February 29, 2024 • 28 mins
Capturing the essence of hope and the tenacity of the human spirit isn't always easy, but when you witness the soaring flight of an eagle, something profound stirs within. That stirring is at the heart of our latest episode, where we're joined by hospice chaplain John Wenderline, who shares real-life stories from his book on end-of-life experiences. As we unravel the threads of spiritual care, the profound bonds between patient and chaplain, and the diverse tapestry of beliefs held by those in their final moments, we offer a poignant reflection on the impact of empathy, comfort, and the unwavering beacon of hope.
The journey through the last chapters of life is often a road paved with complex emotions and lessons of love. This episode carefully navigates the tumultuous feelings of caregivers, the bittersweet farewells of passing, and the Christian perspective on the afterlife's promise of immediacy with the Lord. We extend a hand to those grappling with guilt, seeking solace, or simply needing a reminder of the power of continuous prayer and the practice of love as an action, as exemplified by Jesus. Our contemplative discourse aims to uplift and bring solace, recognizing the strength we derive from faith and each other in the most challenging of times.
- If you would like to be a guest and share your story, click this link: https://thepromoter.org/story/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's time now to get the hell out of your life.
A weekly broadcast with realpeople sharing real struggles
and offering real hope.
Today's show will encourage,inspire and empower you to face
life's challenges with a boldconfidence and renewed hope.
Now let's join our host, ronMyers.
The Provider.
Ron Meyers (00:23):
Hello, my friends, it is so good to be with you
today.
Before I talk about today'sshow, I have to tell you
something.
I live in an area where thereare a lot of trees and there is
an eagle's nest somewhere in thevicinity of where I live, and
this morning I saw thisbeautiful bald eagle flying
(00:47):
above my home and I thought ofthat scripture verse, isaiah 40,
31.
But those who hope in the Lordwill renew their strength.
They will soar on wings likeeagles.
They will run and not growweary.
They will walk and not be faint.
(01:07):
What a promise from God.
So if you're tired today, ifyou're weary today, I want to
encourage you.
You will be like that eagle Isaw this morning and be soaring
very soon, and I believe today'sshow is going to encourage and
inspire you.
You and I are getting older andone day we will be at the end
(01:32):
of our life.
Well, today I have invited achaplain, a hospice chaplain, to
be a part of our conversation.
So, listeners, I want tointroduce my guest.
He's on the phone with me, hisname is John Wenderline and he
has written a book For me.
End of life has seen throughthe eyes of a hospice chaplain.
(01:54):
John, so glad you are able tovisit with my listeners today.
I have to ask you, though,brother, why did you write a
book like this?
John Wenderlein (02:03):
Well, you know, Ron, I tell you it's hard for
me to say that I never wouldwrite a book like this, because
what happened is 20 years ago orso, I decided to step into this
profession.
You know, I just felt a needfor a release and over the years
I have just basicallydownloaded my brain, my stories,
into my computer.
And you know, about a year agoI had a close friend say John,
(02:26):
you know, these stories that youhave, you just need to let
people know.
Let people know that it's goingto be okay and that there's a
great love given at the end oflife.
So you know, it was definitelya labor of love.
Ron Meyers (02:37):
Your patients do.
All of them, 100% of them,believe in Jesus.
John Wenderlein (02:41):
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 ofpeople.
You know all walks of life.
You know you and I understandthat, like in Ecclesiastes where
it says that life is full ofseasons and these people are
coming to the end of theirseasons.
So I meet all kinds.
I meet them where you can lookat them and say you know what?
(03:02):
Where the Bible says that ifyou 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 saidI'm just not sure.
And you know, I've met peoplewho literally go out screaming,
literally go out screaming.
Ron Meyers (03:19):
What do you mean?
Go out screaming?
John Wenderlein (03:22):
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 getthem to get their medications
right?
I'm sure you understand that,with your father making sure
he's pain free, we call itpalliative care.
Well, you know, there's aresistance of the spirit to, you
know, to be subdued and to,let's say, give in.
I've had probably a coupledozen patients in the 20 years
(03:44):
I've been doing this literallyscream, I don't want you here.
I've had them and we've takento our special locations.
We have specific locationswhere we treat them more
specially, with our nurses andbetter medical care, and still
my doctors will say you know,chaplain, they went out
screaming.
There was no amount ofmedication we could give them
without them just screaming.
So I see all facets, ron.
Ron Meyers (04:06):
You know, does that mean they never accepted Jesus
as their savior?
John Wenderlein (04:11):
Well, you know, you never know that.
You know the second chapter ofRomans does what.
It would be careful.
We're not the judge, we're thehands of God.
But you know, the book of Jamessays that.
You know, there's evidence,evidence of salvation, not your
works, but there's evidence of alove for Christ.
So you know, if you just tookit on the merit of what you've
seen and what you know and whatlife they've led, until the 70,
(04:32):
80, 90 years that they'regetting ready to pass, you can
say well, you know they might bethat deep on the cross.
You know, we just don't know.
You know, for me it's alwaysbeen fruitful on that.
God uses all people for allthings.
Ron Meyers (04:45):
Yep.
John Wenderlein (04:46):
You know, one of my things as a pastor, as a
chaplain, as a father or husbandis that as long as there's
breath, there's hope.
Ron Meyers (04:53):
Amen.
Tell us one of your favoritestories that's in your book of
one of your patients.
John Wenderlein (04:58):
Well, I met a sweet lady who was, who wanted
to be a hundred years old.
I walked into her room itreally nice, you know, assistant
living facility, really nice,not scaling.
When I walked in, she had theelections of 2016 on there, fox
News, and of course, the firstthing I said was Miss Agnes, are
you political?
And she said to me I surely am.
(05:20):
So I said, well, sweet lady,I'm not, I'm just here to love
you up and let's haveconversation.
So you know, she was born andraised a Catholic, but she
didn't own a Bible.
She was 99 years old, never hada Bible, and when I came to
visit her a second time, youknow we probably spent 20, 30
minutes with her.
So I said, you know, I'm goingto come see her again next week.
(05:41):
And the week passed and I wentto see her and I walked in and
she had a real stern look on herface and I couldn't figure out
why.
And I said what's going on withyou?
And she said you know I've beenthinking.
And I said, sweet lady, I toldyou, don't be thinking, it's
going to get you in troublebecause she just, you know, she
was one of those people who hadan opinion on everything you
know.
She didn't know.
So she said you know, I lost myhusband about 15 years ago.
(06:04):
I said, yeah, I know.
And she said I loved him todeath.
I said, I know, you told me thestory.
She said, you know, when I dieand I get to heaven and he has
found somebody else, I'm reallygoing to be mad and I laughed.
I said, sweet lady, that's notthe way it works, you know.
And, ron, for that amount oftime, and probably, she last
lived about six months longer.
(06:24):
Her heart just failed her.
But in that time I became theBible answer man gave her a pad
and a pencil.
I said, sweet lady, I'll tellyou what you do.
I'll come see you once a week.
You write down the thoughts andquestions you have and then
we'll talk.
Well, you know, that went on forsix months till she got the flu
and her family called me tocome to the hospital where she
was and I remember all standingaround and me holding her hand
(06:46):
and telling her it's going to beall right, and I played with a
family in the room and probably30, 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 inthose places to show me what's
going on, to give me anunderstanding of who he is.
(07:08):
I found it as much glory invisiting with that sweet lady as
she found with me visiting withher.
So that's just one, but Iprobably have over a thousand
stories now.
Ron Meyers (07:19):
What's one question or a few questions?
You hear a lot from people nearthe end of their life.
John Wenderlein (07:25):
It's probably something that you and I
understand, probably better thanmost, because I know you're a
man of the word but you knowit's that moment of depth, you
know it's that moment that theBible says that in the twinkle
of an eye you will be with me inparadise.
You know, people worry and theyworry and they worry and they
worry and they become consumedby this thing of depth.
(07:46):
But if you study depth in thescriptures, you realize it's
just the time it takes to blinkyour eyes.
Now are we, are we denigratingas our bodies waste away?
As Paul said in the Bible, inscriptures, of course.
But so I find it's that moment,it's that moment of death, that
moment that they're no longergoing to breathe.
That seems to scare people.
(08:08):
Deathling is around all of usin some form or fashion.
I used to say I sent it to thissweet lady who I just gave you
the story I said you know, myprayer is that when I get close
to passing, if I know I'm goingto pass, then I go out in glory
Because you know, ron, I've seensweet ladies and sweet men say
I'm ready, and you know what Isensed in them, that they were
(08:31):
ready.
So my prayer is that when I getto that point in life, then I
just become a wonderful witnessfor it.
Ron Meyers (08:38):
And you know, john, chances are somebody is
listening to this that is nearthe 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 (08:56):
We can take all the books of the Bible, all 66
books of the Bible, and we cannarrow it down to one simple
thing.
Christ said when he waswandering this earth, and he
said if you don't have Me inyour heart, if you don't have
love in your heart, you don'thave me.
That person it's home.
That's my greatest fear is thatthere's gonna be somebody
that's gonna be at the end oftheir life that I hadn't had the
(09:18):
opportunity to meet and youknow 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 myjob, I'm on call, so I may.
I may be at home at two o'clockin the morning and again I get
a call from the hospital thatsomebody that I don't know, I've
never met, maybe in a caraccident.
Man to a hard attack or strut orwhatever, and they're either
(09:39):
dying or they died.
So I walk into those situationswith not great sorrow but great
wonderment, and for that personwho's at home, who is
struggling, they just need tobow their heads.
Jesus said that we have anindividual walk with him doesn't
require Sprinkling of water,doesn't require anything but
just a faith and a commitment.
And that's an individualcommitment.
(10:00):
So I, I try my best, trust me.
I jokingly say Ron, when I getthat call at two o'clock in the
morning, I start running towardsthe hospital and I let the car
catch up with me.
Ron Meyers (10:09):
I Really do.
This is really a passionatecall on your life, isn't it?
John Wenderlein (10:16):
It is.
You know, I came out, I came tounderstand who God was in my
early 30s I'm not 30 now, in myearly 60s.
But I went to seminary, did allthose things and I couldn't
figure out why the Lord hadn'tgot me one of these big churches
.
You know, that's the way wethink, we, we should do things.
And finally, a dawn on me thatwhile I was in seminary, one of
the presidents had us in the warwith you.
(10:37):
Remember they were calling upour National Guard and so many
of the men that were in seminarywere being called up to go to
war.
And I remember, at the age of40, trying to join the military,
I've read an article that saidfor every Thousand, twelve
hundred men, there was only,there was only one chapter.
So I said, boy, I can't imaginea man or a woman dying in a
here battle and not not just nothave somebody there to say it's
(10:59):
gonna be okay.
