Loading Bucky up for Eastern Washington and Oregon

This coming weekend, our PFC team of Jim Dixon, Chuck Boyce, Wayne Orendorff, and I will load up Rocker Wayne's SUV "Bucky" and set off Friday for Medical Lake, Connell, Yakima, Walla Walla, Washington; and finally end up Sunday night in Umatilla, Oregon, March 27-30.

Last Thursday, we met at the Christian Bikers Tabernacle in Puyallup, to rehearse our music and fellowship over dinner to pray and prepare for our trip together as a team. The Christian Bikers Tabernacle is an exciting church and outreach to the motorcycle community with connections all over the country. It was an awesome experience to fellowship and sing even if it was informally for them. They were so welcoming and friendly.

At the Regional Justice Center, I started meeting with Troy. He recommitted his life to the Lord with me and just took off with a wonderful booklet based on the Navigator's wheel illustration called "New beginnings." When we met recently, he held the booklet up and said, "I am really into this. I heard these things a long time ago. Now, I am getting it." Praise the Lord! Amen!

I also finally got to meet 1-to-1 with John up at Twin Rivers Corrections Center in Monroe after numerous obstacles and frustrations. We first met while he was serving time in the D unit of the RJC in 2006 and we have been corresponding since he was transferred to Monroe. John is scheduled to be released in June when he will move to the House of Mercy in Des Moines. I have been coordinating with Randy Schulz of Prison Fellowship to establish a support and accountability team for John.

I continue to serve regularly as a guest teacher in the Tahoma School District and am extremely thankful for your ongoing prayer, encouragement, and financial support. Should you desire to give, you may contact:
Prisoners for Christ Outreach Ministries
P.O. Box 1530
Woodinville, Washington 98072-1530
www.pfcom.org

Review of the Shack

I recently completed William Young's allegorical novel, "The Shack," which has stirred up significant discussion and criticism over the Trinity and related Biblical issues. One recent blog listed 13 heresies in it. I was very careful to read it for myself before interacting with what others critiqued. I strongly recommend you read it and come to your own conclusion. It may really touch your heart. It is written as an allegory. You might not like it at all.

I was impacted by how God led Mac, the main character, through forgiveness in the midst of crippling pain and anger. Some of us have been wounded by the affairs of life. Do you know anybody like that? Yes, several troubling theological issues needed to be placed "over on the side" in a spirit of discernment to gain so much. The portrayal of Mac's daughter in heaven running toward him in the field was deeply moving for me.

The author's concluding comments are very interesting--he speaks about theological rewrites for future use and the unfolding of how this book came to be. I will be interested to see what or if Mr. Young revises in future editions.

Our PFC team of Chuck Boyce, Dwight Hawley, Jim Dixon, Wayne Orendorf, and I are getting ready for our March 27-29 Eastern Washington and Oregon mission concerts to Medical Lake, Connell, Yakima, Walla Walla, WA.; and Umatilla, OR. This team has gone out together now for several years recently so we are very close. As the team leader, I am facilitating the communication and resolution of frustrations that have grown up between us. We are making awesome progress. The Lord delights when His children seek reconciliation between one another.

Chaplain Mark

e-mails from Louisiana

I sometimes get connected with the inmates at the Regional Justice Center through phone calls. A family member will request I contact their loved one. Once, I went in on Christmas Day and it was worth every minute of time for the inmates, the family, and especially for me.

During these last couple of weeks, I've been in contact with Grace, a faithful Mom from Lafayette in southern Louisiana about her son, John, who was incarcerated at the RJC. He previously completed one term in IT support in Iraq where he experienced significant stress. He was being diagnosed for post-traumatic syndrome or whatever psychological issues he is dealing with at the VA Hospital in Seattle. I've met with him every day I've been at the RJC although he is simply not responding to the Lord, right now. John has a church background but lost interest or strayed. He has struggled with alcohol abuse. He showed apparent revived interest in the Lord right before he went back into jail. I am being faithful to connect with John without pushing anything on him--just be there--and keep his family connected with him.

I provided an outstanding New King James Study Bible for him but he honestly shared he wasn't reading it. I asked if he wanted to talk about what he read or whatever interested him. He was just not there. On the other hand, Mom has blessed my heart greatly as we e-mail about what the Lord is doing and their family. I think we are lifetime friends in Christ. That is awesome!

How should we pray for family members who are apparently not responding to the the Lord?

"Lord, I am no match for whatever is going on in _____'s life. He looks and acts like he is unsaved but I thought he was interested in the Lord and even saved many years ago. This is too big for me but it's not too big for You. You know what is in
_____'s heart and what all this means.

I surrender him to you and pray that You would do whatever You need to do to draw him afresh to You. Give me grace to stay out of the way. It's hard. I want to fix him. I trust You will draw him to Yourself. I am pleading with You to show _____ You are seeking him.

Give me Your wisdom for how to pray for him, Lord, as the days go on. In your mighty and powerful name, Jesus, Amen."
John 10:27-29

Thanks for continuing to pray and give, as the Lord leads you. Your faithful giving, prayers, and comments encourage us so greatly.

Chaplain Mark