This afternoon I was talking to Phil...
He is fifty years old and hails from upstate New York, where he was born and raised in a small town. His mom died when he was in his teens, and like many who are in prison, he struggled with alcohol and other drugs. He ended up pulling armed robberies to support his habit, and he has more than thirty arrests under his belt, most for minor offenses.
When Phil was younger, he had many different jobs, primarily as a laborer for construction firms. But his drinking problem caused him to lose one job after another, until he was nearly penniless, living in and out of shelters in the Albany area. It was in this city that he was arrested for his last robbery. Phil has already finished approximately eight years on a ten-year sentence. But, like me, during some point in his incarceration he became a Christian. Phil and I have had a number of talks in the past, and sometimes I help him write letters because, although he can read, he has trouble writing.
Phil's main concern is what is going to become of his life once he's released. We've prayed about this, and I can certainly understand his fears, particularly since his weakness is alcohol. In most communities, there are liquor stores and taverns on nearly every corner.
I know it is not going to be easy for Phil when he does leave, but I told him that God wants him to trust in the Lord for strength and guidance. I also told Phil that, in spite of his past failures, and even his criminal record, as a Christian, he can walk out of these prison doors with dignity, and with full confidence in the Lord. I reminded Phil that, no matter what other people may think of him or what his "rap sheet" may say, he has been completely forgiven by God, and Jesus Christ has promised never to leave or forsake him.
When Phil leaves here it will be a new beginning for him, with a host of new challenges and many struggles. There will be people who will look at him with contempt and disgust because of his criminal record and past failures, things he is sorry for but cannot change. But such is life. Most of Phil's family is gone, either through death or because they disowned him. He does have two older sisters, but they live too far away to be any help to him. But God has His hand upon Phil's life, and Phil is the kind of person the Lord is always reaching out to: broken and empty.
Phil was a lost soul who once was living without hope. He was surviving from day to day by going to the local rescue mission for his meals and then hanging out on street corners with little chance of finding employment. His life was filled with inner pain. Now, however, as his release date approaches, he is trying to link up with some Christian halfway houses. There really aren't many programs out there, and the few that are, have no bed space, so Phil must make his contacts now so that, when that release date finally arrives two years from now, one of these programs may have a bed available.
Phil's worst enemy is his own flesh. He knows the power the "alcohol demon" has had over him in the past. But today his best friend and helper is Jesus Christ.
D.B.
When Phil was younger, he had many different jobs, primarily as a laborer for construction firms. But his drinking problem caused him to lose one job after another, until he was nearly penniless, living in and out of shelters in the Albany area. It was in this city that he was arrested for his last robbery. Phil has already finished approximately eight years on a ten-year sentence. But, like me, during some point in his incarceration he became a Christian. Phil and I have had a number of talks in the past, and sometimes I help him write letters because, although he can read, he has trouble writing.
Phil's main concern is what is going to become of his life once he's released. We've prayed about this, and I can certainly understand his fears, particularly since his weakness is alcohol. In most communities, there are liquor stores and taverns on nearly every corner.
I know it is not going to be easy for Phil when he does leave, but I told him that God wants him to trust in the Lord for strength and guidance. I also told Phil that, in spite of his past failures, and even his criminal record, as a Christian, he can walk out of these prison doors with dignity, and with full confidence in the Lord. I reminded Phil that, no matter what other people may think of him or what his "rap sheet" may say, he has been completely forgiven by God, and Jesus Christ has promised never to leave or forsake him.
When Phil leaves here it will be a new beginning for him, with a host of new challenges and many struggles. There will be people who will look at him with contempt and disgust because of his criminal record and past failures, things he is sorry for but cannot change. But such is life. Most of Phil's family is gone, either through death or because they disowned him. He does have two older sisters, but they live too far away to be any help to him. But God has His hand upon Phil's life, and Phil is the kind of person the Lord is always reaching out to: broken and empty.
Phil was a lost soul who once was living without hope. He was surviving from day to day by going to the local rescue mission for his meals and then hanging out on street corners with little chance of finding employment. His life was filled with inner pain. Now, however, as his release date approaches, he is trying to link up with some Christian halfway houses. There really aren't many programs out there, and the few that are, have no bed space, so Phil must make his contacts now so that, when that release date finally arrives two years from now, one of these programs may have a bed available.
Phil's worst enemy is his own flesh. He knows the power the "alcohol demon" has had over him in the past. But today his best friend and helper is Jesus Christ.
D.B.