<![CDATA[AriseandShine.org - December 2011]]>Sun, 10 May 2026 08:03:22 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[After the Fire]]>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:36:11 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/after-the-fireI don’t know what Rodriguez was thinking (Not his real name)... 
I had been thinking about this because earlier today I and another porter had to clean up all the debris that was left behind by the blaze.

There was a lot of damage. Two sides of the cell’s walls were badly charred, and the small air vent that is near the ceiling and is directly above the toilet was stuffed with black soot. My co-worker was given a metal paint scraper by the officer and he tried as best he could to scrape the blackness from the walls. But the officer will need to notify the facility’s paint crew to come and repaint everything. This will probably be done after the New Year’s holiday as the cell must be made re-livable for whoever is going to move into it next

Meanwhile my job was to sweep up all the burned debris. There were charred books and letters, and a pile of black ashes which appeared to be the remains of newspapers. There were several half-melted plastic items, too. I gathered everything and placed the contents into a large, heavy-duty plastic trash bag. But what caught my attention the most was the sight of the two smoke stained paintings of Jesus that Rodriguez had kept taped over the wall above his little desk. It was eerie.

As for Mr. Rodriguez, he’s gone. He was taken away in handcuffs shortly after starting yesterday’s fire. From what I was told by a guard, Rodriguez was placed in a “strip cell” at the prison’s Observation Unit which is located in a secure area at the opposite end of the facility. Inmates who are deemed to be suicidal are usually placed into one of these special cells where they are kept under 24-hour observation until the prison’s psychologist declares them stable enough to be released from the strip cell.

Later Rodriguez will be placed into a cell at the facility’s Special Housing Unit, more commonly known as "The Box" or "The Hole." He’s facing a long stretch here, maybe upwards of a year or longer for committing such a very serious infraction as arson.

Depressed or not, Rodriguez placed a lot of people in danger. It was only yesterday when I watched from only a few feet away as flames leapt between steel bars and thick smoke quickly filled the building. That no one was injured is a miracle. About a dozen officers responded to the call to extinguish the blaze, while at the same time oversee the evacuation of the building.

So this morning, as I stood in a pile of ash and rubble, and as I gazed upon soot stained, blackened walls, I felt considerable sadness. Rodriguez’s cry for help went un-answered. But this, in my opinion, is because he looked for help from the wrong people.

Prison guards, as challenging as their job can be at times, are for the most part indifferent to the personal struggles and emotional difficulties their charges may experience while incarcerated. The guards no doubt have their own problems. Therefore their indifference is understandable. Instead, Mr. Rodriquez should’ve called upon Jesus Christ to help him during his time of personal crisis. Rodriquez, I believe, was in need of divine assistance, especially since none of the staff showed concern for his soul.

Quite frankly, if not for my faith in the Lord, I too would be living without hope. Like Mr. Rodriquez, I’d probably be thinking about self-destruction, and I'd probably already be dead.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Flames]]>Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:33:59 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/flamesShouts of "Fire!" filled the air, when earlier this evening, another inmate set his cell ablaze!
At 6:20, when the doors of the cells of the prisoners, who were not under lock-up restriction for disciplinary infraction, opened for the start of the evening’s recreation period, the screaming and shouting began. With my door open as well, I quickly stepped onto the walkway outside my cell to see what the commotion was about. And as I looked to my right, I could see a sheet of orange flame leaping from a cell about fifteen feet away.

Immediately I leaned over the railing of the upper floor where I live, and shouted to the officer at the entry desk below to radio for help, and grab a fire extinguisher. Many others were yelling the same thing. It was bedlam.

Being fully dressed, I ran to the burning cell and stood near it. Other inmates ran toward the flames as well. Everyone wanted to help. We were all shouting simultaneously that there was a man locked inside the cell. While at the same time, the deafening jangle of the building’s fire alarm bells began to sound. In addition, we were all trying to signal the guard who works in the Control Room some distance away to open cell number 237 so that the trapped man could get out.

