Today I ran into Stu* in the infirmary...
He's another one of these "thin men" who have the AIDS virus. Call it "HIV" or by its uglier name, "AIDS," it really means the same to me. It is the equivalent of living with the death sentence, and there's no way to get around this truth.
I only got to speak with Stu for a few minutes because he was in "keeplock" status. This means he was given a disciplinary infraction for a rule violation. A guard was escorting him. So the policy is that Stu has to walk with his hands in his pockets while the guard walks behind him.
While he was at the medication window to get his AIDS fighting drugs, I saw what he looked like. Prior to this I had not seen Stu in about two months. When I saw him this time, he had lost a lot of weight. A bad sign!
Stu is about thirty years old. The last time I saw him, he looked healthy and somewhat muscular. He always likes to do a lot of push-ups and sit-ups in his cell, more from nervous energy and hyperactivity than actually trying to build himself up. Before his sudden weight loss, one would never think he was sick.
Seeing what he looked like today, I know what this means. He's deteriorating. When he and I were living in the same cellblock I had had many discussions with him about Jesus Christ and the Bible. Quite frankly, while he loved to talk about religious issues, he was not at all open to the Gospel.
Stu often told me that he thinks of himself as a "god." He's one of these guys who likes to read the Bible but has no clue to the correct interpretation. This can only come through the Holy Spirit. Those who do not have the Spirit of God dwelling inside them, can only get the wrong message.
If one would just spend five minutes listening to Stewart talk about his beliefs, you would see how far off course he is. It’s the typical, what I call, "religious mishmash" that I hear so often. A blend of everything. One minute he's reading the Bible, then he reaches for the Koran. Later, I would see him engrossed in his "New Age" swami stuff, his collection of different books by various gurus. My heart is grieved when I see him searching yet going down the wrong paths. I desperately want him to come to Christ. What a confused "god" poor Stewart is.
But getting back to my seeing Stu this morning, in the two or so minutes we had to converse, I told him that I missed our talks, and that I was still praying for him. I asked him to make sure he ate more food, and to please remember to take his vitamins.
I don't know when he will be getting out of "keeplock" and cell confinement. I may not get to see him for several more months. But I pray the Lord will give me another chance to talk with him.
D.B.
*Stu is not his real name.
I only got to speak with Stu for a few minutes because he was in "keeplock" status. This means he was given a disciplinary infraction for a rule violation. A guard was escorting him. So the policy is that Stu has to walk with his hands in his pockets while the guard walks behind him.
While he was at the medication window to get his AIDS fighting drugs, I saw what he looked like. Prior to this I had not seen Stu in about two months. When I saw him this time, he had lost a lot of weight. A bad sign!
Stu is about thirty years old. The last time I saw him, he looked healthy and somewhat muscular. He always likes to do a lot of push-ups and sit-ups in his cell, more from nervous energy and hyperactivity than actually trying to build himself up. Before his sudden weight loss, one would never think he was sick.
Seeing what he looked like today, I know what this means. He's deteriorating. When he and I were living in the same cellblock I had had many discussions with him about Jesus Christ and the Bible. Quite frankly, while he loved to talk about religious issues, he was not at all open to the Gospel.
Stu often told me that he thinks of himself as a "god." He's one of these guys who likes to read the Bible but has no clue to the correct interpretation. This can only come through the Holy Spirit. Those who do not have the Spirit of God dwelling inside them, can only get the wrong message.
If one would just spend five minutes listening to Stewart talk about his beliefs, you would see how far off course he is. It’s the typical, what I call, "religious mishmash" that I hear so often. A blend of everything. One minute he's reading the Bible, then he reaches for the Koran. Later, I would see him engrossed in his "New Age" swami stuff, his collection of different books by various gurus. My heart is grieved when I see him searching yet going down the wrong paths. I desperately want him to come to Christ. What a confused "god" poor Stewart is.
But getting back to my seeing Stu this morning, in the two or so minutes we had to converse, I told him that I missed our talks, and that I was still praying for him. I asked him to make sure he ate more food, and to please remember to take his vitamins.
I don't know when he will be getting out of "keeplock" and cell confinement. I may not get to see him for several more months. But I pray the Lord will give me another chance to talk with him.
D.B.
*Stu is not his real name.