tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21744029509970759012024-02-07T05:56:53.691-08:00Kairos Ft StocktonKairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-66543642025591605042012-11-07T13:00:00.000-08:002012-11-07T13:20:01.943-08:004 days in prison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The kind people giving me a ride to the prison arrived at 5:40 Thursday morning. Cherie had already worked to insure I had everything packed and ready to go the night before. I had reviewed the talk they asked me to give because I had already forgotten what talk it was and what I was going to say despite the fact I had practiced the talk before others during the Kairos training. This is not unusual, and in fact is a normal part of my life due to the short and midterm memory loss issues I have from the brain injury. Fortunately I can often recover those memories quickly after I find the key to unlock them from my mind.<br />
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We stop by two restaurants and pick up the meals they have prepared and donated to the Kairos ministry, meals to feed the 30 to 40 people who will be there. My breakfast was paid for by someone and after eating we hit the road for the 150 mile drive to Fort Stockton. <br />
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In Fort Stockton we drove to the building that formerly housed a church that supported us. The church moved to different quarters but the building is owned by one of the Kairos members and it contains a commercial kitchen we had put in years ago so it is our headquarters during the Kairos events.
Arriving we enjoy meeting the others there for this event and spend time renewing acquaintances and catching up on what is going on in our lives. But quickly that evolves into getting to work as truckloads of food and supplies arrive and we rush to prepare to head to the prison on time. There are business issues to attend to first as we make sure people have places to stay, everyone knows their assignments, and the most important part, to pray together for God’s hand on us and on the hearts of those we will be serving during these four days.
Then it is time to head to the prison. Everyone pitches in to make sure rides are arranged and we all pile into the few vehicles making the trip and head out. <br />
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My heart stirs as the now familiar prison comes into sight and I see the guard towers, 12 foot high fences with concertina wire strung on the tops, and prison buildings. This is home to around 1500 inmates and those whose jobs are to keep them there in good health. It is not an easy job for behind these walls you find every kind of criminal and person. Some evil, but some who are surprisingly good.<br />
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Getting all of us and all the supplies through the gates of this prison takes what seems like hours. All the paperwork must be checked and each individual’s approval to enter the prison verified. Naturally there are some snafus but that is the nature of things. Then we all must submit to a careful search of our persons and belongings. Shoes and boots are removed and a metal detector is passed over our bodies, followed by a thorough “pad down” to insure we are carrying no contraband of any kind. Even gum is not allowed as it can be used for nefarious purposes in the prison.<br />
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We are all grateful when it finally comes time for us to be escorted to the gymnasium, that also doubles as the church and place for many events that require the gathering of a number of the inmates together. We have been preparing for this day for six months, from the moment we finished the last Kairos event here, so are anxious to get going. At the gym we meet the men in white (the term we use to refer to those in prison, for it is more respectful and the prison uniform is all white) who will be serving with us for this event. They have generally all attended previous Kairos events and have proven to be faithful members of the Christian community we work to establish in all the prisons Kairos is privileged to visit. There are many familiar faces here, people we have ministered to in the past and thus have developed relationships with. As many come to me, calling my name and displaying a grateful joy I have arrived, there is a sadness that comes over me. That sadness is because I have not been able to come to this prison as often as I would like because of the miles, lack of reliable transportation, and financial straits. I told some of them that if I lived in Fort Stockton I would be there every week.
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The first day is the introduction day. There are 42 men in white who have been picked to attend this Kairos. Some have put their request in two or three years ago, some just put their request in a month or two ago, and some never put a request in at all. Now the warden and chaplain are the ones who decide on who gets to be a part of each Kairos but ultimately it is God who picks them. We are all assigned one or two men in white that are our responsibility for this first day and the rest of the event. <br />
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Everyone has a name tag that was premade. It is about 4 inches by 7 with a yarn string that hangs it around the neck. As the men in white arrive at the gym their names are announced. We are all around the door and clap enthusiastically as if a star just walked into the room. Whoever is assigned to that person goes up and puts the name tag around his neck. Next they make sure that the individual has a drink of coffee or punch, along with a generous handful of cookies. Cookies are a major ingredient in this whole affair as these men do not see homemade cookies while in prison so it is a little taste of the free world they relish. Then we lead them to a set of chairs facing each other. <br />
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At this time we work to break the ice and start a conversation. Many of these men come in not knowing what to expect, and a part of prison requires a degree of skepticism and distrust of all around so there is often a wall maintained for protection. It is always a great joy for us to watch as these walls come down during the course of these four days. <br />
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There are a few talks that explain what to expect and encourage everyone to keep an open mind. This follows a time of introduction where each person is handed the microphone and tells who he is, what he does, and why he came. There is some chapel time in the area we created on the side of the gym with a wall made from a sixty or so foot long cloth banner that is maybe ten foot tall. At dinner time we serve the first of many meals, on this day simple sandwiches as we don’t get started till close to 5:00.<br />
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It is dark by the time we leave the prison but there is still more to do. We head back to the church where we eat the meal prepared by the outside angels (our designation for the women and men who prepare all the meals along with taking care of many other things) and then handle details such as insuring the men’s names were spelled right are taken care of. Then it is off to the hotel rooms, where we hope to get rested up for the upcoming 12 hour days in the prison. In the hotel rooms many of us work on the 42 letters each is encouraged to write to the men in white, a monumental task in itself. The wise ones had already started writing these letters months ago but invariably there are some who were unable to for various reasons so it’s rush time for them.<br />
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The next day (Friday) we all get up and get to the church by six in the morning. There we enjoy a breakfast fixed by the outside angels, who got up much earlier in order to prepare it. We may spend 12 hours in the prison but that is nothing compared to these folks who get up somewhere around four in the morning and go till the end of our day. After eating we discuss the needs of the day, load the pickups with cookies and supplies, pray, and head to the prison. It is still dark now with the sun just thinking of coming up. The temperature is in the low to mid 40’s so there is a definite chill in the air. There is only one guard up front to the check in pat down process goes slow, but we understand that and are patient. <br />
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Today the gym is arranged with seven round tables, each with nine chairs around it. The tables are all named, with a carved wood sign designating each tables name. They are Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, and James. There are six participants at each table and three of us volunteers. One of the volunteers is designated as table leader, one is the assistant, and we try to make sure there is on ordained clergy at the third seat. All of us volunteers are spread out with two of the men in white between us. On this Kairos the Warden put a person from the high security wing on each table. These are generally the bad boys, or at least someone who got into trouble recently. We don’t know who they are and we really are not worried about it. You see, we all understand that each and every one of them is loved by God. We understand that we all are sinners and it does not matter what we (as in everyone, including you) have done, God’s forgiveness is available to all. So there is no room for judgment.<br />
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Soon the men in white are called out of their cells and arrive. We greet each one warmly and show them where they will be seated for the rest of this event, that we call a “walk”. Each table will become their “family” table and we work to create a sense of camaraderie and unity there as the days move on. These are going to be long days so we start out quickly with the program. At this prison we have a core of talented musicians that are not only doing time but are active in the prison church as well. So there is some great music that is played during breaks and at designated times. All of the music glorifies and worships the Lord so augments the overall atmosphere.<br />
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Kairos has been around for decades, is an international ministry working in prisons in countries all over the world, and during that course of time has evolved into a powerful and effective means of leading people to Christ and changing their lives. The talks are carefully picked and given in a specific order. But the most powerful part of Kairos is that we do not try to cram religion down anyone’s throat, we simply show the love of Christ. The motto here is to “Listen, Listen, Love, Love”. There are wiccans, Satanists, atheists, pagans, and people raised in every denomination or religion known. That is fine, there is no judgment here. God knows the heart of every person in the world and He knows who will accept His love and who will refuse. He knows, we do not. Jesus simply said “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Understand that love is not simply saying “I love you” for we have seen just how cheap and empty those words can be. Real love is shown through action.
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The first talk of the day is called “Choices”. That is a powerful place to start because we are all products of the choices we make, and those in prison are there because of their choices. Each and every day we have choices to make and each and every day we can make good or bad ones. A basic truth of life is that we all will reap what we sow. At any point in life we can start making good choices and naturally we are in this prison to encourage them to think their choices through.<br />
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The next talk is “you are not alone” followed with “Friendship with God, The Church, and Opening the door”. These are interspersed with chapel time where there are meditations and shorter talks along with prayers read out loud. Then at lunch time we serve up the first of many meals. There are many who sign up for Kairos just for the food, for it is way beyond the meager low cost meals they get in prison. We know that and are fine with it. I don’t remember what it was now, because I don’t remember things like that well, but I do remember how it was received. Over the next 3 days these men in white will be blessed with meals that are far beyond anything they can get from the prison kitchen. Plus there are the deserts. Real ice cream with real chocolate syrup, homemade pecan pies baked by one of our volunteers wives, cobbler, and a variety of other things. I gain weight at each Kairos because I don’t eat this good at home. Then there are trays of fresh fruit kept refreshed on the tables along with trays of cookies, all of which they are encouraged to indulge in. <br />
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By the end of this first full day we are all tired and the men in white are starting to open up. At the end of each talk there is a table discussion. Then poster papers are passed out along with a variety of magic markers. Now is a time for each table to draw a poster that reflects their take on the talk. This requires them to work together and come up with an idea to draw out on the poster.
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It is time to head out of the prison. We go to the church where the events of the day are discussed. The individual needs of the participants are made known to the prayer warriors assigned to that particular person so they can focus their prayers. Prayer is the key to this ministry. When we walk into that gymnasium the presence of God is palpable. It was dark when we got to the prison and getting dark when we leave so a long and draining day. Rest is important so we pray and head to the hotels.<br />
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Let me tell of some of the little details that mean so much to these men we are striving to reach. Before each meal we sing a song of prayer and thanksgiving. Chapel time is timed so that we are there and away from the tables prior to the meals being served. At this time the table servants, all of whom participated in previous Karros’s, clear the tables and put out placemats. These placemats have been created by a variety of people from a wide range of churches and organizations. Often they have been made by children as young as 3 to teenagers. Usually they are signed with the creators name and age, though the three year olds and other young ones often had help with that. You can never understand the power of this till you see a “hardened” criminal break down and cry as he reads simple “I love you” and “God loves you” messages. I lost count of how many times the placemat contains a name and age that just happens to be the name and age of that prisoner’s own child. There are no accidents here, God’s hand is always involved.<br />
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Also with each meal there is a meal ticket placed that shows who it was that purchased that particular meal and what church or organization they belong to. All of this reveals to these men, who have often been abandoned by friends and family, the large number of people out there who care for these people they never met. For many of these men in white love is a foreign thing, something they have experienced very little of in their life. It is this love, the love of God displayed by these many small evidences, that breaks through all the pain and hardness of these men.<br />
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Saturday we are up before the sun again and start out like before with breakfast, prayer, and preparation at the church. Then we rush to the prison, anxious again to serve these men and God. The talks today are titled “Discovery” and “Christian action”. This time the chapel meditations are particularly powerful and coupled with it will be a forgiveness ceremony that often leaves us all in tears. This ceremony all of us participate in. It follows some teaching on forgiveness that has been touched on even the day before. The fact is our faith is founded on God’s forgiveness of all our sin. Without that none of us will see God. It is His love for all of us that moved Him to send His only son, Jesus, to pay the price for every evil done. In the Lord’s prayer we read “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” so it becomes clear that God requires us to follow His example and forgive everyone who hurt us in anyway. All of those grudges, that anger, and hate, are big stumbling stones to anyone’s life. The act of writing the names of these people who did you wrong and giving them to God is powerful and sets us all free of these things that often shackle us. For many this ceremony is the turning point during the Kairos weekend.
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The Christian Action talk helps many understand what it means to be a Christian. Again talk is cheap. It is not what you say, it is what you do that matters. The man who gave that talk this time is one of the youngest members we have ever had in Kairos. At twenty years of age he touched many of the men in white, who had often lost their youth in the lifestyles that put them in prison. We are not there just to talk about God and leave, we are there to change people’s lives and give them the tools needed to live a life freed from all the chains that bound them. We will be going back next week and there will be regular meetings of the Kairos and Christian prison community every week.<br />
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Sunday is the final day of this walk. By now most of the men have opened up and become very active in the discussions and activities. There were times the music team had everyone up and dancing, laughing, enjoying themselves with a freedom seldom found in prison. It was a new experience for many to be sure. The last three talks are Obstacles to God’s Grace, Walking in God’s Grace, and Hang in There. I would love to detail all of the talks we give as they are powerful whether you have been to prison or not, but then I would be writing a book and we don’t have time for that here. <br />
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This final day ends with what we call the Closing Ceremony. Just prior to that we go to another room where each participant receives a special cross and certificate. There are sometimes a few who do not wish to get a cross because it conflicts with beliefs, such as Muslim, Wiccan, or whatever else. That is fine, we are not there to force anything on anyone and even if they do not accept Christ the seeds of truth have been planted.<br />
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For the closing ceremony the prison allows the outside angels and others to come into the prison. Naturally they are kept separate from the men in white for many of them are women or have not had the training we have had from the Department of Corrections. Safety is always a concern here. During this ceremony each family group comes to the microphone and answers three questions. “What spiritual condition were you in when you came to Kairos? What did you find here? What are you taking with you when you leave?
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It is now we see the fruits of our efforts. We watch those who were cold and closed in now openly displaying emotion. We hear those who did not know God talk about their new relationship with God. Then there is an open microphone time when they can individually express anything they want. We have seen gang leaders ask forgiveness of their enemies, we have watched as those who had once known God rededicate their lives to Him, we hear firsthand the impact this program, and God through it, has had on these men. <br />
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This is our reward. This makes it all worth the time and effort taken by so many for so long. And ultimately, this will be important on the day we stand before God in judgment. At that time nothing else matters except what we have done to please the creator of all. Read the words of Jesus, who will be our judge, as found in Mathew 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
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Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-2298589193979944432012-07-16T08:51:00.003-07:002012-07-16T08:54:36.150-07:00<br />
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God is at work inside the darkness of the prison! And now, He is assembling a team of servants for the Kairos #28 Weekend at the Lynaugh Unit that will run from Thursday, 25 October through Sunday, 28 October 2012.
I am humbly asking you to prayerfully consider joining me in this endeavor for Christ by serving as a Team member and volunteer.
I am serving as the Weekend Leader and am working diligently to recruit persons with a servant's heart. I am so hopeful that you can clear your schedule for this important journey and that you will let me know of your interest in serving. If you are, please print and fill out the attached Team Application and get it back to me within 3 weeks so that I may add you to the list of potential team members.
We will have 4 team meetings, scheduled as follows:
Saturday, 18 August 2012
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Crestview Baptist Church, Midland
Saturday, 15 September 2012
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Crestview Baptist Church, Midland
Saturday, 22 September 2012
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Crestview Baptist Church, Midland
Saturday, 6 October 2012
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Crestview Baptist Church, Midland
You'll find that we'll place a serious and intentional focus on training. These team sessions will prepare you for this experience--both spiritually and in terms of your assigned job.
As many team members as possible who go inside the prison for the Kairos #28 Weekend are expected to come back one Saturday each month for a year. This is a time of discipleship, mentoring, and fellowship. On the Saturday following the Kairos #28 Weekend (3 November 2012), the Team will return to instruct the residents in the Prayer and Share Reunion Group. Over and over, we hear "I never thought you would come back." So please, if at all possible, I ask you to also commit to this 1st Saturday visit.
I ask you to prayerfully consider serving with me as a Kairos Team Member. If you know of someone who is interested, yet has never served in this wonderful ministry, please invite them too and provide them with a team application. I look forward to meeting with as we build our team in God's Special Time.
Your Brother In Christ,
Keith W. PoertnerKairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-49931496555548165862012-05-01T08:17:00.001-07:002012-05-01T08:18:28.842-07:00A New Day Is Dawning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kairos # 27 has come and...well I can't say gone for the seeds planted and paths begun by many of the men in white will continue on till the day we all stand before the living God. But our four days at the Lynaugh prison have been completed. It is always a wonder to watch and see God's hand at work during these events. When all is said and done we deeply realize that He is the great orchestra leader who is involved in every minute detail. It was no accident regarding who was chosen to be there, neither for the men in white nor us. There were some who had waited for years to be included in a Kairos, often times having signed up on other prison units. We heard several testimonies of their surprise at learning there was a "lay in" for them to attend this walk. There are no accidents where God is concerned, and no coincidences either, but there are many Godcidences (A word I had to invent after experiencing so many things that could not be explained as random happenings) We had gang members and leaders from many opposing sides, often dedicated to hate and destruction of the other, who were there. Two of them, sworn enemies of the other, were seated at the same table next to each other. There were those who did not believe in a god of any kind and those who practiced religious beliefs that are diametrically opposed to faith in Christ. It is always a wonder to watch hard hearts melt, to see high walls break down, and to see the truth of God's love break through.