By now, several guards arrived with fire extinguishers, and they began to douse the blaze. With the fire knocked down a bit, they managed to get the door to #237 open, where other guards quickly entered the hot cell to yank the fully conscious but coughing man out. I was standing alongside them. Smoke was everywhere. And when the supervising sergeant reached the scene, he ordered that the building be evacuated immediately.

Although the fire was quickly quenched, the thick smoke, combined with the incessant ringing of bells and the shouts of the guards to get out of the building, sent the sixty or so inmates scrambling down the nearest stairwells. From here we were then escorted as one large group into a long corridor, where we remained for at least an hour until the all clear was given, and we were allowed to return to our respective cells.

However, in spite of all the excitement, my heart was heavy. The man who set the fire had been acting weird all week. He was already confined to his cell for a disciplinary infraction of some kind. I’ve known him for years. He’s an older man of about sixty years of age. He was also one of the prison’s cooks, which is considered to be a top position for an inmate to have. He was quiet and he spoke broken English.

I had been speaking with him only the day before. I inquired if he needed anything as he was confined in his cell. He knows I’m a Christian, too. Recently I had given him an inspirational book in Spanish which he seemed eager to take, but he’s in big trouble now. He may even be facing outside charges for deliberately setting fire to an occupied structure.

I’m praying for him, and I thank God no one was hurt.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Diligent Workers]]>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:31:43 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/diligent-workersNot slothful in business; fervent
​in spirit; serving the Lord. 
Romans 12:11 

With the holiday season comes the increase in chapel activities...
And for the past several weeks, although I have observed this for many years, the four men who are assigned to work in the prison’s chapel area are some of the best and most diligent workers a church could have. Day after day they’d labor, cleaning the building, taking care of the paperwork, ministering to their fellow prisoners when opportunities would present themselves, as well as overseeing the Bible studies and worship services.

Therefore, earlier today, when I had to enter the chapel for several minutes to drop off some supplies for the congregation, I made sure I told these brothers how encouraged I am to see all the diligent work they do, mostly behind the scenes, and of course often unrecognized and un-thanked.

These are truly good men, and I’ve no doubt their lives have been changed by the Lord. Throughout the years that I’ve known them, they’ve been both an asset and a help to staff and inmates alike. And in my opinion, they’d be an asset to any church on the outside. So I thanked them for their faithfulness to carry out the work of God and quietly and diligently without complaint, and with very little pay.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[A Typical Weekend]]>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:29:31 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/a-typical-weekendThis morning I had to work for several hours at my job. But afterwards, I was able to go outdoors for approximately 90 minutes, where I joined my friend Rob for a walk...
Like me, Rob is a Christian. So on this chilly winter’s day, we enjoyed a time of simple fellowship.

Then, after lunch, I went to the chapel where I gathered with about twenty other men and our two volunteer lay ministers, who drove here from New York City to conduct a Bible study class. It was a good study with a lot of interaction amongst everyone in the class. And it was a good way to spend Christmas Eve with my brothers in the faith.

Tomorrow is Christmas day. So I will probably have to do the usual "call to worship." This will involve public reading from a passage of the Bible, followed by a brief exhortation on what was read. I’m not sure just yet what I will share or what portion of Scripture will be read. But I know that, come morning, the Lord will reveal this to me. And once I’m finished speaking, our time of joint worship will begin.

Our prison church is really not much different than the church services one would find on the outside. One of our elders will open the service with a prayer. I will do my part. Then another member will make the weekly announcements. In time, our choir will begin their selection of songs. And someone else will either give his testimony or share a brief praise report concerning an answer to prayer.

Following these things will be the one who’s scheduled to preach the main message/sermon. And this will be followed by an altar call where any man who wants to accept the Lord will be invited and encouraged to do so. While those who need prayer for themselves or their family, or for any pressing situation, can come to the altar at the front of the chapel for prayer.

We are not a perfect church. I have my shortcomings, and the other men have theirs. But God is at work in this place, and He has a church behind these walls that is alive and well. Amen!

