Louisiana’s Incarcerated #nola #prisonministry

The Times-Pic / Nola.com article series on Louisiana’s Prison system has been very interesting. The report says that we incarcerate more people per capita than any other place in the world. And often local economies are built around the local prison. Today’s article was about how few have access to re-entry classes and programs. It’s true in St. Tammany as well. Two big reasons: little space & few volunteers. Our church has made St. Tammany’s Jail a place of engagement since 2008. We’ve taught Celebrate Recovery, Fathering Classes, Relationship Skills, & helped inmates connect with their families on the outside. The problem is we are few in number & the work takes a big toll on volunteers over time. More volunteers are needed who are willing to spend weekly or monthly times teaching, encouraging, etc. A few reasons why I believe the church MUST take the lead:

• Jesus’ call on those who are part of his kingdom in Matthew 25:36 – “I was in prison and you visited me” (NLT).
• A majority of our local inmates will be neighbors again. We have an opportunity to give them some tools to help them be productive upon release. But also to restore their dignity & let them know someone cares. As a relative of an inmate told me after one of our Family events at the Jail, “Thank you for helping my brother feel like a person again.”
• Each inmate represents a network of relationships that are many times at risk & isolated. A mom that’s heart broken, kids that are ashamed & without role models, wives forced to care for a household without an income. And many of these struggling with addiction & bitterness & loneliness themselves. When I think of Christ’s words, “sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36), my mind turns pretty quickly to this population segment. And the numbers hit us hard in this area: 41% of current inmates had a relative in prison. 25% of current inmates had a dad in prison. Could we stop this cycle through kindness, concern, & intentional Christian love?
• The gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”  (Romans 1:16). They need re-entry classes & life-skill training. They need to know people care & want them to succeed. But ultimately, they need to hear the Gospel & have the opportunity to be transformed by the power of God. We I saw the words in this morning’s paper – “few have access to the classes.” It hit me hard, b/c in my experience few have access to the Gospel as well.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:38 (ESV)

How can you help?

• Volunteer to teach a class. Some of the biggest needs are Bible Study, Celebrate Recovery, Financial Planning, Relationships Skills, GED Tutoring, Literacy.
• Attend one of our family day events at our local jail. Next ones will be June 17 & July 29.
• Serve as a sponsor or mentor for an inmate in recovery.
• Serve as a mentor for an inmates child in our area. Our church will be doing a Mentor training on June 2 at the Groves Apartment Complex in Covington.

Email me about these or other opportunities.

It’s easy to talk bad about “the system.” Harder to sacrifice yourself to do something about it.

It’s easy to talk bad about “the system.” Harder to teach a class at the jail, mentor a child, sponsor an addict in recovery.

Thanks to Our Veterans!

A few of my personal pictures from around the memorials in DC from our trip there. a couple of years ago.

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“The Lord helps those who…”

One of the Bible’s most quoted phrases is actually not in the Bible. And interestingly enough yesterday it was quoted at the highest level of our government. See Todd Rhoades post here.

At yesterday’s White House Press briefing, spokesman Jay Carney said it:

Well, I believe the phrase from the Bible is, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” And I think the point the President is making is that we should — we have it within our capacity to do the things to help the American people.

This phrase is NOT in the Bible. Not making a political statement here. I hear this 2-5 times per months from Evangelicals. What is in the Bible is the principle of God blessing the diligent (Proverbs 10:4; 22:29). But I personally believe this phrase to be the opposite of the Bible’s message of how to begin a relationship with God. A truer statement is: “God helps those who realize they CANNOT help themselves.” Check out 1 Peter 5:5-6. The good news starts with our inability and God’s loving desire to transform us and make us what we can’t make ourselves.

And the White House, probably hounded by Bible thumpers, did come clean this AM.

“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” Steve Jobs

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: ‘If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.’ It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

— Steve Jobs, from the Stanford Commencement Address

Courageous Movie Stuff

The movie Courageous opens tomorrow! It will highlight men’s and fathering issues like nothing before. Here’s some great ideas for your church. And some input from the National Fatherhood initiative. Check out the official music video below. The movie trailer is at the end of the clip. Or find it here. Also, check out the Courageous Song lyrics below the video. Also, check out this post by Randy Alcorn about the importance of fathers and the accompanying video with cast members and ministry leaders talking about the importance of fathers.

Courageous Lyrics

We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chain
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we’re watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous
And we’re taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we’ll ever stand
Is on our knees we’re lifting hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall

We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise

Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk on
Be with your God

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

“We were made to be courageous, We were made to lead the way”

I’m excited about the movie Courageous, coming out Sept 30th. Wish it were coming out this weekend. It’s going to highlight men’s issues and challenge dad’s. Check out the official music video below. The movie trailer is at the end of the clip. Or find it here. Also, check out the Courageous Song lyrics below the video.

Courageous Lyrics

We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chain
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we’re watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous
And we’re taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we’ll ever stand
Is on our knees we’re lifting hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall

We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise

Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk on
Be with your God

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

I Guess It Could Be Worse This Morning

Grateful for the sacrifices of a great generation. Remembering D-Day.

 

Remembering on Memorial Day

A few of my favorite personal pics from around Washington DC. Always think about these places on days like today. Very grateful to those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.

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National Porn Sunday

Along with the Superbowl, this weekend, 300+ churches are celebrating Porn Sunday to draw attention and bring help to those caught in the literal web of addiction. Here’s a few links about the event and a few extras:

• “The Elephant in the Pew” – NPR article on the event – “48 percent of Christian families are dealing with the issue of pornography in their home”
• The National Porn Sunday Intro Video – Involving two NFL players discussing their battle with pornography and sex addiction.
• The Social Costs of Pornography – Academic findings about the issue.
• XXX Church Event Page – Two churches here in Louisiana will be hosting the event.
• Covenant Eyes - The tool I use for accountability

My Favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes

From a recorded conversation with friend and colleague Andrew Young:

“I think the Good Samaritan is a great individual. I of course, like and respect the Good Samaritan….but I don’t want to be a Good Samaritan…you see, I am tired of picking up people along the Jericho Road. I am tired of seeing people battered and bruised and bloody, injured and jumped on, along the Jericho Roads of life. This road is dangerous. I don’t want to pick up anyone else, along this Jericho Road; I want to fix… the Jericho Road. I want to pave the Jericho Road, add street lights to the Jericho Road; make the Jericho Road safe (for passage) by everybody….”

I think of this analogy quite often. I love thinking past helping people, which can become a selfish thing, to transforming scenarios.

And from his famed last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” -

the first question that the priest asked — the first question that the Levite asked was, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”

That’s the question before you tonight. Not, “If I stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to my job. Not, “If I stop to help the sanitation workers what will happen to all of the hours that I usually spend in my office every day and every week as a pastor?” The question is not, “If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?” The question is, “If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?” That’s the question.