JUNE 2024

Ever precious greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is my great honor and privilege to share my heart with you once again. It was a beautiful spring morning. I was out running errands. I had on a pair of gym shorts (not my normal pants that have cell phone and wallet pockets). As I came out of the store, I had a few things in my hands, including my cell phone and wallet. I got to my truck, and with no forethought, I set my wallet and phone on my tool box in the bed of my truck as I unlocked my door and put the other things inside my truck. Of I went, in the joy of the Lord, to my next chore. I was to meet a man for discipleship in an hour – or so I thought. . .

Leaving the store, I drove for about four miles, while in my mind, I was unconsciously walking through my upcoming discipleship. As I took the last corner before our development, I just happened to glance in my side-view mirror and saw something black bouncing down the road. Mind you, I am in midday traffic two full lanes each way. Instantly, I knew it was my phone! I panicked as I pulled over to the side of the road. In reverse, I backed up the medium as fast as I could. Traffic is flying by me, and I am pleading, “Lord have mercy!” Suddenly, the light went red, and all the traffic stopped – a moment of hope! I jumped out of my truck and sprinted up the berm (if you can call it sprinting for a 67-year-old ) I was about to reach my phone when suddenly the light turned green again! “Lord have mercy!” I ran out onto the road like a nut, waving at the traffic to stop! It was moot! They all zoomed right past me and over my phone full speed ahead! I was under duress. . .

Finally, all the traffic passed as I stood there like a nut on the side of the road, discouraged beyond words, and the phone’s place in my heart having been clearly exposed. I then walked out onto the road, and quite extraordinarily there was a 4” x 7” divot in the road! Yes, a hole about two inches deep and just a smidge bigger than the size of my phone. It was the only divot in the whole road! My phone had providentially fallen into that cleft in the road! Hundreds of cars had driven over it, but they had not come near my phone! My heart was doing somersaults as I ran out and picked it up. I just stood there in wonder. . .

It is written, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. . .A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” (Psalm 91:1,7)

Surely, anyone observing the whole episode must have thought I was a straight-up cuckoo bird! More so, as if that was not enough, as I was bending over to pick up my phone, I just happened (yea right) to glance of to my right, and there too was my wallet, also unassailed by the cars! In my panic over the phone, I had completely forgotten about my wallet! It had lain perfectly centered between the two lanes, and not a tire had touched it. May we forever observe that where idiocy abounds, grace abounds all the more! (Philip’s paraphrase)

Generally, apart from my antics, my week consists of three days in the jail and three days of discipleship/counseling. I have a calling, and therefore a mind to build men of God out of rascals. And always, one day of intentional rest with Debbie. I also teach a bible study on Wednesday nights at U-Turn 4 Christ and at our personal home group on Friday nights. My life is joyfully full. The rest of my time is spent seeking quality time with Debbie, who is busier than me! She remains, forever, my earthly joy. At the end of a day in the jail, I am spiritually exhausted, having just taught six to eight bible studies on the different pods and evangelizing and discipling both individually and corporately as needed. It is, however, a wonderfully satisfying exhaustion because I know I have poured into these men exactly what the Lord has poured into me for so many years.

My seminary was in darkness. Thirty years in a cold metal cell on a cold metal bed with a one-inch mattress. His Book ever in my hand – His Spirit my teacher. A sweeter school there could not be. Still, He teaches me daily. I have a handwritten notation in my Bible at Psalm 119:71 written in 2014 when I was finishing my 23rd year. It simply says, “Prison was God’s gift to me!” Nowhere is anything without Him, but anywhere is everything with Him. . .with Christ, my cell was a palace. Thus, perspective is everything.

I am able, by the Lord, to read a pod when I enter it. I am them, and they know it. I speak their language. They see without equivocation what the Lord has done in my life, and they are amazed (as am I)! They think, “He fought all those years to get out, and now he fights to get back in.” Through this witness, the Spirit fosters hope in them. They are mostly attentive and full of questions, while some are combative. I am prepared I have put in the work. I was well trained in the gladiator school of maximum security prison for 30 years. Living the Word daily, holy amongst the worst of the worst – murderers, rapists, kidnappers, gangs, thieves, and liars – among whom I was chief. Gloat not, for such were some of you. Hence, I am armed and dangerous with the Book it is my business, and by faith, I have honed my craft. I am keenly aware that without Christ, I can do nothing, albeit I know that boldly through Him I can do all things! I have personally stood on the edge, many times, peering long and hard into the dark abyss – loaded gun in mouth. Mercy triumphed over judgment, and now – I have no fear. The Spirit, always with me, is quick to undress the lies of the enemy, smiting them with Truth as I share His Word in love. . .

It is written, “And the LORD said, ‘Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the Rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the Rock. . .” (Exodus 33:21-22)

What is your seminary? We all have one, you know. It could be your wounded marriage. Perhaps, a wayward child. Maybe a physical ailment, or loneliness. I am a good picture for you, depicting that where sinful knuckle headedness abounds, grace abounds all the more! As with my cell phone, He has hidden you in the cleft of the Rock! He has placed you “in Christ” forever, and there He keeps you. Just glance to your right, by faith, beloved – there is a wallet full of blessings for you. Thus. . .

“PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING!”

JOYFULLY IN JESUS,
LOVE, PHILIP