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b'In England during the 1800s, prisoners were taken far away from their home and sent to Australia. If you committed a crime, a judge could sentence you to punishment in Australia.\\nAt that time, few people in England knew where Australia was. Later, some people started calling it the continent \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Down Under\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d since the southern hemisphere is \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153down\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d on most European maps. And it is really south. In going to Australia fromEngland, you would cross the dangerous waters of threeoceans: the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Sadly, many prisoners died before reaching their destination.\\nOn finally reaching Down Under, the prisoners found Australia to be very different from England\\u2014the people, land, and climate were all unfamiliar. Life was hard, and going back home was almost impossible. Thoughts of family and friends brought rivers of tears. Many desired a reunion, but they were unable to be reunited. They were down under\\u2014forever separated from their home.\\nSin can make us prisoners and drive us down under. We can feel stuck, like we are forever separated from God. Yet we have hope. Although we are down under, Jesus is able to reach the lowest depths and reunite us again with the Father. Even as Christians (being shaped by the Holy Spirit to become morelike Jesus), we continue to sin and need God\\u2019s forgiveness, but God\\u2019s grace is inexhaustible. Jesus\\u2019 death and resurrection made a way for us to be freed from sin and death and live eternally in right relationship with God. And, someday, Jesus will return to resurrect His people from the dead and live with them forever in His perfect kingdom on earth. We may be down under, but He can give us joy in place of despair and beauty instead of ashes. \\u2022 Jeff Oganga Katieno\\n\\u2022 Have you ever felt like you\\u2019re \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153down under?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d How can Jesus bring you home (Luke 15)?\\n\\u2022 If you want to learn more about how Jesus can rescue us, check out our \\u201cKnow Jesus\\u201d page.\\nNo power in the sky above or in the earth below\\u2014indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\n2 Kings 2:1-12; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 6:8-7:60'