I will be off line for a few days.

 

Later, Art  :-)

Not a lot going on around our neck of the woods, it will reach over a hundred in the garden, shortly, as it has for the past few days and will be in the near future.

Our water bill doubles and then some during this time of the year, however, it is worth it to get good, fresh vegetables that you know were not exposed to a bunch of pesticides – at least not from us.

Burritos for lunch and then my favorite sandwich for tonight, good to have nice fresh and TASTY tomatoes!

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

While I am not overly concerned about what people think of me, I think it is important that they recognize that I am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I know that some look at me in derision because of my faith; others question it and a few accept and have the same faith.

I am not perfect, a fact that my family and many friends can attest to – however, I do love the Lord.  I do have faith in Him.

I just need to show that in ALL my dealings with people and circumstances.

Not be so impatient or judgmental.

Not be slow to react when given the opportunity to share my faith.

To be more dependable for those that need a lift in spirit and help them.

All of which means I am not as close to Christ as I should be.

Later, Art :-)

Carla is going to take away my access to sharp items.  Yesterday while slicing zucchini on the mandolin one of my finger tips got in the way – I thought I had a bit more time before I had to use the part that holds the item to be sliced AND protects your fingers; I did not.

They warn you it is sharp; they were right.

We have frozen several quarts of black berries to be used later this year – with several more berries on the vine ripening up.  I use some but the rest will be used for syrups, jams and more pies.  In making the syrups and jams it is easier to take them out of the freezer and do gallons at a time rather than a few quarts.

Still other fresh fruit is coming to the stands and we will be partaking of them and start canning some of them.  It is a good time of year for local produce!

Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

While I do not watch the conventions, I do see highlights.  After each candidate was confirmed by their party there was shouting of support, clapping and smiling faces.  But not all were happy, not all were applauding, they didn’t get the results they wanted, but most begrudgingly accepted the candidate.

Some of those will try and make it look like they are very happy, (for the sake of the party if not their own political future) even though their real feelings are of anger or disappointment.

It reminded me of these verses; there will come a time that everyone will acknowledge who Christ is.  There will be shouting and praising by some, tears of joy will flow down their cheeks and the roar will carry around the globe.  But others will shake in fear, they may even try to ‘fool’ God by putting on a face of joy, but inside they have a heart that is cold and hard toward Him.

Either way they will have to acknowledge that Jesus is the King of Kings and the salvation of those that have accepted His sacrifice.  As they must with earthly Kings, they will bow before Him; they will have to admit He is the Son of God.

It also brought back memories of the films taken during World War 2 when Germany marched into Paris.  They show several raising their arms in salute and cheering, but others were in tears, they were in anguish knowing that their world has changed.

While Christians will have smiles, joy in their hearts and praise on their lips; others will realize that the King has come and they are too late in admitting that He is, indeed, the King, the Savior of the World.

I am thankful that I have received the King as my Savior and that even now I bow before Him, not out of fear or final admission, but out of thanksgiving for His love and sacrifice.

Later, Art :-)

July 26, Aunt and Uncle Day for those of you that are interested....

Well the Coos Bay kids are at the fair getting ready to show their animals.  Wish I could be there with them.

Going to have a pretty much home grown dinner tonight, all except the chicken came from Carla’s garden.  We will be having baked zucchini, fried/steamed beans and tomatoes along with the baked chicken.  For desert we will be having a blackberry cobbler.

Sure do appreciate Carla’s green thumb and tenacity to plant and take care of her garden.  It is nice having fresh vegetables at our finger tips and can pick and fix immediately.

Carla’s mom always had a large garden and a lot of corn that was ready for harvest towards the end of August.  I can remember going down there, arriving late at night and she would go out and pick me some ears fixing them for me, right then.

Now, THAT is fresh vegetables and boy were they good.  I would eat several ears of it before retiring.  When dinner time came along they always had meat, etc. – I was quite satisfied with a plate full of that corn on the cob.

Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

This morning, as I awoke, I started thinking about how unique we are.

In many ways we are similar, we have eyes, ears, mouths, bone structure, etc.  We have fingers and toes, we have skin that covers us and the list goes on.

We were designed by God.  We are made in His image, everyone – we share common characteristics.

Yet, we are also very unique.  We have heard that no two fingerprints are the same.  I thought about it for a moment:

There are over 7 Billion people in the world, today.  Ten fingers for each person, each finger print on each person’s hand is different from the others – 7 Billion people, times ten is 70 Billion different fingerprints – add that to the number of human beings that have lived on this planet since Noah and the number is probably two times and more than that.

Each of us has eyes that are unique.  They are so different that high end security locks are designed to open only to the eye that has been approved – all others are incapable of opening it.

Each person’s DNA is different from any other person and scientists are still learning the secrets hidden within them.

We are made alike, yet, we are not the same.  We may have similar characteristics with some people, we may share ideology, personalities, values and other things that make us feel comfortable in the presence of some people.

Mathew 10:29-30  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Each person, even identical twins, is different from every other person on the planet.

God created man, and while we are in the image of God, He made it so each of us is the same, but different from each other.

And He knows us as individuals.  He doesn’t know us by color or by nationality; those things are irrelevant as far as He is concerned.  He knows us as an individual, just like we know other people as individuals, we can name them, describe them, pick them out of a crowd.

What is important to God is what we have done with His Son, Jesus.  He looks into our hearts and knows whether we have accepted Him as our Savior, or not.  

While He knows all of us; while He loves and cares for all of us; only those that have chosen Jesus can be called His children and without that designation we are lost for eternity.

I have arrested many people over the years.  I genuinely felt bad about having to arrest some people, they were remorseful, they often were caught up in circumstances not of their own choosing and made bad choices.  But, my job was to make the arrest and turn them over to the court system.

I have seen judges hand out sentences sending people to jail or prison, people they wanted to forgive but the crime was committed and there was a judgement, demanded by the state laws, that had to be enforced and passed.

We know God is a loving God; I often wonder if He weeps as He passes sentences on those that have ignored their salvation – He knows each of us, intimately, there are times when it must be painful to pass judgement.

However, He has given all an opportunity, He has made it clear what we must do to spend eternity with Him and not to accept that gift of life is to our own peril. 

Later, Art :-)

It was 100 degrees at noon in the garden, but too warm in the sun and even the shade is too warm.  So, Carla came inside and started working on a quilt she started several years ago but put aside for other endeavors.  I think the work of her daughters as they make their quilts and show them to her is reviving her desire to finish it.

Psalm 40:1-3  I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

² He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

³ And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

There are days that I feel like I can never get through them; I realize that my struggles are nothing compared to many, but even knowing that I find myself feeling like I am in a horrible pit and have no way out.

People stand on the edge with bow and arrows and take their shots at me; I have no defense.  I am frustrated and in despair I can’t see a way to overcome my problem – and often rather than turning to the Lord I just wallow in my self-pity.

I have heard many preachers state that as Christians we should never be in the pits because we have Christ and we can depend on Him to deliver us from all that we encounter.

I am very much aware of that Christ and His Holy Spirit is available to me at all times; still the burden feels so heavy.

One of the reasons I like the Psalms is that the writers had struggles; they were struggling and nothing seemed to work.  Their enemies were defeating them and they felt had no way out.

But, eventually they did turn to God, they laid their burdens on Him and trusted that He loves them and will care for them.

Vs 5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

They ponder and meditate on His Word and listen to the Holy Spirit as He reminds them of God’s great power and how He has taken care of them and millions of others.  They know that He does care and His history both written and through their own and other’s testimony He has proven it.

I read of the trials of Paul, of Job, of David and many other Spirit filled leaders and my concerns are minute compared to them – and God took care of them.

Our trials are relative to us.  What we go through may seem minor in comparison to others, but God knows our heart and what we need to better serve Him and release our doubts to Him.

If even the smallest thing stands between us and our Lord, He is there to help us defeat it, overcome it and move on with out faith in Him.

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Lord, help me believe, every day and every minute of it.

Later, Art :-)

Summer is coming back with a vengeance in our neck of the woods.  However, nowhere near what many of you are experiencing. 

Had to laugh, yesterday, as Carla was trying to weed in the garden.  Abby, one of the kittens although an adult now, was continually getting in her path, rubbing up against her and seeking attention.  What makes it so funny is that outside she is always clamoring for attention, loves to be petted and loves tummy rubs – but inside you can barely get near her, let alone pet her.

Each of them has their own personalities and quirks, not much different from other animals, including humans.

Trying a new zucchini recipe; preparation isn’t much different than when we fry them, but they bake rather that fry and taste just as good.  Now, if I can just get the formula right – slice size, oven temperature and time in the oven, we will be having more of them.

Proverbs 30:24-28 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

²⁵ The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

²⁶ The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

²⁷ The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

²⁸ The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

I read an article from Daily Praise, this morning, on spiders.  It just gives further evidence that God created the universe and all that inhabit it.

It is amazing the intricacies of what God has done.  The minute details of His creations show His handiwork.

Here is the short article, well worth reading, if for no other reason than to learn more about spiders:

July 24, 2016
The Dazzling Spider
“The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” (Proverbs 30:28)

There is incredible detail and beauty in a typical spider web. Scientists have found that web strands are comparable in strength to fused quartz fibers. Zoologists discovered that spiders have one to four pairs of spinnerets located in their abdomen (the normal number are three pairs). In addition, there are seven silk glands, each making a strand for a unique purpose.

One silk gland produces thread for cocoons and another for wrapping up the prey. The two seem to be the same, but they require especially designed silk. Other glands make the walking thread so the spider doesn’t get snagged herself, while another makes the sticky material that captures the juicy dinner. Some of the finer threads are almost invisible to us unless the light is reflected just right. Yet spider silk is strong! Typically it has a tensile strength five times that of steel and elasticity—strong enough to stop a lumbering bumblebee at full speed.

Each spider engineers a style of web characteristic of its species and builds it perfectly on the first try. These complex glands and intricate design patterns have every evidence of design. It is obvious that the spider does not have the intelligence in its brain to learn how to do this. It is equally obvious that the ability to do so is already designed into the genetic instructions that were placed in the original spiders by their Creator.

Our text begins by Solomon noting “four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise,” and he lists the spider as one of those that are “wise.” Perhaps we could learn “wisdom” from them. HMM III

Adapted from Unlocking the Mysteries of Genesis by Dr. Henry Morris III.

I stand amazed at the power and creative genius of our Lord.  The more I see of scientific endeavors that provide more and more insight into this world and the creatures that occupy it, the more I am drawn to God.

We may never understand why He created certain creatures but, the dissecting of their makeup and abilities causes me to sit back and just go, “Wow!”

How can we deny God’s existence?  How can we possibly think of limiting, in our minds, the things He can do?

Everything in this world shows design; it shows that someone put it all together, piece by piece.

It shows planning, it shows coordination of one thing benefiting others.  The plants are as far different from animals as they can be, yet there is a symbiotic relationship between the plants and us animals.

We need Oxygen to live.  The plants need Carbon Dioxide.  We breath in air, use the Oxygen and then expel Carbon Dioxide; the plants do just the opposite, they ‘breathe’ in and use Carbon Dioxide and produce Oxygen.  They couldn’t exist without us and we can’t exist without them.

There are many such symbiotic relationships in the world, some are limited to one species helping one other species.  The evolution theory is that one needed that special help, so the other evolved into the ‘thing’ it needed.

I always ask though, if they were not created at the same time, how did they survive until something else evolved that could keep them alive?

Romans 1:19-21 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

²⁰ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Psalm 24:1-3 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

² For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

³ Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

Psalm 150:1-2 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

² Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Amen, and Amen!!!

Later, Art :-)

Quiet day today.  Carla got called in early for work and the animals are all hunkered down where it is cool and shady.  It is supposed to be a warm one again in our neck of the woods.

Job 16:19-21 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

²⁰ My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

²¹ O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Job went through some of the most terrifying tests that any man has gone through before or since.

He lost all of his wealth and all of his children.  His wife wanted him to do away with himself and his friends insisted that he was a sinner deserving of his punishment.

But, Job stood fast, he believed that God was still in charge and He still loved him.  He knew that He had a live advocate that would stand beside him and plead for him before God.

Job was one of the oldest if not the oldest book in the Bible.

But through his suffering and prayers we learn that God, even back then, assured him that there was a redeemer.  There was a man that would be with him when his time came to face God; the man would plead for him as a neighbor might plead for a friend; with passion and honesty.

That man would be an advocate for Job.

We too have a witness in heaven, who lives and will stand by us in our hour of judgement.  Even though there is a record of all we have done, both good and bad He will point out that we are His children and our sins have been forgiven because of our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior.

1 John 2:1-2  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Thank you, Lord!

Later, Art :-)

Yesterday was hot – 107 degrees in the garden.  We stayed inside most of it.  The garden isn’t to stressed out, yet, and the cooler day to day has to be helping.

Decided to have a larger lunch, today and smaller this evening – have been having late lunches for quite a while now, course we are having later breakfasts also, it has been quite a while since I have gotten up at 0500.

Tried a new recipe for baking zucchini, not to bad although it was supposed to be crisper.  First time though so we will try again, and it did taste fine.  Had tomatoes from the garden and I barbecued a steak from the steer that Rose raised – so we had another home grown meal.

Psalm 22:3-4  O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

I love the Psalms, they are a confirmation that the writers also went through trying times and were still able to praise God.  They voiced their frustrations, fears, and concerns but also wrote how they could turn to God and know that He was with them.

The world is going through many trying times and America is right in the thick of it.  We are seeing such hatred in our country that we wonder if it can ever come together and turn to God.

But other nations had serious problems, not the least of which was Israel, God’s chosen nation.  They were often down trodden, they went through long periods of slavery and banished from one land to another.

But, God was and is always with them. 

There are those that think God just doesn’t care.  But He showed us how much He cared when He sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. 

God inhabits His praises, the Holy Spirit enfolds our souls and strengthens our resolve to serve Him no matter what may happen.

We need to trust God, we need to pray for our country, for those that are and will be elected and for those that are so far away from Him that they refuse to recognize He exists. 

We cannot stand alone, satan has come with his quiver full of arrows and is destroying the very principles this country was founded on.  However, there are still people who believe that God is in charge, who worship Him and will never yield – just as there has always been.

If others hadn’t stood fast with Christ throughout the centuries then we would have had no opportunity to hear and accept the Gospel.

It is up to us, no matter the threats or derision, to lovingly share Christ with everyone we can.

We don’t know how much longer Christ is waiting until He comes again, but that isn’t our concern, our concern is for the souls that need Him NOW regardless of when Christ is going to come back for all of us.

No one has the promise of finishing the day alive, I have seen too many accidents and crimes where the victim was alive and within a few seconds was killed.  For them, it was as if Christ came through the clouds and most of them would not enter into the gates of heaven.

It can be daunting, even terrifying to share Christ, but when we go to others with the Holy Spirit’s blessing, He will free us of our fears and guide us as we testify to His love and grace.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Later, Art :-)

You know most children, when they need to have help, call on Dad and his abilities.  But, my ‘Dad” abilities skipped me all together and now, when there is a need, it is Dad who needs the help and my kids who come to my aide. 

Thank you all, each of you has given me a boost in one way or another, and as with Teresa meeting my needs twice as in many days, this week, I do appreciate ya!

Yesterday I stated that Gerry had challenged me with her bat story:

Do you have any bat stories?  Some years ago I was on the deck at dusk and I felt something on the back of my shirt.  I reached around and didn’t feel anything.  I went in the house and cooked dinner and as Bob and I were eating on T.V. trays a bat flew by and went into the kitchen.  Well, that baby came in on my shirt.  It ended up upstairs on the bamboo shade hanging upside down.  We got a fish net that is used for scooping up fish and caught it.  It was screaming all the way outside.  I am thankful that my hand did not touch that bat.  We caught one on fly paper in the barn that was spread eagle in the glue.  I thought they didn’t hit stuff.  Guess his radar was not working that night.

It did bring to mind an incident.  I had been on the force less than a year when my Training Officer, Norm, and I were dispatched to a ‘bat call.’  It was well after bar closing and a very quiet night.

We responded to the call and sure enough there was a bat in a young couples bedroom and they were scared to ‘death.’  While we don’t have any history or rabid bats it is still in the back of your mind and of course they aren’t supposed to come into your home, let alone your bedroom.

Norm and I went into the bedroom to see what we could do with it.  It was extremely elusive and it was several minutes – as I think back I want to say at least half an hour, not sure that is accurate, but it was quite a long time.

We got on different sides of the room and tried to keep it between us, didn’t work, he just went around us and it too was a rather noisy creature.  Finally we were able to throw a blanket over the thing and take it outside.

Of course the incident went on the call log and we put in our response saying something to the effect we caught the culprit and released him.

The next day we came to work just before midnight and were met with grins and guffaws.  Seems it was also a slow news day and the reporter picked up on the call.

The headline read “Batman and Robin save the day.”  Fortunately they didn’t identify us by name, just that we had a struggle with that little critter, or we never would have lived it down.  As it was we were address by our new nicknames for a couple of weeks.

Psalm 29:1-5 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

² Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

³ The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.

⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

⁵ The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

One of my many weaknesses is that I just do not trust God enough.  I forget how great He is, how powerful and how no matter the situation He is aware of my struggles and concerns.

I pray to Him to do something on my behalf, or the behalf of someone else.  I tell Him that I know He can do all things, that He is not limited by man’s ideas of thoughts.  It tell Him that I believe He can control every part of my life and guide me in my endeavors.

And then, all too frequently, then the next thing I do is do what ‘I’ think is the best thing to do.

Fortunately, most of the time it comes out okay, but when it doesn’t and I finally realize that my actions caused the problem to be worse and I ask forgiveness.  How much better to wait on Him.

I am impatient, I always have been, and while I can plan and organize I tend to want to get right into the work without asking or at least waiting for His counsel.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

But I too often fail to listen.

2 Corinthians 6:4-5  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

⁵ In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

I need that kind of patience, that no matter what is happening around me, I trust the God is in charge and He will do what He says He will do in His time – and I must not try to force it.

Later, Art :-)

Smoking a pork roast covered with bacon from William’s hog – Carla has picked beans and used some of that same bacon to steam them, scorch them a bit and then let them steam and cook a few hours – and I will be grilling some zucchini a little later – will be a home grown meal tonight.

I have a great story on hummingbirds shared by Gerry, she gave me permission to pass it along.

A hummingbird happening.  The other day early in the morning I heard a crash in the living room and knew it was my year old cat who thinks she is a kitten.  When I went into the living room I saw the tea kettle that goes on the wood stove, it was on the floor.  She usually walks around things.  Then I heard a noise in the wood stove.  It was a bird.  So that is what made her crazy.  I opened the door a crack and out it flew and went to the glass door like it knew the floor plan.  The cat was right behind.  I grabbed the cat and put her in the bathroom.  Then I took a towel and threw it over the hummingbird.  I walked to the front door all the while the birds was screaming.  Almost sounded like a Jay.  It flew away soot and all.  It left behind two feathers that were about 1 ½ in. long.  I layed them on a t.v. tray.  A  couple of days later the cat was sitting on the tray and was shaking her head.  I saw that she had a feather on the end of her nose.  If was standing up straight from her nose.  I said her name and she turned and when she did she was looking cross eyed at the feather.  I guess you would have to be here to appreciate how funny it was.  I rescued her nose.  We have three feeders across the deck and I fill them all the time.  Someday I am going to have a bird stuck in my forehead I just know it.

Thanks, Gerry, loved it!

She passed on another one on a bat and I will post it along with my own experience with a bat while on duty with the P.D. tomorrow.

Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

As we watch the news and see the attacks, both physical and vocal against law enforcement officers around the nation I am greatly troubled.

Not just because these are my brothers and sisters in arm, not just because an attack on police is an attack on our very system of justice, but because politicians are latching onto the stories and are using it to berate and belittle the profession.

They are using the grief of all of us to their benefit, financially and to further their own agenda of chaos to obtain power.  They are heaping coals of hatred on the police and making them the enemy of not only the blacks but anyone who has dealings with them.

They are stirring up the emotions and everything is the police officers’ fault.  Yet, without the police there would be nothing but anarchy in our country.  We look at the leaders who have told police not to take action in riots and see the results, thousands of criminals taking advantage of their neighbors, stealing and destroying their property.

Have police made errors, yes.  Have there been shootings that were not justified, yes.  However, those are few and far between and the system has ways of dealing with those officers that use unnecessary force.

The police are being scrutinized over every minute of their day.  That is not necessarily a bad thing, since when everything is known about most of these incidents it is found the police used good judgement.  But, many of the videos that hit social media are only showing part of the contact, not all of it and then they incite others to take action that is not only detrimental to the communities they live in but make it even more difficult for officers to do their job.

Now, that officers are not only being scrutinized with every move, but they have to be hyper alert, because they know there are criminals out there deliberately targeting them.

There has always been a threat to officers and they have weighed that threat and still go to work every day to protect their community from criminals.

They know that on almost every call they are sent on someone is not going to be happy with them.  Many situations are loaded with emotion and violence, yet, the officer must go into the middle of it and restore peace as best they can.

If they make an arrest that person is not happy and if it is a domestic violence call, it isn’t unusual for the offended spouse becoming upset and attacking the officer(s); no matter the call, no matter the circumstance, no matter how often the officer may have had contact with the people in the past he/she knows that it can go sour in a moment and their lives are in danger.

The police grow weary over this, I have seen many good officers give up the profession because they just can’t deal with the depravity of people and the seemingly endless streams of suspects committing crimes over and over to only receive a ‘slap’ on the wrist and sent back out to attack citizens.

They are tired of seeing the look of anguish in the eyes of their spouses and children as they put the uniform on and go to work – none of them knowing if this is the last time they see each other.

They are tired and weary of the hatred spewed out by suspects, families and now politicians who would rather blame the police than take a good look at what society has been allowing these past few years.  What society has done with those that commit crimes and instead of being held accountable are given excuses for their bad behavior.

And let us not be weary in well doing:

Even still most officers don’t give it a second thought, they put on their uniform, they get in their patrol car and they go about the business of protecting the public, answer calls for help and put their lives on the line every single day.

The hyperbole being spouted by the media and the ‘leaders’ in our nation is creating a much more dangerous situation for our officers, they have to be on guard even more than usual and that can lead to further claims of excess force.

I have said it before, let’s put some of those ‘leaders’ in patrol cars with officers and make them respond to these calls of violence, make them go in and see what awaits officers on these calls and how they have to deal with them.

The only problem with this is the officer is going to feel an obligation to protect that ‘leader’ and put an even greater strain on their ability to handle the situation.

I can remember the first time we had a barricaded subject in a house.  He was threatening suicide, we didn’t know what he was going to do.  We had no training in this, no department had that kind of training, we just did what we could based on our experiences and other training.

Still, this was obviously a mentally disturbed young man, he had the means to take his life and we couldn’t just leave him there.

We go the idea of calling mental health and asking them to come to the command post.  We wanted advice, but they refused to come, the reasons being that they didn’t have any training in dealing with someone who was acting ‘out’ they were afraid of making it worse.  They would be glad to help him once we got him into custody and calmed down.

As I see the ‘leaders’ and politicians making sweeping claims against the police, I am reminded of that time – they can’t help in a crisis, they can only make it worse.  But instead of trying to helping after the fact, they make if even worse by fanning the flames of hatred.  Instead of dealing with the root cause of disrespect, selfishness and unwillingness to accept accountability for actions and responsibility and consequences of unlawful actions, they blame the police.

If you were an officer wouldn’t you be weary also?  (I know many of you have worn the colors and some are still wearing them and you have my undying love and appreciation – and more importantly, my prayers.)

I don’t want to see our officers so weary of their work that they finally say, I give up and let the criminals in all levels of society and those that protect them, win.

Later, Art :-)

Sitting here watching the humming birds get their drinks from the feeders.  It always amazes me when I see the pictures and recordings of several birds hovering around a feeder, waiting patiently for those using it to finish.

Not here, the first thing we learned was that there are always those than guard the nectar and try to chase the others away from it.  He will place himself in a strategic location so that he can watch all of the feeders we have and then go after any of the others that approach any of them.

Most of the others have learned that when he goes after one of them, they can then sneak in and drink away.  While it isn’t the battle we have had in years past, there is still that one bully using more energy to chase the others off than he needs to, there is plenty for all of them.  – To the point where we fill them up with about a quart and a half every day.

Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

² Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

³ There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

⁴ Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

What a grand and wonderful world God has set us upon.  Even the driest desert or the coldest spot have evidence of God’s hand.

The deepest sea, the highest mountains have evidence of God’s hand.

The mightiest machine, the tallest building, the microscope that can see the minutest particle or the finest telescope capable of seeing millions of miles into space cannot match the glorious detail of God’s creations.

The collective wisdom of all mankind or the most elaborate computers cannot come close to the Master and Creator of the universe.

Man can do some duplication of what God has created, but he cannot match the fullness of God’s Hand.

Reminds me of the discussion between the scientist and God.

The scientist told God that mankind has evolved so much in the millions of years he has been on earth that he can do anything God can do – even create a human for soil of the earth.

God said, “show me.”

The scientist smugly scooped up some dirt off the ground and started to place it in a container.

God reached over and held his hand, “create your own soil, as I did.”

We the religious leaders and priests of the religion of evolution have managed to commandeer the science papers, magazines, text books and other ‘official’ documents proclaiming that it took billions of years to get where the universe is today.

It took over a hundred thousand years for man to reach the state he is currently.

It was all by happenstance.  The universe started from a minute speck of energy which exploded and then expanded to create all the planets and stars and all the things on them, simply by accident. 

Animals and plants were built over billions of years from rocks or some other similar item, that was devoid of any and all life as we know it.

The evolutionists then laugh at us, for believing in a God that created all things within six days.  A God that made the diversity of the things on earth and each small detail of each plant and animal He Created, why even if a God could do that it would take millions of years to plan, design and create all the intricate things here on earth.

Both ‘theories’ demand that we have faith in what we believe.  To me, it makes much more sense that God created, not by letting things take its course, but by deliberate actions made because of His intelligence and imagination.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Now, that is what I believe.

Later, Art :-)

I was watching a short clip the other day of a man talking about the recent deaths of two black men by police officers and he also mentioned the attacks on the police officers in Dallas, he then condemned all violence – and how it has to stop.

He then said, police officers have to stop the mentality of ‘shoot to kill.’  It was obvious he was distressed and sincere on wanting to see violence curbed. 

But it was just as obvious that he didn’t know anything about the training officers go through and why ‘shoot to kill’ is not a term, but ‘shoot to stop the threat’ is what needs to be done.

Yes, there was a time when that phrase was used.  It was used because when an officer pulls his gun he needs to fully understand that if he pulls the trigger someone could die.

He/She is trained to shoot for the body mass because that is what is most likely going to be needed to stop the person from using or continuing to use deadly force.  People who think that the officer should shoot for arms or legs or shoot the gun out of the suspect hands is what should be done have watched too many movies.  The reality is quite different.

Any time an officer pulls a gun the adrenaline starts flowing – the officer knows that there is danger and the weapon in hand may be the only answer to it.  Often the display of the gun is sufficient to get people’s attention, but it if is not and the trigger must be pulled it is because the threat of violence from the suspect is imminent.

If it is that serious then a shot to the body mass gives the officer the best chance to stop the threat and protect innocent lives.

But it is more than just use of a gun.  People do not know what an officer does.  They may have ideas but until they have been in a squad car, on a busy night in a busy and crime ridden area they have no real life experiences to base their ideas on.

I hear and read over and over again that the officers need to put themselves in the place of people of color; that they have no idea what it is like to be a black person stopped by an officer.

I do understand that perception, however, the leaders of these movements, leaders in the communities, especially those that have high profiles, need to ride a few nights with officers to see, from the officer’s standpoint, what is going on in their cities.  They may think they know, but officers see things that most citizens don’t and have no idea what is happening in their communities.

Almost every department has some kind of ride along policy and it would be very easy for these people to get that first-hand experience. 

It also wouldn’t hurt for them to go through the shoot, don’t shoot scenarios that officers must go through.  They would see how the officer often times only has split seconds to make a decision and if it is the wrong one they could be killed.

The media and many organizations are focused on what the police are doing wrong – but have no idea what it is like to stop a car load of people (no matter the color) at night in a high crime scene area.  Until they understand what the officer goes through in those and other situations they are not being part of the solution, they are part of the problem.

In all this rhetoric I see where the police are being blamed for everything, but I don’t see where parents and society in general are taking any responsibility for the criminals that are creating havoc in the street and forcing the officers to use deadly force.

Before our ‘leaders’ talk about how we must pull together, how we must look at all officers as the bad guy – they should spend a few nights working family violence cases, fights, responding to calls for help, stopping cars on dark streets in dangerous neighborhoods among the many type calls and activities officers handle on a regular basis.

Until they do, they have no business telling police officers they are too irresponsible and poorly trained. 

Psalm 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Mathew 17:19-21 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁰ And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

²¹ Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Why do we pray?

I would say, because we are asking God to do something, either for us or someone else. 

But are we expecting God to do something, or are we just going through the motions without any real anticipation of an answer?

Do we have faith that God will act upon our request, or, again, do we do it out of tradition, because we are expected to pray – but, we don’t really think it will be answered or do any good?

When I was a boy, no, from my parents meant, NO.  I learned quickly that getting a no from one of them and then going to the other to get what I wanted could lead to a good spanking.

No, meant no.  I grew up with that.  That is the way we raised our children, whining or asking, repeatedly only made my resolve firmer.  I know I wasn’t always right and sometimes we reversed the decision after thinking about it or talking it over with Carla – who, by the way also said no, meant no.

But I often find myself in that same mindset when I go to God in prayer, asking for His intervention, or assistance in one thing or another.  I figure that if I ask and don’t see His hand, then it is enough, I will not keep ‘bugging’ Him for an answer.

But I also realize that is not always how He works.  If I am asking out of obligation, rather than sincere desire for His guidance and help, then am I really praying, in faith?

Is it laziness that I don’t continue in prayer for certain things? 

Do I not have the true belief that God will answer my prayer in an affirmative manner (at least what I deem is good?)

O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Do I believe that I can truly trust in God, or am I just going through the gestures because that is what we are ‘supposed to do?

God has many conditions He puts on His response to prayer, they aren’t difficult, but we often let ourselves down because we do not follow them.

Are we asking from a heart that is truly obedient to Him?  Are we asking for something that falls within the framework of what is acceptable to Him?  Are we asking in faith, believing that He has the ability to answer our prayers – and that He will?

There are several others, of course, but they all come down to us having trust in God and that He responds in an appropriate manner no matter how he responds.

But while I don’t believe in ‘bugging’ the Lord, I also understand that sometimes there is a need for more than one time praying - goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Jesus is clearly saying not only is it okay to ask God to intervene, heal, perform a miracle, or the many other things that we ask for, sometimes we must ask more than once, sometimes we must not only pray but fast.

Jesus spent hours in prayer, He believed in them and He had faith in God to do what must be done.  His prayers were conversations with God, where not only did He say what He wanted to say, but He listened to what God said to Him and we should follow His example.

I need to truly believe in God, trust in Him, and have faith in Him.  Far too often I have asked God to help me, and then went off, immediately and did what I thought was best.

There are times that we have but a moment to pray and ask for His help, but most of the time we have minutes, hours, days, weeks or longer to listen to Him and to have faith that He will guide us in what we need to do, that He will indeed let us know His answer.

Later, Art :-)

Carla brought up a bucket loaded with seedless blackberries and a bucket with the smaller tomatoes.  She also picked a couple of larger tomatoes, but they are a little greener that she first realized – But that I will be eating BACON, tomato, swiss cheese on Sour dough bread as a sandwich before the week is over!!!!

Getting warmer, to be expected; official readings say it was 87 today, however, we had 94 in Carla’s garden.  Supposed to be in mid-to low 80’s the rest of the week, we shall see.

Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

One of the things that I am thankful for is those young people who took me into their hearts on behalf of Carla, prayed and helped me find the Lord.

Prior to their witnessing and showing of love, I had no idea who Jesus really is – Oh, I knew He was the Son of God, but I didn’t appreciate His sacrifice and His resurrection.

I knew of His life, I knew of His Apostles, I knew the Bible stories, I knew His mother and how He was born and how He died, but I never connected those facts with the most important fact of all, Jesus was the Christ.

Jesus was the Savior and His death was followed by His resurrection.  I knew He rose again, but I had no idea what the significance of that act was.

We meet people every single day that think they know Jesus.  But do not understand Him.  They think they have a means into heaven, but have never yielded their life to Him.

They may go to church every Sunday.  They may do ‘good works,’ they may read the Bible.  They may even pray to God.

But they haven’t understood that those actions are not sufficient for salvation.  Until they confess their sins before God, not just man, and then ask forgiveness through Christ they are not on the right path, it is a similar one.  In many ways it runs parallel, but it doesn’t end at the gateway to heaven.  It veers off to a bad end.

They haven’t bowed their knees before Him, they have not Confess(d) that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Many consider themselves Christians, but they are under a false label and even worse a false assumption.

We need to listen to them and guide them to listen to the Holy Spirit’s pleading in their hearts.  They need to understand that salvation doesn’t come from just knowing who Jesus is, but in having faith in Him, asking His forgiveness and accepting His blood to wash away their sins.

I attended a Church that the world considers Christian; however, I did not understand that I needed to be born again.  My allegiance was to the Church, not to Jesus the Christ.

Many people claim that the term ‘born again Christian’ is not necessary; a Christian by definition is a follower of Christ.  Many give that term in a derogatory manner, as if the people who say they are a ‘born again Christian’ are somehow tainted in the head and foolish.

I beg to differ, if I was asked if I was a Christian I would have said, ‘Yes.’  Because my church said by following their teachings and beliefs I would be allowed into heaven.

We know that is not the case.  No church can get us into heaven, only the ‘born again Christian’ the Christian that understands who Jesus is, and what His death and resurrection stands for AND accepts that death and resurrection as the only way they can be saved and be taken into heaven, is going to go through those ‘pearly gates.’

While the new term is an ‘Evangelical Christian’ it only states what we do, we tell others and encourage them to find Christ, but it doesn’t fully describe who we are in Christ, how we became that kind of Christian.

Me?  I am, a ‘Born again Christian.’

Later, Art :-)