Model lockup shows how doing things by the book can pay off

AP story from today on Pike County Correctional
Facility in Lords Valley, PA.

The 277-bed jail, widely considered one of the
best-run county lockups in Pennsylvania, is a model of
discipline, cleanliness and efficiency, a place where
even the storage of vacuum-cleaner attachments is
performed with military regimentation.

Warden Craig A. Lowe said that the initiatives have
paid off: Pike County currently sees just about one
local inmate in 10 return to the jail, a rate that has
helped the fast-growing county keep costs from getting
out of control. The jail also achieved perfect scores
over the past two years in its annual state
inspections.

Lowe said a main reason for the success is the
extensive counseling and educational programs they
offer - each week, more than 90 are conducted. He said
he believes more jails should take the same approach.
...

and

On a typical Monday, inmates can participate in
Narcotics Anonymous, Men's Self Awareness, Anger
Management, Victory in Jesus, Singing Bible Study, The
Image of a Woman, Career Exploration, Walking Your
Faith or Healthy Relationships.

Read all of the story here

Former Prisoners Find Redemption by Helping Others

Encouraging Crosswalk article from December 26 about a graduate of the Innerchange Fellowship Initiative in Iowa.

Robert Robinson stood weeping while wearing handcuffs. But while his body was shackled, his heart was free...

Read the rest here

Defense rests in prison ministry suit

Here is the article dated December 2 from the Washington Post concerning the lawsuit brought by the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State against the InnerChange Freedom Initiative. This is a case I will be following here.

Prison Beta for 12/28

Last night, Mark Mitchell (the pastor at Covenant Life Church responsible for mercy ministries, which includes prison beta) preached on "Anger Towards God". He presented four lies the world tells us about being angry at God and then showed us what the Bible says.

I was particulary struck by one of Mark's points concerning two things that will be present when there is anger towards God. These are self-righteousness and unbelief. Self-rightousness because we have put ourselves in the judgement seat when we direct our anger towards God. Unbelief because we are denying the truths about God (holiness, sovereignty, perfection, etc) when we express anger towards him.

It is never OK to be angry at God. Instead, we should repent and glorify him. Key verse: Revelation 16:8-10.

Afterward, in my small group discussion, we shared instances where we had been angry at God. Some of the men confessed that they had been angry at God when they were arrested. We talked through the particulars of our self-righteousness and unbelief where we have directed anger at God.