This is why we are there, why we choose to be tools in the Lord's hand, to bring life where there is death, light in the midst of darkness. But it is just a start. Jesus told us to go and make disciples, not just come in, run a program, and leave hoping they will be OK. There is a responsibility that comes with serving the Lord, one which we will be held accountable for, so our work with the 42 men who were there is just beginning. Next week we will return to start that process of feeding them and teaching how to become part of a community, the family that all Christians should understand we are a part of. There were some who became Christians for the first time and Jesus described that as being "Born Again". When baby is born it requires nurture and protection from the parents, and must be taught even the basics of how to live, and this is true when it comes to our faith. In a way we, those in leadership, must change the diapers soiled of these babes in the Lord, and direct them away from the dangers that surround them. There are deep hurts and guilt's many carry that may require time and patience to heal. But rejoice, for there are those who were lost but now are found, those who had wandered away and have returned home. And pray for them, along with us, as the journey continues.Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-60327318103581329422012-02-14T18:14:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:14:47.034-08:00Update, new informationThere is always change and such is the case with the next Kairos event. The leader we had has been fighting cancer and had to resign. Thus we have a new leader, Greg Jackson, and with that a new location for our training times. The dates are the same, February 18, March 10, March 31, and April 14 but instead of being held at First Presbyterian in Midland we will be at New Life Church at 7184 Club Drive in Odessa. This is the old Odessa Country Club. Training starts at 9:00 am and runs till 3:00 or so. If you are interested in just seeing what this is about feel free to come. Lunch is on us so come on out. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK8i78EabX-URZycWnKC3vUo6fVkbdgMgBI0LxRdvRaBioSHm8B6QzOthsex0Mcxf4GgjR8hAPmsZRjJR5uqTUFSW9u9in317SjkgFw2ts-kN6sSXz-zeNcFxd2dRVnvbQbEOLc47Z94I/s1600/10-22-10+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK8i78EabX-URZycWnKC3vUo6fVkbdgMgBI0LxRdvRaBioSHm8B6QzOthsex0Mcxf4GgjR8hAPmsZRjJR5uqTUFSW9u9in317SjkgFw2ts-kN6sSXz-zeNcFxd2dRVnvbQbEOLc47Z94I/s400/10-22-10+010.jpg" /></a></div>Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-90483477253375695792012-01-12T13:12:00.000-08:002012-01-12T13:12:46.405-08:00Kairos 27 is comingHow I missed the last Kairos. Ended up stuck in Ohio so was unable to attend. I apologize to all for not updating this blog and hope to do better this time around. <br />
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Mathew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.<br />
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The next Kairos event is coming up. Won't you consider being a part of it? We will be glad to work with you and share of the joys that come through this ministry. There will be an introductory barbecue held soon that is designed to introduce all who want to learn more about Kairos. When that date is set we will publish it here and on the Kairos Facebook page. <br />
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Our main internet connection is <a href="http://kairosftstockton.org">http://kairosftstockton.org</a> and there are many links there to other sites and information.<br />
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Our training schedule (Yep we don't go in there blind) is<br />
Feb 25<br />
March 10<br />
March 31<br />
April 14<br />
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and will be held at the Grace Presbyterian Church. I'll get that address later.Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-88707627126379812772011-09-11T06:01:00.000-07:002011-09-12T09:00:20.301-07:00The next Kairos event is coming up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBL-0mODn2bbkUkIo_6bD-N0FaKo4rOl6jjUbf0YiYTf3ATjIltyoDpIB3ty37MMzd_66dr6DhwM8Vh2dT0Sh8D1r1rc4SztnRFc38ICxqyECchSK1Kog0ZJzOViEmWD7fo5VMyMCGm5x/s1600/1-4-11+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBL-0mODn2bbkUkIo_6bD-N0FaKo4rOl6jjUbf0YiYTf3ATjIltyoDpIB3ty37MMzd_66dr6DhwM8Vh2dT0Sh8D1r1rc4SztnRFc38ICxqyECchSK1Kog0ZJzOViEmWD7fo5VMyMCGm5x/s400/1-4-11+009.jpg" /></a></div>First training session was held on the tenth of this month, September. It was held at Greater Ideal church, which is on Indiana avenue in Midland, Texas. The sessions are held upstairs. All are welcome to come, if nothing else just to check out what this ministry is about. We are always looking for more to be involved. The ministry is much more than just a few going into the prison. If going into a prison is not comfortable for you there are plenty of other things to do. We have the outside angels, who cook the meals we take into the prisons, and do so much more. They put together prayer chains, agape posters, and a myriad of other activities that help this 4 day event run smoothly. Constant prayer is the vital ingredient in Kairos. You can pray for us, you can cook the cookies we give to the entire prison from your home, you can help pay for the cost of meals and actually purchase individual meals, and so much more. We invite all to come and just learn what can be done. <br />
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The schedule of meetings is September 24, at 9:00 AM, October 1, October 15. All at the Greater Ideal church on Indiana avenue, Midland. Other dates may be announced. <br />
The actual Kairos weekend will be November 10th through the thirteenth. We may be meeting in the gym on some of those dates. It's easy to find, just walk ten steps in and look to the right.<br />
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Here's a link to get documents volunteers need to get involved. <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=3849fce7600d3a65&resid=3849FCE7600D3A65!322&authkey=cfghVVM59w4%24">https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=3849fce7600d3a65&resid=3849FCE7600D3A65!322&authkey=cfghVVM59w4%24<a href="hhttps://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=3849fce7600d3a65&resid=3849FCE7600D3A65!322&authkey=cfghVVM59w4%24"></a></a>Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-11315411839718336572011-02-19T05:34:00.000-08:002011-02-19T05:34:07.259-08:00New Kairos event, training scheduleKairos #25 is coming up soon, in April. The training schedule for this event starts on Saturday, February 19, and will be held at First Baptist Church in Midland Texas, at their fellowship hall, which is on the north side of the building. The church is located on the corner of Louisiana and Garfield streets. <br />
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This meeting is open to any and all who have an interest in becoming involved in this exciting ministry. You don't have to go inside the prison to be a part of this. There is a big group of "Outside Kairos" team members, who prepare food and pray for us while we are inside. Come to the meeting and we will buy you lunch just so you can meet us and learn more about this. <br />
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The other dates of the training are March 5, March 19, and April 16, all at First Baptist and all starting at 9:00 in the morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y_jYg8Ni7KtZDHe00CqI0qegbj6Tv-zAlmCXTo4NZGa8okbDKhpKyUrsZOZopUBRWYfq5elYT5dRPxg_jdkgnByrBi3SCzoPFxhs61MhsF63TC9u3-ct5AkNLxAXy53CHLJ2d722cLLK/s1600/2-14-11+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y_jYg8Ni7KtZDHe00CqI0qegbj6Tv-zAlmCXTo4NZGa8okbDKhpKyUrsZOZopUBRWYfq5elYT5dRPxg_jdkgnByrBi3SCzoPFxhs61MhsF63TC9u3-ct5AkNLxAXy53CHLJ2d722cLLK/s400/2-14-11+006.jpg" /></a></div>Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-61833859929637765352010-11-09T07:04:00.000-08:002010-11-12T10:58:44.288-08:00Kairos #24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbKBGfGFSLpZWUfmrYW3TurgEN5RzgDhSh1odjvmpy6EOcDoutVUE8AwHexvrLPbo6ZdkYeYEd6ME0v1Dn5DiKkP4wxA5CCLj96RLqiuTN1Yp9qXpciQKBCJcsakMzX6lBaCZlcBuMAPx/s1600/00+Kairos+24+16x20+JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbKBGfGFSLpZWUfmrYW3TurgEN5RzgDhSh1odjvmpy6EOcDoutVUE8AwHexvrLPbo6ZdkYeYEd6ME0v1Dn5DiKkP4wxA5CCLj96RLqiuTN1Yp9qXpciQKBCJcsakMzX6lBaCZlcBuMAPx/s320/00+Kairos+24+16x20+JPEG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Wow!!! It’s over, the Kairos walk is finished, at least the four day event is completed. This is one of those things that will never have an ending, at least not until Jesus returns. Lives have been touched and the seeds that have been planted will grow in time. What they will grow into will vary from individual to individual, depending on the water and nourishment they receive and the quality of the soil. I hope to make my way down there every Friday to teach and help with that nourishment. <br />
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We were talked to about the mountain top experience, how coming down from the mountain and returning to the daily walk of life would come with temptations and frustrations. Today is our first day back. There’s a lot of catching up to do and I am tired for sure. I have lots of writing to do, need to record these events while they are still fresh in my mind. <br />
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So let me describe as best I can how these four days went. On day one we all arrived at the church that is being used as the central staging area of this event. Cherie and I got there a half hour later than we wanted but with plenty of time to get ready and head out with everyone else. The church is a small downtown fellowship that meets in a store front. They have installed a commercial kitchen that is a blessing to say the least considering we fix meals for about 100 people at a time, which include the forty-two “Men in White” who were chosen to take part in the Kairos weekend, plus all the volunteers and servants. The term “men in white” is how we refer to the inmates, because of the all white prison uniforms they wear. It’s a lot nicer and more uplifting than calling them inmates or convicts. On top of that are 32 to 34 of us who are going into the prison and then a host of “servants”. The servants are fellow inmates who have successfully completed a previous Kairos walk. So that’s a lot of food to fix as we serve them both lunch and dinner, plus the outside Kairos folks arrive at the church by 5:00 AM each morning to fix us breakfast before we head out to the prison.<br />
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We walk in the church and are warmly greeted. A big surprise was to see the toothless grin of Chuck as he ran up to say Hi. The last time I’d seen him was at the Lynaugh prison during the first Kairos I’d ever participated in. He had been the brother in white I was assigned as a “Sponsor” for so my task was to keep up with him and make sure things were going well. We hit it off right away and shared much together, creating a bond. I’d not done well at following up so did not even know he was out of prison. He’d been out 31 days and went way out of his way to be here and help out with this Kairos. Just one of many WOW!’s there would be. There was a general meeting as the days agenda was discussed after an opening prayer. Then those who were to give talks that day went to the chapel area where we all prayed over them. With that it was time to load the trucks with the tons of supplies and stuff we needed to set up for the event. We all left in a caravan of vehicles to the prison. <br />
