Joseph Harp Correctional Facility

Yesterday afternoon Sheila and I made a drive we've made many times before. We left Tulsa about 4:30 and drove (too fast) the 150 mile, 2.5 hour trip to Joseph Harp Correctional Facility near Lexington, Oklahoma. I've been going down there for 9 years, most of that time for a once a month Chapel service. Sheila has been going with me for almost 7 years. About a year ago, because of time constraints and the high price of gas, we cut back from once a month to once a quarter.

Over that time, we have ministered in other prisons, doing bigger events and to more people and every once in a while even had a church or organization at least cover our costs, but there is something really special about Joseph Harp!

Prison ministry is an amazing thing. I will readily admit that there are many times, when we are trying to get away from our jobs and rushing to get to the prison on time and trying to figure out what to do with kids that we don't have a very good attitude as we are heading out. We are both so incredibly busy with our jobs and family and other ministry, that as we prepare to head out to Joe Harp, it sometimes seems like a pretty big burden.

Even though we often leave Tulsa out of almost grudging obligation, once we walk into that prison, God does something amazing (because that is just the way He is!) While we have gone to Joe Harp hoping to bless the men who are incarcerated there, to encourage them in some way, God uses the services there, the men there, to bless and encourage Sheila and I far, far more than we ever bless them. We have so many times walked into that prison beaten down, discouraged, worn out and heavily burdened and we walk out refreshed, renewed, revived, encouraged and with a reminder of how greatly God has blessed us in calling us to ministry.

God has blessed both Sheila and I in allowing us the opportunity to minister to congregations of hundreds of people and I am thankful for that. There is a certain synergy in large crowds of people and it is always humbling to me to see large numbers of people coming to the alters at the end of a service in response to the way God has spoken through me. And, I'll admit that there was a time in my life when I would have said "I'd a lot rather preach to 500 or 5,000 or even 50,000 than to preach to 50." And, I hope and pray that God is gracious enough to use me to preach to hundreds of thousands of people, that many people are healed and many souls saved.

But, God and I settled that numbers thing a few years ago - and there is nothing quite like being with those 30 or 40 or 50 men who pack themselves into that little Chapel at Joseph Harp. You see, as odd as it may seem, I think that God uses Sheila and I more effectively in that little prison Chapel then He does anywhere else. And, a large part of it is those men. Sheila and I show up just in time for the service and the men are already packed into the Chapel just waiting on us and they are there with an expectation and an excitement. They are there ready and anxious to worship and to hear God's word. They are expecting to be encouraged, touched and changed. When those men worship, it is genuine and it is passionate. They respond to God's word in true repentance and humbleness. Our service there starts at 7:00 and we are supposed to be off the prison yard by 8:50, but we never make it because I'm still trying to pray with men who have responded to the invitation. The prison officials used to threaten to not let us come anymore, if we wouldn't leave on time, but God has been gracious and, I think, they've just kind of accepted it.

Sheila told me last night that actually about a year ago when the guy that is kind of in charge of our services told us that they had moved the time up that we had to be off the yard from 9:00 to 8:50 (allegedly because of us!) that I said "No problem! We'll just make sure we are leaving the Chapel no later than a quarter after nine." And, that he and she just looked at each other in disbelief and it has been a standing joke ever since. I don't think that could possibly be true, but she claims it is! They would probably ask you to pray that those in charge at the prison continue to be understanding (or at least tolerant), because I think they've both given up on me conforming to the time constraints.

Seriously, I do want you to pray for our ministry at Joseph Harp, as well as the other prison ministry we do from time to time. We go to Joseph Harp every time there is a 5th Tuesday in a month, so mark it on your calendar and keep us in mind as we drive down and back (5 hours total) and from 7:00 till 9:00 p.m. while we are in service there.

I also ask that you pray for four men specifically.

One is named Patrick. It is not important for you to know why Patrick is in prison, but I do want you to know that he is a new man in Christ Jesus. He is the reason we started going to Joe Harp and one of the main reasons we continue to go. Patrick may be the finest Christian man, friend and brother-in-Christ that I've every known. He is an encourager to so many, and not in the least to Sheila and I. Please pray that God would encourage and strengthen Patrick and his wife, Amy. Please pray fervently that God would make a way for his release. Patrick has been used greatly over these last 10 years and he has been so faithful and such an example of the joy we can have in Christ no matter our circumstances, but I believe it is time for the next chapter of his life and for physical as well as spiritual freedom.

