(An Adaptation of Acts 20:20-32)

You yourselves know how I have lived among you all from the first day that I began ministering here until now, serving the Lord, I pray, with humility and even with tears at times, and with trials that came to me and us all through the varied issues of life and ministry; and you know how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching at nearly every opportunity I was given, testifying to all of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 And now, I am going to plant a new church in Wentzville, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in His Word that in that city many afflictions and joys await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.  And I ask you to hold me accountable, encourage me, and pray for me in this.  

And now, behold, I know not which of you among whom I have been proclaiming the Word will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that believe I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Dad and Paul, please give diligent, careful attention to yourselves and to all this flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for this church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. You know that after my departure fierce wolves will continue to try to come in among you, not sparing this flock; and from among this very body will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for at least six years now I, only by the grace of God, did not cease to admonish everyone with all sincerity and passion, seeking to be radically Biblical in all things.

And now I commend you all to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are saved and being saved: I go from here with both sad and sweet tears, in blissful peace, in sincere love, and in solid hope! Yet, I will always be fighting this fight with you, even if it is on a slightly different battle field not too far from here.   I will always be thankful of the years of growth and grace while in TCSC.  I will always be praying this prayer for you.  And one day, I will be with you all (I pray) forever enjoying OUR Savior together with you!  I love you all.  To God alone be all the glory both here and now and wherever we go from here forever!  Amen.

In Sincere Love and Serious Truth,

Jason Myers

Here are the lyrics:

It’s the greatest story ever told.
A God pursues foes whose hearts turned cold.
The greatest story ever told.
Restoring all that the enemy stole.
The greatest story ever told.
The glory of Christ is the goal, behold.
The greatest story ever told.
It’s the greatest.

Alright check it: let’s go back in time, brethren. Divine lessons always keep your mind guessing. The glory of the Triune God is what I’m stressing. The origin of humankind was fine. Blessings were plenteous. God is amazingly generous. Crazy benefits in a state of innocence. God told the man what he could taste was limited. Not long after came our nemesis in Genesis. He scammed well, man fell, damned to hell. The whole human race—he represented it. Fooled by the serpent, man through his work, woman through birth—even the earth ruled by the curses. But instead of a wake immediately. God said her Seed would be the One to crush the head of the snake. Yo, wait what is this? Whoa, a gracious gift! In Jehovah’s faithfulness He clothed their nakedness. This was so they would know their Savior’s kiss and bliss. But first, many growing pains exist suffering in the worst form, ugly deeds. Eve’s firstborn seed made his brother bleed. Indeed things got progressively worse. Every section of the earth is been affected by the curse. And though God’s judgments against sin were gory, praise the Lord! It’s not the end of the story.

Next scene: man’s sin was extreme. God gets steamed, man gets creamed. The Lord is so Holy that He drowned them in the water. Fire in the valley of slaughter – Sodom and Gomorrah. But at the same time, He’s so gracious and patient that from one man He created a whole nation. Eventually enslaved by the mentally depraved, they cried out to the only One with the strength that He could save. He brought them out with signs and wonders – satisfied their hunger. Then He appeared on Mount Sinai in thunder. Where He laid down the law for God-ruled government. Commonly referred to as the Mosaic covenant. Sin was imputed. So for man to know he’s unrighteous, God instituted animal sacrifices. This was to show our constant need for atonement. And when it came to sin, the Lord would never condone it. And when His people disobeyed and went astray, He raised up prophets and kings to lead them in the way. But they would get foul with their idolatry—wet and wild prophecy—send them into exile. To take their punishment like a grown man. Then with His own hand He placed them back in their homeland. And while in their forefather’s land they dwelt, they awaited the arrival of Emmanuel.

After 400 silent years filled with sighs and tears. In Bethlehem the Messiah appears. God in the flesh—Second Person of the Trinity. At thirty begins His earthly ministry. Baffling cats with accurate, exact facts and back-to-back miraculous acts. A stumbling block to the self righteous. But the humbled—His flock, said “There’s no one else like this.” He came from heaven to awake the numb. Demonstrated His power over nature, son. A foretaste of the Kingdom and the age to come. But the reason He came was to pay the sum for the depths of our wickedness, our wretched sinfulness. Bless His magnificence! He is perfect and innocent. Yet He was wrecked and His death. He predicted it. Next He was stretched, paid a debt that was infinite. He said that He finished it. Resurrected so the elect would be the recipients of its benefits. Through faith and penitence we get to be intimate. His grace is heaven sent, it never diminishes. Now the Holy Spirit indwelling is the evidence for heaven’s future residents who truly represent Jesus, the Author, Producer, Director, and Star of a story that will never, ever end!

(I saw this on JT’s blog, and just had to post it here.)

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The Gospel Infuses Daily Activities with Meaning

October 28, 2009  |  By: Matt Perman  |  Category: Commentary

Mark Driscoll has a great word in his book The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out Without Selling Out :

Every day, people eat, sleep, work, play, love, and hate, but they do not know why. Not knowing where they come from or to whom they are going, they lack the ability to make their lives meaningful. 

Consequently, our culture is filled with “successful” people who are mired in anxiety and confusion because they do not know the point of all their toil. But the gospel reveals Jesus as Lord over all of life, who infuses even mundane tasks such as dishwashing with meaning as acts of worship.

This also makes me think of Stephen Curtis Chapman’s song “A Moment Made for Worshiping.” When you first hear the title of that song, you think he’s talking about a mountain top experience or miracle moment where everything is going so right that you can’t help but worship.

But instead, the first line of the song is: 6:30 Monday morning. 

In other words, the ordinary moments of the everyday are the moments made for worshiping. Everything we do can and should be done as an act of worship. This infuses even the most mundane activities with meaning. 

And, ironically, it rescues the more amazing moments from futility as well, for it turns out that even those moments derive their meaning not from themselves, but from God.

“So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

This is a true case of Theology being made accessible by technology.  Download this very user-friendly and spiritually helpful tool for free today!

Struggling with this too,

Pastor-Elder JasonM.

There is, of course, hundreds of more reasons why to trust the Bible, but those will have to wait for future posts.