CHRIS THRASHER/SUBMISSIONS

[knightgale]

A personal letter from Chris, and a guestbook available, please send Chris a note............

http://justus4chris.bravehost.com

[knightgale]

"GOD'S LOVE"

The weight of despair laid upon my burdened shoulders, as the phantom of suffering smothered the ray of hope that often lit my path in my darkest hours....

Falling to my knees, unable to conjure the strength to travel this road any further, I looked to the heavens as tears of my soul's torment streamed down my face, which was contorted by misery as my voice uttered a prayer from my heart....

Merciful Lord, the seasons of my life have brought forth no resolution to my plight, as injustice has successively drowned my cries for freedom and grief has destroyed my capacity to see that Ray of Light that has led me through so many shadows...

The sound of my voice trailed off as my body heaved convulsively with the anguish of my sorrows and I contented myself to submit in defeat.

In that precious moment, the gloomy chill of desolation began to abate as Heaven descended in Love and a magnificent Seraph lited me to my feet with the strength of its angelic wings, while a cherub wiped the tears from my cheeks with an adoring look upon its face....

Then, a thunderous voice wafted down with the Authority of Eternity and said, "My son, I have always loved you...Even before I laid the foundation of the Earth, were you one with Me.

So, stand upon your feet and lift your chin, for all the world will one day testify to My splendor...

Therefore, sustain your faith in My Love for you, My child and ever listen to the whispers of its melody....

And know I am always with you, closer to you than your own heart.

If you shall ever fall again, under the burdens of this world, I shall again lift you with the Glory of My love and mercy."

Now, here I stand, with the foundation of my soul rooted firmly in the faith of the promise of the Cross and in my seat in the Heart of God...I shall not tarry in my journey back to You, My Lord.

"BEAUTY"

When the earth was formless and empty, the Great Architect fashioned the essence of Beauty from the purity of unconditional Love, that shone like the brightest of stars in the heavens, upon the surface of the deep.

Perfect being the knowledge and creative wisdom of the Creator Supreme, Beauty has soared through timeless skies of countless ages, as has the story of the snow white dove that flew from the hand of Noah after the great deluge.....

But, never in all the years my soul has travelled these plains of earthly existence have I ever witnessed Beauty so perfectly manifested as it is in you....

So, thank you most glorious God for creating My Mother!

[knightgale]

Chris wrote me about this and sent it to his mom, I recieved a copy of it tonite, just to share......

CHRISTMAS ANGEL
By: Christopher Thrasher 2009
Dedicated to my nephew “Butter Bean”

On a magical Christmas Eve, a young boy stood outside his home gazing into the sky as snow fell from the heavens, blanketing the landscape as far as the eye could see, fulfilling the promise of the Season to provide the faithful of spirit with a white Christmas. Staring through the darkness and snow, with youthful hopes of seeing Santa soar through the night skies, making the wishes of sleeping children come true; he began to see an approaching light with a kaleidoscope of colors making his heart beat faster with excitement and fear. As the light reached him basking him in its brilliance, he found himself looking upon the most beautiful angel his young mind could ever have imagined! How wondrous must be the kingdom of Heaven be to have an emissary of such magnificent and perfect beauty!

Extending a hand to the boy, she beckoned for him to join her on a journey that was to follow. “Come my child”, were the words she spoke in a melodic whisper of perfect harmonic symmetry. The boy, with an innocent faith in his Lord and no hesitation, placed his small hand in that of the angels and into the sky they went as the heavenly lights encompassed them both and guided their way. After having traveled what had to be thousands of miles in a twinkling of an eye, they landed upon a snow-capped mountain peak that felt to the boy to be the apex of the entire world where one could look down upon all of the Earth on this night of serenity.

Looking to the East of where he stood, he saw an illustrious star cutting through the darkness as does the beam from a lighthouse and in which he could hear singing coming forth as if from an angelic choir, with the words: “Alleluia! Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The guardian angel then commanded the boys’ attention and spoke to him in its melodious voice, “This is a Glorious and Holy Night, my child. This is the eve of the birth of the Infant King to whom the heavenly host heralded the coming and the entire world humbled before. The Son of the highest, the Savior of mankind was born. Thus was the greatest gift in all history given: the Lord Jesus Christ and through Him, God’s perfect and unconditional Love. Remember these things always as you celebrate the Season. What greater gift is there?”

After this last word was spoken, in just the blink of an eye, the angelic lights aglow in the night were replaced by the lights of a Christmas tree and the mountain peak was replaced with the young boys own home and he marveled at all that he’d seen and all that he’d been told by the beautiful Christmas Angel. Understanding with faith from the pure heart, the boy quickly wrote a note to place with the cookies and milk that were left by the hearth for Santa, which read:

Dear Santa,

When you see the Lord Jesus, please tell Him that I love Him and I thank Him for loving me!

Your friend,
Christopher

(Christopher Thrasher(c)2009)

[knightgale]

Windows of the Soul

Some of the best years of my life, that I remember, occurred when we lives in the Highland Forest neighborhood of Pleasant Grove. There seemed to be a special world in Highland Forest where nothing of consequence mattered outside of it.
I remember Spiderman birthday cakes, Captain Kangaroo, learning to ride my bike, playing T-ball, being a Super Hero, adventurer, daredevil, brother and son…..I remember the quarters from the Tooth fairy I’d find under my pillow, tossing and turning in anticipation of seeing what Santa Claus left me for Christmas and being afraid of our den bathroom! I remember a healthy childhood…..I remember love.

When my parents split-up, it was something I did not understand, being a child, but I knew there was something irreconcilable about their martial conflict. It was very confusing and somewhat painful, but appeared to be balanced by the birth of my younger brother, Matthew, in the summer of 1981. I have memories of his peaceful innocence and how much you just knew by how he looked at us, that he loved us. We were the center of his universe-his nucleus.

My relationship with my father, in the wake of the divorce, suffered although, I didn’t understand why. I had no concept of the disease that haunted him or it’s effects. The disease was alcoholism. He became distant and began to change into someone totally different from the man that taught me to play baseball in Highland Forest. Often I’d question whether he even loved me or not and since his actions created these doubts, why should I even care? But the answer was an easy one: He was my father and I was his son. I loved him with a strength that only a son could have for his dad….No matter what, though, when Mike Thrasher hugged me, I knew he loved me. There were demons that had ahold of him, that just refused to let him be.

As I continued to grow up, I was very shy and reserved early on, with very few friends. I’m sure insecurities I’d acquired as a result of the unhealthy relationship I had with my father, were a factor in this, but I’m not going to point fingers. After changing elementary schools and later becoming “saved” after attending a Christian youth camp, I slowly began attracting friends, both male and female. I guess one could say I was becoming “popular”.

With popularity comes associations with people your Mother doesn’t approve of and did I have those! As I became a teenager, I associated myself with people who were rebellious and angry, as I grew to be, as well. The confusing aspect of this, was that I had no idea why I felt like I did, thus adding an element of frustration. No one understood me, or so it seemed. But, did I even understand myself? Not really!

I look back now, at all life threw our way, as a family and at every point of reflection, I see my Mom, the foundation of all that was good in my childhood, unwavering in her devotion and altruistic in her sacrifices. God grants prayers to children in various ways, to meet the needs expressed in times of tribulation……God gave me my Mother as an answer to mine.

Many times through my years as a teenager, I acted selfishly, not only to my Mom but towards my sister and brother as well. Only now, as an adult, can I see these shortcomings, for I am not only a son and brother, but an uncle now too. Family never meant more!!! Not many of my family have believed in me, turning their backs long ago, not caring what fate befell me. However, Mom, Mimi, Matt and Kimberly, you guys didn’t. I’ve made it this far in my struggle for freedom, because God made my prayers manifest through y’all. You’ve had faith in me even when my knees buckled under the weight of this misery, begging God to let my life end….Instead, he sent an angel to guide me back into focus, where my family was already waiting.

The Lord has called some of our family home to Him in my life and as a result, I’d like to dedicate this essay to them.

Howard “Pop” Hillman, a loving husband, dedicated father and an understanding grandfather.
“Rose” “Granny” Gammon, the most beautiful woman from Sweden!
“Mike Thrasher”, you’re never forgotten! I love you, Dad.

An essay of Life
By Chris Thrasher

[knightgale]

Life without parole slow death in worst prisons
By Letters from our readers
February 12, 2010, 5:30AM

Is life without parole the logical alternative to the death penalty? Sure, it eliminates the immediate threat of execution that looms large for those inmates. However, LWOP is only a slow death in itself within the state's worst prisons, and after serving 25 to 30 years, a lot of those languishing under the burden of LWOP begin viewing lethal injection as euthanasia.

The reality is that with either sentence, the inmate can only leave prison dead. Shouldn't we push to adopt rehabilitation instead?

And, what of the children sentenced to the hopelessness of LWOP? Can anyone honestly assume (because without facts it can only be an assumption) with a clear conscience that with an average natural life span of around 80 years, these children will not be fit for society for the next 50 to 60 years, until they die? This cannot even be supported by modern psychological research on the subject and is in complete opposition to reason.

I am among this group, losing my freedom to LWOP at the age of 16 and having served 18 straight years. I have spent more years confined in concrete and razor wire than I ever did in society. Even though society lacked faith in my redemption long ago, I never have or will. I'll graduate from Penn Foster in a few months with a high school diploma. If finances permit, I'll likely pursue an associate's degree. I have multiple Bible study certificates, I am an amateur poet and I love the Lord.

I am a beloved son, brother and uncle. I laugh, I cry, I love, I regret, I hope and I pray. I am human -- and among many who are not incorrigible.

Support true sentence reform.

Christopher Thrasher
Holman Correctional Facility
Atmore, Al