Not in Vainers 3
Not in Vainers
Back in 2012 when I began writing this little blog I entitled it, “Not in Vain”. It was taken from my dad’s life verse, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain.” I Cor 15:58. I Corinthians 15 is the great chapter about the resurrection. Paul ends the chapter with this exhortation encouraging us that we should live our lives in this manner due to the fact that this life is not all that there is. We will be resurrected and we will live eternally and so how we live now, matters eternally. As I end my time writing this blog I wanted to recognize those who have lived their life in light of eternity and have lived as “not in vainers”.
Today I want to say thank you to those who co-labor with me in the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. I know that in my quest to say thank you to many, that I will forget some. I pray that these blogs bring encouragement and not pain. Over the years there are hundreds of people who have shared the teaching privileges with me here at JBC. Barry and Sue spent decades teaching our children. Kim has done the same. Brian, Penny and Dominic taught with me in KNO. Rich, Kevin, Dale, and many others helped in Adult Bible Fellowship. Jim has taught many times on Wednesday Evenings. And there have been many more. Each adding to the full cup of God’s Word that we have enjoyed over the years. God has truly blessed our church with many teachers.
Today, as they are presently serving beside me, I want to say thank you to Mark, Josh, and John. Mark’s gift of knowledge is a true blessing to all those who are able to hear him speak. His dry sense of humor is a constant source of joy for my wife. Earlier in my ministry I had often prayed for someone like Mark who would come and be a source of help and encouragement to me. I am thankful that God has provided Mark to JBC and that we could serve together as we have.
Josh has been a great source of encouragement and support. God has truly gifted him with a great mind and ability to understand and communicate deep and meaningful theological truths. I have often, in my pride, agreed with Josh and then later had to look up exactly what he was talking about. Couple that kind of mind with a heart bent towards truly ministering to people and you have a great gift to JBC. I truly enjoy sitting under his ministry of the Word.
John and I have been serving together since the Flood. John has a great love for God and for his Word. While I see and remember principles, John is gifted in seeing the logic and order of Scripture. I often lean on John in Eschatological issues as he keeps those truths in his mind way better than I do. He consistency and faithfulness has been a great asset to JBC. God has given him a great ability to ministers to all kinds of people in ways that I fall way short in. I appreciate our years together.
These men have been a great source of encouragement, insight, and strength, for me and for JBC. What I love about our relationships is that we do not all agree on every theological point. Yet, there is mutual respect and humbleness that assures that our people are not put in the middle of two egos clashing. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus keeps us fixed on what is most important.
Thank you to all who have labored with me here at JBC. What a privilege it is to serve in the Kingdom of God. What a joy it is to know that we have not, and are not, laboring in vain.
Back in 2012 when I began writing this little blog I entitled it, “Not in Vain”. It was taken from my dad’s life verse, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain.” I Cor 15:58. I Corinthians 15 is the great chapter about the resurrection. Paul ends the chapter with this exhortation encouraging us that we should live our lives in this manner due to the fact that this life is not all that there is. We will be resurrected and we will live eternally and so how we live now, matters eternally. As I end my time writing this blog I wanted to recognize those who have lived their life in light of eternity and have lived as “not in vainers”.
Today I want to say thank you to those who co-labor with me in the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. I know that in my quest to say thank you to many, that I will forget some. I pray that these blogs bring encouragement and not pain. Over the years there are hundreds of people who have shared the teaching privileges with me here at JBC. Barry and Sue spent decades teaching our children. Kim has done the same. Brian, Penny and Dominic taught with me in KNO. Rich, Kevin, Dale, and many others helped in Adult Bible Fellowship. Jim has taught many times on Wednesday Evenings. And there have been many more. Each adding to the full cup of God’s Word that we have enjoyed over the years. God has truly blessed our church with many teachers.
Today, as they are presently serving beside me, I want to say thank you to Mark, Josh, and John. Mark’s gift of knowledge is a true blessing to all those who are able to hear him speak. His dry sense of humor is a constant source of joy for my wife. Earlier in my ministry I had often prayed for someone like Mark who would come and be a source of help and encouragement to me. I am thankful that God has provided Mark to JBC and that we could serve together as we have.
Josh has been a great source of encouragement and support. God has truly gifted him with a great mind and ability to understand and communicate deep and meaningful theological truths. I have often, in my pride, agreed with Josh and then later had to look up exactly what he was talking about. Couple that kind of mind with a heart bent towards truly ministering to people and you have a great gift to JBC. I truly enjoy sitting under his ministry of the Word.
John and I have been serving together since the Flood. John has a great love for God and for his Word. While I see and remember principles, John is gifted in seeing the logic and order of Scripture. I often lean on John in Eschatological issues as he keeps those truths in his mind way better than I do. He consistency and faithfulness has been a great asset to JBC. God has given him a great ability to ministers to all kinds of people in ways that I fall way short in. I appreciate our years together.
These men have been a great source of encouragement, insight, and strength, for me and for JBC. What I love about our relationships is that we do not all agree on every theological point. Yet, there is mutual respect and humbleness that assures that our people are not put in the middle of two egos clashing. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus keeps us fixed on what is most important.
Thank you to all who have labored with me here at JBC. What a privilege it is to serve in the Kingdom of God. What a joy it is to know that we have not, and are not, laboring in vain.
Recent
Archive
2025
February
September
November
2024
October
December
2023
August
Categories
no categories
No Comments