THE KOINE KONNECTION

Greetings HuMANity and HuWOMANity... HuPERSONity.

NOTE: Koine is a Greek word meaning..."common". It is applied to the Greek language as opposed to the "classical" Greek language. The Bible is written in the "koine/common" Greek language (for the common
person)...and the root of words like fellowship, communication, communion (a common connection).

Today it was reported that planet earth was blessed with more people...to the number of over seven billion people. Of course if that troubles you...the options are that you could give up your place on earth...or you could find some non-productive people and eliminate their position. The Twilight Zone had an episode where they would eliminate the "obsolete"...which sounded like a pretty good idea until you realized that you were considered "obsolete".

This old world is filled with human beings who all have a couple of things in common (koine). (1) They were created by a Creator (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:5-7; Genesis 2:20-25 (2) They are a spirit, with a soul encased in a body (I Thessalonians 5:23). Of course depending on your mind set...this Creator/creation things is a load of hooey and you would more likely subscribe to a cosmic accident..from goo to you by way of the zoo (aka evolution).

As people we have these things in common (koine)...but we have so many things NOT in common.

Man...wo-man...hu-mans are made up of spirit, soul, body (I Thessalonian 5:23).

1. body/soma: (flesh, blood, bones, internal organs (brain, heart, liver, lungs, etc.)

2. soul/psyche: mind (our thinking component), will/volition (our choosing component), emotions (our feeling component)

3. spirit/pneuma: our human component of connection to God.

As common as these three things are to the 7 + Billion people on the 3rd Rock from the Sun...the swirling terrestrial ball, the Ball of Confusion, Planet Earth...we are as individual as the fingerprints on the tips of our fingers. When John wrote John 3:16 (which was really not broken down into chapter and verse when it was written)...he was speaking of God's love for the individual spirits, souls, and and bodies on Earth.

In my profession of Speech-Language Pathology...we study the development of language. One aspect of this study (also studied in other studies of human development) we have a concept called "nature verses nurture." We study the dynamic of whether we are born with everything we need for human development...or are we born with a clean slate and as we progress chronologically does our experience write on the slate and develop who we turn out to be?

My perspective is...and has always been...we are a combo package. We have everything we need to develop...but outside sources...aka our environment...develops and shapes WHO WE ARE...as INDIVIDUALS. This includes the (1) the good (2) the bad (3) the ugly of humanity. To add to the mix...we are born into sin... needing a Saviour. "Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin...and thus death spread to ALL men (us) because all have sinned." (Romans 5:12) The concept of a SOUL MAN...has been regulated to the African-American population...but since we all have a SOUL...it applies to all mankind. Our 7 billion souls...with our 7 billion experiences...results in 7 billion cause and effects in our lives.

The idea of Christianity versus other religions, sects, cults...is the concept of God reaching out and connecting with mankind...versus man trying to connect to God on their level. "Let this mind be in you which was ALSO in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God...did not consider it robbery to be equal with God...BUT made Himself of no reputation...taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the LIKENESS OF MEN. " (Philippians 2:5-7)

What does all of this have to do with anything? Well...It should impact the way that I look at, view, and yes even judge other human beings. Sometimes we Christians tend to get "saved from our sins"...and tend to forget where we came from... and think that our "fecal matter does not stink."
We forget that we are merely "one beggar telling another beggar where we found a piece of bread." (John Fischer from the album Dark Horse)

Everyone that we come into contact with has a story. Everyone has different experiences that shape the way the react to different stimuli. Everyone has habits (good or bad), mindsets, thought processes that manifests in their actions. This is not only true with non-believers in the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus the Christ...BUT also with those who claim the title "Christians".

When we realize that "He (Jesus) died for ALL, (Christians and non-Christians) that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." (II Corinthians 5:15-16)

"For God so loved the SEVEN BILLION HUMAN BEINGS...in the world...that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus)...that whosoever of the SEVEN BILLION HUMAN BEINGS...believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Well...if all of this is true...how does that affect the way I view and treat and love mankind?

