AUGUST 15TH 1951...BLAST OFF!!!!

Greetings friends,

Since 1951...60 years have passed on the time-space continuum. That's right... this year on August 15th...I will enter that time honored club...of those who have become...60 years OLD.

I don't feel 60 years old. Wait a minute (touching my arm)...no...I don't feel 60 years old. I look in the mirror...and although there are a few lines here and there on the old mug...and there are hints of gray hair around the temples and other areas on my head...I don't THINK I look 60 years old (maybe 59). When I am out on the dojo floor and kicking and punching with younger people...I don't feel as if I am 60 years old. Of course when I go home and every part of my body is aching and stiffening up...I feel 160 years old.

I started out at a very young age. As the story goes...I was born in Murfreesboro Tennessee at a place called Allen's Clinic...on East Main Street. I really have no recollection...just word of mouth from my mother. From day #1...I was her precious baby boy.

My life was filled with good, bad, ugly times...as my soul (mind, free will, and emotions)...were molded and shaped by my experiences. In the study of human development it is thought that we are either blank slates and what happens to us determines who we are...or we have everything in us genetically and left on our own we become who we are... from looks to attitude to intellect to language development.

As a Speech-Language Pathologist... I tend to believe both...nature and nurture. There are things that have been with me from the earliest day... and there are things that are ever changing...as I allow things into my melon (aka brain) via the eye-gate, ear-gate, and any other gate where I can ingest information (touch, smell, etc). From 1951 to 1970...I had a roller coaster emotional life. As stated...there were good times, bad times, and ugly times. Some of the good, bad and ugly times were just things that happened in school, in my family, in interpersonal relationships as my friends good, bad and ugly experiences rubbed of on me.

In the fall of 1970 (when I was 19 years old)...there was a shift in my development...as I made a conscious decision to become a follower of Jesus the Christ with His Anointing (yoke breaking, burden lifting, devil oppression removing healing power of the Holy Ghost).

I became a NEW creation...the OLD things passed away...and new things came...and have been coming ever since.

NOTE: Chronologically I am 60 years old...but Spiritualogically I am really only 41 years if you calculate that I became a new man in 1970.

Looking back...I have accomplished more than I ever thought that I would have accomplished. My life is one of grace (unmerited favor and divine influence within manifested without) and mercy (not getting what I deserved).

The day Brenda Sue Williams came into my life...was life changing. Not only did she love me...agreed to become my wife...she led me to the Lord. She has stuck beside me in good, bad, and ugly times...and has been a rock in our marriage. My son Phillip has been a joy and source of encouragement to me/us for the past 22 years. Walking with the Lord since 1970 has been interesting journey (that continues even as I write)...as He has been faithful to me...even when I have not been faithful. There is a verse in Psalms that really has and is coming true in my life..."Delight yourself in the Lord...and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) This is surely true as He has planted desires within me...and has brought them to flourition.

God has used many of my experiences...good, bad, and ugly...in my life and desires of my heart. I have been blessed to have been married for 39 years to Brenda, been a dad for 22 years to Phillip, been blessed to be a teacher of the Word of God in some form since 1970 (currently at Springhouse Worship and Arts Center for the past 20+ years), been to various countries for missions/teaching/building opportunities (Mexico, Peru, Africa, Guatemala), became a Speech Language Pathologist with a Masters in Education (after I was a very poor student, failing the 6th grade, and hill and valley high school experiences), becoming a Black Belt in Wado Ryu karate (in my 50's...and still kicking at 60) and able to write Bible Studies, blogs, books, and recored an album called RUMINATOR UNPLUGGED.

As I look at my past...and walk in my now...with an eye to the future...I can join with Paul and say this...of all the things that I grasp and hold...of everything I have experienced in 60 years.

"But whatever former things I had that might have been gainst to me, I have come to consider as (one combined) loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore I count EVERYTHING as loss COMPARED to the possesion of the priceless privilege--the over whelmeing preciousness, the surpassing worth and supreme advantage--of KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD...and of progressively becoming MORE DEEPLY and INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH HIM, of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be MERE RUBBISH (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) CHRIST, THE ANOINTED ONE." (Philippians 3:7-8 The Amplified Bible)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well...if I live to be 120 years old...I am considered to be middle aged. Whatever the length of my days here on planet Earth...I look forward to continued adventures, continued open doors, continued opportunities to serve and encourage people.

Love and Life Lovin' Kisses
Rodney "60 And Counting" Boyd

WHY DO I DO THE THINGS I DO?

Greeting to all who read these things...and actually enjoy them. Some of you may be asking yourself...
"Self...why does Rodney do the things that he does?"

Sometimes I wonder that myself. What would convince a man to spend hours on a computer...typing out observations on life...ruminating on the things he sees swirling around him...and then mailing them out to other people to read. What would convince a man to take his eight year

ME AND PHILLIP SWIMMING IN THE AMAZON

old son down the Amazon River... swim in that same river...travel down a path into a jungle with his family...OR...leave his family to go to Africa to teach in a place that was at the end of the road...and then share with a group of people in a church by the name of CHURCH BY THE LAKE NEXT TO THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE?

Why would a man take great joy in seeing his son take the plunge under the waters...in front of God and a house full of people.

What would cause a man to stay with one woman for 38 years...and raise a son in the ways of what some consider antiquated rules and a mythological god...created by man to alleviate guilt?




PHILLIP TAKING A TRIP IN AND OUT OF THE WATERGRAVE

What would cause a man...to not climb a corporate ladder...and spend more time with his family...while the rest of the world is in the RAT RACE? It really is true...that if you win the RAT RACE...you become the #1 RAT.


Why would a man waste his time... developing Bible Studies...and go to a country....to share with others who will go out into the world...and possibly practice what you have taught in life or death situations?

What would cause a guy to use every experience that he has accumulate over the years...including, social, political, entertainment, good, bad and ugly things in his life...and hold his failures up for all to see...as the see all the warts, scars, and cause and effect in his life?


ME AND BRUCE WITH WORLD CHANGERS IN QUATEMALA

What would cause a man to dedicate every Sunday morning...and even on some Wednesday nights...to teach a group of people how to walk by faith and not by sight? What would possess a man to take 40 years of his life... and commit them to walking with a God that he can't see...with a Saviour that he has never met physically... and a Comforter...that dwells inside of him? What cause a guy to put himself out in front of people...and open himself up to criticism, when he really does not want to offend anyone?

THE RUMINATOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS (a great group of people)

WHY DO I DO THE THINGS I DO?

Because I have a deep, abiding love for the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Because in 1970 I went from being a paranoid, insecure, suicidal case...to being SET FREE...and being FREE INDEED. Because...I empathize with people who struggle with their faith... and their flesh...and KNOW from personal experience that you can WALK IN THE SPIRIT...and not in the fles. Because...I know that no matter where you are in the world... people are the same. Cultures may change...but the need for a Saviour is the same all around the world.

