MAKER OF THE TREES

Hello friends...

TREES by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair
Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who intimately lives with rain
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree.

Trees are every changing as the seasons are every changing. At times they are full of life with leaves, and buds, and birds...but then with a change in the season...the become dormant, leafless, alone and dark. The first picture was taken at one of my patients house...and it was mammoth. Standing at the base of the tree and looking up was like looking up at a skyscraper reaching to the sky...disappearing into the clouds...leaving me with a slight stagger as my head tilted back. The second picture is a picture of a tree in my front yard...and each year explodes from naked branches to a covering of life that makes me just sit back and wonder.

The third picture is that same tree in the second picture...but with the sun glowing in the back ground giving it a surreal...almost burning bush type of feel to it. These trees are like fingerprints...so similar...but each one...and individual character in the novel of God's creation...much like us as human beings.

In our spiritual walk...trees play an important part in our death and our lives.

Trees were...created by God..."in the beginning". When man was given free reign in the garden...with conditions.

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, From any TREE of the garden you may eat freely; but from the TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

Of course...man and woman ate...and we fell from grace and entered into the process of physical death and separation from God. The downfall of mankind was in the shadow of disobedience at the tree.

Mankind needed a way back...as Joni Mitchell's song Woodstock...sung by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young..."we've got to get ourselves...back to the garden." Of course...no man...wo-man's...hu-man's efforts can ever get us back to that garden experience. The fall came from disobedience... the restoration must come from obedience...and that restoration would come at the point of a tree.


"For the love of Christ controls us...having concluded this...that one died (Jesus) for all (us)...therefore all (us) died; and He died (Jesus) for all (us) so that they who live (us) might no longer live for themselves, (us) but for Him (Jesus) who DIED and ROSE again on their (us) behalf."
(II Corinthians 5:14-15)

This death...took place on a tree.

"And He Himself bore our sins in his body on the TREE/CROSS...so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness...for BY HIS WOUNDS YOU WERE HEALED." (I Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:4,11)

Physical, spiritual, emotional, healing was procured on the tree.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Phil Keaggy took a poem by F.W. Pitt called MAKER OF THE UNIVERSE that he found in a devotional called THE CONTINUAL BURNT OFFERING... put together by H.A. Ironside. The poem speaks of how the things of the universe created by the Creator...were used to kill Him as he became a sacrifice in our place. If you get a chance...listen to Phil's song.

MAKER OF THE UNIVERSE (F.W. Pitt)

The Maker of the universe
As Man, for men was made a curse
The claims of Law which He had made
Unto the uttermost He paid

His holy fingers made the bough
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow
The nails that pierced His hands were mined
In secret places He designed

He made the forest whence there sprung
The TREE on which His body hung
He died upon a CROSS of wood
Yet made the hill on which it stood

The sky that darkened o'er His head
By Him above the earth was spread
The sun that hid from Him its face
By His decree was poised in space

The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God
The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made

The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years
But a new glory crowns His brow
And every knee to Him shall bow

Love and Growing Kisses
Rodney "A Poem As Lovely As A Tree" Boyd

THE EQUALITY GRASP DANCE

Greetings children...of God. There are two things that are sure (1) If you are reading this Rambling...you have been born (2) If you are reading this...you will die. It is questionable if you have been born twice...born again...been saved...but the first two things are a surety. No matter how people try at the end of life...no matter how hard they gasp and grasp...they can't carry anything with them or prolong the inevitable.

While we are here on planet earth...we perform a little dance ritual called THE EQUALITY GRASP. It is a delusional dance...but many... including myself continue the futile steps with a passion. This dance is all about attitude...and for myself...I need an attitudinal adjustment at times.

"Have this ATTITUDE in yourselves which was also in CHRIST JESUS...who...although He existed in THE FORM OF GOD...did not REGARD EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED...but emptied Himself...taking the form of a bond-servant...and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man...He HUMBLED Himself by becoming OBEDIENT to the point of DEATH...even DEATH ON A CROSS." (Philippians 2:5-8)

Jesus exemplified the EXAMPLE of how to properly do THE EQUALITY GRASP. Now you may be sitting at your computer thinking to yourself...I don't have an ATTITUDE. I don't GRASP anything. O.K...but for me...I need some sort of adjustment.

Now...there is no doubt...that we are NOT equal with God. Jesus was...and is...but in obedience to the Father...He became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-14). Angels...no matter how much humans worship them...do not compare to the Son...and those angelic beings cannot ever claim equality with God as a thing to be grasped or ever think about being the radiance of the Father's glory and the exact representation of the Father's nature... like JESUS could. (Hebrews 1:1-14) Why? Because He was EQUAL with God...and choose NOT to GRASP IT.

