Brian and Ruth Christine Newsletter

April-May 2005 Newsletter 

Howdy all!  My apologies for not writing sooner.  Here we are nearly half-way through May already.  This will be a short edition just to catch people up on the latest Christine news.

Though Ruth had applied for various positions within her prison, it appears God wants her to stay put in her DMV phone answering position.  She does it well and the pay is decent for Oregon's prison system.

Brian has finally returned to his prison's work force in the computer office he worked in 2003. Then he was a graphic artist, but now he's returned as as office manager.  This is a new and welcome challenge for him, though hardly and easy task for many reasons.

Brian has also nearly completed a first-run parenting class and his prison that he's found extremely enlightening.  Part of the class requires that participants carry a teddy bear everywhere with them inside the prison.  Being one of only 3 men to do this on this side the institution.  Needless to say, has required some bravery and fortitude.  

The class curriculum was designed specifically for parenting from inside prison.  It's both modern & practical and is not at all socialistic in the bad sense of that word.  The best part of the program is the graduation where all sorts of activities are set up for the dads and their children in a special room.  The bears carried are presented to the sons and daughters and the fathers receive certificates.  There are fun contests like a cookie decorating contest or the origami paper frog jumping contest.

Both of the youngest Christine daughters (Olivia, 4 and Abbey-Rose, 3) will be in attendance as well as Brian's mother and Aunt who care for them.  They'll also be visiting Ruth who is on the waiting list for the same class.  naturally they're all very excited for this will be Olivia's first time meeting Mom and Dad and Abbey-Rose's 2nd.

No other major news to report.  Please pray for Brian's direct appeal situation and that somehow Brian and Ruth are able to complete their Post-Conviction petition before the August deadline.

God Bless you all!  Love, Brian

Ruth Christine April 2005

There are so many blessings, I cannot even begin to count them all.  this last Friday night, there was a baptismal service and 28 women were baptised(!), including a good friend of mine who has decided to turn back to God!  God is so good.  It was beautiful to see the women crying and lifting their hands in thankfulness to God.  I love baptisms.  There is something so beautiful about that statement of faith and of dedicating your life to god.  I just love it!

Brian has been part of the pilot programme for "Parenting Inside and Out", a prison programme to improve parenting skills.  He has had a teddy bear which has to be taken care of like a baby for a certain number of weeks.

I'm really proud of him, doing that in a male prison environment is a brave thing.  Guys have this thing about having to be macho, but Brian doesn't care.  He says he doesn't mind looking foolish carrying around a teddy bear if it will help our kids.  Lots of guys in the prison have told him how much they respect him for being willing to do that.  he has also learned some things from doing the class about communication, etc... and that is great.  like I said:  I'm proud of him!

I have my times of frustration in here, but in the end it all comes back to the reminder that God has a plan and a purpose in all things (Ecc 8:14).  He is the one that allows circumstances in our lives for our good, in order for us to grow into the people He has created us to be.  From our perspective, we would like our children not to suffer (ever) and for our lives to be comfortable, but the Bible tells us it is necessary to go through some hard times in order to gain some character. (Romans 5:1-50. Yes, god is good. And forever His promise remains that His mercies are new every morning! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Thank you for you love, letters and prayers- they are a blessing to us.

With love, Ruth

Why I Love My Marriage:  by Brian Christine

There are many reasons why I revel and bask in the pleasures of marriage.  Here I wish to record just a few for the interested reader.  But first, a brief background.

I was an only child and my father died when I was very young, so as my mother struggled to make a living and provide a good home for the two of us, I grew up a lonely "latch-key" kid.  Amazingly she managed to scrimp and save enough to fund my college education when the time came.  My mom was my best friend as I grew up.

In the quiet stillness of the small flowing creek, I would ride my bike to each day after school, I would reflect on the wonders of life. I was fascinated by God's creation, whether it was water-striders, leopard frogs or the Indiana summer torrents that filled ditches with warm muddy water in minutes.  But even from that young age, I desperately desired a life partner to share all these wonderful things with.  A woman to be the "hero" for, to impress and to be by my side always.

I am so happy to declare that God, in His desire to bless Himself and to glorify His name, has joined me to that woman I loved from boyhood.  Her name is now Ruth Elizabeth Christine.  As this September will mark our tenth year of matrimony, this is a good time to reflect on what it's meant to me.

 The number one benefit I can point to is safety and security.  In my marriage I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that woman is for me.  She will not turn her back on me even to the threat of death.  She would gladly lay her life down for me and I for her.  Few other relationships can guarantee this sort of back to back, "we can take on the world together" mutuality.  Our marriage is a safe place to discuss any topic whatever, and we will not be rejected: because of our love and because of our vows.

The second dividend I thoroughly enjoy is understanding.  My wife understands me, and where she doesn't, she's seeking to.  To be understood is one of the greatest joys in life. To have another human being so interested in you that they seek to understand you all their days, makes it an honor simply to exist.  Our life has added value because we are trying to understand each other and care deeply about one another.  

The third blessing is that of sharing.  To have a person to share things with is a great blessing, but add to that the bonus guarantee that the person will always share all things with you , and it quickly blossoms into an extremely exciting promise of future adventure that cannot fail. I am continually blessed when I share joy, hope, wonder and worship with Ruth.

Some of the other more peripheral benefits of my marriage have been sheer delight, ecstasy, bliss, sharing of secrets, inside jokes, depth of conversation and best of all, a tangible promise that it will only get better, forever!

These are the joys of my binding to Ruth.  We are a beautiful love story written on the pages of days.  When physically apart, we yet grow stronger and ever more tightly entwined.  I delight in my gift in Ruth.  She is worth every toil and pain our relationship has cost me.  Ruth is the light of my eyes.  She is mine by choice and by the choice of my Father.

Abba, Thank You.