Purpose-Driven prison church forms amid hostility & dangers

BP NEWS ^ | Jan 2, 2004 | Tobin Perry

[Dubya]

Amen. It sure can.

[Dubya]

Good for you and your wife freebilly.
A lot of souls will be blessed by you and your wife.

[freebilly]

A lot of souls will be blessed by you and your wife.

My wife's incredible with people. I'm there as comic relief. :^)

[Welsh Rabbit]

"God has called us to a very special work on this yard. This is our land. This is our vineyard that God has given us to work in. We are going to take what God has given us here, the message of The Purpose-Driven Life and share it with everyone on this yard. ... If God can do it here, He can do it anywhere. It's the ageless Gospel of Jesus Christ."

I suddenly feel a lot more positive about where I am in life right now and thankful for what God given me. Negativity often creeps into one's being without even realizing it. Thanks for posting this.

[Bosco]

Our church went through the Purpose Driven Life this past fall. Attendance is higher (it was high before), more people involved in ministry, salvations.

Conspiracy!

[Dubya]

LOL. I see. God calls each of us to a certain job. Not all of us are called to be a Pastor, but we are called to serve our Lord Jesus Christ by helping our fellowman.

[VOA]

just a ping...interesting aspect of the Saddleback/Rick Warren/40 Days phenonmenon...

[Dubya]

Your welcome. And I hope that you nor anyone else will ever give up.
When we become Christians the Devil comes to hurt us any way he can. But, "greater is He that is in you than he that is the world."

[Dubya]

Where to Look in Times of Need

When needing courage
Psalm 138:3
Ephesians 6:10-13

When facing danger
Psalm 91
Psalm 121

When you have doubts about your salvation
John 3:16
1 John 5:11-13

When in doubt of God's power to keep you faithful
Philippians 1:6
1 Peter 1:5

When in financial need
Psalm 34:10
Philippians 4:19

When needing forgiveness
Hebrews 4:15-16
1 John 1:9

When seeking guidance
Proverbs 3:5-6
James 1:5

When lonely and depressed
Psalm 23
Hebrews 13:5

When your patience is being tried
Romans 8:28-29
James 1:2-4

When seeking peace in a stressful time
John 14:27
John 16:33
Philippians 4:6-7

When filled with sinful pride
1 Corinthians 4:7
Philippians 2:3-8

When burdened with many problems
Psalm 55:22
1 Peter 5:7

When needing rest
Matthew 11:28-30
Galatians 6:9

When driven by selfish desire
Philippians 4:8
1 John 2:15-17

When facing sorrow
Romans 8:26-28
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

When seeking God's standard
Matthew 5:48
Matthew 22:36-40

When suffering
Psalm 34:19
2 Corinthians 4:17

When facing temptation
1 Corinthians 10:13
James 1:2-4

When being treated unfairly
1 Peter 2:19-23
1 Peter 4:12-15

When feeling weak and inadequate
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Philippians 4:13

[jocon307]

This is a great article. It's about folks starting from where they are. I have often been unsympathetic to peoople who want to be released from prison based on the fact that they are "good" now. I always say, be good in prison, one of the main problems with prison is that there are not enough good people there. This article is about good people in prison, very positive.

I think I'm going to have to read this "purpose driven life" book. It seems to have an excellent effect on people of all kinds.

[luckymom]

My husband and I had the exact same experience. We're continuing on leading our small group- something neither of us would have thought we'd be doing if you would have asked a year ago. Praise God.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Thank you for your kind wishes, but I didn't mean to sound as if were in great despair. The new faith of these prisoners just reminded me not to worry too much about worldly things, and I realized that couple of concerns I've had lately really aren't worth troubling myself over. This thread has also reminded me that I haven't been reading my Bible as often as I should. Thanks again

[latina4dubya]

you are welcome for the song... if you've never heard it, it's really haunting... it always brings tears to my eyes... he wrote it when he was doing some prison ministry work with Chuck Colson... and look at how God has used Chuck Colson to minister to those in prison... had he never gone to prison himself, this likely would not have happened... God takes even our darkest circumstances and uses them for His Glory!.. amen?

[freebilly]

Conspiracy!

VCRC-- Vast Christ Wing Conspiracy :^)

[freebilly]

God calls each of us to a certain job

I've always wanted God to call me to do great things, to stir the hearts of millions, or to live and die as a glorious witness to the power of His name.

Yet, here I am, still in the kitchen. Serving coffee and pie for Christ! A Miracle!

If He can use my life, despite my failures and failings (which are comical in their scope and breadth), He can use anyone as a testimony.

When I actually wake to the life He's given me, to His patience, love, grace, and mercy, to the transformation He's brought about in my life, and in the lives of those around me, I'm moved to tears.

And so, at the request of Christ I hang around the kitchen and open up the cupboards--

Behold!

The wine! The bread! The cans of corn!

[freebilly]

luckymom, thank you for stepping up to the plate!

[CDHart]

What a wonderful article! Thanks for posting it.

Carolyn

[Dubya]

Your welcome.

[Dubya]

January 3, 2004

"I Smile"
Read: Psalm 118:14-21

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

Bible In One Year: Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3

A few years ago, singer Russ Lee came out with a song titled "I Smile." When you discover how his life was changed by Jesus Christ, you'll know why he sings a song that says, "I smile when I think about the way You turned my life around. I smile when I think about the happiness in You I've found."

When Russ was 17, his days were wasted on drugs, alcohol, boredom, and pain. His life was full of self-inflicted trouble and hopelessness. One day, while listening to an old rock song called "I Can't Get No Satisfaction," he realized that this described his life. Two days later, a friend invited him to church. There Russ heard that real satisfaction comes from knowing Jesus Christ, so he reached out in faith to Him.

So, what was the first thing Russ did after trusting Christ? According to the book Touched By The Savior by Mike Yorkey, Russ said, "I walked back out to my car. In the trunk was a garbage bag filled with drugs I had been selling.

I won't be needing these again, I thought, and I was right. I threw the bag away. From that day forward, God transformed my life from the inside out. I became a new creation."

No wonder Russ Lee can sing with exuberance, "I smile." Can you? —Dave Branon


BECOMING A NEW CREATION
Admit that you are a sinner and ask for God's forgiveness (Romans 3:23). Accept the free gift of eternal life, paid for by the death of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).


A song in the heart puts a smile on the face.

[Dubya]

Good for you.