Oh we grasp though. Christians and non-Christians alike do the EQUALITY GRASP. Intellectuals grasp on the vast amount of knowledge that they have accumulated...and hold tightly in their hands the various degrees of sheepskins they have accumulated over the years. The Apostle Paul released his grip on his intellectual prowess. "But whatever things were gain to me...those things I have COUNTED AS LOSS (loosened my grasp) for the SAKE OF CHRIST. More than that, I count ALL THINGS TO BE LOSS in the view of the surpassing VALUE of KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things...and count them but RUBBISH/DUNG in order that I may GAIN CHRIST." (Philippians 3:7-8)

The story of the monkey who reached into a bottle to GRASP a banana (or piece of candy depending on who is telling the story)...and got himself trapped because as long as he had a GRASP on the banana... he could not release himself from the bottle. Sometimes we hold on so tightly to what we want...that we become trapped.

The partner that we grasp onto...changes from person to person...but we consider that partner to be our equality with God. Things like our religious experience. We thing that if we speak in tongues and someone else does not...or I have been to seminary and you have not...or I tithe and you do not...or I belong to the First Church of So and So...and you do not...or I do not suffer from donelop disease (where your belly done lopped over you belt) and you do...or I am pretty and you are ugly...or I work at this place and you work at that place....I am white and you are black...I am Aryan and you are a Jew...I am a good old Redneck filled with Southern Heritage Pride...and you are everyone else. NOTE: All of these can be reversed depending on the person. We dance around and grasp our giftings, talents, social standings, intellectual prowess, denominational ties, political pontifications, our religious pride, our maturity levels, to the point of being like the Pharisee who thanked God that He was not like the publican...while the publican cried out...HAVE MERCY ON ME...A SINNER.

NOTE: I heard someone say...No man can judge me...only God can. This was said as an excuse to do whatever they wanted to do...without anyone saying anything to them. Of course if you mention someone like Michael Vick...and they immediately begin to JUDGE THEM...or mention someone...anyone...who does anything that they disagree with...and let the EQUALITY GRASP...begin.

The question is...how can I break the pattern of THE EQUALITY LIFE IN MY LIFE.

As always...Jesus is our example. For Jesus...the facts were actually true (unlike our sense of being superior or equal)...and He did certain things.

1. He did not REGARD equality with God a thing to be grasped. We have to come to a new mindset...of who we are....and loosen our grip. (Phil. 2:6)

"For through the grace given me I say to EVERY MAN/WOMAN among you...NOT TO THINK MORE HIGHLY OF HIMSELF THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK...but to thinks so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

2. He EMPTIED Himself. (Philippians 2:7) Sometimes...we are so FULL OF OURSELVES...that we have to empty ourselves of our SELF. Bruce Lee was quoted as saying..."Before you taste my tea...you must first empty your cup."

3. He TOOK the form of a BONDSERVANT. (Philippians 2:7) God does not ever ENSLAVE PEOPLE... He SETS THEM FREE. A bondservant is someone who has been set free...but because of love...continues to serve.

4. He was made into the LIKENESS OF MEN (Philippians 2:7) He identified with who had a need not who He was and who he could grasp in His equality.

5. He HUMBLED Himself...by becoming OBEDIENT. (Philippians 2:8) When we don't humble ourselves (not God forcing the issue)...we are walking in disobedience...and GRASPING EQUALITY.

6. His OBEDIENCE extend to the POINT OF DEATH...DEATH ON A CROSS. (Philippians 2:8) We are also called to DEATH...If we want to stop the EQUALITY GRASP DANCE...and begin a NEW DANCE AS WE SING A NEW SONG.

"I have been CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST...and it is no longer I who lives but CHRIST LIVES IN ME...and the life in which I NOW LIVE...I live by FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD...who loved me...and delivered Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:20)

"And he who does not take his CROSS and FOLLOW ME is not worthy of Me...He who has found his life shall lose it...and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:38)

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him DENY himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS...and FOLLOW ME...For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it." (Matthew 16:24,25)

"And it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him and through Him to RECONCILE all things to Himself, having MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS; through Him, I say whether things on earth or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:19,20)

"Having CANCELLED OUT...the CERTIFICATE OF DEBT consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has TAKEN IT OUT OF THE WAY...having NAILED IT TO THE CROSS." (Colossians 2:14)

"Fixing our eyes on JESUS...the author and finisher/perfecter of our 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 12:2)

NOTE: All of these past verses points to what Jesus did on the CROSS...in our place...as HE DID NOT REGARD EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED. If He did that for us...why is it that we GRASP the things that we thing makes us SUPERIOR to others. All we can do is ACCEPT WHAT HE DID. That is what Paul was talking about in Galatians 2:20...and underscores about how he now dies daily. Not Jesus dying daily...but dying to ourselves and living to Him. Dying to what we consider EQUALITY and what makes us SUPERIOR TO OTHERS...and live to Him. We accept the WORK OF THE CROSS.

"I protest, brethren...by boasting in you...which I have in Christ Jesus...I DIE DAILY."
(I Corinthians 15:31)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY.

I was with my Dad...at bedside while he was dying. He was gasping for breath...struggling...and I leaned down to his ear and told him that it was alright to LET GO...we would see Him again...and Mom was waiting...and more than that Jesus was waiting. Almost in an instant...He ceased the struggle to gasp and GRASP this life...and slipped out into eternity....and peace. If I could only learn to let go of the GRASP here on this earth...while I am still alive...die to myself...and live unto Him.

