My name is Rayna (Knick) and we went to Bedminister Elementary School together. Yesterday, someone posted our class pic from 3rd grade, I looked up some old names....that's when I saw the article about your crime and conviction as well as this blog. From reading through your blog, your faith in God jumped out to me right away and also a sentence that you wrote stating that your life doesn't matter. Your life does Matter. As a matter of fact, it matters a great deal to the one who created you. Nothing you do, have done, or will do in the future will be a surprise to God. From the creation of the world, you were known, you were planned and you were loved. I don't know where you are in your walk with God, but I hope that you know He does see you, hear you ,love you and is interested in you. He's not mad at you and there isn't 1 single thing you could do to make Him love you anymore that He already does. I also know that He can make us new, if we allow it. God loves us too much for us to ever remain the same after an encounter with Him. "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Phil 1:6 I can tell you with 100% certainty that people change. People change everyday, sometimes right , sometimes wrong, but nothing on the Earth is static, everything remains for a season, then changes(Ecclesiates 3:1-8) I know that I am quite a different person than I was in my twenties, when partying far trumpeted any church or Jesus related activity! Trust me. But through tremendous adversity, I have become new. I met Jesus and believed what He said about me. Who He said I was. Who He said I could become. What He Said I could get to be a part of on his behalf.... And I can tell you that the very circumstances that were intended for my demise have been thwarted, twisted and redirected to good for God. He can do that you know, take any circumstance, anywhere, anytime, ANYTHING, and make good come out of it. What may have been intended to destroy your life may be the Pathway for a life used to glorify Him. Like I said, I don't know where you are in your walk with Him, but maybe you are just the Light He needs behind those bars. Maybe your story of hope & redemption will bring salvation to someone else. I want to remind you that you do matter and you can be effective for your Heavenly Father. Please know that I will pray for you and your precious daughter, as well as all of the family members on both sides who have been effected by this tragedy. Hopefully you know who I am from somewhere far back in your memory, but if not, just know a Sister in Christ has a compassionate heart for you and for anyone who has made a mistake that he or she wishes to take back. Remember you are more than your past mistakes or your address, you are a beloved Son of God whose life matters and can be used for a divine purpose. "but our citizenship is in heaven." Phillipians 3:20 Peace to you, Rayna Wright
Not sure how this works,but I am willing to learn. All I can think of is that Jesus says s the same thing to you? Nate let me capture you. Wanna be captured by Jesus?
VictimRights, I don't have exact statistics on me, but I'm sure that more people who have committed sexual and violent crimes are out of prison than in it. Those who are in prison for these crimes are not inherently a different class of people than those of us who are not in prison. Race, class, social networks, etc. effect who gets labeled with the stigma of being a criminal/prisoner.
There are models of justice like transformative justice, which I believe Daniel has written about, where victims can actually get not only restoration but together people can change society and work to shape it so that such crimes are less likely to happen.
Having volunteered for sexual violence response and prevention causes, I believe many victims would appreciate their offender working at the root causes to prevent crimes like that from happening again, even if they might want no contact with the offender, rather than feeling like they've done nothing wrong but being punished in other ways. It sounds like you might know victims who would feel otherwise, but they are not the entirety of victims.
Daniel, thank you for not letting comments get you down, instead continuing to reach out and connect and show accountability and compassion for yourself and others. You've definitely impacted me and continue to inspire me to address criminal justice system reform.
I just read all your poems and I wanted to tell you what a talented writer you are. Your words flow beautifully and perfectly. Thanks for sharing with us.
I hope your daughter gets to read the poems you wrote her, they were really sweet. Keep doing what you do, and I wish you all the best.
Sorry, I have not wrote in awhile. I have changed where I work and am driving to Batesville everyday and with other things going on, I am tired at the end of the day and even though I think of you frequently, I just have not gotten around to either writing or mailing what I have wrote. I do have your Christmas card here. I talked with your mom and asked her to explain the next time she talked with you. She said you got your GED. Proud of you but I was more glad that you had accepted Christ as your Savior. The above blog was the first I had heard about the HIV, what did the test show? Grandpa and grandma are doing okay...holding their own, I guess you could say. Steven is going to have a new baby in April. I don't know what is going on in your family cause I haven't been able to get up there and haven't seen them since Sept when grandpa was really sick. Well it is snowing and cold here for AR. Wind chill suppose to be -9 tonight. Dread having to get out in it in the morning. Well keep up the good work and hopefully I will get your card to you by next Christmas.... Later, Love, Aunt dollie
it's been a while. I will write you a letter pretty soon from Galesburg, Illinois.
