John Apple
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John Apple
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John's BlogJournalFebruary 4, 2010 I now am enrolled in the Parchman Bible college. This is a four-year, fully accredited degree program offered via extension through Leavell College of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. When I returned from SMCI last September, I was assigned to Unit 26-B, which is a work camp for minimum-custody prisoners. The unit holds approximately 600 men, all of whom wear green & white pants. The kind of trousers worn by convicts reveals their security clearance. Solid red clothing (jump-suits or scrub-suits) is worn by the Death Row prisoners; red & white pants are worn by "C" or "D" custody (close confinement) prisoners; black & white pants are worn by "B" custody (medium security) prisoners; and green & white pants are worn by "A" custody (minimum security) prisoners. Parchman's Unit 26 houses only "A" custody prisoners. The workers from the Maintenance Department are housed at Unit 26, so the physical facilities are fixed-up very nice. Unit 29 Division I houses "A" and "B" custody prisoners. (Division II at Unit 29 houses "C" custody convicts). As a rule, the general population consists-of prisoners in "A" and "B" custody. Prisoners in "C" and "D" custody generally stay in a cell 23 hours a day. (They are allowed one hour of yard-call daily). Parchman is the only prison I have been-in that segregates "A" custody prisoners. SMCI (the prison in South Mississippi), and CMCF (the prison in central Mississippi) do not segregate minimum-custody and medium-custody prisoners. The private prison in east Mississippi, EMCF, houses "A", "B" and "C" custody prisoners all in the same zones. During the months of September and October, as a personal spiritual discipline, I wrote-out the plans for my own funeral. I also wrote an updated version of my spiritual autobiography. In late November, a convict named WP, who is housed at Unit 26, gave me a blank application for the Bible College. (The acronym is FBI, which stands for faith-based initiative). I filled-out this application, included a photocopy of my spiritual autobiography, and WP took the paperwork to the Parchman FBI Director. About a week later, I was given an interview. The FBI has a musical group, and I now am again playing keyboards in a band. I also am enrolled, as a junior, in the degree program. The FBI Bible college is headquartered at Unit 30, and, in mid-December, the members of the Area II staff members held a Christmas choir competition in the Unit 30 gymnasium. The FBI band played for this program. Also, every year, the FBI Director holds a Christmas party, complete with turkey and all of the trimmings. I was privileged to be included in this celebration. Academic classes began on January 25. February 5, 2010 Last night, Dr. Ziegler taught his Oral Communications class. Since I took a speech course at Mississippi Delta Community College in the 1990s in the Parchman college program, I am auditing this course. In last night's class, Dr. Z. made a point that I had not thought about. He said that language is a gift from God. Dr. Z. also gave us an assignment whose purpose is to gain some knowledge about ourselves as communicators. Since I am auditing the course, and since I am overwhelmed with work, my abbreviated work on this assignment has led me to believe that I can write better than I can speak. I remember back in 2006, the family of Martin Luther King, Jr. released his college transcripts. Dr. King's worst grades were in public speaking. (This is indicative of how the human spirit can take a weakness and make it into an attribute of strength; it also indicates how the college grading system does not always measure a student's abilities in an accurate way). Of course, the Super Bowl is being played on Feb. 7. Since Leavell college is based in New Orleans, there is a lot of emotion surrounding the game. I gave the FBI Director the verses from Daniel 7:21-22. The Director would correct me on my use of these verses as regards a football game being played by a team whose mascot is "the saints." (I have found the Bible to be alive: this means the terms and phrases transcend time, culture, language, etc.) One of the ways in which God speaks to me is through my reading of Scripture.. Feb. 8, 2010 Well, the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl. I believe this is a good thing! In 1966 or 1967, my paternal grandparents were living outside of New Orleans in a little community called North Shore. The Saints were just getting organized as a team, and I remember all of the talk around the dinner table at my grandparents' house about the team. The Saints won all of their preseason games during their first year as a team, and, on the opening kickoff of regular-season play, the return-man ran the ball all the way back for a touchdown. Feb. 9, 2010 The FBI is turning-out to be a great deal of work. It is said that the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. Yesterday evening, I got in from school around 3:30 P.M. I went to sleep very early, and I did not even eat supper. (We eat between 6:30 and 7:30 every night). I usually take a shower around 4 AM, and I did so this morning. Mail was delivered late last night, and I had to be awakened in order to get my mail. I read this mail after I took my shower this morning. Then I meditated, which consists of devotional Bible reading. I also read a paper from the Rosary Society about the three Theological Virtues: faith, hope and charity. It now is 7:20 in the morning, and I have just arrived at the FBI Headquarters. The students are often reminded by the FBI Director that this is a job assignment. He is very strict about attendance. This evening, I have a counseling course; and also this evening, I have a course on Evangelistic Preaching. In prison, a person can never tell what the day is going to bring. It is prudent to expect the unexpected. The unexpected can just as easily be something good and positive as it can be negative. Unit 26 is divided into zones. (In the old days, the word "cages" is the term which now designates zones). Each zone is divided into cubes. Each cube has between six and eight beds. I sleep in the corner cube of the zone, so my cube has eight beds. The people who live in my cube are known as 'cube partners.' One of my cube partners is Davidson (not his real name). He is an electrician by trade, but he actually is a jack-of-all-trades. Unlike the cliché, Davidson is the master of several trades. He picks-at me about being a piano-player. He says that he can take an internal combustion motor, tear it apart and have some third-party mix-up all the parts, and still put it back together and get the engine to run. Davidson reads a lot. (He sees me reading the Bible all of the time.) One day he gave me a book in the "Left Behind" series. He told me that I ought to read those books in that series. I tell him I do not believe all of that "left behind" stuff. I tell him that no one knows the hour of Jesus' return to Earth. I tell him that the end of time is a mystery: we are not supposed to understand it. I tell him that the book of Revelation was written in prison, in prison slang (which, we all know, is full of unusual imagery), and the images in that book refer to people who were alive at the time. I went on to tell him that I believe the end of time is as if Jesus left us a bunch of car parts. There might be different car parts in a lot of different countries. The frame might be in Europe; the transmission might be in Asia; the electrical system might be in Africa; the engine might be in North America; the tires might be in South America; and the interior might be in Australia. I believe that when we get that car put together and running, then Jesus