A Challenge to all Those Who Call Themselves Christians

I am always looking for inspiration in anything I can find or in anyone in my life.  Recently I attended the Women of Faith conference and let me tell you that those ladies are some of the most inspirational and motivational women I have ever had the blessing to be around.  It was like stopping at a gas station to refill your gas tank, they refilled my spirit and showed me that the sun is still shining.

But I still continue to keep my eyes open for the subtle messages that come my way which leads me to my thought for today.  Recently the reading in church was from Matthew 25:31-46 and of course I was listening and thinking. 

I have many wonderful friends who do not march around proclaiming themselves as Christians, they do not preach to the world with their online twitter and Facebook accounts, they do not boast about how great their church is (some do not even attend church)  but they demonstrate and live their lives as intended by this reading.  My experiences over the last few years has shown me that many of those people that find it necessary to yell out to the world that they are Christians, are only trying to convince the rest of us that they are good but are not certain that we can see it (or not see it, as the case may be) for ourselves.  They are out there prophesying and sharing the message but with a closer look you can see that they are not really living the life that they are encouraging the rest of us to follow.  They want us to attend their church, listen to their pastors message, or attend the awesome functions from their community but that is the catch...it is within their community.

They do not reach out to those outside their circles, they do not go beyond their comfort zone and do not help the stranger unless the world is watching or they get the credit that they feel they deserve.  Some of these friends are people who have been friends with my husband and me for years but because the situation find it uncomfortable so they have chosen to step back while other friends have jumped in with both feet and been a great support and inspiration.   I have never been a strong believer in one religion or church being better than another, just that you live your life according to His word.   How can I "follow" someone who does not even follow their own teachings?

So here is my challenge to everyone our there whether they call themselves Christians or not, live your life based on the teachings not based on recognition.  Reach out to those in need, write a letter to a long lost friend, help a stranger because you should not because someone is watching, smile at a stranger on the street, hold the door open for someone, make time in your busy schedule for some one who needs a friend and teach The Word by your actions and not your words.
 
As someone who has benefited from these gifts both as a recipient and the giver, I can offer you no greater sense of joy than knowing how much you touched someone else's life, whether they be a friend or stranger.

One Extra Phone Call for The Holidays

The holiday season is upon us, what does that mean for us?  It means we get an extra 100 minutes of phone time during the months of November and December.  We all still have to pay for those calls but the inmates are giving more phone time to use.  It amounts to another 6 phone calls during the month, which is a bit more than one more call per week.  Wahoo!!!  House him over 500 miles from his family and then graciously allow him one more phone call per week during the holiday season.  Excuse me if I sound a bit bitter, but I am continuously amazed with everything I have learned about our justice system.

I don't think I am bitter exactly, I guess I am more dumb founded by the antiquated ways we treat those who have made bad choices.  Yes, he did have a choice in deciding what he did, but who gets to set the bar and determine where the line is drawn whether what he did was so bad that he must go away to prison versus pay a fine and get counseling outside a prison wall.  While he is currently locked up, there are no programs available for him to get the counseling he really needs, thankfully my husband found a voluntary program that is as close as he can get and it is helping him tremendously.  Now as an inmate he is a ward of the state and his family is reliant on friends for additional support.   We get some assistance from the government agencies so indirectly the taxpayers are also paying some of our household expenses as well as his daily needs.  The costs to the taxpayers, I figure is roughly $500,000.00 for his entire stay and the minimal support we receive.

The flip side of this would have been to fine him for his choices (putting money back into the system), putting him on some type of supervision and requiring counseling.  Even a specialist, at the time of his sentencing did not recommend prison, saying he would benefit more from counseling and supervision.  Given this option he would still be working at a full time job, contributing to our household expenses as well as being a tax payer and adding to the tax base instead of draining it.  This option over the course of five years would have been a break even situation when considering dollars only.  But if you consider the fact that three children would still have their father home and we would still be a family,  that is priceless.  Not to mention that he would be getting the help he needed as soon as possible.

The public is outraged by the current economic conditions and the fiscal mess our country is in and yet they remain blissfully unaware of the escalating cost and budgets of the criminal justice system.  This applies to both the state and federal systems.   Lets take some time and thoughtfully review our current system and guidelines to still ensure the safety of the public and best serve the community as a whole.

Wouldn't it be a great Christmas gift to everyone if by next year we were able to ensure that more families were home and intact and that the economy was on the mend due to some thoughtful and forward thinking politicians and officials.  The Bureau of Prisons could keep their extra 100 minutes, I would just like to have my husband home.

My Life In a Country Song

Thought I would have a little fun...

Our love is unconditional; we knew it from the start.

I see it in your eyes, you can feel it from the heart.

From here on after, let’s stay the way we are right now,

And share all the love and laughter

That a lifetime will allow.

I cross my heart and promise to

Give all I’ve got to give to make all your dreams come true.

In all the world you’ll never find a love as true as mine.

You will always be the miracle that makes my life complete,

And as long as there’s a breath in me, I’ll make yours just as sweet.

As we look into the future, it’s as far as we can see,

So let’s make each tomorrow be the best that it can be.[1]

You feel like a candle in a hurricane

Just like a picture with a broken frame

Alone and helpless, like you’ve lost your fight

But you’ll be alright, you’ll be alright.

Cause when push comes to shove

You taste what you’re made of

You might bend til you break

Cause it’s all you can take.

