Looking at the great irony, that we know Jesus backwards, yet our life unfolds forwards. Many of the victims families comment, I have forgiven him in an expression of closure, or some other Christian-like behavior. As was my practice, I asked the V and C guard if I could go in and visit her. During that time, I was contracted to the Edmonton Institution, a maximum security prison operated by Correctional Service Canada. There were several parts that stood out to me that I could relate to. Why was that genicide, that killing of men, women, and children, that enslavement of survivors. Even Peter, the apostle, said, Some of the things Paul says confuses me. Recently, we attended a series I have read a couple of your books and it has catapulted me to beautiful planets beyond this life. Thank you for following Gods path. But, all that was needed was the required wider exit. In extreme anguish I drove east, not knowing where to go. Rather than standing up for me and defending my right to go into the visiting area, Warden Clovis cowered at French, a verbally and physically very powerful man. Thank you so much for your efforts. For whatever it is worth, I have passed this perspective on and tell you quite honestly that I have and do pray for you. The numerous additional references attached to this complaint [50] [59] testify to the effectiveness and motivation behind my desire to work as a chaplain in correctional facilities in Canada. Literature for me opened the cage door that let me fly out." In 1994, I was introduced to Reverend Frank Costantino, an Episcopal priest in the USA and founder of Bridges of America. I think you spoke at a conference one week but I was unable to attend. After completing my training I wanted to work in the prisons as a Chaplain and so Church Army sent me to a parish in Northern Ontario. My concern is this: Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life. Its my hope that God will use the article widely in different media to reach as many Christians as possible. Pray for people of good will to reach out to their neighbors and friends. How inspiring and comforting your words are. I described my own challenges in Reaching for the Invisible God.. There is so much more I have learned I wouldnt know where to start. This is one of the most moving accounts of redeemed pain that I have ever heard. Then on your list book I got it!!! 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. Where DID that expression come from?) Dad inscribed it, saying he thought my reading it would leave me hungry for more in the way of spiritual things, and that has been true. I think I understand your point of view, and thank you for it. When I wrote the book, Bill Clinton was in office, and now its Donald Trump. Your style of writing is so wonderful and natural. You will see me more because there are questions I really want to ask you and I found a copy of your The Jesus I Never Knew at a local book giveaway recently, I felt the need to find a way to thank you for writing it. Its helped to reveal Jesus in a more tangible way to me. Several times the Epistles urge us to bring God pleasure. Paul also told me that I myself belonged to a schismatic church and a schismatic Franciscan order. I gift them to anyone who has experienced the unfairness of suffering. And further, if this is the case, how could anyone bend a knee to whichever deity is responsible for this plan? God bless you. During his years in prison, many church members, pastors and prominent law expert in the country paid a visit. Along the way, Ive tried to identify the very positive things I took away: biblical knowledge, a community that embraces the needy within the community at least, a deep sense that our life choices matter ultimately, a resistance against the surrounding celebrity culture. + Where Is God When It Hurts? What the kid does not know is that the parent denying them the chocolate worries more about their wellbeing, the effect sugar has on their health right before bedtime, their teeth and all the chocolate theyve already eaten that day. You say that Jesus came full of grace and truth, and that, Weve done pretty well with the truth part. I will forever cherish them. I was offered a Correctional Services Canada in Charlottetown Prince Edward Island as a Community Chaplain and a volunteer chaplain at the local prison. He compassionately vetted refugees and bravely fought terrorists overseas, worked as Policy head for the Republicans in Congress, and has business experience. I have hoped that once I had it finished you would read and give me feedback on the advanced reader copy. In fact, in my thinking, I am giving the wrong message to the transgressor and those like him almost as if I am condoning his sin if he is not asking for my forgiveness, and I bless him with forgiveness when he may not even want it. Could you be kind enough to recommend a book I can buy for her? Reaching for the Invisible God: What Can We Expect to Find?, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000. I have read one of your books. 