Treasures in Prison Cells

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When I announced to the congregation at New Life in Columbia that Amy and I were moving to Iowa to be part of a prison ministry, a lady who's husband had been in prison gave me a "prophesy."  It was an account of a dream and It was printed.  I have seen it multiple places since.  I don't know the author, but I do know I held onto this prophesy or dream and read it often in tough times.  I just pulled it back out after receiving it 12 years ago...It still applies.

chris

Treasures in Prison Cells

It was late I was tired wanting to go to sleep, but God wanted to talk, it was about midnight, but it dawned on me that God does not sleep.

His question made me restless. "Where on earth does man keep his most priceless treasures?"

I said, “Lord, usually these treasures, like gold and silver are kept under lock and key.” God spoke, “like man, my most valuable treasures on earth are also locked up.”

I saw Jesus standing in front of seemingly thousands of prisons and jails. The Lord said, “These have almost been destroyed by the enemy, but these souls have the greatest potential to be used, and bring forth glory to My Name. I am going this hour to the prisons to activate the gifts and callings that lie dormant in these lives that were given before the foundation of the earth. Out from these walls will come forth a spiritual army that will have power to literally kick down the gates of Hell and overcome satanic powers that are holding many of my people captive."

Then I saw the Lord step up to the prison doors with a key. One key fit every lock and the gates began to open.

I then heard and saw great explosions, which sounded like dynamite going off behind the walls. It sounded like all our spiritual warfare.

Jesus then began walking in and touching inmates who were thronging to Him. Many being touched instantly began to have a golden glow that came over them.

God spoke, “There’s the gold and silver!”

Like slow motion they began to grow into what appeared to be giant knights in armor like warriors. They had on the entire armor of God.

God said, “Now go and take what Satan has taught you and use it against him, and pull down the strongholds coming against my church.”

The spiritual giants then started stepping over the prison walls with no one to resist them, and they went immediately to the very front of the battle against the enemy. I saw them walk right past the church, and big name ministers. They were surpassed by giant warriors like David going after Goliath! They crossed enemy lines and started delivering many of God’s people from the clutches of Satan while demons fled in terror.

Battles on Multiple Fronts Part II: Jerry Wilger

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The executive director of IFI was Jerry Wilger.  I don't know the story of how Jerry got involved with IFI, or how he became the Executive Director. I just knew he was rich, and at the time, Prison Fellowship looooooved rich people.

Jerry was a self-made man who did something with buying companies and revamping them, making them profitable and selling them for big money. It also had something to do with airplanes.

Jerry was a good-hearted guy. but again, he seemed oblivious to how God's Kingdom worked.  He approached managing IFI like a corporation.  Jerry was not a listener, he was a talker and a doer.

In Texas one time I had dinner with Jerry, his wonderful wife Glenna, and Jack.  We were trying an Italian restaurant.  As we are standing in the lobby Jerry says, "I'm going to go see if they are cooking this food right. I'll be back."  He then strides past everyone else waiting and the servers and directly back into the kitchen, out of sight.  I look at Jack and Glenna and they don't seem shocked at all.  Finally Jerry comes back out of the swinging kitchen doors and reports to the whole lobby, "They are cooking right, so we can eat here."  That was Jerry.

Jerry loved "Community Bible Study" and we used that curriculum on Wednesday nights. Glenna was also greatly involved in "CBS" so it was the core of our Wednesday night curriculum in the prison.

Sam had a good relationship with Jerry, so generally I didn't have to deal directly with him.  The deep discussions we were having amongst ourselves as an IFI staff would have (and did) fall(en) on deaf ears.  We had to frame information so that Jerry could receive it.  He was a bottom-line guy, and that bottom line had to be IFI graduates not coming back to prison.

Ultimately we did well on that particular expectation.

chris

Saturday

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Saturday....

Got up at 8:30.

Went to three of the properties we manage and filled a truck with the help of Alan.

Drove tho the city waste drop-off and got rid of a bunch of junk, ($12 a load)

Took a 15 minute nap.

Went to Shawnee Mission North High School to watch my nephew Jacob play two games in a basketball tournament.

Went to CiCi's with Jacob, Rory, (some other kid who's name I've forgotten), Amy, Wesley, Jaron, & Christian.

Went to the CYT office to work on props.

Brought some props home to work on.

Bought some gas.

Whimped out on my blog.

chris

Battles on Multiple Fronts

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When I came to IFI, I expected contention with the Department of Corrections (DOC.) I expected contention with the IFI members. I expected contention with the General Population inmates.  I even anticipated contention from outside anti-christian groups who may try to make trouble.  I did not anticipate contention with the IFI executives and the IFI staff.

I met Jack Cowley, IFI’s National Operations Director, shortly after starting at IFI-Iowa.  I was looking forward to Godly-mentoring and a Spiritual covering.  I was looking for someone to impart wisdom and hold me up.  I thought that might be Jack. I was wrong.

Jack had been a warden and a Prison Treatment innovator.  He had tried many radical programs before IFI, and he was the Director at the original IFI program in Houston.  He had a lot of knowledge about prison and he asked some good, challenging questions.  He stressed openness in the IFI “community meetings.”  He wanted things out in the open because he said if the guys didn’t talk about it out in the open; things would fester under the surface and be trouble later.  He questioned security practices and policies and food and…well…everything.  His way to be a reformer or change agent within the Iowa DOC was to walking in with his Oklahoma drawl, a torch, and a gallon of gasoline and start burning as many bridges as soon and as fast as he could.

When I spent time with Jack I tried to be still and listen for any kind of Spiritual resonance within him.  I tried to “perceive” his heart.  I have to admit, I saw no “life” in him, and the wreckage he would leave behind whenever he would blow into town was widespread.  Only God knows if he’s saved, because in my interactions with him, the fruit of his life was not life and peace.

When Jack came into town you knew there would be cussing, off-color jokes, outrageous statements, and promises of a questionable nature (or as I like to call them, lies.)  He claimed all those things were by design on his part and that, to get the inmates attention, you had to be “real” and by “real” he meant cussing and crude.  One time at our daily community meeting he was addressing all 242 men.  He was talking about pornography and how it wasn’t allowed at IFI, but he made this statement, “Some of my fondest memories are with my pornography” but then he went on to talk about how you couldn’t have it at IFI.

My whole first year I spent sitting down with people in the prison and around the state listening to stories of how Jack had been rude and offensive and had lied and misrepresented.  I just shook my head and apologized and assured them it was no longer going to be that way.  Jack clearly and often stated that his did not like Prison Chaplains, which of course was evident to the NCF Chaplain.  It took me a couple years of talking and visiting and building a relationship with him before I had any trust built up from him.  He could have been a great resource and a co-laborer in the Kingdom. Instead he was offended and hurt, but I think we eventually worked through that.

Jack had “laid a foundation” that was flawed.  So that whole first year Sam and I, as well as the IFI staff had to dig-up the old foundation and re-lay the stones.  It was not fun…necessary, but not fun.

chris

“The Guys”

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In a prison setting there are three general sets of people who interact with the inmates. 

