I have been reading “The Heavenly Man”, the story of a Chinese Christian and Christianity in China in the 1980′s. It is hard to believe the kind of persecution that so many endured for their faith, including imprisonment, beatings, and death. The cost that so many paid for their belief in Jesus Christ is unfathomable by our standards. One of the more poignant moments in the book, occurs at the half way point in the story and prompts me to share this on our blog. The main character, Brother Yun, has his day in court, after being held in prison in pitiful conditions for a number of months. Standing before the presiding judge, he is asked, “Is this your Bible?” Yun answers in the affirmative, resulting in a four year jail term. Imagine, for a moment, being asked in a court of law, if you own and read a Bible? For those of us who have begun this reading the NT program, let us do so in the knowledge that our faith is a privilege we take so lightly in the West. May the freedom of religion we enjoy and take for granted add a sense of gratitude to you this day as you read and reflect. Rev. Steve

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