Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Where's Waldo? Not in the ELCA

Where have I been?

Been awhile, been busy beating the bushes for Disciples to serve the most high God. Today is Halloween and I am just regaining my energy from my last 4 days in Prison Ministry. I was able to minister to a very violent man who is ready to max out after 23 years inside. I was able to Minister to a semi - retarded ( no disrespect but I feel that it is an appropriate word) and 2 Muslim men plus another 20 inmates.

The Violent man found peace in Christ, I believe everlasting peace. The mentally handicapped man found Brothers who would care for him, Pray with him, protect him, and the Muslims? Well there were 2. Scott might not come to Christ but he for the first time in his life encountered the Holy Spirit and the rush of peace and love that comes from that. He is a changed man, If he stays a Muslim, well OK but he is our brother non the less.

Muslim #2 When I was praying for men in the prayer Chapel, We men received a prayer request from him that was in reality a curse. calling on condemnation of Christians through a semi Egyptian deity. Holding that prayer request was like handling a snake. Bile rose up and I cast it down and denounced it in the name of the most High God and his son Jesus the Christ.

Dramatic? Not if you had been there, It was Evil. Thank our God that the other 24 men in Prison for various crimes were filled with the Holy Spirit, and I do not use that term Lightly.

As a whole the 4 day Prison Keryx ( Cursillo) went great, many men either came to Christ or renewed there commitment in a loving relationship with Adonai.

As a carpenter and having to earn my bread I, in my spare time have been meeting with ministers in northern Michigan to see If I can talk at there church services to the collective Church to enlist men and women to minister in the state prisons. It seems that the ELCA Lutherans are way to bust to Evangelize, Maybe it should be the LCA?? Cause they are light on the E!

I have some invitations to talk at an LCMS and an Assembly of God church which I shall take up late December or January because I have already been in 2 prisons this fall and have to lock down again mid November.

As a conservative Christian I have always hated convicts and was for the death penalty, Now? It seems that when you are to do those things you do not want to do that God is behind the seen moving us into his kingdom. Ministering to men who have nothing has been the very best of ministries, most men I serve with when we get out are both elated to go home and depressed for being taken away from that holy ground where the holy Spirit is so alive ,,,,,It seems that you left a piece of you inside.

God has been good, We are most certainly blessed. Today my Grand Daughter who is 2 years old had surgery where they gave her Anesthesia. My Prayer partners across the country were praying for our little Katey. God is most certainly good, All the time

May Jehovah Bless you and keep you and yours

Rick
Out