About Tim Stafford
Tim Stafford is a freelance writer. He’s written more than thirty books, both fiction and non-fiction. Most recently he published his memoir, A Gift: The Story of My Life.
His most recent non-fiction publication is God’s Justice: The Holy Bible. He is General Editor, overseeing the biblical commentary of 55 writers, most from the majority world. Stafford himself wrote the notes for five books of the Bible. You can find God’s Justice at Amazon.com and Christianbook.com.
Stafford has written a series of novels set in and around a gospel mission drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. All three, Those Who Hope, Those Who Dream, and Those Who Seek, are in print.
Stafford’s previous novel is Birmingham, set in the civil rights protests of 1963. You can order it as an ebook or in print at Amazon. com, Barnes&Noble and other online bookstores.
Stafford also wrote The Adam Quest: Eleven scientists who held on to a strong faith while wrestling with the mystery of human origins. His earlier book, Miracles: A Journalist Looks at Modern Day Experiences of God’s Power can be ordered from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbook.com, or even at your local bookstore!
Other recent works are Personal God: Can You Really Know the One Who Made the Universe, and Shaking the System: What I Learned from the Great American Reform Movements..
Tim loves to run, backpack, follow the Oakland A’s, and most of all read. He is married to Popie Stafford and has three grown children and five grandchildren. He lives in Santa Rosa, California.
Timstafford's Blog 
December 5, 2009 at 2:55 am |
Good to hear you speak in Berkeley. I appreciate you message in speech and writing.
August 30, 2010 at 9:00 pm |
Tim,
I am preparing to teach tomorrow a co-op class for homeschoolers called Creative Writing: The Essay, and as look again at your article, “It Only Hurts When I Love,” which I use as a model essay, it seemed that I should write a note to thank you for committing your story to print so many year ago. (The story of how my wife and I met has many parallels–so I smile and laugh and almost cry every time I read your piece.) I have been helped also by your book, Knowing the Face of God. And just recently I ordered used copies of A Love Story, to give to two of my sons who are starting to think about girls.
It is hard to say in a few lines how I have connected with your work over the years–and I haven’t the time to be long. But I wanted you to know that I have been encouraged by your prose, and by your spirit. And I pray God’s blessing on you this day.
In Christ,
Tim Hensley
Bristol, Virginia
August 30, 2010
August 31, 2010 at 12:13 am |
Thanks so much!
July 20, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Tim:
we love your writings! keep them coming!!!
doug-hawkins@rogers.com
October 4, 2010 at 6:54 pm |
Tim,
How much did you revise “Knowing the Face of God” for Wipf & Stock? Or was it revised before that?
Love the blog and your writing very much!
Clay
Rev. Clay Knick
Kernstown UMC
Winchester, VA
October 4, 2010 at 10:17 pm |
Hey, Thanks, Clay….
I didn’t revise “Knowing the Face of God” at all for Wipf & Stock. However, there was a revised edition at Zondervan… no dramatic changes in content, but the first half and the second half traded places. You must be an attentive reader.
December 4, 2010 at 11:34 pm |
Tim! Hi! I feel like I found an old friend from college. Guess what I found this morning while dusting my thousands of books? A Love Story.
It changed my life, in many ways. I would love to tell you about them!
Since I feel like I’m catching up with a college friend, let me tell you how things have gone for me…at the time I read your book I was a journalism student at the University of South Carolina. I finished magna cum laude at 20 and finished law school at 22, began practicing at 23, started teaching college a few years later, and am now retired and looking for the next step.
I didn’t get married until I was 33. Roger was 39. First marriage for both of us. 18 years of blissful happiness! We have two daughters, 10 and 12, both adopted from China.
Your book and Charlie Shedd’s books were the only ones I ever read that laid out arguments and thoughts I could relate to. I’d love to tell you more about my personal life, and what I did from the time I read your book at 19 till the day I stood at the altar at 33. Please shoot me an email if you have the time!!!
I WILL be giving your book to my 12 year old as soon as I finish re-reading it. I find it particularly horrifying to think of guiding two teenagers through the years to come, but I guess that I’ll have to ask God to help me. Can’t do it alone.
PS I could not remember your wife’s name..just that it was unusual. I’m so happy that the internet is around now 🙂
December 16, 2010 at 11:50 pm |
Hi Tim,
I’m on staff at a church in Albuquerque, NM, Sandia Presbyterian. I was able to track down this blog of yours, and I have a simple question for you: do you do/accept invitations to speaking engagements at all in your current life and ministry?
Reason I ask is our church’s new mom’s group is studying “Never Mind the Joneses” in the new year, and I was just dreaming about some kind of dinner/event for young parents with a speaker such as yourself. This is all very much still just a brainstorm in my (and some other leaders’) mind, so no details are in place yet. I simply wanted to ask, as part of our initial research and brainstorming, whether you’re even available for traveling speaking engagements in the new year.
