Two of our daughters, Deed and Teresa, work for the Corps of Engineers.  Between the two they have worked at all four dams on the lower Columbia River.

Currently, Deed is working at the John Day Dam, and Teresa at The Dalles dam.  Both have been trained and worked for years as electricians, but recently both decided to become operators.

One of their many duties is to lock boats through the dam as they go up or down river. 

Carla realized that there would be a time when both would lock the same boat through – they are about 25 miles apart.  She wanted to hear when they did.

Yesterday, they did.  Deed locked one through at 0545 and Teresa locked the same one through a few hours later.

They had been ‘together’ in their assignments for just over 4 months when it finally happened.

Carla knows that has to be a rare occurrence.  How many other sisters have ever locked the same boat through their individual dams on the same day?

Not a big thing, but fun to contemplate.

Reminds me of the time that Deed was working as an Electrical contractor at the Bonneville Dam and Teresa, who worked as an electrician for the dam, were counterparts on a major project.

Deed did the work on the transformer and then handed it off to Teresa who did the work on the receiving end.  It was a project that took almost a year (+/- can’t remember exactly) to accomplish. 

If you have looked at power lines with multiple wires in them, you have a small idea of what they had to do – thousands of such wires, each and every one had to go from one specific site, to another as they passed from Deed to Teresa.

A complicated and intricate procedure both had to know what they were doing.

Little and large things, minor or seriously dangerous, can go wrong on such a complicated mission, and often did in the past.

Theirs was the only one that came off without a hitch – others all had problems, but that one did not.

They make a good team.

John  5:38-40 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

³⁹ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

⁴⁰ And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

I watched a video this morning of a ram caught on a tree by one of his curved horns.

It was a small sapling, small enough for the horn to have somehow hooked it, but strong enough to withstand the power of the ram as he went around and around the tree, unable to escape.

The ground around the tree was chopped up by his efforts as he circled around and around that tree. 

A man had come up to help him, but the ram wanted nothing to do with him.  The effort of the ram put the man in danger, he had difficulty getting close.

He somehow got a hold of the top of the tree, trying to break it off, but when it did, it broke several feet above the ram – that didn’t work.

He would put his hand out trying to snag the horn and help the ram, the ram tried to fight, but was hooked on the tree. 

The man had to jump back to keep from being struck by the hooves and often the ram would try to charge him, only to find himself going around the tree.

Finally, after several tries, the man was able to grip the horn and set the ram free – the ram ran off, unharmed.

How many times have we been so wrapped up in our trials and tribulations of life that we can’t see a way clear?

We have run in circles not being able to extricate ourselves from our problems and instead of being free we become weaker and more vulnerable as we struggle.

We learn of how God can help us and free us from our situation, and yet we continue to fight it ‘our’ way.  We reject the helping hand of God and continue the senseless struggle that is getting us nowhere, but placing us in danger of exhaustion – physically, mentally and spiritually.

But when we allow God to act; when we accept His help we find ourselves free and no longer encumbered by the obstacle that had held us down.

 Acts 11-12 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

¹² Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

The truth of God’s majesty and Christ’s deity is found in the scriptures.  The truth of how much God loves His people is found in God’s Word.

It is there for us to read.  When we are told of it, it is there for us to verify.

We need to stop running around the tree of our dilemma and allow God to set us free.

He wants to; it is found in the scriptures.

Later, Art :-)

Wind she is a blowing, trees are dancing and the clouds are quickly moving against a darkened sky.  Feels like Spring coming on.

Mathew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

² For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

I don’t think there is a single person that doesn’t know that verse.

How many times has someone wagged their finger in your face (literally or figuratively) and quoted it?

How many times did you do that before you were saved?

I had just started dating Carla when one her friends told me she was praying for me.

I looked at her and in tone and attitude I asked “what do you mean - you are praying for me?”

While I didn’t quote that verse it was my intent.

She looked at me in shock and didn’t say anything else.

Two things come to mind when I read this verse and think of that conversation with her.

That is the reaction by most people, when told of their short comings – whether directly or ‘implied’ - as I felt that day. 

“How dare you say that, who are YOU to make that comment?”

People don’t like to be told they are sinning.  You are ‘judging them’ and when you have your own problems how dare you judge them?

The other realization comes as I think of our relationship through the following months and years.

She never again mentioned praying for me.  She was still friendly and even invited me to some of the Youth Group functions.

I attended and eventually went to the altar and accepted Christ.

When I got up from my knees and turned to walk back to my seat I realized every member of that Youth Group was still there, and most of the adults.

