2012 => 2013

Well, 2012 is all but done.

 It's been quite a year for me and my family. God has blessed us immensely. We've had some really great things happen, and some really difficult things happen. But no matter what all has happened, God has been in control.

High points include my older daughter turning 16 and getting her first car and our family in the process of purchasing our own home.

Low points include being betrayed by then gossiped about by people whom I trusted and regarded as friends and the passing of my grandmother.

Fun activities have included being recreation coordinator at children's camp, working with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief in Creek County and New Orleans, and going to Southern China and Hong Kong with a group of pastors from Oklahoma.

I don't know what 2013 holds in store for us, but, I'd recommend storing up a few things like firearms, ammo, and survival resources. The world is falling apart at the seams.

Nevertheless, God is in control.

Thank you for reading RickBoyne.com this year! May God bless you for a Joyous and Healthy New Year!

Sunday Sermon (Dec 23, 2012)

Here is my Sunday morning message, "From the Cradle to the Cross" based on Luke 2:2-21

Yum!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

As we celebrate Christmas today, remember that it is more than presents and being with family. Today, we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ.

Here's the story:

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 

But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
                                  (Luke 2:1-20 NASB)

Jesus can save you and literally be your Savior if you trust Him to do so. Email me if you'd like more information about having your sins forgiven.

Boxes boxes boxes

Present time

Santa and girls

Gordon and Santa

Big Daddy and Gordon

Nana and Gordon

Merry Christmas from the Boynes!

Audrey & Sally singing at ISBC tonight

Audrey singing at ISBC tonight

Eiffel Tower?

Really?

Sunday Sermon (12/16/12)

Here is my Sunday message, "Joseph" based on Matthew 1:18-25:

End of the World?

We're a week away from the end of the Mayan calendar.

There are many who think it could mean the end of the world.

There are some who think it means the beginning of a new era.

There are some who think it doesn't mean anything because they believe it to be based on a lunar calendar and the time elapsed about two years ago.

So what do I think?

I find it particularly intriguing because of something that happened nearly 32 years ago. I got to see the actual Mayan calender wheel at the National Museum in Mexico City. When I was there, I specifically remember them talking about the how the calendar "ends in 2012".

The Mayan Calendar at the center of all the hoopla.

I knew that to be a very long time away, after all, I was only 16 years old.  However, for the past 31 years, it has been in the back of my mind.

I remember asking them what it meant.  No one knew. They speculated that it might mean the end of the world.

The only picture I had on this computer from the trip was me atop an Aztec pyramid in 1981.

I've seen the posts on Facebook.  "End of the World" parties at bars; news reports of panic & preparation; cartoons about why they made it end on the winter solstice in 2012.  I've heard people laughing about it, but could hear doubt and/or concern in their voice that they were worried about the future.

I think I would rather address people's perceived needs about the future and their security than to dismiss it with a snarky remark.

I got to visit the Yucatan in Southern Mexico and climb this Mayan pyramid in 1982.

So, here it is:  I do not think, nor do I believe, that the end of the world will be on December 21, 2012.  But, I could be wrong.

In case I'm wrong, here's what you need to know BEFORE the end, whether it is December 21, or whenever the end of the world happens to be for you: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except by me." (John 14:6) He also said, "For God loved the world so much, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes (or trusts) Him, won't die an eternal death, but have life in the hereafter" (John 3:16 RBV*)

When you get down to it, that's all you really need to know. It is simply a matter of trust. Do you trust God to take care of your eternal soul through Jesus? Either you do or you don't. If you do, you get life. If you don't, you don't.

My advice is to not worry about what the Mayan calendar says or doesn't say. But instead, make sure your plans for eternity are settled. 

If you need more information, please don't hesitate to contact me; this is too important to ignore.


*Rick Boyne Version

Top down in december!

12/12/12

Wow! What fun!

 12/12/12

(notice the date and time of posting, too!)

Sunday Sermon December 9, 2012

Here is my Sunday morning message, "God Remembers" base on Luke 1:5-25

Christmas Parade!

20 Year Wedding Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to the Love of my Life, Sally!  We've been married 20 years TODAY!

December 5, 1992

I love you! I thank God for blessing me with you. I don't know what I'd do without you!

Immanuel or Emmanuel?

Have you noticed that some churches are Immanuel and others are Emmanuel?

Have you noticed that some Bibles say both Immanuel and Emmanuel while others only say Immanuel?

So what's the difference?

They are exactly the same word with the same meaning, "God with us."

But they are spelled differntly. One has an "I" while the other starts with an "E".

Which one is right?

Well, both can be called "right", but, in my opinion, one is more accurate than the other.

It comes to this: Immanuel is the English translation of the Hebrew "עמּנוּ אל" (‛immānū'ēl) and Emmanuel is the English translation of the Greek "Ἐμμανουήλ" (Emmanouḗl) which is a translation of the Hebrew "עמּנוּ אל".

In my opinion, which you can disagree with without recourse, "Immanuel" is the more correct term as it is a direct translation of the original Hebrew, whereas "Emmanuel" is a translation of a translation.

So, there you go.

But, in all of this, DO NOT MISS THE POINT:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John 1:1-5,14 ESV)
  

Jesus IS Immanuel; God with us!

Sunday Sermon (12/2/12)

Here is my Sunday morning message, "Immanuel-God with Us" based on Matthew 1:18-25

December 3rd!

Hanging the greens

Moon and Jupiter

Full of It

You can't be full of the Holy Spirit if you're continually full of yourself. ~ Rick Boyne

Sermon (Nov 25, 2012 Morning)

Here is my Sunday morning message, "God's Branch Office" based on Mathew 2:19-23:

Putting up the tree

Audrey's big fish

Unhappy sailboat

Fun!

