Spent a few days at Leavenworth – Washington that is – at the invitation of former The Dalles citizen, Penny Carpenter.

    She is the President of the Leavenworth Rotary Club this year and she invited me to be the speaker last week.  My topic would be on the Rajneesh and its impact on Wasco County.

She and her husband, Tom, took us out to dinner – sharing a few stories - and then a grand tour of the town and the surrounding area.  We sincerely appreciated their hospitality.

    Leavenworth, for those that haven’t visited it, is a town based on a Bavarian theme.  The store fronts are all designed to bring you to those countries in Europe, and you certainly feel that way.

    I know the town’s survival depends on tourists; the stores and employees treat you well, because they want the reputation of being a friendly community.  As we walked the streets they were full of visitors.

    Shoulder to shoulder, with little room to get passed each other, as we went from one store to another.

    The attitude of the visitors was one of friendliness and willingness to smile and get out of each other’s way.

    Everyone stood aside as pictures were taken by the families and friends so they had plenty of time.

    It was as if there was something in the air that made everyone patient; and the businesses set the tone.

    We enjoyed the atmosphere, the good food and the community.  It was a great little vacation.

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    I talked with a friend the other day.  Seems the friend is an employee of a company that needed a door to be watched...all day long.  The employee got two 15 minute breaks and a lunch break as required by law.  But had to sit there, on a folding chair, in the hot sun, 105 degree temperature in the shade, but the employee wasn’t in the shade, but in the sun, much hotter than in the shade, and all day long.

    Now when I first heard this, I had to laugh.  So you go home and your child asks, “what did you do today?”  “I sat down and watched a door, all day.”

    Yep, had to laugh as I imagined the employee sitting there, not allowed to use their phone or read a book, just sit there watching the door.  It had to be worse than a stake out.

    Then I got to thinking – you know me, sometimes I geta bit ahead of myself, and it comes to me a few minutes – or hours later.

    Now it really was more than just ‘sitting there watching a door’ those entering that door had to belong there, they had to deal with hazardous materials and in doing so must be careful as well as dressed in the right clothing – no one else was allowed. 

    It was an important job, even if it was ‘just watching a door.’

Colossians 3:22-23 KJV  “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

    There is no small or unimportant job when we do it as if we are doing it for our Lord. 

    When we do our job, no matter what it may be, when we do it the very best we can, God is honored.  We don’t work for our employer nor any man, oh, someone may be paying our wages, but we don’t work for them, we work for ourselves, and we do it to glorify our Lord.

    That sets the tone, that makes whatever we do important.

    What did you do at work today?  ‘I served the Lord!’

Later, Art (-:

Smokey out there.  I took my knife and fork outside to eat my way to the humming bird feeders.  Didn’t have to worry about them attacking me, they had to swim through the smoke so easier to avoid.  While other birds are walking between the sun flowers and climbing up using feet and beak.

    Visibility is bad, can barely see the top of Cherry Heights about a mile across the valley and Seven Mile and the Klickitats vanished as did a lot of territory between here and there.

    The light is strange, looking outside it actually hurts my eyes, don’t know why, but it is just different than normal sunlight.

    Very difficult to breathe, especially for those with allergies, asthma and other breathing problems.

    By the way, the first time I heard about ‘Smoke Eaters’ was in relationship to the “Smoke Jumpers” that parachute into forest fires and start line breaks, etc.  It is my understanding that the name eventually went to all fire fighters – before they had the breathing apparatus they now go into building fires with.

    I haven’t heard the term in years – although those fighting the wild fires are certainly eating smoke.

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“This is so desperately a matter of importance for every human being who comes into the world that I first become indignant, and then I become sad, when I try to give spiritual counsel to a person who looks me in the eye and tells me: "Well, I am trying to make up my mind if I should accept Christ or not."

Such a person gives absolutely no indication that he realizes he is talking about the most important decision he can make in his lifetime—a decision to get right with God, to believe in the eternal Son, the Savior, to become a disciple, an obedient witness to Jesus Christ as Lord.”  AW Tozer

2 Chronicles 6:2 KJV “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

    I have heard from countless people through the years that they wanted to wait before they made a decision for Christ.  They wanted to have their fun first – is the main reason.

    The problem is that we never know when it will be too late.

    Through the years I have seen children, teenagers and adults that were alive one moment and the next were in involved a fatal accident where they were killed instantly – and it was more than likely far too late to make that decision, and by default they are now suffering the consequences.

    I know that most people, today, prefer the hug and love messages and prefer to share their witness in that way – but the old ‘fire and brimstone’ messages and sharing lets people know that there is a point where a delayed decision can be a fatal – for all eternity – decision.

    We do need to share Christ’s love with others, but some of that love is also demonstrated when we tell the truth about sin and the rejection of Christ.  It doesn’t have to be harsh or accusatory, but it needs to be said.

    There may not be another time.

“behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

Later, Art (-: 

First things first, I have been in contact with Julie Reynolds who is compiling a book on the impact the Rajneesh had on local citizens.  She has already spoken to dozens of people that I would speak to and has their stories recorded and some of them transcribed.

