"Come Inside" ~ An invitation to contemplative prayer

My Child on the Outside,

Come inside to me.

Surrender yourself and enter.

Inside there is safety.

I am so much bigger than all of this.

I see the beginning and the end.

And the endless joy that is coming.

 

That world outside that is huge to you.

It spins and rages when you only stayoutside.

 

Come inside to me.

Quiet yourself in your inner world.

There is peace when you come here with me.

There is no war inside your soul

when your will is surrendered to me.

You do not need to fear because you know me;

The one and only God

Of the Majestic Universe.

(The universe in which your tiny earth spins.)

 

OUTSIDE there is Violence, Danger, Disease, and Poverty

OUTSIDE there is Anger, Fear, and Agitation.

It seems you all can see it now more than ever.

 

So many little self-appointed gods

are all doing what is right in their

own myopic eyes.

They think that their great big world

is all there is and

they must rule it.

 

I am LORD even over all of them.

Even the ones who stay Outside.

I am the LORD over them, even if they fight against me

their entire finite lives on this earth

which I the LORD have made.

 

Forget them outside for awhile.

 

Won’t you just come inside to me?

I have got this.

You’ll just have to wait and see the proof

that it is true.

I am safety.

I am peace.

I am freedom.

I am justice

for all who will just surrender and spend time with me inside.

Another one of our heroes

 

Do you know who this is? Let me introduce you if you don’t!

He’s one of mine and Jim’s heros. I printed and framed this photo of him to hang up in our house. I just mailed this same info to 10 of the guys I'm writing in prison who have decided to follow Jesus and work with him at changing their heart for a successful second chance once they are released.

Jim and I have decided to line the wall of our basement with photos of our heros. We're asking everyone who comes to visit to bring one of THEIRS.

Chuck Colson is one of the saints right at the top of our hero list!

Here’s a little bio on Charles Wendell Colson  (from Wikipedia):

(1931 – 2012), generally referred to as Chuck Colson, was an American attorney and political advisor who served as Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1970. Once known as President Nixon's "hatchet man", Colson gained notoriety at the height of the Watergate scandal, for being named as one of the Watergate Seven, and pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for attempting to defame Pentagon Papers defendant Daniel Ellsberg. In 1974 he served seven months in the federal Maxwell Prison in Alabama, as the first member of the Nixon administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges.

Colson became an evangelical Christian in 1973. His mid-life religious conversion sparked a radical life change that led to the founding of his non-profit ministry Prison Fellowship to a focus on Christian worldview teaching and training around the world. Colson was also a public speaker and the author of more than 30 books. He was the founder and chairman of The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, which is "a research, study, and networking center for growing in a Christian worldview", and which produced Colson's daily radio commentary, BreakPoint, heard on more than 1,400 outlets across the United States (and continues to be broadcast with an alternating panel from the Colson Center).

Born Again, Colson's personal memoir reflecting on his religious conversion and prison term, was made into a 1978 dramatic film(a great book I read when I was a teenager).During his time in prison, Colson had become increasingly aware of what he saw as injustices done to prisoners and incarcerates and shortcomings in their rehabilitation; he also had the opportunity, during a three-day furlough to attend his father's funeral, to pore over his father's papers and discover the two shared an interest in prison reform. He became convinced that he was being called by God to develop a ministry to prisoners with an emphasis in promoting changes in the justice system.

Colson was a principal signer of the 1994 Evangelicals and Catholics Together ecumenical document signed by leading Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholic leaders in the United States.

Colson received 15 honorary doctorates, and in 1993 was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, the world's largest annual award (over US$1 million) in the field of religion, given to a person who "has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life's spiritual dimension". He donated this prize to further the work of Prison Fellowship, as he did all his speaking fees and royalties. In 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President George W. Bush.

This year Prison Fellowship collaborated with Tyndale House Publishers to print a Celebrate Recovery Bible "Insider" Edition. It's sent free from Tyndale to any prisoner who writes for one. You can read more about that project here.

Who are some of your heros?

Writing to Prisoners. Some just disappear when they get out.

Here's the letter I sent to three of the guys I write who have the BEST of intentions for life on the outside. But so did the three guys I write who disappeared after they were released...

Dear _______,

Thank you for the two more drawings! The guys around you in prison must be fascinated to watch you work! 

 

I’ve been discouraged this week.

Of the guys who I’d started to write, three have been paroled.One in January never contacted Chattanooga Endeavors for any help, so I pray he’s okay still. I hadn’t written with him very much. The second guy couldn’t find any housing options in Chattanooga for transitional housing, all of his family here are dead…so he found a 1/2way

house in Nashville. He had plans to go to a trucking school. He had wanted to keep writing. Wanted to meet up with Jim and I for dinner…But I never heard from him after release. I called the house he was going to go to. He never showed up. To me, it’s like he fell off a cliff.

