I have longed for this day for 5 years! Ever since Jose was arrested in 2013, I have been following his case not only through Cinnamon Shirk our Victim Witness Advocate but also through an automated system called MOVANS. By signing up for this I receive notices whenever anything is happening in the case against Jose Huckleberry. Just a few minutes ago I received this notice from them:
1/29/2016
This e-mail is to inform you that a motion has been filed about the defendant JOSE HUCKLEBERRY and court case number 1331CR00576. The case status is now: Closed
Woo hoo! Finally! The final arguments took place this morning. The prosecuting attorneys did an excellent job! I could feel the passion arise in them as they spoke. This case was personal to them after living it for 5 years! The judge put the case into the hands of the jury around 10:30. After just over 5 nerve wracking hours of deliberations, the jury came back with a verdict. Before the jurors were brought into the courtroom, the judge told us not to show any emotion when the verdict was read. Really? I didn't know if I could do that!
The jurors filed in and the foreman stated they had reached a verdict and handed the file over to the bailiff to give to the judge. The judge then read through the verdict without showing any reaction. He then read the verdict.
In the murder of Donald Willingham in the second degree, guilty. In the murder of Helen Willingham in the second degree, guilty. In the burglary, guilty.
I know I haven't stated those exactly in the correct legal terminology but I didn't get the full description written down. The bottom line is that they declared him guilty on all counts. What a relief! We all did pretty good in holding ourselves together but when the jury had been dismissed and the judge had settled things out with the attorneys about setting a date for the sentencing hearing, I looked at my brother and said, "Ok, can we show emotion now?" I looked over at my sweet niece, Anna Johnsen and although she wasn't making a sound, the tears were flowing down her cheeks! How can you hold back 5 years of emotions?
As the verdicts were read, one of the jurors began sobbing. I can't imagine what this week has been like for them! They had to see horrible pictures, including the autopsy photos. They had to hear over 7 hours of confession as this messed up young man described stabbing 2 elderly people in cold blood in a very brutal fashion. I am grateful to these individuals who gave up a week of their lives, focused on hours and hours of testimony, and came back with a just verdict! I wish I could talk to each one of them and say thank you!
I have tons of notes from the trial this week and I need to get my head wrapped around it all before I can begin to convey it to you but I will do my best to get it done in a timely manner! Right now, I feel so relieved, emotionally spent, and physically exhausted! Thank you to all of you who have supported our family with your prayers! God has sustained us and brought justice to our family as well as to Mom and Dad.
Job 8:3 (Good News Translation)
God never twists justice;
He never fails to do what is right.
Thank you, Lord that You never leave us or forsake us!
Friday, January 29, 2016
Trial - Day 4
Today's testimony was intense. I am totally drained - physically and emotionally. We listened to the rest of Jose's videotaped confession. He was so strung out on drugs that his memory of that fateful morning is very foggy to say the least. The way he repeatedly described the stabbings was very difficult to listen to.
Jose apparently went to their house in hopes of getting jewelry or a TV - something he could pawn easily for cash. If only he had known that Mom had very little jewelry and they only had 1 older TV in the house perhaps he would have gone to a different house. He also said something about Dad's truck that was sitting in the driveway but for whatever reason, Jose didn't think they were home.
At first Jose said he and "the dude" were "hand fighting". But he was pretty strong for an "old dude". It turned out that they weren't just "hand fighting", as he called it, because Jose had a knife. A very large, long knife. He said he kept stabbing Dad because he didn't want him to suffer. He was obviously wounded so Jose said he wanted to put him out of his misery. He said that Dad just wouldn't stop. Jose just wanted him to stop moving so he had to keep stabbing him. The blow that caused Dad to finally stop moving punctured Dad's lung. He could have died from many of the different deep wounds but that was the one that did it.
You could tell Jose was very upset about Mom's death. At first Jose said he was the only one in the house but another time he said someone named Steven actually killed Mom (although he couldn't remember Steven's last name). Jose said he can't get the image of Mom's face out of his head and that she didn't have to die. When Mom fell to the kitchen floor after she had been stabbed her so forcefully it penetrated her sternum and sliced her aorta open, her arms were outstretched. Her feet were perfectly together. Her body formed the shape of a cross. Her beautiful face and lifeless eyes staring up at him from the cold kitchen floor.