    This is a daunting task.  It can be overwhelming when you start on your do to list.  It takes time and energy – both she has already expended.  From all I have heard about her she will do an excellent job.

    So, I offered my assistance but will not be writing on that subject.  If she has not contacted you and you wish to speak to her, please let me know and I will let her know.

    However, after talking with her, I may go forward with a book on the law enforcement activities and perspectives concerning the Rajneesh; she will not be covering the more in-depth parts of that action. 

    For that I will need assistance from those that are, or know of, Officers that were involved in one way or another with the Rajneesh and their shenanigans; or legitimate activities.

    Since I have to shift gears, so to speak, I will have to review my list of priorities on a book, that will take a bit of time.

    Meanwhile, Carla brought up several pounds of cucumbers a couple of days ago – and I canned 18 pints of sweet pickles the last couple of days.  Now, for my doctor friends, I won’t be eating them all, (but a few, I am shure, will join other condiments – and of course I gotta test them!)

    She brought me an early birthday gift.  A canner – we have at least three of the porcelain kind, but this was different.

    It is a stainless steel hot water canner.  It is larger than the others by a few inches high and in circumference, but the real ‘neat’ thing about it is I can use it for cooking acidic food.

    We may not have the tribe here we used to have in the house, but there are times that I need a large ‘soup’ pot to conjure my “potions;” she mentioned that I am always frustrated when brining whole chicken.  So, I now have another large stainless-steel pot to do that and other things like the tomatoes that are starting to come on strong and I will be making salsa, tomato sauce, taco sauce, maybe more pizza sauce, etc. and my regular pots may not be quite large enough.

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    This morning I woke up with the book of Job on my mind.
    As I thought about it I kept asking myself, have I lived my life so that God could say to satan: “Have you considered my servant Art?”

    My answer, sadly, was, ‘no.’

Job 1:8 KJV “ And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”

    God was willing to put Job to a test, knowing that He would pass it well.  Knowing that no matter what he would never let God down.

Job 3:3 KJV “Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.”

    He lost his children, he lost his animals – his livelihood, his fortune - and still didn’t yield.

    While to begin with God had forbidden satan to test his loyalty by attacking his body – but when Job didn’t yield to satan’s tactics He agreed to allow satan to attach him physically and it was so painful that Job wished he had never been born.

    Even his wife gave up on him:

Job 2:9 KJV “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”

    Friends came to console him, but their counsel was without merit; and only made things worse.

    Job is a difficult book to read, it shows the feelings of a man who cannot understand why he is enduring these trials – yet, he never falters in his faith that God is GOD and deserves Job’s loyalty.

    The problem I was having in my early morning thinking of Job, was that I was trying to compare myself with him. 

    He was a man of God, but, he also admitted he was not perfect, he was a sinner – and on that I can find common ground, but it does me no good to compare my life, my work, my servitude to God with other people.

    God doesn’t, so why should I?

    Each of Christian has a relationship with God, that is his alone.  Each Christian goes through trials and tribulations – sometimes daily or even hourly – while we can use others as inspiration, we cannot understand all that they went through and we cannot compare our experience to theirs.

    Satan knows how we are vulnerable, he knows what enticements to put in front of us to tempt us into sinning against God.

    For some it may be lying, for others stealing, for others lust, for others gossip and the list goes on.  But ALL of us have weaknesses that satan can exploit IF we let him.

    However, we don’t have to dwell on those temptations, we don’t have to yield to them.  And we can rest in the fact that God will make a way for us to be free of that temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

    Those temptation often come up when we are at our weakest, and all to frequently we yield to them.

    However, if we stay close to God, make a habit of walking and talking and LISTENING, daily, our ability to recognize temptation as it starts and cast it away will be enhanced.

    And even if it comes on full bore we know God is with us and will guide us away from it.

    Job is an inspiration, as many men of God have been in my lifetime.  But, it is a mistake to compare myself with them, we each have our own cross to bear and my responsibility is not to compare myself with others to see how I stand up, but to do what God has placed on my heart to do; and do that with the best of my abilities.

Later, Art (-:

    Got my first bacon, tomato, swiss cheese on toasted sourdough bread last night.

    There is just something about home grown tomatoes, much more flavor – of course they aren’t being transported by trucks for thousands of miles, sitting in warehouses until they can be shipped to the stores – those tomatoes have to be grown to go through all of that and, unfortunately, sacrifice the great tomato taste in the process.

    The only thing that poor Carla has difficulty in growing is zucchini!  She got an infestation of bugs a couple of years ago and she is going to war with them as they suck the juices from the plants. 

    Other than that, though, thus far she is getting good results and we are enjoying the ‘fruits of her labor.’

    The heat of the day makes us try and orient activity around it.

    Thankfully our air conditioner is working fine – Deed replaced the over head fan in the living room and that has also helped keep the temperatures down in the house.

    Since I don’t have any real skills in working around the house it is nice that we have a couple of daughters and a son-in-love that can do it for us. 

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Galatians 6:14 KJV “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

    Who among us doesn’t like pats on the back?
    We like to have people tell us that we are good, our work is excellent, we are a great guy (or gal), they are encouraged by our work, lots of compliments and we enjoy them.

    But, many of these are hollow, or appeasement.

    In one of my many trips to the hospital a nurse was doing a very routine/mundane job, one a first week nurse could do, the doctor came in and praised her work, overly so.

    I couldn’t help myself, I started laughing, as did the nurse and some of the other staff.  The doctor left in a huff (probably not a good thing for me.)  The nurse smiled and said, “We’ll take any compliments that come our way.”
    To me it didn’t sound genuine – it could have been, but it just struck me as odd and funny.  It was the kind of thing you might say to a child, or someone who was doing it for the first time, but I thought it was overboard for a professional who obviously had years of experience.

    A lot of the pats on the back we receive are just as interesting.  Are they genuine, or just to make us feel good, or make them think they are motivating us.

    I believe in giving people compliments and try to do it often, however, I also know they must be honest or I am just mouthing the words.

    My feelings have always been that when we are trained to do a job, we do it.  We shouldn’t need pats on the back for ordinary tasks.

    If there were extraordinary circumstances, or a far better result than we anticipated then those pats are warranted.

    We can appreciate the work of those who do things for us, or our fellow employees, the clerk that goes out of their way to help us, the doctor or nurse that not only assists us but does some extra things while doing so; good reasons for giving them more than just a thank you.

    AND it doesn’t hurt to tell management about how well you were treated.

    That word, thank you, can be said automatically, or a lift in the voice can make it sound like you mean it – and should.

    As a manager it was always good to hear from the citizens that our employee(s) did a good job – and how they did it.  The complaint to complement ratio is always higher, it seems in almost any profession.

    So, don’t be afraid to show appreciation to someone, to praise or congratulate them.  As a matter of fact, go out of your way to do that.

    However, as for us, Christians, we are to be doing the very best job we can, we shouldn’t have to have pats on the back to do that.  Doing so, in part, shows our dedication to our Lord and is an effective testimony to those that are watching us because we are Christians.

    If we sluff off our work, do it haphazardly, do shoddy work, or spend time complaining about one thing or another it doesn’t paint a very good picture to the sinner watching us.

    A good day’s work for a day’s pay should be foremost in our minds when we are working; and even if not paid, should apply to our volunteer efforts.

Colossians 3:23 KJV “ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

    The same is true in our work for God.  We should be doing it out of love and devotion to Him by helping others – whether it be as a volunteer in the church or some other organization.

    It is hard though, a quick pat on the back and genuine thank you can help our desire to continue full on in our ministry.  But, we shouldn’t expect grandiose praise nor work just to receive that kind of praise.

    In this world, where the everyone expects us to play up ourselves, promote ourselves, make everyone aware of our ‘skills,’ etc. it is good to remember that God has a different standard.  

    We should not be doing things to obtain praises from man, but to serve our God in whatever task He has appointed us. 

    Boasting of our accomplishments as if we did it all by ourselves without the help of others – particularly the talents and skills that God gave us is letting Him down.  

    We don’t have to stand on a soap box, but we don’t need to ‘eat it up’ either.

    Somehow, when we do have to promote our abilities at our job – to make a living, many self-employed people have to do some of that, but it should be done with humility – as hard as that may be to do. 

    We just need to ask God for wisdom in doing that; how to write the resume’, how to answer the questions from potential bosses without sounding arrogant or self-righteous or when we apply for promotions within our companies.

    It is a fine line, but it has to be done as we realize whatever we are doing is for the Lord, and whatever skills we have are directly from Him.

2 Corinthians 10:12 KJV “ For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

    May we be wise and focus on God, not on what others may or may not be doing.  Opening our hearts to Him, not to the words or glorification from man.

Later, Art (-:

I was out in the garden today, briefly, as the sun was beating down on this ole body.  I could feel my clothes getting hotter and it reminded me of a lift we gave a man many years ago.

Our family was heading north to visit my uncle’s family in Portland.  It was in the middle of the summer and it was hot.

We were on Highway 26 on the flats north of Warm Springs.  We saw a vehicle parked along side the road and several miles down the road the driver, who was carrying a gas can.

Dad stopped and we gave the man a ride.  Now, this was before air conditioners were in cars so it was warm inside, but when the man got in you could feel the heat coming off his body, and it up the temperatures in the car.

He had walked a few miles (I always wondered why someone else didn’t offer to help him – Hwy 26 is a busy highway even back then) and had several more before he could get to Government Camp, the first place to get gas.

He got the gas and we took him back, but I will always remember the heat coming off him, it was almost visible. 

We will be experiencing that heat, in the hundreds in the garden, for the next several days and probably weeks.  Thus far, though, Carla’s garden is still green and we are getting veggies (although the blackberries have had it.)  It is great having fresh vegetables, but still haven’t had a ripe one to compliment bacon, swiss cheese on a toasted sourdough bread – BUT it is coming!

