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). I am just wondering what topic has seized your interest during the pandemic and if there is a new book in the pipeline. The Philip We Never Knew. Just curious because I would love to read about a biblical response to racial injustices that is coming from someone on the receiving end of it. Do you remember that story, if you do can you tell me which book it is from? I did visit the website. Philip. It is so refreshing in our evangelical faith to have a Biblical perspective on pain and suffering. Goodness, this is a blushingly generous comment, Jen. Forever thankful for your ministry and help! You are a very gifted person. Of course, I said. Mr. Yancey, you are, and will always be, one of my favorite writers. + Reaching For The Invisible God Philip Yancey's Alumni Award Remarks - Wheaton College He does indeed stand for everything that Christianity is against! I recommend that you Google Wilma Derksens YouTube talk on forgiveness. She didnt do that. The quote is from a book titled The Power of the Powerless which is a collection of Juergen Moltmanns sermons, published in 1983. Ive stood at Ground Zero in Hiroshima. God is sovereign and knows what we need, the things that I have in my life are the things that I need. SO.. Despite having traveled a vast distance from my conservative Christian origins, Ive never ceased to be moved his books. From the time of my Confirmation at 15 until age 64, I kept only a vague and unlearned concept of God. Hi Philip, You will see me more because there are questions I really want to ask you and 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. Ive been an avid fan and faithful reader of your books over the years. Question for you, sir. Fortunately, since the same guard had checked the envelope both before and after it left the Institution, he was able to confirm that there had been no unauthorized transfer of goods out of or into the prison. 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. Phil quotes a couple New Atheists and says, Is that what youve experienced? I asked those who had gathered in Newtown. He eventually rejected the fundamentalist tradition, in part because of exposure to Orwellian literature, which he says "shattered my airtight framework of what the world was like. When I prayed, God help me. In 1981 YWAM Canada sent me to the USA to DayStar Ministries for further healing because I was still same sex attracted, i needed more conversion therapy , Uli and Carol Kortsch had told me to go for the 12 week therepy and then I could come back to YWAM Canada. Later I realized that we were the bad guys." The loud noise smashes God out of my mind. His books have sold more than 15 million copies in English and have been translated into 40 languages, making him one of the best-selling contemporary Christian authors. I have Jews and various Christian denominations in my immediate family and ancestry; nevertheless, we all got on together. Lew knew about forgiving God. Philip. II look like? I am re-reading Disappointment with God and just had a question. Instead, I was referred to Bridges of Canada since they had contracted me out to CSC [45]. Thank you. Are either or both of these books based on the Jewish & Hebrew roots of Christianity? I wonder if you have a study guide for Where is God When it Hurts? ? Id love to hear any you would recommend. But the night of the invitation I was again alone and crying and remember thinking, what have I to lose. Several times the Epistles urge us to bring God pleasure. Rarely attending any synagogue or church and then mainly to accompany a friend or out of curiosity. Your Forward is so thoughtful and well done. You affirm and encourage me. Philip. There are many so many and you are among those who have helped me become me. Brand, updating the medicine, cutting duplication, and improving the text. 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. And how intimately? 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. I live in Germany and have been reading your books. philip yancey Archives - Lighthouse Trails Research Project . Be blessed, sir! I was shocked and distressed by all this hatred being expressed by a lay CSC chaplain. O prazer que J gozou em sua velhice um simples antegozo do que est para vir. It is truly heart warming and humbling. Then again, its very good for the universe that Im not God. I stood up for what I believed was the right thing to do. Enough of this. in 1998. This created a big disconnect for me, and I have spent years assuming that the disconnect was a sign of my own unbelief. As a journalist, he has interviewed two U. S. presidents and other notable people such as Bono, Billy Graham, and the authors Annie Dillard, John Updike, and Henri Nouwen. Philip. 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. + The Question That Never Goes Away The Jesus I Never Knew endeared me to Jesus like no other book. One woman started talking with me, telling me of her abusive husband. When I finished, the dean commended me for the message and announced that following the benediction, all the female students were to remain in the chapel. Maybe its caused by some incidents which had big impacts on my life. If the conclusion of commandments is love, then is forgiveness the conclusion of salvaton? And when God did not answer our pray the way we wanted, it did not mean He leave us alone in our struggle. Answer: Thank you very much for your interesting question. To understand freedom in Christ over canned answers, cliche and religiosity. 