I realized then, that they had been praying for me that night, and probably long before that time.

Carla’s friend did not give up on me.  One of the fears that I find Christians have is that they are not perfect, they are not without sin, so they fear they can’t tell another about their sin without sounding like a hypocrite – or being accused of judging.

So, they don’t tell others, it is easier to not be labeled judgmental, none of us likes rejection and when a person rejects Christ we feel they are rejecting us.

That young lady, along with Carla and the rest of the Youth Group – and indeed that congregation – loved and prayed for those that they encountered if they need Christ OR if they needed anything in their life.

We cannot allow our fear of insults to interfere with our responsibility to share God’s Gospel.

The young lady could have written me off, could have been too afraid to continue talking to me and being a friend, she could have been afraid of being rebuffed when she invited me to these functions......but she continued showing me Christian love.

She wasn’t perfect and the more I got to know her, I saw that, but she also loved God and as I fellowshipped with that Youth Group I saw a bunch of teenagers, supporting and helping each other AND not one single one was perfect – but they shared God with others. 

We cannot be afraid to tell others of Christ’s love.  We cannot be afraid that they will reject us and cause a discomfort between us – or worse.  We cannot worry about being called judgmental and in violation of this verse by a non-believer who judges us without the light of the Word.

We can share without being obnoxious, we can share without making it sound like we are the judge that is sending them to hell – but even the mildest phrase “I am praying for you” can make them look at you and quote the verse. 

But that should not stop us from sharing Christ.  I have been cut off of sharing Christ, I knew that if I continued I would get nowhere – but it hasn’t stopped me from praying for them or living for Christ where they can see Him working. 

I have also shared Christ many times with the same person, not all of them have accepted Christ.

Each person is different.  We can ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance and direction in sharing Christ and He WILL honor that prayer.

But we cannot let our fear of rejection or our imperfections keep us from witnessing about God.  I am sure there were those that looked at Peter – maybe even years later – and considered him a hypocrite because he denied Christ and now he is telling THEM to accept him.

God uses us, just as we are, a sinner saved who is trying his best to live with the Holy Spirit within us, striving for perfection but often falling short of the mark.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

While that can be a condemnation – and many times is – we can also understand that it is a reaffirmation of our dedication to God.  We just need to be sure that we are casting aside our own predilections for sin – especially sins that we are condemning in others – and allowing God to work within us.

Later, Art :-)

Carla is at work and the animals and I are just ‘chillin’ out this morning.  I have some chores completed and will do some more as the day progresses.

Blue skies with a bit of clouds are on the horizon, a bit of wind and temperatures rising into the 60’s make the day pleasant.

Carla’s tomato and pepper plants are growing, and that always makes her happy.  Soon the greenhouses will be put up and the transplanting to individual pots will begin – we have some already asking if she will have enough to share, she will.

Numbers 15:27-31 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.

²⁸ And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

²⁹ Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.

³⁰ But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

³¹ Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

One of the many things we learn about God in the Old Testament is His compassion.  We realize as we read these verses that He holds everyone accountable, both the believer and the unbeliever.

But we also realize that sins committed in ignorance can be readily forgiven.  That He doesn’t hold the non-believer to the same standards as the believer that deliberately sins against God.

That is not to say that those that do not hear the word and sin because they don’t know that Christ died for them, are going to go to heaven – if that were true than Christ died in vain.

If that were so it would be better not to spread the Gospel of Christ so God would withhold the punishment of those that refuse Him.  But, we know that Christ commanded us to tell others about Him so they could be saved from the horrors of hell.  AND be with Him through eternity.

His compassion, though, is limited when it comes to those believers that deliberately sin against Him, who rather than obey Him consciously disobey Him.

I rather doubt there is a Christian who didn’t intentionally disobey God, knowing God’s command, and sinned anyway at one time or another.  When we do that we are no better than a sinner who chooses not to accept God.  No matter how much we profess our beliefs, when we disobey, we are under a cloud of guilt and shame.

We see that all the time with non-believers.  They have heard the Gospel, they know what the Word of God teaches, yet, they knowingly choose not to accept Christ saying ‘they will do it sometime in the future, right now they want to have fun.’

Will God still forgive both the wayward believer and the sinner that knows better?  We know that He does, however we tread very dangerous grounds when we sin thinking that all we have to do is ask for forgiveness.

God knows our hearts.  God knows whether we are sincere or not, He knows if we are living a life depending on His mercy to bail us out of sinful behavior while deliberately staying there.

