Lived: December 21, 1956 – December 5, 2014
Service Time: 2 PM
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Location: Glenwood Community Church, 12201 N.E. 72nd Avenue, Vancouver, Washington 98686-2402
I got a call around five. “Tim’s not answering his door. He’s supposed to take me to Bible study.” I grabbed my keys, told my wife I had to go, and drove. I knew what I’d find before I got there. I unlocked his door and Joan went in ahead of me. I was afraid of what we were going to see. I followed her into Tim’s room and he was there, kneeling at his bedside, his head resting on his bed, his arm outstretched. I imagine he died praying for us, as he always did. His closest friends came quickly. We read the Word, sang songs and prayed.
I can’t describe in words what Tim meant to me–what he did for me. Only hours with me would even begin to paint a picture of the person Tim was.
I feel empty. Alone. But I know that we will meet again. Until then, my friend, I will miss you.
I am sad not to have known Tim, we heard a little about his love and devotion to Jesus only from his younger brother. But after reading one of his poems I am looking forward to reading more of his writings. Gill Newham.
You will not regret it. Tim was the greatest man I have ever met. A modern-day apostle Paul.
Eric what a loving tribute to your friend Tim. Many had a special friendship with him, but yours was something very unique, something not many people have in a lifetime. But you had it. I know it will be lonely for a time, missing your friend, but you have a treasure chest full of memories that you’ll be able to reflect back on. I have always thought of Tim as an angel, sent for a special purpose. I know he fulfilled that purpose in our family. I can’t stop the tears. We will miss our dear friend too. Tim has simply passed on the torch. Before he died, I think he might have had this testimony – Philippians 3:12-13 – “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
I found Truth Saves a year ago when I needed to know what A. W. Tozer taught about predestination. Amazing answer, amazing wisdom. The more I read the website, the more my faith in the Lord Jesus was strengthened, mostly because the power of God’s word was put clearly on display. The Lord blessed Tim with an amazing gift to communicate truth, coupled with an obvious and deep love for the Lord Jesus and His church, and this all with such grace and humility. Many, many times I have read and re-read Tim’s articles with great joy and assurance. No matter what the topic, we always saw Jesus. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Thank you, Tim. Praise God for your life and teaching ministry. You will be deeply missed in this life.
And thank you, Eric. Truth Saves is one of the brightest spots on the internet, a light in a dark, dark world. Praise the Lord for your testimony and ministry here. My only request: Please publish a book of Tim’s writings if at all possible.
Heather in Texas
Publishing a book is a good idea . . . but might be a difficult process! We shall see.
I am so thank for the treasure archived here. It is a little piece of Tim left for those who can to continue to be nurtured by the wisdom he drew from the Savior. It is very comforting and such a kindness from the Lord. The Lord is so good to us! We can truly cast all our cares upon Him, because He cares so much for us. Thank you Father for Tim.
In a discussion you and I had many years ago we agreed that one of the most important decisions a person will ever make is who his friends are. God presented Tim to you and you made a wise decision. It was just the first in a long line of good decisions that are making you the man God intended when He put Tim and his witness into your life. We will be praying with you about how God will lead you as you wield this torch passed to you by your dear friend and brother. I love you, Eric.
Eric, your Aunt Alice and I were privileged to have met your friend Tim only once at your Grandpa English’s funeral. It sounds like he would have been a great person to get to know. I was very moved by your tribute and what others had to say and i trust God will give you lots of comfort. Thank God for that close David – Jonathan relationship the two of you had that many of us never do get to experience. Treasure the memories and build on the legacy of his Godly example and teachings.
Thank you. I will treasure his memories and his writings, of which I have many more. Stay tuned!
Honoring Tim as he honored God
Tim always answered my questions in a very understandable way from his extensive study of the Bible, but he also demonstrated for me a way of life that answered questions like…
What does it really look like to be a servant?
To love others as God loves us?
To be a man of purity in our culture in 2014? and
How do you love God and others when the bottom drops out in your life?
11 years ago when I needed a car Tim gave me his car, but not before first taking it down to Portland for a thorough check-up, and biking 20 miles back to Vancouver, then biking 20 miles back to the shop to give it to me, and I’m still appreciating this gift as we drove that car here today. If you were to count the number of people that Tim encouraged over his lifetime, including all the hits on Truthsaves.org from all the countries around the world, and gathered them all together in one place I think it would be enough to make the Fire Marshall’s nervous at the Moda Center!
And if Tim was hearing all of this, I think he would say, “If you see anything good in my life then PRAISE GOD! Because HE is the ONE who has revealed Himself to me through the Bible and to everyone who believes in Him, and He is the One who gives me the strength to live for Him each day.
So all glory, praise and honor be to our living God who gives us the same joy he gave Tim Binder as we follow the Lord Jesus with our whole heart!
Thanks for posting this beautiful video of a godly man. Tim made such an impression on me. He was always so kind and generous and patient with people. And he was consistent – over the twenty years I knew him, I never heard him complain or get flustered or get off course. Even though I only knew Tim over the years from visits I made to the area and from his close friendship with my brother, I have distinct memories of conversations that we had. His words and perspectives affected my life and even some big decisions I made. A couple years ago when we were visiting family for Christmas, the day before we were to head home, my car broke down. Tim called his mechanic and led me to the shop so I could have the repairs done. When the car was finished, Tim drove me back to pick it up, and on the way he told me, “You know I’m paying for this, right?” He didn’t even give me a chance to discuss it with him. The bill was over $700. I will miss Tim when we go to visit family, but I am so thankful for his life and his friendship and the blessing he was (and will continue to be) to our whole family. I pray that his memory will affect the way I live my own life.
Thank you so very much for telling me. Absent from the body, present with the Lord. Yet, I cry. Tim Binder’s godliness, humility, submission to the Father, his perseverance through unknown pain that he didn’t complain about, his acceptance of the Father’s will, his desire to share that love with others. He is a true witness to the power and glory of the Holy Spirit. And he now sees him face to face. He is now fully known. I want to be like him, yet my flesh wins. Please send my love to the group and let them know that we are praying for them as they have lost their leader. Reminds me of a certain rabbi who had 12 people then they lost him, yet the group did not fall apart. It grew, because of the Holy Spirit. I am praising Jesus that the Holy Spirit of God is within you and one of his roles is to comfort. May you be comforted and yet may you rejoice that the coming resurrection is real. Yet, I feel deep loss. We love you.
This morning as I’m getting ready to go to work, an extremely challenging job with some enemies that want me out, I started searching for a devotional to start my day out right and came across this website on this pastor. I don’t see it as chance, but leading from God. I’m a Chef re-launching a hotel restaurant, bar and coffee shop. I’m halfway through the process. I’m also a prison reform advocate and my husband, whom I’ve been married to for 2 1/2 years has a 40 year sentence for an accident when he was a young man. He’s been in 17 years and is working on a Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies from a University that so graciously gave him a scholarship. Doing this Christmas season let us not forget the 2.4 million people in prisons, more than any other country in the world, the big profit off it, 70% which are non violent. The suffering is great. But now I have a new resource to send my husband and he will teach in there Pastor Tim’s words to many who have no one.
His legacy will not only live on, but grow and grow and grow . . . God Bless
Its been almost 5 years since we lost Tim. A kind, thoughtful and genuine man who persued truth relentlessly but presented it gently and lovingly. Tim had a huge impact on many Families and churches in Nebraska. He never forgot where he was from and always made time for his home community to teach and fellowship and encourage. Possibly the most selfless person we’ve ever known. Always focused on others and their needs, even through his pain and terminal illness. We are grateful to God .
Hi Deborah and all. I can appreciate what you are saying about our prison system. I worked in our State prison system in Michigan for 14 years. What you are saying is so true, often the punishment does not fit the crime – I’ve seen it actually work both ways many times, too severe and sometimes way too light. It seems the world’s system does not recognize the forgiveness that God provides either. But I trust that your husband will continue to trust God. Who knows, since he is truly repentant and God has forgiven him, maybe a way will be made for him to be released. If not, like for Tim, there is coming a day, when our spirit will be released from this body and we will “take our flight,” as Dottie Rambo said in one of her songs. God bless you!
I am so saddened to hear of this news. The past October I posted on his blog about a struggle I was going through. His loving advice gave me much encouragement and I can feel the care for each of the words he has written. He was truthful and used the Word to provide guidance. I really appreciate his honesty. May he rest in peace.
Wow.. What a remarkable man of God!! And taken so young! It seems like the Lords taking some of his most faithful fellows early. My pastor was just 50 yrs old when he was taken but he was a God fearing, dedicated hard follower of Christ too. I am sorrow for your loss & not just yours but also for people from around the world who would of loved to of spoken to Tim & won’t get that opportunity. However.. The wonderful thing is, his teachings are still here & it’s nice that someone is still on here too, trying to help reach out to others & answer questions. May God bless you all.