(In the meantime, my wife and I are loving your book at home in our own reading too… don’t know if it’s our IVCF background or what; but thanks for this wonderful book!)
Thanks for any thoughts about speaking! ~ Matt Pooley
June 24, 2011 at 3:16 pm |
Tim,
What English Bible versions do you enjoy using?
Any new books coming out in the future?
June 24, 2011 at 4:21 pm |
I like the TNIV, which I think means that I like the newest edition of the NIV. I also like to use The Message occasionally. But I don’t have very strong opinions about translations.
I’m working on three books at the moment. The one that will appear first, sometime next year, is “Miracles.” Then there’s a novel set in the civil rights movement, and a book on faith and science.
June 24, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Thanks, Tim. I like the TNIV/NIV’1!, too.
I’m sure to buy and read(!) the book on miracles and the one on faith and science. Thanks for all the hard work.
I really enjoy reading your blog.
July 28, 2011 at 5:13 pm |
[…] Tim Stafford has posted an obituary providing a good overview of the life and work of one of evangelicalism’s esteemed leaders. He writes: Stott exemplified how extraordinary plain, ordinary Christianity can be. He was not known as an original thinker, nor did he seek to be. He always turned to the Bible for understanding, and his unforgettable gift was to penetrate and explain the Scriptures. […]
September 1, 2011 at 5:01 pm |
Tim I read your article on India’s Grassroots Revival in Christianity Today. We have traveled there several time and part of our giving goes to support national India mission groups such as Operation Agape.
I have a website on equipping nationals rather than sending Americans short and long term- http://www.andmakedisciples.com and am interested in seeing more discussion on the pros and cons on the subject. We are willing to donate to Chr. Today to see this issue discussed- any thoughts? John W. Addink
September 6, 2011 at 10:28 pm |
CT gets a little antsy about money given for particular subjects–editorial independence and all that–but if there were plenty of latitude the editors might be open. (For example, if somebody wants to support reporting on Latin American Pentecostals there might be openness, but not if it was for reporting for or against Latin Pentecostals.)
December 18, 2011 at 7:58 pm |
Hi Mr. Stafford. I am just finishing your book, Sexual Chaos, and I love it. It is one of the best books I have ever read on contemporary culture and sexuality!
Terri
April 24, 2012 at 8:13 pm |
Tim,
Do you have a copy you could send me of the article you wrote in CT 1987 on sexual ethics?
August 18, 2012 at 7:15 pm |
Tim,
I just read and reviewed your book on Miracles. I really enjoyed it and found it helpful in sorting through healing and hype. Here is a link to my review: http://matichuk.wordpress.com/2012/08/18/its-a-miracle-a-book-review/
James
October 7, 2012 at 3:16 am |
I am reading your book Surprised by Jesus. went through it first time but did not get many of the implications.
But on second reading, find myself blessed.
Your description of Bangalore meeting – yes and the smell of working class no one can know well than me with Asthma.
Also the point when you ref. Ajith is so true, we are in US now
I have undergone a triple by pass and treated for COPD, but I miss India – worship, fellowship and evangelism.
Sir, can I quote you in one of our flier we distribute in Ambernath, Maharashtra, India, (as we work for Infected & affected )for AIDS awareness from page 54 ” Doesn’t Scripture clearly tell us-to mention just one them – to care for orphans and widows? with millions of orphans and widows due to AIDS, we have plenty to do.”
TIM Stafford – senior writer for Christianity Today
October 12, 2012 at 5:40 pm |
Yes, absolutely, quote away. Thanks for your note.
November 2, 2012 at 7:48 am |
[…] Tim Stafford’s Blog – https://timstafford.wordpress.com/ – About […]
August 31, 2013 at 3:23 am |
I have just finished reading your novel “The Stamp of Glory” and was mesmerized by your writing. It was so easy to comprehend and it held my interest up to the very end, even though I was so familiar with the history book account of that period. My, how much the history books leave out. Loved getting to know the characters in your novel as relating to real-life people. I got the books at my church library but will visit my city library to check out more.
September 12, 2013 at 10:53 pm |
I was going through a collection of articles I had on the church and I came across two older pieces you had written in Christianity Today: “The Church, Why Bother?” and “The Church’s Walking Wounded.” I reread them again and want to say thank you for your work. I have been pastoring the same church in Dixon, CA for twenty-one years, and for quite some time my wife has been struggling with deep wounds caused by disappointments with the church. I will be giving her your articles to read.
