The Death Penalty
Q: Charles, I want to talk about the death
penalty. But first, by doing this interview, do
you fear being misunderstood by the victims' families?
I pray they'll see this entire interview as an
apology to them. I hope to answer their most often
asked question: "Why?" or "How?"
There is no justifiable reason for my crimes.
I hope to express my deepest regret for this wrong
done to them. I feel a mandate to share my heart,
but I don't want to be even more offensive. I
hope to offer some answers, knowing that nothing
I can do will take away the pain I have caused.
Only God can do that.
But also, I'm willing to take the chance of being
misunderstood, in hopes that even one rebellious
youth will hear my message and turn to God. This
is what halts the evil nature of mankind from
creating more victims and bringing ruin to more
families.
Q: You were sentenced to death for your crime,
correct?
Yes, that's right. My trial was separate from
Manson and the girls'. I fought extradition from
Texas, thinking that a separate trial with a "diminished
capacity" defense might yield a different
result, but it didn't. We all received sentences
of death and ended up on death row.
Q: Weren't you shaken and scared by the sentence?
It was a scary thought -- going to death row,
but getting out of Los Angeles County Jail was
such a relief. I arrived at San Quentin in November
1971, and actually started coming back to life
there. The trial had really worn me down and surprisingly,
the pressure lifted.
During my days in County Jail and while on death
row, I sought God to comfort me in my pain. I
believed He had His hand on me and that I could
even hear His voice, and He assured me that I
was His and that He had forgiven me for all the
evil I had done. But still, I had not taken Him
as Lord of my life. I wanted all that He had for
me, but I was not willing to give Him my whole
life. That would come later.
Q: Did you ever think of committing suicide
and saving the state the money?
No, not really, although I got to a pretty lowly
state in the Los Angeles County Jail -- to the
point of not wanting to live. I felt like a stranger
in a strange land. I became very paranoid, lonely
and full of guilt. I stopped eating and lost weight
-- down to 106 pounds. I was tied to a bed and
forced to eat through tube feeding. I was diagnosed
as catatonic and sent off to a mental hospital.
I had given up and wasn't willing to help myself.
During that time, a jail chaplain reached out
and ministered spiritual life to me. He kept me
going in jail, and the better treatment in the
hospital got me back to jail for trial. The chaplain
was waiting and slowly nursed me back to life
through God's Word. My mom had sent him materials
to give to me. The Lord revealed to me during
that time that whether I lived or died, I was
His. I believe that my early upbringing in the
church helped me to reach out to God instead of
turning to suicide. Hope was always in the back
of my mind, and my family never gave up on me.
Q: Why weren't you put to death?
Well, in 1972 the death penalty was declared
"cruel and unusual punishment." I remember
waiting up that night to hear the news. We were
all relieved; the threat of death was gone, and
now there could be some sort of future. I was
only on death row for nine months.
By the time I got to death row, there was already
talk that it would be abolished, plus my attorney
in Texas assured me that it would never be carried
out again in California. For me this was true,
but just a couple of years later, it was brought
back. I look on it as God's mercy and His having
a different plan for my life, undeserving as I
was.
In reality, three decades ago, society looked
far more skeptically upon this ultimate punishment.
Back then, 47% of Americans opposed the death
penalty and 42% favored it. I believe there was
just a greater sense of mercy and less anger in
society at that time.
Q: Can't you understand how the victims' families
wanted you to be put to death?
Yes, it's easy to understand. I've often thought
of the life I have been able to live, unlike their
family members whose lives I destroyed. I live
with the way my sin affected other people. It
doesn't seem fair to me either. I can't explain
it, or the reason other unjust things like this
take place. They truly didn't deserve all the
pain I caused, nor did I deserve to live.
I know the shame and heartache of living with
the past. The effects of my sin are tremendous.
I have experienced God's forgiveness, but there
are those who will never forgive what I have done.
I feel most victims despise God's goodness on
the repentant sinner. The whole point of the Gospel
message is that Jesus came to seek and to save
that which was lost. This includes me! Jesus doesn't
want me suffering in my sin. He sees me forgiven
and desires my total restoration, but still, there
are many painful aspects of my sowing and reaping.
