FREEDOM...NOTHING BUT ANOTHER WORD?

Greetings and Salutations to all of you FREE people.

DISCLAIMER: I am writing this to myself. If at anytime you feel condemnation or finger pointing...then realize that I am writing this to myself. After all...you are FREE to believe...do...act anyway that you want to do. You are free to be bound by vices, habits, consequences of your actions because after all...you are an adult...and are FREE to live your life as you wish.

How does it feel to be FREE...assuming you are FREE. I guess depending on your definition of being FREE would determine if you realize that you are FREE or BOUND.

I love this picture of Harry Houdini. For some reason I keep hearing Aretha Franklin in my head...chain, chain, chain...chain of foooools. Harry ALLOWED himself to be chained...locked up...tied up...bound on purpose. That was his thang...so he could amaze us by getting out of the bondage.

Our problem is...we also ALLOW ourselves to be chained...locked up...tied up...bound...sometimes without even knowing it...and even worse than that... thinking that we are actually FREE. Some of us were once FREE...but we have returned to the state of not being FREE...still thinking...I am FREE.


Kris Kristofferson...penned the song...Me and Bobby McGee... made famous by Janis Joplin...where he stated that..."Freedom is another word...for nothing left to lose." How sad...but true... that FREEDOM..us usually our last option as opposed to our first option.

As a teenager...I remember eying the days of FREEDOM...with the thought that FREEDOM meant that I would be (1) FREE to do anything I wanted to do (2) I would not have to listen to anyone tell me what to do (3) I could say anything I wanted to say because I had FREEDOM of speech (4) There would be no consequences for my actions.


Wow...was I wrong about that. So many young people have the idea...that ADULTHOOD...would be when they would be FREE. They could be FREE to (1) smoke (2) drink/get drunk (3) have sex with whoever they could convince that they loved (4) live with whoever they want...and then leave whenever I want (5) no rules, no regulations, no consequences. (6) free to have sex...have a baby...etc.

NOTE: Refer back to the DISCLAIMER.

In this world filled with Drama kings and queens...we see FREEDOM played out on a daily basis. One thing we have tried to teach our son...is CAUSE AND EFFECT...that there are CONSEQUENCES to our ACTIONS. Why is it...that as adults...we think we can do anything we want...and NOT have to pay the piper? I love this book by Dave Berg...with the wounded and bandaged man...looking up to God for help. God's help...the HEALING WORD.

I have found that EVERY TIME...that I went out on my own... in my FREEDOM...I would end up looking like Roger Kaputnik on Berg's book...BOUND by the bandages of the CONSEQUENCES OF MY ACTIONS. I was FREE all right... FREE to make mistakes...and FREE to REAP...what I SOWED. The saying is..."SOW TO THE WIND...REAP THE WHIRLWIND."



Jesus proclaimed that we would know the TRUTH and the TRUTH would SET US FREE...INDEED. (John 8:32) NOTE: This is one of the most misquoted...out of contexts sayings of Jesus ever perpetrated.

People use this misquote as their rationale for "speaking their mind"... after all they were only speaking the truth...and the Good Book says that you will know the truth and the truth would set you FREE. They are only trying to set people FREE...with their truth.

Newspapers...print this verse on their masthead of their paper...because as we all know...if it is printed in the newspaper (or internet, on the radio, from the pulpit, on T.V)...that it must be TRUE...thus we will be FREE...if we know all the FACTS. Someone gives someone else a "piece of their mind" so the other person will know the TRUTH...after all...I am only speaking what is TRUE.

NOTE: Why is it that when someone is giving someone else a PIECE of their minds... they are never at PEACE in their mind? NOTE TO THE NOTE: Just because you have something to SAY...does not mean that you have to SAY IT.

The people who quote John 8:32...almost never quotes John 8:31..."Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him...IF (the condition) you ABIDE in MY WORD...you are my DISCIPLES indeed." Therein...lies the problem. We try to be FREE...without the IF CONDITION.

The previous picture...is how our FREEDOM was obtained. This last picture...drawn by my son Phillip... is how we keep FREE. The empty cross represents the fact that He died, He was buried...BUT...HE ROSE AGAIN. (Galatians 2:20)

Paul encourages us..."Stand Fast therefore in the LIBERTY/FREEDOM by which CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE...and do not be ENTANGLES again with a YOKE OF BONDAGE."
(Galatians 5:1). The potential for us to look like the first picture of Houdini...after we have been set free is highly possible...if...we don't follow the IF in John 8:31. If we don't CONTINUE...if we don't ABIDE in His Words.

"For you have been called to LIBERTY/FREEDOM...only do not USE LIBERTY/FREEDOM as an OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLESH..but through LOVE...SERVE ONE ANOTHER." (Galatians 5:13)

When we FREE...we have choice...free will...and we can choose to open the door for the flesh with our FREEDOM...or use our FREEDOM to open the door to LOVE...and SERVE ONE ANOTHER...instead of serving our FLESH.

"I say then...WALK by the SPIRIT and you shall not fulfill the LUST OF THE FLESH. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit...and the Spirit against the flesh...and these are CONTRARY to one another...so that you do NOT DO THE THINGS YOU WISH." (Galatians 5:16,17)

Our concept of FREEDOM...is to DO THE THINGS YOU WISH. You wish to get drunk...you wish to have immoral sexual relationships...you wish to do this or do that...all in the name of FREEDOM...but the things that you do...thinking you are FREE...are really locking, chaining, binding you back again...as you think you are FREE.

Teenagers...and even adults...think they are FREE to have sex outside of marriage...and get pregnant...and act as if that is normal and O.K. We can abort as a matter of convenience. Married people think they are FREE to commit adultery. Males/Females think they can go outside the boundaries of God...and have sex with whoever, whatever, and whenever the please. After all they are ADULTS...and are FREE to do whatever they want. We think we can eat like hogs...and not gain weight...and then wonder why we are sick all of the time (my own personal vice).

NOTE: Check out the DISCLAIMER ONE MORE TIME.

Final Words Finally...and it's about time

What can I do?

"And those who are Christ's...HAVE CRUCIFIED the flesh (identified with the cross and Christ's death on the cross... ala Galatians 2:20)..with it's passions and desires. If we LIVE IN THE SPIRIT...let us WALK IN THE SPIRIT." (Galatians 5:24-25)

Love and FREE INDEED KISSES
Rodney "Check Out The Disclaimer" Boyd

DEADLY SINS & DYING WORDS

Hello Fallen and Risen Ones. SIN is a PAIN!!! That is an understatement... but a TRUE statement.

Everyone has differing opinions on SIN. They have conflicting views on the nature of sin, what constitutes sin, the various degrees of sins, and how to deal with sin. People ignore sin, carry the weight of sin, condemn others because of their sin, cover and hid their sin, compare their sins to other people's sins, and feel smug that their sin is not as bad as so and so's sin.

Proverbs 6:16-19...lists 6 things which the Lord hates...7 which are an ABOMINATION to Him:

1. Haughty eyes
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that shed Innocent blood
4. A heart that devises wicked plans
5. Feet that run rapidly to evil
6. A false witness who utters lies
7. One who spreads strife among brothers

NOTE: I did not see smoking cigarettes and drinking on this list. That does not mean that God condones or condemns...just that on THIS list...it ain't there.

Another worthy of list of sin like things is found in the listing of DEEDS OF THE FLESH found in Galatians5:19-21:

1. Immorality 9. Outburst of anger
2. Impurity 10. Disputes
3. Sensuality 11. Dissensions
4. Idolatry 12. Factions
5. Sorcery 13. Envyings
6. Enmities 14. Drunkeness
7. Strife 15. Carousings
8. Jealousy 16. Things like these

This listing are things that tend to recapture you into slavery and opens the door of opportunity for the devil to bind you again...after you have been set free.

