prison

A twenty-something cafe guest was arrested for theft and sent to prison. This is an unchurched person who struggled in the past to trust in God. Our volunteers have prayed with, and for, this person and helped out in so many ways. One Christian even spent time in Bible study with our now incarcerated friend.

We knew this sentence was coming; We weren't caught off guard. And so we worked to encourage this guest and be a supportive friend in the face of this difficult situation. Yesterday, a letter arrived in the cafe mailbox. It was from our friend. Part of the letter reads:

Dear Tim,

I was sentenced to six months in prison. I sure have learned a lot so far. I have gotten in touch with God so much more in the short time I have been here. Even though I may have been suffering the first couple weeks in here, it has made my spirit in God grow so much. So I think that this is a time that He may be using as a time of growth. He is also showing me that I should grow in Him everyday, no matter how, I have to make time for it.

My process of being born again is continuing. I have also learned that we should praise God for filling us with the Holy Spirit. So I hope you have been doing well and have been successful in your path with God. Write me whenever you can and just give me some idea of anything you think may help me get through these six months. Because I am trying to find more moral support. But I am using God our Lord, our Savior, to help me and will continue worshiping and praising Him.

Hope to see you soon.

The work of Cafe 41:11 continues and, by God's grace, we are seeing the young people of Medina touched by His love and mercy. Please be faithful in giving and spreading the word to your friends and family about all God is doing through the team at Cafe 41:11. Your support puts real arms and legs behind His transforming power. And we sincerely thank you.

• Please pray for this young person.
• Pray also for the volunteers and for Janis and me.
• Ask God to give us all "some idea of anything that may help" these young people place their hope in Jesus Christ.

My daily complaining and whining regarding decisions about what to eat, what to wear, where to go, what to watch on TV, enhancing my credit score or purchasing power, putting someone else's needs above my own, or whether my cell phone, car, and computer are working properly seems even more insignificant after receiving a letter like this one. I'm not suggesting that you and I not care about these decisions, but we surely shouldn't worry about them or allow them to distract us from the most important "thing" we should be seeking (Luke 12:22-34).

Then why do we?

The writer of Hebrews reminds us, "Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering" (NIV, Hebrews 13:3).

Man...oh man...how guilty most of us are of not loving each other as brothers, or entertaining strangers, or remembering those in prison as if we were their cell mates.

God have mercy.