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Published: 07 July 2016

Usually that phrase is used in a mocking manner to someone who has made a promise that is not likely to be kept.  Someone says, “I promise I’ll bring that chainsaw over and cut that wood.”  “Yeah, famous last words,” we say, especially if we’ve heard that promise four or five times before.  There is another category of famous last words that you can Google.  There are numerous lists of famous people and their last words.  Some are funny, some are sad, some are not repeatable on a church website.  John Wesley once said, “Our people (Methodists) die well.”  My experience over the past 30 years of ministry has been that people who know Christ as Savior and have walked with Him actually do die well.  What I mean is that they have a gracious spirit and gracious words as they prepare to make passage from this life to the next.  I certainly saw this in Bob Pendell’s life as he made his passage to the “forever life.”  This gracious spirit is true to our Founder.  This Sunday we’ll be studying the seven sayings from the cross.  Virtually everything Jesus said had other people in mind.  His words drip with genuine mercy.  What else would we expect?  Paul wrote, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…”  A person’s true character is magnified in suffering and when Jesus was suffering what was magnified by way of Scriptural account is incredible.   He wasn’t different in death than He was in life.  We won’t be either.  The profane and cynical in life are generally profane and cynical in death.  Since we are all on a “trajectory of becoming” we should probably pay attention to what we are doing and saying now.  When we make our passage and say our final words, more than likely they will be in consistent with who we have become along the way.  Let us run to Jesus and learn from Him how to walk and talk in the way of life…right on into death.

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Published: 30 June 2016

Thankfully, I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not aware of the cross of Christ.  Because my parents love the Lord and worship faithfully with a community of believers, I was in church by the time I was a couple weeks old.  For me, the cross has always been a symbol of the death of Jesus.  I grew up in a church where we regularly sang, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “At the Cross” and other similar hymns.  While a rich heritage and context for embracing the meaning of the cross can be helpful, it can also make us numb.  We can start to take the cross for granted.  We can easily slip into the mindset that rejoices in Jesus’ death for the world and forget that He died for “me.”  This has profound implications for our individual walk with God.  Sadly, in my own life, I have not always lived with these truths in mind. However, when I do dwell thoughtfully on what He did for “me” rather than only thinking about what He did for “us” I am humbled, profoundly grateful and I really want to live for Him.  A friend gave me a gift this week that literally stunned me.  My eyes immediately teared up and I really didn’t think I should receive it.   The gift was personal, specific to my calling, in harmony with who I am and what I do but honestly, I wouldn’t have bought it for myself.   Hopefully, each time I use it, it will be with gratitude and appreciation.  Do we think of the benefits of the cross with personal appreciation?  When we see a cross or meditate on Jesus’ sacrifice, do we think about “us” or “me?”  Of course it doesn’t have to be either/or.  What I mean is, it is certainly appropriate to think with glad heart about the power of the cross for the billions of people who God wants to rescue from wrath.  However, thinking about the gift that Jesus made available to me is beyond stunning.  When I think about what I really deserve and what Jesus experienced on my behalf I cannot find words to express the wonder of it all.  J.C. Ryle’s writings continue to stir my heart because he can say a lot in a few words.  I’ll be quoting him on this subject on Sunday, Lord willing.  He reminds his readers in simple words about the vicarious nature of Jesus’ death and of all the personal benefits we have accrued because of Jesus’ obedience on the cross.  I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will grace us with a personal comprehension of Jesus’ work for us individually and that this will produce a profound sense of revival in our hearts.