Letter to Neil Young, by Jeff Grant. It's All One Song.

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Letter to Neil Young

by Jeff Grant 

"it's all one song"

- Neil Young

 I was playing some Neil Young songs on guitar for 

Lynn and a friend of ours today, and remembered 

this blog that I wrote and posted in August 2014. 

We all read it together and I was compelled to

post it again. i hope it resonates. - Jeff   

 

Dear Neil Young, 

I am writing to you let you know how you've inspired my transformation story and prison ministry.  

Since I am publishing this letter on our blogsite, and I have no other way of contacting you that I can reasonably think of, I think it's fair to let our readers know that we've never met, I do not know you, and the closest I have ever been to you is the eighth row of a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concert in the Nassau Coliseum in 2002. 

And I have no real understanding of your life other than  articles and biographies.  I feel particularly connected to Jimmy McDonough's biography Shakey. It's release in 2003 comforted me in the early days of my recovery - just after my  bottom from prescription narcotics and just before my arrest. 

Most early mornings at about 3:30 am, I sit at my computer listening to one of your albums or another (this morning After the Gold Rush) and channel your essence & work ethic (or at least what I project it to be). I hear the song in my head - the muse - and I try to follow her where ever she leads. 

Most days, she leads to something useful or serviceable. On rare occasion, something much more.

I'd been trying to describe this song-in-my-head phenomenon for decades, when in one brief moment, you gave voice to what I was unable.  On Crazy Horse's, Year of the Horse, just before, "When You Dance I Can Really Love," someone from the audience yelled out, "they all sound the same."  And your reply was for the ages: "it's all one song!"  

It's all one song.  Of course.

That's why I know a Neil Young song when I hear it.  Because you write the songs that you hear in your head and are not afraid for them to be good songs or bad songs, famous songs or just plain old Neil Young songs. They are all part of the one big song playing in your head and that have been playing in your head for the past fifty years or so.  

That's how I feel every morning.  That there is this song in my head and it needs to be written - it needs to be sung. A song that was repressed for so many years by trauma, drugs, poor judgment, shame, guilt and remorse. A song that I now express in my writing, music, work and life.  Some days it's just a plain old song that I sing.  Some days something really special happens and reminds me how I've been blessed. 

Thank you Neil.  Long may you run. 

Blessings, 

Jeff

PS one of my favorites (among many):

"Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true."

-Old Man, Neil Young

_____________

Comments from Social Media:

Cynthia Cloney 1^st

Addiction counseling

Hi Jeff we met at the Faith Behind Bars conference this past April. My name is Cynthia and I am an ex-offender who shares a similar story (your song if you will:) thanks for writing a great letter to an iconic man. He inspires me as well. Have a great day and I wish you blessings as you minister to the forsaken and forgotten.

Kym L Pasqualini 1^st

Director at Missing Media Solutions

So glad you shared this! You inspire!

Matt Hodel 1^st

Student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Love this, Jeff. Look forward to seeing you sometime soon!

• Jeff Grant, JD, M Div
  Minister/Director, Progressive Prison Project, Greenwich, CT, The First White-Collar Ministries in the US prisonist.org

  I recently received an email from Jimmy McDonough, who advised that Neil Young did not approve of his biography, Shakey. It is another miracle of my journey that, even with this book's difficulties, it was written, found me when I needed it most, and offered me inspiration in the life of Neil Young. Neil, I'm dropping my E down to D right now. Jeff

Anonymous. Love this Jeff....very well put.  

Lynn Springer. My Jeff, I'll love you the whole day through... Your, L. 

Lori Dooley. This special ministry that has created this unique family that can come together to sing a song of oneness that we are not alone. The audience reading the stories of white collar crime may think “they all sound the same.” We know though, “it’s all one song.” One song of redemption, forgiveness, grace and love. A song we will cherish because it is close to our hearts. I feel blessed that you have this special song to sing and you want it to be heard. Keep writing, keep singing, and keep blessing so many by your ministry. I am listening to every word! Thank you. 

