The Gospel is simple. It is for us, but not about us. It is all about Jesus. Every aspect points to the Messiah and that is how Pat lives his life. Jesus loved while on earth, so therefore we love. Love is never stationary with Pat; he is always doing some sort of ministry. He faithful loves on ex-cons in their youth, people in the hospital, and his surrounding neighbors in the village. Pat is so present and makes sacrifices everyday for Jesus to be known… his love is costly. He is not your typical Christian, and I believe that is because he constantly says yes to God who is always inviting him into a life that moves away from the “normal” Christian life.
A lot of “normal” Christians are white-washed tombs. Trying to make their lives on the outside so pretty, but on the inside… they are dead. That is not how God created us. Yes we are messy, but our identity is holiness. And there is no dirt in holiness, only pure creations covered by the blood of Christ. And when we know where our identity lies, we don’t have time to be dead. Christ died for us, and guess what folks… He conquered death. He is ALIVE! So therefore we, as Christians, should be too.
God says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35). Pat gets that. That is what he lives for. It amazes me, Pat never really rests. And at first it irked me because I didn’t understand how he could possibly be doing something 24/7. But then it hit me… He does it because love never grows tired. Love is never a completed task. There is always someone in need of some lovin’.
The Gospel is real to Pat. And that is why I believe I saw the Gospel come to life this past month. When we live like the Gospel is real… it comes to life. Pat isn’t doing all this for his glory and fame. Shoot, he is tucked away on a farm in the middle of Hang Dong, Thailand. Pat is doing all of this because he knows Jesus is real and wants others to know it too.
I am forever changed by Pat. He taught me so much in just the short time knowing him. He never wasted his breath. He always had something to say concerning the Gospel. He takes it at face value, and lives his life for it… he would even die for it. God will literally use anyone who is willing to bring the Kingdom to earth. The harvest is ready… we are just missing the workers.
