With everything that is going on in the world now because of this novel corona virus pandemic and the widespread disruption to everyday life I don’t know where to begin. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the others incarcerated in jails and prisons in Michigan, America and around the world. In modern America no one ever intended that being sentenced to incarceration for a finite time in prison would result in significant damage to health or loss of life. It was not included in your sentence guidelines; it is an unintended consequence that comes about due to negligence or willful behavior on the part of those tasked with the responsibility of overseeing corrections. The current world-wide pandemic is only a temporary phenomenon, not the zombie apocalypse. When things really start to get crazy and your senses begin to get overwhelmed by all the information coming at you, it is possible for the mind to miss-assign information. This is known as Synesthesia and is a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. If you feel like you are in over your head, then I encourage you to cry out to Jesus. So right now, offer up your prayer asking for help. Tell Jesus what you are afraid of, ask him to lift you up out of the water so you no longer feel like you are drowning. The storm may be raging around you, but you will be safe in the Savior’s arms. Seek his guidance to find your way back into the boat and trust Him to calm the storm.
Tag: News Letter
Winter 2019 Newsletter
Jesus came into this world as a baby in the humblest circumstances imaginable. But while the birth of most children receives little notice, he received a royal welcome. A heavenly choir announced his coming, heralds spread the word of his birth, his earthly parents were presented with kingly gifts by foreign dignitaries, both prophets and a prophetess saw his future and a tyrant feared him. God who created man became man in order to redeem His creation. This act of love, sacrifice, and salvation in a few short years would turn the world upside down. But for one night there was quiet expectation with hope, faith, joy and peace abounding. This is why we celebrate. This is why we take time to remember the birth of our Savior. This is why we need to cut through the distractions and focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Winter 2016 News Letter
Knowing first hand how difficult holidays are for those incarcerated, I encourage you to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas in your heart. Keep watch like the Shepherds, follow the signs like the Wise Men, worship like the Angels, be fearless like Joseph, and humble like Mary. Then you will experience God's gift of grace and peace, the true meaning of the season.
Spring 2017 News Letter
"Justice is the sum of many parts, with similar overlapping concepts including: love, mercy, service, charity, ethics, truth, integrity, laws, and righteousness." These concepts represent the character of God that we are called to emulate. The Old Testament is the story of God's justice from Adam in the garden to Moses and the children of Israel in the desert to the kings in Jerusalem to the diaspora of Judah and Israel. The New Testament is the story of God's redemption through Jesus Christ his Son. Together they tell a story of how hopeless, fallen man can be rehabilitated into the children of God.
Fall 2017 News Letter
Think about arguments you have had in the past. Very few are ever actually won. Instead every one is a loser because friendships are broken and enemies simply dig in deeper. It is only when we let down our walls, set aside our opinions and beliefs that have reached the point of dogma in our lives that we are able to have real discussions with others and for the dialog to truly work the other person has to do the same thing.
Winter 2017 News Letter
During this holiday season my prayer for you is that you will have peace. Peace about your past, present, and future. Peace over the decisions you can make, and the ones that are out of your control. Peace with yourself, your family, and those living around you. A peace that causes other people to take notice and sets you apart from the crowd. A peace that surpasses all understanding.
Spring 2018 News Letter
To be taken seriously let alone believed, we as Christ followers coming from different denominations, walks of life, men, women, free or prisoner must be united. Not just speaking the same words of Scripture, but with our own firsthand account of what Jesus Christ has done for us as our Lord and Savior.
A Meditation on the Aspects of Prayer
Prayer is a personal experience no two people will have exactly the same encounter with God. Our own experiences change over time as our spiritual health and maturity are not static. Only God never changes. Periods of spiritual dryness and silence in response to our prayers is a well-documented fact for even the most devote believers. But Scripture is clear that this is only our perspective. God will never leave us or forsake us. We just need to trust and obey the admonition to pray without ceasing.
Summer 2018 News Letter
How often in life have we found ourselves in a place where we can't fix what we've broken? Why can't relationships be as easy to fix as a toaster? Is it because there is no manual? Actually there is: the Bible. The problem is we don't study it enough. We also fail to understand that is not about fixing others but our own part in relationships.
Fall 2018 News Letter
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "For every thing there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Every season will end. Life moves forward whether we want it to or not. Life is change. Whether for better or worse is often how we interpret it, either optimisticly or pessimisticly. If like gives you lemons make lemonade, otherwise the sour look on your face has no up side. Trust God to be faithful. He is in control even when we feel like life is out of control.