We've got it easy!

Here in America we live a pretty good life. Sure our daily struggles may seem unbearable to us at times, but in comparison we have it pretty easy. I heard a replay of an interview with Peter Hammond today and he brought up some interesting points. He talked about how in Africa they use the heat to torture Christians. He pointed out that most Americans don't know what it is to truly thirst. He talked about how after so long you can not speak, and even breathing is a painful task.

• John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”
• John 4:13-15 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."

Well that is a bit of a digression, but it shows the two ends of thirst. It is nice to live in a place surrounded by water. I doubt any of us have ever gone more than 24 hours with out a drink. But we have the eternal spring of living waters in us when we are saved, which is comforting in it's self.

Another man I heard on the radio this week was named Burl Cain. Who is he you might be asking, well he is the current and longest standing warden of Louisiana's Angola State Penitentiary. Angola was known as the bloodiest prison in America. Angola now even has a partnership with New Orleans Baptist Seminary. The prisoners have the opportunity to get a degree in Bible studies. Then they can put in for a transfer to another prison where they act as missionaries. Burl Cain came into this prison and brought with him his faith and the courage to share it. Sometimes sharing your faith seems like a daunting task to accomplish, but we are dealing with ordinary citizens for the most part. Burl Cain was walking into a confined space with hardened criminals. Most of them in for life with no chance of parole. Long story short Angola now has multiple churches on it's campus, the newest seating over 1000, and more than 2000 of the 5000 inmates are now professing Christians. This is just proof positive The Gospel can change any one.

• 1 Timothy 1:14-17 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Just in case you are reading this and don't know, Timothy is a letter written by The Apostle Paul to his disciple Timothy. Paul was a pharisee , mostly likely the chief persecutor of the early Christians. He was on his way to arrest more Christians when he met the resurrected Jesus Christ on the road and he was radically changed. He devoted the rest of his life to spreading The Gospel. In essence what he is saying in this verse is that if I can be saved any one can. Whenever you think you've got it bad look back at some these men, like the Apostle Paul, Peter Hammond, or Burl Cain, and the courage they displayed in the face of adversity.