Within a Yard of Hell

Some want to live
within the sound
of church or chapel bell;
I want to run
a rescue shop
within a yard of hell.

- C. T. Studd, 1860-1931, English missionary to China, India, and Africa

Sometimes it is easy to forget just how close hell can really be. On Sunday, when visiting one of the homeless camps, we were told that a resident, 'Brian' was picked up by the sheriff's office on a burglary charge. Brian had been to several of our 'chapel' meetings and we had spent time talking to him about Jesus. Brian seemed like he was on track to putting his life back together.

Yes, this is about choices and we all make some pretty terrible ones from time to time. We all battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. But this was a stark reminder of how close hell can really be.

We hope to visit Brian this week and let him know that someone cares. And more importantly that God loves him. I don't know how to keep Brian out of jail but our prayers are that the Holy Spirit would grab his heart and keep him out of hell.