Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Good Morning....
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Do Your Own Time
Do Your Own Time
“Man, I saw the funniest thing this
morning.” The young prisoner announced. “There were men down in the church
saying “Praise the Lord” and “Alleluia” and raising their hands.” I gave the prisoner the “Prisoners Handbook”
response, “Do your own time.” “More
power to em.” The courts had sent me to
the U. S. Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation for 90 days. I had changed my guilty plea to “not guilty
by reason of insanity.” Merely a manipulative move on my part, to avoid being
sentenced on my birthday. Still I
wondered about my own inability to stay out of prison. “Why me?” You might say.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sat looking out the window of my
cell at the St. Louis city jail. The
moment was innocuous to any particular thing that was going on. There, leaving the adjoining court house was
a man wearing the garb of a janitor. In
his hand was a black lunch box. “Why
couldn’t I be satisfied with that?” I wondered.
“A job, a wife and family”… I stopped my thoughts and crossed them off
as wishful thinking. Prison life was all I knew and had resigned myself to the
fact that I would live the rest of my life in prison and even die there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hadn’t planned to go to church
the following Sunday, it just happened.
I was coming down the stairs from the chow hall, and there, going into
the church, was a group of volunteers.
One of the volunteers I recognized was Mary Lipscomb. She was a teacher
in the Learning Center where I spent a fair amount of my time. I still hadn’t reconciled Springfield (U. S.
Medical Center for Federal Prisoners) to the many prisons I had been to. Stateville, Menard, Marion; These were no walk
in the park type prisons. They were mean
and mean things happened in them.
Springfield had women running all over the place, it seemed. In the
school, the hospital, the kitchen, even the women who worked in the
administration offices were often seen traveling the halls.
The early 70’s was a time of
upheaval, not only in America, but in its prisons, as well. Several large scale riots had happened all
across the country. One of the
appeasements that came about was the authorization of ethnic culture clubs. Afro-American, La Causa Latina,
Italian-American, American Indian, even Irish American, existed. For a club to be approved in Springfield, you
had to have an inside sponsor and an outside sponsor. These were people who
would oversee the activities. And yes,
more volunteers from the community came to the weekly meetings. It was going to take some getting use to.
The Medical Center was a three ring
circus, I liked to say: “Medical” for prisoners who were patients; “Psychiatric”
for those who were deemed necessary for psychiatric care and “Maintenance”
prisoners who were there for the upkeep of the institution. For the most part, prisoners who were there
for the maintenance of the institution were kept in the camp quarters. Supposedly, they didn’t have a lot of time
and were non-violent. Yeah, right.
I followed the small crowd going
into the chapel. “God’s House of Hope”
the sign said. I made my way to the back
of the church and sat down. Springfield,
Mo. is home to the headquarters of the Assemblies of God denomination. Most of the volunteers were from Assembly of
God churches, though not Mary. The songs were familiar from my childhood days
at Glenwood School for Boys where church was mandatory. “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Amazing Grace,” “In the
Garden” was some of the popular hymns that were sung. I sat there silently.
I had a militant attitude toward
most everything back then. I was quick to hate and reviled do-gooders. I had
come to a position that justified my anger toward religion. “We don’t choose to be born. We don’t choose
who are parents will be. We don’t choose whether we’re born on the gold-coast
or in the ghetto, and we don’t choose whether we will be loved or rejected.” I
came up on the short end almost on each count.
So about the 4th week of going to church the Bible instructor
after the service was talking about free will.
I did not have a choice, but rather I was a product of my environment “Now,
after spending 26 years, half of them spent in prison, you tell me I have a
free will.” I could feel the unease that
permeated this now silent church. The instructor answered that he would talk to
me after the class was over. But I had no intention of waiting to hear what he
had to say.
As I exited the pew I had been
sitting in, an elderly lady blocked my escape.
Though I stand only 5’ 11” at best, I towered over the slightly built,
white haired woman before me. She looked
like everyone’s grandma, a sweet smile that could melt the heart of even the angriest
of persons. “Sonny,” she said, “you may
not understand this, but God has a plan for your life.” If God had a plan for my life it could only
include more of the same which I already had, punishment. I knew her name to be
‘Mom Carter,” Her son-in-law and daughter, Lloyd and Nita Colbaugh were also
volunteers at the prison. I hurried out the door vowing never to return.
The next morning I entered the
Learning Center and handed my pass to the young lady at the desk, Mary
Lipscomb. “It was good to see you in
church yesterday.” She said. “Yeah, I go
every Sunday, but it’s not doing me much good.” I snarled. “Do you believe in God?” Mary asked. “I believe there’s somebody up there that’s
running all this.” I answered. “Have you
ever prayed?” She asked. “Sure” I
responded, “I asked him once to get me out of boy’s school? He said no.” I felt a bit awkward that I had continued the
conversation and sought to end it.
“Look? God and I have a perfect understanding, I’ve never done anything
for him, and he has never done anything for me. We’re even.” I flippantly
concluded and spun on my heels and went to my seat.
I did not anticipate the turmoil I
had set in motion as I tried to sleep that night. Sure, I had been rude to her in my spinning
away and my surly attitude. But so what, I didn’t care about anyone, least of
all someone who had no idea of what prison is about. The grapevine had Mary pegged as being
someone who came from an affluent family in town who probably had everything in
life handed to her on a silver platter.
Why should I care? But I did, and
that bothered me even more. I would go
to the Learning Center and apologize. Eventually, sleep found me and I retired
for the night.
The next morning I greeted Mary by
saying, “Look” I didn’t mean to be rude yesterday. Most of the men have nothing
but good things to say about you, so I apologize.” And then I walked away. Well, I tried to. Mary stopped me with, “You know, God can
change your life.” “God didn’t want to
have anything to do with me.” I said. I
rattled off one excuse after another. I had been in prison to long. I had done too
much. I had seen too much. At each
rejection, Mary answered me with scripture which she seemed to know
endlessly.
Another night of turmoil, and no
sleep. She just didn’t get it. I had hurt too many people, and there was no
way God was letting me off that easy.
Inwardly, I knew I didn’t deserve forgiveness, and there was no way I
could make amends for all that I had done.
Nor did she know the pain and shame that I had endured. I’d go there one last time and tell her the
drama that I felt kept me from trusting God or anyone for that matter. If you’re going to argue with a Christian
about God, make it somebody who doesn’t know scripture. Mary was well armed with scripture after
scripture, and I was stuttering some ill-prepared answers every time. Finally, it was Mary who said, “Look, I’ve
told you everything that I can tell you about God and His promises. You can
either accept Him or reject Him. If you accept Him, then you will have all His
blessings, but if you reject Him, the consequences will be your choosing.” And then she walked away. This girl had spunk
and spirit.
So I don’t need to tell you another
sleepless night laid in store for me. I
probably relived my whole life that night.
I was angry with myself for allowing this to get out of hand. I was angry with Mary for always having the
right scripture for responding with. I recalled my vow from 10 years
previously, I would never shed another tear, no matter how awful things would
get. I would never let anybody get close
to me so that I would never care about anyone or anything. Where it came from I do not know, but a
question formed in my mind, ‘What if she is right?” What if God could change me? She said God could change me, not me. I had tried to change for my mother, for my
aunt. But it never worked. And I sure
wasn’t going to change for some girl who I didn’t even know and who after I
leave this prison will never see again. The question persisted, however. “God can change your life.” There was no argument that my life needed
changing. I could not consider what that
even meant. The only rational thought I
could think of was “What do I have to lose?”
If He couldn’t change me, I was in no worse shape than I was before all
this talk began? I hadn’t prayed since I was that scared little kid going to boy’s
school for the first time.