An official list of SIN was classified by the church as The Seven (7) Deadly Sins. Along with the seven sins...there were placed alongside them the Seven Virtues:

1. Lust/Chastity
2. Gluttony/Temperance
3. Greed/Charity
4. Sloth/Diligence
5. Wrath/Patience
6. Envy/Kindness
7. Pride/Humility

Sin would also be classified as VENIAL/MINOR sins...or CAPITAL/MORTAL/MAJOR sins. Picking your nose is a sin is minor...but picking someone's nose against their will is major.

One last list (and there is never really a last list) is sin broken down by a 4th century monk:

1. Gluttony
2. Fornication
3. Avarice
4. Sorrow
5. Anger
6. Discouragement
7. Vainglory/pride

Each of these lists represents...SIN...and it is NEVER presented as a GOOD THING.

There are varying opinions about this thing called SIN. Some enjoy it for a season...until PAYDAY. "The wages of SIN is DEATH..." (Romans 6:23) This collage represents various views on sin from a Christian perspective.

I tried to find a quote...that I have heard before...but can't put my finger on it. If anyone out there knows who said it and the actual quote...let me know. I have a feeling that my Pastor Ronnie Meek may be able to enlighten me in this (and other) area. The quote...I believe is in response to a reporter...who was asking someone about their opinion/view of the subject of SIN. The answer was..."I'm against it."

Various Jesus Rock groups sang about their opinions about sin...

MYLON LeFEVRE AND BROKEN HEART sang on their CRACK THE SKY ALBUM...LOVE GOD...HATE SIN.

STEVE TAYLOR on his I WANT TO BE A CLONE ALBUM asked the burning question..."WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SIN?

ANDY McCARROL AND MORAL SUPPORT punked their way with an intense...SIN...I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATED IT.


The Reverend Billy Sunday...who was a very popular baseball player in the 20's...and became a Christian and on of the most colorful evangelist/revivalists of the time...is quoted on the subject of SIN: "Listen, I'm against SIN. I'll KICK it as long as I've got a FOOT. I'll FIGHT it as long as I've got a FIST. I'll BUTT it as long as I've got a HEAD...and I'll BITE it as long as I've got a TOOTH. And when I'm old, fistless, footless, and toothless...I'll GUM IT till I go home to glory and IT (sin) goes home to perdition."

NOTE: This was way before Monty Python's search for the Holy Grail.

Another group that I don't have a picture of...is the group ONE BAD PIG: "Thrash, Thrash, Thrash against sin...Don't let sin enter in... Thrash, Thrash, Thrash it again...Thrash, Thrash, Thrash against sin."

Well...what can deal with this thing called SIN?

The first thing that you have to do...is ACKNOWLEDGE that you have sin in your life..making you a SINNER. Denial may cover it up in your eyes...but the cause and effect will not be denied.

"If we say that we have NO SIN...we are deceiving ourselves...and the truth is not in us. If we CONFESS (homo/same, legos/word)...(say the same word that God says)...our SINS...He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins...and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we HAVE NOT SINNED...we make Him a liar...and His word is not in us." (I John 1:8)

This is true for "non-Christians"...but even more so for those who say they are "Christians".

The next thing is to look to the CROSS. You have admitted that you need help...now you go to what can help you. In the title of this Rambling we have looked at the DEADLY SINS...now as we look to the CROSS...we see the DYING WORDS. These phrases are known as "The Last Seven Words/Sayings of Jesus"

1. Father forgive them...for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:24)
2. Today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43)
3. Behold your Son...behold your mother (John 19:26-27)
4. My god, My God...why have you forsaken me? Eli Eli, lama sabacthani. (Matthew 27:46/Mark 15:34)
5. I thirst. (John 19:28)
6. It is Finished (John 19:30)
7. Into your hands...I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46)

These words were uttered as He hung on the cross in our place. He became the PROPITIATION...the SUBSTITUTE...the SATISFACTION for our SINS. This was the D...in the D.B.R.

