Having read psychological views with my very limited understanding capabilities, sometimes I still wonder whether its an illness to be cured/managed or a diabolical influence to be resisted. I had to express my gratitude (theres that word again). 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. In early 2000 I drove back to Alberta. Those following days were painful and difficult for my wife. Then I found a very healthy grace-filled church in Chicago. Rev. Benny, I strongly recommend that you peruse the BioLogos website, an organization founded by Dr. Francis Collins, one of the premier scientists of our time (he directed the Human Genome Project and now heads the National Institutes of Health). In 1994, evangelical author Philip Yancey reported, "I have not met a single Christian leader who, after meeting with Clinton, comes away questioning his sincerity." Thank you so much for writing. I lived the first 26 years of my life barely acknowledging God and praying sporadically whenever I wanted to, nothing I did back then ever went right. Through a series of incredible circumstances, Bob asked if I would write a book with him. Later, I was raped by my boyfriend when I broke up with him because God showed me that as a new Christian, I shouldnt date a non-Christian. I explained to Mr. Rasmus that I had written to the Commissioner directly because of advice I had received from Chaplain Paul Vanderham. Any reasoning anyone gives for this is that we just have to wait until we die and then God will reveal himself. God bless you! It is my sincere hope that you will consider my case and use the authority given to you by God to defend the vulnerable members of our society. Youre right: this world is broken, badly. When our children would ask us questions of why this or that we would just say whatever the Pastor and or the school said is right. 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. You can't go wrong with these two contributors. How do you deal with that? March 24th April 28th May 26th June 30th July 28th August 25th September 29th . I was just wondering how are your days. Its an ongoing search, and I prefer it that way to the times in church history (think pre-Vatican 2) when the church tells you exactly what to believe and what books are contraband. Death swallowed up in victory is something only Jesus can do, and you point us to Him through it all. To further raise awareness of religious discrimination at the Edmonton Institution, I reported this incident to Commissioner Head after my dismissal. The field is extremely interesting because the equations are correct, confirming and expounding upon the geologists relative time scale. I have received much love and respect from prisoners and the elderly [6] [7] [8] [9], and have therefore considered it my duty to keep them from being abused. Yancey, Philip D. 1949- (Philip David Yancey) PERSONAL: 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. This is what the Torah says, and Politics these days seems so cutthroat. This time, I didnt care if the whole world knew how disappointed I was with God. Philip Yancey - Person - BioLogos It is difficult not to have the impression its re-emergence in our lives was divinely orchestrated. Isnt it more important that he embrace Jesus first? https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/yancey-philip-d-1949-philip-david-yancey, "Yancey, Philip D. 1949- (Philip David Yancey) Apart from me you can do nothing, Jesus told his disciples, a plain fact that we conspire to deny. I arrived in Canada and was told by the Immigration Officer in Quebec that I was not welcome in Quebec, I left my documents in the taxi from the airport and went to the Montreal Police to report them lost and was told if I could not write the report in French they would not help me, goodbye. I dont think Im ready to write about it in more detail yet. 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. U didnt give me answers. Or shone a light towards the back exit. Brennan Manning says that 183 times someone asked Jesus a direct question and only 3 times did he give a direct answer. Thank you for your hopeful vision of suffering redeemed. According to Brad, Paul later changed his mind because he had difficulty finding another job and needed the money. Editor at large, Christianity Today. As a faehtr of two young children, I was moved by the message. Therefore, there was no Creation , Eden, Adam and Eve, Fall of Man, Noahs Ark, or Tower of Babel. We get to confess, knowing we will be loved and forgiven. I am writing a book about addiction and recovery and would like to quote some passages in this book. You referred to how you have repeatedly had to field questions revolving around pain, suffering, and doubt. But, Atlanta has changed so much that I live an hour or so away (just far enough!). Yet that hope, that what Im working on today will connect with someone like you out there somedaythats the hope that keeps me going. One of his duties was to oversee the Mennonite M2W2 program. We both have speaking engagements this weekend. One question that just wont go away for me is the story of Israel conquering the Promised Land. I felt the need to read it again (Id read it before some time ago) and it was a tremendous encouragement. Yes, its right to challenge and critique and question and even doubt aspects of our faith, because it leads us closer to Christ. I am not an overly emotional person, but the journey of research and reading this has taken me on in order to better understand the Christian faith, why people deconstruct and what I truly believe, has been heart-rending. The Pastor of the church we attended ended upon running around on his wife and eventually committed suicide. It is a sad story and one that can be repeated, in many ways, by other families. I would have waited for another opening. When I complained about the lack of a contract to the director of Threshold Ministries, he fired me. (With Brenda Quinn) Meet the Bible: A Panorama of God's Word in 366 Readings and Reflections, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000. When he received the card letting him know a tree had been planted in his mothers memory in the Holy Land, Paul became enraged and blew up at me, shouting very loudly, Israel belongs to the Palestinians, not the Jews!. Anti-Semitism from the Mennonites He lied, he stole my money, he wrote to all my supporters and asked them to support him instead of me. Kind regards from Cape Town, South Africa (and you would be amazed at how many people in the USA do not know where that is situated). Ive been a Christian all my life. To protect copyrights, the e-publisher tags the origin country and keeps this from happening. Most of the credit for his success must surely go to his wife Janet. You are putting into actual practice what I write about. Philip. Please, keep writing friend. I saw your comment and just wanted to say a few words of encouragement. Not that I feel capable of teaching on the subject, but that I feel guys need to know more about this. I would say that Judaism, for the most part, puts less emphasis on the need for faith than Christianity usually does, and perhaps more emphasis on the importance of works. Hello Philip! May He continue to bless you. I just was so angry with Him that I hated Him and wanted Him to know that I didnt believe in Him. I very much appreciate your books, your insights, your stories of others & your own. I spent my childhood and early teenage years in a strict fundamentalist church, and I found myself saying, Me too! throughout the book. Categories . Mainly, I love the acknowledgment of thirst that Jesus draws from herif only we all admitted that thirst so readily. I walked into a public library about 15 years ago, with about 45 minutes to burn until it was time to pick my daughter up from school. Of course, this is not to diminish my appreciation for your openness in finding your way to the real Jesus. Anyway, I was wondering if in the future you would write something about mental illness. Like the story about Frederick Buechner when you invited him to your church to preach, the optics in the church draw me away from worship rather than enhance it. Hi Dr. Yancey. I was hesitant to return to Edmonton due to all the sexual abuse I had reported in that city, and because of the hatred that some powerful people in the church, government and police there had for me. 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. There are two particular ways in which I owe you a debt of gratitude. The assaults I experienced in the Institution were not only verbal. I know we are to forgive others and the reason we should forgive. The quote is thus attributed to you, and it is implied that it comes from the book Rumors of Another World. He asked me who had told me all the lies about me not being wanted and capable in my position. So a child with cancer suffers and dies to bring glory to God? As a result, I was forced into debt, was unable to keep up with my mortgage payments, and lost my home. I ran into Youth With a Mission again in 1979 while working for Barry Mc Guire and Rev Jean Darnell and a Team touring the UK. 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]. I love Korean people, but it hurts me because of the pressure to perform, and the perfectionism that can become a huge burden. As a result, much of the food was thrown away, and because of lockdowns there was no feast. Im uneasy that it is eg beyond the understanding of the archetypal dear old lady in the pew. Although I did not find that the book helped me at all, I have to applaud you on your writing style. Without going into too much detail, I cannot help but think that GOD does not care for everyone, only a few: David HE loved. It was an enlightening and refreshing experience to read this book. Every day I felt as if I was in a war zone. Check out the Books section on my website. Mr. Yancey, Thank you. Philip. Rev. Im thrilled to know them. Thank you for your work. His career choice was at least partly inspired by your books (specifically those written about and with Dr. Paul Brand). The Christian part of us is called to respond with forgiveness if it is sought we must forgive because we were forgiven (because we also sin). The Business Detail, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng, Spiritual Lessons from the Human Body: An Interview with Philip Yancey RCCG, https://www.dropbox.com/s/b1sr3nroq4ivp25/2018%20Men's%20Retreat%20Promo.mp4?dl=0, http://qideas.org/contributors/gabe-lyons/, http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/07/my-take-how-churches-can-respond-to-mental-illness/, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/january-february/my-top-5-books-on-mental-illness.html, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3EfssqGuQM, http://necrometrics.com/pre1700b.htm#Martyrs. Dont