I understand the needs of the victims' families,
who haven't received God's ability to feel compassion
toward the prisoner. I think we have to be able
to separate the sin from the sinner. I hate what
I did to my victims. I hate the crimes committed
by those who live around me. I live with the worst
of sinners, but by separating their sin from them,
I am able to love them. That is how others can
love me. I've learned that God loves the sin-ner,
but hates the sin. I try to look upon those around
me as God would -- with open, loving arms. We
can only do this with His help -- the power of
the Holy Spirit.
Q: So do you think you deserved the death
penalty?
Yes, without a doubt. I've always said that if
anyone deserved the death penalty, it was me.
For some reason, I didn't get what I deserved.
I choose to believe it was the grace of God, but
others call it a fluke in the law. I was shown
mercy when I showed no mercy. I didn't deserve
this mercy, but I am very thankful for it. I've
been given a second chance.
I could be the poster child for death penalty
advocates, but at the same time, I feel my life
testifies to the fact that God can take evil people
and change them, including me. I feel that many
people who are being executed today are totally
changed people from who they were when they committed
the crime, but no mercy is found for them.
Q: What is this term "closure" that
the victims' family members use so often?
I see it as the victims' families desiring my
life to cease, just as I caused the life of their
family member to cease; sort of like "an
eye for an eye" -- justice done. I believe
they're convinced that their terrible loss will
be lessened by the taking of another life.
The U.S. News and World Report recently reported
that families of victims who chose to witness
executions of those convicted of the murder of
their loved ones, more often than not, find no
closure or healing in the process.
I am sympathetic toward the families' need for
closure, but I wonder, too, if pain can be relieved
through the death of an offender. Jesus says,
"…Come to me, all you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because
I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest
for your souls" (Matthew 11:28, 29 NLT).
I believe that true closure comes only after
forgiving the offender. God desires reconciliation
between the victim and the offender. He loves
both equally, and His ultimate desire is for healing
both parties. Jesus made this possible on the
cross of Calvary where he said, "It is finished,"
and then He died for our sins. Closure comes as
we come to know God's forgiveness for our sins
through our loving Savior, and then we're able,
by His power, to forgive those who have sinned
against us.
Q: You mean God doesn't desire that a man
be put to death for his crimes?
Biblically, we're living in the period of grace.
God's grace is sufficient for every sin, and His
mercy must be the guiding factor in the decisions
of our justice system. Only the Holy and just
God of Scripture can administer the final punishment.
I believe that Jesus Christ took our death penalty
on the cross of Calvary -- God's ultimate punishment.
"The wages of sin is death," and if
it were not for Jesus' death, as sinners, the
penalty would be death for us all. But God in
His mercy put our sins upon His Son. He took our
place on the cross so that justice would not demand
our death. The cross was a place of execution.
Q: You're saying that Jesus Christ abolished
the death penalty?
We know that He took on Himself the penalty for
our sin so that we are free from the wrath of
God. We know this does not free us from the penalty
of a crime against society. A prisoner must still
do his time. Whether this penalty includes being
put to death or not has spawned one of the fiercest
debates of the century, outside the abortion issue.
I believe Christ took my death penalty.
What most pro-death-penalty activists forget
is that murder in the Old Testament wasn't the
only death-penalty sin. There were forty-two death-penalty
sins including adultery, kidnapping, witchcraft,
idolatry, working on the Sabbath, sodomy, homosexuality,
whoredom, sacrilege, stubbornness and rebellion,
gluttony, drunkenness and many others. It wasn't
only eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth; but
you could be set on fire, stoned, hung, put to
death with a sword and scourged for almost anything,
including cursing your parents.
On top of this, Jesus preached in his Sermon
on the Mount that even if you look at woman to
lust after her, you have committed adultery, and
He said being angry gets the same judgment as
killing someone. God's law reveals our sinfulness
and need for grace. His grace and mercy free us
from the penalty of death.
Q: So why do we consider murder the only death-penalty
sin, when the Old Testament calls for the death
penalty for many sins?
That's a good question. It seems that if we were
going to defend the death penalty by using the
Old Testament, we'd have the death penalty for
all those crimes. This way the United States could
become the number-one executioner in the world.
The top executioners today are China, Ukraine,
Belarus, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and a few
others; the same countries who persecute Christians
the most. China executed almost 4,200 people in
1997, versus 74 in the USA. China executes unsavory
businessmen, bandits and political deviants. If
the United States were to impose the death penalty
for all Old Testament sins, we could easily match
or exceed the execution rate of all countries
combined.
But I don't think the conscience of our country
could handle scores of executions a day. In reality,
this is what we're facing in the 21st century.
We must take a serious look at our death-penalty
laws and see that it didn't work in the Old Testament,
and it won't work today. Jesus came to give us
a new way to deal with the sins of mankind through
His grace and mercy. The New Testament is quite
clear that "mercy triumphs over judgment."
Q: What was the early churches' attitude toward
criminals and the death penalty?
The Apostle Paul said in II Timothy 1:10 that
"...our Savior Jesus Christ has abolished
death and has brought life through the Gospel."
We know that Paul is talking about spiritual death.
We will all die physically unless Jesus Christ
returns before that time. But should prisoners
die at the hands of an angry society or a revengeful
justice system? Paul's answer, "This is a
true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- and
I was the worst of them all" (I Timothy 1:15
NLT).
Of course, the Apostle Paul had been forgiven
much, even for killing Christians. As a Pharisee,
he was very self-righteous in his beliefs, until
Christ delivered him from this ancient Jewish
sect noted for strict observance and ceremonies.
As a Christian, Paul didn't consider the purpose
of the law for capital punishment, but to expose
sin and our need for a merciful Savior.
Q: So you're saying God's justice in the Old
Testament is now carried out differently in the
New, right?
Yes, and I believe He expects mankind to administer
justice differently in light of the cross of Calvary.
God is not angry; He is a loving Heavenly Father.
After man sinned in the garden, He called for
Adam in order to help him. Adam was fearful, but
God reached out in love. God gave the law as a
way for man to avoid falling under the curse of
sin and to be aware of how to walk in His blessings.
Even when we were dead in sin, God loved us and
wanted us to experience His best.
Under the curse of the Old Testament law, justice
demanded payment for sin by the one who committed
it. When sin reigned, God was angry. He was required
by righteousness to judge sin in the flesh of
man. But regardless, He has wanted our best for
four thousand years, to bring man into a loving
relationship with Him.
When the Messiah, Jesus Christ, took our curse
by dying on Calvary in our place for our sin,
God's justice for sin was satisfied. As a result,
when we receive Christ, a relationship of peace
with God comes, no matter what our sin. God dealt
with sin, made us righteous, and finds no fault
with us. He washed us with the blood of Christ.
We have full acceptance in Christ. We will reap
what we have sown. God will bring correction and
discipline to our lives, but He will never hurt
or reject us. Does this sound like a God who demands
the death penalty today, or a Heavenly Father
who loves even the worst of His wayward children?
Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees for dining
with many notorious sinners. He replied, "Healthy
people don't need a doctor -- sick people do."
Then He added, "…Now go and learn the
meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to be merciful;
I don't want your sacrifices.' For I have come
to call sinners, not those who think they are
already good enough" (Matthew 9:13; 12:7
NLT).
Q: What was Jesus' view on the death penalty?
Jesus, as the Son of Man, chose His Father's
view. He said, "…I do nothing without
consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And
my judgment is absolutely just, because it is
according to the will of God who sent me, it is
not merely my own" (John 5:30 NLT).
Jesus Christ reflected the Father's glory, full
of grace and truth (John 1:14, 16-18). The LORD
revealed Himself to Moses, showing that His nature
and glory were compassionate and gracious, slow
to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness,
rebellion and sin (Exodus Ch. 33 & 34).
As Christians, we are reflectors of God's nature
and glory. Our hearts have been softened, and
the veil of flesh removed by the work of the cross.
We are to walk as Jesus walked in the presence
of our Heavenly Father (II Corinthians Ch. 3 &
4). Sadly, too many of us reflect the popular
political view rather than take a stand for the
heart and will of God.
Q: You're not saying the early church believed
there should be no punishment for sin, are you?
No, not at all! A few years ago, Cornerstone
Magazine, a publication from a Chicago-based ministry,
Jesus People U.S.A., published an article with
many insights concern-ing the early church and
the death penalty that I'd like to share with
you. The authors, Larry Bishop and Mark Metcalf
commented, after much research, that the attitude
of the early church wasn't to acquit the guilty,
but to welcome a returning sinner. The attitude
was to encourage and to revive the sinner, not
to judge or to reject him. The purpose being to
bring forth repentance through God's goodness,
hope, mercy and compassion. Augustine, one of
our early-church fathers, wished that criminals
wouldn't be "…avenged by the infliction
of similar injuries in the way of retaliation."
He called for judgment to "…be tempered
by considerations of humanity…not to gratify
the passion of revenge…but to exercise a
desire to heal them."
The early churches' attitude toward criminal
offenders can be found in the Apostolic Constitutions.
These are laws for government in the early church.
These laws upheld the concept of a God who is
righteous and merciful. They stated that offenses
must not be ignored, yet offenders must not be
condemned.
The early church focused on forgiveness and compassion,
in opposition to the strict application of the
law, and was interested in healing, instead of
expelling and rejecting criminals. In their mind,
reconciliation with God was number one, followed
by the restoration of community relationships.
Q: What has been secular society's effect
on the Biblical way?
The church began to take on secular views during
the time of Constantine around 350 A.D. The Emperor
Constantine made Christianity the state religion,
but in so doing, he infected the church with a
human institution, laying the foundation for the
current Christian view of criminal justice. He
didn't consecrate his life or the state to God.
Today, the falsely-interpreted "separation
of church and state" doctrine does the same.
The intention of the first amendment was not to
remove Godly values and ethics from our criminal
justice system. I believe the Biblical way is
to incorporate Scriptural principles of grace,
mercy and forgiveness in providing alternatives
to the death penalty.
I know Jesus said we should "…render
unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and
unto God the things that are God's," but
He wasn't co-signing Caesar's actions that were
contrary to the Word of God. It's important to
ask ourselves what Jesus would do concerning capital
punishment, regardless of the government's stand
on it.
The popularity of the death penalty reveals one's
unbelief in the love and mercy of God. On the
other hand, "…to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God" as
the Prophet Micah declares, is proof of really
knowing God.
Q: But isn't the state an essential part of
God's earthly social order in all its functions?
Yes, but we must be able to distinguish between
the God of an American civil religion and the
God who reveals Himself through Jesus Christ and
the Holy Scriptures. As a society, many people
have become politically conservative in their
thinking and they equate this with conservative
theology.
The Apostle Paul said in the beginning of Romans
13 that we should submit to all secular authorities,
affirming that they are instituted for our good.
He says they "bear not the sword in vain."
The word "sword" or "machaira"
in Greek is symbolic of judicial authority. It
could include the death penalty, but in context
with the end of Romans 12, Paul admonishes us
to "Recompense to no man evil for evil…for
it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay
saith the Lord.'"
I believe we are on shaky ground when we seek
to justify capital punishment by using Romans
13. As a society, many have convinced themselves
that capital punishment is God's will, a belief
that provides both executioner and spectator with
the feeling that they are directly involved in
the Lord's work.
Q: So am I hearing you saying that we aren't
called to carry out God's vengeance?
That's exactly what I'm saying. If we're honest
with our-selves, we'll have to admit that we're
retaliating in vengeance, not justice, when it
comes to capital punishment. Vengeance is just
a natural response of the vindictive nature of
fallen man.
We're not called to carry out God's vengeance.
If our heart is revengeful, we must ask God to
convict our heart, knowing that our works will
be judged by Him. James, our Lord's half-brother
wrote: "For there will be no mercy for you
if you have not been merciful to others. But if
you have been merciful, God's mercy toward you
will win out over His judgment against you"
(2:13 NLT).
Q: What are some of the Biblical examples
where God has shown mercy instead of the judgment
of death?
The Cornerstone article mentions three examples
God gives us of how He expects man to administer
justice with mercy, instead of vengeance. They
are the cases of Cain, David and the woman caught
in adultery.
Cain murdered his brother Abel in anger. God
confronted him and punished him. Cain was concerned
about vengeful people slaying him for what he
had done, so God set a mark on him so that none
would kill him. This is God's example of justice
to mankind.
David, a man after God's own heart, committed
adultery with Bathsheba, then had her husband
killed. God told David as a result: "…the
sword shall never depart from thine house,"
and He took David's wives. David repented. The
Lord forgave David and told him: "…thou
shalt not die." God had mercy upon David.