We do not know the heart of people we talk with; socialize, work and play with – we can discern it by their actions and speech, but we also know that people have been fooled by such behavior.

It is not up to us to make a decision whether or not someone is still worth saving or God has given up on them.  So, we continue to pray, continue to witness hoping that they will listen to the Holy Spirit and accept Christ as the Savior.

We do know that while God is patient He will not always allow someone to sin against Him and do so with impudence.  There will be a time when HE decides enough is enough and will no longer minister to them with His Spirit – and the sinner must be told that. 

Psalm 103:8-9  The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

⁹ He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

We are very fortunate that God is indeed slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.  But, it is wrong for a believer to deliberately sin in the ‘knowledge’ that he can be forgiven.

Later, Art :-)

Carla is frustrated.  In the ‘wisdom’ of the City they have determined that burning leaves, weeds, etc. can only be done at specific times. 

Yet, those times are often the wrong time as far as weather is concerned.  Right now her piles are dry enough, the weather is accommodating and the risk of fire escaping is minimal so this is the time we should be able to burn – but we can’t, not until April first when the winds come up and there is more danger.

‘twould have been much better to allow the Fire Department to determine which times of the year open burning should be allowed, based on the weather that given year.

We composed much of what we have, but there are certain weeds that are best burned to keep them from spreading.  You can’t even put them in commercial composting as they can only be dealt with by burning if they grow any at all, or pesticides as they start out of the ground – and then the remnant has to be collected and burned.  Pesticides that will damage the crops and we don’t like to use them, unless we absolutely have not choice, for environmental purposes.

So, we cut them, stack them up and ‘wait’ to burn.

‘nuff of that.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

I woke up this morning and this verse was the very first thing that came to me as I transitioned from sleep to waking.  You know, that limbo time where we are waking, but not quite there yet.

I began to think of how tragic it is that people in the city rarely – and sometimes never - experience a star lit sky.

They barely see the sun as it shines quickly through the canyons of large buildings and then moves on.  The city is so lit up they cannot see even the brightest star at night.

But the stars are still there and when we, who can see them, look out at the night sky we begin to see the majesty of our God.

Each star is hanging there, its movement in the sky as the night progresses is the same as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow.  We know when it will show up, and we can rely on its consistency.

Man has learned to determine, the regularity of planets as they revolve around our Sun.  We know how long it will take for a complete orbit.

We know where the sun will rise in the morning and when it will set, we can predict that time to the minute.

We are hurling millions of miles through space in orbit as we circle the sun once a year.  We are moving at almost 1000 miles an hour as the earth makes a revolution each day.

We have gravity that prevents us from being cast into the abyss of space and yet, with all the different forces of our planet, our moon, other planets, their moons and the sun itself we are kept on track and we are kept from striking each other.

How does that happen, in our galaxy, let alone the millions we are told are out there – how does our galaxy not collide with others?  There is not a day that goes by that people don’t run into each other, whether bumping shoulders or fenders, they have difficulty keeping a proper distance and avoid accidents.

Yet, we rotate around the sun without hitting other planets that are also rotating – and we stay a measured and easily determined distance from each other.

We can tell where we are on earth at any given time by looking (and having the knowledge) of where stars are supposed to be, during any given part of the night.  As long as they are visible, trained people can tell with minimum instruments where they are in both longitude and latitude any place on earth. 

The heavens around us are predicable.  Ancient tribes observed and used their observation and the consistency of the stars to create buildings that allow the sun to shine on only one day into the center of the creation.

If we saw a man build anything close to what we see at night we would be in awe of his abilities.  Indeed we are in awe of things far less complicated – medical instruments and procedures, computers capable of processing questions in mini-seconds and giving us a large volume of resources – sometimes even answering a given question for us – even the telescopes that man has made that grow more complex and efficient with time, THAT show the vastness of God’s handiwork creates a feeling of admiration in us.

Yet with all the evidence surrounding a Creator; evidence of a well-thought out plan and execution, man still denies the existence of God.

Many times I would see trained Police Officers over look evidence in a case – it was there it just wasn’t seen; I have done that myself.

But the evidence is there, we have to look for it and then understand how it relates to the crime.  It may not come out right away, but when found it provides proof of both the crime and often the criminal. 

It is there, it doesn’t depend on whether or not you accept it; it is there.  Not all is immediately visible, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.  Evidence is evidence because it has either been left at the scene, or taken from it and has meaning.  You can look at the evidence and draw a conclusion.

Some will try and twist it around and make it mean something else, but when analyzed correctly good evidence of the crime is a strong tool for conviction of a criminal.

