SOCPM Newsletter | November 13, 2021

Greetings,

I'm feeling God's blessings this morning and they are feeling my heart with joy. I hope, though my joy doesn't get squelched like it did last Saturday, I'll share that tidbit in 'On the Home front.' The reason for this morning's joy is shared in the sections below. One has pictures!

SOCPM Inside the Prison Gate: Classroom discussion continues to improve and so do the number of prayers and other personal requests.

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate: I saw some long-ago faces, one very special smiling face at the New Life Banquet, and received some hopeful news.

The Weekly Note - An Introduction to Psalm 9. 

On the Home Front: A significant change in the garage, but probably not what you may have been expecting.

On the Prayer Front - Prayers keep coming; thankfully, God never tires of hearing them.

SOCPM Newsletter Feedback - I know surveys readers seldom do surveys, but I hope you will. It's short.

These 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

SOCPM Inside the Prison Gate

I'll start with a tad of joyful news in the Christian Living Fatherhood class. It came through a personal request from Anthony. Anthony's parole, scheduled for December 10th, results in him not being a part of the class when we complete 'The Heart of a Father', Which SOCPM begins next week. But Anthony, if the words of his request are sincere, asked if I could recommend some good books on fatherhood? Requests like Anthony's are joyful encouragement to me. One of my desires in prison ministry is the men take Jesus Christ with them. So one of my first tasks, when I got home, was to put five books for Anthony to paper. The list included "Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes" and "Family Drive Faith: What it Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God," both by Voddie Baucham. Voddie is one of my favored authors, speakers, etc. Also on the list were "Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families" by Douglas Wilson, "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp, and "Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance" by Tony Dungy.

The tasks of book recommendation requests reminded me to accumulate a list of books in the SOCPM DB. It will save me time trying to recall or find a previously saved copy of the same request. However, when it comes to recommending books on families, the one person I need to contact is Pat. Pat is my church Redeemer Fellowship's Community Pastor.

Would you please pray that God will seal Anthony's desire to read more on fatherhood sealed in his heart and means to acquire the books?

On the Discipleship side of SOCPM, it was week 3 of 'What Does Revelation Teach?" The Redeemer Fellowship's Revelation teaching series sermon was "Jesus Ruler and Judge" (Rev. 1:9-20). The theme Jesus is the Lord of the church includes the words, 'His eyes were like flames of fire,' Jesus has penetrating eyes and sees all. I can't recall the exact wording, but I remarked, 'What does Jesus see when you are all alone? Would what He sees grieve Him or bring joy?'

I'm looking forward to continued transparency classroom discussion as the course continues.

Would you please pray for the flaming eyes of Jesus to reveal to all of us in the classroom, including the teacher, to confess those sins we intentionally try to bury or are ignorant to, and we will repent of those sins? So, when Jesus looks at us, He has joy.

RETURN TO GREETING

Sheridan Correctional Center Lockdown 86 Weeks 🥺🙏

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate

It was a busy week outside of the gate. The highlight was my attending the New Life Corrections annual banquet. Michelle, unfortunately, had to work Thursday evening, the night of the banquet. But despite her not being able to attend, the evening was one of joy.

I saw numerous faces I hadn't seen in a long time, two in particular encouraging. One was Chaplain Leon McClimans of Sheridan. He gave me the hopeful news that it is looking promising Sheridan will reopen in January 2022.  January 2022 is still several weeks off, and promising opening dates have come and gone, but I hope this date of promise will be fulfilled in my heart.

I also got to meet the chaplain's lovely wife, Krista, and our not being inside the gate gave me teh opportunity to take a photo (I'm not too fond of the word selfie) of the chaplain and me.

However, the most joyous face I was that of Rodney. I can't recall the exact date I first met Rodney, but it was probably around 2004 or 2005. I was in Danville Correctional Center; it was my first serving in the Illinois Department of Corrections. I was with Manny Mill, founder of Koinonia House National Ministries, and several other volunteers. As the men began to file in the classroom, here comes Rodney, and Rodney had the biggest smile on his face. I thought this guy was in prison, and he had such a big smile. It reminded me of the Apostle Paul, who, despite his incarceration, never lost his focus on Jesus Christ (2 Timoty 2:8-10). I saw Rodney on several subsequent trips to Danville, and each time Rodney had a big smile.

I eventually stopped trips to Danville when I started going to Sheridan weekly, but I never forgot Rodney. Rodney would serve 25 years of a 50-year sentence, but praise God Rodney did not leave his heart for Jesus in prison. I could write much more on Rodney and his walk with Jesus, but come January 2022, Rodney will be the pastor of a church plant in Stateville Correctional Center, a maximum-security and one of the darkest Illinois prisons. Rodney's journey from a lost and broken man in the streets of East Saint Louis to Jesus and 25 years in prison to a pastor of a church in a maximum-security prison. A journey most definitely authored by God and God alone. As Rodney quoted several times last night, 'All glory to God!'

Would you please pray for Rodney, his family, his pastoring and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a yet untold number of men, and the men of Stateville that God will author many more journies similar to Rodney's?

Another joyful moment was earlier this morning I had a phone call from brother David. David is a prison ministry servant in Uganda.  Several months ago, I received a message from David via the SOCPM website requesting Bible study material for the prisoners, both men and women; he serves for God's glory.

I connected David to SOCPM ministry partner Metanoia Ministries for the Bible study material he is now using. David and I stay connected, and since then, through SOCPM donations, SOCPM has provided hand sanitizer during the peak of COVID and, most recently, 50 Bibles.

David has sent several photos of his family and his serving inside Uganda prisons. He uses the photos to journal his prison ministry. I love David's pictures as they encourage me in my ministry, realizing I'm blessed to serve in prison conditions that could be much worse. Unfortunately, however, David shared a few weeks ago, his camera was broken, and he does not have the means to replace the broken camera. It is only $150 to purchase a new camera, but that is a small fortune for David.

Would you please pray God would bless David with the funds he needs to purchase a new camera and additional funds to purchase more Bibles?

RETURN TO GREETING

The Weekly Note - A Study of the Psalms

This week's Weekly Note was on Psalm 8:9.

Wait, wasn't last week's Weekly Note Psalm 9 an Introduction? So why is the Weekly Note going backward? Welcome to the world of my disorganization and lack of the gist of administration.

In my desire to stay ahead of each week's Weekly Note, I put them together a few weeks in advance, and somehow, only God and laughing brain cells I messed up. My students, most of them, have come to enjoy forgetfulness. 

So, this Week's Weekly Note was a short one on Psalm 8:9. David closes with a return to God's majesty. Sometimes, my thoughts on the Weekly Note are disorganized and may come late, but as I reread verse 9, O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! I think of how out of all the world's darkness, it will return to the day of God's majesty.

Would you please pray God can work in me to focus better on my administrative tasks?

RETURN TO GREETING

On The Home Front

I mentioned in the greeting how last week I was having a joyful morning, but I did say how an uncaring person squelched the joy. 

My morning was on the open highway of joy and happiness. I finished my marathon stretch of writing the SOCPM Newsletter, and I completed several administrative and hands-on tasks in my to-do lists. Plus, the headache of attaching some hardware to a bamboo cabinet I was attempting to finish was relieved by the helpful Ace Hardware men of my local Ace Hardware in Batavia. I don't know if Ace Hardware still uses the jingle, the Ace Hardware man, but he lives on in Batavia. Actually, two men, Jerry and Monti, and in an attempt to forgo my wordiness, will only say Monti said he attach the hardware to the appropriate pieces if I could bring them in. Within the hour, I was back with cabinet pieces in hand, and shortly after that, Monti accomplished in minutes what I had already spent over an hour doing on my own. So, I was feeling the 'joy of God's daily blessings.' Only discovered while I was in the Ace Hardware, someone had hit 'my new Outback.' 😡 I didn't have Rodney's smile on my face. 