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. I am so glad I was able to represent my Saviour, my God, on Wall St that day. Thank you very much. I find your books stimulating, brave, and encouraging. I also enjoy reading your books. I love all your books but have been most impacted by The Jesus I Never Knew (which I have used to teach a class of young people in my church) , Whats So Amazing About Grace? Keep writing. I have been blessed by many of your books, and am presently reading Vanishing Grace. I walked the streets on Montreal for days searching for the Taxi driver and finally found him and my documents which he had not handed in . Eternal bodies need the eternal earth to live on. [32]. 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. I came from a Jewish family and although began following the Holy Spirit then I was un-churched for my first five years. They wear out and die. It made quite an impact on both my wife and I and I actually believe if it were not for that book and The Jesus I Never Knew we would have abandoned our faith. And I want to thank you for your career of authorship that helps address a subject that scars so deeply. Hmm, well, I beg to differ. Recently a Christian relative said he does not pray for mercy for others anymore, but that they should be given their ministry instead. I am returning to Jesus ministry at points of confusion. The first is for your words in Whats So Amazing About Grace. I am reading your book Prayer, Does It Make Any Difference. I have only just stumbled upon your beautiful library of books and would like to purchase the paperback version of an earlier book, The Question That Never Goes Away: Why? I have checked all book sellers (Christianbook.com; Barnes & Noble; and Amazon but could not find it. 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. Again I was shamed and put down I knew there was no such gay demon, we parted ways . Army chaplains invited me to attend church and I took them up on it. I will share your response with the group. Im sure he knew something major was happening in the universe, but exactly what? I dealt with some emotional pain in Disappointment with God, but nothing like the kind of pain you experience. Thank you for your words. I really enjoy your writing. After having applied for welfare in Quebec and Ontario, and being refused every time, I finally ended up in PEI. About Philip - Philip YanceyPhilip Yancey Everytime I get inside a bookstore, the first thing that I would do is to go to HelpDesk and ask where do they keep your books. I called Brian that afternoon to clear up the situation, telling him what my meeting with Mr. Rasmus had been about. It touched me deeply. I was a Christian prior to the Reagan revolution in 1980 when Republicans deliberately confused Christianity with patriotism and capitalism to get their people elected. Thank you, Matt. I also asked Bridges of Canada Manager Brian Harder for advice about it, but he never offered any. I guess I tilt in their favor because that is my background, and also my callingto reach those wounded by the church. And reading your book has convinced me that something is Grace. Thank you that you are able to help us see Gods love through our journey, and also His plan for us along the way. I look forward to reading more of what you have to say and teach. Dear Philip, When?. Funny you should ask. Black authors: Cornel West is one contemporary who has strong views yet engages well with people he disagrees with. I followed this direction, with help from friends. The Envelope As a child I was sexually abused. Capt. Not a d**n thing. Philip. I will forever cherish them. Dear Mr. Yancey. Rob Barrett, Stay with the sunset. So basically, l believe in a penal/substitutionary view while trying to incorporate parts of the Christus Victor view. The nurses told me they were waiting for him to calm down. Thats good youre asking these questions while young! Threshold Ministries denounced me for my same-sex attraction, even though I had not been living a homosexual lifestyle since my teenage years. I applaud Yancey for his disarming honesty and for giving us a story that will cause us to reflect about our own life and also to thank God for his wisdom and grace. 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]. I dont know. Jesus tells us not to fear. What God has meant for me to have will never go to anyone else and even if I happen to lose something that was meant for me, I will get it back eventually because it was mine to begin with. Philip. Yancey was born in Atlanta[3] and grew up in nearby suburbs. Im curious if you might know what chapter or page it is included in so that I can cite the page number. I have written books with titles like Where Is God When It Hurts, Disappointment with God, Reaching for the Invisible God and The Question That Never Goes Away. 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). Im thankful. Hi Philip, Im a missionary in Latin America, Biology teacher/school administrator, and have greatly grown through your books. Dear Philip, thank you for your insight and inspiration in articulating truth that is palatable to us who have be conditioned by our traditional way of thinking! Is he still at the same place he was when you originally wrote the book? Our regret is that we will miss hearing you. 