The Young are Nimble and Quick

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director of CLI

When we receive the CLI newsletter back from the printer, it is time to insert it into an envelop, label and seal. Volunteers come in and help put it together and this is a savings in time and money. For our last quarterly newsletter of the year we had a very special group of girls and boys from Raleigh Christian Academy. Their teacher, Dawn White brought them over and jumped in with them in working at a nimble and quick pace.

We set them up in assembly line fashion and they did the rest. They were here close to two hours and had stuffed and sealed 1,300 newsletters. They have been mailed and some of our mission partners have already received it. If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email us at kskaar@cli-nc.org and we will be glad to mail or email you a copy.

Response to our blog on “Approaching God.”

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director of CLI

Prisoners do indeed give us a perspective on approaching the Father that we would not have otherwise. I've had the feeling as I read some of (inmate)Adalberto Cuautle's letters and others that I am on holy ground.

Often when I feel the Lord's presence I feel a thrill of joy. I can recall that feeling of Joy as a young person when I sang some of the majestic anthems of the church. As the years go on I experience that thrill more and more often. Sometimes I even feel my shoulders shudder in a child-like awe. That brings me back to what Kathleen said about fearing the Lord. Physically speaking that shudder that I feel is very similar to the shaking that I have experienced when I am very frightened, or the uncontrollable shaking that I have felt when I was very angry. I say physically similar. But psychologically there is no similarity at all. The emotions in my mind are pure joy and peace. I'm saying, Father you're with me and I am in love with your awesome presence!

Ernie
(Ernie White is a CLI volunteer who answers our inmate letters in Spanish)

Sharing the Word a Century Later

Posted by Martha Carpenter - Office Administrator at CLI

CLI is blessed to receive many gently used Bibles. Once in awhile, the Bibles are old family Bibles. This week a Bible came in that was published in 1898! Tucked inside was part of an envelope, with a postmark and stamp from 1903! The handwriting is a beautiful cursive that is typical of the late 19th century.

Turning over the envelope, we can see that over 100 years ago someone used the envelope to make a few notes while reading their Bible. We do that today, too; getting whatever scrap of paper is handy to make some notes. The scripture verse on the front above the address binds us together with our brother or sister from the past:

“Ephesians 4:4”
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

On the reverse side a note was made: “4 a.m. Sept. 07, 1903” and these comments were written out:

“Whose I am and Who I serve ~ Acts 27:23”
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

More notes and scripture references lead us to assume this is a parent making notes from the scriptures they want to talk to their son about. Is the son leaving home? Maybe. The beauty of it is the Word of God speaks to us the same today. The Body is One.

“Son Remember the words of the Lord Jesus ~ Acts 20:35”
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

“Remember now thy Creator ~ Eccl. 12:1”
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

“Tenderness of -
Father Psalm 103:13
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Mother Isaiah 66:13
As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Friend Proverbs 18:24”
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Book Mountain

Posted by Anders Skaar - Missions Director of CLI

This photo is of Chandler and me admiring a mountain of books.

It's fun to see the books coming in each week. First the UPS guy comes with a few boxes. Next the FedEx guy comes. About 11 AM, our loyal mailman usually has some boxes too! Then there are the men with a pickup truck, or ladies with a van full, who arrive at most any time. Last are the "midnight travelers" who pile a few boxes at who knows what hour by our door. We discover them first thing in the morning.

All of these saints are a great blessing to CLI. Only through the generous donations of people like you, can we continue to provide the prisons with great Christian reading materials. We welcome Christian fiction, Bible reference books, Bibles of all sorts, even Christian video and audio products. Occasionally we'll get a LP or 78 RPM record but we really can't use antiques.

Thank you CLI donors! You are a blessing!

Book Missionaries

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director of CLI

We receive shipments of books from Christians living in many different states in the U.S. Enclosed in one box of donated books was an orange card. The book donor wrote on the orange card:

"Thank you for your ministry! I’ve prayed that each of these "bound" little missionaries will bear much fruit to God’s glory! God bless & keep you." F.B.

We have often referred to the books and Bibles that we provide to prisons as “little” missionaries. They can go into difficult or closed places that you or I might not have access. Plus they work 24/7 and never need a coffee break! (That is my husband Anders' joke. We thank God for his lightheartedness!)

The note encouraged and reminded us that God is working through our gently used books to spread the gospel night and day. These "bound" little missionaries contain instruction, teaching and good counsel. But most of all they prepare the mind for sweet fellowship with Jesus. Amen!