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Prison! Oh the memories and thoughts that rise up every time I pass by one. We roll past the groves of pecan trees of one of, if not the, largest pecan orchards in the state of Texas and Lynaugh Unit comes into sight. All the buildings are a uniform grayish color that I can’t find a name for and are surrounded by ten or twelve foot high chain link fences with rows of unrolled razor sharp Constantine wire lining the tops. On all but the first day it’s still dark with the sun just thinking of coming up so the lights are on everywhere. So many lights that there is no place for a shadow to hide. I remember when I came here the first time, six months ago. Everyone kept asking me “Are you alright?” and “How are you handling it?” for they were genuinely concerned. They all knew I’d spent a lot of time behind bars and some of them also knew about my brain injury and the effect stress can have on me. I was unsure myself about how I would handle walking into a prison again that first time, but it wasn’t a problem, not even a little one. I knew I could walk out of the prison at the end of the day and besides that I know God is with me wherever I go so there is no need for fear. <br />
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Getting into the prison is a process similar to boarding a plane these days. Names had to be checked on the list of those approved to enter, ID’s checked to insure I was who I said I was, and then it’s belts off, shoes off, pockets emptied, no cell phones, no money, nothing that could be contraband or turned into a weapon. A once over with the metal detector and then a pat down and we were good to go. Only five at a time through the door and “Wait for the escort” before we head to the main building. The first trip included all the food and items we were taking with us. Seems some of the overhead projector laptop stuff hadn’t gotten on the list so it wasn’t allowed in, at least not at first. <br />
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It was so good to see many of the ones who were in the group I was privileged to be a part of when I did my first Kairos six months ago. They had been given the honor of being servants during this Kairos. When I walked into the gym Louis was the first one to run up and greet me with a hug. Then there was T…, V..., J... (All names withheld due to security and privacy policies), and others I’d had the honor of being with six months earlier. I asked about another one of them, a man who had given his life to Christ, for I didn’t see him and knew he had a hard road to go. They assured me he was…doing ok, but like I said I knew it would be hard. It was good to hear he hadn’t fallen away and that they continued to help him. He had been blessed by being removed from the tougher higher security area he had been housed in so that was good.<br />
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With the initial brief introductions done it was time to get to business. Chairs had been arranged for the opening ceremony, around the gym and facing each other. As the men in white came in their name was called along with the name of which one of us was that individuals sponsor. My guy’s name was J… so when I heard his name I rushed forward with his name tag in hand. I asked permission to put it around his neck, an important step for we must be careful and respectful when it comes to any thing that might be construed as invading their space. This I have an intimate understanding of due to the worlds I’ve lived in. Some of these men have violent pasts, coming from worlds of gangs, drugs, and other criminal activity. Even if they hadn’t been involved with that in the “Free world” (the term used to refer to the realm outside of prison by those behind the walls) life inside of prison is a dangerous one, full of rivalries and intimidations. Cherie has learned that in a restaurant or other public places that I desire to sit where I can see who’s coming and where my back is protected. It’s not too bad these days but there was a time when I was unable to be comfortable in any public setting. And someone reaching out to touch me raised all kinds of red flags inside as I position myself to catch a knife or punch being thrown, reflexes ready to spring to action. <br />
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J… did indeed come from such a past. I can’t reveal too much about him out of respect for his privacy but do wish to convey who he is in a general way. He is intensely tattooed from his face to his hands, all that was visible and not covered with clothing. There was a definite proximity defensiveness so I let him put the name tag on himself. The name tags are about eight by four inches with a yarn lanyard that goes around the neck so it hangs chest high, with the names printed in large letters under the banner of “Lynaugh Kairos #24”. We had name tags on as well, but of a different color to identify us as being a part of the Kairos team. <br />
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I asked J… if I could get him some coffee, lemonade, or cookies, and upon his reply led him to where they were being served and got them for him. This is the start of his being treated very different from what he’s accustomed to in the prison environment. Our motto is “Love, Love, Listen, Listen”. In general these guys are told what to do, when to do it, and exactly how to do it from authority figures who will reinforce their demands with punishment if not complied with. But we are here to serve them, to represent Jesus Christ and His love. Jesus gave the example Himself when he washed the apostles feet, and that was just one of many instances of His practicing the humility he preached. <br />
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With cookies and coffee in hand we went to find a seat. They were filling up fast for sure so we had to squeeze in a spot. The guy next to us wore a Wiccan star along with a scowl. I made note of that and you’ll hear more about him later. Now it’s time to get to know our guests, to strike up a conversation with this stranger we have never seen before. I’m not a social person to start with, partly due to the brain injury but also just because I’m seldom comfortable with strangers anyway, but this is different. This is working for the Lord so requires me to get out of my comfort zone. Among the questions we are told not to ask are “Why are you in prison?” or “How long will you be here?”. There are many others that we were told about during the two months of training I went through before this. But we can ask where they are from and stuff like what their job in the prison was. The whole idea is to get them comfortable and make sure they don’t feel pressured. J… opened up about his family and when I complimented him on his tattoos expressed his regret for them and the gang life that generated most of them. When asked why he came to Kairos he said he was looking for answers about life and hope for his children. That was a real positive response, a lot better than many others we’ve heard. He had questions and we believe we have answers. <br />
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Robert, our team leader, went to the mike and opened with prayer. Then he explained a little about Kairos, what our goals are and what to expect in the days to come. He asked that everyone have an open mind and a respectful or even reverent attitude, especially when we went to the area identified as the chapel. This was behind a fifty foot long banner that is ten foot high and stretched across the gym. On it are painted depictions of Jesus and the cross He was crucified on. That area we would all go to several times each day and there we would hear talks on a variety of subjects along with the public reading of prayers. <br />
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In fact shortly after Robert’s opening statements we went to the chapel for the first of these talks. Due to time constraints, caused in part by how long it took to get into the prison, we had to pack the talks in a little tighter than planned. The talks were titled “Know Yourself, I chose you, Prodigal son, and Night prayer”. <br />
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With those done and a short visitation time afterwards it was time to leave. The first day was done so we headed out and went back to the church. Driving up to the church we are greeted by the outside angels lining up on both sides of the door and hallway, extending well out the door. They begin clapping their hands in unison and sing “When the Saint’s come marching in” as we pass between them to go inside. What a welcome that is, what a rejuvenation of our spirits.<br />
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Once in we first settle down a bit and get blessed with a dinner the angels have prepared for us. When the meal is over we discuss who we met and what needs or problems we identified so these could be specifically prayed for by the prayer warriors who are such a vital part of this. Just as I was assigned a specific individual to be a sponsor for there are prayer warriors assigned to specific people. One of the things going on behind the scene, part of what is not seen and thus often not recognized, is that there are people around the world praying for this event. In fact there are people praying for this event around the clock in a prayer vigil that goes on 24 hours a day with every hour assigned for someone to pray in. You can feel this when we walk in the prison, a palpable presence of the Lord. <br />
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After all this and a closing prayer it’s time to head to the hotel and try to get some sleep. Cherie and I are so grateful for those who made this possible for us. It’s embarrassing often times to be poor, to struggle just to put food on the table. Many judge because of that, internally deciding that those who are not financially as well off as they must be lazy, not as “right with the Lord” as that person is, or some other disparaging thought, so it’s a hard thing for us to have to face. But we didn’t see that here. I don’t advertise our difficulties yet there are some who knew. Without asking our team fee was paid, someone gave us enough cash to pay for the gas for the 300 mile round trip, and our hotel room was supplied. Through the grace and love of others we were able to serve the Lord, and for that we are grateful and pray that those who gave receive a bountiful reward, a cup running over. <br />
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Cherie was so excited to be a part of this. She had made it to the closing for the last Kairos, the first one I’d attended, and was so touched by the power of God to change lives she decided to be involved with this one. So while I was at the prison she was back at the church, preparing food, praying, and attending many of the tasks needed to make this event possible. Plus she had a chance to meet and fellowship with the many “Outside angels” during this. <br />