I didn't cuss the missing individual who left no note. Still, my sinful nature was hoping I could be present when the person stood before God's judgment for their evil act of hit and run 😇. However, God reminded me there would be a day when I would have to answer not to an immoral act of hit and run, but much worse evil acts I afflicted upon others.

I did finish assembly the cabinet and have put it to use in our laundry room. But, did you know bamboo is the hardest wood known to man? So, says the helpful Ace Hardware men. The home to-do tasks are still plentiful, and I hope to check off a few more in the coming days.

Would you please pray the forgiveness in my heart remains? Would you also pray I will accomplish or find solutions to several tasks, the most pressing being the garage storage and ramps Michelle can use to avoid missteps entering and leaving our home?

SOCPM Newsletter Feedback

I did experience the joy of two SOCPM Newsletter recipients answering teh survey, but out of 48 opens, the pleasure is minimal. Now knowing how to survey MailChimp, I like to do more. Not so many surveys on SOCPM, though I may, but questions I often ask my students. I do hope you will take 1-2 minutes to respond to the survey. Your answers are important to me, and it helps me offer a newsletter that serves you better in how God is using SOCPM.

SOCPM Newsletter Feedback

Thanks to the two recipients who did the survey.

To save me the time I can perhaps use to address the many tasks, I, for now, unless I get an enormous backlash of upset SOCPM Newsletter recipients 😠, I trust that won't be the case 😏, I will no longer include Scripture at the end of the week's topics. I love trying to find God's Word that one can apply to the topic, but it can sometimes be too time-consuming.

Regardless of whether you answer the survey or don't read the topic Scripture, I appreciate you taking the time to read the SOCPM Newsletter. 😃

RETURN TO GREETING

On the Prayer Front

Cameron - I've tried calling Cameron a couple of times, but I got a recording saying the number I dialed cannot receive calls. I just checked Facebook, and Cameron hasn't posted since November 5th. So, my worrisome dad's thoughts are present. Would you please pray that Cameron is safe, sober, has a place to live, and is working? If he is working, would you please pray his income is providing him financial stability? As always, would you please pray for his salvation? A few of you respond to the SOCPM Newsletter informing me you are praying for Cameron; thank you!

Michelle (aka my lovely bride) - Michelle requests prayer for continued diligence at work. Would you also continue to pray God will open the doors for her to see Pops, possibly next August? Finally, heavy on both Michelle's and my heart is the salvation of many family members, but the heaviest on our hearts is Pops and her brother Darren. Both are solid in their worldviews without a need for Jesus. Yet, Michelle and I foresee them taking their strong willingness of why they don't need Christ to them to using their opinions for God's glory.

SOCPM - God has put in my heart to ask more direct questions of where a student is or isn't in their knowing Jesus Christ not only as a Saviour but knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. Would you please pray God will guide me in putting together on paper questions to ask my students, aka my guys, aka soldiers of Christ? Would you also include a prayer that Anthony will take me up on an offer to find a church for him to attend after parole, despite the fact that he is paroling to Tucson?

Self - So many personal prayer requests, I often am at a loss when my guys say they don't have prayer requests. Perhaps most of mine are not things of great significance, but I believe all of what Michelle and I have, no matter how small, is a result of God's mercy, grace, and blessings. So, yes, would you please pray I can accomplish the list of home tasks. Would you also pray I can maintain an extensive database of resources to know better my students and how SOCPM can meet their needs? I hope, soon, to present to others how God is and has used SOCPM for His glory to rasing reoccurring monthly financial support. Would you please pray God will guide me to put it all together in an organized and sort 15 to 20 minutes presentation?

RETURN TO GREETING

Citations

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.

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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