“Guilty on two counts” was the verdict of the jury. It surprised me. I had pleaded not guilty; I felt the jury was for me. Then came the sentencing. “Fifty four months of incarceration”, said the judge. The next instant there was a man standing alongside me in the court room. He said, “I am a Federal Marshal, I am taking you into custody. Please remove your coat, your tie, and your belt. He placed me in hand cuffs and walked me out of the court room to begin my fifty four month sentence.

It was a scary time for me. I knew nothing about prison. I couldn’t imagine spending fifty four months doing nothing. I believed and trusted in Christ since childhood, but now what would God think of me? Would my life be wasted? I asked him to go before me, to be there with me, and to be on the other side of this experience when I got out. I have been married to my wife Jan for 52 years. We have four married children, sixteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. It was hard for me to think of being away from them for so long.

Thirty four months into my sentence I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I was given four to six months to live. I was transferred to Butner North Carolina for Cancer treatment. Ten weeks later I was released on a compassionate release to spend my last days with my family.

Through this entire time I experienced Jesus walking beside me. He gave me great sense of his love and acceptance and allowed me to be used in communicating his love and acceptance to others. Many inmates were amazed to find that they could be loved and accepted by God, their sins forgiven because of what Jesus did on the cross.

Today I am receiving chemotherapy at the Veteran’s Hospital in Minneapolis. The treatment has gone well; I have not gotten sick from the treatment. I am active and have enjoyed a greet summer and fall with my family. I know my future is in God’s hands and my future is good. I want others to know the amazing freedom I have in Christ; I had it in prison, I have it with cancer, and I have it for my life to come.

Life is so uncertain. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. You may be facing personal or family challenges at this time. Everything I have, all the peace joy and contentment is available for you too. If you want to know more about it, read further. If you would like more information about any of this, please feel free to contact me.

B.G.

To contact B.G. personally contact the [email protected]