Not Exactly Refreshed, But Renewed
As I write, we’re returning at last from a two-week tour of England and Scotland. Just getting home has been an ordeal! Somehow United Airlines bumped us from our original return flight from Edinburgh on May 23, changing it without asking to May 24. After much hassle we finally got it changed back, a good thing as it turned out since an ash cloud from the erupting volcano in Iceland closed down all Scottish airports the following day. Then our flight back to Denver through Chicago got canceled due to maintenance issues and we were routed instead through Dulles airport in Washington, D.C., albeit too late to catch a flight to Denver.
We spent the night at Dulles, and our scheduled flight to Denver the next day also got canceled due to maintenance issues. Sheesh! We spent most of the day dashing from gate to gate registering for standby seats and finally our persistence paid off. In the end we landed in Denver some 35 hours after leaving Great Britain, sufficient time to have circled the globe. Those who think international travel is glamorous, listen up.
In contrast, the tour of the U.K. went off without a hitch, well, almost. En route to the very first event we found ourselves waiting in a very long line of cars on a motorway. A truck, or lorry, had crossed the median and crashed into a car a mile or so ahead of us, and authorities closed all six lanes of the highway–for six hours! After sitting without moving for three-and-a-half hours while emergency personnel dealt with the tragedy, we were allowed to make a U-turn and go back up the entrance ramp to find an alternate route. We barely made it to the venue in time. Later we learned the sobering news that two women had died in the accident, and that if we had left the hotel on time that morning instead of a few minutes late we may well have been involved.
I was speaking on the book What Good Is God? accompanied by a Christian theatre company called SaltMine. The first half of the program, I sat onstage with an interviewer, and in between our chats three actors did a series of five- to seven-minute sketches, some of which they wrote themselves and some adapted from such works as The Hiding Place, The Screwtape Letters, and Shadowlands. After a tea break (this is Britain, after all) the actors did one more sketch and I spoke for about 40 minutes.
We’ve done three similar tours in the U.K., as well as a tour in South Africa and Australia and a scaled-down presentation in the Middle East, and we plan to return to Australia (and New Zealand too this time) in September of this year. It feels far less lonely to stand on a platform supported by such consummate professionals. With moments of hilarity and poignancy in their dramas, they grab an audience and deliver them into the palm of my hand. Could a speaker ask for more? Dave Pope, a singer of note in the U.K., organized each of the programs, and the logistics were quite complicated. Several stagehands and technicians drove a couple of vans full of props, electronic equipment, and books for sale, and a caravan of five vehicles traveled between cities each day to stage the productions. In all we covered 2000 miles to put on ten performances.
As you may know, the church in Britain is a sad shell of its former days. The most impressive building in every town is the stone church with its pointed steeple, but most of those churches are virtually empty on Sunday. Much like the church congregations, the audience attending our events tilted heavily toward the gray-haired. And yet I find in places like Australia and Britain, the church is far more likely to show unity, with little denominational competition at stake, and also to express faith creatively. Much of the best worship music comes from Britain, and the kind of theatre talent produced by SaltMine would be hard to match in the United States.
The highlight for me each evening was sitting at a table to sign books and in the process hearing stories of people I have somehow connected with through my books. A woman whose 23-year-old son committed suicide. A young girl who rolled up her sleeve to show her self-mutilation as a “cutter” before her conversion. An elderly man who said, “Pray for my daughter please—she’s a prostitute and drug addict.” An Iranian believer who had just received his residency permit in Scotland after an eight-year wait and who asked me to sign his Farsi-language version of What’s So Amazing About Grace? A chaplain who leads a study on that book in a Glasgow prison. A surgeon who trained with Dr. Paul Brand in India. I never tire of hearing that something I work on alone in my basement office reaches out, in this case across an ocean, and connects with another person in very different circumstances.
We had no time for tourist excursions on this trip. After getting to the hotel after midnight, we’d sleep, get up and exercise, then load the car for the next day’s drive, arriving in time to arrange the set, do sound checks, hold a reception, and face a new crowd. Yet simply 
driving through the British countryside in Spring is a feast for the eyes: lambs frolicking in the fields, bright yellow rapeseed blooming, English gardens fronting the road in towns and villages. And one night we traveled to Stratford-upon-Avon and saw a magnificent production of Merchant of Venice by the Royal Shakespeare Company. We return not exactly refreshed, but renewed and ready to tackle the next adventure.
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About Philip Yancey
For Yancey, reading offered a window to a different world. So, he devoured books that opened his mind, challenged his upbringing, and went against what he had been taught. A sense of betrayal engulfed him.
Philip, you are my favorite author. You are the only author I can share with anyone without embarrasment as some Christian authors do not really tell the truth-imagine that? I belive I read years ago that you were either considering writing or researching a book on Dysfunctional Southern Families-Is that correct
Nelson, I am working on a memoir right now, but that is only about my particular dysfunctional Southern family.
Philip
I’m reading “O Jesus que eu nunca conheci” (in portuguese) and I wanted to ask you:
Have you ever read the book: Desire of Ages, by Ellen G. White?
By the way, thank you for this grate book that I’m reading.
“I never tire of hearing that something I work on alone in my basement office reaches out, in this case across an ocean, and connects with another person in very different circumstances.” – as a blogger, I can relate to that. And I just want to say that your books have connected with me again and again, very deeply. I find your writing really helpful because you speak from the heart, you don’t fudge over issues but wrestle with them, you talk about life as it really is, with all the pain and the complexity and the mess. Thank you so much.
Hi Phillip – I had no idea of the best way to get back in touch after our correspondence about my ‘What Is not Negotiable’ project a year ago or so, i do hope this reaches you sir! – Tony Campolo did contribute in the end which was great and i promised I’d send you the link as soon as it was up as you said you’d be interested, so have put it in the ‘my website’ field above. Also, i thought the piece below might interest you as i’ve mentioned you. God bless and so glad to hear you’re well.
John Richards
30/30/30
‘Confess your sins, one to another; that you may be healed.’
‘If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us.’
‘Where two or three are gathered together…’
Several months ago, a close friend in his 30’s who i meet and pray with regularly invited me to Alcoholics Anonymous, an organisation that he has been involved in as a member and mentor over many years and in several countries. He invited me as a guest to a session that he was speaking at one evening, in a village a few miles outside our town. I have worked face to face with vulnerable young people with complex issues over the last ten years and have heard bits and pieces about AA and had also been struck by a compelling account i had read about an AA meeting in which Phillip Yancey was touched deeply by the spiritual pungency and mutual humility and dependence of the members.
As the group convened, the confidentiality rules and format were explained to me and my friend told his fascinating life story of childhood hurt and alienation, steady descent into drugs and dealing, prison, violence, alcoholism and then gradual revelation, repentance, the beginnings of recovery and a slow and purposed walk of deliverance and change via the 12 steps over many years. As he finished and the group thanked him, others began to chip in and contributed from their own lives and experiences, and as they spoke in the little church backroom i was struck by both the incredibly unified diversity of people and the presence of God in the room; folk of all ages, from all backgrounds, at all stages of life, from several countries and every possible walk of life talking nakedly, freely, beautifully, humbly, openly about their own struggles, daily need for change and complete hope in God for redemption. For 45 minutes I literally choked back tears as story after story after story from single mums, mechanics, doctors and lawyers, acknowledged the teller’s brokenness, inadequacy, humility and then desire for real change, healing and complete dependence on God and the community for daily progress and indeed survival. I have been involved in different churches in a great diversity of contexts and roles my whole life and that evening I felt such emotions i had never recognised; a deep sense of Gods purpose and significance on me being there coupled with the frustration and sadness that the profoundly spiritual principles i was seeing so freely and simply displayed by people utterly unchurched were so distinctly lacking in the cell groups, meetings and church experiences of so many christians and church communities that i had attended.
I felt that God had not only touched and challenged me deeply, but had birthed some purpose that was slowly germinating. Several weeks later, over the course of one week-end, I met completely by chance at a party someone else with whom the subject of AA popped up completely out of the blue, in the context of their frustration with their current church situation, and desire for a greater reality in their own relationships. The day after this, my AA friend told me of his consternation at once again sitting in his church that morning while the speaker described redemptive biblical concepts that could only be learnt or outworked in the context of complete mutual dependence, openness, acceptance and humility. As he looked around the church he described how he felt like standing up and asking how these things were to be fulfilled in what was a middle class, discreet and controlled environment of church conformity. He reminded me of my experience at AA and asked me to consider doing something and to lead in some way and left his thoughts with me.