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. I read his Wounded In Spirit last year. Just a quick note about me as a earnest christian for many years, I have basically given up on organized religion en masse , precisely because of the amount of un-grace( as you put it) I have encountered. I understand quite frankly that this is an emotional appeal, Mr. Yancey, but if these circumstances dont warrant it, Im not really sure what does. God bless. And frankly, obscene. Curious. I attended CIU from 99-03 and first saw your book The Jesus I never knew on the nightstand in the alumni center when my parents came up for a visit one weekend. Thank you for being part of that process. Thinking of being depressed, beyond hope I had lost faith. Brian wanted to know what I had done wrong to make Mr. Rasmus want to talk to me in private. Having spent 33 days in a hospital was something I needed to be able to visit people in the hospital. A farmer found me in a coma, slumped over the steering wheel. Wonderful story, Christina. I understood this comment to be a threat. I said, of course, Jesus loves you. How do you deal with that? A big hug in return. They cut right to the truth and bypass all the wrapping and bows. Thats it. Anyhow, it would be interesting if you were to write a blog on this topic. (With Brenda Quinn) Meet the Bible: A Panorama of God's Word in 366 Readings and Reflections, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000. Indeed, I was very grateful that I was being allowed to participate in doing something for someone else with no thought of any personal benefit, no pressure as they say. I have hope that this process for me will result in a strengthened and more vibrant faith. I was employed as a chaplain with Bridges of Canada from April 11, 2016 to February 14, 2017. Your books have always been challenging my traditional beliefs in Christianity, and I thank God they do. That, I suggest, is uncalled for. Love and forgiveness and grace and mercy are so much more important to me than any miracle. However, Yancey was fortunate and did not. Your book, I thoroughly enjoyed, but was nonetheless disturbed by it. Hi Mr.Yancey! Mr. Philip, He spends about an hour each morning reading spiritually nourishing books, meditating, and praying. Thank you for letting us know that when lives seemed so complicated, we have our simplest mode in coming to God through trust and prayer. [7] He went on to earn graduate degrees in communications and English from Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of Chicago. There are some things about Catholic culture and doctrine that seem strange to me (celibacy of priests, Assumption and Perpetual Virginity of Mary, papal infallibility, etc. I know you answered a lot of questions about writing in your Q and A section but hopefully you will still read this. Philip Yancey May 20, 1996. 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. I had invited Brian Harder to participate so there would be no questioning by him as to what it was about. (Jeremiah 29:13) Sounds like you are doing exactly that surely your eagerness and desire to speak with God pleases Him greatly! YWAM CANADA lied and dumped me in the USA ,I was terrified as I had no money and Day Star was closing down for good. I might not be the best Christian, but I know who I am. He has picked those whom HE wants. Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2006. This had a profound effect on me because Scott had not completed my work permit. I did sign up for the Launch Team, I hope that I can help in that. What a tragedy, all those wasted years pursuing some kind of Focus on the Family image, instead of Jesus. Lately I have been seeking a concrete example of God being present today. I could not speak to any male as they arranged a plane ticked back to YWAM LA I was treated shamfully and illegally . He attended some unnamed Bible college in South Carolina that forbid interracial dating and marriage. In the midst of my preparations, Dr. Beckner called to tell me that the need for my services was greater at the Edmonton Institution. I dont think it has made it into any books, however. Platinum Book Award, ECPA, US, 1992. There are many of them in the crumbling part of town where I live. Recently I got rid of a number of books that Id owned for some years. I apologize for putting you to this much trouble. As for the extravagant promises on prayer, along with C. S. Lewis I do see some of these as given to Jesus disciples, who became the apostles, and who had certain powers specific to their calling and time. 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. Please note that its adapted from the book A Skeptics Guide to Faith. Philip, Mr. Yancey, Youve written a lot about how your racist upbringing and how youve worked to overcome it. Thank You for your commitment to a calling that truly blesses me and, Im certain, many others as well. If anyone will manage to get a fire going under my butt to get me writing more just reading your writings would do it! As I am around southern evanglicals (I live in small-town Arkansas), it seems, now that Trump has already been elected, that they are looking for just any semi-reasonable excuse for still supporting him. This is understandably wishful thinking. The Pastor of the church we attended ended upon running around on his wife and eventually committed suicide. My interests include skiing, climbing