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Lights in the Darkness]]>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:27:38 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/lights-in-the-darknessToday is officially the first day of winter... 
With Hanukkah here I cannot help but reminisce of better days of childhood when I would sit in my bedroom with the lights off and watch the candles of my little Menorah flicker in the darkness, each one giving a tiny bit of light and heat on a cold winter’s night.

Nowadays, as someone who believes in the Lord Jesus, I’ve come to understand that He was and is that ninth, or main, candle of the Menorah that is used to light the other candles. He is the One Whom the Bible speaks of. Concerning Jesus, the apostle John declared, "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).

From the vantage point of the present, I could declare that Jesus is the Light of my life. He touched me, and as a result, has set me alight. Like the ninth light of the Menorah which touches then ignites the wicks of the other candles, the Messiah sets ablaze every man and woman He touches with His love. Then we, as lesser lights, are to likewise shine in the darkness of this world to give the light of the knowledge of God to those who are yet to know Him.

For me, even inside my prison cell, it truly is a happy Hanukkah.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[My Little Menorah]]>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:25:58 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/my-little-menorahYe are the light of the world. A city
that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 
Matthew 5:14

It was a lot of fun growing up during Hanukkah... 
Those of the same household are supposed to give gifts to one another. It’s a season for sharing and celebration. Hanukkah and the miracle of the Eternal Light inside the Temple is to remind us that God has not forsaken His people.

I can still remember vividly the modern electric Menorah my parents had, which my Mom would light each evening at sundown for eight consecutive days. She would place the Menorah on the inside window ledge of our living room. My Mom would then cover her head, say a prayer, and plug the Menorah’s cord into a nearby electric outlet, where it would remain lit until morning. We lived on the sixth floor, and the Menorah was visible from the street below. Every Jewish family in the neighborhood did the same thing, publicly displaying their bright Menorah’s as a sign of unity.

Then, when I was maybe eight years old, my father gave me my own personal Menorah. It was a shiny Menorah made of brass. It was about six inches long and four inches tall. It could hold nine small 3-inch wax candles. My parents would have me say a short prayer, then I’d strike a match to light the main candle, then use the main candle to light the others. I would sit in my bedroom with the Menorah on top of my dresser. I’d stare at the candles as they burned themselves down. Each morning I would have to peel off the melted, hardened wax to prepare my little Menorah for the next day’s lighting. Good memories of great days!

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Hanukkah]]>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:23:54 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/hanukkahThe Jewish holiday known as Hanukkah begins today at sundown... 
In general, Hanukkah, sometimes spelled Chanukah, has a twofold meaning for Jewish people like myself.
First, it honors the seven days of creation, as represented by the less common seven-branched candlestick (or candleholder) that is used, and where each candle is lit separately. The number seven is very important in Biblical numerology. But the far more common item is the nine-branched candle-stick, called the "Menorah."

The nine-branched Menorah is a device which holds up to nine candles, with the ninth one used to light the other eight candles. These candles each represent the number of days that the sacred candle that was in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was to represent the eternal presence of God’s Spirit, and His presence among his people. The Temple’s priests were to keep the Eternal Flame burning, always. The flame was to never be extinguished.

But when Jerusalem was under attack by the Romans in 70 A.D., and the Temple was cut off from supplies, the Eternal Flame had only one day’s supply of oil left. But by a miracle of God, the Flame remained lit for eight days before the Temple was finally ransacked and destroyed. Hence, the holiday called Hanukkah. It is a time for remembrance, reflection, thanksgiving, in the form of generosity and of giving gifts to others, and of praise.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Staying on Course]]>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:19:44 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/staying-on-courseFor His own reasons, the Lord seems to have delayed the start of winter...
The weather has been unusually mild compared to the way December normally is: bitterly cold with lots of snow. But it’s only a matter of time before the frigid weather arrives, and stays.

I’m looking forward to winter, however. It’s one of my favorite seasons, second to autumn. The crisp, cold air and sharp hitting winds suits me well. Besides, in the very cold weather, most of my fellow prisoners usually opt to stay indoors. This leaves the recreation yard with less traffic, and a lot more privacy. With fewer individuals around, it is easier to walk, pray, or daydream. Yet, there are times when I will invite a friend to join me. But the cold causes most of my friends to decline the offer.

Meanwhile, I have been busy answering correspondence, as well as working on my journal. Writing a journal is a daunting task, which involves many hours of my time. But I love to write, so it’s never a burden. It’s hard work; it is also a lot of fun.

For me, the difficult challenge is deciding what will go onto the Arise and Shine website, and what will get tossed. Perfectionist that I am, not all my entries make it online. Those which, upon reflection, seem dull, redundant, or just uninteresting find their way into the trash. At least one third of my writings go this route. My role as sole editor of my own work affords me this privilege. Nevertheless, I always try to write well and express myself as best I can.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Seek God]]>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:17:39 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/seek-godFor thus saith the Lord unto the house
​of Israel, Seek ye Me, and ye shall live. 
Amos 5:4

Earlier this evening, as I was simply writing a letter to a friend, all of a sudden, it seemed as if the presence of the Lord began to overshadow me...
It wasn’t a crazy or spooky thing. Instead, it was a deep knowing that in the letter I needed to tell my friend that trouble is going to arise for America. Not necessarily right away, but at some time in the future. And as America’s problems worsen, many of her citizens will become increasingly angry, frustrated and bitter. While still others will be humbled by what is going on. And the latter group will in turn begin to seek the Lord for themselves. They will call on the Lord for help and supernatural guidance, and for answers.

There will be no escaping what is ahead. Many, however, will begin to awaken to the veracity of the Holy Bible. And when they call upon the Lord, He will hear them. The Lord will respond to their cries, as a mother will run to the side of her crying child.

In such a time, the Lord will be there for those who seek Him. He will show Himself to be an ever present help (Psalm 46:1).

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[An Unexpected Sermon]]>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:15:46 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/an-unexpected-sermonThe Lord had a big surprise for me this morning...
I had to preach, and I wasn’t expecting to do so. I’d been looking forward to having our scheduled volunteer lay ministers come. Most Sundays, various outside guests will visit with us, and one of them would also give the main sermon. But today, for unknown reasons, our guests never arrived.

Nevertheless, the service had to go on. So we began promptly at ten o’clock. One man gave the weekly announcements. Another opened the service by leading the congregation in public prayer, and he was followed by one of our elders who gave us a challenging exhortation to maintain our faith, which was followed by our choir who began to lead us in a time of praise and worship.

But for me, as I sat on the platform at the front of the chapel, in addition to being able to see everyone’s faces, I was also able to see the big clock that’s fastened to the chapel’s back wall. I watched as it quickly ticked away: 10:15, 10:30, 10:45. And when the hands of the clock signaled 10:45, I knew the inevitable. I would have to give the sermon. Our guests were obviously not coming.

Therefore, after the choir sang their final song and returned to their respective seats, I nervously walked up to the podium. I placed my Bible on it and told the men that because our volunteers were not here, I would give them a message. First, however, I asked the congregation to join me in the prayer that God would give me the ability to deliver the sermon, as this is no small task. And my prayer was answered.

I opened my Bible to Psalm 23 and presented a message, which I titled, “Jesus Knows Me Better Than I Know Myself.” It was a spur-of-the-moment sermon, but the Lord came through. The words began to flow out of me. We went through the psalm, verse by verse, and I tried to explain what each verse meant. I told them what roles a shepherd must play in taking care of his sheep. What was meant by leading the sheep to green pastures and beside still waters, and what it also means to, as the fourth verse declares, to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, plus much more.

Through this experience, the Lord taught me an important lesson as well. That I need to trust Him more. After all, the Lord has promised that when I open my mouth to speak for Him, to represent Him as one of His ambassadors on earth, that He will put His words in my mouth (Psalm 81:10). And He did just that! It was not easy to stand before a congregation of prisoners and preach. Yet God sustained me. I’m thankful.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[Another Fire]]>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:13:24 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/another-fireI could smell it as soon as I neared the front entrance of the prison’s Intermediate Care Program (E-North) where I work in the afternoons...
It was the pungent and unmistakable odor of burnt paper and plastic. One whiff and I knew there had been a fire somewhere, and recently, too. And this is exactly what had happened. An emotionally disturbed man had set his cell ablaze while he was still inside it.