TEACHING AT A DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL IN KENYA

When I went to Kenya Africa...the second time...God spoke to me about some specific things in my life. (1) People Need The Lord (2) Teach the Full Counsel of the Lord (3) Flying low over Africa...the brown/dry land mixed with lushness was the condition of the physical land of Africa...the people of Africa...the world...and most specifically ME. (4) God's desire was to water and bring lushness to every area. (5) Begin to proclaim the Kingdom in its fullness and power.

I have a desire to see lost people saved...and a real desire to see saved people to walk in the fullness of all that God has for them.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers...FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS...for the WORK OF THE MINISTRY... for the EDIFYING (building up) OF THE BODY OF CHRIST....till we come to the unity of the faith...and of the knowledge of the Son of God...to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...that we should NO LONGER BE CHILDREN, TOSSED TO AND FRO AND CARRIED ABOUT WITH EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE...by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...but SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE...may GROW UP in all things into Him who is the head--Christ...from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the EFFECTIVE WORKING by which every part does its share...causes GROWTH OF THE BODY...for the EDIFYING OF ITSELF IN LOVE." (Ephesians 4:11-16)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY...NO REALLY...FINALLY!

Well that is a thumbnail sketch about why I do the things I do. Oh we could spend hours about the quirks, strange ways, the movie and song references, the skewed humour, the bad grammar, the pathetic punctuation...but that's for another day. Suffice to say...I do what I do because I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love my neighbor as myself...and I WANT YOU to live life to the fullest.

Love and Doing Kisses
Rodney "Thanks To All Of You" Boyd

Old Saint to New Saint Fellowship

Hey ya'll...what's da Word?

"That which was from the beginning, which we have HEARD, which we have SEEN, with our eyes, which we have LOOKED upon and our hands have HANDLED concerning the WORD OF LIFE...the life was manifested, and we have SEEN and BEAR WITNESS, and DECLARE to you that eternal life which was WITH the Father and was MANIFESTED to us...that which we have SEEN and HEARD we DECLARE to you...that you also may have FELLOWSHIP with us; and truly our FELLOWSHIP is with the Father and with His Son JESUS CHRIST."
(I John 1:1-3)

FELLOWSHIP: partnership, participation, intercourse, benefaction, communicate, communion, distribution.

Having something in common...with those "old saints" of days gone by...seems like an impossibility. Sure we have the ability to read about the history of the events...but to actually have a partnership...a participation...to communicate and have a common communion with them seems so distant...so far away. After all...they had first hand experience with Jesus.

They...those in the past...have heard, seen, looked upon, handled, and bore witness this thing called eternal life...BUT they wanted the readers of the letter...the epistle...the book...to have KOINONIA with them. Not only to have fellowship with them...but also to have fellowship with (1) the Father (2) the Son...Jesus the Christ.


John...also wrote a gospel of discourse...called The Gospel According to John. In that Gospel...he opens up with...

"In the beginning was the WORD (Jesus)...and the WORD (Jesus) was with God (the Father)...and the WORD (Jesus) was God. He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God (the Father). All things were made through Him (Jesus) and with Him (Jesus) nothing was made that was made. In Him (Jesus) was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)

"And the WORD (Jesus) became flesh (human) and dwelt among us, and we beheld His (Jesus) glory as of the only BEGOTTEN (Son) of the Father (God), full of grace and truth.


The link...the connecting point... the thing that makes us have communion and something in common with the "old saints"...to us "new saints" is THE WORD OF GOD. This connection is two fold...(1) the Word in the form of Jesus...via His D.B.R., the Death, Burial, and Resurrection which includes the cross and shed blood....and (2) the Written Word of God...that is more than just a book on paper...but it is a LIVING WORD.

"For the WORD OF GOD...is LIVING and POWERFUL, and SHARPER than any tow-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit (human) and of joints and marrow, and is a DISCERNER of the THOUGHTS and INTENTS of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

For us to have FELLOWSHIP with one another...and with the Father...and with Jesus...we must have a relationship with THE WORD. That relationship starts out with our EARS...(physical and spiritual ears)...as FAITH comes...by HEARING...and HEARING by the WORD OF GOD. (Romans 10:17) Oh that we would have the ears of that picture of the dog.

Another connection that we have...is THROUGH the "old saint's" WORDS. "I (Jesus) do not pray for these ("old saints" alone...BUT ALSO...those who will BELIEVE IN ME...THROUGH THEIR WORD." (John 17:20) Jesus gave explicit orders to the eleven... and gave marching orders to (1) Go (2) make disciples of all the nations (3) baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit (4) teach them (the made disciples) ALL THINGS that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Our KOINONIA...with "old saints"...with the Father...with the Son...and with one another in the local church (gathering of saints)...and the church (gathering of saints) around the world will be through THE WORD...JESUS...by the substance of things hoped for...the evidence of things not revealed to the senses. (Hebrews 11:1)

As a RUMINATOR...someone who chews on the cud of the WORD OF GOD...I said all of that to say this...
Begin to moo and chew on NOT just a historical doctrine...but the LIVING WORD OF GOD.

"For the WORD OF GOD that God SPEAKS is alive and full of power-- making it active, operative, energizing and effective; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit and of joints and marrow [that is, of the deepest parts of our nature] exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purpose of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 The Amplified Bible)


AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR..THE RUMINATOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. If you are in the area...and would like to join the herd to moo and chew on THE WORD OF GOD... I would like to invite you to join us at:

Smyrna Assembly
14119 Old Nashville Highway
Smyrna TN 37167
(615) 459-3421
www.SmyrnaAssembly.org

The herd gathers at 9:00 A.M. as we begin to have KOINONIA over food, fun, fellowship, and breaking of the bread of the Word of God.

Love and Koinonia Kisses
Rodney "Mooin' and Chewin' On Da Word of God" Boyd

THE CONE OF SILENCE

Hello friends and neighbors...are ya ready to GET SMART. This is one of my favorite shows that first appeared back on April 12, 1969. This show was an answer to the James Bond craze that was sweeping the nation. Buck Henry and Mel Brooks took note at the success of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command of Law and Enforcement.)

When ever the Chief of CONTROL (who are fighting the bad guys of CHAOS) wanted to talk to Agent 86...aka Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) and he wanted to make sure it was just between him and Agent 86...he would bring down the CONE OF SILENCE. Of course there would always be some type of comic interaction or something would go wrong with the CONE OF SILENCE. Well...I am ready to pull down my personal CONE OF SILENCE where it will be me and God...without the distractions of the world. I am about to enter THE LENTEN SEASON.


Lent...is a time within the Christian community around the world where there is time set aside to seek God. Usually it is found within the liturgical community in churches like the Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, etc...but it is not exclusive to these types of churches.

NOTE: First...let me state...that observing Lent does not make someone a more superior Christian compared to someone who does not observe Lent. Secondly...It is not Death, Burial, Resurrection PLUS Lent.

LENT: The period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The word Lent means the lengthening of season.

