Excerpts from....

Been reading "Reaching for The Invisible God" ..for the i think 3rd time. Find myself still pretty much caught in Philip Yancey's narrative and thought I'll share some excerpts. Its a great book. Recommend it for any Christian that has ever had any thoughts/doubts as to your faith & your relationship with God. Its definitely not a "feel good" , all rainbows in the sky type of book. It deals with real thoughts, real emotions: of pain, of lost, of loneliness, of uncertainty or doubts, of failure, of being the odd one out; and real "dark moments" in your life. And it assures you that you are not alone in your moments/seasons of doubt and waivering faith in a God that we cannot physically see or touch. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Excerpts from the book that I truly enjoy: " Merton adds: We receive enlightenment only in proportion as we give ourselves more and more completely to God by humble submission and love. We do not first see, then act: we act, then see....And that is why the man who waits to see clearly, before he will believe, never starts on the journey. " ...pg90

" The physicist John Polkinghorne, who resigned his post at Cambridge to seek ordination as an Anglican priest, points out a major difference between knowing science and knowing theology. Science progressively accumulates knowledge: first Ptolemy, then Galileo, Copernicus, Newton and Einstein. Each of these scientists built on the foundation of those who preceeded him, so that ordinary scientist today has a more accurate conception of the physical world than was ever possible for Sir Isaac Newton. Knowledge of God proceeds in an entirely different manner. Every encounter is unique and individual, just like any meeting between two persons, so that a fifth century mystic or an illiterate immigrant may have a deeper knowledge of God than a twentieth-century theologian. " ...pg27

" I mention these failures not to dampen anyone's faith but to add a dose of realism to spiritual propaganda that promises more than it can deliver. In an odd way the very failures of the church prove its doctrine. Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part. We in the church have humility and contrition to offer the world, not a formula for success. Almost alone in our success-oriented society, we admit that we have failed, are failing and always will fail. The church in A.D. 3000 will be as rife with problems as the church in A.D. 2000 or 1000. That is why we turn to God so desperately. " ...pg 20

" Why is God shy? Why does God hide? Why so gentle? God recognizes that WE are the ones on the journey, not himself. The journey does not transpire like a treasure hunt, such that if we follow the instructions and look hard enough we will find the treasure. No, the journey itself is the goal. The very quest for God, our determined pursuit, changes us in the ways that matter most. The silence and darkness we encounter, the temptations, and even the sufferings can all contribute to God's stated goal of shaping us into persons more like he intended - more like his Son." ...pg120

" There is, however, a sure way to promote God's absence. C.S. Lewis sets it out clearly: Avoid silence, avoid solitude, avoid any train of thought that leads off the beaten track. Concentrate on money, sex, status, health and (above all) on your own grievances. Keep the radio on. Live in a crowd. Use plenty of sedation. If you must read books, select them very carefully. But you'd be safer to stick to the papers. You'll find the advertisements helpful; especially those with a sexy or a snobbish appeal. " ...pg 122