Made banana nut bread yesterday.  I have made lots of bread in my lifetime, starting when I was 11 or 12 years old.

I have used this particular recipe dozens, if not over a hundred times, it was the first time it came out all but burnt.

I followed the recipe closely – not always do I do that (which becomes frustrating when I make a really good ‘something’ but can’t remember all I put in it nor the amounts) – but when baking I am pretty careful on my measurements.

The putting together the ingredients to the time being baked was the same as I have done so much of in the past – didn’t hurt it too much, a bit crunchy on the crust touching the sides and bottom of the loaf pan, tasted okay, but I can’t figure out why it happened.

The smoked roast yesterday turned out well, lots of leftovers for French dipped sandwiches – or regular ones.  Last time I made French dips I added sautéed onions to the sandwich, turned out quite well.  Will be doing that again.

Official temperature, right now is 85, however, the garden thermometer says 92 – either way, it was time to come in; that plus the sun, so I am told, is not good for me with some of the medications I am one.

John 27:42-43  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

⁴³ For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

No one enjoys being ostracized; it can be not only disheartening but devastating to us.

We are hearing more and more how people are taking to the social media sites to target and destroy others.  They make terrible comments – what they would not dare say to a person’s face they can do so under the cloak of anonymity they can say whatever they want and get away with it.

Young people, in particular, are vulnerable to the lies and taunting of classmates – they so much want to be part of the group that rejection, regardless if in person or through the airways can mentally destroy them.

We hear of the need for our colleges to have designated ‘safe places’ where students can go who feel they have been traumatized by one experience or another.  (We used to call that the church – but far too many don’t even know what churches are all about.)

It has gotten to the point where people take umbrage over the slightest comments and want a perfect world.

While I am against bullying and gossip, I think we have raised a generation where many can’t stand on their own, they have been raised to need continuing support from peers, parents and ‘leaders’ telling them how great they are, that if they don’t get it they blame anyone and everyone.

But it isn’t just children that have been indoctrinated with this need for acceptance, adults have also had this need – to the point that rather than proclaim their love of Christ they bury it in the background so they will not receive negative ‘vibes’ from the rest of society.

We are seeing a dumbing down of God’s Word so others won’t be offended, so they can feel good about themselves even if they haven’t dealt with the sin in their lives.

Having said about us - For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. - would have to be one of the worst thing said about a Christian.

None of us is immune from such a thing.  I can think of way too many times when I bit my tongue because I wanted the person to like me, or at least keep from them not liking me.

Not as difficult a step now, I am older and have nowhere near the contacts or encounters with non-Christians I used to have.

But even when I was a ‘public figure’ there was no doubt about my relationship with Christ. 

It caused me trouble more times than I can recall.

I was accused of discharging someone, because I was a ‘born again Christian’ and therefor prejudiced against a person who had sinned and that is why they were canned, -- not because they were unable to do their job. 

I was accused of instilling a feeling of anti-sin, or certain behaviors, within my Office that caused the deputies to arrest someone not because they committed a crime or made a violation, but because they were caught in sin.

The fact there was a violation of the law and law enforcement officers have a duty to arrest or issue citations had nothing to do with it........

It is extremely important that we set aside our desire for praise on this earth, and focus on helping others find the salvation and peace that only comes from God.

If the people in Jesus’ day turned against Him, there is no way we should believe we will be free from charges of those that refuse to accept Him.

Later, Art :-)

Smoked a roast again today.  This time I was more able to keep the temperature under control – not sure if it is because I am learning to use it better or it just decided to give in to me.

The air temperatures were the same as last time, but we had better control.

But today is to also for the remembrance of our military personnel that gave all that they had that we might live in freedom.

While I have never lost anyone from my immediate families, I have friends that have lost a brother, son or father these people, too, are in my prayers this day.

Psalm 56:4  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

We live in a world where violence can happen at any time, at any place on the globe. 

We see it in the news all the time where for no reason people attack others – it is natural for us to be apprehensive when we go places that appear unsafe or we are there at an hour where few people are on the street.

Most of us live here in America, where the danger, while always there, has not reached the level that it has in so many other parts of the world.

In America we can still worship as we please, we see that in many places worshiping God and specifically the Jewish God and His Son Jesus is not only looked down on, but grounds for torture, imprisonment and even death.

These are painful deaths, often times strung out to inflict the maximum pain.

