SOCPM Newsletter | November 27, 2021

Greetings,

A busy week on home-tasks and with Thanksgiving taking a day away and many more tasks already overdue and more marked as due today, makes for a short newsletter

SOCPM Inside the Prison Gate: Behind in class schedules but good discussions are the result.

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate: all quiet on the letter front, but active in prayer in the stewardshio of SOCPM

On the Home Front: A big feat accomplished!

On the Prayer Front - As always, in need of prayer.

It is still not too late to share your thoughts. SOCPM Newsletter Feedback

These are the topics for this week's SOCPM Newsletter. I hope you enjoy it, despite my lack of an editor.

To Him be the glory in ALL things and Him alone,

Scott Kalas
Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries

SOCPM Inside the Prison Gate

This week, the big disappointment was Henry, who I wrote about last week, was absent from the Discipleship and Christian Living classes. Absenteeism is higher than usual at Dixon the day before Thanksgiving and the day after at Sheridan (when Sheridan is open). Though I tell the guys, I'll be here, some forget and think since it is a holiday week I don't come. Nonetheless would you please pray Henry returns to the SOCPM classes?

In Discipleship, it was session number five of What does Revelation teach? The teaching 'Persevering to the End' on Revelation 2:8-11 brought on a lot of good discussions. It drifted to other topics, but sometimes those drifts turn into some of the best conversations. Next week I'm planning to have an open discussion week. But more on that in the following newsletter.

Christian Living, aka Malachi Dads, also was full of conversation. It has been since the start of class. The course schedule has the class reading and discussing chapter three, 'Sin' of 'The Heart of a Father. In real-time, we completed chapter one, 'Creation.' The lengthier weeks will probably result in the term going well into 2022, but the lively classroom discussion makes it worthy of His glory.

Would you please pray for ongoing God-glorifying discussion in both the Discipleship and Christian Living classes?

Sheridan Correctional Center Lockdown 88 Weeks 🥺🙏

SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate

I wrote and sent a second letter to David in Huntsville, TX. I'll wait another month, and if no reply, I'll send a third letter indicating to David a no response on his part will lead me to believe he's not interested in being a pen pal.

I'm also waiting to hear back from my nephew Shane, who may have transferred from LA county to a state facility. Contacting my sister is one of the thirty-one tasks 😳.

David SOCPK's ministry partner in Uganda contacted me this week with an urgent need. In his Bible study this week, all 60 Prisoners have Rash Skin inching all the body (Scabies). The men told him that even their private parts are affected it making them unsettled. SOCPM will contact the Elders to get approval on coming to the aid of David's prisoners. Would you please pray SOCPM can stand in support of David as he brings the Gospel to the prions of Uganda? Also, pray God will bring healing to the men.

Another item on SOCPM Outside the Prison Gate is an advisory board for my stewardship of SOCPM. Lora, a Redeemer Fellowship church member and a SOCPM Pen Pal volunteer, contacted me and, in short, without my saying much, detailed a list of challenges I encounter in my stewardship. She has offered to lead in investigating the interest and probability of a SOCPM advisory board. I contacted Redeemer's Elders a couple of weeks ago, expressing a desire for one Elder being point Elder to assist, advice, etc., in my stewarding SOCPM. Would you please pray it is God's will to assemble an advisory board? It would be a true blessing for me to expand SOPCM Outside the Prion Gate and have some fresh ideas overall.

On The Home Front

The highest pinnacle of joy for me this week was getting the Toyota in our garage.

Easy does it!

It's in by the hair of my chinny chin chin 😅

It isn't the completion step for Operation Garage Storage, but if it snows, let it snow, I can get the Toyota in the garage 🤩!

It wasn't all joy as in doing some daily task in our laundry room I was greeted by this on the ceiling 😱!

It could be worse, we could have no ceiling or one only made of thatch. Thankfully whatever is the cause, the responsibility and costs will fall to the builders.

On the Prayer Front

Cameron - In exchanging text with Cameron's mom this week, she said he is scheduled to be released on December 10th and wants to enter sober living. Would you please continue in prayer first and foremost for Cameron's salvation? Would you please also pray he can find a bed in an excellent sober-living home and find employment that will provide financial stability? Finally, pray that only God can bring about God bless Cameron with solid Christian support and fellowship. The update on Cameron's Uncle JP's surgery is positive in that the surgery went well. A pathologist will examine the removed kidney, and I guess, depending upon their findings, will determine the next steps. I sent JP a text message to tell him I am praying for his full recovery. Would you please join me in prayer for JP's recovery, and this incident would draw all the Burns family to Christ?

Michelle (aka my lovely bride) - As I write, my beautiful bride slumbers in beauty sleep 😴, leaving me unable to ask her her prayer requests 🤷🏻‍♂️. So, I'll just repeat her prayer requests from last week. 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 use their opinions for God's glory.

Self - I've done well in reading 'More God, Less Crime' but have not done well studying 1 Peter. Nor did I do well in my eating healthy and exercising. I did go for one good walk with Michelle, but I will be pleased to do three walks in one week. The urge to constantly snack is an urge I wish I could lose, but it is a battle. Would you please pray for continued reading of 'More God, Less Crime, increased time studying 1 Peter, more walks, and losing the urge to snack?

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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