"Therefore (because of what we read in II Corinthians 5:14-15)...from now on...we regard NO ONE according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." (II Corinthians 5:16)

As a NEW CREATION (II Corinthians 5:17)...I must begin to look at people with NEW EYES. It is when I begin to do this...I can become a MINISTER OF RECONCILIATION.
(II Corinthians 5:17-21)

We are called to be "ministers of reconciliation"...like God reconciled us to Him through Jesus Christ...and gave us this same ministry. (II Corinthians 5:18).

MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION DEFINED (II Corinthians 5:19)

1. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself
2. God was NOT counting/imputing their trespasses to them
3. God committed to us the WORD OF RECONCILIATION

It is so easy to count 7 billion trespasses against them...when we think we don't have anything in KOINE/COMMON. 7 billion differences...but 7 billion common things. We need the Lord. We need a Saviour. We need the Holy Spirit. We need to have a relationship with our Creator.

This was made possible by the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.

Love and Reconciled Kisses
Rodney "Believing" Boyd

THE LORD... LIGHT...AND SALVATION (Who's Da Boss?)

Hello Friends.

Are you in the dark...or are you in the light? Well...in a world that appears to be overwhelmed by darkness, there is a light dawning...and within the dawning light...there is salvation.

"The Lord is my light...and my salvation." (Psalm 27:1)

LORD: 'adon (ah-done)= owner, master, lord, sir, the one in control. The primary meaning is master. Adonai (ah-do-ni) is used of the glorious Lord in all His powers and attributes.


The bottom line is that Lord means BOSS. Now...to some...Bruce Springsteen is THE BOSS...Jimmy Reed the old blues man would sing about BIG BOSS MAN...later covered by the King of Rock and Roll...Elvis... and in Hazzard County...the Big Boss... is literally BIG...as a Hogg... BOSS HOGG.

But the true BOSS...is THE LORD... JESUS IS BOSS. Jesus is...the one in control...LORD.

This is the one you want in control when darkness overwhelms you.


In Psalm 27...the word LORD (Boss) appears a total of 12 times. The words He/His/You/Your that appears as a reference to the LORD...appears 12 more times...so you have at least a total of 24 times where the LORD is directly or indirectly spoken of within 14 verses. Ya kinda get the idea that THE LORD is the focus of our SALVATION.

We have a need for SALVATION... because we are surrounded by ENEMIES. There are (1) evildoers
(2) adversaries (3) enemies. (Psalms 27:2) They attempt to bring dread, devour my flesh, war against us, bring fear, have a desire against us, give a false witness against us, and breath out violence against us...bringing us to despair. (Psalm 27:1-13)

This thing called SALVATION is more than our understanding of "FIRE INSURANCE"...avoiding a place called Hell...that we fear. Salvation is a very real thing that can be applied to every area of our lives. I don't know about you...but I need SALVATION to avoid hell...and get into heaven...BUT until the glory train comes...I need SALVATION to get me through my everyday nitty gritty life. Once you get SAVED...the enemy does NOT just throw up his hands and think..."well...I lost another one." NO...he will intensify the attacks on us.

Remember 24 times...the LORD is the focus of our salvation.

SALVATION: Hebrew: yesha=liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety. In the Greek=soteria/soterion=soundness, prosperity, rescuing, releasing, deliverance, liberation, freedom.

LIGHT: ore=illumination, luminary, bright, clean, glorious, set on fire, shine.

IF the Lord is your LIGHT and your SALVATION...here is the big question. WHOM SHALL I FEAR?

The answer is NO...BODY...NO THANG...NUTTIN' HONEY...ZIP, ZILCH, NADA, ZERO!!!!! We can't deny the reality of the ENEMY...because they are REAL....but our LORD...is "REALER". Now I know that "REALER"... may not be a REAL word...BUT...it is NOW...REALLY!!

What we MUST do...is when the (1) evildoers (2) adversaries (3) enemies (a host) begins to encamp and war against us (Psalm 27:2-3)...we MUST begin to see things through the OPEN EYES OF FAITH.

