In our neck of the woods we have lots of smoke and ash, without any sign of it letting up.  It is very hard to breath and I hear coughing in every place I have been today.

I was at the doctor’s office that is on the banks of the Columbia River.  Across the river, less than a mile away, I could see the small city of Dallesport, but nothing of the Klickitat Mts. which lies right behind them.  Visibility is almost non-existent.

I-84 has been closed for over 24 hours from Hood River to Troutdale.

The fire has jumped the river into Washington in at least one place, but thus far hasn’t caused any real damage over there, yet.  Overnight the acreage on fire has gone from about 3000 acres to over ten with no promise of being controlled any time soon.

Helicopters flying overhead with their water buckets look like specks against the flames.  It is like trying to put out a house fire with a thimble.

Homes and communities are being evacuated with some of the communities at the west end of the Gorge, Troutdale for one, are being told to keep aware of the situation, they may have to vacated those communities also.

As much as the smoke is bothering us here, I cannot imagine what it is like for those who are just a few yards or even miles from the fires, it has to be brutal.

Of course, our area isn’t the only one with fires, California, all over Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana are undergoing the same life and property threating conflagrations. 

Our hearts go out to the victims and our prayers of support go out to the firefighters that are trying to put these things down.

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Colossians 1:12-14 KJV “ 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:”

As most of you who are reading this know, we have had a dangerous forest/wild fire in the Gorge.  It has forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from their homes.

Right now, not only is it not contained at all, but in three days it has gone from a few hundred acres to over 10,000 and still growing. 

According to witnesses the fire was caused by a teenager throwing some kind of firecracker off a trail into a ravine, while another was videoing that action. 

The authorities know who the teenagers are and have released them to their parents from what I understand.  Police have not released names.  We don’t know just how old they are, but if they are in their teens they should know better.

Not only are firecrackers and such devices illegal in Oregon, but starting a fire from such an illegal act is also illegal and the penalties can be very severe.

Personally, I believe that they should face the full force of the law for this crime.  In addition I believe they should have to sit down with any victim and firefighter that was involved in this fire, listen to their anger and how it affected them.

If possible they should be involved in the cleanup after the fire is over.

Now, having said that, I also truly believe that if they ask forgiveness of the Father through Christ they will be forgiven of Him.

I do not know their spiritual status, even Christians pull stupid actions, however, as God has forgiven us of all the sins we have committed these young men can also be forgiven.

That is an important thing to remember.  Because these young men are going to face some hatred, and the way people act today, I am sure some will even threaten to do them harm.  When it is all over these young men will have to deal with what they have done for the rest of their lives.

If they have any conscience at all, it will be a heavy burden to bear.  As of now only property has been destroy, no one, that I am aware of, has been seriously physically injured (although psychological injuries can be just as devastating and there is no doubt some of that is happening) and there has been no lives lost.

It is a real danger and if it should happen the degree of the crime goes up considerably.  I cannot imagine how they would feel about costing someone their life.

Should they be punished, absolutely; however,

2 Corinthians 2:6-8  KJV “ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.”

When the punishment is given, and the young men are serving it, we must also keep in mind that without compassion they could be completely destroyed.

“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”

They will not be forgiven by everyone, based on thousands of years of humanity, we know that. 

However, when time has gone by, those that can should tell them.

Their parents have to be mortified and ‘out of their minds’ right now over the grief their sons have caused these victims.

They have to be trying to figure out how to support them while at the same time supporting the victims and the rule of law. At least I hope so, they need to be strong at this time and it is going to be very difficult.

This is their child, they have done a very foolish and serious thing, but they are still their child.

What both these young men and their parents and rest of their family need is our prayers.  They will be punished, if what we have heard about the evidence against them is correct, but if they take ownership of what they have done and do what is required of them in making amends, as much as possible anyway, they also need our prayers  “lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”

I have seen what can happen to a man who has committed crimes that he feels can never be forgiven, who feels the oppressive weight of those sins, men “who are swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”  Some turn to alcohol and other drugs, and others commit suicide because they can no longer bear the burden. 

We don’t want either thing happening to these young men.

Later, Art (-: