Rating: 
Summary: Phenomenal. Absolutely Phenomenal!!
Review: Initially, I was leery about My Life Between the Cross and the Bars for two reasons: I'm generally not a fan of autobiographies, and I don't know anyone who has been to prison. When I was only one-fourth of the way through the book I realized that it contains volumes of material to which I can relate. I highly recommend this book to individuals from all walks of life, as it has monumentous value for everyone. The author is a genuine inspiration to all people of every race and background, and his book is a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal. Absolutely Phenomenal!!
Review: Initially, I was leery about My Life Between the Cross and the Bars for two reasons: I'm generally not a fan of autobiographies, and I don't know anyone who has been to prison. When I was only one-fourth of the way through the book I realized that it contains volumes of material to which I can relate. I highly recommend this book to individuals from all walks of life, as it has monumentous value for everyone. The author is a genuine inspiration to all people of every race and background, and his book is a great read.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read Book
Review: My Life Between The Cross And The Bars Has a powerful and realistic message.I highly recommend this book to all human beings who are interested in a more productive society.It is informative as well as enlightening.Chaplin Castillo shears many of his ideas for prison reform with us
Rating:
Summary: PROFOUND!
Review: My Life Between the Cross and the Bars is impactful, and an eye opener into life behind prison walls. This book has appeal to a diverse audience, and will leave a lasting impression on the reader. Typically, my wife and I have dissimilar preferences in books; however, we both agree that it is the best $21.00 that we've ever spent.
Rating:
Summary: PROFOUND!
Review: My Life Between the Cross and the Bars is impactful, and an eye opener into life behind prison walls. This book has appeal to a diverse audience, and will leave a lasting impression on the reader. Typically, my wife and I have dissimilar preferences in books; however, we both agree that it is the best $21.00 that we've ever spent.
Rating:
Summary: Read It and Grow
Review: My Life Between the Cross and the Bars is not just a book about federal prison ministry, but it is a marvelous chronicle of the inspirational life of Chaplain George Castillo. His gentle storytelling technique illuminates his generous spirit even when he tells of events with sad and tragic outcomes. This is an uplifting book that I found hard to put down. In fact, I finished it during an eleven-hour flight from Lisbon to New York and hungered for more stories from this gifted writer. Castillo hits every emotional chord in this autobiography---read it and grow.
Rating:
Summary: MY LIFE BETWEEN THE CROSS AND THE BARS
Review: MY LIFE BETWEEN THE CROSS AND THE BARS, is an exceptionally excellent non-fiction biography, focusing on the intriguing life of the author, Chaplain George Catillo with a powerful and realistic message on workable prison rehabilitation solutions. I highly recommend this very well written book to all progressive thinkers and individuals who desire to have a more progressive and productive society.Zara Brown, Counselor
M.A. In Counseling
& In Education, With
Montgomery, Alabama
Public Schools
Rating:
Summary: "I was in prison and you visited me." Jesus, Matthew 25:36
Review: My recommendation of the Rev. George Ramon Castillo's book, My Life between The Cross and the Bars, grows out of a personal acquaintance with the author for nearly forty years as well as several readings of the book. The book is very well written and allows the reader to glimpse a first hand view of the circumstances and events that led George into the Christian ministry and into the Federal Prison chaplaincy. This life service offering reveals the character and integrity of the man, as well as the broader dimension of his professional service.
Of vital importance to George's life story is his account of his early years in British Honduras, now Belize, his early immigration to the United States, and his service in the U.S. Air Force, and his U.S. citizenship (October 26, 1953). Even more important was his marriage in 1957 to Muriel Jermain Seale, who has provided the moral and spiritual support for his successful career.
One does not just become a minister and a chaplain willy-nilly. The story of his religious development and educational experience tells how this came about: the early difficult years, then college and seminary.
