Trophimus Was Left Sick in Miletus

2 Timothy 4:20  The Apostle Paul, apparently writing from his second imprisonment, tells us that he left Trophimus sick, not healed, but sick; in Miletus. This is another instance where divine healing was not evidenced in the life of a believer. Recall that Paul also instructed Timothy to take some wine for his stomach problem and "frequent illnesses". (1 Timothy 5:23).

What this tells me is that we cannot expect divine healing on demand, or in every case, contrary to what some healing preachers proclaim. I had long been an adherent to the "word of faith" teaching and they were very influential on me as a young Christian. As I understand this teaching, it is always God's will to heal every believer from every disease in every circumstance. They buttress this with many proof text scriptures. I would that it were true, but evidence from scripture as above demonstrates that God doesn't provide divine bodily healing in every case. Else why wouldn't Paul have told Timothy "No longer depend on water or wine for your stomach and frequent illnesses, but call upon the Lord. Get into the word and strengthen your faith that you may be healed. Your lack of faith is impeding the manifestation of what Jesus has already provided for you on the cross." He would also have said something to the effect of "I left Trophimus divinely healed in Miletus."

Make no mistake, I do still believe in Divine healing, what I realize now however, is that sometimes Divine healing does not happen to even the "best" Christians and it has little to nothing to do with that believers faith, and everything to do with the totality of God's will.

For Spurgeon's take on this verse:

http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols25-27/chs1452A.pdf

A New Perspective

Have been attending Perspectives (http://www.perspectives.org). I heartily recommended it to any who would like to become a God centered Christian. Most of us, and I confess that I was most guilty, seek ourselves in scripture, more than The One whom it is written about. Perspectives tells us of a Bible that is one story from beginning to end (Genesis to Revelation, Aleph to Tau, Alpha and Omega) and it is about God, not about us. we get to come along for the ride so to speak as we join God in His plan to bring glory to Himself from every tribe and tongue and nation:
"Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. (Revelation 14:6 ESV).

How we are blessed by God so that we can be a blessing. "and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
(Genesis 22:18 ESV)

Dallas International Street Church (DISC)

Friday last, our group went to serve at DISC. DISC is a ministry to the homeless which is located in a couple of run down buildings on 2nd street close to the Cotton Bowl and Texas State Fair Grounds. Several congregations sponsor meals there during the month. My new Dallas congregation takes one Friday night per month to bring in food and assist in ministry to the homeless.

We arrived a little before 7pm with some large cans of veggies, met the cook (who had already spent much of the day preparing fried chicken and baked Idaho and sweet potatoes. He did all of this on a regular kitchen stove. One of the things I noticed was that the kitchen was woefully under equipped for the task of prepping food for some 100 homeless every night. But he gets it done. Needed: at least one commercial grade stove and oven.
The menu consist in whatever has been donated for the evening. Some evenings, I am told, the menu is pretty sparse. Needed: regular donations of nutritious foods. We saw that from some bakery, about 6 large sheet cakes had been donated for dessert. Our congregation had been able to add canned corn, roles, and a large noodle and veggie casserole which had been prepared by a professional chef of a local corporation. The plastic plates were full this night, but still there was barely enough to feed the many homeless who showed up.

So much for feeding the belly, to feed the spirit, Pastor Allen Groff preached from a heart of 85 years of living a Christian life, and several congregants responded to the altar with various prayer needs and requests. One very young man (a professed Christian) whom I prayed for, needed housing for the night. I was able to witness that prayer being answered through DISC founder Karen Dudley authorizing him to stay in the DISC facilities over night.

One of the highlights was meeting DISC founder Karen Dudley. She founded the ministry some 14 years ago and has built it on a vision from the Lord and a lot of faith.

Releasing a Christian Eagle

As a parent, you always realize that your children are on loan from Father, and some day He will want them to enter His service. Having, by His Grace, raised a daughter who is ready to fly for Father on her own; this past month I released my Eagle in Colorado to begin her long flight to Asia for two years of work in Father's company. It was not an easy task for any of us, but we do remember that our Eagle always belongs to Father.

Fortunately, we live in an age when communication is fantastic by the internet and I have been able to see and speak to her by the sometimes pixilated and delayed video feed we are so fortunate to be able to use halfway around the world. I am a man blessed by Father who allows me to live in a time when such things are possible. I give all thanks to Father for His graciousness in these things. Perhaps I would not have been strong enough to let my Eagle fly without being able to sit on the mountain and watch her soar so high above me.

It's Not About Getting to Heaven

Today our pastor was teaching out of Romans 16. Remarkably, he challenged the traditional pitch for salvation. Traditionally we are told we should accept Jesus as Lord and Savior so that we can go to heaven and avoid hell. Pastor told us today that we are seeking a person, not a place. Our challenge is to spend eternity with Christ and enjoy God forever, or to deny Christ and all the blessings He's purchased for us, to be separated from Him and His blessings for eternity. I heard it put another way, attributed to John Piper: "Would you choose heaven if Jesus wasn't there?" He is, but it is a good question that gets to the very heart of our salvation.

Every Tribe and Tongue and Nation

God wants a people from all the world to bring glory to himself. Really folks, it's not about me, it's about Him. Me-ology loses out to Theology.

Happy New Year

Peggy Noonan has an editorial explaining the meaning of the popular song sung each new year.

Old Long Syne, by James Watson (1711)
Should Old Acquaintance be forgot, and never thought upon; The flames of Love extinguished, and fully past and gone: Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold, that loving Breast of thine; That thou canst never once reflect on Old long syne. CHORUS: On Old long syne my Jo, in Old long syne, That thou canst never once reflect, on Old long syne. My Heart is ravisht with delight, when thee I think upon; All Grief and Sorrow takes the flight, and speedily is gone; The bright resemblance of thy Face, so fills this, Heart of mine; That Force nor Fate can me displease, for Old long syne. CHORUS Since thoughts of thee doth banish grief, when from thee I am gone; will not thy presence yield relief, to this sad Heart of mine: Why doth thy presence me defeat, with excellence divine? Especially when I reflect on Old long syne CHORUS (several further stanzas)

It's a song of remembrance for old friends and loved ones.