But Whats So Amazing About Grace is the book that changed my life. It has been a pretty satisfactory life. Yet the cultural patterns you mention are certainly true. On page 119 the words discussion of parenthood helped to define my purpose more clearly and keep me focused. I have read Whats So Amazing About Grace? several times on the other hand. Thats it. The book is eloquently written so its still delightful to reread the same page for 10 times. And I dont want to hear that he is answering through nature or something like that. You are quoted as having said, I tend to go back to the Bible as a model, because I dont know a more honest book, I believe there is one more honest book in the world than the Bible, and that is The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ. He told me that could not let it slide. I grew up being told that we were either one son or the othera prodigal who needed to repent of his sin, or a brother who needed to repent of his self-righteousness and resentment. All her shouting brought in Acting AWI Matt James and a Unit Manager, as well as others. "When some of us attempt to be a bridge, we often end up making both sides angry. I prefer the term Jesus followers, keeping the focus on the one we follow. I am the product of the Bible college movement, hold a Ph.D. in Semitics from Catholic University of America, and currently enjoy working with a group of Bible college young people who excite me daily with their enthusiasm to know God and make him known. Whats So Amazing About Grace for me, seemed as if you had looked into my own mind and then answered so many thoughts and questions I never dared express out loud. Just like you, I am deeply baffled by how many Filipino Christians have voted, even defended our current president. Here is a poem from my book: One Secret, 101 Life Changing Poems , WE need to rename an ancient subterfuge passed down the ages Ramazan was very dependent upon Paul to complete all the information on Moslem diets and other customs on the computer, and therefore worked closely with Paul. I tried working different hours to avoid all this hatred. I could understand why he would ask me to distribute his memos, since this is a lengthy process. Interview: Philip Yancey on U.S. Christianity, Faith That Matters Having read psychological views with my very limited understanding capabilities, sometimes I still wonder whether its an illness to be cured/managed or a diabolical influence to be resisted. Yancey gives humorous as well as pathetic accounts of his early life, including living as trailer trash and getting in trouble in schoolsmost often because of his renegade brilliance. Now youre getting me excited. I remember falling farther in love with Jesus through those pages, going on and on to my lapsed mother about how amazing he was. What a lovely, poignant Advent book. Now get out of my office! It felt wonderful, but Paul used this later to further discredit me [30], claiming that I had meant my demand to leave my office to be permanent. Then you feel betrayed." Like you, part of my journey involves working through a very legalistic upbringing in the church; while there have been so many subsequent encouraging steps forward to learn about, as you say, a faith that makes its followers larger and not smaller, one recurring setback in my life is a sense of anger against that upbringing (and the people involved with it) at times, this anger is a stumbling block that prevents me from continued growth. So I wrote and am just now releasing a book that a local Christian publisher embraced. Maybe twenty years ago I found your books, and your unique mix of artistry, doubt, compassion, and Sehnsucht cast a vision for me as a young believer. I was shocked that the Bridges manager would do this kind of thing behind my back instead of asking me directly. I went to a priest I knew In PEI , it was there I met some american christians who came up to me in a coffee shop where I was using the free internet. In January 2017, when I was in the V and C area, I saw the mother of an inmate in the visiting area. I know the purpose of that days devotional was not for you to complain about having to interact with people on this subject. I dont remember the details, but I do remember that it was while reading that section of the book that I realized I wanted to be a writer. Everything was spelled out in black and white. The reviews and samples of your books I have read are very encouraging! I found out from AWI Brad Sass that things had gotten so bad between Paul and Barry that a mediator had to be brought in. We do not characterize ourselves as fundamentalist (preferring evangelical), but others might do so. Please come to our Homegroup!!! Your book Amazing Grace stirred me to be more grace-full myself. Neither sources nor archives are sufficient. On p. 89, Phil says, Yet it does help us to see God not as a remote being, untouched by what we go through on Earth, but rather as One who is willing to experience it in person. I just dont understand. You introduced me to a couple of people I had not known before. We were wondering, did you mean that literally or were you speculating? Here in Pakistan there are millions of Christians