The perfect picture of this look into the invisible...is found in II Kings 6:1-33. The King of Syria was warring against Israel. Elisha warned the king of Israel that the Syrians are coming and to avoid going to a certain place. The King of Syria's heart was enraged...and plotted to get Elisha. The King of Syria sent (1) horses (2) chariots (3) and a great army AT NIGHT...and surrounded the city. (II Kings 6:8-14)

NOTE: We are in a war...the devil is out to get us...and at times...it appears that we are surrounded...and fear begins to creep in because of the enemy.

The servant of Elisha...rose up early in the morning...and SAW with his physical eyes...the army, horse, and chariots...CIRCLING THE CITY. He cried out to his MASTER (lord and boss)...WHAT SHALL WE DO? (II Kings 6:15)

NOTE: Elisha's answer to the question...DO...NOT...FEAR.

Elisha told his servant to NOT FEAR. Why? Why not fear? In the natural...there was reason for fear. Here is Elisha's answer for not fearing. "FOR THOSE WHO ARE WITH US...ARE MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE WITH THEM." (II Kings 6: Say what??????? The servant could not SEE IT. All he could see is surrounding enemies, adversaries, evildoers.

QUESTION: What are you seeing...in your situations, circumstances...nitty gritty life? QUESTION #2 Are you afraid?
ANSWER: FEAR NOT.

Elisha then prayed...that the eyes of his servant would be OPENED. The cause and effect of Elisha's prayer...the Lord OPENED the servant's eyes and he SAW. What He saw was TRUTH... and truth...trumped reality. The truth was...the mountain was full of HORSES and CHARIOTS OF FIRES...all around Elisha.

You can check out the rest of this reality in II Kings 6...but suffice to say...PSALM 27 becomes real...when the eyes of our faith are open to why we should NOT fear...because...

"THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION...WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE DEFENSE OF MY LIFE...WHOM SHALL I DREAD? (Psalm 27:1)

Love and Enlightened Kisses
Rodney "Waiting For The Lord" Boyd

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Greetings SAVED or LOST ones. The burning question that is usually asked...if you ask someone if they are saved...is SAVED FROM WHAT? Or there will be a plethora of jokes about Jesus Saves...but Moses Invests.

Bob Dylan experienced SALVATION (being saved) after attending Bible studies at the Vineyard in California. The expression of that experience was first seen in his album...Slow Train Coming. The Times They Are A Changing...and so was his life. The follow up album was called simply....SAVED. Before we look at some definitions of the word SAVE, SAVED...let's see how Bob view this salvation experience:

SAVED

I was blinded by the devil...borned already ruined
Stone cold dead as I stepped out of the womb

NOTE: Wow...talk about acknowledging the spiritual condition. These two lines blow me away every time I hear them.

By His GRACE I have been TOUCHED
By His WORD I have been HEALED
By His HAND I've been DELIVERED
By His SPIRIT I've been SEALED
I've been SAVED...by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB
SAVED...by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB
SAVED...SAVED...

NOTE: The problem was stated...and now the SOLUTION has been underscored. The solution...getting SAVED...and it through THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB...aka...JESUS. That SALVATION was expressed by GRACE, THE WORD, HIS HAND AND HIS SPIRIT. The CAUSE AND EFFECT of these things are being: (1) touched (2) healed (3) delivered (4) sealed.

And I'm so glad...yes...I'm so glad
I'm so glad...so glad
I want to thank you Lord...I just want to thank you Lord
Thank you Lord

NOTE: When you have been living in darkness...lost...being brought into the light and SAVED...floods you with a heart of thanksgiving and gladness.

By His TRUTH I can be UPRIGHT
By His STRENGTH I do ENDURE
By His POWER I've been LIFTED
In His LOVE I am SECURE
He BOUGHT me with a PRICE
FREED me from the PIT...full of EMPTINESS and WRATH...and the FIRE that BURNS WITHIN

NOTE: Once saved...the WORK CONTINUES. We can stand upright, have endurance, be lifted up, have security all because He bought us WITH THE PRICE of his blood and life as He became the PROPITIATION, SUBSTITUTE, SATISFACTION in our place.