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). Dear Philip, Thank you for writing What is so Amazing About Grace! As a 63-year-old Christian, I have been stirred by the topic of grace for the past 3 to 4 years. One, your fundamentalist upbringing (so was mine) seems to shine through in your must/should/have to language. Many of these are old, probably unavailable, so Ill include extras. I want to thank you because your books have been a source of inspiration to my faith (especially The Jesus I never knew and Prayer Does it makes any difference?). Ive been challenged again but not by pain or fear, but by God himself to continue writing, resting in Him for my needs and my familys, and, in the same way, growing on writing to be like old prophets pointing to God with words. Dont worry about how long it took you to read my bookit took me much longer to write it! So thank u. To think that someone else had thought it too, separately, at a different time and country. I was born and raised Catholic before joining the Protestant church after a spiritual awakening. The question can basically be summed up as, How can a reflective Christian remain sane while holding an orthodox view of Hell?. In other words, the DVD player was brought in illegally. It should be compulsory reading for Christians to learn how not to be full of ungrace, how it saddens me when I hear harsh words spoken of others by those in debt to the Grace of God. For me, and only me, this was settled before Jesus was said to have walked the Earth 300 years BCE, as a matter of fact. I pray that God continues to work thru your heart and hands to inspire all of us Christians in a modern society deeply needing such truth, as you share it. Angela (Alberta, Canada). Some readers may recoil at Yancey's need to revisit old wounds again and again, but this book will speak to a wide range of Christians whose experience with the church has been, at least at some point, unhealthy. Ive been thinking about how that affects my relationship with God. Remember, Jews vehemently ignore it. I am now just beginning Part Three of Rumors of Another World and once again completely agree with all your suppositions. 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. Discerning which ones we can take as promises and which ones were restrictednow thats a tricky question, and I dont have a good answer. I recently picked up a copy of one of your books entitled, Grace Notes. I dont want to contradict your teachers, so I hesitate to respond specifically to your questions. Youve more than made up for that tongue-tied meeting, Heidi. I think the reason why is that you both are unafraid to ask questions you dont have answers to. Philip. I make friends with them, chat, and occasionally buy a hungry lady a pie or a can of juice, or even just fetch them a drink of water. And thats ok. Next up, The Jesus I Never Knew. Your book Amazing Grace stirred me to be more grace-full myself. You depict the Jesus of the gospels and of the unparalleled sermon on the mount in ways that people can grasp. God bless you. I know for a fact that the first 11 chapters of Genesis did not take place 6000 years ago because of radiogenic dating. Ive been raised in church and been in many different denominations, and Phillips books resonate with me. I pray and pray and pray and pray.no response. For whatever it is worth, I have passed this perspective on and tell you quite honestly that I have and do pray for you. Your comment shows a lot of maturity, even though to you it may feel confusing. Over a few months I got to know them ,things did not seem right ,they were controlling and closed,ridged in their beliefs . How inspiring and comforting your words are. 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. We keep at it because of responses like yours. This lead to years of backsliding away from my faith. I decided to apply to the Church Army Training College . I would be remiss if I didnt thank you properly or tell you that. In recent years, though, it embraced more and more of what I term evangelical culture and sadly became quite intolerant both in teaching and in practice. At least, I hope we are. Consequently I am no longer in church regularly and struggle with my faith in ways I never dreamed possible just a few years ago. I treasure it. I have promised God that I will never take my own life. She had amazing spiritual insight and was keen to evangelise her community. The people you write about in Soul Survivor are real and useful l and leave redemption and love in their paths. I consider myself a Mark Twain agnostic atheist after a Lutheran upbringingor better, feel as though Ive graduated from churchturning to Buddhism afterward, and most admiring the Unitarians for their inclusiveness. God Bless! 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. Please come to our Homegroup!!! Shame on me for referring to another book, but I addressed this very problem in Reaching for the Invisible God. Its a great question, one I spent a year exploring. Hi Philip, One will be desired to read more from your knowledge of write ups. Philip Yancey: We met at the Bible college I mentioned. On Tuesday, January 29th, 2017, I attended a training session led by Deputy Warden Belinda Cameron and a guard from the Edmonton Prison for Women. I love Korean people, but it hurts me because of the pressure to perform, and the perfectionism that can become a huge burden. I live in Zimbabwe. Susan Stevens, My goodness, thats now 20 years ago! I have lived by its precepts all my life (57 years), including my own period of questioning the beliefs of my parents. We wrote more in a book called The Gift of Pain. Your book, Whats so Amazing About Grace is my seventh book in my quest to immerse myself in the topic of grace. If so please let me know where to send you a copy. I admire some things about John Calvin, strongly object to others (e.g., his treatment of dissenters), and have real questions about some of his doctrines, such as Limited Atonement. The good news is I finally got around to reading and finishing the book and I have become a huge fan. I wrote a whole book about it, Reaching for the Invisible God. You express depression very well. Yet your writing points me back to a better response, loving the church even while disagreeing with her at times. I want to thank you for the frankness and honesty with which you write. By all means introduce yourself at Westmont! Deeply explore and do not write what only a part of the source says. Though written for an election that now seems eons in the past, I am finding it perhaps even more relevant today. Thank you for your books (Prayer does it make a difference, and Reaching for the invisible God). I can tell you within nanoseconds when that very asteroid will pass us again 1,000 years from now. We paused to have a cup of coffee when I learned she was widowed the same year my spiritual quest had begun. 