I have volunteered and then asked to give a quick interview as to why I listen to and support the Classic Radio Station, AllClassical FM in Portland.  As I talked with Amy, from the station, we talked about my favorite composer, Aaron Copeland; and how his music impacted me. 

It looks like I will be interviewed by my favorite host, Christa.  Looking forward to it.

Thus begins this day’s comments.

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” a very poignant song about the crucifixion of Christ based on the legend of one of the Roman soldiers that WAS there, carried the robe away and was so troubled in his mind that he would ask that question.  The book ‘The Robe’ seems to be based on that legend.  (A lot of the theology isn’t biblical, but the story is still good.)

The soldier would ask that question and then, realizing they couldn’t have been there, would say, no, you couldn’t have been, could you?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

It brings to mind an early Television Program hosted by Walter Cronkite “You are there.”

The theme composition for the program was written by Copeland, “Fanfare for the common man!”  It is a powerful piece of music and I think of that program every time I hear it – and I could listen to it all day long.

Each week Cronkite would have reporters at the scene of an historical event, reporting back to him – live; they would do interviews just like it would be done in the 1950’s.  The main character would give his statements and the reporter would describe what was going on and also interviewed others.

It could be very poignant; I remember the ones on Socrates and Joan of Arc in particular.  As a young boy, watching at his grandmother’s house, it felt real – even though I knew it was a play.

Cronkite would close the show with these words:

"What sort of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times... all things are as they were then.....and you were there."  Walter Cronkite

I remember the day I accepted Christ, like it was yesterday.

For the first time, I went to the high school/college age service which was conducted just before the regular evening service.  Pud Earp was giving his last class on the book of Revelations.  One of his statements was something like:  “I would go home after services, knowing that I wasn’t saved and tremble in my bed; before I accepted Christ.”

I don’t remember what the sermon was, but the two services (along with the Holy Spirit) convinced me that I needed salvation.  I needed to go to the altar and confess my sins and ask God’s forgiveness through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

That night, I was there when they crucified my Lord.

It had begun as a day like all days, filled with ordinary things done on an ordinary, for me, Sunday.  Large lunch, etc.  But that night it was filled with an event that altered and illuminated my life.....and all things were as they were when Christ was crucified – and I was there.

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I am also crucified with Christ, and He lives within me.

God knew me from the day I was conceived.  He was, is and always will be with me.  Even before I accepted His Son, He had His hand on my life.  But, that one day, the most important day of my life, I was there when they crucified my Lord.

And I will always praise Him.

Psalm 139:12-14 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

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

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

Later, Art (-:

Got up to a golden sun lit Cherry Heights as I look across the valley – both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams were gleaming white under a blue sky – what a great beginning to our day!

Before I get too far along, today, and forget, I want to first thank a couple of local businesses for their professionalism, honesty and ability to get the job done.

I see, on occasion, people ask, on Facebook, about local mechanics, and I am sure they probably have asked, in the past, for a good body shop.

Cascade Motors have worked on all of my cars for over 25 years.

Rich and his men are careful, knowledgeable and get the job done right and quickly.  He is fair and dependable.

He is also honest.  Carla drove our 1989 Lincoln into the ground, but she wouldn’t give it up. 

Finally I thought I had a way of getting her to let go.  It appeared the alternator gave up and there was just no point in replacing it, again – but she wasn’t real sure about that.

I asked Rich to tell her the car had finally died, he looked at me and said, “I can’t tell her that!”  He got the car back to his shop. 

I told him that if it was indeed the alternator there was no point in replacing it – then he called back, “Art, it is under warranty – you get a new one!”

She drove it for a few more months before she finally allowed me to get rid of it.

Rich had kept that thing on life support for years.  He does a good job, his bills are more than fair.  He treats his customers as friends and he won’t let you down.

The other business is Fix Auto The Dalles, the owners are Sky and Kathleen, another friendly business.  That same 1989 Lincoln was rear ended several years before I could get Carla to give it up.

That was my first experience with Sky.  The insurance company was going to total it, but after discussion they had me take it to Sky’s where he and his guys fixed it and made it as good as new. 

Since then we have had a few other minor things done over the years and have never been disappointed.

Yes, there are other mechanic shops and body shops in town and I cannot speak for their quality, I just know that whenever I have a vehicle problem, these two businesses get my business!

----

“When a person makes a mistake and has to be forgiven, the shadow may hang over him or her because it is hard for other people to forget. But when God forgives, He begins the new page right there, and then the devil runs up and says, "What about this person's past?" God replies: "What past? There is no past. We started out fresh when he came to Me and I forgave him”  AW Tozer

Isaiah 43:25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.  KJV

Satan absolutely hates this. He does all he can to dredge up our memory of our sins as often as possible – usually in the 0-dark-thirty hours of the morning when we can’t get back to sleep.