PURPOSE: The preparation of the believer through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self denial. Usually it is 40 days long from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The 40 days represent the 40 days of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness...where the end is coming out of the wilderness filled with the Spirit.

This year Fat Tuesday (the last day of indulgence/feasting)...aka Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday...which falls on February 16th...followed by Ash Wednesday on February 17th...ending on April 3rd...the day before Easter...aka...Resurrection Sunday.

Usually...people in preparation for Lent...commit to "give up something for Lent". For example...they may give up chocolate, or meat, or whatever.

This year...I am pressing into God...with a focus on (1) my spirit (2) my soul (3) my body (I Thessalonians 5:23).

NOTE: I know that we are "suppose" to being doing this 24/7...365 days a year...however...in my life...it does not happen this way. There are times throughout the year (separate from Lent)...that I must withdraw away...seek God's face...be restored and refreshed...and Lent is just one of those times.

One of the things that I will be giving up for Lent (there are many things that you will never know about)...is writing online. That means from Wednesday February 17th to Saturday April 13th...I will not be on FACEBOOK or writing the RUMINATOR RAMBLINGS. Hopefully...under the CONE OF SILENCE...I will attune my ears to the voice of God...and come out on Resurrection Sunday refreshed and renewed with more stuff to Ramble on.

I will still be teaching the Ruminator Sunday School class...and will be sending out the Ruminator Class Updates...but again no Ramblings and no Facebook.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY...no really...FINALLY

I covet your prayers during this time...and I will be praying for you during this time.

Love and Lenten Kisses
Rodney "Get Smart" Boyd

RESOLUTIONS...I DON'T NEED NO STINKING RESOLUTIONS

Hello fellow New Years Eve adventurers. Here we stand...ready to leap away from 2009...into the Great Adventure of 2010. As we prepare for this New Year...I want to ask you a question.

Out of the past 100 years of movies...what is one of the most quoted...misquotes? Well...there are many...but as a clue...take a look at the lovely picture over to the left. Immediately many are saying in their best Mexican impersonation..."Badges?...We don't need no...stinkin' badges!" Many recognize this from the Humphrey Bogart classic...The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The quote is lifted from the scene between Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) and Gold Hat (Alfonso Bedoya)...as Gold Hat tries to convince Dobbs and his compadres that they are Federales. Here is how it really went down.

DOBBS: If you're the police, where are your badges.
GOLD HAT: Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges.

Well...according to Barney Fife...and Sgt. Joe Friday...badges are a must. They feel that you do need "stinkin' badges." You may be askin' yourself...self...what's up with the talk about stinkin' badges? Well...self...I'm so glad that you are ruminating on the question. Substitute the word for BADGES...for the word RESOLUTION...and we come to the reason for this Rambling at this time of year.

EVERY PERSON AT NEW YEARS: If you're starting a New Year...what's your resolution?

RODNEY BOYD: Resolutions? I ain't got no resolutions. I don't need no resolutions! I don't have to tell you any stinkin' resolutions!

Of course the misquote will be...Resolutions? I don't need to tell you any...stinkin' resolutions.

Either way...here are the TOP TEN REASONS I DON'T HAVE TO RESOLVE ANY STINKIN' RESOLUTIONS...aka...THE RESOLUTION REVOLUTION. Before I forget it...the othe two pictures are of The Shadow..."The weed of crime bears bitter fruit...who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man...The Shadow knows." Also Mr. Simon Templar aka The Saint. Both of these guys fought the bad guys...but did not use any STICKIN' BADGES. Here are the Top Ten Reasons/Excuses...That I Don't Need No Stinkin' Resolutions!!!


#10 I I resolve to be resolute...that would indicate that I have "issues" that I need to deal with...and I don't have any issues. Who told you I have issues...did you notice that I have issues...who else has noticed I have issues.

# 9 Why resolve to lose weight. I'm just big boned. Why should I base my weight on outdated government weight charts. I'm like the Brontosaurus said to the T-Rex...I'm just big boned.

# 8 Why would I need to exercise more this year. The Bible says..."bodily exercise/discipline is ONLY OF A LITTLE PROFIT..." (I Timothy 4:8). Sure...that's out of context...but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

# 7 Why do I need to resolve to read through the Bible in 2010. I read it through a few years ago...and I'm pretty sure they did not add anything new in it.

# 6 I resolve NOT to get on Facebook in 2010. Right!!!!! What would the populace do not knowing what I am doing minute by minute.

#5 I resolve NOT to Twitter in 2010. Actually...this is a REAL resolution...I hate Twitter. Twitter? I don't have to let you know on Twitter what I am thinking at the moment.! I don't need no stinkin' Twitter.


COMMERCIAL BREAK: Are ya havin' a tough time believing all of that Jesus stuff? Have agnostics and atheist been giving you a hard time about believing a myth? Do the politically correct crowd want to make your Saviour...someone on the same level as Gandhi? Well...come to THE RUMINATOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS...as we begin our study on THE GOSPEL OF JOHN...RUMINATOR STYLE. "...but these have been written so that you may BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ...the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:31) Class will be held at Smyrna Assembly 9:00 A.M. Central Standard Time in Smyrna Tennessee. For more information call Rodney Boyd at 415-7577 or write at ruminator12@comcast.net And now back to our Top Ten Reasons I Don't Need No Stinkin' Resolutions.

#4 I resolve not to mention Spam in 2010...Spam a delightful blend of spices and ham...and the official canned meat of Hawaii...and the official sponsor of The Ruminator Sunday School Class (well that last one is not true).

# 3 I resolve to change my guitar strings at least twice in 2010...or at least think about. If I think hard enough...maybe someone would get tired of hearing dead strings and change them for me.

# 2 I resolve to quit smokin', chewing/dipping tobacco, hangin' round loose women, cussin', and overeating. Well..one out of five ain't bad.
DISCLAIMER: The only one I do is overeat...so please don't write.

AND THE #1 REASON THAT I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE...OR TELL YOU ANY OF MY STINKIN' RESOLUTIONS....

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

Well...there ya have it. By the way...what's your resolution?

Love and Resolved Kisses
Rodney "Maybe I Do Need Some Stinkin' Resolutions" Boyd

RUMINATIN' ROD'S RECOMMENDED READING

Hello fellow Cud Buds...aka chewers of the Cud...aka Ruminators. Read any good books lately?

1963 and 1964 were turning points in my life. In 1963 I was in the 6th grade...for the FIRST time. That's right...for the FIRST TIME. In 1963 I failed the 6th grade. I don't understand why I failed...it could have been the 13 D's and the 4 F's that had to do something with it. I did have a hard 4th and 5th grade family life...that was distracting. I remember getting my report card...and it sunk in that I was not advancing to the 7th grade with all of my friends who I have been advancing with since the 1st grade. I remember walking across a field...next to the large water tower on my way home...crying. People would come up to me who were advancing and trying to consol me. They didn't. I was devestated. On July 3rd and 4th 2009...Central High School is having a combined reunion of 1968, 1969, and 1970. I will be seeing some of my old friends from the 6th grade... the first time that is.

