Cannot believe this week, I have been a couple days off – thinking that it was Saturday when it was Thursday and even Friday and this morning I was thinking it was Sunday.  Still feels like it.

Sitting here watching the trees dance in the wind.  Weather is warm, clouds in the sky and a look of rain about them, although none has happened yet.

Steven called last night, they were at the harvest festival at the church and they had ponies for the children to ride – CeeCee hopped right on, grabbed the horn and had her first horse ride! 

It has been a while since I straddled a horse, I am envious!  I watch the program, “Gentle Giants,” where they go to different competitions of the large breeds – Draft horses - like Clydesdales and Belgians.  They have also, recently started visiting some of the ranches where they breed them – many just use them on their farms, they are an incredible animal.

I love them; large animals – often times twice the weight of a normal horse that look like colts alongside them - with a docile spirit, they are hard-working and beautiful.

On the last show they visited the tallest horse in the world, Big Jake, a Belgian.  He was measured for Guinness World Records Book and was declared the largest in their 2013 book.

“Big Jake stands an official six feet, ten and three-quarter inches tall.  In horse world talk, he is 20 hands, two and three-quarter inches.  He weighs in at 2,600 pounds.”

His wheel mate is not quite as tall but weighs in about 200 pounds heavier.

Jake is a huge horse.  The owner allowed the hosts to ride him, bareback as he doesn’t put a saddle on him – and they each took a turn.  They are females about 5’3” – 5’5” tall.  When they got on that horse – having to stand on a three foot platform and then still having to be boosted up - they looked like little kids – they looked so small up there.  What a treat that was for them. 

Yep, envied them too.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

⁹ Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

In an attempt to be all inclusive, Christians are being thrown to the lions every day.  We are being hammered on all sides by the need to be ‘tolerant’ of other beliefs and ignore, or at least downplay our affirmation of God’s Word.

Other religions have the same basic teachings we are told, so what makes us think we are so special? 

The world doesn’t want to be limited to God’s Word, doesn’t want to conform to His commands and expectations.  So, the world develops other means for a person to ‘feel’ spiritual and thus sooth their conscience; or, a means to acquire special privileges that are not given to them by God - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

First, if the Word of God is not the foremost teaching, if anything is given as equal to it – and some religions even proclaim their new divinations are superior to it, we need to completely stay away – that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

If a person says they have new insights into what God is telling us and it doesn’t line up with the Word, then we need to stay away from them - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

If they ignore the deity of God in the form of the Father, of the Son Jesus, AND the Holy Spirit – or they put others on the same or greater plain, we need to stay away from them - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

If it is proclaimed that Jesus was just another prophet or teacher and that other prophets and teachers before or after Him are His equal, in any way - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

If they claim that the world was not created by God, that it ‘just happened’ we need to stay away from them - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

While there may be some minor differences in doctrine, Christians understand that the only means by which a person may be saved is to acknowledge they have sinned, repent of those sins and accept the death of Jesus on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins – and NOTHING else will save our soul.

We cannot earn our way to heaven.  We cannot have another take our place and ride on their faith into heaven.  It is a personal commitment, a personal relationship with God and can only be accomplish while living in this world – because the decision for Christ must be made before death, or we live eternally without Him adding anything to Christ’s sacrifice is imperative – any teaching that downplays Christ’s position or adds to it for one to be saved is not serving God - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

It is easy to be taken in by another religion, many promise peace and happiness, and enlightenment of the soul.  They promise a family atmosphere and a caring attitude – and it all sounds good until their ideology conflicts with God’s Word – places Jesus as a prophet not our only means to heaven – puts spin on work as the means to salvation - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

We look at the creation around us in awe and amazement – there are those that place the creation and nature in a deity form of worship instead of recognizing it is the Creator that formed them and worships Him - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

God is very jealous of His place in the world.  He is the Creator, He was and always will be the sole means by which we are saved – He sent His Son to affirm His love, His mercy and His dominion over us.  Any religion that doesn’t recognize this, doesn’t accept this by adding on extra requirements for salvation must be avoided - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

The Word of God is both simple and complicated.  The simplicity is in the salvation of Christ and obedience to Him.  There are verses that need understanding with the totality of the Word – of context and in agreement with the Word.  Jesus often referred the leaders of the Jews to the Old Testament and urged them to study the Word and they would find that it confirmed what He said and who He is yet, they denied it as many in the world do today - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

