Fools Rush In

Posted on 12/27/2011 by Chandler Fozard

This may be one of the hardest blogs I’ve ever posted.  I don’t know what 2012 holds.  Who but God does?  I didn’t know what 2011 would hold.  But that didn’t stop me from living as if I did.  The expression “fools rush in” is perhaps best known in the context of two people who think they’re in love and are moving the relationship too fast.  But I think the phrase is a fair description of my life.  And I know I am not alone.  I think it’s a fair description of how many men in prison end up there in the first place.  They rush in to get what they want.  They hurt somebody, steel something, and now they’re in prison.

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Psalm 107:15-16 - Give Thanks!

Posted on 11/29/2011 by Chandler Fozard

When I began this series, I certainly didn't plan that I would end this week, but how fitting a tribute to the God we serve!  I tell everyone who'll listen that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  An argument could be made--indeed, was made by more than a few Puritans--that it may be the only holiday Christians can observe that is not implicitly forbidden in Scripture.  That aside, in my mind, it is the only holiday 

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Psalm 107:13-14 - Free Indeed!

Posted on 10/29/2011 by Chandler Fozard

"And He saved them out of their distresses.  ¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces," Psalm 107:13b-14.

In the last post, I wrote about two kinds of grief; one produces repentance, the other death.  This is a critical point.  Godly sorrow or grief over one's sins produces change.  A good tree (Godly grief) produces good fruit (repentance, change).

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Psalm 107:13 – THEN they cried out

Posted on 9/28/2011 by Chandler Fozard

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble…,” Psalm 107:13.

According to 2 Corinthians 7:10, we cry out to God from one of two kinds of grief: “…godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. ”  Godly grief produces repentance without regret.  Worldly grief produces only death.  Trained counselors, and those who would minister to those in prison, must be able to distinguish between the two.

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Psalm 107:12 - Whom God has Brought Low, Let No Man Raise Up

Posted on 8/25/2011 by Chandler Fozard

"So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help," Psalm 107:12.

I remember when I was in prison and feeling sorry for myself and whatever prospects awaited me after my release, countless, well-intentioned volunteers would come in and try to make me feel better about myself and my future.  "You just made a mistake,"

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Psalm 107:10-11 - Everyone's innocent in prison. Just ask them.

Posted on 7/29/2011 by Chandler Fozard

In Psalm 107:1-2, 8, 15, 31 and 43, God makes it clear that His number one driving motive behind allowing some of us to experience certain trials and tribulations is His saving love.  He loves us enough to allow us to be hurt in the short-term if it leads to our salvation in the long run.  That's the number one reason why God allows some to go to prison: He loves them.

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Psalm 107:1-3 And Counseling Those incarcerated

Posted on 7/1/2011 by Chandler Fozard

In the coming months, I am going to begin a series on what Psalm 107 has to say about prison ministry.  In this first post, I will focus on the first two verses: ¹Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!  ²Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble."

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Offenders and Self-Esteem

Posted on 5/16/2011 by Chandler Fozard

One of the most common misconceptions regarding those in prison is that their greatest problem is a lack of self-esteem and/or a low self-image.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Their greatest problem is that they have been esteeming what they want above everything and everyone else.  Paul wrote that no one should think more highly of themselves

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