Over the course of the next few days, i felt really stirred and decided clearly that i wanted to do something and that the way forward was to start a community in which we could look to replicate the conditions of AA together and even follow the 12 steps of recovery (that are not actually about alcohol) in a context of complete openness, honesty and mutual dependence. I hoped to experiment with a traditional AA format: 30 minutes of chatting, a 30 minute talk by one member and then 30 minutes of discussion from where we have got our name. As i began to tentatively contact friends and contacts who I thought might be interested and describe the vision i had, i found to my amazement a catalogue of affirmation as time and time again i was told that this was what they had been longing for, praying for, reading about at that very time or had been on their heart and they were desperate to be involved. I assembled a leadership team of 4 of us who met prayerfully and discussed the right venue and format and quickly we had 10 or so men interested. We met initially not really knowing what might happen and sat around drinking cups of tea with no-one really knowing what they were coming to. The group was made up of a real diversity of men both churched and unchurched; from a friend of a friend who has been in prison for the last 18 years to a local church pastoral leader to a newly married friend who had served around the world on the mission field to someone who had never been to church and is a recovering alcoholic. Ten or so men from a great range of backgrounds, all walks of life with differing church affiliations, family situations, experiences and yet the shared desire and hope and commitment for openness, community and a shared process of progress. I began to describe my thoughts and vision and suggested four principles that i felt should be central to what we were doing:
Confidentiality; all that was shared in the group would stay in the group and not be shared outside of it.
Acceptance; we were here to establish a context in which one another’s thoughts, struggles, dilemmas and personalities could and would be accepted and valued regardless of our understanding and agreement. We would seek to maintain unity and encourage and nurture one another at all costs.
Non-Disclosure; Though we wanted a context in which people felt they could pour out their hearts and share their deepest struggles, such disclosure was not a requirement for membership and it was fine just to be there and to listen; no-one would be pressured or expected to share unless they felt completely comfortable to do so.
Support; we aimed and hoped to be able to support one another and establish a shared interdependence of fellowship; if someone expressed a need, concern or hurt with which they were struggling, then the group and the other individuals would hope and desire to support and encourage and nurture that person in whatever way seemed appropriate and to pray for and support them without setting conditions or demands.
Above all i explained my own commitment to the pursuit of ongoing awareness and changethrough openness, brokenness, accountable and real relationships and that these two principles for me were utterly central to the daily outworking of my journey with God. I talked about wanting to be a picture of redemption in my own struggles and redemptive process and how i hoped to be somehowfruitful by living out and sharing these things in my life and in the relationships and people that God has given me despite my numerous ongoing failings and need. I hoped that somehow, the group might be able to incorporate and embody such a process for us all.
Without going into detail i can simply say that the floodgates were opened that first night – almost immediately and without any hint of requirement, intensely moving and personal stories of suffering, struggles, progress, hope and faith were shared and listened to, tears were shed between us and the beginnings of a community formed. We went far beyond the allotted time, closed in prayer (the prayer below that has become our community prayer), and finally a friend spoke up at the end of our time and said in a voice thick with emotion that he had waited 28 years involved in the church in several countries and numerous settings for a group such as this. We all hugged and left; full of excitement, thankfulness and hope.
The group develops and grows throwing up challenges, opportunities, shared tears and an immense amount of intimacy, accountability and laughter. God is gracious and kind to us. We continue to pursue a greater awareness of ourselves and our own need; and then seek to support and encourage one another to change and grow by Gods grace in a context of real-ness – as men humbly outworking our redemption in the incredibly diverse circumstances and challenges the 12 of us face. We are resolutely NOT a christian group nor an AA meeting simply because none of us feel any need or desire to label our 12 way relationship as such. We trust that the principles we try to live out to one another afford us our identity and will carry us forward. We are hopeful and expectant and want our lives, families, situations and futures to be impacted by our desire and commitment to the process and one another. We rely wholly on God to lead and protect and change us as we seek Him together. We feel we are putting ourselves in the palm of His hand. We trust that it is a good place to be.
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against Your holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done;
and there is nothing good in us.
O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
Spare those, O God, who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent; according to Your promises declared unto men in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grant that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life;
to the glory of His name. Amen
Dear Mr. Yancey,
Thank you for writing! I have been reading you for a few years in the RBC Ministries “Our Daily Bread.” The way you approach an issue really speaks to me. I just finished reading “Prayer Does It Make Any Difference?” I look forward to reading your other books.
Philip,
As always we were delighted to read your update and hear the details of your travels. Think of you so often, especially when gazing in wonder at Long’s Peak and thoughts of your amazing accomplishment with the 14teeners. 🙂 A joy-filled summer to you and Janet!…Thanking God for you, Bobbe and John
I forgot to mention that I really enjoyed the “Seasons of the Soul” talk at the end of the evening. Is it available in written form to read through?
Hi Philip,
I feel I have to add my (slightly delayed) gratitude for your Seasons of the Soul tour. I had the privilege of seeing you speak in Norwich, as well as having a short but thoroughly enjoyable conversation with Janet afterwards. I felt really blessed by the time she gave me and the interest she showed in my enthusiasm of your books (developed from a young age).
I am often struck by your attention to the little details in life that shout volumes about God’s glory if we only take the time to notice it. I believe the gift of time that both you and Janet give to fans after a talk is a real demonstration of this God-reflected essence.
Perhaps one day, over a cup of coffee…
Many thanks and blessings,
Rebecca Burns
Dear Friend,
I have read each of your new books since 1988 and have tried to obtain what you wrote before that as I can find it available. It has been interesting to see how you have changed as a person and a writer! I am grateful for the ways that your books and essays have helped me — thank you for writing even when you would have rather been outside hiking!
Is there any chance that a paperback with study questions and/or a teachers guide will be published in the near future for What Good is God? It would be dynamic to use to show our concern regarding the questions that are raised in the hearts of people who had close ties to the communities devastated by the recent tornadoes in northern Alabama. We are considering using the title of the new book with the discussion concepts from two of your earlier books (Disappointment w/God and Where is God When It Hurts) in the next weeks. Thank you for any helpful insight.
Blessings!
Carolyn Bott
Pensacola and Orlando, FL
Carolyn,
Somehow in my travels and erratic internet contact I missed your comment. I’m so sorry! Yes, my latest book title applies to a lot of global situations this year, doesn’t it? Fukushima, Tuscaloosa, Joplin. I’m pleased to hear that you, among others, are indeed bringing comfort to those affected.
At this point there are no plans for a guide to What Good Is God? Most editions of Where Is God When It Hurts include discussion questions. Alas, I’m probably too late to help. With this topic, though, discussion usually flows freely. I’m glad you’re helping lead it.
Philip
My mom gave me the book “The Jesus I Never Knew”, which was the first book I have read in years and could not have come at a more perfect time in my life. I grew up in a very ungracefull and legalistic religion and realize how devastating it can be on families. After being in a place I didn’t like and following God’s direction to get out, my life was beginning to blossom in the most amazing ways.
I have also read “What’s So Amazing About Grace” and will be reading more of your books in the future. On another note, a family friend has been wrongly imprisoned and is now serving a 10 year sentence. He was 17 and has been in jail for almost 5 years. He has many struggles in his life, but has found God and seems to know God. The other family members were not writing to him so I stepped in. It seems God had me do so at the perfect time as he has been confronted with more legalistic religions in prison and has found it exhausting to say the least.
He didn’t even know I existed until my first letter and my next letter included your two books, “What’s So Amazing About Grace” and “The Gift of Pain.” He seems to be enjoying them and your books have empowered me to show him love and encourage him as often and as much as possible. He knew OF your books but as he said, “Didn’t have the privilege of reading them until now.”
Thank you for being a willing vessel for God! You will be in my prayers as you continue writing amazing books that help millions.
Amy P
Hello Philip,
I’ve been reading your books ever since stumbling upon them in a local Christian bookstore years ago. I want to thank you for your work and encourage you to keep writing. You have amassed a body of work that I feel is significant.
You reflect honestly and intelligently on the teachings and example of Jesus in a way that has been formative for me. You speak to and for those whom Jesus spoke to and for, in the process standing for the things Jesus embodied – grace, truth, mercy, righteousness – and against the things he opposed – pride, self-righteousness, hypocrisy. You do this with passion, dignity, grace, flair – and at times, humour. The presence in you is good, wise and humble; it is abundantly clear that the one in whose name you write has made his home there.