will come-back, take the keys from us, and start driving the car. I got this idea from something which William Faulkner said, "Man(kind) will not only endure, (he) will prevail!" To me, this makes a lot more sense than the belief that the world will end in a great cataclysm. Feb. 10, 2010 Today would have been my father, Peyton's, 85th birthday. Dad died in 1992 at the age of 68 years old. Today, I got to defend my Roman Catholic faith during a class discussion on the Book of Psalms. The context of this was that the FBI Director was discussing the 22nd Psalm. He was talking about the crucifixion of Jesus, and, during the course of his lecture, the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory came-up. Another Catholic doctrine which was discussed was the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I told the FBI Director that, to me, the description of purgatory is the same description of the institution known as the department of corrections. I said that God is not a double-jeopardy god, and that crimes/sins which are punished in this life will not be punished in the next life. The MDOC chaplains send out a mixed message regarding the message of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection. It is a mixed-message for the chaplains to tell prisoners that Jesus died in order to pay the penalty for our sins, and then to turn-around and tell us that we have to continue to pay for crimes which were committed over 30 years ago. It is a mixed-message for the chaplains to tell prisoners that Jesus' shed blood was sufficient sacrifice, atonement and oblation to take-away the sins of the world, and then to turn-around and tell us that our crimes are so heinous that we "will never again breathe free air." It made for a good class discussion, however. Feb. 12, 2010 As a part of a field practicum, the FBI students are required to make a tract. Also, we are required to talk to 16 people about Jesus. I have shared my faith with at least that many people, but I have only written one-page reports on about 14 of them. I finished my tract yesterday. The FBI Director gives us each 10 photocopies of our tract. These copies are made on brightly-colored paper. I mailed seven copies last night to seven family members and friends. God willing, there will be a Roman Catholic Mass celebrated tomorrow morning for minimum custody prisoners at Parchman's Spiritual Life Center. This is a time when I can relax. (In my studies, I have been working very, very hard!) God willing, also, we will have a KAIROS meeting tomorrow afternoon in the Unit 29 gymnasium. This also is a time when I can relax. (It is analogous to recharging our batteries). In the process of our living our lives, and in the penitentiary especially, we never know what a day is going to bring. However, I have found that it is just a likely for something good to happen, and it is for something bad. Feb. 13, 2010 I went to Roman Catholic Mass today at the Spiritual Life Center. The name of our congregation is the Dismas Community. St. Dismas (according to tradition) is the name of the penitent thief who died next to Jesus on the cross. According to Scripture, Jesus promised him an entry into Paradise on the day of the crucifixion. Fr. Sam Messina was our priest today. Fr. Sam imposed ashes on our foreheads in anticipation of Ash Wednesday on Feb. 17. God willing, Bishop Houck will visit Parchman on March 9, 2010. Later today, I went to a KAIROS service in the Unit 29 gym. The prisoners from the "outer-units" (Unit 25, Unit 26, Unit 30 & Unit 31) were late in arriving. The Chaplain's Department did not do the paperwork to get us transported over there. I gave my testimony at the KAIROS service. I had been planning this for a month. I paraphrased 1 Corinthians 15:16-20. ("If I hope in Christ for this next life, then I am the most miserable of creatures."). Coincidentally, the readings today at Mass were from 1 Corinthians 15:16-20. February 17, 2010 Today is Ash Wednesday. I gave away my sausage patty at breakfast, in keeping with the recommendation that we not eat meat today. Later today, I was called to the Records Office about an administrative remedy petition (ARP) which I have pending. I was hoping that Mr. Epps, the Commissioner of Corrections, would address the claims which I presented in my ARP. However, the matter was turned-over to a low level clerical employee. It looks as if I will be going to court over the matter. Since I was at the Records Office interview during lunch, I missed getting to eat in the dining hall. I was given peanut butter sandwiches, which I ate for lunch and supper. Therefore, I did not eat meat. February 18, 2010 Today I was called to the outpatient department at the MDOC Hospital (Unit 42). I saw the head doctor at MSP. He is going to address my complaints of inadequate medical care. (I asked him to send me back to Unit 31) March 10, 2010 It has been a while since I have written. I finally am caught-up with my school work. Mid-term exams are this week. This week has been a crucial week. God willing, I will mail a 2241 petition tomorrow to the Fifth Circuit. Bishop Houck came to Parchman yesterday and celebrated a Mass. The Roman Catholic women volunteers put-down a very good meal. It is a human tendency to make plans and ask God to bless them. My experience in life is that my plans never quite turn-out like I plan them in any way. However, this time, I am asking God to let my plans work-out. Today, I mailed Mom a photocopy of my habeas corpus petition. Tomorrow, I am scheduled to file a habeas corpus petition in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. God willing, I will mail this through the Inmate Legal Assistance Program (ILAP), aka Law Library. I am planning to be out of prison by summer: hopefully by Easter; hopefully with a Governor's pardon. Gary got his minimum custody recently, and he now is playing guitar at Catholic services. He is an asset to our music program. We both played yesterday for Bishop Houck's visit. Sister Cathy picked some good music. Rosemary told me yesterday that Sr. Cathy is leaving Parchman soon. I told her that I would not publish this information; that I would allow Sr. Cathy to tell us in her own time, and in her own way. Today, I am mailing Bishop Houck a copy of my Spiritual Autobiography. He is now 84 years old. I told him that I knew he was getting up in age, but I wasn't going to say anything. (He volunteered his age). He says he gets good check-ups at the doctor. Bishop Latino had neck surgery. He now cannot lift his right arm. I am praying that Bishop Latino makes a recovery so that he can lift his arm, and (therefore) celebrate Mass. He can sign his name. March 16, 2010 I mailed the 2241 (in federal court) petition on the 11th. That morning, before the ILAP lady ran, I prayed all 20 decades of my rosary (for the intentions of a good mailing, and a positive response). I received my photocopies in the mail from the ILAP on the 11th , so my prayers are being answered. The Chairman of the Parole Board, Shannon Warnock should have gotten her copies yesterday. (Yesterday was the Ides of March). On the 12th, I got my Third Step on my "Institutional Hold ARP." I've got the petition all drawn up, and God willing, it will go in the mail to the Sunflower County Circuit Court on the 18th (the day after tomorrow). I could be totally released from custody by the first week in May. (It would make for a good Mother's Day present). I know that things, in the past, have not gone like I planned, but as a prisoner named Joe used to say often 'God, you've got to let me win sometimes.' On Saturday morning, the 13th, I went to Mass at the Spiritual Life Center. It is officially known as the St. Dismas Community (the Church of the Good Thief). Chris is a music professor at DSU, and Saturday was his first day as a Dismas volunteer. He