THIS NEWSLETTER was designed to let prisoners, who have accepted the Lord into their hearts, share with the world and other Christians their testimonies of how the Lord has worked His miracles in their lives.

I find it truly amazing that the Lord can turn a hardened criminal, who at one point in their lives terrorized the streets and made a living off the hardships of others, into a caring and compassionate Christian. Put your faith in the Lord... He can change your life around too.

Freedom Within would not be successful if I had not had the guidance given to me by the Lord. He has made it possible for me to work around all the obstacles here in prison ...and there are many! I have been blessed to have family and friends who work so hard to help me distribute this newsletter.

My thanks to my mother and father and to my grandparents, who have taken their time and helped me in bringing the Lord's work, through Freedom Within to you.

God Bless
Justin L. Martin

If you have any comment or ideas that may help me with this newsletter, or if you have any questions, I look forward to hearing from you.

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"When I ws young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me."

John Wesley
1703-1791

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EDITOR'S LETTER
Justin L. Martin

Many parent and children swear that music, movies, violence on T.V. and video games, have no impact on the lives of children or adults. Why then do children tend to "act out" the violence they are subjected to on T.V. and through other forms of violent "entertainment"? Unless you keep your child locked in a room, he or she witnesses hundreds of suggestive thoughts and messages daily. Of course I'm not suggesting anyone lock their kids away to hide them from the various perils inherent to media and entertainment, but depending on how your child registers those thoughts and messages, as fantasy or reality, will determine whether or not he or she may one day bring a gun to their school and destroy the lives of classmates, teachers and families.

Today, your son's and daughter's friends and classmates may bring literature to school that describes hate and violence as the "in thing to do". These books and newsletters, of which there are many thousands in circulation, give messages to kids implying that being isolated and hating everyone is the only way to survive in today's world. Each page is packed with information concerning guns and music that sometimes blatently tell kids to kill. These publications also can include information on drugs, sex, and numerous additional items that seem designed to drive an undeveloped mind to the point of murder and/or suicide.

Here is an innocent example showing how T.V. can affect decisions children make as to "acting out" what they've just seen on screen: While growing up watcing "kid's" shows such as "Power Rangers" or cartoons like "He-man", I would often simulate the punches and kicks from the programs with my brothers and sisters. I remember jumping on our sofa with a broom in my hand, then bonking my siblings on the head with it in my excitement. As harmless and innocent as this may seem, the point is this - as is the case for millions of children today - if I saw some activity on T.V. that appealed to me, I would act it out. Where this can go from being innocent, as in the example given above, to being possibly dangerous, is when kids watch movies and T.V. shows depicting band robberies, drug dealers and lone gunmen walking calmly down a school hallway or street. Sure, when I was growing up I was forbidden to watch violent television or movies containing foul language or nudity. If my parents found out that us kids were doing so, it made sitting down a painful experience indeed. There was one way to escape the wrath of my parents and grandparents - don't let them find out we'd watched them! How did I manage this you ask? Well, my best friend David's parents had a huge collection of movies I wasn't allowed to see, most of them comtaining scenes of graphic violence, language that would put a sailor to shame, and nudity. How did my parents veiw David? As a smart and bright childhood friend. Boy were they fooled, huh? They would never find out I watched those movies - not until I wound up in prison anyway.

It's been said that. "a child does not go out and rob a bank based on events in a movie, just out of the blue". Hmm, I wonder. I went out of my way to watch those movies, to listen to that type of music and to play those video games.

Don't get me wrong your children's friends are not necessarily bad influences. Heck, 99% of my friends were good, high spirited kids living under the same restrictions that I was. I'm also not saying tht your child is doing the things that I've explained. What I am trying to point out is that the huge amount of violent and illicit acts witnessed by children through movies, T.V. and video games is no doubt desensitizing them to it's horrors, causing them to lead more destructive lives. In the end they can either become a victim of the violence or a purveyor of it. Not a lot to choose from for today's youth after all.

A youngster who is determined to hear the new song, see the new show or movie, and play the new video game that all his or her friends are talking about, violent and risque or not, will get a hold of it one way or another unless you board up the windows and bolt all the doors. So, for the sake of safety for yours and everyone's children, take the time to explain to them "why" you don't want them to watch that movie or listen to that music. It would surely have a far greater impact than just telling them, "No".

The reason I'm dwelling so much on the violence kids see in movies and video games and hear in so much of today's music is simple. I see it's results everyday. I ask inmates here in prison, "What gave you the idea for your crime?" A large number of them answer, "I saw it on television." It seems as though the ones who didn't get the idea from T.V. found ways to perfect their criminal activity by studying crime depicted on - you guessed it - their beloved television.

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THE LONELY CROWD

One of the major characteristics of our time is lonliness. It seems ironic that in the age of the greatest population explosion our world has ever known, we find more and more people who are desperately lonely.

Even though someone may have an abundance of material things, they may be cut off from the society that surrounds them. They try to fill the void in their hearts with things that temporarily satisfy them but nothing seems to work on the empty abyss in their hearts.

There is an answer to the problem of loneliness; his name is Jesus Christ. He promises us that He won't leave or faorsake us. (Heb 13:5) He knows everything about us. We may often wonder how God can be concerned with us and our piddley problems. The answer to this question is easy; He loves us so much that He even knows how many hairs are upon our heads! We read; the the very hairs of our head are numbered; that two sparrows don't fall to the ground without our heavenly Father knowing of it. (Matthew 10:29-20)

You may have come to a point in your life where you feel you can't trust anyone, but there is a promise from one that loves you and can meet the problem of loneliness head-on. If you just open your heart to him He will wipe away the hurt and pain forever. His name is Jesus Christ, the doctor of all broken and lonely hearts; the Wonderful Counselor; the Prince of Peace; the Everlasting Father. (Isaiah 9:6)

A true friend knows the worst about us but still remains our friend. This is consummately true of our Lord. He knows we are not prize packages but He still loves us. He knows us better than we know ourselvess. when we come to the Saviour, not only does Jesus come into our lives promising to be our constant companion and closest friend, but He also ushers us into the most wonderful fellowship in the world; The Church of Jesus Christ.

No matter what you've done, Jesus Christ paid for all of your sins at Calvary. Why be lonely anymore? He's waiting for you just to give Him a chance. If you have lost the key to your heart... dont worry, He's the best locksmith I've ever met! All you need to do is make the call!