_____________

Donations

We are grateful for all donations this past year to our Ministries. These donations enable us to grow, reach out and serve this community for which there is far too little understanding, compassion, empathy and accurate information.  Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. is a CT Religious Corp. with 501c3 status -

all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. We hope you will consider making a donation to our appeal this year.  Donations can be made by credit card/PayPal here, at the "Donate" button on on our site, prisonist.org or by sending your check payable to: "Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc." P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883.  We have enclosed an addressed envelope for your use. Thank you.

__________ 

 

If you, a friend or a family member are experiencing a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox.

The darkest days of a person's life can be a

time of renewal and hope

____________

Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org
(o) 203-769-1096
(m) 203-339-5887
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Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouse & Children Project
lspringer@prisonist.org

(203) 536-5508

Rev. Fr. Joseph Ciccone, Ed D, M Div
Supervising Minister
stjosephmissionchurch@gmail.com
(201) 982-2206

Jacqueline Polverari, MBA, MSW, Advocate
Women's Incarceration Issues
jpolverari@prisonist.org
(203) 671-5139

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org
(203) 609-5088

Jim Gabal, Development
jgabal@prisonist.org
(203) 858-2865

Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact
mediababz@gmail.com
(203) 645-9278   

Angels Without A Face: A Christmas Blog, By Lori Dooley - Innocent Spouse & Guest Blogger

Progressive Prison Project

Innocent Spouse & Children Project

Greenwich, Connecticut

Angels Without A Face:

A Christmas Blog

By Lori Dooley, Innocent Spouse 

& Guest Blogger

It's been over two years since Lori Dooley 

first responded to one of our blog posts.  

In that time, we've seen her grow in incredible ways. 

Below is Lori's third guest blog

for prisonist.org.  Her posts,  

 One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, 

& The Amazing Ride, are two of the most

 beloved blogs we've ever posted. - Jeff

_________

As I walked into church this Christmas season, there hung the tree of Christmas Angels to help those families in need. I would normally just grab an Angel in hopes to bring some joy to a boy or girl. I have always enjoyed being part of this gift giving, but did I really reflect on what it truly meant. These pieces of paper are not merely pieces of paper on a Christmas Tree; they are families who need us. This time, the Angel had a reflection and the reflection was my family.  For the first time, my Angel had a face.

No present can ever take the place of my daughter having her father home for Christmas or change what has happened, but what I am starting to see a little at a time is that there are many who want to help and put their judgments aside to bring some joy and peace to those that find themselves without it.  Not one person who picks up their Angel from the tree ever judges that boy and girl for what is going on in their life. They pick a family out of unconditional love. During this Christmas and holiday season, it is a beautiful time to reflect on what it is all about.  A precious child was born unto all of us, even those in prison, to be the Savior for all mankind.  He was born unto sinners. He was born unto those who need his grace and forgiveness. No one is ever truly worthy of such honor by a Savior, but that is what makes it so wonderful. He loves each and every one of us; every failure, every sacrifice, every bright light that shines within Him. He is Goodness and Glory. His is Merciful. I ask that each and every person that looks at this blog ask yourself what is the true meaning of Christmas and this holiday season.  Can you forgive? Can you lend a hand to a family less fortunate who has a parent incarcerated? Can you believe that people are forgiven because Jesus Christ was born for all of us?  What a wonderful time to reflect and realize what matters to us all in this world. We are all connected in some way.

As every day passes, one step at a time, I find myself able to come out of this shadow I have been hiding behind. As hard as this journey is and continues to be, I will keep on my journey with one of hope just as the Wisemen did on their journey following the Star of Bethlehem. Please consider those innocent spouses and children who are without this holiday season because of an incarceration and what we can do together to help, and to stop over incarceration so that children can have their father’s home for Christmas.

God Bless you this holiday season and let us all be thankful for the true meaning of Christmas.

Lori Dooley 

_________________

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org
jg3074@columbia.edu

(o) +1203.769.1096
(m) +1203.339.5887

Linked In Twitter  Facebook 

Lynn Springer, Advocate, Innocent Spouses & Children
lspringer@prisonist.org
(m) +1203.536.5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org

Michael Karaffa, Advocate, Disabilities
mkaraffa@prisonist.org

___________

Comments from Social Media: 
 All I want for Christmas/Chanukah
By Reentry Survivor Barry S. Diamond, Founder of reentrysurvivors.com

All I want is:
To be accepted for my good deeds not my past actions
To laugh with friends at the silly things in life
To worship with my fellow human beings
To enjoy my children & their families & wish them all the best
Sounds pretty normal doesn't it?
Well that’s what all of us released from incarceration want, to be normal again
Those of you who have helped us, thank you
Those of you who haven’t, please remember G’d forgives
So why can’t you?

