July 2008
The purpose of the Monthly View is to reach
out to the world with the love of God. The
Apostle Paul explained: “I try to
find common ground with everyone so that
I might bring them to Christ. I do all this
to spread the Good News, and in doing so,
I enjoy its blessings.” 1
Adopt A Stray Pet...
I think you realize my love for helpless
pets with the “save a life and gain
a buddy” link at the top if this website.
I can’t adopt one for myself, but
I can encourage you to save one of these
suffering animals. I pray that your heart
will be moved with compassion. 2
I grew up with my brother’s dog
– Collie. My Mom used to tell people
that I told him all my troubles. I can see
her laughing about that now, but he was
a good listener. I loved that dog, and we
roamed all over town together. The day he
died, I buried him under the big tree that
my mom called “Charles’ tree”
in our back yard.
I’m looking forward to a new series
on July 10th, coming on CBS called the “Great
American Dog.” You may want to
watch it to build your compassion for your
move towards adoption. It is only a click
away to view a buddy in your area.
Loving The Unloving...
I’ve known people who loved their
pets immensely, but were cantankerous when
it came to human relationships. They ran
everyone off with their crankiness except
for their pets who loved them regardless.
I was always drawn to these sorts of people
only because I wanted to play with their
pet.
Some of these people are very hard to love,
unless we have experienced God’s love
for ourselves. 3 I
just met an ornery old man in a wheel chair
named Lydell. He is overweight, resembling
Santa Clause, swollen arms and hands, and
feet with open sores. He has burnt his bridges
with the staff and inmates, because of his
angry demands for help that he believes
he is owned. He would receive no compassion,
without the unconditional love of God flowing
from the hearts of those who God. Come to
find out, even his own children has cut
him loose.
Prisoners can’t have pets to love,
but they recall clearly the ones from their
past. They can share their love by adopting
another inmate in their heart. Lydell had
two Great Danes before his prison life,
a faith in Catholicism, a family and career,
but never came to know the unconditional
love of God. He had to come to prison to
experience it, and now that he has received
Christ and the love of the brethren, he’s
broken, recovering slowly and displaying
a gleam in his eyes. When I come close to
him, he reaches out for my hand.
Our Sister Susan...
Those who know Christ in prison have compassion
for each other. Compassion means “suffering
with another”. Susan Atkins is a former
Manson family member, who is now diagnosed
with brain cancer. I’m told by a friend
that “…one leg is gone, and
she can’t even sit up or even lift
her head.” She is imprisoned at the
California Institute for Women, where those
Christian with her demonstrate compassion.
She is a dear sister in the Lord.
There isn’t a lot of sympathy for
her from the general public. After serving
forty years in prison for her part in the
Manson murders, she asked for a compassionate
release, but was denied. The doctors give
her only six months to live. She is one
of those inmates, who has shown compassion
to many undeserving women during her prison
stay. It is her time to reap compassion
and prayers from us who know God’s
love.
My prayers go out to Susan, who came to
Christ in 1974. Chaplin Ray Hoekstra came
to see me in 1975, telling me of her salvation
and how she wrote to Bruce Davis (another
former Manson family member), who came to
Christ as a result. Chaplin Ray wanted me
to receive Christ, which I did a few months
later in June 1975. The testimonies he shared
and the love of God working through many
others opened my heart to the Lord.
Judgment Day...
Those who do not hold to the testimony
of Jesus Christ believe that one day justice
will be served when murderers like Susan,
Bruce and myself meet the Lord. To the contrary,
justice was served when Jesus took our sins
upon Himself on Calvary’s cross. 4
Our sins were placed upon Him in exchange
for eternal life, because of God’s
mercy upon the sinner. “God showed
his great love for us by sending Christ
to die for us while we were still sinners.
And since we have been made right in God’s
sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly
save us from God’s judgment.”
5
The believer will not face the Great White
Throne judgment, but will go before the
“Bema” Seat of Christ to give
account of their works, such as feeding
and clothing the poor and visiting those
in prison. Jesus said: ”…when
you do these things to the one of the least
of these my brothers and sisters, you were
doing it to me.” 6
Those who have done good works through the
Holy Spirit will be awarded crowns, but
those doing works through their own power
will receive no reward. They will be saved,
but as through a wall of flames. 7
Those who receive crowns will hear, “Well
done, good and faithful servant…enter
into the joy of the Lord,”
8 but those who don’t “…shall
be weeping and gnashing their teeth,”
9 because of losing their reward.
Jesus said: “Look, I am coming quickly.
Hold on to what you have, so that no one
will take away your crown.”10
The unbeliever will have a rude awakening
on judgment day. Those who have shown no
mercy, will receive an appropriate justice.11
They have lived a very judgmental and vengeful
life toward others. They have rejected the
resurrection of Christ, not believing He
took their judgment for sin,
12 they will take their own punishment
at the Great White Throne, the judgment
of the spiritual dead. Their name will not
be found in the Book of Life,
13 so they will go into the lake
of fire. 14 “They
will be punished with everlasting destruction,
forever sepaeated from God’s glorious
power.”15
Jesus Exhorts Us...
“Don’t let anyone mislead you.
For many will come in my name, saying: “I
am Messiah.” They will lead many astray.
And wars will break out near and far, but
don’t panic. Yes, these things must
come, but the end won’t follow immediately.
The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war
against each other, and there will be famines
and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
But all these will be only the beginning
of the horrors to come.
“Then you will be arrested, persecuted,
and killed. You will be hated all over the
world because of your allegiance to me,
and many will turn away from me and betray
and hate each other. And many false prophets
will appear and will lead many people astray.
Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the
love of many will grow cold. But those who
endure to the end will be saved. And the
Good News about the Kingdom will be preached
throughout the whole world, so that all
nations will hear it; and then, finally,
the end will come.”
16
A Prayer For You:
Our Father in Heaven, you know the need
we have for compassion and understanding.
We lift up those who need to see the unlimited
love you have for each of us. Your Son,
Jesus, is the demonstration of Your love
and compassion, in that He died in our place
so we would never have to die. Help us,
Father, to get this gospel to all in need,
so they may see the love you have for them
and may come to faith in the only Savior
- Jesus Christ. May our fellow Christians
realize the need to demonstrate Your love
to those who need it most. May we be bold
in answering Your call to love others as
Christ has loved us. In the Name above all
names, Jesus’ name. Amen.
And a prayer for Susan and those like her:
Compassionate Father, we also lift up to
you Susan Atkins in this time of need. She
needs healing, she needs compassion, and
she needs love. Please put Your hand into
the circumstances and let there be an outcome
that is from you. For all the many sick,
injured, elderly, and suffering prisoners,
please bring relief in the knowledge that
their Redeemer lives, a plan for good and
not harm, a plan for hope and a future.
May we be used to bring light where there
is darkness and hope where there is only
darkness. And Father, let those in authority
over Susan see the need for her to be released
at this time so she can be with her family.
The heart of the king is in your hand; You
turn it as you will. May Your will be done.
In the name of Jesus. Amen
Scripture References:
1 1Cor. 9:22b-23
2 Mark 1:41
3 1John 3:16
4 2Cor. 5:21
5 Rom. 5:8,9
6 Matt. 25:35,36,40
7 1Cor. 3:13-15
8 Matt. 25:21,23
9 Matt. 25:30
10 Rev. 3:11
11 James 2:13
12 John 3:18
13 Rev. 20:11-13
14 Rev. 20:14,15
15 2Thes. 1:9
16 Matt. 24:4-14
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