Concluding Remarks: Why Are You Standing Here

CONCLUDING REMARKS: WHY ARE YOU STANDING HERE

ACTS 1: 1-11

JUNE 12, 2005

INTRODUCTION: Subject: Rookie Trooper

Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte after a speaking engagement and when

his plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home.

As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver.

"You know" he said, "I am 87 years old and I have never driven a limousine.

Would you mind if I drove it for a while?" The driver said, "No problem.

Have at it." Billy gets into the driver’s seat and they head off down the highway.

A short distance away sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed

trap. The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone. The

trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo and got out of his patrol car

to begin the procedure. The young trooper walked up to the driver’s door and

when the glass was rolled down he was surprised to see who was driving.

He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his

supervisor. He told the supervisor, "I know we are supposed to enforce the law but I

also know that important people are given certain courtesies. I need to

know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person."

The supervisor asked, "Is it the governor?" The young trooper said,

"No, he’s more important than that." The supervisor said, "Oh, so it’s the president." The young trooper said, "Not, he’s even more important than that." The supervisor finally asked, "Well then, who is it?" The young trooper said, "I think it’s Jesus because.......... he’s got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!"

CONCLUDING REMARKS? Contributed by David Barnes to SermonCentral.com

Famous last words in history.

1. Entrepreneur, P. T. Barnum, d. 1891 “How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?”

2. John Barrymore, actor, d. May 29, 1942 “Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.”

3. Humphrey Bogart, actor, d. January 14, 1957 “I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.”

4. Before slipping into a coma and dying 9 days later; Sir Winston Churchill, the statesman who is famous for his commencement address of “Never give up!” died January 24, 1965 with this last words. “I’m bored with it all.” Sounds like he gave up to me!

5. To his housekeeper, who urged him to tell her his last words so she could write them down for posterity; the revolutionary communist, Karl Marx, died in 1883 with these last words… “Go on, get out - last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.”

6. Writer Oscar Wilde, died November 30, 1900 saying, “Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.”

7. William Saroyan was a Pulitzer Prize winning writer of plays, short stories, and novels whose works were noted for their sentimental optimism. Before his death in 1981, Saroyan telephoned his final words to the Associated Press. “Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed an exception would be made in my case. Now what?”

8. Dominique Bouhours, French grammarian, died in 1702; his last words… “I am about to -- or I am going to -- die: either expression is correct.”

9. Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, d.1170 “I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace.”

Contributed by Jeff Simms to SermonCentral.com

In the Christian reader, Ramon Williams writes that on April 28, 1996,

a gunman walked into a crowded cafe in Port Arthur, Australia, and started

shooting. Tony Kistan, a Salvation Army soldier from Sydney, and his wife

Sarah were in the restaurant when the bullets began to fly. Courageously

Tony stepped in front of his wife to shield her from the gunfire, and he was

one of the first to fall. Thirty-four victims eventually died in the incident,

including Tony Kistan. As he lay dying in his wife’s arms, he spoke his last

words, “I’m going to be with the Lord.”

Those final words of faith were quoted by the Australian media and

carried to the world. “At a press conference,” writes Williams, “Tony’s son

Nesan, 24, explained why his father held this assurance and described his

father’s dedication to the gospel. Hardened journalists and photographers

were seen wiping away tears from their eyes. In life, Tony had been a man

who witnessed for his Lord to strangers and friends alike, and now in death,

he had witnessed to others through his simple last statement.”

I will stick to Christ as a burr to a topcoat!"

Last words of Katherine von Bora, Wife of Martin Luther

Contributed by: Jon Sigler