I drew this picture for a college drawing class final in 1983. 

I’ve not done much since then, but you inspire me! Look up the verse! It’s one of my favorites – about friendship.

 

The third was paroled May 5th, but required to go to 3 months of rehab/transitional housing, which isn’t really available. He found Union Gospel Mission would take him and went July 9th . (Imagine how tough that would be to know you’ve been paroled, in the midst of COVID, but CAN’T leave for weeks on end!)

 

I went and checked out that place. It’s depressing! Then I drove over there to pass him a fan and some tools. He’d gotten work as an electrician again and was working with his brother. He wasn’t allowed to go out socially for 2 weeks, so we’d planned to take him out to dinner and shopping for some work boots. Then he didn’t reply to my text the next week, or last Friday when I was seeing Oxford Houses (sober living communities) and was SO impressed with the way they run things, and the guys who were living there. I texted to say they have vacancies. And still no reply.  So I called the home. He’d left. Just didn’t come back a week ago. So, I’m praying if he’s done something he’s ashamed of, he’ll not be too ashamed to reach out. 

I hear that this is typical after incarceration of any length: Y’all feel like you’ll be alright because of good intentional, but life is tough and it takes a while to “stabilize.” Years actually. If you’re not living in a supportive positive setting, and even if you ARE, there is often a relapse to alcohol and/drugs…when the first paycheck comes in, or some other thing to celebrate or drown your sorrows about. He said about working in a ó way house, “Some guys just need to fall once to realize that they CAN’T do it on their own, and THEN will be willing to go to rehab, AA or Celebrate Recovery…get a sponsor. “

 

Anyway. After one year of writing to encourage guys…I’m 3 for 3. Feeling like I’m striking out in seeing their lives changed and sucessful. That my writing may encourage you guys while you’re in prison with good intentions, but upon release…well, you can imagine how I feel.

 

So,…please, please, please be realistic when you come out!!!

 

Please start thinking about this: Even if you are granted parole with no requirements, BEGIN at a place like Oxford House (they start you out going 3xs a week to support groups at first while helping with getting work – which they say isn’t so hard…they have a lot of connections). So just PLAN ON not being an exception to what usually happens! Just plan on needing supportand take itfor your future success. By the time you are released, Chattanooga Endeavors will know a lot more options too.

 

This is the first drawing this prisoner sent to me. Amazing detail.

The staff of Chattanooga Endeavors has been having zoom meetings upon meetings this last month about housing. They’ve invited me to listen along. We are learning from people in the city, county and state who help homeless, economically disadvantaged, and those walking in recovery from some kind of substance addictions. All wonderful programs and people. Currently, there is so little available for ex-offenders, and pray for the ones who are sex-offenders! They might as well expect homelessness if they have no family to return to!

 

As we learn from these other people, we hope to figure out how we can advocate or create more housing specifically for those transitioning from prison. I have found that even when a situation seems like there is “no way.” That it’s not “absolutely no way.” 

 

So, even for the NEXT guy, Michael. If he can get a good exit plan, he can come out August 20th. He IS a convicted sex-offender, is older, has no family, and is low IQ with little skills… I’m going to have hope that upon release and the CE guys walking with him in successful freedom, I’m going to be praying:

 

Lord, you know Michael’s needs. You know his heart and his future. You are generous in your forgiveness and grace and offer us all more than a second chance! Guide us in working together to find a place for Michael. A home. A supportive community. A doctor. Transportation. A job. Over all of these needs, will you grant him peace and hope – a sense of your presence and guidance. Nothing is too hard for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Will you pray with me for him too?

Easter Letter to Prisoners ~ Notecard with Art by Charlie N

 I’m writing to let you know that someone is thinking of you and wondering how you are. 

 

At first, I {naively} thought that if anyonewould be safe from this virus, it would be ex-offenders. You’re already“quarantined” away from the rest of society and isolated (This is what officials were telling the general population to do from the beginning. Now they are mandating it). I read that early-on visitation was stopped for you… just like with other groups. The elderly in group homes, or anyone in hospitals were not allowed visitors. Kids everywhere are now schooling from home and isolated from their friends. My son’s birthmother told me on the phone yesterday, that life “on the outside” in THESE circumstances is, in some ways, more regimented than the half-way house she was released from in November.

