Greetings,
As always, thanks for reading the SOCPM newsletter; I ask for grace and to bear with me as I try various formats to make the SOCPM Newsletter more appealing and streamlined for easier reading. I always love feedback, especially from those gifted in newsletter writing.
This week I experiment with bookmarks and or anchors of linking the topics below to the article.
The Weekly Note - A Study of the Psalms; Psalm 8:3-4.
Those are the topics for this week's SOCPM Newsletter. I hope you enjoy it.
To Him be the glory in ALL things and Him alone,
Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
Prison Classroom Return Update
The Discipleship class enrollment was up to twelve. However, there are still eight who though registered, have not yet made an appearance. Therefore, chaplain Thomas will send them a note informing them if they do not attend next week, he will remove them from the class roster to make room for others on the waiting list.
The kickoff of the Discipleship curriculum 'What Does Revelation Teach? will have to wait another week. I was on my way to Dixon, and as I passed the westbound Hwy 47 exit and before going under the Hwy 47 overpass, my brain cells did a snap, crackle, pop, alerting me I forgot to put the sermon DVD in my briefcase. The next exit Peace Road, was 15 miles west, making a turnaround impractical. I beat myself up for most of the reaming drive but came to peace in knowing God was not saying, 'Oh great. Scott, another week wasted. Why did I ever choose you for this ministry?' My forgetfulness can, at times, result in my weariness.
Thankfully, the students showed grace too. We ended up having some good classroom discussions that included an explicit sharing of the Gospel and sanctification. When I got home, the first thing I did was put the DVD in my briefcase for next week,
I didn't forget my copy of 'Psalm 1: The Blessed Man' and six additional copies for classroom distribution. I did not need the other copies since Chaplain Thomas had nineteen undistributed copies from previous classes. There were 13 students present, two of whom were first-time attendees.
We covered the introduction, and Psalm 1:1 'Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (NIV). Some of the discussion questions were, 'What does it mean to be blessed, and what does it mean to be wicked?' I was encouraged with the overall class participation. Hopefully, it is an indication of engaging classes in the upcoming weeks.
There were several prayer requests. Please visit SOCPM's Student Prayer Request page.
There still is no indication when Sheridan will lift the lockdown.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV
SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate
David, an inmate in Huntsville, heard fellow prisoner Jesse about being a pen pal with a lady at Redeemer Fellowship. David, wanting to have a pen pal, wrote a letter to Redeemer Fellowship seeking a pen pal. After no response in seeking a pen pal for David, Sue suggested I become his pen pal. Like probable others who did not respond, I was hesitant at first because of time and felt I'm not a letter writer; It's not one of my strong points. I'm a terrible typist resulting in countless typos, and my grammar back in my school days was 'F' material. It hasn't significantly improved over the years; read the SOCPM Newsletters. It takes me, on average, about five hours to figure out what to write, put it in words, type, and then the most significant amount of time is proofreading through Grammarly.
But after prayer, I decided I would very much like to be a pen pal with David. So I spent a good portion of Monday and a little more time on Tuesday to get my first pen pal to David in the mail. It can take a few weeks for me to hear back from David due to the slowness in prison mail. So if David chooses to write back, I'm looking forward to it.
I mention 'chooses' because my letter had a strong focus on discipleship. David asked for tools to help him in his Christian walk. Hopefully, he is willing to get a heavy dose. With SOCPM's 1,000+ library of Christian-based articles and other resources, I feel I'm well equipped to equip David.
My letter wasn't all theology, I did include a few ice breaker questions, and as we hopefully build s relationship, I would like to get to know his personal life; family, likes, dislikes, etc.
Would you please pray God will foster a god glorifying pen pal relationship between David and myself.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
The Weekly Note - A Study of the Psalms
This week's Psalm Study was on Psalm 8:3-4
I shared with the students my fascination for astronomy, God's creation of the heavens. James Montgomery Boice wrote how David was probably lying down and looking into the skies. It reminded me of when I was at Willow Creek's Camp Paradise, lying down on a picnic table, and I looked to the skies. The longer I looked, the more lighted the sky became with more and more stars. Another illustration I often think of is when I visited the Grand Canyon with my son Cameron. We both were amazed at how 'big' the Grand Canyon is in real life. It made me think how small we were compared to the Grand Canyon, how small the Grand Canyon is compared to all of God's creation. The truth is I'm not as significant as I like to think I am. We are important and loved by God, but I'm not as important and influential as my pride thinks I am in all of His Creation.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1 ESV
On The Home Front
At long last the water softener arrived and is now installed. I was not having positive vibes when Jeremy from Quality Water Treatment told me this past Tuesday another water softener was on its way via DudEx. But this time DudEx lived up to its actual name when FedEx delivered the water softener the next day, Wednesday. After exiting Dixon's front gate, it was a joyful moment when Michelle sent me a picture of the softener sitting in our driveway. It was also a joyous moment when Advantage Plumbing and Sewer returned my call Thursday morning and scheduled us for a Friday morning installation. Advantage arrived at about 10:30 and had it installed by 2:30.
Advantage was able to get both the brine and resin tanks installed in the utility closet. Thus avoiding us having to have the brine tank in the garage. Now knowing the brine tank will not be in the garage paves the way for me to start configuring where to install garage shelving and eventually park the Subaru in the garage and hopefully the Toyota. I hope to have all unwanted items in the garage gone by the end of next week, the purchase of the shelving completed, or at least decided what we'll purchase. Depending on what we do buy in the was of shelving will determine if I'll put up the shelving or have our handyman Charles install it; in all likelihood, it will be Charles.
Michelle and I still are shopping for threshold ramps for the front, garage, and patio doors. The challenge is finding ramps that have heights of six and seven inches, the height of our thresholds.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 ESV
On the Prayer Front
Would you please continue in prayer for Cameron? Salvation, sobriety, an increase in income.
Prayers of praise, the healing of Michelle's broken toe, and no adverse effects after her second COVID vaccination. Thank you for your prayers.
A prayer of praise for a good week at Dixon, despite my forget fullness. Not to be redundant, but a weekly prayer will be my weeks at Dixon will be fruitful. I have one Malachi Dad student, Ibrahim, who is Muslim. Would you please pray God will transform Ibrahim's heart to turn towards Christ? It appears my certificate of ordination and volunteer of the year plaques are lost. I'm not sure if I have them replaced, but I'm going to investigate. But if not, would you please pray for me to accept and have peace that they are only earthly treasures.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
Citations
1 1 Spurgeon, C. H. The Treasury of David: Spurgeon's Great Commentary on Psalms. Ed. Roy H. Clarke. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. T. Nelson, 1997. Print.
Scripture
SOCPM - All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
CHS - Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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 indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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 indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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 indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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 indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are 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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Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries
A ministry of Redeemer Fellowship Church St. Charles, IL
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