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“Our God created light and is described as light. His light reveals evil, but illuminates the truth and the way to restore human relations with Himself, each other, and the Creation. His created light gives us color and, for those who have eyes to see, the colorful chameleon points to a wise Creator who desires to make Himself known!”  Answers in Genesis

1 John 1:7 KJV  “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Read an article in Answers in Genesis that states scientists are learning from chameleons on how they adjust light on their bodies, changing colors to blend into the back ground.

It is a little more complicated than that, but the bottom line is that it can be copied by man.

To me there are already way too many people that are chameleons in their actions.  They have learned to read people and to change their own actions to make them more acceptable to that person(s).

While politicians are some of the best at doing this, since they can now be recorded by anyone at a meeting – and compared to what they said in other meetings – they are less effective.

We know that there are studies to determine what colors, what music, what sounds are the most effective in getting people to buy certain brands of products, which to me is a form of being chameleon like.

A good sales person does this to an extent also, talking to a customer for a few minutes they get an idea of how the person thinks and changes their technique to do a better job of selling their product.

Con artist have fooled people for thousands of years because they have learned how to give their victims what they want, while stealing from them without really giving them anything.

We see it all around us, actors playing a part that can be utterly different from who they really are – and make it very believable.  They follow a scrip, but real people have learned to create their own scrip.

2 Peter 2:1-3 KJV  “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

AND what is truly unfortunate, there are those who pretend to be speakers/teachers of God who lead people away from Him, instead of to Him.

They line up their ‘victims’ and make it sound like they are one of them, teaching things that these people would like to hear, or sounds good but is far from the Word of God.

Instead of salvation, what they are preaching leads to damnation.

They appear to be righteous, but it is only camouflage, they are but chameleons blending in with the back ground so they can not be detected as phonies.

But the Bible can help expose them.  When we encounter someone like that, who seems knowledgeable, we can compare what they say, with God’s Word.  And make our own educated decisions. 

Philippians 2:15 KJV  “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

While we are surrounded by those that would lead us astray, we can be strong.  We can be God’s light in this world to help others find Him. 

He has always been with those that love Him and wish to obey and follow Him.

We can stand against the charlatans, the chameleons of this world and through Christ be “the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

AND the beauty of this is that we but have to be ourselves in Christ, we don’t have to put on charades, we don’t have to try and dress ourselves in ‘acceptable’ manners to society’s morals, but simply be true to God’s directives.
It may not make us popular, actually it may make people attach us, or at least ostracize us, but it will show God’s light.

Psalm 27:1 KJV “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Lord, may I always share Your light that others might come to know who You are and how they can receive your salvation.

Later, Art (-:

Looking out at a cloudy sky, it is at least 105 degrees out and very muggy.  Not complaining, it isn’t almost triple digit humidity like so many of you endure.

Carla brought in some cukes today, made some refrigerator pickles, using a recipe her mother had copied from a friend, and have some left for salads.

AND some to give away, Teresa is coming over in the morning after work to pick some – not sure I will be greeting her, don’t get up as early as I used to do.  

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John 4:14 KJV “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

I was reading this this morning and thought about the 100+ days we are now and will be having this week – and probably a lot longer – and how we must keep hydrated or suffer from Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion – both of which are deadly if not addressed immediately.

It affects us physically, and mentally when we do not have enough water in our bodies. 

I remember a Fire Chief telling his fire fighters who were getting ready to battle a grass fire to drink lots of water.

Temperature was in the high 90’s, heavy gear, plus the heat from the fire makes things very hot which can dehydrate these people quickly.

He said if you wait until you are thirsty, you waited too long.

It is the same with our souls.  If we wait until we engage a battle with satan, to talk with God, we are waiting too long.

We should be full of His Spirit so when the time comes, we don’t have to tell satan to stop so we can fill our soul with God’s living water.

Our souls are thirsty, it needs that spring of water from God.  People are trying to satisfy and give sustenance to it using different methods, different religions, or trying to not worry about it as the soul cries out for relief.

Jesus can supply that water to satisfy our souls, in fact He is the only one who can.  But it isn’t just a one time and then forget drink.

Just as our bodies whither away without proper and regular nourishment, so does our soul.

We need a continuing relationship with our God.  We need to read His Word on a regular basis, we need to be thoughtful in our prayers and thanksgivings, in our praise and worship and we need to do all of it on a daily basis.

It is far too easy for us to forget as we go about our very busy lives – we schedule meetings, we set up time lines to get things done, but we forget to set aside an appointment with God, daily.

His presence; the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and comforting making us feel like we are indeed full to over flowing with His blessings.

It is a glorious feeling to be full of God’s Spirit, so full it is overflowing.

Later, Art (-:

Stopped by a cherry orchard this morning that had a u-pick or we pick sign, thought I would pick up a few of ‘they’ pick cherries.

    Talked with the young lady that was selling the cherries. 

    The owner of the orchard was a lady who works in The Dalles and has to drive 45 minutes there and back – every day.  When she gets back from work she picks cherries to sell the next day.

    It is a family orchard, her father passed away a few years ago and her mother moved – she has been doing this ever since; mainly by herself with an occasional assistance from relatives and friends.

    There was a time when that orchard probably supported the family, but it can’t any longer.  That is the same story for many such small farmers.

    In order to keep their property, doing what they love, working hard – it is in their blood – they have to work off their farm.  They love working in agriculture, they love seeing the Lord’s work as the cherry blossoms turn into green cherries and they ripen.

    They baby those trees, they trim the old branches out, they work hard to make sure the new branches will grow straight and strong and produce the best cherries possible.

    They endure the possibility of weather ruining all their hard work at the last minute.  But, they won’t stop, it is too much a part of them.

    There are so many small farms and orchards that cannot survive without the owners working full time to keep their heads above water.  It would be easier to just stop, sell off their property to larger orchardists or even to developers, but they can’t.  They keep working, they keep harvesting, it is in their blood.

    These people are what America is all about, they – along with those that can subsist from the proceeds of their farms - are how this country has survived and thrived through the centuries; unfortunately, not enough people realize that fact.

    They all have my highest admiration!

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Psalm 147:7-9 KJV  “Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

⁸ Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

⁹ He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.”

    Working in the soil, watching the growth of the crops creates a feeling within that makes us understand how close God is and how much He loves us.

    It is too bad that more people can’t enjoy that experience, can’t feel the nurturing of the dirt as they run it between their fingers.

    They are missing so much.

    Yes, we can be thankful, we can praise God, we can worship Him without ever having planted anything; we can enjoy the parks and other groomed areas that others have worked at – but there is something special about being with Him in a garden that you have worked in personally.

    Seeing His work in all phases, gives us a clearer understanding of His greatness. 

Genesis 2:7-8 KJV  “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

⁸ And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

Genesis 3:8 KJV  “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LordGod amongst the trees of the garden.

    God put man in His garden and that is where He intended to walk and talk with him, there has to be a reason for that.

John 18:1 KJV  “When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.”

    It was to a garden that Jesus chose to spend those last hours before He was to be betrayed.

    There is just something about a garden that we find ourselves closer to God.

Later, Art (-:

It is gonna get hot this week, several days of 97 degrees, which actually translates to over 100 degrees up here – and another ten to fifteen degrees hotter in the garden.

Plants, thus far are doing okay, but will need a lot of water.  Got the bill for last month’s usage and it was more than double what it was the month before.

Fresh vegetables, without a lot of chemicals, that taste amazingly good is our reward.  AND besides I don’t know what I would do with Carla if she couldn’t have a garden.

It is inbred in her to have flowers and vegetables grown by her own hands – it makes her very happy.

And as I get reminded, often, by Wendy, happy wife, happy life!

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Philippians 1:6  KJV  “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

There are days I wonder if I can ever live up to God’s expectations of me.

I know I have failed Him in so many ways, my potential at 19, when I accepted Him, seems to never have come close to fruition.

I know it is a process, but I feel so inadequate at times, so tied into this world and the physical/mental needs that I have that serving Him sometimes takes a back seat.

It shouldn’t, I know that, but it does.

Yet, there is this promise.  One I can go back to over and over again, to remind myself that He never gives up, if we don’t.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

I am so thankful for His patience and mercy, without them I would have been cast aside many years ago.

Indeed, I would have cast me aside if I had been Him.

But from the start of that first night at the altar where I gave my heart to Him He began a good work in me. 

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

While I have slipped and slid, He has always been there.

Each day is a new day, one that allows me to grow even closer to Him; which allows me to be directed by the Holy Spirit.

Where “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

I will continue to grow.

Later, Art (-:

    Not doing a lot today, but it will get busier as the afternoon comes along.  Have to help someone move some things.

    Forgot to mention that with all those canned cherries, we ate almost as many fresh, good eating. 

    I have to stand back and admire our orchardists and other farmers and ranchers.  They work hard for months on end trying to get the most out of their labors.

    But if a rain comes along at the wrong time, or the sun is too hot, or the frosts set in too early, or any other manner of problems, they lose their harvest and a whole year’s salary – but still have to pay for all the pesticide, fertilizer, employees, food on the family table, doctor bills, power bills, on and on.

    If the weather is hot and rain comes, the orchardists can actually here the cherries popping as they split open – and know that they have just lost their crops.

    Every agriculture farmer has risks similar to that.  I couldn’t do it, I have a hard-enough time watching our small garden produce, or not, or be ‘invaded’ by the neighborhood deer or being dried out by the sun. 

    They are unique business people who are willing to work long hot hours, get their hands dirty and take those chances so that we have something on OUR table to eat!

    They are among MY most favorite people.

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Psalm 10:1-3 KJV  “Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

² The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

³ For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.”

    I was exchanging texts with a friend this morning.  We were discussing the length of time it takes (or the length instead) to have a text posted and to have it replied to by the recipient.

