Take A Stand

Many years ago, my mother-in-law gave me a small tract-like booklet.  It was called “Others May, You Cannot”.    Written by G. D Watson many years ago, I have it hanging in my office, so that I can look at it over and over again.  It’s too long to put in a Chaplain’s Chat, but I would encourage you to look it up and read it for yourself.

In a nutshell, it encourages believers to take a stand, to get to that point in our lives that we decide “…to really be like Jesus in all your spirit…”, regardless of what the people around us are doing.  I have found out that making that decision to live as Christ dictates, causes me to scrutinize my life and standards.  As I have begun to inspect my life, I found that Scripture directs us to do so:  “Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40)

With all the social unrest in the world, it has become imperative for us, as Christians, to take a stand, decide which side we are on.  Are we on the side of light or dark – righteousness or lawlessness?  If light/righteousness, then the Word should take center stage.  Christ’s commands should be what we strive to follow.  The Word admonishes us:  “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God…” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

Our mandate as Christians, is to be separate – to be different – so that we attract others by our uniqueness.  We have to be okay with being different when living an authentic life for Christ.  This means doing the right thing, regardless of the sacrifices to ourselves or our lifestyles.  When we act differently from the world, people will want to know why.  When they see the peace with which we walk through this world, they will want to know how.  When they see the pure love believers have for one another, they will want to know what happened to us.    

Knowing the questions are going to come, we believers must “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (I Peter 3:15-17)

Yes, even being willing to suffer.  As Christ suffered for the forgiveness of our many sins, we must be willing to suffer if that will further the cause of Christ. 

Now, with Paul I can attest, I have not “…already attained, or am already perfected…” there is still much I have to learn and much the Lord needs to work on, but I am committed to pressing forward, “…that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12b)

It is more important than ever to decide which side we are on – Light or Dark, Good or Evil, Christ or the devil.  Are you willing to take a stand?

Standing tall and trusting Him through it all!

Chaplain Robin

Victory Comes!

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33

What a bold, yet comforting statement from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  It doesn’t matter what is taking place in the way of chaos, uncertainty, fear, or pandemic, Jesus has already overcome it all!  He is our all in all!

I am so glad my faith and trust is not in a worldly system that is operated by fallible man.  Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

As a former dope infested, alcoholic, promiscuous, wretched heathen sinner, I learned the hard way, that the only thing this world has to offer is jails, institutions or death.  Scripture puts it this way in I John 5:19:  “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

Lately I have been praying harder than ever to resist the wiles of the devil and this spirit of lust that invades our minds.  I’ve discovered that every time I make a conscious effort to do what it says in James 4:7 (Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you) that’s when victory comes!  This business of submission comes from abiding in His word.  I find every time I get lax with His word, I open a door to worldly lusts.  Jesus said we have to abide in Him; and His word has to abide in us (which means we have to literally conform to it) and it is then that we are able to ask what we desire and it shall be done for us. (John 15:7)

I don’t know who may be reading this right now, but I have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to encourage you.  There is a spirit of lust upon us like never before.  I can’t look up the word “fruit” on my device without, bam, right in my face, some sort of soft pornography!  It’s everywhere you look, and hard porn has never been more accessible.  If you are battling this spirit of lust, know this:  God says that He will always make a way of escape (I Corinthians 10:13), and He does it by way of His word when we abide in it.  So, I admonish you, in the name of Jesus, to take hold of His word.  Read James 1:12-15 (drawn away by selfish desires), then 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (taking every disobedient thought captive, bringing it into obedience to Jesus Christ).

God’s word tells us we cannot love the world or the things in the world.  “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” ~ I John 2:15-17

Hallelujah to abiding with the One who has overcome the world!

Chaplain Steve

Sin, Disease, And A Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On

According to the prophet Micah (6:13), sickness and disease are a direct result of the fall and sin coming in to the world.  This whole world has been disrupted from the way God intended it to be, so, it should be no surprise that additional disruption is taking place in our world, due to our sin problem.  Our sin in America and around the world, has not only escalated to heights that one could only imagine, but we’ve literally taken sin and thrown in right in God’s face!

Not only is slave trading taking place, but now it is sex slaves, or sex trafficking.  Wasn’t there a move to abolish all of this in 1863 called the Emancipation Proclamation?  We have literally thrown abomination in God’s face, redefining a holy sacrament and celebrating it by lighting up the White House with the rainbow flag!  Do you think we crossed a line on that one?  How about the latest total of abortion on unborn children?  63+ million abortions total to date.  And, haven’t we gone one step further, aborting a baby right before birth, after a full-term pregnancy.  Doctors in many states have been given the right to leave a baby, born alive, without medical care while it screams in anguish and fights to stay alive!  We used to call that infanticide. 

