God Behind Bars

Seeking God Beyond the Noise

jimgray — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:46:11 +0000

This afternoon I’ve been thinking about something that Jake tweeted earlier today:

“Minimize the noise. Because only you and God can put the definition on your life.”

This resonates with me on a lot of levels.

1. Professionally: I work in a field that makes noise through digital marketing. My whole week is full of meetings to figure out where you will listen, watch, tweet, like, etc.

2. Personally: I am on my laptop, iPhone, phone all day. I am updating, texting, calling, tweeting, liking.

Here are 3 questions I’m asking myself right now:

-When I need to make a decision do I feel the urge to text, tweet, email others first?

-Do I go to God first in all matters?

-Am I bypassing God by heading back to the noise instead of Him?

Here is a guideline I am practicing for making decisions: (I was taught this a long time ago, and I believe it still holds true!):

1. Seek God’s wisdom through prayer, first.

2. Seek God’s wisdom through searching the Bible.

3. Seek out a few Godly people to ask for their wisdom.

I hope this helps you in the days to come.

-Jim

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus by Jefferson Bethke

jimgray — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:29:59 +0000

“A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it’s core Jesus’ gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can’t do your own list of rules and feel “not good enough” for God. With Jesus though you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don’t represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God!”-Jefferson Bethke

Our Story

jimgray — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:35:33 +0000

Interested in finding out more about us? Here’s a video that tells our story from the point of view of our founder, Jake Bodine.

Set Them Free from God Behind Bars on Vimeo.

CHURCH WITH INMATES

jimgray — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:15:33 +0000

Posted by Jim Gray

Every Saturday night at 6:30pm Pacific we host “Church With Inmates”. Come and worship with us on our online campus on Facebook at http:www.facebook.com/godbehindbars and click on the “Church With Inmates” tab or go to http://churchwithinmates.com. If you have any questions during the service, reach out to our online host “GBB Host” and they will be able to help.

2nd Chance Stories : Brother’s Keeper Movie

jimgray — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:07:00 +0000

Coming to theaters in Fall 2012, BROTHER’S KEEPER takes moviegoers on an incredible journey through rural Georgia in the 1950s: from Main Street to the State Penitentiary… from young love to a heinous crime of passion… from counterfeit justice to forgiveness forged through pain… from God’s mercy to the ultimate sacrifice.

The first feature film from Desert Winds Films, BROTHER’S KEEPER is co-directed by Josh Mills and TJ Amato and stars Alex and Graham Miller as Pete and Andy. The cast also includes Daniel Samonas (as Gordon), MacKenzie Mauzy (as Maggie), Ray Wise (as Herbert), and award-winning singer Travis Tritt (as Eddie).

Sometimes the greatest revenge is forgiveness

Andy and Pete Goodwynn have been side-by-side since the womb. But that’s about to change…

Identical twins, they have grown up watching out for one another while avoiding the glares and whispers that come with a small-town tragedy like the one that left them orphans at a young age.

Yet despite their bond, Andy and Pete couldn’t be more different. While Pete readily turns the other cheek, Andy prefers an eye for an eye. As their high school graduation nears, Pete plans to marry Maggie, the love of his life, and head off to school to become a preacher. Andy, who wants nothing to do with God, has no plans, no direction, and seemingly no future.

Yet this too is about to change.

Instead of becoming engaged to Maggie, Pete hears his love say no to his proposal. In a dizzying turn of events, he ends up in jail… framed for murder! As Pete wrestles with God about this cruel twist of fate – orchestrated by the most powerful family in town – Andy struggles to find a way to help his brother… even if it means coming to peace with God and abandoning his hopes for revenge.

Will Andy be able to help Pete gain his rightful freedom? Will the brothers seek vengeance on those whose corruption and deceit have taken that freedom away? While revenge may seem sweet, BROTHER’S KEEPER is a powerful reminder that only forgiveness can truly heal.

BROTHER’S KEEPER

In Theaters Fall 2012

BrothersKeeperFilm.com

A Song for the Torn [video]

jimgray — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:38:23 +0000

Here is a new song that the team at Central wrote for this weekend’s kickoff of the Torn series. It totally captures the message of Jud Wilhite’s book and offers great encouragement. Check it out!

Torn from Central Online on Vimeo.

Relationships vs Religion

jimgray — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:30:58 +0000

Religion approaches God as one might approach a salesman. The salesman wants to get as much out of you for as little as possible, and you want to get as much out of him for as little as possible. You both negotiate and compromise until you reach an agreement that you are both happy with. Once you have completed the negotiations you are both under certain obligations to each other—usually you are obligated to give the salesman money, and he is obligated to give you a product.-Jud Wilhite

News and Updates from GBB

jimgray — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:19:12 +0000

We believe that God is doing something unique with GBB. We are aware of a need that exists and we are working daily to make a difference. Here are a few updates on what is going on with the ministry:

-We will be launching Recovery groups, Small Groups, Counseling, Mentoring, and much more. Groups will be tailored to specific Genres such as, Moms of inmates, Wives of inmates, Fathers of inmates, Children of Inmates. All this in the near future!

-Our online campus continues to grow every month. We are thankful for Karen, who runs the GbbHost account every Saturday night. Checkout http://churchwithinmates.com .

Stay tuned for more updates!

Stolen by Brandon Heath-Potential Theme Song?

jimgray — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 02:19:47 +0000

I’m a fugitive

Running from the live that I was meant to live

Looking for somewhere that I can lay my head

I’m lucky if I make it through the night

But I can’t sleep

Knowing that You’re one more step ahead of me

I’m a fool for ever thinking that You’d just let me go

That’s not the way it’s ever gone before

I am Yours

You catch me like a thief in the night

You hold me when I put up a fight

You chase me when I run from Your light

Because You love, You won’t give up

‘Til my heart is stolen

‘Til my heart is stolen away

I’m trying to understand that life comes after dying

To embrace that I’m a slave until I’m captured

But You would never use a lock or a key

‘Cause I am free

I could change my name, cover all my tracks

But I’m wrong to think I could lose the past

‘Cause You found me here and You took me back

Once a criminal, now a prodigal

Not Afraid [G-Blest Remix] [Video}

jimgray — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:46:02 +0000

Checkout this video by our friend G-Blest aka Gary Ward It carries an amazing message of grace and redeption!