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.”

Do you know the history behind our holidays? For example, how thanksgiving began with the Pilgrims and the Indians in the early 1600s. They celebrated by sharing their food recipes, competing in various contests and by giving thanks for the provision of God, their families and, above all, their redemption in Jesus Christ. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln officially made Thanksgiving the last Thursday in November.

THANKSGIVING IN PRISON

The Lord says in everything to give thanks, for this is His will in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 You my wondering how we in prison can be thankful in everything? Certainly, it is not for our loss of our freedom, the destruction of our crimes, the harm to our victims and to our families. It is the same thing those pilgrims and Indians were thankful for -- God's provision through Christ.

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

In the last Monthly View, "The Ezekiel Wheel Project" helped us to visualize that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. 1 We read about these men of faith in Hebrews, chapter 11. They were men who walked by faith in God, not by sight. 2They dared to believe in the invisible God, Who created them for a personal realization of Him in the Spirit. Today, they are our heroes of faith.

The Throne's Seven Levels

These heroes help us to see the seven levels of God's throne, which are illustrated on the Ezekiel Wheel Project chart. The center core, the first level, is revealed in Revelation 4:2,3 by the Apostle John saying, "...I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne." The invisible God Almighty [El Shaddai] became visible to him, "And He who sat there was like a jasper [red, yellow or brown opaque quartz] and a sardius [reddish brown] stone in appearance, and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald [deep green]." John saw God's throne in its entirety in this one verse, the throne of God on the highest level to the rainbow, or the outer seventh level. Can you see the view from where you sit?