We look up at the stars.  They are visible.  Doesn’t matter what you believe about them, they are. 

They are dependable, and their evidence proves that they were designed to co-exist with all the other stars and planets in the heaven. 

That could not have been done by accident; it has to be a plan well executed.

It is evidence God has left for us to see His work.

The heavens really do declare His handiwork, all we have to do is open our eyes and see it.  It is just one more piece of evidence that proves His existence.

AND, shows us His majesty.  If we can applaud the accomplishments of man, how much more does God deserve applause for His creations?

1 Chronicles 29:10-12 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

¹¹ Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

¹² Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

He is worthy to be praised!

Later, Art :-)

Carla had today off, guess where she was in this good weather?

She has her tomato seeds in her little ‘green houses’ germinating in the light coming in via the living room window.  She has some peas already planted as well as some lettuce.

She is once again playing in the dirt!

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

¹² Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

When we go through the Old Testaments we find many promises to individuals that apply to Jew. 

But those promises are only to His people.  Others think that because God is a forgiving God that He will ignore their beliefs about Him and His Word and answer their prayers.

Now, I don’t doubt their passion when they are praying for a sick loved one or some other calamity.  We often see someone driven to their knees out of fear, but that doesn’t mean God is going to listen or heed their prayers, and it doesn’t mean that He will honor their desires.

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

They take these verses out of context and believe that the promise is to all that pray – they forget there is more to it than that.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

As Christians we are fortunate because we are joint heirs with Jesus.  The faith of our Jewish brethren, the promises made to them is also ours because of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

But it comes with a price, not only the sacrifice of Christ, but the dedication God wants from us; the sincere desire to serve Him with all of our heart.

Throughout both the Old and New Testament, God has given us the terms of our relationship with Him.

It doesn’t change, it doesn’t matter what nationality we are, what color of our skin, what our age is, where we live, what we do for a living it just doesn’t matter – what matters, AFTER the acceptance of the New Covenant in Christ, is that we give Him all of our heart, all of our service that His Glory and Love will be seen by others.

When a non-believer is forced to his knees, we can pray with them, we can grieve with them, but we should also (with kindness and love) share the need to come to God, not just on their knees but with a heart that wants to serve Him.

Not as a promise of ‘god, if you do this, then I will do that’ but an understanding that sins must be confessed and forgiven and the sincerity of the heart towards God, not towards the concerns we have, is the primary force in our life.

Mathew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

May that never be said of us.

Instead, may our cry be  

Mathew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Later, Art :-)

Pretty out there today, but cool as to be expected, but nice and sunny.

One of my daily routines is to check, via their web sites, Timberline, Mt. Bachelor and Crater Lake.  It is very encouraging to see all the snow and to read of the depth of the snow base.  It is also ‘fun’ to look at the Oregon DMV site on line and look at their cameras across the state.

This appears to be a very good year.

Eyes are acting up today, if it isn’t remedied by tomorrow I will have to see the doc – I have two medications that warn that they have a negative influence on the eyes.  Most of the time it is barely perceivable, but not today.

Colossians 1:2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is writing to the church at Colossians – which is not a building, but the group of believers in Christ.

It isn’t to be read just by the leaders, but shared with all the members, all members are to listen and obey these words.

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse

While written by Paul, it was inspired by the Holy Spirit – another important thing to remember.

Far too many Christians don’t think these ‘kinds’ of verses apply to them.  It is only for the ministers, or the ‘super Christian,’ (who teaches or is a deacon or just seems to have it all together.)

Being a Christian is different than anything else we do. 

When we are a parent, we are always a parent, but there comes a time when we have to ‘let go’ and allow them to make their own decisions and live their own lives – they are always our child and we always feel every disappointment, every attack and rejoice at every accomplishment, but we are no longer responsible for them.

We are a spouse and we have an obligation to our spouse to be the best we can for them – however, when we are at work, when we are away from them they must ‘fend’ for themselves.  There are vows and promises that must be kept, but our spouse also has their own life and responsibilities and it is up to the two of us to make it work.

We always said that being a Police Officer was a 24 hour 7 day a week job, and it is, but at the same time it is not and when we retire or resign we are no longer Police Officers.  We still have that same mindset, and we still have the same awareness of dangers, but we are no longer expected to serve and protect.

Every profession is the same way, even if we do not actually retire the expectations are that we are no longer responsible for the profession once we leave it – and the ancillary groups, etc.

I cannot think of any jobs where we are responsible for our actions, decisions, etc. on a daily basis, for life.

