SOCPM Newsletter | August 14, 2021

Greetings,

This week was slow-motion compared to the past couple of weeks. The primary reason is after writing last week's SOCPM Newsletter; I received an e-mail from Sheridan's chaplain informing me that the Warden of Programs office did not give the final 'go' permitting volunteers to return. As a result, the start at Sherdian classes is this coming Friday, August 20th.

Would you please pray the Warden of Programs gives the final approval for SOCPM to return to Sheridan this Friday?

The packing is moving along smoothly, enough for me to take a few days off to rest my back. The weather was the big news this week. Several tornadoes passed through the area. Michelle and I didn't see anything, but on Wednesday, when I was visiting my favorite coffee shop in Wasco, IL, the talk was the tornadoes and the sharing of pictures. When I heard someone mention one passed through Cortland, my ears perked up; that's my town.

As I mentioned, my lovely bride Michelle and I didn't see it, but this photo was taken by a neighbor from the building to the south of us, facing teh same direction our condo faces.

I'm up to date in the burning of the Revelation sermons to DVD and the teaching notes. However, in a member's meeting last Sunday, I received news that my church will stop doing a live stream of the sermons. Therefore, without a live stream recording, I will no longer simply download the sermon from YouTube and do my tasks to get them to DVD.

This news was unexpected, and I quickly contacted Brain, an Elder, and David, who oversees Redeemer's AV. David said they would try to work with me in getting me a video and audio file. Unfortunately, I may have to synch the video and audio files to get a complete recording usable for my classes. I have some software that I believe can accomplish that task but will have to contact Wondershare.

Would you please pray that when all is said and done, I'll still have a quality video to present the last 15 sermons of the Revelation series to SOCPM's Discipleship classes?

The Weekly Note Psalm study was Psalm 6:5-7. We read of David's weeping and loss of sleep. There have been more nights than I care to remember where I wept and lost sleep. The most frequent times are when I don't hear from my son Cameron, calls to him go straight to his voice mail for an extended period. I don't necessarily cry physical tears. Though there were nights they were present, there was deep grief in my heart. The emotions of deep grief, anxiety, worry are all emotions we all experience. 

Charles Spurgeon wrote a comment that spoke to me, God's people may groan, but they may not complain. Yes, burdened they must groan, or they will never shout in the day of deliverance.1 It is easy to complain, 'why me God' but, the work of the Holy Spirit within me has nurtured me to do less complaining and more groaning in expressing my heart to God and giving praise for the work He is doing.

I had one short phone call with Cameron this week. He confessed he gave in to the temptation to drink this past week. Trying to find the positive of his relapse, God shared it was only a couple of days and not one of those where I hear nothing for two or more weeks relapses. Would you please pray Cameron will turn to God in times of temptation? As always, pray for his salvation.

Michelle's employer informed employees this week that they are mandating all employees will have to receive the COVID vaccine. Even those who work remotely. Non-compliance to the mandate can result in termination. Michelle and I both have great concerns about the mandate. She has a history of having bad reactions to vaccines and medications, including a minor stroke. As Michelle will say, I'm the 1%. However, she loves her job, and quitting is not a probable option. Would you please pray God makes His will clear as to how she should respond to her employer? Pray her employer will make an exemption.

Despite a slower compared to teh past couple of weeks, I'm struggling with depression and fatigue. Would you please pray God will revive me with enthusiasm and energy?

Once again, praise God for his provision in the way of help. Thanks to Rick, Eric, and Jake for responding to Michele's and my call for help to clear out our storage unit in Cortland and clearing out the items we no longer need in our St. Charles storage unit, and taking it all to Goodwill.

Praise that the tornado didn't cause any injuries and significant damage throughout the area.

Week 74 of the lockdown 😞.  

COVID-19 cases as of day, 08/13/21; Dixon: staff confirmed 322, staff recovered staff 320, staff current 2, staff tests 15,240; offender confirmed 592, offenders recovered 592, offender current 0, offenders tests 51,957 | Sheridan: staff confirmed 159, staff recovered 154; staff current 5, staff tests 15,467, offenders confirmed 464, offenders recovered 464, offenders current 0, offender tests 32,756 | IDOC: staff confirmed 4,925, staff recovered 4,770, staff current 155, staff tests 297,935; offenders confirmed 11,021, offenders recovered 10,943, offenders current 78, offender tests 682,7812

The numbers increased slightly again. Staff only at Dixon and Sheridan. However, both staff and offenders statewide. I'm assuming it is the Delta-variant. Please pray this Delta-variant does not result in reinstating a lockdown.

1 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, pp. 33-34.

2 “Bible Gateway Passage: Psalm 6:5-7 - English Standard Version.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+6%3A1-4&version=ESV.

3 ibid. 1, 33

4 Derek Kidner, Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 15, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.

5 C P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1–50, vol. 19 of the Word Biblical Commentary (Waco: Word, 1983), 93–94.

6 Boice, James Montgomery. Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005. Print.

7 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, 97.

8 ibid. 1, 33

9 ibid. 1, 33

10 ibid. 1, 33

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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