Real Stories of Hope and Faith

Speaker 1 0:01

It's time now to get the hell out of your life . A weekly broadcast with real people sharing real struggles and offering real hope . Today's show will encourage , inspire and empower you to face life's challenges with a bold confidence and renewed hope . Now let's join our host , ron Myers . The Provider .

Ron Meyers 0:23

Hello , my friends , it is so good to be with you today . Before I talk about today's show , I have to tell you something . I live in an area where there are a lot of trees and there is an eagle's nest somewhere in the vicinity of where I live , and this morning I saw this beautiful bald eagle flying above my home and I thought of that scripture verse , isaiah 40 , 31 . But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength . They will soar on wings like eagles . They will run and not grow weary . They will walk and not be faint . What a promise from God . So if you're tired today , if you're weary today , I want to encourage you . You will be like that eagle I saw this morning and be soaring very soon , and I believe today's show is going to encourage and inspire you . You and I are getting older and one day we will be at the end of our life .

Ron Meyers 1:34

Well , today I have invited a chaplain , a hospice chaplain , to be a part of our conversation . So , listeners , I want to introduce my guest . He's on the phone with me , his name is John Wenderline and he has written a book For me . End of life has seen through the eyes of a hospice chaplain . John , so glad you are able to visit with my listeners today . I have to ask you , though , brother , why did you write a book like this ?

John Wenderlein 2:03

Well , you know , Ron , I tell you it's hard for me to say that I never would write a book like this , because what happened is 20 years ago or so , I decided to step into this profession . You know , I just felt a need for a release and over the years I have just basically downloaded my brain , my stories , into my computer . And you know , about a year ago I had a close friend say John , you know , these stories that you have , you just need to let people know . Let people know that it's going to be okay and that there's a great love given at the end of life . So you know , it was definitely a labor of love .

Ron Meyers 2:37

Your patients do . All of them , 100% of them , believe in Jesus .

John Wenderlein 2:41

Well , you know , one of the most amazing things about being a chaplain is that , especially a hospice chaplain , is that you meet all kinds of people . You know all walks of life . You know you and I understand that , like in Ecclesiastes where it says that life is full of seasons and these people are coming to the end of their seasons . So I meet all kinds . I meet them where you can look at them and say you know what ? Where the Bible says that if you stay with me long enough , I will take away the big things , where the little things don't matter . I've met those people . I've met people who have said I'm just not sure . And you know , I've met people who literally go out screaming , literally go out screaming .

Ron Meyers 3:19

What do you mean ? Go out screaming ?

John Wenderlein 3:22

Well , what happens , ron , when a man or one of our patients not a man alone , just one of our patients we're having issues with trying to get them to get their medications right ? I'm sure you understand that , with your father making sure he's pain free , we call it palliative care . Well , you know , there's a resistance of the spirit to , you know , to be subdued and to , let's say , give in . I've had probably a couple dozen patients in the 20 years I've been doing this literally scream , I don't want you here . I've had them and we've taken to our special locations . We have specific locations where we treat them more specially , with our nurses and better medical care , and still my doctors will say you know , chaplain , they went out screaming . There was no amount of medication we could give them without them just screaming . So I see all facets , ron .

Ron Meyers 4:06

You know , does that mean they never accepted Jesus as their savior ?

John Wenderlein 4:11

Well , you know , you never know that . You know the second chapter of Romans does what . It would be careful . We're not the judge , we're the hands of God . But you know , the book of James says that . You know , there's evidence , evidence of salvation , not your works , but there's evidence of a love for Christ . So you know , if you just took it on the merit of what you've seen and what you know and what life they've led , until the 70 , 80 , 90 years that they're getting ready to pass , you can say well , you know they might be that deep on the cross . You know , we just don't know . You know , for me it's always been fruitful on that . God uses all people for all things .

Ron Meyers 4:45

Yep .

John Wenderlein 4:46

You know , one of my things as a pastor , as a chaplain , as a father or husband is that as long as there's breath , there's hope .

Ron Meyers 4:53

Amen . Tell us one of your favorite stories that's in your book of one of your patients .

