Our neck of the woods has less smoke.  However, it is still difficult to breath and doing any kind of serious activity outside.  Our lungs, eyes and nose are so sensitized to these particulates that it doesn’t take as much to affect us right now.

I went out for a couple of minutes and could feel the effects almost immediately, there was no way I could stay outside without coughing and having chest pains – Carla, on the other hand, isn’t affected quite as much and had to ‘get outside’ for a while, however, she is keeping her activity on a much smaller level.

Fires in the Gorge are still not really contained, but they seem to be moving slower.  Milder weather will help.  I-84 is still closed, clean-up crews are working on removing trees that either are on the road or endanger of falling, in addition to other hazards.

There still isn’t an estimated time on opening I-84 or letting people go back to their homes.  They want to make sure that it is as safe as possible before they change that status, and right now, it isn’t safe.

Multnomah County arrested a person, last night, who stole some firefighting clothes and equipment.  They believe his intent, based on his history, was to go into the cordoned off areas and burglarize homes.  Evening before last two fire trucks with equipment were stolen, possibly with same intent.

Criminals will find ways to line their own pockets and don’t care about those that they hurt.

Not all people are like that.  Norm, my brother-in-law, once told me the following story, as I recall it(paraphrased):

He was in a foreign country, if I recall right in South America.  They were in a very poor part of that country on a guided tour.

The tour guide was from a different country.  She said that she chose to live in that country after a truck full of food and other needed supplies was broken down on the road.

The people living in that area badly needed those items.  However, it was destined for another poor section of the country.

The driver was not able to get back to the truck for several days.  When he arrived, EVERYTHING was just as he left it. Not one thing was taken.

Compare that with what happens here in our country where every tragedy people are looting and stealing anything not protect or nailed down, not because they absolutely can’t live without it, but they are taking advantage of others and don’t think twice about it. 

Looting is just a ‘polite’ way of saying stealing.

She decided at that time, she would move there to live among poor but honest people.

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Acts 10:42-43 KJV  ”And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

⁴³ To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

Far too many people think their obligation to share Christ with others is the responsibility of ministers, missionaries and teachers.

When we are accepted by God into His family through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, He EXPECTS us to share our faith with others, it is our calling whether we are ordained or not.

Not everyone IS called to preach or teach.  We are called to stay in our communities, support His work and share with co-workers, neighbors and friends the faith within us.

There are some guidelines we can use, some classes we can attend that will help us in knowing what to say to others.  However, it comes down to us, living for Him and sharing Him with others as the Holy Spirit leads us.

I know there are those that are just not comfortable talking with others.  Introverts have a difficult time in relating with others, they by nature are more inward drawn and not given to public speaking or any kind of outward expression of feelings.

However, that really isn’t an excuse to not share Christ.  Probably one of the best examples of a person who was not ‘qualified’ to lead was Gideon, yet, God chose him to lead 300 men against thousands and come out victorious.

God CAN change us to do ‘great’ things and He has done with Gideon and with other people.  However, with most of us He will use our natural abilities and tendencies to share Him with others.

The best example of that, to me, is Carla.  We were going together for almost a year.  I knew she cared for me, but she never really got close to me.

She is a very quiet person, one that is not given to grandiose statements or actions.  She lets Christ shine through her in her actions and deeds.

It was others in her youth group that encouraged me to come and be part of the group.  One young lady in particular witnessed to me on an almost daily basis; as a matter of fact I got rather indignant when she told me she was ‘praying for me.’  WHAT did I need praying for?  She backed off a bit, but never gave up.

Meanwhile, Carla stayed Carla, true to Christ.

God used Carla to bring me to Him.  She was not a great teacher, she was not a great speaker, but her life and actions spoke volumes to me; and the Holy Spirit worked through her.

Would I have eventually come to Christ through another? possibly, we know that He uses some to plow His field, others to plant it, others to water and keep it growing and yet others to harvest – while it may all be the same person, it doesn’t have to be and often is not.

However, if every Christian obeys the calling of the Holy Spirit than we have done our part, no matter which it is.  The Holy Spirit will take it from there.

“that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

That is HIS goal and should be ours.

Later, Art (-: