Pretty outside, some blue sky with sunlight creeping in but fog and low clouds covering Cherry Heights; Mt. Hood is beautiful today, especially with the new fallen snow reflecting a bright whiteness.

Temperatures are in the 30’s but that is fine with us, means snow won’t be melting quicker than the ground can accept it.

Carla was called off today – and last Wednesday – along with a couple other employees because business was down.  Just a microcosm of why the economy is not doing as well as the ‘leaders’ are telling us it is.

Some of her fellow workers are having to pull down two and three jobs to help makes ends meet; I applaud them for standing on their own.

We were going to try and get the family together before Christmas – but the weather is just too dicey at this time.  Christmas, this year, for those close by, will be a work day – and I trained the others too well – ya don’t travel on Christmas.  

Or, most holidays for that matter.  The stress of trying to get things done can be overwhelming and unfair to those that have to prepare for it – AND –  we have investigated far too many accidents, many with injuries, some fatalities on holidays.  Not a good way to remember the death or the time of year.

Carla and I have invited Ian over Christmas day, since his Mom is working, and we will have a Christmas Day dinner instead of our traditional Christmas Eve dinner – Carla works late on Christmas eve this year.

Luke 2:7-11 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The birth of Christ - the first greatest event in our lives.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Mark 15:37  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Mathew 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
⁶ He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

The sacrifice of Christ and His resurrection - the second greatest event in our lives; which culminates in our salvation.

Without the first, we could not have the second.  Without the second the first wouldn’t matter – but both do.

This is the time of year we celebrate Christ’s birth.

Many Christians point to the Word of God and say, there is no “Christmas” in the Bible.

They are correct.

Many Christians are opposed to calling this celebration Christmas because it was designated to coincide with the pagan recognition of the winter solstice when the pagans celebrated the return of longer days.

They are correct in their history.

Many Christians are opposed to saying this is the time of Christ’s birth when we don’t know the actual date AND Theologians believe it actually occurred in the spring of the year.

I will accept that it is not the exact birthday of Christ.

While I respect their opinions, I am not one of those Christians, and here is why:

The word ‘trinity’ does not appear in the Bible either, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one and trinity is the word we use to express that truth.

There are two times in the year when more people are made aware of God and His Son, going to church – even if those are the only times, and when we, as Christians, can witness to others with the least amount of resistance – Easter AND Christmas.

Even before I accepted Christ I knew it wasn’t the exact day of His birth – it was the celebration of that birth.

I was in law enforcement for 27 years; during those years we often had to celebrate events in our lives on a date that was not the exact date.  That doesn’t mean the celebration was improper or wrong – we adapted.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

The celebration of Christ’s birth – opens doors that remain closed at almost every other time.

For several years I witnessed to our Produce Manager at our store.  We discussed Christ and His love, I invited him to church – he resisted accepting Christ and wouldn’t join me at church, but he listened to me.

His wife had been a secretary in the ‘corporate’ headquarters of a large denomination.  She didn’t think much of our church.

We were Penticostals.  His wife didn’t like Penticostals.

We worshiped in a 1930’s unassuming building that sat about 100 people comfortably – but we often squeezed as many as 125-130 in there.  Across the street was a large, brick church with traditional architecture – large and beautiful – it was her denomination’s church.

However, they didn’t attend there, or anywhere else.

I can remember one time witnessing to him, when he said, ‘you are okay, but, those Holy Rollers!  They must have an air tank in their lungs, they go on and on and you can’t get a word in edge wise...’ he continued, without a break, for a couple of minutes and wouldn’t let me say anything – when I was able, I said, “John, I am considered by some to be a Holy Roller.”  

He was a bit embarrassed. 

I was promoted and moved to another store.

THE NEXT SATURDAY, one of his neighbors, who went to OUR church, invited his children to Sunday School and he allowed them to go.

He attended every program that had his children in it; INCLUDING, the Christmas program.  He would not have gone to church without his children participating – and we ALWAYS gave the salvation message and an altar call after each of these and other similar programs.

I don’t know if he and his wife ever accepted Christ, they family moved away.  But I do know that he got the message of salvation several times because our Church celebrated Christmas and his children were in the program.

I respect those that point out that this was founded on a pagan ritual and it is important for us to realize that.

Unfortunately, Christmas has become so commercialized that Christ is often forgotten – or deliberately left out of the celebration and it is just termed “family time.” 

And frankly that is as much our fault as it is the businesses; we allowed it to begin decades ago and have not corrected that mistake well enough.  

BUT, it also gives us opportunity to express God’s great love and help others understand that the birth of a Child in a manger was culminated in the death of that same Child on the cross, as an Adult, and His resurrection allows us free access to God and Salvation.

There are many things Christians can disagree on and still be respectful and appreciate the fact we are of one body. 

I, believe this is one of them.

Later, Art :-)

Warmer today, some of the snow is melting down – but the foreboding of the grey clouds and the forecast of rain – some of it freezing, especially in the Gorge – tells us that winter is, indeed, here.

As I write the sun is peeking through some of the clouds and shining upon part of the hill sides – always encouraging.

Revelations 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

¹¹ And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

We look at our nation’s values and degradation and wonder how God hasn’t obliterated us yet. 

Sin is now something to be sought after and righteousness something to be mocked and destroyed.

We look at the rest of the world and see Christians being killed and the families decimated by the destruction; and the creators, plotters and terrorists who caused those deaths have entered and are active in our country.  – And many are members of their government, sanctioned by or at the very least allowed to operate by the leaders of their nations,

In America we see laws being past that forbid the preaching of the Gospel; and the protection of those that defile others.  Christians are told that when we say anything about sinful behavior we are promoting hates speech – and God’s Word is hate speech.

We think we in America have suffered from the hands of satan and his minions – yet ours is nothing compared to what is happening in other countries.

Will we be going through the same times of trials and tribulations that have fallen upon Christians in other nations; men and women persecuted, prosecuted and killed for their beliefs?

We ask ourselves, how much longer will you refrain from sending Jesus back, Oh God? 

And God says, it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

We can lament all we want as to the condition of this country, but it means nothing if we are unwilling to stand for God and His Word. 

We were told we would suffer persecution for His sake.  The Bible is full of witnessing to the wickedness of man against those that obey God. 

As long as satan walks upon this earth, he and him minions will continue to gain warriors to battle God and His saints.

Satan uses lies and hate to attack those who oppose him.  He causes fear in the hearts of men who are afraid of him.  He wants to discourage us from spreading the Gospel, from proclaiming God’s great love, mercy AND His judgement on those that choose not to accept His Son.

It is up to us to call upon God, to trust the Holy Spirit that dwells within us and stand our ground for Him.

2 Timothy 1:6-8 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

Definitely, curl up in a chair with a good book and hot cup of cocoa weather today.  Woke up with about 4 inches of snow on the ground and at this time, 1300, it has stopped snowing after giving us another 4 inches or so.  Not sure if it will start back up or just sit for a while.  Started up again as I write.

We are supposed to be getting rain mixed with snow – freezing rain – so it will be a bit hazardous for a few days.  Gorge is always dangerous in this weather so we will be hunkered down for quite a while.

We had hoped to have a quick get together with most of our kids before Christmas, but there is no point in putting stress and worry on our backs. 

We only traveled once on Christmas and I vowed never again, consequently for the past 46 years we have stayed at home and those here have joined us on Christmas Eve for dinner.  And a bit of gift exchange and opening – along with meat and cheese platters Christmas Day.

Unfortunately, those that are here are working and the others understand why we stayed home – so they don’t ‘brave’ that treacherous Gorge and all those drivers that don’t know what they are doing.  Smart.

I can't begin to count the number of accidents I have investigate over the holidays – all of them – in years past.  Christmas and Thanksgiving are the worst since the weather creates more danger and they are family holidays that have more meaning, thus more pain when we lose a loved one.  

No one wants a memory of a loved one lost during that time – we have had one in our family, many many years ago and I remember the pain that his wife and family went through each year on that holiday for a long time.  We still remember the loss.

BUT is IS pretty out there.

I have two cats sitting their post at windows looking outside, and I presume, glad they aren’t.  The other animals are snuggled in sanctuaries sleeping.  The birds are taken care of, fortunately I don’t have horses (only time I am glad about that) cows or goats that need to be fed.

Yesterday was a challenge, eyes were really bothering me so didn’t get much reading or writing done – doing much better today.

Carla is off today and doing some sewing.  Not sure what I will be accomplishing the rest of the day – but I don’t feel pressure to get anything done.

Philippians 3:18-19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

¹⁹ Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Woke up this morning thinking of the state of our country and its relationship to God.  Who is to blame for this huge cavern that keeps growing every day?

Of course, as anything that goes wrong in this world, we can lay it at the feet of satan; but people have willingly followed him, and/or refused to condemn his lies.

I have seen prairie style grass land fires and forest fires, if they are not dealt with immediately they can quickly spread and the destruction can be massive.

The smallest ember may sit and fester for a bit and then a slight wind comes up and a small flame appears, then larger flames as the wind blows and the grass and trees take off.

It is even worse when the trees and grasses are dry and without moisture.

The fire jumps ahead and may leave a spot, which may be quickly consumed as it closes.  The fire can spread at considerable speeds and it consumes all in its path.

You can fight it by cutting a trail, a fire lane, in its path, trying to remove the grass or trees that will burn and hopefully it will stop at the fire lane.

Or, you can sat a back fire, which is setting a fire in the path of the fire in hopes that you sacrifice some ground to save the ground behind you.

Or, of course, you can pour retardant on it and hope it suffocates the fires.

And water, insufficient amounts can drown the flames and wet the fuel so it doesn’t burn as readily.

I have the highest admiration for the men and women that battle these blazes, it is hot dirty work with the possibility of the fire jumping the fire lane and/or catching you from behind.

Even though some of these blazes have thousands of fire fighters doing battle, it may take days and even weeks to get it under control.  They sometimes have to allow some ground to be burned because of terrain or preparing the ground in its path, but they don’t give up until they have conquered the fire – it is an enemy that must be defeated; or it destroys everything in its path.

What has been happening it America is that same kind of thing.

The embers of sin have been here all along.  It raised its ugly head many times and it has been beaten back.

But sin has continued, it was never eradicated, it was never fully extinguished so it lay there waiting for the next wind to blow and fan it into flames.

In the past Christians prayed, they witnessed, they shared their concerns and they did something about the flames of sin.

However, our country has become a dry and thirsty land, we no longer have the tears of prayers from enough Christians to tamper it.

In the 1960’s satan fanned the flames higher and higher.  He convinced millions of people that the basic principles this country was founded on no longer mattered.

He said God was either non-existent or just didn’t care anymore, so why try and live up to His standards.  More and more people were trapped by his lies and the flames roared higher.

Christians stayed away from the ballot box, they didn’t support candidates that could head off the flames, instead, they removed themselves and wrung their hands.

Meanwhile almost every home had a television, and satan used it to promote his agenda.  Magazines, movies, books were written that proclaimed sin was non-existent.  That we must feel good about ourselves and do whatever it took – except go to God and ask forgiveness – to get that good feeling. 

Don’t feel guilty about your activities, don’t allow it to be called sin, embrace it as your right to do what you want.

And the flames went higher.

Decades passed and finally some Christians realized what was happening and some actually tried to stop it, but they were steam rolled and the flames went higher.

Other Christians thought that they had to compromise the Word of God to match the fervor of satan and blend the world’s values with God’s, instead of the other way around.  And the flames got even higher.

Now, sin is running rampant in our country at the speed of an unchecked prairie fire.  Spreading quickly with few who are willing to stand in the way, few willing to do what is needed to combat it.

The most effective way to stop a fire is water and lots of it.

The most effective way for us to stop satan’s fiery charge is water, the tears of Christians praying for God’s Holy Spirit to intervene and put out the fire that is consuming America today.

The Holy Spirit can set backfires in the hearts of sinners, He can heal the areas that have been burned and make them whole once again.  He can use their tears of shame and sooth them with His loving arms.

We are in a battle and if we do not stand united in prayer and determination our nation will be burned to a crisp.  We will suffer the same fate as other nations who have turned their back on God and found that when they continue to do so, He turns His back on them.

He then makes them accountable for their sins and unwillingness to ask forgiveness.

Christians are the only firefighters that can fight the fires that are consuming us, we need to get busy, kneel in prayer and pray the tears that can extinguish it.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again