December 7, 2013 at 6:28 pm |
Just read your article recommending a day of listening between young earth types and scientists. I don’t think this would be useful since almost all YE at my S. Baptist church have a HS diploma at most and do little if any reading beyond devotionals. It is a big jump to assume they could even understand a scientific world view or how science works. Those who begin by assuming the Bible was written to be literally interpreted by a 21st century person instead of for folks who lived totally different lives 2 to 3 millennia ago are hardly likely to listen to nor understand scholars or scientists. My survival mode as a believer is simply to avoid raising the subject and keep my scientific views to myself. Incidentally, I have four engineering/technology degrees from big name universities and spend a lot of time reading the Bible – but in its historical context.
January 1, 2014 at 7:28 am |
Just thought I’d let you know I posted a review of your latest book on Amazon. I’m just up the road from you, in Ukiah, so maybe we can meet sometime! Sincerely, Jared Dobbs.
January 19, 2014 at 9:54 pm |
[…] is disappointed in Tim Stafford’s book, The Adam Quest “a collection of short biographies of Christians who have very different […]
January 20, 2014 at 7:27 pm |
I’ve been quite saddened by Todd’s vehemently negative response to my book. I like Todd a lot, and he’s a serious guy. For the record, nowhere do I say that Young Earth Creationism is “anti-science.” What I do say is that YECers are not doing a lot of science. Todd is a rare exception.
I really don’t understand what makes Todd so upset. I tried to get him to explain, but he wouldn’t talk.
Anyway, if you read the book you’ll find that my opinions are not what the book is about. It’s about the lives of eleven scientists–real people with stories of faith and science. Including Todd Wood.
January 21, 2014 at 4:42 am |
I clicked the link. Perhaps there is more to read, but it seems to me that Todd feels he has been misled–which no one likes. To the extent that you came to the interview process assuming an evolutionary bias, giving short shrift to evidence presented by Todd to the contrary, then the feeling would be justified. Put another way, Todd thought you were open to considering the evidence, but it turned out that you were only humoring him. I haven’t read your book, am working only from the comment above and the link.
January 26, 2014 at 10:33 am |
I have just read & thoroughly enjoyed Never Mind the Joneses, which I’ve been asked to write a review on for YWAM Family Ministries International. I’d be interested to know if this particular book & your other publications are available in other languages, especially French. Where could I find this information? Thanks so much.
January 27, 2014 at 5:59 pm |
Hi Hilary,
I’m not sure what languages Never Mind the Joneses is available in, but you can find out by contacting IVP, email@ivpress.com.
February 6, 2014 at 9:15 am |
Hello,
I’m a Christian grad student at MIT and I’ve been quite involved in various apologetics discussions, commonly with naturalists. They’ve (I think rightly) pointed out that 2000 years provide an unfortunately rather thick layer of uncertainty, and I’ve pointed them to your 2012 book on miracles as providing evidence of modern miracles, and tied to that, the existence of anything beyond the natural world.
In doing so, I’ve noticed a stronger claim appear on the naturalists’ side, which is a picture of the successful healings of both Jesus and Christians today as fixing psychosomatic problems, those with a direct link (for some reason or other) between the mental state and the body. By contrast, they maintain the claim that no miracles have ever violated the laws of physics. Therefore, they draw a distinction between miracles which violate physics that we understand very well, like multiplying loaves and fish or accurate and unlikely visions of seemingly inaccessible information, and “lesser miracles” that only violate very tentative guesses natural theories would posit, like medicine that isn’t even well-understood yet.
Given this distinction, I’m wondering if you have ever found miracles in the stronger sense that would completely violate what we know about physics, or if all of the miracles you verified were of the weaker type.
Thanks for your response! I loved your careful journalism in the book, and I look forward to reading more of your writing.
February 7, 2014 at 6:38 pm |
Hi, Sam… good question… let me see if I can unravel it in a few words.
I think “anti-physics” miracles are rare to the vanishing point. Jesus did a few. And you can find testimony of some. But I haven’t personally encountered one.
However, I think this whole question falls into the naturalist’s trap. It’s the either/or universe. Either we can explain how something happened, and therefore we don’t need God, or we can’t explain how something happened, and it might be God. I’m going to insist that God is everywhere and active in all that is. He makes the sun rise; he enables my every breath. These ordinary, well-explained events are just as God-infused as walking on water. Miracles are not, and never should be construed to be, some kind of proof of supernatural presence. They are signs pointing to God at work in some unusual way. They are telling us to keep our eyes open, something wonderful is around. Naturally, as children of the Enlightenment, we are most impressed by impossibilities. But I think in reality, healing (though never really “impossible” since the body is poorly understood) is the most wonderful of all miracles, simply because it preserves life, that most wonderful of gifts. Walking on water or turning water to wine is comparatively dull; who really cares? Thus, God does many more healings than “impossibilities”–did in Jesus’ ministry, does now. Your calling them “lesser miracles” suggests that you are barking up the wrong tree.
