the anointed one...anointed with yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing power.
(See Acts 10:38; The 4 Gospels; Hebrews 1:1-4)

Remember...a NAME is merely something that we have attached to something to identify what it is to us. A name can be a PROPER NAME like Rodney...or a name can be a noun used to describe a person, place or THING. Any sickness or disease has a NAME attached to it. That name can bring much fear and consternation in our lives. Names are powerful...BUT...we have a NAME THAT IS ABOVE ALL NAMES....the name of Jesus. (Philippians 2:9-11)

JESUS' name is above the name of cancer. JESUS' name is above poverty. JESUS' name is above corporate logos. JESUS' name is above fear. JESUS' name is above schizophrenia. JESUS' name is above hopelessness about whatever situation you are in at the moment.

Our friend JABEZ...called on THE GOD OF ISRAEL...because he knew that this NAME could provide him the answer to his prayer request. Knowing this...JABEZ...prayed with expectancy:

1. Oh that Thou wouldst BLESS ME INDEED
2. ENLARGE my border/territory/realm of influence
3. That THY HAND would be WITH ME
4. That Thou woulds KEEP ME FROM HARM
5. That it may NOT PAIN ME

The cause and effect of this simple, straightforward prayer:

AND GOD GRANTED HIM WHAT HE REQUESTED.

PAIN knew the source of RELIEF...THE NAME OF GOD.

I encourage you to drop the name of God on the name of your need...and get ready for God to grant you what you request...as His Kingdom comes...His will be done...on EARTH...as it is in HEAVEN. As of last check...there was no sickness, disease, poverty, fear, anxiety, worry and tension in heaven. Lord...my Thy Will Be Done...IN YOUR NAME...AMEN!!!!!

NOTE: As I am going through STUFF...like you are going through STUFF...last night I was overwhelmed by the STUFF in my life. My pastor Ronnie Meek...heard from God...and had those who had STUFF in our lives to come down front...and had people who at that point in time were strong (sometimes I'm strong and I get to pray for those who will have weak moments). It was a great time of release. My brother Hal... came up to me later that night after our class...and encouraged me..to WRITE A RAMBLING TO MYSELF. Hal...this is it brother. Thanks.

Love and Namely Kisses
Rodney "Standing Strong In The Word" Boyd

EBENEZER VERSUS ICHABOD

Greetings literature fans...or as Billy Graham would say it...
LIT..era..ture.

Meet Ebenezer Scrooge. He is the brainchild of good old Charles Dickens who wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843. He describes Ebenezer..."The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue, and he spoke shrewdly in his grating voice." Aaaaahhh...just the type of man that you would want to know...or maybe be. Of course the story is a familiar one that has been reduced to celluloid impressions with various movies, T.V. shows and retellings. He is visited by the 3 Ghosts of Christmas (Past, Present, and Yet To Come). As a result he has a life changing experience...as he went from Bah Humbug...to being giddy.

Meet Ichabod Crane... the brainchild of Washington Irving who wrote the short story...The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in 1820. Ichabod is described as having big ears, big nose and a long frame. Irving is also famous for his character Rip Van Winkle.. but that is another Rambling in the making. Ichabod also has been immortalized in the celluloid with everything from Disney remakes to Johnny Deep as a detective investigating the Sleepy Hollow shenanigans.

Ebenezer and Ichabod were mentioned centuries before Dickens and Irving penned their masterpieces. The Dickens you say? Yes and the Irving also.

One mention is redemptive and the other tragic...much like the two stories.

In The Christmas Carol... Mr. Scrooge went from being a miserable...chain forging...prisoner of his own past...who when he experienced his visitations...REPENTED...had a change of heart and became a changed man. For the rest of his life...he was able to look back at that fateful night...and walk out his present that not only changed his future...but all the people that he came into contact with in his world.

Ichabod on the other hand...motivated by his anxiety, worry, and tension...and mostly his fear of the unknown, superstition...and probable harassment by his rival Brom Bones (both had a thang for Katrina van Tassel)...had a dubious end...with either an attach by an apparition...or run out of Sleepy Hollow...NEVER TO BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.

Well...come on Ramblin' Rod...we are waiting. How are you gonna bring this back around to the D.B.R. nothing more...nothing less. How are you gonna make the Bible Connection with Eb and Ich? I'm glad you asked. Let's check out the two references in the Word of God.


Ichabod is mention in I Samuel 4:21,22..."And she named the child ICHABOD...saying, "THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED; because the Ark of God (aka Ark of the Covenant) was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED from Israel, for the ARK OF GOD WAS TAKEN."

The ark represented the presence of God...the place where the GLORY would rest. The name Ichabod became synonymous with DEPARTED GLORY. Much like the fate of Ichabod Crane. No glory...no Katriana van Tassel...only shame, possible death, and disgrace.
We see in Acts 3:19 what happens in the presence of the Lord...and how we get there..."Repent (change of heart, mind, direction, actions)...and return (come back)...that your sins may be WIPED AWAY...in order that TIMES OF REFRESHING may come from THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD." Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh...now that's refreshing. A lot better than having a Jack-O-Lantern hurled at your cranium from a ghostly figure. Glory may have been departed from your life...but you can RETURN...and become REFRESHED again.

Ebenezer is found in I Samuel 7:12..."Then Samuel took a STONE (stone of help)...and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it (the stone) EBENEZER,saying, THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US."

The Ebenezer Stone was a touchstone...for Samuel and the people of God...to look back to as a stone of REMEMBRANCE...that the event in which God moved on their behalf BACK THEN...is a reminder that He can move on our behalf NOW...and in the FUTURE. Scrooge... after a night of introspection...REPENTED...had a change of direction...and now EBENEZER...had an EBENEZER...that would remind him of where he was...and where he is...and where he is going. The EBENEZER STONE keeps us focusing on the FAITHFULNESS OF GOD.

So...what do you want...departed glory or a reminder that GOD IS FAITHFUL?

It was the best of times...and the worst of times...but with JESUS...the worst of times...keep on gettin' better.

Love and Ebenezer Kisses (you must REMEMBER this)
Rodney "Duck" Boyd