Today, George Lawson had $60, a bus ticket home to Indiana, some khaki pants, a t-shirt, and a blue mesh bag. Back near Indianapolis, his wife and 3 kids are waiting on him right now…he’s probably asleep on the bus from Atlanta right about now.
George and I were both at the back of the line of 14 people in Lake City, Florida this afternoon at the Greyhound Station. Neither George nor I felt compelled to be rude…and both let an older lady go in front of us and chose to go on the bus last, then we ended up sitting together for the 1 hour trek to Jacksonville on the front seat.
I was finishing the edits on a guest blog for our senior pastor’s blog today, and George introduced himself. He said, “I just got out of prison.”
Filed under: Popular Culture, Prison Ministry, Uncategorized | Tags: #1, critics, madea goes to jail, relevant, tyler perry
Morris O’Kelly said “The #1 movie in America, Madea Goes to Jail grossed 41 million in this its first weekend, with 1000 fewer screens than any other #1 of any week of any year.” and I couldn’t find even ONE Christian media outlet who reported or blogged on it.
Self-important movie types have rarely warmed up to Tyler Perry’s “Madea” films, and in many ways, that’s to be expected. They just don’t ‘get’ Perry’s movies….and even Perry has come to peace with that for the most part. I have been much more bothered that ‘Christian media’…aka magazines, blogs, etc… that aspire to be taken ’seriously’ chose in February to write lengthy and ‘important’ pieces on Sean Penn, Slumdog Millionaire, or the upcoming U2 album rather than even mention Tyler Perry’s Madea.
In our quest to be relevant, Christians sometimes ignore the success of those around them who’ve achieve relevance and mainstream appeal. I once heard that Relic and Relevant are on the same page in the dictionary. We have to check ourselves. In our quest to be cool, we can end up chasing the wrong influencers. This is the #1 link on my blog in 2009…so I’d like to ask you a question or 2.
1) What Christian media outlet… magazine, website, blog do you pay attention to? Why?
2) Have they taken space to report on this movie or other Tyler Perry movies? When? Where?
Filed under: Celebration Church, Prison Ministry, Religion | Tags: christmas in jail, incarnation
Today Rachel and I went to the jail where we do weekly ministry with juveniles and college age inmates. Several of the guards were irritated at our presence…not sure why. In the elevator, it kind of all came out… one of the higher ranking officers asked me a question I won’t soon forget
“Couldn’t find anything better to do on Christmas day?”
My answer was what most of my friends would say…. “No.”
That was a couple hours ago. I wonder why no human never asked Jesus that question. Hey Messiah…couldn’t you find anything better to do today than come down to this nasty place with these people who not only dont deserve you, but aren’t even looking for you and probably won’t receive you?
I’m glad Jesus answer was no…there was nothing better to do that day in His mind. Many people don’t see the point in reaching out to the outcasts, forgiving sinners, healing the sick. Simply put, many people don’t love humanity that much.
When 5 teenage boys committed their lives to Christ this morning in the Christmas Day service, it really hit me that there’s no place He would have rather been than glorifying His Father through His incarnation to and for humankind. Humankind just like those guys today. Humankind like me and you.
Merry Christmas -big John
Filed under: Prison Ministry | Tags: honor, humility, judge richard watson, richard o. watson judicial complex, st. augustine florida, st. johns county courthouse
I had the chance to catch the dedication of the St. Johns county Courthouse to a friend of mine, retired Judge Richard Watson. I met Judge Watson at a dinner recently when we sat together at the Reef Restaurant in Villano Beach for a dinner to honor the judges of St. Johns County. He said in his speech that we wouldnt’ remember what he said, but I sure remember what he did….
In this speech, which was pretty brief, he took the time to stop and recognize that one of his longtime friends- another judge from the area- was in attendance and had just celebrated his 91st birthday yesterday. He also quickly noted 3 other judges in attendance who had not been previously recognized by the emcee, Judge Alexander.
What an honorable man. To remember your friends, and their birthdays, even on the day when your name goes into the history books. I learned a lot today. Thank you honorable Judge Watson.
