Important Last Words

A person’s dying words can be very precious to their loved ones. Words about one’s faith can bring comfort or extreme disappointment. Join us as we look at St. Paul’s final words to find comfort and peace.

Scripture: II Timothy 4:7-8

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Renewing Reflections

It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon He Knows What He is Talking About delivered on Christian Crusaders March 11, 2012.

If you’ve experienced the power of his promises in your life and been a follower of his for some time, the message is the same. Listen to him and learn. Jesus really does know what he is talking about when it comes to living out the days of your life. Trust him with your life. Instead of trying to correct him, let him correct you. Instead of trying to direct him with your steps, let him direct your steps. Keep listening and keep learning. That is the encouragement of God today.


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On the Light Side
Last Words of Some Famous People

“Pardon me, sir. I did not do it on purpose.” – Queen Marie Antoinette after she accidentally stepped on the foot of her executioner as she went to the guillotine.

“I can’t sleep.” – J. M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan.

“I am about to — or I am going to — die: either expression is correct.” – Dominique Bouhours, famous French grammarian.

“I live!” – Roman Emperor Caligula, as he was being murdered by his own soldiers.

“I am perplexed. Satan Get Out.” – Aleister Crowley, famous occultist.

“Now why did I do that?” – General William Erskine, after he jumped from a window in Lisbon, Portugal in 1813.

“It’s stopped.” – Joseph Henry Green, upon checking his own pulse.

“You have won, O Galilean.” – Emperor Julian, having attempted to reverse the official endorsement of Christianity by the Roman Empire.

No, you certainly can’t.” – John F. Kennedy to Nellie Connally, wife of Governor John Connelly, in reply to comment, “You certainly can’t say that the people of Dallas haven’t given you a nice welcome, Mr. President.”

“Put out the cigarette!!” – Saki to a fellow officer while in a trench during World War I for fear the smoke would give away their positions. He was then shot by a German sniper who heard the remark.

Unfinished Business

Do you have any unfinished business with God? We say we love Jesus and want to follow him, but then we fail to witness for him when it is not the popular thought among our friends. Join us this week as we look at the lives of two people who also had unfinished business with Jesus and see how they took care of that business.  '

Scripture: John 20:1-19

“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”


Renewing Reflections

It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon A Consistent Witness delivered on Christian Crusaders March 2, 2008.

If Christ has met you and changed your life, even if it is only in some small way, you have a story to tell about Jesus. In your story, you tell others that Christ has forgiven your sins. You live in a personal relationship with your Savior and have the assurance that he walks with you in this life. When you die, you will receive the place He has prepared for you in heaven. This is your witness, and it must be consistent. You tell it whenever you have an opportunity at work or at worship, with Christians or with unbelievers, in all kinds of circumstances and conditions in your life. The world needs to hear your consistent Christian witness.


How to Help Christian Crusaders Grow

A memorial gift is a meaningful way to remember a loved one, whether relative or friend, when they die. Memorial gifts are sometimes given to remember a very special person on a birthday or some other occasion. For your convenience, online donations can be made through our secure Web site at http://www.christiancrusaders.org/online_donations.asp.


On the Light Side

A lady wanted to go ice fishing, but since she had never gone before, she read some books on the subject first. Finally, after getting all the necessary tools together, she headed for the nearest frozen lake.

After positioning her comfy footstool, she started to make a circular cut in the ice. Suddenly – from the sky – a voice boomed, “THERE ARE NO FISH IN THERE!” Startled, she moved further down the ice, poured a Thermos of cappuccino, and began to cut yet another hole.

Again, from the heavens, the voice bellowed, “THERE ARE NO FISH IN THERE!” The lady, now quite worried, moved way down to the opposite end of the ice, set up her stool, and tried again to cut her hole. The voice came a third time: “THERE ARE NO FISH IN THERE!”

She stopped, looked skyward, and asked, “Who are you – God?”

The voice replied, “NO, I OWN THE ICE RINK!"

Jesus' Autobiography

Who really is Jesus Christ? We can read about him in the many books written about him through the years. We can also visit with others who claim to know him. But who is he really? Listen this week as we learn about Jesus from his autobiography.

Scripture: John 10:22-30

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."


Renewing Reflections

It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon He Knows What He is Talking About delivered on Christian Crusaders March 11, 2012.

If you’ve experienced the power of his promises in your life and been a follower of his for some time, the message is the same. Listen to him and learn. Jesus really does know what he is talking about when it comes to living out the days of your life. Trust him with your life. Instead of trying to correct him, let him correct you. Instead of trying to direct him with your steps, let him direct your steps. Keep listening and keep learning. That is the encouragement of God today.


Taken From the Message

In the sermon, Rev. Larsen refers to a book he received from his parents while in seminary. The book, written by Alfred Edersheim, is entitled, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.

Albert Edersheim was born in Vienna of Jewish parents, educated in the Talmud and Torah at a Hebrew school. In 1841 he entered the University of Vienna, and later emigrated to Hungary where he was converted to Christianity under the influence of John Duncan, a visiting chaplain from the Church of Scotland. Edersheim accompanied Duncan back to Scotland and studied theology at New College, Edinburgh and at the University of Berlin. He was later ordained to the ministry in the Free Church of Scotland and served as a missionary to the Jews at Iaşi, Romania for a year.

Eventually Edersheim was appointed to ministry at the Free Church, Old Aberdeen Scotland. When health issues forced him to resign in 1861, the Church of St. Andrew was built for him at Torquay. He was later ordained in the Church of England and served at various churches and universities until his death in 1989.

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, written in 1883, is considered to be one of the best known and most important references on the life of Christ ever written. It contains a storehouse of information on the background of the New Testament and successfully portrays the streets, marketplaces, religious conflicts, people, and places of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

An updated edition was published in 1993.


On the Light Side

Mary had a little lamb,
Whose fleece was black as soot,
Wherever little Mary went,
His sooty foot he put.

Mary had a little lamb,
Its feet were full of lard.
Every step the lamb did take,
it slipped back half a yard.

Believe It

John wrote in his Gospel about the many miracles Jesus did after his resurrection. John also tells us why he recorded these signs, and we will talk about that reason in this week’s message. Please join us.


Scripture: John 20:30-31
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”


Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon He Knows What He is Talking About delivered on Christian Crusaders March 11, 2012.

If you’ve experienced the power of his promises in your life and have been a follower of his for some time, the message is the same. Listen to him and learn. Jesus really does know what he is talking about when it comes to living out the days of your life. Trust him with your life. Instead of trying to correct him, let him correct you. Instead of trying to direct him with your steps, let him direct your steps. Keep listening and keep learning. That is the encouragement of God today.


Mother’s Day Gift Idea
Are you looking for a meaningful Mother's Day gift? Perhaps the special mother in your life might like a limited-edition set of audio CDs from Christian Crusaders. This unique five-disc set of sermons, appropriately centered on motherhood, comes wrapped in a pretty ribbon and gift tag. This gift set is available for a suggested donation of $10. Please call us at 1-888-693-2484 or visit our Web site to order.


On the Light Side
On a spring break trip to Italy, my friends and I were standing just inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the second largest church in the world.

The tour guide explained, “This church is so large that no man on earth could hit a baseball from one end to the other, not Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, or even Mark McGuire.”

The group stared in silence at the beautiful marble sculptures, intricate paintings, and glorious mosaics all around the enormous building.

Then one girl interrupted the silence with an astonished question: “You mean, they actually let them hit baseballs in here?"