In our neck of the woods things are still smoky, not as bad as before, but smoky none the less.  Today was a warm one, not as hot as predicted but still warm.  The days growing shorter helps keep the heat time to a minimum compared to other days.  It also has longer shadows and the garden is benefiting from that.

We spent Saturday and Sunday in Central Oregon.  I was at our class’s 53^rd reunion, those that were in attendance were fewer than expected (undoubtedly due to the smoke earlier in the week) but we had a good time.

To counter act the smoke one of our classmates opened up her home to the group.  She had plenty of room inside – and then some – to handle more than those attending; however, it was not a bad day outside and she had plenty of room there also, so it was comfortable.

Spent part of the evening with Velma, Viv and Sherry, then Sunday morning with Velma and Viv.  We headed home as they were going to church, I had forgotten some of my meds, not a good thing.

Trip back was uneventful, we could see the mountain range, more silhouettes than the mountains themselves, but enough to identify them.  We were in sun and blue skies, until, we topped Tygh Ridge and headed into Dufur where there was smoke visible on the horizon – the Gorge, but, we could see the blue skies on the top, until we headed down into The Dalles.  Plenty of smoke when we got here, air particles were the worst in Oregon, and still is today.

Part of the hazards of living here is that we get Portland’s pollution many days, and when it gets ‘warm’ we often have NO winds so the pollution just hangs in the air, temperature inversions.

We left the cats plenty of food and water, and placed Blaze in the Kennel, he was okay with it, but was very glad to come back home to his own yard and space.

Even the cats seemed happy we were back and my ‘nurse’ cat was particularly clinging – not normal cat behavior, at least from what we have experienced.

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Exodus 4:8-9 KJV  “ And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

⁹ And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.”

What I am about to write is what a number of Christians are thinking and talking about as the ‘natural’ disasters are falling on our country.

There are those out there that state we are just religious fanatics and not to be listened to so not to give any credence to what we are concerned about.

While obviously these verses were specific to the Hebrews at the time, it still shows the heart and mind of God and how He views sinful behaviors.

But on this ‘anniversary’ of the coordinated airplane hijacks and attacks on the twin towers, the Pentagon and the thwarted attempt of crashing into the White House, I think it is past time to voice the serious concern that God may be warning us as He did the Hebrews so many times.

Either straighten up or I will allow disasters to fall on you.

We have allowed God to be taken out of our schools, God to be taken out of our public buildings and parks, history is being destroyed, sins not only being allowed, but sanctioned and anyone that speaks out against the behavior is called haters; death and destruction is being spouted as how to deal with such people.

In California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana fires rage out of control and when finally put out millions upon millions of dollars have been spent and property destroy, thus far I haven’t heard of any lives lost.

Hurricanes, with never seen such fury are ravaging our Gulf and East Coast states and cities, in addition to the millions of dollars lost to individuals, in addition to the destruction of property, lives have been lost.

Crimes are being committed and instead of dealing with the issues, many are being condoned because, after all, they have been discriminated against all their lives.  Yet the victims of these crimes are often the very neighborhood businesses that serve the looters.

Reason is failing on all sides in trying to deal with the divide that is growing ever wider between our citizens.  Extremists on both sides are getting their way and propagating more anger and terror than ever before.

AND we have exclude God, His Word and His tenants in the process.

We are asked to pray for those that are being inflicted with these disasters, for those that are doing what they can to help those in need, to put out the flames, to control the looting and other criminal behavior, and well we should.

But, we should also be praying for people to open their hearts to God and to listen to His Holy Spirit as He attempts to bring them under submission.

Are all these disasters, all this damage a way of God warning us if we do not correct our course of action, change our sinful behavior and turn back to Him?

I don’t really know, I am not a prophet, but it bears considering it, doesn’t it?

So why are Christians who are voicing this concern speaking out?

Ezekiel 3:17-19 KJV  “ Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

¹⁸ When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

¹⁹ Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

God has warned all of us, maybe it is time to listen.

Later, Art (-: