<![CDATA[AriseandShine.org - September 2022]]>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:57:20 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[Anne Frank's Pen]]>Fri, 30 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/anne-franks-penWith the start of another Jewish New Year… ​
...and the eternal hope of the future coming of a Messianic era of peace (see my letter: To My Jewish Friend), I once again had the desire to reread one of my favorite inspirational books, The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank. 

Anne was a young girl who, while in her early teenage years, went into hiding with her immediate family and a few others in order to escape arrest by the Nazis, and thereby avoid ending up in a concentration camp. Surviving in captivity in cramped quarters and living each day not knowing if it would be her last, a resourceful and imaginative Anne took to writing.

With only a pen and a notebook, Anne Frank kept a diary, which she named "Kitty." Miss Kitty was to become Anne's secret friend and a companion with which to share her thoughts and concerns. Into its pages went Anne's hopes and dreams. She continued to write in her diary until her arrest on August 4, 1944.

With her family's hiding place now discovered, Anne had to leave behind all her belongings, including her beloved Kitty. Sadly, Anne and her sister Margot would both perish a short time later while confined in the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp sometime in early 1945. Tragically, they were only months away from the camp's liberation on April 12, 1945, by British troops.

I grew up hearing about Anne Frank. In public school, her diary was required reading. But aside from this, I never gave her story much thought. I wasn't a good student, and I had other interests, such as running around with my friends. However, when I myself became incarcerated, her story took on a whole new meaning.

For me, writing became not only an outlet, but a means of expressing my heart and sharing my interests as well. Today, I relate to Anne Frank as a fellow writer and a source of profound inspiration. I also admire her determination to write while in confinement and under difficult conditions, and to do it consistently. 

Today, Anne Frank's diary has gone throughout the world. It has impacted the lives of millions, and it continues to do so. Young Anne has taught me that with only an ordinary writing pen in hand, along with a determined mind, that one person can make a difference, or at least try to.

D.B.

Note: For more of my writings about Anne Frank, see:  
A Girl and Her Pen and  Anne Frank the Writer.
]]><![CDATA[Watching My Friend Die]]>Tue, 27 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/watching-my-friend-dieWhether one is in prison or living on the outside, friendships form... 
Some are of short duration, while others last for years, even decades. For me and Ron, our friendship spanned seventeen years. It would've lasted even longer had he not passed away the week before.

I first met Ron when I was at Sullivan Correctional Facility. He transferred there from another prison and ended up in the cell block I was living in. Like me, he was a "lifer." He was doing a sentence of 50 years to life and was two years younger than I was. We had both become Christians while incarcerated, but at different times.

Ron and I went to the chapel's services and Bible studies regularly. We listened to the same Christian programs on our radios, and we'd go to the recreation yard to meet with our other friends. I also got to meet and know Ron's wife from seeing her with Ron in the visiting room, and whenever we'd gather for our Christian Family Day events.

However, I don't believe it was a coincidence that, after I transferred from Sullivan to where I am now, that several years later Ron would show up at Shawangunk. Not only this, but he once again ended up in the same cell block as me, which allowed us a surprise reunion.

Ron was also in good physical shape. In years past, I would see him playing basketball, often for hours at a time. He loved to play chess too, and he was active in sharing his faith. But a couple of years after I left Sullivan, I had heard that Ron developed cancer. I was shocked. 

Then, when Ron arrived at Shawangunk, I asked about his health. He told me that he was receiving treatment. He said he felt tired at times, but otherwise was okay. Yet within a year after arriving here, his health began to deteriorate. It was noticeable.

Ron's condition began to worsen. He became short of breath and was losing weight. He started spitting up blood, too. When, after a time in this condition, he was then taken out of general population and placed in the prison's Infirmary. That was the last I saw of him.

Weeks later, Ron went from our Infirmary to a correctional facility which has a Regional Medical Unit on its grounds. I had written two recent journal entries about this. How, what we prisoner's call the "Misery Wagon," showed up one day to collect my friend's belongings and carried them away.

The Wagon's presence was an omen. Seeing Ron's property getting carted off left me sad. I already knew what the outcome was going to be. Of no surprise, word came within a few weeks of his transfer, that he died. 

I will see my friend again, and I'm already looking forward to our reunion. In the forty-five years I have been incarcerated, I've seen other friends die as well. I doubt he will be the last.

D.B.

Note: Ron is not his real name.
]]><![CDATA[Paul's Instructions]]>Thu, 22 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/pauls-instructionsThou therefore, my son, be strong 
in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1

Yesterday was my turn to teach the Bible Study... 
Our new chaplain teaches his class every Thursday evening in the chapel. While I alternate on Wednesdays with another elder member of our prison fellowship group. I enjoy doing this, and I am thankful to be around a dozen or so men who love God and truly want to become knowledgeable in the Scriptures.

My lesson was based on the apostle Paul's instructions to a younger disciple by the name of Timothy, who'd become like a son to the aged and wise teacher. Knowing at the time that Timothy was undergoing several challenging situations and was probably becoming discouraged, Paul reminded him to "Be strong in God's grace."

The apostle then told Timothy to "Continue to follow all you have been taught since childhood, and to preach God's Word whether it is convenient or not." Paul added, "Keep doing the work of an evangelist, endure persecutions and afflictions." He then charged Timothy to do all these things consistently and faithfully, so as to prove to everyone that God was the one who called him into the ministry.

We had a good discussion on Paul's words to this young pastor. I pointed out that if the apostle was here among us, he probably would have furnished us with the same advice. Paul would tell us to have strong faith along with a deep commitment to the church, and to the Lord's work. He would likewise command us to continue on our journey, and never to turn back.

I ended the study by reminding my brothers not to just "preach" God's Word, but to "live it." This message was meant for me as well.

D.B.

Scriptures used:
2 Timothy 2:1-4 ("Be strong!")
2 Timothy 3:14-17 ("Continue forward!")
2 Timothy 4:1-5 ("Live what you preach!")
2 Timothy 4:7 ("Fight the good fight of faith")
]]><![CDATA[The Misery Wagon:  An Evil Omen]]>Mon, 19 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/the-misery-wagon-an-evil-omenBack in August, I introduced readers to the Misery Wagon…
It's a cart on wheels which is used to transport an inmate's property. The cart is a common sight throughout the facility. It also makes a very loud and distinct rattling sound whenever it's being pushed across our concrete floors. Having wheels like the ones used on a skateboard, it can be heard from a distance.

Usually the wagon transports an inmate's property to the Draft Room where his belongings have to get packed up because he's going on a transfer to another facility. However, the wagon is also used to gather a prisoner's property whenever he gets admitted to an outside hospital and will be gone for a while, or maybe forever. Or if he commits a serious disciplinary infraction and is being sent to the Special Housing Unit, more commonly known amongst the inmates and staff as "SHU" or "The Box."

This time, however, the Misery Wagon came for my friend's property. He had been battling cancer for several years. But over time his condition worsened. He'd been admitted to the prison's Infirmary. Then, several weeks later, he was transferred to a Regional Medical Unit located on the grounds of another correctional facility, where he died a short time later.

He passed away on September 17. I just found out about it today. While the news left me feeling numb, he was a man who loved God. Some years ago, my friend repented of his sins and crimes. He had given his heart to Jesus Christ. So I know where his soul is. He is more free now than ever before, and one day I will join him.

As for the Misery Wagon, it has once again earned its ominous name. 

D.B.

Note: See my entry for August 27, 2022

]]><![CDATA[To My Jewish Friend]]>Fri, 16 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/to-my-jewish-friendBut he said, "Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is
​kept secret and sealed until the time of the end."
Daniel 12:9 NLT

I have a friend who lives in Israel and is interested in what I would refer to as "spiritual matters"… 
She likes to read the works of notable rabbis and other Jews who seek to explore spirituality. So in our letter exchanges I will usually share various Scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments which today makeup what is known as the holy Bible. I will also give her my thoughts on those Scriptures, as well.

In my most recent letter to her, I wrote the following: 
 
"Shalom (peace) to you. The New Year is fast approaching. The Hebrew calendar will soon be turning the page to the year 5783. It will be a year closer to the final chapter of human governments as we know them. According to the Hebrew prophet Zechariah, when the Messiah makes His dramatic return to earth, He will set His feet on what today is called the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:1-11). Where from this point forward He will establish His own government of justice and compassion, and will rule all the nations from His seat in Jerusalem.

​"This will also begin what the Bible describes as a thousand years of peace. The twentieth chapter of the New Testament's book of the Revelation foretells this. The planet will undergo a time of reconstruction and restoration after all the destruction that resulted from the yet future seven-year period of time, which the Scriptures refer to as the 'Great Tribulation.' The tribulation, however, won't begin until after what many Christians refer to as 'The Rapture' occurs.

"These things will happen at a future time, maybe even very soon. Messiah Jesus told His disciples that no one can know the day nor the hour when He will come to take His followers out of the world before the seven-year period of dread begins. But he did warn that the tribulation would come upon the earth like a trap sprung in an instant. 'For as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth' (Luke 21:35)."​

I told my friend how both the Old and New Testaments speak extensively on what is oftentimes referred to as the "Last Days," or "End Times" (Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Hebrews 1:1-14, 2 Peter 3:1-9), and the "End of the Age" (Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 13:49, Matthew 24:3-44).

I wrote, "As a Jew, you should become familiar with the holy Scriptures. They will provide you with guidance and instruction to help you navigate what may be ahead for humanity in the future. They will give you hope in a world that suddenly finds its inhabitants filled with calamity and fear."

"The Bible is a book of hope," I said. I then added how this is not only for the Jewish people to know, but for everyone. God loves the citizens of every nation. He wants them to know what the future holds, and He welcomes all to call upon Him in faith.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Remembering 9/11]]>Sun, 11 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/remembering-911This morning, I was up early to say my prayers... 
I then went off to breakfast. While afterwards, as is my usual custom on this Day of Remembrance of the lives that were lost in the terrorist attacks which shook the world twenty-one years ago today, I turned on my television to watch the live broadcast of the memorial ceremony that was now taking place. It's an event which is conducted every year on 9/11 at the former site of the "Twin Towers" and the World Trade Center in New York City. 

I watched as the names of the victims were read out loud, one at a time, by a family member or friend of those who lost a loved one. It was a somber ceremony, for sure. Poignant and soul-stirring, tears rolled down the eyes of many of those who spoke of the one they lost. Some even lost more than one, thus compounding their pain. 

I must say, however, that after a couple of hours of watching the ceremony, I had to shut off my television. It was getting to be too much. My inner spirit was becoming overwhelmed. But I continued to pray silently throughout the day, not only for those who mourn, but for my nation as well. May the Lord bless all the nations of earth, and may He lead them in a right path.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Preparing for Autumn]]>Thu, 08 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/preparing-for-autumnThe trees of the Lord are full of sap, the 
cedars of Lebanon, which He has planted.
Psalm 104:16

Many of my friends on the outside continue to inquire about my tree friends… 
...the lovely Miss Goldie and the kingly Mister Orange. They're doing fine. Their leaves have stayed 
a lush, healthy looking dark green throughout the summer. This is especially good news because my area of the country has experienced a prolonged drought, which we have since begun to come out of. We've also had the third "hottest" August on record, as well.

But with that said, another fall season is approaching. And this means that Miss Goldie and Mister Orange are already planning ahead for their annual Changing of the Colors of the Leaves event. It's a time they look forward to because it's another chance to display their gorgeous colors and outshine their fellow trees.

And take my word for it, they have what it takes to be the show-offs of the woods. Miss Goldie will array herself in her glistening golden-yellow colors, one leaf at a time. While a fiery looking Mister Orange will do the same using an assortment of brilliant and blazing colors of bronze and orange.

They're a perfect couple who know how to use their colors to complement each other. And when they're finally in full fall bloom, they will pose just as they always do as King and Queen. No doubt the other trees will look on with envy. I, too, will stare at them, but with admiration and awe.

For me, autumn cannot come soon enough.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[A Time to Heal]]>Mon, 05 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/a-time-to-healBut for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness 
will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, 
leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
Malachi 4:2 NLT

As the days of my incarceration continue, my vision and hope for the future has not changed...
My desire to serve God and his people has not diminished. The cry of my heart is like that of the prophet Isaiah, "Lord, here I am. Send Me" (Isaiah 9:6).

Yet, there are still times when I will find myself becoming discouraged. The stresses and daily pressures of living in an environment where there is much negativity can have an effect. After all, although I am a man who loves the Lord, I am also human. 

And there are also times when the ugliness of the past tries to creep back into my mind. It will bring with it the demons of shame, guilt, and regret. Which, by the way, is to be expected. Many Christians commonly refer to this as the "Battle of the Mind." It's a conflict every disciple must face and master.

The reality is, the devil does not give up easily. He will wait for the times when the Christian is physically and mentally weary. Perhaps his tiredness is due to illness, or family problems, stresses in the work place, or maybe a combination of many things all happening at the same time.

Life has its ups and downs for everyone, and I'm no exception. Even the Bible attests to this. As the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

So I know that, while some days are easier or harder than others, God gives me the strength to endure them all. With each test, my faith becomes stronger. I can do all things through Christ, including being victorious over my occasional feelings of discouragement and weariness.

The Lord has long since healed my mind. He has filled my life with hope. He has caused my heart to leap with joy, and the best is yet to come. Whether by death or the Rapture, I am going home. It's only a matter of time when I'll be caught up into the clouds. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[45 Years]]>Fri, 02 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/september-2022/45-yearsEven youths will become weak and tired, and young men will
fall in exhaustion. But those that trust in the Lord will find
new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They
​will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31 NLT

The 45th anniversary of my arrest has come and gone…
As far as I know, there was very limited media coverage, and that's just fine with me. This is a new day, and it's also a new month. The Lord knows how much I grieve over my past crimes. He knows how much I pray for the families who have lost loved ones, and for those who continue to recover from their injuries. But from here on, their lives and mine are in God's hands.

By the grace of God, I have survived many situations where I could have very well lost my life. In 1979 while I was in the infamous Attica prison, I had my throat slit. The facility doctor who sewed me up was cracking jokes and saying over and over, "I don’t know how that guy missed your carotid artery."

Also while in Attica I did "Box" time for fighting. This was in 1981. I had a heart attack in 2017 and ended up needing a quadruple bypass, where I almost didn't make it off the table. And I could go on and on with stories of pain and despair. But now I have chosen to focus only on the good.

This morning as I read from the book of Isaiah the prophet, my heart was stirred when he declared, "O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. Give God no rest until He completes His work, until He makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth" (Isaiah 62:6-7 NLT).

This is a Messianic promise not just for the city of Jerusalem, but for The Lord's return to the earth to establish lasting peace along with complete restoration of an ailing planet. For this I will not cease to pray.

D.B.
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