The Word of God can be twisted by a person or cult to seem to say things it doesn’t say.  Some will say this verse conflicts with this verse – and then say it can’t be depended upon – however, when taken into context we find that there isn’t a conflict that the circumstances or the teachings are different, or it is just another means to say the same thing.  Twisting the scriptures to prove a point that isn’t there is a common device used by those that would lead us astray - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

Satan will use any means he can to drive a wedge between man and God – an individual and God – you and God.  He dwells in conflicts; he embellishes his lies with plausibility, but not truth.  He wants to separate man from the Creator and plays on people’s individual needs, weakness and even their strengths to demean God and His control over the universe - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

Satan likes to tell us that we can become gods – part of the temptation of Eve was that she could be a god:  Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,  And He is still telling people that they can become gods, even saying that Jesus was a man that was elevate by God to be a god and many religions embrace that lie - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

1 Timothy 2:4-6 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

⁶ Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Any other teaching is one of the lions that we are warned about.

As Christians we may worship God differently, we may have minor differences on doctrine – but the deity of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit in one person is mandated – the only means to be saved and be with God through eternity is through Jesus and it is mandated – comments by learned scholars are useful, but if they conflict with God’s Word they must be discarded - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

The best way to stay healthy in Spirit, once we have accepted Christ, is to study God’s Word, pray, fellowship with other Christians and live for Him. 

We have been forewarned by God that there will be false prophets and they will lead even the most dedicated can be fooled by them.

Mark 13:21-23  And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

²² For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

²³ But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

ANY OTHER WAY, PROFESSED BY ANY INDIVIDUAL OR RELIGION - must be discarded - that is one of the lions that we are warned about.

Later, Art :-)

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

Looking outside and seeing high winds as they shake the trees and blow off the leaves.  Love this time of year!

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I am very grateful for this reminder through Paul, that God’s grace is what allows us to be saved – not deeds on our part.

There are very few people, that I have met, that I would consider even being close to being righteous enough to enter into heaven – and I most certainly am not one of them.

We can quantify what an item is worth here in this world.  It comes down to what someone is willing to pay for it; and, of course, if they have the means to purchase it.  I may be willing to pay a million dollars for something, but I can’t raise that kind of money.

I can remember when my uncle was employed by a meat plant.  The butchers were paid by the piece, the more you were able to cut up, the more you made – he was one of the highest paid workers.

His value to the company was measured by the amount of work he could do during the day – yet it was insufficient to keep his job when the company sold the company to another and he could no longer get piece work pay, it was by the hour and he didn’t earn anywhere near what he earned with piece work.

His efforts on behalf of the company had been high, but it didn’t save him.  There was no longer a standard of how well you did, now all you had to do was keep up with everyone else.

The world’s standards change, and not always for the better.  Some times more is expected of a person, but often less is expected – people do enough to get by and that is sufficient – at least for now; I am sure it will once again change when people are fed up with mediocre work.

God’s standard for entering eternal life with Him has not and will not change.  He expects perfection and I know of no one who can meet that standard – especially on their own.  Only Jesus met that standard.

God recognized this, that is why He sent His only Son to die on a cross bearing our sins and in doing so allowed us to form an alliance with Christ as a fellow child of God - proven by the acceptance of His sacrifice by His resurrection.

If Jesus is the standard, how can we possible hope to work ourselves into heaven?  One mistake, one sin, one failure to serve will make all we do worthless as far as having the gates of heaven open up for us.

I remember the time that I helped the citizens of Antelope by taking possession of all the paper work and weapons that had been acquired when the Rajneesh were in control of the city.  At that time I was the white night riding in to protect them; as far as they were concerned I was their ‘hero’ and could do no wrong.

I mentioned that to a good friend, who had been Sheriff of his county for several years, a few weeks later.  His comment (paraphrased and cleaned up for my writings) Enjoy it while you can, but understand that one mistake can wipe out a hundred ata boys. 

A wise man, and while I didn’t fully appreciate the fullness of his sage counsel at the time – I learned he was absolutely right.

It is no different with God.  One sin can wipe out an eternity.

Only Christ was perfect.  But, because HE was, we have the key to heaven and as we accept Him and live for Him we grow closer to that righteousness that God expects – but it will never be enough to open those gates.

