As I write this I am conflicted.  I have purposely tried to stay out of the political arena.  I have strong feelings which many of you share – and I do believe all of you know.  However,

Today I am both disappointed and upset by the former Governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber.  While I was Sheriff I had many meetings where he was in attendance.  During his first campaign the only stop he made in Wasco County was to visit with me in my office – he was there for over an hour. 

Though I didn’t agree with him on a lot of issues, I liked the man, he was personable and had a good sense of humor.  I am saddened by this turn of events in his life.

But he let a woman come between him and his responsibility to the citizens of Oregon.  It was like he was bewitched.  The truth is just beginning to come out and it does not bode well for him.  I don’t know if there is anything criminal in what was done, but the ethics violations have to be monumental. 

A sad commentary on a man who garnered a lot of support from Oregon voters – I didn’t agree with all he did, I think he made some serious mistakes, but I thought he was being honest.

The other thing that disturbs me is what appears to me to be a conspiracy of silence within the Governor’s office and who knows how many other offices in Salem.

While all this is alleged at this time there is strong reason to believe his ‘fiancé’ had been using and abusing his staff for months if not years.  His staff members attempted to waylay her and keep her from doing just that – she refused and he supported her.  She was using her access to him as a stepping stone in her businesses and was ‘selling’ her influence to line her own pockets.

That is bad enough, but then the staff says nothing until after the election.  Some of it leaked out in the final weeks, but it wasn’t followed up enough to let the voters make an informed decision.  AFTER he was elected the accusations came out and evidence is supporting the accusations.

Now, he has resigned and another has been appointed to the post. 

The staff was loyal to him, but I also believe that they did not come forward so they could prevent another person from being elected.  They knew when these accusations became public that he would have no choice but to resign and someone of similar political persuasions would be appointed.

To me it would appear that with the exception of a very small slip, his staff and others conspired to keep his activities a secret so they could control the election.

We get the government we deserve.  God has allowed these sham proceedings and activities within government because that is what the majority is allowing. 

Those of us who have strong views opposing the political agenda of the current regime in not only Oregon, but in America, are going to suffer right along with those who have made their bed and WE must sleep in it.

Sinful behavior is now not only legal but to speak against it is a hate crime.  I could go on and on, ranting as I write, but it just gets my blood pressure dangerously up and I am speaking to the choir; so there is little need.

If we do not correct this increasing speedy downward travel into the morass and cesspool of sin, America will be destroyed before our grandchildren are our age.  We have already lost standing and admiration from most of the world, and we are heading towards a complete inability to influence others in a positive and successful way.  What once was an ‘American dream’ has become a nightmare where the productive are being ostracized and the lazy are being subsidized.

May God have mercy on our country; we need it; we don’t deserve it, but we need it.  

Mark 1:32-35 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

³³ And all the city was gathered together at the door.

³⁴ And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

³⁵ And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Jesus was a busy man; there was a great deal of demand on Him and His time.

Verses 36-38 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

³⁷ And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

³⁸ And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

Everywhere Jesus went He had people clamoring for His teaching and healing.  Word of mouth of His miracles caused thousands to come and see and/or receive these miracles.  He had little time to Himself.  Yet, And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Jesus took time out of His day to separate Himself from the daily throngs that would take up every minute of His day if they could, to pray.  The people hounded Him, His disciples urged Him to meet with them, but, He took time to communicate with the Father. 

He did not allow the pressures of His ministry to man to so demand His time that He did not take time to have a private talk with the Father.  He would not be distracted from that time.

All too frequently we realize we have to spend more time in prayer, after all if it is important to Jesus, who is God, then it is even more important for us, yet, we falter and fail to follow through.  We get so involved in the immediate needs of our family, our job, our commitments to others that we just don’t seem to have the time to sit down and talk with God.

Our life becomes driven by the urgency of needs, and sometimes minor immediate needs draw our attention away from the more important needs that surround us.  We can be overcome with those needs and stress piles on us.  We fell guilty because we let others down, we are frustrated with the inability to make others happy – yet we forget that God is the one Being that we need to take time with AND He is the One Being who can help us make sense of everything.

We make plans, but something always comes up to force us off that path.  While there are times that something must be done that will change what our plans are for the day, most of the time they do not need to be address ‘right now.’  It is the tyranny of that urgent, none productive, need that derails our ability to stay focused on the important things.

Praying is hard work.  Focusing on communication with God is difficult; little things distract us, the noise of life around us, the demands on our mind and conscience, the nagging of our minds to get something done in a physical manner.

But we need that time of quiet reflection and discussion with God.  We need to take time to separate ourselves from the world.  We need to read His Word and take the time to talk with Him about it, asking Him to guide us and apply His Word to our lives.  We have that open line to Him through Jesus, we have the ability to listen and follow Him through His Holy Spirit.

That time of meditation on His Word and prayer should be the most important part of our day.  Length of time is important of course, but even a few minutes is better than thinking that He will be there when WE are ready to pray – and then putting it off until we completely forget about Him.

The first few weeks after these operations I find it difficult to concentrate, even for a few minutes.  My mind is fuzzy from the anesthesia and the residual effects as well as the medications within my system.  Writing becomes difficult because I can seem to get my brain to focus. But it has given me time to communicate with God, even if only by bits and pieces and that time has helped me work through it. 

We cannot minimize the need for prayer.  Jesus prayed.  He prayed so that He would be closer to His Father – and it was recorded so that we understand that if HE prayed, it HAS to be an intricate part of our life also.  We need to accept the need to communicate with God and then let nothing stand in our way from doing so.

Later, Art :-)

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