who needs to read biblical material but most of them were not able to go to English medium schools because Christians in Pakistan are poor. Please note that its adapted from the book A Skeptics Guide to Faith. Philip, Mr. Yancey, The Director of the Church Army did nothing to stand up for me with the loss of my prison job. The pattern I see in the Gospels, though, is exactly what you describe, especially Jesus words to the Pharisees after the woman anointed him. In December 2015, the EPS contacted me in PEI to make a statement about Gord [2]. I know that hurts deeply: grief is where love and pain converge. I went through a period of reacting against everything I was taught, and even discarding my faith. Let me recommend some reading: The Road Less Traveled, by Scott Peck; books by Brene Brown; the book Lean In, on the power of introverts, and almost anything by Henri Nouwen. She is open about her partisanship, but I the spirit she expresses should apply when either side wins an election: Weve had 36 hours now to absorb the surprising results of our presidential election. Blessings and Shalom! Waiting on God? Paul told me later that afternoon that Bridges Manager Brian Harder had been running circles around him during lunch. Thank you Canada . I couldnt finish the Gracia Divina Vs. Condena Humana but this afternoon my dad found the english versin Whats so Amazing About Grace and that tile immediately got my attention, I forgot I had it as a gift from a Pastor I meet in North Carolina, making a long story short I started reading tonight and what a much difference feeling. Thanks, All the proceeds from this and the Medearis study guide help fund our work. We only have 2 choices. I need God to speak and I shall praise God regardless but I am so depressed and anxious because I feel like God is so so distant. The church sees no color or ethnicity we are all Christians or are trying to be. I would cry out but my pain has robbed me of the energy. I am a minister that read your Book Whats so Amazing about Grace the year it was published and have never recovered. that settles it. Finally, I decided theres no way to reconcile the linear, time-bound perspective of a human being with the eternal, timeless perspective of God, for whom our causation questions make little sense. I know that history well, and also the Chinese version of similar atrocities. I wanted to comment some text of the latest I have been reading (not finished yet), the Soul adventure. A few days after Pauls verbal attack on me, the Warden asked me to meet with him. I was told yes, I could. So sorry, and all the best with your book! To further raise awareness of religious discrimination at the Edmonton Institution, I reported this incident to Commissioner Head after my dismissal. Jesus tells me to love others, to seek out the marginal, to not be a respecter of persons, and to seek His will because this is not our home and we have to make a difference while we can. Background I love reading your observations of how God is working in different parts of the world. Read it. I like the way you think, and you are asking very important questions. It starts with the story of Babots Feast that jolted me and years later I still think about it. The disappoint of God by Yancey? I feel pretty lonely at times as a Christian ( and I realise that my erratic church attendance hasnt helped). I could not ever have voted for Donald Trump. I just came back from a mission trip with Greg and others from Southeast in April where we got to go to Damoh as well as the Siliguri area. . Hi, Mr. Yancey I often am discouraged with my life. I agree with much of what you say about the role of artists and the disappearing nature of most art. We dealt with this story in church yesterday and I feel I have to defend the Samaritan woman at the well. Ive found myself remaining uncomfortably silent because I dont know how to engage others in a way consistent with Pauls guidance. Strangely, I find no record of an Italian translation. He spoke of religious liberty being squashed by Hillary Clinton and quoted her discussing how she would change things along those lines. Indeed I will pray, and may show up again sometime! It is a good read to see the tremendous good that was generated during that time. To understand the definition of forgiveness, does the reference of your book, which is called Forgive and Forget written by Philip. The goal of parenthood is not to produce clones who replicate their parents, rather to produce mature adults who make their own choices. Finally you end the book with a statement that I had to reflect on, I have no problem believing God is good. And how intimately? Philip. Just thought you may be interested in looking into this. it happens more for me throughout the day through things I see and experience. I would encourage you to keep looking, because in my experience those who stay away from church for long, seldom go back, and the coal removed from the fire loses heat. In some of your books youve written perceptively about the lingering impact of Christianity on our post-Christian culture through organizations like Amnesty International and Alcoholics Anonymous. Keep your spiritual eyes open and rest assured