The blog urges the Church to support returning citizens, drawing parallels between Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones and the realities faced by incarcerated individuals. It emphasizes that many in prison feel abandoned and stripped of identity, akin to dry bones waiting for renewal. The author promotes the idea that transformation requires collective effort and highlights the necessity of providing hope, community, and support for reentry. Key actions for the Church include advocating for housing stability, creating employment pathways, and building mentorship programs. The message is clear: with commitment and compassion, recovery and restoration are achievable for those previously imprisoned.
Tag: Keryx
What’s in a name?
Our name is how we are identified from birth. It represents us conceptually to others. Hearing someone's name that we know often brings their face, personality, or character to mind. We can remember conversations, funny anecdotes, or life encounters that inform our opinion of who they are. When we hear a stranger’s name it is just a name until we have information to associate with it. Information may come in the form of gossip passed along from another person, social media viewed online, or news reports.
The Prodigal’s Return
From my teenage years I wanted to distance myself from my family. I went off to college and then further away for graduate school seeking to gain my freedom. I then got married and started my career to establish my independence. I filled my time with what I wanted and only made grudging appearances for holidays. My brother grew up and got married. My parents grew their business and took up square dancing. They had their lives and I had mine. I didn’t live in a faraway land but halfway between my parents and my wife’s parents. Close enough to make the trip but far enough to not have to make it frequently. My focus was on my career, my interests, and my friends. I didn’t have time for family obligations or responsibilities. Even after my daughter was born, I continued to pursue my dreams without any concerns for how this affected anyone else. This is the very essence of being a prodigal.
Thank You
In the overcrowded yet lonely confines of prison I looked forward with great anticipation for the weekly callouts to the Sunday Worship Service, Tuesday night Bible Study, Spiritual Development classes, and Keryx. It wasn’t just something to do in a vast wasteland of monotony. It was an opportunity to chew on spiritual meat, to sharpen iron, and to be renewed in my inner being. All of this was only possible because of the dedication of faithful, Spirit-filled, gifted pastors and laymen; retirees and businessmen. These were missionaries, clergy, and volunteers from all walks of life who have given up much to bring light into darkness, hope to the hopeless, wisdom to the foolish, and the love of God to the least of these.
Restoration and Renewal Testimony
Through a series of bad life choices I found myself in a dark place, cut off from everything and everyone I knew. But God was faithful and found me in my cell at the county jail. He reminded me how much He loved me and I renewed my vow and earnestly repented. For the first time in years tears flowed as I poured my heart out to God, surrendering every area of my life, confessing every sinful habit and committing for faithfully serve Him.
Christian Community
Keryx provides us with a uniqu opportunity to live life in Christian community. To be the hands and feet of Jesus, ministering to one another and witnessing to the lost and wounded souls on this compound. Individually our lights may not seem like much shinning into the darkness that surrounds us, however, when we come together we are like a city on a hill that can not and will not be hidden.
The Sherpa’s Perspective
I have previously described the Keryx weekend as a mountain top experience, and having worked as a member of the Inside team I now have a sherpa's perspective.
Mountain Top Experience
A mountain top experience is a time in your life when you experienced God in a deeply profound and meaningful way. A time when you felt closer to God than any other time in your life. It is the pinnical of both emotional and spiritual awareness. It is a life altering encounter with the Almighty. While the euphoria of the emotional component made fade over time, the power of the spiritual component should grow and increase.
April 2018 Letter
My observation is that leadership is often a thankless task that involves the arcane skill of herding cats. Christian leaders do it from their knees with their hands firmly clasped together and their heads bowed. While this sounds like a Zen thing it is really a Sinai thing. Moses is the archetype of a Christian leader.