Thank you God for sending Jesus – and accepting His sacrifice; thank you Jesus for dying for us and sending us the Holy Spirit of God; and thank you Holy Spirit for your comfort, wisdom and guidance.

Later, Art :-)

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

I recently read a complaint to a commentator because he said Police Officers are not paid enough.  I gave him an abridged comment, here is my unabridged:

“Most police are paid well in relation to other people who serve the public, with decent pensions. There are police who can retire at 50. Who can do that other than athletes and the super-rich?”  - part of the complaint

First, Peter, thank you for your support of the officers.

While I appreciate this person’s concerns reference ‘inequality of pay between public servants’ there is a reason.  Every time a police officer goes to work – and in some areas just being a police officer is enough, since they are ‘always on duty,’ they risk their lives.  They never know what the next minute will bring, what the next traffic stop will bring, what the next call will bring.  With the exception of fire fighters, – and of course our military – the other public servants, or most professions, don’t lay their life on the line every minute of every day.

Police officers don’t run from the danger, they run to it.

While all professions have their stress levels, a police officer has one of the highest.  I would invite the writer to do a few ride ‘a longs’ in a police cruiser and they will have a better understanding of what an officer does. 

When he/she has those ride alongs, make sure one is on Christmas or Thanksgiving while their family has to ‘work around’ their shift work.  After that, make sure the next one is not a ‘day shift’ ride along, but an evening or graveyard where their family is home and going to bed – like most of the rest of the normal jobs.  Then the next one should be on a weekend when the children are home from school.

I am not demeaning the other professions who work around the clock every day to provide services – nurses and doctors, Police/Fire (911) dispatchers, among other necessary services are good examples. 

But the complaint was against Police Officers.

Ride along with them when they get a call of unknown problem, a family disturbance, a riot in the street, a fatal accident, a violent crime, a criminal who the officer has arrested without problems, many times in the past, decides this time they will fight – oh, wait, sorry we can’t plan for that – we never know when it will happen and it happens in split seconds where the officer must make quick decisions.

Ride along when the officer has to investigate a crime involving a child – it might even be a child his child’s age – watch them hold back their emotions while they do what must be done.  THEN ride along with them when they have to advise the family that their child has been killed and listen to them as they try and comfort them and tell them they don’t know why it was their child.

Ride along with the officer when he/she is several minutes if not hours away from backup – another officer - as he/she arrests a violent person, by themselves.  Stops a car at 3:00 am, not knowing what is going on, only the vehicle must be stopped – and it is dark out, the driver is driving erratically – could be drunk, high on drugs, or upset because they just killed their spouse.  The point is you never know when you stop a car (at any hour of the day) what is going to happen.

Ride along when someone calls for help and instead of sitting back with a phone camera, or running the other way – you run to the danger and try and take charge of the situation while others are yelling at you and threatening you.

Or, just stay home and complain because Police Officers make too much money.

Reference early retirement - It is a ‘young person’s’ game.  While many officers do work until they are much older it is not safe for them or the public to expect them to wrestle a drunk 20 year old, 30 years their junior, among other reasons.

There are not that many off the road positions for an officer to transition to as they get older (and by the way, investigators and management in a police department have a whole new level of stress in addition to the wondering if they have to respond to a call – as happens in the smaller departments – and have that same level of danger as the street officer.)

I served on the street, in investigations, a supervisor and commander in a police department and as the elected Sheriff of my county – and as the father of a police officer – I can tell you right now, police officers are not paid enough, especially right now.

And the stresses on their families are also much higher – ask a spouse or child, of a Police Officer, what they think.  They do not know until Dad or Mom walks through the door if they will come home in one piece.

They have to go to work or school and often times face bullying tactics because their parent is a Police Officer. 

Their parent is careful about where they go off-duty and tries to avoid those areas where they or their family can be accosted because the parent is a police officer – or they go into a ‘friendly’ store and suddenly someone attacks them verbally or physically because their parent is an officer.

Then of course, they must adjust when the parent makes an arrest while on a family outing – it happens more times than people know – and has to change their plans for the day.

They have to adjust when family oriented plans are disrupted because the officer is subpoenaed into court and HAS to go – or is called out on an emergency because there are not enough officers to handle the situation.