Once inside E-North, where the fire occurred, I could see a crowd of inmates and several guards surrounding cell #147 on the building’s first floor. As I got closer, I noticed a pile of blackened, soaking wet debris piled just outside the cell, while the inside of it was a charred mess.

Mister Feliciano (not his real name) was known for doing impulsive acts of self-destruction. He has a history of “cutting up”. This means cutting himself with sharp objects, usually can tops, to draw blood, as well as get lots of attention. He was often in a depressed state. Feliciano seldom laughed. A sad and dour expression on his face was and is the norm for him.

Soft-spoken and of a quiet disposition, Feliciano was also known for walking up to another inmate, and without any provocation on the part of the other man, slug him in the face without warning. Feliciano liked to pick fights in which, because of his slender build and his thick eye-glasses, he was sure to lose.

Mister Feliciano was also kept heavily medicated with an array of psychotropic drugs. I suppose this was to help control his depression and his aggressive behavior. For the most part, however, I noticed that these medications would cause Feliciano to move slowly and walk with a zombie-like shuffle, which is a common sight in institutions where such drugs are used extensively.

Feliciano was a sad soul, but I liked him. We spoke often. Occasionally he’d even show up in church on a Sunday morning. He would quietly enter the chapel and take a seat in one of the middle rows. I’d watch him from the front of chapel, as I have to sit on the raised platform which faces the congregation. And when I could, I would come over to greet him and shake his hand.

While Feliciano would not participate in the singing, he always seemed to listen intently to whatever was being said from the pulpit.

Unfortunately, for Mister Feliciano, around lunchtime he became depressed and then set the fire. Other men who were in the cell block at the time told me he started to place small piles of paper throughout his cell. He then took a disposable cigarette lighter and began to put the lighter’s flame to the paper. Within seconds, the flames had spread to his clothes and bedding. As the inmates began to scream, “Fire!” the guards quickly grabbed nearby fire extinguishers and began to douse the blaze.

Luckily for Feliciano, as the guards were trying to put out the fire, another fast thinking officer radioed the cell block’s control room to open his cell. With this done, Feliciano was quickly pulled from his burning living quarters. The officer’s actions probably kept Feliciano from serious injury.

Afterwards, once the fire was out, another group of guards who responded to the scene put a pair of handcuffs around Feliciano’s wrists, and he was promptly escorted to the facility’s Mental Health Observation Unit. He may remain in restricted confinement for a long time, and I am very sorry it had come to this.

Today’s fire was the second serious blaze at the prison this year. The last one was in March. It was in my cell block, too. I wrote about the earlier fire as well.

D.B.
]]><![CDATA[The Last Month]]>Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:09:35 GMThttps://www.ariseandshine.org/december-2011/the-last-monthMaybe it’s because I’m getting older, but time seems to be moving faster than ever...
We’re now in the last month of the year. And with Christmas fast approaching, I need to be extra watchful for anyone who may be exhibiting the tell-tale signs of depression. There was a suicide back in October. So one never knows if a kind word spoken at the right time could save a life.

The reality is that prison is a bad place to be in, especially during the holidays. Families are far away. And some of these men have no families at all. In addition, many inmates secretly struggle with unresolved guilt. But this is something few of us would be honest enough to admit. The guilt a man has over the crimes he committed and the people he’s hurt - not only to his victim(s) but to his own family as well - could easily crush his soul. While other inmates may have lost all hope of ever getting out, or of being released from confinement any time soon.

Therefore, in my opinion, this is why God permits some of his children to be here. Believers in the Lord Jesus, even if they’re locked up like me, are to shine as lights of love and hope in that their fellow prisoners, and even the staff, might be drawn to Him as the Scripture says. "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God - among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

D.B.
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