__________

Donations

We are grateful for donations from individuals, religious groups, charities, foundations and the like. Donations can be made by credit card/PayPal or by sending your check payable to: “Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.” P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883. Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project are missions of Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. We are a CT Religious Corp. with 501c3 status - all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Thank you for your support and generosity.

If transformation and redemption matter to you, a friend or a family member with a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox. The darkest days of a person's life can be a time of renewal and hope.

A White-Collar Wife's Lament, By Jane S, Connecticut - Innocent Spouse & Guest Blogger

Progressive Prison Project

Innocent Spouse & Children Project

Greenwich, Connecticut 

A White-Collar Wife's Lament

By Jane S., Connecticut - Innocent Spouse 

& Guest Blogger

This past month has been tough. I put off going to social services as long as I could. That isn't who I am........was. This past Sunday my son got a concussion in his hockey game and we spent the whole day in the er. Any self esteem that I had left is officially gone. I never was someone who went to Dr's without insurance. I had no choice. I never in a million years thought I would be a parent who can not take care of her child. That is how I feel now. Yes we struggled since this began but I never thought I'd need State assistance. I do not want it!

Why? I keep asking myself why? I just don't understand how anyone can't realize these are people lives they are playing with. I know it is all about "a win". I am so sick and tired of hearing of people who can't defend themselves be taken advantage of. They knew darn well that my husband was not receiving proper representation. How could they not? They could care less as long as we were all punished. For what? Where/when does it stop? He had a good job. We had insurance. We could pay our bills, mostly on time. We were about to get our lives on track. We were looking forward to putting this nightmare behind us. Instead we get 2.5 years. More than just us are still paying for this. The bank, his employer, the bills that now I have no way of paying. Sure it would have been an uphill battle. Now all of that went out the window. I am losing everything especially my husband and father of my children. I need state assistance and He is using state money to incarcerate him. In what world does this make sense? They say this is about the money. They have no problem wasting even more money. Delaying repayment of restitution. Taking someone who was paying taxes and contributing to society and making him become part of the economic problem.

They took accusations as fact because they didn't have the knowledge to understand what actually happened. They didn't care what happened. They didn't care he didn't have proper representation! They must have been ecstatic to roll all over him. Seems to me that the ones who are accused and can't afford a proper defense are paying unfairly. All while the ones who actually changed contracts get away with a slap on the wrist. Why? Large corporations who have teams of attorneys to fight would give them a negative win loss ratio. That is what it is all about! Wins and losses! In this case it wouldn't take much to fight because there was nothing much there. Certainly not anything that deserved this time.

Go for the little guy! Get that win! Congratulations! How does no one see what is happening? They are no different than the bully we all knew in school. They grew up and continue to bully. Abuse of power is disgusting. The whole system is warped. It is a game to them. It is destruction of a family to me.

So many stresses lately that I am unable to handle. Brian's blog hit home. It is infuriating. I must be getting used to the insanity of prison in my life. My husband has been a mess as well especially worrying about our son. He kept saying he should be there in the hospital with us and he should of been. He says no one there understands why he is so concerned about all of us. He never missed a first day of school drop off or a hockey game/practice. Our sons hockey schedule coincides with the visiting schedule and this makes it more difficult for Us. Our son is going on a month without seeing him. I hope to visit him Saturday on our daughters 20th birthday. What fun that will be for her. She loves her dad so it will be okay. I keep catching myself saying," how is this my life". It is!

I drove up to MA to say my goodbyes to a dear high school friend. It should have made me thankful that we are all healthy, for the most part. I am but it took a while to get there. Everything should be in perspective but it isn't. 

 _________

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org

jg3074@columbia.edu
(o) +1203.769.1096
(m) +1203.339.5887

Lynn Springer, Advocate, Innocent Spouses & Children
lspringer@prisonist.org
(m) +1203.536.5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org

Michael Karaffa, Advocate, Disabilities
mkaraffa@prisonist.org

 _________

Comments from Social Media:

I know how you feel.  I too suffered from the embarrassment of no insurance after a lifetime of having insurance.  After I was released from prison,  I was not eligible for Medicare Insurance (due to an enrollment technicality) and had to wait almost one year before being covered.  Unfortunately I got sick and had to go to the emergency room for treatment.  There I met doctors who I knew previously and had to admit that I had no insurance.  At 72 years old, I had to go to a clinic and ask for a doctor to give me a prescription for my medicines.  I then had to locate a pharmacy that would fill my prescriptions for a fair cash price.  I felt awful as I signed a form that said I had no insurance and was being allowed a discounted price to help indigent people.  I use to be the person who contributed to charities to help people with problems and now I was the one with problems.  Life is hard enough in prison and then out of prison.  Why keep making it hard and embarrassing for people who have served their time and their families left behind.  We are fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters.  JUST LIKE YOU!!!.  Give us a break every once in a while.  The Mark of Cain seems to follow prisoners and their families.  You are not allowed to harm them but you can shun them and shun them society does. - Barry S. Diamond

Carolyn Esparza

Author of The Unvarnished Truth about the Prison Family Journey

An all too common "lament" of those impacted by the criminal justice system--not to mention many of us who serve as advocates in this field. It's a system that will drain the most emotionally and financially affluent of all resources.

A White-Collar Minister At A Pharisee’s House, by Jeff Grant: Luke 14:8-11

Progressive Prison Project 

Innocent Spouse & Children Project 

Greenwich, Connecticut

A White-Collar Minister At A

Pharisee’s House: Luke 14:8-11

By Jeff Grant

When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. – Luke 14:8–10

_________________________

I tell this tale to almost all my ministees who are heading for prison. It’s based on a portion of the scripture passage often referred to in Bibles as, “Jesus At A Pharisee’s House.” Luke 14:8-11. I tell them:

Once you get to prison and settle in for few days, you’ll inevitably wonder over to the rec (recreation area).  There, you’ll see some guys playing a pick-up game of basketball. You won’t know anybody yet, so you’ll probably be standing around for a while with your hands in your pockets not knowing quite what to do.  After a little while, you’ll notice that there are some bleachers, the kind with two or three rows like you remember from elementary school or middle school.  You will nonchalantly walk over to the bleachers to sit down and watch the basketball game. 

Question: Where on the bleachers should you sit?  Answer: In the back row. 

If you sit in the front row of the bleachers, you will likely be sitting in somebody else’s seat, even if they are not there. Remembering this simple rule at all times, in all situations, might be the difference between keeping safe and getting killed in prison.

__________________

I am hurting.

If you are a close reader of prisonist.org, I suppose you wouldn’t really know it. Not with all the news and events we post, speaking engagements, sermons, and other positive stuff.

In many ways, it’s my job to project the sturdiness and resiliency needed to minister to, and advocate for, the sick and suffering outcasts accused or convicted of white-collar crimes, as well as their families. What choice do I really have?

But I also know it’s my job to tell the truth. To be open and vulnerable so as to give comfort and agency to these people at a time in their lives when they are deeply suffering. And right now, I’m hurt. So I’m telling the truth.

A few times in the past few months, I’ve left banquets to which I‘ve been invited with the grim reminder that the scarlet letter of having been convicted of a “white-collar” crime is really a tattoo – a tattoo that I wear, and that we all wear if we are poor, hungry, homeless, sick or suffering from incarceration issues.  

 

What can I do about it when I am my computer at 4 in the morning? Well, I know I can change my attitude. I know I can pray.

Precious God, if suffering is the touchstone of spiritual growth - I pray that I have learned and will grow from this moment of reflection, and that this suffering has not been in vain.

Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help. – Psalm 146:3-5

It’s time to stop relying so much on the approval of other people. It’s time for more trust and faith in God.

I have a few banquets coming up soon where I can put this to the test.