My 6th grade teacher was Mrs. Martha Adkerson. She was also my 6th grade teacher...the second time around. My second tour of duty in the 6th grade...I scored with ALL A's. WHY? It could be I was more mature...it could be I had already been over the material the previous year...or it could be some sage advice from Mrs. A...who became my favorite teacher of all time. Her advice..."Rodney, you can go anywhere in the world...by opening a book and letting your imagination take you there." It was then that I fell in love with reading. I wish I could say that my academic career took off from that point... BUT...over the next few years...I trudged along...bored with school...and excited by clowining around. In high school...I would fail this...and fail that...go to summer school and pass. I would even have to sneak into a couple of teacher's grade books and change a couple of my grades from F's to B's.

My college career was not much better. I became a Bible school drop-out...went to Middle Tennessee State University...and dropped out of there with a 1.6 grade point average. I even tried to apply to Oral Roberts University...and wrote a letter to them explaining that I understood that my grade point average was not up to their standards...but...in the words of their catch phrase...I was EXPECTING A MIRACLE. I never heard from them. After multiple jobs...I ended up in school for Speech Pathology... got my Masters of Education...and have been working ever since. I graduated with LAWDY HAVE MERCY. It's kind of ironic that I am now on the scholarship committee at Smyrna Assembly...interviewing potential candidates and giving our sage advice about academic excellence.

Over the years that have been various books that have caught my interest and means a lot to me.... SO we come to RUMINATIN' ROD'S RECOMMENDED READING. Here are just a few books...in no particular order...except the first one.

1. The Bible: In reality...66 books...or love letters from my heavenly Father. File this book under history...or HISstory...as the heartbeat of God for mankind is revealed.

2. The Secret of Crossbone Hills: One of the first books I bought with my own money at a book fair. I read this one over and over and over again about the adventures of Dave and Kathy in South Carolina as they fought pirates and sunburn.

3. The Wizard of Oz: Pre-Harry Potter. The book is more indepth than the movie...but I enjoy the movie. You could tell it was Easter every year when CBS would show the movie. My mom was amazed that she could turn to a page and start reading a section of the book...and I could recite it word for word. My Dad on the other hand...would get his drinking buddies and have me recite the T.V. schedule from the newpaper for them...stations, shows, and times.

4. The Cross and the Switchblade: David Wilkerson's story of going to New York in the 1950's and how God used him to deal with gangs and drugs. I found this book at Tennessee Temple Bible School in the bookstore. It was the first time I saw how this thing called THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT was used in changing the lives of drug addicts. A co-book is RUN BABY RUN...about one of David's first converts Nicky Cruz.

5. A New Song: Pat Boone. I found this book in a Church of Christ book store bargin bin for fifty cents. It is the story of Pat Boone searching for more in his walk with the Lord. Again...the baptism in the Holy Spirit was key to his journey.

6. The Saint: A series of books from the 1930's and 1940's by Leslie Charteris. It is not a spiritual book despite the character. It is about a rouge named Simon Templer...who was a modern day Robin Hood with a twinge of James Bond. Played on T.V. by Roger Moore.

7. The Spirit-Filled Believer's Handbook: Derek Prince. This is the teachiings of the foundations of Christianity. Repentance from dead works...Faith towards God...the Doctrine of Baptisms (plural)... the laying on of hands...Resurrection of the dead...Eternal Judgement. These teaching are systematic, Biblical...and wonderful.

8. DAWS: This is the story of the founder of the Navigators. Combine this with the Topical Memory System...and you have a life changing book. Dawson Trotman was a man of vision and insight...and had a hunger for the Word.

9. Shout It From The Housetops: Pat Robertson's story of a man who had everything...and gave it all away...moved to the slums of New York...and God speaking to him about a world wide vision for getting the gospel out via T.V. Profund effect on my life.

10. The Secret Kingdom: Pat Robertson with the various laws of the kingdom like the Law of Reciprocity, the Law of Use, etc. Very practical walking out of the Kingdom.

11. The King and You: Bob Mumford teaching the principle of the Kingdom....it's constitution, preamble, and laws of the Kingdom.

12. Scott Free: Scott Ross' story of a man's journey...from humble beginnings...to heady power in the world of rock and roll and back to humble beginnings. This is one of the first places that I heard about a guitar player named Phil Keaggy. 50+ albums later...well...

13. Renewal Theology Volumes 1,2,3: J. Rodman Williams: In depth theological look at the charismatic movement. Good Stuff.

14. Prayer Is Invading The Impossible: Jack Hayford (really any book by Papa Hayford). He is deep but simple...and practical. He makes me feel as if I can walk out what he is teaching. This book is about tapping into a dynamic prayer life...that will invade impossible situations.

15. The Battlefield of the Mind: Joyce Myers...WOW...renewing the mind by the washing of the water of the Word to deal with the attacks of the enemy in the heart and the mind. Combine this book with another book called ME AND MY BIG MOUTH...and you have the double anointing.

16. Evidence That Demands A Verdict: Josh McDowell. From how the Bible came to be...to the resurrection of Jesus....doubters must make a decision based on truth rather than emotions or feelings.

17. Know What You Beleive/Know Why You Believe: Paul Little. Another book of apologetics. Always have a defense for what you believe.

18. THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE: Plug it it...turn it on...crank it up to 10 on the potentiometer...and listen loudly to the Word of God.

19. Charisma's Bible Handbook on the Holy Spirit: Jon Rhea's study on the Holy Spirit from Genesis to Revealation.

20. The Memory Book by Jerry Lucas and Harry Lorayne: I can't remember why I like this book. Maybe it will come to me later.

21. MAD MAGAZINE: I know...not a book...but they have collections of materials of Mad Magazines in book forms. They have MAD ABOUT THE ________________________ (50'S. 60'S, 70'S, 80'S, 90'S). These are satirical looks at human beings and the things we deem important. Nobody is immune...liberals, conservatives, religious, atheists, etc.

Well...that's it...an imcomplete list of important books in my life. I'm curious...what books have impacted your life.

Love and Book Report Kisses
Rodney "I Love Mrs. Adkerson" Boyd

THE CELEBRATION CALIBRATION: A RUMINATOR'S LENTON SEASON

Greetings and Salutations to those who are regular readers of THE RUMINATOR RAMBLINGS...and also greetings and salutations to those who had this Rambling forwarded to them by friends...or you happen to stumble onto it. The Ruminator chews on the Word of God likes a cow chews the cud... reflecting, mulling, thinking about the Word.

