Being fairly new to the faith, although old in years, I have a hard time reconciling the fact that Jesus kingdom is not of this world, that we are not to be of the world (or in the world, I can never remember which word means which status) and yet politics would seem to epitomize being of the world. Your words are a balm and a bright light to me. She abandoned her little girl to the streets. You are a very gifted person. You did not misstep, no. I am now trying to read Reaching for the Invisible God. Improbable but true. 121:7) No harm will overtake you; no illness will come near your home. (Psa. 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! Thanks, Its the easy way to try to sell a book because who wants to hear the true gospel that requires sacrifice and calls for repentance? I have read and now am re-reading with my 19 yr. old daughter, Disappointment with God. I spent a year trying to get a prison chaplain position in the Eden Detention Centre in Texas. This same dean initiated a program where during one chapel service each week, a senior preached. It was only my dream but then you were on my heart next to Goethe. I am attempting to help a man who says he needs to forgive God. It was here that I met Capt Mark Dickson of the Church Army and we became friends . At college, I often encountered friends who found themselves in the shadows between belief and unbelief. Philip. I have learned a lot. My mother was very dependant on me so I grew up very quickly, no childhood. I hope you have supportive people around you (pastor, friends, counselor) who can give you in person what no book can. Writing (especially about such a sensitive topic) is hard and I deeply appreciate the time and effort and struggle you put into it. I have finished Part 1: How Sweet The Sound. The way you write about his thoughts gets rid of that linguistic barrier. However, I am in the midst of a heavy writing project and made a decision to focus solely on that for the next year at least. Pauls claim that I was not wanted here were clearly false, as further confirmed by e-mails from Warden Clovis and AWI Susan Letendre [28] [29]. To think that someone else had thought it too, separately, at a different time and country. Lets be clear here. All the best! Im so glad youre acquainted with Paul Brand. I was raised in a hellfire and brimstone church, and grew closer to God in a bible-teaching, grace-based church. And all of us Americans are addicted to Comfort. And thank you for this most encouraging grace note. Philip. Thank you for your existence..!!! I have given so many copies of that book out, I have lost count. Personal I have prayed the prayer of salvation too many times to count, starting in my teens and continuing well into my thirties. There are some sensitive and controversial aspects to this book that I need help navigating, and Whats So Amazing is just that. I doubt a book is the place to start. I do not have an answer for this. He refused to give such inmates Kosher diets. And I need your precious advice to tell me which book should I read first I know they are all good books but I want to make the best benifet of them by some arrangement. Rev. The first few pages were a balm to my soul, somehow expressing perfectly what I have been feeling and the questions I have been wrestling with. I got the book through an app and started reading it. Lewis In an "awful vow", against which Philip Yancey and his brother, Marshall, would constantly collide, his mother dedicated her two boys to God: "He is a ghost figure, summoned by our mother at key moments. Can you tell me where you found this? None for a few years, but I saw them for so long that I do believe in them. Yes, labels is confusing because I know a Evangelical Christian author who also does not believe in literal hell and Book of Revelation should be in the Holy Bible, those are strong Progressive things. Putting the pieces together, I got the impression that he had ended the affair and that the dog handler blamed me for it. All the while we are systematically sealing off the heart attitude most desirable to God and most descriptive of our true state in the universe. Its all about Gods grace reaching us by unsuspected ways sometimes. My refusal to keep quiet about the sexual abuse among church leaders also caused a deterioration of my relationship with my employer, Threshold Ministries. It is true. However, it does not look as though it will address a question I am interested in. I do not want excusesIf he loves me why wont he just answer in a way that will change me? with a lot less fear, and a lot more gratitude for the generosity of God. His books have sold more than 15 million copies in English and have been translated into 40 languages, making him one of the best-selling contemporary Christian authors. I have spoken to various pastors, councellors etc and they all spew the same garbage and meaningless words. I loved reading your book The Gift of Pain. Thank you. They needed water. I was first introduced to your work through my dad, who has been an avid fan of yours since his days as a college student. while also editing The Student Bible. Angela (Alberta, Canada). Your writing has helped me through tough times and I cannot thank you enough! . His grace truly IS amazing and His love IS unconditional! Former president Jimmy Carter has called Yancey "my favorite modern author".