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Saturday, June 28, 2008
8:33:50 PM EDT
Feeling Distraught
Hearing Third Day
Do you really know?
Do you know that you know or do you think you know?
It a fair question is it not? When you speak about something or someone do you know for certain that what you speak is the truth or do you think it may be so? You need to be sure my friend because it could have eternal consequences.
The word says:
Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
I have heard several different assumptions as to what is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, some think it is not yielding to the drawing of the Holy Spirit when one is convicted of sin. But the former verses of the above sciptures in Matthew tell us exactly what Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost is:
Mat 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
Mat 12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Mat 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Mat 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Mat 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
We see now that this particular blasphemy is contributing the workings of the Holy Ghost to satan, no if’s and’s or but’s about, its clear as rain my friend.
Now let me say this, Iam not defending anyone or their ministry here, I am trying to warn you Christian. Be certain of what you say is or is not of GOD!! Be sure without a shadow of a doubt that what you are saying isn’t of GOD really isn’t or you had better leave it alone. Well you say I think!!!! You had better know!!!! Your opinion isn’t knowing and Your eternal soul could be at stake.
I love you all, leave things alone you are not certain of, if it is not of GOD it will die out, if it is of GOD you can’t stop it anyway. Keep your mouth closed and your heart pure and let GOD sort it out!!! After all GOD is still in control!!!!
1Ch 16:22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
1Ch 16:23 Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.
1Ch 16:24 Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.
1Ch 16:25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.
1Ch 16:26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
1Ch 16:27 Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
1Ch 16:28 Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
1Ch 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
1Ch 16:30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.
1Ch 16:31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
Written by revrick73010
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Wednesday, June 4, 2008
8:30:21 PM EDT
Feeling Ecstatic
Hearing WOW 2008
Finding Adventure in Adversity and the Blessings of God!!
Finding Adventure in Adversity and the Blessings of God!!
It’s often very amusing to me as how some people can see the same thing, read the same word, serve the same God and still see things so differently. Like the glass of water that one person see’s as half full and the other half empty.
I think often times the way we perceive things has a lot to do with our attitude which we all know or should know is a choice we’re making in every situation we face.
The word of God tells us in this world we will have troubles, adversities, tests and trials but in all these things to rejoice and count it all joy! It’s not always so easy to do is it? But if our attitude is correct and we believe the word of God that all things work together for our good it allows it all to come into proper perspective. After all it is only the things we do for God and His Kingdom that count anyway!
We all know the Apostle Paul to be one of the greatest men of faith in the Bible, Paul was chosen of God to write the majority of the New Testament. But his life was filled with adversity. He went from a place of authority to being a servant, his entire ministry was one of adversity, tests and trials….. whipped, stoned, ship wreaked, snake bit, in the belly of the deep, marooned, in bonds, in jail, in perils and in Prison.
2Co 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
2Co 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2Co 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2Co 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2Co 11:27 In weariness andpainfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
2Co 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2Co 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
2Co 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
Yet he was richly blessed of God and full of joy, give him a whippin and chain him up and he sang Praises to God!!! And yes he was in the will of God!! Glory to God!! He continued to fight the good fight and count it all joy and so should we regardless of our situation!!!
A good friend and I were talking the other day and she said to me “maybe that’s why this life isn’t working for you, when you are serving God things just fall into place” it wasn’t until we had finished talking that I could not help but start laughing, in fact I got so tickled that it took me a week to get around to writing this, every time I started to think about it I got tickled again. As I sat and thought about what was said and I then realized how differently we saw things. She seen me as struggling and in hardships “glass half empty” and I see me as richly blessed with my glass half full and still filling.
Now she was looking at it from a financial point of view and if you did that then you might think as she did, but I see me as one richly blessed old Holy roller, Praise God!! I have the honor of ministering to over 2100 inmates and many of their family members as well on a regular daily basis. God provides and I take their families to see them, I take newly released inmates to find jobs, get their ID’s, find a place to stay and many many times house them in my own home!!!! I feed the Sheep as much and as often as I can, and they are growing believe me and I am blessed. We have an 85% success rate in our programs, we are bearing much fruit, Halleluiah!!!