Just because God has forgiven our sin and will no longer remember it doesn’t mean that others have forgotten or forgiven, even ourselves.

Sometimes we have destroyed other people(s)’ faith in us, and they feel they can no longer trust us.  Sometimes we give people pause to think before they will speak up for us.

Sometimes the sin was a crime and we still have to face the consequences of that sin.

And then, there is our own memory, our own conscience.  Satan will use that against us as long as we allow him.

I have had many 0-dark-thirty moments where I can’t get back to sleep and satan hammers me with my past.

But God HAS forgiven us.  He HAS given us a new start.

He has given us the Blood of Jesus to cover our sins.

Colossians 1:12-14  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Amen!!

Later, Art (-:

Left over ham bone, ham and 15 ‘dry’ bean mix along with onions, peppers, celery, garlic, herbs and spices simmering on the stove makes for a great smell coming into the house.

Tastes, great.  Thought about some corn bread, but we have some of Carla’s great homemade rolls to eat with it.

We have so many people who want to blame the police for most of their ills.  Some in society are condoning and in some instances encourage acts of violence against the police. 

Police officers have always faced the fact that some day they may be attacked with lethal force, they may have to die in the line of duty.  It isn’t something they dwell on, it is just an accepted fact.

They know when they put a uniform on their badge is a target for criminals of all ages.  While there are some officers that tarnish that badge the vast majority wear it with pride and desire to truly serve their community.

At any given time, throughout America, there are around 100,000 officers patrolling our city and county streets and neighborhoods.  One hundred thousand, how many complaints against a police officer are generate on any given day, week or even year? 

Not many, the percentage cannot even be calculated it is so small.

In addition there are thousands of State Police officers patrolling our highways and freeways.

It took years to put those officers on the road.  Very few people can qualify to be a police officer.  The selection process is demanding and very thorough.

Filling a vacancy in a department could take 6 months to a year depending on the number of initially qualified candidates.

Then it takes another year of academy and in house training to teach them the law, train them in the use of the laws, policies and procedures, the use of their equipment, train them in dealing with people of all ages, ‘races,’ (I hate that term, we are ALL of one race, HUMAN, the difference is the skin tone) personalities, life like training in situations where the officer’s life can be placed in danger, etc.

Out of a hundred applicants, a department is fortunate if they can get one or two officers to put on the road.  And once there, after the initial training, they have anywhere from a year to two and sometimes more of probationary status where they can be discharged for anything.

Administrators learned a long time ago that people can keep up a façade only for a few months, time and experiences will tell if they aren’t who they appear to be, thus the long probationary periods.

Why am I telling you all of this?  For every officer that is killed, injured or says “enough is enough it isn’t worth risking my life and my family’s future” and resigns, it is going to take that long to replace him/her.  AND that is just the start, the new officer isn’t seasoned and is going to take years to be a veteran, knowing what to do in almost any situation.

And the list of qualified applicants is diminishing, fewer people want to face that kind of risk when they can make more money, better hours and benefits and not put their life or family at risk doing something else.

So what is going to end up happening?  Who is going to be there to stop neighbors from escalating violent words to violent actions?

Who is going to be there to protect those that cannot protect themselves?  Who is going to go into emotion laden family disturbances and calm things down?

Counselors, social workers only deal with the aftermath, when it is safer.  They don’t go into those charged situations, it is much too dangerous.

I could go on, but hopefully people get the picture, if we continue making police the targets, if we continue rationalizing criminal behavior, they we are going to turn into a state of anarchy.

There are those that think we should just declare martial law, already, putting people untrained in the day to day requirements of working out solutions with people, on point.  What do you think is going to happen then?

What I believe we need to do, as a country, as citizens is prosecute to the fullest those that are rioting and looting, there are dozens of witnesses and many cameras documenting these crimes – and they need to be turned over to law enforcement and the criminals identified.

The prosecutors should be using every law they can to prosecute those that participate in these violent criminal conduct.

Victims need to be fully compensated for their losses and not have to depend on insurance policies to cover them – that will soon stop or the cost will be too high to continue.

If we continue as we are now, there won’t be enough police to cover a shift, let alone offering 24 hour protection.  

I’ll get off my soap box now, I realize that most of you agree with what I am saying, but I had to get if off my chest, again.

Job 1:7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

There are so many television programs and movies that glorify what satan stands for, or minimizes who God is and His commandments, that we are losing out to satan and he loves it.

