What A God! Over 1 Million reads!
When I decided to enter into
social media…FB… I committed to God that I would not share my adventures to
Walmart or the bathroom. I wanted to encourage people to rethink their walk
with Christ. God has honored that. This month He has led over 1,000,000 people
in over 28 countries to read the devotionals I have posted. Can you imagine how
many people have been exposed to the Word of God? This all started as I posted
a Reflection on a man that I discipled in a depressed area of the Philippines
for 6 short months. The date was
September 3, 2010. This was my
news letter: I share this with you again, because his life speaks volumes!
Reflection: I was thinking about my dear friend and brother
in the Lord the other night. So I felt led to share this as my first reflection
on my new blog. I shared this over 14 years ago with friends that helped us
come to the Philippines.
A Death in The Family:
“But Jun smoked!” Yes he
did. Jun Pacudan (Jun#2) smoked! He was born again and still smoked. He would
walk out of the home where he had just led a Bible Study and light up a
cigarette. Two months before he would light up while he was still inside the
house. Before he was a believer he would light up during the studies I was
teaching. Jun had been a believer for just over 5 months - but he still smoked.
Jun read most of the entire Bible in those 5 months - but he smoked. Jun went
out and made contacts that led to the beginning of 4 new Bible Studies - which
he asked if he could lead - but Jun smoked. Every Tuesday I would meet with Jun
to go over the lesson, which he had designed and desired to have me check out -
but Jun smoked. Each lesson developed by this babe in Christ was in Tagalog and
English (for my sake) with attached study notes that Jun had done using the
Bible, concordance and one doctrine book I had bought for him, each guide was
at least 7 pages long - but Jun smoked. Only twice in all the review did I have
to help Jun understand a mistake in his lessons (both minor issues) while
on such topics as Salvation, Virgin Birth, The Trinity, Sinlessness of Christ,
Death - Resurrection - Ascension of Christ, Atonement and others not only was
he completely scriptural but his applications were very insightful - but Jun
smoked. The week of Dec. 3 Jun made contacts and we discussed two new Bible
Studies to start after Christmas - but Jun smoked. On Thursday Dec. 7 as
we drove away from the lower Cupang Bible Study, Jun shared with great joy and
excitement how he had led a 58 year old friend to Christ that morning - “Now I
am a spiritual father also” he said - but Jun smoked. On Dec. 9 we celebrated
Jun Pacudan’s birthday. He was 62. At 3 am on Dec. 10 Jun Pacudan went to sleep
and woke up in the arms of Jesus. I attended all three nights of the wake and
then the funeral. I talked with at least 100 people. In every single case they
spoke of how much Jun had changed in the past months and how he had sat down
with them and told them about Jesus and then challenged them to join in a Bible
Study - but Jun smoked.
So what is your point Nate! Okay - enough.
I am not trying to irritate you
just for fun. I want you to mentally scratch where that irritation is. I am
hoping that I can speak to you from my heart about a concern I see in the body
of Christ. Everything Jun had become, all the Lord had accomplished in his life
would be lost in many of our eyes because “Committed Christians don’t smoke!”
We are so quick to judge, so sure of what is considered real holiness by God,
so theologically precise about the doctrine of sanctification and it’s visible
signs. Am I saying that smoking is all right? That is not the point. But for
the record - not only do I think smoking is wrong, but having been a smoker, I
think it is stupid. So do most honest people who do it. Knowing something is
bad for you is a far cry from learning how to receive the strength to quit.
But there is something far more
important here. I am tired of the Christian life being described by what we
don’t do! That is what many testimonies consist of. A long list of what we
don’t do and shared in an almost spiritually arrogant tone. Jun’s life has
really confirmed what my heart has been burdened with for years. Jesus came to
give us a life, not a list. Yes, we see ourselves moving away from sins that
entangle us, but do we see ourselves moving toward anything? Jun was on fire.
He was moving at a very fast pace toward God. His mind was overwhelmed with
what was most important to God and he grasped that while still struggling with
minor sins in his life. Wait a minute - your saying that sin is minor? Yes!
When compared to other sin it can be. Complacency, unwilliness to make time to
be used by God, lack of burden and concern for the lost, all of these are much
more damaging to the Body than the sins (bad though they are) that entangle our
flesh. Let’s reverse my point in the paragraphs above to show you what I mean -
No I do not study the Bible with intensity to know what I believe - I let the
Pastor or teacher do that for me - But I don’t smoke. No I have never tried to
start a Bible Study - But I don’t smoke. No I have not tried to lead
anyone to Christ - But I don’t smoke. I do not know if many people would say
that I have made an impact in their thoughts about Christ - But I don’t
smoke.
Let’s remember folks that the
Pharisees had a list and looked real good but they killed the Prince of life.
We cannot afford the Christian life to sound like a doctor’s prescription. “A
don’t list and 3 services a week and you will be fine”! Those around us, who
are separated from God and facing an eternity of separation, those that are
missing life in Christ cannot afford us to live like that.
Jun Pacudan was far from perfect, and I will wonder why the Lord took my brother home at this time for a long time. Yet I am happy for Jun and I know I can trust the Lord. He knows what He is doing even if I do not.
But I would gladly have a church full of smokers
with the priority list of Jun Pacudan than a church full of people who focus on
their “don’t list”. Someday all of you that know Christ will get to meet
Jun. You are partly responsible for his death being a homegoing for him and a
parting for me instead of a tragedy for everyone. Because of you I was able to
come and share the love and life of Christ with Jun. I will miss Jun more than
I can say. I desire to have his short visit with me on this side of eternity
motivate me to run as he ran. If we in the Church in America would be more
consumed with God’s priority list and less content with our don’t list the
impact we could make in the world would match that of the first Church! Love in
Christ - Nate
When I decided to enter into
social media…FB… I committed to God that I would not share my adventures to
Walmart or the bathroom. I wanted to encourage people to rethink their walk
with Christ. God has honored that. This month He has led over 1,000,000 people
in over 28 countries to read the devotionals I have posted. Can you imagine how
many people have been exposed to the Word of God? This all started as I posted
a Reflection on a man that I discipled in a depressed area of the Philippines
for 6 short months. The date was
September 3, 2010. This was my
news letter: I share this with you again, because his life speaks volumes!