After that Jose just wanted to get out of there. He had to jump over all the blood to get out the door (Dad's body was found in the entryway in a very large pool of blood) because he didn't want to "track" and he took off running. He said he "woke up" and he was running. He noticed he was covered in blood so he stopped and washed himself off in a mud puddle. At that point he was coming off the drugs and he really wasn't sure what had happened - a very bad dream.
Mind you, the interrogation lasted for hours and they kept going over and over these descriptions as the detective was trying to get Jose to remember - looking for a new clue - something that would let him know if he acted alone or if others were involved. Grueling!
Toward the end of this interview (which was over 7 hours long!) he was given the opportunity to write a letter stating what had happened and apologizing to us. It was actually a very moving letter! Of course, it would have meant a lot more if he had pleaded guilty and not put us through all this! I know he is a scared young man.
I will have to process this for a while before I can write too much more about it. I am grateful for so many people who are praying for our family during this time. It is the only thing that has gotten me through thus far. God has truly given me a supernatural peace!
I have mentioned before how I have watched Jose intensely and looked for opportunities to catch his eye. When they were getting ready to break for lunch I was watching Jose as the bailiff led him out of the courtroom. Jose turned and looked right at me. I smiled at him and he smiled back at me. I felt that was a breakthrough.
The state and the defense both rested their cases at the end of the day. In the morning both sides will give their closing arguments and it will be handed over to the jury. With the detailed videotaped confession, and very little offered in the way of defense, I really expect the jury to declare him guilty but you never know until the verdict comes back. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the jury!
Either way, whether they declare him guilty or innocent I want to contact him. He is currently serving a prison sentence for another crime he committed after this so he will remain incarcerated regardless of the verdict making it possible for me to write to him. I need to give that serious consideration.
I see Jose as a broken young man. He grew up in the foster home system, suffered a lot of abuse as a child, and got into drugs at a young age. He fell into a lifestyle of robbing for money to buy drugs. Such a waste of his life so far! But Jesus loves him. Jesus loves to take broken, hurting people and turn them into new creatures!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (Good News Translation)
Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.
Jose apparently went to their house in hopes of getting jewelry or a TV - something he could pawn easily for cash. If only he had known that Mom had very little jewelry and they only had 1 older TV in the house perhaps he would have gone to a different house. He also said something about Dad's truck that was sitting in the driveway but for whatever reason, Jose didn't think they were home.
At first Jose said he and "the dude" were "hand fighting". But he was pretty strong for an "old dude". It turned out that they weren't just "hand fighting", as he called it, because Jose had a knife. A very large, long knife. He said he kept stabbing Dad because he didn't want him to suffer. He was obviously wounded so Jose said he wanted to put him out of his misery. He said that Dad just wouldn't stop. Jose just wanted him to stop moving so he had to keep stabbing him. The blow that caused Dad to finally stop moving punctured Dad's lung. He could have died from many of the different deep wounds but that was the one that did it.
You could tell Jose was very upset about Mom's death. At first Jose said he was the only one in the house but another time he said someone named Steven actually killed Mom (although he couldn't remember Steven's last name). Jose said he can't get the image of Mom's face out of his head and that she didn't have to die. When Mom fell to the kitchen floor after she had been stabbed her so forcefully it penetrated her sternum and sliced her aorta open, her arms were outstretched. Her feet were perfectly together. Her body formed the shape of a cross. Her beautiful face and lifeless eyes staring up at him from the cold kitchen floor.
After that Jose just wanted to get out of there. He had to jump over all the blood to get out the door (Dad's body was found in the entryway in a very large pool of blood) because he didn't want to "track" and he took off running. He said he "woke up" and he was running. He noticed he was covered in blood so he stopped and washed himself off in a mud puddle. At that point he was coming off the drugs and he really wasn't sure what had happened - a very bad dream.
Mind you, the interrogation lasted for hours and they kept going over and over these descriptions as the detective was trying to get Jose to remember - looking for a new clue - something that would let him know if he acted alone or if others were involved. Grueling!
Toward the end of this interview (which was over 7 hours long!) he was given the opportunity to write a letter stating what had happened and apologizing to us. It was actually a very moving letter! Of course, it would have meant a lot more if he had pleaded guilty and not put us through all this! I know he is a scared young man.
I will have to process this for a while before I can write too much more about it. I am grateful for so many people who are praying for our family during this time. It is the only thing that has gotten me through thus far. God has truly given me a supernatural peace!