that God wants to communicate with you also! So we find ourselves alone, a lot. Philip. It provides extra background and may be helpful for you, but isnt tied in directly to the video group study. I would love to hear you thoughts on word written by the ancient Greek pagan poet Aeschylus. I hear from Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Catholics, and others who had experiences quite unlike mine yet can identify with some of the excesses I experienced. (From Hungary). It was not that big an issue. I was feeling particularly ashamed today and navigating it in prayer. I hope that none of my readers is that grotesque anomaly an unchurched Christian-for the New Testament knows nothing of such a monster! This really upset me. He and I had been to the same evangelical Anglican theological college, and we were part of the evangelical wing of the worldwide Anglican Church. We confessed our grief and our fears. I have a problem that I was hoping you could help me with. And Lynn Green justified her actions by saying it was what she was taught. My favorite of his books is probably Whats So Amazing About Grace and he says it like it is. On December 31, 2016, he handed over just the treats but held back the Menorahs and candles. I lost my job at the prison for reporting abuse of prisoners ,one a guard for having a retarded female North American Indian prisoner naked on the floor in his control room with her legs spread apart and him looking in. No lasting effects, other than a sore neck now and then after sleeping. Not that I feel capable of teaching on the subject, but that I feel guys need to know more about this. I was deeply moved and encouraged by these books and grateful thanking God for the profound and challenging thoughts I have read. I can tell you within nanoseconds when that very asteroid will pass us again 1,000 years from now. Philip, Dear Mr. Yancy, Prisoners also confided in me that Spilsby set up fights between them on the ranges, that he was a cruel man. Anyway, just wanted to write to thank you for a breath of fresh air. Rarely attending any synagogue or church and then mainly to accompany a friend or out of curiosity. Phil tries to reassure me over and over that just faith that God is in control offers great comfort and peace. In 1988, after 4 years as a well-liked chaplain at the TEDC [1], I moved to Alberta to become the Protestant chaplain at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre (FSCC). Its clear he hopes for this. Im thankful for the Jesus l never knew. At one of the M2W2 meetings, Jim Shantz commented that the Mennonite Central Committee had just been meeting, and that one of the things discussed at the meeting was how the Israeli government was treating the Palestinians the same way as the Canadian government had treated its Aboriginal people. The reason I am writing is to request a suggestion from you. I appreciate your spirit and your concern for your friends. I was lying on the floor of my daughters bedroom, trying to coax her to sleep (kids mental health has really suffered in this ordeal) while a million problems raced through my mind. Brad gave me a big hug and told me to run my programs in spite of Pauls objections or criticisms. Thats quite a balance to keep! The neat formula and juridical language I had been taught didnt seem to do justice to all of the events that occurred during the Passion narrative. I dont think it has made it into any books, however. You had just spent the morning speaking to a group of ministers of education and, probably, the last thing you desired to do was to provide a free counseling session. I am a great admirer and follower of your writing and teaching and your Grace Notes daily readings are an essential part of my day, as they have been for the last three years since I was first given the book. Today is finally that day. Smith blackened my name right across Canada and made it impossible for me to be accepted by a Bishop and so I went to the breakaway Anglicans, Reformed Episcopal Church ,and they were as cruel and bigoted as Capt. But I understand your intent, and am glad you waited so long to bless me with your kind and generous words. From the dropdown menu, choose All of Philips books: the first two listed are the ones Ive been working on, one now published, one due out in October. Im so glad that you have made a promise not to take your life. Yancey expressed his doubts about the Republican presidential candidate and his Christian supporters during an interview with website Evangelical Focus. Evil spirits are definitely present, existing somehow independently of the natural world. Hope you understand. I could not understand why some people in authority thought it was okay to use children as sex toys, and to abuse the elderly and disabled. Thank you for your writings. Does that mean the disappearance of sins? Thank you so much for your hard work and dedicated service to God. You are doing very important work, Emily, and Im delighted to hear that weve come to some similar conclusions. Although I have strong opinions on the topic, Ive struggled to express them in a way consistent with the fruits of the spirit. Sorry! On page 121, Phil says, as I pondered the