June 24th, 2011

Hello world!
Hope everyone had a fun Father's Day last week. As with most holidays everyone is a bit edgy around here. Lots of absent father issues and not much motivation to deal with forgiveness. On a lighter note:
I always figured that I would never, ever eat anything as disgusting gas blue cheese. A few times it was served as a dressing for salad in here and I passed on it at first. After trying it I actually liked it... Then someone told me I was eating "ranch" dressing... Life in prison.
Our chaplain asked if I'd share a few words about "freedom" next week because of my military background and combat time. Out of over 1800 men, 200 attend our 2 Sunday morning and afternoon service. I thought I'd share this with you also.

July 4th, 2011

This weekend most Americans celebrate Independence Day. We love our freedom, don't we. And, we, are learning the hard way that it takes work to maintain our freedom.
As Christian men we know that prayer is our greatest resource.
Freedom isn't free, someone pays a cost.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1. Timothy 2:1-5 (KJV)
(read) - 1 Timothy 2:1-5

I stand before you as a fellow inmate, and a sa brother in Christ. And like you I am an American citizen, but unlike most men here I have served over 12 years in the military to include 4 combat tours. More than 6 of those years I lived overseas.
Now, I can remember as a kid growing up in N.Y.C., we never thought twice about throwing an empty soda can or candy wrapper onto the street.
Then, the first time I traveled overseas I experienced streets full with the stench of human waste... poverty... destruction... and war. Watched children who were hungry, dirty, illiterate... living and playing in trash piles in their own yards. We might see an alley this bad, but trust me, it's not the same as entire towns left to rot.
Over 300 American Marines and Sailors died on that first 6 month deployment.
It wasn't a conscience decision, but something inside me changed... I never again threw trash on the street. I had a new respect for the country where I was born.
As Americans...
We have freedom to:
- Move from Chicago to Miami...
without needing permission from the Government
- If we're tired of speaking tongues in the Baptist Church... we can go learn Latin in the Catholic.
- Or... we can change jobs like an old suit.
We look at this prison as a loss of our freedoms... but we actually live in a similar was as most of the world lives every day... and they think it's normal.

Let me share one secret... about our freedom. Right now, ...and every day... 365 days a year,... there are 3 U.S. Navy fleets at sail. Each fleet has a reinforced battalion of Marines. 2,500 Marines able to sustain combat operations for 30 days.
It takes 18 months of preparation before a unit is ready to deploy. I have participated in 4 of these deployments. "Cruises" we called them. But I never played any shuffleboard, or ate lobster during one.
The last 6 months of this "peacetime" training is so intense that a minimum of 10 marines die...
- Crushed by tanks
- Collisions
- Helicopter Crashes
- Drowning
- Misfires of weapons
This... is the cost of freedom

If you've seen the news coverage on protests in Syria... Egypt... Yemen... Poland... China... and Sudan..., then you see what oppressed people desire... Freedom!
You see the cost of that desire... for something we Americans already possess.

As long as you are an American... and it is by God's will that you are,... the blood of freedom courses through your veins.

It is your birthright... use it wisely... because,

Freedom - is not free.

Happy birthday everyone!
William D. Linley