God has never promised that we will be free from pain, in fact Jesus told us in Mathew 28:8-9  All these are the beginning of sorrows. ⁹ Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

We know that God’s people are being killed every single day because of their stand for Jesus.  We know that in living for Jesus we will make enemies, not because we attack them, or try to do them harm, but because they don’t want to admit they are living in sin – and it is far easier to bludgeon Christians than it is to admit they need God.

We think of our physical well-being - are we going to be beaten, will women Christians be raped, will we be incarcerated for our beliefs?

There are many things that can happen to us, or we worry will happen to us, as we dwell on the here and now.  Yes, it is the here and now that we might feel the pain, where many things could happen to us – yet, God says we can put our trust in Him.

But He also says we will have physical ‘discomforts’ in our obedience to Him, for some that is hard to accept.

Man measures time in seconds, minutes, hours – days, weeks, years.  We feel we have lived a long time when we reach the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and even older.  It is hard to see eternity – even though we began our eternal life with Him when we accept Christ as Savior.

What we endure, what we have on earth is temporary – are bodies are not made to last forever, however, our soul is and when we fully accept that fact we can better withstand the blows of satan and follow God.

Soldiers that are in battle where their lives are in danger, must accept that they may not live out the battle, they must move forward and fight.  If they dwell on what might happen they can be paralyzed with fear, unable to do what must be done to both defeat the enemy and to survive.

Most of the time that Christians falter is because they allow fear of someone or the consequences of doing something for God, even though it may be against the laws of a nation.

For some, the reality is easily accepted and they go forth into the fray, seemingly unafraid, with boldness – while others of us must overcome our fears and we find it very difficult to maintain our stand because of what others will say or do.

John 14:25-27   These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

God doesn’t send us into battle alone, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and will teach, lead and guide us. 

We but have to accept Him.

Later, Art :-)

Wind is blowing a ‘bit’ and the trees are dancing.  The kind of wind that tends to dry out the crops faster than normal and require us to water heavier.

Jeremiah 6:16-19 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

¹⁷ Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

¹⁸ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

¹⁹ Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

God has sent His people out into the world to proclaim His Gospel.

He has warned this country through these people that if we do not turn from our sinful ways we will suffer the consequences.

Just because people do not believe He will allow great tragedy to befall our country, doesn’t negate that fact it is coming.

We still have time to refocus, still have time to repent, still have time to change our sinful behavior and respect, worship and obey our Creator.

As a country we have chosen not to listen to our spiritual leaders, not to heed their advice.

Many Christians have dumbed down the Word of God to make it more palatable to the world, but following those paths will lead to destruction.

I am afraid in the future, when historians try to figure out what happened to the our country as they have picked over the bones of the great empires, they will find that Christians refused to be servants of God and became puppets of the world trying to make the world happy by telling it that they don’t have to take seriously the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 2:4-6 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

⁵ That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

⁶ Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

We need to stand on God’s Word, to listen and obey Him as the Holy Spirit guides on in sharing the truth with others.

I do not know if it is too late for the entire country, but I do know it is not too late for those that the Holy Spirit sends our way to be given His Word.

Later, Art :-)

Still have a few tomato plants left, but not many.  Carla has almost given them all away.

Thus far, thanks to the cooler weather, her garden is doing fine.  Her plants are having time to get well rooted and hardened off before the heat starts stressing them out.

Eating lettuce from the garden, but eagerly waiting and anticipating those tomatoes.  Course beans, potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, squash, melons and the blackberries are going to be enjoyed as soon as their harvest time comes along.

Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

All too frequently we see Christians backing down, or compromising their testimony for fear of what others may think or say about them.

To be honest I have done so, not proud of it, but I can’t deny it either.

There are times that there is no point in continuing a ‘discussion’ – or what turns into a shouting match – with those that refuse to accept the truth of who Christ is and what they need to do.

How we approach people can make a big difference in how they respond.  If done as accusations of sin, without any sign of doing it out of love, it often gets their ‘dander’ up and we can no longer show them, nor work with them.

That does not mean that we should not be bold and forthright, but we must recognize that each person is different, what works for one may not work for another.

That is why it is so important to develop relationships with those that do not know our Lord.  Not to be ‘holier than though’ but to demonstrate by deed and word that we have Christ in our heart and we want to share that same love with them.

When people attack us for our belief in Christ, it is natural to feel defensive.  We take it as a personal attack on us – and that is what the attacker is trying to do to us – but the reality is they are fighting against the Holy Spirit that is dealing with them and their spirit.  At least most of the time.