And you know, and that justturned into this passion that
again I have to say that this isas much as I like to think that
you know, I'm doing somethingwonderful.
The Lord is doing somethingwonderful for me.
He's giving me my purpose.
You know, I'm gonna do thisuntil 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 calledremember me.
End of life is seen through theeyes of a hospice Chaplain.
Since you deal with people atthe end of their life, will you
take a minute and speak lifeinto somebody listening that is
ready to just give up?
(11:36):
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 notattached to something this moral
.
So if somebody is ready, ifthat person is ready to just say
you know it's time, you know, Iwalk into room filled full of
patients, family members, andsometimes they're near death and
sometimes they're Not yet readyto die, and they'll ask me to
pray.
And I tell them every timebefore I pray, it's never failed
(12:04):
over the last years I've tellthem that I'm gonna pray for
God's mercy, I'm gonna pray forGod's swiftness and I'm gonna
pray for God's love.
And if the Lord chooses To liftthat sweet person that you love
so much out of that bed, and sobe it.
But today we're gonna just prayfor his mercy and we're gonna
pray that when he comes he comesswiftly.
So I try my best.
Ron Meyers (12:24):
Amen.
You know, john, when my motherwas on hospice, she died at the
young age of 59 with cancer, andbefore she died she looked up
in the corner of the room andsaid mom, mom, have you
experienced that with thepatients that you deal with?
John Wenderlein (12:41):
That's a whole heavy subject to breach.
But then we don't have enoughtime to do that.
But I have to tell you I lostmy father four years of
Christmas, 18th day of December,near Christmas, and he was in
his.
He was in a hospital bed livingroom so people could come visit
him and he could watch his TVand whatever.
But as he got closer to the endof his life I remember I was
(13:01):
talking to him he said he lookedup and it was a little hallway
between where he was laying andhe said what's dad doing here?
Now his father has been whathas 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'shere to see you.
I imagine you know, ron, itwasn't.
(13:22):
But maybe 15 or 20 minutes nowmy father was talking without
confusion.
Now you know he wasn't mumblingand stumbling and pausing.
He was talking because he wouldgo right back into, you know,
his fishing or whatever elsestory he was talking about.
But then, maybe 20 minuteslater, he said a man I wish my
mother would would come back outthe kitchen so we could talk.
(13:43):
Now his mama was sweet, sweet,sweet spirited woman who just
loved the Lord, but she was beengone for two decades.
So I said dad, mama see, yourmama will see later and she does
, I want to see grandma.
So all that time that he saidthat I just, I didn't say
anything different, I just aphone.
Whatever he was saying.
And you know, the biggestmistake we make with our
(14:05):
patients is we Especially ifthey have dementia or
Alzheimer's is that we want toargue with him about facts.
If they say the world is flat,you tell them it's flat because
you know what you want to getpeace.
Ron Meyers (14:17):
Someone younger listening right now that is
dealing with the end of life fora loved one in their family and
it's a lot of pressure on them.
Any advice for a sibling takingcare 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 issomebody who doesn't sleep Only
if the loved one sleeps, whodoesn't eat only if the loved
one eats, who doesn't doanything but worry about the
care of the loved one thatthey're taking care of.
So Be a caregiver.
(14:51):
Ironically, at the end of lifeend of that person's life that
they're taking care of theybecome consumed with guilt.
You know that what it couldhave shared of stuff that, uh
lots.
Many christians will say youknow, if I could have done that,
I should have done that.
But their second guestthemselves.
I just had a sweet lady.
His mother died and she wasjust so angry and I said, and I
(15:11):
talked to her and I said listen,it was your mother's time.
You know, christians, you and Iboth know if you were to give
him that automobile now and gowherever you were gonna go see
that little grandbaby yours andyou 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 peopleunderstand.
(15:32):
There's no greater gift thanthe give of yourself to the
people that you love, becauselove is an action word.
Love is not lip service.
It is an action when itrequires Action and jesus talked
about that over and over again.
In fact he has peter.
Remember three times, if youlove them, to make sure peter
understood that love, that jesuswas in peter's heart.
Ron Meyers (15:55):
And I love the scripture verse to be absent
from the bodies to be presentwith 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 andstudy those things.
There's one thing I know forsure that in a moment of time,
in a millisecond, the time ittakes you to blink your eye when
you open your eyes, you withour lord, that's the fact, and
it says life is like a morningmist for the lake.
(16:22):
It's worth there one minute andthe next minute we're gone.
You know, people live bypatients typically, or 80, 90.
I have one down, it's a hundredand six.
But setting in that bed at 95years old, they'll look at me
with awesome serenity and saywhen has that 95 years gone?
Gone like a car doing 200 milesan hour.
(16:43):
We have to latch onto thingsthat are important.
Ron Meyers (16:47):
Yes, sam, make the most out of life now, because we
don't know when that door willclose.
John, I love your book.
Where do listeners get a copyof this book?
John Wenderlein (16:55):
They can go to.
Remember Me, JW, or they can goto 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 chatwith them while you pray, and I
just kind of smile at them.
I said, well, I've learned tocontinuously pray.
I've learned to pray with myeyes wide open.
I used Jesus Christ's exampleof prayer when he went to the
garden and looked into theheavens.
I said, lord, if it be, youwill take this away from me.
He didn't bow down on theground, he didn't close his eyes
(17:28):
, his eyes were wide open and hewas intensely praying.
So if we can learn to pray wideopen, the eyes wide open,
stephen, then I think he justcomes closer.