plays piano and sings. If I am released, he will be my replacement as piano player. Saturday afternoon, we had KAIROS at the Unit 29 gym. I saw Pappy. He cannot hear very well. I told him that, about two or three weeks ago, I had talked to Dr. Som about going to Unit 31. After I file the petition in Sunflower County, I am planning to write the MDOC Staff Attorney about getting me to Unit 31. KAIROS is now a "high-security" environment, since the "C" Custody prisoners are now being allowed to participate. In the bathroom in the 29 gym, some of the C Custody prisoners were stashing contraband in their shoes. The C Custody prisoners use KAIROS in order to traffic contraband. The MDOC uses KAIROS for behavior control, and, in the last 15 months, the quality of the KAIROS meetings has gone-down. Yesterday, Dr. Bley went on the internet and obtained an application form for Excelsior College. I may be eligible for a BAL (Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies). Vocational Rehabilitation may be able to pay for it. Last night, I mailed Mom letters to the Registrars at Vandy, USM and MDCC to get my transcripts sent. (Mom has to enclose a check). I also wrote Ted and asked him to contact the Voc. Rehab. Man. Yesterday and this morning, I had good meditation (quiet-time) sessions. In last night's mail, I got a notification from the Legal Claims Adjudicator that Mr. Sparkman is treating my Inmate Request Form (the one I mailed him about the postal inspectors returning my mail to sender because they said I received too many letters in one day) as an ARP. This morning, I saw the Compliance Officer in the zone at U/26-B, and I told her how the PO did me. The compliance officer is going to talk to Ms. Weeks (the director of the PO). March 17, 2010 Yesterday was a good day. Professor Silk gave his pastoral-counseling-in-life-crises class. His wife always comes with him. They are both very well dressed and sophisticated. They are a handsome couple. His class is very interesting. It teaches a lot of stuff we need to know: not only how to counsel people in crises, but also how to deal with our own personal crises. He teaches a lot about death and dying. I told him that, while I was at SMCI, I planned my own funeral. (Professor Silk was a chaplain at SMCI while I was down there last summer). He told me he would give me extra credit if I turned-in my funeral plans. I have been typing these up on the word processor for much of the day today. Last night, Dr. Lawrence had his class. He is a very enjoyable teacher. He is very knowledgeable about his subject (evangelistic preaching); he has a good delivery; and he also is wise. People know wisdom when they see it, and I see it in Dr. Lawrence. (Dr. Bley is perspicacious: he has book sense and street sense). Dr. Ziegler is the professor at our Thursday night class in Oral Communications. He grew up in South America as the child of a missionary couple. However, he speaks with a Midwestern accent. He is a very demanding teacher. He expects much out of us: he holds us to very high standards. (I am auditing his class, because I took Oral Communications in the 1990s in the prison college program. I am glad that I do not have to take Dr. Ziegler's tests!) Last night after class (about 8PM), Dr. Lawrence prayed that we all would get a good night's rest, and that we would awake refreshed and ready to meet the next day. God answered Dr. Lawrence's prayer! I slept well; and this morning, I was ready to go. Tomorrow is law library day, and God willing, I will mail my mandamus petition. It is the second line of attack in my one-two punch. I believe that both my court petitions are going to be successful; that is, if the Governor does not pardon me first. I also am doing a lot of one-on-one ministry to the men in the FBI. These men are hungry for knowledge, and they welcome a good conversation about the Bible. True, there are scoffers in the FBI: that is any where you go; but Doc only lets the screw-ups go for just so long before he kicks-them-to-the-curb. I saw the urinalysis man (The MDOC is giving this duty to the lieutenants and phasing out the staff members who exclusively perform urinalyses). I told him he ought to open-up a halfway house. He said that he had thought of that himself. I told him that a large number of houses are up-for-sale in Jackson. I gave him the name of a physician in Jackson whom I met through KAIROS. The doctor owns a halfway house. March 22, 2010 The FBI was off work on Friday, March 19. It was a long, productive weekend. I started this blog asking God to bless my plans. What I believe is really happening is that God has been directing me all along and I am just now realizing it. My prayers over the years were indeed heard: God just had to prepare the way. My time is come! This past weekend, I went through a lot of my files in an effort to locate a blank clemency application for a friend. I found an old clemency application which I had completed in 2008, but never submitted. I revised this application, and, God willing, I will send it out this coming Thursday via the ILAP. When I was revising the clemency papers, I could not decide whether or not to put email addresses on the application form. This problem was solved when I realized that the printwheel on my typewriter does not have the '@' sign. Out of common courtesy, I plan to send copies of my 2241 and Mandamus petitions to my younger sisters. Both of these sisters (they are twins) work at law offices, so I can mail them these documents through the ILAP. I can get their mailing addresses from the ILAP. (They have a registry of attorneys. If the name of the attorney is not in the registry, then prisoners cannot mail documents to them through ILAP). This weekend, I also filled-out a clemency application for one of my friends on the zone. He has been locked-up for ten years longer than I have. He needed a letter-of-recommendation, so I wrote him one. (My clemency application has a recommendation from another prisoner included in-it; it also has a letter from the Parchman dentist and one of my attorneys). (It was when Job prayed for his friends that God restored Job's fortunes). Also Prince (a good friend at Unit 26-B) asked me about doing a one-on-one Bible study with him on Saturday. I really did not feel like it, but I did it. The subject came-up that I had written a book (Reflections On Sam Stone, by John Peyton Alexander, II Xlibris Publishing Co.). Prince asked to see it, so I pulled out the only copy I have. (It is all cut-up with missing pages). Prince talked about "fishers-of-men." (Matthew 4).He used life-lessons from fishing. A fisherman has to be: 1). Skillful (he has to know how to fish using techniques as selection of bait, etc.); 2). Discerning (The fisherman has to know where to fish); 3). Quiet (he does not want to spook the fish); 4) Patient; and 5). Persistent. On Sunday, I led the Bible study with Prince. I talked about the Three Scrutinies in the adult initiation rite in the Roman Catholic Church. The First Scrutiny was held on March 7. The reading was the Samaritan Woman at the Well. (That was the week that I mailed my federal petition for writ of habeas corpus). The Second Scrutiny was held on March 14. The reading was for the Man Born Blind. (That was the week that I mailed my mandamus petition in the Mississippi courts). The Third Scrutiny was held on March 21 (the day of the Bible study with Prince). The reading was the Resurrection of Lazarus. On Sunday, Prince and I read the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead out of the 11th Chapter of the Book of John. (This will be the week that I mail my clemency application). After the Bible study on Sunday, Prince and I had a signing ceremony for my clemency application. I gave Prince a blank clemency application in order for him to fill-out. Through circumstance, God also has led me to draw up some new power-of-attorney documents (I am going to have to handle this matter when I get out of prison, so I might as well do it now). God also is leading my through my address book to names of lawyers whom I am asking for assistance. I also am receiving ideas for novels in the dreams I have during sleep. One such idea is for a novel entitled "Disingenuous." I am not intelligent enough to come-up with all of these ideas. As I take a step, the metaphorical seas part before me, opening only enough along the way for me to take one step at a time. God is doing this! Jesus said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Sunday night (March 21) I went to a praise service at night at the Spiritual Life Center. There was a band from Pontotoc, Mississippi composed of two couples (one of whom is named 'Cooper'). They are a good band. I was blest and edified! Monday morning (today) I submitted my request form to the Case Manager in order to go to Unit 31. I am trying to get over there so that I can help Pappy. He said at KAIROS the last time I saw him that he felt like he may die soon. I cannot decide whether or not to send a copy of my clemency application to my sisters. I have decided that, if I do, it won't be this week! March 23, 2010 I talked to Mom on the telephone last night. The telephone service is known as the "wall phone." (This is in contrast to the contraband cell phones which proliferate all throughout the MDOC). The wall phones charge exorbitantly high rates. The argument the MDOC and the phone companies used to use is that so many families of prisoners run up high telephone bills which are never paid, so the rates have to be high in order to make up for this loss. However, nowadays, the phone companies require the families to pre pay their phone accounts, so that metaphorical dog won't hunt. The MDOC gets a cut from the phone companies, so they have no incentive to bring the rates down. Mom mailed my application to Excelsior College last Friday (the 19th). Also I am having problems with my Web site, so I am enlisting the aid of a friend (my fourth grade teacher). I wrote her a long letter last night. Her grandson is a computer whiz, and I am counting on him to solve my computer problems. Last weekend, the printwheel on my typewriter broke. I have tried and tried, and I cannot locate another printwheel. The character '9' broke. It happened as I was typing an address label to the Oprah Winfrey Show. I plan to re-release my book. Early this morning (around 5AM), I drafted my power-of-attorney documents. Since my printwheel is broken, I have asked a friend to type it up for me. Later this morning (but still before breakfast), I received legal mail. The post office has two ladies who do not do anything but bring legal mail (from courts, government officials, attorneys, etc.) to prisoners. They have to start early in the morning. The Sunflower County Circuit Court returned my Mandamus Petition. They told me that I filed in the wrong court. I plan to amend the petition. (I can do this using address labels in order to white-out the name of the Sunflower Court and substitute the name of the Supreme Court of Mississippi). God willing, I'll get this in the mail when the law library comes on Thursday morning. (That is the day after tomorrow). ('If at first you don't succeed, …') March 24, 2010
When I got back to the camp last night, I retrieved the letter I had put in the mail to a prospective attorney (I am shopping for lawyers by sending them inquiry letters). I have it worked out to use a typewriter (which was sold through the MDOC Commissary) in order to amend my mandamus pleadings when I get in from school this evening. During my meditation this morning, I decided I would do well to re-read the opinions which the Supreme Court of Mississippi has already rendered in my case (The high court has issued four opinions in my case already). It is a good thing I did reread these opinions, because the last opinion issued states that I am going to have to file a motion in the Mississippi Supreme Court for leave to go back into Hinds County Circuit Court (the court of county of conviction). I still have two more opinions to re-read: the two conflicting opinions the Court rendered relative to my parole revocation proceedings. I showed my 2241 papers to an inmate writ writer, and he told me at breakfast this morning that someone needs to write and submit a memorandum brief in support of my 2241 petition. (That is, if the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (hereafter COA-5) does not return my 2241 papers to me without filing them). I am expecting to get a response from the COA-5 any day now: hopefully today. I asked the writ writer if he would write the memorandum opinion on my behalf. He said he will look at his schedule and let me know. This is my plan:
“God, you’ve got to let me win sometimes!” March 29, 2010
I went to Dismas Mass on March 27. Fr. Kent celebrated. He is the vocations-director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson. He has been coming to Parchman about 15 years. At one time in my life, I wanted to be an Episcopal priest. I am no longer an Episcopalian. I joined the Catholic Church in 2007. I do want to get married again, so the priesthood is not a viable option. However, many Episcopal priests are leaving that Church, and the Catholics are welcoming them: wives and all. The music professor from Delta State University also was at Dismas. He sang and played the piano on the Responsorial Psalm. He also played the piano for the recessional hymn, (“Were You There When They Crucified My Lord”). Fr. Kent celebrated the Mass in Spanish: a first for-me to-be in attendance when a Mass was said in a language other-than English. It added to the mystery of it all! We have a closing ritual at Dismas: we circle-up, pray and sing. (I wrote a “Prayer for St. Dismas” which is on the “Essays” section of my Web site. We always begin the closing ritual with this prayer). I am in the process of working-with my fourth-grade teacher in an effort to revitalize my Web site. During the ritual, anyone who is there for the first time or anyone who is going-home usually comes to the center of the circle for prayer. Saturday, I asked the congregation to lay-hands on me and pray for me to make it through the next six weeks. (We had about twenty prisoners in-attendance). Sr. Cathy, in her characteristic coyness, said, “Something must be up?” I have been working very hard during the last three days. I got my Haldol shot on March 25. Kipling said we have to fill the unforgiving-minute with sixty seconds of distance run. (I’m trying to pace myself). I was looking through some old-files recently. I found a press-release that we had drawn-up in 2004-2005 when we were promoting my book, Reflections On Sam Stone (Xlibris). Copies of the press-release kept coming-up in my files, so I decided to release it again. (This, in my belief, is more-than coincidence: I feel the metaphorical Hand-of-God leading me every step of the way). I then started looking-through my (old-school) address book for names of former attorneys. I am writing them inquiry letters. I am writing my fourth-grade teacher about getting my Web site up-to-date. I also wrote a childhood friend from the swimming-team about helping me promote my book. (She also is a writer) Last night, again, I was led (God is doing this; not I!) to re-read the MDOC Handbook on the ILAP Mailing Procedures. It is a good thing God led me to do-this, because I plan to mail my Clemency Application this Thursday (April 1) to about eight-or-ten attorneys and I have to designate these lawyers in-advance on my Request for ILAP Services form. These forms are picked-up in the early hours of the morning, every Monday; and I was able to get all of the names of this-week’s attorneys on my ILAP request-form. All of this happened last night while I worked on my Clemency Petition. I addressed envelopes until rap-down (2230 hours) when the lights are turned-off and we are required to go to bed. I prayed the Rosary after that until I feel asleep. I got two hours sleep. This morning, I packed-up the headphones for my television (none for me for a while). I will have to work very hard until I complete my mission! I read somewhere recently that someone wondered how St. Francis of Assisi was able to accomplish so much. He replied that God used him, mainly because he was a-nobody who would not get puffed-up by all of his accomplishments. This morning, Harley and I had a signing ceremony for his Clemency Application. Harley went off-the-farm today in order to get some special-made shoes. He is diabetic, and the concrete floors at Parchman aggravate his feet. Also, early this morning (before breakfast) I studied for a test in the Biblical Backgrounds course, which is being given later today. March 30, 2010
