Comments on: Getting Along

By: Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 15:52:32 +0000

In reply to Mark Fitzgerald. Indirectly: I've read more about him by others than studied him directly.

By: Mark Fitzgerald

Mark Fitzgerald — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 06:58:30 +0000

Great stuff Philip! Enjoyed your memoir too. Just wondering, have you checked out Jordan Peterson yet?

By: Calvin

Calvin — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:06:42 +0000

Thought provoking and challenging once again. Thank you for this. As a South African this is still a big challenge for us as a nation to grapple with. Issues of sexuality, illegal immigration, political differences given our history. You are either on the left or the right and we have to get better at listening. Thank you.

By: Ken Steckert

Ken Steckert — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 22:49:56 +0000

“Politics is an adversary sport, and Christians are still learning how to play it.” Hmmmm … If Christian has anything to do with the namesake, not sure why any attempts are being made in this sport.

Great reminder in understanding begins with deep listening. All very good, and very much missing today on all sides. And Christians who look like the namesake should be leading in modeling this.

By: Meredith Bunting

Meredith Bunting — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 13:21:08 +0000

To “love deeply”, as Jesus taught Peter,
requires an ocean of humility. Thus, in grief and belief, Peter tore off his clothes, jumped off the boat, and swam to Jesus waiting on the shore.
Word of love=God Power.
Meredith Bunting

By: Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 04:18:33 +0000

In reply to Rose Mason. Such a vulnerable, heartfelt response. Thank you!

By: Rose Mason

Rose Mason — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 03:19:14 +0000

Philip:
I sorely needed to see this.
I recently read something by someone that I like. I immediately disagreed.
Fumed about her ideas for a full day.
Later, read something that I thought was more peaceful, forgave myself for my instant ire.

Listening to respond. Instead to listening to talk. Can be very challenging.
I loved the responses from others as well.
Will pull down: What’s So Amazing about Grace. Time to give it a re-read.
Thanks for your kind words. You are a balm in Gilead.

By: Bradley Robertson

Bradley Robertson — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 21:14:07 +0000

Hi Philip, Thank-you for your consistent growth in too deep grace and sharing your journeys with us who are reaching for this.
I sit here today on the 41st anniversary of my life being invaded and rescued by God. The concept of Grace was introduced in to my virgin Christ following ways by that phrase oft sung “Amazing Grace, how sweet that sound that saved a wretch like me”. I knew this was as true as it was saying, however I have spent (at great human expense of loss after loss that included attacks upon my character and insinuations of ‘not being them’ ~ the images and institutions of whatever these modern christians defined). You name it, and I have experienced it. I would have to say that the greatest pains I have suffered within these 41 years have pretty well come from within the halls of Christianity. Yes, I have contributed to many erroneous and misguided representations within this religion as well. My soul was always torn when these events came and left. There were sprinkles of deeply graceful people amongst these religious storms. I recall them with fondness and sirens calling me to something that smelled, tasted and acted like what I imagine Jesus would be like. Your writings are included inside these moments of clarity and calling. Thank-you! I have sought to be inside this contemplative calling … and I’m told that I was … in many cases. However, I must confess that I felt like (looking back) that I was often in what psychologist’s coin a “pre-contemplative” frame of mind. Most often, when I finally ‘saw the light’, I did a 180 degree turn after I realized the error of my ways (and/or the imbued ways I had unknowingly adopted). My mantra became “if this is hurting someone or people group I need to stop and assess myself and my doctrines in light of the revealed Jesus of Scriptures. Not an easy task. I sadly discovered that this Jesus was rebranded and appropriated by powers both obvious and subtle means and ways. I did all of this while caring for serious needs amongst my wife’s family. We raised our 1rst child amidst what was later to be discovered as the *Bill Gothard christian cult. Horrible stuff happened inside that group, and by extension those they were led to believe they must ‘witness’ too. There are many more stories of injustices done amongst other christian groups. I became their enemies because I spoke out against these un-Christ-like injustices. Nevertheless, without extended family support (for we both were born inside of very broken homes), and our christian family(s) who were cold hearted institutionalized collectives of maintaining their status quo. We became wilderness travellers seeking for the promised land of christian family. We have not, at this time, found that home literally. We have, however, found this Christian family amongst other wilderness travellers and doers via books, blogs, podcasts, and youtube. Our Grace for even our ‘enemies’ (their description) has deepened and we have been instructed in the deep valleys of humility. This is not an easy place to live traversing in this imprecatory wilderness. But it is better than the alternative of becoming an eye for an eye. Call it ~ de-construction; re-construction or heresy if you must (not you, I’m sure) I know this in my bones, Jesus must be my filter, especially when one grasps the enormacy of His 108,405 days (plus or minus) living and ministering, loving and receiving the worst humans could conjure. He knew this coming inside this game of life/loss. There was redemption, rescue, and reconciliation all acted out in words and deeds. Kindness was the cry of His Life. Kind-ness … His Kind-ness and we must ‘make-believe’ this within this wilderness of traveling this side of Heaven. Thy kingdom come … even so … come quickly … Lord Jesus! I’m now 62 and this is still true and that is about as deep as I see it thus far. Thank-you again old son. Sensorially your distant brother. Brad

By: David

David — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 20:58:24 +0000

Great article. Been reading Dr M L Jones “From Fear to Faith” which is a meditation on Habakkuk. Interesting how God used the Babylonians to admonish the Jews in war and then ultimately suppressed the Babylonians Very challenging to see the current world through this lens. Requires true revelation.

By: Dianne Lami

Dianne Lami — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 19:58:52 +0000

As soon as your blog pops up in my email inbox, I open it with great anticipation, knowing I’ll be challenged to think more deeply and differently. Again, with this blog post I was not disappointed. In fact, I have just placed an order for the book you cited by Valerie Kaur.

I have been praying for the opportunity to dialogue with a person of an opinion different from mine, to practice that much needed art of deep listening. I totally agree that Jesus just didn’t ‘go there’ on politics, both in the synagogue/church and in the public square. His one on one conversations were always on matters of the heart, not matters of current culture. Human hearts haven’t changed. Culture has over the years.

Thank you for continuing to encourage us to think, to seek, to go outside our comfort spaces and extend grace to all whom God puts in our path.