Notes to the BCJ
Just a Few Notes
These are the last few weekly letters delivered to the Brown County Jail. Our Brown County Sheriff's Office has an awesome, supportive staff, and we have a loving, hard-working ministry team. Good things are happening. Please keep the BCSO and the BCJ in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you so much! Grace and Peace.
A Note from your Chaplain
February 18, 2020
Hey there, brother. Grace and peace!
I am Encouraged
I have to tell you that as I talk with the ministry team, the staff, and the BCJ residents past and present, I am encouraged. Good things are happening because changes are being made in hearts, minds, relationships and lives. As I talk to people, I am continually blown away by the amazing changes I’ve seen when we give ourselves permission to try something new. We open ourselves to incredible opportunities to grow when we are open to and learning from God and others. We are an important part of each others’ journeys. Let’s keep encouraging each other. Let’s keep the good things happening in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
Writing Our Stories
Think about this. Every day. Every day we wake up. Every day we wake up and we write part of our story. Think about this. Today, we may just write a sentence, or maybe even a few paragraphs. Today, we might even be a few pages, but every day we are writing part of our story. The amazing thing is that every day we get to choose what that story looks like. Today we get to write part of our story! How amazing is that! We certainly can’t always change or control our circumstances, but we definitely can change and control how we react to those circumstances. Think about this. Our daily decisions and reactions help us choose what direction our story is going to take from here. We are all in the middle of our stories. What are we going to write today?
We Vote With Our Actions
Author and speaker James Clear said, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.” I like this a lot! We all say and think and believe a lot of different things. This is expected as we are uniquely designed. We also have a lot in common. We all have the power to choose. We get to choose how to act and react. Over and over and over. Our actions and reactions tell the real story, because those decisions are votes that determine the person we become. Our actions reflect our current desires. Our reactions reflect our current position. If we want to be closer to God, let’s think about how we want to vote today. We vote to be closer with silent time, prayer time, scripture time, and discussion time. We vote to be healthier and feel better by getting rest, paying attention to what we eat, and by limiting our inactivity. Let’s practice voting today. Let’s vote to step forward. Let’s vote to close the gap between who we currently are and who we want to be.
To Be is To Do
As we dream and hope and picture the person we want to be, we need to think differently about our goals. We definitely want to DO the right things, but really we really want to BE a type of person. We have to adopt a new identity and develop that new identity in order to make real, meaningful change. To BE that person we imagine, we simply need to DO the things that type of person would do. Knowing this, it’s easy to see that every decision is a vote, and we get a lot of chances to vote every day.
Writing, Voting, Being, and Doing
I pray we think about these ideas today. Let’s write. Let’s vote. Let’s be. Let’s do. God bless you today and every day. Grace and peace.
Thom Miller
BCSD Chaplain
Mark 12:30-31, Matt 22:37-40; Gal 5:22-23; Luke 10:27; Rom 12:2; 1 Thes 5:16-18;
Eph 2:4-5, 8-10; Eph 3:16-21; Eph 4:1-3, 22-24, 32; 1 Cor 13:4-7, 13; 1 Cor 16:12-14;
Psalm 46:10; Rom 8:37-39; Phil 2:3-5; Phil 4:4-7; James 1:22-25; John 1; John 3:16-17, 21;
Col 3:12-14; Isaiah 40:13; Jer 29:11; Psalm 136:1; Prov 3:5-6; Rom 12:10-13; Matt chapters 5-7
A Note from your Chaplain
February 11, 2020
Hey there, brother. Grace and peace. I pray that today is a good day. I pray you are finding rest and quiet. I hope you find a few moments to reflect and spend some time in prayer.
We are Blessed
I want to thank you again for welcoming our ministry team in to visit. We are blessed with great leadership and staff here at the BCJ who allow us to come visit on Sundays and through the week. We are blessed with loving people who care deeply for you and your wellbeing. Remember that you are loved and valued. And remember that you are continually lifted in prayer by our ministry team and this community.
