PRAYER WORKS I have a friend (whom I’ll call Jack) who is involved in prison ministry but not as a Gideon. There was a young man (whom I’ll call Arlen) who was distraught about transitioning out of prison and broke down in a study Jack was leading at a county jail. I’ll let him tell […]
NEW HOPE FOR TYLER Tyler, the young man I have been mentoring, called me yesterday from his new residence for the next three months or so – New Hope Center in Minneapolis. I no longer think he may be merely an awakened soul. He has knowledge of God and the saving work of Jesus Christ […]
AN AWAKENED SOUL A man loves a woman and tells everyone how wonderful she is. But he never asks her to marry him. That is an unconsummated relationship. A woman suddenly realizes how important Jesus is in her life and tells everyone how wonderful He is. She is now an awakened soul. But until the […]
TYLER NO LONGER THINKS OF SUICIDE Ever since Tyler met Jesus, he no longer thinks about suicide and calls me every day from the hospital where he is receiving treatment for drug abuse and depression. I almost have to laugh with the change in him. It’s Jesus this and Jesus that and a Bible verse […]
ABOUT AUSTIN I was passing out Bibles at the Wright County Fair last Sunday and was led by the Holy Spirit to talk to a young man whom a County Commissioner candidate told me was from Israel. It turns out that Austin was not from Israel, but his parents had emigrated from there to Florida […]
TYLER MET JESUS This is wonderful news for those of you who have been following the tragic story – up to this time – of the young man I’ve been mentoring. On Sunday evening, July 24, 2016, Tyler met Jesus. It wasn’t a vision or audible words coming down from heaven, but Tyler could feel […]
TYLER IN TREATMENT AGAIN Now I know why the young man I’ve been mentoring has not been in contact with me. He started using again and asked his sister to drive him to a treatment facility in Minneapolis to deal with his renewed drug use and his depression. He’ll be there for the foreseeable future […]
THE GOD OF A THOUSAND CHANCES Tyler, the prisoner I’m mentoring, did not show up last night for a scheduled meeting, nor did he show up the week before when he said he would be there. Also, of late, he has not been returning my phone calls or answering my texts. How many more chances […]
GOD’S INVOLVEMENT I had lunch with my friend Jack yesterday, and the conversation turned to God, as it always does. “What do you think of when you see that tree outside?” he asked me. “I think it’s in danger of being wiped out by the construction taking place 15 feet from it.” Jack laughed. “That […]
DEPRESSION! Tyler, the ex-prisoner I have been mentoring, has not responded to my requests to get together. If you’ll remember, he’s the guy who planned to end his life the day he got out of prison. Here’s a text exchange with him. “What’s happening with you, Tyler? Are you all right? Remember, I will never […]