Last night was great. Never been to a drive-in theater, but there are first times for a lot of things. Didn't see any teenagers making out but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Today we go back to the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention center for my 3rd time this summer. Ive been working with a guy named Ricky from Odenville. He is almost 18 years old and has been in juvi nine times. Yes, nine times. What has been such a blessing and a surprise is his openness to the Word and the enthusiasm he shows toward me for the truth. But in the same stride I've heard the story of how incarcerated people's faith is so incredibly hard to recreate on the outside. Someone told me a story (maybe it was on the TV), about a guy that mad a complete change in jail for like 20 years and was ordained and became the jails honorary preacher and was just a good guy, but not long after he got out he was back in jail for a non-petty offense. There are success stories though. Bobby Fox, a brother in Christ a couple years older than me, who was so influential in my journey of faith(and still is), was serving two years in youth jail when he found the Lord and began to burn so brightly even to this day.

What is exciting is the hope that these broken vessels, these no good, mostly fatherless children will be made whole into whole men who carry the mystery of God inside. Chosen when foolish to be made wise before the Lord. Accursed before man, now blessed in the Kingdom of God. From mostly good-for-nothings dads, to now adopted by the Father in heaven who has given them an equal inheritance in His will.

Unrelated: the National Sacred Harp convention in Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in bham and I'm thinking about checking it out Saturday. Check the link if you don't know what I'm talking about and get back to me if you might want to go listen for a little while. http://www.awakemysoul.com