lwagner's blog

The day after my daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, I decided that during my quiet times I was going to read all of the gospel accounts of Jesus healing people. I wanted to be reminded of Jesus’ power over illness and reassured of His desire to heal. I haven’t done any statistical analysis or placed the healings into certain categories. I’ve just drunk in the wonders of these miracles. I’ve allowed my soul to be refreshed and restored and my confidence in Jesus’ healing power has grown.

The gospels have accounts of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life, lepers being healed, and demon-possessed people being set free. There is one account of a woman who had bled for 12 years touching the hem of Jesus garment and being healed. So many people whose life was changed by a healing encounter with Jesus.

A fantastic career.  A new house.  A plush 401k and a secure retirement.  Good, all good--but is that what it's all about?  No matter how skillfully you play it or how many tokens you acquire, a time arrives when the game of life comes to an end.  So then what?

No more game cards.  No more tokens.  No more promotions, no more financial planning, no more RVs and vacation homes.  Game over.

What did you win that you get to keep?

Over the past 2 1/2 years, I've gotten to be involved in a weekly meal for the homeless and low income people of our community. It's been a wonderful experience! We begin with a short devotional shared from scripture, we sing a hymn, and then we share prayer requests and pray for each other. There is a clothing cart where they can get clothes. There is a resource table where they can get information about employment, a place to stay, rehabilitation, other food resources, etc.

And then we share a meal together. Seated at each table in our Friendship Center are people who are homeless, people who are barely hanging onto their apartment/trailer/house, as well as, Bethany members. They eat and engage in conversation together. Over the past 2 1/2 years, significant relationships have been formed around these meals. We have formed community through these meals. It's really something to see!

Things are ok today, men and women because our God is in the heavens and he does whatever he wants to do. Now I don’t want to push anybody’s theological hot buttons here today when I say that. I don’t want to get into a debate here. I’m here. I serve in ministry everyday. And John was hard at work: he was proclaiming, he was baptizing, he was making sure that people were ready when Jesus came. He was busy at work. He wasn’t sitting back taking it easy in some big barcalounger easy chair somewhere saying, “Well, God is big and I am small so ‘Go, God!’” He was at work.

I’ve been preparing to teach a class called “Becoming a Good Samaritan” so I’ve been wrestling with Jesus’ story in Luke 10. Not just in understanding the parable but also in understanding its practical applications in our world today. To help with that, I’ve been reading Richard Stearns book, “The Hole in Our Gospel.” It’s a wonderful book dealing with the needs that our so prevalent in world today and how Richard responded to God’s calling to play a role in meeting some of those needs.

Stearns makes the point that the problems to be found in the world have never been greater than they are today. At the same time, our capacity to solve our problems has never been greater.