Also, pray for John and Robert. They are the leaders of a Christian Club (or organization) in the prison called The Brotherhood of Jesus Christ. It is the oldest and largest such group or club in the prison and they do such wonderful work and are so effective in their ministry within and even outside the prison, but they have been informed that they must take the name of Jesus Christ out of the name of their organization and that they must take all reference of ministry and of Jesus from their bylaws. I'm not sure of all the whys, but they seem to believe, at least at this point, that they will still be allowed to continue the club and the ministry they do, and that they will just have to call the club and the work they do by some other name. Both of these men really need Godly wisdom, direction and strength as these changes are made and other men look to them for leadership.

Finally, pray for Chaplain Ron Grant. Ron is a good man and I know that he is doing all he can for the cause of Christ within the constraints of the system. Ask God to bestow upon Ron strength and wisdom and as much freedom to do his job as is possible.

Thank you for your prayers in these matters!

Love in Christ Jesus!

Jim

My Friend Sonny!

I know it is hard to believe, but those three old guys along side me in the picture above were classmates of mine at Ozark Christian College! (Just kidding about that old thing, guys!)

We recently had a small reunion at Baker's Catfish House just north of Muskogee, OK. Our wives were with us and I've got pictures of them, too, but they all look so good, that including them would really make us look old!

From left to right is yours truly, Phillip Walton (a preacher in San Antonio, TX), Sonny Scott and Dan Wilson (a preacher in Bixby, OK.)

The picture on the left is a close-up of our dear friend Sonny Scott from that same evening. On the right is a more recent picture of Sonny with another friend from college, George Williams. Sonny has been undergoing some heavy duty chemo and has lost that beautiful head of hair he always had. George doesn't have an excuse! Actually, George shaved his head in a show of friendship when Sonny lost his hair, but I'm not sure how much hair George had to start with.

I love you, Sonny! But, I'm not shavin' my head!

Actually, I think Sonny looks pretty good with his head shaved - a little like actor Woody Harrelson - don't you think?

Sonny discovered right around the first of the year that he had cancer of the esophagus and stomach and had surgery in which they removed almost all his esophagus and about half his stomach and made a very small esophagus and stomach with what was left of his stomach. He, also, underwent chemo at that time.

Everything was going well, until about a month ago when a PET scan showed two spots on the back of his stomach and a more recent test showed four other spots.

Sonny is in the midst of 12 weeks of chemo and radiation.

I want you to join me in praying and believing that God will supernaturally and miraculously heal Sonny! The God we read about in the Bible and His son, Jesus, while here on earth, was a God of miracles - a God of healing - and my Bible tells me that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!

I know that God will heal Sonny one way or the other. Either he will be miraculously healed, as we are praying, here on earth to God's great glory - or he will be ultimately healed with a new body in heaven.

The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two; I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."

Sonny said the other day "Either way, I win!"

Sonny's life has been one of "fruitful labor" as a minister of the Gospel and one of Oklahoma's most progressive prison wardens. He even gave the okay for this old outlaw to go into prisons to preach the Gospel! And, I have a feeling that Sonny still has a lot more to accomplish before God calls him home. So, while it would be better for him to be with the Lord now, I'm praying that God will be gracious and that Sonny will be with us for a long time to come as a living testimony to the fact that God is still doing miracles today!

I have two other friends going through similar trials with cancer and I'm going to ask that you also pray with me on their behalf.

Cheryl Thompson is a wonderful Christian woman, wife, mother and grandmother! She is a member of our church and the grandmother to two of my families favorite young men, Kyle and Kory Miller. Christian young people today are under constant attack from every side and it can be really tough on the ones striving to live a life which reflects Jesus Christ. It becomes even more difficult when Satan has the opportunity to whisper in their ear "If there really was a God, how could He let something like this happen? You might as well not even bother praying because God's not going to answer." I know with all my heart, that God has great things planned for both Kyle and Kory, but right now, those boys still need their grandma and I know that they need to see a miracle from God and so I'm praying as much for them as for Cheryl. When you get as far down life's road as I am, you can look Satan in the eye and say "I know my God is able, because I've seen Him do miracles again and again and again, so even if He doesn't do one now, I'll trust Him still." But, when you are just 16 years old, your faith is not supported by that foundations of miracles and it is far more easily shaken. Join me in praying for Cheryl, and also for Kyle and Kory.

