How poignant, James. As a teen I was beaten and abused by my mentally ill mother and sister and ignored by my father. The neat formula and juridical language I had been taught didnt seem to do justice to all of the events that occurred during the Passion narrative. I know for a fact that the first 11 chapters of Genesis did not take place 6000 years ago because of radiogenic dating. God bless you. AWI Brad Sass was shocked by the news of my dismissal, and said that it would not have happened if he was at Edmonton Institution. If we are right with God, we are right with our neighbor, isnt that what I should count one? (Matthew 6: 25-34) The Langauge of God ~ Francis Collins. No one wore an armband; the deans rules were unquestioned. So far, I have not had luck with that pursuit. The work too hard and too much for me lifting 100 lbs of Soap and I weighed maybe 80 lbs, I ended recking my stomach and have a 14 inch scar down my stomach today from lifting too heavy a load, they never said sorry. Brads response was that it was not my place to report on other staff, and so I said nothing further. Homer Heater, Jr. I am attempting to help a man who says he needs to forgive God. Encyclopedia.com. In August were releasing a newly updated presentation of his life and thought, Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing Gods Image. Read your book Disappointed with GOD. 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! Our Homegroup have just studied your book on Prayer and now will start the next bookWhats so amazing about grace. Sorry! I mean, feel free to believe in the spirits of thetans blown up in a nuclear explosion on earth by the evil dictator Xenu 75 million years ago if youd like. I just want to clarify if it was really you that wrote it. Certainly Im not a doctrinaire Calvinist. This is the last story I need to reference and my book will then go to formatting. Just thought you may be interested in looking into this. He is asking the questions Im asking inside and- hallelujah! Ive just published a memoir, Where the Light Fell, which details my own struggle with these same questions. How could I ever thank you enough? Its a beautiful book. The Bible assures us that we will find Him when we seek Him with our hearts. Usually I pick up a book and try to finish it in about a week or two. . The cultural adjustment coupled with the differences in church life was really hard for me. Darwin was 99% correct about evolution and natural selection, but nobody knows how or why evolution really works. I continued to serve those under my care and enhanced the chaplaincy services there [4]. If prisoners needed both a card and a stamp, I would give them a blank card and ask them to let me know when it was ready to be mailed. Why was that genicide, that killing of men, women, and children, that enslavement of survivors. The Study Guide is more suitable for someone studying the book more intently, or leading a group study. You referred to how you have repeatedly had to field questions revolving around pain, suffering, and doubt. Thank you for your articulate book, which has come the closest to making me re-think my doubts in the whole matter. I didnt write the script to Prince of Egypt. Let me try that sentence again with a substitution: For us who believe in Germanic gods, the death and resurrection of Odin is proof positive that love is stronger than hate, that life is stronger than death, that light is stronger than darkness, that laughter and joy, and compassion and gentleness and truth, all these are so much stronger than their ghastly counterparts. Or better, how about from my perspective, For us who are non-believers, my life experience is proof positive that love is stronger than hate, that life is stronger than death, that light is stronger than darkness, that laughter and joy, and compassion and gentleness and truth, all these are so much stronger than their ghastly counterparts. Why use Jesus? One of my roles was to organize training for COPE workers [5]. Keep up the good work. After few more meetings, she invited me to attend her church of three years an Independent Baptist Fundamental church. experience. Very rich (and her daughter was murdered). 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. Its an important question, and Im glad you mention it. But Whats So Amazing About Grace is the book that changed my life. The earth must become as it appears: blue and white, not capitalist or Communist; blue and white, not rich or poor; blue and white, not envious or envied. Michael Collins, Gemini 10 & Apollo 11. I have been struggling with my life. I did sign up for the Launch Team, I hope that I can help in that. I wonder if you remember your trip to Doha, Qatar in February 2009. Born 1939, in Chicago, IL; married Roger Winter (an artist); children: Jonah, Max. Your books make me feel as if we have spent a day in conversation on deeply held beliefs we both share. (From Hungary). She tried to raise her little girl as best she could until the rejection became just too much. But God does indeed promise this very thing: The LORD will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life. (Psa. She even mentioned Target Stores on US. After one such an incident, Paul went to BC to see them. Still thinking about it. As a respected scholar you almost certainly know better than I that discrimination against gay people is at its heart discrimination based on gender. During his years in prison, many church members, pastors and prominent law expert in the country paid a visit. The reaction you must also imagine. Cautiously, warily, I returned, circling around the faith to see if it might be true.. The first such institutions include Nyack Missionary Training Institute, founded by A.B. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. You are one of those essential spiritual fathers for me like Lewis, and Chesterton, and Tim Keller. Currently I am reading Reaching for the Invisible God. Barry Rose struggle with Paul before me. This haunts me from time to time, especially the second paragraph of the following quotation. I did as instructed, but the guard in the control room would not open the door. You were endeavoring to point to Gods love and care for his children. It is a million miles away from writing or anything creative in general. If I choose well, and God is pleased, how is God benefited? No one has influenced me more, he says. It was a lonely time as I did not speak Dutch . He is much less angry now, and open to spirituality and the supernatural, though more in a New Age kind of way than traditionally Christian. I am Munir Masih from Pakistan. The quote is thus attributed to you, and it is implied that it comes from the book Rumors of Another World. Some others, both living and dead: Jurgen Moltmann, a contemporary German theologian; Millard Fuller, who founded Habitat for Humanity; John Perkins, who pioneers racial reconciliation; Ron Nikkel, who took Prison Fellowship to more than 100 countries; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia. I believe the assault was targeted at me because it was widely known at the time that I was one of the staff that had been interviewed by the federal correctional investigator, Ivan Zinger. She did send her boys to Bible school and fully expected them to serve the Lord.. To this date I have still not received the results of this investigation. If so, would be interested in your thoughts. And I feel the same about Jesus. I wrote the book that Grace Notes reprints some 30 years ago and dont have the sources in front of me. So I started Malachi Dads and Christianity Explored right after the new year. But my faith is in God and I will continue to pray, not so much for my wants and petitions, as to grow in knowledge and relationship with God. When we find churches with decent preaching, we are often judged or find that the church has a strong sub-culture of modern identity and a lack of hospitality and love. Heather, A new edition will be published this fall which includes discussion questions. The fact that you want so desperately to communicate with God is a wonderful thing and leads me to believe He is drawing you closer. The New International Version is the most read, most trusted Bible translation, and more than six million copies of The Student Bible have been sold. Im reading through Reaching for an Invisible God, savoring it by only reading a few pages a day and really considering what you say and it occurred to me that I ought to be praying for this man who has, along with John Stott, been such a constant spiritual guide for me in the mornings when I pray & study the Bible. Read Romans 15: 4-13 I have just started reading your book on Prayer. 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). Nobody was saying a word and looked hopeless. Consequently I am no longer in church regularly and struggle with my faith in ways I never dreamed possible just a few years ago. Brand did. I have been looking for a study guide to go along with this book tried Amazon and Christianbook.com as well as your site here, but I gather there isnt one. You are easily my favourite Christian writer, and you never fail to inspire me through the topics you write on. Sorry! You are, besides the Spurs part, the same. Your book Whats So Amazing About Grace? provided me with such freedom in my Christian walk especially now that i am Pastor. No doubt in my mind. I just think the gospel is a lot bigger than I used to. You can't go wrong with these two contributors. It would make such an awesome gift for children and friends whose interactions with the church have left a bad taste in their mouth. The Bible says marriage should be between a man and a woman., and as an evangelical, I believe in the bible. Im also glad youve started writing. Was this question not asked at any time before the Sandy Hook shootings? it happens more for me throughout the day through things I see and experience. Hello, this is Hee-Soo from South korea. Since Ive not had that particular gift, and try to focus on mere Christianity, I havent spoken about it. You were the first Christian writer who made room for a thinker like me. He became a social media sensation after Gordon Ramsey reacted to one of his TikTok videos. Shortly afterwards, my wifes grandmother had emergency surgery and began having difficulty recovering. I put it next to Mere Christianity as a must read for old believers. On Tuesday, February 14th, 2017, Brian Harder called me at my home five times, telling me that I had been dismissed from my position at the Edmonton Institution. I very much appreciate your books, your insights, your stories of others & your own. Hmm, well, I beg to differ. Senior staff in Threshold Ministries warned me to watch my back, saying that the director was out to get me. Again, thank you. I hope you find in it something that gives a new perspective. Im a pilgrim, recovering from a bad church upbringing, searching for a faith that makes its followers larger and not smaller. Ive so appreciated your writing over the years and finally