First of all there is “security.” These are the correctional officers, mostly in uniform and with a quasi-military type of outlook.  There are officers, sergeants, and captains.  One of the security trainings I went to had a very prominent quote, “an inmate, is an inmate, is an inmate.”  The Officers are to be, “Friendly, not familiar.” And you listened to a lot of quotes like, “How can you tell an offender is lying? His lips are moving.”  Stuff like that.  Sadly (and practically speaking) after hundreds of years of prisons and guards, those “true-isms” were generally accurate.  The security people were there to keep the inmates in the prison and safe.  They weren’t there to be buds or aid in the comfort and care of anyone.  They were there to keep things “secure” and that generally meant assuming the inmates were up to no-good (and often, they were.)

Then there are the “service” people.  These are folks inside the prison who do a specific job.  They may be medical staff. Library staff, educational staff, maintenance, food service, clerical, folks who have a specific task who also have dealings with inmates inside the fence.

Finally there are the “treatment” people. These folks are the counselors who teach the “Criminal Thinking” and “Victim’s Impact” classes to the inmates.  They try to correct the “thinking errors” and get the inmates to learn about “empathy” and “pro-social living.”  Often the treatment folks start out very hopeful and optimistic, but they find out their task of “fixing” criminals is pretty hopeless.

Security people tended to call the inmates “offenders.” “Offender Smith, report to the desk.”  Or “Offender Jones, you have some mail.”  It was part of that mindset that the “offenders” must “stay in there place.”

I refused to call them “offenders.” I believed that God would give the men new names and new identities.  I felt as if I was call upon God to enact Romans 4:17:

As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

I tried a lot of different terms “members, brothers, gentlemen, dudes.” But none of those terms seemed to come naturally.

I just ended up calling them, “The Guys.”

“How are the guys doing?”

“I’m going to see the guys.”

“We’re getting some more guys from Fort Dodge.”

I felt the Lord placed some very specific things in my life over the years before IFI and one of them was I was to be a “Father” to the men.  I was to stand in a Spiritual place and I was to bless them with an earthly father’s blessing.  I certainly wasn’t going to “curse” them, by declaring them “offenders,” there had been enough of that already.  I was there to proclaim them as beloved sons.  Part of that was I was to have affection for each of them in my heart, a painful exercise, but necessary.

A year after we moved from Newton to Kansas City, I was sitting with a group of people, (minding my own business) many of whom were members of the International House of Prayer.  Suddenly (and without warning) this lady turns and looks intently at me. “You are a father,” she declared at me.  “You are the father of many sons.  That’s what you do. You are a father.”

I knew that I had to break that “Friendly, not familiar” rule of security.

I had to embrace “The Guys.”

chris

The Art of Saying "No."

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August of 2000, we made the transition from Tennessee back (for me) to Iowa.  We found a newly remodeled house large enough for us in Newton.  The boys were 8, 6, 3, and 1 respectively.  We were close to my parents and brother and closer to Amy’s sister, Molly in Hannibal, MO.

I knew things would be difficult. I just wasn’t sure “how” or “where” they would be difficult.  And of course, the “trouble” came from directions I was not necessarily expecting.

Some interesting tie-ins for me personally were that John Mathis, the warden, was friends with my parents.  Also, my mother was good friends with Warden Mathis’ secretary.

I also had some history with the IFI-counseling staff.  I had gone to Central Bible College with one of the counselors, Steve Castaneda.  I had even sung at his wedding in 1984.  I had met another counselor, Gary Cox.  He was also a Central graduate and originally from my home town of Knoxville.  He had previously been an instructor at Iowa Christian College (ICC).  I had been a featured artist at a Youth Weekend at ICC one time and we had a lengthy conversation, but he didn’t remember me.  Dan Kingery had been a volunteer who was hired as a counselor a month before I arrived.  He also lived in Knoxville, but originally was from Newton. The previous Program Manager, Bruce Paulus was someone I knew from Central.  The “Drug Treatment” counselor was of Sri Lankan descent and from England, her name was Mickey Pope.  The Aftercare Manager Greg Allen was from Pella and it just so happened that I wrestled against the Pella squad he was on.  Of course Sam Dye was the director.

I had a clear belief that I was “assigned” by God to be there.  It was a fall-back position I went to often that first year when things were bad.  The Holy Spirit was communicating clearly to me at that time, probably because I was so desperate and so inadequate.  It was a hard start, but a good one (not one, however, I’d like to repeat.)

Prison itself has a very static culture and there was a firmly established culture at IFI when I arrived.  There were so many “things” floating around and I knew enough at the time to not answer any questions or requests. I was there to learn and absorb.

None-the-less, I was bombarded by questions from the inmates, DOC staff, and IFI staff.  I can’t describe to you how intense the questioning was. “Can I do this, can we get that, will we do this, hey, Bruce said this was going to happen, I was promised that, I have an idea, are we going to do this…”  These questions came from everywhere, particularly IFI members and volunteers.  99.9% of my answers were “No”, “I’m not looking at that right now” or “I’ll check and I might get back with you.”  I committed to nothing. Mainly because I didn’t know anything, but also I immediately knew, IFI needed to narrow its focus.  The amount of peripheral stuff that was floating around was un-do-able.

Needless to say, I immediately started pissing people off. DOC staff, IFI staff, volunteers, and IFI members alike.  There were so many under-the-table-end-around-pet-projects out there, I thought I would just go ahead and squash them all.

Not fun, but necessary.

chris

Avoiding the subject...

SO I've really been postponing and avoiding my account of my IFI years.

That tells me something.

But I just don't have it today...

chris

My Weekend...

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So I had, what ended up being a great weekend with Christian at the Champion Warriors Retreat.  It didn't start out so great when I got to the putting up the tent phase of the afternoon to find out the tent poles were left on the garage floor back in Grandview.  Luckily there was a Wal-Mart in Trenton 8-miles away. so guess who bought a new tent? ($49.99)

An unexpected benefit was that we couldn't fit the cot and the queen-sized self-inflating airmatress in the same tent, so Christian and I slept together, and we needed to-it got down to 34 degrees Saturday morning.  Luckily I brought 4 sleeping bags.

After a long weekend we got back home at 3:45 in the afternoon.  I then had my first rehearsal for Sweeney Todd @7.  I was sunburned and super-tired, but it was still fun.  I got home at 9:30.

Also this weekend, my former boss, Chuck Colson passed away.  I've just started chronicling my experiences with Prison Fellowship and IFI.

Here are some links about Chuck Colson and Prison Fellowship Ministries.

How Nixon Aide Chuck Colson's Ideas Transformed American Evangelicalism

Prison Fellowship Ministries

chris

In light of me being exhausted

SUNDAY:  (In light of me being exhausted)

The Effects of Exhaustion

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Alexis Writing

Alexis Writing has many years of freelance writing experience. She has written for a variety of online destinations, including Peternity.com. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication from the University of Rochester.