In last night’s mail, I received a brown envelope from the ILAP containing a photocopy of the Mandamus petition (which was mailed to the Mississippi Supreme Court on the 25th), and a copy of the 2241 petition. I mailed a photocopy of my Mandamus petition to my sister (the lawyer). I put her name on the certificate of service. I also mailed an inquiry letter to an attorney in St. Louis who is a parole specialist. I put my own postage stamp on this letter. In last night’s mail, Ms. Hopkins (the ILAP Tech) returned the letter to me. I also submitted to Hopkins (not her real name) a working copy of my 2241 petition, which I asked her to mail to two other attorneys (one of whom is my brother-in-law). I asked Hopkins to return to me the original of my working-papers. She sent me a photocopy. In response to Hopkins’s carelessness, I wrote Mr. Sparkman, the prison official who holds both jobs of MDOC Deputy Commissioner and MSP Superintendent. I told him that I am involved in a high-maintenance undertaking, and I asked him to talk to her. (I sent a handwritten copy to Hopkins). Mom told me on the phone last week that my email address has been restored. I wrote Ms. Smith (not her real name) about finding me a Web master. Today, God willing, I will write a literary agent in Oxford, MS. (I found her name in my address book). I plan to send to her the outline to my novel, The London Bridge Club. I also will send her a copy of my resume’, a copy of the Author Biography (from www.johnapple.com), and my Spiritual Autobiography (which also is on my Web site). My current plan is to re-issue the press-release for my book, Reflections On Sam Stone, and to get my Web site (www.johnapple.com) revitalized. I also wrote Chris at the TCL. I put his name on my visiting list. The timing will be tricky. I will have to depend on God the Holy Spirit to help me with the timing. I took the Biblical Backgrounds test yesterday. It was not that bad. We had a map where we had to fill-in the names and geographical-areas of the twelve tribes of Israel after the Canaanite Conquest. I knew where the areas were, but I did not know very well the boundary-lines which divide them. Also yesterday, I finished-up my funeral plans. I am submitting them to Professor Silk today for extra-credit. (In the Pastoral Counseling course which he teaches, he told us that we need to confront our own mortality in order to minister more effectively to the dying. I told him that, last August and September when I was housed at SMCI, I planned my own funeral. He was a chaplain at SCMI at the time. He told me that he will give me extra credit for turning-in these funeral plans). March 31, 2010
Last night, we did not have Evangelistic Preaching class. Dr. Lawrence is the pastor of a large church in Memphis, and either this week or next week, the church is having a revival. I had some spare time, so I went back to the back of the classroom in order to play the piano. A student/prisoner was playing the acoustic guitar. I had heard Shane play some Eagles’ tunes before, so we started playing “Desperado.” I had to transpose it into another key signature for Shane, because I learned the tune when I was in the Parchman Band, and we played it in “F”. This is not a good key for guitar players. When I got to the building, my name was on-the-board to go for ILAP services (we meet in the Unit 26 dining hall) this morning. The usual ILAP day is Thursday. I figured it was probably a mistake, but I got-up this morning at my usual time (around 3AM) and prepared my paperwork to mail my Clemency Petition. I did not get a chance to mail it last Thursday because the Sunflower Circuit Clerk returned my Mandamus petition, and, on the 25th, I had to resubmit it to the Supreme Court of Mississippi. I did decide to send a photocopy of my Clemency Petition to my sister Sally (not her real name). One of the mistakes I made in the 1990s was not to practice full-disclosure. My parole revocation case had already been decided before Sally even knew about it. She then filed an amicus curia brief opposing my release. I did not think the Supreme Court of Mississippi ever would withdraw a unanimous opinion after it already had been published, but it did! I’ve been “stuck like Chuck” for the last 15 years. Yesterday, we had pancakes for breakfast. We have these now about once-a-week. I remember a time in this penitentiary when we only got pancakes once-a-month. My mother knows I like pancakes, so, during our telephone conversations, I always tell her whenever we have pancakes. Last night, I obtained some extra pancakes that were brought back to the building, and, at 3AM this morning, I ate pancakes. We eat breakfast every morning between six and seven AM. We had a “pulpwood haulers’ breakfast” this morning. This consisted of oatmeal, scrambled-eggs, sausage patty, biscuits, jelly, milk & sugar. (You could haul a couple of loads of pulpwood after eating that breakfast). My friend Harley did not get his diabetic shoes the other day: he went to the eye doctor. He fell while he was an inpatient at the MDOC Hospital a few years ago, and hit his eye on a table. Last weekend, I wrote Mr. Sparkman about getting-back my typewriter. The MDOC Commissary sold me a typewriter in 2005. It is about a thirty-dollar typewriter at Wal-Mart, but I had to pay about $166 (plus tax) for it. When I was transferred to SCMI last July, the Lieutenant at the Receiving Office would not let me take my typewriter to the building. I was required to mail it home. I asked the Superintendent to let me know how I can go-about having my typewriter mailed back to me. (Mom never unpacked it: it still is in the same box the Lieutenant packed it-in in order to mail it to Mom). Last weekend, I also wrote the Director of Classification/Offender Services about getting transferred back to Unit 31. About two weeks ago, the HIV prisoners finally won a court ruling whereby they are now allowed, under the Americans’ With Disabilities Act, to participate in the same programs as any other prisoner. Since it is a legally established fact that I have a medical condition (I am bipolar) which requires specialized care, I asked the Classification Director to move me to Unit 31 and allow me to continue participation in the FBI. (Prior to the court-ruling, prisoners at medical units were denied participation in many programs---although they still could participate in the FBI). April 1, 2010
Last night about 8PM (after the Canteen was delivered in A-Building), we had an ecumenical Communion service in the Unit 26 dining hall. At this service, Mud Duck and I played music together again for the first time since we both were in the Parchman Band together. As an opening hymn, we played “Sanctuary”. During the receiving of Communion, we played “Surely the Presence.” It was a good service!
