|
| Can you identify any of the people in these photos?
Do you know where and what year the photos were taken?
Post your answers as comments . . .
| | |
| NOW
If you have hard work to do,
Do it now.
Today the skies are clear and blue,
Tomorrow clouds may come in view,
Yesterday is not for you;
Do it now.
If you have a song to sing,
Sing it now.
Let the tones of gladness ring
Clear as song of bird in spring.
Let every day some music bring;
Sing it now.
If you have kind words to say,
Say them now.
Tomorrow may not come your way,
Do a kindness while you may;
Loved ones will not always stay;
Say them now.
If you have a smile to show,
Show it now.
Make hearts happy, roses grow,
Let the friends around you know
The love you have before they go;
Show it now.
| | |
| There is so much I could write about the things that happened on the recent Kairos retreat, but rather than attempt to share an overall report at this moment, I thought I would just share how the weekend affected one resident named Frank who was in my small group (8 of us: 5 resident and 3 volunteers) named "The family of Matthew". (Later I may share more of an overall report.)
- - - - -
When the truth about the need to forgive others began to be shared on Saturday morning,
Frank turned to me and said with strong emotion, "Well, there are two people who I'll
never forgive: my father and my ex-wife." I told him that those were the people he needed
to forgive the most. His reply was, "Well, I ain't going to. Besides, I can't." I replied,
"It's probably true that you can't, but if you ask God to give you forgiveness for them,
He will. I know, because he did that for me when I had been hurt by someone close
to me and found I couldn't forgive him." At that point, the next talk was beginning so the
conversation ended there.
That night, Frank wept buckets as he participated in the forgiveness ceremony.
I didn't know whose names he had put on his sheet of dissolving paper . . . that was between
him and God. But it was obvious that he was getting rid of a lot, judging by the tears.
The next day, less than 24 hours after he had said there were two people he'd never forgive,
he told our group, "I've really changed a lot this weekend! I forgave my wife!" He was glowing.
Later that day, when the group chose who should give the summary of the weekend for
the family of Matthew, 4 of the 5 residents wanted to do it, but after a time of discussion,
the family decided Frank should do it, "because he had been touched the most".
| | |
| It has been almost a month since I last posted. At that time I was about to go back into Coxsackie Correctional for a long (Thursday thru Sunday) retreat, and I asked for others to pray. The Lord really answered your prayers! There were many wonderful breakthroughs for many of the 43 residents who attended the retreat. I hope to post more about that in near future.
But for this post, I want to post a short devotional story told about one of the desert fathers (Godly men who went to live in the desert seeking solitude so they could seek God without distractions). This story was sent to me by another brother who served on the prison retreat, and it blessed me, so I am posting it here for you:
Become All Flame
-------------------
Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, "Abba, as far as I can, I say my little office; I fast a little; I pray and meditate; I live in peace; and, as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?"
Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire, and he said to him, "If you will, you can become all flame."
(from the book -- The Desert Mothers & Fathers - Seeking a purer Christian Life -- published by Upper Room)
| | |
| After two and a half months of preparation (which has been a blessing of fellowship and spiritual growth in itself), the team of Kairos 13 will be going into Coxsackie Correctional Facility tomorrow (Thursday, March 9th) for a Christian retreat that will last until Sunday evening March 12th. Of the team of about 40 men, some people who you might know are James Williams (first time! way to go!), Doug Patton (a seasoned veteran), and myself (I've done a few of these, too). We are all looking forward to the wonderful things the Lord will do in the hearts of the residents and the team members alike.
Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move among us and to have His way in all hearts!
| | |
|