Sunday Sermon (11/18/12)

Here's my Sunday morning sermon, "A Grateful Heart" based on Luke 17:11-18

Food pantry busier than ever!

Facebook Is NOT my Pulpit

I'm not sure I can post about any subject without an objection from someone on Facebook.

I could say, "What a beautiful day!" and someone might respond, "That's a little biased, don't you think?"

My posts about Obama have earned me a great amount of criticism, ranging from "you're a pastor and shouldn't say things like that" to "you're a moron."

 Let's make one thing abundantly clear, Facebook is NOT my pulpit!

Already, I'm going through what people are going to say about that particular declaration. So, let me say it again this way, "I speak my opinions on Facebook; I speak only biblical truth from the pulpit."

Let's get this straight, too: Sometimes I speak biblical truth on Facebook. So should you! But I don't let my opinions get in my way when I'm preaching God's Word from the pulpit. But, because of who I am (a Christian, not necessarily a pastor) the truth of God's word envelopes my whole life. I don't stop being a Christian when I post an opinion on Facebook.

You may not agree with my opinions. That is perfectly OK with me, because I probably won't agree 100% with your opinions, either. But knowing that you aren't going to agree with MY opinions isn't going to stop me from expressing them.

 I have very strong opinions about politics. But just because I say something that you disagree with doesn't mean that I hate you.

What happened to being able to disagree with someone and still be friends?

There are several options: you can de-friend me; you can hide my posts from your timeline; or you can ignore me.

 I would hope that disagreements over politics, worldviews, and varying opinions wouldn't be cause for the end of a friendship.

 Most likely, I'm going to be backing off making status updates about Obama, politics, and the sort, not because of the criticism I have received, nor because of the advice I have been given, but for other reasons that I won't be sharing at this time. (and no, I'm not afraid of the government)

Suffice it so say, I love my God; I love my country; and I'm not happy about the direction our country is heading.

Many folks have said something like, "If you spend as much time praying for the president as you do criticizing him, you'd be ahead."  Well, let me just say, "I take Matthew 6:1& 6 to heart."

 God bless America and God bless you!

PS Pray for Israel  (Genesis 12:3)

Sunday Evening Sermon (11/11/12)

Here is my sermon for Sunday evening, November 11, 2012, "Handling Conflict" based on 2 Samuel 15:5-14:

Sunday Morning Message (11/11/12)

Here is my Sunday morning message "Your Part in Missions & Evangelism" based on Luke 16:19-31:

4 More Years

Never has 3 little words been so hard to type.

For the past 4 years, the man in the Oval Office has blamed his predecessor for the current American economic situation.

For the past 4 years, George W Bush has been vilified as an incompetent evil leader who led America down a dark path.

For the past 4 years, the man in the Oval Office has refused to take any responsibility for the current economy, despite the fact that it has been on a crash course for the past 3 years.

Poor President Obama. What a mess he has inherited in his second term!  Who is he going to blame now?

There are many, many things that concern me. Not the least of which is the state of the election.  I don't understand how many precincts can have over 100% of voter registration having voted in their precincts?  Or how some precincts can have NO votes for Romney?

I have been accused of being bitter. I don't think bitter is the right word. Frustrated, perhaps. Angry, definitely.  Concerned, without a doubt.

The next 4 years could very possibly destroy America as we know it. Obama is a narcissist that has a past that he pays millions to hide and an agenda that has slowly been unfolding during the first term. We'll see the "more flexibility" come to full fruition during the next four years.

In the movie The Matrix, Morpheus offered Neo the choice between a red pill or a blue pill. The blue pill would allow him to continue to live in ignorant blissful illusion. The red pill meant facing the uncomfortable painful reality.

How fitting that Democrats and Republicans are also represented by red and blue. It appears that, (if the election is legally valid) that more Americans prefer to live under the ignorant blissful illusion of the benevolent reign of BHO, rather than facing the painful reality that all is not well.

As of the writing of this post, more than 30 petitions have been filed on the White House website requesting peaceful secession from the USA. While these are not binding, they certainly send a message that there are still quite a few Americans who have decided on the red pill.

The red pill is, indeed, a bitter pill to swallow.

The blue pill, however, goes down just like Koolaid....

White House Petition

Sign the official White House Petition to require President Obama to release his college transcripts and other records. The petition reads as follows:

President Obama has promised the most transparent administration in history. In the spirit of promised transparency, we the people request President Obama unseal and disclose his university applications, transcripts and other records.
No other president in history has sealed his university records, We the people, would like to know why President Obama would do such a thing.
The refusal to disclose these records leads to speculation and division within the country. Allowing the respective universities to make those documents public will put to rest, once and for all, any question as to why the records are sealed in the first place. The records need to come from the universities and should be subject to independent verification to adequately address the issue.

25,000 signatures are needed by December 12, 2012 for the White House to acknowledge the petition.

Sign the petition here.

Jacob

Emily

Wagoner band

Veterans Day Parade

Sunday morning message

Here is my Sunday morning message, "The Heart of Man" based on Mark 7:14-23:

Broken people welcome

Walker Moore and me

Anthony Jordan

Walker Moore

Brian Hobbs

Stupid dog's been barking for an hour!

Fun with the Whipples

Lots of fun!

Cake walk!

Music!

Luke and his horse (?)

More live music

Now THAT'S scary!

Games

Cake walk

Live music

Fall Festival prep

Fall Festival prep

Old bank in Wagoner

Audio Sermon

Here is my sermon from Sunday morning, Oct 28, 2012, "Traditions of Men" based on Mark 7:1-13:

The Jordans at ISBC