May 22, 2002
THE GIDEONS' CONVENTION
After my new friend, Ricky, gave me a little Gideons Pocket Testament as
a gift back in the late 1987 and encouraged me to read the Psalms, which the Lord used to soften my heart, the Gideons International
organization has been dear to me. I often pray for them.
I thank God for their faithfulness in getting God's Word to the furthest
parts of the world. Their placing of Bibles in motels, jails and prisons, and on mililtary bases, are only some of their work.
In any event, today I gave a very brief version of my testimony as well
as some words of encouragement to a man who recorded everything I said. He is going to share this during the Gideons International
convention in Nashville this summer. He will also be showing portions of the SON OF SAM/SON OF HOPE video to everyone present.
It was the staff at the Gideons Headquarters who asked me to do this. I'm
very thankful they chose my testimony to present at the convention. People will be coming from all over the world.
I love to encourage my fellow Christians. Thus part of the message that
I'm giving to the brethren attending the July event is as follows:
"There is a spiritually active and vibrant church behind prison walls all
over the world.
Correctional facilities are wide open mission fields with men and women
who are hungry for God, who are tired of sin and crime, and who want redemption.
"They're broken people who long to be made whole".
David Berkowitz
May 23, 2002
I HAVE EVERYTHING
I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify
Thy name for evermore. For great is Thy mercy toward me, and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
Psalm 86:12,13
This morning after breakfast the inmates received word that our job assignments
and various school programs are cancelled this morning. I was so happy at the news because now I will be able to stay in and
rest in the presence of the Lord instead of having to rush off to work. I don't mind my work assignment, which is really a
ministry for me. But it's good to have a respite.
Thus far I have spent most of this morning alternating betrween praying,
reading my Bible and writing a few letters. Now I'm doing this Journal.
And during this time the Lord has brought some things to my mind. I have
been in prison for almost 25 years, yet I have everything.
Today I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I know Him intimately
as my Saviour and Messiah, and as the King of the Jews and the King of Kings.
My sins have been completely forgiven, and my name is already written in
the Lamb's "Book of Life", by, I believe, Jesus' own Blood.
Really, what more do I need in this world.? I feel total contentment in
just knowing Him. I have his peace. And I will be the first to say I do not deserve any of these blessings. But God has shown
mercy towards me. He has truly delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
David Berkowitz
May 25, 2002
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
The Lord has many ways of letting His servants know that our worlk is accomplishing
good things for the kingdom of God, that our labor is not in vain.
This week I received an encouraging letter from a woman in upstate New
York who saw portions of the interview I did with UPN Channel 9, which was also aired on Fox-TV.
I will quote her letter here:
"I'm writing simply to encourage you to continue to run the race, the finish
line, of course, being eternal life.
I read an interview with you approximately 5-6 years ago in the Sullivan
County Democrat by Dan Hust. I was touched by what the grace of God has done in your life.
This past Wednesday I saw an interview with you on Fox 5. The peace in
your eyes and the calm in your voice just reaffirmed what I'd known these past years, that the grace of God is able to bring
about the inimaginable.
Thank you for being so opened to the grace of God in order to become the
new creation that you are.
Thank you also for choosing to not live in the past, but to go forward
one day at a time, in spite of the fact that so many, especially in the media, would rather you be chained to your horrid
past.
Keep hope alive. (signed) Mary Ann"
David Berkowitz
May 31, 2002
JUSTICE WILL TRIUMPH
Even though many people are still angry with me because of my past criminal
actions, I am thankful for the opportunities God has given to me to express my remorse, to apologize to those who I hurt,
and to take responsibility for whatever I needed to.
In the end I know that God's perfect justice will be meted out. Satan will
one day take his place in what the Bible calls, the Lake of Fire. There will be no escape for him.
Likewise, my "fellow" satanists who, unfortunately, never got to experience
God's forgiveness, will have to appear before the Lord at the Judgment.
In due time, I believe eternal justice will prevail. Mankind's justice
system is fallible, and even biased at times. It's very limited.
For the human justice system is not capable of comprehending the influences
that Satan and his demons have had on things like crime, war and mental illness. Our present system makes no allowances for
evil spiritual influences and their impact upon humanity.
And devil worshippers and satanists, unless they experience God's delivering
power and His loving redemption, as I have, will never prosper.
Many of them will eventually turn psychotic and suicidal. Many will end
up in early graves like some whom I once knew already have.
And still others will, like they're doing now, be forced to hide in the
darkness, always haunted and never having peace, a lost and tormented bunch.
David Berkowitz
