Going to Prison
Saturday, January 19
Twice a year a van load of people from our church go to Dallas State Correctional Institution to present a worship service.
We became acquainted with this prison when a man from our community was incarcerated there with a life sentence. Since receiving Christ into his life he became a pilar of the prison church community.
We were in the back seat. Mary and Eugene Zimmerman are in front of us. Lorraine and Lester Lapp are in the middle seat, and in front of them are Shirley Oberholtzer, Brenda Copenhaver, Jordan Hollinger. Ron Copenhaver was in the driver’s seat and Leroy Oberholtzer in the passenger seat.
Phil Rogers was next to Cerwin and me in the back.
The bulk of the trip was traveled on the interstate.
Remains of a snow fall – several days earlier – became visible as we traveled north.
We practiced singing a few songs for the worship service.
Whoever signs up for the two-hour-plus trip is responsible for singing several songs during the service. We had a few great singers, so this group sounded pretty good.
As we neared the prison, we traveled on some narrow, winding country roads.
This old Ford captured the attention of some of the men.
As we went up the hill to the prison we saw a few deer casually grazing in the afternoon sunshine.
I would have loved to take my camera inside the prison – but had I tried, they would have probably kept me. 
The only thing we could take with us were our driver’s license, Bibles, and notes (for those who were speaking).
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This is an excerpt from what I shared with the prisoners.
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Gifts That Never Stop Giving
The older I get, the more I understand how pleasing it is to God when we – His Children - are filled with purpose, love, victory, and hope.
As I was thinking about gifts at Christmas time – just a few weeks ago – I was challenged and blessed by thinking about God’s gifts to us – gifts that never stop giving.
He gave us life – which gives us time – which gives us opportunity – which gives us identification – which gives us purpose.
He gave us Jesus – who gives us forgiveness – which gives us justification - which gives us acceptance – which gives us love. –
He gave us the Holy Spirit – who gives us power – which gives us confidence – which gives us courage – which gives us victory..
He gave us the Bible—which gives us truth—which gives us insight – which gives us wisdom – which gives us hope.
We all come to God as ragamuffins – dirty, bedraggled, and beat up. But when we sit at His feet He smiles at us, incredibly eager to give us gifts from His Heavenly warehouse. Why? Because each person on earth is a chosen object of His amazing love.
Because His greatest desire is that each of His children receive purpose, love, victory, and hope.
I came away with a renewed appreciation for my freedom – especially after waving goodby to our prisoner friend when he headed to his cell block, and we were released through several doors and gates that loudly clanked shut behind us.
We captured the attention of these deer when Ron stopped the van – not far from the prison.
There was a larger herd just a few miles further down the road.
This looks like a nice place to sit – especially in summertime.
It’s rewarding to be with church friends for a day – talking, laughing, singing, ministering, and learning to know each other better.
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