“God, what if what that girl says
is true, that You can change my life? I
need to tell You, I have exceedingly little hope and can offer no help. She
said you could change my life. If I have to obey a set of rules and promises to
be good, that’s not going to work. You
have to do it all, and if what she says is true, I accept your Son as my Savior.” Shocked, as soon as I said the word Savior, a
torrent of tears poured from my eyes. I
tried desperately to stop crying but could not.
I was afraid others in the dorm would hear me so I covered my head with
the pillow. Still, I could not halt the
flood of tears pouring from the depths of my being An unusually loud thunderstorm mercifully prevented
anyone from hearing me. It was only after the torrent inside my soul and
outside my cell stopped, that I finally fell asleep.
When I awoke the next morning, I
didn’t feel any different from what I normally would feel. Still, I had a sense of excitement in knowing
that I would tell Mary that I had accepted Christ. After signing my pass, and going to a cubicle,
I called Mary over. Well, I did
it.” I said. “What did you do?” “John.” “I accepted Christ.” Mary never looked so beautiful; She lit up
like a Christmas tree. I could see she
was trying to restrain her enthusiasm because employees and prisoners were not
to become that familiar with each other and to do so could cost her, her
job. My vow to never shed another tear
was broken, and so was that vow to never care about anyone.
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Road Is Long: January 12, 1978
The Road Is Long: January 12, 1978: January 12 th , 1978. I had only one more day, then freedom, even though I would be in the halfway house. After 6 and ½ years, even...
January 12, 1978
January 12th, 1978. I had only one more day, then freedom, even
though I would be in the halfway house.
After 6 and ½ years, even that is something to look forward to. I had gone to the parole board on 5 occasions
during this stretch and even had been given parole which was later
rescinded. October, 1977 was the last
time I had gone before them, only to yet again, be denied. My maximum release
date was September, 1978 and surely after all the years that had gone before me
I could wait another 8 months.
Something inside me refused to
accept my latest denial. I filed an
appeal to the Regional Parole Board in Kansas City, the very people who had
denied me in the first place. My chances
of getting the parole board to change their mind were slim to none. But I would add a twist to my appeal. I wrote as many correspondents as I could and
asked them to write letters to the parole board on my behalf. The list was substantial, a few hundred in
fact. Most all of them, I had
established correspondence with during the time I had been in prison after
becoming a Christian. I asked them to
basically write and encourage the ‘board’ to reconsider my case.
Two months passed with no word from
Kansas City. Prayers were going up to
God continuously from everyone. In the
early part of December, Mr. John Conte (My caseworker) called me into his
office. The parole board had called and
said, “Tell Thomson to call off the dogs. They had gotten the point. Over three hundred letters had poured into
their office supporting my parole. On
December 19th, my counselor came to my cell. “I have worked for the Bureau of Prisons for
10 years and I have never seen one of these.”
I could only imagine what he held in his hands as he referred to the
letter resting there. The parole board
had CHANGED their minds and granted me parole with a release date of January 13th
to the halfway house! I looked at the calendar and saw that I would be released
on Friday the 13th. Jokingly,
I suggested that I’d probably get run over by a truck. I’m not superstitious nor do I believe in
superstition. Besides, any misfortune
wasn’t going to wait til the 13th, it came that night on the 12th.
Mr. Conte again called me into his
office. “We have a problem.” The
Associate Warden, Ed Arborgast, was advising the warden not to allow me to go
to the halfway house. Mr. Arborgast had
been a guard in Marion, Il. In 1965-67, the years that I was incarcerated
there. I didn’t remember him, but
apparently I had made on impression on him.
“No,” I said, “we don’t have a
problem, I have a problem. You’re going home tonight. I am staying here. Dejectedly
I called Mary and told her the disappointing news. She asked me how I felt and I told her I
wanted to tear the place up. I had felt
this powerlessness before and in the past I had torn the place up. I tried to pray, but it seemed like the old hopelessness had
invaded me heart. Mr. Conte had said my past record had shown that I hadn’t
ever made it upon my release and why would this be different. He used the example of a race horse who
always lost. Would I bet on a loser. I told him I wasn’t a horse, I was a man and
men change. Mr. Conte said I would have
to interview the Halfway House Administrator in the morning and he would make
his own recommendation to the warden.
Mr. Robert Thompson was the Administrator. Son of a Baptist minister, he would at least
understand the belief in redemption.
What would I say that would make a difference? Even I had to admit the record wasn’t lying. I hadn’t ever stayed out very long after
previous releases, but then I had never been released trusting in God for my
future either. When Paul was brought before
the Roman tribunal as a Roman Citizen, God gave him the words to say. And that had always been my trust in past
occasions as a new Christian when speaking before the judge or parole board,
God would give me the words to say. I’ve
always believed that it’s not so much what you say, but what the Holy Spirit
did with what you said. At the
conclusion of the interview, Mr. Thompson gave no indication what his
recommendation was going to be.
Aimlessly, I joined a group of prisoners playing cards to while a way
the time. If it got to 4 o’clock, that
pretty much sealed the deal against me.
As 2 o’clock arrived the female guard, (from Springfield, Mo., Mary’s
hometown, and who even recollected perhaps knowing Mary’s sister Jeanne.) came
over to the table and looking me straight in the face, slowly said “so what are
you waiting for? Go get your stuff. You’re
being released.” I didn’t have many
personal belongings: a box of books, letters and pictures and $22 on my
account. They took me out to a local
haberdashery, where in the dead of winter, the salesman went back to the back
of the store and bought out an ill-fitting summer suit with a stain on it. They could have released me in a gunny sack and
I would have been satisfied!
Having one’s fingerprints taken is
a part of the convicts life. That is a part of the way we live. Having God’s fingerprint on our life is
another thing altogether different.
Parole boards don’t change their minds, three hundred correspondents
writing letters on one’s behalf rarely happen. God’s fingerprints were all over
this!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Brain Frozen In Time
This is an abbreviated post to enliven the idea I had for when I first posted this blog. Ok, I am rambling because my thought processes are frozen in time as we hover over the freezing mark on your dial left to right at 32°.
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Decade of The 60's.
I know what I am going to do. I am having trouble getting off the dime as they say and writing the chapter in my book. It's really the second draft as I have already written the book but now it needs a second draft. I will let it unfold right before your very eyes and should you choose to comment on it I just might add it to this chapter. Deal? Okay, Since this is about the decade of the 60's we are going to be talking about that era and what was transpiring in my life at that time.
We could not do this in the 60's. I would be typing on a typewriter or writing this manuscript in long hand and there would be no interactive display going on. So this is kind of neat, I think anyway. It would be neater if you co-operated and participated. This may be written over several days because I have other chapters that need a second draft that wouldn't be suitable for such an approach as this but I can always post this daily so you can see where we've gotten. I'm also aware that there are a few of you who were not born in the 60's. You really missed a doozy of a decade. Some people refer to it as the Turbulent 60's. Let's get started...
We could not do this in the 60's. I would be typing on a typewriter or writing this manuscript in long hand and there would be no interactive display going on. So this is kind of neat, I think anyway. It would be neater if you co-operated and participated. This may be written over several days because I have other chapters that need a second draft that wouldn't be suitable for such an approach as this but I can always post this daily so you can see where we've gotten. I'm also aware that there are a few of you who were not born in the 60's. You really missed a doozy of a decade. Some people refer to it as the Turbulent 60's. Let's get started...