NOTE: Bob repeats the course of thankfulness and gladness to the Lord for what He has done by the blood of the Lamb.

Nobody to RESCUE me...nobody would DARE
I was GOING DOWN for the LAST TIME
But by His MERCY I've BEEN SPARED
Not by WORKS...but by FAITH IN HIM who called
For so long I've been HINDERED
For so long I've been STALLED

NOTE: Needing rescue, going down, hindered and stalled were the conditions...RESCUE, MERCY, SPARED, by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB.


This picture is from the book REMEMBER THE WORD by Jerry Lucas. It is a Bible Memorization System that utilizes pictures...to bring the themes of the Bible alive. Matthew 1:21 is seen here..."And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS for He shall SAVE His people from their SINS." Note the picture of the bear with the sun/son. He shall BEAR their sins.

One of the pictures in the first collage is Elvis...dancing the JAILHOUSE ROCK.
There was another version of JAILHOUSE ROCK found in the book of Acts as Paul and Silas were in JAIL...praising God at midnight...and an EARTHQUAKE rocked the JAIL. The guard ran in...and found the doors open...and was going to commit suicide...rather than face the wrath of the authorities for letting the prisoners escape. Paul shouted out..."Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Nelly!" Don't do that...we are here." (Rumiantor Version).

"And brought them out and said...Sirs...WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? And they said...BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus...and thous shalt be SAVED and thy house." (Acts 16:30-31)

Paul also stated...For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL (I Corinthians 15:1-5=D.B.R...NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS)...for it is the POWER OF GOD for SALVATION...to the Jew first...and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

SALVATION: (so-tay-ree-ah)= rescue or safety (physically or morally) deliver, health salvation, save, saving....(so-tare)= a deliverer...that is ...God or Christ...saviour. (sode-zo)=to save, that is deliver or protect, heal, preserve, save, do well, be whole.

In the book THE SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL EVANGELISM (101 lesson on how to share your faith simply, effectively, biblically...the way Jesus did) by KIRK CAMERON and RAY COMFORT...states that the LOST (those not SAVED)... first need to come to the realization that they need a SAVIOUR. The LAW is the schoolteacher...that teaches us our need to turn to someone who can help us keep this thing called the LAW...because WE CAN'T.

Once we come to the point of realizing our need...we can call on a SAVIOUR... by asking...WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED. The answer is...like this storefront church in KENYA, AFRICA says...WELCOME TO JESUS.

What must I do to be SAVED? The answer...'BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus...and you shall be SAVED." (Acts 16:30-31) Direct question...Direct answer.

NOTE: Paul is not talking about an assimilation of historical facts about JESUS. Any lost theologian or demon can BELIEVE.
"But someone may will say...you have faith...and I have works...show me your faith without the works...and I will show you my faith by my works. You BELIEVE that God is one...You do well...the demons...ALSO BELIEVE...and TREMBLE/SHUDDER..." (James 2:18-19)

This thing called BELIEF...goes BEYOND...assimilating of facts...it elicits ACTION. If you BELIEVE...in the DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION OF JESUS...there will be a difference manifested in your life.

"But the righteousness BASED on FAITH...speaks thus...'Do not say in your heart, who will ascend into heaven? (that is to bring Christ down)...or Who will descend into the abyss (that is to bring Christ up from the dead)'...but what does it say? THE WORD IS NEAR YOU IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART...that is the word of faith which we are preaching...that if you CONFESS with your MOUTH...
JESUS AS LORD...and BELIEVE in your heart that God RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD...you SHALL BE SAVED....for with the HEART man BELIEVES...resulting in RIGHTEOUSNESS...and with the MOUTH...he CONFESSES (comes into agreement with God and speaks it forth)...RESULTING (cause and effect)....in SALVATION (being saved from being lost)." (Romans 10:6-10)

"For WHOEVER will CALL upon the NAME OF THE LORD....will be...SAVED." (Romans 10:13)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY!!!!

There are many lost intellectual, religious, moral, good work doing people. Some even express a BELIEF (even demons believe and tremble) in Jesus...or at least a BELIEVE in their denomination....BUT that is NOT ENOUGH. Salvation is through the D.B.R...NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS....VIA THE BLOOD OF JESUS. "He SAVED us...NOT on the BASIS of DEEDS/WORKS we have done in righteousness (self)...but ACCORDING TO...His MERCY...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by THE HOLY SPIRIT."
(Titus 3:5)

Love and Believing Kisses
Rodney "Saved" Boyd

THE BASICS

Greetings. Every once in a while...I have to get back to the BASICS. I need to review and realize my condition... B.C. (Before Christ)...the gap/gulf between me and God because of my sin...my inability to work my way into heaven....my inability to effectively deal with sin...the cause and effect of the sin...and GOD'S SOLUTION.

"As it is written...there is NONE (including Rodney) righteous...NO NOT ONE." (Romans 3:10)

"For ALL have sinned and FALLEN SHORT of the Glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

"For the WAGES of sin is DEATH, but the FREE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to DIE ONCE...and after this comes JUDGEMENT." (Hebrews 9:27)

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world...and DEATH THROUGH SIN...and so DEATH SPREAD to all men...BECAUSE ALL SINNED." (Romans 5:12)

Once we determine that there is a gap between us and God...we try to determine how to build a bridge across that gap with our good works.

"He saved us...NOT on the BASIS OF DEEDS...which we have DONE in righteousness....but ACCORDING to His mercy...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."
(Titus 3:5)

"For by GRACE have you been saved through faith...and that NOT OF YOURSELVES...it is the GIFT OF GOD...NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS....that no one should bast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for GOOD WORKS...which God prepared beforehand, that we should WALK IN THEM." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

"But God DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE toward us...in that while we were YET SINNERS...Christ DIED FOR US." (Romans 5:8)

"For God so LOVE the world...that He gave His only begotten Son...that whosoever believes...should NOT PERISH...but have EVERLASTING LIFE." (John 3:16)

This is the most open/closed invitation there is. The provision is for WHOSOEVER...but it is HINGED on WHOSOEVER'S CHOICE...VOLITION...FREE WILL.

"But as many (whosoever) RECEIVED Him...to them He gave the RIGHT to become children of God,...even to those who BELIEVE IN HIS NAME." (John 1:12)

"But what does it say? The WORD is near you...in your MOUTH...and in your HEART...that is THE WORD OF FAITH which we are preaching...that IF you CONFESS with your MOUTH... JESUS AS LORD...and BELIEVE in your HEART that God RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD....you shall be SAVED....for with the HEART man BELIEVES...resulting in RIGHTEOUSNESS...and with the MOUTH he CONFESSES....resulting in SALVATION. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him...For WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." (Romans 10:8-13)

"Truly, truly, I say to you...he who HEARS MY WORD...and BELIEVES HIM who sent Me...HAS ETERNAL LIFE...and does not come into judgment...but has PASSED OUT OF DEATH INTO LIFE." (John 5:24)

This is the basics of Christianity. It is all ROOTED in the D.B.R. That would be Death, Burial, Resurrection...nothing more...nothing less.

"Now I make known to you, brethren...the GOSPEL...which I preached to your...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 your...unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also RECEIVED, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures...and that He was buried...and that He was raised on the THIRD DAY...according to the Scriptures...."
(I Corinthians 15:1-4)

This is where I started out in 1970....and in 2008...it has not changed. The simplicity of the GOSPEL...nothing more...nothing less.