By Alexis Writing

The term "exhaustion" has a wide and varied meaning. A dictionary definition suggests that exhaustion may include tiredness, fatigue, weariness, lassitude, feebleness, prostration, debilitation and enervation. However, from the medical perspective, exhaustion is associated primarily with an extreme state of fatigue, which may encompass a sense of tiredness, languor and lack of interest. The National Cancer Institute suggests that exhaustion or fatigue may be either acute (temporary and severe) or chronic.

Exhaustion can take two forms--mental or physical. Physical exhaustion is caused by engaging in activities that make you physically tired. Physical exhaustion may occur because of overwork, insufficient sleep, hard manual labor or other activities that cause your body to physically become worn down and in need of a rest. Mental exhaustion, on the other hand, may be caused by engaging in activities that tax your brain. Chronic mental exhaustion or a feeling of being tired mentally all the time, may sometimes be caused by emotional problems that make you feel tired even though your body is not physically in need of sleep. Mental exhaustion is more difficult to diagnose and treat because unlike in physical exhaustion, the signs are not obvious.

Features

Acute exhaustion simply means you are tired and unable to function properly at the time. Acute exhaustion is usually associated with physical exhaustion, as opposed to mental exhaustion. However, if you engage in a mentally difficult task and your brain becomes tired from doing the task, acute mental exhaustion can occur. Resting can resolve acute exhaustion.

Chronic exhaustion, on the other hand, is a pattern of consistent tiredness and lack of interest. Chronic exhaustion, when caused by a physical issue, may be indicative of a more serious physical problem, such as cancer. Chronic mental exhaustion is usually caused by depression or a related condition. The signs of mental exhaustion include, but are not limited to, a feeling of inertia, experiencing a lack of interest in most activities and feeling worn out all the time.

Both acute and chronic exhaustion can be diagnosed by a consultation with a doctor or psychiatrist who can evaluate your symptoms.

Solution

Acute physical or mental exhaustion is relatively easy to treat, especially if it is caused by a defined activity such as physical exercise or a specific mental challenge. You can recover from this type of exhaustion by resting and/or refraining from doing the activity that caused the condition to occur.

The focus of treatment for chronic exhaustion is to identify the source. If a physical problem is causing chronic exhaustion, it must be treated. If the chronic exhaustion is mental exhaustion, the solution is to try to trace the cause. Generally, emotional disturbance is the cause of chronic mental exhaustion. You may need to speak with a counselor or therapist to overcome this problem. Antidepressants or other related drugs may also be prescribed to help you feel better if a chemical imbalance in the brain is causing your chronic mental exhaustion.

Significance

Left untreated, exhaustion can have serious consequences on a person's personal and professional lives. It can also affect your response to medication, as it can drastically diminish the function of your immune system.

Some possible effects of chronic exhaustion include depression, adrenal fatigue and a condition called chronic fatigue syndrome, which is characterized by cognitive problems such as short-term memory loss and lack of concentration towards daily tasks among others.

Prevention

Preventing acute exhaustion involves avoiding overly taxing mental or physical activities.

To prevent chronic physical exhaustion, visit your doctor regularly to ensure you are in good health. Eat a proper diet, and ensure your immune system is strong and able to fight off infection. Rest or relax regularly, and ensure you are in fit shape to engage in difficult physical activity.

To prevent chronic mental exhaustion, develop a positive attitude towards life and get counseling or treatment for depression or other emotional issues that might tend to lead to mental exhaustion.

In light of me spending the weekend with my Middle-School-aged son

SATURDAY: (In light of me spending the weekend with my Middle-School-aged son)

Early Adolescence: Why It's Tough

Puberty, mood swings and social tensions will play major roles in an adolescent's life.

Take an informal poll of one hundred adults about what years of their lives they would never want to repeat, and you will probably hear "junior high" or "middle school" most often. All too frequently, a relatively well-adjusted, good-natured child enters the sixth or seventh grade and two or three years later emerges emotionally (if not physically) battered and bruised. What turns these years into such a war zone?

First, the tides of puberty are likely to be flowing at full speed. Among other things, these generate much concern and self-consciousness about physical changes that are (or aren't yet) under way. Such worries are intensified by the marked variations in development at this age. Within the same class will be skinny thirteen-year-old boys with squeaky voices and hairy hulks who appear qualified for the defensive line of the high school football team. Similarly, flat-chested girls who have yet to experience their first menstrual cycle are mingling with fully developed counterparts who could pass for women several years older. The inevitable comparisons and insecurities can become more acute at the end of gym class if many classmates shower together.

Second, wide mood swings and strong emotional responses to the ups and downs of life are the order of the day. Physical and hormonal components contribute to this stormy weather in both sexes, although the biochemistry of the monthly cycle can accentuate the mood swings in girls.

Like the two-year-old, the young adolescent experiences life in extremes. If she gets a friendly smile from a guy she thinks is cute, everything is coming up roses. If he finishes last in the fifty-yard dash, the whole world stinks. Today two girls declare their undying friendship; tomorrow they announce they hate each other. Last summer he campaigned passionately for a new guitar; today it gathers dust in his room.

Emotional reactions to life's twists and turns, even in a stable home environment, can provoke physical responses as well, especially headaches, abdominal pains and fatigue. While any of these may be caused by the daily strain of growing up, they should be evaluated by a physician if persistent or disruptive. Insomnia, withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed, irritability and a marked change in appetite could signal full-blown depression, a more significant problem that should be taken seriously and treated appropriately.

In addition to these physical and emotional upheavals among individual adolescents, bringing many of them together (as occurs every school day) creates a social stew containing large doses of these volatile ingredients:

• An intense need for acceptance by peers.
• An equally intense concern about looking dumb, clumsy, or at all different from the surrounding herd of other early adolescents — who themselves are intensely concerned about looking dumb, clumsy, or at all different from everyone else.
• An ongoing struggle with self-confidence or overt feelings of inferiority, even among those who are the most attractive and talented (or tough and hostile).
• A surprising — and at times shocking — intolerance for anyone who looks or behaves a little unlike everyone else.
• A limitless capacity for creative (and often obscene) insults, put-downs and jokes directed at nearly everyone — but especially the one who is different. This is particularly and sometimes painfully obvious in group settings. Kids who are quite civilized one-on-one or who pledge their allegiance to virtue and values at their Sunday-night youth group can unleash a torrent of crude slurs during a slumber party or a school-yard basketball game. In some cases, nonstop verbal harassment can escalate to physical confrontations or violence.

Consequently, school represents more than classroom activities and homework for many adolescents. It can be a daily social gauntlet — unpleasant at best, a barbaric ordeal at worst — requiring every ounce of effort and energy just to complete the round-trip back to home base. As a result, if any physical symptom is present when the alarm clock goes off — a headache, a minor cold, too little sleep the night before, some menstrual cramping — you may encounter major resistance when you try to pry your junior higher out of bed.