Friday, March 21, 2008
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fridays with kelco
I taught high school for about 7 years. I learned so much in that time, and met so many hundreds of people. I can’t always remember names, but I usually get faces. I counted once…I’ve taught math to over 1000 people. which is insane cause that’s way too many people that had to put up with my stuff. One of those is Nick Kelco. I taught him back in my first year at BTHS. It was a special year, with special people that I taught that just plain mean so much to me. It was the year I met and married my wife Rachel. And these 150 or so people I taught that year were there for it all. Many even attended my wedding. Nick was in my 04 Liberal Arts Math class. We talked some, and got along pretty well. I’d hear his name in the years to come. I started hearing it a lot more in the fall of 2007. He got in a lot of fights. And he got arrested for them. His brother Mark got out of jail in the fall, and died in a tragic car wreck only a few short weeks later. Nick told me that was the low point of his life- up to that point. |
Filed under: Prison Ministry | Tags: arrest, christian, church, college ministry, friends, jail, marijuana, Prison Ministry, Youth Ministry
March 21, 2008
Krug- smeared all over the news, but covered by God’s love.
Current mood: 
content
Category: Friends
Note: All that I’m sharing here, JKrug said was fine to share, as we shared a cup of tea today for an hour in St. Augustine. Below is the account of that conversation, and comments to follow will continue a story of redemption.
I started a fast over the Easter weekend. It’s been a crazy week, with the news , coming down early this week about a friend, JKrug, I worked with who was arrested for growing cannibus in his home. It turns out, he’s also a teacher and coach, so lots of people immediately assumed he’s been dealing to students.
It was painful to hear all of the news. I spend one day a week at the St. Johns jail, leading a bible study for teenage guys at 10, then meeting with adult inmates one on one in the afternoons. Meanwhile, their stories are intersecting with mine, and it’s a beautiful thing.
I’ve been praying ever since the news on how I could intersect with him. I called his mom at her work, leaving a message. She works with young mothers and the adoption process. She saves so many lives. Today, as I got ready to drive to St. Aug to do the bible study, I asked my wife if she wanted to drop me off and run some errands. We were running a little late, and she dropped me off. Then, she went to the St. Aug post office. He walked in the door just ahead of her. She said his name, and he turned around. After telling him we’d been trying to get in touch w/ him, she gave him my number.
I walked out of jail with that on a text message. IT BLEW MY MIND. I called him, and we met up to talk within 15 minutes.
Filed under: Prison Ministry | Tags: inmate outreach, jail, prison, Prison Ministry, rehab, spirituality, Youth Ministry
Friday, January 11, 2008
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Joe’s court date
Today’s the day I goto St. Johns County Jail. I get to see one of my best friends, Jozef. We’ve also started a youth service down inside the jail for 17-19 year olds who are there. I get to speak there every week. I’m going down today to give letters from 5 teachers, 1 police officer, and 2 church leaders on behalf of Jozef to the court. His court date is Wednesday, January 16 at 1:30 p.m. I’d like to ask all of you to pray for him. Things can go one of 3 ways… 1- Jozef is release to probation or house arrest. 2- He’s sent to another rehab program. 3- He could have to serve from 6 months to 3 years in the St. Johns County Jail. It might take a pretty big miracle to get ’s 1 or 2 to happen. That’s why I’m posting this. In case you don’t know him, Jozef was arrested for drug charges/felonies back in April 2006. After 40 days in jail, he gave his heart and life back to Jesus after some pretty crazy times. |
awake
Filed under: Prison Ministry | Tags: christian therapy, drug abuse, helping friends, jail ministry, rehab, Youth Ministry
Tuesday, December 04, 2007 
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heavy hearted for joe.
I’ve decided to let ya’ll know the news about Jozef’s arrest today since you’ve probably already heard…..in case you don’t know me, they call me Big John. I’m 33 this Saturday…I have a lovely and awesome wife that loves God with all her heart. I teach high school math. And I’m a youth pastor at Celebration Church. While working with high school and middle school kids in St. Johns County for the past 7 years, I’ve seen a lot of things. I’ve had major disappointments, and sometimes, major blessings. The roller coaster life of adolescence is something to behold, and me and Rachel can’t help but do our best to help through Christ’s strength. Yesterday, I sat at the new skate park and, along with a couple of friends, made a video. It told the story of this past year in the life of jozef miller. he used to attend church and was a major influencer of kids….then he made some bad decisions. in the past year, he’d left church, and most of the christian friends he had. I tried calling him, but he’d rarely pick up. In April, he was arrested for dealing drugs in St. Johns county………. On May 30, in jail, Jozef gave his heart to Christ. He said he realized he was angry at God about things that he shouldn’t have blamed God for…things Joe had done to himself. I went to see him while he was there in jail, and sent him books to help him grow in his walk. |
bummed