CROOKED RIVER RANCH, OR Day 2.  This morning we attended a church service.  We had debated where to go, having found no PCA or OPC church nearby, and we were averse to one more rambunctious event that so many non-denominational churches provide.  We decided to gamble on a local church that appeared to have no denominational affiliation, Community Presbyterian Church.  Turned out to be a snapshot of early 20th century liberal Protestantism.  A young man preaching to old folk, since the young members apparently attend the earlier contemporary service.

At the door we saw someone dressed in a red outfit that I later was informed was a woman with a shaved head who is a Buddist but likes to synchronize her faith with Christianity.  The sermon was from Genesis 12 where Abram was called to become a blessing.  What followed was a charge for us all to be a blessing, according to the preacher's definition of a blessing, which was to be nice and give to others in need.  The duration and detail of his examples were exhausting, including II Cor 9:6-15.  The Christ being preached was not the Savior and Redeemer of Scripture.  These people would be appalled to know that Scripture calls us all sinners.  Original sin is foreign to this teaching, so everyone is good and can be a blessing to others in some way.  One dare not suggest that the God who called Abram, apart from grace, sends sinners into hell.  The very existence of hell is likely never mentioned.  Thus, all the lengthy opining made no connection with Galatians 2:8-10, which explains that by grace one is saved from his sins through faith in order to do good works.  Preaching good works to sinners who have not been saved from their sins is a waste of one's breath.  There was no joy of salvation apparent among those around us, only the collective upscale gathering of folk of like mind.

Many songs were sung that, in proper context, convey Biblical truth; but words were re-defined as assurance that we are all just wonderful as we are.  I noted that there were hymnals that cite affiliation with the PCUSA and had unisex language, though they had two large screens upon which the words were projected.  They closed with The Church's One Foundation, which the liberal Methodist church of my boyhood loved so much.  The presumed meaning is that whatever ecumenical synchronized group you belong to, you are a Christian because you are in a church and all churches have Christ as their foundation.  Pearl Buck would have been right at home. The mental gymnastics performed during that sermon were something to behold -- at a distance, and distance we put between that and us as quickly as we could find the exit door after the service ended.

As we drove back to the RV park, we noticed that the smokey haze had returned.  After doing laundry and other chores, we ventured out to see if any images of value can be captured.

We walked a desert trail leading to Crooked River Gorge.

A Lot of Large Sage Brush Bushes Along the Way

 

Crooked River Gorge

We then went to the observation deck behind the RV park to take some photos.

Crooked River Gorge from Observation Deck