mountains, mountain-biking, golf, international travel, jogging, nature, theology (in small doses), politics, literature, and classical music.. For Yancey, prayer involves listening as well as speakingand often the listening is the more important of the two. Its been an important journey and one that I hope is resulting in opportunity to invite others to a walk with God based on grace and not fear. The Couch Philip. Discerning which ones we can take as promises and which ones were restrictednow thats a tricky question, and I dont have a good answer. Philip. Close-mindedness has a horrible track record: slavery, priest abuse, mysogony, womens right to vote, etc. Does one exist? In short, Im a true fan of your work and I hope you continue to write. I have purchased the Participants Guide (Zondervan 2000) and the DVD (both have the pink cover with pasture and fence). Believe or dont, but I dont see why we need to argue about what it says.. Have you revised the book ever? I pray and read every day and feel that I have a close relationship with our Heavenly Father, although I know full well that I still have enormous growing to do in my relationship with Him. If I had ever memorized it, it would have been at least fifty years ago. There are so many great references to other famous writers, many of whom were Christians who have struggled in their faith. As a graduate counsellor in training; I know that these writings will sustain my faith in God and assist me in being present with those who have given me the privilege to be with them in their deep suffering. 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. In the one church that we were involved with there was the abuse, then the cover up, now the circling of the wagons mentality. Can you recommend a book concerning the errors in the Catholic Church rituals, beliefs, concept of praying to saints, etc.? After 5 years I joined the Army. Writing is such an introspective act that I found myself looking for ways to connect with the planet bodily. Tubalcain was about the 6th generation from Adam, so you could roughly add another 500 years to make the age of Adam 5000 years ago. You, Ravi Zacharias and Max Lucado are my favorite authors. There are many so many and you are among those who have helped me become me. I am not finished the book, or this process, but the knowledge that there are others who also wonder the same things is truly what I needed. Let me read you some promises from the Bible. Again, Im dumbfounded. For me, heres the take-away: Why does your book not acknowledge that kind of pain? It sounds like youre doing great, frankly. This is what the Torah says, and Its wonderful that you have such an open line of communication with your parents. Your book and writing made me see that beyond this pain, we could still see joy surounding. The contents had not changed. In the process he interviewed diverse people enriched by their personal faith, such as President Jimmy Carter, Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller, and Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement. Many years ago I read a wonderful article in Campus Life magazine about the solo experience of the Vanguard program at Honey Rock Camp. No misunderstanding Actually some species cooperate or stay as they are for millions of years flying in the face of evolution. Im a mixture of all of these as a lot of people are. 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. Here it is: Over the past several months, I have read four books dealing with similar topics: yours (Soul Survivor), Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible, Mouw (The Smell of Sawdust), and Carpenter, History of Fundamentalism in the 30s and 40s. "Though he comes from a conservative upbringing, he is not stuck there but has moved past any labels we might try to put on him," wrote Zander Dunn in the Presbyterian Record. I am now a student at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. board and train for aggressive dogs; poundland pencil case; June 14, 2022 / / patron saint of those in mortal danger The Institution later wrote me to request that I return the Torah study books, claiming that they had been sent to me in error [49]. Its one thing to outwardly portray stoicism; its quite another to face daily the doubts and second guessing. Spilsby claimed that it was my couch, but it was the old urine- and sweat-soaked couch from behind the gym. I am not fancy with words but I have been looking forward to speak to you. Thank you. I made a mistake and I am willing to listen and apologize to the V and C personnel, but not to everyone else. It turned my eyes to Gods goodness. May God use your renewed spirit to help others on the same path. By far it has given me the best understanding into the body of Christ. You express thoughts so well as if your words are directly from Christ loving, forgiving, non-judgmental, compassionate and caring for the hopeless and marginalized of this world. My upcoming book is titled Caesar and the Sacraments.. Two years later, the results of that decision in daily life still cause us emotional pain. One, your fundamentalist upbringing (so was mine) seems to shine through in your must/should/have to language. Ive always wondered about the following topic