And all this assumes that the Police Officer IS paid enough – or in the opinion of the original complainant paid too much.

Even though Police Officers are being attacked by many in today’s society, they still put their uniform on and go out the door to protect their citizens. 

And the vast majority does it with a sense of honor and integrity; it is a calling for most of us and very few people can do it.

Just ride along and find out; not just one day, but many and then multiply that by several years and then see if you still want to complain because they make too much.

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

Carla had to go into work early this morning – something we are not used to.  I can remember when we used to get up at all hours, work late at night, early in the mornings with little problems.  Now we are no longer used to that and our minds and bodies don’t adjust as quickly as they did before.

Another two years and she will have her twenty in – and she is determined to be there that long.  Knowing Carla she will probably decide to shoot for 25.  She enjoys the work, for the most part, and her hours are not grievous so she can do it if she wishes but while I would just as soon have her not push herself so much, it is not my decision.

It has been a long week, seems like it is Saturday instead of Thursday.  The week is a tad bit fuller this week.

Jeremiah 20:1-2 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the Lord, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.

² Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the Lord.

Jeremiah 20:10-11  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

¹¹ But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

2 Timothy 4:14-17 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

¹⁵ Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

¹⁶ At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

¹⁷ Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  KJV from Biblegateway.com

And somehow too many Christians think we should be immune from those that rant against God; that because we are Christians we should not suffer pain or deprivation.  We should always be on the mountain top and not worry about the world’s attacks – because somehow we will not be attacked ourselves.

Now there IS a way that will work, most of the time, just not talk about Christ, don’t reveal His message and don’t challenge anyone or anything – be tolerant of everything.

But then what does that say about that kind of a ‘Christian?’

We know that our lives are not all doom and gloom.  We have many happy and joyous times with fellow believers, our families, our work, our hobbies and even as we share God’s love with others we see many positive responses and help others find Christ.

But, even when things may seem to be going well for us, we should know that satan is behind the scenes mounting an attack with his minions so that when we least expect it he can pounce upon us.

Forewarned is forearmed and we have been told many times throughout the Old and New Testaments that we are in a fight with the enemies of God and that we should be prepared.

Now we are not without means to defend ourselves – indeed we need not defend ourselves; God will do that for us, IF we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

John 14:26-27  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The world has always opposed God and His righteousness, wanting to define righteousness by its own terms. 

The sin of Adam opened up the gate for satan to attack God’s Word and His right to demand obedience from man.  He will use subtle or forthright means to accomplish his goal.

God is for us.  God has chosen us as His children and adopted us into His family through the death and resurrection of Christ.  We have many promises of love, mercy and guidance when we submit our lives to the Holy Spirit and obey God’s Word – but as He didn’t withhold allowing satan to challenge Jeremiah, Job, Paul and the many others that stood for Him – including our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – neither shall he withhold it from us.

It can be hard, we don’t want to suffer, we don’t want to ‘not fit in’ we don’t want to feel the hatred, wrath and mocking of others, but they are using the world’s standards, not God’s and the two are incompatible.

The phrase ‘do not kill the messenger’ came about because that was often done – when those in power didn’t like the message - instead of pondering on it and even taking it to heart they killed the person for their impudence.

While we, in America, seldom face that kind of persecution – yet – it is happening to our brethren all over the world.  They are standing for Christ and being punished for their faithfulness.

We need to understand that being a Christian is not always a happy ‘feel good about yourself’ calling – it is a call for service, even when He leads us into areas that cause us fear or trepidation. 

There are going to be those that seem to listen and support us when in truth they do not and may even be working in the background to undermine us. 

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil:  A reference to Acts 19 where a supposed learned Christian preaches false doctrine – and in doing so condemns the teachings of Paul – and caused him personal difficulties.

While we are not immune from reprisals and persecutions and should be prepared for them, we need not go about looking around corners in fear of attack. 

Mathew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Later, Art :-)

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

Psalm 121:1-3  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

I am having one of those days that it would seem better to have slept through than raise up.  Yet, I know that God is there for me.

I look out the window and see the hills of Cherry Heights and these verses come to mind.

We are here but for a time, some of it is difficult, some of it is fantastic, but all of it is the result of a God who created the earth and has dominion over our lives.