But let me pray.
Grace is heavenly Father.
Lord, again, we know that youare the Almighty and you are our
Savior.
You are in control of allthings and all times.
Lord, I ask you, if there'sanyone out there that hasn't
(17:50):
found peace beyond understandingthe scripture, tell us just,
lord, ask me to just get closeto 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 inmy heart as we get closer to
them and you just draw nearer tous.
There's so many wonderful songsout there, lord, that I'm
reminded of.
Lord, we love you and we adoreyou and we just can't wait to be
(18:14):
with you.
Lord, lord, you know, I onlyask 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, crashingwaves, a booming megaphone?
Maybe, sometimes, but maybeit's not quite as Hollywood,
dramatic as all that.
Maybe it's a little more simple.
John 10, 27 says my sheep hearmy voice, I know them and they
(19:31):
follow me.
In the midst of all the noiseand questions, god is speaking
and we can hear His voice.
We just need to learn torecognize it.
So what does he sound like?
He sounds like love, likereconciliation, like kindness,
wisdom, hope, truth.
(19:51):
Do you know those sounds Then?
Maybe you hear His voice moreoften than you think.
Maybe you're being led by Himmore than you realize.
Maybe God is speaking to youand 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 tolook back.
I try to hold on tight, butthere'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 Ireally would encourage you to
check out His website and thebook RememberMeJWcom.
I just want to take a minuteand remind us his believers what
(20:44):
happens, according to thescriptures, when we do leave
this world.
I know when I lost my motherand I lost my father, it was
tough, and then this year, thebeginning of 2024, it has really
caught me off guard.
I have lost a couple very goodfriends, and the only comfort I
(21:07):
have in going through this isthe same comfort that you can
have when we understand, as abeliever, when we die, we can
have the assurance that we willimmediately enter into the
presence of God, and scriptureassures us that to be absent
from the body is to be presentwith the Lord.
(21:29):
This means that we are going toexperience the fullness of
eternal life and the joy ofbeing in the presence of Jesus.
I can't even imagine that thatwill be so incredible.
So death is not the end forbelievers, but rather a
transition into the eternal lifewe already enjoy with Jesus
(21:52):
Christ.
Just asleep is a temporarystate of rest before awakening.
Death is a temporary statebefore our resurrection and
entrance into the fullness ofeternal life.
So, friends, when you and I die, we will be reunited with Jesus
in his presence, free from thelimitations and struggles of our
(22:14):
earthly bodies.
It's also important to rememberthat our understanding of time
is limited, but God is outsideof time.
So, while we may perceive awaiting period between death and
eternal life, for Godeverything is right now.
So, when we die, heaven isready for us and our Savior will
(22:40):
be waiting to welcome us intoHis presence.
And additionally, scriptureteaches that believers will be
resurrected and receive newbodies at the second coming of
Christ.
This resurrection will mark thecompletion of our redemption
and the fulfillment of God'spromises.
You will receive a glorifiedbody that is imperishable and
(23:05):
suited for eternity.
So, my friends, in conclusion,as a believer, you can have the
assurance that when you die, youwill immediately enter into the
presence of God.
Death is not the end, but atransition into the fullness of
eternal life with Jesus andfriend.
(23:27):
This is the most importantthing that you and I must
remember when we lose a lovedone, that we can find comfort
and hope in knowing that we willbe reunited with our Savior,
with our loved ones, andexperience the joy of eternal
(23:48):
life.
What a wonderful promise thatwe Christians have.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
Has hope become a stranger in your life?
Do you feel trapped?
Are you caught in a whirlpoolof life and responsibilities
that you can't escape?
Maybe hope has gone becausesomeone robbed you of your
childhood or your youth, ormaybe it's a dream that you know
will never come true.
We can wish differently, butlife will never be painless.
(24:15):
But you're saying where can Ifind a place where there is
peace?
Peace is found only in JesusChrist, crucified and
resurrected.
Jesus is triumphant over everypain, every failure, every
heartbreak and every hope forthis life.
Jesus tells us if anyone wishesto come after me, he must deny
(24:36):
himself and take up his crossdaily and follow me.
If you would like to speak withsomeone right now about
beginning a personalrelationship with Jesus Christ,
call 888-Need-Him or go towwwchataboutjesuscom.
Speaker 7 (24:53):
Ron will be back in a moment to wrap up today's
conversation.
We want to encourage you todaywith God's promise to you.
It comes from the book ofJeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11.
For I know the plans I have foryou, declares the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not toharm you, plans to give you
(25:14):
hope and the future.
That's God's promise to youwhen 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 withIsaiah 40, 31.
Those who hope in the Lord willrenew their strength.
They will soar on wings likeeagles.
They will run and not growweary.
They will walk and not be faint.
(25:48):
Friends, what an incrediblepromise from God that, no matter
how beat up we feel, no matterhow tired and weary we are, god
has us in the palm of his handsand he wants you to know that
you will rise again.
You will soar like an eagle.
(26:09):
Sometimes, friends, we have togo through the little valley
before he can take us to themountaintop of our destiny.
I want to give you a dateSunday night, april 7, 1st
Baptist Church in Gulfport, theLove and Light Tour starring
Jordan Feliz and Colton Dixon.
(26:30):
More details coming out on thatvery soon.
Friends, in the meantime,remember this that I love you,
jesus loves you, and when you dolife with Jesus, you will
remove the hell out of your life.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Get the hell out of your life is underwritten by the
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your Life Real stories, realstruggles and real hope.
