In some of the earlier devotions I had this heading, “Papa “J’s” rules for Living” this was number 55. “To reach the outer limits of our galaxy and travelling at the speed of light which is said to be 186,000 miles per hour, it would take a mere 100,000 years to reach the outer limits of our galaxy. Heaven is much farther away; so just what is your plan to get to heaven?” Well never mind; your plan may be too complicated, I will follow the plan laid out by Jesus as recorded by John in John 14:1-6.
In April of 2008 I was thinking about the Prison Ministry of a local church that I had attended for many years. I had always felt a little remorse for having left there in the first place. Yet here I was remembering friends and reflecting on that ministry of four people, a team of two married couples faithfully going into the local jail house every Thursday and Saturday for several years. One of that team recently went home to be with the LORD. He was sick for a long time and now he is in the “Joy of the LORD”
My reflections of this ministry was were directed at the reasons why we stopped going and while there was some spiritual struggles with others who were developing an interest in this ministry the ending did not come about because of the struggles. We stopped going into the prison because the state clamped down on the activities of volunteers in the prison system; especially religious volunteers.
Today I am full of joy and anxious to report that we (my wife and me) are back in the church where the prison ministry began and the LORD has reopened the door for a group of us men to go back into the same prison we were in fifteen years ago. When you remember, please pray for the ministry and the inmates we minister to. Faith increases when people pray and we can all use strengthening faith.
Philemon 1:17-25 is unique in Paul’s way of seeking partnership over the future of Onesimus a former slave of Philemon and ex-prison inmate. Notice, both the apostle and Onesimus were once inmates in the same prison; Paul says; “if then you count me as a partner, receive him as you receive me”.
Our actions speak volumes about who we are in Christ. These two men by faith in God and in each other; was so dynamic in the life of Onesimus that Onesimus is later referred to as a faithful and beloved brother, Colossains 4:9 and tradition says that he even pastored a church.
In April of 2008 I was thinking about the Prison Ministry of a local church that I had attended for many years. I had always felt a little remorse for having left there in the first place. Yet here I was remembering friends and reflecting on that ministry of four people, a team of two married couples faithfully going into the local jail house every Thursday and Saturday for several years. One of that team recently went home to be with the LORD. He was sick for a long time and now he is in the “Joy of the LORD”
My reflections of this ministry was were directed at the reasons why we stopped going and while there was some spiritual struggles with others who were developing an interest in this ministry the ending did not come about because of the struggles. We stopped going into the prison because the state clamped down on the activities of volunteers in the prison system; especially religious volunteers.
Today I am full of joy and anxious to report that we (my wife and me) are back in the church where the prison ministry began and the LORD has reopened the door for a group of us men to go back into the same prison we were in fifteen years ago. When you remember, please pray for the ministry and the inmates we minister to. Faith increases when people pray and we can all use strengthening faith.
Philemon 1:17-25 is unique in Paul’s way of seeking partnership over the future of Onesimus a former slave of Philemon and ex-prison inmate. Notice, both the apostle and Onesimus were once inmates in the same prison; Paul says; “if then you count me as a partner, receive him as you receive me”.
Our actions speak volumes about who we are in Christ. These two men by faith in God and in each other; was so dynamic in the life of Onesimus that Onesimus is later referred to as a faithful and beloved brother, Colossains 4:9 and tradition says that he even pastored a church.
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