No matter how we may feel, we can be comforted with the knowledge that God knows.  That He doesn’t dwell in feelings, but in His Word.  His Word says He is our fortress and our rock.

While our bodies may give us discomfort, our soul shall sail to the highest as we praise and trust in Him.

Psalm 73:26  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Later, Art :-)

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

Teresa and Carla were busy yesterday working up the tomatoes, it takes a lot of time and energy, but it is always worth it come winter.  The freshness of the tomatoes being canned, make a much better ingredient that the winter ‘fresh tomatoes’ or those canned commercially.

Mild today.  I am looking out the window though, and seeing fresh snow on Mt. Hood – and forecasters say more is to come.  Let’s hope that it continues to build up and be ready to provide water in our basins next spring.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

“When I lie dying, when heart and flesh are failing me, when I shall have little else to think of by my Lord and the eternal state, then shall thoughts of Him pull up the floodgates of the river of bliss and let the very joy of heaven into my heart!  And, by His grace, I shall be eager to be up and away!  I shall not dread the pains, and groans, and dying strive of which some talk so much; but the sweetness of ‘my mediation of Him’ (Psa. 104:34) shall make me forget even the bitterness of death itself.”  - Charles Spurgeon

Paul’s exclamation and the comments of Spurgeon are an encouragement for all Christians.  Death is not to be feared, it is just a path to Christ and heaven.  Both men speak of the end of life on earth, having served God, faithfully and secure in the knowledge He will greet us in heaven.

However, we never know when God will call us home; never.  We may not have time to contemplate our life here on earth, or what is waiting for us when the body gives up.

But if we are prepared, then it doesn’t matter, Jesus will be standing at the gate to welcome us into His home and we will share in His victory over death.

I know that there is a lot of discussion about us being in the end times.  Those discussions have been taking place long before I first heard of them fifty-one years ago.  Every book of the Bible is God’s Word.  Each word is important to the growth of Christians.  However, I am not all that concerned about when will Jesus return in the clouds; when everyone will see Him and call Him Lord -  because, I have seen far too many deaths of those thinking they were too young to die.

For them, they had to face the reality of Christ as the result of a violent act – accident, murder – or an illness that overtook them.

I enjoy listening to those that have gone to a great deal of effort to decipher all that is in the Book of Revelation, but in the end, most of it is their opinion of what it may proclaim about the world today – and there is more than one opinion.  I have heard of too many people being thought of as the Anti-Christ, or who the Bear is from the North, to worry about the Second Coming – if He comes tomorrow, I am ready.

The Bible IS playing out in today’s world, but it has been doing that since Adam and Eve.  Unfortunately, because people have been talking about it for so long it is like the prophets of old who proclaimed God’s condemnation; it is being ignored.  People have short memories and if nothing is happening right now, then they put it out of their minds.  The urgency of Christ’s celebrated returning is lost in time for most people they don’t feel the urgency.

I have to admit it is also difficult to give a call of urgency to our young people who think they will live forever.  To convince those that are sinners without hope unless they repent, that their time could come at any time, is difficult. 

They could be driving down the road this afternoon and meet another car coming at them at a high rate of speed, or find that there is an obstacle in the road that they cannot avoid and find that they don’t have time to contemplate their life – it is gone.

An earthquake may wipe out their communities, their homes, the lives of loved ones and even their own life – yet they put off the decision to ask forgiveness.

And even as Christians we often do not feel the urgency of witnessing to others, because we just don’t think about it with the understanding that they might be taken at any time.

We don’t have to harangue people to witness to them.  We understand that each person must make their own decisions and the Holy Spirit is the one that they will truly listen to in order to fully appreciate their situation.

Still we can pray for them, we can live Christ in front of them, while we may not be able to convince them of the eminent eternal death that will be fall them without Christ, we can at least show them Christ’s love.

In the verses Paul wrote to Timothy and in the quotation from Surgeon are statements of the final actions of men who have served, as fully as they can, God.  They have continued to serve Him right up until He calls them home.  They know their time is short and they are ready.

AND THEN, they know that they will receive that promise from God and overcoming the ‘bitterness of death’ will be welcomed home by Him.

We have a great home when our work on earth is done, but until that work is done as told us by God, then we must continue to live for Him, to serve Him and to let others know about this great love and mercy that can come only from Him.