In seven months I had the glorious honor to lead 263 men and women to Christ on a one to one basis after that I just quit counting, the numbers don’t count anyway, what counts is their names are now written in the lambs book of life!!
Don’t think because youdo not have the riches of the world that God has forsaken you, or that you are doing something wrong, or that you are not in the will of God. That is nonsense, there are many types of wealth and prosperity. If you are able to stand and walk then Brethren you are blessed, there are many that can’t, if you can feed yourself and dress your own body then again you are very blessed, I know, I was unable to do those simple things for myself for over four years, at one point I was so weak I had to be hand fed! But when the power of God came on me and I was healed and became able to do it for my self I again became richly blessed…when I was able to breath again on my own without a machine I was richly blessed. When God allowed me another chance to finish raising my children and be a grandfather to my grandchildren I was richly blessed. And now when I have the opportunity to lay hands on and pray for someone’s healing I am doubly blessed.
It’s not houses and cars and things that make you prosperous, remember even Jesus said “the son of man hath not a place to lay his head” and He was the Son of God!! his disciples didn’t have big houses and Cadillac’s out in the garage, they didn’t even have a bicycle in the shed but they were richly blessed and yes they were in the will of God, doing exactly what God has choose and called them to do!!! They had nothing but possessed everything. Let me say right here that the anointing of God is worth everything thing you have ever given up!!
Today’s church is so far removed from the first century church I doubt it could even be recognized as a church by former fathers of faith. It certain was not meant to be that way!!!
The struggles I face today are nothing compared to what I have had already been through but I still count it all Joy and I will continue to fight the good fight of faith!!!
In finances I do struggle, the operation costs of my ministries alone without my living expenses are three times more than my total income, but yet I survive every month somehow some way God provides. But it is God who provides, there are months on end we do not get any type donations at all, but still I am richly blessed! Praise God. We continue to grow, folks are getting saved, fed the word and richly blessed and I am richly blessed to be God ‘s vessel. If we were blessed with ten times the amount we have now, I would still be struggling because the need is so great and God continues to open doors for us to do morefor the Kingdom of God. And we shall continue to fight the good fight and count it all joy.
Having earthly riches does not qualify you as richly blessed of God and the amount of your earthly possessions have no baring on your spiritual walk or your calling, do what you can do with what you got be it big or small and continue to fight the good fight.. and you will continue to be richly blessed of God!!!
Written by revrick73010
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8:29:02 PM EDT
Feeling Ecstatic
Hearing Wow 2008
Revelation of the Dream below!!- Thailand for Jesus!!!
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Hello Friends,
In the last year God has brought me into a great friendship with several hundred young Thai men and women. I have a great love for the people in Thailand. Never have I met a more polite, kind and loving people and so very intelligent!! As you know Thailand is 99% Buddhist but the people there are of Chinese ancestry. And I assume you all know the fastest growing church movement in the world is the House Church in China!! God has brought Revival to China!!
Why not Thailand too??? I think it could be done and God has set the stage for just such an outpouring, Almost of all these people I have met are from the two major cities, Bangkok and Chieng Mai, Many are very curious about our Lord already. They know I was terminally ill with no hope from man and that our God totally healed me!!! I have even been blessed to bring a couple of them into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ over the Internet.
I truly believe if I could go there and share the Gospel that the Spirit of God could and would fill them with the same Holy Ghost and Fire He has poured out on the believer's in China.
Thailand needs this out pouring as much or more than any country in the world....There is much darkness still there, Thailand is known as the human slave trade capitol of the world where hundreds of young boys and girls are sold and traded into prostitution each year, it is also known as a major Opium exporter, a great move of God could change the face of Thailand like it is changing it in China.
But I need your prayers for God's favor and blessing to get this mission accomplished, I am willing to go as soon as God wills and stay as long as is needed and also prayers for the people of Thailand, that God will open the eyes and ears of their Spiritual understanding so they might openly receive the Gospel!!! I am not quitting or stopping the ministries I have now, they will continue as always this is just one more Mission for God!!
Thank you in advance for your prayer support!
God bless each of you!!
Rev. Rick
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Written by revrick73010
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Saturday, May 17, 2008
3:17:05 PM EDT
Feeling Hopeful
And your old men shall dream dreams!!!
