I've been involved in the prison ministry for a bit over 2 years now.  I enter a local jail each friday and spend 3 hours with the inmates.  I'm watching the growth of the guys I minister to week by week.  Most of them are there for but a few short months.  Just when I get used to seeing their faces they are gone.  I've had a few that I've seen for well over a year.  The ones I see for an extended period are the ones I get to watch grow.  I have 2 guys now that fall into that catagorie and it's very exciting to see the Spirit working in them.  Just this last friday they brought a guy with them that has been locked up in the facility for over a year but has had no interest in attending any sort of service.  We started off as always with a prayer and then went straight into worship.  After that I started talking to them about the amazing gift we've been given through Jesus and the love he shows to us all.  I like to use the courtroom analogy to explain that we are all guilty but Jesus stepped into the courtroom and paid our fine with His death on the cross.  I also explain the exchange that takes place that allows us to be seen by God clothed in the righteousness of Christ.  He lived the perfect life, fulfilling the 10 commandments and the 613 mosaic laws that no other person in history could.  When we are clothed in His righteousness, we are seen as if it were us that lived the perfect life.....which of us deserve that!!! 

   Anyway, about the time I've explained for the umpteenth time in there the beauty of the cross, (I sometimes think I'm a broken record, but I don't think you can overemphasize the basics) the new fellow speaks up to tell us that he is impressed by what we are doing.  He said at least four times that night, "this is so cool".  Later in our talking he explained he is jewish on his mothers side but a follower of wicca.  He told us that he has never been in a situation where people with faith in God have shown him respect or even wanted him around.  All through the evening I watched him thumbing through the Bible he recieved that night with obvious interest.  He left with a smile, a bit more knowledge of our Saviour and the understanding that there is love, acceptance and forgiveness no matter who you are or what you've done in this life.  I have every expectation that he will be back this friday.  I am so thankful that the men who attend every friday night take the time and have the love to share with others in thier pod! 

Please pray for this seeker,

Kevin