Prayers From Prison...

Hello my friends-

I'm sitting in my prison cell thinking and praying for you guys-not to sound sanctimonious-mainly because sin can accompany me frequently most days. As a matter of fact thanks to my lovely sister (Pattie Sue) I do get some magazines: Golf Digest/Sports Illustrated/ESPN: The Magazine/Nate Geo/TIME and thank to my little bro (Denniski) I was able to procure a running special on the USA today. Needless to say the advert of the zines coming my way makes me popular to men whom believe me to be an anathema because I ain't got no gang affiliations, tattoos, drinks hooch or engage in the sex porno slave trade market going on in the this camp. Which can easily enrapture one's thoughts, actions and daily rituals.

Yesterday I got ESPN'S the Magazine's "THE BODY ISSUE." As soon as I had it in my grubby hands-Out Damn Spot! I couldn't wait to see all the naked women athletes-especially under the guise: "Well I certainly can look and "appreciate" how these women take care of them fine, trim, curvaceous, sexy, beautiful...about 42 seconds into the first gaze, (Job 31: "I have made a covenant with my eyes: why then should I look upon a young woman?") I wanted to hide in my cell and join the crowd of those involved with the perversion of masturbation. Now of course you may think: How disgusting! Yeah, me too. After witnessing for a decade now against dastardly acts such as this, it still can rise up (not punny) and encroach on my walk-mostly because Jesus taught that "the eyes are the windows to the soul," and again as Proverbs instructs me in the matriculation of my Christianity that the "...eyes of man are never satisfied," so it is when I fully engage pornography-which although arguments of such a "beautiful display" of athleticism will lend full assurance to how duped secular society has become inured to the gelid fact that we've like sheep have gone astray within the freezing cold that warms us none.

You know I belong to a small group of men -(there are 4 of us)- we gather each Sunday after church to go through the prayer box which sits out in full access to all prisoners. I want to share with you all some of these incredibly heart wrenching and sometimes selfish, selfless petitions; which further aids me to know that help is needed via strong Christ-like men here-out there-everywhere. I'll keep them anonymous-most of them are-God knows because for most of these guys God calls them his own-"and I trade treasure, I trade fame, just to hear you call my name-I've been touched by you and I will never be the same." Here are some of them:

"Father I pray for your help-I don't want to go on without seeing my kids."

"Jesus please keep my from hurting people"

"A hedge of protection over the judge and jury that sentenced me to life-I forgive them."

"Help me escape."

"Save my cellie, whose Muslim but a good dude."

"I pray for salvation for my parents who are Pagan."

"Teach my hands to war Lord if there is another riot-I don't want to get raped again."

"When I get out, keep me from vengeance on those who snitched on me."

"Give me a way to sneak tobacco in here through visitation-I'm dying for a smoke!"

"For my two children that I've not seen or heard from in 15 years."

"Keep my anger from killing again."

"I pray that the FBI doesn't find out about those "other" things."

"I hope the Steelers win the Super Bowl."

"I want my bother safe over in Afghanistan."

"For early release-like today."

"I'm tired Father- 27 years in here-can You help me?"

"All my family has deserted me-who else but You? Thank you Lord."

"My boy was shot and killed by a man who snitched on me to stay on the streets-how do I cope Lord?"

And even more compelling:
"Father, the man who raped my wife just came to this compound. I'm planning bad things-forgive me.

Okay my fried this outta fill some prayer time for you if inclined to stand in the gap as Ezekiel 22:30 asks of us. The Rolling Stones have a song: "Beast of Burden" it laments that..."I'll never be your beast of burden." Yet that's what we're called to do. That prayer list aforementioned in some of it's wicked intent I am capable of carrying out-from the worst of it to the praise form it. And so I put away my measuring rod that I have for many that are not of my ilk...of my religiosity...of my "churchianity"...and offer up the petitions of the prisoner. I need help here for it all- so I ask you to pray that the Lord of the Harvest give the heart away to seek God's favor, mercy, and above all forgiveness and love for each of us.

I love you guys....thanks...later...dougie boy