He never dreamed this would happen to him. He walked into prison.

A prison official emptied the trash bag of belongings he brought. They allowed him to keep his glasses, radio, Bible, tennis shoes, t-shirts, stationery. They took away his baseball cap.

They left him to sit in the Cold Room for hours.

Next he entered the cell block and the doors clicked behind him.

“Clutching my trash bag, I stepped in. There I faced another set of bars. Behind me the first door rolled again and banged shut. A voice came from a speaker in the ceiling. ‘One in the trap!’ it said.”
He kept thinking, “I don’t belong here.”

When we’re younger, rarely do any of us imagine a life of imprisonment. Of any kind. Whether it be to appetites or money or substances, we don’t picture prisons in our future. We start out with visions of a free life.

But somewhere along the way, we, too, can get caught in a trap. And find ourselves locked away.

Bo, a strong Christian leader for years, realized that his first prison had been his thirst for success and performance.

He was a high achiever and was accomplished in everything he tried. He’d played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals farm team; had a beautiful wife and two children; started a successful church in his community; was a businessman and chaplain for the Denver Nuggets.

He wanted to please others. And he did that well. So when a friend asked him to sign a loan for him, he did. But there were things he didn’t know.

Years later, the FBI began asking questions, even after the loan had been paid back in full. Bo volunteered answers, not knowing he would end up being charged with a crime and sentenced to a federal prison.

He’s now telling his story in a book, Grace Behind Bars: An Unexpected Path to True Freedom.

His story is unusual and well-told. It draws you in.

You want to know how Bo will handle prison life; how his wife and teenage son and daughter will cope with their husband and dad behind bars; what will happen when he’s finally released.

Thankfully the book starts at the beginning and gives you a real ending so you aren’t left wondering.

And along the way, Bo shares stories and lessons he learned in prison that are applicable not only to him, but to anyone reading the book.

“One shift I wanted to make was to stop being reckless. Too often I’d been climbing to the top of the temple and jumping off —putting God to a foolish test. I promised Gari I’d be more cautious. There’d be no more hurried, 10-minute meetings where I signed papers as I had for the ‘straw borrowing’ loans.
So I put together a ‘personal protection team’ I’d consult before doing anything in business. It included Gari, an attorney, an accountant, a bookkeeper, and two friends who’d given me wise counsel.”

He learned to be more dependent on God and on others. He had to surrender to things that were out of his control. He began asking more questions before he made decisions. He had to move slower.

He learned to trust that God could use anything—even prison—for his good.

“If I’d known that even one day in prison was a possibility, I would have fought the government tooth and nail. I probably would have walked free. If so, I would have missed all the lessons I learned in prison. It had to go exactly the way it went.”

Freedom for Bo—both internally and externally—came from submitting to the process, walking with God, and allowing God to transform him into a different man.

He learned to receive God’s grace.

He provides hope that the readers can receive God’s grace, too. Even for those in literal prisons. Freedom is available. Keep your hands open for God’s gifts. Even the ones in unusual packages.

Grace Behind Bars is a candid look at one man's journey through prison and how pride came before his fall. It was fascinating to read how Bo and Gari didn't become bitter about how he was treated for his unintentional crime, but rather they saw it as a lesson from God and were always open to learning what God wanted them to learn through the experience. I liked getting little snippets of Gari's perspectives at the end of the chapters. I also liked how Bo related the lessons he learned while in prison to how they could be applicable to everyone, although in his speech he geared it to men. A lot are still great tips for everyone, regardless of gender. Their story wasn't that relatable for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

This was interesting memoir of taking what is handed to you and turning it into a blessing. I read it but at the same time I am really not sure how felt about this. Some points I felt like the author still is not realizing his fault in his charges but then other times I felt he he did know his fault. It really read all over the place for me. So I will still recommend it.

Grace Behind Bars

An Unexpected Path to True Freedom
by Bo Mitchell; Gari Mitchell

Tyndale House Publishers

Focus on the Family
Christian

Pub Date 01 Mar 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of Grace Behind Bars through the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review:

Grace Behind Bars is a story of redemption of forgiveness.

In 1992 Bo Mitchell enters prison, but just before then his wife enters a prison of sorts, a brain illness and clinical depression.

In 1972 Bo becomes a Father to his daughter Ashley.

On September 8th 1988 Gari has sinus surgery, while it helps with some of the issues with her sinuses, but the surgery damages her brain.

On November 25,1991 Bo hears from the District attorney, by the next day they are meeting in the courtroom, but despite everyone not reccomending Prison time the judge orders an 11 month Prison sentence.

On May.22 Bo is released from the prison camp and sent to a half way house, on September 14,1992 Bo is released from the federal prison system all together. He does go back to prison, but not as an inmate but prisoner.

I give Grace Behind Bars five out of five stars.

Happy Reading

“I believe I went to prison so my roots could sink into the deep soil of faith in Jesus Christ- the only meaningful purpose in anyone’s life.” God is in control and His timing is perfect. “

Grace Behind Bars is about a very emotionally difficult time in the life of Bo Mitchell and his wife Gari. My initial reaction was that this was going to be a book used by the author to declare his innocence and bemoan the incompetence of his lawyers, the FBI, the justice system and everything else involved in sending him to prison. But this was far from the point of the story. And it was well worth reading to the end of the book to truly see the authors’ heart and purpose in writing this book.
Bo Mitchell was extremely open regarding his feelings during his time in prison. He did not try to cover up how difficult it was to be incarcerated. Gari also shared her perspective and brought an additional dimension to Grace Behind Bars. Their transparency was inspiring. They shared their humanness and did not try to come across as anyone other than a family trying to adjust to a very difficult situation. And that did not end when Bo Mitchell was released from bars. Throughout the book both Bo and Gari share how God led them through a journey to a deeper understanding of Himself. This book will have a great appeal to those who might be interested in getting involved in a prison ministry. It also may capture the attention of those who are baseball fans. (No spoilers in this review.) For anyone going thru a difficult time, Grace Behind Bars is able to bring some hope and purpose as the reader follows the struggles of Bo and Gari Mitchell. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful, inspiring book. What Bo Mitchell and his family went through when he was wrongfully convicted and how they held steadfast to their faith is inspiring and heart warming. We know that sometimes when things are given to us we may not at hat time understand why, but we must remember It is not our plan but God's plan. This is a book that anyone going through something and feels their hope is gone should read. In fact, this is a book all should read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in return for my honest review.

This was well written and honest. I didn't think I would get into it as much as I did.
I received this book free from the publisher for the purpose of review.

This book is about someone who was inauthentic and with GOD he became GOD. He was unbreakable and he became breakable with the LORD. Bo was non-genuine and became very genuie with the LORD. Bo was a talking Christian but became a walking - talking - eating - breathing - living - dying - carry the cross every day Bible believing Christian when he met the LORD his SAVIOR - 0h my goodness and how, and what he does is goosebumps, churn your stomach with excitement - you could just hear the Angels singing when this one got saved - for in the Bible it says that the Angels sing when even just one soul is saved. AMEN....What Bo does with his salvation is wonderful - and I wont tell you what he does - you have to read for yourself - it is so worth the read.......