get me wrong my parents did many good things for me. I am planning on going to London and paris then Korea early of next year. So I keep searching. I called my friend Capt. When I first started attending my friends church, I bought a Bible and would randomly open it and read scripture (I was not raised reading the Bible). It was answered 53 days later, but only after Prosecutor Peter delivered a blistering indictment upon the Jewish crowd, confronting them with their heinous crime and causing them to be cut to the heart. The weekend retreat will have three teaching sessions, each taught by different guys, maybe with sub-themes: Grace from God, Grace between Christians and Grace to the World. And Phil is correct about one thing: even after completing his book, its still The Question That Never Goes Away. I was initially surprised and then saddened by the fact he says, I dont know. This is extraordinarily unhelpful. What would people think of us if we concluded that our epileptic or deaf child was possessed by a demon?! It is a little snapshot of my Me too! and my journey to a deeper understanding of grace. Almost overnight I became jobless, penniless, homeless, childless, loveless.hopeless. Yancey expressed his doubts about the Republican presidential candidate and his Christian supporters during an interview with website Evangelical Focus. I look forward to reading the rest of your books! 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 just finished watching The Chosen written and directed by Dallas Jenkins, son of Jerry Jenkins. We as chaplains had to send out memos concerning just about all our movements and programs in the Institution. Being a gay man is to want something that only women are supposed to want, thus robbing women of their proper use as Paul puts it, whereas being a lesbian was virtually incomprehensible to the ancient Roman world in which the Church fathers wrote what became the New Testament canon. If we do not ask, we do not receive forgiveness we receive hell I cannot be more holy and righteous than God Im his creation saved by grace. At age 83, you can understand the length of my stubborn quest. Why? Brian told me that he could fire me at any time he wanted to, that it was up to him if I kept my job. We dont have to be totally open and honest with God but we CAN be. Im just reading your book Whats So Amazing About Grace? Choice, June, 1994, G.B. Maybe it has always been this way, but I wonder it is possible to break through those dividing lines. I recommend The Art of Forgiving and Forgive and Forget, both by Lewis Smedes. Let me recommend some reading: The Road Less Traveled, by Scott Peck; books by Brene Brown; the book Lean In, on the power of introverts, and almost anything by Henri Nouwen. The way you write about his thoughts gets rid of that linguistic barrier. This was a time in my life where I really had no idea what true disappointment with God might feel like. Basically, evangelicals take the Bible more seriously than some other shades of Christians, and tend to emphasize a personal conversion experience and the importance of spreading the message to others. A book is a poor substitute, I know, but I would recommend Henri Nouwens The Inner Voice of Love (written when he was in a similar state) or most anything by Brennan Manning, who battled this issue all his life. And all of us Americans are addicted to Comfort. In short, Im a true fan of your work and I hope you continue to write. How sad that the church that bears Jesus name turns so many away from him because of our behavior. Beyond that, what can I say? I am honored to call you my brother in Christ. I have always been academically inclined, and more likely to resonate with intellectual discussions about faith than stories of emotional experiences. Do you know any Pakistani Christian publishers I could try? I recommend it to you highly. As a famous columnist and best-selling author, he reached an enviable summit. Can you recommend an amplified that youd feel comfortable reading/trusting? Also, are there any black authors you have read who have helped shape your faith in some way? After I told him what Paul had said, he went to talk to the Warden. I was not a pretty sight. She said this man came over to her and he began saying something in English she couldnt understand and she looked up at him. It sounds like youre doing great, frankly. I am a believer who has been in ministry until I retired; Ive read about Saul being instructed to not even spare the animals of Amalek; Ive read of Joshuas instructions, etc., but I still cant answer thes nagging questions. The same moment I felt the need to write to you. Philip. I want to thank you immensely for your wise way of writing and I praise God for your life. The fact that she lived with a man who was not her husband could again have a simple explanation. I am a great admirer and follower of your writing and teaching and your Grace Notes daily readings are an essential part of my day. Your book is helping me. It was a lonely time as I did not speak Dutch . I liken him to one of the philosophers Paul addressed so wisely in Acts 17only, of course, Peterson is already familiar with the Christian story. Let