    We both agree that it used to be weeks, months and even years from the time a letter is sent until there is a response.

But, of course, in today’s world a not getting something posted or getting a reply within a few minutes – if not seconds – is frustrating.

    We have become a world that can’t be patient.  That has to have immediate gratification.

    We are not alone in this of course as the verses above illustrate when we see something that we feel needs to be changed, or something that God has to fix (and must do it by OUR expectations) we can become impatient with God.

    Sometimes He has answered, and the answer was NO, but we don’t want to hear that.  Other times it is wait a while and we don’t like to hear that either.

    We know He needs to do something and we KNOW it has to be right now.

    And frankly, there are a whole lot of us in that mode right now.

However, God’s plans are His plans, based on His knowledge, love and grace.  He is merciful and patient – and I for one am thankful He is, without that I am afraid I would never make it into His Heaven.

    We just need to remember He is in charge, and He knows what He is doing – far more than we can understand:

Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV  “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

    We need to trust Him and have patience He really is there for us!!

Later, Art (-:

So, how did the preservation of cherries go?

    Several jars of Jam and Chutney and 36 quarts of cherries canned for winter.  They will have something to place on their pantry shelves and eat on those cold winter nights coming up.

Fourth of July had its own meaning for my youngest son’s family, this year.

    Which does make me think of another story.

    On the 5^th of July 1985 I was coming up from the Rajneesh ranch and met up with the OSP Lt. from The Dalles just outside of Antelope.

    We decided to have a cup of coffee at the little restaurant/grocery store/gas station in Antelope, but finding it closed we stood there and talked for a few minutes.

    Since I had not been in The Dalles for the fourth, he was telling me about a fire on Cherry Heights set off by fireworks.

    Two Rajneesh ‘peace officers’ pulled up and joined us.  Trying to be polite and include them in the conversation I told them the Lt. and I were talking about that fire.

    One of them started laughing and said they had their fireworks for the fourth also. 

    She went on to say that they had cremated the young man who had drowned on July 3^rd and there was fireworks and sparks all over.

    I looked at the Lt., he at me, and we both decided we had to drive on.....not our kind of humor! 

    I will never know if that young man was the sacrificial lamb for the festival that year – but with their record it could very well have been.
    What was frustrating was the knowledge there was nothing we could do about it – but we were ready to cover that base the following year!!

    However, they imploded and most were long gone before 1986.

    And Wasco County was safe from being overthrown.

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Philippians 3:13-14 KJV  “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

    Reading in my devotions today, Paul is pointing out to the Philippians that he is ‘basically’ growing in the Lord.

    Far too many of us are content to be stagnant.  We either rely on past accomplishments in Christ to ‘prove our devotion’ or are satisfied with a mediocre relationship with Christ.

    Like the worker who has 20 years on a job but has never gone past the first year in the quality and fulfillment of the job, we just walk along, happy in our bliss and unchallenging spiritual world and think that is enough.

    It isn’t, oh it may be enough to get us through heaven’s gate, but not enough to keep us from the humiliation of Christ asking us why we didn’t do more for Him.

    I remember sitting down with my Pastor, frustrated because a man who I knew to be a Christian, was more ‘worldly’ than I thought he should be, and people really liked and admired him.

    (By the way, I really liked this guy too, but, I just felt he wasn’t portraying Christ as he should.)

    First – and the Pastor was kind enough to NOT point this out but allowed me to come to my own conclusion – it was not my place to compare myself and my relationship with God, to Him. 

    I may have thought I was more ‘spiritually minded’ but he may have been reaching people I never could – besides what did I know about his spiritual condition?

    I grew somewhat on that day.  I was responsible to God for me, for what I taught, and not responsible for those that might not be doing everything ‘right.’

    It wasn’t up to me to judge the manner this man lived – if I really felt the Lord was leading me to talk to him about it, then that would be different, but I wasn’t.

    As it turned out I was just jealous.

    Just like the continual first-year practice of the 20 year veteran who didn’t want to grow, but was upset by those that did so and attributed it to some nefarious reason, rather than desire to do the best job they could.

    It isn’t up to us to look back and pat ourselves on the back, or compare ourselves to others, it is up to us to always focus on Christ and grow in Him: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,”

    And in doing so, I pray that I can help others do the same.

Later, Art (-:

Happy Independence Day!

    So, what do when you have over a hundred pounds of cherries, you have gleaned from an orchardist friend, to take with you to a July 4^th celebration, four plus hours away, to be given to all of your friends and family when...

    That evening you are driving along, minding the speed limit on a road that is not heavily traveled, and you see a person at an intersection with a stop sign come on through without seeing you, and the resultant damage to your car is so bad you can’t make the four-hour drive.

    Fortunately, no one was injured, but it totaled the car; drivable, but barely; and after the rental car offices are closed.

    Well now, then there, you pull out the Ball Blue Book and start making jam, marmalade, drying them and then canning what is left over.

