51% of Scientist believe in God

C.S. Lewis correctly states that Pride is the granddaddy of all sin. Most sins start here… pride.

And as look around our world and see signs of the time of rapture… the persecution of Christians a level we have never experience before, even here in America. The potential for the end-times great revival now developing in Kentucky, and the Jewish Rabies in Jerusalem on the verge of declaring a man the “Messiah”… the big three signs of the approaching rapture… maybe looking at the source of sins is a positive way to prepare ourselves for the event Christians have been looking forward to for 2,000 years.

A scientific Approach to Christianity The Mind

Let’s begin at the beginning…. And what is the beginning of the Mind except at birth itself.

It is said by many that we are innocent until we reach the age of accountability which is a different age for everyone.

But what does that mean?

We are accountable for sins we have been committing since birth…

What is the granddaddy of all sin? Pride

Pride is anything self-centered.

Many say we are born into sin… but how is a baby sinful?

When a baby is born it knows nothing but self… it’s own needs, hunger, clean diaper, and etc.

When a baby reaches about age 2 we start hearing things like “I can do it myself”

This is a desire for self-reliance, again, a sense of self.

Its world is still wrapped around self.

It is a parent duty, obligation to teach the child to look beyond self, to look at others and desire their benefit as we do our own… in other words our first duty to a child is the 2^nd greatest commandment. To love your neighbor as yourself….

In ages past we saw this, the child was not glorified, was not taught to glorify itself, but more like,

“a child is to be seen, and not heard”.

Modern child psychology would probably be totally offended by this… because they are deceived into thinking they have the right answers, they are the intellectuals the rest of us need to obey.

Which is what? An even greater elevation of pride.

Many of todays children are incorrectly taught to have great self-esteem and respect… center on self… if it’s not good for me it’s not good.

When a child is raised like this, the later need for self-rejection, the opposite of pride, becomes very difficult, and the idea of self-sacrifice is completely insane to them.

However, pride runs much deeper than this…. Much deeper!

The following is a Catholic Video speaking to Pride… it is very good, and sometimes hard to take because it doesn’t leave any of us out. We can find ourselves somewhere in the video, so if we refuse to watch, or if we reject the part we dislike isn’t that pride?

One of the great deceptions of Satan is to hide from our view the sin of pride through the prideful thoughts of entitlement.

And, on the other hand, if we recognize ourselves and use the information to grow by rejecting self, and self-entitlement, shouldn’t that be our goal, and our purpose?

Matthew 7:21-23  Amplified Bible

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’

And, what about those who wait until the last moment… just before death???

Proverbs 1: Matthew 7:21-23

Amplified Bible

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’

Rejecting the Creator results in moral depravity (Romans 1:20-32). The Bible warns that when mankind rejects the overwhelming evidence for a Creator, lawlessness will result. Since the theory of evolution has swept the globe, abortion, pornography, genocide, etc., have all risen sharply.

And the moral depravity is undeniable as we see leaders of our nation promoting the murdering of innocent babies, mutilating sexually children who survived abortion, people thinking men can have babies….

Romans 1:18-32 King James Version

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Taken From: http://www.examiningcalvinism.com/files/Articles/Gnosticism.html

UK Apologetics explains: “Manichaeism has been called the best organized, most consistent, tenacious and dangerous form of Gnosticism. Christianity had to wage a very long and persistent war against this heresy. It was, in a real sense, a rival religion and formed a syncretistic form of ‘Christianity.’ Augustine was much influenced and soon joined this group. Their metaphysical foundation was a radical dualism between good and evil, light and darkness, largely derived from Persian Zoroastrianism. They also upheld a most rigid asceticism which strongly resembled Buddhism. Based on the false presupposition that matter is necessarily and intrinsically evil, the morality of Manes was severely ascetic. The Manichaean’s chief aim was to become entirely unworldly, as in Buddhism. To renounce and destroy all longing for pleasure, especially all pleasures of the flesh, and, eventually, to set a pure inner soul free from all the trappings of matter. It seems without question that these ideals later developed into the monasticism of Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.” (How Augustine Became the Father of Not Only Roman Catholicism but also……Evangelicalism!, emphasis mine)

Bob Hill explains: “The Manichaeans stressed rational inquiry over authority. Augustine agreed with this method of ascertaining truth. The Manichaeans disliked the Old Testament because it revealed an angry emotional God. … The Manichaeans believed God could not be mutable and retain his perfection. Augustine accepted this rationalistic philosophy as true and attempted to prove this doctrine with Scripture.” (Calvinism Unmasked, chapter 2)

Bob Hill explains: “Augustine agreed with the Manichaeans that a mutable God was totally unacceptable. In this conflict between the Platonic doctrine of immutability and the literal interpretation of Scriptures, what had to change? Augustine’s answer was that the literal interpretation of Scripture had to change. For Augustine the plain narratives of Scripture had to be reinterpreted by spiritual or allegorical methods to agree with his philosophical presuppositions. The Manichaeans believed the Old Testament revealed a God who was mutable or could repent. Since the Platonists believed that God was immutable this idea of God repenting was a source of ridicule for the Catholic Church. Augustine was so embarrassed by these arguments that he chose to reinterpret Scripture rather than refute the Platonic philosophy.” (Calvinism Unmasked, chapter 2)

Jacob Arminius writes: “All the Danish Churches embrace a doctrine quote opposed to this, as is obvious from the writings of Hemmingius in his treatise on Universal Grace, in which he declares that the contest between him and his adversaries consisted in the determination of these two points: ‘Do the Elect believe?’ or ‘Are believers the true elect?’ He considers ‘those persons who maintain the former position, to hold sentiments agreeable to the doctrine of the Manichees and Stoics; and those who maintain the latter point, are in obvious agreement with Moses and the Prophets, with Christ and his Apostles.’ … The preceding views are, in brief, those I hold respecting this novel doctrine of Predestination.” (Arminius Speaks, p.56, 57, emphasis mine)

Arminius explains: “The charge of holding the Stoic and Manichean doctrine, which is made by some against you, is not made by them with the idea that your opinions entirely agree with that doctrine, but that you agree with it in this, that you say that all things are done necessarily.” (Arminius Speaks, p.206, emphasis mine)

Arminius adds: “Such indeed is the state of the matter in Pelagianism and Manicheism. If any man can enter on a middle way between these two heresies, he will be a true Catholic, neither inflicting injury on Grace as the Pelagians do, nor on Free Will as do the Manichees. Let the refutations be perused which St. Augustine wrote against both these heresies, and it will appear that he makes this very acknowledgement. For this reason it has happened, that, for the sake of confirming their different opinions, St. Augustine’s words, when writing against the Manichees, have been frequently quoted by the Pelagians; and those which he wrote against the Pelagians, have been quoted by the Manichees. This therefore is what I intended to convey, and that my brethren may understand my meaning, I declare openly, ‘that it will be quite as easy a task for me to convict the sentiments of some among them of Manicheism, and even of Stoicism, as they will be really capable of convicting others of Pelagianism, whom they suspect of holding that error.” (Arminius Speaks, pp.363-364, emphasis mine)

John Mason writes concerning Augustine: “He held to a dualistic view of the world even after his conversion (reflecting a popular religion of his times called Manichaeism) and emphasized an on-going battle between light and dark as well as flesh and spirit. This perspective influenced his attitude toward sexuality in such a way that even after people were married intercourse was viewed as ‘evil’ and something to be avoided.” (Calvinism: A Road to Nowhere, p.35, emphasis mine)

One member of The Society of Evangelical Arminians explains: “If a man builds his house in a tree, he will defend that tree with his life, even when it is discovered that the tree is diseased, simply because his life’s investment (the house) is in that tree. I am convinced this is what happened to both Augustine and Calvin. Better to build one’s house on solid rock.” (SEA)

By analogy, Augustine’s tree house suffers from the disease of Gnosticism. Ultimately, then, Gnosticism never left the Church. It survived and endured under a different form.