decided to say so. When some staff had asked me to bless their homes, to pray with them and to help them spiritually, Paul told them that I was not a real priest because I was not RC. This is why I hope you find time to address this question. As a Croat generation and proud of my ancestors who have left me in the legacy of love for homeland and faith I must correct you. Capt. He has family values and has a record of integrity. Just recently, I completed reading your book Soul Survivor. SO.. (You can email me privately, if you are willing.). Bruce Smith the Church Army regional Director ,later to be the National Director came up to me on the platform and said we have found out about your (gay past just thoughts in Hawaii) you are no longer accepted in the Church Army ,and he walked away leaving me with my suit cases , shattered and no place to go. Editor at large, Christianity Today. It hurts to read all that you have been through. + Disappointment With God So, what is the answer to communicate with God and Him with me I have even told God that I will be quiet and wait to hear from Him but to no avail. Good memory. This amplified the discomfort I have been feeling for many years about the emphasis of evangelicalism on a personal relationship and emotional experiences with God that I simply could not relate to, as much as I wanted to. First, some anger is appropriate. The ugliness of the world does not need to pull us down which was something that was beginning to get to me until I chanced upon your book. And thank you for this most encouraging grace note. Philip. Your books have always been challenging my traditional beliefs in Christianity, and I thank God they do. Dont drive yourself crazy in asking the why questions, but to seek to see Gods love, concern, and care every day of our lives. Thank-you very much. She is a nurse by profession, an agnostic and questions the existence of God. Hi Phillip Ive stood near the Yangtze River where in 1931 a flood killed four million. Welcome to the family, Scott. I know that in the U.K., where it seems youre from, it can be very difficult to find a church with a sense of nourishing community, a church that also shows spiritual vitality and opportunities for service (and not just in U.K.!). Is there someone I can contact for permission? 4 children! I have no one to turn to, no one who can help me. Hi Philip, I have been looking everywhere to see if there may be a small group study guide that you or someone else may have written as a companion to the book In the Likeness of God that you co-wrote with Dr. Paul Brand. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). I told him all was okay, but he did not seem satisfied; he was fishing for something. The Bible ways what it says, I figured. The shocking part was that the cancer was carsinoma, a fast-growing cancer cell ever amongst other type of cancer. when they find these very activities too much to bear and then the feel guilty because they are not doing what they are being told they should be doing. At first, I didnt want to grab the book because the book was thicker than I thought Whatever I did to deserve all of this must have been just awful, and I feel that I deserve all of this because otherwise God would help me, right? as of now I am doing a book review of your The Jesus I never Knew as a requirement in one of my subject. I found affinity regarding your assessment of the fundamental beliefs and churches. Eventually Barry had enough of Pauls abuse and resigned. Whew, great question and well-expressed. I wrote a whole book about it, Reaching for the Invisible God. You express depression very well. I still have the NIV Student Bible my Mother gave me a few months after my Dad passed away from cancer when I was still in college. The book is almost in the tenth hand and everyone has the same testimony My salvation is full of grace than before! Then late last year, I randomly picked up a copy of The Jesus I Never Knew since I knew the author! 3. Anyway, I was wondering if in the future you would write something about mental illness. I no longer feel like I fit in that culture, but your books still speak to me, and I hear the gospel in them as much as I did way back when. Yes, too bad! Hanukkah There I got to know Gwen and Mike Holland of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers. Everyone I know is still alive and so Im trying to honor my mother and protect christs bride. Uh I now know that the word that describes me best at that moment is starstruck. We exchanged hellos and pleasantries, but I didnt quite know what else to say. Hillery, or as I call her, Hitlery, has proven over the years to be very anti- Christian . Michael, I think the reason why is that you both are unafraid to ask questions you dont have answers to. He asked me to send him an updated resume. The weekend before I was to begin they called me and retracted my acceptance. He has overcome much anger over the years. At first, let me introduce my self, Im Mariana from Indonesia, I have heard about you from my friend. Your comment shows a lot of maturity, even though to you it may feel confusing. He never commented, but some of the Roman Catholic chaplains were grateful for my comments. Phillip, This great Q&A reminded me of a student film I made while at Chapman Universitys film school. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with all of us. Denounce it so people know its cunning use of the sacred prefix I was sent to London and it was hell. One day in heaven I hope to again say thanks.