December 2006

During yesterday's worship service I had the opportunity to speak for about ten minutes before it was time for the guest minister to come to the pulpit and present his message. I first read Revelation 12:10-11 to the congregation, and then I spoke about the blood of Jesus and what it did for us when He willingly gave his life on Calvary's cross.

I told the men that, for the ones who've already trusted in Christ and repented of their sins, all those sins both past, present and future, are now forgiven. God, I said, has chosen never to remember them any more.

Satan, however, as this passage from Revelation reveals, is called the "accuser" of God's children. In his arrogance, I explained, he actually makes appearances before God's throne to remind Him of our past and present sins - as if God needed someone to remind Him! But the Bible, I stated, informs us of the fact that the Lord has already declared us forgiven. We're saved, sanctified and justified right now, I added. And the devil, I therefore declared, has thus been neutralized. So his accusations are meaningless and without merit, I said. While the cloud of condemnation he tries to put over the Christian to dampen his spirit and rob the believer of his joy, is a lie.

Our faith, I explained, and our hope in Christ and His word, should quickly help to dissipate this dark cloud so that the light of the Lord shines upon us instead.

In addition, I told the men something that my friends John and Annette once said to me. "When Satan tries to remind you of your past, remind him of his future." Years later I've never forgotten this.

My future is in heaven with Christ. The devil's future is in the Lake of Fire. I am, by the grace and mercy of God, headed to glory and bliss. He's headed for torment and sorrow. Christians have a hope, I stated, which Satan, try as he may, cannot obtain nor steal. Hallelujah!

D.B.

I see the need for God's divine power to be in operation at every church service. For not all who walk through the doors of the prison's chapel are earnest hearers of the Word of God. Some, unfortunately, are troublemakers and thorns. Jesus Himself said that the good wheat and the wicked weeds which try to corrupt the wheat must grow together until the harvest at the end of the age.

To illustrate this point, today, the sharp-eyed ushers and "door greeters" who always position themselves by the entrance of the chapel to welcome the men into the fellowship, were alert and ready. They diffused a potentially explosive situation. Two men, right at the doorway of our little house of worship, were ready to square off and exchange punches. One even took a swing and grazed his neighbor's cheek. This could have resulted in a tumbling of bodies and a sparring of fists. But my men worked quickly to separate them.

One usher led one of the offenders into the hallway to cool off, while the other took the second man into the chapel itself and eased him into a corner to calm him down. They did a great job. The prison guards did not have to get involved at all, and our service went well from here. Even the two men who previously tussled, sat quietly for the remainder of our 90 minute gathering.

I'm thankful for the good heads up work the ushers did. They diffused what could have been a bad situation. They kept the peace. And this, I believe, was accomplished through the wisdom and power of God.

D.B.

God has made a beautiful day. The sun is shining and it appears that winter has yet to begin.

As I sit at my little desk this morning with a Bible in front of me and my thoughts toward heaven, I am overflowing with feelings of deep gratitude for all God has done for me. My soul is also resting in His goodness while I wait patiently for His purpose to be fulfilled in my life.

And as I sit in quiet reflection, I can recount many of the times when the Lord had provided the help I needed whenever I faced problems and situations that were beyond my control or ability to do anything about them.

God has likewise protected me from many dangers. Not only from the people who hate me, but, moreover, from those who wanted to use me for their own agendas and their own gain.

Throughout my years as a Christian I've met many a self-seeking individual who has tried to make merchandise of me. Or they've attempted to get gain for themselves by hoping to use my testimony as some kind of springboard for their own fame. The latter group, however, did not try to make money from their relationship with me. Rather they were seeking glory through affiliation.

But God, in His love, allowed such persons to only get so far before He revealed their intentions and uncovered their true motives. Furthermore, He brought their selfish endeavors to nothing while allowing me to remain safe. Thus I can say with confidence that Jesus is my helper and my shield.

D.B.

Today is the first day of an eight day holiday which the Jews call Hanukkah (sometimes spelled Chanukah). It is also known as the "Feast of Dedication." This festival commemorates the recapturing of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. which had been taken over by Syrian Greeks who then filled the Jews most sacred house of worship with pagan practices and idols. And according to legend, the Jews happened to find a cruse of the holy consecration oil that was used for their worship and purification rituals. But there was only enough oil left in the cruse to keep the "Eternal Light of God" burning for one day; the light was required to burn continuously to represent the eternal presence of God. Yet, through a miracle, the oil lasted for eight days until a fresh supply could be obtained. Much more about this period of Jewish history can be found in the Talmud*.

Today, however, to celebrate this miracle, many Jews have a Menorah in their homes. This is an 8-branched candleholder, and one candle is lit at sundown for each successive night along with the main candle which is used to light the others. Hanukkah also symbolizes the strong faith of the Jewish people, especially during the times of oppression.

And because I grew up in a Jewish home, I feel a much stronger bond with this holiday as opposed to that of Christmas. For even though I write more about Christmas than Hanukkah, it is because I am presently serving the Lord in a primarily Gentile congregation where only myself and one other man are Jews who believe in Jesus. So Hanukkah is where my roots are. It's full of good memories of family, love, warmth, and plenty of chocolate treats.

Every Hanukkah my mother would say a prayer at sundown just before she'd light the candles of her Menorah. Our family's Menorah was silver in color (although later on my father got us an electric one) and about eighteen inches long and twelve inches high. It was heavy, too. My little Menorah, however, was made of cheap brass and was about six inches long and four inches high; it was simple and inexpensive, but I liked it.

Since my Dad owned a hardware store, before the start of each Hanukkah he would bring home boxes of candles. My mom, for her Menorah, got the big white ones that were about 6 or 8 inches tall, and thick. But I'd get a box of the smaller candles which consisted of an assortment of colors. To the best of my recollection there were red, yellow, and green, light blue, pink and orange candles, all uniformly made with about a quarter inch of thickness. And because the ones I used were thin they'd melt in about thirty minutes, while the candles my mom used seemed to burn well into the night.

So at sunset during each of the eight days of Hanukkah, I would absent-mindedly recite a quick prayer, light the required number of candles, then sit by myself in the darkness of my bedroom and watch the candles until they burned themselves out.

Unfortunately, Hanukkah had no historical significance for me when I was a kid. I knew what the holiday stood for, but I was not religious. For me, lighting the Menorah was only a tradition to carry out. Yet today, because I now have a relationship with God, I can better appreciate what Hanukkah means to Jews everywhere.

D.B.

*Talmud is a collection of ancient Rabbinic writings which constitute the basis of religious authority and tradition for Judaism.

Earlier today I had to attend an elders meeting in the chapel. It lasted three hours. My chaplain was also in attendance and so were a handful of the more spiritually mature men from our congregation. We of course came together in brotherly love and sought to open our hearts before the Lord. But as with any high intensity gathering, it had its levels of stress. There were plans to be made, goals to achieve, and disagreements which had to be resolved. We had to review our Christmas week schedule, too.

But I must confess that while this is supposed to be a season of merriment and joy, which it is for me, it's also a hectic time with extra services scheduled. Likewise it is a period in which I must handle many different responsibilities and situations. And I could feel the pressure already starting to build in my head.

In addition, starting on the 22nd of this month, my chaplain will be going on vacation. He won't be back until January 2nd. He'll be with his family and will get a well earned rest. Me and the elders, however, will have to cover for him. I don't mind though. But it'll be a challenge. I'm going to need God's strength, wisdom and patience to deal with everything. Plus I have my own correspondence to answer, and I have a full-time job, too.

I'm going to have to trust the Lord for His help during such a hectic season.

D.B.

It doesn't make any sense and it's not the way most people would think that God works. Yet from the inside of a prison God has chosen a flock of men to worship and serve Him with hearts that are filled with gratitude and love. These are men who have tasted the goodness of the Lord, who've drunk from the fountain of forgiveness.

This afternoon, as we do every second and fourth Saturday of each month, we gather in the chapel with a few civilian volunteers who came to worship God with us. Today we had Ron and Rocky as our guests; they drove here from New York City.

And in an environment where many would think there would be nothing but bitterness, anger, disappointment and depression in the lives of these prisoners, we have men who like to spend our afternoons gathered inside the chapel to sing songs of praise to our Creator.

In here, one by one, we've made our peace with God. And just as He had revealed himself to a handful of lowly shepherds while they were in their fields on a chilly fall night to watch over their flocks, God has revealed Himself to us. These surprised and shaken shepherds heard the divine proclamation from the lips of an angel of the Lord, "Do not be afraid. For I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Then the heavenly messenger added, "For unto you is born on this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11)."

And so, by the blessing that has been promised to "all" people, both Jew and Gentile, now, two thousand years later, behind the stone walls and razor-wire fences of a maximum security prison, a host of redeemed men could likewise claim this promise. Jesus was born in the flesh, and He died for us, too. Furthermore, He has risen from the grave and now sits at the right hand of God the Father with arms wide open, beckoning all sinners to come home. And many prison inmates throughout the world have made the choice to indeed come home.

D.B.

This morning's worship service went smoothly even though my chaplain was not here. We had several visitors from a church in Queens, New York, who came to be with us, however. But prior to the preacher's coming forth to deliver his message to the congregation, I was able to give a short "Christmas" lesson. I used Genesis 3:1-15 as my text. I reminded the men that, long before the Savior came into the world through Mary's womb, the story of what is today traditionally called Christmas actually began in the Garden of Eden.

I explained that Jesus came into the world as the "Lamb of God" to pay for our sins with His own blood. And I also showed them the first Messianic prophecy which had been given by the Lord Himself as He spoke with Adam and Eve and the serpent (Satan). As God stood among them He declared that the "seed of the woman (Eve)" shall "bruise" the serpent's head.

I said to the congregation that the Messianic prophecy found here in Genesis 3:15 was the first in a long line of prophecies that God has woven throughout the Old Testament which would eventually lead to Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. I wanted them to see how prophetic scriptures* are connected together.

I told the guys that Christmas is much more than Jesus' being born in a manger used to feed livestock. That the Lord's birth into the world, as glorious as this event was, is only one tiny part of the so called "scarlet thread of redemption" which has already spanned many generations. And, as the Bible reveals, it will culminate at some future time when God is ready to create a new heaven and a new earth where He will dwell with His children, forever.

D.B.

*Prophetic scriptures are those portions of the Bible which deal with prophecy and future events, some of which have since come to pass, while others are yet to be fulfilled.

It's Christmas Day. I'm not a traditionalist when it comes to holidays, but for me this is a day that I don't have to go to work. So other than washing clothes in my plastic pail and writing a few letters, I have the day for myself. I can rest, read and relax.

Around sunrise this morning, however, as I was going through a small stack of mail that was on my little desk, I happened to pick up a Christmas card that was sent to me from my friend, Nicky. The title of it said, "Where Would We Be Without Jesus?" It stopped me in my tracks. The words jolted me. I found myself pausing to ponder the question.

I shudder to think where I'd be right now, or what my life would be like if I never knew Christ. I might have taken my life a long time ago, having committed suicide from the weight of guilt, shame and hopelessness. Or I could be living in a hell of insanity and crushing loneliness.

But praise be to God! Today I am more free in my mind and heart than I have ever been before. I am a new creation in Christ, too. And, by the grace of God, I'm doing my prison sentence with the strength God provides. I can walk and not grow weary. I could run and not faint. Amen!

D.B.

