Christian Photographers Community

From the Panny.

Beautiful place to walk and enjoy the scenery.  It looks much like the OR Lake in Guelph.  (OR = Ontario Reformatory).  Thank you for showing us this!

It is so beautiful, but why call it Prison Lake?

Quote from: LaughingPeppers on May 28, 2010, 01:58:12 PM
It is so beautiful, but why call it Prison Lake?

Because it's on prison property.  The facility is off to the left of this view.  I do prison ministry at several of the prisons in the area.  Wednesdays & Fridays at this one.

I am glad, I asked. That is a very Christian task. God bless you, Gary.

Quote from: LaughingPeppers on May 28, 2010, 03:40:04 PM
I am glad, I asked. That is a very Christian task. God bless you, Gary.

He does... VERY richly.  It's not really a task.  Quite selfish of me, actually.  I have more fun in prison than ought to be allowed.  I really enjoy being with these men & women.  I wasn't like that at first.  But, then I started looking at the inmates with my "Jesus glasses" and I can truly say I love them.  I know better Christians behind the wire than I know in "the world".

   Amen!

I am so glad to hear that.  I know others who do prison ministry and they report the same.  May God continue to bless and guide you.

Quote from: JudyB on May 28, 2010, 07:26:29 PM
I am so glad to hear that.  I know others who do prison ministry and they report the same.  May God continue to bless and guide you.

He's right there with me, Judy.  I feel, if Christ were here on earth (in the flesh) today, this is where He would be.  It is not the well that need a physician, but the sick.

AMEN

   No one noticed the zoom demo.  The second image is a zoomed-in version of image #1.  The Panasonic ZS3 is a compact super-zoom.  All these shots are handheld... even the racked-out one.

This is too funny.  I asked John to take a look and tell me where it was......"Looks like Kentucky countryside, with the rolling hills."  Now ke didn't 'know' that he just knows the country side!  Too funny!

That is like us driving down the road and him lying in the bunk saying I was on the wrong road....The trees didn't look right!  Thing is He was right!

A beautiful scene.  Prison ministry is really admirable.  A couple of young men in my church are involved and are very enthusiastic about it.

Are you connected to Chuck Colson's prison ministry?

Judy, I don't know if you meant me, but the answer is yes.  We also do Angel Tree every year.

I meant Gary....What is Angel Tree??  All I know is that Colson is in prison ministry.

Quote from: JudyB on May 31, 2010, 02:50:48 PM
I meant Gary....What is Angel Tree??  All I know is that Colson is in prison ministry.

No, Judy, we're not.  I'm actually in three separate ministries.  1.  Residents Encounter Christ - a 3-day experience modeled after The Walk to Emmaus.  These are held once or twice a year depending on the prison.  Included with this is a monthly follow-up called an "REC Reunion".  2.  *Not Fans! - A dedicated group of us (about 10) do DVD studies done by City on a Hill productions such as H2O, The Easter Experience, etc.  One of our preachers, Kyle Idleman, provides them to us and sometimes comes out to the prisons with us to reinforce the lessons presented.  This is a weekly study, normally on Friday evening.  3.  I help faciitate a Bible study on Wednesday and Friday mornings each week at one of the men's prisons.  In addition, I help procure Bibles for the inmates at one prison in-processing center and I also provide a book of resources for inmates being released along with a ride to wherever they need to get to once they get released. 

*This group got it's name from a sermon Kyle Idleman did in which he explains that a fan is defined as an enthusiastic admirer.  Jesus Christ does not want fans.  He wants FOLLOWERS.  So... we are not fans.

Angel Tree is nice and, please don't misunderstand me but, it is of little or no help to an inmate.  It is for an inmate's child.  And, that's fine.  But, it only happens once a year and many people misconstrue it with prison ministry.  Inmates require a LOT more than that to keep them from going back in once released.  I have seen first hand many churches and self-professed "Christians" ostracize, shun, or excommunicate ex-felons.  Then, when that man winds up back in prison, point to him and say, "HAH! Jailhouse religion!".  Which totally undoes what we try to show them when they are behind the wire.  We teach them that the ONLY way they are going to make it on the outside is to get plugged into the Body of Christ.  When that Body of Believers shuts him/her out, he/she goes back to the people that WILL have him/her... the same lifestyle that got him in prison to begin with and the cycle begins.  The revolving door starts it's circuit.  I know.  I used to be one of those holier-than-thou "Christians".  But, I can tell you once you see them through the eyes of Jesus Christ, things change. 

WHEW!  Sorry for the diatribe.

Gary, I understand what you say about Angel Tree, and yes it can be simply a once-a-year affair.   But when it's part of the overall ministry it can be an opening to interact with the family as well as the prisoner. 

I wish I knew what happened to my posts.  Many times I reply and the next day find it went to cyberspace.

Gary thank you for your "diatribe".  It was very informative, and really shows your passion.  Your name has been added to my prayer list.  You are being prayed for up here in the north.

Quote from: JudyB on June 01, 2010, 01:02:48 PM
I wish I knew what happened to my posts.  Many times I reply and the next day find it went to cyberspace.

Gary thank you for your "diatribe".  It was very informative, and really shows your passion.  Your name has been added to my prayer list.  You are being prayed for up here in the north.

Thanks for adding me to your prayer list.  I see your posts just fine, Judy.

Quote from: Jeanne Lee on June 01, 2010, 11:02:34 AM
Gary, I understand what you say about Angel Tree, and yes it can be simply a once-a-year affair.   But when it's part of the overall ministry it can be an opening to interact with the family as well as the prisoner. 

I agree, Jeanne.  Really, I understand what it CAN be.  But, the reality is - at least in our area - that it's a once-a-year function that is conducted around Christmas to ease folks' conscious and give them a nice, warm fuzzy and a B+ on their report card.  I have never seen it used as you speak of it.  Never.   I fervently hope & pray that you and your church ARE using it to its fullest potential.  Hopefully, folks will pick up on it and see how it's SUPPOSED to be done.