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Hope Shows | Family-Friendly WIBI Interviews Sara Groves
Hope Shows | Family-Friendly WIBI Interviews Sara Groves
Family-Friendly WIBI Interviews Sara Groves
30. Dec, 2010 Categories: Concerts by Robyn Lyn 0 Comments
Family-Friendly WIBI & WCIC 91.5 and Hope Shows with Sara Groves
Family-Friendly Morning Show Hosts, Melody and Jeremiah, Interview Sara Groves About Hope Shows Prison Christmas Concert and FREE Live Recording of Event
Transcript from Thursday, December 23, 2010.
Listen to audio at www.melodyandjeremiah.com.
View photos from the event at http://www.hopeshows.com/nggallery/page-776/album-1/gallery-2/.
Jeremiah: You’ve got a brand new Christmas CD out that people can download and listen to … and WIBI, our friends with Hope Shows, Robyn Florian, and the women at the Lincoln (IL) correctional facility had a small role in this Christmas album being recorded.
Sara: Yes, a big role.
Jeremiah: I was hoping you’d be able to share a little bit about what that experience was like coming in to Illinois and doing a Christmas prison concert at a women’s prison.
Sara: We wouldn’t have gotten in there if it wasn’t for you guys and for Hope Shows. We did not do any of the heavy lifting. You guys cleared the way for us to go, and share our hearts, and do what we were already doing out on the road. I’ve done prison ministry with my grandparents, who have served in prison volunteer work for 40 years, and I’ve gotten through with a guitar before, or maybe a keyboard, but I’ve never gotten through with an entire tour. It was a special night.
You’re in there somewhere cheering, Jeremiah. I think you can hear yourself cheering in there somewhere.
Jeremiah: I thought I was imagining it when I listened to it, but if you think that’s me, I’ll own that. That’s awesome.
Sara: We were recording every night from that tour. We were actually intending to put together a live album of all the different nights from different cities, but when we listened to that recording – and you were there, you know it was a special night – Troy [Sara’s husband] just said, “I want everybody to hear this, this is really special.”
View photos from Sara Groves Concert @ LCC
We feel like the recording goes a long way to humanize these women in our prison population. The church is alive and well behind bars. There are, of course, women who are still bent on self destruction and self-destructive behaviors, but there are also women who are passionately serving Jesus … to get to minister to them is really cool. The Bible study group from the correctional center was in the back praying the whole time we were there as we were sharing.
It was just an incredible time to encourage the believers to share the Good News with those who hadn’t heard, and it came out in the recording, especially when we were lifting our voices together.
Jeremiah: First of all, to get your equipment in and out of the prison, everything had to be unpacked and inventoried and looked through – and when I say everything, I mean everything single thing had to be taken out – and they wouldn’t even let us get out of our vehicles at a certain point. We had to sit and wait through security, of course.
I was shocked, then, that you all were able to release the recording of this concert as a CD. How did that come together? How did that work out?
Volunteers from Neighbors to Nations Community Church, LCC Chapain, Cynthia Frontone, and Sara Groves
Sara: They [Lincoln Correctional Center and state prison staff] have been so gracious across the board. You just said it, but they bent over backwards. This was a lot of work for the warden, for the guards, for Hope Shows, and for the chaplain, Cynthia … it was just a lot of work for everybody, but I think that overall the message of the record is that these are women with hopes and dreams.
I hope this encourages other people to be a part of prison ministry and to think about the prisoner. We’ve had a lot of favor with this project, and I feel like God has been in it since the beginning.
On our Christmas tour, the theme of the night was that Jesus enters suffering that is not His own. We already had a family friend calling in from Chicago every single night of the tour who came to Christ through my grandparents’ prison ministry. He shared each night what it meant to have someone visit him in prison and to bring the Gospel to him at that time in his life.
So that was all in place before Robyn called us and said, “Would you bring this show into the prison?” She had no idea that this was the theme of our night, that this is what we were already talking about. It was such a neat experience … the whole thing felt like it was orchestrated from the beginning and we had a lot of favor and a lot of help from everybody at the prison.
Jeremiah: Sara, can I ask you to share the story you shared that night at the prison about your very first visit to a prison?
“We were a makeshift nativity that night, my mom, my dad and I.”
~ Sara
Sara: The man that called in each night to share, his name is John Thompson, and he was a new believer that year in 1972. It was his first Christmas as a Christian and my great grandma was reading the Christmas story. My grandparents were there, they were doing a special Christmas Eve service for about 200 men and, as John tells it, right on cue – right as Baby Jesus is born in the story – I started to cry at the back of the room (my mother had smuggled me in under her coat, which would not happen today ).
I was three months old, and John and I met first there. He shares the story every night [during the concert], and he loves to get to the part where he says, “And that baby was Sara Groves.” We were a makeshift nativity that night, my mom, my dad and I. John loves to tell that story, and he and my grandparents and I have kept in touch over these many years because of that story. We felt connected right from the beginning.
Melody: One of the things I love about this project is that prison ministry has been a part of your entire life, but I think for so many people that, although they feel led to do this, it feels a little intimidating. What would you say to someone who may feel led to be involved in prison ministry?
Visit "Present Hope for Prison Ministry" for a variety of opportunities to care for inmates, former inmates and their families.
Sara: It isn’t easy. You need to find the volunteer groups that are going in and you have to work with a lot of different systems, but it is so worthwhile. What I’ve done is such small fragment compared to what my grandparents did. They went inside for 40 years, two times a week, so faithfully. They made themselves a part of the everyday lives of the men across those years.
Prison ministry is so valuable. I think Jeremiah could testify to this too, but I talked to many women [at LCC] who were getting out in a really short amount of time. One woman was getting out that Friday. Most inmates are not in for life, they’re in for a time, and then they are our neighbors again. There’s such a desperate need for mentoring, and there’s such a desire for mentorship when they’re incarcerated.
“These are moms and sisters and daughters and people with a past and with a very real future.”
~ Melody
[At LCC] there was a church serving there, and one of the things they were doing was cake decorating classes so the [LCC] women could learn a trade. The church does different types of classes based on the women’s abilities in the church. These women are sharing out of their expertise, out of their gifts, and they were sharing these gifts with the [LCC] women, who probably didn’t have a lot of input from their mothers or another mentor. The dividends of this are just incredible.
I would encourage anyone considering prison ministry. It takes a little work to get into a volunteer program at a prison but your service will be so appreciated. I think, as always, when we go in with open hands to serve, God uses that.
Jeremiah: Please share with our listening family and friends how they can go about getting your CD. You can download the project for free and make a contribution toward future prison shows.
Sara: [The contributions] go to Hope Shows. When it says, “Tip the Artist,” any of that goes to Hope Shows. You can go to our website, www.saragroves.com and download the full record for FREE!
Melody: It’s definitely worth it, the music is incredible. … You can hear it in the recording, when you listen to the music, that is really is all of these women coming together for this incredible night of music. It’s so easy for us to go, “Oh, those are those people who are behind bars,” instead of realizing these are moms and sisters and daughters and people with a past and with a very real future.
Sara: … and hopes and dreams. You hear that when they’re singing, “Oh come let us adore Him.” It’s such a neat moment.
Jeremiah: It was so impactful at the end of the night, as they were orderly dismissing the women, we made it a point to thank every single one of the women who came personally. They just adored getting a hug or a handshake, and were genuinely appreciative, Sara, that you and your band came to do that concert. I’ll never forget it.
I know that you made an impact on their lives, something that God will be able to use for years to come. Thanks for doing it. Thank you for releasing the music so that people can hear it. And thanks for spending time with us today, it’s been awesome.
Sara: We wouldn’t have been able to do it without your station and the support of your listeners, so thank you all.