Adapted from the Complete Guide to Baby & Child Care, a Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 1999, Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.

Three, three, three posts in one!

Here is what my weekend looks like:

At 4:30 today (Friday 4/20) Christian and I are going on our 2^nd annual “Champion Warriors Father/Son Weekend Campout.”   It’s held at the Jabez Retreat Center 90 miles north of KC near Chillicothe, MO.

Champion Warriors 

It is a Father/Son weekend for boys in 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grades. It is a bonding time and a bit of a “rite of passage” event.  The Dads focus on their sons and affirm them and do activities and campfires and sleep in a tent together.  We went last year and after just the first day Christian was already saying, “When we come back next year….”  The retreat goes until Sunday at noon.

Jabez Retreat Center 

At 7:00 PM Sunday night I have my first “Sweeney Todd” rehearsal. It goes until 10:00 PM.

Soooooo….

I’m going to write three posts and you can read them all at once of just read one Friday, then one Saturday, and finally one Sunday (If you so choose.)

FRIDAY: (In light of “4-20”)

Marijuana has been in use for several thousand years. Ancient Assyrians referred to marijuana as “Ganzigun Nu”, or “the drug that takes away the mind” and “Azallu”, or “hand of the ghost, poison of all limbs”. The effects were obviously well known to the Assyrians and their descriptive names accurately depict the effect of marijuana on the mind and on the body.

Marijuana is used more than any other illegal drug in the United States. In Hawaii, out of 900,000 residents, 66,000 reported using marijuana at least once in the preceding 18 months. The highest percentage of users reside in Hawaii County with the largest number of actual users on Oahu where 85-90 percent of the population lives.

Marijuana’s active ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Beginning in the 1940’s researchers identified THC as the primary psychoactive ingredient in Marijuana. Additional research continued wherein cannabibiod receptors were identified in the human body in both the brain and muscles. These receptors are identified as endogenous cannabinoid receptors. Research has identified the presence of the endogenous cannabinoid receptors in the human body and in fish, birds, mammals and reptiles. Receptors are identified as CB-1 and CB-2. CB-1 receptors are present in the brain and are one of the most abundant receptors in the brain

CB-1 receptors reside in throughout the brain, specifically in the cerebral cortex where high functioning is affected, in the basal ganglia where movement originates, in the hippocampus where learning and memory are achieved and in the cerebellum where body activity is regulated. Nearly all brain areas of the brain have CB-1 receptors, meaning that when marijuana is smoked, nearly all areas of brain function are affected and impaired.

Specific areas of the brain containing CB-1 receptors are the hypothalamus which regulates body temperature, the amygdala which regulates emotional responses and fear, the spinal cord affecting peripheral sensations and pain, the brain stem affecting sleep, temperature and motor skills, the central gray substance affecting analgesic qualities in the body and the nucleus of the solitary tract affecting nausea and vomiting.

Individuals smoking marijuana often report their smoking is due to their need to relax, eat more, sleep and reduce stress. With continued use often comes unexpected side-effects including agitation, severe anxiety, nausea upon cessation, fear and memory loss.

Marijuana smoking affects nearly every function of the human brain, including memory, emotions, concentration, moods, coordination and perception. Smoking marijuana on a daily basis impairs thinking and functioning in all aspect of daily life despite many active smokers’ assertions to the contrary.

Long term studies of marijuana users indicate that, similar to other drug use, users often suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, physical discomfort and inability to sleep. Persons attempting to stop usage on their own often return to use shortly after cessation due to the unpleasant feelings experienced as the body releases the drug. These feelings can persist for up to a month. THC can be detected in urine months after it is smoked.

My day got away from me...

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I did get to grill chicken and then use a "hot knife" to make two foam-board kangaroos and an armadillo...

chris

"It's a factory town..."

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"Well ya' know, it's a factory town." That's all my dad ever used to say about Newton.  I never knew what that meant.  Then I moved there.

Newton is 27 miles from Knoxville.  I had rarely ever been there.  My brother had been a radio DJ at the Newton station and It seemed like I only ever was there at night.

Their High School was a class above us, (15,000 versus 9,000 in population) so we didn't play them in sports.  They had a great football team in the 70's and they were home to Tre' Jackson who went on to play at Iowa or Nebraska or somewhere.

Newton and Jasper County (like a lot of south central Iowa) was originally a mining area in the 1800's.  Skip to the 20's and enter Fredrick Louis Maytag I.

Fred Maytag bought a factory in 1925 in Newton and turned it into what would become The Maytag Corporation making the best washers in the world while becoming a Fortune 500 Corporation.  He was one of the few businesses in the US to make money during the depression.  They were hard-nosed with their workers:

Newton entered the national stage in 1938 when martial law was declared during a strike at the Maytag Washing Machine Company. Iowa governor Nelson Kraschel ordered the Iowa National Guard to protect the company with tanks and machine guns ready against the workers. With the backing of four troops (companies) of the 113th Cavalry Regiment, Maytag company beat the strike and forced workers to return to work with a 10% pay cut.

Ouch...


Every aspect of Newton was permeated with "Maytag."  It was the sole provider to the community.  Folks tried to get jobs straight out of high school at Maytag.  Multiple generations worked on the assembly line.  Many of the tasks were simple and repetitive, but boy did it pay well.  Guys would retire a 55 with a huge pension.  Often husbands and wives would retire together with double the huge pensions.  They were a UAW shop so they were constantly negotiating and intermittently going on strike.

In 2001, a decision to cut labor costs resulted in a reduction of the labor force at the Newton plant in favor of newer Maytag facilities in Mexico.  Layoffs at the Newton plant continued through 2005. Whirlpool's acquisition of Maytag in early 2006 led to speculation over the future of Maytag operations in Newton. On May 10, 2006, Whirlpool announced that it would close the Newton plant and corporate offices in the fall of 2007.

There are also the Maytag Blue Cheese brothers...but I'm not going to write about them: Maytag Dairy Farms

The streets of Newton are set up on a North/South, East/West grid system. The East/West roads are "Avenues" and the North/South roads are "Streets."  "1st Street" and "1st Avenue: intersect in the middle of town near the town square. Then the town was divided up into corresponding quadrants.  Example: We ended living at 721 E 4th Street N.  Let's do the graphing...We lived in the North/East quadrant of town, 4 blocks East of 1st Street and 7 blocks North of 1st Avenue...yeah, I didn't get it either at first, but when I did it made perfect sense, and that, my friend, is the first brain-washing technique used by the city of Newton to suck you in to the abyss...

You see the streets at one time were just streets (like Elm and Maple and Market and Main) but then the city fathers thought that was too creative or random or something, so they went to the "grid-system."

That tells you a lot about Newton...at it's very heart, a factory town.

Now, on the plus side: we met great people there and have great friends.  We still love "Panda Garden" and "Cardinal Corner."  My favorite Mexican dish ever is "Senor Tequila's" Seafood Quesadilla. I love Maytag Park and Maytag Pool.  Most importantly we met and absorbed Meagan, Rana & Luke.

But I get ahead of myself...

chris

Finally, the difference between "North" and "South" explained.

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The difference between the North and the South - at last, clearly explained….

The North has Bloomingdale’s , the South has Dollar General .

The North has coffee houses, the South has Waffle Houses ..

The North has dating services, the South has family reunions.

The North has switchblade knives; the South has .45’s

The North has double last names; the South has double first names.

The North has Indy car races; The South has stock car races .

North has Cream of Wheat , the South has grits.

The North has green salads, the South has collard greens .

The North has lobsters, the South has crawfish .

The North has the rust belt; the South has the Bible Belt ..

FOR NORTHERNERS MOVING SOUTH . .. ….

In the South : –If you run your car into a ditch, don’t panic. Four men in a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a tow chain will be along shortly. Don’t try to help them, just stay out of their way. This is what they live for.

Don’t be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store…. Do not buy food at this store.

Remember, ‘Y’all’ is singular, ‘all y’all’ is plural, and ‘all y’all’s’ is plural possessive

Get used to hearing ‘You ain’t from round here, are ya?’

Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later on how to use it.

Don’t be worried at not understanding what people are saying. They can’t understand you either.. The first Southern statement to creep into a transplanted Northerner’s vocabulary is the adjective ‘big’ol,’ truck or ‘big’ol’ boy. Most Northerners begin their Southern-influenced dialect this way. All of them are in denial about it.

The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper .

Be advised that ‘He needed killin..’ is a valid defense here.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, ‘Hey, y’all watch this,’ you should stay out of the way. These are likely to be the last words he’ll ever say.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the smallest accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store.. It doesn’t matter whether you need anything or not. You just have to go there.

Do not be surprised to find that 10-year olds own their own shotguns, they are proficient marksmen, and their mammas taught them how to aim.

In the South, we have found that the best way to grow a lush green lawn is to pour gravel on it and call it a driveway.

AND REMEMBER: If you do settle in the South and bear children, don’t think we will accept them as Southerners… After all, if the cat had kittens in the oven, we ain’t gonna call ‘em biscuits.

chris

Goodbye to Tennessee

269

On Good Friday, 2000, I drove to my parents’ acreage west of Knoxville from that prison.  My, “just go with it as if it’s the Lord” approach to life really wasn’t put to the test.  I knew.  I’m glad I had been “practicing” hearing His voice and following His leading for the previous two years.  It would serve me well (or rather, it would allow me to serve Him) for the next six years.

I pulled into my parents’ driveway and came into a house full of commotion.  The boys were 8, 6, 4, and 8 months respectively.  Amy was trying to get them presentable before the Good Friday service at my parents’ church.  In the midst of it all Amy looked across the room and said, “Well?”  Our eyes locked and I saw all the color drain out of her face. She knew.

I made a lot of presumptions.  Even though there was no current job for me at IFI, I knew I would be there.  I saw that my previous couple years in Columbia were preparing me to leave.  I had to have some distance from KDS to be able to move on.  I had to have some doors close in very definitive ways for me to ever leave Tennessee.  To this day (12 years later) I consistently miss being there.  But I had an assurance in my Spirit that I was headed to an assignment, and not just a, “Anyone with ‘X’ type of qualifications and ‘Y’ set of skills and experience could come in and do this job.” I felt I was called and specifically placed in an assignment.  It was the very situation I had longed for, and God was now causing it to happen.

Sam and I kept in communication over the weeks.  IFI was also short one counselor and there was a man at New Life, Gene Feagan, who had experience as a Pastor and as a Probation and Parole officer.  I connected Sam and Gene and soon it was apparent he would be coming on-board as well.

In the Summer of 2000 I told the leadership at New Life I would be leaving for Prison Fellowship in Iowa.  I think they were relieved.  Things were unraveling and the budget was not what was projected.  There had been some pretty brutal break-ups at New Life the previous year and I didn’t want to add to some of the heartache.  I asked if Amy and I could be sent-out from the church in a positive way. Not that we would be financially supported, but that New Life would be extending the Kingdom through us.  The Elders were more than happy to do so.  They even went so far as wanting to ordain me as a Minister and Pastor.

Our last Sunday, near the beginning of August 2000 was a joyous occasion.  We had many close friends there at New Life and in the community. There were many tears and hugs.  The Church gave us a “Money Tree” with a lot of cash.  Pastor Larry made a statement to me during my ordination he said, “From now on, as a Minister of the Gospel, you will be dependent on the generosity of others for your livelihood.” That was a sobering statement.  Then he gave me what he called, “The last Bible you’ll ever own.”  A genuine leather bound, New American Standard, Greek Keyword Study Bible.  And he was right.  I have loved that Bible for the last 12 years.

So we sold our wonderful house on Wahella Way in Columbia to some friends from church.  I found a large enough rental in Newton, and we headed to Iowa.

chris

My First Time in Prison

270

(RECAP: Spring of 2000 I was looking for a "ministry" position.  I had numerous specific "words" spoken over me that God's plan for me was to have my "vocation" and also be a direct "ministry."  I 'happened" to call Sam Dye and he told me of a potential opportunity with an in-prison christian treatment program at the Newton Correctional Facility run by Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship called The InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI).)

So over Spring Break of 2000, the family and I went to Knoxville, Iowa to visit my parents and to visit the prison outside of Newton, a half-hour from my parent's house.

I had numerous discussions with Sam over the phone. I read the promotional material and tried to wrap my head around what I was considering getting myself into.

It sounded too good to be true; convicted criminals come to an in-prison program to essentially learn about Jesus as a means to change their lives,  That seems over-simplified, but it was the truth.  It was (in theory) the only scenario where I would jump into the "people-changing" arena again.

We drove the 14-hours to my parent's house, then one afternoon I drove to the prison to meet up with Sam.

The Newton Correctional Facility (NCF) is on a hill in the middle of Iowa farmland.  It looks so "Iowa" that if it was in a movies, people would say, "That looks so fake! What do they take us for? There is no way a prison would be there!" Yet, there it was all the same.

I had on my Khaki pants (no jeans for visitors) and my picture ID. I waited in the lobby of the outer building for quite awhile.  Finally, an old college friend, Steve Castaneda, who was an IFI counselor came to escort me into the prison.

We went through the 1st locked door, then the second.  We walked through a locked gate, then two more locked doors.  We were buzzed into the main building where we walked past the prison gym, the library, and the school.  Finally we walked through two more doors, past the security offices and the multi-monitored security center and out onto "the yard."

There are a lot of stereotypes in the movies when it comes to criminals and prisons.  This prison was relatively new. The buildings were spread-out.  There was a lot of open space, a softball field, a soccer field, 4 basketball courts, tennis courts and "pickleball" courts, and of course, a giant weight-yard.  The men lived-up to their stereotyped counter parts in the movies.  They mostly wore blue shirts and blue jeans.  They were either shaggy with long hair and beards or they were tightly shorn.  Of course they were all men, mostly white, more often than not tattooed, and regularly without any number of their teeth.  Some had the thick plastic prison issue glasses and they were moving around the expansive yard.

