“Endure Hardship!”

At the most inopportune time, our alarm clock seems to shout, in it’s high pitched tone, waking us up from our comfortable night sleep.  The bellowing of the alarm signals the beginning of a new day is set in motion.  A majority of people have unique rituals, to help them find a quick boost of energy to wake up their mind and body, preparing it for the next fourteen to eighteen hours of activities.  After stretching and thinking about a few more moments of sleep, the calendar of our days events begin flooding our mind.  Are mind is constantly processing the many thoughts and urgent issues requiring immediate attention.  As we sip our coffee, we slowly plot the course we intend to take.

We no not what  will takes place once we walk outside our home.  What lies ahead is like the pages of a novel.  The author develops a theme, captivating the reader.  When the reader closes the book for the night, the events that unfold will not be revealed until the following pages are read.

As the minutes tick by, we potentially all face life changing event.  Events quantifying a variety of questions regarding our mental, spiritual and physical life.   Think back to September 11.  When the employees, already in the building, had no idea of how a moment in time changed their life and the lives of all the loved ones impacted on this day.

Nearly every event we triggering a response is normally the result of an event of an external nature.  The majority of conflicts result from hurtful and malicious comments made between two or more individuals.  Struggles at work, difficulties at home, marital problems, financial struggles or a host of many other possible life changing scenarios.

During the life of Paul, we find his life was one tumultuous event after another.  In his second letter to the Corinthians, in chapter 11 verses 22 – 28, he provides us an insight into the brutality he endured as a herald of the Gospel.  Out of all of his inhumane treatments, verse 28, he makes it known his concern for the church was more important than his own health.  His condition, was in no way like it was, while he was known as Saul, persecutor of the Jews.  In Galatians chapter 4:14, he comments on his hideous body condition.  After enduring the brutal punishment listed in 2 Corinthians 11, he was doubt not a pleasant figure to look upon.  However, the church at Galatians, Paul said, “If possible you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.”

In all Paul endured, his primary focus was on the primary objective, to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.  As he was training young Timothy, he instructed him to trust in the truth of the Gospel he learned.  Even in his youth, he encouraged him, not to let the older Jewish leaders intimidate him.  No matte what he encountered, he was to remain sober in all things and to endure hardships, and do the work of an evangelist.

Today, these words should resinate in the heart of every Minister, Elder, Deacon and individual Christians.  The other night, I watched a special on one of the movie Channels.  It was a special about a reporter imbedded with a unit, and two brothers in the same unit.  I believe these Soldiers were serving in Afghanistan, or possibly hostile areas of Iraq.  At the end of the segment he made a profound statement.  After spending two to four years in this area, he would get mad when he was in Wal-Mart or a restaurant and listen to the people complaining about the breads to heard, the food is not cooked proper, the lines are too long, the waiter or waitress is to slow, then the camera pans to dead Afghani’s who were helping the American’s.  The became friends of the soldiers.  He talked about being afraid to die, worried about seeing his family again, watching your best friends killed by IED’s.  He realizes his service as a Army Ranger, is what gives American’s the freedom we have.  He no longer sees any of the things people in America get upset over.  He commented this class of people need to be thankful for what freedoms they have, and learn to remember, there are American men and women working to train people to live independent.  Under the regime and autocratic dictatorship under Saddam Hussiem.

Endure Hardship, do the work of an evangelist.  I myself, was reminded by one of my students, behind the walls of the Mark W. Michael Unit.  Since 2002, I’ve endured six major surgeries.  Two of the surgeries we back fusions.  I worked for two years past my second surgery, and realized I was no longer able to provide the level of work expected of me.  So, today, I am a volunteer trying to get doors open on units, in the past were hard for us to get into.

One of the principles I will keep every before me, endure hardships.  While I looked at the pain and suffering of the Apostle Paul, I did not mention the suffering Christ endured for our freedom.  The next time you find yourself overwhelmed, remember the Apostle Paul’s exhortation, as he was preparing to die, to young Timothy, Be Sober in all things, and endure hardships.  The Apostle Paul did it, shouldn’t we achieve to do the same.

Back Pain Does Not Stop, Neither Does the Mininstry

Back Pain Does Not Stop, and Neither Does The Ministry

I would love to tell you, all my back problems are a thing of the past.  My condition is best summed up, by what Alice tells our friends, “I have my good days and bad days”.  Two months ago, I visited with a new neurologist.  He told me he could remove the hardware out of my back and fuze then my L5-sciatic disc, in and outpatient basis, using a laproscopic technic.  The problem I face, I am not mentally ready to undergo a seventh major surgical procedure.

Even with this going on in our family, the ministry is still a blessing of blessings to us.  Due to a major conflict of interest and a difference in opinions, with the Warden on the Gurney Unit, I was told I could no longer teach my New Live Behavior class or preach on this facility.  I for one believe this warden does not believe in the redemption of mankind or have much use for religious volunteers or  Chaplain’s.  As a result, I was suspended for six months from entering any TDCJ unit and teaching.  While I could not physically go in, I was still studying with students through the New Live Behavior correspondence lessons.

On the Coffield and Michael units.  I had to recruit volunteers to help.  The Coffield and Michael unit services continue to meet at the same time each Lord’s Day.  I preach on the Michael unit, along with Pinkney Butler and Ryan Cowan.  Brother Buttler, stepped up as I had to wait for 6 months to be permitted back into the prisons.   On the Michael Unit, we have witnessed a growth in numbers, larger than the regular protestant programming, with over 110 in attendance and 25 baptisms, in the last six months.  I am now making contact with several Chaplains, who are open to my programing.  I am trying to get a time slot in the 2012 program schedule.  This will get my mid week schedule back to where it use to be.  I will just need to pace myself.

With the problems, I had with my youngest son, I continue to learn valuable lessons.   “In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight, in all your ways acknowledge Him…”  The outpouring of prayers for my family, from various members of the church, both here in Palestine and Dallas, Tyler and Lancaster, Ohio give us the strength to make it through each day.  I overcome my back pain daily.  Today, I am free of the strong medication.   One offender told me, “if I wasn’t doing something good for the church, Satan wouldn’t be bothering me.”  So I must be doing something good, Satan seems to be attacking me around every corner.

Please keep our family in prayer.  Michael for his wayward ways, Daniel for his continued academic achievements at Stephen F. Austin University, Alice for her strength to continue her work and for myself, my back pain and the ministry to those incarcerated, inside the prisons of East Texas.

Vernon Rose Going Home after Twenty-Seven Years

After twenty-Seven years of incarceration, one of my first students will soon be getting out.  This last Sunday, he pilled me to the side to let me know he finally made parole.  He will be going to a Christian after care program in Lindale, Texas, in November.  Vernon is a over 60 years old.  He spent the majority of his life behind the walls.  He was one of our first counseling couples mentor – mentee.

When the Michael Unit first opened in 1987, Vernon Rose was transferred to the newly constructed Michael Unit. Prior to his move, he was on the Walls Unit, in Huntsville, Texas.  There his first mentors were Luke Curtis and Freddie Anderson.

When the first church of Christ service was called out, Vernon was one of the first to show up in the chapel.  I could spend volumes on this mans character as a Man of God.  Three years ago, the Unit Administration of the Michael Unit, acknowledged him to be the only units offender minister.

Vernon is a dynamic Preacher.  However, I’ve been trying to instruct him to stop using offender slag in his sermons.  He realizes when he returns to society, most of those listening to him, will not understand many of his illustrations.  He will be paroling to an after care facility called “Calvary Commission.”  He must complete a minimum  of six to nine months.  For the last two years he has taken time to train other offenders, there on the Michael unit, to step up and take his position.   I’ve  asked Vernon to write a letter for me, when he does I will publish it for all to read.

Gurney Unit Continues to See Unprecedented Numbers Responding

Over the last several weeks, Eddie Frazier, one of my Gurney unit team members, sent me the last two weeks of the numbers and names of the offenders who responded to the Gospel Message.  In the last two weeks, 41 men requested to be baptized.  He told me, in his email this is approximately 596 men this year and the total since beginning is close to or slightly over 17,000 men.

I know these numbers are some hard to believe.  Because Gurney is the first step, as offenders begin their trip through the Criminal Justice system.   We find a large number of men, acknowledging their guilt and cry out to God, just as we read in Acts 2:37f.  It is exciting to see 20 to 30 men responding to put Christ on in Baptism.  Thank you for making this mission work an awesome part of our life.