Don't Hoard Your Blessings

Posted by Anders Skaar - Missions Director of CLI

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

We have a very generous God! He loves to give us things to express His love for us. He loves to answer prayers to the positive. He loves to pleasantly surprise us.

But is that where the blessing should stop? Should we pass it on to others?

It is said, "A smile is something you can't give away; it always comes back to you." Are God's blessings in the same category?

Here at CLI we get lots of great Christian books. And, yes, we read a few too. But we don't keep them. We pass them on to the prisons.

Several years back, I was interested in comic book (illustrated) Bibles for youth in the prisons and shelters. I had written several publishers asking for a donated case, but got no response. One day I was packing up a box of youth materials and there it was, the very Bible I wanted to spend some time looking over. But the box had to be shipped immediately. Decision time! I reluctantly placed the Bible in the box with the other books and it shipped.

The next day, a delivery man came with a case for CLI. It was a full case of the very same Bible. Isn't God amazing!

Approaching God

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director of CLI

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV Hebrews 4:16

Without studying the Old Testament it is difficult to truly understand the unsearchable riches of Christ Jesus. In this sense the inmates that we serve are blessed with time to mine Scripture and understand the true treasure that we have in Christ Jesus. This may be one reason that many Christians behind bars have a deep and reverential fear of God.

I was reminded of this fact the other morning. I was reading the book of Leviticus (relating to the Levites) which details the laws and regulations for worship for the Israelites. The book stresses the holiness of God. The LORD is not just a regular person to be approached at will.

Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: "'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'" Aaron remained silent. NIV Leviticus 10:3

God is the preeminent, all powerful, Creator of the universe. No one has the right to draw near to God or walk into His presence at will. He warned the priests and the people through Moses. Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu did not take this command seriously. Even though they were priests they were struck down dead because they dared to approach the LORD in a way and time not prescribed (Leviticus 16:1).

As I read these verses I was hit with what Jesus has done for me and all believers. Through His death and resurrection, Christ has made it possible for us to approach God, to come near to Him at all times. By His blood Jesus makes us holy so that we can be in a relationship with God Almighty. We are not struck down but are welcomed at His throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).

Like our brothers and sisters behind bars, take time to mediate on God’s holiness and recognize the immense gift that Jesus has given us in approaching our Father in heaven. Let our hearts be stirred with a noble cause: humble thankfulness and appreciation of Christ Jesus. Amen.

Thanks From a Chaplain

Posted by Anders Skaar - Missions Director of CLI

Chaplains are pretty busy people! They serve an average of 1,000 prison inmates all by themselves. Plus conducting several chapel services every week and coordinating Bible studies with volunteer groups, facilitating religious services with up to 20 other religions, one-on-one counseling, contact with the families of inmates, etc, etc. Well, you get the picture.
Also, when the DOC looks for places to make cuts and save money, the chaplain seems to wear a target on his back.
So we are always pleased to hear from chaplains - knowing how stretched they are. When we send them a box of great Christian books free of charge, sometimes we get a form letter "thank you", which is fine. We really don't expect anything.
But once in a while, a chaplain actually writes us a letter. It makes us take notice. So here's a good one:

In the past few days I received the box of Christian materials you sent I wanted to take the time to both acknowledge the gift and thank you for it. As you already know, because you have made this into a ministry, these types of materials are what helps us jail Chaplains build up our flock here. Of course to me the most important thing we can do is to present the gospel message of hope and then give them Bibles where they can read and grow for themselves. What comes after that is to give them the kinds of materials you have sent to help them build upon the foundation already laid.

In today's economic struggle we are finding it harder and harder to obtain the resources to continue Bibles and these other Christian materials. That is why I am so grateful, appreciative of ministries like Christian Library International.

Here at our jail we have the unfortunate distinction of being the largest jail in the world, with a population of 7,000 men (just in Men's Central) and 23,000 people when we include the other six facilities within Los Angeles County. With a turn over of up to 500 a day county wide you can see the challenge it is to keep the inmates in the different materials we want them to have. We are an all volunteer Chaplain program within the LA system and our county takes the approach of "separation of Church and state" so we are on our own when it comes to anything that is provided to the inmates. So you can see why ministries like yourself help to make a difference. Once again, thank you for what you do.

(Name)
Senior Protestant Chaplain