Kevin, the Kitchen Manager at the Edmonton Institution, also had a big issue with Jewish inmates. We have read some We are about to begin the study on Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? What chapters in the book relate to the study sessions? And, inspired by some of your words, I began to see faith as not unlike personalities that we have different types, that some people may experience and hear God often (and it is not my place to doubt those experiences), while I may long and doubt and wait far more than I hearand that that is okay that these different kinds of relationships with Him might be something He delights in, something He finds beautiful. Hi Philip, You are one of those essential spiritual fathers for me like Lewis, and Chesterton, and Tim Keller. I wear a hearing aid, and for some time it was not working properly because of malfunctioning batteries. Yours is a prime example, truly heartfelt. 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 also warned my Bishop that the Anglican priest of my own church was molesting young boys. He writes about breaking the cycle of ungrace (my childhood understanding of sin), and he relates it to the story of the prodigal son. + Disappointment With God And keep researching, writing and editing. This act of forgiveness is backed up by the command that Christians must forgive (70 times 7, etc.) Because we are time-bound creatures, limited to sensing the present and recalling the past, it maybe bothers or disappoints or upsets (or better word?) What He taught men the Apostles simply referred to as The Way They actually have morality police patrolling with clubs to punish the disobedient. I have a dream of being able to write one day and I think I would like to know that your work reaches many people sometimes very distant but united in one faith. He spoke to a number of us seminary presidents last January. We help young men from addictive backgrounds with life controlling issues. I am not sure if you remember me, by that is it unimportant. Christian Century, March 1, 1989, Mark E. DeVries, review of Disappointment with God: Three Questions No One Asks Aloud, p. 236; April 17, 1991, review of Reality and Vision, p. 441; May 18, 1994, Frank Ramirez, review of Pain, p. 545; September 13, 1995, review of Finding God in Unexpected Places, p. 862; August 1, 2001, Peter W. Marty, review of Reaching for the Invisible God, p. 32; December 12, 2001, Wayne A. Holst, review of Soul Survivor, p. 25. What happened to my seed and Malachi 3 opening the floodgates of Heaven? I am not fancy with words but I have been looking forward to speak to you. Mr. Rasmus informed me that it was not. On page 121, Phil says, as I pondered the question [Where is God when it hurts?] But when it came time for me to return,they ignored my plea and left me stranded in the USA with no money and no place to go,the British and German Embassy would not help me. Its an honest representation of what a Christian walk really is. Please let me know if there is anything specific that I can pray for you. But I found nothing. Mark your calendars today! Grace, still the best and last word, transcends all our feeble attempts, and my new spiritual faith seems to have transcended my christian faith the best way to put it for me. Philip, Ive been thinking about you lately and your book, Whats So Amazing About Grace? (What a great title) And how you deftly redefine the word to mean social justice. Clearly any deity worth his salt could have opened a window. Even days after that final judgement, I was not able to focus on my work life seemed too heavy to face. The Holy Spirit has been working on my heart today and I find myself back here reading your blog and I love your bio.