Hebrews 12:25-29;  “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ 27 The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.  28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”

This pandemic could very well be the start of something God is doing.  Can we agree there is a whole lot of shaking going on?  In Hebrews 12:25, “ See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven”!  Can I suggest that God is speaking and we better not ignore Him, or “ …much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven”!

A quote I heard just recently, in my opinion, confirms Hebrews 12:25-29: 

“A Recipe For True Awakening Is Upon Us; One of the greatest gods in America is being shut down – Sports and Entertainment!  Schools are being closed which is forcing needed relational proximity for marriages and families.  Large church and conference events are being canceled allowing house to house gatherings to explode like the book of Acts.  The stock market is plummeting exposing the greed and fear of lost humanity.  Prayer and a recognized need for God and His healing and protection has never been greater.  Has anyone else been on their knees full of joy, thanksgiving, and faith just marveling at our Father?  So many of us have been crying out for revival and awakening – let’s not miss this season of true visitation!”

So, for those of us who are the Spirit of Christ and part of His unshakable kingdom, allow this time to be an opportunity to serve as we are instructed in verse 28, to introduce Him to those who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior – whose kingdom cannot be shaken!

Prayerful and thankful,

Steve Malek

Transformed By Grace

Through the jail, we have the opportunity to meet and help many people who have lost their way.  This is the story of one of them, told by Chaplain Robin:

Several years ago, Chaplain Steve was able to preach at one of the women’s classes in the Macomb County Jail.  At that time, he met a young woman who recommitted her heart to the Lord at the end of his class.  After returning to the office, he mentioned her to me and asked if I would follow up with her.  Before I could visit her, I received a phone call from one of the Officers asking me to see her before she was released (she had touched this Officer’s heart as well).   

Upon meeting this young woman I was struck by her sweet, china doll face, and her soft heart.  In our conversation, she explained that she was concerned about getting out and not really having a safe place to land.  So, I mentioned Life Challenge (with whom we work very closely).  Unfortunately she was on some medication that Life Challenge wouldn’t allow. Upon learning she would have to wean off that medication before going there, she found another place to go to in Port Huron.  I told her that Steve and I would transport her there when she was released.

The day came for her release and I met her at the doors to the jail at 5am.  She was released in the middle of winter, so I took her to Meijer where we were able to find a couple of warm sweaters (all they had at the time), then I took her to breakfast.  She was so pleasant to be with and, again, I was struck with her sweet disposition and desire to grow closer to Christ.

After breakfast, we went back to the Chaplain’s office for her to make some phone calls and get some paperwork in order.  Afterwards, Steve and I took her to lunch then to Port Huron.

I stayed in touch with her by phone for a short period of time, but then contact with her began to dwindle.  Pretty soon, I could not get hold of her at all - which indicated that she was off and running (using drugs again).

After some time elapsed, Steve was preaching at another women’s class, and there she was – back in jail.  We were ecstatic; she was still alive!  I again, met with her, she agreed to enter Life Challenge, and we arranged to get her there.

Sensing a connection, I became her mentor, visiting her every other week at Life Challenge. Encouraging her to ask the Lord for a “life verse” (Scripture that will carry her throughout her life), Jessica felt the Lord led her to Isaiah 61:3:  “…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…”

During her year there, the Lord met her, fed her and kept her strong when her strength of resolve was waning.  She graduated Life Challenge in November 2015, (incidentally, the Officer who had contacted me on her behalf, was able to attend her graduation and was moved to tears to see the transformation that had taken place).  After her graduation, the young lady decided to stay there as an intern for 6 months.

After the 6 month commitment was over, the Gateway Board had been feeling led to open a women’s house and had the opportunity to do so, so the young lady became the first resident (and because of clean time and leadership abilities, also became the women’s house manager).  She continued as the house manager for 3 years.  Many of you know her, the young lady’s name is Jessica.

Just last year, our amazing God brought a Godly young man (Brandon) into Jessica’s life and, on February 1, 2020, in front of 120+ people, Jessica and Brandon recited their vows of marriage to one another! Incidentally, Brandon’s life verse is Ephesians 2:10; “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…”

Coming from a similar background (not to mention having life verses that compliment each other), these two share the testimony of God’s unrelenting love!  They are trophies of His amazing grace!  As they begin their new lives as husband and wife, we pray that the grace that captured them will hold them, mold them, and continue to abound toward them as they work together to fulfill His calling on their lives.

Amazed by His transforming power,
Chaplains Steve and Robin Malek