Another member of The Society of Evangelical Arminians explains: “Augustine brought the Trojan horse into the church. Prior to him, everyone in the early church affirmed free will, denied fatalism, viewed all versions of fatalism as non-Christian and pagan thought.” (SEA)

John Calvin confirms that Augustine was accused of having a theology aligned with Stoicism:

John Calvin writes: “Those who want to discredit this doctrine disparage it by comparing it with the Stoic dogma of Fate. The same charge was brought against Augustine. We don’t want to argue about words, but we do not allow the term ‘Fate’, both because it is among those that Paul teaches us to avoid as heathen innovations and also because the obnoxious terms in an attempt to attach stigma to God’s truth.” (The Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 1, Part 4: God’s Providence, Chapter 16, Section 8, emphasis mine)

Calvin writes: “But because the necessity of Stoicism seems to be established by what is said, the dogma is hateful to many who, and Augustine complains that he was frequently charged with it falsely. But it ought now to be regarded as obsolete. It is certainly unworthy of honest and wise men, if only they be properly instructed. The nature of the Stoics’ supposition is known. They weave their fate out of a Gordian complex of causes. In this they involve God Himself, making golden chains, as in the fable, with which to bind Him, so that He becomes subject to inferior causes. The astrologers of today imitate the Stoics, for they hold that an absolute necessity for all things originates from the position of the stars. Let the Stoics have their fate; for us, the free will of God disposes all things. Yet it seems absurd to remove contingency from the world. I omit to mention the distinctions employed in the schools. What I hold is, in my judgment, simple, and needs no force to accommodate it usefully to life. What necessarily happens is what God decrees, and is therefore not exactly or of itself necessary by nature.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, pp.169-170, emphasis mine)

In other words, it is not nature or the stars that determines the fate of all, but instead, the free will of God, in which God’s decrees are what necessarily causes all things to happen as they do. Thus, the difference between Stoicism and Calvinism is Naturalistic Fatalism vs. Theistic Fatalism. Yet, it is still a form of Determinism.

William Barclay explains: “Gnosticism was obviously highly speculative, and it was therefore intensely intellectual snobbish. It believed that all this intellectual speculation was quite beyond the mental grasp of ordinary people and was for a chosen few, the elite of the Church. So Timothy is warned against ‘godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge.’ (1 Timothy 6:20) He is warned against a religion of speculative questions instead of humble faith. (1 Timothy 1:4) He is warned against the man who is proud of his intellect but really knows nothing and dotes about questions and strifes of words. (1 Timothy 6:4) He is told to shun godless chatter, ‘for they can produce only ungodliness.’ (2 Timothy 2:16) He is told to avoid ‘stupid, senseless controversies’ which in the end can only engender strife. (2 Timothy 2: 23) Further, the Pastoral Epistles go out of their way to stress the fact that this idea of an intellectual aristocracy is quite wrong, for God’s love is universal. God wants all men to be saved and all men to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4) God is the Saviour of all men, especially those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:10) The Christian Church would have nothing to do with any kind of faith which was founded on intellectual speculation and set up an arrogant intellectual aristocracy.”

It would almost seem as though Barclay was referring to Calvinism, as the aformentioned seems to fit Calvinism perfectly!

Here is a link to a Blog post on this subject.

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Question: What is Gnosticism?

Answer: A cult from the early Church period, with certain derivations. One branch of particular interest is Manichaeism, because Augustine was originally a Manichean Gnostic for nearly a decade before converting to Roman Catholicism. Gnostics denied Free Will, and affirmed Total Depravity, Original Sin and Determinism. They also used the word “elect” to denote the teachers, in contrast to the “hearers.” Later, after conversion, the former Gnostic, Augustine, coincidentally “discovered” a hearty Determinism in Scripture. Augustine was very careful not to quote or cite any particular Gnostic, and no quote from any early Church father was ever used in support of his newly discovered Determinism. Gnostic writings are no longer extant, and much of what is known of the battle over Free Will, comes primarily from the early Church fathers, Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, who in opposition to the Gnostics, staunchly defended Free Will, even citing such passages as Matthew 23:37 in support. Ultimately, the early Church was a very strong advocate of Free Will, that is, until the 300’s, when the former Gnostic convert, Augustine, arrived on the scene. Naturally, Calvinism is frequently accused of being the enduring remnant and legacy of Gnosticism, and just as Gnosticism was identified by knowledge (Greek: gnosis), Calvinists of today are identified as Reformed.
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Welcome to the Beggs Church of Christ….

