Ex-felons, It's Almost Time!

I'm writing this blog, for two main reasons.  One, so you can read it, and two, so you can understand what is about to take place.  To gain a felony in the state of Tennessee, is seemingly, losing your life.  I know, I know, when you do wrong, you should be punished.  That's the consequences for your actions, blah, blah, blah.  Without a shadow of a doubt, anyone doing any crime should be punished.  This is the true kicker.........For how long?  Put me in jail for the length of my time, and I can understand that.  BUT, once I'm out, and living crime free for a while, I deserve my life back.  I deserve to be able to obtain a decent paying job.  Not because I'm so special, no, that's not the case at all.  Why?  Because, I am a human being, just like everyone else.  I bleed the same color blood, I breath of the same air, I partake of the same events, I have dependents, just like you.  The greatest reason is this: I have to pay TAXES while I work, just like you!  It seems like society is saying: "Ex- felons, we won't forgive you, love you, nor help you; but, we will accept your taxes!  When I use the word I, I use it in a plural sense.  It is not just about Joshua Mitchell.  This is like an unspoken brother/sisterhood on the horizon. 

We have to stick together ex-felons, if we want anything to change.  There was a pledge made on my behalf to God, over 7 years ago, never to commit a crime again.  I thank God, that, I have remained true to my pledge throughout the years.  Ex-felons, we have to be the FIRST ones to change in this society.  Would you want a family member in your house, who constantly steals from you?  Who constantly curses you out?  Who constantly wants to fight you?  Who constantly intimidates you?  I wouldn't either.  That's exactly how society view us as ex-felons.  They think we're going to steal from their companies, threaten their employees, do bodily harm to them and/or their employees, and rape or kill them or their employees.  Let's be real here.  There is no time for sugar-coating the truth.  A ticked-off, uncontrollable, unpredictable animal..........is what they think of us.  Therefore, it is safer, in their eyes,  to throw our applications in the garbage.

There are some felons who are still committing crimes now.  If that is you, then, this blog is not for you.  I'm talking to men and women who took responsibility for their actions, and decided to change for the betterment of society.  I'm talking to people who would help someone that is being robbed, instead of being the one robbing them.  I'm talking to people who want to help practicing offenders, change their ways.  I'm talking to people who want to hold down a career and not a job.  I'm talking to the true EX-felons!  All Tennessee ex-felon residents, please hear me.  I am going to arrange a meeting with a TN State Representative in the Memphis area.  I am going to propose to him, that, a bill is created to automatically expunge the record of an ex-felon after 5 years of no criminal activity.  AND, that, they must complete some type of Good Moral Standing classes.  I need at least 15 people, who are willing to go to war for this to happen.  I need you to be able to attend the meeting, once I set it up.  I will not arrange for the meeting until I have at least 15 people that I need to start this.  There is strength in numbers!  If you are ready for a change, go to the contact page of my web-site: www.rescission.org.  Leave your information, and I will return your calls as soon as possible.  Thank you. 

When Will You Move On With Your Life?

            "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."- Hebrews 8:12     

There used to be days, when I didn't want to get out of bed.  Feelings of uselessness, despair, rejection, self-hatred, world-hatred, pain, and defeat, were always in my mind, constantly.  Nevertheless, my closest relatives and friends never knew how I felt on the inside.  Everyday, it seemed as if I was wading neck deep in quicksand, about to drown.  Yes, a drowning was truly taking place, but, it wasn't from quicksand.  I was drowning in guilt.  Just like some of you are now.  

Long after the judge slams the gavel, long after they release us from jail/prison, long after the probation is over, long after the fines are paid, the felony(ies) remain.  Then, the guilt shows up, once an application for employment is filled out, and no one calls back; when your family needs some place to stay, and the apartment says, NO!, to your background.  It shows up, when life insurance companies won't insure you, it shows up, when YOU remember that no one wants to help you because of your background. __________________________________________________________________________

There once was an adulterous woman, whom the Pharisees brought unto Jesus.  They said unto him: "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commands us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?"  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.  But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said unto them: "He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her."  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one.- John 8:3-9
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In the scriptures above, Jesus dealt with a hypocritical group.  The Pharisees were good at pointing out other people sins, but, they overlooked their own.  When Jesus told them: 'Him without sin, let him cast the first stone, all the people HAD to put down their stones.  Likewise today, there are people who wish to cast the first stone on all ex-felons.  Those same people never stopped to think, "What have I done wrong, in my past.  Am I a better person than they are, or, am I just hiding what I used to do?" They either, didn't get caught, or, legal injustice took place to keep them felony-free.  This is not to persuade anyone to cry foul play, because, we shouldn't have done what we did in the first place.  

After serving 11 months in a Shelby County Correctional Center, I was BLESSED to obtain a construction job as a starter job. God used my future father-in-law to help me obtain the job.  Someone out there is positioned to help you along the way.  I went about 6 months riding the public transportation system, but, I did it with expectation.  Expectation, that, something greater was going to come along.  Sure enough, it did!  As I lived with a relative to get my life together, I was able to buy a vehicle to get myself around. This was the beginning of a new beginning! 

Today, you can start a new day!  Right now, prepare to put some of the guilt, despair, uselessness, rejection, self-hatred, world-hatred, pain, and defeat out of your life.  You and I were made to prosper!  It is time to shift your thinking!  Show your community that you are worthy to be trusted again.  How can you do that?  By not being caught up in the system anymore.  Jail and probation should become a thing of the past to us.

I give God all the credit for the changes in my life.  Like Romans 12:2 states: 'And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.'  Get your attitude right with God, ask for His forgiveness, and say a salvation prayer.  Once God forgives you, it's time to move on with your life!   

Coming up later:  Knowing what you are good at, so as, to start your own business. Also, check out my web-site at: http://www.rescission.org/.