Criminal Minds

A somewhat new word in my almost weekly vocabulary is the word "recidivism". This new word means to relapse especially referring to criminal behavior. In Alabama this year, our prisons will release 10,000 inmates and take in 11,000. Presently, Alabama is home to more than 25,000 men and women in our correctional facilities. A staggering 80% of these inmates have addiction issues and more than 60% are illiterate. Of those 10,000 that will be released in the year 2008... somewhere between 30% and 40% will end up back behind bars. That is mind-boggling... 3,000 to 4,000 will re-offend and end up back in prison...many for the remainder of their natural life.

Oddly enough, many of these men and women are not bad people (not to be mistaken for the hard-core murdering type). But for some reason or reasons, they get caught in a life-rut and can't seem to find their own way out. Many of these men and women have families who love and miss them terribly. Some of them may have lived on your street. Some of them you may have grown up with or even went to school with... maybe you at one time even went to church with them.

I wonder about the thieves that hung next to Jesus? What was their story... did they have families, a one time promising future? What about the guys in prison with Paul & Silas? What bad decisions led them to a cold 8x6? Back to the word "recidivism"... I wonder if spiritual recidivism exists? Is this what happens when someone gets caught in the traps of repetitive sin? Is it bondage? Is it something far deeper than we even like to acknowledge? The truth is that there is an evil one known as Lucifer who is actively seeking to destroy us all. Little by little, over and over again... he wants to destroy and to distract.

Spiritual recidivism?

The Great Outdoors...

Well, when Karie and I got married (11 years ago this past June 7th) we talked about how neither of us wanted to have overly girly girls. If you've ever been to our house... you know that we have two of the prissiest and pink girls ever born. It is a barbie-wonderland with more diva-ish paraphanalia than you can imagine... and we would neither change a thing.

With that being said, we went camping as a family for the first time this weekend. June in Alabama and the fam is spending the night in the great outdoors... in a tent, with no AC, no running water (except for the creek) and my father-in-law(Jerry), his wife (Amy), and her 3 boys... Jake (13), Cole (10), and Ryland (8). I've had a crazy and sleepless week already. Three days in Colorado, a late night Thursday, even later night Friday and then we decide to pretend to be the Grizwald's. I am under-prepared for my trip to the jungle. I leave the house without a knife... any dummy knows better than that. I don't pack any snacks... any dummy knows better than that. I don't bring anything except my clothes... any dummy knows better than that. And please allow me to introduce myself... I'm dummy.

I wish you could have seen the tent I took with me. It was a tent that I have had since college and as I remember it... it slept three to four people. As it is in reality... it might sleep two (if they are both under the age of 10 and their combined weight is less than or equal to 75 pounds). I set the tent up and step back and immediately think to myself... "I'm sleeping in the van." Thankfully Jerry had an extra tent. After a day of hiking and grilling and smelling like a campfire mixed with sweat and creek water... I fall asleep in a chair and eventually make it to the tent.

Karie and I get everyone to the bathroom before bedtime and then it is lights out... sort of. Ella asks me "what was that?" To which I replied... "nothing, go to sleep." And then I saw it... it is lightening and then I hear the following thunder. So, I am so tired that I fall asleep in under one minute. Then, what I think is about two or three hours later I am awakened by pouring rain. I don't mean a shower... it is a downpour. About a minute after I wake up I sense that Olivia is awake. Then I hear her crying... she's got to go to the bathroom. I wonder if she realizes that it is flooding outside the 13 millimeters of cloth that we are now calling shelter? Obviously not... she's got to go. So, I dress again with sweaty and dirty clothes and grab my little princess by the hand and escort her to a hole-in-the-ground which some refer to as a restroom. Let me tell you... the only things resting in that place are flies.

So, we eventually get back to bed, finally wake up, eat breakfast, clean, hike, pack and drive back home only to be so exhausted that I am deliriously typing this blog like a dummy. And if you wonder what we'll be doing this coming weekend... we're going camping (the girls loved it).

Cinderella Wedding

Wow... it's been a month since I've actually written on this thing... thanks for the reminder Sandor. Anyway, lots has happened since I was here last. Back on May 31st the Andrews clan had one of the biggest shin-diggs we've ever had. In fact, it was the biggest ever. My little sister, Bethany, married my new brother-in-law, Jason Jones, in the most beautiful wedding that I have ever performed, been to, or even seen. The entire wedding party (which was huge... in number not in size) either went bare-foot or with flip-flops. I even wore a ministerial robe and flops myself.

Bethany and my dad came in on a carriage. She literally looked like a picture of Cinderella herself. The dude driving the carriage (white domed carriage drawn by a white horse) was decked out in a sweet white tux and top-hat. It was a very magic moment. Olivia read from 1 Corinthians 13, Jamie sang a song from Bethany to my dad, pops did the Communion, and it was just a great family affair.

Not only was it the most beautiful wedding... it was the most fun wedding. At the reception the entire Andrews' family danced until we literally had to pick up the dance floor and put it in Joel's truck to return it to the rental company. Of course... Olivia stole the show.

I am so happy for Bethany & Jason... they are a beautiful couple.