The psychiatrist recently switched my side-effect medication. I was taking an anti-cholinergic (similar to Detrol LA) in the morning. However, because I have problems passing my urine, I asked to be switched to Benadryl. The psych doctor put me on 50 mg of Benadryl. This made me sleepy, so I wrote the shrink and asked to have the dosage lowered. They don’t purchase 25 mg Benadryl in this institution, so the psychiatrist kept me on 50 mg of Benadryl, but now I receive it at the hour of sleep. I slept well last night!
I mailed my Clemency Application this morning. I came to find-out that the address I for the attorney in St. Louis (the one I sent the inquiry letter to) is the location of a furniture store. The ILAP Tech and I got into a spirited discussion about the quality of her work. (The photocopies of the last mailing to the Supreme Court were of poor quality, and there were important pages missing). However, we concluded the matter with the agreement that “understanding is the best thing in the world.”
Sgt. Freddy Butler (not his real name) was our transportation officer this morning. He always overloads the transportation vehicle with too many prisoners. I spoke to him about it personally today, and he told me that any time we do anything in life, we take chances. I told him there is a higher degree of statistical likelihood of us having a motor vehicle accident when the van is overloaded. He told me that if I don’t like it, to stay in the building. I plan to talk to Doc later on and tell him that if I cannot get any resolution to this problem, I am going to drop-out of the program: I’m not going to endanger my life unnecessarily for anyone!
After my initial entry in today’s blog, I did some calisthenics. I got a good work-out because my heart-rate went-up to the point where my blood was pumping and I was breathing hard. This alleviated a lot of stress. Then I did some stretches.
My friend from the swimming team wrote me back and told me she doesn’t have time to help me with the promotion of my book. I do need the help, but I specifically asked her because she is trying to get-published a book, and I thought she would jump at the chance to get some experience in this.
I talked to my aunt on the telephone yesterday. She had researched Excelsior College on the internet, and made some suggestions with my application. She told me she would help me find a Web master to change my service from Xfone to Yahoo! That is a big relief for me. (The request to my fourth grade teacher still is pending). My aunt said that my Mom is particularly fragile. This is a source of deep concern for me!
Yesterday afternoon, while I was still at school, I received legal mail. I heard from my appellate lawyer of 1978. He is now 89 years old. He said he no longer does any courtroom work. This morning, at ILAP, I wrote a Mississippi Civil Rights attorney from the 1970s. He now lives in NY State. This morning, I received more legal mail. This was an ARP response from Ms. Weeks at the post office. She said multiple copies of my resume’ are not allowed. I plan to appeal this to Mr. Sparkman on the basis of the fact that it is a free speech issue.
When I got back to Unit 26-B yesterday afternoon, the Case Manager called me into her office. She had received an email from Mr. Sparkman in response to my request to have my typewriter mailed back to me at Parchman. Mr. Sparkman said that, since the courts do not require paperwork from prisoners to be typed, I cannot have my typewriter (even though the sold it to me at an inflated price from the Canteen). I ask the Case Manager if she would give me a printed copy of the email. She said she would have to ask Mr. Sparkman.
A few days ago, the Unit 29 security staff caught an FBI student with a cell phone coming back in from school. (The FBI headquarters are located at Unit 30). Doc went ballistic yesterday. He told us if we see anything to report it to him before security gets involved. This is a reasonable request. Now the intensity of shakedowns will increase). Many of the other FBI students were saying, “I have to live with these guys. I can’t snitch on them.”
I told them that I am tired of having to “bend over and spread ‘em.”
The process of weeding-out the scoffers has begun.
Last weekend, I read the most recent mailing from The Rosary Society. The newsletter is called “Light and Life.” They are going-through a teaching on the Virtues. The first set of virtues consists of: faith, hope and love. (I think these are called Theological Virtues). The newsletter has completed its teaching on these. The Moral Virtues are currently being discussed. There are five of these: 1). Temperance (self-control); 2). Fortitude (patience and longsuffering); 3). Justice (correct action); 4). Charity (love); and, 5). Prudence (wisdom).
The virtue discussed this month is Prudence. Reading this helped me a great deal in making some of the decisions I have been making during the last week. April 12, 2010
It has been 11 days since I made a blog entry. April 1 was a Thursday. I do not have class on Thursdays, so Doc allowed me to go-in early. (I caught a ride with Officer Jones). Friday, April 2, we did not have class. After that, we had spring break. Today is the first day of class after spring break.
Prince and I have been having Bible studies on the zone. I have been reading out of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP).
On Good Friday, we did an impromptu consecration ceremony. We agreed to do spring cleaning, cleaning-out our lockers and cleaning-out the clutter in our interior lives as well. The Scripture reference was II Chronicles 31:13-26. On Holy Saturday, we read Morning Prayer out of the BCP. We were joined that day by a prisoner named Cheese. Prince, Cheese and I renewed our Baptismal Vows on Easter.
I had a good Lent: I quit watching television and I lost eight pounds.
Mom came-up with a great idea about the Web site. She suggested that I hire the old Cybergate proprietor. She got in-touch with him. She gave me his mailing address. I wrote him a letter and told him I would give him a bonus if he could recover the memory for me. I am waiting to hear.