    The fourth of July is one of the more dangerous holidays to drive anywhere.  It is even more poignant to our family since Vivian’s first husband, Norm, was killed in an automobile accident during that holiday – and another brother-in-law barely missed what would have been a very serious accident on the holiday a couple years later.

    I am not superstitious, but, having investigated many accidents on holidays over the years, I would just as soon have family either go a few days before the holiday and leave a few days after, then to drive on or the day before or after. 

    Usually much less danger.

    We are thankful that son and granddaughter were not injured and if an accident had to happen it happened here in town.

    Never a good time, never a good place, but, it could have been worse, they could have been seriously injured or the accident could have occurred hours away.

    They exchanged information and drove five miles back home.

    It is frustrating, but, as Christians we believe:

 Romans 8:28 KJV  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

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Romans 8:38-39 KJV  “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    As I look at the state of America and the state of the world I see more and more those that would deny that God not only exists, but His Word should be destroyed.

    They disagree with the principles laid down in His Word and the only way to convince people it is wrong is to eliminate it.

    Pass laws against using it to help people; pass laws against believing in it and standing on those principles – anything to make sin even more attractive and difficult to show someone when the ‘law’ says it is okay; supported by the entertainment industry and news media.

    But God will prevail.  His people will prevail.  His Word will never be destroyed and its truth will become evident as those who would destroy it find that it lives forever.

    And there are consequences for trying to destroy its truth.

Mathew 24:35 KJV  “ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

    It is frustrating, aggravating, angering and many other emotions that upset a person that our country which promises so much to those that would worship as they will seems to be denying that right to Christians.

    Especially on this date.
    Why are we going through all of this?

    I don’t have the answer, other than satan is working overtime; but I do know:

Romans 8:28 KJV  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Later, Art (-:

    The Day that Franklin thought would be the day of celebration of our Independence!

Was working outside for a bit this morning, chest really started hurting from whatever the high winds are bringing in today.
    So today, at least for now, appears to be an inside day.  There is enough to keep me busy.

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Mathew 4:4 KJV  “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

    I found this in my e-mail box, it is well worth reading entitled ‘Shipwrecks’:

    “My friend just died and I don’t know what to do.”

    Here is an answer from an older gentleman.

    “Alright, here goes. I’m old. What that means is that I’ve survived (so far) and a lot of people I’ve known and loved did not. I’ve lost friends, best friends, acquaintances, coworkers, grandparents, mom, relatives, teachers, mentors, students, neighbors, and host of other folks.  I have no children, and I can’t imagine the pain it must be to lose a child. But here’s my two cents.

    “I wish I could say you get used to people dying. I never did. I don’t want to. It tears a hole through me whenever somebody I love dies, no matter the circumstances. But I don’t want it to “not matter.” I don’t want it to be something that just passes. My scars are a testament to the love and the relationship I had for and with that person. And if the scar is deep, so was the love. So be it. Scars are a testament to life. Scars are a testament that I can love deeply and live deeply and be cut, or even gouged, and that I can heal and continue to live and continue to love. And the scar tissue is stronger than the original flesh ever was. Scars are a testament to life. Scars are only ugly to people who can’t see.

    “As for grief, you’ll find it comes in waves. When the ship is first wrecked, you’re drowning, with wreckage all around you. Everything floating around you reminds you of the beauty and the magnificence of the ship that was, and is no more. All you can do is float. You find some piece of the wreckage and you hang on for a while. Maybe it’s some physical thing. Maybe it’s a happy memory or a photograph. Maybe it’s a person who is also floating. For a while, all you can do is float. Stay alive.

    “In the beginning, the waves are 100 feet tall and crash over you without mercy. They come 10 seconds apart and don’t even give you time to catch your breath. All you can do is hang on and float. After a while, maybe weeks, maybe months, you’ll find the waves are still 100 feet tall, but they come further apart. When they come, they still crash over you and wipe you out. But in between, you can breathe, you can function. You never know what’s going to trigger the grief. It might be a song, a picture, a street intersection, the smell of a cup of coffee.  It can be just about anything…and the wave comes crashing. But in between the waves, there is life.

    “Somewhere down the line, and it’s different for everybody, you find that the waves are only 80 feet tall. Or 50 feet tall.  And while they still come, they come further apart. You can see them coming. An anniversary, a birthday, or Christmas, or landing at O’Hare. You can see it coming for the most part, and prepare yourself. When it crashes over you, you know that somehow you will, again, come out the other side. Soaking wet, sputtering, still hanging on to some tiny piece of the wreckage, but you’ll come out.

    “Take it from an old guy. The waves never stop coming, and somehow you don’t really want them to. But you learn that you’ll survive them. And other waves will come. And you’ll survive them too. If you’re lucky, you’ll have lots of scars from lots of loves. And lots of shipwrecks.”

 Author unknown

The “piece/peace” I find most helpful to hang onto to ride out the shipwrecks of life is God.   Karen

Me too, Karen, me too.

Later, Art (-:

    Trying to keep the temperature down in the house by not opening the covering over our large west facing window – by mid- afternoon they cause the temperature to rise higher than any other part of the house. 