Read my book on miracles again and I think you’ll find that I’ve tried to explain this fairly fully. Trouble is, we are all so Enlightenment-infused we quickly revert to this “either/or” universe.
February 8, 2014 at 9:04 am
Thanks for reminding me of those excellent points! I think that’s a really helpful framework to consider what the miracle accomplishes, and it doesn’t seem too unreasonable to me that God would refuse to act if it wasn’t in the interest of blessing us in some way. (On a side note, this empirical result suggests some interesting consequences theologically — God’s own actions suggest that today [as opposed to during the Exodus, say] he is more interested in loving us than spreading his fame, at least among naturalists. I’ve always wanted to empirical theology, for the opportunity it would give us to resolve age-old disagreements…)
Anyways, to rephrase what you’re saying, God doesn’t choose to primarily work in the scientifically muddy field of medicine because he’s a “God of the gaps” that we invented when we didn’t understand something; he works there because that’s the main place that his actions can really bless his children.
I’d like to try to take this a little further, though. Medicine might not be the only way that God can bless his children miraculously. Maybe there are other ways that happen to also at least come close to violating the laws of physics.
As I try to imagine such a possibility, one set of examples that come to mind are pastor Mark Driscoll’s first-hand stories of spiritual insights that he and others have gained by the gift of discernment — access to accurate information that he shouldn’t have known. One vivid example is a vision he had once of a woman in his church being abused by her husband, down to the details of what he had said to her the night before.
I wouldn’t expect that you’d necessarily have come across it before; it’s somewhat buried on the Mars Hill website in his Spiritual Warfare lectures (this example is in a string at 19:15-24:20 in the Christus Victor lecture when he’s talking about the gift of discernment). Driscoll also doesn’t ever preach about it, because he doesn’t want that kind of attention. But I’m sure it factors into why he is an outspoken continuationist, even provoking recent controversy with John MacArthur.
Anyways, I’m wondering if anyone you’ve interviewed has those sorts of clear-cut experiences that one might classify at least as incredibly surprising/lucky given the laws of physics. While he would probably refuse, I would also be really curious if you or any other journalist has asked Driscoll for interviews about these spiritual experiences. He did put those lectures on his website and wrote about the Holy Spirit in his recent book, so he’s comfortable with some kind of exposure…
February 10, 2014 at 6:32 pm
Sam, there are many, many examples of people who have received insights into other people’s lives. This was very much a part of the late John Wimber’s ministry, for example. It’s very common in Pentecostalism. I don’t think you’ll find it convincing many skeptics though. It’s almost always self-reported, and as such selectively remembered. Here as in all things miraculous, I think you do better to think in categories of “signs and wonders” that point toward the character and activity of God, than in categories of supernatural and natural.
February 7, 2014 at 10:54 pm |
Sam, I’m not sure what would qualify for miracles that break the laws of physics. However I certainly believe that true miracles are not a matter of the resolution of a psychosomatic malady. For example. My friend, an MD called me yesterday and reported a miracle. His business partner’s wife developed a large calcium deposit in her shoulder over time. The surgeon who X-rayed her shoulder said it was the largest he had ever seen. My Doctor friend believes in Biblical healing for today as modeled by Jesus and the disciples. He laid hands on the woman’s shoulder and prayed for healing. She went into her surgical appointment a few days later and in a pre-surgical x-ray, the surgeon could see no evidence of the calcium deposit. Surgery canceled. She has x-rays before and after, and this happened just last week. The surgeon could supply no explanation. I am on the prayer team of our church and I see these kind of miracles frequently (cancer, heart disease, broken bones, arthritis etc) over the course of a year and they are usually verified through the medical community. In my case I was healed of idiopathic cardiomopathy (heart failure) 14 years ago after the laying on of hands in Jesus name. We are an average church of 5000 in Portland Oregon, not some fringy “healing” church. It is no wonder I take huge pleasure in praying for others.
