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. Congratulations. We felt so understood when we read your books on the realities of suffering. Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app! The envelope included a large drawing, and he was concerned that it would get damaged or folded because of its size. The Couch As you know, Dr. Heater, there are many, many people out there who were damaged by the church or its institutions. method to attain salvation. Philip, Ive been thinking about you lately and your book, Whats So Amazing About Grace? (What a great title) And how you deftly redefine the word to mean social justice. You write the same questions and discoveries as I occasionally think. He once said to me, There is something I do not understand, Richard. It has been a great help to me to bringing to realisation my thoughts around what my attitude to many of the issues confronting Christians today should be; the answer is to be graceful of course. I want to be more like Jesus, I want to react as He would. These books have been very helpful and challenging for me. When I get caught up in the language and the complexity of the Bible, when I find myself leaning towards the legalism of the southern churches and schools Ive attended, when I feel I cannot make sense of it all and feel discouraged, I often times find myself returning to your book. Award-winning Christian author Philip Yancey is dumbfounded by the way that many members of his faith have rallied around Donald Trump. Your book is helping me. that settles it. And by the way Philip, the atrocious mathematics of grace was a lovely title to try and explain the explainable I should know because I am an engineer who knows a thing or two about math and, I must say it, anyone who wrote to you with those negative comments, quite frankly, may have missed the point of the gospel entirely!! Im sure many people can relate to some of your anecdotes. I havent actually read the book you mention. Capt. I daresay youve been like a distant pastor to us. He grew up a "New Testament, Blood-bought, Born-again, Premillenial, Dispensational, fundamental" Protestant just like me. I can think of better ways to spend a quarter million dollars a year in rent. More confident. You might take a look at Craig Keeners 2-volume Miracles. Never occurred to me. I still struggle with my image of God, but it is getting better little by little, and of course Satan is always prowling around, trying to turn me away from God and tell me lies about God. Wish they were more present in the places where Jesus has a stakeand where Jesus really IS. I was perpetually stuck at the starting line of Christianity, paranoid about my inability to experience what my friends, pastors, etc. I offered to meet at a local coffee shop and return it. The envelope was still open, so he checked the contents. And the verdict is in. I kept waiting for the miracle to happen and it did not. Watch as TV preachers, Kathie Lee Gifford, reality show stars, theology professors, student ministry leaders, and even emergent pastors claim to be grace filled people that show no regard for whats truth, living life as if it makes no difference whether one is a Christian. Imam Ramazan Tekin did not have an office at the time, so I personally made shelf room and space for him in my office. I am taking a psychology class that focuses on Biblical integration with psychological practices. Today as I finished your book, my 7 siblings and I, along with my Mom prepare to say goodbye to my 89 yo Dad, who lies in a hospital with Covid and only hours to live. Show Notes About the Guest Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com. Yet that hope, that what Im working on today will connect with someone like you out there somedaythats the hope that keeps me going. Even he does not have it all right. maybe another book can come out of it, and I will hope to meet you and even host you (I live in Nigeria). You depict the Jesus of the gospels and of the unparalleled sermon on the mount in ways that people can grasp. Philip Yancey's two dozen books exploring pain, doubt, grace and hope have sold 17 million copies, bringing comfort to readers wrestling with various crises of faith. I hope you keep on writing. Dear Mr. Yancey, Im Korean living in Florida. 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. The Regioal Chaplain for Correctional Servies Canada John Tonks held a contract over my head for a whole year for me to sign, he kept promising to bring it and have me sign it for a 5 year contract with CSC but he never did bring it,it was a very cruel game he was playing. Personal Are the contents the same? I saw that you are on the schedule to speak this semester during our chapel. I told him Chaplain Paul had brought in a bag of at least 30. One of the places I start off is to see what youve been up to lately, and expand my search from there. I prayer thanks for you and your gift and am glad that you hear His whisper. Phil says a Newtown parent asked him, Will God protect my child? To which he replied, Yes! I did continue to worship with the denominational churches I used to belong to but I find myself arguing in my mind against the messages I hear Sunday after Sunday. Id like to hear what you think, and no I do not expect you to have all the answers Im looking for, but probably reading what you have to say would help me see it in a different light. When I wrote the book, Bill Clinton was in office, and now its Donald Trump. Thanks for your kind words. And feel free to share with any who may benefit from seeing the film. Nevertheless, he insisted that I go to Edmonton, saying that the need was greater there than in Winnipeg. Thank you for calling out evangelical Christians supporting Mr Trump. We would be interested in knowing if you would consider being a retreat speaker sometime in late fall of 2017 for a Saturday retreat and Sunday morning for our church service. To this date I have still not received the results of this investigation. A farmer found me in a coma, slumped over the steering wheel. 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. Things were not going well and I was finally sent out to work in the Community working at DE Klok Soap Factory 12 hours a day and the money I made went to pay for my food and to pay the morgage on the property that was owing and they did not have . Weve had a lot of struggles intense poverty and failed dream after failed dream. Theres a fair use understanding in copyright that lets you quote around 250 words without applying for permission, as long as you credit the source. Then, I want you, first of all, to pray for them and for me. Additionally, in the Artscroll Edition of the Talmud, Yoma Vol. Look at the movie called Huda Jama. 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. My favorite of his books is probably Whats So Amazing About Grace and he says it like it is. Philip. I would like to read the book on Job written by Richard. Thank you for your concern for him. May I humbly inform you it has been pointed out by numerous (sound-minded) people on the internet that the shooting was nothing more than a hoax? Mas por trs dessas palavras de angstia se encontra uma verdade vagamente luminosa. I read your Q&A regarding homosexuality and the churches. Philip. The best part is that they all say Have faith or GOD has a plan I know the scriptures and the scriptures are real in my head, not my heart (religious folks in 3..2..1..) How many times does a person have to ask GOD for a relationship and nothing. He was in a panic to know what it was about, not wanting an issue to suddenly blow up in his face. Of course I said yes. God is always there when the eyes of faith are open. If they lied about this, then maybe they're lying to me about the Bible and Jesus and God and everything else as well. Personal Hinds Feet on High Places ~ Hannah Hurnard U didnt give me answers. All evidences and proof led to denial of corruption exist in the project was presented; expert from prominent University in Indonesia were brougt to the Court for their expert opinion. 3. Reminds me of Tom Hollands book Dominion, which credits Christianity for most of the good things in Western Civilization, while not buying into the underlying story. I thought that being a Christian meant experiencing God and Jesus in the same way that I would experience my human family and friends, which I have never been able to do. One will be desired to read more from your knowledge of write ups. Im very grateful for your books. I am a huge fan and have read nearly There is much wisdom in what you say, and your comments will give me something I have read Where was God when it Hurts ? I resumed teaching our adult Sunday School class after about six-weeks of experiencing the terror of losing his loving companionship. A few days after Pauls verbal attack on me, the Warden asked me to meet with him. May God bless you and keep you. I might not be the best Christian, but I know who I am. My ladies small group have voted to read Disappointment With God this fall a unanimous vote, which may tell you that we are all struggling with this issue! Please advise. If I had only known it and Capt. We really love your books. Troodon. thanks for sharing, I didnt read all of the responses above mine, so I hope Im not repeating someone before me. I fell in love and was married before I entered medical school to a young woman who was reared in a very fundamental baptist church. Philip. He didnt sin, He loved sinners, but I still wonder what would be His words and action before all this. What shines through the brilliant writing of this once bigoted man is a redeemed vision of hopefulness and spiritual vitality." I have good memories of my times with CMDA in Illinois and in Uruguay. Right there and then Paul informed me that he had no intention of helping me to get oriented or settled in. I went through trying to give my life to Christ as a child, in an atheist family, but the pastor of the local church kissed me on the lips and would sneak up behind me and dig his knee in the back of my knee to get me to fall into his body and I was searching for God and walking around out in nature playing church and preaching at the rocks and didnt have any safety in my life, but could look up at the stars or at an infant or my own hand or my own woMans Search for Meaning and was convinced that there had to be one. Follow my devotional: Disappointed with god Thank you for asking the hard questions! It was not long before this feeling was proven accurate. So, thank you so much, Mr. Yancey. Bless you as you continue to navigate these stormy waters. But Phillip I have a question, I read a book rumors of another world and I thought it was written by you. Following is the few questions. I was feeling particularly ashamed today and navigating it in prayer. His face had a look of thunder on it. My family and I plan to visit the USA in June 2023. Its almost completely for your benefit if you choose to do that and essentially of no practical use to me. In a world spinning out of control, people have little absolutes to hand on At the time of my suspension, he was on secondment to another institution. Id love to hear any you would recommend. I feel abandoned. He does not know why evil exists John Perkins, whom I got to know, holds out realistic optimism for reconciliation, something in short supply. The emphasis is almost completely on grace (which leads to homosexuality being accepted and its sinfulness being ignored). I am angry at the indifference and cowardice that kept me silent for over twenty-five years while I was being honored as one of the best and brightest theologians at The Athenaeum of Ohio. Cant wait to see what Started my ministry with YWAM. I suggest you to translate your material into Urdu language too. I could not be alone with any males and no cooking there , that is a womans job not a mans ( I am a qualified Chef, after 4 years at a College of Technology training as a chef. In the one church that we were involved with there was the abuse, then the cover up, now the circling of the wagons mentality. 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. It was your book that I had ordered for no particular reason. How do you look at the topic of election / predestination? Having grown up in a pentecostal environment, I never felt anywhere near good enough to be in church much less a minister, but I stepped out in faith and I ended up resigning about 18 months later over my personal faith crisis surrounding the subject of grace. No doubt in my mind. God chooses not to intervene, but Mdecins Sans Frontires has a plan you can trust (to the point of losing 13 staff members to a recent US air strike). 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. I understood this comment to be a threat. I just wanted to get away from the many bad people in the church, government and police in Alberta who had ruined my life. Brads response was that it was not my place to report on other staff, and so I said nothing further. Brand, and Hodder & Stoughton will publish them this coming fall under the title (I think) Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing Gods Image. I wanted to take this moment and tell you the impact this book as made upon me. Other writers you discussChesterton, Dostoevsky, TolstoyI was somewhat familiar with already, but your book encouraged me to give them additional consideration. Ive had some discussion about youth and childrens books. Secondly, your refusal to excuse the shortcomings of the church, while still showing grace and love for her, redirects me when I feel so fed up with the church. 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. All the proceeds from this and the Medearis study guide help fund our work. Thank you for all you do. Rarely attending any synagogue or church and then mainly to accompany a friend or out of curiosity. Ive often thought that the worst part of a recurring sinsay, an addiction to pornography, very common these daysis not so much the sin itself as the feeling that follows, that one is cast aside, disqualified for use by God. It is fascinating to explore as I continue to write. God looks at the heart.Look at David in the bible.God said David is a man after my own heart. But by your message today, I found Hope in our country. With his wise words of faith based on biblical accounts, especially in the book of Job, I awakened to life. I dont know why, but it made me emotionalI had to walk outside for embarrassment because I couldnt stop the tears. I hope you dont feel the same way, for example, about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is mainline Christian and insists on keeping the name. It just seems like the bad far outweighs any good that can come of this short life. I realize it has been several years since this book was written, so I am hoping things have changed for him? I ask since I only managed to find a few of such resources, of which only a few I find to be helpful. The Poisonwood Bible has been highly touted, but I found it to be a very cynical and distorted book. Wonderful story, Christina. I have not seen her since. It is a catalogue of stories that reveal the lives of three main characters: Yancey, his brother Marshall, and his mother. If so please let me know where to send you a copy. Upon my arrival I was told that there was no position for me. Not a miracle. But so many of us prayed and then (I believe) God gave us a new candidate McMullin was asked to run at last minute, he is not a power-grabber. Philip. Although I have strong opinions on the topic, Ive struggled to express them in a way consistent with the fruits of the spirit. I pray and cry out to God with no response. I decided not to send it. Philip. Thank you for waking me up to the greatest gift the Church has to offer the world. I see it was written in 1997, if it was relevant then it surely is relevant today. But, in its absence, theres simply no reconciliation to be made. We peppered you with questions to help us gain some type of understanding as to why Jacob was born with such a devastating prognosis. 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. As you say, some who find this offensive dont read my writings at all. I very much appreciate your books, your insights, your stories of others & your own. Phil tries to reassure me over and over that just faith that God is in control offers great comfort and peace. In 1982 I was at YWAM Honolulu ,Hawaii USA and as YWAM taught I went to a leader Larry and Debee Nicholson ( Americans) and told them I was struggling with Same Sex attraction thoughts only towards Larry Morris another staff member, these were just thoughts nothing had been said to the person and no improper contact had happened. Philip. These things are not true, and Paul had no right to say them. I teach philosophy in Chicago. Here is my email address. I do know that mental (and spiritual) states have physical manifestationsplacebo effects alone prove that. She even complained to Threshold Ministries that I was trying to destroy her job. Thankfully, that situation is somewhat better now, but oh, how people love to gossip. The present religion is wallowing in untruths. Sitting on my couch in the soft glow of a lamp, I felt a deep desire to do the kind of work you and many others have done and are doinglifting people up with words. And customer support, tech support, and telephone solicitors are some people in need of kindness and gracethey deal with ornery people all day long. I stuggled back to Edmonton and stayed with friends. My name is Lionel Chan, I live in semi rural Australia. It is one of my biggest concerns that younger people read less everyday and bury their faces into their phones. I keep asking those kinds of questions, and its encouraging to know that some of my readers do too. then one day they told me I had a homosexual demon and they wanted to pray over me to deliver me. Its hard, but its beautiful. Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Reaching is one of my most personal books, and I feel that weve connected on a deep level. Acting as a Chosen one Pontificating his religious spirits secularism views! I have been around chronic sickness my whole life and recently began writing about what it looks like to love people with chronic sicknesses, day in and day out as we Watchers are hurting too. They tend to resurface in a more toxic . Forgive me if I am mistaken. You introduced me to a couple of people I had not known before. Thank you as this would probably not be a book I would have picked up and read on my own but I was intrigued after the event.