Acts 28.11-31 As we close the door on Acts. . .

The Scripture - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%2028.11-28.31&version=31&interface=print

Paul arrives in Rome. . . his desired destination. He plans to put out from there to take the gospel into Spain, and further into Europe. After just three days in towni, he calls the Jewish leaders together, and lets them know the circumstances through which he has come to Rome--innocent, but accused. He is forthright with them about what has come before, and as always turns his stated position into one that points the way to Christ. So much so, that some of the listeners actually came to faith. And undaunted, Paul lets them know that he has been called to the Gentiles--knowing that would not set well with an all-Jew crowd. We saw his message and ministry to the Gentiles, and how God had anointed him to preach to them in Ephesus, Thessalonica, Athens and Corinth, too.

The Acts curtain comes down with Paul living by himself in a rented house in Rome, all the while, boldly preaching about Jesus.

Yes, the end is near. . . the end of Paul's journeys. . . the end of our study in Acts

I've always loved Frank Sinatra, and this song ran through my head--I Did it My Way--

Ol' Blue Eyes~? -- only, what if his famous song was altered slightly for Paul?

And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain. My friends, I'll say it clear; I'll state my case of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full - I've travelled each and every highway. I've been in prison, stoned, beaten, shipwrecked

three times. . .And more, much more than this, I did it God's way.

Regrets? I've had a few, But then again, too few to mention--though I did persecute all the believers in The Way when I

was a righteous Pharisee. . . I did what I had to do--And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course - Each careful step along the byway, And more, much more than this,

I did it God's way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew, When I bit off more than I could chew, when I was my own attorney,

facing the best my people and the Romans had to charge me--though God did guide me. . .

But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all and I stood tall

And did it God's way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried, I've had my fill - my share of losing. But now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing--

well, maybe not amusing, but very fulfilling to know I gave my all to God. . . I will finish the race well. . .

To think I did all that, And may I say, not in a shy way - Oh no. Oh no, not me. I did it God's way.

For what is a man? What has he got? If not himself - Then he has naught. Oh, really? What is a man, if he's not God's?

To say the things he truly feels, and believes to his very core... And, yes, the words of one who kneels.

The record shows I took the blows

And did it God's way.

It is a famous song, with a familiar winning tune, and a large orchestral buildup. . . imagine if it were tweaked slightly, like above. . .

why, it would be a great song for Paul to go out on! (not just yet, though, of course)

How about you--will you go out singing, "I did it my way"? Or will you go out with "I did it God's way"? Some of you know that I love to read the Sunday New York Time obituaries; (they are beautifully written and often feature people of note in various fields. I sometimes learn a bit about unfamiliar arenas--it is most interesting!) Yesterday, there was a full-page obit of a guy who came from a family of prestige and wealth, an artist, but a lost soul. Unfortunately, Dash was plagued by addiction issues, and so his life ended way too quickly, in his 20s. . . he holed up in a nice hotel and died of an overdose. His friends commented that his final song would surely be, "I Did it My Way." Yes, he did, and how tragic it was!

While we have completed Acts, we are not through with Paul. We will move on now to Paul's writings--the letters to the churches, starting with Galatians. We have so much more to learn from Paul--missionary, church planter, dispenser of God's grace, mentor, theologian. Early this morning, I was leaving the gym with one of my friends, and we were talking about our move into Galatians; he turned and looked at me and said, I would kinda like a T-shirt that says "Be Like Paul." Yeah, I'm with him. . . I wanna do it God's way, I wanna be like Paul.

Grace and peace to you~

Christine