Well...wonder no more. Now you KNOW. You don't have to just hope...you can KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

"These things I have written to you who BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD...in order that you may KNOW...that you have ETERNAL LIFE."
(John 5:13)

FINAL THOUGHTS....FINALLY

Works can't get you in...but you were created unto works (Ephesians 2:8-10). You can spout off all day long about your faith...but if you don't have WORKS...all you have is DEAD FAITH. (James 2:14-26). You can believe facts about the faith all day long...even demons believe...and shudder (James 2:19) "It's not WHAT you know...it's who you know." (Ronnie Meek...my Pastor).

Love and Workless Kisses
Rodney "The Basics" Boyd

CHOOSE OR LOSE

Hello fellow Choosers. What have you chosen lately? One of the beautiful things about being a human being...we were created with the capacity to CHOOSE. We are beyond ROBOTS...that are programmed to carry out every command that the creator of the robot desires...we are CREATED by the CREATOR of the universe...with VOLITION. Volition is what is known as FREE WILL...the power of CHOICE.

On a Friday night...when me and Sweet Brenda are hungry...we decide/choose to go out to eat. The conversation goes a little like this:

BRENDA: Where do you want to go eat?
RODNEY: I don't know...where to you want to go eat?
BRENDA: Let's decide before we start driving.
RODNEY: We can decide as we drive.
BRENDA: OK...let's see what we have down the road.

NOTE: At this point we start driving and begin to name the eateries.

BRENDA: Well...we have O'Charley...Corky's...Red Lobster...Outback...Hardees...Ryans...

NOTE: We will make a tour of Murfreesboro...and still have not made a CHOICE.

If we go to a Chinese Restaurant...if you don't get the buffet (with Crab Legs)...you have more choices to make...Column one...Column two...Column three...Column four...and then have to choose what kind of soup...Won Ton, Hot and Sour, Egg Flower. I can choose and have whatever I want...I JUST HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE. Usually at every establishment we choose to eat...the waitress will come up for the order and ask..."Would you like me to give you a few more minutes?"

In real life...the choices that we make...have consequences. That is one principle that we have tried to impress upon our son Phillip...your choices have consequences. There is a thing called CAUSE AND EFFECT. What you cause effects not only yourself...but others also. Throw a stone into a lake...and there will be a splash at the epicenter where the stone lands...but the ripple effect shoots out in every direction. The bigger the CAUSE (stone)...the bigger the EFFECT (ripples).

"Therefore...just as through one man (Adam) entered into the world (disobedience)...and death by sin (cause and effect)...and so death spread to all men...because all sinned (ripple effect)" (Romans 5:12)

That does not sound very fair!!! Life is not fair. The devil does not play by the rules. "CAUSE AND EFFECT...rains on the just and the unjust" (Matthew 5:44-45 Ruminator paraphrase). The EFFECT (fall or stand) of the CAUSE(rain and wind) is different for different people based on the foundation (sand or rock). (Matthew 7:24-27) The choice is this passage is either Jesus is Lord or Jesus is NOT Lord....and LIP SERVICE is not an option. (Matthew 7:21-23)

One of my favorite Debby Boone albums is CHOOSE LIFE. You may remember Debbie as the oldest daughter of one of my favorite singers...PAT BOONE.

NOTE: Pat Boone financed Randy Stonehill and Larry Norman's first independent Jesus rock albums. Randy's album was called BORN TWICE and Larry's album was called BORN TWICE . Pat also formed a label dedicated to the new wave of Christian artists called LAMB and LION RECORDS with such artists as Dogwood.

Debbie had a huge hit called YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE. It was a sugar sweet A.M. hit. Later she released an album called CHOOSE LIFE. It was a collection of songs by another of my favorite artists...MICHAEL AND STORMIE OMARTIAN (pronounced Oh Mar Tee un). Michael is a producer of some of the biggest secular hits over 3 decades including the T.V. theme to SWAT.

The album title is based on a passage in Deuteronomy 30:19:

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have SET BEFORE YOU...life and death, the blessing and the curse. So...CHOOSE LIFE in order that you may life, you and your descendants..." (Deuteronomy 30:19)

NOTE: You may be asking yourself...who in their right mind would choose death and curse? Well...look in a mirror and ask yourself why you choose the things that you do that are not good for you. I may wrong choices based on what I want versus what is good for me. Before I was Christian...my CHOICE PATTERN was even worse...because my choices did not have the compass of the Word of God. There were NO ABSOLUTES in my life...so everything was relative to my selfish desires.


