Make It So!
Finally, vindication.
Click here to protect your heart.
I call upon corporate America, in the spirit of Jean-Luc Picard, to “Make it so, Number 1.”
(Not like we’re doing things all that important anyway…)
The Right Separation?
What would you say if a program existed that helped improve recividism rates for prisoners dramatically, was validated by peer-reviewed studies, and was partially funded by private parties to make it even more attractive for cash-strapped states? Sounds like a great thing, considering the financial crunches of many state budgets. Even better, considering the physical crunches of housing too many prisoners, releasing them only to see many rebound because they didn’t learn how to properly cope with life in the first place.
Then what would you say if a judge threw out this program and ordered the sponsers to pay back money received in a legal contract, because of erronous views of how the program worked and who sponsered it? Sounds like a bad idea, right?
That is what is going on with the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) in the state of Iowa. Sponsered by Prison Fellowship (see link on right), this program has remarkable rates of success. However, the judge ruled that it violated the separation of church and state, even though it is a voluntary program to participate in for the prisoners. Worse, the judge went on to characterize evangelicals in broad catagories as almost cultish.
Prison Fellowship has filed an appeal, and oral arguments in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals are scheduled for tomorrow, February 13th. I would encourage you to read more about this here and here, and keep the lawyers and judges in prayer tomorrow. IFI is an opportunity to reach the lowest of society with the gospel, while also helping reduce crime and society burden. How the judge could see this as a bad thing is mind-boggling, but the beauty of our freedom is there are checks and balances. Let’s pray for true justice, and that the IFI program can spread to touch more broken lives with true healing.
The Right Separation?
What would you say if a program existed that helped improve recividism rates for prisoners dramatically, was validated by peer-reviewed studies, and was partially funded by private parties to make it even more attractive for cash-strapped states? Sounds like a great thing, considering the financial crunches of many state budgets. Even better, considering the physical crunches of housing too many prisoners, releasing them only to see many rebound because they didn’t learn how to properly cope with life in the first place.
Then what would you say if a judge threw out this program and ordered the sponsers to pay back money received in a legal contract, because of erronous views of how the program worked and who sponsered it? Sounds like a bad idea, right?
That is what is going on with the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) in the state of Iowa. Sponsered by Prison Fellowship (see link on right), this program has remarkable rates of success. However, the judge ruled that it violated the separation of church and state, even though it is a voluntary program to participate in for the prisoners. Worse, the judge went on to characterize evangelicals in broad catagories as almost cultish.
Prison Fellowship has filed an appeal, and oral arguments in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals are scheduled for tomorrow, February 13th. I would encourage you to read more about this here and here, and keep the lawyers and judges in prayer tomorrow. IFI is an opportunity to reach the lowest of society with the gospel, while also helping reduce crime and society burden. How the judge could see this as a bad thing is mind-boggling, but the beauty of our freedom is there are checks and balances. Let’s pray for true justice, and that the IFI program can spread to touch more broken lives with true healing.
Any Given Sunday
Wow. An actual day of rest. Usually Sundays are pretty hectic around here, at least in the morning. Doesn’t seem to matter what time we get up, we are always on the run getting to church. Beccy warms up with the worship team while I teach the adult Sunday school class. Then church, where my love leads worship and I do assorted things, whatever needed during the service. Sound board, usher, nursery – just point me in the right direction. Often in the afternoon we take it easy, but we’re usually worn out by that time.
Today the boys and I were all fighting colds, so we decided to save our friends at church the company of our germs. Bec still had to go, so it was a boys’ day. It was nice.
The boys asked me to draw them some superheroes, so we tried our hand at Spiderman, Batman, the Flash, among others. Whoa, I can still draw, somewhat. Later on they watched a DVD rental of Justice League while I soaked in a relaxing bath reading Relentless.
In the afternoon the boys entertained themselves while I worked on a short story I’ve been writing for a little while. Beccy ran home for lunch, then went off to a scrapbooking date with some other ladies. I missed her, but again it was just a restful day.
There’s something to this “day of rest” thing. I wonder if we partake of it enough?
Any Given Sunday
Wow. An actual day of rest. Usually Sundays are pretty hectic around here, at least in the morning. Doesn’t seem to matter what time we get up, we are always on the run getting to church. Beccy warms up with the worship team while I teach the adult Sunday school class. Then church, where my love leads worship and I do assorted things, whatever needed during the service. Sound board, usher, nursery – just point me in the right direction. Often in the afternoon we take it easy, but we’re usually worn out by that time.
Today the boys and I were all fighting colds, so we decided to save our friends at church the company of our germs. Bec still had to go, so it was a boys’ day. It was nice.
The boys asked me to draw them some superheroes, so we tried our hand at Spiderman, Batman, the Flash, among others. Whoa, I can still draw, somewhat. Later on they watched a DVD rental of Justice League while I soaked in a relaxing bath reading Relentless.
In the afternoon the boys entertained themselves while I worked on a short story I’ve been writing for a little while. Beccy ran home for lunch, then went off to a scrapbooking date with some other ladies. I missed her, but again it was just a restful day.
There’s something to this “day of rest” thing. I wonder if we partake of it enough?