 _________

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org

jg3074@columbia.edu
(o) +1203.769.1096
(m) +1203.339.5887

Lynn Springer, Advocate, Innocent Spouses & Children
lspringer@prisonist.org
(m) +1203.536.5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org

Michael Karaffa, Advocate, Disabilities
mkaraffa@prisonist.org

__________

Comments from Social Media:

Eric Turner - 

Founder/ Senior at Bullseye America LLC

As a minister it is very easy to carry pain. We preach, counsel and support people all the time to help strengthen their faith and family. We teach people to believe and have faith in God and at the moment of our lowness we need someone who will uplift us and help us through the pain we carry daily. I can tell you I have felt that way many times and I felt that I was Moses in the desert alone with no one to share my pain with at those moments I listen to music, I write, I counsel more so that I help more and lastly I pray more because I know that the devil is attacking me because my blessing and breakthrough is right around the corner.
God loves and I do too! Keep doing what you do! 

Jeff Grant, JD, M Div- 

Minister/Director, Progressive Prison Project, Greenwich, CT, The First White-Collar Ministries in the US prisonist.org

Eric, thank you for this beautiful reflection - just what I needed. A bishop is a pastor to pastors, that's what you've been for me this morning. Many blessings my friend. 


Barry S. Diamond - 
Life is like a rose bush
something beautiful but also thorny
When I said life is good, I did not mean that there are no moments of bad.  I just choose to concentrate on what is positive.  We who have been incarcerated never forget.  I agree that man has a problem forgiving but fortunately God does not.

So that your readers do not think your story is inaccurate, (about sitting in the wrong seat can be dangerous), I would like to tell you my encounter with this problem:
My first day in jail, I was in a cell with a young man who gladly let me bunk on the lower bed because of my age.  We became friendly because he was a history buff and interested in hearing about Brooklyn , NY in the “ old days”.  The first day I went down to breakfast and began to sit in an empty seat at his table.  Before I knew what happened, I was being yelled at by someone who said it was his seat and if I valued my life I better never sit there.  The only thing that saved me (which I did not know) was the fact that my cellmate was an important person in the cell block.  He verified that I was his new cellmate and did not know better.  I was “allowed” to sit at the next table over and was treated with respect by everyone who was at my new table.

Maybe it’s time someone wrote a short explanation of proper conduct for a newbie so that a first time person can more easily survive their incarceration.  I would be more than happy to post it  on our web-site reentrysurvivors.com.
- Barry
 

Psalm 85.2: A Commentary by Brian Jorgenson in Conversation with John Calvin

Progressive Prison Project 

Innocent Spouse & Children Project

Greenwich, Connecticut

Psalm 85.2: A Commentary By Brian Jorgenson
In Conversation With John Calvin

Our ministee Brian Jorgenson reported last month to the camp at FCI Herlong, California to serve a two-year sentence for a white-collar crime.  The night before, Brian shared with us his final thoughts in his post, Last Blog Before Prison.  We asked Brian to write a follow up blog for us based upon Psalm 85.2. Below is his commentary in conversation with John Calvin. 

 ____________

You forgave the iniquity of your people;  

you covered all their sin. Selah - Psalm 85.2

John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms (1557):

It was very natural for the faithful to feel alarmed and perplexed on account of their sins, and therefore the prophet removes all ground for overwhelming apprehension, by showing them, that God, in delivering his people, had given an irrefragable proof of free forgiveness. He had before traced this deliverance to the mere good pleasure and free grace of God as its source; but after it was wrought, the iniquities of the people having separated between them and their God, and estranged them from him, it was necessary that the remedy of pardon should be brought to their aid.

In saying that their iniquities were taken away, he does not refer to the faithful being reformed and purged from their sins, in other words, to that work by which God, sanctifying them by the Spirit of regeneration, actually removes sin from them. What he intended to say he explains immediately after. The amount, in short, is, that God was reconciled to the Jews by not imputing their sins to them.

When God is said to cover sins, the meaning is, that he buries them, so that they come not into judgment, as we have shown more at large on the 32d psalm, at the beginning. When, therefore, he had punished the sins of his people by captivity, it being his will to restore them again to their own country, he removed the great impediment to this, by blotting out their transgressions; for deliverance from punishment depends upon the remission of sin. Thus we are furnished with an argument in confutation of that foolish conceit of the Sophists, which they set forth as some great mystery, That God retains the punishment although he forgive the fault; whereas God announces in every part of his word, that his object in pardoning is, that being pacified, he may at the same time mitigate the punishment.

The sequence of the pardon of sin is, that God by his blessing testifies that he is no longer displeased.

Brian Jorgenson's Commentary From FCI Herlong (2014):

This verse has two separate thoughts but one common thread -- it all begins with God. We didn't earn forgiveness nor did We have any power in ourselves to have our sins covered. This is all God's doing, it all starts with Him and it is His gift of salvation to us. This verse's theme is consistent with the remainder of the Bible -- the overwhelming focus that we see in the Bible is not about the work of the redeemed, but rather it's all about the work of the Redeemer.

There is power, comfort and ultimate hope in this central theme. God's forgiveness does not hinge on mine or your performance (Romans Chapter 3 gets to the heart of this, especially verses 10 and 23). So if our salvation is less about us and more about what God has done for us, what does this mean? This means that when Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished", He didn't say that "it will be finished" or "phase 1 is complete". No. He declared that sin's power and the resulting eternal damnation that we deserve has been defeated, and He added the exclamation point to that statement when He rose from the grave.

All of our past sins, current sins, and future sins have already been pardoned. So, what should our response be? Let's turn again to the apostle Paul in Romans 6: "What shall we say then? Shall we persist in sin that grace may abount? Of course not! How can we who died to sin yet live in it?" So, yes, we do play a part in this but the main actor on this stage is most certainly not us, it's God and the grace He has given us.

In Brennan Manning's book "The Ragamuffin Gospel", he succinctly puts it this way: "The gospel of grace announces: forgiveness precedes repentance. The sinner is accepted before he pleads for mercy. It is already granted (remember, it is finished). The sinner need only receive it." Yes, our responsibility is to accept and receive this gift of salvation by believing in God and entering into a personal relationship with Jesus as our Lord and Savior. BUT our performance-driven society is hyperfocused on our spiritual growth and maturity (which are important). Placing too much emphasis on our doing could very well put us in the driver's seat of our Christian faith and focuses on what we're doing and less about what He's already done for us. When we're in the driver's seat, this puts Jesus in the back seat (if He's even in the car at all!). Once again, if we read this Scripture again, it brings it all back to God. YOU forgave the iniquity of your people; YOU covered all their sins."

I write these words as a prisoner currently incarcerated serving a 24-month sentence for committing insider trading. I may not have my freedom in society but I have the freedom to love God and bask in His glory and mercy regardless of my current circumstances. A Scripture that I meditate on daily is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweights them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

This verse gives me hope. I trust in the Lord. I don't trust in myself because I have a sinful nature and I'm bound to mess up time and time again. But I trust that God knows what He's doing in my life. After all, the word "oops" is not in His vocabulary. While I may be in the middle of a difficult time, I know that the best is yet to come. I don't think it's a coincidence that Jesus' first parable was turning water into wine. He didn't do this at the beginning of the wedding feast, rather He did it at the end. Like that parable, God always saves the best for last and that is where my hope is found.

It would be very easy for me to attempt to redeem myself in here or feel the need to try to earn back my grace from God, but I realize that there is nothing to earn back. I have not lost anything despite my foolish stumble that got me here. It is finished. Rather than spin my wheels focusing on earning my salvation through my merits, I am freed up to focus on loving and serving Him and others. This is the response I feel compelled to give -- as an act of gratitude. To close, I want to relay a quote from the famed preacher Charles Spurgeon: "When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin. But when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could have rebelled against the One who loved me so." Thank you God for forgiving my sins!

 ____________

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director

jgrant@prisonist.org
jg3074@columbia.edu
(o) +1203.769.1096
(m) +1203.339.5887

Lynn Springer, Advocate, Innocent Spouses & Children
lspringer@prisonist.org
(m) +1203.536.5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org

Michael Karaffa, Advocate, Disabilities
mkaraffa@prisonist.org

Please feel free to contact us if we can be of service to you, a friend or family member - we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email via Dropbox.

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Comments From Social Media: 

What was the white collar offense committed by Mr. Jorgenson? - CHARLES OLSON, Independent Law Enforcement Professional

Ministee? - Delbridge E. Narron

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Springs Global US, Inc.

>   I admit I coined the term, "ministee." I figured if a   sponsor can have a sponsee, why can't a minister have a ministee? - Jeff