My Friend Sammie

Sammie got up at The Love Corner recently and quietly read his story.

Here it is:

My name is Sammie Lotts and in 1977, when I was twenty-two years young, I was arrested, tried and convicted for a murder and attempted murder I did not commit. As a result of those convictions, I received 75 to 150 years for the attempted murder, and for the murder, I was sentenced to 175-500 years. For the first ten years, I was very bitter and plotting revenge on everyone who played a part in sending me to prison. After being locked up for about 3 years, I got into the Word of God and after about 10 years, I realized that I no longer felt the bitterness. God gave me a peace of mind, heart, and above all, a peace of spirit.

I started going to the parole board in 1987. And for the next 22 years of going to the parole board, I never once received a “yes” vote.

My blessings from God, in this particular matter, came in 6 stages, which I refer to as days, like in Genesis when God was creating the world.

It started in ’02, when then Governor George Ryan, on his last day in office, commuted all death row sentences to life in prison. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

In ’05, I was transferred from Statesville C.C. to Galesburg C.C. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

In ’08, I met Darryl Simms, a former death row inmate, who was and is, as I am, an artist. Darryl admired my art work so much that he said he wanted me to meet this female attorney who worked for the John Howard Association, She sponsored art exhibits every year, for inmates in Springfield, Illinois. And the evening and the morning were the third day.

The lawyer came to Galesburg to visit Darryl and pick up his artwork for the exhibit, which was about two weeks away. He told her about my art, and she called me up for a visit also. I only had one piece of art, but was working on another piece, and didn’t expect much. The first question she asked me was not about my art, but whether anyone had ever represented me at my parole hearings. When I said, “No,” she said she would…for free. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

When the art exhibit was over, she went to work on my case as if her life depended on it. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

My parole hearing was held in Springfield. At that time, I was a “C-number” inmate, because I was sentenced under the old law, before 1978. This meant I needed the majority of the votes to make parole. There were 13 board members, so I needed 7 of the 13. When the layer was done presenting my case, I received all thirteen votes… a unanimous decision. A week later, on March 20, 2009, I was released from prison, a free man. And God saw everything that He made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

And on the seventh day, God, ended His work which He had made. And He rested on the seventh day from all his work He had made.

The Day Grandma Died

Son Luke wrote this poem that I always refer to by the wrong name.

He wrote it as we drove across remote West Texas on I-10 returning from Mexico.

It tells of a day we floated down the Middle Fork in Illinois, catching fish on an August day.

One of the many creative things our kids have produced.

 

Telling Love In Dreams

The day

grandmother died

we went canoeing

on the winding river

that cuts banks

into the red dirt,

crumbling

through meadows.

Silently

sliding between

the shadow-rock

walls, the great blue

heron came close

overhead, sounding

like spirits falling.

I remember all of this

driving in the car

while you sleep

beside me.

Unfettered affirmation…Bill Russell

I was just watching a discussion between Bill Russell and Tim Duncan.

Bill was telling the story about being called by Jackie Robinson’s widow to be a pall bearer at his funeral. He asked her why. “Because you are one of his favorite athletes.”

Wow…to be placed in esteem by the best…true affirmation.

Then Russell lookied at Tim Duncan and said, “and YOU are on of my favorite athletes…”.

Wow…and Bill Russell said it face to face.

Don’t wait until after you die to affirm someone.

Cerocahui, Copper Canyon, Mexico

Last Last week I visited this incredible place…beyond belief. Our hosts were Albert and Francia Lopez. They have built several new little cabanas and they are very nice, clean, and with a mountain view.

The town is close to Copper Canyon…the views are breathtaking.

In the village is a 17th century cathedral.

For info on the fantastic journey on CHEPE across Copper Canyon, including this cool little town, contact me at 217.369.9897, or go to Mexico Outback Ltd.

 

 

 

Whoa…I got a comment!!!

http://rocktheworldforchrist.blogspot.com/

 

Attention blogworld! I recieved a comment for the very first time from someone I don’t know…a real live comment from “out there” and it was an actual comment about something I blogged.

 This is huge people!

So…go out there to rocktheworldforchrist and let them know they changed the life of a really awesome blogger out here in Central Illionois.

Twenty years from now…

This Mark Twain quote was in a recent Vine Lines article by Jim McArdle.

 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the tradewinds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.”

I, like Jimmie, find this quote particularly incisive to my situation right now.

Next week I am off to Mexico and Copper Canyon.

Then we move who knows where.

Then off to the Sangres all summer.

The Best Oscars Ever!

 

What the vast majority of people consume is what the vast majority of people want…and its boring. What makes the world beautiful and captivating is rarely noticed by most.

This year’s films were the best for a long time. Yet I don’t know how many people complaining about the lack of a big blockbuster.

I prefer art over glitz.

Bill Hybels

Just recieved this…

Shortly after I became a Christ follower an older man challenged me to find key verses in the Bible that might speak to specific situations that I would find myself in through the course of a normal day.  After identifying those critical verses and linking them to the challenges that may come my way, I decided to memorize the verses so that I could have them at my command.  Here was my early list:
 
When I needed wisdom to make an important decision….James 1:5, Proverbs 3:5-6.
When I was tempted to do wrong…1 Corinthians 10:13.
When I was running out of strength…Philippians 4;13
When I was getting anxious…Philippians 4:6-7
When I was getting short tempered…Ephesians 4: 32
When someone hurt or betrayed me and I wanted revenge…Romans 12:17
When I needed courage to point wandering friends toward faith in Christ…Colossians 4:2
When I wanted to live for eternity and not just for the temporal offerings of this world…Colossians 3:1
 
This is merely a partial list of Biblical weapons that I pack with me everyday.  Though I do not use all of them everyday, I use all of them enough that they stay fresh in my mind.  I honestly don’t know how I could make it through the rough patches that come my way without the fortification these truths offer me.  Are you packing too?

I am going through huge transitions now filled with opportunity to be fearful, angry, need for wisdom, etc.

I am packing!

My good wyfe.

The Creator ran me into this young lady during my grad school years in Lubbock and I have never been the same. She has been referred to as a ringtailed tooter, a real fireball, the real deal., etc.

I fully resound with Proverbs 31:10-12

A wife of noble character who can find?
       She is worth far more than rubies.

 11 Her husband has full confidence in her
       and lacks nothing of value.

 12 She brings him good, not harm,
       all the days of her life.

 Much of her character formation came from countless hours in the bible and prayer and journaling. “Becoming a Woman of Excellence” has been a hallmark book for her.

Here is her personal affirmation statement:

I am a confident, successful business woman who knows where she is going and who is developing the skills and meeting the people who will help her get there.I attract ethical, successful people who recognize my strengths and who create opportunities for me.The scope of my influence increases daily as I conduct myself with integrity and generosity, full of grace and truth. 

Oh.  And I am a masterful recruiter.  J

  

Statue of responsibility.

Quoted in “Good to Great” is this cornerstone quote from Viktor Frankl:

“Freedom is only part of the story and half the truth…That is why I recommended that the Statue of Liberty be supplanted by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.”

Right on Vik!