Okay, maybe it sounds weird to you, but those are the two things that came to my mind when I listened to the recording of this week's Freedom Hour. My first thought was The Mod Squad. Remember that old show? As a kid, I never missed the weekly capers of Pete, Link, and Julie. One internet source describes the trio as "three young people in trouble with the law who can avoid jail by infiltrating the counter culture and exposing bad guys who prey on other kids." On some weird level, where my dramatic mind always wonders, I felt some sort of identity with this. Jail has touched the lives of Chuck Adair, Mike Riley and me in very different, but equally impactful ways. Because of that common bond, we work to infiltrate the counter-culture that is inside the prison to bring to them the even more radical counter-culture of Jesus Christ! We are trying to expose the Baddest Guy - the enemy who is out to kill, steal, devour and destroy lives all over this world by bringing them the Truth and showing them love and compassion, grace and mercy.
It was just sort of surreal sitting in the studio with Chuck and Mike. The way God had infiltrated all three of our lives and had orchestrated bringing us together is so amazing to me. As we talked about on the show, it is just more evidence that God is in every detail of our lives! When my uncle Mike talks about his anger at God because he lost his older brother, what we didn't tell you is that his older brother was my father. I was almost 2 when my father died; my baby sister was still on her way (she was born six months after our father's death). A few years later, my father's best friend married my mother and adopted my sister and me. It would take a book (someday) to tell you all that happened in between and the point of that book would be to show God's amazing sovereignty as well as His endless mercy and grace.
As I visited with Mike and Chuck before we recorded the show, it struck me that if God had not allowed my father to depart this earth in 1965, there is a good chance we would not have been recording this show. We would not have become so intrinsically involved in this crazy, amazing mission we call prison ministry. God works all things together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28) There is no mission I would rather be involved in than prison ministry; I think I can say the same for Chuck and Mike. I would like to think of us as God's Mod Squad! : )
So, that's the Mod Squad, now for those Jonah's brothers! Did you hear the resistance to God's calling in these two men?? Not to say I haven't resisted God, but this isn't about me - shew!! This is about Chuck and Mike! I am so glad God drug them kicking and whining into this great ministry! The Texas prisons are a better place because of the work God is doing through these two very amazing men! After they got the whale vomit all cleaned off, that is! ; )
Labels: God's Jigsaw Puzzle, The Freedom Hour
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