Today...I want to talk about the CALIBRATION CELEBRATION in my personal life during the SEASON OF LENT. I like the season of LENT because it is a time of soul searching...repentance...a season of reflection...and taking stock of my life. Some would say...but should you not be doing that 365 days a year? The answer is yes...BUT...I don't. We use all kinds of methods to REFRESH our lives. We take vacations...days off...pamper ourselves with spa days...take a walk on the beach...go on retreats (if you are really spiritual...you don't go on retreats but go on an ADVANCE)...go to meetings...conferences...etc. We go to these place to escape the pressures and cares of the world...and enter into GREENHOUSE SITUATIONS...and prepare to go back out into the "REAL WORLD". Jesus would often pull away to places of prayer and reflection for what needed to be done. For me this time of LENT is that time...where I can clear the clutter...hear God...and RECALIBRATE. Sometimes...as I live out my faith in this NITTY GRITTY world...my calibration gets off kilter...and I tend to do religious stuff...but my guidance coordination's are out of whack...and I need to RECALIBRATE to get back to the standard. Then I can get back to CELEBRATING...thus the title of this Rambling...CALIBRATION CELEBRATION.

In our collage...you see Kool and the Gang...and Three Dog Night...who had some great songs both titled CELEBRATE. When ever I hear these songs...I feel a lift in my load...and a spark in my steps...especially when I think about when the children of Israel were set free from the bondage of Egypt so that they could CELEBRATE IN THE WILDERNESS. Well...we are in this nitty gritty world...and are still called to CELEBRATE IN THE WILDERNESS until we go home. To do that...I PERSONALLY NEED TO BE IN PROPER SYNC WITH MY FATHER AND HIS STANDARD....AKA CALIBRATION.

It has been said that CALIBRATION is the validation of the specific measurement techniques and equipment. CALIBRATION is a comparison BETWEEN measurements...one of a KNOWN MAGNITUDE (God) or CORRECTNESS made or set with one device and another measurement...made in a similar way as possible with a second device.. The known correctness is know as...THE STANDARD. The second (2nd) device is know as the UNIT UNDER TEST (U.T.T.) The word righteousness means the STANDARD...so that would be God...His Word...His Standard...and you and me are the U.T.T. We go through the process of getting back into sync...recalibrating with the standard.
ENTER THE SEASON OF LENT.

LENT is a 40 day long...liturgical...season of fasting and prayer before EASTER (Resurrection Day for the purist).

NOTE: There is much debate on if we should use the word Easter...or celebrate another day...or even celebrate at all. Easter is not about rabbits...eggs..bonnets
...chocolate rabbits...popcorn bunnies...etc. It is about the culmination of the death, burial...and RESURRECTION OF JESUS THE CHRIST.

Millions of Christians celebrate this season...and millions don't celebrate this season. Liturgical to the Orthodox take time to reflect...and many think this reflection is a daily process. Some say...I am giving up LENT...for LENT this year...and I understand that it is not for everyone. I don't even do it in the traditional way. When you start making the DAY or RITUAL...more important than the CREATOR OF THE DAY...or WHY YOU DO THE RITUAL...then you are in error. (Read Galatians)

With that said...for me personally...I look forward to this season as a time of preparation, pertinence, alms giving and self denial.

This year LENT began on February 25th 2009...and ends on April 11th 2009...the day before RESURRECTION DAY. There are 40 days in the LENTEN CALENDAR...with each Sunday being a day of "mini-Easter" ...a celebration of Jesus' VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH.
That mean...for example...that if you gave up chocolate for LENT...then on Sunday you may have some chocolate. Of course you will have those who may try to push the envelope...and say that they gave up Jack Daniels for Lent...or gave up illicit sex for Lent...and then on Sunday you can indulge. Mmmmmm...I don't think so. Of course tradition...of pagan origin...institutes FAT TUESDAY as a time to have your one last blow out of debauchery and sin and over indulgence...as places like New Orleans and Rio...turn into SIN FEST with Carnival (the flesh)...and Mardi Gras.

This year...for old Rod...I am taking time for recalibration. In the past I have given up blogging (not doing that this year)...various items of food...complaining...etc.

NOTE: This is not just a time of giving something up...but also adding something in. For example if you give up cussing...add in praising. If you give up negative talk...start talking positive. If you give up candy...add a vegetable. If you give up T.V....add in reading the Word or prayer more than normal.

For me personally...I have asked the Lord...to speak to me daily and specifically in the areas of (1) my spirit (2) my soul [mind, free will]
(3) emotions. I have purposed to daily...minute by minute...choice by choice...to filter it though the Father. He has already spoken to me some specifics...that I don't have to ask Him about during this journey...but along with this...it could be something as simple as a choice about what to eat at that moment...or if I am in the middle of meal...when should I stop eating. The other day...I was at a Chinese buffet with a co-worker...and where I would normally go back 3 or 4 times to fill my plate...I asked the Lord...and I stopped at one plate.

Lord...speak to me in my sPIRIT (little s...human spirit)...where I communicate with you. Let your Holy Spirit who knows your heart...speak to me in my spirit. May I have times of intimacy with you...and know that I know that I know that I know the things of the Father. May I not quench the Spirit by things I say and do.

Lord.. speak to me in my SOUL (my mind...my volition/free will/choices...and my emotions). Lord as I renew my mind with the washing of the water of your Word...may I be transformed into your desire...versus be conformed to the worlds desires. Lord help me to have a different MIND SET...a mind set on the Spirit...where there is life and peace..versus...a mind set on the flesh...where there is death. Lord, may my CHOICES...my volition...my free will...make right choices...based on your Word and my renewed mind...as you speak to me on this LENT JOURNEY. My my emotions be stabilized as I go thorough this time...and not be fluctuating based on what SHAKES ME...but I will have emotions based on my renewed mind, right choices...and my intimacy with you.

Lord...speak to me in my BODY (flesh, blood, bones, ligaments, muscles, organs, etc)...this housing...this temple...of the Holy Spirit. Lord I look to you not only as the Saviour of my soul...but also the HEALER OF MY BODY. Lord...by your stripes I am Healed in every area of my life...my emotions, my sin sickness...and my BODY. Lord you know my specific needs...and I thank you for speaking to me to do what I need to do. Lord if it is to get up and walk...I will. If it is to drink more water...I will. If it is to stretch...I will. Where my inabilities and physician's inabilities...and my own body's inability are...may you be there with healing. By your stripes I am Healed (Isaiah 53).

"Therefore...strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble...and make straight paths for your feet...so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint...BUT RATHER BE HEALED." (Hebrews 12:12,13)

Lord...after this LENT SEASON...may I carry on the RECALIBRATION PROCESS DAILY...so next year...it won't be so hard.

"Remember my affliction and my WANDERING...the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is BOWED DOWN WITHIN ME...This I RECALL TO MY MIND...therefore I HAVE HOPE. The steadfast love of the Lord (the Lord's loving kindnesses) indeed never cease...for His mercy (compassion's) never fail...they (steadfast love/mercies) are NEW EVERY MORNING (daily)... GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS." (Lamentations 3:19-23)

"My little children...I am writing these things to you that you MAY NOT SIN...and if anyone SINS...we have an ADVOCATE (one called along side to help) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous...and He Himself is the RIGHTEOUS (the standard for calibration)...and He Himself the PROPITITATION (substitute and satisfaction for God)...for our sins...and not for ours only...but also for those of the world."
(I John 2:1,2)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY!