February 10, 2014 at 8:39 pm |
Sam, these may be unwanted comments, but I find your line of questioning challenging, plus I really enjoy Tim’s writing. In our ministry as a prayer team at our Church I have had many examples of the word of knowledge. I am not an ordained minister, only an average Christian and business owner who enjoys praying for people. One morning as I was praying before church in my home concerning the upcoming service, I heard the Holy Spirit say to me that there would be a man in a red plaid shirt, suspenders and a beard that I should pray for healing for his back. We live in suburbia and few people wear red plaid shirts and no one wears suspenders to church. I wrote it on a piece of paper and put it in my sport coat pocket. That morning after church at coffee hour I saw a guy with a white beard, red plaid shirt and suspenders. I was shocked, that was the first time that had happened. I grabbed my brother and showed him the paper and said, that is the guy. However, I was too stunned and timid to approach him and tell him this crazy tale. I failed my mission. So next Sunday I relayed my failure to a friend. Suddenly he pointed and said, there is the guy! So this time I approached him and said this is going to sound crazy but God said I am supposed to pray for you, do you have back problems? He said yes, they were so severe he couldn’t work. He had not been to church for 7 years and last Sunday was the first time he had been back. So I prayed for him. All the pain left, he could bend down and almost touch his toes and he rededicated his life to the Lord. My parents and my brother watched all this happen and can testify, and he is still in fellowship today, 3 years later. I have also had the Lord tell me that I am going to pray for “Kathryn”. So when an older black woman came forward, I asked her name. She replied Cathy. I said, is it really Kathryn? She looked surprised and said yes. She had a collapsed lung and God raised her faith with that interaction so that she could be healed. I have had this happen several times as have other prayer ministers, always in the context of praying for someone. It really does happen today.
February 10, 2014 at 9:12 pm |
Thanks for sharing your stories! I’m mostly asking Tim these questions because these are examples of the sorts of things that should surprise an honest skeptic. Yes, they’re self-reported, but that’s true for almost everything.
Individual stories are great, but I’m wondering if anyone has done a careful job of compiling these sorts of stories, asking all sorts of probing questions like any good journalist would, as in Tim’s excellent book on miracles. If you can point me to a carefully written book of this nature, I would love to be able to share it with my skeptical but honest friends.
To give some flavor of the sorts of questions I would expect a journalist to ask (though I am not one myself), here are some of the sorts of questions I’d want to hear about for your stories:
1) What were the dates of these events?
2) When you “heard the Holy Spirit”, was it audible? Was anyone else around to hear it as well, or just you?
3) If it was a voice, was it a male or female voice? Slow and steady or excited?
4) If it wasn’t audible, how was the information conveyed?
5) Do you still have this paper?
6) How did the Lord tell you about Kathryn? Did you actually hear the spelling, or could it have been Catherine?
7) What context was she “coming forward”? How long was the delay between the timing of the Lord telling you this and
8) Have you had any experiences where you think that the Lord tells you something and find that it doesn’t come true, or at least hasn’t come true yet? Keep in mind what Tim says about selective memory — you could have such situations frequently but you tend to remember the times when it works.
9) To correct for that, would you be wiling to write down every time God speaks to you in the next year (or something like that) and record which of these things are fulfilled?
PS Tim, if you want us to move this discussion elsewhere, let us know.
February 10, 2014 at 10:40 pm |
To the man who sought out and prayed for the man in the plaid shirt I say, Praise the Lord for his faithfulness always and for your obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. Yes, it does happen today when God has a purpose and receives the Glory. Let me add that I have just heard of Tim Stafford thru the serial books Abolition, Sisters and Prohibition. Absolutely loved his historical fiction blended with faith in God.
February 11, 2014 at 5:20 am |
Interesting. We humans always want certainty. After watching an afternoon of Jesus healing the sick, the Pharisees said to Jesus, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.” They wanted a sign on command to prove He was the messiah, like Moses throwing his staff to the ground to become a serpent or the production of manna. However, when he healed the deaf mute they said, “But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.” That being said, Jesus also suggested that if Sodom and Gomorrah had witnessed the miracles he performed in Capernaum, the cities would have repented and be here today! And the cities of Tyre (the capital of Canaanite culture and prophetic home of Lucifer from Ezekiel 27) and Sidon would have repented in sackcloth and ashes! There’s a recipe for the repentance of a nation like America! That’s why miracles are so necessary today in this dispensation of grace, and why they always accompanied Jesus preaching and accompanied all the apostle’s and disciple’s evangelizing. Miracles don’t guarantee faith, especially for those religious leaders in opposition to Jesus, but they do produce repentance and faith in the masses.
1) Whenever I experience something unusual that the Holy Spirit does, I try to record it in my journal. I have approximate dates. 2, 3, 4) When the Holy Spirit speaks, I do not hear an audible voice, only an unexpected inner voice, neither male nor female. Just a strong impression that is usually unexpected.5) I do not still have this paper. I scratched it on an envelope and did not keep it long. For the woman who was healed of the large calcium deposit last week, we have before and after x-rays. I confirmed that with her husband today. Her large calcium deposit disappeared in less than a week. 6) I was actually driving to church alone on Highway 217, thinking of other things when the Lord said “Kathryn.” It was clear as a bell, out of the blue and unexpected. I heard the name Kathryn, I wasn’t concerned with the spelling. I just wanted to verify from this woman Cathy that her full name was Kathryn or Catherine, not Cathy or Kathy.6) Kathryn came forward after the morning sermon. Our Pastor always asks for anyone that wants prayer to come forward after the service, whether for salvation, healing or prayer for any need. After she came forward I noticed she had a small oxygen tank with her. 7) She came forward probably 2 hours after the Lord spoke to me in the car. 8) Yes. Once the Lord told me the name of a Hispanic man that needed prayer. I waited at the front after the service and He never appeared. I presume that either he was afraid to come forward or I misheard. However the impression was strong. I am not sure why we did not connect. I would bet that had I the courage to speak his name out loud he would have come out of the crowd. But I have never done that yet. 9) Sure, I will write down every time I get a word of knowledge. I do anyway, I just haven’t dated them or been scrupulous about it. By the way, this is not unusual, this happens frequently to others in our prayer ministry. I believe it just encourages people’s faith.