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It's time now to get the hell out of your life.
A weekly broadcast with realpeople sharing real struggles
and offering real hope.
Today's show will encourage,inspire and empower you to face
life's challenges with a boldconfidence and renewed hope.
Now let's join our host, ronMyers.
The Provider.
Ron Meyers (00:23):
Hello, my friends, it is so good to be with you
today.
Before I talk about today'sshow, I have to tell you
something.
I live in an area where thereare a lot of trees and there is
an eagle's nest somewhere in thevicinity of where I live, and
this morning I saw thisbeautiful bald eagle flying
(00:47):
above my home and I thought ofthat scripture verse, isaiah 40,
31.
But those who hope in the Lordwill renew their strength.
They will soar on wings likeeagles.
They will run and not growweary.
They will walk and not be faint.
(01:07):
What a promise from God.
So if you're tired today, ifyou're weary today, I want to
encourage you.
You will be like that eagle Isaw this morning and be soaring
very soon, and I believe today'sshow is going to encourage and
inspire you.
You and I are getting older andone day we will be at the end
(01:32):
of our life.
Well, today I have invited achaplain, a hospice chaplain, to
be a part of our conversation.
So, listeners, I want tointroduce my guest.
He's on the phone with me, hisname is John Wenderline and he
has written a book For me.
End of life has seen throughthe eyes of a hospice chaplain.
(01:54):
John, so glad you are able tovisit with my listeners today.
I have to ask you, though,brother, why did you write a
book like this?
John Wenderlein (02:03):
Well, you know, Ron, I tell you it's hard for
me to say that I never wouldwrite a book like this, because
what happened is 20 years ago orso, I decided to step into this
profession.
You know, I just felt a needfor a release and over the years
I have just basicallydownloaded my brain, my stories,
into my computer.
And you know, about a year agoI had a close friend say John,
(02:26):
you know, these stories that youhave, you just need to let
people know.
Let people know that it's goingto be okay and that there's a
great love given at the end oflife.
So you know, it was definitelya labor of love.
Ron Meyers (02:37):
Your patients do.
All of them, 100% of them,believe in Jesus.
John Wenderlein (02:41):
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 ofpeople.
You know all walks of life.
You know you and I understandthat, like in Ecclesiastes where
it says that life is full ofseasons and these people are
coming to the end of theirseasons.
So I meet all kinds.
I meet them where you can lookat them and say you know what?
(03:02):
Where the Bible says that ifyou 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 saidI'm just not sure.
And you know, I've met peoplewho literally go out screaming,
literally go out screaming.
Ron Meyers (03:19):
What do you mean?
Go out screaming?
John Wenderlein (03:22):
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 getthem to get their medications
right?
I'm sure you understand that,with your father making sure
he's pain free, we call itpalliative care.
Well, you know, there's aresistance of the spirit to, you
know, to be subdued and to,let's say, give in.
I've had probably a coupledozen patients in the 20 years
(03:44):
I've been doing this literallyscream, I don't want you here.
I've had them and we've takento our special locations.
We have specific locationswhere we treat them more
specially, with our nurses andbetter medical care, and still
my doctors will say you know,chaplain, they went out
screaming.
There was no amount ofmedication we could give them
without them just screaming.
So I see all facets, ron.
Ron Meyers (04:06):
You know, does that mean they never accepted Jesus
as their savior?
John Wenderlein (04:11):
Well, you know, you never know that.
You know the second chapter ofRomans does what.
It would be careful.
We're not the judge, we're thehands of God.
But you know, the book of Jamessays that.
You know, there's evidence,evidence of salvation, not your
works, but there's evidence of alove for Christ.
So you know, if you just tookit on the merit of what you've
seen and what you know and whatlife they've led, until the 70,
(04:32):
80, 90 years that they'regetting ready to pass, you can
say well, you know they might bethat deep on the cross.
You know, we just don't know.
You know, for me it's alwaysbeen fruitful on that.
God uses all people for allthings.
Ron Meyers (04:45):
Yep.
John Wenderlein (04:46):
You know, one of my things as a pastor, as a
chaplain, as a father or husbandis that as long as there's
breath, there's hope.
Ron Meyers (04:53):
Amen.
Tell us one of your favoritestories that's in your book of
one of your patients.
John Wenderlein (04:58):
Well, I met a sweet lady who was, who wanted
to be a hundred years old.
I walked into her room itreally nice, you know, assistant
living facility, really nice,not scaling.
When I walked in, she had theelections of 2016 on there, fox
News, and of course, the firstthing I said was Miss Agnes, are
you political?
And she said to me I surely am.
(05:20):
So I said, well, sweet lady,I'm not, I'm just here to love
you up and let's haveconversation.
So you know, she was born andraised a Catholic, but she
didn't own a Bible.
She was 99 years old, never hada Bible, and when I came to
visit her a second time, youknow we probably spent 20, 30
minutes with her.
So I said, you know, I'm goingto come see her again next week.
(05:41):
And the week passed and I wentto see her and I walked in and
she had a real stern look on herface and I couldn't figure out
why.
And I said what's going on withyou?
And she said you know I've beenthinking.
And I said, sweet lady, I toldyou, don't be thinking, it's
going to get you in troublebecause she just, you know, she
was one of those people who hadan opinion on everything you
know.
She didn't know.
So she said you know, I lost myhusband about 15 years ago.
(06:04):
I said, yeah, I know.
And she said I loved him todeath.