question [Where is God when it hurts?] Thank you! It is difficult not to have the impression its re-emergence in our lives was divinely orchestrated. There is this deep sense, a calling maybe, to make others aware of it anew. Writing is such an introspective act that I found myself looking for ways to connect with the planet bodily. So I found a copy on ebay and didnt think any more of it. But thank you for the books and your courage in writing what you describe as toxic faith in the fundamentalist churches. Yours in writing Yes, The Lord does what we want Him to do when we approach Him from a standpoint of selfless obedience and pray His promises daily. This great Q&A reminded me of a student film I made while at Chapman Universitys film school. Dave ODonnell. All I can say is Thank You. The man in charge is a police sergeant who for no apparent reason began to recount his story of miraculous recovery from terminal cancer. Your comment shows a lot of maturity, even though to you it may feel confusing. Anyhow, it would be interesting if you were to write a blog on this topic. It is also well edited and has a professional literary aura about it. I also found that this church was holding back my growth and began searching for a new one. (Jam. If you dont agree with liberals, then we experience unceasing attacks meant for Trump, but received by those who voted him in. That idea came from the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, in a sermon he wrote. I was hesitant to return to Edmonton due to all the sexual abuse I had reported in that city, and because of the hatred that some powerful people in the church, government and police there had for me. I send this message, as I think it is a very relevant issue, and I would like to suggest it as a theme to be worked on by the group of young people I am part of. I wrote that book in my active journalism days, when I was seeking people to interview who might be models for my life. I live in New Zealand but am happy to use a U.S. editor given the wonder of technology. If we receive all good things from God, it is hard to see what God receives from us. (You do not give the citation) Thanks. I am now a student at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. You have wonderful insight into our faith. But had become something more in Janice Greens evil eyes and The Nicholson in Hawaii hated, homophobia , for the first time in my life I was labelled and because of Nicholson, Green and Lindsey and Smith, 4 people, the rest of my life would suffer the results of their hatred .None of them ever took the time to talk to me about it my feelings and views , they simply labelled me and did everything in their power to destroy a good man, my life. She treated me so badly that after 3 months of hell I finally ran away and headed back to Canada, she called every christian organization along the greyhound route to Canada and warned them about me a gay . I am re-reading The Jesus I Never Knew for the umpteenth time and was wondering if you are watching the series The Chosen. Nevertheless, I always had just enough and with Gods help I moved on from my depression and started volunteering at a long-term care facility, taking services and doing visits. That only deepens my burden for Richard. I have just finished reading Where the Light Fell. I admit I dont know how to pray but want to learn as the disciples wanted Jesus to teach them to pray. You warm my heart. I want to know God better. I am considering borrowing material from your book for one of the sessions. Why does your book not acknowledge that kind of pain? Philip Yancey to Speak at December Commencement I walked into a public library about 15 years ago, with about 45 minutes to burn until it was time to pick my daughter up from school. When God closed one door, and He seemed did not open the other doors, my wife and I were very thankful, because we could see the windows were wide open for us to see His miracle and unfailing love through friends, church and families. Church, my home church. in it you state that the High Priest wore a rope around his waist and bells when he entered the Holy of Holies. My life was in shambles and depression was looming at the horizon. Im open to the theophany. The misrepresentation of grace is actually the death of truth. Hey watch out for those peaceful protestors! My wife and I had the same feeling on this situation: On the one hand, we wanted to trust God and know that He has beautiful plan for us; on the other hand, it seemed too difficult to understand why all of these happened at the same time. Years ago, early in my faith walk, I read the books you wrote with Dr. Brad expressed his sorrow over what had happened to me. Fully Accredited Bible College in Virginia. I ask, Has the murderer asked for forgiveness? Has the guilty expressed remorse, at all? Hmm. I also plan on emailing you further with a few highlights. I am currently reading What is So Amazing About Grace and often find myself going back to Scripture as I read, knowing that is where the truth is! I finally was tired of waiting for the contract to sign and so complained to Bruce Smith about it and he replied by throwing me out of the church Army and CSC