I have mentioned before how I have watched Jose intensely and looked for opportunities to catch his eye. When they were getting ready to break for lunch I was watching Jose as the bailiff led him out of the courtroom. Jose turned and looked right at me. I smiled at him and he smiled back at me. I felt that was a breakthrough.
The state and the defense both rested their cases at the end of the day. In the morning both sides will give their closing arguments and it will be handed over to the jury. With the detailed videotaped confession, and very little offered in the way of defense, I really expect the jury to declare him guilty but you never know until the verdict comes back. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the jury!
Either way, whether they declare him guilty or innocent I want to contact him. He is currently serving a prison sentence for another crime he committed after this so he will remain incarcerated regardless of the verdict making it possible for me to write to him. I need to give that serious consideration.
I see Jose as a broken young man. He grew up in the foster home system, suffered a lot of abuse as a child, and got into drugs at a young age. He fell into a lifestyle of robbing for money to buy drugs. Such a waste of his life so far! But Jesus loves him. Jesus loves to take broken, hurting people and turn them into new creatures!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (Good News Translation)
Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Trial - Day 3
The trial began with another DNA expert today. It was very hard to listen to because I just did not understand a lot of it. If it were not my parents they were talking about, it would have been pretty boring to me. It certainly has no resemblance to TV shows! It is very difficult to find and identify a person through DNA in a scene like this because of the large amount of blood that covered both of their bodies as well as their home. That took up the entire morning.
After lunch, the lead detective was called to the stand. He testified about the interrogation process that lead to Jose's confession. Then they began playing the video of the interrogation. We saw about 3 hours of that today. We'll watch the rest of it in the morning and then the defense will present their case.
It was well over 2 hours into the interview before he began to remember the event. He had taken so many drugs and had so much to drink that his memory is sketchy to say the least. Before he got to that night the detective said let's retrace what was happening in the days before the murder. On Good Friday Jose had been baptized and that stuck out in his mind so that seemed to be a good place to begin jogging his memory.
When the detective asked about his baptism, he seemed excited about it. He said that when the pastor raised him up out of the water he felt like he was on fire - as though he were burning. He went on to say that he was so hot he had to change his clothes. Of course, that didn't really make any sense. If he was hot, why would changing out of wet clothes cool him off? My first thought was the demons within him were reacting to the baptismal waters. Maybe I have just watched too many movies in my younger days but I really do wonder about it.
It struck me that during the interrogation process the lead detective prayed with Jose with Jose's permission and Jose prayed as well. It will be interesting to see what is said in the rest of the confession. The one thing that was most fascinating to me about the video we have seen so far, was the fact that seeing Mom's picture seemed to bother Jose more than anything else.
Please keep praying for our family, for Jose, and for justice to prevail. Your prayers are getting us through this and we appreciate it very much!
James 5:16b (Good News Translation)
The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.
After lunch, the lead detective was called to the stand. He testified about the interrogation process that lead to Jose's confession. Then they began playing the video of the interrogation. We saw about 3 hours of that today. We'll watch the rest of it in the morning and then the defense will present their case.
It was well over 2 hours into the interview before he began to remember the event. He had taken so many drugs and had so much to drink that his memory is sketchy to say the least. Before he got to that night the detective said let's retrace what was happening in the days before the murder. On Good Friday Jose had been baptized and that stuck out in his mind so that seemed to be a good place to begin jogging his memory.
When the detective asked about his baptism, he seemed excited about it. He said that when the pastor raised him up out of the water he felt like he was on fire - as though he were burning. He went on to say that he was so hot he had to change his clothes. Of course, that didn't really make any sense. If he was hot, why would changing out of wet clothes cool him off? My first thought was the demons within him were reacting to the baptismal waters. Maybe I have just watched too many movies in my younger days but I really do wonder about it.
It struck me that during the interrogation process the lead detective prayed with Jose with Jose's permission and Jose prayed as well. It will be interesting to see what is said in the rest of the confession. The one thing that was most fascinating to me about the video we have seen so far, was the fact that seeing Mom's picture seemed to bother Jose more than anything else.
Please keep praying for our family, for Jose, and for justice to prevail. Your prayers are getting us through this and we appreciate it very much!
James 5:16b (Good News Translation)
The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Trial - Second Day
Well the second day of the trial is over and it was much harder than I thought it would be - especially this morning. We heard the autopsy report complete with photos. I did not look at any of the pictures. Just hearing all the little nitty gritty details was extremely difficult!
