I talked to my sister this morning. Her husband, who is presently incarcerated, has a hearing today. Friday Karl's belongings were confiscated - things like sweats, coat, person correspondence, nutritional supplements, etc. - and he was put in a higher security cell. (He was able to grab his Bible.) He is almost blind without correctional lenses (which he has not had use of since being detained in April, 2008) and also has a heart condition. Without the added nutritional aids, he told his wife later, his eyes are getting worse already. He was also told he could only use the phone on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a half hour each day. All of these measures, including being in prison for going on 11 months, have been done against an innocent man, even by worldly standards, for he has not been convicted of any crime. Following these measures he was taken to an 'emergency' hearing in court by Judge Pfeffer in Santa Fe. A court trial had been scheduled for Feb. 24, 2009 but the judge told him his witnesses were to appear in court on Feb. 23, 2009 but that the jury trial had been 'changed' to March 4, 2009. The judge also told him that no more 'paperwork' would be accepted.
As mentioned above, phone privileges had been greatly reduced. Finally, however, he was allowed one call to a 'legal counsel' from which the above information was gathered.
When I talked to my sister Friday evening I was also very impressed when she told me another aspect of this 'case'. When Karl was detained and 'charged', paperwork was prepared stating the truth. When Karl appears before the judge he states to the judge "I stand on my paperwork." The judge has appeared to use all sorts of measures to get any other answer, but thus far to no avail. Unless the court can get Karl to contradict his paperwork their case against him doesn't look good (to put it mildly).
I was deeply impressed with the spiritual lesson for all of us in this experience. So long as we 'stand on the paperwork' of God's written Word, Satan and all of his hosts can't exert the power of their lies over us and trap us into slavery to him.
This morning I was studying Psalm 64 and it seemed so timely. I have posted the whole paraphrase in the link to the right, but I'm going to share it here too as it seems so appropriate for today, especially as Karl goes to another hearing.
1. Listen to my problem, Lord. Keep me from being terrorized by those who hate me. Defend me from unjust court officials, who wound, cause pain and even destroy with their sharp, acrid words. They intensely accuse anybody, with no respect for truth, and urge each other on to add even worse accusations, for they think no one hears or sees their unjust plots hidden deep in their hearts. 7 – 9 But God will surprise them. What they devised against others will so suddenly happen to them that they will get beat up. Everyone watching will back off in astonishment as they see how God handled the situation. They will respect Him as they tell others what happened. 10 Those who are honest in heart will rejoice in the Lord and continue to trust Him, thus revealing in their own lives what God is really like.
I also ask anyone who reads this to especially pray for Frances as well as Karl today. There have been rumors her physical freedom is also in immediate danger.
Our God, however, is the God of Freedom. It is fear that brings bondage and torment. Perfect love casts out fear. I am claiming that what God is really like - love - will be so revealed through Karl and Frances that those who love God will rejoice with them as the more distinct picture of God is revealed through this experience. And even those who don't love God will eventually admit that God is right. These past ten months have been very difficult for both my sister and her lovely husband, but God has been giving them His sustaining grace.
Thank you for your prayers of faith, for thanking God for keeping His promises of angelic protection, deliverance of the captive and a revealing of God's character in such a way that God will be glorified.
Bringer of Peace
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