The more the media makes satan look like just another person, misunderstood and aggrieved from God’s depiction of him, the more people become entrapped in those lies and the harder it is for them to understand sin and forgiveness from God.

Satan never stops, he never gets tired.  If he can get people to think he isn’t dangerous, why that is great.  If he can get Christians to give up, stop witnessing, stop living for God, that is a medal on his chest.

The Bible declares the dangers of satan; he warns us to be o the look out.  He tells us of his desires and methods.

And unfortunately we just don’t accept that fact.  We let our guard down and he attacks us.  He know where we are vulnerable and if we don’t continually watch out, asking God for His help he will wound us there.

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

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

He has changed one iota from his time in the garden, through the thousands of years to today’s times.  He will use every possible means at his disposal to defeat God through His people.

While we know, in the end, it will not work.  We don’t know when the ‘end’ is and until Christ comes back we have to be the soldiers here on earth to resist and help others to resist satan’s plans.

God know we cannot do this alone, so He has given us the tools and ability – through His Word and the Holy Spirit – to stand stedfast in the faith.

Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Whether we want to or not, we are in a war.  We made a choice to be in God’s army when we accepted Christ.

The world follows satan. 

There is no middle ground, no matter how people try to find one.

We are either with God, or we are with satan.

We have to rededicate our life to Christ daily if we want to keep from being a soldier who has fallen by the wayside and is no longer fit for duty.

Lord, help me to be mindful that YOU are my General and my allegiance must always be to you.

Later, Art (-:

Light fog today, the sun peaks through occasionally.  Unlike the other side of the mountains where lots of rain has fallen and caused a lot of problem, we have had just a few drizzles, I can handle that.

Still the animals remain inside, preferring that to the cooler moisture laden air outside.

Looks like our hummingbirds are down to our normal winter flock of 3-4.  Just have to keep their feeder fresh and free from the freezing that will be coming soon.

Hebrew 12:28-29  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.

In our relationship with God we all too frequently forget that He has the power to do whatever He wants, with US.

We don’t take into consideration the responsibility we have in serving Him.

Moses made a mistake when he failed to do as he was told:

Numbers 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

That’s pretty direct, pretty simple, just speak to the rock and it will provide water.

However, Moses was very upset with the people and let his anger show:

Verses 9-11 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.

¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

¹¹ And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

It is not that big of a deal, right, I mean instead of telling the rock to bring forth water, he struck it just like he did at

Horeb where God told him to strike the rock for water.

And yes, he did kinda equate himself with God, since he said ‘must WE fetch water out of this rock?”

What difference does it really make, he got the water anyway, it wasn’t that major of a sin.

But it was, wasn’t it?

Verse 12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Moses was punished for his disobedience.  Yes, he remained in charge and he remained the leader of the Jewish congregation.

He continued to make many decisions that were supported by God, but God’s rebuke was serious, because Moses’ sin was serious.

God denied him the blessing of crossing over to the Promised Land.

God may leave us in our positions of responsibilities or wherever He has placed us, but when we disobey Him, we may lose out on a blessing that was prepared for us and because we disobeyed He takes it from us.

It is good that we are adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ.

It is good that we don’t have to go through a series of sacrifices to purify our hearts.

It is good that we can call God our Father and Jesus our friend and brother.

It is good that the Holy Spirit dwells within us and helps guide us through this life.

It is good that we have direct access to God and don’t have to go through a whole bunch of people to get to Him.

It is good that when we sin we have an advocate with the Father and we know we will be forgiven.

It is all good.

But with our familiarity with God it is easy to forget that should we choose to disobey Him there are consequences; one of which is missing out on the many blessing that are available to us.

God is not just something we go to and relate with, He is someone who wants to give us an opportunity to grow and when we fail we miss out.

It is just like the football player who has natural abilities and seems invincible.  If he doesn’t practice, if he doesn’t stay in shape then he will be benched by the coach, even if that coach is his father.

Failing to obey God has consequences.  Despite some people’s thoughts that it is better not to ask permission, just do what they want and ask forgiveness after - It is far better to strive to do what God wants us to do than to ask forgiveness for disobeying Him.

I need to remember I am responsible to Him and not become so ‘familiar’ I take Him for granted - The consequences may be far greater than I can ever realize.

Later, Art (-:

Well yesterday was a fulfilling day, both with food and with fellowship with Teresa and Ian and phone calls to others.

Lots of leftovers for the next few days, I can handle that.

Carla is working another full day today; they are quite busy at the store.  She said they reached their daily goal, set by Corporate, early Wednesday, which helps take the pressure off the staff.