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So now it’s time for us to unwind from the first day. Unwinding is hard to do despite being so tired from all the work and activity. We’re in an unfamiliar place, on an unfamiliar bed, far from home. We wonder how our dogs and cats are doing, if Linda had any problems getting Rascal and Trixie in and out of the house, and of course there are loads of other thoughts running through our heads. At the top of the list is Kairos. I tell Cherie of J… and the others we met. We prayed together and attempted to turn our minds off and go to sleep, with limited success. <br />
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Day Two<br />
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The alarm is set for five o’clock in the morning. We are expected to be at the church at 6:00 so it’s a rush to be sure. Of course we don’t quite make it there at 6:00 but we get there with plenty of time to eat the breakfast prepared by the outside angels, and to discuss the upcoming day’s activities along with the all important prayer. The three men who were to speak that day are set in chairs arranged in a semi circle and we all surround them, everyone touching the ones in front, who’s hands are laid on the recipients of this prayer. It’s not just one person praying and that’s it, many prayed, one at a time with all the rest agreeing with that individual’s prayer. <br />
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When all’s done it’s time to head out, but first we need to load the trucks with cookies and supplies. We might have taken the cookies the first day, I can’t remember clearly, but it doesn’t matter what day it was. That would be over one thousand five hundred plus dozens of cookies. Doing the math shows we had over 18,000 individual cookies. I know it filled the bed of a full sized pick up truck to the point they had to put many boxes in the cab for fear they would fly off the back of the truck. It’s still dark so we head out in that convoy to the prison. <br />
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At the prison it’s check in time, the same security procedures with minor variations depending on who’s in charge. Chaplain Raines is always there to help things go smoothly. I am quite impressed with this man, who does way more than the minimum required for his job, way more. It’s not just a paycheck to him, it’s truly a ministry where he understands he is saving lives from eternal hell, and he does it with enthusiasm and conviction. <br />
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From this point on things are arranged differently. There are seven tables set up, each with an apostles name on it. My table is the “Luke” table. Each table has six men in white assigned to it, with their places marked by the name tags we handed out to them the day before. In addition to that are two or three of us, the Kairos volunteers, along with an ordained Clergyman, also one of the Kairos volunteers. This way if anyone at the table wishes to share information that might be compromising he can talk to the clergyman while maintaining confidentiality. It provides a sense of security that is of great value in this whole process. <br />
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J… is purposely assigned to a different table than mine, but I do make note of where he is seated. We greet the guys as they arrive at our table, making sure they feel welcome. This Kairos I’m designated as a table leader. That doesn’t really mean I run anything, it’s just my duty to insure that things go smoothly and to make sure that everyone gets to express themselves freely. <br />
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On each side of me are two older gentlemen, T… and J…, who just happened to both be from Chicago. It’s a small big world. Then there was G…, H…, A…, R…, seated at our table. We spend a lot of time just getting to know each other, making introductions and sizing each other up. I know it may sound strange, “Sizing each other up”, but that’s how it is in prison. They don’t know us and we don’t know them, though with my background and experience I may have a greater insight regarding the lives our brothers in white have experienced than some who’ve led a sheltered life. However, in the end it doesn’t matter, for I’ve seen the Holy Spirit put words in the mouths of our volunteers, heard them give advice that was beyond their experience or even age in it’s wisdom. Plus we have many volunteers who have walked in the same shoes our brothers in white have walked, so God has blessed this Kairos ministry with some powerful assets, those who are humble enough to be willing tools in the Masters hands. <br />
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So we’re started, learning to trust, learning who each other is, and learning about the love of God. What an assortment of people we have seated at the Luke table. Several already know about God, some call themselves Christians, to one degree or another, but one absolutely wasn’t. All this God stuff was new to him. Oh, he’d heard a little here and there but his life was a vicious one, with much hardship and anger. I watched him soften during those four days, and at the end he told me “I felt something I’ve never felt in my life, ever”. What was it? He felt love, it was a strange thing for him, a new sensation that he had to wrestle with to understand. H… told me some of what he has seen in life and now understands that God truly loves him and that there is a reason he lives. He was in a police chase that ended up on you tube as one of the most dangerous ever recorded. At the end there were over fifty bullet holes counted in his vehicle and all were amazed that not only was he alive but not a bullet touched him. He realizes that he is blessed to be alive and believes it was the hand of God that protected him. I believe that too as I can certainly relate and am blessed to be alive when by all rights I shouldn’t be.<br />
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G… was different from all the rest. I still have a hard time quite getting a handle on who he is from a spiritual standpoint. There is much conflict in him, such contradiction, if that’s the word to use. I will continue to pray for him. Either he is a prophet of old testament biblical caliber or quite deceived. Of all the people I met he was the only one I drew a blank on. If what he told me was the truth he foresaw the deaths of his uncle and others and also foresaw other events in people’s lives. His words to them came true in unmistakable ways so his words have power. He has a servants heart, working to help others and accepting ridicule and abuse when he doesn’t have to. There are other things he shared that I must not, but it revealed much to me. A refusal to accept money for his gift was one. But the hurt he carries deep inside only God can heal. G…’s statement to me was that he took the word “Love” out of his dictionary and it’s a word he no longer uses or believes in. Yet his actions, his personal sacrifice, are the definition of love. One thing he could, or would not do, was say “Jesus Christ is Lord”. He had many questions, many questions regarding what it takes to be saved and our relationship with God. In the end I could see a chipping away, a slow acceptance of the possibility that love might not be a bad word to have in your “dictionary”. I perceive powerful spiritual forces at work in this man’s life and with that a great need to pray that God’s Spirit overcomes all that is not of the Lord.<br />
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Always at all the tables there are plates of cookies, and sometimes plates of fresh fruit, or vegetables with a sauce to dip them in. This in itself is a treat, something these guys never see. For some it was the first banana or apple they have seen in years and the same holds true for the broccoli or other vegetables made available. Home made cookies are also something the men in white never see, you can’t get a package from home like the military guys overseas can. There’s no doubt that some sign up for Kairos for the food but they get fed something much greater than cookies. Our servers, the former Kairos graduates, are waiting on us hand and foot, constantly making sure our glasses are filled, cookies are available, and dirty dishes and napkins are removed. Any time there is a need they rush to take care of it. <br />
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After the initial time of relaxing and conversation as all of us chow down cookies (there’s no question that I will gain weight from all the food we ate) it’s time to head to the chapel. There is a prayer and then a talk called “3 encounters with Christ”. After that we all head back to our tables. There is some conversation before the first of the main talks. This one is called “Choices” and is a powerful message concerning the choices we have made and the choices we will make concerning who we decide to be. When the talk is done it’s time for us to discuss at the table what each person got out of it. This is not a time for me or the other volunteers to express our views, it’s time for the men in white. Our job is to guide and perhaps augment but it’s their time to open up about what they feel or their life and we are to give them the freedom to do that with no judgment of any kind. This will be the procedure during the rest of the event, chapel, talk, discussion, and at the end of each session we have the guys at the table draw up a poster that expresses what they received from it. <br />
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Creating the poster helps them all discuss among themselves their thoughts on the talks as decisions are made regarding what to draw or how to express their concepts. At first there was a universal agreement regarding who would be the artist as one of the guys has a reputation for creating artwork. It’s common to find some who have a talent for creating drawings and cards and use that as a means of earning commissary items for themselves. Eventually H…started doing a lot of the drawing. That showed how he was loosening up and getting involved with everything, a real good sign. <br />
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After the poster is made it was time for lunch to be served. This will be the first of many meals we would serve to our brothers in white, and another reason I suspect I gained a few pounds. A prayer to bless the food is made, actually it’s sung. The servants clear our tables, removing the trays of cookies, the notebooks everyone was issued to enable them to take notes of the lessons and events, and anything else in the way. Then they lay out the placemats. These are a special part of the program that deserve description. The placemats have been made by children in churches and organizations throughout the area that are supporters of Kairos. Some may even have been made in other countries as well. For each meal new placemats are put out. They often have the child who made the placemat’s name on them, written in their own hand, and sometimes even have their age down. This first meal is just the start of our brothers realizing just how many people around the world really care about them, just the start. The full impact of that message would be revealed towards the end of these four days.<br />
