josh groban in jail...

Angela got me a belated anniversary present. Josh Groban’s “Closer” CD. I know it’s not very manly music, but back off! :-)
As I popped it in the CD player on the way to work this morning, I listened to his current hit “You Raise Me Up.” I love this song! This last weekend, I was asked to sing it as a duet with Sherry at the Marion County Jail. Every month, some of our jail ministry folks do a worship service at the jail. This month, Jim was speaking. He’s been where these guys are, so he has instant “street cred’” with the guys. The jail choir (yes, they have one) did a few tunes and we sang some as a congregation, then Jim spoke. He talked about David’s sin with Bathsheba and how we all mess up; it’s what we do with the mess up that really counts. He really has an anointing when he speaks. A wonderful testimony to God's saving grace. He hit it out of the park! I am so grateful for guys like Jim, who are willing to share their story. Then Sherry and I sang “You Raise Me Up.” We’ve been singing this song at NC, but performing it for these guys was a whole different experience. First, I was a bit nervous…and I never get nervous. I guess I was just a bit intimidated; but the guys really seemed to get into it. I've sung these words before, but as I sang them Sunday evening to a room full of prisoners, I realized just how much God has “raised me up,” and how much He promises to do the same for those guys…all of us, if we just ask. I know that I’ll never sing that song again without remembering a hundred guys, dressed in orange jumpsuits...all longing to be raised up too.