humanity directly seek the Maker, shun all pious blackguards I have read your stuff for decades. I loudly object to Phils line of thinking. Its had a large imprint on my life. I have read one of your books. If so, is it appropriate to still use it and if so, how would I reference it in the endnotes of the book? Your book Whats So Amazing About Grace? provided me with such freedom in my Christian walk especially now that i am Pastor. Maybe its caused by some incidents which had big impacts on my life. The discord in the chaplaincy office was wearing me down. I gift them to anyone who has experienced the unfairness of suffering. My goodness, you certainly have no need to apologize. You seem to have managed it though and I am both grateful and amazed. The book bent my thinking in so many ways. However as you can guess, the Evangelical section is against this. In particular if you feel the holy spirits leading I would like to see you write about the phenomenon of Marriage and the functional Christien home. He was shocked by such a question, and said there was no security issue concerning me. On Monday May 13th, 2017, I met with Snowy Nobel, the chaplain from the Prison for Women, and Pastor Oliver Johnson, a former police officer and former chaplain at the Edmonton Institution. In January of 2017, an inmate gave me a very large envelope to take to V and C for mailing. Nothing yet and I am not trying to be like Abraham and Sarah. There is a lot of pain and suffering because of that plan. He has picked those whom HE wants. Sigh, the church is composed of people. Thank you for this, Sally. I think I understand your point of view, and thank you for it. Well, Jesus was accused of being mad, and of having a demon too, so He knows how it feels! To find his books, click []. Philip, Ive always wondered about the following topic on Forgiveness and how it relates to grace. Im still working on it (being more graceful). I stood up for what I believed was the right thing to do. My stand for the vulnerable cost me my career, my home and my health. Thank you so very much. One of my roles was to organize training for COPE workers [5]. I went to the sessions twice and left. Thank you for the encouragementand keep reading! Ive stood in front of the ovens in Auschwitz. I think that out of many prominent voices in the faith community, you are one of the people brave enough to be on the right side of history. You are one of those essential spiritual fathers for me like Lewis, and Chesterton, and Tim Keller. I have weird tastes in movies. At the time I was in the midst of finding my way through young adult life in NYC where I had moved to forge my own path away from Arkansas, where I was raised. Many majority opinions get proven wrong (slavery, women), but in a transition time I think appeals to grace and reason, as you do elsewhere in your comment, are more compelling than ad hominem arguments. what the contract says. We had quite a trade: I gave words to his faith, and in the process he gave faith to my words. More recently, he has explored central issues of the Christian faith, penning award-winning titles such as The Jesus I Never Knew, Whats So Amazing About Grace? I am now a student at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. She treated me so badly like a a piece of rubbish totally disgusted with me, and all I had had was SSA thoughts . Keep up the good work.. Have you revised the book ever? I know you have been receiving good and aweful feedbacks and comments, but let me just express mine. I listened to her stories, and at one point she asked me if I would like to see a photo of her husband. Thank you for your time. In recent years . I tried consoling her, but I struggle with doubts and am not the best at reassurance these days. It is also an answer to, not my, but my husbands prayer that same day I found your book, that God would give me what I needed. May God bless you and your efforts to help others! Despite being a Christian for many years and praying about this for a long time I still struggled. Evil spirits are definitely present, existing somehow independently of the natural world. It took me a long time to get a job and three years ago I worked in a place where I was completely dissatisfied, unmotivated, miserly, and in a position that any teenager knew without effort and did not need to finish high school to occupy it. Of course. Phil later has to correct himself with, No, Im sorry. I have two copies right now waiting to be mailed out to people who I imagine might be feeling how I once felt. It was not that big an issue. This weekend, we learned of the death of Rick and Kay Warrens son Matthew. It can be watched for free via an app from Google Play Store or Apples App Store: The Chosen-TV Series.. Yes Im still broken hearted. Recently I got obsessed with Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe and his books. My film was largely inspired by my own faith crisis and transition, and I thought that you might appreciate the film. "Yancey, Philip D. 1949- (Philip David Yancey) I have written two books that might be of interest to you: 1) Subversive Meals, an analysis of the Lords Supper under Roman domination, and 2) Heaven on Earth: Experiencing the Kingdom of God in the Here and Now, which picks up where Dallas Willard left off. In my childhood church, sermons on Sunday mornings and