I cannot bear to give the details here. Suffice it to say it was a morbid and shocking scene.
There were quite a few other events that took place today in court. Some testimony from "Mama G" (that will most likely need to be it's own blog post), testimony from one of the DNA experts, testimony from 2 of the detectives in the case. And testimony from a minister. Yes, a minister.
This minister happened to be going door to door in a low-income apartment building on good Friday in 2011. Just 3 days before Mom & Dad were killed. He witnessed to Jose. He said that Jose ended up saying he wanted to accept Jesus as his Savior. He wanted to be baptized. He went with the minister and a few others to the church where Jose was baptized that very day! This minister shared Scripture with Jose trying to be sure that Jose knew what it meant to repent and turn away from his sin. He said Jose was excited about being baptized. Jose even went door to door with him the next morning and agreed to go to church Easter morning. When the pastor went to pick him up, he was not there. He did not go to church.
What happened in Jose's mind? In his soul? In his spirit? That's what I'm trying to figure out. Obviously he has many issues, one of which is a severe drug addiction. I know this distorts your thinking greatly!
The grace of God is truly with me. I looked at Jose a lot. He would often catch me looking at him. I just keep looking. He looks away quickly when he sees me looking at him. At one point after the autopsy testimonies were done, I was looking at Jose. A feeling of compassion welled up within me. I cannot explain it! He turned at looked at me. I just kept looking at him tenderly. This time he just couldn't seem to quit looking at me. Of course, I cannot communicate with him and that was not my intention but I truly did feel a love for him that is totally unexplainable. Even now as I am writing this I cannot fathom it. Truly it is from God.
Please keep praying for Jose. After our eye contact incident, I felt compelled to pray for God to reveal Himself to Jose. My prayer is that he will see God, feel the love of Jesus, that God will allow him to remember what happened Easter Sunday night and the following morning, and that what was meant for evil will be turned into good!
Genesis 50:20 (English Standard Version)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Lord, use this evil act to bring glory to you! In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!
I wrote the above last night and I had included details of how Mom & Dad died. I generally do not post my writing until I've sat on it a bit, prayed about it, and then gone back and re-read it. Today I knew I had to remove details of their death.
This morning in my quiet time I was reading my devotional, Oswald Chambers Utmost for His Highest. I was struck by this:
"But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense."
I felt the same feelings of compassion for Jose welling up again. I had to fall to my knees and cry out to the Lord for Jose and for me. "Lord, reveal Yourself to me as You also reveal Yourself to Jose!"
It does not make "common" sense but as my brother Stephen and I were talking about what God is showing me, Stephen said, "The world lives by 'common' sense but God wants us to live by 'holy' sense."
I was struck by my own words I say often to ladies at the jail. "The love Jesus has for you is so great that if you were the only sinner on earth, Jesus would still have died just for YOU!" I know Jesus feels that way about Jose. He is one of Jesus' lost sheep. He will go to any length to bring Jose into the safety of His Presence!
Please keep praying! God is doing a great work in this young man's life as He is also doing a great work in me! Your prayers are sustaining me and I am grateful for each and every one of you!
Acts 22:24 (New Living Translation)
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
I cannot bear to give the details here. Suffice it to say it was a morbid and shocking scene.
There were quite a few other events that took place today in court. Some testimony from "Mama G" (that will most likely need to be it's own blog post), testimony from one of the DNA experts, testimony from 2 of the detectives in the case. And testimony from a minister. Yes, a minister.
This minister happened to be going door to door in a low-income apartment building on good Friday in 2011. Just 3 days before Mom & Dad were killed. He witnessed to Jose. He said that Jose ended up saying he wanted to accept Jesus as his Savior. He wanted to be baptized. He went with the minister and a few others to the church where Jose was baptized that very day! This minister shared Scripture with Jose trying to be sure that Jose knew what it meant to repent and turn away from his sin. He said Jose was excited about being baptized. Jose even went door to door with him the next morning and agreed to go to church Easter morning. When the pastor went to pick him up, he was not there. He did not go to church.
What happened in Jose's mind? In his soul? In his spirit? That's what I'm trying to figure out. Obviously he has many issues, one of which is a severe drug addiction. I know this distorts your thinking greatly!
