by scorwin | Jul 7, 2015 | My Faith, Prison Ministry, Stuff That Has Happened to Stacy
I often write of the incredible ways God has allowed me to work with Him in ministry. He presents opportunities regularly and once in a while, I just happen to be paying enough attention to notice and act on them. I share these stories not out of a desire to garner recognition for myself, but only to bring glory and honor to God. He brilliantly orchestrates these perfect situations where we can share the love of Christ — if we take advantage of the opportunity. Last week, I failed miserably and it has been eating at me ever since. (more…)
by scorwin | Jun 29, 2015 | My Faith, Prison Ministry, Stuff That Has Happened to Stacy
Thinking back on my days of church camp at Camp Christian in Houston, OH, memories of the nightly campfire jump to mind. One of the songs we always sang around the campfire was, “They’ll Know We Are Christians.” If you’ve ever sat around a campfire at church camp, then that song is already going through your head (and will be for the rest of the day — you’re welcome.) (more…)
by scorwin | Feb 21, 2015 | My Faith, Prison Ministry, Stuff That Has Happened to Stacy
As I’ve shared, I have been participating in a prison ministry for over a year now. Since I started going with a group of ladies into our county jail once a week to conduct a Bible study with the inmates, I have had many profound experiences, but few as deeply moving as that which I had tonight. (more…)
by scorwin | Feb 18, 2015 | My Faith, Stuff That Has Happened to Stacy
I am not Catholic, so I don’t feel obligated to practice the self-deprivation of Lent. However, I believe that self-discipline is a valuable character builder and that when done in a spirit of sacrificial worship, can be spiritually healthy as well. For that reason, I do practice “fasts” once in a while — especially from things that seem to be approaching god-like status in my life. As we approached the Lent season this year, I started to reflect on things in my life that have a hold on me. I like chocolate, but I can honestly take it or leave it. I LOVE donuts, but I won’t leave early for work just so I can swing by the donut place. (Now, if for some reason, traffic gets me there early, all bets are off.)
So — what could I give up? What, by consciously eliminating it from my life, would cause some sacrificial discipline? Then I realized something that makes my life very comfortable — too comfortable, perhaps — is waste. I waste a lot of resources in my life and don’t really give it a second thought. How would giving up waste affect my life? Can I give up waste as an act of sacrificial worship?
Yes — I believe I can. (more…)
by scorwin | Sep 29, 2014 | My Faith, Prison Ministry, Stuff That Has Happened to Stacy
No matter how many times God convicts me for “keeping score,” I admit that sometimes, like tonight, when only 2 inmates show up for our jail ministry Bible study, I’m a little disappointed at first. (more…)
by scorwin | Aug 4, 2014 | My Faith, Prison Ministry, Stuff That Has Happened to Stacy
Now I lay me down to sleep, recalling how earlier tonight I listened to a young girl, probably all of 20 years old, tell me how she wishes she was dead & that she deserves no mercy or forgiveness for what she did. I got enough details to know that she got drunk and as a consequence of her actions, her little boy is now dead. (more…)