Steve was taking me to "Unit E" where the IFI participants were housed. It was a 242 bed cell block on the backside of the prison.  Next to it were what appeared to be 4 double wide trailers lashed together that was the IFI programming space.

Outside of the unit were tables filled with men who were smoking and/or holding coffee cups.  Most of them looked directly at me and nodded or said "hello."  Inside the unit there was an open space with tables and a guard station with three correctional officers in their brown and tan uniforms.  As I was signing-in, several men came up to greet me.  I immediately noticed their "way."  The deliberately strode up to me and looked directly in my eyes, not in a threatening or intimidating way, just very direct.  The grasped my hand firmly.  They were "intense" stares, with no turn to the right or left.  It was a posture I immediately appreciated and adopted.  These were men immediately trying to look into me. They were assessing me.

Eventually Sam was available.  His "boss" Jack Cowley was also there and apparently they had just had a meeting where the current Program Manager's job had been "redefined" so there was a bit of tension and awkwardness in the air.

Sam showed me around and took me to building "M" or as we called it, "The trailer."  There were a couple of large classrooms that could be converted into a large meeting room. There was a library and offices. There was a computer lab and a couple of smaller meeting rooms.  The trailer was a buzz with activity.  They were preparing for 3:00 Community Meeting, a daily event where the whole IFI community came together for some worship, prayer requests, a short devotional delivered by a Community member, introductions of new men to the program, announcements, and then a community discussion about various issues affecting the men.

The space was packed. It barely held the 242 men.  There was a small sound system and a bevy of men with guitars standing at the front. After a quick prayer, they began to sing.

All I can say is that it was as if a bell had been rung in my heart. (Even as I write this now tears are in my eyes)  There was the familiar "air" I had experienced so many times.  The Holy Spirit was stirring in the very atmosphere of that rickety set of trailers with those big, clunky men.  They sang loud, and it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.

Sam asked me to sing a song as well, so I sat at the tiny Yamaha keyboard and sang a Vineyard favorite from my home church, "I Am Your Beloved."

     The chorus goes:

        I am Your beloved,
       Your created, and You love me as I am.

       Unashamed to call me Your own.
       I am Your Beloved.

I knew that was the Father's message to these, His sons.  Of course it is His message to all of us, but I knew it would be the key to unlock freedom in these men's hearts.

I was ruined.

Now all I needed was for there to be a position for me.

chris

A Very Boring Overview of The InnerChange Freedom Initiative

271

The Prison Ministry Sam was a part of was IFI.  I will be writing a lot about IFI over the coming months.  I am including this overview as background info fo te coming entries.

It's boring, but fairly accurate.  (Our public press and statements ere always a point of contention.)

So wade in if you dare...

chris

Our Approach

After Chuck Colson's release from prison in 1975, he did not forget the pain and suffering he had seen while incarcerated. He began returning to prisons to share God's love. Then he began to wonder how he could multiply his efforts in prisons across the country.

With a group of committed Christians, Colson formed Prison Fellowship. Since then, Prison Fellowship has grown to include ministry throughout the United States and in many countries around the world.

We have a biblical and balanced approach to the total needs of inmates. We help the church and chaplains minister to inmates, ex-inmates, and their families. Each volunteer is a representative of his or her church.

About IFI

The InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) is a revolutionary, Christ-centered, faith-based prison program supporting prison inmates through their spiritual and moral transformation. As an initiative of Prison Fellowship Ministries, IFI operates in prisons in cooperation with the state. The state continues to provide food, clothing, shelter and security to the inmates while IFI staff provides the intensive program. This mission of IFI is to create and maintain a prison environment that fosters respect for God's law and rights of others, and to encourage the spiritual and moral regeneration of prisoners. Therefore, they may develop responsible and productive relationships with their Creator, families and communities.

IFI is very different from many other rehabilitative programs. It utilizes a transformational model of change rather than a therapeutic model. IFI seeks a radical transformation that is only possible through God's power not through human relationships alone. IFI is an integral part of bringing a biblical sense of justice to correctional facilities in America. We are confident that the results will matter. States will realize a spectacular reduction in the rate ex-offenders are returned to prison and Prison Fellowship through equipping, exhorting and assisting the local church to minister to prisoners, victims and their families will realize souls won for the Kingdom of God.

IFI's unique plan of restoration and progressive programming begins 18 to 24 months before an inmate is released. Provisions have been made for long term inmates to participate in IFI where the security level of the prison is appropriate for long term offenders. The program continues for an additional 6 to 12 months of aftercare once the inmate has returned to the community. Inmates volunteer for the program and must meet several criteria before they are accepted.

Anchored in biblical teaching that stresses personal responsibility, the value of education and work, care of persons and property and the reality of a new life in Christ, IFI consists of four phases:

Phase One: focuses on the prisoner's internal transformational process and seeks to build spiritual and moral filters. A heavy emphasis on education, work and support helps create a new foundation for productive growth.

Phase Two: tests the inmate's value system in real-life settings and prepares him for life after prison. Inmates may spend much of the day in off-site prison work programs or involved in the Re-Entry portion of the IFI curriculum.

Phase Three: the IFI members are transferred to a Work Release or Halfway House facility to continue their transition process. Phase Four: allows the inmate to practice a transformed life-style upon release from custody in aftercare. Designed to assist the ex-offender in assimilating into his family, community and workplace by his continued associated with a Christian mentor, IFI staff, and church family.

IFI draws heavily upon the local church communities to provide a wide range of volunteers to assist both the inmate and his family during the course of IFI.

History of IFI

The program is based on the APAC program founded in 1973 in Brazil. APAC is a Portuguese acronym that stands for the Association for Protection and Assistance of the Condemned. Dr. Mario Ottoboni, a community leader, responded to what he believed was a call from God.

Dr. Ottoboni made a commitment to serve and minister to "the condemned" or imprisoned of his society through APAC. This program is rooted in Christian love expressed through committed caring volunteers and staff. APAC now operates in more than 80 prisons throughout Brazil and reports a recidivism rate of less than five percent.

The comparable U.S. program, The InnerChange Freedom Initiative, was started partly through the vision of another community leader, Christian businessperson Jack Eckerd. He commissioned and funded research about APAC in 1990 and 1991. In 1995, Prison Fellowship Ministries sponsored a study of prisons operated by APAC. Upon completion and review of this study, PFM's Board of Directors voted unanimously to develop the program in the United States.

A Transformational Model

The InnerChange Freedom Initiative is different from other rehabilitative programs. We consider IFI a transformational model, not therapeutic, although IFI is like a therapeutic community in many ways. Both types of programs operate through small groups and seek to equip members for life after prison.
But the transformational model tries to help inmates' change by identifying sin as the root of their problems. It encourages inmates to turn from their sinful past, see the world through God's eyes, and surrender to God's will. This model promotes the transformation of the inmate from the inside out through the miraculous power of God's love.