I hope we still can write? How is everything going with you?
Ia am in cold Illinois and right now in a library. I am visiting my friend George jr. We enjoy our time together. Yesterday we sat next to a young black man and a person who read articles out of the bible. They can ask for such a visit. I smiled to him and we only had that instant marvelous connection.
That young man did something for his soul, and saw while people from outside and women. I knew it was a big deal I smiled at him, while putting some snacks on our table. It was like he got self worth and he meant something to me. I did it so spontanious but I felt a big warmth in my heart doing that for him. I knew he went happily back to his room. :-))
Also the preacher smiled back at me. Little things sometimes mean the world to you.
Have a wonderfull New Year, Bob, and I wish you good health for the spirit and the body.
RSS
From reading through your blog, your faith in God jumped out to me right away and also a sentence that you wrote stating that your life doesn't matter.
Your life does Matter. As a matter of fact, it matters a great deal to the one who created you. Nothing you do, have done, or will do in the future will be a surprise to God. From the creation of the world, you were known, you were planned and you were loved. I don't know where you are in your walk with God, but I hope that you know He does see you, hear you ,love you and is interested in you. He's not mad at you and there isn't 1 single thing you could do to make Him love you anymore that He already does. I also know that He can make us new, if we allow it. God loves us too much for us to ever remain the same after an encounter with Him. "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Phil 1:6
I can tell you with 100% certainty that people change. People change everyday, sometimes right , sometimes wrong, but nothing on the Earth is static, everything remains for a season, then changes(Ecclesiates 3:1-8) I know that I am quite a different person than I was in my twenties, when partying far trumpeted any church or Jesus related activity! Trust me. But through tremendous adversity, I have become new. I met Jesus and believed what He said about me. Who He said I was. Who He said I could become. What He Said I could get to be a part of on his behalf.... And I can tell you that the very circumstances that were intended for my demise have been thwarted, twisted and redirected to good for God. He can do that you know, take any circumstance, anywhere, anytime, ANYTHING, and make good come out of it. What may have been intended to destroy your life may be the Pathway for a life used to glorify Him. Like I said, I don't know where you are in your walk with Him, but maybe you are just the Light He needs behind those bars. Maybe your story of hope & redemption will bring salvation to someone else. I want to remind you that you do matter and you can be effective for your Heavenly Father.
Please know that I will pray for you and your precious daughter, as well as all of the family members on both sides who have been effected by this tragedy. Hopefully you know who I am from somewhere far back in your memory, but if not, just know a Sister in Christ has a compassionate heart for you and for anyone who has made a mistake that he or she wishes to take back.
Remember you are more than your past mistakes or your address, you are a beloved Son of God whose life matters and can be used for a divine purpose. "but our citizenship is in heaven." Phillipians 3:20
Peace to you,
Rayna Wright
Not sure how this works,but I am willing to learn. All I can think of is that Jesus says s the same thing to you? Nate let me capture you. Wanna be captured by Jesus?
Blessings
RM
There are models of justice like transformative justice, which I believe Daniel has written about, where victims can actually get not only restoration but together people can change society and work to shape it so that such crimes are less likely to happen.
Having volunteered for sexual violence response and prevention causes, I believe many victims would appreciate their offender working at the root causes to prevent crimes like that from happening again, even if they might want no contact with the offender, rather than feeling like they've done nothing wrong but being punished in other ways. It sounds like you might know victims who would feel otherwise, but they are not the entirety of victims.
Daniel, thank you for not letting comments get you down, instead continuing to reach out and connect and show accountability and compassion for yourself and others. You've definitely impacted me and continue to inspire me to address criminal justice system reform.
I hope your daughter gets to read the poems you wrote her, they were really sweet. Keep doing what you do, and I wish you all the best.
Later,
Love,
Aunt dollie
it's been a while. I will write you a letter pretty soon from Galesburg, Illinois.
I hope we still can write? How is everything going with you?
Ia am in cold Illinois and right now in a library. I am visiting my friend George jr. We enjoy our time together.
Yesterday we sat next to a young black man and a person who read articles out of the bible. They can ask for such a visit.
I smiled to him and we only had that instant marvelous connection.
That young man did something for his soul, and saw while people from outside and women. I knew it was a big deal I smiled at him, while putting some snacks on our table.
It was like he got self worth and he meant something to me. I did it so spontanious but I felt a big warmth in my heart doing that for him.
I knew he went happily back to his room. :-))
Also the preacher smiled back at me. Little things sometimes mean the world to you.
Have a wonderfull New Year, Bob, and I wish you good health for the spirit and the body.
warm hugs from cold Illinois! Rita