How Deep The Father's Love for Us.

I'm second to One and He's second to none!

Killing two birds with one stone

I don't want to kill birds literally.  I love birds, especially big water fowl like herons, swans, and pelicans.

No, I don't want to literally kill these beautiful birds.  But figuratively, I often kill two birds with one stone.  It's a good way to get things done.  You go to the grocery store AND fill up the car with gas during the same trip into town.  

In the same way, I'm planning to ride RAGBRAI this summer for two good reasons: Fun and Fund-raising.  It's fun for me to ride my bike across Iowa with thousands of other bicyclists.  And it's also a great way to raise FUNDS for New Life Prison Community.  It's our 2nd year organizing Pedal for Prisoners!
Will you sponsor me?

Visit from Andy Hanson

This week, Rev. Andy Hanson will visit New Life here in central Iowa.  Andy is the prison pastor of Celebration Fellowship in Ionia, Michigan.  Andy is the 2nd pastor of Celebration Fellowship, taking the reigns from Rev. Rich Rienstra, the founding pastor of the prison congregation.  Andy will have a full week with us here in Newton.  We'll be spending loads of time in prison!  Tuesday is the prayer group.  Wednesday brings the baptism class.  Thursday finds us at the Bible study group.  Sunday morning we'll be leading worship at the Correctional Release Center.  It should be a great week!  Andy and I got to know each other on a Calvin Seminary trip to Angola Prison in Louisiana.  See pic below...

Andy is 2nd from the left in the back row.  Pastor Rick is in the front of the photo.

Flowering Plant

Beauty is all around us.  Here is a picture of a flowering plant in the New Life Prison Community office!

Found!

Found!  In one of my Charles Colson books, I found this index card reminding volunteers of Do's and Don'ts.  It looked good so I thought I'd share it with you.  Prison is a unique environment to do ministry so we have to remember to follow the right guidelines.  These reminders are appropriate for all of us who enter prisons in order to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to incarcerated women and men.  May the peace of God be with you all.