The transformational model seeks to restore the inmate to God first, then builds on this new relationship to recast human relationships. Through support groups and classes, IFI connects inmates with a loving community of like-minded people to encourage and affirm them.

IFI seeks a radical transformation from the inside out that is only possible through the miraculous power of God's love. This type of transformation cannot happen through human relationships alone.

InnerChange Freedom Initiative White Paper by Dr. Henry Brandt

"Repentance is replete with radical implications for a fundamental change of mind. It not only turns us from the sinful past, but transforms our life plan, values, ethics, and actions as we begin to see the world through God's eyes rather than ours. That kind of transformation requires the ultimate surrender of self. Repentance is an inescapable consequence of re generation, an indispensable part of the conversion process that takes place under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. (Colson, Loving God 109).

A Christian Prison Community

InnerChange Freedom Initiative is a Biblically-based, Christ-centered prison model that originated in South America and has just started in the United States. The first such prison has opened in Texas through the cooperation between Prison Fellowship and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It holds great promise for prisons throughout America and the world. This paper outlines the philosophy and underlying principles of InnerChange Freedom Initiative.

IFI is a 24-hour a day prison for inmates near release that promotes transformation from the inside out through the miraculous power of God's love. We use the words "inner" and "change" because they so clearly evoke the transformational process of turning away from a sinful past and turning toward a life of following Christ. The word InnerChange Freedom Initiative also suggests a crossroads of a highway, a place where it is necessary to choose a new and better direction. The choice confronting prisoners in this program is to be born-again, to transform into a new and better person through the power of God.

The opening quote is taken from the writings of Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship; the quote identifies repentance as an indispensable part of the transformational process. Repentance, reconciliation, and renewal are embedded throughout the InnerChange Freedom Initiative program. InnerChange Freedom Initiative helps inmates identify their sin, seek forgiveness, and cultivate an on-going repentant attitude. The program is very different from many other rehabilitative programs that have come before.

On the surface, IFI may look like a type of therapeutic community. Both prison programs operate through small groups and seek to equip members for life after prison. But InnerChange Freedom Initiative is a transformational model; whereas, a therapeutic community is a humanistic or therapy-based model. The transformational model frames our experience through God's eyes as revealed through prayer, scripture, and Christian community. A therapeutic model is dependent on the interpretation of life through man's eyes and is based upon understandings of psychology. InnerChange Freedom Initiative uses psychological principles only if they are Biblical and fit with God's plan for human relationships. Furthermore, the transformational model seeks to "cure" prisoners by identifying sin as the root of their problems. Inmates learn how God can heal them permanently, if they turn from their sinful past, are willing to see the world through God's eyes, and surrender themselves to God's will.

Therapeutic communities, on the other hand, seek to equip prisoners for life after prison by learning to manage behavior. Support groups and classes connect prisoners with a loving community of like-minded people who can encourage them and give affirmation. In the therapeutic model, healing one's relationship with others is the primary focus. InnerChange Initiative is also a loving community, but it relies on and directs members to God as the source of that love and inner healing. The transformational model seeks to restore the prisoner to God first, then builds on this new relationship to recast human relationships.

We can summarize the distinctions between the therapeutic model and the transformational model by highlighting key differences in the following list:

Criminal behavior is a manifestation of an alienation between the self and God.

Transformed persons seek to appropriate God's ways as revealed through Biblical truth.

Transformation enables prisoners to see the world and others as God sees them.

Acceptance of God and Biblical principles results in cure through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Transformation emphasizes the change in behavior as a result of encountering Jesus Christ.

Insight into one's problems is gained from reading, understanding, and applying Biblical principles.

All problems in life arise from a condition of sin.

Focuses on honesty with self and God first; honesty with others will follow. Focuses on the power of the Creator.

It holds up Christ as the source of that power and the work of the Holy Spirit as the way to true change.

The quality of our relationships to each other is conditioned by the quality of our relationship to Jesus Christ and his love as reflected in others.

Transformation happens through an instantaneous miracle; it then builds the prisoner up with familiarity of the Bible.

Therapy seeks to manage symptoms according to human understanding.

Criminal behavior is a result of an alienation of self from society.

Therapy seeks to help prisoners see how the world can meet their needs.

Relief of symptoms is dependent on the power of human love and commitment through support groups and community.

Therapy emphasizes the management of behavior as it impacts on others.

Insight into one's problems is gained through group and individual interaction.

Problems in life arise may arise from past inability to have one's needs met.

Focuses on honesty with self and others.

Focuses on the power of Creation.

Therapy may or may not point to some higher power.

Mental health and healthy relationships are dependent on the expression and affirmation of our needs.

Therapy seeks gradual change of self as a person interacts with one’s environment.

In summary, transformational and therapeutic models have some similar methodologies, but they have very different goals, and are rooted in entirely different philosophies. The therapeutic model seeks first to reconcile the relationship of a prisoner to other human beings. The spiritual dimension is a secondary benefit. The transformational model, in contrast, seeks to change people's values and beliefs through changing their relationship with God. We can elaborate on this philosophy by identifying key concepts in Chuck Colson's writings. These concepts are integral parts of the transformation process. They do not always follow the same sequential order, but are vital to the process of becoming born-again or transformed.

First, inmates learn to turn from a sinful past, recognizing that "sin is not simply the wrong we do our neighbor when we cheat him, or the wrong we do ourselves when we abuse our bodies. Sin, all sin, is a root rebellion and offense against God (Colson 166). Admitting our sinfulness and asking God's forgiveness is the first step. "We have the capacity to change anything about our lives... but we cannot change our own sinful nature" (144). When we repent and turn away from sin, we turn toward God. Repentance prepares us for the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit.

Second, through the InnerChange Freedom Initiative Program, inmates begin to see the world through God's eyes. Focus on the Bible is essential in this step. Colson learned this process while he was in prison. "For it was the Bible that caused me to hunger for righteousness and seek holiness; and it was the Bible that continues to challenge my life today. That is radical stuff It is irresistibly convicting. It is the power of God 's Word and it is, all by itself life-changing" (39).

And finally, this process of learning to see the world through God's eyes leads inmates to surrender themselves to God's will. "Christianity must evoke from the believer the same response it drew from the first disciples: a passionate desire to obey God-a willingly entered-into discipline. That is the beginning of true discipleship. That is the beginning of loving God" (38). For true discipleship, repentance and reconciliation are an ongoing state of mind and do not simply exist in one moment in time. InnerChange Freedom Initiative emphasizes this realization, and fosters humility and a teachable attitude, that in turn creates opportunities for prisoners to break free from old habits. They learn new life skills, rooted in Biblical principles that turn their lives around. "Repentance is an inescapable consequence of regeneration, an indispensable part of the conversion process that takes place under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. But repentance is also a continuing state of mind. We are warned, for example, to repent before partaking of communion. Also, believers 'prove their repentance by their deeds.' Without a continuing repentant attitude-a persistent desire to turn from our own nature and seek God's nature- Christian growth is impossible. Loving God is impossible" (Colson 109).