February 11, 2014 at 6:47 am |
Thanks for those answers! It’s interesting that sometimes it comes by an audible voice (“Kathryn”) and sometimes it’s a strong image or sense you have. Mark Driscoll described his experiences as “like watching a movie”. That’s one aspect I’d like to gather a lot of different peoples’ experiences and analyze: what form it takes. Moreover, are there some methods of hearing from God that tend to be less reliable than others — whether that’s more susceptible to the message actually being from a demon or us just simply hearing our own voices talk to ourselves, like the classic boy who gets a strong sense that he’s supposed to marry a girl, but he’s really just in love.
Another aspect I’m interested in is the “batting average.” I appreciate your honesty, and I’m also intrigued by your bet that the reason you didn’t find that sort of man was because you weren’t courageous enough. I would probably entertain the possibility that I had heard incorrectly or that it wasn’t from God. This is a bit tricky to try to count because it wasn’t like a prediction that definitely didn’t come true (like if your first story didn’t actually happen). But I’d be interesting to try to compile “batting averages” for these various methods and/or individuals.
I’m sure your story is not unique, which is why I’m curious if anyone like Tim has done any of these sorts of compilations. You can see some of the ’empirical theology’ that I’d hope to do with such data.
February 14, 2014 at 10:17 pm |
Just saw the interview on Fox & it was very interesting. I am 75 & became a Chrisrian when I was 30. About 2 years after I was introduced to the teaching ministry of R. B. Thieme Jr. at Berachah Church in Houston. I was so impressed with his ministry because he stated in his material there was no charge for tapes (at that time, now DVD & MP3) or publications & I had never heard that from anyone. The first tapes I ordered were the series on Genesis. I was shocked that he taught our heavens & earth were perhaps billions of years old and that the 7 days were a restoration of the earth because when Satan & his angels were cast to the earth at their rebellion they trashed it & it was restored before & for the creation of man. Thieme studied at Dallas Theological Seminary at the time it taught the original languages of Scripture and was great in ancient history. He is the closest I have come to being exposed to what I think of as a genius. I wish you would order the MP3 713-621-3740.
March 4, 2014 at 3:46 pm |
I enjoyed reading your book “as our years increase” published in 1989. my question is: now it’s 25 years later. would you update what you wrote back then?
many people in my age bracket, 68 to 78, do not identify with the conditions were 25 years ago and even before that. we are single people, generally healthy, children doing their own things, not into the daily spin, educated professionally, into alternative health, just different than the generation before us. we are called swingers! we’d like community in our older age, but where is it? how are our days different? thanks. abbrah
March 5, 2014 at 3:48 pm |
[…] Tim Stafford is a freelance writer and Senior Writer for Christianity Today Magazine. He’s written more than twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction. His latest is just out: The Adam Quest: Eleven scientists who held on to a strong faith while wrestling with the mystery of human origins. […]
March 31, 2014 at 2:14 pm |
http://www.dubiousdisciple.com/2014/03/book-review-the-adam-quest.html
July 7, 2014 at 4:19 pm |
Tim,
As one who was raised in a mainline Protestant denomination and educated per science (bachelor’s/master’s in physics, PhD in astronomy) I believed in miracles but I limited my beliefs to Biblical stories. Later in life, I was immersed into the charismatic movement (Catholic & Protestant!) and discovered that miracles were happening today. However, God isn’t some giant ATM machine that grants all requests as we’d like them answered. God continues to use miracles to point to Himself and to Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit. It’s not about us, it’s about God! As noted, even Lazarus died afterwards. I’ve seen and been close to many miracles.
The one that delighted us but flummoxed the best doctors…was the diagnosis of melanoma on a church friend of ours. It was a serious diagnosis and an embarrassing one to share; this was melanoma of his penis. The surgical remedy was a scary prospect. So, we went to the mat in prayer for him. Everyone near to him prayed and prayed right up to the morning of his surgery. There had been no changes to his condition or the diagnosis. (BTW – this was in Massachusetts, with THE best doctors in the world available.) Before the surgeon started, they did yet another biopsy to be analyzed before the dreaded surgery was to take place. The pathologist phoned up to the OR and asked if the sample he got was correct – because the sample had no melanoma. So they repeated the biopsy – with the same results. The surgeon (with prior permission of course) went ahead and performed a circumcision which included the tissue in doubt. That was sent to pathology for another analysis – same benign results. The aftermath for our friend was about a month of being “very sore”. (Adult circumcisions are not trivial!) And, follow-up examinations showed no pathology. The surgeon and the other doctors could only use the term “miracle” as obvious melanomas don’t just go away.