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I watch as our guys begin to examine these placemats. There is amazement and wonder on their faces as they look at the cute hand prints, made with tiny little hands, cleverly turned into little chickens. I’d have to draw it to help you understand and I won’t so you’ll have to use your imagination. This was just how the mats on our table were done for this first meal. Every mat was different and showed the ingenuity of those who helped these children create these masterpieces. Many of our men in white have children, some they haven’t seen in years, and some they have never seen in a few cases. All of them have families of one type or another and through the circumstances of the lives they’ve led, the lives that placed them in this prison, have left a wake of pain and unhappiness behind them. The impact of something as simple as a placemat made by a child, can never be fully known for it’s immensity and depth, when it comes to the lives of these men in white. I watched tears, smiles, incredulity, and all kinds of emotions on their faces as they looked at not just the placemat in front of them but all of the mats on the table. It’s just the start, the first meal, first of many firsts for these guys. <br />
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Then comes the meals. I don’t remember what they served, didn’t write it down, but it doesn’t take much to beat prison food. Not much at all. Just the cookies and fruit were a treat but now were getting to the food. It might have been hamburgers for that first meal. I know they served hamburgers for one of them and even something as simple as a hamburger can be an exceptional luxury in prison. Some of these guys have been locked up for ten or twenty years, and a few of them have little hope of ever seeing freedom, knowing that odds are they will die behind bars. <br />
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It is amazing at how quiet a gymnasium full of people can get. There was no talking as everyone focused on enjoying the meal set before them. The servants hustled to fill drinks and perhaps clean a mess that was made. They won’t eat till everyone else is done, truly putting others needs before their own. I hear an occasional “Wow” “Man this is good” but not much else as everyone chows down. It doesn’t take long before seconds are being served. That in itself is a blessing. In the prison chow hall you have only so long to eat your food and then it’s a rush to clear the table and head back to your cell so there is no such thing as a leisurely meal. <br />
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Like they say in the infomercials and sales programs on TV “But wait, There’s MORE”. The guys think they’ve had a great meal and are sitting back in gratitude when the servants start passing out dessert. Think the cookies were appreciated? Wait till they get dessert. What is it? ICE CREAM???? CHOCOLATE SAUCE ON IT????? NO WAY!!!!! Something else that is unheard of in prison, at least in this one. And there are even seconds served with this so when all is said and done everyone had their fill. What an honor to be a part of this it is for me, what a privilege. <br />
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Every time they prepare for serving meals there are small tickets placed at each setting. Each ticket says “You are not alone, I am praying for you and have been praying for you since I chose to provide food for you during your Kairos Weekend. I pray that it reminds you how very much Jesus Loves you and how He will always be there to provide for you. Ephesians 3:19”. On each ticket is the name of the person who purchased it along with the church they are from. <br />
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The impact of this grew with each meal. We had the guys, if they wished, write a thank you and short statement about what each meal meant to them. We offer these tickets for sale to the many churches and individuals who have a heart for this ministry. They provide a great source of financing the thousands of dollars in expenses we rack up for this ministry. But more importantly it allows people to reach out and touch someone for the Lord whom they have never met, and probably will never meet. One of the most powerful messages we can get across to these men in white is that they are not alone, that there are thousands of Christians who love them and care enough to be involved in some way, be it prayer, place mats, the Agape wall, buying meal tickets, or the many other ways we find to show love. For many, who are alone, have been abandoned by family and friends, and otherwise feeling rejected, sometimes even by God, this has an incredibly powerful effect. <br />
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We sing what will be the traditional song, a kind of closing thank you for food prayer set to music, after everyone is finished. It’s the same song we sang while I was going through my training for this event. Tables are cleared and it’s time to go to the chapel again. The tables are dismissed one at a time so each table is able to stay together, and we quietly file into the chapel. <br />
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Here we sing songs, lead by the very talented men in white who will be serving us with their skills on musical instruments and voice over the entire four day event. Then there are a series of bible lessons and meditations, interspersed with prayer. All of this is a well laid out and thought through plan designed to teach the truth about the love of God for us all, along with His desire and ability to forgive and set us free, to lead us on a path that gives life, not death.<br />
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When it’s time we all head back to our tables. There’s a break time to take care of any necessary business and opportunity for more reflection on what we’ve heard. Seeing as how this is prison, there are often required interruptions for “Count time”, when the guards make sure everyone is where they should be, as well as calls for those with medical needs, such as diabetes, to get their required medication. Sometimes, when they can’t quite find someone, everything comes to a halt while they recount and verify everything. Not a big deal, just an inconvenience that we are aware of and learned to roll with. We are just as subjective to the guard’s wishes as the men in white are. It’s their prison and we are guests in their house. Besides that we, all the volunteers, need to show by example how to be subject to authority and to show them the respect they should be given. That respect has nothing to do with whether we agree with what’s going on or not, it has to do with who they are and what they represent. This is the same respect that we, as Christians, need to have for those in authority out in the free world. <br />
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After the break it’s time for our next talk. This one is on the Church. So many people have so many ideas about what the church is and isn’t, and so many of those ideas are based on wrongs done or the hypocrisy they’ve seen and experienced. In prison or out, it’s the same, it’s a shame, and often the reason people refuse to go to church or have anything to do with God. The talk makes clear that church is not a building, it’s the people. This talk ends with a series of rousing yells, when in response to the speakers question “Who is the church?” everyone says “WE ARE THE CHURCH”. It’s almost like a pep rally in it’s flavor and enthusiasm. Really stirs things up, in a good way. For a population that is often required to be subdued, and where group activities are carefully watched, and undue excitement seen as a potential sign of trouble, this is a moment of freedom that helps the soul.<br />
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After the talk it’s once again time to discuss what we heard. Again this is not a time that we, the volunteers, express our thoughts, but it’s the time for our brothers in white to talk. We hear of experiences they have had, or in some cases of the total lack of experience or contact with the church. I listen as other men in white counsel and advise their fellow brothers, giving them direction and comfort where needed. My only duty now is to insure that everyone has a chance to talk and encourage them to open up. This first full day many are reticent and not anxious to get involved, but we watch as that all changes over the course of this event. It’s a miracle, to watch hearts of stone turn into hearts of flesh, to see the hard exteriors breaking as the needs inside seek to come out, looking for that light of love we are there to shine. <br />
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Then it’s poster time. Sometimes it seems like we’ve only scratched the surface when the announcement comes that it’s time to make a poster. The servants pass out poster board and the bucket of markers and pens used to create these visual depictions of what is in the hearts of our men in white. “What do we draw?” is asked and others throw up ideas. Some still want to discuss the talk, to finish revealing their thoughts, so I try to direct that to creating the poster. <br />
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We have a time of singing and worship now, that lasts about fifteen minutes. During this time everyone is encouraged to stand and clap their hands, to physically take part in this. Many do and some do not, but that’s expected. The hardest have their image to protect and don’t want to be seen as weak. Some refuse to even stand up, remaining seated, drinking coffee and eating cookies, but all the time watching what’s going on around them. One caught himself tapping his hand on his leg in time to the music and forcibly stopped himself by grabbing the offending hand with his other hand. By the last day though, he was one of the miracles, set free to love God and renouncing the witchcraft he had been a part of for most of his life. <br />
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I have friends who are practicing pagans and witches and when I write this I worry that they will be offended. There is no offense intended, please understand that I only desire to present the truth I have found. One of them had been active in church, what church I have no idea, but had been hurt, rejected, or otherwise damaged by those who were supposed to be presenting the Love of Christ. This is a sad tale that I have heard time and again, and experienced myself. Folks, God is God, and people are generally a mess, so don’t judge God by what people do. God will judge them and hold them responsible for the hurt they have caused. So look past them to God, who loves you and holds His hand out to you, ready to forgive and restore all that has been lost. My prayer is that the deceiver, the one who hates and pretends to love, Lucifer, is shown for what he is and that you can see clearly the truth. Proverbs says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of that way is death”. I have been dead but now live, and my desire is to share life with you, and the true joy that comes with knowing you are with God for eternity.<br />
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Anyway, with that said I suppose I need to get back to writing about Kairos. It’s only about 2:40 on the first full day, and there are two more days to go. So much has happened and we’ve barely gotten started. At this point one of our volunteers takes the mike and explains all the posters that have been being put up on the wall of the gym all morning. We call the “Agape Wall” of posters. Some are crudely drawn and some are works of art, but all of them are filled with signatures and little short messages from the signers. These posters come from all over the world and a majority of them are from prisons and Kairos groups in the prison. They contain many messages of hope and prayers for this particular Kairos at the Lynaugh unit. Part of the message is that “You are not alone”, that there are many throughout the state and around the world who understand what it means to be behind bars. Later I would watch as many studied these posters, looking at the names and messages, sometimes even finding someone they knew. <br />