 

Still, I know it has to be unsettling for you. Even if you are already not having physicalcontact with people from the outside, there is a chance it can come in somehow.Infectious disease researchers studying this virus tell us it doesn’t live many hours away from the “host.” So, things coming in from the outside are generally safe. We catch it from someone sneezing or coughing on us or touching something that has been sneezed or coughed on within a few hours to days (depending on the surface). But, I can just imagine you are all talking about being “sitting ducks.” You have a lack of freedom to make decisions about your life, and limited access to information…so, the fear of the unknown, and has to be mentally and emotionally tough. (If you watch mainstream media, I believe they ALWAYS are competing for viewers by being sensational. Even under normal life, this causes society to have more fear).  

 

Early in March, Colleges decided to teach all their classes on-line, and close dorms. I connected with a group of Foreign Students who were stranded. At that point, officials didn’t know how long it would last. A couple weeks? The semester? These students couldn’t simply return home to other countries and then just fly back when there was an “all-clear.” If they did go back home, some would not be allowed to return again! Legally not allowed to work off campus, and exchange rates are taking a big hit for developing nations. Most of them by now have found places to live off-campus. I talked with one gal on the phone the other day. She is also learning a new kind of flexibility and mental toughness. God will make a way!

 

The biggest battle is always for peace, and it starts in our mind. So, I want to encourage you to be vigilant to stay positive. Don’t let your mind go down the “what if…” trail. THINK ON what is TRUE. You are alive. You influence others around you for positive or negative. You can help yourself and encourage others. 

Or you can bring everyone down…including yourself! Keep a strong focus! (John 14, Philippians 4:4-9)

 

Today I read that in many states, parole is being considered for prisoners who are elderly, at risk, and those who have met their minimum sentence. Perhaps that will be you. This expedited system of release, will be both good (to have your freedom back), but also extra challenging for re-entry. Everyone on the outside is affected, and unemployment set all-time highs last month. So, if you are released, I encourage you to take advantage of re-entry programs...not just for services, but for the community they offer! 

 

I pray…a lot for you, and others. The way I understand God, HE is not wringing his hands wondering about anything! And he offers peace, direction, provision, and hope. If I get the virus. I know where I’m going (though I may not understand it metaphysically!). But how ever “heaven” works, it’s better than the best day I ever had here!

Just one day in #chattanooga

This was taken on February 8th 
at 9AM & 4:30PM.

Biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires.

Through February, WORLD is offering 6 free issues. Because I enjoy this news source so much, I'm sending you the correct link. Last year their podcast The World and Everything in It became my primary news. I liked it because it's smart reporting that isn't snarky and informed my prayers for what's going on. Good, bad and otherwise.  Each day’s half hour starts with a news summary, followed by longer stories, interviews, and reports from WORLD journalists. You can sign up here. Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe

Why Chattanooga? eNews for February 2020

DISCOVER Chattanooga Discover is my word for 2020.  It's a new year, new city, and new beginning. There is still work and projects in Vietnam for both of us, but we're enjoying finding out more of why God has led us here for our home base. In the same way that we tackled our first year in Singapore twenty years ago, we want to learn Chattanooga. What follows is some of what's happened so far. (Don't miss a great offer from World News Group at the bottom of this email) What's the Strategy? Find out where God is already at work, and join him in it! Last year, while we were only part time in Chattanooga, I began enjoying remarkable divine appointments. Clearly the Lord is guiding a discovery of some wonderful people and ministries here.  Anything in turquoise below has a link to that ministry. There seems to be common themes in what I'm finding, and it is quite new for me: JUSTICE issues and helping strengthen community & build supportive networks within the bonds we share in Christ. (Oh, and this is a picture with the Mayor of Chattanooga on MLK day of service!) A highlight of 2019 was hosting a fall retreat for The MOMentum Network. They are a faithbased support organization for single moms who are going to college. I'm getting to know the directors of MOMentum and Foundation House Ministries. This is another organization who serves pregnant women who are coming out of trauma. The story that follows this month has these organizations/issues woven together: Chattanooga Endeavors comes alongside exoffenders for "a second chance." An Über driver introduced me to their programs for re-entry. This includes volunteers who write letters to prisoners while still incarcerated. The Bethlehem Center is a Christian community center in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood near us. Senior Adults. In recent years I have spent a lot of time in different Retirement Homes, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing facilities. I now have a tenderness toward Seniors who are feeling marginalized. Because of of their advancing years and decreasing abilities, its easy for them to think they are of little use to society. I continue to ask, "Lord, is there something here where I can encourage our precious seniors?" What follows is just one of the exciting ways God is directing my steps to discover this new place! GIVE ME THAT LIST and I'll find you some more volunteers...somehow!  One thing that grabbed my heart from the very beginning was the work of Chattanooga Endeavors. Last July I began writing to three prisoners who call Chattanooga home. It appears to make a significant difference in recidivismand I enjoy writing cards, and can do it from anywhere.  In November, Jim and I met with their staff. It was so educational for us. This is not an area we are very familiar with. Besides the training and support they offer when prisoners are released, they try to start their supportive relationship while in prison. Many prisoners have no visits or mail for their entire stay in prison! What I was surprised to learn is that thirty prisoners had signed up to receive letters and were still on their waiting list! I couldn't stop thinking about that. Heading into the holidays and no mail? I contacted Chattanooga Endeavors. "Give me that list!" I said, and wrote to all of them over Christmas. I told them, "I know only about 12 people in Chattanooga, but I'm going to help you find more volunteers!" Home School Networks, Christian College Students...Senior Adults! I was not short for ideas of target groups who might be willing to take it on. But I knew NONE of these! Seniors, "the greatest generation," know the art of letter writing! So I started with them. On Tuesday, January 7th, I started researching Senior Centers in Chattanooga and felt a bit daunted. There are a lot of Seniors groups here. Where should I begin? Ugh. “Lord, I don’t know where to start!" I prayed. "Please show me which one I should approach first.” The next day I went to the Post Office with Jack, my Singaporean terrier. In the back seat of my car was a bag of non-perishable groceries (leftovers from Christmas with the family). Near the Post Office is a food pantry at The Bethlehem Center in a lower income neighborhood. I sensed a strong inaudible prompt, “Call Gloria the Activities Director there to make sure she’s in. If she is, then go, and stop by and visit her. Offer to pray for her in this new year.” Twenty-eight year old Gloria and I had never had a real conversation before. Our small group from church had volunteered for two Bethlehem Center community events in 2019. She was in her office that afternoon and seemed quite happy to see me when I came by. She invited me to sit down and I asked her typical coaching questions about how she feels going into a new year. “What’s exciting?” and then,  “Where are you stuck?” Of all the things she could have answered, she said to me, “Well, there is one thing that comes to mind. In our centers, we have Seniorscome together to play BINGO every month. They like coming together, but I sure wish I could come up with something that they could work on that is more meaningful.” I nearly jumped out of my chair! "I didn't come here today with an agenda about this, but I have an idea..."  She instantly lit up when I told her my idea of how her seniors could encourage our brothers and sisters in prison. She gave me a date to come and join their next BINGO night and I've aleady been once. February 27th, The Beth seniors will begin making this the first part of their monthly BINGO nights. I'm supplying preprinted and addressed postcards that will be mailed to prisoners. There's even more that happened next, but I want to keep this short!  Read the rest of this story on the blog. God bless you in your discoveries! On February 21st, I'll be heading to Los Angeles for our sending church's Missions Conference. I'm looking forward to catching up with friends and donors in the South Bay. Thank you for your partnership and prayers with us! Together we are all bringing the light and truth of Jesus to a world that needs him! Kimberly jkcreasman.novostaff.org Chattanooga Endeavors is the group I've partnered up with to write to prisoners who are from this county and will return here upon their release. Lord, for your beloved who have made criminal mistakes and are in great need of your mercy, forgiveness, and strength to change we pray. For those who work tirelessly in our Criminal Justice system, as social workers, parole officers, and ministries to ex-offenders, we ask for wisdom and grit to keep hopeful. Give them your heart for the prisoners, and guard them from hardness. In Jesus' name. "Biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires." THIS IS THE BIGGEST NEWS!! Through February, WORLD is offering 6 free issues. Give it a try! For years JIm and I have read WORLD Magazine. Last year their podcast The World and Everything in it became my primary news source. I liked it because it's a smart news source that isn't snarky. Each day’s half hour starts with a news summary, followed by longer stories, interviews, and reports from WORLD journalists. I'd enter all your names and emails myself, but thought better of it. You can sign up here.  Last month WORLD began a new podcast, Effective Compassion. It is an investigation into what's really working in the fight against poverty and how thinking biblically aids in the restoration of human dignity. The program is made for people who want to elicit real change because they know true hope. Learn more at wng.org.

Justice & Just Mercy

More about The Bethlehem Center and how Gloria invited me to join her for a movie...

Gloria at The Bethlehem Center loved the idea of having her Seniors involved in writing cards to inmates. She added after we'd checked our calendars and made a plan for when to start.