There are those that have made it their life’s mission to destroy all that speaks of God – both personal affirmations and public displays honoring Him.  They don’t care how they do, they don’t care about what we believe and certainly don’t care anything about God.

I am not saying that they are without hope, but, dealing with them in a manner that convinces them of God’s power, authority and love must come through the Holy Spirit, that takes prayer, faith and following His lead, it isn’t for neophytes, or those that are not willing to undertake the work needed to prepare for them.

We have to decide every day if we are going to serve God or attempt to please man.  Most of the time it is either or and we must hold fast to our faith and not worry about pleasing man.

Later, Art :-)

Carla’s sister came through her ordeal okay and is back at home recovering from surgery.

Our daughter is doing well, back at home where our son and the grandkids are caring for her.

Carla’s brother is coming along nicely and is almost ready for his second knee surgery next month.

It’s been a long and eventful month, so far, we have some set backs but we trust we will get through them.

Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

⁴⁰ But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

⁴² And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

⁴³ And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

It is never too late to turn our hearts to God.

No matter what we have done, who we did it to, or how we did it, if we truly repent and ask God for forgiveness THROUGH Jesus, He will give it.

We all have heard the stories of the worse sinner in town coming to God and His Salvation.

It is gives us great hope when we have loved ones who are outside God’s Grace and refuse to admit their need of forgiveness, that even on their death bed they can find redemption.

As we know many people count on the mercy of God to give them time to come to Him and they go about their lives saying that sometime in the future they will change, but right now they are having too much fun.

While we can tell them of their errors – while the Holy Spirit can prick their hearts and make them aware of their need for salvation, only they can make that decision.

It is very painful to love someone and see them reject God – and be told by them they never want to hear about it from us again.

But they cannot stop us from praying for them; we can ask God to send someone they will listen to and we can continue living for God as an example.

I have seen too many deaths where the person was alive one moment and killed in the next.

We cannot depend on God’s patience and use it to justify our refusal to serve Him.  We never know when the second chance we thought we would have is taken away in a blink of an eye.

I am so thankful that Jesus demonstrated, in His forgiveness of the thief on the cross, that we can still have hope for our loved ones.

Later, Art :-)

This will be a two parter – just too long for one e-mail.  I am trying to find a good breaking point so they come together okay.

Philippians 1: 20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

The last few days I have just not been able to focus, let alone write.  So I used that time to heal physically and do some quiet meditation and mulling over where I am with God.

One of the quotes I came across was this one:

“Everyone who is regenerated by the Spirit, and gives himself up entirely to God for true justification, is thus admitted to the closest union with Christ, and becomes one with him.”  -- John Calvin

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This verse came to mind many times this past week.  What does it mean?

I have always heard it preached as our devotion to God and obedience to Him.  To live as if Christ was living within in us.

But I believe there is more to it. 

I remember the first time we took my oldest daughter, and left her in Eugene at the University of Oregon.  I had barely gotten out of town – had not even made it to the freeway three or so miles away and had to pull over and stop as I allowed the my emotions to flow, it took a while but I finally was able to wipe my eyes and drive again.

That was the first of many times I had to sit by the road side and compose myself. 

I remember one time where we had attended a dinner for parents and family at her sorority house.  We got to meet her sisters/friends and their parents.  It was a good feeling going home, after pulling over, and I can remember telling Carla that I felt better about coming away without her, she was with people who cared for her.

Later that weekend, our older son came up from the basement and asked me where ‘Assume’ station was, I asked him he meant Autzum station (the football stadium for the UO) he said yes.  I told him it was in Eugene, and asked “why?”  There had been a shooting at the stadium.

So much for feeling better.

I remember the Friday after Thanksgiving when the Lynds family came together to celebrate and she had come by bus and needed to be taken back to the bus in Bend.

When I got back I looked at my mother-in-love and asked her if it ever got any easier, she said, ‘no.’

At a later date we stayed overnight with her in an apartment in Portland, where she had recently moved. 

Carla and I were sleeping in the bedroom (our daughter had given up her bed) while she and the kids were sleeping in the living room.

It was a nice apartment complex in a good neighborhood.  That morning as Carla and I were just getting up I told her I felt pretty good about where she was staying.

I had barely gotten the words out when we heard gunshots from the parking lot below.  As I rushed from the bedroom, gun in hand I saw the kids looking out the window.

I told them to get down and looked out myself to see if there was something I needed to do.

In the parking lot was a Multnomah County patrol car behind another car, it was obviously a felony stop as both deputies were behind open doors with guns drawn.