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The next talk is “Opening the Door” and it also helps deal with problems and misconceptions people have regarding church and who God is, as well as what kind of relationship we can have with God. After the talk it was chapel time so we went straight to the chapel area. There was more prayer and a short lesson on spiritual counseling. With that done we returned to our tables and had a discussion on the talk with making a poster to follow. <br />
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Now it’s time for more singing and worship. It’s evident that people are becoming more comfortable and involved now. The singing is much more exuberant and so is the clapping. There is a marked improvement on the amount of joy in the room and this is just the start. Freedom is starting to creep in, freedom to express yourself, freedom to be happy and with it a release of all the anxiety that keeps many tied up inside. <br />
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We have more chapel times, cover more subjects that help our brothers in white understand who God is, and who He isn’t. There is dinner served next, and with each meal wonder grows. Wonder at the effort put into each meal, and the thought and care involved. Nothing is cheap and easy, it all comes from love and concern, with the realization that every bite served represents Jesus and His love. The next talk is on Accepting God’s Forgiveness, a vitally important subject for all of those who have lived the kind of life that leads to prison. <br />
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This ends the first full day. Saturday will follow the same format, talks, discussion, creating posters, chapel time, prayer, singing, and food, lots of food. I won’t go into a detailed run down of what happened Saturday, it’s taken me several days just to do this. What I do want to talk about now is what’s really important, how lives have been changed for Christ.<br />
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We watch as hard hearts are made soft, we watch as bad ideas and beliefs are examined in the light of Jesus and His word, and in some cases changed. There were Satanists who accepted the love of Christ, there was a Wiccan who renounced his belief, announcing publicly he now knew what the truth was. On Sunday we have what we call “Closing”, which includes an open mike period where the brothers in white can tell everyone what’s on their heart. The first guy up was the leader of one of the main Mexican gangs and had been a major drug dealer, like real major. When he took the mike he started crying and had a hard time getting words out. The leader of another gang, Crips I believe, came up and gave him a hug to encourage him. This is unheard of, these guys would normally kill each other. But this is the power of God, the power of love, the power of forgiveness. <br />
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There are countless stories we have seen here, one was where a gang leader came to the mike and accepted Christ as his savior, knowing and stating as he did that this act would mark him for death. He is still alive and has become a powerful influence for Christ in the prison. There was a high ranking member of the Bandidos motorcycle gang, who also expected to be killed for becoming a Christian and rejecting the club. Through the intervention of Kairos members and the chaplain I heard that he only had a leg broken instead. <br />
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But the stories I know and watched are the gang leader who came to the mike, and many at my table who pulled me aside to talk and work through their issues and questions. I received letters from two of them just the other day and need to respond. One of the things we do is each of the Kairos volunteers writes 42 letters, one to each of the guys that attend the Kairos walk. We write them in advance, not knowing who will get them until the first day of Kairos, when a list is released of who is attending. These letters are sorted and handed out to the men while all of us volunteers remain separate in the chapel area. We can hear as they tear open envelopes, as they must for no unsealed letters are allowed out because of prison regulations. For some of these guys, these are the only letters they have ever received in prison. One of the guys at my table said he was only able to read one letter, then he started crying. <br />
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Another story I can tell involves one of the men who was at my table during the last Kairos. He had been a hardcase, as so many are to start with, but during the course of the Kairos opened up and asked for prayer for his son. As is so often the case in the world of drugs and crime, his family was broken and there was much hurt and pain. He told how his son was now in prison and expressed his concern for him, along with his feelings of guilt for being such a poor example and father. So we prayed. Prayed for reconciliation and for God to work in this situation, to put His hand on the son and show His love.<br />
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Guess what? His son was transferred to this prison, an amazing thing in itself, and the son put in a request to participate in this Kairos. Understand that some people must wait for years and put in repeated requests to be included in the 42 who are allowed to participate, but his son, new on the unit, was accepted. The father? Oh, he was one of the servants and when the draw was made ended up being assigned to serve the table his son was at. Now we are way beyond coincidence, we are at the Godcidence level of things. Godcidence is a word I’ve had to invent to use for the many things that happen in my life that defy all the odds. In the search I made to find the God I didn’t know, or wasn’t sure, existed, thing after thing happened that were beyond just happenstance. <br />
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So father and son did not talk, there was definite friction and old hard feelings involved, a history I don’t know all of but one full of bitterness for sure. Son has been in the system since he was ten years old, in and out of juvenile jail till he was old enough to graduate to adult prison. He’s big city, (Houston) hard and gang banging mean. Oh, he had respect, in the gang style, where you could tell folks knew not to mess with him or piss him off, and he knew they knew that. But that’s the world his dad came from too. They barely said a word to each other and the son barely tolerated his dad serving him his meals and drinks. We knew and we all prayed and made a point of making sure our prayer warriors kept this situation before God. Slowly we saw change, ever so slowly. <br />
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Then it happened. It was open mike time, one of the moments the brothers in white could express themselves. Son swaggered up to the mike, walking the in the manner required by who he is, you know, got to be cool, and he said the words that made everyone’s heart drop. “I just want to shout out to my dad (Understand this is the first time the word “dad” came out of his mouth. Up till now it was always “my old man”) and say “I Love You”. His dad was in the back, in the area food was prepared, when this happened. Duane, the table clergy, rushed back there to see if dad had heard. Dad was standing there speechless, with a numb expression on his face. Duane goes “Did you hear?” and dad just nodded “yes”. Later on he was able to go up to his son and, for the first time, hug him and said “I love you too son”. <br />
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Just writing this brings tears to my eyes. I have two sons, whom I raised with my second wife, that the sin and bad choices of my life have put a great divide between us. That coupled with the vast distance between here in Texas, where I live, and Toledo Ohio, where they live, means there is little contact and much love that has been lost. <br />
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So that gives you an idea of Kairos, a snapshot so to speak of four days when the free world comes into a prison to show the Love of Christ and of those who are followers of Christ.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxkbnk0duKgIuiN88X7p98vWzhMEIwt5NZOU2ZJj7EGyIGoc6-pYQeFWjgICS949-RqPKWwTOtrTxMYGBI52SEDW5iWdwZHDQdHNZGhKIK4SbwSSLZhrFl-o2jrYx1MUrBLFJXfqJ5ESf/s1600/6-13-10+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxkbnk0duKgIuiN88X7p98vWzhMEIwt5NZOU2ZJj7EGyIGoc6-pYQeFWjgICS949-RqPKWwTOtrTxMYGBI52SEDW5iWdwZHDQdHNZGhKIK4SbwSSLZhrFl-o2jrYx1MUrBLFJXfqJ5ESf/s400/6-13-10+006.jpg" width="400" /></a>Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-1792864498769164502010-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:002010-09-16T09:00:10.334-07:00Kairos #24 schedule & message from our fearless leader<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWN1VzYxuPSp9b_ih3oXC5OdMjrPmNmbirUtZIIuHciu0n07brrDM7OblQapKsS_PdhuJUiTuP1a_MyOsVow7E63Wb3sIwIz0IpHVuDKWGQeuqDPGq1gslo_DeGfBBqn6FsI0MFjSHsnP/s1600/100_8417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWN1VzYxuPSp9b_ih3oXC5OdMjrPmNmbirUtZIIuHciu0n07brrDM7OblQapKsS_PdhuJUiTuP1a_MyOsVow7E63Wb3sIwIz0IpHVuDKWGQeuqDPGq1gslo_DeGfBBqn6FsI0MFjSHsnP/s320/100_8417.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kairos #24 Volunteers,</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The second Team Mtg for Kairos #24 will be this Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010 starting at 9:00 am at the<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1284652304_0" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">First Presbyterian Church</span> in Midland, Texas, in the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1284652304_1" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Koinonia</span> Room inside the gym. A map is attached for your review.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kairos #24 got off to a great start with the first Team Meeting last week. We had several new volunteers, and a few who returned from taking a break. It was great to see old friends, as well as getting to know some new friends. For all who attended, I want to say “Thank You” for being there and I look forward to seeing you this Saturday. For those who couldn’t make it, I hope to see you at the second Team Meeting. I’ve left messages and sent emails to a few people I haven’t heard from. Please let me know if you’ll be able to answer Christ’s call to be a part of Kairos #24.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I received team applications from nearly everyone at the meeting, but there are a few I still need. I’m attaching a copy of the form in case you need one. As a reminder the Team Fee is $125 per person. There are scholarships available, so the team fee shouldn’t keep anyone from attending. Anyone needing a full or partial scholarship should contact Dave Pearcy.