Standing in the Gap for Oregon

The Old Well   And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father … Genesis 26:18   The concept of “redigging old wells” refers to getting back to our spiritual roots, spiritual renewal, revival.     This talk of wells comes from Genesis 26 where Isaac is found re-digging the literal wells his father, Abraham, had dug. The Philistines had filled and hidden them. The symbolism of wells is rich, and much has been written and preached on various meanings, but here I am thinking specifically of Oregon’s spiritual roots. Most Oregonians know a little about Missionary Jason Lee, the Whitmans (who were actually in Washington) and other early Christian pioneers. There are many stories about our early spiritual roots that have not been told, however.   I was curious about my surroundings: I now live in an older part of Oregon City and wondered about the history of the lot beneath the building I inhabit. While not new - the buildin...

Baker County, Oregon The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.   Psalm 23:1-3   In 1811 Wilson Price Hunt was sent by John Jacob Astor to lead a group overland to establish the fur trading post of Astoria. Another group had been sent by sea. Hunt was young, fit and capable as a leader, but he lacked experience and underestimated the time it would take to get to the Pacific. The Overland Party followed the trail blazed by Lewis and Clark just a few years earlier, but then decided to swing south into unknown territory to avoid the hostile Blackfeet. By mid-winter in icy, snowy conditions, they found themselves starving in rugged Hell’s Canyon with no way to go forward. They split the party, tragically lost a couple of men, and finally found their way to the friendlier Shoshone who led th...