SOCPM Newsletter | August 21, 2021

In exchanging e-mails with Sheridan Chaplain McClimans, I came to know the Warden of Programs for the past few years was reassigned to another facility. In addition, the new Warden of Programs was taking a few weeks off, leaving only one warden handling everything. So, things are hectic at Sheridan. With my thinking, Michelle and I would be out of town next Friday (September 27th), an orientation walk-thru on our townhome on October 3rd, and Michelle and I moving October 10th, I've decided to postpone my return to Sheridan until October 17th. I've also arranged with the Chaplain at Dixon to delay my planned September 8th return to Dixon until October 17th.

As much as I want to return to the classroom, the focus of my mind and heart is not what I desire them to be. But, with our vacation, move, and other responsibilities, I want to make my returns to Dixon and Sheridan with a more focused mind and heart.

Even if I were to return to Dixon as initially planned by the chaplain, it would have been too late to say goodbye to Randy, one of my long-time SOCPM students. Randy went home on August 16th. Randy attended his first SOCPM class on January 20th, 2016. Almost from his first-class, Randy displayed a love for the Lord and the gift of service. He would help me lay out the materials for the distribution table, get the AV cart and test it to make sure everything was operating correctly.

I've shared how it is a bittersweet moment for me when a student paroles. Sweet for the student, bitter for me in having to say goodbye. Randy's going home is extra bitter; he was a long-time student, a servant, and I could not say goodbye. Randy, if you happen to check out the SOCPM website and read this newsletter, thank you, I'll miss you greatly, and most importantly, get connected to a good solid Bible-teaching church.

Would you please pray for Randy to continue walking with the Lord and connects to a solid Buble teaching church?

This week's Weekly Note was on Psalm 6:8-10. I put it together a few weeks ago, and to be honest, other than sending it to Sheridan, the Dixon chaplain is on vacation and posting it to the website, I did not have the time to revisit it in depth. But a quick review this morning, Friday, I referred to Charles Spurgeon's comment, 'We pray for our enemies not against them.' and how I use to have a scornful heart towards those, I found ignorant in their thinking and worldviews. Before becoming a Christian, I had a hateful heart for those who 'just don't get it.' As if I 'got it.' I didn't hate Christians, but my heart would laugh in a mock manner. Today, many have worldviews opposing my world views. I try to base those views on God's Word. Still, at times I can loath those with opposing views. However, the Holy Spirit is quick to change my heart from loathing to praying for them. Oh, how God transformed my thinking, Romans 12:2.

Thank you for your prayers. David, my church's AV person, told me last Sunday they will record the remaining Revelation series sermons. First, however, I will need to run the video camera. He told me it is simply a matter of hitting the button to begin and end recording. As for the audio, the microphone in the camera is good quality, but if the audio is terrible, Brian, another member of the AV team, told me he could sync the main audio feed with the video.

The preparation for the big move is in full stride. Except for necessities, the packing of my office, the living room, guest bath, my half of our bedroom is complete. I've started to make a dent in the kitchen and hope to make a more significant dent before leaving early Sunday for Michell's and my vacation. The week of our move is when Michelle and I hope to pack her half of the bedroom, the main bath, and our desks. Barring a streak of laziness or God having other plans, I'm confident it will be where we need to be moving day.

Thursday, I measured for blinds in the townhome and bought a washer, dryer, refrigerator, water softener, two ceiling fans, and a big trash can. I did a walk through the townhome, and it is coming along nicely. A guy was laying carpeting in the bedrooms, which is a waste. Michelle and I want the same laminate elsewhere in the home also in the bedrooms. However, the home needs to be built to what the selling specs state. No upgrades can be made until we close. 🤷🏻‍♂️ It is what it is.

Because of health concerns related to traveling, Michelle has decided to bow out of going to Colorado. She encouraged me to go still. I was a bit hesitant, but Michelle assured me she was okay, plus she figures it is a plus in that she can use her vacation time unpacking after we move. Her unpacking would eliminate her watching me unpack while working and constantly saying 'not there' when I went to put whatever away. The vacation won't be the same without Michelle, but I'm blessed to have a loving wife.

I again had a good phone call with Cameron. Our conversation was about Michelle and my moving and our vacation to Colorado. Two weeks in a row without any stressful calls. Praise God! However, my heart's greatest is just not stress-free phone calls. Would you please continue to pray for Cameron's sobriety, for him to experience true joy, and, most of all, his salvation?

Would you continue to pray for Michelle to get an exemption from having the mandated vaccine? Also, there are no updates on who her new manager will be. Would you continue to pray she gets a manager with the same managing style as her previous manager and that she will continue working from home?

Would you please pray both the sale closing of our condo and the buying of our townhome go without any unexpected issues?

Though it is looking positive, would you please pray our packing gets completed in time for the day of our move? Also, pray the move itself goes well without injury or anything getting broken?

Please pray for our friends Ray and Luanne and me to have a safe drive to Colorado, safe travels for me when I return via flying, and a blessed time of fellowship stuck in between the traveling?

To give full attention to our packing, moving, and a vacation of relaxation, joy, and fellowship, I'll be taking a break from writing the SOCPM Newsletter for the next three weeks.

One of those joys is a belated celebration of my lovely bride's birthday today. Her birthday was yesterday, August 20th. She opened her gift (There is a delay in shipping a second gift, so much for Amazon's Prime two-day shipping). Today, she'll get a gluten-free birthday cake, and I'm going to make her Canadian pork loin chops.

Week 75 of the lockdown 😞.  

COVID-19 cases as of day, 08/20/21; Dixon: staff confirmed 323, staff recovered staff 321, staff current 2, staff tests 15,496; offender confirmed 592, offenders recovered 592, offender current 0, offenders tests 52,044 | Sheridan: staff confirmed 159, staff recovered 158; staff current 1, staff tests 15,619, offenders confirmed 466, offenders recovered 464, offenders current 2, offender tests 32,945 | IDOC: staff confirmed 4,991, staff recovered 4,864, staff current 127, staff tests 316,065; offenders confirmed 11,079, offenders recovered 10,984, offenders current 95, offender tests 707,9672

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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