Larry Norman...hit the streets in L.A...gave up fame and fortune (he had a million seller hit and album with his group PEOPLE...with their hit song I Love You)...and took his music and message to the common man. As the Jesus Movement grew around the world, Larry become one of the spokesman for the group. One symbol...attributed to Larry was the ONE WAY SIGN. That is where you took you index finger and pointed up to the sky. This represented heaven...and the ONLY WAY to heaven...JESUS CHRIST.

When Jesus was talking to his followers about going to heaven to prepare a place for them...he made a startling statement to Thomas who asked..."Lord, we do not know where You are going...how do we KNOW THE WAY?" Jesus responded matter of factly..."I AM...THE way...THE truth...THE life...NO ONE comes to the Father...BUT THROUGH ME." Well....all roads may lead to Rome... but ALL ROADS...do not lead to the Father in heaven. In the words of George Harrison..."Isn't it a pity." In John 101-10...Jesus talks about doors of thieves and sheep. "Truly, truly, I say to you...he who DOES NOT ENTER by the DOOR into the fold of the sheep...BUT climbs up SOME OTHER WAY..he is a thief and robber. But he who enters by THE DOOR is a shepherd of the sheep. " (read the rest of the verses but skip to verse 6 as Jesus explain his figure of speech of doors) "This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them...but they DID NOT UNDERSTAND what those things were which He had been saying to them. Jesus THEREFORE (in reference to verses 1-5) said to them AGAIN...Truly, truly...I say to you...I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP. All who came before me were thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. I AM THE DOOR...IF ANYONE ENTERS THROUGH ME...HE SHALL BE SAVED...and shall go in and out and FIND PASTURE."
The THIEF comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy...I CAME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE...AND MIGHT HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY." Many people choose to try to climb over the wall versus going through the door/gate.


Robert Frost and Larry Norman speak of CHOICES...choices of ROADS. In the movie Back To The Future...Doc Brown comes back to pick up Marty to go to the future. The DeLorean time machine use to need to reach a certain speed on the road to trigger the jump to the future. Marty asks the Doc if they didn't need more ROAD. The Doc responds with a smirk..."Where we're going....we don't need roads." Then the machine begins to fly.

Well...the ROAD that we need to get into the presence of the Father....is JESUS. Larry and Mr. Frost said it correctly:

ONE WAY...ONE WAY to Heaven...hold up high your hand
Follow...free and forgiven...Children of the Lamb
Two roads DIVERGED in the middle of my life...I heard a wise man say
I TOOK the one LESS TRAVELLED on...and that's made a difference...every night and every day
So I say...ONE WAY...one way to heaven...hold up high your head
ONE WAY...free and forgiven...children of the sky.

It all comes down to CHOICES. Choose death...choose life...choose blessing...choose curse...choose the road to heaven...or as AC/DC recommends...choose the highway to hell.

Lord...help me to make better choices.

Love and Kisses from Column A
Rodney "Taking The Less Travelled Road" Boyd

JUST AS i AM

Greetings friends and neighbors. What you see...is what you get. That is what people say when they want to let people know that there are no pretenses in their lives. In 1969...what Brenda saw...was what she got. Rodney Lewis Boyd...
131 p0unds of pure, rippling, bone. Obviously...I married above my raising.
When I walked the aisle at church in the response to the request for salvation...I was already saved in Brenda's driveway...but I still walked to the song JUST AS I AM...as they sang all four verses (there are more than four verses...but they always would say all four).