evenings were filled with images of hellfire and brimstone, and in Awana some of the first verses we memorized included Romans 3:23, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and Romans 6:23a, For the wages of sin is death. Around Halloween, the church youth ministry would host a hell house with frightening rooms filled with demons, darkness, and large knives and bloody bones (thanks to a butcher who was a member of the church)followed by a message on hell and an invitation to repent and be saved. A few days later as I was out for my morning walk on my hill, I saw in the early dawn light (!) Philip Yancey Returns to CIU | Columbia International University Evan McMullin is a sane alternative and the only conservative in the race. But I have questions.so many questions right now. Of course, I was present and took notes! Theres the evidence that demands a verdict. I also asked Bridges of Canada Manager Brian Harder for advice about it, but he never offered any. 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. By far it has given me the best understanding into the body of Christ. Writing (especially about such a sensitive topic) is hard and I deeply appreciate the time and effort and struggle you put into it. The fact that I was sexually abused as a teenager and still struggle with same-sex attraction was used as a weapon against me, even though I have honored my vows to God and the church by being celibate for 42 years. I just found your book Christians and Politics: Uneasy Partners. I kept hoping that by the last chapter you would say that Richard finally made peace with God and is walking with him (I didnt make the connection with your dedication at the front of the book). I enjoy getting your monthly newsletter as well. Believe or dont, but I dont see why we need to argue about what it says.. Philip Yancey | Religion Wiki | Fandom Vanishing grace imacted me in a way it is hard to explain all histories inside the book, all thoughts on it every word of it impacted me a lot. God bless you and keep on writing and reaching out to people like me. You need human contact: a counselor, a pastor, a friend. 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. Francis Collins, head of the National Institutes of Health, would be at the top of the list. There were several parts that stood out to me that I could relate to. Thank you for your books, your columns and your wisdom that comes from earnestly seeking Jesus in a fallen world. Our paths have crossed over the years but I have never had the privilege of meeting you. Maybe? I said, of course, Jesus loves you. My Dismissal . 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. YES. He searches for its presence in his own life and in the church. In his new memoir, Where the Light Fell, Yancey recalls his lifelong journey from strict fundamentalism to a life dedicated to a search for grace and meaning, thus providing a type of prequel to all his other books. Library Journal, January 1, 1989, Elise Chase, review of Disappointment with God, p. 90; September 1, 1989, Cynthia Widmer, review of I Was Just Wondering, p. 195; October 15, 1989, review of I Was Just Wondering, p. 51; March 15, 1990, Mary Margaret Benson, review of Reality and the Vision: 17 Christian Authors Reveal Their Literary Legacy, p. 91; July 1, 1995, Henry Carrigan, review of Finding God in Unexpected Places, p. 87; September 15, 2003, John Moryl, review of Rumors of Another World: What on Earth Are We Missing?, p. 64; October 1, 2006, Graham Christian, review of Prayer, p. 80. Thomas & Joyce. Now their daughters have thrown me out of Bridges, all based on a lies and hate . It was none of his business, and I had permission from V and C. Nevertheless, I went to AWI Brad Sass and asked him about it. At last I said, No, Im sorry, I cant promise that. None of us is exempt. Philip Yancey - Amazing Grace? 2. It impacted me so much I had to read more. I wonder if God is still really there. The Admiral, of course, is the linchpin of the San Antonio Spurs (Im a 40 year fan) dynasty, and an outstanding example of Gods grace and character. Can you expand some more on your thoughts concerning election/predestination and how you look at it at this point? Since then, Paul hated evangelical Protestants. As for Nigeria, thank you for the invitation! To be honest, I have never been in intentional prayer and heard from God. It amazes me how timeless it is, even 14 years later. One has to be born-again. Paul complained that I called him a bully and liar. You may enjoy the book Without God, Without Creed, by James Turner, which explores how careless language raises expectations about what an encounter with God should look like. I complete the one-year, graduate level thirty hours in four months with no grade lower than an A.. What kind of Christian would dare be disappointed with God? Im responding to your encouragement that we should follow the example of our Lord in forgiving when he prayed for his crucifiers, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Although this prayer reveals that the heart of Jesus was full of forgiveness at that moment (a wondrous thing! Part of me wanted to give up and yet I thought to myself, there is nowhere else to go! I was destitute and deeply in debt. The summer after my junior year of college, I led a small group in the fellowship I was a part of.