Reflection: I was thinking about my dear friend and brother
in the Lord the other night. So I felt led to share this as my first reflection
on my new blog. I shared this over 14 years ago with friends that helped us
come to the Philippines.A Death in The Family:
“But Jun smoked!” Yes he
did. Jun Pacudan (Jun#2) smoked! He was born again and still smoked. He would
walk out of the home where he had just led a Bible Study and light up a
cigarette. Two months before he would light up while he was still inside the
house. Before he was a believer he would light up during the studies I was
teaching. Jun had been a believer for just over 5 months - but he still smoked.
Jun read most of the entire Bible in those 5 months - but he smoked. Jun went
out and made contacts that led to the beginning of 4 new Bible Studies - which
he asked if he could lead - but Jun smoked. Every Tuesday I would meet with Jun
to go over the lesson, which he had designed and desired to have me check out -
but Jun smoked. Each lesson developed by this babe in Christ was in Tagalog and
English (for my sake) with attached study notes that Jun had done using the
Bible, concordance and one doctrine book I had bought for him, each guide was
at least 7 pages long - but Jun smoked. Only twice in all the review did I have
to help Jun understand a mistake in his lessons (both minor issues) while
on such topics as Salvation, Virgin Birth, The Trinity, Sinlessness of Christ,
Death - Resurrection - Ascension of Christ, Atonement and others not only was
he completely scriptural but his applications were very insightful - but Jun
smoked. The week of Dec. 3 Jun made contacts and we discussed two new Bible
Studies to start after Christmas - but Jun smoked. On Thursday Dec. 7 as
we drove away from the lower Cupang Bible Study, Jun shared with great joy and
excitement how he had led a 58 year old friend to Christ that morning - “Now I
am a spiritual father also” he said - but Jun smoked. On Dec. 9 we celebrated
Jun Pacudan’s birthday. He was 62. At 3 am on Dec. 10 Jun Pacudan went to sleep
and woke up in the arms of Jesus. I attended all three nights of the wake and
then the funeral. I talked with at least 100 people. In every single case they
spoke of how much Jun had changed in the past months and how he had sat down
with them and told them about Jesus and then challenged them to join in a Bible
Study - but Jun smoked.So what is your point Nate! Okay - enough.
I am not trying to irritate you
just for fun. I want you to mentally scratch where that irritation is. I am
hoping that I can speak to you from my heart about a concern I see in the body
of Christ. Everything Jun had become, all the Lord had accomplished in his life
would be lost in many of our eyes because “Committed Christians don’t smoke!”
We are so quick to judge, so sure of what is considered real holiness by God,
so theologically precise about the doctrine of sanctification and it’s visible
signs. Am I saying that smoking is all right? That is not the point. But for
the record - not only do I think smoking is wrong, but having been a smoker, I
think it is stupid. So do most honest people who do it. Knowing something is
bad for you is a far cry from learning how to receive the strength to quit.
But there is something far more
important here. I am tired of the Christian life being described by what we
don’t do! That is what many testimonies consist of. A long list of what we
don’t do and shared in an almost spiritually arrogant tone. Jun’s life has
really confirmed what my heart has been burdened with for years. Jesus came to
give us a life, not a list. Yes, we see ourselves moving away from sins that
entangle us, but do we see ourselves moving toward anything? Jun was on fire.
He was moving at a very fast pace toward God. His mind was overwhelmed with
what was most important to God and he grasped that while still struggling with
minor sins in his life. Wait a minute - your saying that sin is minor? Yes!
When compared to other sin it can be. Complacency, unwilliness to make time to
be used by God, lack of burden and concern for the lost, all of these are much
more damaging to the Body than the sins (bad though they are) that entangle our
flesh. Let’s reverse my point in the paragraphs above to show you what I mean -
No I do not study the Bible with intensity to know what I believe - I let the
Pastor or teacher do that for me - But I don’t smoke. No I have never tried to
start a Bible Study - But I don’t smoke. No I have not tried to lead
anyone to Christ - But I don’t smoke. I do not know if many people would say
that I have made an impact in their thoughts about Christ - But I don’t
smoke.
Let’s remember folks that the
Pharisees had a list and looked real good but they killed the Prince of life.
We cannot afford the Christian life to sound like a doctor’s prescription. “A
don’t list and 3 services a week and you will be fine”! Those around us, who
are separated from God and facing an eternity of separation, those that are
missing life in Christ cannot afford us to live like that.Jun Pacudan was far from perfect, and I will wonder why the Lord took my brother home at this time for a long time. Yet I am happy for Jun and I know I can trust the Lord. He knows what He is doing even if I do not.
But I would gladly have a church full of smokers
with the priority list of Jun Pacudan than a church full of people who focus on
their “don’t list”. Someday all of you that know Christ will get to meet
Jun. You are partly responsible for his death being a homegoing for him and a
parting for me instead of a tragedy for everyone. Because of you I was able to
come and share the love and life of Christ with Jun. I will miss Jun more than
I can say. I desire to have his short visit with me on this side of eternity
motivate me to run as he ran. If we in the Church in America would be more
consumed with God’s priority list and less content with our don’t list the
impact we could make in the world would match that of the first Church! Love in
Christ - Nate