I said, I know, you told me thestory.
She said, you know, when I dieand I get to heaven and he has
found somebody else, I'm reallygoing to be mad and I laughed.
I said, sweet lady, that's notthe way it works, you know.
And, ron, for that amount oftime, and probably, she last
lived about six months longer.
(06:24):
Her heart just failed her.
But in that time I became theBible answer man gave her a pad
and a pencil.
I said, sweet lady, I'll tellyou what you do.
I'll come see you once a week.
You write down the thoughts andquestions you have and then
we'll talk.
Well, you know, that went on forsix months till she got the flu
and her family called me tocome to the hospital where she
was and I remember all standingaround and me holding her hand
(06:46):
and telling her it's going to beall right, and I played with a
family in the room and probably30, 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 inthose places to show me what's
going on, to give me anunderstanding of who he is.
(07:08):
I found it as much glory invisiting with that sweet lady as
she found with me visiting withher.
So that's just one, but Iprobably have over a thousand
stories now.
Ron Meyers (07:19):
What's one question or a few questions?
You hear a lot from people nearthe end of their life.
John Wenderlein (07:25):
It's probably something that you and I
understand, probably better thanmost, because I know you're a
man of the word but you knowit's that moment of depth, you
know it's that moment that theBible says that in the twinkle
of an eye you will be with me inparadise.
You know, people worry and theyworry and they worry and they
worry and they become consumedby this thing of depth.
(07:46):
But if you study depth in thescriptures, you realize it's
just the time it takes to blinkyour eyes.
Now are we, are we denigratingas our bodies waste away?
As Paul said in the Bible, inscriptures, of course.
But so I find it's that moment,it's that moment of death, that
moment that they're no longergoing to breathe.
That seems to scare people.
(08:08):
Deathling is around all of usin some form or fashion.
I used to say I sent it to thissweet lady who I just gave you
the story I said you know, myprayer is that when I get close
to passing, if I know I'm goingto pass, then I go out in glory
Because you know, ron, I've seensweet ladies and sweet men say
I'm ready, and you know what Isensed in them, that they were
(08:31):
ready.
So my prayer is that when I getto that point in life, then I
just become a wonderful witnessfor it.
Ron Meyers (08:38):
And you know, john, chances are somebody is
listening to this that is nearthe 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 (08:56):
We can take all the books of the Bible, all 66
books of the Bible, and we cannarrow it down to one simple
thing.
Christ said when he waswandering this earth, and he
said if you don't have Me inyour heart, if you don't have
love in your heart, you don'thave me.
That person it's home.
That's my greatest fear is thatthere's gonna be somebody
that's gonna be at the end oftheir life that I hadn't had the
(09:18):
opportunity to meet and youknow 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 myjob, I'm on call, so I may.
I may be at home at two o'clockin the morning and again I get
a call from the hospital thatsomebody that I don't know, I've
never met, maybe in a caraccident.
Man to a hard attack or strut orwhatever, and they're either
(09:39):
dying or they died.
So I walk into those situationswith not great sorrow but great
wonderment, and for that personwho's at home, who is
struggling, they just need tobow their heads.
Jesus said that we have anindividual walk with him doesn't
require Sprinkling of water,doesn't require anything but
just a faith and a commitment.
And that's an individualcommitment.
(10:00):
So I, I try my best, trust me.
I jokingly say Ron, when I getthat call at two o'clock in the
morning, I start running towardsthe hospital and I let the car
catch up with me.
Ron Meyers (10:09):
I Really do.
This is really a passionatecall on your life, isn't it?
John Wenderlein (10:16):
It is.
You know, I came out, I came tounderstand who God was in my
early 30s I'm not 30 now, in myearly 60s.
But I went to seminary, did allthose things and I couldn't
figure out why the Lord hadn'tgot me one of these big churches
.
You know, that's the way wethink, we, we should do things.
And finally, a dawn on me thatwhile I was in seminary, one of
the presidents had us in the warwith you.
(10:37):
Remember they were calling upour National Guard and so many
of the men that were in seminarywere being called up to go to
war.
And I remember, at the age of40, trying to join the military,
I've read an article that saidfor every Thousand, twelve
hundred men, there was only,there was only one chapter.
So I said, boy, I can't imaginea man or a woman dying in a
here battle and not not just nothave somebody there to say it's
(10:59):
gonna be okay.
And you know, and that justturned into this passion that
again I have to say that this isas much as I like to think that
you know, I'm doing somethingwonderful.
The Lord is doing somethingwonderful for me.
He's giving me my purpose.
You know, I'm gonna do thisuntil 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 calledremember me.
End of life is seen through theeyes of a hospice Chaplain.
Since you deal with people atthe end of their life, will you
take a minute and speak lifeinto somebody listening that is
ready to just give up?
(11:36):
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 notattached to something this moral
.
So if somebody is ready, ifthat person is ready to just say
you know it's time, you know, Iwalk into room filled full of
patients, family members, andsometimes they're near death and
sometimes they're Not yet readyto die, and they'll ask me to
pray.
And I tell them every timebefore I pray, it's never failed
(12:04):
over the last years I've tellthem that I'm gonna pray for
God's mercy, I'm gonna pray forGod's swiftness and I'm gonna
pray for God's love.
And if the Lord chooses To liftthat sweet person that you love
so much out of that bed, and sobe it.
But today we're gonna just prayfor his mercy and we're gonna
pray that when he comes he comesswiftly.
So I try my best.