I am at the age now where many of my friends are dying.  It makes you realize that none of us will remain here forever, we are vulnerable in our bodies.  But our bodies are but a shell containing our souls – which will live forever with Christ – and we want everyone we know to understand that their soul, too, will live on eternally and they must make the decision, now, where they will reside.

Tomorrow, even this afternoon, or this evening – or within the next hour may be too late. 

Each person must make up their own minds as to what to do with Christ – may we help them make the right decision.

Later, Art :-)

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

Teresa and Carla are busy canning tomatoes.  They brought in about three pecks worth to work up – all the larger tomatoes that were ripe – others are hanging on, but green.  They decided to let them ripen up.  It hasn’t froze, yet, so they should be okay for at least a few more days.

She dug a couple of bushels of potatoes with more rows to go.  Winter is fast approaching and want to make the most of what we have available to us.

It is Fall out there; mild as it is right now.  Pretty out there.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

As Christians, in America, we have incredible advantages over those that were Christians in the first century, while they were taught by the Apostles themselves – and that is a distinct advantage – we have the privilege of reading, pondering, meditating, reading all of God’s Word, in one place.

We have Paul’s, Mark’s, Luke’s, Peter’s, Mathew’s, John’s and perhaps at least one other author who lived in Jesus times, who were His apostles, who heard and were taught by Him – although Paul, of course, came to Him later, he was there when Jesus was teaching – all of these insights, all of the pertinent history in one volume.  The early church did not.

And neither do millions of Christians, in this day and age, world-wide.

The privilege of holding God’s Word, in their hand and being able to read it, for many isn’t worldwide.  Many Christians in oppressed countries are forbidden to possess God’s Word.  The Bible becomes their most prized possession – they memorize scriptures so that if they lose their Bible they can still pass on scriptures and the truth to others as well as meditating on them.

Another advantage we have as Americans is the opportunity to listen to ministers, teachers and read commentaries on the scriptures – not that they are equal in any way to the Word of God – but they can give us insights into what learned Christians are saying about verses and how they relate to us today.  We can get a better understanding on some of the scriptures we do not understand or have questions about.

HOWEVER, we also have to be cautious.  There are many false teachers and charlatans – some mean well, but are ill informed or think they have a ‘new view’ that actually conflicts with God’s Word.   Others are purely desirous of serving themselves, they want recognition and/or money; they want power or something else that will stroke their egos and make them feel self-important.

Anyone can write a book or pamphlet, rent a building and preach heresy and present conflicting ‘truths’ with the God’s Word; or because of their personalities they can draw people to their way of thinking, then claim their views to be inspired and therefore they have an authoritative message on the scriptures.

And these people get followers, they get millions of dollars donated to them as they lead them down a path to destruction.

As Christians it is our responsibility to make sure anything we believe can be verified by God’s Word.

I realize that different denominations may have a different interpretation of some points – and while I may believe they are wrong in those interpretations, it does no good to become angry over most of these.  These are our brethren in Christ.

I read, recently, of a Pastor in another part of the world, that had a congregation in the tens of thousands, where the church is building every day, people are coming to Christ – and not just for show, but as solid conversions.  He believed, and taught that a person could only be saved on Sundays – nowhere does the scriptures say that, and I don’t know if he would approach a person dying on Wednesday that wanted to repent and tell them they can’t.

However, in all other ways, the writer of the article wrote, he was rock solid in his preaching.  Do we get angry with him and say because he has this quirk that he won’t change, keep us from calling him a Brother?  – I think not, we can agree to disagree. 

All of us can give examples of people who we KNOW have been saved by the Christ, who hold a thought that may not line up with the Scriptures – but do not detract from them – it is basically their opinion.

When I was the Christian Education director for our church I would interview our new teachers and some would say that they didn’t entirely agree with all the doctrines of the denomination.  Yet, what they disagreed with did not interfere with their teaching of their students and we used them.  Would I use them in every class?  No, teaching children from a lesson plan is one thing, teaching teenagers or adults, where questions are going to be much more detailed, is another.

That didn’t mean that they weren’t Christians; just that as a denomination we don’t want people teaching that aren’t in agreement – or at least teaching in those areas where that doctrine is an important part of the lesson.

