Voting for Returning Citizens

Every state differs when it comes to voting rights of felons.  Some states (Maine & Vermont) actually allow prisoners to vote by absentee ballot while they are locked up!  Iowa, however, has played a political game with the democratic governor going in one direction and the republican governor going back the other way.  Who will rise above it all and actually do the right thing?

Iowa - On Jan. 14, 2011, the Republican Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, issued executive order 70, rescinding a law allowing people convicted of a felony to automatically have their ability to vote restored after completing their sentences. The automatic voting restoration law had been instituted by former Democratic Governor Tom Vilsack's signing of executive order 42 in 2005. Felons in Iowa must now pay all outstanding monetary obligations to the court in addition to completing their sentence and period of parole or probation. People convicted of a felony may then apply for restoration of the ability to vote.

Executive Order 70 - Signed Jan. 14, 2011, Terry Branstad, Governor (R) 

Executive Order 42 - Signed July 4, 2005, Thomas J. Vilsack, JD, Governor (D) 

Today is Gift

This is a sign I spotted in the hospital restroom today.  Just felt I needed to share this with you.

Incredible Concert!

Piercing the Darkness rocked the prison on May 3.  In my opinion it was their best concert yet.  It was both electrifying and inspiring.  The sound quality was outstanding.  The vocals were dynamic and the instruments were awesome too.  I grew up in the 80's so I have a big appreciation of rock music.  And PTD puts on an incredible show.  The band had the music going but a stage presence too.  They charged up and down the middle aisle and entertained.  But this music was more than just mere entertainment - it was God glorifying.  The music gave glory to the Father, glory to the Son, and glory to the Spirit.  The music gave witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.  In addition, the lead guitar player's wife gave personal testimony in between two lengthy sets.  Her testimony captured the attention of the 150 men in attendance at the prison gym.  She gave a persuasive talk encouraging men to come to repentance and faith, living a life marked by forgiveness.  I hope Piercing the Darkness returns - their service to God and man is greatly appreciated.  A big thanks to Steve and the rest of the band!!!

Here's a sample of their music - PTD's hit song - "More than Human."  Enjoy!

National Day of Prayer

Thursday I went to the National Day of Prayer breakfast in Newton.  I was asked to pray for the prison.  Would you pray too?  Here is a prayer card to help you pray for the prison, the prison officials, and the prisoner.  Don't forget that Hebrews 13:3 calls us to "remember those in prison as if we ourselves were prisoners."  May our gracious God mold each of us into people of prayer!

Hope for the Abuser

The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings about Hope.  And I strive to present the Hope of Christ to the prisoner.  God's Spirit moves me to inspire the incarcerated ones with Hope.  It's a fact that there is Hope for men in prison.  This Hope applies even for men locked up on account of domestic abuse.  One of the men in my prison congregation is locked up due to a domestic abuse assault - his 3rd such offense.  It is a persistent problem not only for him but also for the women in his life.  Something needs to be done.  That's where God's grace enters in and changes him from within by the Holy Spirit.  All things are being made new in Jesus Christ.  The other day he was sharing with me some of the things he's been learning in his domestic abuse class at the Newton prison.  It may not be brand new information for him but perhaps it reinforces what he already knows.  Besides this cognitive head knowledge desperately needs to sink deep within so that it influences his actions.

Here's what he told me about the cycle of abuse in a dysfunctional relationship.  It's all about actions and reactions.  Disrespect / Angry words and Hatred / violence mark a pattern within the abusive relationship.  Often substance abuse is part of the package as well. The abuser might act out when he's not in his right mind if he's drunk or high on drugs.  Another sad fact is that more often than not the abuser was abused himself at an earlier stage of life.

But when the Spirit enters into a man, things begin to change.  Circles of love and respect replace hatred/abuse/violence/disrespect.  It's more of a response than a reaction because it is a dramatic alteration of the will.  He acts with love, she responds with respect.  She sees evidence that his heart has been softened by the presence of God.  Of course all this takes time and accountability but I believe the renewal of the Spirit of Jesus Christ can bring hope even to broken relationships marked by patterns of abuse.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  The brand new year is only 3 days old and I want to let you know what's in store for 2014.  Here are some big events for New Life Prison Community early in 2014.

January - On the 3rd Thursday of the month, New Life will host a worship service in the prison gym.  This worship service will focus on the Word of God.  The text is from Romans 10.  Part of our emphasis that evening will be to give testimony to the Word of God.  Inmate-members and volunteers will share their testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.

February - Lynnville Friends church will return to the Newton Prison to lead praise & worship music.  Also Lynnville's Pastor Mark Porter will give the message.  Mark was once a prisoner but now he's free to shepherd God's flock.

March - Piercing the Darkness returns to the Newton Prison.  This Christian rock band will visit the prison for the third time.  If it's anything like the first two Saturday night events, it will be spectacular!

April - In the early spring, Newton will host Brothers-in-Blue.  This four day spiritual retreat was incredible in 2013.  We can't wait to see what God will do at the 2014 B.I.B.  The men at the prison are already asking about this awesome event focused on spiritual transformation.

Not a Fan

We just finished up the 6th session of the 6 part DVD series - Not a Fan.  Not a Fan is a book by Kyle Idleman emphasizing that every believer needs to move from being a fan of Jesus to becoming a completely committed follower of Jesus.  Kyle informs us: "It's the cross that separates fans from followers."  Becoming a follower is not a human work; instead, God transforms us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Not a Fan was a great Thursday night study and the guys at the prison really appreciated this series.  It was inspirational to say the least.  A typical Thursday started by singing a few songs together that emphasized surrender to Christ or the Lordship of Christ.  After the singing was finished, we would move into a time of prayer.  Then we would watch the DVD and discuss what we learned together.  One of the men at the prison has read Kyle's book THREE times.  Needless to say, he loved the book and found it beneficial to his life.  He also loved the Thursday night DVD study.  In fact, I don't think he missed a single session!  Here are some of his comments.  "I love the chapter in Kyle's book called The Unedited Version.  The unedited version is that you have to die daily.  This is not the watered down version of the gospel that some churches present.  I'm the 'anyone' that's mentioned in Luke 9:23 - Then Jesus said to them all, 'If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'  I qualify because I'm anyone - and that makes me special.  I can follow too!"  Overall, Not a Fan was a great study - next week Thursday we'll continue by watching the feature film - A Follower's Story.  Then we'll move on to whatever "next-step" God has in store for us...

- written by Pastor Rick on the 3rd day of 2014.