I became acquainted with George while he was a student at Bangor Theological Seminary. He and his family eventually joined the congregation I was servicing, the First Congregational Church in Brewer, Maine. He was ordained under my ministry there, one of the high points, actually the highest, of my own ministry. When I left in September of 1967, the church called him to become their Interim Minister. After a year or so, he went on to serve churches in Detroit, Michigan, and in Ohio, and then was accepted as chaplain by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
All of this is essential to getting the most out of George's career as a Federal Prison Chaplain. The reader will share in the documentation and correspondence that became an important part of George's work within a difficult bureaucratic system. There were also unexpected difficulties with the machinations of opportunistic prisoners as well as with prisoners whose legitimate personal problems were all but insurmountable. If you want insight into an environment and setting that cannot be portrayed in a TV or movie scenario, this is the book for you.
A Federal Prison does not exist in isolation from the rest of society. George spells out the relationship of his work to the "civilian" religious community. This is part of his task in educating the rest of us to the enormity of the problem that confronts American society. Prison populations are growing fast, and the costs are skyrocketing. The solution to this problem, if we take George's perspective seriously, is more in terms of human relationships than in purely punitive or monetary terms.
But this comes only through genuine commitment, in George's case, Christian commitment, in a life of duty and service, with an equally dedicated life companion. There is much to be learned from what otherwise might be considered as one of the darker sides of life. George in his book, and in his life, has shown us the way.
Ray Wilbur
Rating:
Summary: "I was in prison and you visited me." Jesus, Matthew 25:36
Review: My recommendation of the Rev. George Ramon Castillo's book, My Life between The Cross and the Bars, grows out of a personal acquaintance with the author for nearly forty years as well as several readings of the book. The book is very well written and allows the reader to glimpse a first hand view of the circumstances and events that led George into the Christian ministry and into the Federal Prison chaplaincy. This life service offering reveals the character and integrity of the man, as well as the broader dimension of his professional service.
Of vital importance to George's life story is his account of his early years in British Honduras, now Belize, his early immigration to the United States, and his service in the U.S. Air Force, and his U.S. citizenship (October 26, 1953). Even more important was his marriage in 1957 to Muriel Jermain Seale, who has provided the moral and spiritual support for his successful career.
One does not just become a minister and a chaplain willy-nilly. The story of his religious development and educational experience tells how this came about: the early difficult years, then college and seminary.
I became acquainted with George while he was a student at Bangor Theological Seminary. He and his family eventually joined the congregation I was servicing, the First Congregational Church in Brewer, Maine. He was ordained under my ministry there, one of the high points, actually the highest, of my own ministry. When I left in September of 1967, the church called him to become their Interim Minister. After a year or so, he went on to serve churches in Detroit, Michigan, and in Ohio, and then was accepted as chaplain by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
All of this is essential to getting the most out of George's career as a Federal Prison Chaplain. The reader will share in the documentation and correspondence that became an important part of George's work within a difficult bureaucratic system. There were also unexpected difficulties with the machinations of opportunistic prisoners as well as with prisoners whose legitimate personal problems were all but insurmountable. If you want insight into an environment and setting that cannot be portrayed in a TV or movie scenario, this is the book for you.
A Federal Prison does not exist in isolation from the rest of society. George spells out the relationship of his work to the "civilian" religious community. This is part of his task in educating the rest of us to the enormity of the problem that confronts American society. Prison populations are growing fast, and the costs are skyrocketing. The solution to this problem, if we take George's perspective seriously, is more in terms of human relationships than in purely punitive or monetary terms.
But this comes only through genuine commitment, in George's case, Christian commitment, in a life of duty and service, with an equally dedicated life companion. There is much to be learned from what otherwise might be considered as one of the darker sides of life. George in his book, and in his life, has shown us the way.
Ray Wilbur
Rating:
Summary: A Story of a Courageous and Compassionate Man
Review: The book, My Life between the Cross and the Bars, is a dynamic story about a man who always put his trust in God and overcame great obstacles to become a very successful Prison Chaplain.
He considered all of the prisoners as God's children.
His dedication to the prisoners and their families shows his compassion for people in all walks of life.
George Castillo is an inspiration to all who know him.
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