Being a Christian is different.  We are a Christian 24 hours a day for the rest of our life on earth.  We have an obligation to God to listen, follow and obey until He takes us home.

Being a Christian should be so ingrained in our life that it is like the heart beating or the lungs breathing.

It should be automatic.

Now, granted it takes time to understand our commitment and how we must respond – some get it immediately while others struggle with the concept – but when we read the Word of God we must understand that it applies where it applies and not just to the church leaders, but to every Christian.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

⁶ Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Whether at work or anything else we are to physically – or mentally if it is that type of job – dedicate it to God, to do the very best work we can do as a testament to the God within us.  If we are doing something that we cannot ask God’s blessings on, then we need to change professions.

But more than that, our conversations, our attitudes, our treatment of others should be done so that it reflects Our God within us.

that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Is addressed to every Christian; in order to do this correctly we must read the Bible, study under learned teachers, apply the Word to our hearts and lives and then practice it with humanity even those that  that are without.

The minister and church leaders have a sphere of influence outside the church walls, but their primary purpose is to teach Christians how to become a living breathing child of God; one who understands his responsibilities to others.

The chances are highly likely that the minister is NOT in your work place, neighbor to your neighbors, making contact with the people YOU see every day.  These people are your responsibility; you have been placed there to serve God and to show them who He is, being willing and ready to answer their questions and concerns.

Paul is speaking to every Christian not just the leaders; he is speaking to me.

Later, Art :-)

Got a bit frosty last night, but I kissed her on the cheek and told her I loved her.

32 degrees, little concerned the trees are starting to bud out and while 32 won’t hurt, from last night, we don’t want a lower or a continuation of that weather.

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

I read an article the other day – what am I saying, EVERY day - that says we must give more to the poor.

Which poor?

The poor who has had a great catastrophe in his life that has destroyed his savings and his ability to earn more – or due, to circumstances beyond his control, is unable to work and/or care for himself?  (Like the soldier we sent into battle and comes back mentally, emotional or physically damaged and can’t care for himself – so we let his go homeless or so traumatized he can’t adjust and is without help?)

The poor who lives in a country where the government is oppressive and keeps the citizens down with heavy taxation, discrimination, persecution and specifies who will be the rulers and gives them lush rewards?

The poor who chooses to not have material things and all he earns he gives to others who need clothing, housing, food and salvation?

The poor who chooses not to work, even though capable, and instead takes from the larder of others and demands more?

A young lady came before the Judge, brought there because she refused to pay her rent (the portion that wasn’t paid by HUD.)

The judge asked, “Why?”

The young lady said that she wasn’t working, she couldn’t afford to pay it.

The Judges asked why she wasn’t working.

Because she had a one year old at home and needed to be a stay at home mom and raise her child.

Where is the father?  She was asked – living in another part of the city, was the answer.

Does he help support the child, no, was the reply.

How do you get by?  The young lady started listing a number of government programs she qualified for, but it wasn’t enough for her to buy everything she wanted – some of the funds of which she admitted had gone for things like televisions, games, and other such ‘necessities.’

It wasn’t that she was incapable of working; she just chose not to work.

Another young lady, with a small child and a husband that was out of the house and wasn’t helping out -  worked full-time at a minimum wage to slightly higher paying job, she paid a babysitter, she went to college to obtain a degree, she did without things so she could make ends meet.

She paid her taxes, she raised her child without help from the government (other than finding and forcing her ex to pay child support.)  Taxes, by the way, which helped support the mother who chose not to work.

Which poor should be helped?

I am thinking that far too many people who have learned to work government assistance because they ‘are poor’ have used the first part of the above verse And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as a guideline - learning to do their best to scam – and that is now their ‘work’ forgetting the last part.

No matter the program, there will always be those that take advantage of loopholes – and deprive others of service.  Still in all we are making it much too easy to do so.

I did find it interesting, the other day, when employees who manage the food stamp program were concerned that while the economy had ‘improved’ – it had done so in only a few areas and in many others it had not.

There would be a need to give special consideration to those areas, which vastly outnumbered the ones that had improved.

One of the things required under the rules was that if the economy was improving that food stamps could only be given to those 20 to (can’t remember top age I ‘think’ it was 40 or 50) single men and women without dependents, that work at least 80 hours a month and these other areas didn’t have that kind of employment opportunities.

Bear in mind, this only impacts single people who could be working, not single parent families, etc.

What they neglected to say is, if a person can’t find gainful employment they can volunteer 80 hours a month at different organizations and qualify for the food stamps.