“It's funny that your idea is about serving those in prison. You see, this Saturday, my sorority is holding a private screening of a new movie called 'Just Mercy.' Have you heard of it?” I hadn’t. She was so excited, that even though she was now late to her next appointment she took the time to pull up the trailer. It is a new movie set in the 1980’s about death row inmates who had not had a fair trial. And how a young black lawyer from Maryland began a non-profit practice to advocate for them.

"YES! Yes! Get me a ticket too! I'll see you there!"

Saturday afternoon, three days after I had the conversation with Gloria about having her Seniors involved in writing cards to inmates I left to meet Gloria at the movie theater.

Before I started driving, I had that same kind of inner prompting that had sent me to go see Gloria earlier in the week:

“Pull up that TED Talk you had seen posted on Facebook. You know, the one from 2012 on Justice. Listen to that as you drive.” 

So I did. It turned out is was about CRIMINAL justice, and it was a compelling talk by a lawyer named Bryan Stevenson. 

“I’ll be listening to this again.” I thought to myself. "I have so much to learn."

Thirty minutes later I’m sitting in the movie theatre with Gloria and her sorority friends. As the story unfolded I began thinking “How strange! These are similar issues as that seven year old TED talk I just listened to!”

And then somone in the movie called the young lawyer by his name: Bryan.

The hair stood up on my arms. 

"Dear Lord! You are unbelievable! Just Mercy is the movie based on how Bryan Stephenson began his work!" It was a remarkable, world view shifting day for me opening my eyes and heart much wider to issues about injustice. I went home and watched every other TED Talk I could find on the topic.

That was the first eleven days of this year!

There's more. but that's enough for today.

Martin Luther King Day in Chattanooga

"A day ON instead of a day OFF!”

What a great idea. 

There are 387 churches in this county. 

Chattanooga has claimed to be the "most churched city in America." 

But we're also finding that there are some pretty messed up churches here!

The one we were sent to is NOT MESSED UP! 

It is an historic inner-city church, with a satellite venue that needed a good scrubbing.

First thing in the morning we checked in with about 250 other volunteers in the gym of University of Tennessee Chattanooga. 

The MLK Day organizers had a LOT of places we could go, but seemed low on volunteers. 

So, on my way to the church, I texted the owner of a housecleaning company I know. I asked to see if her staff could come and join us. Yeah, I ask crazy stuff like that of people. But I sense I ought to do something, I pray about it, and then do it. I'm okay looking and sounding like a fool.

The team wasn't free that day, but I told here where we were going and said, "Let's plan on doing this together next year."

She texted back, "THAT'S MY CHURCH!"

hmmm.
THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN CHURCHES here...

...of course it's her church!

BUSINESS TITLE: "Explorer | Encourager | Gypsy"

Check out the title I put on my business cards from 2015:

Gypsy.

Jim and I have lived a bit like gypsies since leaving Asia at the end of 2014. Jim spent a good deal of time in Vietnam and and I was finding ways to "bloom where I'm planted."

I ditched making my annual detailed goals (as uncomfortable as that was). Life was too much up in the air!

I prayed for my spirit to be as still as my life was. As I prayed, I had an image of floating in an inner tube. I was on a Lazy River with the Lord. With that image, I could daily be eager to find out who and what God would bump us up against.

The Lord had invited this Activist Explorer to explore a more Contemplative lifestyle.

Surrendering to this new focus, I wrote in my journal, "I want to come to a place of so enjoying this quiet with God, that when he gives me a green light, to GO and do, I am reluctant to leave his presence."

Well, the light turned has turned green in 2020!

Every week, and sometimes every day, clues are coming in ways that give me goosebumps. 2020 has been quite an adventure so far. But, it is with a different head and heart space that I dive back in to a full life. 

I have so much less bravado, and quite a bit more peace. I would prefer that every day had extended time of quiet, and pray as I go that his presence will go with me, leading the way.

Have you ever had a season where a transition forced you to learn contentment in the liminal space?

This quote from Richard Rohr was very helpful to me...

Mentoring resources we have used draw a lot from Fuller Professor and Author Dr. Robert Clinton. He wrote and taught about transitions. Terry Walling, on of his students wrote the book Stuck on the same subject. When we find ourselves stuck somehow, we need to first surrender to the idea that God allows these tough seasons to shape our character. 

He wants us to lean in, rather than scratch and fight for a way out... ASAP. He will lead us out. But if we don't learn the thing he's offering for us to learn, he will bring the lesson back round again.

In order to finish well, lean in. According to Clinton's research on Christian leaders who finished well, eventually God will stop bringing the lesson. If we refuse to learn the character lessons we need, our lives will plateau, and we won't enjoy what could have been if we had grown closer to the Lord, and stronger in character.