Freedom, Life, Faith, Love, Spirit
Paul’s letter to the Galatians is one of my favorites. And chapter 5 has two awesome passages. “Freedom in Christ” and “Life by the Spirit.” Both passages are packed full of deep wisdom yet sprinkled with some simple truths. And three of my all-time favorite passages are in Galatians 5.
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
“The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
We can spend a lot of time wrestling with tough scriptures and life’s questions, but as we’re trying to figure things out, these are some powerful truths to keep in mind and lean on.
We have freedom in Christ. We have life by the Spirit.
We are told to express love to our neighbors.
And everyone is our neighbor. Good stuff, Paul!
Love and Wellbeing
I recently read the book, Wellbeing by Tom Rath. It’s based on a ton of research and teaches ideas of how we can improve our lives and the lives of those around us (our neighbors). One key lesson is that in order to be well, we need “social wellbeing.” We build our social wellbeing by building positive relationships (loving our neighbors as ourselves). There are also several positive health benefits when we choose to nurture and build positive relationships. People with high social wellbeing typically have more spiritual peace, a greater sense of purpose and meaning, more emotional stability, more physical energy, and more satisfaction in life. Basically, when we treat our neighbors better, we live better. When we share love, we gain love. And peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Sound familiar?
This Week...
...let’s look for ways to begin healing injured relationships in our lives. Let’s look for ways to build better relationships with the “neighbors” in our lives. Let’s remember that we have Freedom in Christ. Let’s remember that we have Life in the Spirit. Let’s choose to love God, love others, and be well.
God bless you.
Grace and peace.
Thom Miller
BCSD Chaplain
Mark 12:30-31, Matt 22:37-40; Gal 5:22-23; Luke 10:27; Rom 12:2; 1 Thes 5:16-18;
Eph 2:4-5, 8-10; Eph 3:16-21; Eph 4:1-3, 22-24, 32; 1 Cor 13:4-7, 13; 1 Cor 16:12-14; Gal chapter 5;
Psalm 46:10; Rom 8:37-39; Phil 2:3-5; Phil 4:4-7; James 1:22-25; John 1; John 3:16-17, 21;
Col 3:12-14; Isaiah 40:13; Jer 29:11; Psalm 136:1; Prov 3:5-6; Rom 12:10-13; Matt chapters 5-7
A Note from your Chaplain
February 4, 2020
Hey there, brother. “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” - Rom 1:7
Gratefulness and Prayer
Just a reminder that the ministry team and I are so grateful for you. We are grateful for the time we spend with you and grateful that you always welcome us in. We are continually praying for you and your families. Please remember us and our families in prayer as well. Also remember our Sheriff, Jail Commander, and Jail Officers who allow us in. Pray for them and their families. Thank God for them. And thank you for your prayers because you matter and your prayers matter.
Choose To Make Today Matter
Let’s be present and open to hear God’s voice of love. The voice of God matters. Let’s be aware and know that we are in the presence of God. The presence of God matters. Let’s be grateful and look for moments of joy and peace. Joy and peace matter. Most importantly, remember that you matter, so make today matter.
Share and Know
Let’s share compassion and know that we are worthy of compassion.
Let’s share forgiveness and know that we are worthy of forgiveness.
Let’s share love and know that we are worthy of love.
Being present, aware, and grateful makes today matter.
Sharing compassion, forgiveness and love makes today matter.
Journal
If you don’t already keep a daily journal, I would encourage you to begin one this week. Journaling is a great practice to help us work through our thoughts. We can write about anything and it’s a good practice and habit to build. I personally like to begin with a gratitude journal, then I like to read and take some notes. I write about things I’ve learned, questions and struggles I’m going through, ideas and plan, and prayers and insights. Start right now and give it a try.
Hope for Today, Hope for the Future
I pray that each day, we take a moment to look for hope. Hope for the day. Hope that today can be a good day. Hope that we can do something today to build ourselves up and build our relationships with God and with others.
I also pray that we also take a moment to look forward with hope. Hope for the future. Hope that this life can be a good life. Hope that as we build ourselves up and build up relationships with God and with others. Each day we live with just a little hope and a little action, we grow closer to being the best version of ourselves. It doesn’t matter where we are in life. We can always take one step to close that potential gap between our current self and our best self. Trust and lean on God and others. Every time you do this, there is hope.
God bless you, brother. Have a great day. Grace and peace.
Thom Miller
BCSD Chaplain
Mark 12:30-31, Matt 22:37-40; Gal 5:22-23; Luke 10:27; Rom 12:2; 1 Thes 5:16-18;
Eph 2:4-5, 8-10; Eph 3:16-21; Eph 4:1-3, 22-24, 32; 1 Cor 13:4-7, 13; 1 Cor 16:12-14;
Psalm 46:10; Rom 8:37-39; Phil 2:3-5; Phil 4:4-7; James 1:22-25; John 1; John 3:16-17, 21;
Col 3:12-14; Isaiah 40:13; Jer 29:11; Psalm 136:1; Prov 3:5-6; Rom 12:10-13; Matt chapters 5-7
A Note from your Chaplain
January 28, 2019
Hey there, brother. Grace and peace to you today and this week. This week, I’ve been praying for grace and peace. I’ve been praying for hope and healing. I’ve been praying for wisdom and transformation.
A Prayer for Grace and Peace
Grace is a gift, a demonstration of love. It is not earned but simply given to us. We are deeply loved and connected with God and with each other.
Peace is a sense of calm and feeling that things will be okay even if we don’t know how that’s going to happen. We find that peace and calm when we allow ourselves to be quiet and listen.
A Prayer for Hope and Healing
Hope is the anticipation that something good is on the way. It helps us see the light in the darkness and gives us strength to move forward.
Healing is when our health is restored after an injury. This healing can be physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual. We find healing when we pay attention, seek help, and know that recovery takes time.
A Prayer for Wisdom and Transformation
Wisdom is knowing what is true and right. Wisdom is having experience that allows us to see the bigger picture and act knowledge and confidence.
Transformation is a dramatic change. Changing our hearts and our minds about what matters most. Our transformations, like our healing, can be physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
A Moment of Awesome
Awe is a feeling of reverence or wonder. A great respect for something or someone. Awe allows us to simply be amazed and lost in the moment. The word “awesome,” refers to that feeling of awe. We can be swept away with the moment that is so powerful or impressive, we have no words. It’s an overused word, but it’s a beautiful word to describe those indescribable moments. What I love about moments of awe is that we can experience them throughout the day. When we can take a step back to see the wonder and beauty of life. Real life. Life that can be transformed and renewed day by day and moment by moment.
Finding the Awesome
To me, the trick of finding moments of awesome is to simply breathe and be quiet. To quiet my mind and heart and just be present and aware. If find this to be the foundational habit for a successful, intentional life. The ability to simply breathe and be quiet. It’s a simple, yet powerful act that allows us to see the beauty of life and the beauty and presence of God. And when we begin to catch glimpses of that beauty, we can start to catch glimpses of hope and healing. Of wisdom and transformation. Of grace and peace.
This week, let’s look for some ways to be amazed. Let’s look for some moments of awe. Let’s find the awesome. God bless. Grace and peace!
Thom Miller
BCSD Chaplain
Mark 12:30-31, Matt 22:37-40; Gal 5:22-23; Luke 10:27; Rom 12:2; 1 Thes 5:16-18;
Eph 2:4-5, 8-10; Eph 3:16-21; Eph 4:1-3, 22-24, 32; 1 Cor 13:4-7, 13; 1 Cor 16:12-14;
Psalm 46:10; Rom 8:37-39; Phil 2:3-5; Phil 4:4-7; James 1:22-25; John 1; John 3:16-17, 21;
Col 3:12-14; Isaiah 40:13; Jer 29:11; Psalm 136:1; Prov 3:5-6; Rom 12:10-13; Matt chapters 5-7