Family-Friendly WIBI Interviews Sara Groves
30. Dec, 2010 Categories: Concerts by Robyn Lyn 0 Comments
Family-Friendly WIBI & WCIC 91.5 and Hope Shows with Sara Groves
Family-Friendly Morning Show Hosts, Melody and Jeremiah, Interview Sara Groves About Hope Shows Prison Christmas Concert and FREE Live Recording of Event
Transcript from Thursday, December 23, 2010.
Listen to audio at www.melodyandjeremiah.com.
View photos from the event at http://www.hopeshows.com/nggallery/page-776/album-1/gallery-2/.
Jeremiah: You’ve got a brand new Christmas CD out that people can download and listen to … and WIBI, our friends with Hope Shows, Robyn Florian, and the women at the Lincoln (IL) correctional facility had a small role in this Christmas album being recorded.
Sara: Yes, a big role.
Jeremiah: I was hoping you’d be able to share a little bit about what that experience was like coming in to Illinois and doing a Christmas prison concert at a women’s prison.
Sara: We wouldn’t have gotten in there if it wasn’t for you guys and for Hope Shows. We did not do any of the heavy lifting. You guys cleared the way for us to go, and share our hearts, and do what we were already doing out on the road. I’ve done prison ministry with my grandparents, who have served in prison volunteer work for 40 years, and I’ve gotten through with a guitar before, or maybe a keyboard, but I’ve never gotten through with an entire tour. It was a special night.
You’re in there somewhere cheering, Jeremiah. I think you can hear yourself cheering in there somewhere.
Jeremiah: I thought I was imagining it when I listened to it, but if you think that’s me, I’ll own that. That’s awesome.
Sara: We were recording every night from that tour. We were actually intending to put together a live album of all the different nights from different cities, but when we listened to that recording – and you were there, you know it was a special night – Troy [Sara’s husband] just said, “I want everybody to hear this, this is really special.”
View photos from Sara Groves Concert @ LCC
We feel like the recording goes a long way to humanize these women in our prison population. The church is alive and well behind bars. There are, of course, women who are still bent on self destruction and self-destructive behaviors, but there are also women who are passionately serving Jesus … to get to minister to them is really cool. The Bible study group from the correctional center was in the back praying the whole time we were there as we were sharing.
It was just an incredible time to encourage the believers to share the Good News with those who hadn’t heard, and it came out in the recording, especially when we were lifting our voices together.
Jeremiah: First of all, to get your equipment in and out of the prison, everything had to be unpacked and inventoried and looked through – and when I say everything, I mean everything single thing had to be taken out – and they wouldn’t even let us get out of our vehicles at a certain point. We had to sit and wait through security, of course.
I was shocked, then, that you all were able to release the recording of this concert as a CD. How did that come together? How did that work out?
Volunteers from Neighbors to Nations Community Church, LCC Chapain, Cynthia Frontone, and Sara Groves
Sara: They [Lincoln Correctional Center and state prison staff] have been so gracious across the board. You just said it, but they bent over backwards. This was a lot of work for the warden, for the guards, for Hope Shows, and for the chaplain, Cynthia … it was just a lot of work for everybody, but I think that overall the message of the record is that these are women with hopes and dreams.
I hope this encourages other people to be a part of prison ministry and to think about the prisoner. We’ve had a lot of favor with this project, and I feel like God has been in it since the beginning.
On our Christmas tour, the theme of the night was that Jesus enters suffering that is not His own. We already had a family friend calling in from Chicago every single night of the tour who came to Christ through my grandparents’ prison ministry. He shared each night what it meant to have someone visit him in prison and to bring the Gospel to him at that time in his life.
So that was all in place before Robyn called us and said, “Would you bring this show into the prison?” She had no idea that this was the theme of our night, that this is what we were already talking about. It was such a neat experience … the whole thing felt like it was orchestrated from the beginning and we had a lot of favor and a lot of help from everybody at the prison.
Jeremiah: Sara, can I ask you to share the story you shared that night at the prison about your very first visit to a prison?
“We were a makeshift nativity that night, my mom, my dad and I.”
~ Sara
Sara: The man that called in each night to share, his name is John Thompson, and he was a new believer that year in 1972. It was his first Christmas as a Christian and my great grandma was reading the Christmas story. My grandparents were there, they were doing a special Christmas Eve service for about 200 men and, as John tells it, right on cue – right as Baby Jesus is born in the story – I started to cry at the back of the room (my mother had smuggled me in under her coat, which would not happen today ).
I was three months old, and John and I met first there. He shares the story every night [during the concert], and he loves to get to the part where he says, “And that baby was Sara Groves.” We were a makeshift nativity that night, my mom, my dad and I. John loves to tell that story, and he and my grandparents and I have kept in touch over these many years because of that story. We felt connected right from the beginning.
Melody: One of the things I love about this project is that prison ministry has been a part of your entire life, but I think for so many people that, although they feel led to do this, it feels a little intimidating. What would you say to someone who may feel led to be involved in prison ministry?
Visit "Present Hope for Prison Ministry" for a variety of opportunities to care for inmates, former inmates and their families.
Sara: It isn’t easy. You need to find the volunteer groups that are going in and you have to work with a lot of different systems, but it is so worthwhile. What I’ve done is such small fragment compared to what my grandparents did. They went inside for 40 years, two times a week, so faithfully. They made themselves a part of the everyday lives of the men across those years.
Prison ministry is so valuable. I think Jeremiah could testify to this too, but I talked to many women [at LCC] who were getting out in a really short amount of time. One woman was getting out that Friday. Most inmates are not in for life, they’re in for a time, and then they are our neighbors again. There’s such a desperate need for mentoring, and there’s such a desire for mentorship when they’re incarcerated.
“These are moms and sisters and daughters and people with a past and with a very real future.”
~ Melody
[At LCC] there was a church serving there, and one of the things they were doing was cake decorating classes so the [LCC] women could learn a trade. The church does different types of classes based on the women’s abilities in the church. These women are sharing out of their expertise, out of their gifts, and they were sharing these gifts with the [LCC] women, who probably didn’t have a lot of input from their mothers or another mentor. The dividends of this are just incredible.
I would encourage anyone considering prison ministry. It takes a little work to get into a volunteer program at a prison but your service will be so appreciated. I think, as always, when we go in with open hands to serve, God uses that.
Jeremiah: Please share with our listening family and friends how they can go about getting your CD. You can download the project for free and make a contribution toward future prison shows.
Sara: [The contributions] go to Hope Shows. When it says, “Tip the Artist,” any of that goes to Hope Shows. You can go to our website, www.saragroves.com and download the full record for FREE!
Melody: It’s definitely worth it, the music is incredible. … You can hear it in the recording, when you listen to the music, that is really is all of these women coming together for this incredible night of music. It’s so easy for us to go, “Oh, those are those people who are behind bars,” instead of realizing these are moms and sisters and daughters and people with a past and with a very real future.
Sara: … and hopes and dreams. You hear that when they’re singing, “Oh come let us adore Him.” It’s such a neat moment.
Jeremiah: It was so impactful at the end of the night, as they were orderly dismissing the women, we made it a point to thank every single one of the women who came personally. They just adored getting a hug or a handshake, and were genuinely appreciative, Sara, that you and your band came to do that concert. I’ll never forget it.
I know that you made an impact on their lives, something that God will be able to use for years to come. Thanks for doing it. Thank you for releasing the music so that people can hear it. And thanks for spending time with us today, it’s been awesome.