Here it is...four days into the journey...KEEP ON WALKIN'.

Love and Lengthened Kisses
Rodney "Ears Wide Open" Boyd

25 Random Things About Me

Hello Fellow Chewers of the Cud. For those of you who are NOT on Facebook... I was asked to write 25 Random Things About Me. It is away that people get to know you a little better on this social interactive network...so I wrote 25 little things that most people don't know about Ol' Ruminatin' Rod. I decided to go ahead and put it on the blog site...in case anyone was wondering..."What makes this guy tick." Well...after reading this you may not know what makes me tick... but you will know me just a little bit better...and have more insight in how to pray for me.

25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME (Rodney Lewis Boyd)

#25 I am the president of the Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Fan Club... the Rockvale Chapter. The name of the club (named after a phrase or line from the show) is...JUST A BED AND A BIBLE. Brenda had T-shirts made up for the club on my 40th birthday with Andy's picture on my shirt...Helen Crump's picture on her shirt...and Opie's picture on Phillip's shirt...with JUST A BED AND A BIBLE on the back.


#24. I met Elvis Presley in 1967 behind RCA Recording Studio...Studio B on a Sunday Afternoon. There were around 20 people there and it was a surreal experience as he stepped out of the Eldorado Cadillac. After it was all over...I cried like a baby.

#23. I met Brenda Williams at a band practice in a garage (a garage band) on a Sunday Afternoon. Hmmmmmmmm....God things seems to happen to me on Sunday afternoons. NOTE: I did not cry like a baby when I met Brenda.

#22. Brenda liked the lead guitar player at the practice mentioned in #23. I played rhythm guitar. You do the math.

#21. I received my Black Belt in Wado Ryu Karate. I originally started taking karate in 1972...and dropped out after a couple of years. I started back when I turned 50 years old. I persevered for 6 years and accomplished the goal when I was 56 years old.

#20. I attended a Bible school in Chattanooga Tennessee in 1971 to get my degree in Bible...and become an Evangelist. I dropped out before I got kicked out after being accused of running a house of ill-repute. Oh by the way...the allegations were false.

#19. I was a "song leader" at New Life Chapel (early charismatic church in Murfreesboro)...Followers Fellowship (a Chi Alpha Assembly of God College ministry at MTSU)...and The Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International (FGBMFI Murfreesboro). This was before the working titles of Worship Pastor, Psalmist, Creative Arts Pastor ,etc.)

#18. I attempted to go to school at Oral Roberts University. When I applied to ORU...I had a grade point average of 1.6. I told them that I realized that this was below their standards of acceptance...but I was EXPECTING A MIRACLE. They did not respond back. Years later I went to the ORU campus...and one of their clean cut students told me..."I know you are not a student here." When I asked how he know...he told me..."We don't allow beards here at ORU."

#17. I submitted articles for CHARISMA MAGAZINE...and got a letter of rejection..BUT...they told me that if I was a writer...that if I never got published...I should WRITE. That was the beginnings of the RUMINATOR RAMBLINGS. The current form of the RUMINATOR RAMBLINGS...is because of Richard Jacobson...who recommended that I should start blogging. Thanks Ricardo.

#16 At one point I was so DISCOURAGED about teaching the Word of God...that I declared that I WOULD NEVER TEACH THE WORD OF GOD AGAIN. Never say never. Thanks to Mark Robertson and Wade Hutchinson who encouraged me to take up the chalk stick once again (pre-dated erasable markers). Also...thanx and a tip O Da Hat to my pastor Ronnie Meek for giving me the opportunity to walk in my giftings at Smyrna Assemblies (S.A.)

#15 I have been known to put on (1) pink tights (2) boots (3) a shirt with a glitter heart (4) a flowing scarlet cape...and appearing in public as CAPTAIN LOVE.

#14 The name of the band that I was in was called THE BLIND DISTORTION. We also went by a second name (ala Plastic Ono Band) called THE BLACK ROOM...because I had painted my room black...and it was a play on Cream's song WHITE ROOM. i was also in a swinging little Christian band called HOSANNA where we not only sang...but praised the Lord just as much as we wanted (ala Archie Bell and the Drells from Houston Texas). My band mates in Hosanna were Tom Rutherford (vocals, guitar, drums) and Mark (Weedhopper) Webster on bass guitar.

#13. Brenda led me to the Lord in her driveway...after we had a conversation at Shoney's drive in (where car hops came out with your food...before Sonic)...and she told me as I was eating an onion ring...that I was going to hell. (Ask me for full details)

#12. In high school (Central High School) I got a couple of teachers grade books and change some F's to B's. After a convoluted college career....Bible School...Telecommunications...I eventually ended up with a Masters of Education in Speech Communication...and am actually working in the field for which I went to school as a Speech-Language Pathologist.

#11. At one time...I played the bass guitar in the Smyrna Assembly House Worship Band. I was known as THE RIPPER...because I played a borrowed 1964 Gibson Ripper Bass Guitar. I would warm up with the theme to Barney Miller.

#10. It's a little known fact that I am a fan of PHIL KEAGGY...and NO...contrary to urban legend...I AM NOT A STALKER OF PHIL KEAGGY.

# 09. I had the honor of giving Phil Keaggy my Fender Princeton Reverb Amplifier (tube amp)...and it can be seen on the DVD The Master and Musician 30th Anniversary Tour. When I gave it to Phil...he told me that it was this same type of Amp that he used on his album WHAT A DAY...and had been think lately that he wished he had that amp again. WOW...it's the little things that make me happy.

#08. 1989 was a turning point in our lives...when we were blessed with Phillip Stephen Boyd joining our family when he was 3 days old. He is now 19 years old....and is still a strong blessing in our lives.

#07. I went swimming with Phillip in the AMAZON RIVER when he was 8 years old. We ran into Stephen Curtis Chapman at the airport on our way to Peru...and told him we were using THE GREAT ADVENTURE as our theme song. Since then Phillip has saddled up his horse (first line of the song)...and gone to Peru...Wherry Housing as an intern...and multiple trips to Biloxi. We love that boy.

#06. Brenda...the love of my life since 1969...my wife since 1972...and I love to watch NCIS. We watch reruns and the regular run on Tuesday nights. Brenda says that I look like Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon who was voted the Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine). Hmmmmmmmmm....Brenda smiles and stifles a laugh when she says that. Could it be that I am not the HUNK that I think I am...but more of a CHUNK?

#05. Brenda and I occasionally smack each other on the forehead...because years ago we were standing in line at a place called THE BURGER BROIL...and we overheard a couple arguing...when the woman said..."I will smack a knot on your head that Oral Roberts can't take off." NOTE: This pre-dates the GIBB SLAP on NCIS.