IFI Core Values

Biblical principles are integrated into the entire course curriculum of InnerChange Freedom Initiative, rather than compartmentalized in specific classes. In other words, the application of Biblical principles is not an agenda item. It is the agenda. InnerChange Freedom Initiative is a Christian community, where all members, staff, and volunteers seek to be Christ-like in their honesty, humility, and unconditional love for each other. Prisoners are taught Biblical principles in the context of teachable moments. Throughout each day they are provided time for reflection and meditation in order InnerChange Freedom Initiative Program to integrate those principles in their lives. The InnerChange Freedom Initiative community serves as the crucible for learning and testing Biblical principles. To facilitate this, Biblical principles and core values are prominently displayed throughout the facility and promoted through memorization. Though there are many important Biblical values to learn, InnerChange Freedom Initiative highlights several that are normally deficient in an offender's life. Those values are italicized and described below.

Integrity is developed on a daily basis, one step at a time. Members are taught to reflect on the consistency of their actions, words, and beliefs and they match how they relate to the Bible. The integrity of members is central to the success of this prison community. "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (Col. 3:9-10).

Community-building is another Biblical value the program focuses on. It is rooted in Jesus' example of unconditional love for his friends and enemies as evidenced in his actions. Members are coached on how to build a loving community within the program, so that they can create similar relationships within the church when they leave prison. The Bible is permeated with references to the importance of unconditional love and community. "Love your neighbor as yourself' (Lev. 19:18). "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28, see also 1 Corinthians 13:1-13). "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Gal. 5:6).

Affirmation is a value in both transformation and therapeutic models. However, affirmation within a transformational model is defined as God's affirmation of us rather than man's affirmation. Prisoners learn that it is important to affirm and encourage each other consistent with God's principles. Some inmates have never received affirmation and do not know what it means to be valued. Others have been affirmed for the wrong attitudes or behaviors. In IFI, prisoners learn that Biblically-based affirmation is different from humanistic affirmation. In other words, when affirming another, one must first look to what God has to say about that particular behavior rather than our own need to build someone up. "Brothers, If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently... Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Gal. 6:1-3).

Responsibility and Restoration are critical values of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative program. In InnerChange Freedom Initiative there is heavy emphasis on taking responsibility for our choices, both past and present. As Chuck Colson has pointed out, the two thieves crucified with Jesus "are representative of all mankind. We either recognize our sinful selves, our sentence of death, and our deserving of that sentence, which leads us to repent and Believe or we curse God and die" (143). In InnerChange Freedom Initiative, members are taught to be accountable for their actions and take responsibility for initiating acts of healing and reconciliation with those they have alienated and hurt. In this way they are restored to their Creator, families, and communities.

Productivity is an important value anchored in Biblical principles, and one that most inmates lack. In InnerChange Freedom Initiative, Productivity is defined as the effective use of one's time in line with God's principles. In this context, prisoners are taught to be good stewards of their time, investing in priorities that are in line with God's will. InnerChange Freedom Initiative trains prisoners to engage in productive work, so that they may become productive contributing members of their community after their release. The Bible instructs us not to bury our talents (Matthew 25:14-30), or hide our lights under a bushel (Matthew 5:15). Productivity is a central component to succeeding in the outside world.

Conclusion

IFI seeks a radical transformation that is only possible through the power of God who created us in his image and for a purpose. Jesus came to "heal the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty for the captives, open the eyes of the blind, and set at liberty the oppressed" (Isaiah 42). Only through the power of God can anyone truly change his or her life. Therapeutic models can help us manage sin and contain symptoms, but only through transformation can we be truly saved. We pray that for all those involved in InnerChange Freedom Initiative, sin will be replaced with the fruits of Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

"A bruised reed he shall not break. A smoldering wick he shall not snuff out. In faithfulness, he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth" (Isaiah 42). The IFI program is an integral part of bringing a Biblical sense of justice to correctional facilities in America. We hope IFI will be the start of an outer change in the way justice, punishment, and rehabilitation are conceived in America.

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I Am Done

272

It is late.

I have been busy.

I have a new phone.

I am done.

chris

I Make a Confession (or, be careful what you throw-down before the Lord)

273

So my little self-absorbed blog is all about me.  This is a complete exercise in me expressing my stuff for my own personal benefit according to my own whim. If I “disclose” something it’s because that is what I choose to do.  I don’t feel obligated to anyone else.

With that said, I’m going to disclose something that will offend some of the partakers of this blog.  I’m not apologizing. I’m simply disclosing. And even with the life experience and empathy I have now, I’m not sure I would have done things differently.

At the King’s Daughters’ School we had a significant portion of our students who were in state custody.  Many of those students had one or both parents in prison.  At times, those parents were in prison for crimes they had committed against the children who were now under my care.  From time to time I would have to write summaries, reports, make recommendations, or facilitate communication in regards to the possible reunification of the incarcerated parent the student under my care.  Let me tell you, I never made it easy and I never recommended reunification.

I had an inherent opposition to parents who had neglected, abused, or otherwise put their children into the situations they were in.  Why would I want to facilitate a reunification back with the very people who were the root of all the behavior I had worked so hard to eradicate in the lives of those kids?  There was so much frustration/futility in what I was doing.  It was very easy to look at what the kids were doing and channel that anger towards them.  I couldn’t make it being angry at those kids.  I knew I had to love them as if they were my own children.  So I adopted this outlook: I was at war with their pasts.  Whenever there was a kid kicking or spitting or flinging their bloody snot at me I would envision their past as an actual person, my opponent, my enemy who I was engaged in an actual battle.  I focused my energy at that enemy and looked upon the kid as someone I had to rescue from their past.  I was very smug and very convinced I was in the right.

Not to get to graphic, but let me give you a taste:

There was a student who I was close to whose father had lent or rented him out for sex to his friends. I had regular dealings with that father.  I think he came to see me as his friend, but all I ever wanted to do was bash his perverted grinning teeth back down his throat every time I saw him.

I had a mother and a father (who were both in and out of jail and prison intermittently) come to a team meeting for their daughter.  When we listed the Depo-Provera shot (for birth control) as one of her medications the hydro-cephalic father stood up, pointed and glared at me with the one eye he could control like it was my fault that his 12-year-old daughter was on birth-control.  I was seriously considering coming over the table and running his head into the concrete wall while I explained to him that if he hadn’t been having sex with his daughter since she was a toddler maybe she wouldn’t drop her pants for anyone who asked her anywhere.  I think I may have had a “look” because the mother but her hand on her husband’s forearm to set him down while one of our administrators gently put her hand on my shoulder and took over the rest of the meeting.

All that to say, the thought of working in a prison was the farthest thing from my mind and heart.

But then I remembered a “challenge” I threw down to the Lord.  I specifically said to Him, “I will never do treatment again, unless You are the treatment.”

Little did I know that He was going to “honor” my arrogant request.

chris