JUST AS I AM, WITHOUT ONE PLEA
BUT THAT THY BLOOD WAS SHED FOR ME
AND THAT THOU BIDD'ST ME COME TO THEE
O LAMB OF GOD, I COME, I COME

By 1970...I was living in the best of times...and the worst of times. I guess I was having a Dickens of a time. I was coming out of my shy, self-imposed shell...as I began playing in that dynamic garage band...THE BLIND DISTORTION. I came out of my room...painted entirely in black...out into the sunshine of the real world. It was in this real world that I met Brenda Sue Williams...the sweet, cute, innocent, Baptist girl. This was the BEST of times. The WORST of times was my inner battle with myself, my flesh, my own personal demons. I tried to find solace in various combinations of drugs, alcohol, various things to huff (sniff) to get high. I grew up in the Church of Christ...but was drifting away from the faith on a raft of insecurity.

Thank God for Brenda Sue Williams. She stood strong in her witness...of Jesus Christ...the Risen Saviour. She showed me the road to salvation and led me into the presence of God. I came...JUST AS i WAS.

In 1835...there was a lady by the name of Charlotte Elliot. She was the editor of CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER. She wrote over 150 poems and songs...with the most famous being...JUST AS I AM. In 1949...Billy Graham...a youth evangelist with YOUTH FOR CHRIST...was holding a series of evangelistic crusades...that caught the attention of William Randolph Hearst...new mogul... sent out a memo to PUFF GRAHAM. That meant to give him favorable promotion. From that point on...the ministry took off like wildfire.

The Billy Graham Crusade...adopted the song...JUST AS I AM...as the closing number...to give people an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Billy would present a simplistic message about salvation...and then invite people to come down to the front and pray...and receive some
LIT...ER...A...TURE (got to say it with a drawn out Southern drawl). He would then tell them that the buses would wait (many came in buses to the crusade).

JUST AS I AM, AND WAITING NOT
TO RID MY SOUL OF ONE DARK BLOT
TO THEE WHOSE BLOOD CAN CLEANSE EACH SPOT
O LAMB OF GOD, I COME, I COME.

"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) He is the JUST...we are the UNJUST. That is why we can come to Him...JUST as we are. He will deal with what we WILL BE...but the initial coming to Him...is JUST AS I AM.

This Rambling...is really not about a skinny kid and his religious girlfriend...and it is not about a human, fallible emissary of the Good News...IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM BABY...IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM.

JUST AS I AM, THO' TOSSED ABOUT
WITH MANY A CONFLICT, MANY A DOUBT
FIGHTINGS AND FEARS WITHIN WITHOUT
O LAMB OF GOD, I COME, I COME

"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5) I had to come to a place where I realized, that I could bring NOTHING to the salvation table. I came to the table JUST AS I AM.

JUST AS I AM, POOR, WRETCHED, BLIND
SIGHT, RICHES, HEALING OF THE MIND
YEA, ALL I NEED IN THE TO FIND
O LAMB OF GOD, I COME, I COME

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal/everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
(John 3:17,18)

This belief that we are talking about is not just a mental assent to the historical facts that you learned in Sunday School. It is a true clinging and adhering to the truth about the DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. This is dropped into your heart...and manifest on you lips and life/conduct.

"The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life." (I John 5:10-12)

The question is...WHO DO YOU HAVE. Do you have religion (man's attempts to reach God through ritual)...or do you have LIFE (God reaching out to man via the death, burial, and resurrection of the cleansing blood of the satisfactory substitute (propitiation) of Jesus Christ IN YOUR PLACE....just as you are?

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life."
(I John 5:13) When someone asks you if you are a Christian...or if they ask you if you died this very minute do you know that you would go to heaven...You don't have to answer...I don't know...or...I hope so. You can answer with a certainty that you KNOW, THAT YOU KNOW, THAT YOU KNOW. Why? How can you answer with such certainty?

JUST AS I AM, THOU WILT RECEIVE
WILT WELCOME, PARDON, CLEANSE, RELIEVE
BECAUSE THY PROMISE I BELIEVE
O LAMB OF GOD, I COME...I COME

Are you ready...the buses will wait...and I have some LIT-ER-AH-TURE for you to help you grow in your new found faith.

Love and Pardoned Kisses
Rodney "The Buses Will Wait" Boyd