Standing in the Gap for Oregon

Coos Bay, Oregon And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the   Lord , and his wonders in the de ep. Psalm 107: 22-24 Coos County is deep on the southern edge of the Oregon coast. Not that there isn’t anything new to say about Coos, but a portion of an earlier post is repeated for some of this one. The rest can be read here . Additional information is here and here . Coquille is the county seat and there is a three-person County Commission to oversee the various county duties. The three County Commissioners are  Bob Main, John Sweet,  and  Rod Taylor .  Sheriff Gabriel Fabrizio  is the new sheriff elected in 2022. The Assessor is  Steven Jansen  with  Julie A. Brecke  the County Clerk and  Paul Frasier  the District Attorney. In 1853 the Oregon Territorial governmen...

Baker County, Oregon I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. Psalm 27:4 The Message We are moving into the Northeast Region of Oregon, which includes Baker, Wallowa, Union, Marrow, Umatilla, and Grant Counties. This is a mountainous and, in many places, isolated corner of Oregon, but with a rich history. Baker City was named the county seat in 1865 and incorporated in 1874. It is situated at the southern end of Baker Valley, and while thousands heading for the Willamette Valley during the wagon train days passed through this beautiful area, no one stopped to settle until four miners - Henry Griffin, David Littlefield, William Stafford, and G.W. Schriver - found gold in 1861 just a couple of miles from the present settlement.   Baker County, Oregon Baker City is a pretty town, with the Elkhorn Mountain Range to the west and the Wallowas to the east. The area has unl...

  Peacock Lane, Portland, OR Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Luke 2:14 This is written just a few days before Christmas, and we wish everyone a happy holiday. We planned to take a quick look at Southeast Portland. This is fitting as Peacock Lane is in Southeast Portland, known for its amazing displays at Christmas that are more than just lights, but can be elaborate productions. This street between SE Stark and SE Belmont, is lined with mostly Tudor-style homes and has been having a non-commercial, voluntary Christmas display since 1932. The street can be driven through, although there is usually a queue at the beginning, and several nights are reserved for pedestrians only. A free cocoa booth is on-site, and no soliciting, selling, or flyer hand-outs are permitted. Southeast Portland, OR Around the same time Peacock Lane started their display, another part of Southeast Portland in the area near Reed College, was being introduced to Lambert...

Willamette Falls, Clackamas County, OR This says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come…” Isaiah 56:1 Clackamas County is part of the Metro area of Oregon, meaning it is one of the three counties that make up Portland: Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington. However, Clackamas County has other areas of interest as well. The south-eastern portion of the county is largely rural and extends into the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The county seat is Oregon City. I was born in Oregon City because the hospital was here. My parents were living in those foothills at the time. A couple of years ago I moved to Oregon City and have now learned something about the history. The town was platted, originally, by Dr. John McLoughlin, and his influence is everywhere. The park site where his house and grave are located is a couple of blocks from me. The McLoughlin Promenade is also a couple blocks away and has views of much of his original land claim, inc...

Fox Community Church, Grant County, OR Sing praises on the harp to our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.” Psalm 147:7-8 We are still in the Northeast Region of Oregon, which includes Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Grant, and Baker Counties. We are going to take a closer look at Grant County, which includes the city of John Day. The County seat is Canyon City. Grant is an amazing place, home of the John Day Fossil Beds, the site of a major gold rush in the 1860’s that transformed the area, and the location of Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, among other scenic locations. We looked at a lot of Grant County history here . Grant County population is 7,233 which places it at the 4 th least populated county in the state. On May 10 th , the City of John Day voted to disband the city police department, which was established in 1952. The Sheriff’s Office has assumed responsibility for the cases and files for the Cit...

  Wasco County, The Dalles I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord. Ezekial 38:23 As it happens, I drove through Wasco County this weekend, along I-84. The trip took me to all the counties we have designated the Columbia River Region, the strip along the top of the state bordered by the Columbia River (Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow). It was wet. Rain is good, and these counties need the rain, but it also can make driving I-84 a challenge. We made it, though – Portland to Hermiston (Umatilla County). As we drive this region, we move through the Cascades and the forests and waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge to the dry high desert of Eastern Oregon. The landscape changes from lush green mountains to rocky cliffs, to rolling hills dotted with windmills, and flat sagebrush-covered plateaus. The county seat of Wasco County is The Dalles. We wrote about this area earlier here...

Captain Grey, Tillamook fight Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,   holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.   I Timothy 1:18-19 NIV Tales of Spanish galleons and ancient shipwrecks are high on my list of distractions when it comes to historical research. The point of researching the history of an area, in this case Tillamook County, is to locate events that happened in the past that we can pray over or even repent – like the killings at Murderer’s Harbor - when that seems appropriate. The Oregon coastline is such a place of mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure that distractions are inevitable. But, then, maybe there are things in those old stories to pray over after all?  Tillamook County, Oregon   Tillamook County’s long coastline is part of th...

Circuit Rider, Salem, Oregon And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you  bind   on   earth  will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose  on   earth  will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19.   There are so many issues to pray about in Oregon in 2022. The governor’s race, the current legislative session that began February 1 st , Covid, Portland, the economy, our children and on and on. It is sometimes difficult to know where to focus our prayers. My advice is to pray in the Spirit and ask the Lord to direct your prayers where He needs them most. In this post we are looking at, if not a deeper look at least a review, of Marion County.   Marion County is one of the oldest counties in the state, one of the original four large counties (Champooick) established by the first Provisional government. It is also the site of those first meetings that created the state in Champoeg in 1843.   A rural and agri...

Lafayette Historical Museum They may curse, but  you will bless: when they attack they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice .   Psalm 109:28   Lafayette, Oregon is a pretty little town along the Yamhill River on Oregon Route 99, about 35 miles southwest of Portland, 25 miles north of Salem. It is the third oldest town in the Willamette Valley, established in 1846 and incorporated in 1878. It is in Yamhill County and was originally the county seat until 1889 when the citizens voted to make McMinnville the seat. The population is currently around 4,000.   The town has a number of old homes and historic buildings, a few even on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lafayette Locks Park is at the site of a former dam and locks that were decommissioned in the 1950’s. Other points of interest include a log house museum and the Lafayette Pioneer Cemetery which was established in 1873.   The old cemetery has a lot of atmosphere and is associated w...

Ontario, OR park The   stranger  who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were  stranger s  in   the   land  of Egypt: I  am   the   Lord  your God .  Leviticus 19:34   We briefly mentioned the eastern Oregon town of Ontario when we wrote about Malheur County. Today I want to delve into the history a little more, and to honor one long-term resident, my mother-in-law Ila Mae Mills, who passed away August 13 th  at the age of 97.   Ontario is a town with which I am familiar. My grandparents lived there for many years, from the 1940’s until the 1970’s. My parents were married there, as was I. My in-laws lived in Ontario from 1948 on. My father-in-law, a local bookkeeper, passed away in 2013 at the age of 95.    Ontario is the largest town in the far eastern portion of Oregon and sits right up against the Snake River and the border with Idaho. P...