#04. I backslid (actually it was more like faceforwardslid) in 1972...and sinned more than before I was saved in 1970. I smoked more dope, sniffed more chemicals, drank more booze and did more disgusting stuff after I was saved than before. I was like a DOG RETURNING TO HIS VOMIT. If you dug up the pig poop and mud under the Prodigal Son...you would find me. NOTE: I came back to the Lord...and am still standing by the grace and mercy of God.

#03. When I was 6 years old...I was listening to Elvis Presley (Jailhouse Rock)...Brook Benton and Dinah Washington (Rockin' Good Way and Baby You Got What It Takes)...Woody Herman (Woodchoppers Ball)...Glenn Miller (In The Mood, String of Pearls)...while my little frineds were listening to Rootie Kazootie and Mary Had A Little Lamb. That is why now...I love PAT BOONE...and RESURRECTION BAND. I am an ecclectic, schizophrenic music lover.

#02. My aunt Christine bought me a Philco Color T.V. Set in 1968...so I could watch the 1968 Elvis Christmas Special (later known as the 68 Comeback Special)...in COLOR. Life was tough in 1968.

#01. And the numero uno random fact about me is...IT'S ALL ABOUT ME BABY...IT'S ALL ABOUT ME. Oh I'm sorry that goes with the various TOP TEN LISTS that we ramble about periodically. The number one random fact about me is I LOVE THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST...WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH...AND MY NEIGHBOR AS MYSELF.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Well...if you hung in to the bitter end...reading this thing...the you are an offical RUMINATOR. You know have a thumbnail sketch about who I am...but I have withheld some stuff for another day.

Love and Random Kisses
Rodney "Nobody Told Me There Would Be Days Like These Boyd

IT'S A RUMINATIN' NEW YEAR: 2009

Hello dear friends. Do you feel like you are about to dry up and blow away. Is your spiritual walk feeling like bleached bones. Are you hungry and thirsty for a Word from God.

Well...me too. I am convinced that the devil (little d)...the accuser of the brethren...and sistern also...the murderer...the thief...the one who entices you to evil and attempts not only to pull you into sin...but really wants to pull you away from who you really are...WANTS TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD...and the WORD OF GOD AWAY FROM YOU.
(Mark 4:1-20)

I convince that little d knows that if you plant the Word of God in your heart...renew you mind with the washing of the water of the Word...allow the Word to abide in, continue in, take up residence in you...then FAITH WILL COME (Romans 10:17)..and little d...DOES NOT WANT YOU TO HAVE FAITH in any shape, form, or fashion.

When you have the : assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for (confident expectation)...being the proof of things [we]do not see and the conviction of their reality--faith PERCEIVING AS REAL FACT...what is not REVEALED TO THE SENSES (Hebrews 11:1)...you place your self in a position of PLEASING GOD...by (1) coming to God
(2) believing that God exist (3) believing that God is a rewarder (4) and diligently seeking Him versus passively inquiring about Him (Hebrews 11:6) Little d don't like that (bad English... good theology).

2009 will be the YEAR OF THE WORD. This year on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, we will have the opportunity to MOO AND CHEW ON THE WORD (Joshua 1:8)

Starting on Sunday morning...January 4th, 2009 at 9:00 A.M....THE RUMINATOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS will be starting a new session called:

HOW TO DEAL WITH TEMPTATION, SIN, AND THE FLESH

We will dig our way into the Word utilizing a workbook. Some of the chapter titles includes:

1-Koinonia (The Common Connection)
2-Garden Roots (The Obedience Key)
3-The Lust Factor
4-The Way Out
5-The Competition Principle
6-The Art of Resisting Temptation
7-The Anointing (Yoke Breaking...Burden Lifting...Oppression Removing POWER)
8-Impotent Idle Idols
9-Freedom Fighters (How To Defeat The Flesh)
10-The Discipline of Self-Examination
11-Circumcised By The Cross
12-Flesh Reapers and Spirit Sowers
13-Whatever Happened To Sin
14-The Mindset Principle
15-Be A Visionary: GODISNOWHERE
16-VICTORY IN JESUS

These are just a few of the chapters that we will be ruminating about.


On January 7th, 2009...Wednesday night...we will be meeting for the year...reading through the ONE YEAR BIBLE...RUMINATOR STYLE.

We will be taking a journey through the entire Bible...and each Wednesday night we will have a REST STOP ALONG THE WAY...and discuss what God has shown us for that week. There may be a small teaching...but the input is really about what is God saying to you through the Word.

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS

1. A One Year Bible (or you can get the text for the week that night)...but I would recommend getting a One Year Bible.

2. A three ring binder note book.

3. Dividers for the notebook. You will need four sections (a) Old Testament (b) New Testament
(c) Psalms (d) Proverbs

As you read...write down what the Lord may bring forth to you. It does not have to be an in depth Bible Study. It is really the nuggets of the Word that you discover on your journey.

The CAUSE and EFFECT of all of this...will be a peace that passes understanding...keeping your way pure...faith will come...your prayer life will change as you pray the Word...Biblical success and prosperity...you may speak a word that will change a life...because you are speaking the Word.

Wednesday nights will also have many choices of classes from Kingdom life with Wayne Berry...Claudia Peterson teaching real men how to dance real good...Pastor Barbie encouraging us in our giftings...Scott Asher showing us how to effectively share our faith...Kevin O'Dea leading the 30 year and under in holiness...and the the moo and chew crowd.

Well...that's it for SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION. See ya in 2009...It's gonna be a great year in the Lord.

Love and Word Filled Kisses
Rodney "Mooin' and Chewin' Boyd

ROUND TRIP TICKET TO EGYPT

Hello Fellow Free People. SO...how's your SOjournings? Do ya feel like turning around and going back to the place where you first started. Did you have it better before you became a follower of Jesus. Did someone talk you into being a Christian with a line like..."Come to Jesus and all your troubles will disappear."?

Don't feel like you're alone. There were a group of people in Egypt...who were groaning from release of the bondage they were experiencing...only to get into a perseverating rut...and casting an eye back to the good old days...when the were slaves. At least they had good eats back in Egypt.

When you read the Exodus Experience...in the Book of Exodus...you encounter a people...who at one point experienced freedom and prestige...with their brother (Joseph) being in charge. Once he died...so did their influence. The sons of Israel...still were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land (Egypt) was filled with them. (Exodus 1:7)

Enter a new king. This king did not know their connection...Joseph. The new king's perspective was that the sons of Israel are more and mightier than they were (Exodus 1:8,9)

The solution to the problem...deal wisely with them. If you don't deal wisely with them...they will multiply...and in the event of a war, they will join in those who hate us and fight against us and depart from the land. (Exodus 1:9,10)

The response to this reasoning was BONDAGE...SLAVERY....FORCED LABOR. They appointed TASKMASTERS over them to AFFLICT them with HARD LABOR. They were forced to build for the Pharaoh storage cities (Pithom and Raamses) (Exodus 1:11). The problem for the MASTERS...the more they afflicted them...the MORE THEY MULTIPLIED...and the more they SPREAD OUT. (Exodus 1:12) The cause and effect was that they were IN DREAD of the sons of Israel. (Exodus 1:12). They had to pull an Emeril on them...and TAKE IT UP A NOTCH...BAMMMMM! The EGYPTIANS...compelled the SONS OF ISRAEL...to LABOR RIGOROUSLY....made their lives bitter with HARD LABOR in mortar, bricks and all kinds of labor in the field. The sons of Israel...needed a deliverer. God was already setting that into motion...but more on that later.