He had a different plan for David's life (II Samuel
12).
The woman caught in adultery in John chapter
8 was brought by the scribes and Pharisees to
Jesus. They told Him the law commanded her to
be stoned, but what would He do? He told them,
"He that is without sin among you, let him
first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7). They
were convicted by their own conscience, and they
walked away. Since they did not condemn her, He
told the woman that He didn't condemn her either.
Public exposure turned out to be enough to punish
her.
Q: We hear victims of crime crying out for
justice, but I hear you saying that mercy is the
answer, right?
Justice has come to mean only punishment and
even vengeance as we have seen. Righteous justice
is doing what is right or just, not getting justice.
Those crying out for justice do not know God's
justice. It includes His grace and mercy of the
New Testament and His expression of love for all
mankind, including those convicted of capital
offenses.
We really need to look at this issue from God's
perspective. God asks the Prophet Ezekiel to speak
His mind in chapter 33:11. "As surely as
I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure
in the death of wicked people. I only want them
to turn from their wicked ways so they can live.
Turn! Turn from your wickedness…why should
you die?"
As we really dig into God's word, we will see
that God's emphasis is not on vengeance, but on
merciful justice. I am so thankful for the mercy
I have been shown by God and the criminal justice
system, but I wonder if there is still a place
for mercy in our legal system today. Surely, vengeance
and killing sanctioned by the state, do not reach
for a higher sense of justice and healing, but
rather, just the opposite.
Q: Do you see the death penalty being unevenly
applied in a discriminatory and flawed fashion?
It's pretty widely known through recent studies
that the death penalty is a privilege of the poor
and penniless; those who come from minority groups
or impoverished backgrounds, those who are not
able to afford decent legal help or those who
didn't have the resources and abilities to defend
themselves. Some are even retarded.
There are a number of death-row inmates who have
been found innocent and released. Prosecutors,
judges and juries can make mistakes in the justice
process. There's a long list of prisoners who
have been executed, and were innocent. Almost
one hundred prisoners have been proven innocent,
removed from death row, and freed from prison
since the death penalty was re-instated in 1977.
And to top it off, we will soon be executing the
first of sixty-seven juveniles on death row.
Q: Do you believe the death penalty is a deterrent?
There is only scant evidence that it deters crime.
There are no statistical facts to prove its deterrent
effect. The courts have recognized that capital
punishment doesn't deter crime.
Of course, the executed prisoner will never commit
another crime, but studies show that few murderers
who are released ever commit another violent crime.
Chuck Colson doesn't think it's a deterrent either.
He says, "It's a wasted and futile exercise
that brings out the worst instinct for revenge
in society."
The argument can be made that if the purpose
of capital punishment is to deter future crimes,
executions should be made public or even televised,
instead of in private. Perhaps society's conscience
could take executing thousands of prisoners a
year in these small, sterile chambers, quietly
applying lethal injections, but it wouldn't have
the deterrent effect desired.
Q: Some people believe if a prisoner repents,
only then should they be spared. What do you think?
I don't think we deserve to impose the death
penalty regardless of repentance or lack of repentance.
I don't think by executing a person, we've given
him every opportunity to repent, be saved and
use their life for the propagation of the Gospel.
I find it interesting that Missouri is talking
about commuting a death penalty offense to life
without parole if a death-row prisoner will give
up his kidney or bone marrow. Some people liken
this to China selling body parts of pre-executed
bodies.
On the other hand, if the requirement was to
repent in order to not be executed, we'd have
many faking repentance. But I do believe that
a prisoner should go through a repentance process
before being released into society. As God redeems
damaged lives, they are turned toward usefulness.
Q: So am I hearing you saying that a prisoner's
life is valuable to God, but not to man?
That's right. God values every life -- man, woman,
or child. We're made in God's image and are of
enormous value in His eyes. God is pro-life: the
life of the unborn, the elderly and the prisoner,
even those on death row.
God gave man dominion over the earth, and Romans
13 confirms this by saying that God has placed
all govern-ments in power. We are admonished to
obey the governments that are sent by God to help
us. As a result, things are promised to go well;
but if we disobey, we will be brought under their
punishment.
