For many, the past months have been filled with destruction and tragedy as we view the war in Iraq, the floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, plus the recent fires is Southern California. Yet, a voice of thanksgiving for personal safety and compassion for those with loss rises from the ashes. It is good to see the conscience of mankind alive with hope..

10th Year Memorial

On November 20, 2007, it will have been 10 years, since the passing of Raymond Hoekstra to be with the Lord. He was fondly known by millions as “Chaplin Ray” during his 35 years of ministering to inmates in prisons around the world. In 1975, he visited me in prison, and shortly afterwards, I came to Christ in 1975.

The purpose of the Monthly View is to affect the way you see God. For our view to change, our spiritual eyes must be opened to The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The word "revelation" comes from the Greek word “apokalypsis” which means "unveiling or disclosure", and in this case, the unveiling or disclosure of Jesus Christ.

The Hidden Jesus

The gospel or good news of Jesus Christ was hidden from me for years. The Apostle Paul in the Bible writes: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” 1The first step in my recovery was admitting that I was lost. The gods of this world had blinded my mind, robbing my childhood beliefs in God. Many people tried to share the good news of Jesus Christ through their shining examples, but in my rebellious state, I would have nothing to do with them. 2

This Month's Vew focuses on the victorious Christian life available to you. The Holy Spirit is present in this world to spark a new reality of Christ's overcoming life. Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation: but be courageous, I have overcome the world.” 1 He provides us the ability to overcome the many trials and sorrows of life.

Greater Is He In You

We become overcomers in this life by taking hold of the past, present and future victory of Jesus Christ, obtained through His death, burial and resurrection. It is time to turn from our passivity to the reality of Christ's victory being ours. "For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." 2

We celebrate our freedom as a Nation this month, but as a Christian I will focus on the believer's Spiritual freedom in this Monthly View. “Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, you are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free." 1

What Does God Say?

We never question the fact that the United States declared its freedom from  England on  July 4th 1776. The early Americans fought for and gained their freedom, and ours, in the Revolutionary War. We question however, through our unbelief, that Jesus Christ gained  our freedom from sin, self and Satan in His death on the cross and His resurrection.  It is pretty serious to call God a liar because we do not believe what He says about His Son, Jesus Christ.

This Monthly View tells what place cars had in my life. I was born in 1945. During that year a bomber struck the Empire State building; the war in Europe ended after Hitler's suicide in Berlin; Franklin D. Roosevelt died and was succeeded by Truman; Rocky Graziano was named "Boxer of the Year"; the Nuremburg war-crimes began and A-Bombs were dropped on Japan, starting the atomic age and ending the war. It was also the year automobile production was resumed in the U.S. after having been halted during World War II .

My Love For Cars

The last cars rolled off the the assembly lines in January 1942, so that tanks, trucks and guns could be built for the war. It was not untill after the war, in 1945, that cars would return to the assembly line for the 1946 models. My family's car was a blue '50 Packard, which I could kick myself for not restoring before I left home in 1967.

In this Monthly View, I share my failure to receive God's love from those who loved me as a child; my rejection of God by turning my back on Him to indulge in the pleasures of this world; and, my eventual belief that God's love could change my life through the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross.

My Childhood Memories

My parents took me to church and held me as a baby in their arms, while singing and hearing God's word. I remember how friends of the family shared God's love with me at Church and Sunday school. I memorized John 3:16, the Apostle's Creed and many hymns, such as "Jesus Loves Me This I Know" and "The BIBLE, That's The Book For Me." I even sang in the choir as a teenager, while Rita Beth played the piano.

I had many opportunities to develop my beliefs in Christ. Once, I put together a “Tabernacle in the Wilderness" kit during Vacation Bible School. I can remember my English teacher assigning us to memorize "The 23rd Psalm" and having us recite it in front of our eighth grade classmates. I visited many churches while growing up in a Bible-believing community.

It is always a privilege to share how Jesus Christ came into my life. Those who live around us know if our testimony is true. I call this the testimony of Jesus Christ, because I take no credit for what He did to change my life. He initiated my salvation and I responded. You have the opportunity to do the same today.

My Early Years

My parents took me to church regularly beginning a few days after I was born, but like a lot of children, I rebelled during my teenage years. I was successful in school and sports, but my faith in God was not strong enough to keep the gods of this world from blinding my mind. 1 These gods were booze, illicit sex and rock music that kept me from seeing the light that comes from God's Word about the blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. I was not a true believer so, I was powerless to break the hold the world, the flesh and the devil had on me.

It is such a joy to share my experience of God's unconditional love each month. As a child, I memorized John 3:16 but the words were without understanding, until I heard them spoke by a visitor in prison. It was as if a light came on in my heart when I heard, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have everlasting life. " 1 I pray for God to enlighten your heart as he did mine over thirty years ago. You will never be the same!

That Spirit of AntiChrist

The News this month from the Discovery Channel concerns the tombs of Jesus and His family found in the Holy Lands. I do not get the Discovery Channel, but whatever credibility this company may have will suffer loss an a result of this deception. Also, there is a New Age book named "The Secret" getting lots of hype. On the surface, this book offers philosophical truths, but the author does not confess Jesus as the Christ--God in the flesh. The Holy Scriptures refers to him as an antichrist.

The Monthly View focus for 2007 not only considers things that will interest you, but shares a view of live from an experience of God's love. My prayer is that God will give you a desire to visit this site often for an experience of His love. This desire fulfills the vision and purpose of abounding love ministry. That is, to always have others feel loved and to help them understand that God loves them.

Happy Valentines Day

Saint Valentine was a Roman priest and physician who clung to his love for Jesus Christ in spite of persecution by Emperor Claudius Gothicus. It cost him his reputation. It cost him his career. It cost him his livelihood. Ultimately, when he refused to recant, it cost him his live. He was an example of God's divine, unconditional love. He was willing to deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus.1

The purpose of the monthly view is to share things that will interest You. For instance, things that go unanswered in the many letters that come my way. My hope is that you will keep coming back to visit us and reply when you have time. Though the monthly hits are several hundred thousand, we don't know the results unless you respond.

Viewing 2007

I realize there are many situations worse than mine. Whatever yours may be, I pray that you will rise up out of it by faith in Christ to realize an abundant life. 1 As the old hymn goes "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

For me, I'm singing the chorus “ It gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by, oh what a love between the Lord and I. T keep falling in love with Him, over and over and over and over again.” There is another I like, “Turn you eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things on earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”