The Tian, Qian, and Yu banks offered money exchange services, accepted deposits, and issued their own banknotes denominated in "metropolitan cash" (Jingqian), hence they were known as Jingpiao (京票) or Jingqianpiao (京錢票). Today, a number of those state (and federal) prisons have been "privatized" and are part of the the "prison industrial complex." The common response of the "respectable Christians" I knew then was that I was part of the "liberal" effort to turn what ought to be a place of harsh punishment into a "country club." Such was a waste of taxpayers' money. Whether you call us on the phone, send us an email, write us a letter or visit our facility KenAG is committed to giving you fast and courteous service and response to your needs. I realise that this sounds controversial - it’s truly not meant to be - rather, as someone who’s been there - I am trying to gently point out what might not be obvious to those who merely visit the margins or just reflect upon them. I looked out at the faces of the (mostly) young men (under thirty) in my classes who had been placed there by Texas' justice system.

I received a similar blessing over thirty years ago. In the mid-1970s, I taught history and literature for five years in a state-run maximum security system. I taught GED and general education courses in a jail myself (as well as in suburban, inner-city, and expensive private high schools before that), and I would also say that my students in jail were the best students I ever had, with some of the mentally ill ones at the top of the list. The inmates viewed my classes and the classes of the other teachers as a brief time in the "free world." They were among the best students I've ever had--even though at least twenty of the inmates I taught over a five-year period were clearly mentally ill. Flying away may be a big cop- out, but when that time comes, and it surely will, I hope to sing that song with as much gusto as possibe.

However, the unit history is silent about any significant activity (possibly they were involved in the inspection being conducted at the time by the 8th AF). Yes, the margins of society are where the gospel is called to; yes, this is a great argument for more diversity in our churches; and wow, so much good wisdom on the disparities in our society that lead to our prison population being what it is. I am trying to think of any hymns that operate in the opposite way, that is, resonate outside of a prison but not within. Saying this, please don’t think I am denigrating either your ministry to these folk, or indeed anyone else’s. What I am simply saying is that the reason it is so difficult (at least here in the UK) to get men into Church (and especially manly men!) is that Christianity is so often seen as the resting-ground of the weak, the ineffectual, the effeminate and the inconsequential. It’s right here waiting for you. Do we see a pattern here? Richard, don't think no-one notices that you don't capitalize "Bible" anymore. Thank you, Richard, for your post. Thank you for this post - it led me down paths that I had missed before, even though I think of myself as one of those who knows all about "the margins" and what we Christians need to be doing there.

They also remind me of what many of the people in prison think of the Christians that come in to visit/help them; i.e. that they are weak, lame, society-rejects who want to do good but have no real sense of understanding or relevance to what’s REALLY going on in a prison on a day-to-day basis. Kevin Prosch comes immediately to mind, but that doesn't work so well for a lot of us outside of prison too. I don't think the preacher, God bless him, had nearly as much impact a lot of times. Can't think of any yet. I don't think there is an answer, until a vaccine is developed and people feel safe. With the spring broken, women tote bags the switch failed closed, which meant the tester never reached a state where it was ready to do another cycle so it just sat there doing nothing. I know you are blessed in doing it. I am not in any way advocating that we let criminals run free -- we do have an obligation to protect ourselves and society -- but I must always assume that it is a temporary measure which is necessary only UNTIL they can be "healed." Since there are many that are beyond human intervention we must rely on our faith that God can do what we cannot.