As I recall no one was injured.  The suspect was involved in a burglary of a gun shop on the corner and when he tried to get away he found himself trapped in the parking lot.

I have since learned not to make statements about how great I feel about where my children are – at least without a quick prayer.

To be continued tomorrow.

Doing better today, weather is a lot milder and no wind.  Part of my problem, we think, is that one of my meds dehydrates me, the warning is to be careful about vigorous exercise where I might sweat too much – which means I have to be careful and make sure I drink more fluids.

Hopefully that will help with my sinus headaches, it has been a few years since I have them with such intensity.

We shall see, or not.....

Carla has about 26 tomato plants in the ground with maybe another one or two (or ten or more) to go.  Still have a quite a few to give away.

John 8:15-16 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

¹⁶ And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

The world in general, but Americans in particular have a difficult time with the sovereignty of God.  In giving Him His rightful place we turn over all our ‘rights’ to do what we see fit.

We vote on those that rule over us.  We have a part in the decision making of our government in one way or another.  While some of our politicians have acted as if they are invincible and must be obeyed, the citizens usually call them to task and make them aware that they are not dictators.

One of the things I did not cover yesterday in my post on the court system is the propensity of a defendant to be able to negotiate his charges and/or his sentence to a lesser degree.

Negotiations have become a major part of our judicial system.  While most Police Officers are unhappy when they see a criminal skate on some of his crimes, instead of holding him accountable on all of them, it does accomplish a couple of things.

There is no trial.  Trials can be very expensive costing the state and county hundreds of thousands of dollars for the more serious crimes.

If a defendant cannot afford an attorney the state pays for one – and if it is a murder, usually two attorneys are appointed.  The state pays for the defendant’s investigators that go over the evidence and talk with witnesses to see if they can pick holes in the state’s case.

If there are multiple victims the state tries to wrap them all into one trial – but sometimes it cannot be done for one reason or another, which means even more expense.

Often the defendant is charged with several crimes that occur in one incident.  The prosecutor paints with as broad a brush as possible to make sure that all bases are covered.  While the defendant may ‘weasel’ out of one charge, there is another one that covers the crime.

As time goes on charges are dropped – or negotiated to the lesser offense to expedite the process and move on to the rest of the heavy court docket.

Negotiation is the key on many criminal trials, especially when the case is strong.  The prosecutor wants to convict the defendant and the defense attorney wants his client to serve as little time as possible.

So, the defendant pleads to a lesser crime, or if he is charged with multiple crimes against multiple victims he only pleads to some of them and the others are dropped.

Part of that rational is that rarely does a defendant serve consecutive terms for multiple offenses.  They are served concurrently, meaning that all the years that a person serves for one crime is done at the same time for other crimes.

A defendant that is found guilty of crimes that in total the incarceration time could be 10 years on each crime, he only serves 10 years – less other considerations.

Because of our experiences with our government we think we should have a say in all that occurs in our lives, if we disagree with a mandate or law we try to change it or at the least negotiate it so we are not as hampered or our life is not as difficult with the mandate.

I can remember when we had a couple of teenagers from the Portland area commit a crime on the Warm Springs Reservation.  The Tribal Police arrested them and put them in their jail for a couple of days before bringing them up to The Dalles.  They would be charged in District Court – the Tribe Courts are basically for the Indians.

They complained of their treatment by the Indians.  One of their father’s was an attorney and the young man was sure that his father would sue them.  He was pretty cocky until it was pointed out that the Warm Springs reservation was a sovereign government and they made their own laws – just as any other foreign government.

In other words, he didn’t have a case.

Often we succeed, and we equate our systems with God’s system.  But just like these young men learned that the reservation had a separate set of laws and the Tribal Police treated them on that basis, God has a separate set of laws – laws that are set in stone and unchangeable.

No matter how much we may disagree.

No matter how much we plead for leniency after rejecting God’s Son.

There is no negotiation with God.

Either we recognize God’s Word and accept His Son as Savior and follow Him, or we don’t.

If we don’t we can’t go before Him and say “Lord, I have done all these good things, so that should be taken into consideration when passing judgement on me and you should let me come join you in heaven.”

The basic question God asks is “What did you do with My Son?”  If it is anything other than “I accepted Him as my Savior!” we are condemned. 

Period.

No negotiations.

No retries.

No entry into heaven.

Just eternity in hell.

May we never hear as in Mathew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Later, Art :-)