Well, here we are February 4th 2022 and we are finally re-opening the Beggs Church of Christ on the Sunday, the 5th.

The plan is to go through the bible, verse by verse, determining what the Bible really says, by examining the original words and their meanings.

Studying the word in the context of which it is being presented….

And, examining an extra-biblical facts that support the truth of the Bible.

However, the first lesson will merely be an explanation of why we are pursuing this line of study… so I hope you will either join us on Sunday mornings, 11am – 12pm

I have in the past had conversations with Muslims in the prison system, and currently have one man studying “Through the Bible in 24 Hours” with us and apparently the main objection of the Muslim faith is that God cannot be both infinite and finite at the same time.

The interesting thing about this man who is originally from Iran is that is father is a Muslim, but his mother is a Christian. I think this is what opened him up to the possibility that Christianity is the correct answer to life.

I also think this kept him from being so adamant about Muslims being against Christianity. (I readily admit, there is nothing that could change me from being a Christian, so I understand completely how a Muslim could feel the same about their faith) this is the problem, both can’t be true, it is either one… or the other!

This is where Christian Apologetic comes into the picture, giving overwhelming evidence that Jesus is God in the Flesh.

He goes by the name “Eddie” simply because most people cannot pronounce his real name. He shared with me an interesting fact I had never heard before, Muslims love Christ, and believe He was of a virgin birth.

What is incredible is the inability to believe He was of a virgin birth, but can’t believe He is the Son of God… if He wasn’t, then who fathered the child?

So, I would just like to share a video with you from youtube that helps explain a few things, including the existence of the trinity, even though the term is not used in the bible.

There are many examples in God’s word that reveals his power through the brokenness of people’s lives.

What that shows us today is how important our total surrender and utter dependence is in our own lives. No matter how broken you think your life is or how hopeless things look God is waiting for you to run into his arms and to put your faith in Him, so he can show how sovereign he is and how endless his power is. His power can reign in the brokenness of your life as it did back then. I dare you and challenge you to believe.

Genesis 21:2 and 5-7

2 Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the very time God had said to him

5 Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Yitzchak (Isaac) was born to him

6 Sarah said God has given me good reason to laugh now everyone who hears about it will laugh with me.

7 and she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Nevertheless, I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Even when they were past the age of having children God’s power made the impossible happen. Just because the world says its hopeless know that God says, “Yes I can.”, his power is revealed in our weakness.

Genesis 22:1-2

1 After these things, God tested Abraham, he said to him “Abraham,” and he answered, “Here I am,”

2 He said take your son, your only son whom you love Yit’chak (Isaac) and go to the land of Moriah. There you are to offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will point to you.

Even after God has given Abraham and Sarah a child that was promised in their old age now, he was asking him to sacrifice him to God without question, Abraham obeyed. Israel was shown favor based on Abrahams’s faithfulness. Abraham’s willingness to give up his son was a mirror image of what God was going to do for us by sacrificing his one and only son Yeshua for our sins.

Genesis 50:19-20

19 but Yosef said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Am I in the place of God?

20 you meant to do me harm, but God meant it for Good-so that it would come about as it is today, with many people’s lives being saved.

Here Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold as a salve by them accused of rape falsely, thrown into prison. Al this happened over a 13-year period Joseph had every reason to give up. Yet he stayed faithful to God and God’s power was revealed. He was in charge of Potipher’s house, was trustee in prison and eventually became second in command in Egypt. Everything he did God blessed. Through all the broken times in Joseph’s life God’s power conquered. All this led up to the saving of many lives. So, if you’re at the end of your rope, hold on, help is on the way.

Exodus 3:8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land flowing with milk and honey to the place of the Cannaanites, and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

God use Mose to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Here Moses was hidden so he wasn’t killed. He murdered a man which caused him to flee for forty years. Yet God still revealed his power through him and his brother Aaron to Pharoah to free his chosen people.