Currently, the plans include:
1). Get my Web site revitalized. Recover memory from Cybergate servers. 2). Issue press-release for my book, Reflections On Sam Stone 3). Mail copies of my Mandamus Petition to smart, ethical lawyer whose name I found in my address book. 4). Send Mandamus pleadings to select attorneys requesting they write Amicus Curia briefs. 5). Get my teeth fixed. Sec. 47-5-173 makes provisions for personal leaves for prisoners when escorted by MDOC security personnel. 6). Get myself transferred to Unit 31. 7). Possibly, resubmit Clemency Application to select attorneys and public officials.
I got the address of the Consumer Affairs Manager of the US Postal Service off of a news segment on the local television station. I wrote the USPS and told them how the Parchman Post Office is abusing Mom and my attorney (both of whom are senior citizens). I also received an answer to my ARP about the PO returning Mom’s letters. I sent the Consumer Affairs Manager a photocopy of my ARP appeal.
I had to fill-out my visiting list. I put the name of my childhood friend from the swimming team on my V-list. Through a chance encounter and an overheard conversation in the Unit 26 dining hall, I got the address and phone number of a smart, ethical lawyer (a rare combination). I had the attorney’s name, but needed confirmation on his address and his phone number. I typed a letter to him last week. God willing, I will mail it later this week.
It turns out that the ILAP Tech did not mail all of the requested copies of my Clemency Petition. She sent it to the Governor only. I tried again to mail it on the 8th, but the woman would not process my ILAP request due to “invalid cause number.” I wrote the Sheriff and the MDOC statewide ILAP Director. The ILAP Tech meant it for evil, but it probably turned-out to be a good thing that all of those copies of my Clemency Application did not go out at that time. I will modify my list and possibly resubmit.
I filled-out a Sick Call Request form to the psych doctor. MDOC has a “Level of Care” designation. Because I take Haldol shots, I can get a LOC designation of “E” (the lowest level). An “E” designation qualifies me to go to Unit 31.
We had Dismas on the 10th and KAIROS later that afternoon. The KAIROS was unique. The Administration uses KAIROS as behavior control. The “C” Custody use KAIROS to traffic contraband. The Unit 29 Administration is combating this, and they came-up with an excuse not to allow the Unit 29 residents to come to the 29 Gym last Saturday. The prisoners from the “outer units” (units other-than U/29) got to come, but we were the only ones there. There were about 20 of us. Two of the prisoners in attendance are guitar players, so we had a sing-fest. April 13, 2010
I just got through with a sectional exam is Psalms class. Many of the other students still are working-on the test. We are not scheduled to come to work, (the FBI is also considered a job assignment), on the 14th, 15th or 16th, so this will probably be the last entry of this week.
Sgt. Freddy Butler transported us to school this AM. He arrived to pick us up about a half-hour early. He took the guys from Unit 26 straight to school, before he went to Unit 29 to pick up the majority of the students. That way, the bus will not be overcrowded. As the Unit 26 students were exiting the bus at the FBI Headquarters (located at Unit 30), I thanked Sgt. Butler.
On April 6, (one week ago), I received a pastoral visit from The Rev. David S. Langdon, who is the retired Episcopal Chaplain. He came on the zone and sat-down on my bed. Chaplain Langdon was the chaplain here at Parchman for the better part of 15 years. He still does pastoral work, but not on a full-time basis. The Episcopal Bishop has chosen not to pay a chaplain to replace Fr. Langdon. At one time, this was a vital ministry, as the Episcopal Church paid a chaplain who then was assigned to be under the authority of the MDOC Chaplain’s Dept. As Lou Rawls would say, “Talkin’ ‘bout your real, good thing about to come to an end.”
I talked to Mom last night on the phone. She has caught up on her rest. She was interested to learn about the Mustang Project, which is spearheaded by a former cheerleader at Murrah High School, who graduated in 1973, the year after I did. The Mississippi public schools were desegregated in the spring of 1970 pursuant to orders from the Supreme Court of the US. There was a large scale exodus (white flight) from the Jackson Public Schools. The cheerleader (among others, including me) chose to stay in the public schools. The Mustang Project (named after our school mascot) is a compilation of essays by both black & white students of that time whose theme is the effect of desegregation on the actual students themselves. For many, many years, I have been planning to write a novel about a the effects of the desegregation-order on a peer group consisting of white students made up of intellectuals, athletes, cheerleaders and band students, some of whom were forced to the private schools by their parents, some of whom chose the white-flight, and some of whom chose to stay in public schools. Mom plans to telephone her about fixing my teeth. (She now is a dentist).
Yesterday, after talking to Mom on the phone, I saw the case manager about going to Unit 31. She called me into her office in order to tell me that she had received another email from Mr. Sparkman. I had written him asking for a copy of his recent email which denies me access to my MDOC canteen-purchased typewriter. Mr. Sparkman told the case manager in the latest email that my request is not important. I told the case manager that my request may not be important to him; but that it is very important to me! I asked the case manager for a copy of the second email. She said she would ask Mr. Sparkman.
After talking to the case manager, I saw the nurse for medication call. It turns out that the psych doctor has changed the medication order again. I once-again am receiving my Benadryl at night. That is better for me. The nurse promised to see whether the psych doctor changed my Level of Care.
Last night after talking to the case manager and the nurse, I mailed a copy of my Mandamus petition to a smart, ethical attorney in Jackson.
While I was preparing the envelope, I was sitting at a recreation table in the zone. The rec tables each have four seats, and all of the seats were full. One of the recent arrivals on the zone asked me how-old I am and the date of my birth came up. When he found out the date of my birthday, a weird thing happened: it turns out he was born on the exact same day as I was. What is even more-strange is that another young guy who was sitting at the same table last night (a recent arrival) has the same date of birth, 33 years later. That is surreal!
During the day today, I received legal mail. I heard from the attorney in upstate NY. He offered some helpful suggestions, but no indication that he would perform any work. I also heard from the lawyer whom I sent the 2241 COA-5 petition-to. He also offered helpful suggestions, but said he was too busy with his case load. The more I think about these two cases, the more I believe that both courts (COA-5 and S. Ct. of Miss.) are each going to send me (through the USPS) orders granting my requested relief. If they do not, I’ll just keep fighting each of these cases until I stir-up some relief. My step-dad often told about the frog that fell in the butter-churn: he kept on kicking until he churned-up a pat-of-butter, and then he jumped-out.