Ron Meyers (12:24):
Amen.
You know, john, when my motherwas on hospice, she died at the
young age of 59 with cancer, andbefore she died she looked up
in the corner of the room andsaid mom, mom, have you
experienced that with thepatients that you deal with?
John Wenderlein (12:41):
That's a whole heavy subject to breach.
But then we don't have enoughtime to do that.
But I have to tell you I lostmy father four years of
Christmas, 18th day of December,near Christmas, and he was in
his.
He was in a hospital bed livingroom so people could come visit
him and he could watch his TVand whatever.
But as he got closer to the endof his life I remember I was
(13:01):
talking to him he said he lookedup and it was a little hallway
between where he was laying andhe said what's dad doing here?
Now his father has been whathas 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'shere to see you.
I imagine you know, ron, itwasn't.
(13:22):
But maybe 15 or 20 minutes nowmy father was talking without
confusion.
Now you know he wasn't mumblingand stumbling and pausing.
He was talking because he wouldgo right back into, you know,
his fishing or whatever elsestory he was talking about.
But then, maybe 20 minuteslater, he said a man I wish my
mother would would come back outthe kitchen so we could talk.
(13:43):
Now his mama was sweet, sweet,sweet spirited woman who just
loved the Lord, but she was beengone for two decades.
So I said dad, mama see, yourmama will see later and she does
, I want to see grandma.
So all that time that he saidthat I just, I didn't say
anything different, I just aphone.
Whatever he was saying.
And you know, the biggestmistake we make with our
(14:05):
patients is we Especially ifthey have dementia or
Alzheimer's is that we want toargue with him about facts.
If they say the world is flat,you tell them it's flat because
you know what you want to getpeace.
Ron Meyers (14:17):
Someone younger listening right now that is
dealing with the end of life fora loved one in their family and
it's a lot of pressure on them.
Any advice for a sibling takingcare 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 issomebody who doesn't sleep Only
if the loved one sleeps, whodoesn't eat only if the loved
one eats, who doesn't doanything but worry about the
care of the loved one thatthey're taking care of.
So Be a caregiver.
(14:51):
Ironically, at the end of lifeend of that person's life that
they're taking care of theybecome consumed with guilt.
You know that what it couldhave shared of stuff that, uh
lots.
Many christians will say youknow, if I could have done that,
I should have done that.
But their second guestthemselves.
I just had a sweet lady.
His mother died and she wasjust so angry and I said, and I
(15:11):
talked to her and I said listen,it was your mother's time.
You know, christians, you and Iboth know if you were to give
him that automobile now and gowherever you were gonna go see
that little grandbaby yours andyou 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 peopleunderstand.
(15:32):
There's no greater gift thanthe give of yourself to the
people that you love, becauselove is an action word.
Love is not lip service.
It is an action when itrequires Action and jesus talked
about that over and over again.
In fact he has peter.
Remember three times, if youlove them, to make sure peter
understood that love, that jesuswas in peter's heart.
Ron Meyers (15:55):
And I love the scripture verse to be absent
from the bodies to be presentwith 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 andstudy those things.
There's one thing I know forsure that in a moment of time,
in a millisecond, the time ittakes you to blink your eye when
you open your eyes, you withour lord, that's the fact, and
it says life is like a morningmist for the lake.
(16:22):
It's worth there one minute andthe next minute we're gone.
You know, people live bypatients typically, or 80, 90.
I have one down, it's a hundredand six.
But setting in that bed at 95years old, they'll look at me
with awesome serenity and saywhen has that 95 years gone?
Gone like a car doing 200 milesan hour.
(16:43):
We have to latch onto thingsthat are important.
Ron Meyers (16:47):
Yes, sam, make the most out of life now, because we
don't know when that door willclose.
John, I love your book.
Where do listeners get a copyof this book?
John Wenderlein (16:55):
They can go to.
Remember Me, JW, or they can goto 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 chatwith them while you pray, and I
just kind of smile at them.
I said, well, I've learned tocontinuously pray.
I've learned to pray with myeyes wide open.
I used Jesus Christ's exampleof prayer when he went to the
garden and looked into theheavens.
I said, lord, if it be, youwill take this away from me.
He didn't bow down on theground, he didn't close his eyes
(17:28):
, his eyes were wide open and hewas intensely praying.
So if we can learn to pray wideopen, the eyes wide open,
stephen, then I think he justcomes closer.
But let me pray.
Grace is heavenly Father.
Lord, again, we know that youare the Almighty and you are our
Savior.
You are in control of allthings and all times.
Lord, I ask you, if there'sanyone out there that hasn't
(17:50):
found peace beyond understandingthe scripture, tell us just,
lord, ask me to just get closeto 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 inmy heart as we get closer to
them and you just draw nearer tous.
There's so many wonderful songsout there, lord, that I'm
reminded of.
Lord, we love you and we adoreyou and we just can't wait to be
(18:14):
with you.
Lord, lord, you know, I onlyask 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, crashingwaves, a booming megaphone?
Maybe, sometimes, but maybeit's not quite as Hollywood,
dramatic as all that.
Maybe it's a little more simple.
John 10, 27 says my sheep hearmy voice, I know them and they
(19:31):
follow me.
In the midst of all the noiseand questions, god is speaking
and we can hear His voice.
We just need to learn torecognize it.
So what does he sound like?
He sounds like love, likereconciliation, like kindness,
wisdom, hope, truth.
(19:51):
Do you know those sounds Then?