I’m looking forward to reading your autobiography. You said in an interview a few months ago that as part of your preparation for this project, you have perused over 100 autobiographies! It struck me that your capacity to absorb and process information, to stick at it and get the job done, must be boundless. More importantly, though, you have worked your talent hard and borne much fruit – fruit that I believe will last.
See you in Adelaide. Don’t you dare retire.
Your books have helped me a lot. I came across most of them when I was at university, and found it refreshing to read “honest” accounts of the faith I so desperately wanted to make an integaral part of me. Thank you…. I have actually recommended some of the readings to friends and people I came across. “What’s so amazing about grace”…. what a book!I have read the book twice and enjoyed it so much. Above all, thank you for showing honesty in your writings and (and written approach to faith)… That new voice is necessary from time to time (as it seems to carry so much of the basics)…. Thank you Mr Yancey… I love the work.
Luyanda
South Africa
Mr. Yancey,
Do you belong to an actual brick and mortar church? I am a new reader and have scanned your website but have been unable to locate anything that indicates you belong to a particular church assembly, denomination, etc. Thanks and I hope to hear from you.
Isn’t traveling a joy now a days? 🙂
Mr. Yancey – I am very excited that I have gotten in touch with your website through an assignment I might add. I had to go on the internet and find out things about you and include in on a summary of your book The Bible Jesus Read which I thoroughly was inspired and plan on reading it over. I have always thought highly of your writings but this book opened up a new spiritual realm for me. Thankyou soo much. I do plan on staying in touch with you through your blogs and someday I may even be able to meet you in person but until then keep scribing your inspirations from God. Who said their aren’t Prophets in our days. Keep the shout and may God bless you and your family. Sincerly, Mary Garber
Dear Philip: I have purchased and read all of your books, the most recent “What Good is God.” I have just recently re-read “What’s So Amazing About Grace.” At the present time my 87-year- old husband is in a Care facility with Alzheimer’s and my only 58-year old son has Stage IV brain cancer. I have had no support from my grandchildren as they are struggling with their father’s illness. Your books have been a support system for me, reminding me daily of God’s love, grace and presence. I have had a desire for years, to tell you how much your writings have meant to me. God has truly given you such insight into his word. I am a 81- year-old preacher’s kid, raised in a fundamentalist Pentecostal church which taught God’s judgment instead of his overwhelming love and grace. I can never truly express the gift your writings have given to me and I look forward to your next book. I would appreciate prayer that God will give me strength, wisdom, comfort and endurance for this present journey. Some days my grief overwhelms me, but as Paul says, “his grace is sufficient.” Thank you!! Wanda Martin
I want to send you a note from my heart to thank you very much for writing the book “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”. Being raised Southern Baptist myself, I’ve always had tremendous guilt when I did something wrong and felt that I messed up my relationship with my Heavenly Father eternally. I still struggle with this feeling that my wrongs are being written done to be used against me at the Judgement, but your book reminds be about Romans 10:9,10 and helps me see that “God is love” .
When I read your book the peace and knowledge for God’s love came pouring into my sore weary soul. The knowing that God is not out to get me but is out to help me come to Him, is a real good feeling.
Keep on writing ….
God Bless You,
Brenda
Am glad you had a very, very fruitful time in Scotland and in U.K.
Am sure too that God had you, your wife & party well protected; like you said,
a difference of a few mins may have involved you guys in the car accident.
God surely has protected you and your companions. Thank You, Lord for that.
& I also agree with Sebastian above…your writings are like reminders from
Above, reminding me many things about our Heavenly Papa.
Thank you for writing and please keep on writing!
Very much enjoyed your evening in Glasgow last Saturday and thank you very much. Hope to see you in the UK again! Best wishes
Virginia, John Stott is certainly not forgotten at his old church of All Soul’s, Langham Place, which continues to draw large congregations week by week and continues to offer fine preaching and teaching. http://www.allsouls.org/
Enjoyable post! Philip, I’ve been reading “Basic Christian” the life of John Stott and his evangelism and pastorate in England. Is he all but forgotten in that great country? I was impressed by his book “Basic Christianity.”
May the Lord bless all your efforts. I pray for you to get inspiration and write new books connected with the spring of grace.
Your books are (in a way) letters from above. Thank you.
May the Lord enrich you with many destinies touched by special words. Words have power.
In Christ,
Sebastian Ghica
Iasi, Romania