In all of this we must proclaim, without reservation that NOTHING is equal to God’s Word.  Commentaries are just that, comments by Christians, many with excellent credentials, that help us understand God’s Word, that help us put our lives in perspective and our dedication to God and our service to Him, become more effective.  But they are not God’s Word.

But not all of them are worthy to be read, many lead Christians astray and because they have the ability to get their message out over the many medias now existing, they can lead more people astray.

I remember picking up as used commentary from the Bible Book Store.  I cast it aside when I read that Jesus really didn’t change the loaves and fishes into food to feed five thousand – the offering of the young boy to share his food encouraged others to do the same – the miracle was the willingness of the people to share, not the creating of the food by Christ. 

Now, I read this in the novel The Robe, (a book I really enjoy and have read many times) but I figured it was just the Centurion trying to make sense of miracles he had not seen and was trying to make ‘sense’ of the action – I had no idea that some people also held that as truth.  I didn’t bother to find out what else was wrong in the commentary that was enough to discard it.

I shared that with another Christian and he told me he visited a church, once, where the Minister actually preached it.  Amazing.

Too many people, rather that digging into the Word to make sure what is being told them is true, not verifying the message; but instead taking it as truth just because someone said so, they just absorb the message.  They get farther away from God as the result.

We are not the only generation that has had this problem; it has been a problem from the very beginning of the church’s formation – and actually from the garden where satan told Eve she should eat of the forbidden fruit – because God gave her wrong information.

Genesis 3:4-5 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

⁵ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Paul warned Timothy.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

²¹ Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

As Paul warned Timothy, so we are warned.  Jesus accused the Jewish leaders of the day of failing to know and obey the scriptures.

WE don’t want to be in the same situation – especially when we have the actual written Word we can read at any time and we have access to those that have God’s true insight and the leading of the Holy Spirit – available to us. 

Later, Art :-)

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

Tired; I was awakened last night with a call to pray for an unknown family that recently lost a young daughter; hearing the crying and the seeing the hand of a woman stroking a small black velvet dress, with a white collar, that had belonged to her. 

I don’t say this is a vision, just the Holy Spirit making me aware that someone was in need of His love and telling me to pray for them.

I am reminded that in many homes this day there are people tortured by death, by poverty, by hunger, by fear – even fear of some of their own family - by the need for the Holy Spirit to comfort them.  Their need for Christ in their lives to heal the heart and calm the soul.

And, even as I write, I keep seeing that hand stroking a black velvet dress, with a white collar, belonging to a child who has passed away.

Ephesians 5:19-20 ¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;  KJV from Biblegateway.com

Through the years I have taken classes that, in part, encourage us to lift ourselves up by telling ourselves that we are ‘good,’ that we are ‘worthy of success’ and many other such ‘inspiring comments’ – to help built up self-esteem. 

Self-esteem; “we must have good self-worth,” they say in order to be better at what we do.

Not the best idea and when taken to extremes – as it is in today’s society – it can be devastating, not uplifting.  The world chants this mantra and in order to ‘help’ those that are too lazy to do better, are not willing to sacrifice their time and effort to learn, it tells them how great they are – even when their work is substandard and mediocre.

We have raised a generation of whiners because they think that they are entitled to anything they wish.  They don’t want to work, they only want to satisfy their wants and believe because they exist they deserve it.

They are not challenged to do better, just feel good about yourself and that will take care of everything.  God has been left out of the equation – it only matters what you think and what you want, as long as you don’t have to work for it.

To be sure, not all are like this - many strive to do the best job they can do at whatever their tasks, they have ‘self-esteem’ because they have earned it. 

But those that would give false encouragement to the lazy, demean or at least refuse to acknowledge the worth of THESE people and even try and discourage them so they don’t show up the others.

I realize that there are those that need encouragement for a short time, they have had difficulties that are almost too much for them to bare – yet chanting a feel good quote isn’t the answer.

Rather than telling ourselves how great we are, rather than trying to form a good attitude by the use of slogans and chants, we should look to the Psalms, look to the songs and choruses that praise God.  And then sing them, loudly if you wish and God doesn’t care if you can carry a tune or not, just sing and praise Him.

These things lift us up, our spirit communes with the Holy Spirit and we are raised up as we meet with God.  We don’t need to have self-worth as described by the world; we are already heavily valued by the only one that counts, God.

He placed such a high value on us that He gave His only Son, bought us with His blood, that we might have life, eternally, with Him.