[9]. I now own and have read all of your books. Surely I did not mean to mock them, and am sorry if it came across to you that way. What I love most about reactions to my memoir is that readers tend to tell their own stories in response. I try to see God as my Father but as a mother I cannot understand why (if God is to be seen as our Heavenly Father) he would allow his children to suffer. And how insignificant we really all are, but then how fortunate we are to have this body and to be able to enjoy loving here amongst the beauty of the Earth itself. Jim Lovell, Apollo 8 & 13, It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. As anyone can, I can list tragedy after tragedy and in not a single instance is there evidence some celestial entity intervenes. And I doubt that I am with Christians. Its one thing to write these words, and quite another to live them out. I told him Chaplain Paul had brought in a bag of at least 30. Born 1939, in Chicago, IL; married Roger Winter (an artist); children: Jonah, Max. Its one thing to outwardly portray stoicism; its quite another to face daily the doubts and second guessing. (As to your friend, I attended one more moderate church in Atlanta but most of my toxic memories are of another, smaller and more fundamentalist churchthe two are sometimes confused, as again I do not use their names.) Or better, they needed celestial intervention to divert a couple Boeing 767s a hundred feet into the Hudson. Ive thought of a simple little one-room bookstore in my tiny country town where I could sit and read and perhaps interact with the visitors who come looking for books and Jesus. I would like to know which of your books I should read next. Maybe someday Ill get to thank you in person properly this time! Unfortunately the real problem is that I live in Mississippi, where, as of July 1st 2016, if one assumes that someone has had sex outside the confines of a heterosexual marriage, it will be completely fine to fire that person, deny him or her housing, and even refuse to provide such a person with a WEDDING CAKE. Religion still ensures regular mayhem with its confusing messages, ITS strategically chosen alias, is something called Christianity (Matthew 3:4), I wouldnt doubt it. Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series. Then I thought it would be awesome if I ever get one chance to talk to Goethe, the man who died in 1832. But it was mostly your writings that got me through this period of several years. 0. what bible college did philip yancey attend. Welcome to the family, Scott. He is the only One who defines christianity. Capt. Paul also told me he hated Barrys predecessor, Pastor Oliver Johnson. The book you mention, Rumors, was retitled A Skeptics Guide to Faith and is still in print. On December 31, 2016, he handed over just the treats but held back the Menorahs and candles. I knew this was truly the aim of all the rapid and miraculous growth, led by the Holy Spirit. Almost overnight I became jobless, penniless, homeless, childless, loveless.hopeless. Such beautiful encouragement, Heidi. What lifts my spirit is that no matter where you walk, He is always there waiting for you. And further, if this is the case, how could anyone bend a knee to whichever deity is responsible for this plan? https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/yancey-philip-d-1949-philip-david-yancey. Today I read these words: Although I believe that my readers come from different churches or denominations, at least two things surely unite us. My husband has been unemployed for 16 months. Thank you for your challenging and engaging style of writing.N. I got to hear firsthand many of the stories you talked about. only did first chapter, who is Gabe Lyons in the first video session, You should Google him. Philip. Very recently, a popular christian leader and singer posted on her instagram what she called a #HolyIndignation. Let me tell you, I was nine years old but I weighed less than 30 pounds. 54:17) Which is it Phil? Ive found myself remaining uncomfortably silent because I dont know how to engage others in a way consistent with Pauls guidance. First among these is probably Frederick Buechner, one of the most honest, funny and poignant writers I can think of. (With Brenda Quinn) Meet the Bible: A Panorama of God's Word in 366 Readings and Reflections, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000. They are sincere and genuine. So, at the end of the day, blaming GOD (who wants to be loved but does not partake in a two-way conversation) seems plausable. We currently attend a small Presbyterian church. They had received a phone call from my former employer, The Bethany Group, and claimed that I had questioned a doctor. Dear Mr. Yancey, May God bless you and keep you. Like you, I believe we need many more. Im uneasy that it is eg beyond the understanding of the archetypal dear old lady in the pew. If nothing else could you please pray I could be more of worth to my family and God would help with my depression and chronic pain. Back in 2007, I decided to put myself out there and finally answer what I believed to be Gods call on my life to be a worship pastor. One of them spends his life looking after the needs of homeless people, the elderly, undocumented immigrants, and people living (and dying) with AIDS. I wonder if God planned it that way on purpose, so we, His children, would make booking inquiries, I worked for Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworkers Union as an organizer, and other things (Grapes of Wrath influenced me here). Wishing that I might be able to see you in person one day by wandering around the world. Yes, being a Christian IS hard. I wish I could offer editorial help, but Im so far behind on my own deadlines that I have no time for any other projects for the foreseeable future. In the short book Church: Why Bother? Rev. When you reach the dangerous edges of grace, I feel a bit of anger, but I know its true. I read quite a bit so I may have lost memory of where this story originated. Been reading almost all of your books. Have a problem? And Ive found that because of the evil done to me, Ive been able to understand the sorrows in other peoples lives. Shame on me for referring to another book, but I addressed this very problem in Reaching for the Invisible God. Its a great question, one I spent a year exploring. Ive been reading Vanishing Grace, and it strikes at so many points that I myself have wondered; again, I want to thank you for what youre doing. Our human pleasure is a mere glimpse of what God must feel. Understand that as a trained police investigator, and general skeptic, I knew there was no such thing as coincidence; there was always SOME explanation until proven, and very rarely proven otherwise. 