On your knees you look up

Decide you’ve had enough

You get mad, you get strong

Wipe your hands, shake it off

Then you stand, then you stand

Life’s like a novel with the end ripped out

The edge of a canyon with only one way down

Take what you’re given before it’s gone

And start holdin’ on, keep holdin’ on.[2]

This world ain’t fair

It can knock you on your butt

You can just lie there

Or you can get back up

You gotta get back up.

There are times in life when you gotta crawl

Lose your grip, trip and fall

When you can’t lean on no-one else

That’s when you find yourself

I’ve been around and I’ve noticed that

Walking’s easier when the road is flat

Them danged ole hills’ll get you every time

Yeah, the good Lord gave us mountains

So we could learn how to climb.[3]

When life held troubled times, and had me down on my knees

There’s always been someone to come along and comfort me

A kind word from a stranger, to lend a helping hand

A phone call from a friend, just to say I understand

And ain’t it kind of funny at the dark end of the road

That someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope.

Oh well I believe there are angels among us

Sent down to us from somewhere up above

They come to you and me in our darkest hours

To show us how to live, to teach us how to give

To guide us with the light of love.

They wear so many faces, show up in the strangest places

To grace us with their mercy, in our time of need.[4]

The first time I laid my eyes on you I knew

We’d spend this life side by side

I still feel the same though you’re so far away

I swear that you’ll aways be my

Forever love, I promise you

Someday we’ll be together, forever love

I won’t give up no matter what

I’ll be waiting for  you, forever love

Minutes and hours and years may go by

But my heart knows nothing of time

So don’t cry just keep me right there in your dreams

And hold on to these words of mine.

Forever love, I promise you

Someday we’ll be together, forever love

I won’t give up no matter what

I’ll be waiting for  you, forever love

Love is the road to our destiny

Nothing can change

What is meant to be, forever love

Oh, I won’t give up no matter what

I’ll be waiting for you, forever love

I’ll be waiting for you, forever love

Forever love.[5]

When everything is goin’ wrong

Don’t worry, it won’t last for long

Yeah, it’s all gonna come around

Don’t go let it get you down

You gotta keep on holding on

It’s ‘bout as bad as it could be

Seems everybody’s buggin’ me

Like nothing want to go my way—

Yeah, it just ain’t been my day

Nothin’s comin easily

Up—up—up

Can only go up from here

Up—up—up

Where the clouds gonna clear

Up—up—up

There’s no way but up from here.[6]

It hurts my heart

To see you cry

I know it’s dark

This part of life

Oh, it finds us all

But we’re too small

To stop the rain

Oh, but when it rains

I will stand by you

I will help you through

When you’ve done all you can do

And you can’t cope

I will dry your eyes

I will fight your fight

 I will hold you tight

And  I won’t let you fall

Don’t be afraid to fall

I’m right here to catch you

I won’t let you down

It won’t get you down

You’re gonna make it

Yeah, I know you can make it.

Cause I will stand by you.[7] 

But life’s not the breath you take

The breathing in and out

That gets you through the day

Ain’t what it’s all about

You just might miss the point

Trying to win the race

Life’s not the breaths you take

But the moments that take your breath away.[8]

And, hey, God, you know what it’s like to lose

Someone who you truly love when you gave your son to us

You must have cried then too

You have your ways, you have your plan

Sometimes mysterious and hard to understand

I am humbled by your grace and everything you do

Hey, God, hey God, I just wanna thank you.

Sometimes I forgot to stop and bow my head

And remember that I have been blessed.

Oh, you have your ways, you have your plan

Sometimes mysterious and hard to understand

I am humbled by your grace and everything you do

Hey, God, hey God, I just wanna thank you

Thank you.[9]

[1] “I Cross my Heart” George Strait

[2] “Stand”Rascal Flatts

[3]“Mountains” Lonestar

[4] “Angels Among Us” Alabama

[5] “Forever Love” Reba McEntire

[6] “Up” UP  Shania Twain

[7] “I Won’t Let Go”  Rascal Flatts

[8] “The Breath you Take” George Strait

[9] “Hey God” Lonestar

We Are Not Defined by Our Past

I recently had the opportunity to attend a symposium organized by Sheila Rule.  The organization she runs is called "Think Outside the Cell".  One of the main messages of the event was that we are not defined by our past and we are not defined by our mistakes.  There was a number of wonderful speakers, all of whom were well versed in all sides of our current justice system.  They spoke about all the flaws in our current justice system and how they have started programs to make changes for the better of all.

The United States currently incarcerates the highest percentage of it's population of all the super powers in the world today.  Is that something we should be proud of?  I don't know about you, but I am not thrilled with thinking that the US has a higher population of degenerates than all the other countries of the world.  I do think it is simply because we have become a society that wants vengeance instead of punishment with rehabilitation.

The main theme of the day was that people should not be defined by what they have done in the past but who they are now.  If we were defined by our past we would all be called crybabies who do not like to share and are immature emotionally.  However, we are all allowed to grow, learn and improve to become better individuals.  Then how come some people are not given the same consideration when they have made bad decisions and choices as adults.  People are found guilty, or plead guilty, and then serve their sentence, but they are not allowed to come home and start a new life.  They are forced to carry their crime with them forever because they are not allowed to move beyond what they did by those around them.

Since when have we become a society that does not offer a fresh start to those who have served their sentences.  How many of us can remember a time when we made a mistake and someone gave us the opportunity to make amends and move beyond our mistakes?  Should it make a difference whether it was a small mistake between friends or something considered illegal?  The same opportunity should be granted to everyone. 

Just some thing to think about in this time when families are being affected, budgets are not balanced because of excessive spending on costs of incarceration versus alternatives and, taxpayers are footing the bill for all those behind bars.  No one wins.