When we start telling ourselves how important we are, how wonderful we are, how great we are, we end up focusing on us, not on God.  We then find ourselves drifting away from Him.

Singing His praises help us to put into perspective who we are, we don’t need self-praises when we praise God, we receive from Him a spirit of well-being, of love and care – of ‘self-esteem.’

When we focus on the things He has done for us, when we look around and see Him in everything – understanding that it is by Him that man can create things, then we don’t worry about self-worth.  We don’t concern ourselves with telling ourselves how magnificent we are, because He becomes the reason for our existence; we are who we are, because God is who He is – and we are His.

Later, Art :-)

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

We had a birthday dinner last night with Ian, Teresa, Josh and Deed.  While in the restaurant a friend of Deed’s came in and then came over to talk – or rather blabber.

She was high – could easily have leaped buildings with a single bound – probably on the Marijuana which is now legal in Oregon.  Here actions were embarrassing for her, but she had no idea.

It isn’t enough to have Alcohol but now Marijuana is legal.  Both drugs are a detriment to society, yet are now legal.

That means it will be more readily available to those under 21 – despite the law saying they cannot legally have it – they can’t have alcohol either yet we lose hundreds of young people due to complications of one form or another as a result of drinking.

Not to mention the long term destruction of their minds.  Then of course the damage it is already causing businesses and families. 

I am concerned for our country.

Jeremiah 3:12-15 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.

¹³ Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord.

¹⁴ Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

¹⁵ And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.  KJV from Biblegateway.com

The Prophets of old, as they were sent by the Holy Spirit, tried to tell the people what was going to happen if they didn’t forsake their disobedience to God and repent of their sins.

Yet, they refused to listen.  Their pleasures and desires were far more important than following God’s commandments.

If they had but looked around them they could not have failed to see what their defiance had led them into.  They were living in a cesspool of sin and degradation.  They reveled in the filth of sinful behavior, not only refusing to listen to the prophets, but putting them in prison and even killing them because they didn’t like the message.

America became a great nation because the leaders understood who God is; while they were not perfect, they acknowledge that the rights of men stem from God, not from man.

Now, America is excluding God from all public displays and even private work places – and persecuting those that do not agree.

America is proclaiming that everyone has a right to live as they wish – and passing laws against those that would proclaim God’s Word in disagreement with society’s rebellion against God.

Now, in order to be a ‘proper’ American citizen, we must:

Accept sinful behavior as the norm and decry those that say it isn’t.

Understand that people need encouragement regardless of what they are doing, and praise them for mediocre behavior.

We must, give to those that refuse to work and refuse to comply with the laws of the land because they have been oppressed.

We must, not give encouragement to those that are achieving and striving to better themselves, because it makes those that refuse to do so feel bad.

We must accept lies and unlawful behavior from our leaders, because they know what is best for us.

We must tone down the rhetoric of striving to do your very best, because that isn’t fair to those that just want to get by.

We must agree that every religion has the right path to heaven and if you disagree you are intolerant and a ‘hater.’

We must adhere to the political speech of our “betters” because not to do so makes us evil and intolerant.

We must reject the truth of the Bible, because if makes people look bad.

Of course there are many other ‘we musts’ but my head hurts and my stomach churns already.

There are those that are telling America, like the Prophets told the Jewish nations, God is displeased and if we do not turn back from this wanton disregard for Him we will suffer the consequences.

Jeremiah 5:15-17 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

¹⁶ Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.

¹⁷ And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.

Look about the world right now, look what is happening in other countries and see the buildup of hatred against God and the desire to destroy America because of what we once were – and now are no longer.

America has been called the Great Satan, and not without some truth to that.  We have given to the world our idols, our despotic behavior and gleefully show it in our films and actions.

America has not just drifted away from God, we have run away from Him – and the rest of the world has watched in both disbelief and distain.

They are no longer fearful of America, we have sunk so low that it will take little effort on the part of some of these nations to destroy us – and we have decided that God is not worthy of our trust and request for protection.

Isaiah 65:1-3 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

² I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

³ A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Yet, there is hope.

Jeremiah 18:7-8 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;

⁸ If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

We need leaders, in all areas of America, to follow these commands.

And, let us not forget, that this was God talking and God changes not, no matter what the world and our society tries to declare.

Later, Art :-)

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