Christmas 2024: #1 To grasp the meaning of Christmas
Having lived so many years in a region that sees Typhoons on a regular basis I have gained much respect for God’s creation of roots. Winds that can pick-up man-made objects, including houses, and carry them away. Yet, seeing trees bent and branches broken, however, because of their roots remain alive to grow again. Romans 3:23–24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; One of the many aspects I appreciate living with the Holy Spirit is that He takes everything you are and that you enjoy which is part of your character and teaches you how to apply it in your walk with God. I have always loved the arts, especially the theater. So, living in this age of Movies and TV supplies me with a lot to process and consider. From a show I watched I gleaned a phrase which brought my mind to these thoughts as we consider what Christmas means to us. At a family meeting in this show, a young man was told that his elders had endeavored two main things in his life: To give him “roots and wings”. This is the first thought I want to leave as I begin to post thoughts about Christmas. Christmas is the “root” that any human, if willing, can possess in their life. When God became flesh, He laid the foundation of a complete salvation for all human souls. He did all the work; nothing was left to chance! Then He offered that salvation as a gift Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. After His resurrection He entered any human that trusted in Him and made them His Temple. This gave us fallen humans’ “wings” to accomplish Eternal works and produce Eternal fruit! The So What: Make yourself “slow-down” enough this Christmas season to thank your Creator for the roots He gave you, and contemplate what are you experiencing with your wings!
posted by Blogology - Nathan Leigh @ 2:56 PM
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“He was the sort of man who would go after Moby Dick with a rowboat, a harpoon, and a jar of tartar sauce.”
For myself, I find I can be a pessimist outwardly but an optimist inwardly. Due to that, I have been led to share with our team where we are as a mission. 
. I meet with men in the USA and the Philippines. I was just about to announce that I am opening up to take on new disciples, due to some of my men moving on to meet with their own groups and my health moving in a better direction. 
We would appreciate you joining us in prayer as we seek God’s direction for us. We are committed to listening and will follow. God Bless. 
If I told you that for many years, I traveled every day to work through traffic wearing dark clothes and a double charcoal-filter gas mask. What would you think? I hope the first thought is NOT - “That is not surprising because it is Nate!” I hope your first thought would be: “What’s the context”? 
Me, myself, and I... Ourselves! The old nature that was in charge of me before regeneration happened. 
That is why “faith” is required. NOT blindness as skeptics state. They then go on to give their opinion on Who He is, which turns out to be a “god” they can accept. 
I have two updates already written, but could not in good conscience send because I desired to give my Lord His due.
Dee and I made a choice many years ago to serve the Lord vocationally. I have discipled many believers that have as much or more fire for God than myself. So my point has nothing to do with love or devotion to our Lord. This is just acknowledging that NO ONE can out give, bless or shower delights than our Lord God!
All Dee and I live off of, is from love offerings from those that believe in what we are doing. We both heard from many in our life, most with good intentions, that we need to make more money if we desire to have money for our later years.
I agree with being logical and wise, I have seen others live sloppy and expect God to provide, which is not what God has called us to do. We do what we can and follow wise advice, but vocational ministry usually will not leave your rich – I am not talking about the charlatans who’s god is money!
I am a lover of history, can’t read or study enough about it. One of my studies was on the Titanic. There are countless stories about that night; it would be worth your while to read about it yourself. An example of true wisdom involved a very rich man. Records show that there were eleven millionaires on the Titanic. Major A. H. Peuchen was one of the survivors.
When interviewed, he said he had left $300,000.00 in money, jewelry, and securities in a box in his cabin. "The money seemed a mockery at that time; I picked up 3 oranges instead." 
We also saw a film on the history of coal mining in PA. It was the most sobering experience I have had on human evil and sin since visiting the Holocaust Museum. Several famous men, which I will not name because their descendants should not be painted with the same brush, were responsible for hiring and paying these miners. The amount was a joke! When asked concerning the suffering these men were experiencing, one of the men said: “What suffering, these men cannot even speak English!”
I am right to hate the sin I saw…but I must be careful about throwing any stones. I am looking through eyes that have experienced regeneration. I have no idea what kind of man I might have become without Christ. 
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead
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 and godliness. 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 there are “minor” sins? Yes! When compared to other sins it can be.
Complacency, unwillingness to make time to be used by God, or lack of burden and concern for the lost…all of these are much more damaging to the Body than the sins, that entangle our flesh. (Bad though they are) 
Let’s remember folks that the Pharisees had a list and looked on the surface 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.
“But Jun smoked!” Yes, he did. Jun Pacudan 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 Bible study while I was teaching. Jun trusted Christ as his Savior during a study I was having with him. He 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. 
