Greetings
I hope you and your loved ones are well and are in or getting into the Christmas celebration of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Other than herself, Michelle does all the Christmas shopping, since other than my son Cameron, the gift-giving is 99.9% her family. Cameron, as has been usual for the past several years, a gift card. I completed my shopping for Michelle, last night. She said she has finished mine too, but won't give me a clue as to what Amazon boxes our mine. I like playing the role of a kid—enough of the non-essentials of Christmas. I only share to make the newsletter have some personal spirit.
This week's Weekly Notes was on Humility and Meekness. It was a challenge to put all my notes into 1-page. I had to edit out some of the readings from Matthew Henry's 'The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit.' Before I became a Christian, I would view myself as being meek but in a negative way. It was someone who was weak and would not speak up for themselves. Now, as a Christian, I don't see myself as meek enough. I find it compelling on how one's perspective on various things. I have a copy of The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit, and I thought I had read it, but flipping through the pages of my copy, I don't see any highlights, which to me is an indicator I at one time had planned to but never did. I'm going to have to be more intentional this time.
Chaplain Thomas of Dixon said he did receive the library of 'Crucial Questions' SOCPM through ministry partner Ligonier Ministries was able to donate the collection to Dixon's chapel library. Chaplain Thomas also mentioned he plans to use the Malachi Dad's videos of 'The Heart of a Father' early next year.
I haven't received much news from Sheridan Chaplain McClimans, other than his appreciation for the Weekly Notes and how the men are enjoying them.
I did finalize my choices in Ligonier's Chaplain Outreach of giving $500 of resources. A few of the resources I obtained were; Blessed Hope, Basic Training, TrueU: Does God Exist?, and TrueU: Is the Bible Reliable? My hope is it's God's will for me to return to Dixon and Sheridan to present these teaching series in SOCPM's Discipleship classes.
Despite having seen what seems a lot of longtime and current SOCPM students being paroled and SOCPM students not being able to commission their release in classroom prayer, I find it a bit confusing the overall number of weekly paroles during COVID-19 seems to be less than the overall weekly average before COVID-19. To lessen the impact of COVID-19 in IDOC. IDOC, like many US prisons, were going to have a lot of early releases. Perhaps SOCPM students did not qualify for the early release.
Sadly, one of my notices of this week of a change in a student's status was notification another former SOCPM student is deceased. Wilfredo, a SOCPM student from January 2017 to May 2019, has died. It's been a while since I had Wilfredo as a student, but I do recall him as a good and appreciative student. However, I don't remember a strong profession in Christ. Nonetheless, it is sorrowful to receive notification of his death. I found his Facebook profile, and there was a post about Wilfredo's death on August 15th, two days before Wilfredo's 40th birthday.
I'm sure Wilfredo's family was asking, why? As a teacher to Wilfredo, if only for a short time, I too ask God why. Could I have done something more as a vessel to bring a change to Wilfredo's heart? I can only turn to God's Word Romans 8:28, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.To Him be the glory in ALL things and Him alone,
To Him be the glory in ALL things and to Him alone!
Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
Week 39 of the lockdown 😞.
COVID-19 cases as of 12/17/20; Dixon: staff confirmed 216 staff recovered staff 196, staff current 20, staff tests 1143; offender confirmed 530, offenders recovered 475, offender current 55, offenders test 2725 | Sheridan: staff confirmed 98, staff recovered 83; staff current 15, staff tests 638; offenders confirmed 195, offenders recovered 92, offenders current 103, offender tests 681 | IDOC: staff confirmed 3036, staff recovered 2630, staff current 406, staff tests 13,918; offenders confirmed 5948, offenders recovered 4721, offenders current 1227, offender tests 28,628. Continue in payer for safe and full recovery for all.