The grace of God is truly with me. I looked at Jose a lot. He would often catch me looking at him. I just keep looking. He looks away quickly when he sees me looking at him. At one point after the autopsy testimonies were done, I was looking at Jose. A feeling of compassion welled up within me. I cannot explain it! He turned at looked at me. I just kept looking at him tenderly. This time he just couldn't seem to quit looking at me. Of course, I cannot communicate with him and that was not my intention but I truly did feel a love for him that is totally unexplainable. Even now as I am writing this I cannot fathom it. Truly it is from God.
Please keep praying for Jose. After our eye contact incident, I felt compelled to pray for God to reveal Himself to Jose. My prayer is that he will see God, feel the love of Jesus, that God will allow him to remember what happened Easter Sunday night and the following morning, and that what was meant for evil will be turned into good!
Genesis 50:20 (English Standard Version)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Lord, use this evil act to bring glory to you! In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!
I wrote the above last night and I had included details of how Mom & Dad died. I generally do not post my writing until I've sat on it a bit, prayed about it, and then gone back and re-read it. Today I knew I had to remove details of their death.
This morning in my quiet time I was reading my devotional, Oswald Chambers Utmost for His Highest. I was struck by this:
"But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense."
I felt the same feelings of compassion for Jose welling up again. I had to fall to my knees and cry out to the Lord for Jose and for me. "Lord, reveal Yourself to me as You also reveal Yourself to Jose!"
It does not make "common" sense but as my brother Stephen and I were talking about what God is showing me, Stephen said, "The world lives by 'common' sense but God wants us to live by 'holy' sense."
I was struck by my own words I say often to ladies at the jail. "The love Jesus has for you is so great that if you were the only sinner on earth, Jesus would still have died just for YOU!" I know Jesus feels that way about Jose. He is one of Jesus' lost sheep. He will go to any length to bring Jose into the safety of His Presence!
Please keep praying! God is doing a great work in this young man's life as He is also doing a great work in me! Your prayers are sustaining me and I am grateful for each and every one of you!
Acts 22:24 (New Living Translation)
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Trial - Opening Day
As I listened to the opening statements, I really thought about what both sides said. I know how diligently the detectives and prosecuting attorney have worked for nearly five years. Deep in my gut I do believe they have the right person charged but I have to admit, I am biased. For the nearly three years since Jose Huckleberry was arrested, I have prayed for his salvation and that I will forgive him should he be found guilty.
As I watched him often times looking smug while his attorney was talking I began to feel some awful things welling up inside of me. I reminded myself that he really is just a kid. He was only 23 at the time of the murder. He is a drug addict. He did not grow up in a loving home. He has issues. Lord, let me forgive him!
I think of so many of the young ladies in my Bible study at the jail. Many of them bring the same sort of scenarios. I encourage them. I remind them of how much God loves and forgives them. They must forgive themselves. As these thoughts ramble through my mind, I see the difference. They have admitted their guilt. They are not fighting to prove a lie.
I think that was what bothered me about the jury selection and why I felt so bad for the jurors who had been called as well as the 15 (12 jurors and 3 alternates) who have to put their entire lives on hold and listen to sometimes boring but, more often, gruesome evidence. Assuming he is guilty, if only he would "man up" and admit his wrongdoing we wouldn't have to go through all this.
When the most gruesome pictures were shown I did not look at them. Instead I focused on Jose. He looked right at the ones of Dad but when they showed the ones of Mom, he blinked a lot, looked down or away. It seemed to bother him. Was I reading too much into his body language? Perhaps. After all, I only had a side view of him. So many questions in my mind.
Please join me in praying for justice. If he is guilty, may he be convicted. If he is innocent, may he be set free. We may never really know what happened but one thing I do know, Mom and Dad are walking streets of gold! They are praising our Lord and Savior. They have no more pain. No more worries or concerns. They have laid up their treasures in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21 (The Message)
Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or-worse!-stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
Mom and Dad spent a lifetime stockpiling treasures in heaven. It is the place they most wanted to be and they wanted to take as many people with them as possible!
What about you? Where are your treasures? Where do you most want to be? Oh, my friend, if you do not know the love of Jesus, allow me to introduce you! You will never regret giving your life over to him! Don't go off on some wild goose chase. Jesus is standing at your door gently knocking. Won't you let him in before it is too late?
Colossians 2:2-4 (The Message)
I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery! I'm telling you this because I don't want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries or "the Secret".
