Thought Quotient

Check out this recent news story:

Charles Colson’s Christian-based prison project on trial in Iowa

What’s more important - the letter of the law or the spirit of the law? While Barry Lynn and others zealously pursue this as a matter of law, Prison Fellowship sees it as a matter of changing lives.

Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley was asked why departments of corrections have been eager to invite the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) program into their prisons…

They have been eager to invite IFI into their prisons because of a demonstrated ability of our program to reduce the recidivism rate. A study released in Texas in February shows that during the six years IFI has operated at the Carol Vance Unit in Texas, the recidivism rate for those who have gone through the entire program is 8 percent, compared with 22 percent for general-population inmates who were eligible for the program but did not participate - a reduction of two-thirds! Officials also appreciate the program because the changes in the lives of IFI inmates also effect a change in the broader prison population in a very positive way. And they appreciate a healthier climate of moral values and relationships among the inmates that the IFI program produces.

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IFI is confronting its first - and so far only - legal challenge, as Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed suit against the Iowa program in February. Executive director Barry Lynn attacks IFI as an unconstitutional establishment of religion, although prisoners volunteer to participate with the understanding that all content is based on a biblical perspective.

Despite this challenge, the InnerChange Freedom Initiative has gained a growing respect since a publicized University of Pennsylvania study found that 92 percent of the Texas program’s graduates stayed out of prison. It’s been over three years I have been free, said IFI graduate Ruben. I will always acknowledge it was the IFI program, through God’s Word, which turned me into a new man. . . . There is nothing more powerful than God’s Word.

Which would we rather see - changed prisoners or the forcing of Prison Fellowship to leave with prisoners not being changed as a result? That’s the issue…and it’s not unlike Jesus healing on the sabbath is it? While nobody in the Americans United for Separation of Church group would say they are against changing prisoners lives for the better, how is that not the result of their stance? In the big picture, who wins and who loses as a result? We must remember that.

Related Links:
Legal Attack on the InnerChange Freedom Initiative

“So then the challenge is to go out and be the church - that your friends who don’t have a relationship with Christ may begin not by coming to a concert or a church or to a Billy Graham crusade or reading a tract, or any of that…it’s probably going to begin with you. I have lots of friends who don’t believe what I believe. A friend of mine a couple of years ago bottomed out. He lost everything in his life due to an addiction. When he bottomed out, he did not go in a Christian bookstore, he did not go to a Christian website, or Christian radio, pick up a Christian book or listen to my CD. He called me and said, ‘I need help.’
…
It all does come back to us. There is no quick fix. There is no motion picture. There is no tract. There is no big cultural event that is going to be a quick fix. Jesus never had a quick fix. There is no big moment. It’s people being the church. ”
-Shaun Groves

Seeing all of the bloggers having a field day (for the lack of a better word) with the SBC Watergate story about the SBC relief volunteers and the water donated by Anheuser-Busch made me wonder. How many people commenting are Christians, and how many are just folks wanting to take a dig at people of faith? For the Christians, why are they reacting the way they are? Are they embarrassed? Why? Do people’s opinions of the church power the church? Are they frustrated? Does this situation somehow take the church down in stature or ability to function? Again, is that where the church’s power to change lives comes from? Will the media and cultural opinions hold the future of the church? Are there classes/ranks of Christians - those that ‘get it’ - and those that don’t? Where does that leave grace? I don’t know - maybe I “don’t get it.” I just don’t see the productiveness in all of this.

I’m currently reading the ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ and this brought something to mind. Here’s a snippet from Day 21 “Protecting Your Church”…

A critical spirit is a costly vice.
…
It’s the Devil’s job to blame, complain, and criticize members of God’s family. Anytime we do the same, we’re being duped into doing Satan’s work for him. Remember, other Christians, no matter how much you disagree with them, are not the real enemy. Any time we spend comparing or criticizing other believers is time that should have been spent building the unity of our fellowship. The Bible says, “Let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault.” (Phil 2:4)

There’s a lot of talk about what unbelievers think of this. I wonder if unbelievers are impressed by the resulting chatter at all? Maybe they’re simply impressed by an interest in them, a passion to have them ’see’ something that they currently don’t see - to have a relationship with the One that has changed their life. Are they impressed by those that seem to have it all together or the ones that mess up from time to time? We all need grace, and thank God that He offers it despite of our faults and failures - not basing it on our worthiness, but on the worthiness of His Son.

Kelly will be leading worship and speaking at the ‘Your Girl‘ conferences in late ‘05 and into ‘06. Here’s the description from the Lifeway website:

This informative and fun one-day event, led by mom Vicki Courtney, includes sessions on:

• A culture gone mad - what’s a mother to do?
• The key to raising confident daughters
• Five conversations you must have with your daughter - even if she’s rolling her eyes!

“Being a girl in today’s culture is hard. Day in and day out, our daughters are bombarded with messages to be thin, pretty, sexy, assertive, and make the first move. Enough is enough.” - Vicki Courtney

Also, Kelly will be a part of next year’s ‘DayBreak‘ conferences. Here’s more info from their website:

DayBreak provides just the break you need, from the hectic pace of our life - providing you relevant Bible teaching all wrapped up in a fun, relaxing setting.

Be prepared to laugh and to reflect, and most importantly, take home some powerful Bible truths with Angela Thomas, author of Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, and Priscilla Shirer, author of He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear from God. Plus, you’ll be revitalized through creative worship and music

Related Links:

• www.kellyminter.com
• Music Quotient interview with Kelly Minter