He also expressed shock and surprise, and assured me in writing that he would order an investigation into my dismissal and the events leading up to it [42] [43]. Actually, I have been trying to find a part of a story I read a long while ago, written by you, in which you describe the character, meaning the Lord, emphatically pleading with (all I can recall is) a man in a hut. Thanks. I grew up as an adoptee in a Mennonite Brethren Church. Im sure he knew something major was happening in the universe, but exactly what? I wish you the best. Perhaps I will continue to struggle with guilt for a very long time. Mr Yancey- Mere Christianity ~ C.S. The lawyer said that, if anything, an SOR should have been filed by me and the Institution and put in my file as a warning. Thank you. 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 can all inhale and exhale. We lost Jacob back in 2009. It is so refreshing in our evangelical faith to have a Biblical perspective on pain and suffering. I am just finishing reading your book Vanishing Grace. At least, I hope we are. Dear Phillip, You wrote 2 books I have a question about-The Jesus I Never Knew & The Bible Jesus Read. "Yancey, Philip D. 1949- (Philip David Yancey) You are easily my favourite Christian writer, and you never fail to inspire me through the topics you write on. We call it evil. Im going to start reading it and seeing if there are any parallel things. I feel like both the father and the son with myself. Thank you for your words. I had just finished reading about your accident and the call to come talk in VA, when I began to feel strange and then promptly passed out, much to my wifes surprise. Once I found out that the batteries were defective, I replaced them and the hearing aids resumed functioning normally. Ill send you a private email with any editorial ideas. Your books have been used by God to keep me in the fold. I especially appreciate your concern for Richard. All I can say is Wow! I wrote you a letter once before and you sent me a signed book about faith surviving the church. However, by this time both Monty and Frank had died untimely deaths and their two daughters had taken over for their fathers. I didnt want anyone to think, I might think such a thing. Lastly, these months we felt that God brought us so many people who are in needs autoimmune, cancer, and one of my office member of the Board who was also imprisoned similar case to my Dad. When we find churches with decent preaching, we are often judged or find that the church has a strong sub-culture of modern identity and a lack of hospitality and love. I too look around and say where has all the Grace gone? I never found a way that I could remain loyal to my Chinese heritage, and be Christian at the same time, it seemed to be asking me to say Who are you to me mother to my cultural heritage, and to the indigenous Spirit of this Land. Blessings and Shalom! I love your spirit, Lisa. You are putting into actual practice what I write about. This morning time, he says, helps him align himself with God for the day. Rollman, review of Pain, p. 1612. It is a million miles away from writing or anything creative in general. . You cant very well save someone with a spirit of condemnation. God was at the side of the 343 firefighters climbing the towers on September 11, 2001? When are you coming to England. When Life Hurts: Understanding God's Place in Your Pain, Multnomah (Sisters, OR), 1999. I feel overwhelming gratitude that I can make a living writing about the questions that most interest me. He is much less angry now, and open to spirituality and the supernatural, though more in a New Age kind of way than traditionally Christian. The Old Testaments virtual silence on lesbianism and the fact that Jesuss statements against divorce were about men divorcing women, not the other way around, are just a few of the examples that reinforce this fact. He currently has more than 17 million books in print, published in over 50 languages worldwide. Im impressed that you were reading me at 16, and even more impressed that were still companions on the journey. 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. From Brazil, MG, Belo Horizonte, This message, from the other side of the equator, from a country with problems of its own, was truly a grace note to me. I really was taken back by what you said about skirt lengths and hair length etc. I wrote a book on Jesus a few years ago, and agree about our underemphasis of his humanity. Suddenly, I remembered word for word the Twenty-Third Psalm. One woman started talking with me, telling me of her abusive husband. Im thankful. It affects me discouraged a lot so I lost my motivation to have relationship with the Lord by not reading the Bible or prayer. Strangely, I find no record of an Italian translation. Just after the evaluation team left, the chapel was sealed off to have asbestos removed and to have a new carpet put down. If the conclusion of commandments is love, then is forgiveness the conclusion of salvaton? As I often say, If I were God, I wouldnt have turned over the mission to the likes of us. I was mentally and emotionally abused as a child also, so I have a hard time with anger. 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 spent my adult life in ministry, raised a large family, but recently went through a nasty divorce after 30 yrs due to my wife having mental health illness. Bestselling author Philip Yancey, author of Where the Light Fell, recounts his unexpected path from strict fundamentalism to a life of compassion and grace. I always wanted to thank you and Calvin for sharing yourself with me, but I was too late with Calvin,and didnt want to be too late with you. I worried it was blasphemous and put it down and was afraid to read it again for a long while. Everyone I know is still alive and so Im trying to honor my mother and protect christs bride. Thank You, Pleasure. And praise God that, in spite of all the experiences which seemed to contradict grace, that grace penetrated your life and made you a servant to the church. Is that all i can do? but i couldnt get any satisfactory answer or answer which solve my curiosity. In the 4th chapter of Genesis it says:Tubalcain was an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron. From archaeologists in the Levant, the Bronze age ended 1500 B.C. I do not remember now for which