on Forgiveness and how it relates to grace. But it wasnt. And Im writing a memoir which tells my very similar story. He currently has more than 17 million books in print, published in over 50 languages worldwide. A profound inspiration, I keep pressing on to write about the many facets of life. Welcome home. that settles it. We attended various churches of that background for nearly twenty years of that and eventually left in 2002. Philip. The Shack ~ William Young Thank you for being you. She commented on some good discussions we had had over the phone. Thank you for your gracious honesty. Politics stirs people up, so your group may need to exercise grace even as they learn about it. At last I said, No, Im sorry, I cant promise that. None of us is exempt. I love your books. Medearis is too busy now in Jordan (told him I understandtotally). In contrast when you hear Sec Clinton talk about her faithit barely gets mentioned.her work for women and children world-wide.her daughter Chelsea has written a good book for teens about service and groups that help othersMr trump is full of himself and wealth and WINNING.at any cost! Paul told me that Barry was useless as a chaplain and that he should never have been ordained by the Anglican Church of Canada in the first place. Do you know if it is still available somewhere and if so, where I could get it? Almost fifty years, in fact. I like to finish reading the book at least in that same week. We bring up the fact that we ALL deserve judgement for our sins, and everyone is quiet. Evolution is correct and functional but nobody knows its purpose or why. However, I was troubled by what still (after all these years) comes across as bitterness and cynicism. This evaluation confirmed that I was of sound mental health and that I had a keen sense of morality and a right versus wrong. Of course. Im dumbfounded. On page 15 a man from Iowa said, I know there is a God: I believe he exists, I just dont know what to believe of him. These words rang true with me as I wonder if God set the world in motion and then decided to step away. I very much enjoyed your book, and was utterly floored by one of the first sentences (we can only Watch) which represents the essence of my entire collection of work and thought! I was exasperated on coming to this summation. At least I feel warmth and love in your writing. I have read Whats so Amazing about Grace maybe 6 times, and took 1 year to teach it in a Sunday school class. Actually, I kept going with the question you mention and wrote a book titled What Good Is God? Your beautiful books had been recommended too many times by my friends to read.. 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. My, Im putting you on a pedestal, arent I? Takes 2 seconds go check out kiva.org. But one thing that has not changed is the presence of your books in my life, and their ability to challenge and encourage me in my faith. I am trying to put across (without causing stress to your followers) about how this book is, well, to be blunt not touching my heart strings. Pious fools believe that ritual and tradition can achieve perfection, COMMUNISM has fallen, let Christianity be the next to fall apart 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. I just wanted to say that your book, Reaching for the Invisible God, has brought me much-needed hope during an unprecedented and unexpected period of doubt in my life. I have to have Him! I will be purchasing a few more of your books as I only have 3 or 4, but know that you are in my prayers daily as I read a portion of your books. One of the Christian World's Most Thoughtful Writers Offers a Fresh Take on an Ancient Spiritual Practice," p. 48, and review of Prayer, p. 49. ", Yancey's books offer "no facile solutions, no panacea to suffering and misery," to quote Sawyers. I apologize for being so insensitive. The nurses told me they were waiting for him to calm down. I was so lonely that I accepted their invitation to come to their home for a meal and christian meeting. Always has, always will. He talked about how I really felt about Him and my frustrated expectations. Thank you for the information about Richard no doubt about it, I will keep praying for him. Please advise. Mary-Ann McKerchar, Thank you, Jeremy. People who say they care about me dont understand the condition and what really bothers me is that they dont even try to. Phil tries to reassure me over and over that just faith that God is in control offers great comfort and peace. Arrival at the Edmonton Institution Philip. Philip. Your essay Rumors Of Another World always serves as a reminder to me about the brevity of life. I have been job searching in my profession and interviewing for months with no success. But, lets care for the less fortunate, or how about veterans, teachers and firefighters before we build yet another church. He understood my struggle with Paul, as he had witnessed Rev. It is difficult not to have the impression its re-emergence in our lives was divinely orchestrated. I worked for Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworkers Union as an organizer, and other things (Grapes of Wrath influenced me here). Here is the link to the podcast https://biologos.org/podcast-episodes/thomas-jay-oord-uncontrolling-love