Well, Teresa and Ian are back home.  They had a few bumps in their travels, but nothing major.  The worse, it seems happened when they arrived back in Portland.  They traveled well over 12,000 miles just getting to Europe and back, not to mention the hundreds of miles around Europe – 10 countries (although one of those was a ‘pass through wave’ plus the USA in those five weeks.  She now has visited 15 different countries in the past few years.

They were scheduled to arrive sometime after 0100 hours.  The plan was for them to get the Hotel shuttle and hit the sack (they had reserved a room before they left on their journey.)  She had made it clear her plane did not arrive until around 0100 and they assured her that would be okay - they had 24 hour shuttle service.  As a matter of fact, she had chosen that hotel because of the 24 hour shuttle.

We would then pick them up this morning about noon when they had to check out of their room.

We received a call at about 0120, it was from Teresa.  The Hotel had overbooked and they did not have a room.  They would be staying in the Airport until we got there.

I couldn’t drive it and Carla didn’t want to go while it was still dark – Teresa understood and told her they would catch a wink or two while waiting.

At 0500 – day break – we got up, took care of the animals and headed out.  We were able to get to the Airport and back to Wood Village – at the east edge of Portland, before rush hour truly began, MUCH, to the relief of Carla.  We grabbed a bite, filled up with gas and headed home; getting here a couple of hours before we were going to leave.

We thought we would just take them on home and they would hit the sack and come to the house, later, for Wanda and the mail.  However, Ian’s car was here and Teresa just wanted to load it up and then go home; she will come back for the rest of the stuff later.

We discussed Wanda.  We helped make a reservation for Teresa and put it on our card, she, of course will reimburse us.  I told her not to worry, she said she could leave Wanda behind as collateral – I pointed out that would be like the ‘Ransom of Red Chief’ a short story by O’Henry where some city folks kidnapped a boy out in the country and held him for ransom.

They soon realized he was quite a handful and a real urchin; they ended up paying his parents to take him back.  Funny story.

We told her we didn’t need collateral, we knew where she lived.

Wanda was excited to see Teresa and Ian, and greeted them with a great smile on her face and exuberant glee.  Much to the delight of Blaze and the cats, she took Wanda home.

Wanda really is a character and her personality is friendly and jubilant – but she is big and, like a bull, she does what she wants and nothing really gets in her way when she decides she wants something.  We had several ‘conversations’ about her behavior which usually led up to me putting her outside to settle down – she was properly contrite as she put her head down and went out.  But like a three year old, she forgot what she wasn’t supposed to do.

Having her here really wasn’t all that bad, unless you talk to Blaze and the cats who might have a differing opinion.

I told them it wouldn’t be long, only 5 weeks, but I realized a day or so ago, that is almost a year in dog years......  :-)

James 3:8-11  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

I observed a young man cursing, almost every word was one of derision and filth – after a few minutes a lady looked at him and asked, “do you eat with that mouth?”

Nothing is sacred anymore, anything, especially the things of God, are open for vile epitaphs and desecration.  In the past decade what used to be ‘locker room’ talk is now common communication with not only males but females; openly and loudly shared in all areas.

Respect for others is non-existent as they shout their revolting remarks and deride those that would ask them to quiet down.  We are told that is their right – and the courts are in agreement.

There is no filter on their thoughts or their voices, they do and say what they like without consideration of how others feel.  That is unless it is politically incorrect language – which includes statements about God, how dare we confront them with such bias and opinions?

And, unfortunately, Christians sometimes use this worldly language as if it is of no account; they don’t even notice they are doing it.

Society is not a good example, nor a good judge of what language Christians should use to express themselves; although they are quick to point out that we are no better than them when we use these same words.  -  To a degree, they are correct; we must separate ourselves from the world’s values and concentrate of what God expects of us.

While I have rarely cussed, I have used words in their place to express my anger, frustration or opinion – I ‘think’ I am improving, but I have to realize that substituting a word for a curse word is just about as bad as using the cursed word.

Even in dealing with suspects I have refrained from using their language unless it is the only thing they understand – and that does happen, that is the only language they know and trying to use other verbiage confuses them.  I imagine it is even worse in today’s world.

But it is not just those words that can hurt our testimony, but in the way we say things, what we are saying and our attitude and body language. 

If we are always negative, finding fault in others no matter how minor; if we cannot seem to applaud the efforts of others or deride their attempts whether to discourage them, or make them look foolish to others we are hurting our testimony.  It is bitter water.

If we praise God at one moment and then condemn others the next without consideration for that person, we are pouring forth bitter waters. 

It is just too easy to be negative, to always question the motives and reasoning behind decisions and actions of others.

When we criticize them without trying to help them, we become like the crowds that shouted, “crucify Him.”  We are caught up in a mindset that doesn’t allow Christ to enter into that process.  It is bitter water.

If we pass along gossip that hurts another, it is bitter water.  If it is true then we need to tell only those that can correct the problem, or to keep someone from being hurt by the person, but we don’t just tell others, simply to tell others.  It is bitter water.

And untrue or unsubstantiated gossip is outrageous and we should never even think about discussing that with anyone other than the person that told us – and then to remind them they are casting unfair dispersions against another – deadly, not just bitter water for a Christian.

In this day and age of instant comments being broadcast over the many different mediums – someone always wanting to be the first to tell others - the old rule of ‘gossip traveling on wings while the truth goes by horseback’ can be changed to gossip traveling on rockets.  Once said, or sent out it is there forever and cannot be taken back.  It is bitter water.

We need to focus on Christ, if something needs to be said to someone, we need to do it in the way He did – in love and the correct use of the Word of God.  If done appropriately, even correction can be done as a blessing.

Lord, how I need to be so aware of this, this day and all days – may my words uplift, not destroy.  May my words be a blessing with no bitter water mixed in.

Later, Art :-)

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