Joshua 6:5 The they are to blow a long blast on the shofar. On hearing the sound of the shofar, all the people are to shout as loudly as they can, and the wall will fall down flat. The people are to go up into the city each one straight from where he stands.

God still used this people to conquer Jericho despite their doubts and unfaithfulness. Even though at times when they trusted in other God’s. So, know that God can still use you no matter what you’ve done. As long as true repentance and complete surrender takes place.

2 Kings 4:4 Then go in; shut the door with you and your sons inside; and pour oil into all those containers and as they are filled put them aside

This servant’s husband had died and left a debt. The children were to become slaves as payment for the debt. Elisha told her to take every container she could find and fill it with oil to pay the debt.

No matter how bleak a situation looks in your life God will provide a way and leave you amazed knowing oly God could have done this.

Psalms 51:1-3

1 God in your grace have mercy on me; in your great compassion blotting out my crimes

2 Wash me completely from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my crimes, my sin confronts me at all times

Despite being a murderer, adulterer, and liar God used David to become king over his people. It was through his bloodline that the messiah was born.

Mark 14:72 and immediately the rooster crowed a second time, then Kefa (Peter) remembered what Yeshua said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.” and throwing himself down, he burst into tears.

Lord Yeshua restored Peter although he denied him three times, He told him upon this Rock (Peter) I will build my church (Matthew 16:18) So, whether you have denied Jesus or rejected him he is quick to forgive and use you to reveal his power.

Acts 9:5 “Sir who are you?” he asked. “I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me”

On the road to Damascus Jesus revealed himself to Paul. Up to this point, Paul was persecuting and even approving the killing of those who proclaimed Jesus. Paul from this point on began the journey of teaching Jesus to the Gentiles (us). So, if God can use a person who rejected Jesus to proclaim the good news of salvation through Yeshua, he too can reveal his power through your broken life. Just trust and believe.

Adam Gillespie

October 29, 2022

Thank you 🙂

Jolynn Gillespie

LETTER FROM THE EX – PRISONER MR. KYEYUNE RICHARD.

I am Mr. kyeyune Richard from Namungona, Luzira Kampala.

I was a prisoner at Kitalya min max prisons wakiso ( second biggest prison in Uganda). I was at the charge of murder and I was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Before being taken to prison, I was such rude and violent person of which in my violence, I used to steal vehicles in kampala with my ganger, I could beat and kill the difficult owners of the vehicles.

One day, I killed mr. kiiza samuel who was driving himse3lf and I took his vehicle a.k.a prado. The police traced me using CCTV Cameras installed in the city ways and I was arrested and taken to Upper maximum security prison Luzira( biggest prison in Uganda). I was there for six months remand and taken to high court and they sentenced me for 20 years imprisonment. I was taken back to to upper prisons and I spent there 08 years in upper prison then later in 2019 I was transferred to Uganda Government Kitalya min max.

From there my lawyer came and told me that my application to court of appeal has failed and I had nothing to do except to finish my sentence.

Time came and I saw one day my fellow prisoners organizing and I asked them what was going on and they now said there is a team from Gotopo who preaches the gospel to us, then I waited to see the people they were talking about.

In the afternoon I saw them entering the hall where prisoners were seated. We praised and worshipped then finally,
Pr. Poela benard came and preached the gospel and then after him came anoSther man called kyomuhendo who asked among us who would wish to accept and give his life to Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and savior. Inside me I felt touched and I ran for salvation. then, that day I took Jesus to be our personal Lord and savior.

Next day when they came I approached Pr. Poela and kyomuhendo to pray for me about my appeal application and they requested go to do a miracle in my life. They prayed for me and departed, but really God does unbelievingly. It was a Sunday when I heard my name being read among the people who are going on Tuesday to court of appeal. That I remembered the words of his servants they told me when they were praying for me.

The day came and I was taken to court, I was taken in the presence of the judge and he re- read my first judgment and finally made he a final decision and reduced the years of imprisonment of which he placed it to 16 years of imprisonment and of which he included the six months of remand and the years I spent in prison. Then due to remission given by prison on the sentence, the judge commanded me to be released and I was set free.

I will never forget the God who enabled me to go out of prisons and I thank team Gotopo for the work they are doing. Really am a live testimony. Even today am a changed person working with them. I still persue my certificate in Theology sponsored by Gotopo.

To God be the glory
KYEYUNE RICHARD
EX – PRISONER KITALYA MIN MAX.

Remembering prisoners are people who love, hate, and hurt.

Our goal in the prison ministry is to help these people find true freedom… IN TRUTH

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I mentioned Jody will soon be reading letters we have received  from inmates on line, and will be posted both here and on our Youtube channel.

Our purpose is to share the thoughts of the incarcerated with all of you, by doing this we are hoping to make these people and their humanity more real to you, and hopefully this will lead to true prison reform.

This morning I received two letters from women in the Luzira Women’s prison in Luzira, Kampala, Uganda.

We are always asking for people to help, of course financially, and by helping in the work, but this is one simply way you can also be involved… read the letters, and share them on your personal facebook page, or other social media platforms….

What is true prison reform?

My observation as a prison minister….

Where does prison reform begin?

In the home, the classroom, and the schoolyard.

First: Everyone talks about prison reform when we should be talking about prisoner reform, and society reform.

In other words get rid of the stinkin thinkin

We need to quit thinking in terms of revenge and punishment, and replace those ideas with rehabilitation.

Prison reform starts with prison facility and Nutrition reform, not population reduction…

These first two changes, means showing respect to people who for the most part have not been respected, or had self-respect…

I think some of the Scandinavian nations give a good example of modern prison design.

Drug abuse must first be brought to a stop… currently there are more drugs available in the prisons than on the outside… an alcoholic will not be cured by giving him a drink… they need serious time away from their addiction

A prisoner needs to be trained in a skilled labor, or a profession.

A spiritual/ faith foundation must be instilled to change a criminal mind to the mind of a honest hardworking citizen who contributes to society rather than takes from society.

A gradual removal from the prison system… prison with training and then to a half-way house for up to a year or two with no stress or pressure on the prisoner.

a gradual re-entry into society with supervision that diminishes over time as the prisoner adjusts to an acceptable lifestyle that will contribute to society.

We have several goals with the Park Church of Christ Prison Ministry.

Lead the lost back to the narrow path…

Be involved with the family in order to keep the family unit together.

We are working towards this goal through the Angel Tree project, the Family Engagement Project, and the coming Pen Pal ministry… along with other ideas that will come at a later time.

I mentioned at the beginning of the article that prison reform begins at home, the classroom, and the schoolyard… what I didn’t mention is it is my belief this needs to be the same for a generation or two.

The public school system in general is no longer teaching children the basic tools for functioning successfully in society, but spending more time in political indoctrination… and that should not be the purpose, nor even permitted in the classroom.

I also hope to see Christian based private schools to start appearing, at either affordable costs, or free for students.

Hillsdale is making a serious effort in accomplishing this.

https://k12.hillsdale.edu/Schools/Affiliate-Classical-Schools/

And in Tulsa!!!

Home

As I walk down the halls of the Park COC (getting my steps in) I pray all those classrooms will someday be filled with students receiving tradition education coupled with Christian Education, which will include what Scripture says, How to live by it, and How to defend it.

One of the problems we have is people not knowing how to defend the faith in a logical manner that makes sense to the person who asks them why they believe.

This is especially important for children, for if the learn these facts early, they won’t forget them later.

The most common understanding of recidivism is based on state data from the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics , stating that two-thirds (68 percent) of prisoners released were arrested for a new crime within three years of release from prison, and three-quarters (77 percent) were arrested within five years.

Oklahoma The three-year recidivism rate in Oklahoma is 20.1%, one of the lowest in the country. Despite this, Oklahoma has the second-highest incarceration rate in the country, behind Louisiana.

Results of statistical analyses revealed that the faith-based prison had the lower recidivism rate, 16 percent compared to 36 percent for the vocational training prison. This was the case even though the faith-based prison housed more prisoners convicted of severe offenses.