We enjoyed your book about ‘Miracles’.
July 1, 2015 at 12:18 pm |
Wow – as a Western Mass resident, I must admit I love it when God shows up and reveals himself in a mighty way within my state. It makes me think of the thaw within Narnia as Aslan arrived in the frozen land. Everything began to come back to life. Excellent. Thanks for sharing the above story!
July 21, 2014 at 10:26 pm |
YAY GOD! Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever.
February 2, 2015 at 11:59 pm |
Tim, your latest book, The Adam Quest, is listed as a top-10 selection by The Dubious Disciple. Thanks for a great read! See http://www.dubiousdisciple.com/top-10-books-of-2014
Lee Harmon
February 3, 2015 at 12:18 am |
That’s great! Thanks for telling me!
June 23, 2015 at 7:04 pm |
Hi Tim – I just completed one of you older books. “Stamp of Glory” – excellent book – I think I had read once before but it was more meaningful now as I’ve just completed a project about Slavery and the Civil War in Mississippi – Enjoyed the historical research.
June 24, 2015 at 3:11 am |
Hi Tim, referring to Tammy’s comment above, do you have an opinion about the Confederate Flag which flies at the capitol of SC or if they vote to remove it, what happens to all the memorials relating to the Civil War? Do we get rid of all the history of the United States if someone is offended. Where does it stop. By the way I loved you trior of books that were in our church library.
November 12, 2015 at 3:13 pm |
Tim, do you remember me from Campus Fellowship magazine days? After many years in Christian organizations, my life mission is now on building bridges between science and faith. I have come up with some things, that I think helps bridge the gaps. I’d love to tell you about them.
November 12, 2015 at 4:59 pm |
Hi, Doug… To be truthful, I need some more help. Your name is very familiar but I’m vague as to how. Anybody building bridges between faith and science is intriguing! I’m all ears.
November 30, 2015 at 4:32 pm |
I read you book on miracles in preparing for my new documentary on miracles with medical evidence. I am working with a team of doctors at GlobalMRI.org. This is my 3 min. kickstarter tailer. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simplykingdom/miracle-evidence-documentary
Can we talk?
February 18, 2018 at 5:59 am |
I was disappointed with this CT article on how to manage media in the Trump era- https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/january-web-only/trump-talk-is-relentless-its-not-always-newsworthy.html.
It should be stressed that we need to verify Mr Trump’s statements given his serious problem with truthfulness. 2000 falsehoods in the last year per -https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/01/10/president-trump-has-made-more-than-2000-false-or-misleading-claims-over-355-days/?utm_term=.f58215bf3304
Out of 517 significant, verified statements, 68% had falsehoods. Many were outright lies per http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/. This is much more than other politicians.
Could you do a blog discussion of John 18 and the centrality of truth in following Jesus. Why did those religious leaders chose allegiance to Caesar over Jesus? Are their parallels to today?
Thank-you.
July 9, 2018 at 2:27 pm |
Hi Tim,
I came across the philosophies that you stated as regards sex before marriage in response to a lady who had posed a question about losing her virginity.
I must say i personally agreed more with the second philosophy and am currently trying to figure out a way of protecting and empowering the girl child (in particular those above 24).
In my country, Uganda, most girls that age and above have been led to think that in order to keep the men that they are dating, they have to sleep with them.
In actual sense this is a big myth and has led to many broken relationships and unwanted outcomes. Am not against the boy child BUT i really think some thing has to be done to do away with such a mentality.
I recently experienced such a scenario where i had to let go of some body i loved because they were demanding for sex and yet we weren’t legally married.
Therefore, its through this pain and disappointment that i chose to come out and stand up for the other girls. My desire is for this to stop.
Am still working out the details and would like to ask for your input and guidance on how you think i should go about this.
Thanks
Ann
July 11, 2018 at 1:07 am |
Dear Ann Emma,
I’m glad to hear from you, and I pray that you will be a good witness, as you have been. Actions speak louder than words. In the environment you describe it’s important to speak up for what you believe, but it’s even more important to simply live your beliefs. In the long run, that will be more convincing that any argument.
Sincerely in Christ,
Tim
July 22, 2018 at 1:39 pm |
Dear Tim,
Many thanks for the response and the good advice.