She enjoys working there, for the most part, and has her ‘regulars’ that like to see her, so it is fulfilling for her.

We were watching a program on RFD channel’s ‘Equestrian Nation,’ this morning.  Although I haven’t ridden for quite some time I enjoy watching that program and ‘Gentle Giants’ a program on the big draft horses, love the horses.

This morning (previously taped) on the Equestrian Nation the program was about a new contest for horse and rider called ‘Mountain Trail Challenge.’  It looks to be a challenge, indeed, and I know many of you ride, just wondered if you have heard or participated in the contest.

One of the persons responsible for the contest showed how the challenged worked as he went around the course demonstrating with his horse what was expected; naturally, he did it without a flaw.

As Carla and I watched (we were having breakfast during the program prior to her heading out) Carla pointed out that the rider was using ONLY a neck rein, no bit nor head stall.

I had never seen that before, let alone with the poise and natural fluidly of horse and rider on this course – and even though it was the ‘novice’ course it is still challenging, as was demonstrated by some of the participants later in the actual  contest, it was quite a demonstration.

Next week they will have the more advanced course, I am looking forward to it. 

I am always amazed when I see feats of skill with rider and horse as they ride through challenges – the good ones act as one and it is so hard to see how they are communicating.

Please, if you know about or have participated in the contest, let me know.  I would enjoy your thoughts.

Mathew 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven  KJV

“It may surprise you that Aldous Huxley, often a critic of orthodox and evangelical Christianity, has been quoted as saying: "My kingdom go is the necessary correlary to Thy kingdom come."...

Certainly His kingdom can never be realized in my life until my own selfish kingdom is deposed. It is when I resign, when I am no longer king of my domain that Jesus Christ will become king of my life.”  AW Tozer

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.

Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

While not in the same order, these verses and commentary were in my e-mail box this morning.

There are times that a theme seems to come to me, one that I know I must pay attention to – this morning is one of those times.

I had never really considered that MY life, my little interpretation of my little world and the way I react to it is my ‘kingdom.’  But, it makes sense; I do what I do, because of my values and what I desire.

I am ‘the King’ of MY domain.  – okay when Carla lets me...

Unfortunately, it often times conflicts with God’s Kingdom and what He has told me to do.

I have read that verse and thought ‘how can I possibly do what the angels in heaven do, obey so unfailingly and so quickly’ and then I go on – not really looking for an answer.

Yet, I know that God really can work within us and when we put our own self aside, we can better serve Him.

Part of that service, no matter what our activity, whether avocation, vocation, hobby, shopping, no matter what we are doing, if we do it with the idea that God is watching, that we can somehow make our activity a tribute to Him, others will see Christ in us.

Paul’s statement:  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do “And seen in ME DO!” has always worried me. 

I KNOW people watch Christians to see how they will handle situations, how they will respond to others, how they live their life and see if it lines up with what they are saying.

I may be the only professing Christian someone knows, to that person I am the example of God’s child, and I so frequently fail in my duties to Him.

I know that I have cast a bad shadow of the character of Christians in my past.  I know that I have not lived up to everything that Christ wants me to be.

There are times that I can say, do what I do for Christ – but if I say that then I had better be prepared to ALWAYS do that, and it is terrifying to me.

I don’t want to be a stumbling block to others; I want them to see Christ’s work and want to receive that same blessing, forgiveness and salvation.

Today is a reminder of my responsibilities to God to live, always for Him, in all I do and with all I interact with.

Paul gave us the example we need to all other people to see Christ in us.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Paul acknowledged his past sins, he told of them often, not to ‘brag’ but to show us that even when we have done things against God, we can come to Him and seek forgiveness.

We have the example of Paul, following Christ, who can be followed as we read His Word and listen to the Holy Spirit as He works within us.

I know I get frustrated with myself at times.  I know that I have failed Him, even recently, but I also know that He knows my heart and He will continually let me work with Him as long as I concede I have sinned and ask His forgiveness – sincerely, not figuratively – and strive to do better.

Later, Art (-:

In America, on this day of Thanksgiving, may our Lord give you peace and comfort. 

No matter our circumstances God loves us and wishes to bless us.

Many will be alone today, but God can help fill the hole in their heart and bring peace within.

Many will be in pain today, it is the first time they have spent Thanksgiving without a special person being there and knowing they will never be there again.

We never completely fill that hole.  It hurts and there is always a void.

We have people who are suffering from injuries or illnesses, and it is so hard for them to get ‘up’ for this and other holidays.

We have people who are caring for these people trying to make this a special day, while they too are hurting for their friend or loved one.