Jo Burchett is a long time friend of my wife, Sheila, and has been like a grandmother to our daughter, Savannah. Jo has been battling lung cancer for the past few years and I'm going to ask you to pray for her, as well. Jo's husband, Tom, is also one of our favorite people and it would do that old cowboy a lot of good in a lot of ways to see his dear wife miraculously healed.

You pray - and I'll pray - and I'll keep you posted!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

As I've gotten older, family has come to mean a lot more to me than it did when I was a kid or even a young man.

The picture on the left is my Grandpa and Grandma on my Dad's side - James A. Rutherford (although everyone called him "Brother Jim") and Millie Rutherford.

My grandpa did not become a Christian till he was in his thirties, but when he did give his life to the Lord, he was serious about it! It was not too long after he became a Christian that he felt there needed to be a church in Tulsa that was just interested in following the Biblical example of what church was like. No denominational affiliation, no man-made doctrine. He got a few other people together (about 14, I think) and they started a church in an old barber shop.

They had a part-time preacher, who was also a part-time school teacher, but it was not long before the part-time preacher got an offer of a full time teaching position in another town.

The church looked for a preacher, but wasn't having an success and as a few of the member left, the remaining men came to my grandpa and told him that since he was the one who really got the church going, that he would have to preach till they found a real preacher. He agreed on the condition that they would keep looking for a preacher. He was the "fill-in" preacher for the next 26 years at what became Cincinnati Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa, OK. By the mid-50s the church was running 800+ people and 100+ were being saved and baptized every year.

The picture on the right is of the church in the early days on a church picnic/camping trip to Missouri. My grandpa and another man from the church spent all night catching frogs and then woke everyone else up about 6:30 a.m., gave everyone a frog (or two) and took this picture. My grandpa is the dark haired man in the upper right and my grandma is the young woman who is the third from the left. The three kids in front are (l to r) my dad, Jim, my uncle, Dean and my aunt Ann.

I've had a lot of people tell me what a great preacher my grandpa was and how there has never been another preacher like him. And, he must have had a great influence on a lot of people - especially his own family. My Dad and both his brothers, Dean and Shan, became preachers. They all three were/are great soul winners and church builders. Between my brother and me and my cousins, there are 6 more preachers. My uncle Shan, preaches in Greenwood, Indiana at a church of 2000+, my cousin David preaches in Clovis, California at a church of 3000+ (and my Uncle Dean is one of his associate pastors) and my cousin Dudley preaches at a 10,000 member church in the northwest part of Los Angeles. One minister friend of mine referred to our family as a legacy of preaching.

My dad and I were talking not long ago and he said that by most standards that my grandpa was not really that great of preacher - that he really just stood and read his sermons. Dad said that if just judged on speaking ability, eloquence, etc. that grandpa was not really all that good at preaching.

So - what was it that caused him to be such a great soul winner and such a great church builder? Why do so many people remember him as being such a great preacher?

It was because when he became a Christian, he was serious about it. When he gave his heart to God, he gave 100%. When he became a Christian, he took the great commission as his personal calling. Everything else became secondary. Because he had given his heart so completely to Jesus, his heart became like the heart of Jesus - especially concerning the lost. He had a great compassion for the lost and a great passion for winning them to Jesus Christ. And, that came through in his preaching. It came through one on one. It came thorough in the way he lived. And, it touched people. He would cry over people. He would stay up all night praying about someone. He'd get mad at people. He'd even tell them off (in love and truth), if that is what it took. His purpose in life became telling others about Jesus. And, he was relentless. A man told me that he gave his heart to Jesus during a service my grandpa was preaching and he came on the 23rd verse of Just As I Am! My dad tells me that if grandpa knew there was someone in the service who needed to make a decision, he'd just keep singing the invitation till they came. He'd even stop in-between verses and plead with that person, doing every thing but calling them out by name.

