SOCPM Newsletter | July 24, 2021

Greetings,

SOCPM is back in Sheridan come August 6th! Praise God! I met with Chaplain McClimans this past Tuesday, July 20th, to get my new ID and discuss SOCPM's return.

I will still have four classes and my previous class schedule; two Malachi Dad classes in the mornings, 8:30 to 10:00 and 10:00 to 11:30, two Discipleship classes, the first 1:30 to 3:30, and the second class 5:00 to 7:00. Classes will be limited to 25 students each. The start and end times for the Malachi Dads classes may have to change to avoid social distancing concerns with students leaving at 10:00 and students also arriving at 10:00. I gave him a list of the items I like to bring in that will require a gate pass. Nothing jumped out as a concern, but the Warden of Programs has the last say. Would you please pray I get gate pass approval for all the items and no other issues arise?

In this week's e-mail to Dixon Chaplain Thomas on any rumblings of a start date, he replied no. However, he's pushing for a return of volunteers. He added, he sent an e-mail to the Warden of Programs specifically requesting permission to start SOCPM classes on September 3rd. Would you please pray the Warden of Programs grants Chaplin Thomas' request?

I've been going full tilt on completing all the tasks for the Discipleship class curriculum, 'What Does Revelation Teach?' up to the most recent sermon week twenty-five. The most time-consuming step thus far is getting the Revelation sermons burns to DVD. Thankfully, the software product Wondershare UniConverter can accomplish all the steps; download the video and subtitles, embed the subtitles into the video, and customize the font. Once those steps are complete comes the editing. I edited out the first few seconds of the video, which were the last seconds of church announcements; I then merged a splash green at the start of the edited version. Then I edited out the first few seconds of the worship band at the end of the sermon, then merge a splash screen at the end. The final steps included burning the video version to DVD. The last step is to use Avery's online editor to create, download and print labels to apply to the DVD. As of this newsletter, I have all the steps complete, except the burning to DVD. However, I have an open technical question with Wondershare. Would you please pray praises for God's provision of the needed computer software and hardware to complete the tasks and that Wondershare will answer my technical question to my desire?

I'm currently working on putting together the classroom discussion material. The classroom material merges my sermon notes, Redeemer Fellowship's study guides, and commentary notes from several commentaries. I'm currently working on the week five sermon.

There will be a total of thirty-five sermons on Revelation, but doing one sermon a week from here on out will be less time-consuming.

While waiting in the Sheridan gatehouse, a current SOCPM student, Shawn, was manning the entry to monitor individuals entering for temperatures and mask compliance. He was happy to see me, knowing it was an indication of SOCPM returning soon. It was humbling when he shared he was enjoying the Weekly Notes, and SOCPM's sending them each week was proof of SOCPM's dedication to the inmates.

This week's Weekly Note was on Psalm 5:11-12. I shared in my greeting how I found great comfort in the words of Psalm 5:11-12 11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult n you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield. [1] and was comforted even more so when reading Charles Spurgeon's opening comments, 'They laugh first but will weep ever after. We wait now but will rejoice eternal.' Reading Spurgeon reminds me of Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy and how, throughout his letter, Paul's words of encouragement to Timothy have also been a great encouragement to me. 

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,  and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV

My week also included a visit to SOCPM Alumni, James. Jams was a SOCPM student from December 2016 to September 2017. I've shared in previous newsletters how, while a SOCPM student, Gid used SOCPM as a vessel in James coming to faith. However, the evils of addiction caught up to James after his parole in September 2017. 

I won't reiterate all James shared other than to say addiction brought him to being homeless and near death. After multiple surgeries because of infections in his heart James is now convalescing in a rehabilitation home in Chicago. 

Though God spared James from death, his wife Tisha was not. While homeless with James, Tisha was separated from James one day. While on her own, Tisha collected cardboard from a dumpster to use for signs asking for help. As she stepped out from the rear of the building, a snowplow came from around the corner, the snowplow driver never saw Tisha, and the snow he was pushing pushed Tisha into a snowbank. Tisha was later found dead in the snowbank.  I could see the grief in James' eyes as he shared his story of Tisha.

In an exchange of text messages before I visited with James, he tested how he can't believe someone would travel the distance I would travel to visits someone like him. I replied, why wouldn't I visit someone like you? You are a brother in Christ. 

The facility James is in had a one-hour restriction on our visit. So our time in fellowship was short. But James shared despite all that has happened; it has renewed his relationship with God. He was happy to share except the OT books after Jeremiah; he has read the rest of the Bible. 

Before leaving, I gave James a leather-bound (not genuine leather, but whatever type of leather most Bible are bounded). Several other books, including books by R. C Sproul. We closed our time in prayer. Would you please pray for James's full recovery and not fall into his addiction once he leaves the rehabilitation hospital? 

There is much more I'd like to share about James, but this is a long newsletter already. Would you also pray he continues a strong walk with Jesus, can find a church upon his release, and finally, his relationship with his father remains on the upswing?

I encountered another SOCPM Alumni this week, Ivan, but I'll share that encounter next week.

Cameron is doing his best to remain calm on the prayer front, but he's had his moments of stress as he continues looking for a new place to live, which thus far has been unsuccessful. The property manager of his current apartment mentioned the possibility of Cameron working out a payment plan to get caught up on his rent. However, I think it is their way to try to recover the rent Cameron is behind. The amount he owes is exceptionally high, and I have doubts, Cameron can maintain the plan highly unlikely. His biggest frustration is communicating with the IRS and the receipt of his stimulus check. We had a three-way call with IRS, and I can understand his frustration. He is seeking rental assistance, and I've agreed to help him fill out the required forms. Please pray first and foremost for Cameron's salvation and maintaining sobriety (I'm honestly surprised he has not fallen, thanks for your prayers). Cameron will find a place to live before July 31st, and the long-awaited stimulus check arrives.

In a step to prevent you from falling asleep, I'll limit Michele's and my prayers, but I'll post more online. But for now, we have taken steps to move. Our condo is on the market. Would you please pray for a buyer at the asking price? Also, would you pray we can find a new home too? Again more prayers online at https://www.socpm.org/ministry.

Week 71 of the lockdown 😞.  

COVID-19 cases as of day, 07/23/21; Dixon: staff confirmed 319, staff recovered staff 319, staff current 0, staff tests 13,910; offender confirmed 592, offenders recovered 592, offender current 0, offenders tests 49,481 | Sheridan: staff confirmed 151, staff recovered 150; staff current 1, staff tests 15,001, offenders confirmed 464, offenders recovered 464, offenders current 0, offender tests 31,990 | IDOC: staff confirmed 4,698, staff recovered 4,637, staff current 61, staff tests 287,563; offenders confirmed 10,931, offenders recovered 10,920, offenders current 11, offender tests 683,305 4

A slight increase statewide among both staff and offenders. Please pray it is a short-lived upswing.

1 Psalm 5:11-12 ESV - - Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2B5%3A11-12&version=ESV.
2 C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David: Spurgeon's Great Commentary on Psalms, Clarke, Roy H, editor. 3rd ed., vol. 1, T. Nelson Publishers , 1997, 28-29.
3 “100 Bible Verses about Comfort.” What Does the Bible Say About Comfort?, www.openbible.info/topics/comfort.
4 “COVID-19 Response.” Illinois.gov, 23 July. 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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