Over 20 Rajneehees were indicted with varying State and/or Federal crimes.

The charges ranged from the Federal charges of electronic eavesdropping and immigration violations, to the State charges of the poisoning, arson, violations of election laws, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder to name just a few.

Fortunately, with the exception of two followers, the suspects were charged with both Federal and State charges.  The Federal government took ‘possession’ and the related costs of those suspects.

However, the two that had only State charges became the responsibility of the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO.)

That was a problem for us.  We did not have space for them.  We had to farm them out.  The adjoining county of Hood River could hold only one of them.  Multnomah County was able to hold the other one.  Actually they could have held both, but their daily costs of housing a prisoner was twice what Hood River’s cost were so I housed one in each facility.

In order to accommodate the attorney’s we would ‘rotate’ the prisoners.  They would usually appear in Multnomah County, for court at the same time.

At the request of one attorney (the other was acceptable to it) the prisoner that was in Hood River County would then be switched for the prisoner in Multnomah County facilitating meetings with their respective attorneys to make it less time consuming – and less cost to the County.

Within a few months both prisoners pled guilty and were sentenced by the court.  The State Corrections Division then took charge of them.

The incarceration of the two cost Wasco County over $25,000.  It had to be removed from the Contingency funds of the County Budget.  It was part of funds set aside for overruns the county departments might have, but it dug into the reserves of the county. 

The Rajneesh were still causing us financial losses.

HOWEVER, there was an unexpected ‘windfall’ a year or two later.

The Rajneesh had a hotel in Portland.  It would house followers going to and coming back from the ranch while they waited for transportation.  It also housed those followers who had business to take care of in Portland.

This was the visible property they had, they also had houses in Portland where they could go, unobserved and used them to help conceal their identities and plan nefarious deeds against some of the Federal officials.

I don’t remember when or why, but the State of Oregon seized the hotel.  They then put it up for sale.

Multnomah County purchased the property.  They would be using it as a halfway house in dealing with inmates.

The AG’s Office contacted me and asked how much the county had to pay for the lodgings of the two followers while they were in WCSO custody – I gave them the costs.  The State then reimbursed Wasco County for those expenses.

They didn’t have to do that, but it was very much appreciated by all of us in the County.

The one added irony, one which I always chuckle over, was that Multnomah County paid our costs of housing the prisoner(s) in Multnomah County’s jail, back to us with the purchase of the hotel.

Galatians 1:22-24 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

²³ But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

²⁴ And they glorified God in me.

And they glorified God in me!

As we know, Paul was a persecutor of the Church before He met Christ on the road to Damascus.  When he went out to teach others, they were fearful, they didn’t know if he had changed or was using a ruse to infiltrate them.

Eventually, it was accepted that Paul had accepted Christ as his Savior and had devoted his life to Him.

It was accepted because Paul didn’t try to glorify himself.  He admitted his sins, he gave great truths; but what they saw was God in him.

And they glorified God in me!

Just because we have sinned, doesn’t mean that we cannot serve God, Paul did both.

Paul used his past to affirm his conversion and dedication to God.  He used his knowledge of the Scriptures to confirm they gave the foundation to Christ’s teachings.  He was a respected scholar of God and when he spoke of Christ his words had power, because of his past AND because of his conversion.

But most importantly they saw that he lived what He preached.

They could see, in his life, God at work.

And they glorified God in me!

He recognized that as he gave his testimony, as he told others of Christ and His Truths that it wasn’t him they were glorifying, it was God, who had done the work within him, they were glorifying.

That was his goal.

Paul affirms, over and over, that Christ is within Him; and it is to Him he owes allegiance.

And the people saw that, it wasn’t something just being said, it was how he lived.

1 Philippians 1:20-21  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

2 Corinthians 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

And they glorified God in me!

The triumph of Paul, was not the recognition he received as an Apostle or as a great man of God, it was the recognition that his life was changed by God – and the realization that it was God that deserved the glory, not Paul.

And they glorified God in me!

I must confess there have been many times – and I still find myself in the trap – of wanting pats on the back for my life in Christ; rather than having people see Christ in me, I want them to see me in Christ.

I liked those pats, they felt good and pumped up my ego, at those times it wasn’t so much my service to God that was important – but, that “I” was doing it.

I was not so much interested in having them understand that God was to be glorified but that my service to Him was glorified.

It is extremely important that we take a stand for God, for His Word, for His Son, for His Holy Spirit.  That we honor Him and confront the pagan world – but we must also evaluate why we are doing that.

Are we trying to bolster our own worth in the eyes of the Christian Community?

Are we doing it because others say we should be doing it, but don’t really have our heart in it?

Are we trying to shame others, rather than showing them God’s truths – in the same way God shows His truths to us - in love?

Can – they – see – God – in - me?

And they glorified God in me!

What is our primary purpose in sharing our love for Christ, for telling others of His salvation?  Is it to build ourselves up?  Or, is it to help them find the life they can live in Christ?

I was listening to a man the other day who said we never should say we are ‘followers of Christ.’

There are followers of Mohammad, followers of Buddha, followers of this philosophy or that person – but they do not have their idols living within them. 

They do not have a relationship with them.  They are followers, because their ‘god’ is not alive; He cannot respond, as the Lord responds, to the needs of His people.

We are Christians, the difference is we don’t just follow Christ’ Words; He abides within us through His Holy Spirit.  We are not followers, we are Christians we have Christ in us!

And they glorified God in me!

Oh, how I pray that I overcome the temptation of doing anything where I am searching for praise for my life in Christ – and not for God being praised for what He has done within me.

John the Baptist said it well:  John 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.

Lord, I strive to open my heart that I will be decreased and your role in my life will increase so that you are glorified.

May people Glorify YOU, because they see you in me.

Later, Dad :-)

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