When was the last time you even gave any thought to the condition of someone's soul, let alone wept about it or stayed up all night praying about it? How seriously do you take the work of Christ?

Roy Lessin wrote:
God in not looking for those who are clever,
But for those in whom He can be wise;
He is not looking for those who are talented,
But for those to whom He can be all sufficient;
he is not looking for those who are powerful,
But for those through whom He can be almighty!

If you want to be really used by God - used to a far greater measure then you could ever imagine - all you have to do is to give your heart to Him 100% - live as holy a life as you can - pray that God will lay upon your heart the same compassion that Jesus had for the lost - and then just be ready and willing to be used! AND GOD WILL USE YOU!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

A Mother's Love

If you've not seen this music video by Sara Evans and Brad Paisley, you need to watch it. It is a duet over video taken from the Mel Gibson movie "The Passion of the Christ".

I remember that as I watched the movie for the first time, that these scenes were the most touching to me. I'm not sure I had ever thought about the incredible pain and sorrow which Mary must have felt watching her son beaten and crucified.

Even though I am a father, I don't really believe that I can fully understand the depth of love that a mother has for her child. It is just not the same. God just did not wire us up that way.

We often talk about how great is God's love for us in that He sent His one and only Son to die for our sins that we might have forgiveness and eternal life with Him in Heaven, but just as Jesus was God's Son, He was also Mary's son. There is no question that it must have broken God's heart to see His Son rejected, beaten and crucified by the very people He'd been given to save, as He watched the sins of the world be placed upon His perfect, sinless Son. But, as Jesus was beaten and crucified, God knew that His death was not permanent, that the grave could not hold Him, that in three short days, Jesus would walk out of that tomb more alive then ever and would be restored to the full glory and honor that were His.

But what about Mary? As she had seen Jesus rejected in his ministry, as she watch him be arrested, beaten and crucified, as she went with the others to place his beaten, broken, lifeless body in the tomb, she must have be certain that it was the end, that her precious son was dead, gone, that she would never see him again - that it was over, finished. How her heart must have broken? There must not have been an once of comfort. She must have asked "God, how could you let this happen?"

If you are a mother, maybe you can imagine the pain she felt over those next few days. They must have been the longest, darkest days of her life. Imagine the sorrow and the tears. Imagine the questions. God had selected Mary above all other women to be the mother of Jesus, so we know she was a Godly woman, yet, in her sorrow and pain, she must have questioned God.

I do not think it was by happenstance or chance, but by God's great love and mercy, that Luke records that Mary was with the other women who were the first to arrive that glorious Sunday morning to find the tomb was empty - that her precious son, Jesus, was risen! And, in that moment, everything that had been so wrong was made so right - all the pain and sorrow was, in an instant, replaced by overflowing joy.

If you are a mother (or father) and your heart is broken today over your child, remember Mary and her broken heart. It may seem to you today that your child has turned their back on home and on God and that all hope is lost and the pain and sorrow are unbearable. Maybe it even seems to you that God is doing nothing, that He has not heard your prayers and your cries. Maybe you are questioning how God could have let this happen. It may seem that not only has God deserted your child, but that He has deserted you as well. But, the truth is this: God's heart is broken over your child! And, God is heartbroken by your pain and your tears. And, even though He may seem to your eyes to be doing nothing, God is working in ways which you cannot see, ways that you cannot understand and He will make right all that is now wrong, because that is His promise and God is faithful!

My precious mother must have prayed many prayers and shed many tears and her heart must have broken again and again as I wandered in that "far country" for 18 years. There must have been many times that she was tempted to give up hope, that she must have questioned if God was hearing her prayers and she must have wondered how God could have let her son go so far astray. And, yet, through it all, God was still working in my life, always protecting me, always calling me back to Himself, always working to bring me to my senses. I guess that I must be pretty stubborn, because it took a long time, but I finally did come to my senses and made my way home.

My mom just saw the beginning of my coming home, but there has not been, nor will there be, one time that I preach, that I do not think of my mom and the joy that must fill her heart as she looks down from Heaven at her son who has come home! Her son whom she will see again and for all eternity!

I love you, Mom!

Jimmie