"I have been CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST...and it is no longer I who live...but CHRIST LIVES IN ME...and the life which I NOW LIVE... in the flesh...I live by FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD...who loved me...and DELIVERED HIMSELF UP FOR ME. (Galatians 2:20)

The next thing you need to do...is by faith apply the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. This is a BLOODY SOLUTION. The picture of Bon Ami represents a cleanser that will remove STAINS. In the movie THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN...Bon Ami was talked about how it could not remove the BLOOD STAINS on the organ where someone was murdered. For us....it TAKES BLOOD to remove the BLOOD STAINS OF OUR SIN.

The LAW has brought us to a place where we are aware of our SIN (the nature)...and SINS (the outworking of the nature). The BLOOD OF JESUS brings ORDER to our LAW VIOLATIONS.

"And according to the LAW...on may almost say...all things are cleansed with BLOOD...and WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD....THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS/REMISSION OF SINS." (Hebrews 9:22)

"Now where there is forgiveness of these things...there is no longer any OFFERING FOR SIN. Since therefore, brethren...we have CONFIDENCE to enter the holy place BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS...by a new and living way...which He inaugurated for us through THE VEIL...that is HIS FLESH...and since we have a great priest over the house of God...let us DRAW NEAR...with a sincere heart in full assurance of FAITH...having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience...and our bodies washed with pure water."
(Hebrews 10:19-22)

"In Him (Jesus) we have REDEMPTION...through HIS BLOOD...the FORGIVENESS of TRESPASSES (sin)..according to the riches of His grace.."
(Ephesians 1:7)

You have to come to a place where you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins...and that He was raised from the dead. This is foundational if you want to deal with your sin. (Romans 10:8-19) Your faith is in the D.B.R....NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS. But you can BELIEVE IT all day long...but if you never act on it...if you never truly CONFESS (enter into agreement with God about the matter)...you will never experience release from the DOMINION OF SIN. You gotta...RECEIVE IT.

"But as many as RECEIVED HIM (Jesus...the Word...who was in the beginning with God...who was God....and became flesh and dwelt us among us)...to them (the believer/receivers)...He (God the Father) gave the right to become CHILDREN OF GOD. (John 1:12

The purpose of ALL THAT JESUS DID...was not to judge or condemn us because of our sin. That was already a done deal...way back in the Garden. Jesus came to SAVE US.

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

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY!!!!!

Take the deadly sins...listen to the dying words...apply the appropriated sacrifice/blood...and believe and receive. This will bring ORDER TO YOUR LAW.

Love and Forgiven Kisses
Rodney "Are You Washed...In The Blood...In the Soul Cleansing Blood of the Lamb" Boyd

FREE

Greetings free friends...and bound buddies. Do you ever feel like you've been Houdinized? Do you feel like you've got more chains and locks than old Marley in an Ebenezer nightmare. Have you been forging your chain over the years...and it is weighing you down like a 100 pound Albatross...where the Ancient Mariner does not rhyme anymore. Guess what. That is NOT the will of God for you.

Many people pray to know what the WILL OF GOD is for their lives. The seek, they agonize, they wonder, they get discouraged about God's plan for them. I...the Ruminator...will tell you exactly...what God's will is for you. Are you ready?

FREEDOM! SAY WHAT?!?
You heard me...I don't stuttered...and in the words of Earnest T. Bass...I don't chew my cabbage twice.

Jesus stated..."If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth... and the TRUTH shall make you FREE." (John 8:31,32) Of course, this is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. People love to quote this verse as an excuse to "speak their minds"...and then when they do speak their minds...they say...I'm only speaking the TRUTH...and you know that the TRUTH shall set you FREE. Christians and non-Christians use this convoluted logic...missing out on the abiding in Jesus' word part... and becoming true disciples of Him...and then coming into a position of knowing the truth...and THEN the TRUTH shall make you FREE.