John Wenderlein 4:58

Well , I met a sweet lady who was , who wanted to be a hundred years old . I walked into her room it really nice , you know , assistant living facility , really nice , not scaling . When I walked in , she had the elections of 2016 on there , fox News , and of course , the first thing I said was Miss Agnes , are you political ? And she said to me I surely am . So I said , well , sweet lady , I'm not , I'm just here to love you up and let's have conversation . So you know , she was born and raised a Catholic , but she didn't own a Bible . She was 99 years old , never had a Bible , and when I came to visit her a second time , you know we probably spent 20 , 30 minutes with her . So I said , you know , I'm going to come see her again next week . And the week passed and I went to see her and I walked in and she had a real stern look on her face and I couldn't figure out why . And I said what's going on with you ? And she said you know I've been thinking . And I said , sweet lady , I told you , don't be thinking , it's going to get you in trouble because she just , you know , she was one of those people who had an opinion on everything you know . She didn't know .

John Wenderlein 6:00

So she said you know , I lost my husband about 15 years ago . I said , yeah , I know . And she said I loved him to death . I said , I know , you told me the story . She said , you know , when I die and I get to heaven and he has found somebody else , I'm really going to be mad and I laughed . I said , sweet lady , that's not the way it works , you know .

John Wenderlein 6:18

And , ron , for that amount of time , and probably , she last lived about six months longer . Her heart just failed her . But in that time I became the Bible answer man gave her a pad and a pencil . I said , sweet lady , I'll tell you what you do . I'll come see you once a week . You write down the thoughts and questions you have and then we'll talk .

John Wenderlein 6:36

Well , you know , that went on for six months till she got the flu and her family called me to come to the hospital where she was and I remember all standing around and me holding her hand and telling her it's going to be all right , and I played with a family in the room and probably 30 , 40 minutes after I left she passed away . So I tell people all the time , ron , what would think that I am doing such wonderful things . But you know , god puts me in those places to show me what's going on , to give me an understanding of who he is . I found it as much glory in visiting with that sweet lady as she found with me visiting with her . So that's just one , but I probably have over a thousand stories now .

Ron Meyers 7:19

What's one question or a few questions ? You hear a lot from people near the end of their life .

John Wenderlein 7:25

It's probably something that you and I understand , probably better than most , because I know you're a man of the word but you know it's that moment of depth , you know it's that moment that the Bible says that in the twinkle of an eye you will be with me in paradise . You know , people worry and they worry and they worry and they worry and they become consumed by this thing of depth . But if you study depth in the scriptures , you realize it's just the time it takes to blink your eyes . Now are we , are we denigrating as our bodies waste away ? As Paul said in the Bible , in scriptures , of course .

John Wenderlein 8:01

But so I find it's that moment , it's that moment of death , that moment that they're no longer going to breathe . That seems to scare people . Deathling is around all of us in some form or fashion . I used to say I sent it to this sweet lady who I just gave you the story I said you know , my prayer is that when I get close to passing , if I know I'm going to pass , then I go out in glory Because you know , ron , I've seen sweet ladies and sweet men say I'm ready , and you know what I sensed in them , that they were ready . So my prayer is that when I get to that point in life , then I just become a wonderful witness for it .

Ron Meyers 8:38

And you know , john , chances are somebody is listening to this that is near the end of their life and they don't go to church . They're not in hospice yet . They don't have a chaplain . They sit in their house alone , wondering every day . What in the world do I do ? What would you tell that person ?

John Wenderlein 8:56

We can take all the books of the Bible , all 66 books of the Bible , and we can narrow it down to one simple thing . Christ said when he was wandering this earth , and he said if you don't have Me in your heart , if you don't have love in your heart , you don't have me . That person it's home . That's my greatest fear is that there's gonna be somebody that's gonna be at the end of their life that I hadn't had the opportunity to meet and you know I'm gonna have to leave them in the hands of God if they , if they pass away beforehand because , you know , as part of my job , I'm on call , so I may . I may be at home at two o'clock in the morning and again I get a call from the hospital that somebody that I don't know , I've never met , maybe in a car accident .

John Wenderlein 9:36

Man to a hard attack or strut or whatever , and they're either dying or they died . So I walk into those situations with not great sorrow but great wonderment , and for that person who's at home , who is struggling , they just need to bow their heads . Jesus said that we have an individual walk with him doesn't require Sprinkling of water , doesn't require anything but just a faith and a commitment . And that's an individual commitment . So I , I try my best , trust me . I jokingly say Ron , when I get that call at two o'clock in the morning , I start running towards the hospital and I let the car catch up with me .