We have people who have been ostracized from family and friends, and they are hurting – wondering if they will ever be together again.

We have people who are in our jails and prisons, separated from family and friends and longing for their freedom.

We have people who are so depressed that they are thinking of ending their lives, hoping that the pain will go away – and it is even more pronounced during this holiday.

All deserve our prayers for them.

Our country has been broken and torn for several years, the pain is coming to the surface on both sides, and some have no way of dealing with their emotions, they are just overwhelmed.

Our country and our citizens need our prayers for them.

I am thankful for my family, my friends, my health – although it could be better, it is not that bad – the men and women who stand between us and evil – Pastors, Christians, Military personnel, law enforcement – men and women willing to risk their lives for our safety.

I am thankful for those that work with their hands, creating and building things that make my life easier.  For scientists that have discover new ways to keep our bodies healthy and ways to help us overcome those challenges that we face in our individual health problems.

God has given us so much to make our lives more comfortable on earth, how can we not be thankful for His love and mercy?

Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

⁷ Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  KJV

Of all the things we can be thankful for, our salvation through Jesus Christ is the most important.

Everything else pales in comparison.

Later, Art (-:

Up and down week.  There are some days that I just have to sit and absorb, not trying to decipher. 

I am thankful for all of you that I send these posts out to; and to those that I just send things out occasionally each of you is special to me.

We will have Teresa and Ian over tomorrow for our Thanksgiving dinner; will just have to catch up on everyone else as we can, everyone is so busy.

Even Teresa and Ian have to work tomorrow, but they are right here in town and late afternoon works for them.  Teresa just getting up and Ian not yet having to go to work.

There are some jobs, no matter the date on the calendar, that people have to work.  We know the obvious, police, fire, emergency dispatchers, military, hospital employees, nursing home staff, etc.  But there are many more, both Deed and Teresa work at dams where they must have coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Ian is working where they must have someone there, on duty, at all times.

Having been one of those in a blue uniform, we learned, early how to celebrate such mile stones a little differently, often not being able to do things on the date of the event.  It is just something you do when you serve in those capacities.

I am not a fan of those retail outlets that stay open on Thanksgiving, to me, they are letting down their employees.  If someone needs something that bad they can get it the day before or do without.

Having said that, though, I remember one Thanksgiving that we were going down to Carla’s parent’s house where we all gathered for the celebration.  Ken got very sick and we couldn’t go.

NO stores, of course, were opened on Thanksgiving back then.  Vicki was very disappointed, first because we couldn’t go and then because we didn’t have the traditional dinner.

I called my former co-worker at Safeway’s, Skip Keyes.  He met me at the store and helped me get the groceries I needed to have the traditional dinner at our home.

We could have made a Thanksgiving dinner with what we had – probably beef from the freezer.  The day doesn’t depend on what you eat, but the celebration of thanking God.

Still it made one little girl happy.

To all of you, thank you, and may GOD truly bless you EVERY SINGLE DAY!

“Every man is as close to God as he wants to be; he is as holy and as full of the Spirit as he wills to be....

Yet we must distinguish wanting from wishing. By "want" I mean wholehearted desire. Certainly there are many who wish they were holy or victorious or joyful but are not willing to meet God's conditions to obtain. “   AW Tozer

1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Serve with a perfect heart AND a WILLING mind...if thou SEEK Him, He will be found of thee;

A lesson I need to learn.

AND sometimes it is sooooooo hard. 

Some days I just wake up and feel I am the fly in the ointment of God’s people.  Just can’t get squared away.

The feeling can last a while, finally, I am reminded that it is MY obligation to seek God and His direction.  He will not impose His will on me without my willingness to follow Him.

Sometimes it would be a lot easier if He did.

This is the time of year that Americans are reminded to be thankful for what they have.

Unfortunately, our society in all its wisdom, wants to declare that God has nothing to do with it and that we are just to be thankful for each other, etc.

What they forget is that the First ‘record’ of Thanksgiving feast in America was done by the Pilgrims.  Yes, they invited the Wampanoag Indians to the feast because they provided support and teaching to the Pilgrims and they wanted to thank them with a dinner.

But, it was also a time of thanking God for His Blessings – modern day twisters like to forget that happened and try to deny it happened.  The fact they were pilgrims, a religious group, who came to America to practice their religion without interference should be enough to put to rest any claims they didn’t thank God. 

It is so very sad, our children are being misled.

While it IS a good thing to be thankful for all that we have, most of us realize that we need to thank God EVERY day for His many blessings – it also helps keep us from that ‘oh, me’ syndrome we might get.

Revelation 7:11-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

¹² Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Amen, indeed!

Later, Art :-)

Just plugging along the past couple of days, have to stick close to home, so that is where I have stayed.

Today we will be eating a roast from Rose’s beef, with potatoes, onions, peppers and carrots from Carla’s garden.  Teresa boiled some meat bones (from that same steer) for about 36 hours to get all the marrow out and it made a great broth that I also added to the roast.

Makes me appreciate the work and time spent by those that love the land, work hard to provide healthy meat and vegetables for our table, even more.  We know these items are free from pesticides and additives that all too frequently are used by processors and stores to prolong their shelf life.

“Many Christians are so intimidated by the arrogant unbelief of the supposed intellectuals of the world that they either reject or compromise or ignore the difficult teachings of Scripture. This is a grievous mistake, for all of God’s “sayings” are “justified” and He will surely “overcome” all those who presume to “judge” Him and His Word.”  Days of Praise

Romans 3:3-4 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

⁴ God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.  KJV

I was in that half state yesterday morning, not quite awake, still in that thinking of am I dreaming? and my mind goes to ‘who is your God?’  I pondered that all day along with how to write my thoughts.  Should I look up every verse, or since most people who read this know their Bible, just write my thoughts down.

This morning The Days of Praise devotional for 11.20.2016 helped answer that question.

So, Who Is YOUR God?

Is it:  Jehovah, I am, Alpha and Omega, Father, Son, Holy Spirit?

Or is it:  Sports, hobbies, job, drugs, alcohol, or some other all consuming passion taking the place of worshiping the one true God, because of fear of what others might say?

John 12:42-44 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

⁴³ For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

⁴⁴ Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

What does your God have to offer; can you trust YOUR God to give you the truth?

Is it: peace, strength, love, mercy, eternal life with Him?

Or is it:  happiness for a few moments, satisfaction of getting something accomplished for the moment, disappointment, self-degradation, hopelessness?

Psalm 33:4-5  For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

⁵ He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Who are your role models?

Is it:  Jesus, Abraham, Daniel, Peter, Paul, Christian friends?

Or is it:  Sports figures, movie stars, music stars, non-Christians (or even FALSE teachers who claim to be Christians) who may use devious means to accomplish something?

Acts 13:43-44 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

⁴⁴ And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

How consistent is your God and those that preach His ideas?

Is it:  I am God and I never change, I am the same yesterday, today and forever, my Word is truth?

Or is it:  What I say today is ‘truth’ but it could change tomorrow; society changes, therefore we must change with it?

Psalm 119:160-161 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

¹⁶¹ Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

Malachi 3: 6  For I am the Lord, I change not;

At the end of your life and you pass on to the next life, where are you going?

Is it:  Heaven with Jesus?

Or is it:  I don’t know; I go nowhere because there is no God; God won’t send me to hell everybody says that He loves people too much; but the reality hits your soul when you come face to face with Him and you are condemned to hell?

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

In this world of need for immediate gratification, short attention spans, mass media, instant information at a touch, movies and television broadcasting satan’s values, satan’s goals, it is far too easy to be misled, to follow the wrong people down a path that will lead to self-destruction.

So many people only want sound bites and for those that can twist the Word of God in a few short sentences to meet their definitions – or wish to spread lies about God and His people -  or ‘preach’ the world’s set of value it is wonderful, satan will use them to cast doubt in people’s minds about the truth of God.

AND far too many Christians follow that path, the only real teaching they get about God is from those media sound bites or a 20 minute sermon and never check them out against the Word of God.  We need to evaluate who we are in Christ every single day.

We need to read HIS Word and rededicate ourselves to His Gospel and reaffirm our willingness to complete the mission(s) He asks of us.

It is far too easy to shift our love and dedication to God to other things.  Those things are right in front of us, they are touchable and/or seeable and therefore grab our minds to concentrate on them and turn away from God.

But, focusing on the Word of God helps us to put the world, and more importantly, Him into perspective.

Later, Art (-:

We were just settling down, finishing our breakfast and making some plans for today, when the phone rings.  A fellow employee had to take her sick dog into the Vet, can Carla come in?  Yep.

It should be a short shift and then she can come home and relax a bit.  The body shop called and told me they found our water leakage problem, it is going to take a contortionist to get it fixed, but they can do it.

I was hoping to have it out this week, it needs a good trip to blow out any residual carbon from making short runs.  We could take the Toyota, but prefer the other.  Carla wants to run into Portland to the Hallmark shop to pick up some things.  It will still be done, but might have to wait until after Thanksgiving.

Fog seems to be coming in, wasn’t all that clear this morning, but it seems the hills are getting harder to see through it.

John 17:13-17  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

¹⁴ I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

¹⁵ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

And vs 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

We look around us and see nothing but God’s beauty.  They look at each other and something happens.

As Christians, we need to look at people the way God looks at people.  If they are sinners, they have an opportunity to repent and accept Him.

However, here lately, in America, citizens are looking at each other as the enemy – and some Christians have taken that up.

Are there enemies of God all around us, yes, Jesus knew there would be, He prayed for us, He wanted us left in this world so that we can demonstrate His love and we can preach His Gospel.

Battle lines have been drawn but they are the wrong kind.  It is almost brother against brother, parents against children, and there are those that are loving every minute of it. 

And God is being left out of the equation.

They want that turmoil.  They want us to so focus on why we disagree with the other person’s frame of mind, political view and life style that we forget to bring God into OUR outlook.

I have no idea where all this is heading.  I must be honest, I look at all this and I want to pray, “Jesus, just take me home – or come for your church now.”

It can be very discouraging.  It can be heart breaking as we see even supposed leaders of our nation condoning violence to get their point across.  Violence from one American on another American.

Satan is loving this, he has his dark minions working hard to offend everyone.  America and its basic values have been a thorn in His side for centuries.  Now he has a real toe hold on the nation.  He isn’t on one side or the other, he is just wanting this nation brought down and is using the hate and anger on both sides to do just that.

It doesn’t have to happen.

It is easy to focus on want is happening and forgetting that God knows it all.  He is allowing this to happen, possibly so we are brought down to our knees and realize that only HE can be the final arbiter of this world.

Psalm 96:14     Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

We do not know when this will happen, but as Jesus stated, thy word is truth then we know the truth, it is in Him - in HIS Word, and God will judge the world with HIS truth. 

Our duty is not to judge and condemn, as difficult as that may be, it is to turn to God and ask HIM to intervene on behalf of our country.

The last century, but particularly the last decade has been leading up to this, there is frustration and anger on both sides and both sides think their way is the only way.

At this point we need leadership that will help heal, not continue to destroy our people.  It starts with Christians, admitting our own sins, admitting the sins of our nation and asking for God to forgive us and heal our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

¹⁵ Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Later, Art (-:

Got down around freezing this morning, Carla’s flowers are going to start going dormant.  Early morning fog burned off to a bright sunlit day with plenty of blue sky overhead.

Carla was scheduled to work at 0700-1100 today, however, they asked her to do a full day’s work since they are back logged.  She wasn’t real excited about working on a day like this but agreed to do so.

I hate to see her putting in that many hours.  She will be extra tired tonight.  Fortunately she is scheduled for next couple of days off.

Interesting to note her new District Manager says this store is the jewel of those under him.  Don’t know if he is just shining them on and tells all the stores the same thing, or if he is serious.  The old District Manager gave the manager nothing but grief, so it is a refreshing statement from the new one.

Psalm 40:9-13 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.

¹⁰ I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

¹¹ Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

¹² For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

¹³ Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.

My heart is heavy this morning.  It seems wherever we turn these days there is hatred and a desire to destroy.

As the Psalmist felt the burden of preaching God’s Word and the resultant enemy attacks, so too do we who have proclaimed Christ as Savior.

We feel so many people have run roughshod over God’s Word; that they have substituted their ideals with anger and resentment to all that disagree with them. 

They are no longer willing to listen, it is either their way or they become vindictive -  they no longer consider their soul’s peril as they deliberately reject God’s Word and His Grace by their comments and actions.

They proclaim their own rights are more important than those that disagree with them.  They choose to attack and humiliate, they choose to mock and rather than submit to God they have chosen to actually declare their opposition openly.  They pass laws where their own agenda of sinful behavior is the norm and anyone that disagrees with that are to be destroy in any way they can.

What is going on in America right now is just a small part of the rebellion satan has set into play.  He is rubbing his hands with glee and will continue recruiting people to his bidding.

The thing that bothers me is that many of these people have no idea what is going on in their spiritual lives – and they don’t care.

Their feelings are genuine, but they haven’t been prepared to accept what the rules are and what is necessary for a country to operate that has been founded on law, not how someone ‘feels.’

The rules in a Presidential election are clear.  All candidates know what the rules are and ran their campaigns accordingly.

To me, it is like a fishing competition.  There are two kinds of fish, yellow ones and white ones.  The only one that counts towards winning the competition is the yellow fish.

While all competitors will capture both fish, they concentrate their energy on catching the yellow ones; because everyone knows a head of time they are the more valuable and they can’t win without having the majority of them.

In the end all competitors come in with their catch.  One has clearly won the competition because he has the most yellow fish, the other leading competitor says, wait a minute, I caught the most fish altogether.

While I didn’t catch the most yellow fish, I still caught the most fish – therefore the rule is unfair and I should win.

NO ONE would buy that argument.

Yes, I know citizens are not fish and the issues are more important and complicated than that, but the comparison is still valid.

If you have rules for a competition and you lost based on the rules you have no right to get upset because the other person won.

If you wish the rules to be changed you get together with like-minded people and state your case.  If the majority agree (as laid down in the by-laws of the organization, - in our case the Constitution) then the rules are changed.

If we disagree there are proper paths to follow, they are clearly laid out in our Constitution and laws.

We have elections, we support those who share at least some of our views and we vote accordingly.  It has worked for well over 200 years in this country and by following the rules it will still work.

As a country we have been successful in being a world leader.  Our elected officials are not perfect, some are downright dishonest and scoundrels, but overall we have a nation that has allowed people to state their case, live their lives and make something of themselves.

We are still a country that most people in the world look up to and how we handle this latest crisis is going to tell the world that either they can count on the American people to support their country or we are so divided that those that want to topple us can do so with a minimum of effort.

While I feel a heavy heart, I am sure that God is looking at us and, even though He knows all, He is looking at us with a heavy heart.  Far too many of His people are lining up against each other and His Church suffers.

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

May that be our prayer for our nation.

Later, Art (-:

Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow.  One week.  How in the world did it come so fast?  Doesn’t seem possible.

Woke up to sunshine this morning with bright blue skies – clouds were around our mountains, so couldn’t see them.  Since then it has clouded up a bit and we will probably get rain.

Took the last of the peppers off their vines yesterday, sliced up some for fajitas and chopped up the rest for freezing.

Among the bells and bananas were the Anaheims, the are the mildest of the hot peppers, but that is just fine with us – gives us a slight tinge, but easily eaten.

However, if you don’t wash your hands thoroughly enough and then, after cutting them up, put a finger to rub your eye, they do have an effect on ya.  Took a lot of work getting the my eye so I could open it back up.  Stung a bit.

Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law

When you walk outside your door, what do you see?  Do you think it is the same thing as it was yesterday, so you don’t really look around?

Carla and our children are very good at seeing things others do not see.  They just notice things, the little things that others overlook.  The gift has to come from Carla, because I am not that observant.

As a police officer I did learn to see more than the average person.  We had a Sergeant that helped train us in observation skills.  That man was incredible and everyone recognized his gift, he saw things no one else did; no one else.

He found a stolen car while on vacation, it was in a ravine alongside a very busy highway and had been down there several days.  Thousands of cars had driven by, including police officers, but none had seen it.

I can remember his minister telling me about it and saying ‘he was on vacation, doesn’t he turn this off?’  My answer was simple, “no, no more than would forget his calling when on vacation.”

As a police officer you just can’t turn it off.  I am not as good as I was when working the streets, but I still see things that others do not – and evaluate it to see if there is any danger.

You learn to see things.  When I first started out I was told that once I became familiar with the back alleys I would notice if a garbage can was six inches out of place.  It took a while, but they were right, you learn to look for the unusual, the out of place things, it could mean that a crime had or is occurring.

You learn to take in a crime scene in a short time, looking to see where the clues may be – you see activity differently because you are aware; you have learned how to watch.

As a Realtor I used to tell my clients to go back into the house they think they want to buy.  The first time through they see the house, the next time(s) through they begin to see the little things, my job was to help them see those so they could decide if the flaws OR positive things made a difference to them.

Some, like my Sergeant, my wife and kids, see things naturally, it is just a gift they have.

The rest of us must train ourselves to see things. 

It is the same thing with the spiritual things around us.  Some people are blessed with the ability to see God’s hand in everything they encounter; the rest of us have to refocus our eyes on a regular basis so we can see God’s work even if it is right in front of us.

Do we see the hurting of a friend or neighbor?  Do we listen to the coworker who is suffering, seeing his need for comforting?

Some things are obvious, but there are far more things that we encounter every single day, that if we were truly ‘seeing’ we would pray with them, we would be available to them, we would help them find the peace they so desperately need.

What do we see when we see a baby, the leafing out of a tree, the flower that is just starting to come out of the ground, the hills around us, the many things God has given us to make our lives, easier or productive or even matter?

His handiwork is all around us.  His Creation, as He has told us in His Word is out there for us to see and enjoy.  His love is in all of it, and we share it by simply seeing what He has done.

Open my eyes Lord, let me see your handiwork in my world; show me how I can promote your love and your creation to others.

Later, Art (-: