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
There has to be a God. I was raised in a Catholic home, so my foundational belief is
Christian. In the past few years I have strayed from the path. I am searching for answers
as to what are my beliefs in God. My endeavors have not been fruitless, so I remain
positive that there is a God and God watches and guides us.
May 2, 2016
Julio Madrigal #G48832
Pelican Bay State Prison
P.O. Box 7500 A7-201
Crescent City, CA 95532

Dear Brother Madrigal,

Thanks to the good people of Matthew 25:36 Ministries, I am in receipt of your contact
information, as well as your request for help establishing your belief in God. Both of
these blessings I prayed for, and, thankfully, have now received. My hope is that, for a
long time to come, it will not only be my privilege to share with you the Word, but to
share in your sufferings, as well.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 KJV
Having spent four out of the past six years in custody myself (PFN# DWF967), its not
hard for me to extrapolate your wavering belief in God from your present
circumstance, to say the least. It is definitely realistic for me to say (and for you to trust)
that I can fulfill the law of Christ in this regard better than most.
I can also relate to your early beginnings in the Church; but, as you and I both well
know, that is not enough to cope with a life behind bars (it does serve you in one way,
however, and that is to make the Word easier to discern and understand once you
have reached that point in life when you need it the most). Therefore, it is my intention
to supplement any of the perceived shortcomings of your past.
As to any area of your life to which I cannot relate, let me say this: Faith is the same
journey for us all, in that it never ends until we reach fact. The goal is the same for us
all, too: that being the turning of your beliefs into direct knowledge. In spite of your
circumstances, your goal to know God is a righteous one, and one that will come to
fruition with due diligence:
121 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 9 5 1 1 6

(408) 685-4049

[F]or he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
The benefit is the guidance you also asked for:

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with
mine eye.
Psalms 32:8 (KJV)
And, that, for the rest of your life:
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
Psalms 48:14 (KJV)
You need nothing more than a humble, teachable heart:
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psalms 25:9 (KJV)
I know that in a place like Pelican Bay, in one moment, you can feel full in the Spirit,
while in another, you can feel completely empty. Based on my own, personal
experience, during those latter times, it helps to rely on the logical facts that point to a
real, true God, rather than relying on your emotions, which, as you know, fail to serve
you at certain times.
To that end, I sent you a book, "Mere Christianity." It provides a foundation of logic
that bolsters your belief in God when life seems dreary. You may have already read it;
even so, read it again, and learn how to reason in your mind that there is a God, and
that He is about the things He purports to be about. Again, I speak from experience
when I say that being able to do so will help while you're going through it.
While reading it, try defining or comprehending or otherwise learning what the most
amount of love one can give to someone, the kind of love that never gets tired, old, or
expires, needs refreshing, etc., the kind that will last for an eternity; and, then, come to
accept that you have been shown that already by the very One you seek:
For God so loved [you] that he gave his one and only Son, that [if you] believe in him
[you] shall not perish but [will] have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV
Know that this applies to you more than most people. The blood of one's Son is
precious, much more so when it is used to purchase the freedom of someone who

needs freedom the most: you. You raise the value of Christ's sacrifice by heavenly
proportions when you appropriate your salvation by following the Way.
Don't worry anymore about the past, if, in fact, your past is a hindrance to you. God
sees and hears everything you and others do and did, so He knows what factors and
influences led you to where you are and where you were. In other words, He knows
where you've been, and what makes up who you are. Given that God has this
knowledge, it can rightfully be said that He knows what you have to work with, and He
is prepared to help you complete your journey. He would have said otherwise were it
not true.
I am eager to start this journey with you. I can tell by your concern that you are a
strong soul; most people in your situation would abandon their faith altogether. Not
you, it would seem. Your statement seems to settle comfortably on the fact that you
are welcome by God to return, that there is, in fact, a way to return, and that all you
have to do is state that intention to others, and the answer will come.
All of those things are absolutely true; and, I have difficulty believing that you're
actually struggling with the existence of God. You certainly ask for things as if you
believe, even if you admit that you find it hard to conceive that you will receive them.
Nevertheless, the book 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