    It is a mixed process, I enjoy looking out it as I write, but I know that when I leave it open my air conditioner comes on much earlier – thus more expensive.

    Hard to believe it is the first of July already.  I am still trying to cope with April going by the wayside.  Well into my 70 years of seasonal weather changes.

    When we first moved up here Carla could plant her tomatoes in late March, now we are doing it in May to keep them from being frozen out.  Winter seems to be coming earlier, just the normal cycles of life here on earth.  But, it does take some getting used to; especially for the garden.

    The Dalles celebrated Independence Day yesterday.  There are a number of people who are upset that they don’t do it on the traditional 4^th.

    Of course, the 4^th is arbitrary, the signing wasn’t completed by the fore fathers until well into August – or so I have been told.

    Personally, our family has celebrated many holidays, birthdays and other special times on some other day than what is on the calendar, so it doesn’t make much difference to me.

    Police, hospital personnel, fire departments, 9-1-1 operators, air plane personnel as other transportation personnel, as well as many other professions that must be working 24 hours a day 7 days a week don’t have the luxury of standing down and celebrating that special time on the calendar.

    The important thing is the celebration takes place, and in regard to Independence Day, we have it every single day, so far, as we live, work and play in our country.

    We shouldn’t need ‘special’ days to remember loved ones, friends, country and of course, the blessings of God. 

    We should remember to be thankful, daily.

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

    The other day I was outside when I was buzzed bombed by a hummingbird.  I was too close to one of the feeders for his liking.

    As I watched him flying around, watched him go to one of the feeders and then rest on a limb of the tree, a wave of thankfulness came over me.

    God created this little guy.  He is unique in the bird kingdom, he can fly forward, sideways, backwards or just hover.

    He has beautiful feathers as the sun glints off them, his beak is long so that he can reach the deeply into the flowers.

    Tiny, aggressive, using his skills and gifts not only to survive but to help pollinate flowers, eat small insects – which help man - he is specially created by God.

    Man is also created by God.  While we may have some things in common, we are different from everyone else.  He has given us each skills and gifts to survive, but also the ability to help others.

    We get so wrapped up in our daily grind, so focused on the job, or the news, or even our family that we forget that God is also there and wants us to focus on Him.

    He understands our need to do so many other things, but when we leave Him out all our skills and gifts mean nothing. 

    As the hummingbird flits around doing what God wants Him to do, so must we do what God wants us to do.  However, to find that out it is our responsibility to study His Word and pray with Him DAILY.

    Every creature, every plant on this earth has a purpose in life – so do we; we just need to find out what it is and DO IT:

          Romans 8:27-28  KJV “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

    Later, Art (-:

    Mild temperatures, for this time of year, which is good; but heavy winds make the outdoors trying with my allergies.  Someone suggested some over the counter type remedy and have the okay from my physician to give it a try – so will be trying it when I receive it.

    I am trying not to take anything without her knowing – it is amazing how chemicals interact, some to help each other, many to fight each other.  Plus, I am on too many to begin with, but that is life; and they do help.

    We’ve got good providers here and while I truly miss my original provider, Ben Pate, those that have taken his place are doing fine, the latest one, Dr. Peries, (she is just a few years older than my granddaughter and looks a lot like her) seems to have the most interest in me as an individual and takes the kinda time that Ben took to make sure we are on track.

    I came cross this in an article I was reading:

    “A new study from the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) at Oxford University, aptly named "Dissolving the Fermi Paradox," suggests that humanity is alone in the observable universe, putting a damper on the theory that there is intelligent life somewhere in the known universe.”

    "When the model is recast to represent realistic distributions of uncertainty, we find a substantial ex ante probability of there being no other intelligent life in our observable universe, and thus that there should be little surprise when we fail to detect any signs of it," the study's abstract reads. "This result dissolves the Fermi paradox, and in doing so removes any need to invoke speculative mechanisms by which civilizations would inevitably fail to have observable effects upon the universe."

    Which made me think of this verse:

          Revelations 1:8 KJV “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

    Now the article speaks to “there being no other intelligent life in our observable universe,” which I am assuming means biological life, because there are plenty of examples of, other, intelligent life in our universe.

          Isaiah 43:5 KJV “ Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:”

          Colossians 1:15-17 KJV “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

    As a country, indeed many countries, we have spent billions of dollars and are still spending billions of dollars to explore the universe to find signs of life.

    When all we have to do is look to the many things that God has created.

    To look at the many things that man has done with the talents that God has given Him, including sending things into space.

    To read His Word and understand who He is and what He has done.

    To allow His Word to touch our heart, through Christ and His Holy Spirit, seeking His salvation and His wisdom.

    Observable life other than what is here on earth, yep, in the spirit whereby we see the evidence of that life, spiritual life of God.

          John 4:23-24 KJV “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

    There is life out there, in the heavens, in the spirit, and we can have contact with it every moment of every day – It is God.  Our spirit, our heart knows that.

    2 Corinthians 3:3 KJV  “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

Later, Art (-: