CLI NOTE: More than anyone else, prison chaplains know how powerfully God uses prison to change a life, a community, and even a nation. They have seen hardened criminals repent and give thanks to God. Please read the following letters and see how our work is helping transform lives:
“I believe Jesus Christ is the only real means of transforming a person’s life from useless to beneficial not only for themselves, but the community as a whole. May our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with the good work your ministry is doing on His behalf throughout our Great Nation and the world.” Chaplain Carl Burgess, Muskegon Correctional Facility, MI
“Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. And also thank you for the books you have sent for us to give the prisoners. Those books help make the difference in so many lives. Having 6,500 men with a high turnover it is very hard to keep them in just Bibles, to have added materials to help mentor and disciple them is a real blessing.” Chaplain Ed Welsh, Men's Jail, Los Angeles, CA
I just received the second shipment of books from you all ! We were just now looking for a fresh supply and "bam" just on time. God is right on time isn't He ? Thank you again for being obedient to His call for your life. Christian Library is in our prayers. Carry on and one day I'll see you when we get HOME! Chaplain Keith Norman, Cleveland Correctional Center, OH.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
CLI's 2009 Author Dinner
Christian Library International is please to announce that Bill Dallas will be our keynote speaker at the annual CLI Author Dinner on Thursday, October 22nd. The dinner will be held again at the Crabtree Marriot, in Raleigh, NC, beginning at 6:30 PM.
Convicted of grand theft embezzlement, Bill Dallas found himself in prison. As he served his time, he embarked on a new life with God in control. Now CEO of a successful company, he uses stories from "life on the inside" to inspire others to develop a godly character.
The CLI Author Dinner is our annual fundraiser. 85% of CLI's income is provided for with gifts-in-kind donations (books). CLI is an amazingly efficient ministry.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Director’s Note: Prisoner’s Repent and God Relents
… “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. NIV Jonah 3:8-9
The book of Jonah was written with the purpose or theme of God’s sovereignty. God revealed to Israel and now to us, His power to raise up and tear down any nation on earth. Israel should take warning and repent as their enemy the Assyrians did when Jonah preached against them.
History reveals that the Assyrians were vicious warriors and capable of ruthless cruelty. They were an evil and violent people. Yet, God still wanted to warn them and give them an opportunity to change their ways. The story of Jonah demonstrates God’s mercy and compassion in His supreme rule. He cares for all that He has made.
Jonah, however, only wanted God’s compassion for his country Israel. He especially did not want Israel’s enemies to be saved. In fact, that was why he ran away when God told him to preach against Assyria.
He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” NIV Jonah 4:2
Not only does the book reveal God’s sovereignty over nations, it also reveals God’s sovereignty over individuals. Jonah did not obey God, but sinfully ran away. Mercifully, God warned Jonah of his own possible destruction by having him swallowed by a big fish. The prophet recognized his wrongdoing and repented right then and there in the belly of that fish. So God relented and had him vomited on the shore where he was free to carry out his original assignment.
Most prisoners are locked up with good reason. They have sinned against God and society. Some crimes may seem harmless enough and yet others have been committed with ruthless cruelty. Nevertheless, God still cares for these men and women. No one that He has made are too wicked to repent and be saved.
God gave Jesus to the world so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. That is the message that saves both nation and individual. Just like the Assyrians repented and God relented in their day, there are prisoners who are changing their ways and being saved for eternity.
God reveals that His ways of ruling creation are not our ways. He is transcendent. That means that His character is different and holier than His creation. We must not presume to know what is fair or just but must turn to God’s Word and follow His lead.
Therefore, let us continue to preach to inmates through our books, Bibles and other Christian materials. God got Jonah’s attention in the dark, lonely, belly of a big fish, and He can get a prisoner’s attention in the dark, lonely, belly of a cell. Jonah was released from the fish to continue in God’s will, so let us pray that our inmates are released from prison with the same holy purpose.
In Jesus,
Kathleen Skaar
Executive Director
The book of Jonah was written with the purpose or theme of God’s sovereignty. God revealed to Israel and now to us, His power to raise up and tear down any nation on earth. Israel should take warning and repent as their enemy the Assyrians did when Jonah preached against them.
History reveals that the Assyrians were vicious warriors and capable of ruthless cruelty. They were an evil and violent people. Yet, God still wanted to warn them and give them an opportunity to change their ways. The story of Jonah demonstrates God’s mercy and compassion in His supreme rule. He cares for all that He has made.
Jonah, however, only wanted God’s compassion for his country Israel. He especially did not want Israel’s enemies to be saved. In fact, that was why he ran away when God told him to preach against Assyria.
He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” NIV Jonah 4:2
Not only does the book reveal God’s sovereignty over nations, it also reveals God’s sovereignty over individuals. Jonah did not obey God, but sinfully ran away. Mercifully, God warned Jonah of his own possible destruction by having him swallowed by a big fish. The prophet recognized his wrongdoing and repented right then and there in the belly of that fish. So God relented and had him vomited on the shore where he was free to carry out his original assignment.
Most prisoners are locked up with good reason. They have sinned against God and society. Some crimes may seem harmless enough and yet others have been committed with ruthless cruelty. Nevertheless, God still cares for these men and women. No one that He has made are too wicked to repent and be saved.
God gave Jesus to the world so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. That is the message that saves both nation and individual. Just like the Assyrians repented and God relented in their day, there are prisoners who are changing their ways and being saved for eternity.
God reveals that His ways of ruling creation are not our ways. He is transcendent. That means that His character is different and holier than His creation. We must not presume to know what is fair or just but must turn to God’s Word and follow His lead.
Therefore, let us continue to preach to inmates through our books, Bibles and other Christian materials. God got Jonah’s attention in the dark, lonely, belly of a big fish, and He can get a prisoner’s attention in the dark, lonely, belly of a cell. Jonah was released from the fish to continue in God’s will, so let us pray that our inmates are released from prison with the same holy purpose.
In Jesus,
Kathleen Skaar
Executive Director
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