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His last words – Dallas Willard
![Dallas Willard In Memoriam web[3]](https://lisanotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Dallas-Willard-In-Memoriam-web3.jpg)
You couldn’t read him lightly or quickly. His words took time to sink in. But, oh, they were worth it.
Even if you haven’t read Dallas Willard’s books yourself, you’ve likely been influenced by them through someone else who has.
His books have been some of my favorites: The Divine Conspiracy, Renovation of the Heart, The Spirit of the Disciplines, The Great Omission.
Willard sent a clear and consistent message in all his writings:
- Our kingdom life has begun now.
- Be an active disciple of Jesus Christ.
- Deep soul transformation is possible, if pursued, because Christ is with us.
He died Wednesday after a battle with cancer. His last words are reported to have been, “Thank you.”
QUOTES
A few favorite words I’ve recorded from Dallas Willard:
~ The greatest need you and I have—the greatest need of collective humanity—is renovation of our heart.
~ But this eternal kind of life is not a passive life. Passivity was for the Israelites, and it is for us one of the greatest dangers and difficulties of our spiritual existence.
~ “Knowledge” in biblical language never refers to what we today call “head knowledge,” but always to experiential involvement with what is known—to actual engagement with it.
~ The way to get as many people into heaven as you can is to get heaven into as many people as you can.
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Do you have a favorite book by Dallas Willard?
A Pharisee? Me?
Arrogance is the ultimate blind spot.
. . . I’ve noticed something strange about this sin that God hates most. It’s usually found among people who think they love God most.
Spiritual arrogance is not a back-of-the-line sin; it’s a front-of-the-line sin.
LARRY OSBORNE, Accidental Pharisees
No one wants to be called a Pharisee. It’s a label for holier-than-thou’s, for hypocrites, for legalists. (But do be aware of its fuller meaning.)
So while we don’t intentionally set out to be a Pharisee, how can we avoid becoming one?
Here are 6 pitfalls found in Larry Osborne’s book Accidental Pharisees. Look for what applies to YOU (not someone else you know).
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Is it easier for you to see traits of Pharisees in yourself or in others?
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Ask the question
“Before you go, can I ask one more question?”
I knew Gary wouldn’t mind. Even though we’d only met an hour earlier, he’d already shared so much. This final question would be a pleasing one to him. And the answer would mean much to me.
The first question had come easily. He’d exposed an obvious opening, reading his Bible as he waited for the food we were serving the homeless.
I asked, “So what are you reading?”
That was all it took.
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Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Why is it special to you?
If he says so – Go fish
The opportunity opened up unexpectedly. Now it was up to me: yes or no.
Which should I decide?
“No” was safer . . .
It was surer. It carried less potential for controversy, now and later. It would be understood and accepted.
. . . while “yes” had an edge.
It was dangerous. It birthed discomfort and uncertainty. It might be a daring act of love, but not all would see it that way.
I decided to lay it down for awhile on this Monday night, and go meet my friends for an open dive into the Word.
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We can’t predict what God wants to say to us when we listen to his words. How has he caught you off guard lately?
“Humble Orthodoxy” – Book review
How can we be arrogant about a truth that is completely outside of anything we’ve done?
JOSHUA HARRIS, Humble Orthodoxy
I don’t know, but we definitely can.
This short book by Joshua Harris—Humble Orthodoxy—talks us down from our arrogance.
Originally written as the closing chapter in Dug Down Deep, it’s been expanded because it’s something Christ followers need. Despite being saved by grace, we’re still too conceited about our own knowledge, our own works, our own goodness. Yuck. No wonder we’re often seen as unattractive to the world.
Need proof?
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