The death penalty is a part of our government's
punishment now. God permits the death penalty
and abortion to take place, but it doesn't mean
He approves of it. His perfect will is mercy and
life to both the unborn and the prisoner, but
He needs man's cooperation.
God awaits our government to turn to Him, and
He promises to heal our land. This includes the
healing of our crime problem and replacing capital
punishment with mercy. As we show mercy through
a kinder society, we will see a kinder and gentler
response. The prisoner needs a loving and merciful
example.
Q: Do you think people are rethinking their
stand on the death penalty after Karla Faye Tucker
was put to death?
It may sound strange, but I believe Karla's blood
cries out for justice and mercy. I pray that in
some way I can help keep the impact that she had
upon our society alive. What was the greater value
to society -- Karla's removal in the death chamber,
or her presence as a reminder that even a life
shattered by addiction, violence and prostitution
can be redeemed and turned toward service to God
and helping others.
I don't believe that women should receive greater
leniency than men when it comes to the death penalty,
born-again or not, but I think Karla's situation
truly shows us the hardness of man's heart. God
is more than aware of this hardness of heart in
the Old Testament when He gave man the freedom
to divorce. Jesus' comment was, "Moses permitted
divorce as a concession to your hard-hearted wickedness,
but it was not what God had originally intended"
(Matthew 19:8 NLT). I believe God allows the death
penalty because of the hardness of man's heart,
but it's not what He intends. God intends for
us to be merciful above all.
I believe the execution of men, women and children
is a national tragedy. We human beings did not
create life. God created this life, and He should
be the only one to take it. Nothing is accomplished
by the taking of another life, and it can never
compensate for the victim's life.
I think our Christian sisters and brothers are
asking themselves what place mercy has in America's
justice system. And a more difficult question
is: How do we relate to someone with a heinous
past who truly exhibits what the Apostle Paul
called the "fruit of the Spirit" given
to those redeemed? Karla's plea for mercy was
denied, yet her life continued to exhibit love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness
and self-control.
Perhaps God's purpose for Karla's redeemed life
was to afflict us with these agonizing questions
so that we and our justice system might be redeemed
from the rituals of death in which we now engage
ourselves.
Q: Do you know of any examples of criminals
who escaped execution, were transformed and went
on to become decent and useful citizens?
Yes, I do. Recently, I read of a Nathan Leopold.
He and another man were wealthy college boys who
murdered a 14-year-old just to show that they
could commit the perfect crime. Famed attorney
Clarence Darrow saved them from execution in 1924.
Mr. Darrow told the judge:
"Your Honor stands between the past and
the future. You may hang these boys by the neck
until they are dead. But you will turn your
face toward the past. I am pleading for the
future, for a time when hatred and cruelty will
not control the hearts of men, when we can learn
by reason and judgment and understanding and
faith that all life is worth saving and that
mercy is the highest attribute of man."
I'm happy to report that Leopold lived to become
a better person. His exemplary prison record and
his contribution as a volunteer for dangerous
malaria testing during World War II led to a reduction
of his sentence by Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson
and to a pardon in 1958. He went to Puerto Rico
to work in hospitals and church missions. In time,
he married, earned a master's degree and taught
mathematics.
I know others who have escaped the sentence of
death. They are free, working and living honorably
in society now, but it's rare that a person gets
a second chance in this day and age.
Q: Charles, I believe your life is an example
of a transformed life, as well. Are you resigned
to the penalty you will pay for your past?
I think so. I've been in prison for over three
decades. There's no light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm just so thankful for the body of Christ and
for receiving this second chance in life.
My heart rejoices that Christ took all my judgment
on Himself for sin at the cross of Calvary. I
boast solely in Christ alone with the Apostle
Paul, saying, " …if any man be in Christ,
he is a new [creation]: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new…for
God has made Christ to be sin for [me, He] knew
no sin, that [I] might be made the righteousness
of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:17,21).
I'm reminded daily of my past. I've been marked
in the eyes of man as a murderer, but the mark
has been removed in God's eyes and in the eyes
of all those who love Him, and He has protected
me. I believe the Lord had a different plan for
me. My life is in His hands and His grace is sufficient
for me until His return. I'd ask for one thing
-- your prayers.
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