4 children! In particular the book PrayerDoes it make any difference? I have read a few of your books,now reading vanishing grace..in a wordwonderful. I received a reply from her office assuring me that my letter had been passed to the Governor-General of Canada. I was sent to London and it was hell. Walking through life as a Christian isnt easy, but I am thankful that your writing has been a part of my journey. Moving forward, I will continue to read, pray, work hard, avoid sin, love everyone, and leave the rest to Him. 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. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. I am currently on the third book of yours that I have read and find myself thinking deeper than ever while I take in your words. Hi Philip. Ive recently been contacted by a publisher and asked to write a book, and part of that has involved setting up a website/blog so that people on the internet connect with me as a person. A lawyer with the Edmonton Legal Centre told me that the envelope incident was not sufficient reason to dismiss me. I cannot agree with the premise of mutual exclusivity between Gods sovereignty and Gods love. Cant wait to see what To further raise awareness of religious discrimination at the Edmonton Institution, I reported this incident to Commissioner Head after my dismissal. I called a friend I knew to be a strong Christian and asked what was happening. 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]. Barth, Karl Philip Yancey's Message of Grace - The Atlantic 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. I read it and put it on my bookshelf, stirred but not capable of truly understanding the idea. It loves today's AIDS-ridden addict as much as the tax collector of Jesus' day. Many of the victims families comment, I have forgiven him in an expression of closure, or some other Christian-like behavior. Philip. I very much appreciate your books, your insights, your stories of others & your own. He gave me a big hug and left in good spirits. 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 an "awful vow", against which Philip Yancey and his brother, Marshall, would constantly collide, his mother dedicated her two boys to God: "He is a ghost figure, summoned by our mother at key moments. Best-Selling Author Philip Yancey Exclusive Interview There are two main things I want your help in.. Until then, I feel connected to you in Him and I wish you and your family all the best. One of my regular practices was to send sympathy cards to prisoners who had experienced a death in their immediate family while I was their chaplain. Im so glad that you took the time to spell out your story in such detail. Thank you for writing these books, and I hope that you will continue to use your gift for words to walk alongside those who struggle with doubt. I am studying communications and hoping to either fight for justice with the written word or through community engagement (at least partly inspired by the heroes I met while reading Soul Survivor as well as your other books and your blog). Im 68, a year shy of three times your age, and to hear that somehow my words leap across time and even generationswell, thats a great gift that you gave me. I went through much pain with the Salvation Army anger over them loosing their stronghold. They say, We loan because: We care about human beings and understand that it takes people to help people. The Christians say, We loan because: Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Rev. Thank you Canada . It helped me in difficult periods of my life. It has been recommended that I have the book professionally edited and I was wondering if I could ask you for a good editorial recommendation. If I knew this webpage exists, I would have come earlier. He refused to give such inmates Kosher diets. Stephanie C. Your gracious letter in this life is more than enough. Also, from your travels, you never mentioned Nigeria, dont you think it will be nice to come to Nigeria? I think you spoke at a conference one week but I was unable to attend. Does that mean the disappearance of sins? I heard you questioning the movement of evangelicals towards Trump, and I totally agree with you! Here are my thoughts to my 74 year old Christian father, the most wonderful man I know. You confirm my suspicions. My doctor told me to find a good GP and to take a year off work to recover. I could not speak to any male as they arranged a plane ticked back to YWAM LA I was treated shamfully and illegally . Thank you for expressing things which have always made me feel awkwardand never a real Christians. I apologize for being so insensitive. Thank you Philip, for your faithfulness to Jesus and your gift. Those who gleefully told me what was happening had not missed the irony of my message being followed by the deans actions.