And your old men shall dream dreams!!!
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams
I personally am not one to have dreams, I haven’t ever dreamt often and never with such clarity.
The dream:
I was standing in a large open field alone but I could see groves of people walking toward me in the distance. They seemed lifeless and almost robotic in their movements. As they got closer I could see their faces, their eyes were black and dull with deep dark circles underneath and their skin was milky white and their dark black hair was matted and stringy. I can remember thinking these people look like zombie’s, they are walking dead!!!
As they started to reach me first one and then another started says, SAVE ME, SAVE ME!! And as they started to reach for me and I started backing up. When they got close enough to touch me they started grabbing my arms a trying to pull me toward them. They were all starting to chant SAVE ME! SAVE ME! I said I cannot save you!!!!! When one girl right in front of me started saying Savior, Savior, and then another and another. I was shocked and I started pushing them back and pushing them off but they just kept coming, even those I pushed completely down would struggle to get up and come back. I kept saying I am not your Savior, only JESUS can save you!! And they kept coming. Even though I was much stronger than they were I began to feel my strength leave me and I was getting weaker and weaker as I backed away and tried to push them off. I remember my arms starting to get so tired I could hardly raise them I looked up and these walking dead people were as far as the eye could see and they were still coming toward me, reaching out and chanting. I started to feel panic and the louder I would holler “I can’t save you” only JESUS can save you, the harder they came and I kept backing up and I started hollering JESUS, JESUS , JESUS I cannot save them !!!, and then I backed into something solid and it felt like a brick wall, as I turned to look over my shoulder I noticed that the something behind me was leaning down over me from behind so I looked up over my shoulder it was an Angel of the Lord eight or nine feet tall, He leaned over me and said:” You are right, you are not their Savior, But you do have the Words of life” I said but they are dead!!! And He said it’s their spirit that is dead! and He touched my face and lips and it felt like a thousand volts of electricity went through my whole body and it felt so real only there was no pain in it, just the hard tingling charge, the power and it felt like it lasted ten seconds!! When it left me body I started back toward them instead of backing up, I no longer felt tired and when I raised my arms toward them to push them back off me I started saying in the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, and they would hit the ground like I had hit them with a bat without me even making contact, first those right in front of me and then those farther away but this time when the rose up they were totally HEALED, with bright tear filled eyes and shinny faces and as the stood up they no longer came toward me or chanted save me, Instead they reached for the heavens and started Praising God,!!
When I woke I could still feel that charge in my body, it lasted for hours!!!
In His Service,
Rev. Rick
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Written by revrick73010
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
12:22:42 AM EDT
Feeling Hopeful
I AM YOUR DISEASE
I AM YOUR DISEASE
I am your disease, I hate a HIGHER POWER, I hate anyone who has a program
To all who come in contact with me, I wish you suffering, I wish you death
Allow me to introduce myself. I am the disease of addiction
I am cunning, baffling and powerful, that's me!!
I have killed millions, and I am pleased
I love to catch you with the element of surprise
I love pretending I am your friend and lover
I have given you comfort, Have I not?
Wasn't I there when you were lonely?
When you wanted to die, didn't you call me? I was there!!
I love to make you hurt, I love to make you cry.
and better yet, I love when I make you so numb
you can neither hurt nor cry...You cant feel anything at all
this is true glory!
I give you instant gratification, I’ve always been there for you.
When things were going right in your life, you invited me.
You said you didn’t deserve these good things
I was the only one who would agree with you
Together we were able to destroy all things good in your life,
All I asked of you was long term suffering
People don’t take me seriously! They take strokes seriously,
heart attacks seriously, even diabetes they take seriously.
Fools that you are, you don’t know that without my help
these things would not be made possible
I am such a hated disease and yet I do not come uninvited
You choose to have me!
So many have chosen me over reality, peace, and serenity
more that you hate me, I hate all of you who
have a 12 step program.
Your program, your meetings, your higher power,
all weaken me and I don’t allow me to function
in the manner I am accustomed to.
Now I must lie here...quietly
you don’t see me, But I am growing bigger than ever
When you allow me to control you, I LIVE!!
When YOU live, I CANT!!
BUT, I am here...and until we meet again...IF we meet again..