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">For all the new volunteers who haven’t gone through TDCJ training. Please send your completed application to the TDCJ as soon as possible. The TDCJ training application can be found in your folder. For the returning volunteers, the TDCJ now requires that we go through training every two years. If it’s been over two years since your last TDCJ training, you will need to take it again. Chaplain Raines at the Lynaugh Unit will be giving training at 9:00 AM the morning of Thursday, Oct. 28 before Kairos #24 begins.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Please be in prayer that the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1284652304_2" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Holy Spirit</span> will guide and protect each and every one of the volunteers, the Lynaugh Kairos community, Chaplain Raines, and the Lynaugh Unit as a whole.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1284652304_3" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The Stepping Stone</span> ministry will be providing lunch again. They did a great job with lunch last week, and I know it will be even better this week. Please remember to be generous with your lunch donation.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Future training dates are as follows:</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Team Mtg #2: Saturday, Sept 18<sup style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">th</sup></div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Team Mtg #3: Saturday, Oct 2<sup style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">nd</sup></div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Team Mtg #4: Saturday, Oct 16<sup style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">th</sup></div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kairos #24 will be Oct 28-31 at the Lynaugh Unit in Fort Stockton</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Follow up training will be Nov. 6<sup style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">th</sup>.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Our Brother Bob Westbrook has put together a wonderful blog: <a href="http://www.kairosftstockton.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1284652304_4" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">www.kairosftstockton.blogspot.com</span></a>. <a href="http://www.kairosftstockton.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1284652304_5" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Kairos blog</span></a> I encourage everyone to visit the blog for additional information.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I look forward to seeing you Saturday.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Blessings from our Lord and Savior.</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Robert Winkler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="yiv1536472408MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rector – Kairos #24</div>Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-20641649249353087772010-09-11T05:53:00.000-07:002010-09-11T05:53:54.029-07:00The Kairos #24 training starts today. It will be at the first Presbetyrian Church in Midland. All are welcome to come by and see us. Training starts at 9:00 Here are directions.<br />
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From Odessa, South: Take Business I-20 (old Hwy 80) east to Midland. Bus I-20 will become Wall Street. Stay on Wall St towards downtown. Just before getting to downtown, turn left (north) on “C” Street. Go one block, turn right on Texas Ave and pull in parking lot on left.<br />
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From Odessa, North: Take Hwy 191 east to Midland. Hwy 191 becomes Andrews Hwy after you cross under the Loop. Continue east on Andrews Hwy towards downtown until it starts to curve to the south. You will pass by the old Midland Memorial Hospital on your left. Go one block past the hospital and turn left (east) on Texas Ave (there will be a Walgreens on your right). Continue east on Texas Ave about 1 mile. Turn in parking lot on left, just past “C” Street.<br />
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From Van Horn / Ft Stockton: Go east on I-20 towards Midland. Take the Exit 136 (Hwy 349). Turn left (north) on Hwy 349, (also called Rankin Hwy). Rankin Hwy will become Big Spring Street. Continue north on Big Spring, towards downtown. Once you get downtown, turn left (west) on Wall Street. Go two blocks past “A” Street, turn right (north) on “C” Street. Go one block, turn right on Texas Ave and pull in parking lot on left.<br />
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From Big Spring / Stanton: Go west on I-20 towards Midland. Take the Exit 136 (Hwy 349). Turn right (north) on Hwy 349, (also called Rankin Hwy). Rankin Hwy will become Big Spring Street. Continue north on Big Spring, towards downtown. Once you get downtown, turn left (west) on Wall Street. Go two blocks past “A” Street, turn right (north) on “C” Street. Go one block, turn right on Texas Ave and pull in parking lot on left.<br />
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First Presbyterian Church: The training for Kairos #24 will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Midland (800 W. Texas) in what the church calls the “Koinonia” room. The Koinonia Room is located in the Gym (Family Life Center) which is the far West part of the church. I’m attaching a Google map of the church. There will also be signs posted. Call my cell, 432-352-4725 if you get lost.Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-48301301849217196322010-09-07T09:09:00.000-07:002010-09-07T09:09:53.573-07:00Info on upcoming Kairos trainingI'm working to see if I can post the PDF forms on this blog. Being not terrible techy it's a chore. Let's try pasting to see what happens<br />
file:///Users/westbrookfarms/Downloads/Kairos%20%2324%20Team%20Appl%20Form.pdf<br />
That didn't come close to working. Got to go to a Kairos meeting so will see if anyone there has a clueKairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-91855087402761620662010-09-07T09:03:00.000-07:002010-09-07T09:06:23.660-07:00share<a href="http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/article_77a974d1-7ddd-585b-bad7-e34f449b58d3.html">share</a><br />
This should be a link that takes you to the newspaper article about the Kairos picnicKairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-47129430748055944932010-08-29T19:35:00.000-07:002010-08-29T19:35:26.787-07:00Kairos picnic/luncheonSaturday we had a picnic/barbecue/luncheon. Not sure what to call it. They said it was a picnic but to me picnics are outside and this was inside at the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church in Midland. The main reason for this is to gain recognition of the Kairos ministry and hopefully attract and recruit others who have a heart for those in prison. There were two TV stations that interviewed members of Kairos and the Midland newspaper sent out a reporter. Her story aired in Sunday's paper. She interviewed me and Robert Winkler. Got a little confused on the article as she had me as going to Uganda, I think she got my name mixed up with Roberts. Not to worry, it was a good article.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNxvUBVkoaaLBb0fRPWhNSlIqoefdnxodd1OUoi8lCMNu_wabh18SEL9dEXSOcw4cvSjXtg5C_a0vux2t_zKzKQSYF3-NJDe-rHvTIKYAGRQYMJSIcOxSeDrB8OJ2cI4uPGyd0a4SPq59/s1600/100_8308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNxvUBVkoaaLBb0fRPWhNSlIqoefdnxodd1OUoi8lCMNu_wabh18SEL9dEXSOcw4cvSjXtg5C_a0vux2t_zKzKQSYF3-NJDe-rHvTIKYAGRQYMJSIcOxSeDrB8OJ2cI4uPGyd0a4SPq59/s320/100_8308.JPG" /></a></div>The highlight of the day for me was when the chaplain for the Lynaugh unit prison showed up. He was a little late as a chaplains duties often call at inconvenient times. I'm so bad about names and can't remember his. Sorry. But what a man of God he is. Quite on fire for the things of the Lord and well aware that in his hands sit the lives and eternal futures of thousands of inmates. Geese, I wish I could remember his name. If one of you readers know write it in the comments section. By the way, he's a former Hells Angel, proof of God's ability to change lives.<br />
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He told us about what God is doing at the prison. He is the new chaplain and arrived when we were conducting the most recent Kairos walk, my first Kairos. See I'm new at this too so may not have all the particulars down pat yet but it's not about me. When the chaplain took over there were only five or six programs going on and now, under his hand, there are forty two. People are getting saved, gang members are getting along (more or less but they show up at the services) and attendance is up. There are many fantastic things coming so it's an exciting time to be a part of the ministry. I know this might sound strange for some of you but that means it's also an exciting time to be in prison at the Lynaugh unit.<br />
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I can talk that way because I've been in prison, been in prisons and jails in five states, so I understand what it's like. The reason it's an exciting time to be in prison at the Lynaugh unit is because God is moving and there is a greater chance someone there can learn about Jesus Christ and will accept Him as their savior. You see, we all have sinned, we all have done things that are wrong. Here on this earth we pay when caught for some things by being sent to prison. When we die and stand before God the judgment is either eternal life with God in heaven or eternal separation from Him. That's a final judgment, period. So at the Lynaugh unit, and for that matter every prison and even out in the free world, there is a chance we all have to learn about God's love and mercy, and with that the opportunity to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and thus be born again, set free from all the sins and habits that chained us and we were enslaved to.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7_5DqjtEXdmrAvgSLm2Xf_l6atQg1efr09b7SA33PUe8Fyzzq8A3Ns3ovH7Udm5wJrmjCvhbFgb9dhD6KOsQAjE495QEovgYROm51L5Umq1H5yx1PC2tjhQLJcMg_t7xqmJC03B8bcIQ/s1600/100_8305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7_5DqjtEXdmrAvgSLm2Xf_l6atQg1efr09b7SA33PUe8Fyzzq8A3Ns3ovH7Udm5wJrmjCvhbFgb9dhD6KOsQAjE495QEovgYROm51L5Umq1H5yx1PC2tjhQLJcMg_t7xqmJC03B8bcIQ/s320/100_8305.JPG" /></a></div>Like I told the newspaper lady, there are good people who do bad things and there are bad people who want to become good. Through Kairos and for that matter through many other means these people can learn about God and be set free to start a new life. In prison that can be tough. There's a lot of rough things going on and as soon as you accept Christ you can bet some will target you for persecution of one type or another. So it's important that we help and strengthen these new brothers in Christ. Fact is most of the Christians in prison will put to shame many of those who claim to be Christian out here in the free world. That's just my personal opinion so don't take it as being judgmental or anything, I just know what I've seen.Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2174402950997075901.post-69667753892033753242010-08-24T08:55:00.000-07:002010-08-24T08:55:02.177-07:00WelcomeThis is the blog for the Kairos prison ministry that primarily goes to Linaugh prison unit in Fort Stockton. In time you will be able to see and read about the wonderful things God is doing to change lives many think are gone and not reclaimable. With God all things can become new.Kairoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715107753355908480noreply@blogger.com0