October 2006
 It
is my desire to simply sit down and chat
with you in this month's view. My face
to face visits are rarely with anyone
but family and close friends. I would
like to sit down personally with you as
a free man, but that is going to take
more prayer. Jesus says, "All things
are possible to him who believes."
1
Speaking of Parole
I imagine that many of
you think I have Life in prison without
the possibility of parole, but that is
not true. I have been eligible for parole
since September 1976, but I have not been
found suitable because of my crime. The
irony is that my crime will never change,
but one things we do know, people do change:
"The goodness of God leads men to
repentance." 2
I have been in prison
for almost 37 years, since 1969, which
seems like only yesterday. Jesus made
Himself known to me early in my incarceration
[1975], so the burden of prison has been
fairly light and easy. 3
The comfort of the Holy Spirit has made
the difference during these many years.
Recently, the LORD showed
me my life in a 30/30/30 split. It was
almost my 30th birthday when I received
my salvation. I have now been saved for
a little over 30 years, and I believe
there is still another 30 good years of
ministry in me providing the Lord does
not return first. I promise to proclaim
the testimony of Jesus, whether inside
or outside.
From the Mail
It is impossible for
me to answer all the letters that come
my way. They are very positive letters,
but it is very hard to discern the motive
behind some. At one time I answered most,
but it turned out that many of my letters
were being auctioned on the Internet.
This was disheartening!
I have never profited
off my crime, and I guess I set the same
standard for everyone else as I do for
myself. When people write deceptively
just to get a response in order to profit,
I choose not to be involved. I don't desire
to feed the bears.
This web site will have
to do for our correspondence. I appreciate
hearing off the many class projects on
my crime, because something may be learned
from the history of the "Manson madness."
I hope that my books help to answer all
the questions I receive from students
doing their projects.
Pay It Forward
If you haven't noticed,
I have a new Recent Work called "Pay
It Forward!" It originates from
the idea of the movie by that name. If
you saw it, you may recall the idea that
if every person who experiences something
good would just "pay it forward,"
we could change the world.
My friend, Dr. James
Richards of Impact
Ministries sparked the idea in me.
It is the Holy Spirit that gives me illumination
that I pray will be a blessing to you.
If it were not for the anointing, I would
not be writing anything.
It is our Heavenly Father
that "Paid [the Blood of Christ]
Forward" for our sins before the
foundation of the World. He promised that
Jesus would bruise the head of Satan,
which He did on the cross 2000 years ago.
He "Paid [Salvation] Forward"
for all who will receive His gift. He
"Paid [Heaven] Forward," and
Jesus is there preparing our mansion right
now. 4
My Private Life
Believe it or not, I
have a private life, and I thank you for
your understanding. I pride myself in
being fairly transparent on the web site,
but when it comes to my family, that is
private. I am very blessed to have a family.
My mom and dad are now with Jesus, which
I share about in the Monthly Views. Other
than that, I'll just say that everyone
in my family is doing wonderfully.
It is very important
to spend private time with your Heavenly
Father in prayer. This is how I keep my
thoughts right. When I was young, my mom
said I told my dog "Collie"
my problems, but now I talk to God. And
He talks to me through His Word, many
times in an audible voice. 5
I also hear His small voice in the depths
of my heart giving me direction. It is
wonderful to experience His creative ability.
It is in my room that
I get privacy even in prison. My roommate
and I make sure we each get time alone
for private periods of serenity. God's
grace is sufficient for living in this
6' x 11' space together. 6
We ask for your prayers, that God would
use us more and more to reach the lost
living around us.
Mending the Body
If you have noticed,
Mending
The Body Behind Prison Walls is a
ministry vision for prisoners. It is available
on this website. On September 30th, we
will have had a special outreach day to
the lost, with the giving of testimonies
and the sharing of food in many of the
housing units.
I ask for your prayers,
that those who receive Christ on that
day, will grow in His grace and in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7
That the Body of Christ will reach out
with compassion, and disciple those they
have led to the Lord with care and concern
for their growth. "Remember those
in prison as if you were their fellow
prisoners." 8
If you are corresponding
with prisoners around the world, it would
be a "seed planted" to mail
them the Mending
The Body vision. It can be easily
set up in almost any prison housing unit
with immediate results. I find many Christians
prisoners have no vision, and it takes
only a nudge to get them started in the
right direction to plant seeds for a bountiful
harvest.
Blessings Upon You
It has been such a joy
chatting with you for the past couple
of hours. I know it did not take you that
long to read it, but it did for me to
write it. This has been a labor of love,
and one that has brought me great joy.
I hope you can tell!
I'm sure this outreach
does me more good than it does you. It
has been therapy for me over the years.
Not only to have a voice, but to feel
useful as a man with a mission and to
humbly realize that if the Lord can use
me to touch people, He can use anyone.
This is why I encourage
everyone to "Pay
It Forward." I have experienced
this good life in Jesus, and I just want
everyone to know what it is like. It does
not cost you a thing, but remember it
cost Jesus His life to free you from your
sin, so you can enjoy this life full of
the Holy Spirit. This is where my strength
lies.
Let Me Pray For You!
"Heavenly Father,
touch in the Name of Jesus, everyone who
is blessed by this ministry. I pray you
give them beauty for ashes, the oil of
joy for mourning, the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness; that they
might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that You Father
may be glorified. Amen!" 9
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