Author Archive: Randall Daluz

A Living Testament

https://static.pexels.com/photos/5076/light-person-woman-fire-medium.jpegI Timothy 2:5-7  For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Dear Readers:  Happy New Year “2016”.  Grace, love and joy unto you.  May you eternally walk in the blissful, peaceful light of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen!  My beautiful brothers and sisters, I want to talk to you about testifying.  Not only that, but making yourself a walking, talking, breathing, living testimony for our Lord.  You know that I try to remain upbeat and joyful as much as possible; but every now and again, the problems I face get to me.  I let my guard down and that dirty old devil creeps in.  That happened recently and I momentarily lost my bearings.  One problem after another piled up on me…  the six months in solitary; my pastor, Tom Shuford, and his wife, Terry, being barred from visiting me by the prison administration; then Tom’s health failing and finding out he has to go in for surgery; not to mention spending another holiday season incarcerated for crimes that I did not commit and having very limited contact with my family.  Then, the kicker, the prison has made good on its threats and has written me up for my writings being posted on this site.  I will now be fined and sanctioned for nothing more than exercising my first amendment rights and spreading the gospel.  The culmination of it all fell on me like the weight of a thousand bricks. (more…)

Sharing Is Caring

https://www.pexels.com/photo/christmas-xmas-snowman-snowglobe-21265/Acts 20:35  “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Seasons Greetings, my beautiful brothers and sisters.  May the grace of God be upon you.  Amen.  I pray that all of you are well during this joyous time of year. This is the time of year when some Christians celebrate the birth of Christ our Lord.  Of course, it is unknown when Jesus was born.  Some speculate that it was in October.  Jesus never commanded us to celebrate His birth, only His death and resurrection.  Christmas trees, Santa Claus and mistletoe are all pagan traditions which were left over from the Roman empire.  I find it trivial to debate such things.  To me, Christmas should be celebrated every day, to some degree or another.  Most definitely, we should praise Jesus for His sacrifice infinitely.  His birth, life and death forever changed all of creation.  Where we once had nothing, we now have hope.  Thank you, Jesus!   (more…)

Surviving By Faith

http://gratisography.com/pictures/236_1.jpgRomans 4:20-21  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

Dear Readers,
Greetings, blessings, peace, love, joy and grace unto you, my beautiful brothers and sisters.  I want to send my love and prayers to my brothers and sisters in America and in Paris, France.  My condolences to all of you who have been victims of terror attacks.  In times like these, we must be strong in our faith; for it is through our faith that our minds are strengthened.  Evil is at an all time high right now.  I believe that things are going to get much worse before they ever get better.  This is a time for us to be united under Christ.  Only the Lord can lead us through this.  It is in Him that we must trust.  It is through faith that we shall overcome.  This is a time for prayer and meditation.  1st Peter 1:13 tells us: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”.  Hope and faith, brethren, that is the key to survival.  Do not just think that the Lord is real and keeps His promises; know it with all your heart and soul.  That knowledge is the path to true salvation.  With it, we can defeat anything that this world throws at us. (more…)

The Power Of Joy And Laughter

https://unsplash.com/photos/yvx7LSZSzeoJames 1:2-3  “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Dear Readers,  When I think of the passage above, I see an even deeper meaning, especially due to my current circumstances.  Now James is telling us that when we suffer for Christ, we should take pleasure in it.  He is explaining that it is wonderful and honorable to suffer on earth for the Lord.  But, I believe there is more to it.

I am now in my fifth month of solitary confinement.  The S.M.U. [Supermax Unit] is divided into sections.  I am housed on what is known as the programs corridor.  There are 14 men altogether on this corridor.  Seven on one side and seven on the other.  Our cells face each other, so we can yell through the cracks of our cell doors and conversate.  Every day, I find a way to make these men laugh. (more…)

The Discipline Of Fasting For The Lord

https://www.pexels.com/photo/bread-breakfast-baguette-sliced-3564/Matthew 4:4  “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Dear Readers,
Hello, my brothers and sisters.  May the Spirit of the Lord fill you and make you complete.  Amen!  Today is the day after Thanksgiving and it is as good a day as any to fast.  I have not eaten any food since consuming the Thanksgiving meal provided by the prison, which by the way, is a very good meal as far as prison food goes.  The kitchen workers did an excellent job!  It was the best meal I have had in my three-plus years of incarceration.

Fasting is the act of denying oneself that which is either necessary or desirable to you.  When you go without, in the name of the Lord, it strengthens the bond between you and God.  It also gives you great discipline and strengthens your ability to resist temptation.  We should not fast and brag about it to others.  Fasting is between you and God.  I have fasted many times, but this is the first time I have shared the experience with all of you. Matthew 6:16 tells us “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”  I am not writing this to boast.  Rather, I am using this experience to share the importance and the benefits of fasting. (more…)

Dear God, Thank You!

http://gratisography.com/pictures/86_1.jpgPsalm 95:1-3  Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!  Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;  Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.  For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods.”

Dear Readers,  Grace, love, peace and joy unto you, my beautiful brothers and sisters.  To all my American readers, Happy Thanksgiving.  Though I am serving an unjust life sentence for crimes that I did not commit, and though I have been in solitary confinement for four months now; I am never-the-less thankful.  I have so much to be grateful for… my salvation, my family, my peace, my joy, et cetera, et cetera.  This year, I am especially thankful for two of my very best friends, Tom and Terry Shuford.  They are both amazing people, though they are too humble to realize that themselves.  God has done so much for me, not the least of which was putting Tom and Terry in my life.  I am so thankful for them, Father.  Praise Your Name, Lord!

I first met my buddy, Tom, in April of 2014, just before my trial started.  Terry wrote me letters back then and she began visiting me a few months later.  That was a very stressful time in my life.  If it were not for the Lord blessing me with Tom and Terry, as well as my good friend, Deborah, I don’t know how I would have made it this far.  The Lord did most of the work, but their support was and is crucial to my stability.   (more…)

The Comforter Of The Lord

https://www.pexels.com/photo/light-man-hope-looking-up-6842/John 14:25-26  “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Dear Readers,  Peace, love and joy unto you, my brothers and sisters.  I want to talk to you about a ghost.  I’m not talking about haunted houses or Poltergeist.  Nor am I referring to Casper the friendly ghost.  I am talking about the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost.  It is that Spirit which leads us and guides us.  It is that Spirit that helps us unravel the meaning of the scriptures and reveals the truth to us.  That is, if we are receptive to it.  It is then and only then that the Spirit can do God’s work in and through us.  There are times when I read the scriptures and suddenly warm tingly shivers run through my body, as if an electrical current were flowing in me.  That is the Spirit.  Your conscience is a manifestation of the Spirit.  Your joy, your peace, the true love you feel are all manifestations of the Spirit.  I love the feeling of the Spirit.  It courses through my veins and electrifies my soul.  I feel so in tune with God, nature and my fellow Christians.  The sense of peace and joy I get is unexplainable. (more…)

Wage Peace, Not War

https://www.pexels.com/photo/german-love-padlock-4662/Luke 1:77-79  To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Dear Readers, May the peace of Christ be ever upon you.  I want to tell all of you, everyone who reads my posts, that I love you in the name of Jesus.  Praise His Name!  Shout Hallelujah!  When I say, “everyone”, I mean even those who hate and despise me.  Even those who return evil for good, and especially those who mean me harm, the ones who think of me as  their enemy and wish to take down this site.  I want you to know that I love you most of all.  Even the M.D.O.C. and the prison administration, who have begun to threaten me weekly, and who only last Friday told me that I will remain in solitary confinement until I stop writing.  I love you!  That love has been hard won within my spirit.  Like any normal human being, my first thoughts upon being attacked are often those of indignation.  But, like any true Christian, the love of my Lord Jesus Christ and His Spirit which dwells within me has led me to the ways of peace and forgiveness. (more…)

Not Of This World

https://www.pexels.com/photo/sky-lights-space-dark-2154/I Corinthians 2:12   Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

Dear Readers,  Greetings, blessings and grace to you, my brothers and sisters.  I would like to speak to you about things and people which are not of this world.  Now, I’m not talking about little green men or martians with ray guns; Nor am I speaking of alien abductions.  This is not about close encounters.  No, sir.  I want to talk to you about things which are supernatural.  Things like the love of Christ, the grace of God, true salvation and the Holy Spirit.  I want to talk about joy, peace and love – the kind which is completely out of the realm of understanding to an unsaved person.  Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  Now, it is important to note in this verse, that Paul [the author] is not speaking of our beautiful planet earth per se; Nor is he suggesting that we not get along with the people on it.  What he is talking about is the sinful nature of this world; the corruption which has taken over the vast majority of this world.  It is the evil, greedy, lustful temptations of this world that lead men and women to darkness.  The sinful nature of this world has become as a bottomless pit, a black hole, an evil abyss which swallows non-believers whole.  Be you not conformed to it.  Be not given to its temptations.  Beware the sinful wishes of this world; For they will devour you. (more…)

The War On God, Freedom & Human Rights

haikudeck_the_first_amendmentJohn 15:20-21  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

Dear Readers, Greetings.  May God’s blessings, peace, joy, love and grace be ever upon you, my beautiful brothers and sisters.  As always, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.  Being persecuted is part of being a Christian.  Sadly, it is increasingly becoming part of being an American as well.  Paul warned us in 2nd Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  Once again, this site is under attack, my brothers and sisters.  Once again, the attorney general of the State of Maine, as well as the D.O.C. [Department of Corrections] are trying to stop me from spreading the gospel and speaking about my Lord.  Once again, they are trying to prevent myself and others from writing about our personal experiences and treatment.  Once again, they are trying to bury the truth.  The honest fact of the matter is, the State of Maine has a largely corrupt justice system.  I would not say that it is entirely corrupt.  However, corruption runs rampant within the police departments, courts, attorney general’s office, district attorney’s offices and even parts of the political factions.  That’s the truth and they do not want you to know it. This situation is not only taking place in the State of Maine, but is nationwide.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth and they don’t – want – you – to – know – it.  The “powers that be” are eroding the moral fabric of this country.  They are making immorality the new norm.  You see, by doing so, they in turn justify their own behavior.  They are trying to create an over-medicated, fearful and complacent society.  They want our minds to be malleable and pliant to their will, not God’s.  That is the truth and they – don’t – want – you – to – know – it.  If we are not careful, we will eventually lose all of our freedoms.  Take a look around you, folks.  I am not a kook.  People are being jailed and fined for expressing their religious beliefs.  They are ever encroaching and infringing on our constitutional rights. (more…)

Meaningful Labor

static.pexels.com/photos/6003/man-hand-car-black-medium.jpgMark 10:43-45  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Dear Readers,  Blessings, peace, love and joy unto you, my brothers and sisters.  Not many people enjoy hard labor or what they consider menial work.  I used to be one of those people.  Sure, I always worked hard, like I was taught by my earthly father; but I seldom enjoyed it.  I always worked my way up to management.  The work was still hard, but mostly mentally so, unless someone called in sick or the business was booming.  At that point, I would have to jump in and get my hands dirty.  I always liked working, but I never stopped to really appreciate my labor.

As you know, I am in solitary confinement.  Today is my 82nd day.  When you exhibit good behavior, you can volunteer to work.  Of course, there is no pay involved at all.  If you have a release date someday, you can earn one day per month off your sentence.  I have three life sentences, so without winning my appeal, I will more than likely die in prison.  Thus, good time is meaningless to me.  Still, a week ago, I volunteered to come out and clean.  Only three of us, out of fifty men, ever volunteer.  Everyone else is either not allowed due to their behavior or they feel that cleaning showers and floors is beneath them.  A wonderful thing happened while I was cleaning.  I found joy, meaning and purpose in it.  Praise God!  It felt so good that I asked the guards if I could scrub the floors with a brush before I mopped.  The floors were a mess.  Often times, the men throw food, condiments, paper and even urine out of their doors.  They do so out of anger and frustration. (more…)