Monday, January 25, 2016
Jury Selection
Note: I wrote this blog last Thursday but did not post it yet. I was unsure if it was appropriate since the trial had not yet begun. I feel okay about it now that the trial is underway.
My Mom's sister, Marilyn Edwards (but she's always been Aunt Sis to me), my brother, Dave, and I went to the jury selection yesterday. It was a very long day. It began about 8:30 and jurors were finally sent home about 7:30 last night. By the end of the evening, they had selected 12 jurors and 3 alternates.
I am glad we went. Although we had no input (and certainly did not expect to) it was interesting to see how the entire process went. I have never been called to jury duty and had no idea how a jury was actually selected.
A large jury pool had been called - 80 people! I felt so badly for them as they sat for hours on end being questioned about various views and life experiences in front of complete strangers. It just did not seem fair to me that 80 people had to give up a very long day and be put through this. Aunt Sis and Dave both reminded me that I should not feel bad for them. It is our civic duty as citizens of a free country!
There were a few that you could tell were bent on getting out of jury duty, especially when they were told that the trial would take about a week. I have to say, I do not blame them. As I said, I have never been called to jury duty but if I had been, I probably would have felt the same way. I view it much differently now!
There were a few who said that because of their religious views they could not pass judgment on someone else. One said that he believed judgment was for the Lord. The prosecutor responded with, "You do realize that is a different type of judgment, don't you?" His reply, "Judgment is judgment." So, do those who believe that way also believe that we should not have laws? If no one will judge whether a law was broken or not, what is the point of the law?
Romans 3:31 (New Living Translation)
Well then if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
How would we know we needed forgiveness if we did not have the law? The law shows us our shortcomings. Jesus offers us amnesty! But friend, rest assured, judgment is coming!
In Bible Study Fellowship we are studying the book of Revelation. It has a lot to say about God's judgment! It is not a judgment I want to face without the blood of Jesus covering me! When you see the way the book of Revelation describes the coming judgments of God, you would not want to wish that on your worst enemies!
Revelation 20:12 (New International Version)
I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
The Day of the LORD is near! Do not wait until it is too late to come under the covering the blood of Jesus' poured out for you!
And if you are ever called for jury duty, please go with an open mind and a willing heart!
My Mom's sister, Marilyn Edwards (but she's always been Aunt Sis to me), my brother, Dave, and I went to the jury selection yesterday. It was a very long day. It began about 8:30 and jurors were finally sent home about 7:30 last night. By the end of the evening, they had selected 12 jurors and 3 alternates.
I am glad we went. Although we had no input (and certainly did not expect to) it was interesting to see how the entire process went. I have never been called to jury duty and had no idea how a jury was actually selected.
A large jury pool had been called - 80 people! I felt so badly for them as they sat for hours on end being questioned about various views and life experiences in front of complete strangers. It just did not seem fair to me that 80 people had to give up a very long day and be put through this. Aunt Sis and Dave both reminded me that I should not feel bad for them. It is our civic duty as citizens of a free country!
There were a few that you could tell were bent on getting out of jury duty, especially when they were told that the trial would take about a week. I have to say, I do not blame them. As I said, I have never been called to jury duty but if I had been, I probably would have felt the same way. I view it much differently now!
There were a few who said that because of their religious views they could not pass judgment on someone else. One said that he believed judgment was for the Lord. The prosecutor responded with, "You do realize that is a different type of judgment, don't you?" His reply, "Judgment is judgment." So, do those who believe that way also believe that we should not have laws? If no one will judge whether a law was broken or not, what is the point of the law?
Romans 3:31 (New Living Translation)
Well then if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
How would we know we needed forgiveness if we did not have the law? The law shows us our shortcomings. Jesus offers us amnesty! But friend, rest assured, judgment is coming!
In Bible Study Fellowship we are studying the book of Revelation. It has a lot to say about God's judgment! It is not a judgment I want to face without the blood of Jesus covering me! When you see the way the book of Revelation describes the coming judgments of God, you would not want to wish that on your worst enemies!
Revelation 20:12 (New International Version)
I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
The Day of the LORD is near! Do not wait until it is too late to come under the covering the blood of Jesus' poured out for you!
And if you are ever called for jury duty, please go with an open mind and a willing heart!
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Uncle Virgil
It's the Saturday before we go to trial and my Uncle Virgil is in the hospital. I took Aunt Sis home yesterday when we found out he was being taken by ambulance to Barnes Jewish hospital in St. Louis. Thankfully, by nephew, Dr. Mark Willingham (and yes, I emphasize Doctor quite proudly!), is in residency there. Even though his speciality is anesthesiology, it is a comfort to know he can keep an eye on Uncle Virgil and check in on him from time to time.
Aunt Sis, my Mom's sister and best friend, knows she has to be by her husbands side but a part of her really wants to be here for the trial. As I was taking her home yesterday she said she had waited five years for this trial and now she cannot attend. She wanted to be here for my brothers and I as well as seeking justice for her sister and brother-in-law's untimely death at the hands of a knife wielding intruder. Of course, we want her to be at Uncle Virgil's side and we know Mom would want her to be with him as well. No doubt about that!
Uncle Virgil is a wonderful man! He was so much fun to be around as I was growing up. Whenever we would be getting together with family, as soon as we saw Uncle Virgil, we attacked him...literally! He loved wrestling with us! Even with all three of my brothers and I jumping on him, he was able to handle every one of us tossing us around and delighting us to no end. As small children, we would scream, "Do me some 'gain, Uncle Virgil!" He and Aunt Sis loved taking us to ball games, playing ball with us, shooting fireworks, and taking us fishing and camping. What fun we had! So many memories! As my kids grew up, Uncle Virgil and Aunt Sis did the same with them. It was beautiful to listen to my kids as they told stories that were also my stories of such fun with Uncle Virgil and Aunt Sis after they returned home from spending a week or so with them!
I am truly blessed! I have such a beautiful family. I was so loved growing up and am still loved by this wonderful family of mine. Yes, Mom and Dad's lives were brutally taken but they are walking streets of gold. Yes, I want justice for this crime, but I have much to rejoice about. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the privilege of being loved by my family. I am so grateful for every one of my beautiful family members, especially my Uncle Virgil! Please join me in praying for his quick and speedy recovery.
I John 3:18 (The Voice)
My little children, don't just talk about love as an idea or a theory. Make it your true way of life, and live in the pattern of gracious love.
Thank you for showing me what love looks like, Uncle Virgil.
Do me some 'gain, Uncle Virgil! I love you more than words can ever say!
Aunt Sis, my Mom's sister and best friend, knows she has to be by her husbands side but a part of her really wants to be here for the trial. As I was taking her home yesterday she said she had waited five years for this trial and now she cannot attend. She wanted to be here for my brothers and I as well as seeking justice for her sister and brother-in-law's untimely death at the hands of a knife wielding intruder. Of course, we want her to be at Uncle Virgil's side and we know Mom would want her to be with him as well. No doubt about that!
Uncle Virgil is a wonderful man! He was so much fun to be around as I was growing up. Whenever we would be getting together with family, as soon as we saw Uncle Virgil, we attacked him...literally! He loved wrestling with us! Even with all three of my brothers and I jumping on him, he was able to handle every one of us tossing us around and delighting us to no end. As small children, we would scream, "Do me some 'gain, Uncle Virgil!" He and Aunt Sis loved taking us to ball games, playing ball with us, shooting fireworks, and taking us fishing and camping. What fun we had! So many memories! As my kids grew up, Uncle Virgil and Aunt Sis did the same with them. It was beautiful to listen to my kids as they told stories that were also my stories of such fun with Uncle Virgil and Aunt Sis after they returned home from spending a week or so with them!
I am truly blessed! I have such a beautiful family. I was so loved growing up and am still loved by this wonderful family of mine. Yes, Mom and Dad's lives were brutally taken but they are walking streets of gold. Yes, I want justice for this crime, but I have much to rejoice about. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the privilege of being loved by my family. I am so grateful for every one of my beautiful family members, especially my Uncle Virgil! Please join me in praying for his quick and speedy recovery.
I John 3:18 (The Voice)
My little children, don't just talk about love as an idea or a theory. Make it your true way of life, and live in the pattern of gracious love.
Thank you for showing me what love looks like, Uncle Virgil.
Do me some 'gain, Uncle Virgil! I love you more than words can ever say!
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Baptism
On January 10, 2016 my grandson, Kristopher was baptized. He's only 6 years old but he made the decision to ask Jesus to come into his heart and forgive him of all his sins. He was excited about being baptized. He wanted everyone to know of his decision.
As we drove to church that morning there was a most glorious rainbow! It encircled the sun. I found out later that it is actually called a sun dog. It's a phenomenon that occurs when there are a lot of ice crystals in the atmosphere. It was striking, to say the least as you can see in this picture!
Kris felt sure that God put that rainbow in the sky that morning because He was so happy that Kris had made this decision! I assured him that, indeed, He was! It is the most important decision he will ever make in his life!
When Kris was a baby, his parents dedicated him to the Lord in the church pictured above, First United Methodist in Springfield, IL. The church graciously allowed my Dad to preside over the dedication. He almost preached an entire sermon during the process talking about the importance of raising our children in the Lord. My daughter, Stacie, is certainly doing a beautiful job of raising her children to know and love the Lord!
Kris was baptized at our present church, Real Life, in Springfield, IL. Real Life Church had supported Mom and Dad in some of their mission work. The children's director who baptized Kris, Renee McCoy, had known my parents. While we are waiting for the trial in Mom and Dad's case to begin, it is a comfort to know that their work is continuing through the thousands of people that were impacted by their lives! God allowed them to be taken and He has the victory!
It's not a very good picture, but this is Mom, Dad, and Kristopher around the time of his dedication although this picture was taken in Springfield, MO in the the home where Mom and Dad were murdered. You can see a family portrait over their fireplace. That picture meant a lot to Mom. It was taken about 5 or 6 years prior to this photo. All of their children, children's spouses, and their grandchildren are in this picture. When we were packing up and cleaning out Mom and Dad's house, this was the last thing left. I broke down and told my brother, Dave, I could not bear to take that picture down. It meant so much to Mom! Dave tenderly and gently put his arm around me and said, "It's ok, sis. We don't have to take it down." I know he had to go back and take it down later but it meant so much to me to walk out of that house for the last time knowing that picture was still there. I pray that I will have a lasting impact on my family as Mom and Dad did on theirs!
2 Samuel 7:28-29 (The Message)
"And now, Master God, being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would. Master GOD! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"
"And now, Master God, being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would. Master GOD! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Forgiveness
I have struggled to write and it's evident by the fact that I haven't written here for well over a year! Please forgive me as I feel led to write about forgiveness! We are finally going to trial in Mom & Dad's case. Jury selection will be next week. Opening statements will begin Monday January 25th. While it's a few days later than expected, I am anxiously awaiting an end to this part. Even though it will not change anything, it will be a relief to have this over with.
On Tuesday of this week my cousin's daughter, Robin Casey, died. She was far too young and leaves behind a precious 3 year old boy and 5 year old girl. It is heartbreaking, to say the least. While losing Mom & Dad the way we did was tragic, at least they had lived long, full lives. Robin did not have that opportunity and now her beautiful children have to grow up without their sweet Mama!
Oh, the brevity of life! I am struck all over again by the fact that we do not know what tomorrow holds! I am grateful that I serve a Sovereign God! He was not surprised when Mom and Dad were stabbed to death in their own little home and He was not surprised when Robin took her last breath. I am reminded all over again the depth of trust that we MUST place in our Lord!
I have also been thinking of forgiveness as I will face the young man accused of killing my parents. I taught on it last week when I went to the jail. It was more for me than it was for the wonderful women in our Bible study there. We do not know when it may be too late to offer forgiveness! We may not live until tomorrow!
The Bible has much to say about forgiveness. In teaching on prayer in Matthew 6, Jesus gives us The Lord's Prayer. It's a prayer we are all familiar with but it's followed by 2 little verses that we often want to overlook. Matthew 6:14-15 (New Living Translation): If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
The Message version reads: Matthew 6:14-15 In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
The bottom line is if we not only want God to hear our prayers, but if we want His forgiveness for our sins, we have to forgive others. This is not a suggestion. It is a command. It does not offer any exceptions either. They didn't ask me for forgiveness...they didn't apologize for what they did...they refuse to forgive me for things I did so I will not forgive them...etc. No excuse is good enough. We must forgive. Period.
Who do you need to forgive? Oh my friend, offer forgiveness today before it is too late. You may not be given tomorrow.
Lord, help me to genuinely forgive Jose Huckleberry even AFTER I hear all the details of how Mom & Dad were murdered. May he come to know Your saving grace that he will be forgiven as You have forgiven me of so much! May the one reading this offer forgiveness to those You bring to mind so they, too, will be forgiven. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Mark 11:25 (The Voice) When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you.
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