Ron Meyers 10:09

I Really do . This is really a passionate call on your life , isn't it ?

John Wenderlein 10:16

It is . You know , I came out , I came to understand who God was in my early 30s I'm not 30 now , in my early 60s . But I went to seminary , did all those things and I couldn't figure out why the Lord hadn't got me one of these big churches . You know , that's the way we think , we , we should do things . And finally , a dawn on me that while I was in seminary , one of the presidents had us in the war with you .

John Wenderlein 10:37

Remember they were calling up our National Guard and so many of the men that were in seminary were being called up to go to war . And I remember , at the age of 40 , trying to join the military , I've read an article that said for every Thousand , twelve hundred men , there was only , there was only one chapter . So I said , boy , I can't imagine a man or a woman dying in a here battle and not not just not have somebody there to say it's gonna be okay . And you know , and that just turned into this passion that again I have to say that this is as much as I like to think that you know , I'm doing something wonderful . The Lord is doing something wonderful for me . He's giving me my purpose . You know , I'm gonna do this until I'm not healthy enough to do it anymore .

Ron Meyers 11:16

Listeners , if you just tuned in , I'm talking with John Wenderline . He's got a book out called remember me . End of life is seen through the eyes of a hospice Chaplain . Since you deal with people at the end of their life , will you take a minute and speak life into somebody listening that is ready to just give up ? And they said I'm ready to go , he can take me tomorrow . Speak life to that person .

John Wenderlein 11:41

I believe scripture tells us that in Paul's clear that we're not attached to something this moral . So if somebody is ready , if that person is ready to just say you know it's time , you know , I walk into room filled full of patients , family members , and sometimes they're near death and sometimes they're Not yet ready to die , and they'll ask me to pray . And I tell them every time before I pray , it's never failed over the last years I've tell them that I'm gonna pray for God's mercy , I'm gonna pray for God's swiftness and I'm gonna pray for God's love . And if the Lord chooses To lift that sweet person that you love so much out of that bed , and so be it . But today we're gonna just pray for his mercy and we're gonna pray that when he comes he comes swiftly . So I try my best .

End of Life Reflections and Hope

Ron Meyers 12:24

Amen . You know , john , when my mother was on hospice , she died at the young age of 59 with cancer , and before she died she looked up in the corner of the room and said mom , mom , have you experienced that with the patients that you deal with ?

John Wenderlein 12:41

That's a whole heavy subject to breach . But then we don't have enough time to do that . But I have to tell you I lost my father four years of Christmas , 18th day of December , near Christmas , and he was in his . He was in a hospital bed living room so people could come visit him and he could watch his TV and whatever . But as he got closer to the end of his life I remember I was talking to him he said he looked up and it was a little hallway between where he was laying and he said what's dad doing here ? Now his father has been what has been dead for four decades . I said , oh , your dad's here . He goes . Yeah , I , just what ? Why is he here ? I said well , dad , he's , he's here to see you . I imagine you know , ron , it wasn't .

John Wenderlein 13:22

But maybe 15 or 20 minutes now my father was talking without confusion . Now you know he wasn't mumbling and stumbling and pausing . He was talking because he would go right back into , you know , his fishing or whatever else story he was talking about . But then , maybe 20 minutes later , he said a man I wish my mother would would come back out the kitchen so we could talk . Now his mama was sweet , sweet , sweet spirited woman who just loved the Lord , but she was been gone for two decades . So I said dad , mama see , your mama will see later and she does , I want to see grandma . So all that time that he said that I just , I didn't say anything different , I just a phone . Whatever he was saying . And you know , the biggest mistake we make with our patients is we Especially if they have dementia or Alzheimer's is that we want to argue with him about facts . If they say the world is flat , you tell them it's flat because you know what you want to get peace .

Ron Meyers 14:17

Someone younger listening right now that is dealing with the end of life for a loved one in their family and it's a lot of pressure on them . Any advice for a sibling taking care of a loved one ?

John Wenderlein 14:30

There's no amount of education I you can go to to become a caregiver . I'll tell you , a caregiver is somebody who doesn't sleep Only if the loved one sleeps , who doesn't eat only if the loved one eats , who doesn't do anything but worry about the care of the loved one that they're taking care of . So Be a caregiver . Ironically , at the end of life end of that person's life that they're taking care of they become consumed with guilt . You know that what it could have shared of stuff that , uh lots .

