Tag Archive: James

ALL SOULS MATTER !

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John 3:16-17  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Dearly Beloved: May God’s peace, love, understanding and mercy flow through you all.
Today is Sunday, June 12th, 2016 and it is a very sad day indeed.  Let me offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the Orlando, Florida nightclub massacre.  My prayers are with you, the city of Orlando, the nation, the gay community and the family of the perpetrator.  I condemn the actions of any persons, especially those claiming to be Christian, who spew hate on others based on their sexual preferences or for any reason.  Let me be clear that, as a follower of Christ, I do not agree with or condone homosexuality.  It goes against my Christian principles; however, I cannot judge any human being and I do not love people any less because of their lifestyle choices.  They are still my fellow human beings.
The Bible is clear that ALL SOULS MATTER !
Mark 16:15  And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
He didn’t say preach only to heterosexuals.  He didn’t say preach only to whites or people of color.  He said preach to every living creature. (more…)

Be Committed To Peace !

http://gratisography.com/pictures/294_1.jpgRomans 14:19  Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Dearly Beloved,
May God’s grace, joy, peace and love be ever upon you.
I’d like to talk to you about being committed to peace. We should strive to be at peace with God, ourselves and each other. The situation of incarceration that I currently find myself in requires one to be patient and disciplined. In order for one to live peacefully in here, one must master the skill of cohabitation, in close quarters, with others. As many of you who have been following this blog know, I spent nearly eight months in solitary confinement in the state of Maine. Before that, I spent close to three years in county jails fighting for my freedom. I did share a cell block with others, but I had single cells. I was completely alone in solitary, physically (spiritually, Jesus remained faithfully by my side.) Thus, for three years I have had my own space and slept alone. I have recently been assigned a roommate here in Massachusetts. His name, which is truly ironic in prison, is Freedom. It has taken some getting used to. You see, I have committed myself to living peacefully with others to the best of my God-given ability. It is with that commitment in my heart that I have taken on the challenge of living with someone in what is essentially a locked bathroom with bunk beds. (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…)

Put It All In God’s Hands

Randall Daluz _ Dear God... Help!Psalm 57  “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!  For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah.  God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.  My soul is among lions;  I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;  Let Your glory be above all the earth.  They have prepared a net for my steps;  My soul is bowed down;  They have dug a pit before me;  Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah.  My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.  Awake, my glory!  Awake, lute and harp!  I will awaken the dawn.  I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;  I will sing to You among the nations.  For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;  Let Your glory be above all the earth.”

Dear Readers:
We all face hurdles.  We all have mountains to climb.  We all fear the unknown from time to time.  Sometimes our burdens are too much to bear alone.  I myself am facing one of those times.  I have a court date, finally.  On April 2nd, I will argue my first motion for a new trial.  If the judge has decency in him and respects the Constitution of the United States, then I should receive a new trial.  All I want is a fair trial – one where I am judged not by the color of my skin, but by the facts of the case.  It is not just for myself that I would like a new trial, but for all Americans.  For what they do to one of us, they do to all of us.  In times like these, we must not have faith in man, but in Almighty God.  All of this is too much for me to bear alone.   (more…)

Pressure Makes Diamonds

James 1:1-4  James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Randall Daluz DiamondsDear Readers:
Diamonds are the hardest materials on earth.  They are created under immense pressure.  They start out as dirty black carbon, without much value; But, over time, the carbon hardens under pressure and becomes a beautiful diamond.  After being cut and polished, that diamond sparkles and shines in the light.  It goes from being soft, black carbon to a hard, brilliant, dazzling stone.

There is a diamond inside of every one of us.  You see, the pressure we feel and the trials we face can strengthen us.  The Lord can use that pressure to create diamonds.  I am under tremendous pressure, but with the help of the Lord, my mind has become stronger.   (more…)

Patience

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…)

Faith-Based Works

James 2:14-26  What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them,file000536039901 “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (NKJV)

These, my brothers and sisters, are powerfully real verses.  They are a wake-up call to all Christians.  When I think about how much my Lord has done for me, I can’t help but want to serve Him in any way I can.  We cannot go to heaven because of our works.  That is a fact.   (more…)