Date: 10/23/2007
<br>Author: Devin Pickard
<br>Title: October 24, 2007
<br><br>“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me”.  (Matthew 25:35-36)  You know how you sometimes will read over something and not really pay attention to all of it?  You will sort of scan the information but only really digest or comprehend about half of it?  I bet some of you have prepared a dish before and after tasting it, realized that you had left out a key ingredient listed in the recipe.  The herb or spice may have seemed insignificant in the greater scheme of things, but the dish just didn’t taste right without it.  In fact, it really wasn’t very good at all.  Fido even turned his nose up at it.<br><br>In some ways, the Bible is a recipe book for Christians.  God gives us the ingredients required for salvation and a heavenly eternal home.  Go back to the verse above and read it.  If we read it like a recipe, chances are it would probably go something like this.  “Gave drink...check, opened home to   stranger...check, gave clothing to needy...check, visited someone sick...check, visited those in prison...uh well, you see, I uh....did you notice that I did the first four?”<br><br>Until this past Sunday, that is exactly how I read that “recipe”.  I, like many, have found it fairly easy to do the first four, but haven’t really ever made an attempt, let me re-word that, have never made an attempt to go visit those in jail.  I have lived in Centerville, Tenn. my entire life and the only time I have ever visited the local jail, or any jail for that matter, was to deliver food, and I was uneasy about that.  You know the fear....it would be my luck that about the time I showed up there would probably be a hostage situation and they would hold yours truly and two bbq sandwiches for ransom.  Whatever the case was, it was just a part of the recipe that I did not take seriously and chose to leave out.  I suppose I figured that was one of those things that “someone else” was supposed to do.  Read James 2:14-18 and you will see what I mean.  <br><br>We claim to be of the “speak where the Bible speaks” brotherhood.  To many, that really just means, “I will speak where the Bible speaks as long as it doesn’t impose on me or my happiness.”  I know of very few who actually get out of their comfort zones and really minister to those sick in sin, which would certainly include those behind bars.  There are currently over 90 people incarcerated in our newly built jail facility.  That’s over 90 souls.  More than 90 folks who will spend an eternity somewhere.  Not visiting those people would be like spiritually leaving the milk off of the cereal or the peanut butter off of a PBJ.  Those ingredients are pretty important, don’t you think?           <br><br>Thanks to the Centerville Church of Christ for beginning this jail ministry.  Anyone who would like to take part in this worthy effort is encouraged to contact them or you can call us.  Let’s be sure we don’t have to ask, “When did we see thee....” when we stand before God some day.<br>      <br>Go the extra mile - Devin  <br><br>