I believe that God keeps many of His most valuable treasures tucked safely away in prisons. During the Christmas weekend, for instance, while my chaplain was on vacation, prison officials had no qualms allowing the men in my fellowship to conduct our own services, all without any supervision whatsoever. And there were no problems or troublesome situations that developed as a result. My fellow elders and I are trusted enough to be left alone with the civilian volunteers, and to oversee the other men who attend our services and Bible studies.

I think it is nothing short of amazing and miraculous that inside the setting of a maximum security facility where many of the inmates, like myself, are doing long prison sentences, the authorities do not have to worry or be overly concerned with us.

And let me add that I am proud of these guys. They're elders in the body of Christ. They have the Spirit of God in them. And, by the grace of God, they also serve God and the church while they live in obscurity, and without any recognition or praise from men.

These are good friends and brothers of mine who tremble at God's word. They're not ashamed to be Christians, and to serve the Lord in an environment in which many of their peers see being a "Christian" as something similar to being a punk and a sissy.

So with their faces fixed on heaven they press forward on their journey. They know, too, like I do, that the universe is run by a good and merciful God. Our hope is in Him.

D.B.

Somewhere in America a young man is felled by a bullet. A drug deal had gone bad. His bloody body lies on the ground, and a mother weeps for her wayward son. While in another place a young woman is dragged screaming into an alleyway where she is raped and killed. Meanwhile, in a town many miles away, a child enters into a stranger's car and is never seen alive again. And in the school yard of a big city a teenager is stabbed to death for his leather coat.

In America many of our streets have been stained with blood as violence takes its toll. Moreover, for the survivors, there's agony and anguish because they must bury their dead as well as prepare for a life without them.

America is a nation that's pleading for answers. We're a people desperate for hope. It's as if the horsemen of the Apocalypse are on the move, and the rider called "Death" who sits on a pale horse, has begun his charge. Yet we've rejected the One who could heal our land. We have turned our backs on a Savior who could stop the bleeding.

Across America parents lament the loss of their children, while Lady Liberty, wrapped in an elegant toga with her right arm extended heavenward, and tightly holding an emblazoned torch, stands aloof. She stares upon us with indifference as the harsh winds of the Atlantic blow in her face. A symbol of freedom from oppression, the "Mother of Exiles," as she is known, rises tall and regal upon the waters of New York harbor. But her lips do not move. She has no answers.

The Statue of Liberty, She's only a creation of copper. She cannot do a thing to quell crime and violence. Nor can she put an end to the sins which corrupt our country. And as for America's dreams of Liberty and brotherhood, for which she stands, they are, after all, only dreams.

D.B.

Note: I wrote this journal entry after learning that the city of Newark, New Jersey, had a record number of homicides for the year.

As the year nears its end, and as I reflect upon the past 365 days, I believe that God has allowed me to become older and wiser. I still have much to learn, however. But I can say with hindsight that the Lord has brought me through many challenging situations. There were a few betrayals, unfortunately. Yet my relationships with genuine friends deepened. The former group tried to promote their names and ministries on my back. But God protected me.

Furthermore, God continues to use my story - which is really the story of how Jesus Christ redeemed and salvaged my formerly wrecked life - to bring the desire for salvation to the lives of men and women, who are in prison, even those on death row. And the Lord has also used it to touch lives on street corners, and in a few churches, too.

So I bow my knees before the Lord because He has been kind to me, and He has chosen to use my life for a good purpose. For it is the Lord Himself who delights to use the foolish ones of the world to confound and humble those who think they're better than everyone else.

And for other matters, I've become wiser in my attitude concerning adversity. As a Christian, I've been able to see all the more that whatever difficulties or hardships I had to face in 2006 were really opportunities for rejoicing because these things caused my faith to grow.

Therefore everything that I've had the opportunity to experience this year was for my benefit. It was for my learning. And in the end it all worked out for my good (Romans 8:28).

D.B.