SOCPM Newsletter | April 24, 2021

Greetings,

The quiet weeks continue, but quiet is better than a stressful week. Stressful times are part of life and how I respond in those times of stress is the focus of this week's Weekly Note on Psalm 4:1, particularly when it comes to false accusations.

Last week I shared a false accusation by a neighbor when I was a kid. There have been others since, and I'm sure there will be more to come. James Montgomery Boice asks, 'Whom do you turn to when you hear of an unjust accusation that someone has been making against you?'[1] I'm sure we've all have had false accusations against us. The workplace, is a commonplace for a false accusation to occur. Perhaps it was an acquaintance, a friend; maybe it was a member of your church family. Boice goes on to ask, 'How do you respond? Whom do you tell? Most of us would go to our friends and complain, looking for sympathy. We might even start a slander campaign of our own.' [2] I'm sure I've responded in similar ways when I heard a false accusation against me. Boice goes on, 'This is not what David did. Instead of turning to friends for sympathy or even attacking his enemies, David turned to God.' [3]

As I'm writing, I'm pausing to search those dusty brain cells to recall such an event, but the dust on some of those brain cells is quite thick, and I can't fully recall a specific one. But I'm sure I have responded sinfully more than once. I also like to think I have reacted in the way David did. I turned to God.

With the whole COVID thing, interacting with others has been almost zilch. Nonetheless, it's pretty likely a false accusation will come my way eventually. When it does, I hope I remember to respond like David.

Not a whole lot more going on in the life and times of me. 🤓 I continue to read R. C. Sproul's commentary on Acts. I've started listening to an audio of J. C. Ryle's 'Holiness,' and it has led me to search for audio of William Gurnall's 'The Christian in Complete Armour.' I continue to make enhancements to the SOCPM dB 🥱. Are you still reading?

As for prayers, as always, my son Cameron, salvation, sobriety, godly counsel, etc. My wife, Michelle, received the news that her manager will be resigning at the end of June. Her management style and how she interacts with the work team have been a blessing to Michelle. Please pray the new manager will be someone whose managing style is similar to her current manager. I'm still dealing with some of the 'healing' issues related to my surgery. Despite the physician assistant telling me they can last up to three months, I'm a wimp 🥺; please pray for a quicker healing pace. Finally, God has put in my heart to share the Gospel with family and other unbelievers in my circle of life. Recently I sent a Bible to a nephew who's in LA County jail. His mom, my sister, told me he was touched and commented, 'you know religion isn't my thing, but I'm going to look at it.'Please pray he does. Also, pray that my family reads various articles I send them and wisdom in finding other articles. Finally, I invite you to visit Voice of the Martyrs' icommittopray. Praying consistently for those genuinely persecuted for their faith is another thing God has put on my heart.

I know I'm wordy when it comes to prayer requests. My weekly prayer request to my CG is always the longest 😲. But if you made it through reading them and the newsletter, thanks.🤓

To Him be the glory in ALL things and to Him alone!

Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries

Week 58 of the lockdown 😞.  

COVID-19 cases as of day, 04/23/21; Dixon: staff confirmed 307, staff recovered staff 291, staff current 16, staff tests 10,601; offender confirmed 590, offenders recovered 586, offender current 4, offenders tests 40,164 | Sheridan: staff confirmed 149, staff recovered 147; staff current 2, staff tests 9,889, offenders confirmed 464, offenders recovered 464, offenders current 0, offender tests 24,883 | IDOC: staff confirmed 4,450 , staff recovered 4,365, staff current 85, staff tests 200,496; offenders confirmed 10,877, offenders recovered 10,857, offenders current 20, offender tests 4530,297. [4]

Please continue in prayer for the lifting of the lockdown. If only for the resumption of visitations, and the return of volunteers shortly after that.

[1] James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 39.
[2] ibid. 2, 39.
[3] ibid. 2, 39.
[4] “COVID-19 Response.” Illinois.gov, 23 Apr. 2021, www2.illinois.gov/idoc/facilities/Pages/Covid19Response.aspx.

CHS - Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations from Clarke, Roy H, editor. The Treasury of David: Spurgeon's Great Commentary on Psalms, by C. H. Spurgeon, 3rd ed., vol. 1, T. Nelson Publishers , 1997 are from the New Geneva Study Bible published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., using the New King James Version of the Bible, ©1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

FDK - Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations from Derek Kidner, Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 15, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

JMB - Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture from James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005) is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.TM

WAV - Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture from VanGemeren, Willem A. “Book 1 Psalms 1 - 41.” The Expositor's Bible Commentary Psalms, by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, Revised ed., vol. 5, Zondervan, 2008 is taken from is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

WSP - Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture from “Psalm 1.” Psalms: A Critical and Expository Commentary with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks, by William S. Plumer, Banner of Truth Trust, 1975 is taken from the Holy Bible King James Version.

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