Sara: We wouldn’t have been able to do it without your station and the support of your listeners, so thank you all.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Hilary Swank Visits Prison Fellowship; Q&A on Wrongful Convictions, Faith
11/04/2010
Dear friends,
Hilary Swank, two-time Oscar recipient, flew to Lansdowne, Virginia, to visit Prison Fellowship's offices for a private screening of her new movie, Conviction. Following the sneak preview, Ms. Swank participated in a question and answer session about wrongful convictions and the role churches can play in advocating for reforms. It was a very special evening for all who participated. (video highlights)
Conviction is a remarkable movie that tells the true story of Betty Anne Waters, who spent 18 years working to free her brother, Kenny, who had been convicted for murder based on false testimony. I wrote of the impact of the movie in the last Justice eReport. And I wanted to share with you the secial evening we enjoyed last Thursday. Swank surprised us by bringing with her the woman she portrays in the movie, Betty Anne Waters, and her best friend, Abra Rice (played by Minnie Driver), who kept Betty Anne's spirits up during the long struggle to prove Kenny's innocence. What a thrilling experience it was to be able to visit with Swank and the two women who actually righted the injustice done to Kenny!
Hilary Swank with Pat Nolan at
Prison Fellowship Headquarters
The story of how the evening came about is truly a blessing. The showing and Q&A were suggested by Hilary Swank herself. Swank explained her idea behind the evening: “I have seen how important faith can be in helping prisoners through difficult times. I wanted to share the film, CONVICTION, with other faith minded people to remind them of the important role they play in reforming our justice system and helping prisoners and their families.” I never would have been bold enough to suggest this event. But God moved in Swank's heart and provided a very inspirational evening.
In answer to a question from the audience, Swank explained the reason she chose to become executive producer of the movie. “When I read this script, I thought it was a great story of faith. Faith in this other person, the faith that Kenny had in his sister that made her feel loved, to continue on,” she said. “And you know, that faith can be compared in myriad ways: to having faith in a higher power, faith in trusting your future, having hope.”
Swank spoke of the importance of the movie in provoking discussion of the need for reforms, “Knowledge is power and the more we talk, the more we learn. I carry Betty Anne in my heart and I am a better person for it.”
Swank also reflected on the role faith plays in inmates' hearts. “I’ve met twelve other exonerees since the movie has come out,” she said in an interview prior to the panel discussion. “And all of them talk about having found faith in prison, that it was what got them through their ordeal and the circumstances.”
In response to an inquiry from the audience, Betty Anne Waters spoke of the importance of support from members of the community. “There are so many things the community can do to help prisoners. Even something as simple as sending a letter or buying a coat,” Waters said. Here are some video highlights of the very special evening.
I hope that like Ms. Swank's inspiration to take the time to come and speak with our ministry, you too will find the time to see CONVICTION and discuss it with your friends and family. The story is truly a testament to the power of faith. Here is a link to help you find where Conviction is playing near you. However, I should warn you that there are many bad words in the movie. It is a prison movie, and the producers decided to keep them in because they wanted to show that Kenny was a flawed person, but no less deserving of justice. If that type language offends you, you should not see the movie.
Ms. Swank sent me a note the day after the wonderful evening:
Mr. Nolan,
I am deeply flattered to have had the opportunity to meet with you, Rev. Lee, and your Prison Ministry Fellowship last night. All that you are doing for those close to the issue of criminal justice and injustice is not only vital for our government, friends and family, but also inspirational to me as an individual.
I appreciate your support of CONVICTION and all that you do to make the world a place where we can help each other through challenging journeys like Betty Anne's (my real life hero), and Kenny's.
With respect,
Hilary
In His service,
Pat Nolan
Vice-President, Prison Fellowship
Resources
Conviction locations
Video Highlights of the Q&A
Media coverage of the evening:
Washington Post
Christian Post
Leesburg Today (article)
Leesburg Today (video)
Justice Fellowship's Protecting the Innocent resource page
Justice eReport: "Protecting the Innocent"
Conviction Website
The Innocence Project
Boston Globe article
Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice
Frequent Errors that Lead to False Convictions and Suggested Solutions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to Justice eReport
Remove your email address from the Justice eReport mailing list.
Help Support Our Work: Justice Fellowship's work is funded through the generous contributions of individuals such as yourself. To contribute online via our secure server, please click here.
Do you find the Justice eReport interesting? Please forward to your friends!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Justice Fellowship is the criminal justice reform arm of Prison Fellowship
Dear friends,
Hilary Swank, two-time Oscar recipient, flew to Lansdowne, Virginia, to visit Prison Fellowship's offices for a private screening of her new movie, Conviction. Following the sneak preview, Ms. Swank participated in a question and answer session about wrongful convictions and the role churches can play in advocating for reforms. It was a very special evening for all who participated. (video highlights)
Conviction is a remarkable movie that tells the true story of Betty Anne Waters, who spent 18 years working to free her brother, Kenny, who had been convicted for murder based on false testimony. I wrote of the impact of the movie in the last Justice eReport. And I wanted to share with you the secial evening we enjoyed last Thursday. Swank surprised us by bringing with her the woman she portrays in the movie, Betty Anne Waters, and her best friend, Abra Rice (played by Minnie Driver), who kept Betty Anne's spirits up during the long struggle to prove Kenny's innocence. What a thrilling experience it was to be able to visit with Swank and the two women who actually righted the injustice done to Kenny!
Hilary Swank with Pat Nolan at
Prison Fellowship Headquarters
The story of how the evening came about is truly a blessing. The showing and Q&A were suggested by Hilary Swank herself. Swank explained her idea behind the evening: “I have seen how important faith can be in helping prisoners through difficult times. I wanted to share the film, CONVICTION, with other faith minded people to remind them of the important role they play in reforming our justice system and helping prisoners and their families.” I never would have been bold enough to suggest this event. But God moved in Swank's heart and provided a very inspirational evening.
In answer to a question from the audience, Swank explained the reason she chose to become executive producer of the movie. “When I read this script, I thought it was a great story of faith. Faith in this other person, the faith that Kenny had in his sister that made her feel loved, to continue on,” she said. “And you know, that faith can be compared in myriad ways: to having faith in a higher power, faith in trusting your future, having hope.”
Swank spoke of the importance of the movie in provoking discussion of the need for reforms, “Knowledge is power and the more we talk, the more we learn. I carry Betty Anne in my heart and I am a better person for it.”
Swank also reflected on the role faith plays in inmates' hearts. “I’ve met twelve other exonerees since the movie has come out,” she said in an interview prior to the panel discussion. “And all of them talk about having found faith in prison, that it was what got them through their ordeal and the circumstances.”
In response to an inquiry from the audience, Betty Anne Waters spoke of the importance of support from members of the community. “There are so many things the community can do to help prisoners. Even something as simple as sending a letter or buying a coat,” Waters said. Here are some video highlights of the very special evening.
I hope that like Ms. Swank's inspiration to take the time to come and speak with our ministry, you too will find the time to see CONVICTION and discuss it with your friends and family. The story is truly a testament to the power of faith. Here is a link to help you find where Conviction is playing near you. However, I should warn you that there are many bad words in the movie. It is a prison movie, and the producers decided to keep them in because they wanted to show that Kenny was a flawed person, but no less deserving of justice. If that type language offends you, you should not see the movie.
Ms. Swank sent me a note the day after the wonderful evening:
Mr. Nolan,
I am deeply flattered to have had the opportunity to meet with you, Rev. Lee, and your Prison Ministry Fellowship last night. All that you are doing for those close to the issue of criminal justice and injustice is not only vital for our government, friends and family, but also inspirational to me as an individual.
I appreciate your support of CONVICTION and all that you do to make the world a place where we can help each other through challenging journeys like Betty Anne's (my real life hero), and Kenny's.
With respect,
Hilary
In His service,
Pat Nolan
Vice-President, Prison Fellowship
Resources
Conviction locations
Video Highlights of the Q&A
Media coverage of the evening:
Washington Post
Christian Post
Leesburg Today (article)
Leesburg Today (video)
Justice Fellowship's Protecting the Innocent resource page
Justice eReport: "Protecting the Innocent"
Conviction Website
The Innocence Project
Boston Globe article
Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice
Frequent Errors that Lead to False Convictions and Suggested Solutions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to Justice eReport
Remove your email address from the Justice eReport mailing list.
Help Support Our Work: Justice Fellowship's work is funded through the generous contributions of individuals such as yourself. To contribute online via our secure server, please click here.
Do you find the Justice eReport interesting? Please forward to your friends!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Justice Fellowship is the criminal justice reform arm of Prison Fellowship
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Facebook | Living With A Death Sentence
Facebook | Living With A Death Sentence
EditLiving With A Death Sentenceby John Thomson on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 4:06pm
John Thomson Speaking:
Baskically, this article describes my life. I have all of these conditions. I take all of these medications. And I have almost all of the side effects. I have also had the privilege to have had chelation treatments in California in 2005. The treatments however were not intended for my heart condition as much as it was for my over all health situation. I did not return to chelation treatments when I returned from California. So there it is layed out for me quite clearly. In my present predicament I am under a death sentence I already have had a double-bypass and two angio-plasties.
Sugar is my enemy even moreso than cigarettes. I wonder should I trade sugar for cigarettes. My sugar count is at the diabetic level over 7. I don't sleep because of in part the medications, so I eat, my nurse tells me I should not snack after 10 pm, what can i do at 3 am? I finally asked her, "well, what about whiskey." She said not with the medications. So this article says the medications are harmful and everyone says sugar is white and anything white is bad for you. (Wheres my race card) So Im back to Jack Daniels "if you please" and call for Phillip Morris. Stay tuned for "One More Day, Please" Oh and read the article, if you have a heart it just might have something to say to you as well.
Wednesday November 3, 2010
Therapy May Be Able to Save 30 Percent of U.S. Lives... Condemned!
Do you know what happens when your blood doesn't flow freely to your heart? Or your arteries don't pump enough blood to your legs? Or what happens when your brain doesn't get enough oxygen from your blood?
You can get gangrene... suffer stroke or heart attack... or even die.
That's because as you age your arterial walls grow thick with plaque deposits. As that happens, your blood flow slows down. And when your plaque grows too thick... it strangles your blood flow altogether. It's a condition we call atherosclerosis. And it accounts for one‐third of all deaths in the U.S.
Doctors often tackle this problem with statin drugs. But these drugs are expensive and sometimes ineffective. Worse, they can do more harm than good.
Experts and research alike oppose their use. Despite this, statins remain our first-line of defense.
And yet, there's another therapy which some doctors claim is effective and safe. They point to evidence which has been compiled over 50 years - and in over 3,000 studies. Those pioneering surgeons say they have been successfully using this therapy for years. A Nobel-Prize winning doctor champions it.
But the medical industry has condemned its use. The FDA... American Heart Association (AHA)... and the American Medical Association (AMA) have joined together to shut this therapy out.
We reveal what this therapy is... and investigate whether it's worth considering...
Battling Plaque
Plaque deposits form when decaying muscle cells, fibrous tissues, fat, cholesterol, and calcium deposits build up inside your arteries. These deposits can form anywhere in your body. But they are most dangerous when they grow near your heart or brain.
Growth usually starts in areas with turbulent blood flow. Where narrow vessels cause pressure to build up. Or where valves don't close tightly.
Plaque increases with age. It causes your arteries to become hard and lose elasticity. When this happens, blood clots may form and break off. That blocks smaller vessels.
According to conventional medicine, high levels of blood cholesterol indicate plaque build-up. When that happens, your doctor will likely advise you to start taking statin drugs, which can lower your bad LDL cholesterol.
Getting Serious about Statins
It's true that statins can lower cholesterol levels. But many experts believe that cholesterol is not the primary cause of heart disease. (See "The True Cause of Heart Disease")
There's certainly plenty of evidence that suggests they're not the best treatment for atherosclerosis.
Here are just some of the many side effects of statins:
dizziness
nausea or upset stomach
lack of appetite
reduced liver function - which can cause jaundice
itchy skin
abdominal pain
dark‐colored urine
constipation
cramps and muscle pain
joint pain
weakness
fever‐like symptoms
insomnia
nightmares
loss of memory
sexual dysfunction
depression
shortness of breath
irritating cough
No wonder some doctors advise against using statins.
Among them is Garry Gordon MD, DO, founder of the Gordon Research Institute.
"I will not recommend something with a five percent so‐called benefit if there is a known risk as we have with statins," says Dr. Gordon. "I can avoid [these risks] with alternative approaches."
Seeking Alternative Therapies
Dr. Gordon is known worldwide for his study of EDTA chelation. Years ago, he studied and learned about EDTA chelation therapy. EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra‐acetic acid) is an amino acid that's chemically similar to vinegar.
EDTA chelation was first created in the 1930s. Back then it was used as an intravenous treatment for heavy metal poisoning. But as patients recovered from metal poisoning, they noticed a dramatic improvement in other symptoms including coronary artery disease.
And so the studies began. Dr. Gordon researched the therapeutic effects of EDTA. He focused primarily on heart disease.
He discovered that over the past 50 years, more than 3,000 studies, articles, and reviews have confirmed that EDTA is a safe and effective treatment for heart disease. It's since been used by over two million patients.
"Look at my patients," says Dr. Gordon. "They have any level heart disease and many of them are alive after five years. Compare [that to] those on standard therapy."
He has spoken out about how most doctors see heart disease. He says that "they consider the diagnosis of congestive heart failure to be a death sentence."
He notes that is "because over 60 percent of their patients are dead within the first year."
On the other hand, he says, "I haven't lost one patient with congestive heart failure in 10 years."
He states that he's saved patients who were inoperable. Patients who had already had every known form of bypass surgery, "until there were no more veins in their legs to strip out to put in their hearts."
"They were sent home to die and I could get those people back to full functioning," says Dr. Gordon. "I've had doctor friends who wouldn't take the IV at first. They're now on oral EDTA and are able to pass a treadmill stress test that they couldn't pass for five years."
Dr. Gordon advises patients against surgery, statins, and stents. He's not convinced that cholesterol is the primary reason for heart attacks. Rather, he thinks it's a combination of plaque buildup, blood clots, and inflammation.
His therapy tackles these conditions with a multi-pack of oral pills. These include a strong multivitamin, omega-3, primrose oil, a phosphatidyl serine with Gingko biloba, and three capsules containing the EDTA-enhanced institute formula. He says his tests show that such a combination lowers viscosity. This helps prevent fatal blood clots. It also breaks down plaque and helps tackle inflammation.
He also prescribes a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids and low in toxins to combat inflammation and reverse plaque.
11 Breakthrough Cures from Around the World
What if a simple method could root out and separate cancer cells from healthy cells to easily target and kill them? What if a biopharmaceutical company had actually discovered a way to reverse aging on a genetic level... then buried the research? What if a volcanic mineral could eliminate all risks of heart disease? These aren't just theoretical cures. View this special video presentation to find out more...
Closing Ranks
Dr. Gordon points to the 3,000 studies that support the benefits of this therapy. But despite all the research, the AHA says the benefits of such therapy haven't been proven. It says it's reviewed the literature and doesn't find enough evidence to support this therapy.
The AHA's official policy states:
"Employment of this form of unproven treatment may deprive patients of the well-established benefits attendant to the many other valuable methods of treating these diseases."
Many other mainstream medical groups agree. These include the FDA; the American College of Physicians; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institutes of Health; the AMA; and the American College of Cardiology.
