We actually saw part of the eclipse – first part until about 0330 – and blood moon this morning, interesting and pretty, indeed.  Then I had a doctor appointment this morning at 0730.  No wonder I am tried today.

Cooler today, but sunlit – getting more and more like fall.  Nice time of year.

Thinking of doing some more peaches, doesn’t hurt to have a few extra jars this winter.  Carla’s having fun with making different butters and jelly from some of her juices. 

Isaiah 30:9-11  That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:

¹⁰ Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

¹¹ Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

These verses could be written to America today.  We have become so absorbed on our own pleasures we cannot stand to listen to those that tell of upcoming disasters if we do not change our ways.

The human is very inventive.  Down through the ages we find that man has developed machines that can do the work of several people, can do work that we find tedious and uninspiring.  We have instruments that can help us discover even better ways to make our lives easier and prolong our lives.

We have instant communications, we sent out a message and it arrives almost immediately and the person(s) on the other end can respond just as quickly.  We have entertainment available to us 24 hours a day, our days are filled with information received from electronic devices.

We can go anywhere and still keep in touch with the world, still have constant contact with those of like minds.

We don’t want to hear that these same devices are making us lazy and unattached to the real world.  These same devices isolate us from humanity and the more we rely on them, the farther removed we are from reality.

We don’t have time to get to know someone on a personal level because we are too busy texting and tweeting trying to keep electronically in touch, but still out of touch with what is going on around us.

These same devices are being used to spread false information and gossip – someone sends out information and it gets passed on to friends and before we know it is goes around the world – and often that information is not correct, but sense it is out there it becomes the ‘truth.’  People’s lives and reputations can and are destroy with the lies told on these devices.

We want to hear about the actions of others, particularly if it is ‘juicy’ but do not want to be told we are sinners.  We want to be told that we are ‘good’ people and that whatever we do is okay. 

We want our churches to preach happy, feel good messages that do not challenge us.  We turn deaf ears on the teachings of the Word and want only to hear that God loves us – just don’t bother us with the expectations of righteous behavior.

America was once on pretty solid footing, while we were never perfect, most Americans believed in God and desired to live a life according to the scriptures.  Our schools used the Bible as a text book, the government openly supported a God driven life. 

Americans came from all different countries and pooled their skills and resources to build a better life for themselves and in so doing made America stronger.  People were expected to pull their weight and provide for themselves.  Yes there were those that took advantage of others, there were those that betray God and His teachings.  However, the climate, the personality of the country was geared towards God and His Word.

People worked hard to support their families and they helped others in need.  Today tens of millions are second and third generations of families on welfare finding it easier to stay at home and receive money from the government than to work for a living.  Instead of teaching their children self-sufficiency they teach them that the government will take care of them.  So they can live a life of leisure.  They could work if they wanted, but they don’t want to and they don’t have to; but it has led to fatherless families and children that are destroying the very fabric of America because no one really cares about them.

Every day we are sinking deeper and deeper into a morass of sinful behavior.  The same electronic devices that can keep us in touch also can be used to promote illicit behavior – behavior that is becoming ‘acceptable’ and preferable to righteous behavior.

We don’t want to hear that if we continue down the path we are heading it won’t be long before we will no longer exist.  Already we are vulnerable to attack in many ways and the technology that we are so proud of can also bring us down.

Our government, and probably others, can track every move, can monitor every phone call, every key stroke on our computers.  There is no privacy.  There are those in government that would punish us for our very thoughts, they don’t even feel they need to see actions to find us guilty.  One of the key targets for the thought ‘police’ is Christianity.

We all know the stories of how the Nazis and the Communists encourage children to tell on their parents if they were not taking the party line – and America is going in that same direction.  But, it doesn’t need the children to tell on their parents, although there is some that encourage them to do so, now these people can just monitor all our communications.

A wedge is being driven between Americans and God and His Word.  History is being rewritten to remove God from the accomplishments of this country.  Those that would deny God are gaining more and more ground and we will suffer, as a country AND as individuals, for that behavior.

It is interesting that those that are the angriest at Christians for being intolerant, are also the ones that would force everyone to their point of view, they are intolerant of any opinion that doesn’t line up with theirs.  They are being successful in the laws passed and in the court room.  Christianity is under fire and they are doing whatever they can to destroy its influence on America.

God is trying to tell us that He is displeased with our policies and behavior.  We need to stand for Him and His righteousness and combat the presence of the evil that is covering us like a veil that is growing heavier and heavier and soon will be too heavy to hold off.

If God did not spare His chosen people from chastisement and discipline, we can be sure He will not spare us.  Over the centuries covered by the Old Testament millions of Jews were destroyed because they turned their backs on God and worshiped other gods.

We have many ‘other gods’ in America – technology is only one of them - and they are turning the bulk of the people away from the One True God.  We can make a difference with our voices and prayers, and we need to do both while there is still time.

He has chosen man to preach the Gospel, we know the truth and He expects us to tell and witness to others.

Isaiah 43:11-12 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again