The Gathering

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity.
Psalm 133:1 

God has been very good to the church that's behind the walls of this prison. Yesterday we were permitted to have a Christmas/Chanukah meal and gathering in the chapel...

Approximately sixty men were in attendance. We had a nice meal which was paid for by the prisoners. And those who could not pay, as some men only have a few dollars or less in their spending accounts, were covered by the men who could afford it. So it was a time of great generosity, and not merely a group of guys meeting together just to eat. In fact, our event ran from one o'clock in the afternoon until 8 P.M. During this time we prayed, sang songs, shared testimonies, watched two Christian movies, and, of course, ate.

For me, however, it was humbling. I watched the men as they worked together setting up the tables and chairs. While some of them served the food and then volunteered to clean up the mess. And let me tell you, sixty men eating greasy fried chicken makes for a big mess. But everyone worked willingly, and we left the building cleaner than when we first came in.

I thank the Lord for His grace. By human standards I live in a society of outlaws and outcasts. We are those who, because of our criminal actions, have been banished from the streets. But Christ doesn't see it this way. He sees souls who are in need of mercy, and who yearn for another chance. This is the Lord whom I worship. He is a good God!

D.B.