Monthly Archive: October 2014

Patience

Author: October 31, 2014

hourglassesDear Readers:
I would like to talk to you this week about patience.  Hope, faith and patience are intricately linked.  To be patient, you must have hope and faith.

Romans 12:12
“rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”

Sometimes it is hard to be patient in the face of adversity or during tribulations.  I say this as a man who is currently facing great trials and tribulations.  Right now, I am fighting for a new trial.  The State is stalling my case by refusing to provide some evidence. (more…)

Journal

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Love, Not Hate

Author: October 28, 2014

heartondarkrainywindowDear Readers:
Being in the situation I am in, I have come face to face with hate. There are a lot of wayward souls who spew misguided anger at me. They assume the worst about me without really knowing me or the true facts about my situation. Some hate me because I am biracial. Others believe I am some ignorant, uneducated loser from some ghetto. Still others hate just to hate. There was One who came long before anyone ever hated me and He was spit on, whipped, beaten, persecuted and crucified. His name is Jesus Christ. I will never pretend to compare myself to my Lord, but going though this has brought me closer to Him and helped me identify with Him. Jesus endured all that suffering… for me, the people who hate me and even for the ones who hate Him. (more…)

Journal

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Love Your Enemies

Author: October 25, 2014

Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you

Love your enemies.  To people who don’t know Jesus, that sounds crazy!  Even those of us who believe may struggle with that from time to time.  It took a while for me to understand how important it is to love and pray for my enemies.  There are still times when I have to read scripture to remind myself;  I have to love and pray for people who hate me.  But the more you do it, the better you feel.  When you love people who consider themselves enemies, you take away their power over you.  More importantly, you strip the devil of one of his greatest weapons – contention. (more…)

Journal

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Wayne Boulier Jr.

Author: October 24, 2014

Dear Readers,
This is Part 2 of our 6-part series.  Wayne and I have never met, but we share a common bond.  We love Jesus.  Wayne seems to be genuinely seeking the Lord.  Please pray for Wayne, brothers and sisters.  From the tone of his letter it seems he needs all the love and support he can get.  I pray that the Lord will be allowed by Wayne to continue his transformation. The Lord can transform anyone, but we must accept His love and salvation with our whole heart.  May God Bless and Keep You.
Love In Christ,  Randall

[ The following is a testimony submitted with permission from Wayne Boulier Jr. (34 yrs old) ]

I was born in New Britain Connecticut, on July 14th, 1980. Although I was raised in a home where both of my parents worked full time and made a middle class income, my family structure was plagued by alcoholism and violence. (more…)

Interviews

Pointing Fingers

Author: October 18, 2014

Romans 3:8-19 (NKJV)

And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.  What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
pointingfingerAs it is written:  “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
“Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Now we know that whatever the law says, (more…)

Journal

James Footman

Author: October 17, 2014

Dear Readers,

This week we will begin a series of letters, lyrics and interviews provided by six inmates from various facilities throughout Maine. All of them are seeking the Lord. All of them are broken men in need of love, prayer and support. As you read their writings, I pray you keep an open mind. I pray you look past their sins and see their humanity. I am praying for all these men and I hope you will as well.

I have chosen to begin this series with song lyrics by a young man named James Footman:
“The Book Of My Life”   and   “Set Me Free”   .  When I read his lyrics, my heart broke for him. (more…)

Interviews

“Set Me Free” by James Footman

Author: October 17, 2014

Click HERE to read an introductory note from Randall regarding this post.

SET ME FREE

(Verse 1)
You don’t know my struggle; You can’t feel my pain
A kid trying to hustle on the block counting change
Didn’t know right from wrong; I was wild and free
I found where I belonged, living my life in the streets
It’s where I found love and where I fit in
Getting messed up on drugs, Just me and my friends

All it promised me was a life of complication
Life of dishonesty behind bars I’m incarcerated
(more…)

Poetry

“The Book of My Life” by James Footman

Author: October 17, 2014

Click HERE to read an introductory note from Randall regarding this post.

THE BOOK OF MY LIFE

(Verse 1)
In 1985, I was just a young seed
Brought into this world with many hopes and dreams
Like broken glass my life was shattered ’cause my dad chose to leave
So, at the age of 13, I gave my life to the streets
I’m never giving up, success is all I see
Fading away is now the pain and misery
Pictures and memories that I see from my past
Criminal activity I thought for sure would always last
All I have right now is a pen and a pad
I start you off with a sentence, then end you with paragraphs
(more…)

Poetry

A Higher Standard

Author: October 13, 2014

ladderintreeDear Readers,

Last night I was strip-searched and my meager belongings were searched.  I have been subjected to 200 or more searches over the past two years.  It is something that one never gets used to.  It is so undignified to be stripped naked in front of another man.  I always feel dirty and violated afterward.  Even though I am walking with the Lord, I struggle with my captivity at times.  Human beings were never meant to be caged.  All humans struggle with carnality, but I can tell you it is even more of a struggle when you are treated like an animal.

Being in bondage is a very painful experience.  I have become closer to the Lord than I ever dreamed possible.  This week was a hard one for me – emotionally and spiritually.  Every time I feel low, my beautiful Lord lifts me back up and reminds me that I am not alone. (more…)

Journal

Anger

Author: October 9, 2014

Psalm 37:8file3691295046962  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (KJV)

Anger is the spawn of hurt and pain; all of which are the tools of the devil.  My father used to say, “Hurt people, hurt people.”  Pain, sadness, sorrow and anger are the gateways to evil.  If you do not seek the Lord to help you deal with them, then they will fester and take root in your heart.  Once that happens, the devil will begin to manipulate you.

We are constantly in a spiritual battle on a daily basis.  As true Christians, our hearts are good, but our flesh is poison.  We can never allow ourselves to believe that we can fight the devil alone.   (more…)

Journal

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