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. I dont want to miss this opportunity to write to you to tell you how awesome it has been to read your writings. Rumors of Another World: What on Earth Are We Missing?, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2003. I am still speechless in the face of evil. Of course. Phil later has to correct himself with, No, Im sorry. When Brad Sass had found out that I had planted a tree in memory of his mother, he was deeply moved. Philip. He was saying, I want this one. Just like you, I am deeply baffled by how many Filipino Christians have voted, even defended our current president. I dont know where your friend got that quote about church. I am just finishing reading your book Vanishing Grace. The fact that youre asking the question indicates youre well on the way to health. Pray for people of color first, along with undocumented workers and those particularly dependent on governmental services and assistance. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/yancey-philip-d-1949-philip-david-yancey. The situation got so bad that I took it to AWI Brad Sass and to Brian Harder. Clearly, the highest loyalty we should have is not to our own country or our own religion or our hometown or even to ourselves. One of my regular practices was to send sympathy cards to prisoners who had experienced a death in their immediate family while I was their chaplain. When I wouldnt resign the Phychologist wrote my resignation. Such places of suffering in Slovenia are only 300. I recommend it to you highly. Can you recommend a book concerning the errors in the Catholic Church rituals, beliefs, concept of praying to saints, etc.? p.s. Remember, Jews vehemently ignore it. We admired his faith. Im reading through Vanishing Grace for a second time right now, and I keep thinking, this is what I want!, sometimes with tears. I read your book where is God when it hurts, that was not too long after I lost my mother and faced severe persecution from my father. You have wonderful insight into our faith. Just like the Hague revoked the tax exempt status of the Church of Scientology this week, Id revoke them all. Philip. As a canecr survivor and a leader of our churchs canecr support group, I want to express to you my personal gratitude for your talk and your books. Keep writing, I read each of them. I live in Cape Town, South Africa. I am looking forward to reading more of your books in the future. pleased that you honor him in this way. In extreme anguish I drove east, not knowing where to go. But Christianity is completely the opposite. You make me feel less lonely, and spur me further down the same path. A few minutes later, tears were streaming down my face and I was trying to hold back the sobs as I finished your description of Babettes Feast and said to myself, Can this really be true? Choice, June, 1994, G.B. BlessingsI know your country is going through hard times. only to discover that it talks about people who suffer literal pain. I purchased my first copy about 18 years ago and have since blessed others with copies too. You confirm my suspicions. Rather than simply shrug my shoulders, however, I decided to study the topic in depth and that is when I came across your experiences and writings. We are a nation that is still horribly divided along racial, economic, and criminal lines. In fact, some estimate that the problem is as widespread in Protestant denominations as in the Catholic church, which has attracted far more scrutiny. What has this taught me? Lewis is the other one.) Thank you, Philip Yancey for a balanced, Godly look at ourselves. Mdecins Sans Frontires is a godless organization. We are just about the same age, which I was amazed to see. Anyway, I wanted to apologize for our selfishness and being so inconsiderate. 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. I am so disappointed. What a lovely, poignant Advent book. i understand your argument against that vote but what is the alternative? People are allowed to freely sin without consequence and sermons are touchy-feely inspiration that wont offend anyone because, as you seem to emphasize, we need to reach sinners by not offending them. This ongoing pandemic has combined with unrelated health and economic setbacks to really take a severe toll on my family. .) My all-time favorite is Whats so Amazing about Grace, but recently I read Reaching for the Invisible God again, which caused me to remember that my faith is just that: faith. It was not that big an issue. I also resonate with the writer of Ecclesiastes. At the meeting, the Warden asked Paul to speak first, even though I had been the victim. Philip Yancey's "Where the Light Fell" is an indictment of the pseudo-spirituality that is the hallmark of much that passes for religion in America. During my 1 -1/2 years there I was put through the healing sessions, to make me into a Hetrosexual ,it caused me alot of confusion and pain and incredable life long shame when I did not changed from Same Sex Attraction to Hetrosexual attraction. Thank you for your writings. Philip. Feel