Love and Non-Grasping Kisses
Rodney "Counting Things As Cow Dung" Boyd

THE STUMBLING BLOCK

Hello believers. Everyone believes in something...even if it is nothing. An atheist believes in the great nothingness...the intellectual believes he has got it all figured out. The agnostic would like to believe but can't quite get there from here. Humanism believes...well...in humans. Liberals believe we owe it to everyone... while conservatives believe we owe it to ourselves. Religious people believe we must work our way to God by convincing Him that we are worthy. Hedonist believe in self-gratification is the ultimate belief. Inclusionist believes that all roads lead to heaven...Jesus believes that He is THE way...THE truth...and THE life...and that NO ONE comes to the Father but by/through HIM. The Welfare state believes that their hand is out...and you need to fill it. The non-Welfare state believes that you need to get off your good intentions and help yourself. Politico's believe that the politician has the solution...the non-politician believes that politics means poly=many...ticks=blood suckers. Many people believe Christianity is like a buffet table... and we pick what we want to believe and add to the table what we want on the menu.

In the words of Wayne Gregg..."You guys are making it too hard."


As we enter into the final days of this Lenten season...preparing for the grand entrance of Palm Sunday...that will quickly turn deadly as they mock, torture, flog to a bloody pulp, pull out his beard by their hands, grind long and sharp thorns into His brow, drive a spear into His side, and then wait as the agonizing death comes... and as He dies...and is buried...and is RAISED FROM THE DEAD...let's consider what the GOSPEL is...and what the GOSPEL is not.

Gospel simply means...the GOOD NEWS. It was something that Paul was not ashamed of...because it was the POWER OF GOD...for SALVATION...to the Jew first...and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

This good news...was good news about a KINGDOM...a place where there is a king...and kingdom principles rules. When Jesus went about...He (1) Taught in their synagogues (2) Proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom (3) Healed all manner of sickness and disease. (Matthew 4:23; 9:25; 11:5)...based on the anointing of the Holy Ghost and power...where He went about (1) Doing good (2) Healing all who were oppressed by the devil (little d)...for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)



The gnostics...anti-Christ/Anointing...the religious people of the day...all had their spin on this thing called the GOSPEL. The gnostic's believed: (1) Knowledge is superior to virtue (2)the non literal sense of Scripture is correct and can be understood ONLY by a select few (which you probably not) (3) evil in the world precludes God's being the only Creator (4) the INCARNATION (Jesus/God coming down in flesh form) is incredible because DEITY cannot unite itself with anything material such as a body (5) there is NO RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH. The ethical standards of many Gnostics were low. (Thanx and a Tip O' Da Hat to Ryrie Study Bible Notes to Ist John)

There ain't nothin' new under the sun...unless it is under THE SON. Gnosticism with deep roots in the spirit of anti-Christ...run deep in this world as they DENY THAT JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH. (Read Ist John to see how you can KNOW that you have eternal life.)

This thing called the CROSS stumbles up many an intellectual. "For the WORD OF THE CROSS...is to those who are PERISHING foolishness...but to us who are being SAVED it is the POWER OF GOD. (I Corinthians 1:18).
(Read I Corinthians 1:17-30 for full details of thes thing called THE SCANDILON...THE STUMBLING BLOCK.)

The gospel ain't WORKS...or DEEDS done in righteousness (See Titus 3:5 and Ephesians 2:8-10 and Galatians 3:1-5)...but that does not mean that you get to sit back on your best intentions...(Ephesians 2:10; James 1:19-27; James 2:14-26). Works don't save you...but you do get saved unto works. The GOSPEL ain't what you do or don't do. It ain't about how good you are or what you gave up or how much you gave to the poor.

Back to my friend Wayne Gregg...who told the Mormon council..."You guys are making it too hard."

"For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son...that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

"Now I make known to you...brethren...the GOSPEL which I preached to you...which also you RECEIVED...in which also you STAND...by which also you are SAVED...IF...you HOLD FAST the word which I preached to you, unless you BELIEVED in vain. For I delivered to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE...what I also received that...(1) Christ DIED for our sins (2) He was BURIED (3) He was RAISED on the 3rd day. (I Corinthians 1-4) This was witnessed by Cephas/Peter, the twelve, to more than 500 brethren, to James, to all the apostles...and last of all to Paul.

All of this was based on GRACE. Grace is: (1) favor (2) unmerited favor (3) free gift (4) the divine influence in the heart manifested in the life of the believer. Grace is always and inside out working that changes you...never you changing hoping it will change the inside. It is like religion that is always reaching up to God...while Christianity is God reaching down to man.

"FOR CHRIST ALSO DIED FOR SINS ONCE FOR ALL, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD, HAVING BEEN PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH, BUT MADE ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT." (I Peter 3:18)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

CALL: He is Risen
RESPONSE: He is Risen...INDEED!!!!

Love and non-ashamed kisses
Rodney "Don't Stumble Over The Stone" Boyd