John Wenderlein 15:01

Many christians will say you know , if I could have done that , I should have done that . But their second guest themselves . I just had a sweet lady . His mother died and she was just so angry and I said , and I talked to her and I said listen , it was your mother's time . You know , christians , you and I both know if you were to give him that automobile now and go wherever you were gonna go see that little grandbaby yours and you were you were killed in a car . That was not a car accident , you were in a car at your appointed time . So I try to make people understand . There's no greater gift than the give of yourself to the people that you love , because love is an action word . Love is not lip service . It is an action when it requires Action and jesus talked about that over and over again . In fact he has peter . Remember three times , if you love them , to make sure peter understood that love , that jesus was in peter's heart .

Ron Meyers 15:55

And I love the scripture verse to be absent from the bodies to be present with the lord everything , the scripture , everything .

John Wenderlein 16:01

All the years I've better school and all the Times I've preached messages and study those things . There's one thing I know for sure that in a moment of time , in a millisecond , the time it takes you to blink your eye when you open your eyes , you with our lord , that's the fact , and it says life is like a morning mist for the lake . It's worth there one minute and the next minute we're gone . You know , people live by patients typically , or 80 , 90 . I have one down , it's a hundred and six . But setting in that bed at 95 years old , they'll look at me with awesome serenity and say when has that 95 years gone ? Gone like a car doing 200 miles an hour . We have to latch onto things that are important .

Ron Meyers 16:47

Yes , sam , make the most out of life now , because we don't know when that door will close . John , I love your book . Where do listeners get a copy of this book ?

John Wenderlein 16:55

They can go to . Remember Me , JW , or they can go to our Amazon . Remembermejwcom is my website .

Ron Meyers 17:04

I would love for you to pray for the listeners .

John Wenderlein 17:07

But of course I have my patients' families . The caregivers say I'll chat with them while you pray , and I just kind of smile at them . I said , well , I've learned to continuously pray . I've learned to pray with my eyes wide open . I used Jesus Christ's example of prayer when he went to the garden and looked into the heavens . I said , lord , if it be , you will take this away from me . He didn't bow down on the ground , he didn't close his eyes , his eyes were wide open and he was intensely praying . So if we can learn to pray wide open , the eyes wide open , stephen , then I think he just comes closer . But let me pray .

John Wenderlein 17:40

Grace is heavenly Father . Lord , again , we know that you are the Almighty and you are our Savior . You are in control of all things and all times . Lord , I ask you , if there's anyone out there that hasn't found peace beyond understanding the scripture , tell us just , lord , ask me to just get close to Him , get closer to Him , when I believe you're always with us , as you promise , and you promise with the disciples . But , lord , I know , I believe in my heart as we get closer to them and you just draw nearer to us . There's so many wonderful songs out there , lord , that I'm reminded of . Lord , we love you and we adore you and we just can't wait to be with you . Lord , lord , you know , I only ask these things and your precious and glorious name , amen .

Ron Meyers 18:22

Friends , right after the break , let's talk about what John just shared with us .

Speaker 2 19:08

Does God speak to us today ? If so , what does he sound like ? Thundering roars , crashing waves , a booming megaphone ? Maybe , sometimes , but maybe it's not quite as Hollywood , dramatic as all that . Maybe it's a little more simple . John 10 , 27 says my sheep hear my voice , I know them and they follow me . In the midst of all the noise and questions , god is speaking and we can hear His voice . We just need to learn to recognize it . So what does he sound like ? He sounds like love , like reconciliation , like kindness , wisdom , hope , truth . Do you know those sounds Then ? Maybe you hear His voice more often than you think . Maybe you're being led by Him more than you realize . Maybe God is speaking to you and you actually are listening . You just didn't know it .

Speaker 6 20:08

It happens in a blink , it happens in a flash , it happens in the time it took to look back . I try to hold on tight , but there's no stopping time . What is it I've done with ?

Ron Meyers 20:24

Well , what a story , John . What a man of God . He just loves what he does . He does what he loves , and I really would encourage you to check out His website and the book RememberMeJWcom .

