It is such a privilege to take the message of Jesus Christ around the world through the Monthly View. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentiles. For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'"1

Mailbox Testimonies

Last month's letters drew a wonderful response. Here is another one that came my way:

Green Bay, WI - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I felt moved by the Holy Spirit to write this letter in hopes that it will lift your spirits to know that you have lifted mine! I was reading your story on the internet, out of idle historical curiosity, when I came across the part where it said that you had a conversion to Christ many years ago, and have taken up your Cross to follow Him as a fellow minister of the Gospel. This brought me great joy!

Welcome to this month's view! It is my prayer that you are in the best of health; in spirit, soul, and body. As the Apostle John writes, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."1 In other words, our prosperity and health depends upon the condition of our soul [our thoughts, choices, and emotions].

Tell A Friend or Foe

This website proclaims the prosperity and health of the spirit, soul, and body, flowing through a personal-loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. We were privileged to share the Good News of Christ with tens of thousands of individuals who hit this site hundreds of thousands of times during last month's 40th anniversary. The response was amazing!

Since Christ came into my life thirty-five years ago, I am surprised when people write, only now hearing of my salvation. This enforces my belief that the power of Christ's testimony to save even a former Manson family member is important in order to foil the belief that the devil got the last word in my life; "...because greater is God in our lives than he that is in this world."2

Will you work with us to tell your loved ones about the power of God to save the lost? This ministry started in the late '70s, when the Lord revealed to me that He desires for the Good News about my salvation to be shared more than the bad news the media publishes concerning the Manson family murders.

If you agree with this vision, please pass along our web address to your family and friends. This can be done through a praise report by e-mail, through Facebook, Twitter, or however you desire to spread the Gospel message. Let us proclaim, "That we may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all the Lord's wonderous works."3 Amen!

From the Mailbox

It's my privilege to share a few excerpts from the letters of those whose souls are prospering and in health, as well as other exhortations, so that you may rejoice with us in the Lord.

Malta, MT - I thought about you all day as I drove the tractor, so when I came home, I knew I needed to write you a letter. You are in my prayers, and I am so happy to have you to write to and have you as a friend. Through you, I see "THE MOST HIGH GOD" clearer, and that makes me happy.

This month, I encourage you to celebrate the joys of Thanksgiving with family and friends no matter what has happened in the past. The Scriptures say, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."1

Manson Documentaries

Many of you have contacted us regarding the recent Manson documentaries. In fact, over forty thousand have visited our site with more than one and a half million hits during August and September. I cannot get cable, so I was unable to view the History channel, but I did receive several comments by letter; one will be shared later.

I understand that one documentary is named after my book "Will You Die For Me?" It features Catherine Share, a former Manson family member, who is now a born-again Christian. I hear that she verifies the facts in my book, confirming its truthfulness. I feel this is why viewer comments are more favorable towards this program than the one called "Manson," where I am told the actors are unrealistic.

It is always a joy to share my view each month. This joy comes from the Holy Spirit, who is leading me to suggest a few testimony links to remind you of the ministry mission, to reaffirm the apology for my actions in 1969, and to encourage you to keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.1

Suggested Links

This may be your first time to visit us. You may need a little help finding your way around the site. Here are a few links that share the testimony of Jesus Christ in my life:

Our Ministry Mission

Our mission is to enlighten others to the need for prison outreach. We seek to help build the church behind prison walls that will not only affect the way prisoners see God, but their families as well.

It is always a joy to share a monthly view from my prison cell. The thought that these writings can go around the world is amazing. It is even more amazing, plus it humbles me, to think that anyone would show concern for me after all these years of incarceration. I am so grateful for your kind and loving response, which I believe flows from our God in heaven.

Most often asked question…

“What is your day like?” My days are routine, but that can be healthy. We’re not forced to get out of bed, but must if we want to eat. After breakfast, those who do not work or go to school are free to go back to bed or to the yard. I’m awake by 5 a.m. for an hour of devotion and prayer before breakfast.

With two hundred and forty other prisoners, I live in one of five large buildings on the yard. There are double cells around three sides of the building, except for forty men, who are double bunked on the central dayroom floor. Because of overcrowding, the gym is also filled with men on triple bunks.

The purpose of the monthly view is to share how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. He shows His great love for us by having sent Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from His eternal wrath.1

Links For New Visitors

Shadow Steal Interview
Miracle of Forgiveness
Love is All You Need

The purpose of the Monthly View is to remind you how the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sees things, because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Long ago, the prophet Micah cried: “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity…because You delight in mercy…You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”1

Dealing with Memories

On a recent doctor’s appointment, the physician said, “Can I ask you a personal question?” I agreed, so he asked: “How do you deal with memories?” I let him know of my faith in the blood and righteousness of Christ. I explained to him how I take authority over thoughts, reminding myself that I am a new man because of Christ and that old things are passed away,2 now an entirely new identity from God’s word rules my mind.

As the analogy goes, “Birds may fly over your head, but you don’t have to let them build a nest in your hair.” It is the same with thoughts. They will come up, but you don’t have to let them rule your mind, emotions, and actions. “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts…and let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.”3

The secret is simply to cast down foolish thoughts and to replace them with God’s word. The Apostle Paul explained how a war is going on for our mind, saying: “We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument [imagination] that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons, we conquer their rebellious ideas [even memories], and we teach them to obey Christ.”4

Be Covenant Minded

Dealing with memories is not easy, unless you receive a new heart and mind from God. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of a new covenant, saying: “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people…for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD, For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”5

As I reflect upon my life, there are many more good memories than there are bad ones. Besides, if God does not remember my sins, why should I. It is understandable to remember your sins if you have not received pardon and forgiveness from God, but “…if you confess your sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you from every wrong.”6

After you receive Christ, it is your responsibility to renew your mind from bad memories with God’s covenant. I pray that you may “…be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light. For God has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and He has brought us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with His blood and has forgiven all our sins.”7

In Remembrance

Many of you took communion last month at the Easter service. You may recall the words of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Let me refresh your memory: “And Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’”8

It is very important to take communion in remembrance of Jesus, not in remembrance of your sin. The Apostle Paul teaches: “For if you eat and drink the cup unworthily [not understanding the Lord’s body], you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some even died. But if we examine ourselves [in Christ], we will not be examined by God and judged in this way.”9

Next time you take communion, do not examine your sin, but remember your righteousness, because of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”10 The Apostle Paul says, “Examine yourself to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is in you, it means you have failed the test. I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.”11

Receive A Pure Heart

As you see, memories can be thoughts of past sins. We overcome them by remembering our identity with Christ’s righteousness, because of our new covenant with God through the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Similarly, the law of God brings a sin consciousness to mind, whereas the Holy Spirit brings a righteous consciousness. Jesus taught, “…when the Holy Spirit comes, He will convince the world of sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”12

The Psalmist David is an example of one who cried out to God in his sin, saying: “For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me…Purify me from my sins, and I will be clear, wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh give me back my joy again, you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.”13

The Lord desires to give all of us a pure heart, clean of guilt, shame and past memories of sin. David was “Under the old system [law and ordinances], the blood of goats and bulls…could cleanse people’s bodies from ritual defilement. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death [sin consciousness] so that we can worship the living God. For by the eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.”14

A Prayer For You ...

Father, Your Son, Jesus told us that if two of us agree down here on earth concerning anything we ask, that You would do it for us. I agree with Charles that Christ’s body and blood cleansed my heart from past memories of sin. I take authority over these memories in Christ and declare that I am right with God because of the blood of Christ. I commit to remembering moment by moment that the body and blood of Jesus Christ provided my healing and forgiveness of sin. I thank you Father for my freedom from sin’s penalty. I rejoice in my salvation. Thank you Jesus and Holy Spirit for living in and through me! Amen!

Scripture References:

1 Micah 7:18, 19
2 2 Cor. 5:17
3 Col. 3:15, 16
4 2 Cor. 10:3-5
5 Jere. 31:33, 34
6 1 John 1:9
7 Col. 1:11-14
8 Luke 22:19, 20
9 1 Cor. 11:29-31
10 2 Cor. 5:21
11 2 Cor. 13:5, 6
12 John 16:8
13 Psa. 51:5-10
14 Heb. 9:13, 14

Acknowledgement: A special thanks to Sherry for transcribing this months view!

The purpose of the monthly view is to reflect God’s love and glory. As Christians, we are mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.1

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My Latest Photo

Sometimes it isn’t appropriate to reflect God’s glory in prison. For instance, we are asked not to smile in our mug shots, because we’re supposed to be a hardened criminal. I comply, but I’m smiling on the inside because the Holy Spirit lives in me.

This month’s view continues with God’s absolute truth, love, and forgiveness for us all, by sharing His gift of absolute righteousness, peace, and joy. The Apostle Paul teaches, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”1

Absolute Righteousness

The study on righteousness is endless, but simply put, our God [Yeshua-Tsidkeenu], in Judea-Christianity, is our righteousness.2 “God alone made it possible for you [and I] to be [righteous] in Christ Jesus [through His death, burial, and resurrection]. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable [righteous] to God. He made us pure and holy, and He gave Himself to purchase our freedom [from sin and spiritual death].”3

This month’s view is for all those who see themselves in the Valley of Decision during these trying times. You may be looking for answers, similar to the main character in the classic novel Pilgrim’s Progress. He found something either missing or present in his life while searching for the truth on his way to the Celestial City. He eventually finds absolute truth, love and forgiveness in God’s Word – the Bible. His progress through life is being portrayed in a new movie by the same title.

Absolute Truth

I hope it doesn’t take terribly destructive circumstances for you, as it did for me, to realize that God’s Word is truth. There was a way that seemed right to me, but the end was death.1 I searched for answers in anything and from anyone who crossed my path. While running from God, I tried to convince myself with various philosophies and false doctrines that I was okay, but found out that only the Bible holds the answers to a righteous relationship with God.

As the media bombards your mind with the failing economy, you may question your faith during these times. You may find yourself turning to God for answers, unlike in the good times. May this be your wake up call for a Happy New Year: learning to trust in God’s sufficiency. The Lord says, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.”1

Happy & Blessed

One economist suggests that you turn off the media, which may help, but Jesus says, to “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”2 Isn’t that great advice?

Again, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”3 The word blessed literally means “happy, fortunate, blissful.” Pastor John MacArthur says, “Here ‘blessed’ speaks of more than a surface emotion. Jesus was describing the divinely-bestowed well-being that belongs only to the faithful. The worldly idea is that happiness is found in riches, merriment, abundance, leisure and such things. The real truth is the very opposite.”