The people that Jesus was talking to, had a great religious heritage...and they had come to believe in the things he spoke. (John 8:30) The problem for them...was that being made free comment. They reflect many of us...as we enter into the CLEOPATRA SYNDROME...as we become the Queen of DE-NILE (denial).

"They answered Him, We are Abraham's offspring (religious heritage).. and have never yet been ENSLAVED to anyone..how is it that You say YOU SHALL BECOME FREE?" (John 8:33). In their logical minds... this was true. They had read stories of enslavement in the past...in their history books...but they were about to be face to face with HISstory (Jesus' Story).

"Jesus answered them, Truly, truly (look out when He gives you a double truly...or a double verily...he's about to make a big point)...I say to you, everyone who COMMITS SIN...is the SLAVE OF SIN, and the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever."
(John 8:34,35) OUCH!

The first step to being set free...is to admit that you are NOT FREE. We cover up our bondage well. We sugar coat our sins...we rationalize our trespasses...we justify our iniquities. We get religious about it...we point our fingers to others and compare ourselves to others...because at least I am not as bad as so and so...or at least I'm not like that religious hypocrite in the organized religion. I do not break the 10 commandments...or at least I keep 6 out of 10 of them...so I am only 60% in bondage.

Jesus then underscores what he plainly stated in the first place..."If therefore the SON shall make you free...you shall be FREE INDEED."
(John 8:36) Read the rest of John 8 for the exciting conclusion of this discussion on freedom.

William Wallace...cried out for FREEEEEEEEEEEDOMMM!!!!!

Before William Wallace...there was Moses. The children of Israel...were in the land of Egypt... with their brother Joseph...who had influence in the land...BUT there came a day when a king arose... who did not know Joseph.
The king...saw how powerful the people of the sons of Israel were... and appointed TASKMASTERS over them to afflict them with HARD LABOR. They once were FREE...now they were ENSLAVED. (Exodus 7:1-22)

The slaves came to a point...to where their desire for FREEDOM was heard by God. "Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel SIGHED because of the BONDAGE...and they CRIED OUT...and their CRY for HELP because of their BONDAGE...rose up to God. So God heard their GROANING; and God REMEMBERED his COVENANT with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And God SAW the sons of Israel, and God TOOK NOTICE. (Exodus 2:23-25)

NOTE: God...had not forgotten...God does not have Alzheimer's Disease...and does not just arbitrarily ignore His children...however he does allow us to do what we want. I sense...that their was something about their sighings, cryings, and groanings...that indicated they were ready...to trust God. They must have been sighing, crying and groaning before this event. The bottom line is...this time...it set into motion a DELIVERER...aka MOSES...aka a type of JESUS.

After God calls Moses...to be His representative...and after Moses argued with all of the reasons that he could not...he went..."And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord...the God of Israel...LET MY PEOPLE GO..." (Exodus 5:1) In other words...
Freeeeeeeeeeeeedoooooooooooommmm!!!

What was the PURPOSE for this RELEASE? "...that they may CELEBRATE...a feast to Me in the wilderness. (Exodus 5:1). Fast forward...to September 5th 2007. The purpose for release has not changed. Celebration, praise, worship in the midst of this wilderness that we call earth...to be given to Him. (Again, Read Exodus for the exciting details of this DELIVERANCE).

As believers in the Death, Burial, Resurrection (D.B.R.)...we have been DELIVERED from the domain/authority of darkness and TRANSFERRED into the kingdom of His beloved Son.
(Colossians 1:13)

As time passes...we get a sense of heritage...and the further we get from our pass...we tend to forget where we came from...and how we were set free in the first place. We let our guard down...with our freedom...and before we knew it... we find ourselves back into bondage...BUT we tend to deny that we are bound...after all...we HAVE BEEN (past tense) SET FREE.

