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FR OM YO UR H O P E F U L B R OT H ER IN C H R I ST

JAME S A L AN B US H

April 16, 2016


Angel Juarez #F55194
Salinas Valley State Prison
P. O. Box 1050
Soledad, CA 93960
Dear Brother Juarez:
Thanks be to God and to the good people of Matthew 25:36 Ministries that I am in
receipt of your contact information, as well as your request for help strengthening
your foundation in the Lord, in order that you may derive the strength that comes
through faith in God. You most certainly need it.
I noticed you didnt ask how to be more grateful in prayer; but, I dont blame you for
not thinking of it. Caging a man does nothing to correct him, does nothing to change
him for the better. You know as well as anyone that what it comes down to for a man
trying to survive in prison, at least where it concerns maintaining his humanity and his
dignity, is this: what he has and who he knows.
So, first, let me point out this key fact: in every prayer, you can be thankful for this
much: that everything you need to not only survivebut thriveis given by the One
who gave everything to give it; however, attaining to the faith you require to live relies
on your ability to believe that fact.
This is why Jesus was never concerned so much about His belief in you, but only
about your belief in Him. It is hard to believe that He could accept someone who may
have made mistakes that others cant forgive, particularly, given the circumstances
under which they were made, and it is hard to believe that God would put anyone He
loves through the hardship they endure.
What is not hard to believe, though, is this about any man who has ever lived, lives or
will live: that He has been tempted in every way, just as we are. [Hebrews 4:15 NIV]
Jesus, the man of Nazareth, knew temptation just as well as the next man, yet he did
not sin. [Hebrews 4:15 NIV] This was so you and I could approach Gods throne of
grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our

1 2 1 1 E A ST S A N TA C L A R A STR E ET # 4

S AN J O SE , CAL IF O R N I A

(408) 685-4049

time of needfor in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to


succour them that are tempted. [Hebrew 4:16, Hebrews 2:18]
Jesus says that this is the faith that you must hold onto, the faith that you must profess
in every thought, word and deed to make it through, specifically, that you are forgiven
and accepted.
Jesus walked your path before you did just to help God prove it to you down the line,
in that He was put into a situation as hard as any prison when He was asked by His
Father to give Himself up willingly to be nailed to a cross by those who persecuted
Him. His faith then was based on his belief in what God had said through His prophet,
King David:
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread
them under that rise up against us. [Psalms 44:5]
Just as you undoubtedly pray every lonely night in your bunk, Jesus asked, Father, if
thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Your goal is to obtain faith enough to then
say with sincerity, nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. [Luke 22:42]
God helps you achieve this by not helping you around a problem
And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. [Mark 15:37]
rather, by helping you through it
They came unto the sepulchre, and found the stone rolled away. Entering in,
they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, that two men in
shining garments came by and said unto them, Why seek ye the living among
the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when
he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands
of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. [Luke 25:1-7]
It is the way Jesus came to know what faith is in His Father, and your circumstance will
be the way you come to know what faith in your Father is, too. Learning to depend on
God, again, to not just survivebut thrivein and through adversity is the most efficient
and thorough means of creating and establishing a meaningful, eternal relationship
with Him, all while creating the character and virtue of a Heaven-worthy citizen.
Knowing this, believing this, accepting this means you can reasonably expect bad
things to happen even to good people (especially them, perhaps), but, that when they
do, you will know that with any such thing undesirable comes God's urgent and
passionate desire for a personal intimacy with you, and that these things are the best

means for Him to impart such intimacy, and to establish a path to a mutual relationship
of intimate harmony.
On top of all of that, comes God's eagerness to perfect His creation (i.e., you) using
every burden you bare to build you up and strengthen you in all manner of
worthiness. Next to humility, suffering is the most significant part of being a follower of
Christ; without it, Christ cannot complete His work in you, which is tantamount to
godly perfection [Matthew 5:38]:
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he
suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation
unto all them that obey him. [Hebrews 5:8-9]
Suffering actuates the shaping and moulding of your heart and mind into that of our
Savior, so it's important to know what it truly is, and what you are to do with it:
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. [2
Timothy 3:12]
Without it, you cannot learn obedience in the manner of Christ
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he
suffered. [Hebrews 5:8]
and, you cannot identify with Christ on a level so as to be called one of His own:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. [2 Timothy 2:12]
All of this tells you how you can identify with Jesus, and how you can relate to Him;
and, it tells you why He made the effort on your behalf. Let me now close with how you
can and why you should move forward with Him for the rest of your days.
Jesus is our hero, a leader in an army against the very forces that created and
perpetuate the circumstances that led you to where you are now. He declared war
against the Gates of Hades:
Then Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order
that there may be separation between those who believe on Me and those who
reject Me], to make the sightless see and to make those who see become blind.
[John 9:39]
Jesus came to draw two lines in the sand between good and evilone declared war:

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but
a sword. [Matthew 10:34]
the other declared him commander-in-chief:
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil. [1 John 3:8]
His army includes His followers:
And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros a large piece of rock], and on this
rock [Greek, petra a huge rock, like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the
gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be
strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. [Matthew 16:18]
As a leader in that war, Jesus promises victory:
This I speak unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. [John
16:33]
That should give us a starting point. I will write more shortly, but wanted to let you
know just as soon as I heard about you that I am here for you in every way that counts,
and that I will do whatever it takes to bring you to the place you want to be. Although I
have four other persons in my charge, each of you will get the benefit of my best
effort. Your salvation is my number one priority, just as you are Gods number one
priority, and I will not divert my attention from it for anyone, for any reason.
With all my strength, I will endeavor to be your brother-in-arms, just as if my salvation
depends on it (because it does). Thats realistic if both us express our hope of victory
to God through consistent, righteous living everyday, and until that day.
In the meantime, while I prepare a more thorough response to your concerns, please
write me (if you can) with more about you and with any questions you may have. Like
the Apostle Paul said of himself once, I am the chief of sinners [1 Timothy 1:15], so
hold nothing back, neither being afraid of sending the wrong message nor of saying
the wrong thing when you write.
Yours in Christ,

James Alan Bush (formerly PFN: DWF967)

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