Confessions And Testimony Of A Christian Prisoner

Unknowingly to me, the writing of this book commenced decades ago while traveling my thirty-five state territories as a tractor trailer driver. Listening to volumes of the Bible on cassette tapes, I often felt compelled to pull over and write on various issues as they occurred to me. Across the years, I improved, but not until I became a serious reader did I develop my present style through the influence of various prolific authors: GK Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, John MacArthur, and others. This book is a collection of theological essays, poetry, and short stories, some of which are true stories of my road trips and life experiences. In a backsliding state, however, some old bad habits revisited, landing me in prison. As I entered my first jail cell, it was vacant except for a beautiful leather-bound NKJ version of the Bible and a copy of a Strong's Concise Concordance of the Bible still sealed in cellophane wrap. That, my friends, I needn't say but I will anyway is an unheard of incident in 10 million vacant jail cells. So now I had just what I would need to polish my previous work, the time, pardon the pun, and the equipment. For my familiarity with the Bible was exhaustive, but only on tape so the concordance was what I would need to find my way around. This was to me a sign from God clearer than words. In addition to reading and writing, I lead Bible study in county jail, and eventually in state prison I shared my work from the pulpit at our chapel. It was then that I felt lead to compose this book; however, it was the Holy Spirit's help and energy who made it happen. I pray that it produces the ends to which it is sent multiplying the faithful among men in Christ Jesus. Remember to pray for the men and women who have lost their way.

The apostle Paul charged his son in faith to "fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses." He laid before Timothy the example of Christ Jesus, "Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession"(1 Tim 6: 12,13). It behooves us, therefore, to exercise ourselves in this godly practice. This second volume of the Basic Lesson Series contains six lessons: namely, Public Confessions, Separated from the World, Elimination of Distinctions, Witnessing, How to Lead People to Christ and Household Salvation.

Mary Brown’s engaging book describes the ‘lifeline’ work of the prison chaplaincy. Written by a Quaker chaplain, it shows how important to prisoners this contact is and how it blends into the ever-pressing world of prison regimes. Among the topics covered are the ‘statutory duties’ of chaplains, forgiveness, ‘prison chapel goers’, Christmas in prison, delivering bad news, dealing with grief or anxiety, learning in prisonand restorative justice (which is in line with the teachings of many faiths: as old as religion itself). As the author insists, there is ‘that of God’ to be found in everyone no matter what their crime. Critical, perceptive and of particular interest to people working in or learning about crime and punishment, Confessions of a Prison Chaplain contains insights for people of all faiths (or none); looks at restorative justice and positive justice; and re-affirms the importance of pastoral support in the reform and rehabilitation of prisoners.

A man confesses to a crime, later denies it, but is sentenced to death on circumstantial evidence. Another man appears, confesses to the same crime, but is acquitted despite his confession. During the appeal trial, however, evidence was adduced which confirmed Ishii's confession to its minutest detail, and he was sentenced to death. As he says himself in this writing, he was thus able to make some amends for his sins and at the same time to save an innocent man from death.

The Inquisition! Just the word itself evokes, to the modern reader, endless images of torment, violence, corruption, and intolerance committed in the name of Catholic orthodoxy and societal conformity. But what do most people actually know about the Inquisition, its ministers, its procedures? This systematic, comprehensive look at one of the most important Inquisition tribunals in the New World reveals a surprisingly diverse panorama of actors, events, and ideas that came into contact and conflict in the central arena of religious faith. Edited and annotated by John F. Chuchiak IV, this collection of previously untranslated and unpublished documents from the Holy Office of the Inquisition in New Spain provides a clear understanding of how the Inquisition originated, evolved, and functioned in the colonial Spanish territories of Mexico and northern Central America. The three sections of documents lay out the laws and regulations of the Inquisition, follow examples of its day-to-day operations and procedures, and detail select trial proceedings. Chuchiak’s opening chapter and brief section introductions provide the social, historical, political, and religious background necessary to comprehend the complex and generally misunderstood institutions of the Inquisition and the effect it has had on societal development in modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Featuring fifty-eight newly translated documents, meticulous annotations, and trenchant contextual analysis, this documentary history is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the Inquisition in general and its nearly three-hundred-year reign in the New World in particular.

Some vols. also contain reports of cases in the General Court of Virginia.