If they aren’t working, why can’t they volunteer?  Obviously some would not make good candidates due to their physical or mental limitations – but?????  I can think of dozens of organizations in our area alone that need volunteers and would welcome this age group to give 80 hours a month to their programs.

It is just frustrating, to me, to hear about all this free stuff the government is currently or is willing to give as if someone wasn’t paying for it – and not helping those people to become productive citizens.

Are there some big corporations taking advantage of people?  Yes.  Are there ‘poor’ who only choose to be ‘poor’ because they don’t have to work?  Yes.  Okay, so what?

Interesting enough some big corporations offer their employees higher than average wages with good benefits, ordinarily they would be held up as shining examples of what companies can do in America. 

However, the government – and those that oppose Christian values - are demanding they provide certain conditions that are opposed to the entity’s belief system – AND rather than applauding these companies for the way they treat their employees and the public, they attack them for their beliefs.

We can help make things better by looking at the places we shop and determine how they are using their profits and how they treat their employees; rewarding those that have been doing right, by all concerned, by shopping there.  I know, it is often impossible to determine – another frustration, but when we can tell, we should support them.

I know it isn’t going to get better unless the nation turns to God and asks forgiveness – which, unless there is a yielding to God’s Holy Spirit, isn’t going to happen.

One person states that one of the ways God punishes wayward nations is giving them the government they deserve – what do we ‘deserve?’  It can be a scary question.

Later, Art :-) 

Sunny and relatively warm today.  We have been encouraged by the depth of the snow fall in the mountains all over Oregon, the water tables should be rising as most of our state is having over a 100% of the annual rain fall and snow (melted snow, not just the snow itself) as our reservoirs are filling up.

We can hope that it will translate to good weather for our farmers, orchardists and ranchers; with plenty of water for the crops and livestock.

And, for those who grow gardens like Carla.

Acts 4:17-20  But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

¹⁸ And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

And verses 29-31 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Part of the problem in America is removing the Holy Spirit from our lives.  We talk of God.  We talk of Jesus.  Seldom so we hear Holy Spirit.

Yet, it is with His Spirit that God wishes to empower man.  It is by His Spirit we gain insights into His Word.  It is by His Spirit that we can submit ourselves to Him and be guided and directed.

It is almost like we have relegated the Holy Spirit to a secondary role, one that has little to do within us, or the world.

And yet it is by listening to and following His Holy Spirit that we can speak with boldness and certainty.

The world, and more and more even the United States, is trying to eliminate all elements of God, trying to destroy faith in Him.  They do not understand the Power that Christians have when they acquiesce to God’s wishes and set aside their own.

This has been satan’s desire since he was cast from heaven, and he will not give up until God says enough. 

As the Apostles and early Christians were told, as millions upon millions of Christians have experienced if we accept the Power of the Holy Spirit we will see things happening.

While most of us do not have a very large audience we do have a means to impact those around us.  It doesn’t mean we have to have a get in your face witnessing and call it boldness, it does mean that when given the opportunity we take advantage of it and trust the Holy Spirit to give us the courage to speak up.

Many Christians live their lives without calling attention to themselves – yet, they are recognized as someone who people can go to in times of trouble – their quiet boldness and true faith in God attracts people to them and eventually to Christ.

No matter our personality, no matter our circumstances if we follow the Holy Spirit we will find that He will make things happen.

We will go through trials and tribulations, but when we ask God to apply those to our spiritual life He will do so and give us more power to serve Him.

Later, Art :-)

Went by the bank today to close an old account – had forgotten I even had it.  I waited for over 30 minutes for a ‘banker’ to assist me.

Sat down and as he proceeded to make contact, and contact, and contact – you get the picture.  They finally located it – it was an ‘old’ account.  Another 30 minutes later I was able to walk out with the proof that I had canceled the account – it wouldn’t have taken anywhere near that to open one.

Meanwhile, Carla was waiting in the car and Blaze, who had been groomed, was waiting at the groomers – I had figured it would only have taken a few minutes......

Well the rain finally came yesterday, and this morning.  Sunnier this afternoon, but windy.  Typical Spring.

2 Chronicles 20:12    O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

I don’t know how many times I have felt like that, ‘Lord I don’t know what to do’ so I would pray for guidance, or for Him to take charge – anything to relieve me of my anguish.

Then, instead of waiting for Him to take action I went out and tried to do something about it myself – not ‘always’ the best strategy.  And more often, than not, I would mess things up worse.

Part of the problem of wanting to be independent and stand on our own two feet, is that when we are backed into a corner we look to our own abilities to find a way out.

We are not use to asking anyone for help, not even God.

Sometimes the only way we learn to truly trust in God, is for us to be so backed into that corner there really is no way out. 

I have heard it said many times that in times of prosperity men forget to acknowledge God.  They neither ask for His Blessings nor thank Him for the ones they have – I can attest to that truth in my own experiences.

We MUST learn that our resources are no match for God’s.  The problem is, I am still learning.

There are things that I cannot do to relieve the pain and suffering of others, all I can do is pray – and feel helpless.

But God will take care of our needs; He will protect and keep us safe.  No matter what we go through, He is with us.  Many people have proven that through the years – and I too, have discovered when I truly give in to Him the situation I feel so helpless over is resolved – not always to my liking, but to His Glory.

Later, Art :-) 

The sun is shining nicely and even though rain is being forecast for our area, thus far there are no rain clouds in sight.

Carla is going to be very happy!

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Satan tries.  The world states we are foolish.  Nations rise against the righteous and endeavor to destroy by any means possible, laws, torture, incarceration, depriving of personal property and even death.

Scientists devise medications and methods to interfere with the mind so they can manipulate the individual.

But the only thing that can separate us from the love of God, is our own vanity and selfishness.

The Holy Spirit resides in our hearts and guides our actions, only when we submit to His direction.

We have been saved by the Grace of God through the death and resurrection of His Son and we owe Him our allegiance. 

In doing so we find His allegiance to and for us.

Later, Art :-)

They are starting to spray the orchards, and I see someone is burning debris (outside the city limits there is not specified dates) a sure sign that spring is springing.

Psalm 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

And Vs 18-24  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

¹⁹ Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

²⁰ For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

²¹ Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

²² I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

You received an e-mail from me yesterday referring you to a web page which included a film (later I find it is just the trailer – but the documentary is out there, just will take some searching) on the Paper Clip project undertaken by 8^th graders in the late 1990’s through the early 2001’s.

A good friend of mine gave the following response – my response follows.  His point is very well taken.  It involves what is happening in America, today and since 1973.

Some of you may know someone who has decided to abort their child – one of the things that we must understand is that when the remorse sets in and they understand the enormity of their sin, that they CAN be forgiven. 

It is not easy, and many feel so guilty they have a difficult if not impossible time realizing that Jesus died that all sinners, including them, could be forgiven.

Our nation, on the other hand, instead of taking that sin as such, continues to perpetuate it and causes the country more pain.

My friend’s e-mail, in part (which also involved the above quotation:)

“When placed along side the fifty-seven million and counting murdered innocent babies ... murdered by our neighbors, our coworkers, by the same people who sit in the church pew next to us. Unfortunately God won't forgive us. The blood of the innocent and the fatherless souls cry out to Him for justice. It (the Holocaust) all becomes somewhat meaningless in comparison. I would be much more impressed if the school had attempted to make a movie visualizing fifty-seven million little baby corpses. Paperclips would be too clean. I have always held the Nazis's and the German citizenry in vile contempt, disdain, and revulsion for what was allowed to happen in Germany. If I don't feel the same ten fold for America ... I would be an hypocrite. We are so many times more guilty of murder than the Nazis's ever thought of being. I'm sickened by Christian excuses. I'm sickened writing this.”

I understand exactly what you are saying.  In the past decades, and accelerated in the past 6 years, America has spiraled down the cesspool of human depravity and called it lawful actions.  Those actively opposed to this wickedness are being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law – and it is getting worse, daily.

Personally, I believe God is removing His protective hand away from our nation and we will see far more suffering because of it.

Yes, the holocaust pales in the light of such corruptive immorality, and wasn’t even the greatest accumulation of murders by a nation against its citizens in its time, Russia holds that distinction.

But, these young people, when they were told about the holocaust, couldn’t understand the numbers – it is mind blowing, especially for this age.  Even in the late 90’s when this project started, the term, “billions (of dollars”) was being thrown around like they were $10 bills.

In course of this project over a period of several years, each year the current 8th grade class of this small, rural, deep south community began to understand man’s inhumanity to man.  They began to understand that tolerance ( which has been taken way out of context these past few years to mean we not only allow it to happen, but we have to endorse it and not cast dispersions on our ‘differences’ no matter how depraved they are ) can be accomplished without damaging but adding to ones’ own values.

Without that compassion we cannot reach others for Christ.  This project, as they put it together, made them realize that each paper clip was a person, and they started to ‘feel’ the soul of that person, their pain, their suffering.

The enormity of numbers so overwhelm us we cannot begin to deal with them. 