Ron Meyers 20:39

I just want to take a minute and remind us his believers what happens , according to the scriptures , when we do leave this world . I know when I lost my mother and I lost my father , it was tough , and then this year , the beginning of 2024 , it has really caught me off guard . I have lost a couple very good friends , and the only comfort I have in going through this is the same comfort that you can have when we understand , as a believer , when we die , we can have the assurance that we will immediately enter into the presence of God , and scripture assures us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord . This means that we are going to experience the fullness of eternal life and the joy of being in the presence of Jesus . I can't even imagine that that will be so incredible . So death is not the end for believers , but rather a transition into the eternal life we already enjoy with Jesus Christ . Just asleep is a temporary state of rest before awakening . Death is a temporary state before our resurrection and entrance into the fullness of eternal life . So , friends , when you and I die , we will be reunited with Jesus in his presence , free from the limitations and struggles of our earthly bodies .

Ron Meyers 22:15

It's also important to remember that our understanding of time is limited , but God is outside of time .

Ron Meyers 22:25

So , while we may perceive a waiting period between death and eternal life , for God everything is right now . So , when we die , heaven is ready for us and our Savior will be waiting to welcome us into His presence . And additionally , scripture teaches that believers will be resurrected and receive new bodies at the second coming of Christ . This resurrection will mark the completion of our redemption and the fulfillment of God's promises . You will receive a glorified body that is imperishable and suited for eternity . So , my friends , in conclusion , as a believer , you can have the assurance that when you die , you will immediately enter into the presence of God . Death is not the end , but a transition into the fullness of eternal life with Jesus and friend . This is the most important thing that you and I must remember when we lose a loved one , that we can find comfort and hope in knowing that we will be reunited with our Savior , with our loved ones , and experience the joy of eternal life . What a wonderful promise that we Christians have .

Speaker 5 23:54

Has hope become a stranger in your life ? Do you feel trapped ? Are you caught in a whirlpool of life and responsibilities that you can't escape ? Maybe hope has gone because someone robbed you of your childhood or your youth , or maybe it's a dream that you know will never come true . We can wish differently , but life will never be painless . But you're saying where can I find a place where there is peace ? Peace is found only in Jesus Christ , crucified and resurrected . Jesus is triumphant over every pain , every failure , every heartbreak and every hope for this life . Jesus tells us if anyone wishes to come after me , he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me . If you would like to speak with someone right now about beginning a personal relationship with Jesus Christ , call 888-Need-Him or go to wwwchataboutjesuscom .

Speaker 7 24:53

Ron will be back in a moment to wrap up today's conversation . We want to encourage you today with God's promise to you . It comes from the book of Jeremiah , chapter 29 , verse 11 . For I know the plans I have for you , declares the Lord . Plans to prosper you and not to harm you , plans to give you hope and the future . That's God's promise to you when you choose to commit your plans and future to him . Now back to Ron .

Ron Meyers 25:27

Well , friends , my time is up and I want to remind you what I opened the show with Isaiah 40 , 31 . Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength . They will soar on wings like eagles . They will run and not grow weary . They will walk and not be faint . Friends , what an incredible promise from God that , no matter how beat up we feel , no matter how tired and weary we are , god has us in the palm of his hands and he wants you to know that you will rise again . You will soar like an eagle . Sometimes , friends , we have to go through the little valley before he can take us to the mountaintop of our destiny . I want to give you a date Sunday night , april 7 , 1st Baptist Church in Gulfport , the Love and Light Tour starring Jordan Feliz and Colton Dixon . More details coming out on that very soon . Friends , in the meantime , remember this that I love you , jesus loves you , and when you do life with Jesus , you will remove the hell out of your life .

Speaker 1 26:47

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Real Stories and Uplifting Support

Speaker 1 27:07

Thanks for listening , and if you would like to share your story of what God has done in your life or listened to previous episodes , please visit our website , thepromoterorg . Join us next week for another episode of Get the Hell Out of your Life Real stories , real struggles and real hope .

Speaker 7 27:25

We would like to express our gratitude to Coffee News for their support of this program . Are you tired of scrolling through the same old news feeds every morning ? Then switch things up with Coffee News . Our publication is filled with interesting stories , brain teasers and uplifting quotes that are sure to brighten your day , and now you can access Coffee News anytime , anywhere , by visiting our website . So , whether you're sipping your morning coffee at your favorite cafe or browsing online from your desk , we've got you covered . Start your day off right with Coffee News at ReadCoffeeNewsOnlinecom .