In comparison....we as the human race were originally free...but because of disobedience of one man...we all became slaves (Romans 5:12) We needed a deliverer....and that was already prophesied in the beginning (Genesis 3:15). We were bound by sin...with the devil, satan, the liar, the deceiver, the accuser of the brethren, the stealer, the killer, the destroyer...being a type of PHARAOH...and his taskmasters the little demonic forces.

Over the course of time...of many days of bondage...that the king of Egypt died. At that time...the sons of Israel sighed/groaned...BECAUSE OF THE BONDAGE...and they CRIED OUT. Their CRY FOR HELP...because of their BONDAGE...ROSE UP TO GOD. (Exodus 2:23)

God heard their GROANING...and as a result of their GROANING...GOD REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God SAW the sons of Israel...and God TOOK NOTICE of them. (Exodus 1:24,25).

NOTE: I have to believe that over their period of slavery...they had sighed and groaned before...but this time...something clicked with their groaning and with God. I think it may be...like me...before I became a Christian...I would moan and groan about the condition I was in...and with all of the consequences of my actions...BUT...one day...I CAME TO A PLACE...where my moaning and groaning....was a SINCERE CRY FOR HELP...and God knew I was serious.

God already had a plan in motion for their deliverance with a baby named Moses being born...and He already had a plan for our deliverance with Jesus entering planet Earth as a baby born to a virgin in a small land, in a small city with no fanfare.

God called on Moses....who had been through the process of being placed in Egypt's royalty...and then ran off to the desert for 40 years in the real preparation for a stuttering shepherd to walk back into Egypt...and demand...LET MY PEOPLE GO. Wh..ho...ho...should he said sent him? I AM THAT I AM. (Exodus chapters 3-4)

Moses and Aaron...came in and said to Pharaoh...."Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel...LET MY PEOPLE GO...that they may CELEBRATE a feast to Me in the WILDERNESS." (Exodus 5:1) Eventually after the various plagues....PHARAOH relinquished...and LET THE PEOPLE GO. (Exodus 5-13)

After the Pharaoh....wised up...and let them go...he began mulling over what he had done. "What is this we have done, that we have LET ISRAEL GO FROM SERVING US?" So...he sent his army after them...to RECAPTURE THEM....ENSLAVE THEM AGAIN. God provided the EXODUS ROUTE....with a miracle through the Red Sea....or as some theologians spin it...the REED SEA. They say the REED sea...was a little trickle of water....that was not deep at all...some say ankle deep. Hmmmm...that would make it even a bigger miracle as the armies of Egypt died in a bathtub instead of a sea.

NOTE: Once you become a follower of Jesus and are set free from you bondage of sin...even though there is a great peace and joy that comes into your life...and what once held you captive was now released and you were FREE...the devil....does not GIVE UP on you. He pursues....he attacks...he schemes...with well orchestrated plans and armies against you. (Ephesians 6). If you are not careful...you will let your FREEDOM...turn into an OPPORTUNITY for the FLESH....and be RE-SLAVED again. (Galatians 5:1,13,16,17-26)

When God set them free by HIS POWERFUL HAND...AND BROUGHT THEM OUT OF EGYPT (Exodus 13:16)...He led them...not by the shortcut...or the WAY THAT WAS NEAR... but led them the long way..."lest the people (ex-slaves)...CHANGE THEIR MINDS...when they see ware...and THEY RETURN TO EGYPT." (Exodus 13:17) God led them AROUND BY THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS to the RED SEA...and the SONS OF ISRAEL went up in MARTIAL ARRAY from the land of Egypt.

So many times....since 1970...I have experienced warfare on the journey...and in 1972...I returned to EGYPT...a slave again. I thought I was missing out on something...and it appeared to be easier than this thing called CHRISTIANITY.

The cause and effect for the children of Israel...was that a 12 day journey...turned into a 40 year fiasco. They even got to the point of speaking out against God...and God's man, Moses.
"Why have you brought us up out of EGYPT to DIE IN THE WILDERNESS? For there is NO FOOD....and NO WATER, and we LOATHE THIS MISERABLE FOOD. (Numbers 21:5)

NOTE: I thought they said there was no food...they must have meant...no food that WE LIKE.

They already had the grumbling mindset...with their minds set on there stomachs..."...who will give us meat to eat? We REMEMBER the fish which we used to eat FREE IN EGYPT (they were not free but apparently the fish were)...the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic...but NOW...our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to LOOK AT...except this MANNA."(Numbers 11:4-6)

This entire scenario...was but a blip on the time-space continuum...but still speaks loudly to me in 2008. The things that they went through were EXAMPLES to us followers of Jesus...as a warning not to get LAID LOW/CUT OFF IN THE WILDERNESS.
(I Corinthians 10:6,11)

They (1) craved evil things (2) were idolaters (3) they partied...ate, drank, stood up and played (4) they acted immorally (5) they tried/tested the Lord (6) the were grumblers (against God and their leader). The cause and effect is THEY WERE DESTROYED BY THE DESTROYER. (I Corinthians 10:5-10) They OPENED THE DOOR...by REMEMBER...THINKING... and RUMINATING...on EGYPT.

The same thing will KEEP US from enjoying the PROMISED LAND....as we plow this field....and we take our hands off of the plow...and we look back...to where we were...instead of keeping our eyes on where we are going. In my new job...at Gentiva Home Health...I have found the secret of getting the allotted amount of patients that I need to see...by KEEP ON MOVING. Don't look back...keep the FOCUS.

Jesus did this on his JOURNEY here on earth for 33 years...and what we are called to do...as we WALK OUT THIS LIFE.

"Therefore...since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us...(former saints in Hebrews 11)...let us also LAY ASIDE EVERY ENCUMBRANCE, and the SIN which so EASILY ENTANGLES/BESETS us...and let us RUN with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us...FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS...the author and perfecter/finisher of faith...who for the JOY SET BEFORE HIM...endured the CROSS, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

If you hung in there through this long Rambling (some would say longer than a 40 year journey)...thanks. I have real empathy...for those who start out great guns...released from sin...only to be bound again...BECAUSE...I was one of those. This one thing I do know...that THE WORK THAT WAS STARTED IN YOU WILL BE FINISHED...and together...we cross the finish line...in Jesus. Don't look back...and don't give up...KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON!!!!!!

Love and Egypt Free Kisses
Rodney "The Sojourner" Boyd