May 2017
Happy Mother’s Day! I am perplexed by how many of you stumble upon this site looking for Manson madness, then quickly turn away when the testimony of Jesus Christ is mentioned. Won’t you give Jesus a chance?
“God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.” 1
A Welcome Response…
Occasionally, I receive letters from those finding me through the Inmate Locator, not realizing I have a website, such as Welburn’s letter below. For this reason, it’s important that you share this website with your friends and family.
“I hope you are well, given your current circumstances. My name is Welburn, and I’m from the New Orleans area. You have to forgive my handwriting because I had a stroke about two years ago, and I still don’t have complete control over my right hand. That said, God blessed me with the light of life and through His grace I can overcome anything.
“I came to write you because I followed the Manson case in my youth, but never followed up on it; only what the news would occasionally report on Manson. I was pleased to read (though I don’t recall where), that you had found the light of God by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. I read that you also started a prison ministry, which I’d like to hear more about. Amazing! Praise God!
“I will be praying for you brother! Stay strong and stay in the light of Jesus. I’m trying to get my faculties back. My family members are having to tend to me and help me get through this struggle. Hope to hear from you soon! Thank you so much, Welburn, LA.”
(Of course, I replied to Welburn’s letter, and I ask that you pray for him.)
A Ministry Hook…
I am a fisher of men, women and children. The sole reason for sharing my past with the Manson family is to hook those who are interested with the good news of Jesus Christ. As Welburn testified in his letter, we can rise above our past and present struggles in Christ.
“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.” 2
I turn down offers regularly from those desiring to rehash the past through books and interviews. I don’t respond to most requests because their agenda doesn’t include Christ. Without spreading the knowledge of Christ by reflecting His grace in our lives, there is no perfume. It’s like fishing without a hook. I’m not into just feeding the fish.
“Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.” 3
A Life-giving Perfume...
My sole purpose is to share the sweet fragrance of God’s transforming work. It’s not about me, my childhood, my rebellion, my parents or the crime. I’ve shared these things, but today, my main focus is to move on through the past and share more fully the life-giving perfume of Jesus Christ.
“To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?” 4
Our adequacy is in the fragrance of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that you’ll experience the life-giving perfume of Jesus Christ as you spend time on this site. My sole motive for sharing my life and testimony of Jesus is for your salvation.
“You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.” 5
God is Watching Us…
The above subtitle reminds me of a story of a thief entering a pitch-dark house.
A voice out of the dark said, “Jesus is watching you!”
The thief responded, saying, “Who’s that?”
Again, the voice said, “Jesus is watching you!”
Shining his flashlight on a parrot, the thief responded, “Are you Jesus?”
The parrot said, “No, I’m Moses; Jesus is the 150 pound Rottweiler right behind you!”
That being said, my agenda is not to get out of my situation. I am liberated in Christ; my life is in God’s hands. My concern isn’t about all the lingering questions concerning the crime. I’ve done that! Only your soul is important to me, not things of the past. But, where are you going to spend eternity?
At the judgement seat of Christ, Christians will not be judged for their sins. Christ took our past, present and future sins upon Himself at the cross. As believers, we will be judged only for our works, “…fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.” 6
Our agenda will be burned up, but those of us ministering the sweet fragrance of Christ, “If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.” 7
As a believer, what will your reward be? We don’t have to be an eloquent speaker to share our story and the Good News of Jesus Christ. A gentle word or deed may encourage someone who needs to get his or her life back on track. Share this site with a friend, that’s a start!
A Prayer for You…
Dear God, thank You that even right now, Your forgiveness and Your perfect love are raining all over me because of Your Son’s finished work in my life. Take away every lingering sense of ugliness, guilt and condemnation in me. I believe with all my heart that right now, when You look at me, You see me in Christ Jesus. I am clothed in His robes of righteousness, favor and blessings. Thank You for Your abundance or grace and Your gift of righteousness in my life. Through Jesus, I will reign in this life over every sin, addiction and failure so I can do good works as a member of the body of Christ. Amen.
Scripture References (NLT):
1. 1 Cor. 1:28
2. 2 Cor. 2:14
3. 2 Cor. 2:15
4. 2 Cor. 2:16
5. 2 Cor. 2:17
6. 1 Cor. 3:13
7. 1 Cor. 3:14,15