We had pancakes for breakfast this morning! April 16, 2010
When I was housed at SMCI, I prayer my Rosary very fervently for the intentions of getting my teeth fixed. This prayer is being answered, even as I am drafting this blog entry. Mr. Lonnie L. Herring, Jr. came to visit me yesterday. He is my Godfather. When I was a babe in Christ, he schooled me in the faith and he stood beside me. We have since had our conflicts, but he still is like family. I was his administrative clerk in 1982-1984, when he was the MDOC Training Coordinator. This was when Parchman was the only correctional facility in the MDOC. During this same time period, he and I went through an Education For Ministry (EFM) course. This is masters-level theology offered via extension through the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. (Fr. Henry taught an EFM class at Parchman).Mr. Herring now is an ordained permanent deacon in the Episcopal Church. He also is an MDOC volunteer chaplain. Mr. Herring was accompanied by the Rev. Robert Wetherington, the Rector at Church of the Advent in Sumner, which is a small Delta town not far from Parchman. He went to Virginia Theological Seminary. I told him that the mission of that seminary is to be a community, and that the purpose of a religious education is to teach people how to build communities. He agreed. I went-on to point-out that Parchman is a community! Much like the Antebellum South, back in the 1970s and 1980s, there was an easy familiarity between freeworld people (the ruling class) and convicts (the servant class). In 1981, while I was a convict, I ate Christmas dinner at the home of Mr. Herring’s in-laws in Clarksdale. Back during that time-period, this was accepted practice at Parchman. Also yesterday, I received some more legal mail. This was from the attorney in Upstate NY. David Seth was a legal-aid lawyer in Mississippi in the early 1970s, which was not too long after Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman were murdered in Philadelphia, Mississippi for promoting civil rights for the poor. I met David when I was a teenager in connection with some work I did on his Jackson home as a house-painter and carpet remover. In the mail I received from him yesterday, he said that he had read the Mandamus petition. Sec. 99-13-5, Miss. Code Ann. (1972) allows a grand jury (as opposed to a petit jury) to issue rulings in insanity cases. In November 1975, Sebastian, my original lawyer in the homicide case used this section to get the case resolved quietly without undue embarrassment to anyone. (Grand jury proceedings in the United States of America are secret). The only reason that Edward J. Peters, the prosecuting attorney in my case, allowed this quiet disposition was that he was trying to obtain a tactical advantage. He thought he could get me to the State Hospital and then use against me in a future public trial every statement I made to the psychiatrist out-there in the course of treatment. (Peters was a publicity hound). I did end-up having a public trial, which devastated many of my family members. However, the grand jury issued a CERTIFICATION OF THE GRAND JURY, which is a legally valid, lawfully-rendered court opinion which states that I was not responsible for my actions on the day of the homicide. The findings in this CERTIFICATION are in direct conflict with the findings of the petit jury, which convicted me of murder. (Ed Peters was finally disbarred by the Supreme Court of Mississippi in 2009). In the Mandamus petition, I am asking the Supreme Court of Mississippi to command the MDOC to honor that court ruling by releasing me from custody. David Seth had counseled me with this argument in 2002 and 2003, and now I believe that Mandamus petition has piqued his interest. In David’s letter to me of last week, he focused on the Affidavit of Charles Bunnell (my parole officer). My parole officer came forward in 2008, and recounted how Morris Thigpen (who, when I was on-parole in 1986 was the MDOC Commissioner) had suggested to my dad that he file questionable assault charges against me. This assault charge would then allow the MDOC to revoke my parole and take me back into custody long enough to get me back on my medicine. Mr. Thigpen told Dad that I would be home again in six months. Those six months have turned into 24 calendar years! The parole revocation case is the subject of my 2241 petition. I wrote David Seth back and told him that it is a bifurcated argument. I do not want the judges to get the argument in the Mandamus petition confused with the argument in the 2241 petition. In last night’s mail, I sent David Seth a copy of the 2241 petition. It looks like I may have a “dream team” of lawyers. The team consists of a Jewish lawyer from Upstate NY; the smart, ethical Jackson attorney; and the Judge in the background in order to act as a mediator and referee, if necessary. (The Judge was the person who procured the affidavit from my parole officer). April 17, 2010
The MSP psych doctor came to see me yesterday. He is going to talk to his boss about getting me moved to Unit 31. The boss is a regional director of the Wexford Health Services, which is a private company hired by the MDOC to provide medical treatment to the prisoners. The boss is a KAIROS volunteer. The psych doctor is relatively new to Parchman. He arrived around February of 2008. Unlike the FBI Director, the psych doctor is not attuned on the primal street sense level which is necessary to function effectively at Parchman. The psych doctor told me that he changed my Benadryl prescription back to the hour of sleep because one of the medication nurses requested that he do so. I think it was Speedy who did this. I would like to see the psych doctor act with a bit more autonomy. By the way, the Parchman laundry does leave the clothing items in the dryers until they get dry! April 20, 2010
Last weekend, in anticipation of my transfer to Unit 31, I packed up my television. It is a flat-screen, so it was easy to do. Also last weekend, a fellow convict told me that there is a guy over in “A” building who is trying to sell a print-wheel for a canteen typewriter. I hope it works out for me to obtain a print-wheel that is operational in my typewriter. This will be an answer to a prayer. I talked to Mom on the phone yesterday. She had accessed my email account, and said I had about 1,000 emails. She said most of it was junk mail, but that also I received many emails from Russia. That is encouraging. I may be unnoticed in America, but at least someone is taking note. I still have to write the literary agent whose name is in my address book. I will put this on project-status. I still have not heard any more from Excelsior College. My best-case-scenario would be for me to receive my fully-accredited bachelor’s degree through the mail, based on the combined credits of all of the on-campus coursework which I have done at three different colleges. Neither have I heard any further word about the project to revitalize my Web site. I have written my former Web master. Now I have to wait on the Lord. Last weekend, I wrote my former fourth grade teacher and told her that it would be nice if I were receiving regular, up-to-date status reports on all of my projects. However, I went-on to tell her that then I would not have to live by faith. The text of the passage, “The just shall live by faith,” is quoted four times in the Scriptures. (See Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). My plan is to go-on “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.” See Acts 28:31 (NASB). In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit! Amen!
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