I wish you continued death and suffering.
Your Addiction
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You may think you aren't hurting anyone but yourself...its a lie, your are hurting everyone that loves you!!!!
Written by revrick73010
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Tuesday, April 29, 2008
11:35:53 AM EDT
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing WOW 2008
Honor all Men!
Honor all men!!!
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Wow, what a statement from Saint Peter. It seems today we are more inclined to kick and gossip than honor, even our own. The word says:
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Its not always easy to honor all men, even those from the house of GOD, But it is to God that they will have to give an account of themselves, there are rumors of wrong doing and miss-appropriation of funds in several of the largest ministries in the country today. Are they fact? We don’t know this right now, but it is plain to see that many in the body of Christ have already judged these Ministries without even hearing the outcome.
Are we rooting for the fall of these ministers and ministries, in some cases I believe we are, You see just because a man believes and interprets a scripture a little different from my view doesn’t mean he is wrong or a false teacher, it means that he has a different understanding or belief of the passage or doctrine, that does not make him a false teacher. Now don’t get me wrong I am not defending these ministers teaching, I am saying that this goes on all through the Christian world in every denomination. One doesn’t believe in the prosperity message, or in Prophesy teachings, one believes you are saved by grace through repentance another believes you must repent and be baptized first. some believe the gifts of the spirit have passed away, it goes on and on and in each case they believe they are right, it is when we believe that we are the only ones correct that we have missed it. So much for unity!
Still yet we are told not to judge, not to have pleasure in someone else’s folly, even if it were justified. We are to love one another, pray for one another and pick our Brother UP when and if he falls, instead we kicking him when he’s down. We have all sinned and fell short of the Glory of God, all of us!!! You cannot pick a Brother up if you are busy kicking the daylights out of him. Why are we not spending the same amount of time praying for these ministers that we are spending talking them down. We are supposed to love our Brother even if he is over taken in a fall.
Jesus said if they are not against us then they are for us, why are we attacking our own.
Mar 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us.
Mar 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
Mar 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
Mar 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
Father grant us abundant love for our Brothers, give us the wisdom, insight and character to follow the Lord Jesus example, allow us to love even those we think are wrong, to help pick them up and not stomp them down.
Father In ask you to watch over and guide my Brothers and Sister in ministry, give them grace according to your tender mercies and loving kindness, I want to thank you for the good they have done, for the souls they have lead to JESUS, for the hungry they have fed in your name, the churches they have built and for all the glory they have brought to you through the good they have done in your service. I thank you Father that they answered your call and done your will when many would not have. Father I ask your perfect will be done in their lives and in ours, Lord may we not speak out unjustly against any of your ministers and ministries in your service. Allow us to see them through your eyes Father and not our own. We thank you and Praise you Father in Jesus name.
AMEN & AMEN
Written by revrick73010
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11:28:37 AM EDT
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing WOW 2008
Do you believe the whole word of God?
Do you believe and obey the whole word of God?
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Hello Friends
God has laid a heavy burden on my heart and I hope to relay this message to you without offending anyone, that is certainly not my intention to offend but perhaps I can give you some food for thought today and awaken your conciseness to this great need that as a whole we the church have neglected.
For the last eight years I have been involved in Prison and Drug recovery ministry, the number one reason is this is where God put me. I have been asked if being a prison minister was my first choice, the answer is of course not, I would much rather been one of those Tela-evanglistest but that’s not where God put me and I would not trade being in the will of God for anything.
The second reason is the over-whelming need for prison ministries, we are incarcerating people up at an alarming rate. On the average we are imprisoning people here in American at 1,035 people per week, one in every three Americans will at one time or another go to prison. This effects everyone of us. Once incarcerated and released eight out of ten will return to prison. Everyone of us either knows someone or has a family or friend with someone in prison and those people that are in prison are caught in a revolving door.
Now in light of this we as the body of Christ have fallen far short of what we should be doing to bring these folks into a saving knowledge of Jesus and educating them in the word so that they might succeed in their Christian walk once they have returned to society. Many churches today do not have any type of prison ministry and many that do only do a small part of what is needed. Sending in lessons alone will not fix this situation, it takes more!!
Do you know the response I hear most when I talk to Christians about Prisoners? Now not all of them but most. “They got themselves there” and “They got what they deserve” ! Thank God we don’t all get what we deserve!!!
What about Matthew 25:36? We have no problem feeding the hungry, clothing the necked both here and in foreign countries, why? Because God said “What so ever you do unto THE LEAST OF THESE YOU HAVE DONE UNTO ME!!! Why do we stop short on those in prison? Its in the word of God! Same verse as feeding the hungry and clothing the poor or necked, why do we ignore the rest of the verse. Is it because its an uncomfortable subject? Are we just indifferent about the subject or do we just not care? Why do we respond so vigilantly to half the verse and then cold shoulder the rest?
These people are dying without God and without hope right here in our own back yard. They aren’t somewhere else, they are not a neighbor we have not seen, they are right her at home in our face and God loves everyone of them just like you and me. Are we showing them the love of God, unconditional love, free of judgment or prejudice.
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Let me tell you a little bit about what they face both inside of prison and when released. They live in an environment that is void of any kind of love and trust. I f you have no one on the outside then you are without any of the comforts we take for granted and you most times have less than the bare necessities of life even in hygiene items. The is no extra cup of coffee, no candy bar when you want one, no snack if you get hungry between meals, no soda pop, chips or fast food, no cell phone, no entertainment, no fan when its 100 degrees in the shade, no TV., no radio, no communications with the outside world. No Choices as to what or when you eat, no choice when you get up or when the lights go out, no hugs from your family no kiss from a loved one, no choice in what you wear, no choice in who they will or will not allow to visit you, no choice in where to go or when you can go there…..no nothing. If your cellie has something that doesn’t mean its yours and you certainly do not want to owe a debt in prison, the consequence of a unpaid debt can be fatal, so if you have no one you do without. Now some states allow gang pay, a monthly fee they give you while you are incarcerated. Here in Oklahoma it is about 9.00 per month…about .27 cents per day!! You can’t even mail a letter for that. Its two dollars for a Doctor visit, two or three dollars for your meds so as you can see your .27 cents a day is gone before you can do anything with it anyway. If you want a Radio or a fan the state will sell you one from there commissary for about 35.00 dollars, if you have bad feet and need shoes other than the state issued brogans they are between 35.00 and 50.00 dollars from the state. Do you see the hopelessness of many of their situation?
Then the day comes you are released, you are given a bus ticket back to the county you were from within the state and a fifty dollar check, Oh’ and the clothes on your back. Now its time for some serious choices. You can rent a room for the night or you can eat for a weekend and then you are back to square one….You are expected to find a place to stay, get a job and report to your Parole Officer as soon a s possible. Of course you cannot stay with anyone who has had a felony…so there goes one third of the population, you need ID but you have no money, you cannot get a job without ID and S.S. card, you also cannot get a good job because you don’t have the proper clothes to apply for one and then you are an ex-offender so you more than likely won’t get the job anyhow…. Do you see where this is going? No job, broke, desperate… the only thing you can do is return to your old playmates in your old playground and within a year between 78 and 92% return to prison and that’s a fact. It takes more than a pat of the back and a God bless you.
I have a man I correspond with that was a leader in the Arian Brotherhood, a white supremacy group that is spread across the nation in all prisons. This man is doing life without parole in a Texas, in Texas they do not give gang pay. He has been in Prison since he was 19, about eight years ago he accepted Christ and took a stand for Jesus, the Arian Brotherhoodis for life. They seen the difference in this man and knew his new found faith was for real and allowed him to pursue it, but at the same time he was exiled and could no longer depend on his former Brother’s for any type aid. With no family or friends on the outside he has no kind of help. When I started writing to him he said he had wrote to several ministries and over fifty churches over the years asking for just a little help as he was unable to even buy stamps, I was the only ministry to reply to him and the few churches that did said they would pray for him, his reply to me was “Brother their prayers aren’t much help to me when I am still hungry and my cellie is stuffing himself with commissary.” Do you see that hopelessness that this man is struggling with?
Every year several deaths occur in prison as a result of the extreme summer heat especially here in the south. Last year I made an appeal to the Christian community to help me buy fans for some on the indigent inmates I minister too, sadly only two people responded. Now please don’t misunderstand me, I praise God for those two ladies but it breaks my heart that there are not more Christians involved in these things…these people have no one else and they are apart of us!! They are saved by the same shed blood and have been given the power to become “Sons and Daughters of God” just like us. Why do we not see them that way?
They have many needs and no way to get them themselves, many of us spend more on our pets comfort than we do on helping a Christian Brother or Sister that is incarcerated and this not only brakes my heart but I am certain it breaks Jesus heart too.
I want to ask you to do something today, check and see what your church is doing to help those in prison, if your church doesn’t have a prison ministry, find out why. Start one, help one that is already going. Ask God what He Himself would have you do, but do something, they need our help!!
We at C.A.S.A. are attempting to build a Prison aftercare and Drug rehab here in Oklahoma. We will offer help to those ex-offenders that are released without hope, we cannot do this alone. The number of those who need our help rises daily. In October of last year we had a little over 500 on our mailing list, today its over 2100 and growing daily. We can no longer meet these needs alone. Please consider helping us to help others. Remember US starts with U.
May God’s richest and best be yours,
Rev. Rick Thompson
C.A.S.A. Recovery and NewStarts Prison Ministries
P.O. Box 19352
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73144-0352
Written by revrick73010
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11:16:49 AM EDT
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing wow 2008
PRISON IS:
PRISON IS:
A place where you write letters and can't think of Anything to say.
A place where you wait for letters that come less And less often.
A place where you gradually stop writing altogether.
A place where you lost respect for the law because You see it raw, naked, twisted, bent, ignored, and blown out of proportion to suit the people who enforce it...
A place where it is proven that absolute power Corrupts absolutely.
A place where you wait for a visit that doesn't happen... and
although you know the real reason, you have to accept the lies.
A place where you learn that nobody needs you, you Are the forgotten man, and the world goes on without you...
A place where you discover that all of the talents And abilities you have are worthless, for you are a man in blue.
A place where you receive your divorce papers and You learn the meaning of the words "TILL DEATH DO US PART"... for to the outside world you are a dead man.
A place that doesn't exist in the minds of friends, For they cannot put it on an envelope, nor can they find it in a car.
A place that exists only in a time warp, for you are Only remembered in past tense... and that's probably appropriate, for you can see no future.
A place where days blend into weeks, months merge into years, and
seasons pass without feeling the touch of a human hand unless it is
raised in anger.
A place where a kind word and an affectionate touch are only dim
memories. A place where basic humanity is ignored, discarded, and eventually forgotten.
A place where men are stripped of their clothes as Well as their dignity, and herded like the beasts society believes them to be.
A place where you go to bed early, even when you're not tired; you
walk in circles, even though you have nowhere to go; and you pull
the covers over your head, even though you're not cold.
A place where escape is possible, but only through reading,
dreaming, or just plain going mad.
Can a man survive prison and resume a useful life?
If he can overcome the degradation that is heaped upon him, society
will continue to remind him that he is tainted.
Does he deserve what he got?
Of course! And smug society can be assured that it has done the
right and proper thing.
Until, circumstances, errors, accidents, or a mistake in the
judicial system flips the table and they find themselves in the
Shoes of the man in the cell next door!
-Author Unknown
Society thinks of prisoners as being bad people, criminals, but this is not
always the case, many are innocent, wrongfully convicted. Either way, guilty or innocent, they are in a place where they are looking for answers, wanting to know if God can help them. This makes a great opportunity for sharing Jesus, His Gospel and love for them so they can have a new life, and be made free even if they remain behind bars.
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
In His Love & Service,
Rev. Ricky Joe Thompson
Newstarts Prison Ministry
Written by revrick73010
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Monday, February 18, 2008
10:29:47 PM EST
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing Third Day
Unanswered Letters
 Unanswered Letters
There are many times when we begin a certain task that God lays on our hearts and because we think our efforts are
minimal and not making a difference, we quit the job that
God told us to pursue.
The enemy loves to plant seeds of doubt and lure us into
thinking that we are not capable of making a difference
in this world, but with God's help we can overcome
and fulfill the destiny that God has for every believer.