failed me. I wonder what you think now about this quote you shared in the book where a New York Times editorial warned that the activism of religious conservatives poses a far greater threat to democracy than was presented by communism. many thanks. It really is an honour to communicate with you! We searched and searched and prayed and prayed for a solution, until we found In the Likness of God. Your relationship with Dr. Paul Brand and your amazing work together inspired us and acted as our model for Come, Walk with Me. We published Come, Walk with Me in 2020. Now I am 68yrs old, retired nurse and creative therapist: my husband a clergyman, divorced 17yrs ago but remarried to the same man(!) Also, from your travels, you never mentioned Nigeria, dont you think it will be nice to come to Nigeria? They have endured far more pain than I have, and perhaps can offer some solace. In short, Soul Survivor gave a great boost to my spiritual journey, and I am grateful to you for writing it and for helping to broaden my understanding of Christianity and its many valid and beautiful expressions. If you cant come, then please pray for us. When I said yes, he told me to put it back on and be our chaplain. Thank you again And keep writing about grace and the Jesus we need to know and follow. Lewis Smedes has the answer to my question? Smith was out to get me. As the warmer weather approached in 2016, we constantly had flies buzzing around in the chapel and offices. Your writing has blessed my life many times over. I drink and I swear, and read the Bible differently. I wonder if God is still really there. We prayed together, and he asked if he could come and talk with me on an ongoing basis. Looking at the great irony, that we know Jesus backwards, yet our life unfolds forwards. I often find myself wondering why the Bible isnt like that. I mailed the letter to Brian Harder and Misty McLaughlin by registered mail that evening. Actually, I talked with Richard just last week. But when I go through a dark valley where I again am troubled with misconceptions of God, I pull your book out again, and it helps to bring the right perspective back into focus. I have weird tastes in movies. I have written books with titles like Where Is God When It Hurts, Disappointment with God, Reaching for the Invisible God and The Question That Never Goes Away. I went on to tell Brad about my desire to run different programs that the prisoners had asked for, and how Paul shut them down every time. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. I grew up during the 60s and 70s, and was very much influenced by the civil rights movement, the peace movement (during Viet Nam), and environmental causes. She feels you slandered both the church and the pastor. Thank you in advance. I am grieving for my siblings who died, for my dog whom I loved so much, for my job that I loved, I am grieving for my home that I lost. we have doubts about some of their doctrine. Mr. Yancey, Im reading through Reaching for an Invisible God, savoring it by only reading a few pages a day and really considering what you say and it occurred to me that I ought to be praying for this man who has, along with John Stott, been such a constant spiritual guide for me in the mornings when I pray & study the Bible. Stephanie C. Your gracious letter in this life is more than enough. I am Munir Masih from Pakistan. I wrote of this briefly at the end of Disappointment with God. The men may well have divorced her (women could almost never divorce their husbands) due to her being barren. One will be desired to read more from your knowledge of write ups. One of the recent ones, Role Reversal on October 27th, is much in my mind at the moment. Philip Yancey - Wikipedia The Second Mountain - Philip Yancey Enjoy! I know a little about mathematics and biology. There are so many great references to other famous writers, many of whom were Christians who have struggled in their faith. Your writing has helped me through tough times and I cannot thank you enough! Forever thankful for your ministry and help! A "sometimes reluctant Christian" who has spent his entire adult life recovering from the "toxic" fundamentalist church of his childhood, Yancey walked away from religion in college. Despite the turmoil created by my reporting of Gord Dominey, life at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre went on. Ive always trusted your words. The Creationist groups are responsible for part of our problem. This is a thank you note and hope one day, before the sun sets for both of us, I will meet you. Thus we met, merely as a matter of courtesy, with no expectations, no points of reference. For me, communicating with God doesnt seem to happen when I am actually praying. It is when I am pondering things while in the shower, or walking in the woods, or driving in the countryside. I just wanted to write and thank you for Whats So Amazing About Grace? I bought the book about 20 years ago, but I never read it until now. If so, where? He was overly homophobic and to look out. Im afraid, though, that Im way behind on a major writing project and have sealed myself off for the next year or so.
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