VERY good stuff!

A couple of JPUSA pastors have been going off and on for quite some time, and it's been a pleasure and a great source of thought for me on several levels.

For one thing I always get a couple sermon ideas directly out of or quite off of the topic and the angles the other preachers bring to the issue on the night.

For another it gives me a chance to think outside the box of non-prison culture.

I've done concerts, speaking and so forth in various jails, full-on prisons and such, many times over the years and in varied places in the U.S.. But to be able to meet people coming out of that culture -and it is a subculture all it's own- considering what they face both in typical society as well as church culture... that's another thing indeed.

Too many of us are so removed from such experiences to the extent we just don't really think about the difficulty of even getting a job somewhere much less following Jesus and fitting into a church situation where folks wonder (and for good reason) what to think of such a person. Can or should we take a chance on them? Are they truly giving Jesus their life or is it just a fresh scam, this time brought among church folks?

"Remember those in prison as though..." what was it the Bible said about this?

Jesus was a prisoner. Paul, James, John and all the disciples had been imprisoned. One might argue, as least to a point, that in some sense some of these had actually broken laws worthy of prison and even more specific punishment in that time and place. Sympathy doesn't often extend to ex-cons, does it?

And then I recall that Jesus shed His blood equally for all- and that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, that ALL we like sheep have gone astray, EACH ONE turned to his or her own way.

I wonder if there is something in God's (agape) love in which taking a chance on us is a key part of love's essence?

One might argue "Well... God KNOWS what that person will do, whether or not they'll really repent and change and stop their lawless behavior, really become a good citizen or not. We don't!"

To this I cannot argue. But the fact is that when it comes to some people, we don't always offer the love, grace, mercy or even chances that God has given us.

In light of my own wicked past sinful lifestyle I sometimes think about all the people who helped disciple me in Christ, who continue to walk beside me, forgive me for my many blunders, encourage me to keep my hand "to the plow"- all I can do is try to offer the same to others.

Something to think about, isn't it?

TinyMe is an attempt to approach very old (like most of mine) and low-power pcs and laptops with a Linux distro capable of being stripped down to... errr... you guessed it: tiny :)

So I'm learning about that one, but it's still not DSL which is what I'm using to access my Nireblog as I type. DSL Linux works fast, well and at least for me is very intuative, useful on 99% of the laptops and pcs I've tried it's varied releases on. TinyMe has good promise though, mainly in it's desire to offer a rather pretty looking yet fast and easily-configurable (losing or adding programs easily via the Web and it's TinyMe-specific repositories) distribution aimed at boxes that would otherwise be sitting in landfills.

I'm also adding some pictures here from Project 12 Orientation week and from Wendi and my trip this past weekend to Calvary Chapel Salt Lake City. Good people, great ministry and outreach. I did 2 shows and 3 church services, very kind reception from old and new friends as well.

-Glenn

Wendi, myself and a number of our instructors are out with the new class for a week praying, learning and socializing together, beginning to bond for a good 10 months of spiritual growth. You can keep up with that via http://www.project12.us

It seems all the JPUSA websites are up again (they tell us, 90 percent solid... we hope so!).

I'm blessed in seeing so many old friends but also new faces and open hearts in more and more shows, both solo and GKB. This coming weekend Wendi and I travel to Calvary Chapel in Salt Lake City, Utah for a Sat. bikers concert and their 3 Sun. morning services. Good people and a great church.

I'm working further on demoing the new project (Fulton County Blues) as Roy and I have time. Roy and family are on vacation at the moment but we're getting more dates on the calendar for that.

It seems REZ Band is doing a concert at our Garden Room coffeehouse (920 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago) on Fri. October 10. Should be loud :)

Little by little we'll get a more shows posted for myself, GKB and speaking engagements on our agenda (one of the "glitches" on
glennkaiser.com right now is the difficulty of doing that) with all the important details.

Wendi and I continue to walk a good distance together each day, getting healthier (and if she gets much prettier I don't know if I'll let her out of the house :)

Thanks SO much for your prayers as we seek to serve the Lord Jesus and many people in many places!

Cyber-hugs,
-Glenn

Some of you may know I love the celtic church and in fact very much agree with their love and reverence for the Lord revealing Himself via nature. Sun, moon, wind, rain, the soil, trees and all things created reflect His power, love and even presence.

Seems to me all too many people get caught in city life and have lost touch and connection with the true (one and only) God of all the elements of nature.

If you can see the moon, it's Jesus who gives you that ability- and put that amazing thing up in our sky in the first place!

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