The book SCOTT FREE chronicles the life of Scott Ross...a former New York Disc Jockey...who rubbed elbows with The Beatles, Rollings Stones and you name it. He returned to roots of his childhood and became a Spirit-filled follower/disciple of Jesus Christ. His journey is chronicled in the book...and as the blurb on the cover states, "Even AFTER he found Jesus, he could not escape from Himself. What was the secret that set him: SCOTT FREE?" This is Ruminator Recommended Reading (RRR)


Remember that will of God that I told you about. This is underscored in Galatians. "It was for FREEDOM that Christ SET US FREE (past tense)...therefore...KEEP STANDING FIRM...and do not be SUBJECT AGAIN...to a YOKE OF SLAVERY." (Galatians 5:1). As Jesus stated to those who were denying the fact that they were enslaved...these things that can make us subject again to a yoke of slavery...is SIN. The will of God is not to be bound by SIN...but to keep standing firm...against sin in our lives.

Again...just like people are constantly seeking some cosmic will for their lives...to rescue from their mundane...everyday...living out day by day, lives...so it is with the CALLING on their lives. Well...I am about to tell you what your CALLING is. "For you were CALLED...to FREEDOM."
(Galatians 5:13). There ya go...the will of God is the same thing that your calling is...FREEDOM.

The problem is...that if we are not careful...this thing called FREEDOM...
can take a bad turn. "...only do not turn your freedom into an OPPORTUNITY for the FLESH, but through LOVE....SERVE one another." (Galatians 5:13) NOTE: This re-bondage is manifested in how you relate to others. The desires of the flesh...trump the desire to follow Jesus as a servant/lover. (Galatians 5:13-15)

This thing called the FLESH...where your bondage is manifested...sets it's desire...against..the Spirit. Now...I AM NOT...talking about someone who does not know Jesus...or someone who pretends to be religious.. I am talking about bonafide...blood washed...Bible believing Christians. These people are SET FREE...but are not continuing in Jesus Words... and the cause and effect is walking in the deeds of the FLESH...which are evident. Galatians 5:19-21 gives a sampling...not a conclusive list of deeds of the flesh...that Christians can be bound with...even after they were set free. I know from personal experience...because after I was saved in 1970, baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1972...became REBOUND in sin...and smoked more dope, drank more booze, huffed more chemicals, and did more stupid stuff under the influence...than I did before I was a Christian. Here's a partial list: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things LIKE these. NOTE: Again, I am not talking about NON-CHRISTIANS or people with religious facades...I'm talking about BELIEVERS. We can fall out of the WILL OF GOD...by being bound again with sin.

HOW CAN WE STAND AGAINST THIS HAPPENING? I'm glad you asked.

"But I say WALK BY THE SPIRIT...and you WILL NOT carry out the desire of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16)

The problem is stated in Galatians 5:17..."For the FLESH sets its desire against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the FLESH...for these are in OPPOSITION to one another...so that you may not do the things that you PLEASE."

The fruit (or outworking) of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, SELF-CONTROL, against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22,23).

HOW DO WE GET FROM DEEDS OF THE FLESH TO FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT? HOW DO WE STAY FREE VERSUS BEING BOUND AGAIN. I'm glad you asked.

"Now...those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Freed)...have CRUCIFIED (put to death) the FLESH...with its passions and desires. If we live by the SPIRIT...let us also WALK by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24,25)

Houdini knew how to manipulate handcuffs, create illusion, escape from impossible situations with physical, explainable tricks. Our escapes are not based on deception...but on TRUTH. Jesus is the way, THE TRUTH and the life...no one comes to the Father but through Him...and no one stays FREE...except by continuing in His Word.

Love and FREE kisses
Rodney "William Wallace Ain't Got Nothing On Me" Boyd