Kind regards
Ann
May 14, 2019 at 11:18 am |
Hello Tim,
I am reading your book “Miracles” and you’ll be gratified to know that its timing and message is a miracle in itself in my spiritual journey. I have been a Christian since childhood and in recent years have collected many friends who would be on the charismatic side. We attend a Calvary church and both my hubby and I are very logical thinkers. My daughters have been involved in a local large church that would be considered charismatic and has over the years, depending on its leadership, focused more or less on the manifesting spiritual gifts (usually tongues). I recently came to a point, after many years of trying to make sense of my own experiences and feeling frustrated and confused by a lack of “signs and wonders” in my life (a word of knowledge, visions, tongues, prayer language, etc), that I begged God to show me what this is all about. Am I not really “Spirit-filled”, do I not really follow Him, am I one to which He’ll say “I knew you not”? I was in the library looking for a different book and happened upon yours within a day or two of begging for His revelation in this area. I wasn’t even sure if I was going to actually read yours as I had a pile of others I was going to try to get to first, but I cracked it open and it’s been like a balm on my spirit. It resonates with what I have experienced in my 45 years of walking with the Lord and it reflects Truth from scripture and I know the Lord led me to it. I have experienced a miracle or two in my life, but like you explain so well, they were so personal that when I share them, others blankly stare, but they absolutely conveyed God’s personal interest and care for me and I can recall them in moments when I doubt He listens or is intimately involved in my life and they serve to encourage and bring hope. That’s the point, right? I decided to write to thank you for your clarity when I read: “We are equally responsible not to go pursuing signs and wonders as though they were the ultimate good that God intended. They are not the substance of the kingdom; they are symptoms of the kingdom. The substance is the presence of Jesus, who suffered, died, and was buried, then was raised again to life. Nothing, not even miracles can substitute for him.” I often feel like a fish out of water amongst so many who are continually reaching out to God for the next spiritually heightened experience, always begging for Him to reveal more of the mystical and yet I can’t get enough of my new Bible commentary. Your book has allowed me to settle down in who He made me to be and to stay open to all and everything He may have for me, but not “need” it to feel like a true follower. Blessings to you!
May 14, 2019 at 4:32 pm |
Heather, thank you so much for writing. That’s very encouraging to me.
August 5, 2019 at 5:12 pm |
Tim,
We have been using your 1984 classic The Friendship Gap to train missionaries in East Africa for years, but it is getting hard to find enough copies. Even though Nairobi has changed a lot in the past 35 years, human nature and the beauty of friendship has not changed.
I am hoping to bring about a dozen participants together for a training meeting in November and I would like to talk with you about how to get the book to them perhaps in an electronic format–I’m leaving my details. Just want you to be encouraged also that your labor over that particular book is still bearing fruit.
Colin
August 5, 2019 at 6:26 pm |
Dear Colin,
So good to get your encouraging note!
As it happens I have a digital copy of The Friendship Gap that I would be glad to send to you. Just write me at timnpopie@gmail.com.
Tim
February 3, 2020 at 4:44 am |
Tim
This is a message I’ve wanted to send you for more than 30 years. Not sure why I’ve waited til now.
In 1986 my wife and I were youth pastors in a small panhandle town in Texas, having met and graduated from a smaller Bible college in Seattle. Toward the end of my senior year I was sitting in the back row of a deranged Pentecostal service trying hard to look spiritual. I read John 17 for the zillionth time and stopped at verse 3: “Thus is eternal life: that they would know you and your son whom you’ve sent.” (Paraphrased). It hit me like a bolt — from that point, the relationship was key. An understatement I know.
Years later, while doing youth work in Texas, I saw your book “Knowing the Face of God” in the bookstore in Amarillo. When I read the jacket description, I eagerly bought and subsequently devoured it.
To that point I had taught relationship with Jesus, but after that point I was able to teach it as a tangible thing that can be experienced — is experienced — here and, if only in part.
For the ensuing 25 years I have focused on the Relationship employing the ‘means of relationship’ you discuss in the book, crediting you with helping my understanding, of course.
I can’t tell you how many people told how their eyes were opened to their own relationship with God and freed from the nagging doubts about their experience.
We’re not in ministry anymore — at least, not full time Evangelical ministry as defined by American church standards. But that’s another discussion.
So thanks Tim for your extraordinary book. Your willingness to express the doubts that continue to plague Christians and the resulting insights revolutionized my own Christian experience and my teaching.
Thanks again.
Scott Boley / Portland Oregon
February 3, 2020 at 5:51 pm |
Hi, Scott…. What can I say? Thanks so much for making the time and effort to write. It does mean a lot. That book is a long distance into my past, but I haven’t outgrown it. And (per your response) it’s a reminder that what we do can reverberate for a long time. As I’m sure is true of your work, too.
Blessings,
Tim