If you are going through a situation of doubting your task
unto the Lord, then I hope this story will bless and
encourage you to never quit what God has laid on
your heart because you may never know of the lives
that you are touching.
I read of a man who was involved in a tragic accident.
He lost both legs and his left arm and only a finger
and thumb remained on the right hand.
But he still possessed a brilliant mind, enriched with a
good education and broadened with world travel.
At first he thought there was nothing he could do but
remain a helplesssufferer.
A thought came to him. It was always nice to receive
letters, but why not write them--he could still use
his right hand with some difficulty. But to whom
could he write?
Was there anyone shut-in and incapacitated like he was
who could be encouraged by his letters? He thought
of men in prison--they did have some hope of release,
whereas he had none--but it was worth a try.
He wrote to a Christian organization concerned with
prison ministry. He was told that his letters could not
be answered because it was against prison rules,
but he still decided to commence this one-sided
correspondence.
He wrote twice a week, and it taxed his strength to the limit.
But into the letters he put his whole soul, all his experience,
all his faith, all his wit, and all his Christian optimism.
Frequently he felt discouraged and was tempted to give it
all up. But it was his one remaining activity, and he resolved
to continue as long as he could.
At last he got a letter. It was very short, written on prison
stationery by the officer whose duty it was to censor
the mail.
All it said was: "Please write on the best paper you
can afford. Your letters are passed from cell to cell
till they literally fall to pieces."
No matter what yoursituation may be like, you still have
the ability to encourage someone who is discouraged
and lift up someone who is feeling low.
Take this story as an encouragement to give your all for
someone else and do not worry about the results. No
good work will go unseen and only God knows of the
impact that your life can have on someone else.
Let us not do our good works so that we may be praised,
but let us do good works so that others may be lifted up
and God be praised because of our intervention.
The only thing that we can take with us into eternity is
what we have done for the Lord. There are no bank
accounts in heaven to show how much your net worth
was on the earth, but there will be accounts in heaven of
what you did to show your life as an example in leading
others to Him.
- Author Unknown
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Friday, November 9, 2007
12:03:02 PM EST
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing K-Love
The horror of Addiction
 I AM METH
This was written by a young girl who was in jail for drug charges, And was addicted to meth. She wrote this while in jail. As you will soon read, she fully grasped the horrors of the drug, as she tells in this simple, yet Profound poem. She was released from jail, but, true to her story, the drug owned her. They found her dead not long after, with the needle still in her arm.
**********************************
I destroy homes, I tear families apart, I take your children, and that's just the start. I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold, The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.
-
If you need me, remember I'm easily found, I live all around you - in schools and in town I live with the rich, I live with the poor, I live down the street, and maybe next door.
I'm made in a lab, but not like you think, I can be made under the kitchen sink. In your child's closet, and even in the woods, If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.
I have many names, but there's one you know best, I'm sure you've heard of me, my name is crystal meth. My power is awesome, try me you'll see, But if you do, you may never break free. Just try me once and I might let you go, But try me twice, and I'll own your soul.
-
When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie, You do what you have to -- just to get high.
-
The crimes you 'll commit for my narcotic charms Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms. You'll lie to your mother, you'll steal from your dad, When you see their tears, you should feel sad.
-
But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised, I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways. I take kids from parents, and parents from kids, I turn people from God, and separate friends.
-
I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, I'll be with you always -- right by your side. You'll give up everything - your family, your home, Your friends, your money, then you'll be alone.
-
I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to give, When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live. If you try me be warned - this is no game, If given the chance, I'll drive you insane. I'll ravish your body, I'll control your mind, I'll own you completely, your soul will be mine. The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed, The voices you'll hear, frominside your head.
-
The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see, I want you to know, these are all gifts from me. But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart, That you are mine, and we shall not part.
-
You'll regret that you tried me, they always do, But you came to me, not I to you. You knew this would happen, many times you were told, But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.
-
You could have said no, and just walked away, If you could live that day over, now what would you say? I'll be your master, you will be my slave, I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave.
-
Now that you have met me, what will you do? Will you try me or not? It's all up to you. I can bring you more misery than words can tell, Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.
............
There really is life after METH!
What will you chose this day?
Life or METH!
The choice is yours!
Written by revrick73010
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