publication. I now own and have read all of your books. Im sure you thought the true church would react by going back to works. I do not have an answer for this. Does forgiveness means God reconciliation with us by forgetting our sin? Noa, Your words beautifully make the point I tried to express in the blog. Yes, I know God is valid but I dont understand what is going on. I was given your book sole survivor because it reminded a my friend of me and my story. I have made four tours of Korea, and no country has treated me better. W.S.A.A.G. Brand & I was blown away. Read Romans 15: 4-13 His voyeurism, a criminal offense under Canadian law, was permitted to go on until I blew the whistle on him. I went back to God and realized that He was still by my side, but this time I had frank conversations. I couldnt find another way to contact you other than this comment section, but here I am, a decade-plus later, finally saying thank you for letting God use you so mightily in my life. The ground feels like it has been shifting as I am re-examining much of what I was taught growing up in the church, and I have felt quite alone in knowing who to turn to to talk about my long felt but newly realised doubts. Thank you! I would certainly include Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement; and Sir Ghillean Prance, one of the early voices in climate change and former director of the New York Botanical Gardens. Every blessing David. It impacted me so much I had to read more. I had to express my gratitude (theres that word again). You say that Jesus came full of grace and truth, and that, Weve done pretty well with the truth part. The book bent my thinking in so many ways. From Gods timeless perspective, our end is known, Yes, Augustine wrote some remarkable reflections on timelessnesslong before modern cosmology gave a theoretical basis to what he intuited theologically. He asked me to send him an updated resume. Barth, Karl All I can say is Thank You. I was baptized into that church two weeks later. That's probably one of the main reasons why I'm a writer today: because there are millions of people in a [closed] world like [the one in which I was raised]. In that culture at that time, that was unacceptable. I have now just re-read it (still inspirational!) por Philip Yancey []. Ive been to your great country three times, and wish it were more. (With the poor and oppressed, and those fighting on their behalf.) Its almost completely for your benefit if you choose to do that and essentially of no practical use to me. I also said nothing when I saw Paul and Ramazan later breaching security on numerous other occasions. So these are harsh days. My self-confidence or esteem has bottomed out. We bring up the fact that we ALL deserve judgement for our sins, and everyone is quiet. I had been sexually abused by older men when I was a teenager, so I began to feel targeted. Your books are a great help for my spiritual growth, but I must say, Ive never been angry with God and never questioned God as Father and his Son as my Savior. We feel pain as an outrage; Jesus did too, which is why he performed miracles of healing. As you so beautifully put it, we risk missing the storys whole point: that God dispenses gifts not wages. It was refreshing to be reminded that although God is unlikely to magic a solution to all of my fears and doubts, that he is steadfast and sure in his promises. Its true, of course, that a huge percentage of Christians worldwide practice that gift. Philip. I have changed quite a bit since then. Similar to your relationship with Dr. Paul Brand, I am significantly younger than Bob. I am currently reading your book Whats so amazing about Grace and want to thank you for it. From there I received encouragement and God strengthened me at every step. I am a judge in our court system and a product of loving Christian parents who valued all people people of all races and backgrounds. So basically, l believe in a penal/substitutionary view while trying to incorporate parts of the Christus Victor view. What if God actually spends 99% of His time forgiving and loving unconditionally, but only 1% of His time judging and punishing? Those are much more open-ended. Nor steering people away from teachings that are suspect. I wrote this book with Dr. Paul Brand, who was a specialist in physical pain because of his work with leprosy patients. The idol of my twin sister is Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, but I have announced with assurance and pride that my idol is Philip Yancey. Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app! 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. How Philip Yancey Left Toxic Religion Without Losing His Faith I was listening to the April 13th devotional from your Grace Notes. Recently I got obsessed with Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe and his books. I cant explain the camaraderie I felt with your words. As a result, I was forced into debt, was unable to keep up with my mortgage payments, and lost my home. Your story encourages me, and I know through your writing that it will encourage many others. Your father is watching you. Hinds Feet on High Places ~ Hannah Hurnard Doing so I reached a woman who told me it was her daughters phone. Once I found one, the pastor remarked that he saw me teaching and created a new Sunday School class to teach, which I did for more than a year. Philip. God loves me, I wont get the answer to the why and God loves me and God wants a relationship with me. If I had only known it and Capt. I have hope that this process for me will result in a strengthened and more vibrant faith. I know just the restaurant! Thank you for all the books, especially the ones relating to the subject of suffering and pain. I wanted to comment some text of the latest I have been reading (not finished yet), the Soul adventure. Its so wonderfully vitalizing for us ordinary mortals to send and receive such little reminders of one anothers humanity especially in a culture where its easier to be a critic than a celebrator. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Best-selling author and 1970 Columbia International University alumnus Philip Yancey often recounts tales of his time at CIU: how he met his wife, Janet; how his fellow students went on to do powerful ministry around the world; and even how he began a relationship with God during his time at CIU. Soul Survivor: How My Faith Survived the Church, Doubleday (New York, NY), 2001. Capt. Whats So Amazing About Grace helped me see a loving Jesus after years of growing up in the church. [38] I also sent two letters by registered mail, one to Misty and one to Clovis LaPointe at the Edmonton Institution [39] [40]. Yes Im still broken hearted. Its just gravity affecting the motion of celestial bodies which I can see the effects of, measure and predict with unerring accuracy. Intellectually, you probably know that God loves you and you have worth. Youve written a lot about how your racist upbringing and how youve worked to overcome it. We really love your books. I was having issues downloading Where is God When it Hurts and had to call Amazon. Thankfully, that situation is somewhat better now, but oh, how people love to gossip. I have seen lots of miracles. Paul and former police officer and chaplain Oliver Johnson told me that Spilsby had been connected in some way to the murder of an inmate in the past, and that he was quite capable of killing me. One of them spends his life looking after the needs of homeless people, the elderly, undocumented immigrants, and people living (and dying) with AIDS. Were all somewhere along the Order/Disorder/Reorder paradigm that Richard Rohr describesespecially those of us from the South. In your book, Disappointment with God, you quote Moltmann on page 104: God weeps with us so that we may one day laugh with him. I love this quote, but I cannot find it anywhere in any of Moltmanns books or articles. I asked him to return it to my office, and also told Paul about it when he returned. What I can do however is give an indication as to its importance in my life based on a recent event. Susan Stevens, My goodness, thats now 20 years ago! In the past few years I have felt a nudge to either use it or lose it and sometimes feel a deep sadness over lost time and not trusting that the abilities and talents God gave me were mine to use, to help others, to explore and maybe even to enjoy. Curious. I tried consoling her, but I struggle with doubts and am not the best at reassurance these days. Almost overnight I became jobless, penniless, homeless, childless, loveless.hopeless. Yancey told Janna Riess in a Publishers Weekly interview that, in the church in which he grew up, prayer fell into two different categories. Many years ago I wrote a piece for you. [27] I was shocked a second time; one minute he is in a rage over me getting his memos signed, and the next he is asking me to not only get them signed but to also distribute them. It must be excruciating. I quote a passage near the end from Whats so Amazing About Grace where you quote C.S. The contents had not changed. No need to respond I primarily wanted to say that your books have helped and I wanted to thank you for that. I have read everyone of your books and genuinely appreciated the transparency of struggle that your journey of faith has provided. I understand what youre saying, Tom, and Ive had a similar frustration at times. A religious way of doing life, is strategically employing falsehood, WHY do human beings so easily surrender their precious freedom? This is a lovely grace note of encouragement, Emily. This year, our Medical Doctor told us that we have an almost nil chance because of my past chronically health problems that never seem to end. During his years in prison, many church members, pastors and prominent law expert in the country paid a visit. How can I This is just to thank you for your conscientious and deep-seated effort to share the faith and love that will not let us go. God keep you publishing and writing and safe in the palm of His hands. Recently a Christian relative said he does not pray for mercy for others anymore, but that they should be given their ministry instead. But, I lack arguments, and mainly ideas on how to suggest this. It was an enlightening and refreshing experience to read this book. Or punched a hole in the wall. And yes, Im also so curious how evangelicals can say Donald Trump is Gods choice for us, even when he says he does not need to ask for forgiveness. When God remains silent, impassable, as life crumbles and gets smaller and smaller by the day. Good read his books! Stumbling upon Disappointment in God and Where is God When it Hurts where a God send! I dont want to spread the stereotype that all gay people are into whips.) I just found your book Christians and Politics: Uneasy Partners. So much anguish, and emphasis on refrain from both control (praiseworthy) and guidance (a bit problematic). I keep asking those kinds of questions, and its encouraging to know that some of my readers do too. The prison held my job for three months while I and others tried to secure my work permit, but to no avail. The Evaluation Team On November 30th, 2016, I had a meeting with the Prairie Regional Chaplain, Pastor Debbie Tanasichuk, and Brian Harder. One is to say, Thank you, thank you, thank you for your writing that has been such a gift to the church and to me. I appealed to AWI Brad Sass and Paul for peace. I told him Chaplain Paul had brought in a bag of at least 30. I would love to hear from you. Ill make sure to get a front-row seat when you speak here, and to throw in some hurras and Amens , You make me want to return to Switzerland right away! I had watched the very funny film, What About Bob? 2 or 3 times before settling on the one kernel I should take away on my spiritual journey: When Bob (Bill Murray) is interviewed by a reporter, he says, I treat people as if they were telephones. Unlike me, Paul was under contract to CSC. Canon Richard Weber, Your email address will not be published. I must say, though, that missionaries to places like Africa and Haiti, and some parts of S. America and East Asia, have impressive firsthand accounts of possession that manifests itself in ways similar to that described in the Bible. The Hiding Place ~ Corrie Ten Boom There is this deep sense, a calling maybe, to make others aware of it anew. But we must also consider the damage that Korea has suffered in Japan. I have read some of your books and enjoyed them all. Philip. People ask me who my favorite authors are and I always reply C. S. Lewis and Philip Yancey. However, I was troubled by what still (after all these years) comes across as bitterness and cynicism.