Throughout the last few days I have thought about how much easier it is for me to be a left of center leaning progressive than it is for me to be a Christian. Aside from the necessity of weekly preparation (I develop and e-mail or snail mail questions to help with the classs preparation and our discussion), sharing your profound thoughts and detailed research had broadened my life-long experience of faith in the Almighty. Mackenzie Mully, You can reach me through this email: pyasst@aol.com. A few days later as I was out for my morning walk on my hill, I saw in the early dawn light (!) I have read your stuff for decades. I can tell you within nanoseconds when that very asteroid will pass us again 1,000 years from now. What it did for me, I have been convinced it would do for others, especially non-believers. They are much more concerned with the task of healing the world, which is anything but cut and driedand is probably a somewhat inaccurate characteristic of Orthodox Judaism, also. I knew, from personal experiences, that the teaching of my church regarding homosexuality was a distorted and cruel doctrine. I sought out people I wanted to emulate in some way. For the past 6 years, I have prayed for them every day and still come home to a completely non-Christian family (with the exclusion of my now-spouse, which is a tremendous blessing). Ill share another incident I hadnt thought about in years until I read your book. Sorry, sir, but that just makes for really bad Christians and weak converts. A transsexual was hanging on cross, dressed as Jesus and a sign over the cross where we could read: Enough with Homofobia . Whosoever has not sinned, people! He grew up a "New Testament, Blood-bought, Born-again, Premillenial, Dispensational, fundamental" Protestant just like me. However, I didnt feel the process of releasing the book would be complete until I had expressed my thanks to you for writing it. Threshold Ministries did not fulfill this requirement; instead, they blacklisted me across Canada and discontinued their payments early, just as I was having my teeth fixed. At one point I was literally on my face before the Lord in tears, thanking Him for His amazing love (chapter 13 for one) and there were chapters where my feeble brain struggled to keep up (chapter 27). This article was originally posted on October 1, 2003, on Christianity Today. Philip. And feel free to share with any who may benefit from seeing the film. Or better, they needed celestial intervention to divert a couple Boeing 767s a hundred feet into the Hudson. She is the bread-winner and works very hard for us and I feel that, as a Christian, love begins at home. Woodlands Indians were making arrow heads on our farm 1000 years before Eden. I realize you werent trying to give a definitive treatise on the gospel there, but it did raise interesting questions for me. How brave you are to seek help. In one of them, you write about your relationship with Mel Wright. According to the RBC website, Yancey has been Thanks so much for your service to the hurting. It is impossible to explain the connection I have to that book. I was overwhelmed with tears and moved to prayer. The issue is why God allows suffering. For whatever reason, God has chosen to let natural laws predominatelaws that encompass much good (the bodys healing properties, our immunological systems, etc.) If I knew this webpage exists, I would have come earlier. In the past three yrs Ive lost my older brother, my sister, my brother-in-law, my dog.I lost my fiancee, my kids and I have had to move three times.I was in two car accidents, the second one crushed my car and no one could believe I wasnt seriously injured or even killed.Ive gone thru devastating legal storms that have left me penniless and seemingly without a future of any kind.I lost my job and have not been able to find another, I lost my unemployment in December of 2013 and in February of 2014 I lost our home, which meant I lost my kids too because I had to move in with my mother and theres no room for my kids so they had to move in with their dad.I lost two best friends because they just turned their backs on me as I was going thru all of my legal trouble.I used to be a single mom with a good job, a college degree, a car, my bills were paid, and I had someone I thought loved me in my life. Contributor of about 800 articles to magazines, including Reader's Digest and Saturday Evening Post. Might you consider writing your next book as a Christian and for Christians? Thank you again And keep writing about grace and the Jesus we need to know and follow. You honor and humble me to hear that I helped you back on the path that I found with such struggle myself. Yours in writing Ive not yet seen it, though Ive heard good things about it. I enjoy reading someone who is not publishing a book a month, and who is a thinker. The church had mocked Martin Luther Kingthe pastor called him Martin Lucifer Coon from the pulpit. 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. I just want to clarify if it was really you that wrote it. He is already on enough ballots to win or to take votes away from T and C so that the House can choose another.
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