The News of mass murder in Amish country this past month, when a depraved man killed a number of young girls execution style in a one-room schoolhouse, filled the air waves with questions of why and how such violence could have happened, especially in rural Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania .

On a radio talk show, an expert Psychologist, known as "Doctor Helen", brought up the need for a better mental health system, a killer's maternal problems, their obsessive thinking, anger and revenge, plus the fact that twenty-four hundred men in the United States commit suicide each year. She offered few answers with little hope for success, when asked how to bring change to man's problem.

My heart goes out to the families who are suffering through this tragedy. Many of us have suffered with them in deep compassion. The support for the Amish community has been great, but they are totally sufficient in God's grace. In an interview, one Amish man expressed his love and forgiveness towards the killer, saying that prayer groups were visiting the man's wife and children for ministry.

The Amish People

The Amish are members of the Mennonite community America. They are Christians who believe they can overcome the flesh better by isolating themselves from the modern world. The teenagers are given the opportunity to leave the community for a time to experience the worldly lifestyle. Ninety percent of them choose to return to their family, the Amish life and their dedication to God.

It is my desire to simply sit down and chat with you in this month's view. My face to face visits are rarely with anyone but family and close friends. I would like to sit down personally with you as a free man, but that is going to take more prayer. Jesus says, "All things are possible to him who believes." 1

Speaking of Parole

I imagine that many of you think I have Life in prison without the possibility of parole, but that is not true. I have been eligible for parole since September 1976, but I have not been found suitable because of my crime. The irony is that my crime will never change, but one things we do know, people do change: "The goodness of God leads men to repentance." 2

It is common to have struggles while living a Christian life. Of course, some of us have many trials and sorrows. Jesus said we would, but to take heart that he had overcome the world. 1 Christ was described in Isaiah chapter 53 as being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, said that every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. 2

The Lamps of God

Our heavenly Father has always provided a way out of our struggles in Christ. It is not Him who has been irresponsible, but us who have lacked responsibility. He has initiated our victory, and has given us the grace or the ability to respond through His love. But we still try to live our life in our flesh or in our own ability instead of yielding to the power of Christ's victory. It is in His grace and righteousness that we reign as priests and kings. 3

The key to spiritual growth is to humble ourselves to God's heavenly view, and to understand how we fit into His big picture. It may be hard for us to surrender our will, opinions and view to the will and view of God found in the Holy Scriptures. But as we acknowledge the truth, a whole new course of life will unfold before us. The ability to surrender ourselves comes as God reveals His plan to us by His Spirit, who searches out everything and shows us even God's deep secrets. 1

God's Secret Plan

We were all in bondage to a worldly view, until God revealed the power of our union with Christ. The Apostle Paul was sent by God to reveal His secret plan to us. He explained in his letter to the Gentile [non-Jewish] believers in Ephesus, how even before God made the world, He loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His family through His Son Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure. 2

My purpose is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a way you can understand it. On a recent visit, a new friend named Steve said, "I never saw it that way!" He saw that receiving Christ is not about doing religious works, but receiving the work of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to make us right with God through His work -- His death, burial and resurrection. 1

The Problem With Religion

The problem I saw with "church" as a kid was how boring it felt. I didn't know that being a Christian was all about having a relationship with my Father in heaven. God looks down from heaven on the entire human race. He looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for Him. 2 Jesus died that He might bring us safely home to God. 3 Be exalted, 0 God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth. 4

On Mother's Day, two of my children came for a visit. My youngest boy sat in my lap, but he is almost too large. He can no longer jump up and wrap his arms and legs around me. It is sad to experience these precious times drawing to a close, but the joy that he and my older children bring me remains such a wonderful blessing.

It's Father's Day

On June 18th, we celebrate Father's Day again, but for me, it's father's day every time I'm with my children. I just hope one day my children can feel like Tiger Woods, who said in a recent interview: "Everyday is father's day with my dad." Don't you hope your children will feel this way about you?

The Monthly View is always a joy as it allows me to share from my heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. And Jesus said, that you must give account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. 1

National Day of Prayer

One way to alleviate speaking idle words is to pray and meditate God's Word. The National Day of Prayer, on Thursday, May 4th, can be a catalyst to launch you to a whole new lifestyle of worship. Most of us have a need for constant prayer so that we never give up. 2 The Apostle Paul said to always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

The purpose of the Monthly View is to affect the way we see ourselves in light of God's promises. Our faith is built on the reality of the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross, His precious blood and righteousness. Moreover, because of His resurrection, we "...know in ourselves that we have in heaven a better and an enduring substance [reality].1

The Reality of God's Promises

The third Sunday of this month is Easter, when the Body of Christ celebrates the resurrection of our Savior and Lord, which is spoken about in the March 2005 View. But daily, we are to remind ourselves that we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 2 We are to consider ourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. 3

The purpose of the Monthly view is to affect the way people see God and the way they see His love for them. It is God's desire that you know He loves you so much, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 1

Childhood Memories

Like many of you, I memorized John 3:16 as a child, never realizing that it would lodge in my mind to be useful to bring me to Christ years later. The verse pricked my heart when I overheard a young lady sharing it with an inmate she was visiting. I turned to my visitor with excitement and said, "That's right, God did so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." She thought I had lost my mind, but in reality, the Lord was opening my eyes to understand God's love for me. 2

The purpose of the Monthly View is to share God's point of view from the Bible. Like the prophet Jeremiah, "God's words are what sustain me. They bring great joy and are my heart's delight." 1 If the Lord can sustain and give joy to my heart after 36 years in prison, He can do the same for your situation.

The Bible Charts Chain Booklet

A few months ago, I shared how my illumination Bible Charts would be distributed as a chain booklet in 2006. These charts have been available in color on this website for some time. Study Charts Galleries.

I am happy to announce that the chain began at the first of the year when my friend Michael sent out copies to my friends who had promised to copy and distribute more. One friend responded by saying, "God bless you for all your hard work. The charts are awesome, keep up the good work brother." (B.J.)

The chart called "God's Orchestrated Plan of Love for Mankind" was introduced last month, as part of The Ezekiel wheel Project, to show the intention of God since creation to connect His heavenly throne to His people. His finished work of grace anchors those who believe in Jesus Christ to His heavenly Sanctuary. May you realize the many creative possibilities, because of your divine connection to God's abounding love this wonderful New Year.

A Heavenly View

One of my purposes is to help you envision the reality of God's love with the aid of charts. It has been said that "a picture is worth a thousand words." They can remain in the mind when all else is forgotten. Be still, people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths form God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. 1