It’s a little dark, cloudy, a little rain, children have been playing outside like there’s nothing to worry about (earlier). The dark, cloudy, and rain will probably increase from little to more, children will go inside to be protected. That’s how it is on the outside today. And how it seemed on many occasions for a man called God’s Smuggler! Special greetings to you on this rainy Weekly encouragement! day! Thank you for this privilege. I’m very happy to be with you! And to remember someone I learned about when I was in high school and college. Brother Andrew was God’s Smuggler, and later founded Open Doors Ministries, called this because Brother Andrew knew God wanted all doors open for the Bible. Wounded during war in his youth, he was still an atheist. Brother Andrew, as he would later become known as, was taken to a hospital where a fellow wounded soldier gave him a Bible. What else to do in a hospital bed? So, he read the Bible. He began attending a church where a missionary visited that inspired his life calling. The missionary spoke of places behind the iron curtain where people didn’t have Bibles. They could be killed for having Bibles. I think this sounds familiar!? Even still in this “modern day” world, faith in Jesus is persecuted. We’ve heard of this in the news, possibly some of our readers know of this, personally. I was struck, very emotionally moved by images of people, grown adults, holding a Bible for the first time as I watched today’s Weekly encouragement! portraying the impact of Brother Andrew’s work and ministry. Oh to love and treasure the Bible so much! I think it’s important to see this and understand this today, that the Bible speaks freedom to everyone who is hurting. I wonder if this is true even to people who are not in specific geographical borders, but who are hurting in their hearts, or in their families, or in their own prison of pain or discouragement? I think this is why Brother Andrew carried Bibles into dangerous countries. Because he knew the freedom of the Bible and he knew there was no true law against this freedom. His courage inspires me in my own personal pain and to help others in their difficult personal pain, to be courageous in the battle against evil and lies. And to continue to love and treasure the Bible. May we do this to the understanding of how important the Bible is. Please remember I’m praying for you because I love you.