the love! Michael, I like the way you think, and you are asking very important questions. It should be compulsory reading for Christians to learn how not to be full of ungrace, how it saddens me when I hear harsh words spoken of others by those in debt to the Grace of God. May He continue to bless you. I was particularly disturbed when you quoted your brother who used to quote 1 Chronicles (parbar) and people thought he was speaking in tongues. I am an older mom that has pursued a very task-oriented career for most of my life in order to pay the bills and keep the household running. Paul used the tensions between Brian and me to demoralize me. I met someone who took me to a Quaker Meeting. Naturally, I defended Rabbi Ari. He would think that the house was on fire, or some other serious thing, and drag his wife out of her bed in panic. If you cant come, then please pray for us. Ive always told people that one day I would have lunch with you and David Robinson. It seems that your pilgrimage somehow inspired me to embark on mine, somewhat. The inmates wanted chicken but Paul bought fresh salad items in bulk. Philip. I dont minimize the pain you feel at all. Now I am 68yrs old, retired nurse and creative therapist: my husband a clergyman, divorced 17yrs ago but remarried to the same man(!) Last night I finished Whats so Amazing about Grace. I cant imagine what you went through growing up though I do know a good bit about the south and its intricacies. After talking with Brian, I called the Institution and spoke to Acting AWI Matt James, asking him if my life was in danger at the Institution. You are a treasure and gift to the Church, whose impact and legacy stretches to all 7 Continentsnot just the one your Mother wished you went to serve. Is it possible to discuss something as loaded as the election with these caveats in mind? Mr. Yancey, Do not ever touch me. These comments hurt deeply and, combined with my Irritable Bowel Syndrome, produced major panic/anxiety attacks that required me to wear adult diapers for some time to prevent me from soiling myself. Some others, both living and dead: Jurgen Moltmann, a contemporary German theologian; Millard Fuller, who founded Habitat for Humanity; John Perkins, who pioneers racial reconciliation; Ron Nikkel, who took Prison Fellowship to more than 100 countries; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia. Can you expand some more on your thoughts concerning election/predestination and how you look at it at this point? Stalins Great Terror, Katrina and Galvestons storms, Europes Black Death, Chinas incredibly deadly dynasty battles, the tornado outbreak in 2011, WWI, WWII & The Civil War, the Holocaust, throwing acid on Afghani schoolgirls, religious wars such as the Thirty Years War and the Crusades, Krakatoa, last months Hajj Pilrimage trampling, Idi Amins reign of terror, Oklahoma City, the Spanish Influenza epidemic, Bhopal and Union Carbides methyl isocyanate poisioning (I teach about this one in HazMat class), Haitis quake, Rwandas genocide, Sandy Hook, female genital mutilation, the Challenger Space Shuttle, or closet to me, 9/11. In recent years . I dont think Im ready to write about it in more detail yet. keep digging? And yet, I turned to Him still. Please do let me know! Whenever I hold the book in my hands, I can clearly see that you threw away more than 10 pages to make one complete page. "His openness and transparency are appealing, and he writes with love.". Sorry, sir, but that just makes for really bad Christians and weak converts. He did not stop to ask me if I had a place to go or ask me to explain my side of the story ,he simply dumped me and walked away.I dragged my suitcase to the local hostel and got a room for the night. Its funny how Dr. Your publisher wants niche marketing to increase sales, but you have the stature to defy that impulse. Thank you for taking the time to write these books, share your own journey and bring hope to people who need to noodle over these things. I wonder what Bannon now is doing and if there is any way to contact him. Grace, still the best and last word, transcends all our feeble attempts, and my new spiritual faith seems to have transcended my christian faith the best way to put it for me. He blamed them for destroying chaplaincy. We would cheer in the church as they showed the films from Selma of the police dogs and the fire hoses. I dont know. Intellectually, I cannot accept the God of my conversion anymore. Keep praying. Meanwhile those deep doubts, those deep questions, didn't get answered in a satisfactory way. While on the trip, we worked on a trailer that really needed to be condemned and replaced but since we did not have the money for that, we did what we could to fix leaks and replace the rotting floor. For instance, what I learned from a book like To Kill a Mockingbird or Black Like Me contradicted the racism I encountered in church. Born November 4, 1949, in Atlanta, GA; son of Marshall Watts and Mildred (a teacher) Yancey; married Janet Norwood (a social work director), June 2, 1970. He threw me up against the wall, shouted at me to get out, and pushed me forcefully out of the door and back into the hallway. As dvidas de J foram silenciadas por uma viso de Deus respondendo-o de um redemoinho. You were the first Christian writer who made room for a thinker like me. Im Korean. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. The other candidates running only have very small numbersof followers. I have been radically convicted that I do not have that right. So, I guess Im an Evangelical?? When God remains silent, impassable, as life crumbles and gets smaller and smaller by the day. I knew, from personal experiences, that the teaching of my church regarding homosexuality was a distorted and cruel doctrine. Eternal bodies need the eternal earth to live on. The natural world rules, though miracles may happen. I love to read C.S. Thank you! My heart has a constant dull ache. You seem to have managed it though and I am both grateful and amazed. Philip. Local church and Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship organized prayer circle and support for Dad. Their prayer is no less sincere than ours and no less welcome in Gods ears. But in your book, your honesty gave me hope. But then I discovered that a lot of those things I was taught were wrong. For no reason. I called out to Jesus to help me, to forgive all the sins in my long life. That's why Yancey's account still sends chills down my spine. Recently I decided to try and step away from the constant critical analyzing to appreciate the undeniable beauty of faith in my life that I have found. Phil told me that he considered Don Westman to be a cruel person, that Don would make inmates stand outside in the freezing cold in winter for long periods of time while wearing just t-shirts and jeans. Yes, I think a lot of it has to do with us humans relating to an invisible God. I read most of your books and watched youtube videos as well. Your writing has blessed my life many times over. Stephanie C. Your gracious letter in this life is more than enough. The details of his life are so much less important than him knowing he belongs at the foot of the cross, with everyone Jesus died for. At age 83, you can understand the length of my stubborn quest. If I had only known it and Capt. Encyclopedia.com. Snowy and Oliver were both shocked to hear about my dismissal, and Oliver said that it would be totally out of character for me for me to blow up at an inmate. I thought I would mention it to you in case you have come across anything about this in your research/writing. I understand! I must also admit that I have used many illustrations from your books over the years of leading a study from our home that has now morphed into a zoom study. I have read several and have appreciated them, especially The Jesus I Never Knew and Whats so amazing about grace? Both have helped me in my thinking and my preaching. We peppered you with questions to help us gain some type of understanding as to why Jacob was born with such a devastating prognosis. . He chuckled and said Youve just been saved. I knew at that point I had much work to do. Smith would never forget or forgave my acceptance into Church Army. and Vanishing Grace. Philip. Thankfully, that situation is somewhat better now, but oh, how people love to gossip. You seem so much wiser than I am. Books are a good alternative. I love your spirit. I make friends with them, chat, and occasionally buy a hungry lady a pie or a can of juice, or even just fetch them a drink of water. (See http://qideas.org/contributors/gabe-lyons/) He directs a kind of think tank that works on building bridges between Christians and the culture around them. We have had this discussion about Christianity when you came to Dubai a few years back! I think you spoke at a conference one week but I was unable to attend. This little girl spent the day helping the little boys get ready by cleaning them up, combing their hair, and wondering which one would be adopted by this American couple. He has healed a lot of my hurt and set the record straight for me in many areas. This came at a good time to encourage me. Ill keep that in mind. My first permanent duty station was in Frankfurt, Germany and at that time I joined an Anglican Church. They Speak With Other Tongues ~ John Sherrill One will be desired to read more from your knowledge of write ups. I am Jess, and you have always been my favourite writer. Since coming to Alberta as a chaplain 29 years ago, I have on many occasions reported the verbal, sexual and physical abuse of such people around me and under my care. In 1981 YWAM Canada sent me to the USA to DayStar Ministries for further healing because I was still same sex attracted, i needed more conversion therapy , Uli and Carol Kortsch had told me to go for the 12 week therepy and then I could come back to YWAM Canada. Ive lived in other areas of the country (including Colorado where you live now) though I have come back to Georgia as it truly is home for me. My family and I plan to visit the USA in June 2023. So I am wondering if there is some kind of a generic guide you can point us to, questions to ask while we read the weekly chapters and for discussion when we meet? I am now beginning to feel guilty as I have been spending more time reading about prayer than actually praying. I was delighted to hear from you this morning. Having himself undergone crises of faith, Yancey understands the varying degrees of belief amongst his readers, and he challenges Christians to become less judgmental and more childlike in their faith. I just wanted to say thank you, for your blog posts and student bible as much as your books. Can you help me by telling me the difference between Christians and Evangelical Christians? I was struck (positively) by a Luther reference you made in the final pages of Where is God When It Hurts?i.e. And how intimately? Your sermon was wonderful, but I wanted to thank you for your last comments most of all. Id stick with the hardback, available new for $13.21 US. When evil man hurt innocent people, we cringe and are very upset. or request blog subscription, Though my life was different than yours, there were elements of your story that sparked memories for me. In 1992 he and his wife Janet, a social worker and hospice chaplain, moved to the foothills of Colorado. I responded by writing you that I kept a journal all the time I was in the group (8 years).