Maybe you hear His voice moreoften than you think.
Maybe you're being led by Himmore than you realize.
Maybe God is speaking to youand 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 tolook back.
I try to hold on tight, butthere'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 Ireally would encourage you to
check out His website and thebook RememberMeJWcom.
I just want to take a minuteand remind us his believers what
(20:44):
happens, according to thescriptures, when we do leave
this world.
I know when I lost my motherand I lost my father, it was
tough, and then this year, thebeginning of 2024, it has really
caught me off guard.
I have lost a couple very goodfriends, and the only comfort I
(21:07):
have in going through this isthe same comfort that you can
have when we understand, as abeliever, when we die, we can
have the assurance that we willimmediately enter into the
presence of God, and scriptureassures us that to be absent
from the body is to be presentwith the Lord.
(21:29):
This means that we are going toexperience the fullness of
eternal life and the joy ofbeing in the presence of Jesus.
I can't even imagine that thatwill be so incredible.
So death is not the end forbelievers, but rather a
transition into the eternal lifewe already enjoy with Jesus
(21:52):
Christ.
Just asleep is a temporarystate of rest before awakening.
Death is a temporary statebefore our resurrection and
entrance into the fullness ofeternal life.
So, friends, when you and I die, we will be reunited with Jesus
in his presence, free from thelimitations and struggles of our
(22:14):
earthly bodies.
It's also important to rememberthat our understanding of time
is limited, but God is outsideof time.
So, while we may perceive awaiting period between death and
eternal life, for Godeverything is right now.
So, when we die, heaven isready for us and our Savior will
(22:40):
be waiting to welcome us intoHis presence.
And additionally, scriptureteaches that believers will be
resurrected and receive newbodies at the second coming of
Christ.
This resurrection will mark thecompletion of our redemption
and the fulfillment of God'spromises.
You will receive a glorifiedbody that is imperishable and
(23:05):
suited for eternity.
So, my friends, in conclusion,as a believer, you can have the
assurance that when you die, youwill immediately enter into the
presence of God.
Death is not the end, but atransition into the fullness of
eternal life with Jesus andfriend.
(23:27):
This is the most importantthing that you and I must
remember when we lose a lovedone, that we can find comfort
and hope in knowing that we willbe reunited with our Savior,
with our loved ones, andexperience the joy of eternal
(23:48):
life.
What a wonderful promise thatwe Christians have.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
Has hope become a stranger in your life?
Do you feel trapped?
Are you caught in a whirlpoolof life and responsibilities
that you can't escape?
Maybe hope has gone becausesomeone robbed you of your
childhood or your youth, ormaybe it's a dream that you know
will never come true.
We can wish differently, butlife will never be painless.
(24:15):
But you're saying where can Ifind a place where there is
peace?
Peace is found only in JesusChrist, crucified and
resurrected.
Jesus is triumphant over everypain, every failure, every
heartbreak and every hope forthis life.
Jesus tells us if anyone wishesto come after me, he must deny
(24:36):
himself and take up his crossdaily and follow me.
If you would like to speak withsomeone right now about
beginning a personalrelationship with Jesus Christ,
call 888-Need-Him or go towwwchataboutjesuscom.
Speaker 7 (24:53):
Ron will be back in a moment to wrap up today's
conversation.
We want to encourage you todaywith God's promise to you.
It comes from the book ofJeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11.
For I know the plans I have foryou, declares the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not toharm you, plans to give you
(25:14):
hope and the future.
That's God's promise to youwhen 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 withIsaiah 40, 31.
Those who hope in the Lord willrenew their strength.
They will soar on wings likeeagles.
They will run and not growweary.
They will walk and not be faint.
(25:48):
Friends, what an incrediblepromise from God that, no matter
how beat up we feel, no matterhow tired and weary we are, god
has us in the palm of his handsand he wants you to know that
you will rise again.
You will soar like an eagle.
(26:09):
Sometimes, friends, we have togo through the little valley
before he can take us to themountaintop of our destiny.
I want to give you a dateSunday night, april 7, 1st
Baptist Church in Gulfport, theLove and Light Tour starring
Jordan Feliz and Colton Dixon.
(26:30):
More details coming out on thatvery soon.
Friends, in the meantime,remember this that I love you,
jesus loves you, and when you dolife with Jesus, you will
remove the hell out of your life.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Get the hell out of your life is underwritten by the
Christmas City Gift Show.
We invite you to come shop withover 255 vendors from all over
the United States From November8th through the 10th inside the
Coast Convention Center locatedon the beach in Biloxi,
mississippi.
You can find more informationat ChristmasCityGiftShowcom.
Thanks for listening, and ifyou would like to share your
(27:10):
story of what God has done inyour life or listened to
previous episodes, please visitour website, thepromoterorg.
Join us next week for anotherepisode of Get the Hell Out of
your Life Real stories, realstruggles and real hope.
Speaker 7 (27:25):
We would like to express our gratitude to Coffee
News for their support of thisprogram.
Are you tired of scrollingthrough the same old news feeds
every morning?
Then switch things up withCoffee News.
Our publication is filled withinteresting stories, brain
teasers and uplifting quotesthat are sure to brighten your
day, and now you can accessCoffee News anytime, anywhere,
(27:45):
by visiting our website.
So, whether you're sipping yourmorning coffee at your favorite
cafe or browsing online fromyour desk, we've got you covered
.
Start your day off right withCoffee News at
ReadCoffeeNewsOnlinecom.
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