But Dr. Gordon disagrees and points to 50 years or research that he says supports this treatment. He also notes his own documented success.
With so many naysayers, does anyone else support EDTA chelation therapy?
The Artery Health Institute has done its own tests. They found EDTA - mixed with garlic extract, malic acid, and parsley - immediately improves circulation. Full effects can be reached within three months of therapy.
And two‐time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling, PhD, has publically championed the therapy.
"EDTA chelation therapy fits in well with my views on health care," says Dr. Pauling.
He recommended that doctors embrace this new therapy if they want to save lives.
"Physicians who administer EDTA integrate the results of my own research into their chelation program," says Dr. Pauling. "Chelation therapy will be of great advantage to the nonsurgical treatment for atherosclerosis."
Plenty of other experts are championing this therapy.
Bruce Halstead, MD, founder of the World Life Research Institute, says over two million chelation treatments have been performed in the U.S. alone. There was not a single fatality in the group.
In 2003, the National Institutes of Health started an extensive $30 million clinical double‐blind trial on EDTA chelation therapy for coronary heart. But the 10‐year study was shut down in 2008 - just halfway through its run.
The Office for Human Research Protections demanded its suspension. That's because several pharmaceutical groups complained, citing "inadequate informed consent."
Dr. James P. Carter, M.D., PhD, suggests the government might be bending to pressure from Big Pharma to suppress therapies like EDTA.
Dr. Carter is a 50-year medical professional. Before retiring in 2007, he ran his own private practice in Mandeville, Louisiana... and served as the long-time Head of the Nutrition Section at Tulane University School of Medicine.
"The new therapy threatens the financial well-being of a politically powerful and well established branch of the medical profession," says Dr. Carter. "Quite the opposite occurred with the immediate and widespread acceptance of bypass surgery and balloon angioplasty. It quickly brought wealth and fame to surgeons, cardiologists, large teams of health care professionals, and the hospital industry."
That leaves prospective patience with two choices: opt for FDA approved methods. Or explore this alternative therapy.
The smartest option is to speak with a doctor you trust. Be sure it's a physician who doesn't profit from chelation treatments... but one who values a natural approach.
In the meantime, we'll be reporting further on this important issue in the near future.
To your health,Ian Robinson, Managing Editor, Natural Health Dossier "Health Watch"
Leave us a comment right here!
"Eat Your Veggies... But Not Like This."
If you load up your plate with fresh broccoli and spinach, you're doing your body a favor. But are you missing out on other veggies at the market that are actually much better for you than your "regulars"?
I'm talking about a "misunderstood" subset of veggies that are packed with more nutrients and antioxidants than your standard fare. According to a study funded by the UK Food Standards Agency, these "Superior Foods" contain 53% more beta carotene... 38% more health-boosting flavonoids... more muscle-building protein... more potassium... and more of the elements needed to foster complete nutrition.
Discover which veggies you should be eating... And which ones you should avoid... on page 4 of THB's comprehensive guide to "Green Living." Find out exactly how this guide can keep your family healthy... and protect you from poisons... by reading on right here.
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EditLiving With A Death Sentenceby John Thomson on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 4:06pm
John Thomson Speaking:
Baskically, this article describes my life. I have all of these conditions. I take all of these medications. And I have almost all of the side effects. I have also had the privilege to have had chelation treatments in California in 2005. The treatments however were not intended for my heart condition as much as it was for my over all health situation. I did not return to chelation treatments when I returned from California. So there it is layed out for me quite clearly. In my present predicament I am under a death sentence I already have had a double-bypass and two angio-plasties.
Sugar is my enemy even moreso than cigarettes. I wonder should I trade sugar for cigarettes. My sugar count is at the diabetic level over 7. I don't sleep because of in part the medications, so I eat, my nurse tells me I should not snack after 10 pm, what can i do at 3 am? I finally asked her, "well, what about whiskey." She said not with the medications. So this article says the medications are harmful and everyone says sugar is white and anything white is bad for you. (Wheres my race card) So Im back to Jack Daniels "if you please" and call for Phillip Morris. Stay tuned for "One More Day, Please" Oh and read the article, if you have a heart it just might have something to say to you as well.
Wednesday November 3, 2010
Therapy May Be Able to Save 30 Percent of U.S. Lives... Condemned!
Do you know what happens when your blood doesn't flow freely to your heart? Or your arteries don't pump enough blood to your legs? Or what happens when your brain doesn't get enough oxygen from your blood?
You can get gangrene... suffer stroke or heart attack... or even die.
That's because as you age your arterial walls grow thick with plaque deposits. As that happens, your blood flow slows down. And when your plaque grows too thick... it strangles your blood flow altogether. It's a condition we call atherosclerosis. And it accounts for one‐third of all deaths in the U.S.
Doctors often tackle this problem with statin drugs. But these drugs are expensive and sometimes ineffective. Worse, they can do more harm than good.
Experts and research alike oppose their use. Despite this, statins remain our first-line of defense.
And yet, there's another therapy which some doctors claim is effective and safe. They point to evidence which has been compiled over 50 years - and in over 3,000 studies. Those pioneering surgeons say they have been successfully using this therapy for years. A Nobel-Prize winning doctor champions it.
But the medical industry has condemned its use. The FDA... American Heart Association (AHA)... and the American Medical Association (AMA) have joined together to shut this therapy out.
We reveal what this therapy is... and investigate whether it's worth considering...
Battling Plaque
Plaque deposits form when decaying muscle cells, fibrous tissues, fat, cholesterol, and calcium deposits build up inside your arteries. These deposits can form anywhere in your body. But they are most dangerous when they grow near your heart or brain.
Growth usually starts in areas with turbulent blood flow. Where narrow vessels cause pressure to build up. Or where valves don't close tightly.
Plaque increases with age. It causes your arteries to become hard and lose elasticity. When this happens, blood clots may form and break off. That blocks smaller vessels.
According to conventional medicine, high levels of blood cholesterol indicate plaque build-up. When that happens, your doctor will likely advise you to start taking statin drugs, which can lower your bad LDL cholesterol.
Getting Serious about Statins
It's true that statins can lower cholesterol levels. But many experts believe that cholesterol is not the primary cause of heart disease. (See "The True Cause of Heart Disease")
There's certainly plenty of evidence that suggests they're not the best treatment for atherosclerosis.
Here are just some of the many side effects of statins:
dizziness
nausea or upset stomach
lack of appetite
reduced liver function - which can cause jaundice
itchy skin
abdominal pain
dark‐colored urine
constipation
cramps and muscle pain
joint pain
weakness
fever‐like symptoms
insomnia
nightmares
loss of memory
sexual dysfunction
depression
shortness of breath
irritating cough
No wonder some doctors advise against using statins.
Among them is Garry Gordon MD, DO, founder of the Gordon Research Institute.
"I will not recommend something with a five percent so‐called benefit if there is a known risk as we have with statins," says Dr. Gordon. "I can avoid [these risks] with alternative approaches."
Seeking Alternative Therapies
Dr. Gordon is known worldwide for his study of EDTA chelation. Years ago, he studied and learned about EDTA chelation therapy. EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra‐acetic acid) is an amino acid that's chemically similar to vinegar.
EDTA chelation was first created in the 1930s. Back then it was used as an intravenous treatment for heavy metal poisoning. But as patients recovered from metal poisoning, they noticed a dramatic improvement in other symptoms including coronary artery disease.
And so the studies began. Dr. Gordon researched the therapeutic effects of EDTA. He focused primarily on heart disease.
He discovered that over the past 50 years, more than 3,000 studies, articles, and reviews have confirmed that EDTA is a safe and effective treatment for heart disease. It's since been used by over two million patients.
"Look at my patients," says Dr. Gordon. "They have any level heart disease and many of them are alive after five years. Compare [that to] those on standard therapy."
He has spoken out about how most doctors see heart disease. He says that "they consider the diagnosis of congestive heart failure to be a death sentence."
He notes that is "because over 60 percent of their patients are dead within the first year."
On the other hand, he says, "I haven't lost one patient with congestive heart failure in 10 years."
He states that he's saved patients who were inoperable. Patients who had already had every known form of bypass surgery, "until there were no more veins in their legs to strip out to put in their hearts."
"They were sent home to die and I could get those people back to full functioning," says Dr. Gordon. "I've had doctor friends who wouldn't take the IV at first. They're now on oral EDTA and are able to pass a treadmill stress test that they couldn't pass for five years."
Dr. Gordon advises patients against surgery, statins, and stents. He's not convinced that cholesterol is the primary reason for heart attacks. Rather, he thinks it's a combination of plaque buildup, blood clots, and inflammation.
His therapy tackles these conditions with a multi-pack of oral pills. These include a strong multivitamin, omega-3, primrose oil, a phosphatidyl serine with Gingko biloba, and three capsules containing the EDTA-enhanced institute formula. He says his tests show that such a combination lowers viscosity. This helps prevent fatal blood clots. It also breaks down plaque and helps tackle inflammation.
He also prescribes a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids and low in toxins to combat inflammation and reverse plaque.
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Closing Ranks
Dr. Gordon points to the 3,000 studies that support the benefits of this therapy. But despite all the research, the AHA says the benefits of such therapy haven't been proven. It says it's reviewed the literature and doesn't find enough evidence to support this therapy.
The AHA's official policy states:
"Employment of this form of unproven treatment may deprive patients of the well-established benefits attendant to the many other valuable methods of treating these diseases."
Many other mainstream medical groups agree. These include the FDA; the American College of Physicians; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institutes of Health; the AMA; and the American College of Cardiology.
But Dr. Gordon disagrees and points to 50 years or research that he says supports this treatment. He also notes his own documented success.
With so many naysayers, does anyone else support EDTA chelation therapy?
The Artery Health Institute has done its own tests. They found EDTA - mixed with garlic extract, malic acid, and parsley - immediately improves circulation. Full effects can be reached within three months of therapy.
And two‐time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling, PhD, has publically championed the therapy.
"EDTA chelation therapy fits in well with my views on health care," says Dr. Pauling.
He recommended that doctors embrace this new therapy if they want to save lives.
"Physicians who administer EDTA integrate the results of my own research into their chelation program," says Dr. Pauling. "Chelation therapy will be of great advantage to the nonsurgical treatment for atherosclerosis."
Plenty of other experts are championing this therapy.
Bruce Halstead, MD, founder of the World Life Research Institute, says over two million chelation treatments have been performed in the U.S. alone. There was not a single fatality in the group.
In 2003, the National Institutes of Health started an extensive $30 million clinical double‐blind trial on EDTA chelation therapy for coronary heart. But the 10‐year study was shut down in 2008 - just halfway through its run.
The Office for Human Research Protections demanded its suspension. That's because several pharmaceutical groups complained, citing "inadequate informed consent."
Dr. James P. Carter, M.D., PhD, suggests the government might be bending to pressure from Big Pharma to suppress therapies like EDTA.
Dr. Carter is a 50-year medical professional. Before retiring in 2007, he ran his own private practice in Mandeville, Louisiana... and served as the long-time Head of the Nutrition Section at Tulane University School of Medicine.
"The new therapy threatens the financial well-being of a politically powerful and well established branch of the medical profession," says Dr. Carter. "Quite the opposite occurred with the immediate and widespread acceptance of bypass surgery and balloon angioplasty. It quickly brought wealth and fame to surgeons, cardiologists, large teams of health care professionals, and the hospital industry."
That leaves prospective patience with two choices: opt for FDA approved methods. Or explore this alternative therapy.
The smartest option is to speak with a doctor you trust. Be sure it's a physician who doesn't profit from chelation treatments... but one who values a natural approach.
In the meantime, we'll be reporting further on this important issue in the near future.
To your health,Ian Robinson, Managing Editor, Natural Health Dossier "Health Watch"
Leave us a comment right here!
"Eat Your Veggies... But Not Like This."
If you load up your plate with fresh broccoli and spinach, you're doing your body a favor. But are you missing out on other veggies at the market that are actually much better for you than your "regulars"?
I'm talking about a "misunderstood" subset of veggies that are packed with more nutrients and antioxidants than your standard fare. According to a study funded by the UK Food Standards Agency, these "Superior Foods" contain 53% more beta carotene... 38% more health-boosting flavonoids... more muscle-building protein... more potassium... and more of the elements needed to foster complete nutrition.
Discover which veggies you should be eating... And which ones you should avoid... on page 4 of THB's comprehensive guide to "Green Living." Find out exactly how this guide can keep your family healthy... and protect you from poisons... by reading on right here.
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Monday, November 01, 2010
So you think i SHOULD VOTE | Thomson Home Emporium Shopping Store
So you think i SHOULD VOTE | Thomson Home Emporium Shopping Store
I've lived through 7 decades and I ain't seen no better ever, no matter who has been in office, I've seen churches and Pastors all fall down I've seen best of friends turn on each other the only things that have been consistent in life live in the animal world, if theres a box to leave this planet, I'll vote because humanity is the most evil thing on earth. Period.
To tell you the truth I don't have an ounce of faith in this political system nor any of the politicians left, right or in the middle. After all the campaigning of lies and distortions that we have seen in how many years of our lives. We can finish the ad before its even out of their mouth because its the same old drivel that has been preached since time immemorial. The Bible says "there is nothing new under the sun." "What you see is what you get." is probably the closest thing to being the truth out there. How many years have we been watching "Feed The Children." How many years have we been adopting children in poverty. This is the cruelest game of Monopoly ever invented. "Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire will be as relevant when your great-grandkids are born as when it first came out.
I could go on and on but what good would it do. I cringe every time I see a new born baby because it sickens me to know what awaits them. Don't give me your hope filled dreams and faith in God. I've heard that all my life. God is God for the afterlife, the Devil runs this show.
I've lived through 7 decades and I ain't seen no better ever, no matter who has been in office, I've seen churches and Pastors all fall down I've seen best of friends turn on each other the only things that have been consistent in life live in the animal world, if theres a box to leave this planet, I'll vote because humanity is the most evil thing on earth. Period.
To tell you the truth I don't have an ounce of faith in this political system nor any of the politicians left, right or in the middle. After all the campaigning of lies and distortions that we have seen in how many years of our lives. We can finish the ad before its even out of their mouth because its the same old drivel that has been preached since time immemorial. The Bible says "there is nothing new under the sun." "What you see is what you get." is probably the closest thing to being the truth out there. How many years have we been watching "Feed The Children." How many years have we been adopting children in poverty. This is the cruelest game of Monopoly ever invented. "Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire will be as relevant when your great-grandkids are born as when it first came out.
I could go on and on but what good would it do. I cringe every time I see a new born baby because it sickens me to know what awaits them. Don't give me your hope filled dreams and faith in God. I've heard that all my life. God is God for the afterlife, the Devil runs this show.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Its Going To Be All Right
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Free Theatre Tickets for A Year
By clicking on the link below you will be helping me at A CHANCE to win theatre tickets for a year free. Whats in it for you? I don't go to the theatre, I'd give my free tickets away were I to win. So hence if you help me you help yourself. Would that all our needs be met in such a way.
http://sharetoget.com/share.php?id=28&r=128
http://sharetoget.com/share.php?id=28&r=128
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