These young people found a way to help them see those numbers.  Through their interaction with Holocaust victims and their families, they understood these were not just numbers, but real, live, people.  They began to ‘feel’ the soul of the person in the paper clip, it was no longer a paper clip, but a person.

It is an interesting and moving story and endeavor by these young people.  I applaud them for their tenacity and tribute to the victims.  AND their teachers and principal who worked tirelessly to help them.

I do wish there was a way to be able to make people see the killed babies a real, live, person.  Not just a number - to see the enormity of this nation’s sin, for not only condoning but encouraging the killings.  I don’t have the imagination to undertake such a project – perhaps someone else does.

I did go on-line to see if I can help myself picture the millions of death in the killings.  There may be better ways, but I thought of the population of America and looked up a census reports, 2013 was the latest I could locate.

The numbers and my thoughts follow:

According to the 2013 Census:

Population of the United States: 308,745,538.

Population of all of The Northeast region of the United States total 55,943,073 people; Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey PLUS West Virginia 1,854,304 and Delaware 925,749 and The District of Columbia at 646,449 and you have a total of Fifty nine million, three hundred sixty nine thousand, five hundred seventy five (59,369,575) souls – in AMERICA.  

These are individuals, men, women and children; Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters; uncles, aunts and grandparents.

People who are working, going to school, playing, doctors, nurses, firemen, policemen, construction workers, authors, artists, musicians and the list goes on, people living their lives the best they can.

All of the population of the Northeast part of our United States is zero – gone as if they never existed. 

But even those lost souls are under the count of children legally executed (that we are aware of) in the United States, since 1973.  So we have to add in West Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia to approximate the total devastation that would be required to represent the total children legally killed since 1973; in AMERICA.

Another way to look at it would be that everybody, right now, over the age of 55 plus half of those between 50 and 55 would be gone – the age range that, coincidentally,  had the greatest impact on making the decision to legalize the killing of children. 

Fifty nine million, three hundred sixty nine thousand, five hundred seventy five (59,369,575) souls; almost 20% of the population of the United States, a whole region of the United states, imagine them gone, as if they never existed.  But they do, as do the souls of those children murdered in the womb; in AMERICA.

These are individuals, children; boys and girls.

People who will never have the opportunity to work, go to school, play; who will never have the opportunity to be doctors, nurses, firemen, policemen, construction workers, authors, artists, musicians and the list goes on, people living their lives the best they can.

Their life was violently taken from them.

How do we quantify those people, they aren’t just a number – the Nazi’s were good at giving people numbers weren’t they? 

These are individual people, how can we possibly visualize those babies, killed without a chance?

What would they say to us if they could talk to us, right now?  But, not only to their mother and father, but to the rest of us, as a nation?

We decry the murder of a child as he walks along the street and is the victim of gang violence – or any other for that matter.  It is right we do that, but far too many have lost sight of that real live child in the womb, it is a separate human being from its mother, and it is legal to kill him/her.

One of the 2016 Super Bowl commercials by Dorito, depicted a baby in the mother’s womb on a sonogram.  The pro-killing baby movement is up in arms because Dorito humanized the ‘fetus.’  ????

We are told that the numbers of abortions are down – if we believe that – but if so, it is probably due to many causes, among them would be the mother seeing her child on a sonogram and realizing it isn’t just a growth to get rid of, it isn’t like a wart or an unsightly mole, it is a human being.

WE need to help those who have made that decision to seek forgiveness from Christ.

WE need to help those who have not yet, but are thinking of, making that decision.

We all must make a decision on how we deal with this issue.  As in most issues that we as individual confront, it is those we have a relationship with, one on one, where we can make the most difference.

One of the many things I have advocated through the years is to live for Christ and rather than getting into people’s faces over sins, to help them understand that Christ loves them – we can most often accomplish that be showing them concern and being aware of who they are.  It may take a while before they are willing to listen to the Gospel, but when it is done, they are receptive because we share from God’s love, not our own anger.

Obviously, there are many ways that we need to address this issue, and there are many people doing just that, but it just isn’t getting the fact, that these are human beings, across.

Satan has a strangle hold on our nation, in not only these murders but in many immoral acts being perpetrated as acceptable behavior; it is getting stronger every day.

I agree with you, we, as Americans, are worse than the Nazi’s.

May our people realize that only God can change the course we are on now, and only if our nation asks forgiveness for our sins.

He punished His people when they, as a nation, departed from Him – we do not have the same standing they had, we are in far greater peril.

Later, Art :-)